Salvation itself is a miracle; described by Christ Himself as illustrated in Matthew 9:5 where the physical healing is contrasted to sins being forgiven. It would be nice to see this today where many are promised to receive their blessing or miracle or something to that affect where mammon is clearly the subject of intent for many of these practitioners who act as an amateur magician playing the old shell game; as it were. Everyone wants to live forever; what is the elixir therefore? But only the sick need a physician ( Luke 5:31) thus a self righteous Pharisee may have been enamored with that statement if they didn't detect He was referring to their self righteousness masking a corrupt and sick soul.
Part of loving others unconditionally is believing God can take someone like Saul of Tarsus and turn them around. It took time for the early church to accept that; not that you can blame skepticism on their part initially. We don't need to sugarcoat the Gospel but we do need to trust God to work in His elect. Saving faith can transform the worst person to a new creation; alternatively the nicest person (or sweetest frame according to one hymn) can't be trusted. Nice agreeable people are a much greater danger to themselves because they don't have others who can readily prosecute their character; and we can be drawn to such individuals ourselves and justify their rebellion to the extent that we are drawn into the same sin (such as an attractive female and adultery). Rebellion is as witchcraft ( 1 Samuel 15:23); this verse was brought up to me a long time ago in a discussion related to a rebellious wife and her actions.
The church; therefore needs to be separate and pure from the contamination of the world. This isn't like a secret society of rites that exclude outsiders but a sanctity that ultimately draws IN those God has called and chosen for such a path on the narrow road. We should be REAL people!
I will join you in prayer and I would add to the list The Democrats, left-wing liberals the socialist, and the non American and those who don't know God as well!
Jesus said in Luke 5:30-32, "But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?
And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
I am temporarily interrupting my study in Matthew which started as insight on Christ's perfect manhood and Divinity.
Recently I have studied and seen several videos regarding revivals since the 1700's. I believe that there were instances of genuine conviction; weeping in particular due to conviction of the Spirit but also that sadly most of these movements if not immediately soon had clear evidences of false manifestations of demons which were taken to be "moves of the Spirit".
One of the more disturbing things which I see popping up today is the so called "fire of God". The verse I saw used and no doubt has been in several establishments is the idea of God being a "consuming fire". Whether it refers to the Lord transforming the earth after the Tribulation or at the end of the Millennium the context is pretty clear this is God's JUDGMENT. We must remember the Spirit comes as the helper ( John 14:26). Seeking the gifts of the Spirit is one thing; but to ask for more of the Spirit isn't what Luke 11:13 means it states how much more will He give you the Holy Spirit. To grow in grace and truth and in a way be more powerful spiritually comes through our obedience and love of Christ and His commandments. It isn't in other words an issue with God not willingly giving the Spirit which of course starts at salvation; or even more spiritual gifts but there is no scripture indicating we are to pray to the Spirit which proceeds from the Father ( John 15:26) and this is to testify of Him. Primarily it is as John 16:8 that describes the Spirit's role revealing sin; righteousness and judgment to come. We also must look inwardly as it is our sinfulness that led Him to the cross so any true experience should remind us as Peter said to Christ-depart from me for I am a sinful man ( Luke 5:8). The Spirit doesn't focus attention inward but outward to fulfill the Great Commission; albeit some things are meant for the Body only.
My last post brought out the fact that indeed Gentiles were part of God's plan; and we can further see this in many other O.T. scriptures ( Isaiah 49:6; etc). Man's pride couldn't square the suffering servant made so clear in describing Christ's first coming in Isaiah 53 as characterizing the Messiah. They even denied that their heritage came from people that were enslaved numerous times in their history! ( John 8:33). Even if they called Him teacher being a good man wasn't enough to save them from their sins; but of course when He made such claims they called it blasphemy! ( Luke 5:21).
Let's do an introductory overview of Christ's many itineraries which He had to fulfill the purposes God intended in His ministry. Some of these things are unique to Him but certainly lessons can be learned as to how we plan our days in service to the King.
1. Doing all things the Father willed. John 5:19 perhaps sums this up the best. In His mission there was the inevitable death on the cross on His mind following a perfect sinless life; albeit brief walking on the earth for 33 or so years as the perfect Man. ( Luke 9:22 and many similar verses in the Gospels).
2. Salvation by forgiveness of sin was a theme that overrided any of His miracles; nonetheless there is no clear statement that everyone He healed became saved. (see John 8:45 with deliberate disobedience in His command not to start a media "circus" as a result of healing). It was imperative that Messiah forgive men's sins but then they would have to realize that He was indeed the "I am" ( John 8:48-59 further on in the passage of John quoted above).
3. Coming to display obedience to His family before the predestined time to reach full manhood and the onset of public ministry.
Jesus had no obligation to be obedient in this way; and it was not in order to simply give in to His parents wishes but to do God's will. He was the perfect worker; brother and son.
(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, ( Heb. 11:38-39). Note-I used the New KJV for testimony to replace good "report" as their testimony resulted in suffering. God will wait to glorify the O.T. saints and those N.T. ones in new bodies until the Resurrection immediately preceding the Rapture. Let us hope we can live up to these examples!
Emphasizing once again the fruits of true repentance and salvation; it certainly is noteworthy that the history of the so called "hall of fame" of saints listed in Hebrews 11 showed many martyrs and great suffering among those who waited for the heavenly country over any riches and pleasure of this world (Moses as an example I pointed out yesterday). This is "normal" Christianity both historically and in much of the world today where persecution abounds. Hopefully short term missions trips will help wake some believers up to these realities or at least supporting missionaries.
Looking at another example in Luke 5:8 Peter says after fishing all night and catching nothing and reluctantly casting the net because Jesus told him to in broad daylight and the resulting tsunami of fish... When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
Studying that verse in the church service I attended this week the point was brought home that Peter called Him Lord because of the uncontrollable reaction to the awesome fear of who He was. Too many I think believe Christ's work was done at the cross like a one stop shopping trip rather than it being the beginning of Him working out salvation through fear and trembling (Phillipians 2:12) where He is Lord and Master over our whole life. Someone made the quote Jesus is either Lord over all or nothing at all. Let me know who that was.
Why should we follow Paul ? ? But what about following Jesus ? ?
All Twelve Disiples followed Jesus earthly ministry in the four gospels for the kingdom of heaven on earth.
Matthew 4:19
And he saith unto them,Followme, and I will make you fishers of men.
Mark 1:18
And straightway they forsook their nets, andfollowed him.
Luke 5:11
And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, andfollowed him.
John 1:37
And the two disciples heard him speak, and theyfollowed Jesus.
Why should we follow Apostle Paul ? ?
Jesus Christ in Heaven did say that Apostle Paul was a chosen vessel for the Gentiles.
Acts 9:15
But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is achosenvesselunto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Jesus Christ is the author of the whole Bible.
Hebrews 12:2
Looking unto Jesus theauthorand finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Jesus Christ wants us to follow Apostle Paul's epistle for doctrine and Salvation.
1 Corinthians 11:1
Be yefollowers ofme, even as I also am of Christ.
Apostle Paul's doctrine is from Jesus Christ in Heaven.
Romans 16:17
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to thedoctrinewhich ye have learned; and avoid them.
Apostle Paul said that we can always learn from the Old Testament and the caring down kingdom of gospel in the four gospels. The death of Jesus Christ started the New Testament
Hebrews 9:16
For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of thetestator.
Romans 15:4
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for ourlearning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
I follow Apostle Paul's epistle in Jesus Christ for Doctrine and Salvation.
Christ did not make atonement for sin to give us whole bodies, as many teach. That will only take place at the resurrection of the Last Day when we shall instantly be changed from corruption to incorruption, and from mortal to immortal. Our present bodies are fashioned from the dust of the ground and shall return to the dust. When mankind fell into sin, God cursed the ground from which man was formed. Surely, it can be said, if Christ died to give us physical health or physical healing, then the gospel is an abject failure, because each and every day, approximately 150,000 people on average die all over the world. They die for a variety of reasons, most of which relate to physical disease of one form or another. If they became a true child of God, are they prevented from physically dying? No. If someone who is sick becomes well again, is the faith of that person what healed him? God can heal, but God can heal in the life of one who is not saved just as quickly as one who is saved. The emphasis of the gospel is on the spiritual, not the physical. The believers who have experienced the first resurrection, namely the resurrection of their sin-sick souls, shall receive a brand new incorruptible spiritual body at the Last Day.
When Christ and the apostles performed miracles and healed the sick and gave sight to the blind, those were physical portraits pointing to some spiritual aspect. Once Christ went back to heaven and the apostles died, any miracles of that kind ceased. When Christ healed the sick, he did so to demonstrate that he has power on earth to forgive sins.
Matthew 9:6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. (see also Mark 2:10; Luke 5:24)
The great catch of fish story appears to have a very positive message, but does it? Sunday school classes seem to teach that Simon's great catch of fish was a miracle given by Jesus to show how Jesus has special powers that he, in this instance, is using to convince a number of would-be disciples to follow him. It is often plays into the prosperity doctrine that belief in Jesus will bring us a great catch of (fill in the blank). And this story of Jesus would seem to support that message. However, I do not believe that is a proper interpretation at all.
At the beginning of the chapter we see a scene of Simon fixing his nets, tired, and fishless. Jesus is not far away, preaching to the multitudes but yet Simon does not seem interested. Jesus singles Simon out and asks him to sail off into the deep waters and to throw his net out again. Simon agrees, reluctantly, but does it anyway which may be one of the few high points of this story. He has enough faith in this unknown rabbi to at least humor him. Perhaps it was the persuasion of the other disciples that convinced him, but regardless, he consented.
Things went downhill from there. While fishing in the deep (not the shallows) Jesus gave him more of his idol than he could handle. The fish broke his nets and their weight began to sink the boat. Simon likely realized that most of the fish would rot at the dock. In his panic, he asked Jesus to leave him. A reluctant Simon took a chance on this rabbi and now is losing his livelihood and possibly his life. In his desperation, Simon pleads with Jesus for his physical salvation by addressing his sinful spiritual depravity.
We know that the disciples were afraid because after arriving back on land, Jesus said, "Fear not". We end this story with the disciples giving up their lives for Jesus. Why? A lot happened here. Simon may be now boatless, his entire livelihood is gone. What are his options?
Luke 5:18 - And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
Again, this word palsy tells us that this man was a paralytic, paralyzed from the neck down. Please don't get the wrong idea about this bed because it was like a cot that just rolls up. And these men, the carriers, we are told in Mark that there were four of them. Four people that brought this paralyzed man to Jesus, and they were seeking the means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
Luke 5:22 - But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
Jesus perceived their thoughts. And you see, they didn't say it out loud, they were thinking it. DIALOGEIDZOMAI is the Greek word. They were dialoguing in their minds. Who does this guy think He is? That is blasphemy. The Lord says "I know what you are thinking." And so, He answering said unto them, "What reason you in your hearts?"
Luke 5:24 - But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.
Again, this could be translated (he said unto the paralyzed man).
Luke 5:26 - And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.
The Greek work for "strange things" is PARADOXSOS, and it's where we get our word paradox from. What they were literally saying was, "We have seen a paradox today!" In our English text, we can go in many different directions as to what "strange things" might mean.
Luke 6:6 And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.
A man whose right hand was withered. Literally in the Greek, it is shriveled up, or shrunk.
Luke 5:11 - And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
When they had brought their ships to land, and please notice this: they forsook all. It is called an Aorist Passive Participle in the Greek. It means it was a one-time thing. They turned their back on the old life and never went back. But you have to understand what they turned their back on.
You see, we know that when Jesus called the disciples to follow Him earlier, that they left their father in the boats, and they were following Jesus. In order to completely forsake everything to follow Christ, they are giving up their inheritance because that shipping industry would be passed on to them after their father dies. So, they are leaving their whole future from a human standpoint. All of their inheritance, they forsook it all and followed him.
The word "followed" is in the imperfect tense, meaning they were continually following Him. One time thing! They left all, turned their backs on the old life, and were continually following Him. Now just by way of side note you should know that this is not the first time they've seen Jesus, nor the second. This is at least the third time.
We know that the end of John Chapter 1 that Andrew introduced Jesus Christ to Peter. He says we have found the Messiah. And it was at that time that Peter was introduced to Christ. And they left that scene, and they went back home, and they were in the fishing industry and remember Jesus walked along the shore and called them and says follow me, and they responded. And here they are again. This is the final stage where they finally left everything, and they were continually following Him.
Luke 5:1 - And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
Now this has nothing to do with Biblical Greek studies, but I just wanted to share some information about the lake of Gennesaret that's mentioned in this verse. Gennesaret is another name for the Sea of Galilee. The Sea of Galilee is also called the Sea of Tiberius in John 6:1 and John 21:1. So the Sea of Galilee, the lake Gennesaret, and the Sea or Lake of Tiberius are all the same place.
The word "Gennesaret" itself comes from the Hebrew word KANNAR that means heart. And that is because the Lake is heart-shaped. And so, with certain people, at different phases of history, they didn't call it the Sea of Galilee. They called it the lake of Gennesaret because it is in the shape of a heart. So KANNAR is the Hebrew word, and it is where we get the name Gennesaret from.
Luke 5:5 - And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
The word toiled is KOPOS, and that means to work to the point of exhaustion.
Luke 5:6 - And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
The word "brake" is actually an Imperfect Tense in the Greek, which tells us that the net didn't really break because then you would lose your fish. But it was to the point that it was starting to tear. This could have been translated, "and their net began to tear."
Psalm 1143:3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
The clash and contrast between light and darkness is at a fevered pitch in our time. Psalm 7:15 states He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. Sin is a reproach to anyone; Proverbs 14:34 says Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. Thus the sins of individuals collectively bring down everyone who is not one of God's children.
My own situation has shown me how elderly people who used to be characterized as having a nice personality show their true nature when running out of options in life. This can have the opposite effect on some who were always nasty; and of course the Lord can intervene; as long as their is breath there is hope; or as Ecclesiastes 9:4 states For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
Proverbs 9:8 says Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Those who God has called and chosen will be drawn through warnings of their sinful state; in fact they will be thankful always to find the remedy as only the sick need a physician ( Luke 5:31). In contrast the wicked cannot love God or rebuke; they will only try to avoid the consequences of their actions through self justification or somehow thinking their "good works outweigh the bad". 2 Corinthians 7:10 says For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. Thus; the wicked through conviction are led to self destruction and the righteous have the opposite fate.
The final battle of Armageddon draws ever nearer. May we all be ready at His coming.
Luke 4:42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them.
Luke 5:16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed. (NKJV and other versions said often He would do this)
Luke 6:12-13 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:
Matthew 14:23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
With this and of course His agonizing prayer at Gethsemane where no doubt He was familiar with and spent other times in prayer there on His travels we see at various important and crisis points the Lord knew when to be even more focused; in some cases praying ALL NIGHT. This was after an exhausting day running around doing God's work; and often preceded more things the next day. More often than not crowds would come (such as when He discovered that John the Baptist had been martyred) and neither He nor the other Disciples could continue with the respite the Lord Himself initiated in their behalf.
Try to tell this to the average Christian in our country today. We note in these scriptures there was NEVER a time when any of the Disciples were said to be doing this; although the Lord rebuked them for not being able to cast out a demon without prayer and fasting. I am not aware of ANY verses talking about them in prayer; so it surely is lacking; you would think SOMEONE would ask the Lord if they could spend some time praying but as their naivete about His death supposing He was going to then rule as an earthly king no doubt prevented many of their efforts. Thankfully Pentecost changed things in that regard!
Hopefully this worm can learn something about prayer and my heart won't always be so cold.
"Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life."
God willed the man "in our image" in heavenly places but he was formed out of dust of the ground. So curse of the ground 'for thy sake' is not the general rule but for man who has sinned. God's blessings do not change for those who are in Christ Jesus. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."(Ro.8:1) Ground is cursed on account of Adam,- and he represents all those who are under the law of sin and death. Death refers to the soul as part of the divine injunction. "For in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."(2:17b)
"In the day" refers to the day decreed for the Son. Adam is created after our image and God has left all judgment to his Son.. This difference we can illustrate from Simon Peter before and after Jesus made him fisher of men. "Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing." ( Luke 5:5) What kind of work is it that you spent your day and night for your livelihood and at the end of it you are still zero? It is the curse on Adam working. We have Jesus assuring his disciples, "Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."(Matt.18:18). Here we see the Law of the Spirit working so blessings of the Man component is still in tact.
We see the force of the law of sin working in vv.16-17
"And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living."(v.18)
"And thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee."(2:16) Here we have Adam naming the woman thereby establishing part of the curse on Eve. Elizabeth addresses Mary in harmony with the curse on Eve,"And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"( Luke 1:43). Does this make Mary the mother of God?
To continue; here is the third scenario with healings.
Healings that ARE verifiable as at least unexplained with reliable medical information (hint: it helps to have first and last names at the very least). This would as far as I can tell be subdivided further into 3 categories:
1) Prayers that were given by either doctrinally unsound or downright heretical preachers that appear to have resulted in a genuine healing following the standard above. I will call that the Judas Iscariot factor; based on the verses where Jesus sent him out when the disciples were commanded to do these type of miracles (read Luke chapter 10).
2) Prayers that were given by doctrinally sound individuals which appears to have resulted in genuine miracles and
3) Miracles that are verifiable which either the person healed and/or those around him or her were not believers or had no interest in religion. I could add a fourth situation here similar to above but performed by "New Age" practitioners. I think I'll make a seperate post on that soon.
So; what are we to think? As Jesus said; go to the priests ( Luke 5:14) as evidence of true healing; as they were used for this purpose in the O.T. as well as deciding when a person was ceremonially unclean and what procedures were to be rendered for this to become a reality. Red flags should certainly go up when we have so called "faith healers" who don't have the guts to prove things through the medical establishment. Once that is initiated; if their reaction is "yes; but.." and they cannot let us make our own decisions as to further care then of course it may be good to walk away from their counsel. That is perhaps a fifth thing to add to this section; REMISSION can occur for unexplained reasons scientifically. That doesn't mean we should brush off even a temporary healing but be cautious of a "thus saith the Lord" that it is gone for good. All of us are mortal evenhealed
Blind Faith - Luke 5:5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
It's amazing that when we are led by The Spirit of God we are sometimes led to do things that would not normally make sense to us: the truth is, when following Jesus, trust, faith and obedience are the necessary or key elements required to bring us to a place or state of victory. Peter was an experienced Fisherman and had ample knowledge of the sea to know it made no sense returning to fish, but that word he used NEVERTHELESS sent doubt ,worry and fear out of the door leading Peter and his Fishermen team straight into a place of victory. It's ok to question God if in doubt, its even ok to make a request like Gideon Judges 6:36-40, ut it's not ok to disobey the voice of God because it doesn't make sense to you.
New wine in new bottles refer to the new creation. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."(2 Co.5:17). Abiding in Christ is new altogether because it is fruits of the Spirit we are discussing. "I am the true vine" Jesus said and new vine refers to the newness of the palate. When Jesus promised to sup with a believer it is a reference to drinking new in the kingdom of his Father. "But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."(Matt.26:29;Re.3:20)
Luke 5:38-39
"But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved." Jesus assured us "Without me you can do nothing"( John 15:3) Jesus as the Word become flesh promised to drink with us in his Father's kingdom. We are new and in our spiritual bodies we are the new bottles referred in this quote. The wine is of vintage quality that is same yesterday, today and forever. In v.39 it is 'the old'.
Unlike other two gospels St Luke extends the meaning of the parable further.
39 No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.
Intro. Many dive into the concept of evolution focusing on the history of men and animals; plants and all other things in creation but spend little time oon the future scriptural statements and its implications in having new bodies and eventually a new heaven and earth. Rebirth; of course begins at its "conception" when someone is born again ( John 3:16). This truth was emphasized with Christ's comments in Luke 5:23 and Matthew 9:5. Man's soul is part of God's creation but of course with human eyes we cannot perceive things clearly; and of course physical healings alone go against the 2nd law of thermodynamics which states things are in a perpetual state of decay which is of course as believers should understand an effect of the fall from the beginning.
Doubless Antichrist as the "self made man" who also will proclaim some novel form of divinity will be on display as a so called "evolutionary leap" for men to follow (doubtless accompanied by the infamous mark of the beast which will give some sort of promise of immortality it would seem to emulate the apparently "miraculous" restoration from assassination which he has).
Anyone with a pea sized brain of reason at that point could see that man's so called progress to a more "advanced species" has been; to say the least disastrous even ignoring all the past generations with the horror that will be occurring in the Tribulation.
Only man could be deluded enough to worship a created being over God and in the end attempt to fight God influenced by his "spirit brothers" that thrust him forth (the emissaries mentioned coming from the frog like demonic utterances and of course led by Satan; the Antichrist and False Prophet to their doom).
We need to remember that man made assumptions about so called "cave men" being of little intelligence goes against historical findings; and that the flood was a real event worldwide due to the utter depravity tied in with Genesis 6.
Is worshipping God on any given day breaking the Sabbath?
If performing the Sabbath rest is to be done on a Saturday, How is worshipping God on a Sunday be breaking the Sabbath?
God gave the command for the Sabbath in Exodus 20:8-11 to those "WITHIN THE GATES OF ISRAEL"
Not to the rest of the world.
In Numbers 15:32-36. there was a man stoned to death for picking up sticks!
I have never read anything like that happening or any punishment given to the rest of the world whether weekly Sabbath, yearly Sabbath or a Sabbath for the land.
THE COMMAND TO REST ON THE SABBATH WAS GIVEN TO ISRAEL AND THE WORSHIP BY ISRAEL HAD TO BE DONE IN A CERTAIN PLACE.
Here's an Interesting article by Paul Kroll.
Part 1.
Old Testament Laws:
Is Leviticus 23:3 a Command to Have Worship Services on the Weekly Sabbath?
We read the following command from Jesus in Luke 5:14, when he healed someone: "Show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them." If one assumed that Jesus' teaching applied to all people at all times, it could be claimed that this passage is "proof" telling Christians they must offer the proper Mosaic sacrifice and appear before a Jewish priest.
However, we know that Luke 5:14 is not a command for us to offer sacrifices. How do we know this? It is because the total witness of the New Testament makes it clear that such sacrifices applied only to Israelites and Jews under the Mosaic old covenant. This illustrates the folly of isolating a verse from its context. We need to examine both the verse in question and the larger context of the Bible. We must not start with advance assumptions.
So true! Simon Peter would have haven surprised himself after he uttered it. The revelation came from the Father. I suppose it is what Jesus meant by 'launch out into the deep' ( Luke 5:5). I have felt on everyday basis in my Word ministry, as late as this morning. Only I need sit before my computer to blog my daily post and never have the Spirit let me down. Whatever I have read in the past and thought over, comes with fresh insight and it is what the Spirit does. Only I need keep faith that He shall never let me down.
The bible states we certainly each get to choose. It's called freewill, that He gave each of us. So yes, God gives each person the chance to believe and accept Salvation! Jesus commanded the Gospel of the Kingdom to be preached throughout the world. When we hear The Gospel of Jesus Christ we get to choose! We can each choose to accept it - or reject it.
If we reject, nothing else is required for us to do, but to live our life in continual sin. If we believe and accept, then we must repent. We must then take all of the actions as commanded by Jesus/God.
Many people today that call themselves Christians, want their salvation without repenting! Matthew 4:17"From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Luke 5:32"I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
We must REPENT (stop sinning) if we want to be saved, and grafted into Christs Church (olive tree). If we expect to remain grafted into Christ's Church, each of us must REPENT and produce good fruit (good works) or we will be pruned/removed from the tree, as many of the Jews were already removed, because they did NOT believe, nor did they produce good fruit!
The bible tells us that our actions while living in this current life will determine our ultimate fate, Heaven or Hell, so its certainly OUR choice my friend.
Christ did not make atonement for sin to give us whole bodies, as many teach. That will only take place at the resurrection of the last day when we shall instantly be changed from corruption to incorruption, and from mortal to immortal. Our present bodies are fashioned from the dust of the ground and shall return to the dust. When mankind fell into sin, God cursed the ground from which man was formed. Surely, it can be said, if Christ died to give us physical health or physical healing, then the gospel is an abject failure, because each and every day, approximately 150,000 people on average die all over the world. They die for a variety of reasons, most of which relate to physical disease of one form or another. If they became a true child of God, are they prevented from physically dying? No. If someone who is sick becomes well again, is the faith of that person what healed him? God can heal, but God can heal in the life of one who is not saved just as quickly as one who is saved. The emphasis of the gospel is on the spiritual, not the physical. The believers who have experienced the first resurrection, namely the resurrection of their sin-sick souls, shall receive a brand new incorruptible spiritual body at the last day.
When Christ and the apostles performed miracles and healed the sick and gave sight to the blind, those were physical portraits pointing to some spiritual aspect. Once Christ went back to heaven and the apostles died, any miracles of that kind ceased. When Christ healed the sick, he did so to demonstrate that he has power on earth to forgive sins.
Matthew 9 (see also Mark 2:10; Luke 5:24)
6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
The Word became flesh which underpins the generation of Jesus Christ is as distinct as Jesus Christ is from Jesus of Nazareth. The word of God Person specific so the Son is "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever." (He.13:8) God sent the word and healed them, the Psalm quote we find from his life. So his 'miracles' are fulfillment of the will of his Father. Word of God called and Joseph heard and served as a father to Jesus. Faith made Abraham relate to him as David.
"And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven./But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."(Matt.8:11-12)Significant is the context for this quote is the great faith which was demonstrated by a Roman centurion. Where the nation of Israel could not, he showed the truth inward parts carried the call. God fashioned all hearts alike and he tries their hearts. the Gentiles and Jews alike. It is thus we address the generation of Jesus Christ in terms of faith and it connects with the blessings on whosoever believes in him who he sent. This is the work of God.( John 6:28-29)
Jesus called Matthew or Levi and he readily followed. Modestly he refrains making mention of the feast that followed while St Luke tells us, "And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them." ( Luke 5:29)
But Matthew records of all the saints redeemed from the earth attending the great banquet while those who rejected among them the nation of Israel cast out into outer darkness. (8:12) Significant is the Parable of the Great Banquet recorded by him."The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son."(Matt.22:2)
Joseph settling down at Nazareth so "He shall be called a Nazarene," speaks of the generation of the son of Man.(2:23)
So called from the province of Galilee, which bordered on the western side.(Matt.4:18). It was also called the "Sea of Tiberias," from the celebrated city of that name. ( John 6:1) At its north-western angle was a beautiful and fertile plain called "Gennesaret," and from that it derived the name of "Lake of Gennesaret." There are three names as given above to the same body of water associated with the life of Jesus. The same lake, the same Word.
Here we shall consider two events associated with this sea. We are all familiar with the Last Supper and it signaled the beginning of the end for the Son of man. After he is risen in St John 21:1-14 we are looking at the First Supper,- and it signifies life after life.
It is thus we need look at the apparent 'inconsistencies' that many scholars have pointed out. The truth of Synoptic gospels is established by God; and how John has been illumined to provide the miracle of the draughts of fishes after resurrection makes it true; equally true is the account of Luke. ( Luke 5:1-11). Luke is referring to fishers of men while John is introducing it as abundant life ahead of every believer because Jesus Christ is raised.
Luke 15 involves an initial encounter with the Pharisees; who are chiding Christ for hanging out with sinners. Thus the Parables in this chapter certainly are meant for them to hear along with the crowds.
Luke 15:7 "I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance." Whether this refers to the self righteous Pharisees which Christ described in a similar manner in Luke 5:31 or it literally means people in a right standing with God or both could be debated.
Luke 15:12 And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.' And he divided unto them his estate. What is often missed here is that BOTH sons had their inheritance divided at that time; and it was likely as tradition held the older son would have the largest sum. Something else I noticed here as well that is often overlooked is that the youngest son spent all of his inheritance. Thus; forgiveness was complete but nonetheless we see the concept of loss of reward.
To avoid not seeing the big picture here; it was clear that the Pharisees had no love for seeing someone repent and finding any joy in it; whether among themselves or the Gentiles. Their concept of God no doubt affected their lifestyle and dogmas; adding hundreds more laws to the Old Testament Canon through their own thoughts and imaginations (which resulted in the Talmud and other extrabiblical uninspired and mystical texts and traditions of men). With this attitude no one sees the need to repent in order to be ABLE to obey the law; at least in regard to the thoughts and intentions of the heart whereby men had to EXCEED the righteousness of the Pharisees and scribes in order to be saved ( Matthew 5:20). What was missing was understanding the nature and character of God and basically worshipping the law itself rather than it's creator. We can only truly love the law if saved.
I do not consider myself part of a group other than the body of Christ, it is just me. We should be brothers and sisters without labels sharing our understanding of scripture and inspiring each other to study for the truth and I feel we have done that so far.
The Messiah/Christ, the son of God, the second man, our Lord who came from heaven, the last Adam sent by the Father to do the will of the Father. Matt. 11:25-27 Hebrew 2:9-14
Was Jesus filled with the Holy Ghost/Spirit? When Jesus was baptized what happened? None of the gospels clearly state that Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit before His baptism Luke 2:40 is close but not affirmative. Why would Jesus need to be full of the Holy Ghost/Spirit? Philippians 2:5-8. Was Jesus the Messiah the Anointed One? Luke 4:18Acts 10:38
The Holy Ghost/Spirit descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, Matt. 3:16-17Luke 3:21-22Mark 1:10John 1:32. God put His Spirit upon him. Matt. 12:15-21 The Spirit remained on Him John 1:33
The Holy Ghost/Spirit led Jesus up into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. Matt. 4:1Mark 1:12. Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost and was led by the Spirit. Luke 4:1. Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit Luke 4:14.
Jesus did miracles by the Holy Ghost/Spirit, Luke 5:17. He cast out devils by the Holy Ghost/Spirit, the Spirit of God Matt.12:28. Also John 14:10 (by the Holy Ghost/Spirit)
The scriptures were fulfilled Luke 4:18-21. The Holy Spirit was given to Jesus without measure John 3:34.
John's water baptism was as you said, God's anointing of the Holy Ghost/Spirit Matt.4:17 Mark 1:11Luke 3:22.
I know you travel, so like Roy Rogers, happy trails to you, until we meet again. Showing my age, I will send more on the rest of part 1 and part 2.
In Luke 1:16-17 an Angel tells Johns father, "Zacharias". That he would have a son And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
John the baptist had a great crowd and devout followers and he preached the coming of their expected Messiah and King.
The pressing multitudes that had followed John continued to follow Jesus' ( Luke 5:15, Luke 12:1).
In the context of this chapter we have Jesus authenticating John's ministry.
SO THAT BRINGS US TO THE TEXT.
Mathew 11:12.
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
Let's look at the word violence in this text.
Greek:
Transliteration: biaz
Pronunciation: bee-ad'-zo
Definition: From G970; to force that is (reflexively) to crowd oneself (into) or (passively) TO BE SEIZED: - PRESS SUFFER VIOLENCE
The pressing multitudes that had followed John continued to follow Jesus' ( Luke 5:15, Luke 12:1).
This is what Jesus is saying "The kingdom of God suffers violence." Pointing to the huge crowds that followed John and that were now following Him, Jesus likens them to an invading army surrounding a city to capture it.
Look at Luke's account.
Luke 16:16.
The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
( From the days of John the Baptist until now," there has been an extraordinary rush of people pressing in from all sides eager to hear the gospel that they resembled an army trying to besiege a city.)
Matthew 11:14 he says;
"And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come."
This chapter is a continuation of a narrative indicting the unbelief Christ had to endure from all members of society. Of all His sufferings before the cross; perhaps this is the most neglected and unappreciated as it took up so much of his time and energy.
First off in verses 1-10 we see the unbelief of His own brethren (probably but possibly not necessarily exclusive to his mother; father; brothers and sisters although Joseph may have died by this point). Jesus' comment about not being His time yet could refer to the fact that He was still keeping things from those who would soon persecute Him once perceived as a threat such as Luke 5:14; or perhaps the full revelation which would occur at the cross.
Verse 15 shows once again their perception of a mere man which Christ responded to in verse 16-17 which once again shows the source of any true wisdom is from God above.
Following this; we once again have Christ validating doing Sabbath day healings to counter a repeated contentious issue. This helps to illustrate that when any TRUE miracles occur; persecution can't be too far behind.
Following this; another failed attempt to sieze Him occured with the Pharisees contending with those who believed in Christ. Apparently Elijah and a couple other prophets indeed came from Galilee; so the allegations of v. 52 were spurious. Since it wasn't His predetermined time to die yet; everyone scattered in v. 53
Some preach fasting as a command because Jesus said "when, thou fastest" Matthew 6:16-21,
Sometimes people & Church congregations fast for closeness with GOD, to feel HIS presence, & clarity on direction from GOD: Matthew 9:15, Mark 2:19,20, Luke 5:34,35, Ezra 8:21,23, Nehemiah 1:4, Nehemiah 1, (in context.), Daniel 9:2-3, 2Corinthians 6:4,5
Fasting & prayer to help deliver people from sin, addiction, mental illness, demonic oppression, Matthew 17:21, (context) Matthew 17:14-21, Mark 9:17-29,
1Samuel 7:3
1Corinthians 7:3-5,
Fasting for deliverance: 2Chronicles 20:1-30, Esther 4:3,16, in context: Esther 3:8-15, - Esther 4, Daniel 6:12-23, Joel 1:14, Joel 2:12,
Fasting in repentance, sometimes even after GOD's judgement : 1Samuel 7:2-17, 2Samuel 12:7-23, (do you think it was easier to except it because he was fasting? While others were perplexed?) 1Kings 21, note 1Kings 21:27-29, Jonah 3:5-10, Joel 2:15,
Also Isaiah 58,
Jesus fasted an extreme fast: Matthew 4:2,
When it says in: Matthew 10:8, Luke 10:9, Mark 16:17-18, can we do these things without fasting?
I believe there are too many scriptures about power in fasting, direction, deliverance & repentance to think lightly of.
Fasting is submission, Romans 13:7, Luke 20:25, Matthew 17:25-26,
Salvation itself is a miracle; described by Christ Himself as illustrated in Matthew 9:5 where the physical healing is contrasted to sins being forgiven. It would be nice to see this today where many are promised to receive their blessing or miracle or something to that affect where mammon is clearly the subject of intent for many of these practitioners who act as an amateur magician playing the old shell game; as it were. Everyone wants to live forever; what is the elixir therefore? But only the sick need a physician ( Luke 5:31) thus a self righteous Pharisee may have been enamored with that statement if they didn't detect He was referring to their self righteousness masking a corrupt and sick soul.
Part of loving others unconditionally is believing God can take someone like Saul of Tarsus and turn them around. It took time for the early church to accept that; not that you can blame skepticism on their part initially. We don't need to sugarcoat the Gospel but we do need to trust God to work in His elect. Saving faith can transform the worst person to a new creation; alternatively the nicest person (or sweetest frame according to one hymn) can't be trusted. Nice agreeable people are a much greater danger to themselves because they don't have others who can readily prosecute their character; and we can be drawn to such individuals ourselves and justify their rebellion to the extent that we are drawn into the same sin (such as an attractive female and adultery). Rebellion is as witchcraft ( 1 Samuel 15:23); this verse was brought up to me a long time ago in a discussion related to a rebellious wife and her actions.
The church; therefore needs to be separate and pure from the contamination of the world. This isn't like a secret society of rites that exclude outsiders but a sanctity that ultimately draws IN those God has called and chosen for such a path on the narrow road. We should be REAL people!
I will join you in prayer and I would add to the list The Democrats, left-wing liberals the socialist, and the non American and those who don't know God as well!
Jesus said in Luke 5:30-32, "But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?
And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
That covers everybody including you and I!
God bless.
I am temporarily interrupting my study in Matthew which started as insight on Christ's perfect manhood and Divinity.
Recently I have studied and seen several videos regarding revivals since the 1700's. I believe that there were instances of genuine conviction; weeping in particular due to conviction of the Spirit but also that sadly most of these movements if not immediately soon had clear evidences of false manifestations of demons which were taken to be "moves of the Spirit".
One of the more disturbing things which I see popping up today is the so called "fire of God". The verse I saw used and no doubt has been in several establishments is the idea of God being a "consuming fire". Whether it refers to the Lord transforming the earth after the Tribulation or at the end of the Millennium the context is pretty clear this is God's JUDGMENT. We must remember the Spirit comes as the helper ( John 14:26). Seeking the gifts of the Spirit is one thing; but to ask for more of the Spirit isn't what Luke 11:13 means it states how much more will He give you the Holy Spirit. To grow in grace and truth and in a way be more powerful spiritually comes through our obedience and love of Christ and His commandments. It isn't in other words an issue with God not willingly giving the Spirit which of course starts at salvation; or even more spiritual gifts but there is no scripture indicating we are to pray to the Spirit which proceeds from the Father ( John 15:26) and this is to testify of Him. Primarily it is as John 16:8 that describes the Spirit's role revealing sin; righteousness and judgment to come. We also must look inwardly as it is our sinfulness that led Him to the cross so any true experience should remind us as Peter said to Christ-depart from me for I am a sinful man ( Luke 5:8). The Spirit doesn't focus attention inward but outward to fulfill the Great Commission; albeit some things are meant for the Body only.
My last post brought out the fact that indeed Gentiles were part of God's plan; and we can further see this in many other O.T. scriptures ( Isaiah 49:6; etc). Man's pride couldn't square the suffering servant made so clear in describing Christ's first coming in Isaiah 53 as characterizing the Messiah. They even denied that their heritage came from people that were enslaved numerous times in their history! ( John 8:33). Even if they called Him teacher being a good man wasn't enough to save them from their sins; but of course when He made such claims they called it blasphemy! ( Luke 5:21).
Let's do an introductory overview of Christ's many itineraries which He had to fulfill the purposes God intended in His ministry. Some of these things are unique to Him but certainly lessons can be learned as to how we plan our days in service to the King.
1. Doing all things the Father willed. John 5:19 perhaps sums this up the best. In His mission there was the inevitable death on the cross on His mind following a perfect sinless life; albeit brief walking on the earth for 33 or so years as the perfect Man. ( Luke 9:22 and many similar verses in the Gospels).
2. Salvation by forgiveness of sin was a theme that overrided any of His miracles; nonetheless there is no clear statement that everyone He healed became saved. (see John 8:45 with deliberate disobedience in His command not to start a media "circus" as a result of healing). It was imperative that Messiah forgive men's sins but then they would have to realize that He was indeed the "I am" ( John 8:48-59 further on in the passage of John quoted above).
3. Coming to display obedience to His family before the predestined time to reach full manhood and the onset of public ministry.
Jesus had no obligation to be obedient in this way; and it was not in order to simply give in to His parents wishes but to do God's will. He was the perfect worker; brother and son.
(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, ( Heb. 11:38-39). Note-I used the New KJV for testimony to replace good "report" as their testimony resulted in suffering. God will wait to glorify the O.T. saints and those N.T. ones in new bodies until the Resurrection immediately preceding the Rapture. Let us hope we can live up to these examples!
Emphasizing once again the fruits of true repentance and salvation; it certainly is noteworthy that the history of the so called "hall of fame" of saints listed in Hebrews 11 showed many martyrs and great suffering among those who waited for the heavenly country over any riches and pleasure of this world (Moses as an example I pointed out yesterday). This is "normal" Christianity both historically and in much of the world today where persecution abounds. Hopefully short term missions trips will help wake some believers up to these realities or at least supporting missionaries.
Looking at another example in Luke 5:8 Peter says after fishing all night and catching nothing and reluctantly casting the net because Jesus told him to in broad daylight and the resulting tsunami of fish... When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
Studying that verse in the church service I attended this week the point was brought home that Peter called Him Lord because of the uncontrollable reaction to the awesome fear of who He was. Too many I think believe Christ's work was done at the cross like a one stop shopping trip rather than it being the beginning of Him working out salvation through fear and trembling (Phillipians 2:12) where He is Lord and Master over our whole life. Someone made the quote Jesus is either Lord over all or nothing at all. Let me know who that was.
All Twelve Disiples followed Jesus earthly ministry in the four gospels for the kingdom of heaven on earth.
Matthew 4:19
And he saith unto them,Followme, and I will make you fishers of men.
Mark 1:18
And straightway they forsook their nets, andfollowed him.
Luke 5:11
And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, andfollowed him.
John 1:37
And the two disciples heard him speak, and theyfollowed Jesus.
Why should we follow Apostle Paul ? ?
Jesus Christ in Heaven did say that Apostle Paul was a chosen vessel for the Gentiles.
Acts 9:15
But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is achosenvesselunto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Jesus Christ is the author of the whole Bible.
Hebrews 12:2
Looking unto Jesus theauthorand finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Jesus Christ wants us to follow Apostle Paul's epistle for doctrine and Salvation.
1 Corinthians 11:1
Be yefollowers ofme, even as I also am of Christ.
Apostle Paul's doctrine is from Jesus Christ in Heaven.
Romans 16:17
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to thedoctrinewhich ye have learned; and avoid them.
Apostle Paul said that we can always learn from the Old Testament and the caring down kingdom of gospel in the four gospels. The death of Jesus Christ started the New Testament
Hebrews 9:16
For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of thetestator.
Romans 15:4
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for ourlearning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
I follow Apostle Paul's epistle in Jesus Christ for Doctrine and Salvation.
Ray, in Christ Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Christ did not make atonement for sin to give us whole bodies, as many teach. That will only take place at the resurrection of the Last Day when we shall instantly be changed from corruption to incorruption, and from mortal to immortal. Our present bodies are fashioned from the dust of the ground and shall return to the dust. When mankind fell into sin, God cursed the ground from which man was formed. Surely, it can be said, if Christ died to give us physical health or physical healing, then the gospel is an abject failure, because each and every day, approximately 150,000 people on average die all over the world. They die for a variety of reasons, most of which relate to physical disease of one form or another. If they became a true child of God, are they prevented from physically dying? No. If someone who is sick becomes well again, is the faith of that person what healed him? God can heal, but God can heal in the life of one who is not saved just as quickly as one who is saved. The emphasis of the gospel is on the spiritual, not the physical. The believers who have experienced the first resurrection, namely the resurrection of their sin-sick souls, shall receive a brand new incorruptible spiritual body at the Last Day.
When Christ and the apostles performed miracles and healed the sick and gave sight to the blind, those were physical portraits pointing to some spiritual aspect. Once Christ went back to heaven and the apostles died, any miracles of that kind ceased. When Christ healed the sick, he did so to demonstrate that he has power on earth to forgive sins.
Matthew 9:6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. (see also Mark 2:10; Luke 5:24)
Continued in Part 4
The great catch of fish story appears to have a very positive message, but does it? Sunday school classes seem to teach that Simon's great catch of fish was a miracle given by Jesus to show how Jesus has special powers that he, in this instance, is using to convince a number of would-be disciples to follow him. It is often plays into the prosperity doctrine that belief in Jesus will bring us a great catch of (fill in the blank). And this story of Jesus would seem to support that message. However, I do not believe that is a proper interpretation at all.
At the beginning of the chapter we see a scene of Simon fixing his nets, tired, and fishless. Jesus is not far away, preaching to the multitudes but yet Simon does not seem interested. Jesus singles Simon out and asks him to sail off into the deep waters and to throw his net out again. Simon agrees, reluctantly, but does it anyway which may be one of the few high points of this story. He has enough faith in this unknown rabbi to at least humor him. Perhaps it was the persuasion of the other disciples that convinced him, but regardless, he consented.
Things went downhill from there. While fishing in the deep (not the shallows) Jesus gave him more of his idol than he could handle. The fish broke his nets and their weight began to sink the boat. Simon likely realized that most of the fish would rot at the dock. In his panic, he asked Jesus to leave him. A reluctant Simon took a chance on this rabbi and now is losing his livelihood and possibly his life. In his desperation, Simon pleads with Jesus for his physical salvation by addressing his sinful spiritual depravity.
We know that the disciples were afraid because after arriving back on land, Jesus said, "Fear not". We end this story with the disciples giving up their lives for Jesus. Why? A lot happened here. Simon may be now boatless, his entire livelihood is gone. What are his options?
Luke 5:18 - And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
Again, this word palsy tells us that this man was a paralytic, paralyzed from the neck down. Please don't get the wrong idea about this bed because it was like a cot that just rolls up. And these men, the carriers, we are told in Mark that there were four of them. Four people that brought this paralyzed man to Jesus, and they were seeking the means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
Luke 5:22 - But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
Jesus perceived their thoughts. And you see, they didn't say it out loud, they were thinking it. DIALOGEIDZOMAI is the Greek word. They were dialoguing in their minds. Who does this guy think He is? That is blasphemy. The Lord says "I know what you are thinking." And so, He answering said unto them, "What reason you in your hearts?"
Luke 5:24 - But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.
Again, this could be translated (he said unto the paralyzed man).
Luke 5:26 - And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.
The Greek work for "strange things" is PARADOXSOS, and it's where we get our word paradox from. What they were literally saying was, "We have seen a paradox today!" In our English text, we can go in many different directions as to what "strange things" might mean.
Luke 6:6 And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.
A man whose right hand was withered. Literally in the Greek, it is shriveled up, or shrunk.
Luke 5:11 - And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
When they had brought their ships to land, and please notice this: they forsook all. It is called an Aorist Passive Participle in the Greek. It means it was a one-time thing. They turned their back on the old life and never went back. But you have to understand what they turned their back on.
You see, we know that when Jesus called the disciples to follow Him earlier, that they left their father in the boats, and they were following Jesus. In order to completely forsake everything to follow Christ, they are giving up their inheritance because that shipping industry would be passed on to them after their father dies. So, they are leaving their whole future from a human standpoint. All of their inheritance, they forsook it all and followed him.
The word "followed" is in the imperfect tense, meaning they were continually following Him. One time thing! They left all, turned their backs on the old life, and were continually following Him. Now just by way of side note you should know that this is not the first time they've seen Jesus, nor the second. This is at least the third time.
We know that the end of John Chapter 1 that Andrew introduced Jesus Christ to Peter. He says we have found the Messiah. And it was at that time that Peter was introduced to Christ. And they left that scene, and they went back home, and they were in the fishing industry and remember Jesus walked along the shore and called them and says follow me, and they responded. And here they are again. This is the final stage where they finally left everything, and they were continually following Him.
Luke 5:1 - And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
Now this has nothing to do with Biblical Greek studies, but I just wanted to share some information about the lake of Gennesaret that's mentioned in this verse. Gennesaret is another name for the Sea of Galilee. The Sea of Galilee is also called the Sea of Tiberius in John 6:1 and John 21:1. So the Sea of Galilee, the lake Gennesaret, and the Sea or Lake of Tiberius are all the same place.
The word "Gennesaret" itself comes from the Hebrew word KANNAR that means heart. And that is because the Lake is heart-shaped. And so, with certain people, at different phases of history, they didn't call it the Sea of Galilee. They called it the lake of Gennesaret because it is in the shape of a heart. So KANNAR is the Hebrew word, and it is where we get the name Gennesaret from.
Luke 5:5 - And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
The word toiled is KOPOS, and that means to work to the point of exhaustion.
Luke 5:6 - And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
The word "brake" is actually an Imperfect Tense in the Greek, which tells us that the net didn't really break because then you would lose your fish. But it was to the point that it was starting to tear. This could have been translated, "and their net began to tear."
1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
The clash and contrast between light and darkness is at a fevered pitch in our time. Psalm 7:15 states He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. Sin is a reproach to anyone; Proverbs 14:34 says Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. Thus the sins of individuals collectively bring down everyone who is not one of God's children.
My own situation has shown me how elderly people who used to be characterized as having a nice personality show their true nature when running out of options in life. This can have the opposite effect on some who were always nasty; and of course the Lord can intervene; as long as their is breath there is hope; or as Ecclesiastes 9:4 states For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
Proverbs 9:8 says Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Those who God has called and chosen will be drawn through warnings of their sinful state; in fact they will be thankful always to find the remedy as only the sick need a physician ( Luke 5:31). In contrast the wicked cannot love God or rebuke; they will only try to avoid the consequences of their actions through self justification or somehow thinking their "good works outweigh the bad". 2 Corinthians 7:10 says For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. Thus; the wicked through conviction are led to self destruction and the righteous have the opposite fate.
The final battle of Armageddon draws ever nearer. May we all be ready at His coming.
Luke 5:16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed. (NKJV and other versions said often He would do this)
Luke 6:12-13 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:
Matthew 14:23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
With this and of course His agonizing prayer at Gethsemane where no doubt He was familiar with and spent other times in prayer there on His travels we see at various important and crisis points the Lord knew when to be even more focused; in some cases praying ALL NIGHT. This was after an exhausting day running around doing God's work; and often preceded more things the next day. More often than not crowds would come (such as when He discovered that John the Baptist had been martyred) and neither He nor the other Disciples could continue with the respite the Lord Himself initiated in their behalf.
Try to tell this to the average Christian in our country today. We note in these scriptures there was NEVER a time when any of the Disciples were said to be doing this; although the Lord rebuked them for not being able to cast out a demon without prayer and fasting. I am not aware of ANY verses talking about them in prayer; so it surely is lacking; you would think SOMEONE would ask the Lord if they could spend some time praying but as their naivete about His death supposing He was going to then rule as an earthly king no doubt prevented many of their efforts. Thankfully Pentecost changed things in that regard!
Hopefully this worm can learn something about prayer and my heart won't always be so cold.
Agape.
"Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life."
God willed the man "in our image" in heavenly places but he was formed out of dust of the ground. So curse of the ground 'for thy sake' is not the general rule but for man who has sinned. God's blessings do not change for those who are in Christ Jesus. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."(Ro.8:1) Ground is cursed on account of Adam,- and he represents all those who are under the law of sin and death. Death refers to the soul as part of the divine injunction. "For in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."(2:17b)
"In the day" refers to the day decreed for the Son. Adam is created after our image and God has left all judgment to his Son.. This difference we can illustrate from Simon Peter before and after Jesus made him fisher of men. "Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing." ( Luke 5:5) What kind of work is it that you spent your day and night for your livelihood and at the end of it you are still zero? It is the curse on Adam working. We have Jesus assuring his disciples, "Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."(Matt.18:18). Here we see the Law of the Spirit working so blessings of the Man component is still in tact.
We see the force of the law of sin working in vv.16-17
"And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living."(v.18)
"And thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee."(2:16) Here we have Adam naming the woman thereby establishing part of the curse on Eve. Elizabeth addresses Mary in harmony with the curse on Eve,"And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"( Luke 1:43). Does this make Mary the mother of God?
To continue; here is the third scenario with healings.
Healings that ARE verifiable as at least unexplained with reliable medical information (hint: it helps to have first and last names at the very least). This would as far as I can tell be subdivided further into 3 categories:
1) Prayers that were given by either doctrinally unsound or downright heretical preachers that appear to have resulted in a genuine healing following the standard above. I will call that the Judas Iscariot factor; based on the verses where Jesus sent him out when the disciples were commanded to do these type of miracles (read Luke chapter 10).
2) Prayers that were given by doctrinally sound individuals which appears to have resulted in genuine miracles and
3) Miracles that are verifiable which either the person healed and/or those around him or her were not believers or had no interest in religion. I could add a fourth situation here similar to above but performed by "New Age" practitioners. I think I'll make a seperate post on that soon.
So; what are we to think? As Jesus said; go to the priests ( Luke 5:14) as evidence of true healing; as they were used for this purpose in the O.T. as well as deciding when a person was ceremonially unclean and what procedures were to be rendered for this to become a reality. Red flags should certainly go up when we have so called "faith healers" who don't have the guts to prove things through the medical establishment. Once that is initiated; if their reaction is "yes; but.." and they cannot let us make our own decisions as to further care then of course it may be good to walk away from their counsel. That is perhaps a fifth thing to add to this section; REMISSION can occur for unexplained reasons scientifically. That doesn't mean we should brush off even a temporary healing but be cautious of a "thus saith the Lord" that it is gone for good. All of us are mortal evenhealed
2).
It's amazing that when we are led by The Spirit of God we are sometimes led to do things that would not normally make sense to us: the truth is, when following Jesus, trust, faith and obedience are the necessary or key elements required to bring us to a place or state of victory. Peter was an experienced Fisherman and had ample knowledge of the sea to know it made no sense returning to fish, but that word he used NEVERTHELESS sent doubt ,worry and fear out of the door leading Peter and his Fishermen team straight into a place of victory. It's ok to question God if in doubt, its even ok to make a request like Gideon Judges 6:36-40, ut it's not ok to disobey the voice of God because it doesn't make sense to you.
New wine in new bottles refer to the new creation. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."(2 Co.5:17). Abiding in Christ is new altogether because it is fruits of the Spirit we are discussing. "I am the true vine" Jesus said and new vine refers to the newness of the palate. When Jesus promised to sup with a believer it is a reference to drinking new in the kingdom of his Father. "But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."(Matt.26:29;Re.3:20)
Luke 5:38-39
"But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved." Jesus assured us "Without me you can do nothing"( John 15:3) Jesus as the Word become flesh promised to drink with us in his Father's kingdom. We are new and in our spiritual bodies we are the new bottles referred in this quote. The wine is of vintage quality that is same yesterday, today and forever. In v.39 it is 'the old'.
Unlike other two gospels St Luke extends the meaning of the parable further.
39 No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.
Intro. Many dive into the concept of evolution focusing on the history of men and animals; plants and all other things in creation but spend little time oon the future scriptural statements and its implications in having new bodies and eventually a new heaven and earth. Rebirth; of course begins at its "conception" when someone is born again ( John 3:16). This truth was emphasized with Christ's comments in Luke 5:23 and Matthew 9:5. Man's soul is part of God's creation but of course with human eyes we cannot perceive things clearly; and of course physical healings alone go against the 2nd law of thermodynamics which states things are in a perpetual state of decay which is of course as believers should understand an effect of the fall from the beginning.
Doubless Antichrist as the "self made man" who also will proclaim some novel form of divinity will be on display as a so called "evolutionary leap" for men to follow (doubtless accompanied by the infamous mark of the beast which will give some sort of promise of immortality it would seem to emulate the apparently "miraculous" restoration from assassination which he has).
Anyone with a pea sized brain of reason at that point could see that man's so called progress to a more "advanced species" has been; to say the least disastrous even ignoring all the past generations with the horror that will be occurring in the Tribulation.
Only man could be deluded enough to worship a created being over God and in the end attempt to fight God influenced by his "spirit brothers" that thrust him forth (the emissaries mentioned coming from the frog like demonic utterances and of course led by Satan; the Antichrist and False Prophet to their doom).
We need to remember that man made assumptions about so called "cave men" being of little intelligence goes against historical findings; and that the flood was a real event worldwide due to the utter depravity tied in with Genesis 6.
If performing the Sabbath rest is to be done on a Saturday, How is worshipping God on a Sunday be breaking the Sabbath?
God gave the command for the Sabbath in Exodus 20:8-11 to those "WITHIN THE GATES OF ISRAEL"
Not to the rest of the world.
In Numbers 15:32-36. there was a man stoned to death for picking up sticks!
I have never read anything like that happening or any punishment given to the rest of the world whether weekly Sabbath, yearly Sabbath or a Sabbath for the land.
THE COMMAND TO REST ON THE SABBATH WAS GIVEN TO ISRAEL AND THE WORSHIP BY ISRAEL HAD TO BE DONE IN A CERTAIN PLACE.
Here's an Interesting article by Paul Kroll.
Part 1.
Old Testament Laws:
Is Leviticus 23:3 a Command to Have Worship Services on the Weekly Sabbath?
We read the following command from Jesus in Luke 5:14, when he healed someone: "Show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them." If one assumed that Jesus' teaching applied to all people at all times, it could be claimed that this passage is "proof" telling Christians they must offer the proper Mosaic sacrifice and appear before a Jewish priest.
However, we know that Luke 5:14 is not a command for us to offer sacrifices. How do we know this? It is because the total witness of the New Testament makes it clear that such sacrifices applied only to Israelites and Jews under the Mosaic old covenant. This illustrates the folly of isolating a verse from its context. We need to examine both the verse in question and the larger context of the Bible. We must not start with advance assumptions.
See Part 2.
So true! Simon Peter would have haven surprised himself after he uttered it. The revelation came from the Father. I suppose it is what Jesus meant by 'launch out into the deep' ( Luke 5:5). I have felt on everyday basis in my Word ministry, as late as this morning. Only I need sit before my computer to blog my daily post and never have the Spirit let me down. Whatever I have read in the past and thought over, comes with fresh insight and it is what the Spirit does. Only I need keep faith that He shall never let me down.
The bible states we certainly each get to choose. It's called freewill, that He gave each of us. So yes, God gives each person the chance to believe and accept Salvation! Jesus commanded the Gospel of the Kingdom to be preached throughout the world. When we hear The Gospel of Jesus Christ we get to choose! We can each choose to accept it - or reject it.
If we reject, nothing else is required for us to do, but to live our life in continual sin. If we believe and accept, then we must repent. We must then take all of the actions as commanded by Jesus/God.
Many people today that call themselves Christians, want their salvation without repenting! Matthew 4:17"From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Luke 5:32"I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
We must REPENT (stop sinning) if we want to be saved, and grafted into Christs Church (olive tree). If we expect to remain grafted into Christ's Church, each of us must REPENT and produce good fruit (good works) or we will be pruned/removed from the tree, as many of the Jews were already removed, because they did NOT believe, nor did they produce good fruit!
The bible tells us that our actions while living in this current life will determine our ultimate fate, Heaven or Hell, so its certainly OUR choice my friend.
Read and Believe!
Christ did not make atonement for sin to give us whole bodies, as many teach. That will only take place at the resurrection of the last day when we shall instantly be changed from corruption to incorruption, and from mortal to immortal. Our present bodies are fashioned from the dust of the ground and shall return to the dust. When mankind fell into sin, God cursed the ground from which man was formed. Surely, it can be said, if Christ died to give us physical health or physical healing, then the gospel is an abject failure, because each and every day, approximately 150,000 people on average die all over the world. They die for a variety of reasons, most of which relate to physical disease of one form or another. If they became a true child of God, are they prevented from physically dying? No. If someone who is sick becomes well again, is the faith of that person what healed him? God can heal, but God can heal in the life of one who is not saved just as quickly as one who is saved. The emphasis of the gospel is on the spiritual, not the physical. The believers who have experienced the first resurrection, namely the resurrection of their sin-sick souls, shall receive a brand new incorruptible spiritual body at the last day.
When Christ and the apostles performed miracles and healed the sick and gave sight to the blind, those were physical portraits pointing to some spiritual aspect. Once Christ went back to heaven and the apostles died, any miracles of that kind ceased. When Christ healed the sick, he did so to demonstrate that he has power on earth to forgive sins.
Matthew 9 (see also Mark 2:10; Luke 5:24)
6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
Continued in part 4
The Word became flesh which underpins the generation of Jesus Christ is as distinct as Jesus Christ is from Jesus of Nazareth. The word of God Person specific so the Son is "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever." (He.13:8) God sent the word and healed them, the Psalm quote we find from his life. So his 'miracles' are fulfillment of the will of his Father. Word of God called and Joseph heard and served as a father to Jesus. Faith made Abraham relate to him as David.
"And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven./But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."(Matt.8:11-12)Significant is the context for this quote is the great faith which was demonstrated by a Roman centurion. Where the nation of Israel could not, he showed the truth inward parts carried the call. God fashioned all hearts alike and he tries their hearts. the Gentiles and Jews alike. It is thus we address the generation of Jesus Christ in terms of faith and it connects with the blessings on whosoever believes in him who he sent. This is the work of God.( John 6:28-29)
Jesus called Matthew or Levi and he readily followed. Modestly he refrains making mention of the feast that followed while St Luke tells us, "And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them." ( Luke 5:29)
But Matthew records of all the saints redeemed from the earth attending the great banquet while those who rejected among them the nation of Israel cast out into outer darkness. (8:12) Significant is the Parable of the Great Banquet recorded by him."The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son."(Matt.22:2)
Joseph settling down at Nazareth so "He shall be called a Nazarene," speaks of the generation of the son of Man.(2:23)
So called from the province of Galilee, which bordered on the western side.(Matt.4:18). It was also called the "Sea of Tiberias," from the celebrated city of that name. ( John 6:1) At its north-western angle was a beautiful and fertile plain called "Gennesaret," and from that it derived the name of "Lake of Gennesaret." There are three names as given above to the same body of water associated with the life of Jesus. The same lake, the same Word.
Here we shall consider two events associated with this sea. We are all familiar with the Last Supper and it signaled the beginning of the end for the Son of man. After he is risen in St John 21:1-14 we are looking at the First Supper,- and it signifies life after life.
It is thus we need look at the apparent 'inconsistencies' that many scholars have pointed out. The truth of Synoptic gospels is established by God; and how John has been illumined to provide the miracle of the draughts of fishes after resurrection makes it true; equally true is the account of Luke. ( Luke 5:1-11). Luke is referring to fishers of men while John is introducing it as abundant life ahead of every believer because Jesus Christ is raised.
Luke 15:7 "I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance." Whether this refers to the self righteous Pharisees which Christ described in a similar manner in Luke 5:31 or it literally means people in a right standing with God or both could be debated.
Luke 15:12 And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.' And he divided unto them his estate. What is often missed here is that BOTH sons had their inheritance divided at that time; and it was likely as tradition held the older son would have the largest sum. Something else I noticed here as well that is often overlooked is that the youngest son spent all of his inheritance. Thus; forgiveness was complete but nonetheless we see the concept of loss of reward.
To avoid not seeing the big picture here; it was clear that the Pharisees had no love for seeing someone repent and finding any joy in it; whether among themselves or the Gentiles. Their concept of God no doubt affected their lifestyle and dogmas; adding hundreds more laws to the Old Testament Canon through their own thoughts and imaginations (which resulted in the Talmud and other extrabiblical uninspired and mystical texts and traditions of men). With this attitude no one sees the need to repent in order to be ABLE to obey the law; at least in regard to the thoughts and intentions of the heart whereby men had to EXCEED the righteousness of the Pharisees and scribes in order to be saved ( Matthew 5:20). What was missing was understanding the nature and character of God and basically worshipping the law itself rather than it's creator. We can only truly love the law if saved.
I do not consider myself part of a group other than the body of Christ, it is just me. We should be brothers and sisters without labels sharing our understanding of scripture and inspiring each other to study for the truth and I feel we have done that so far.
The Messiah/Christ, the son of God, the second man, our Lord who came from heaven, the last Adam sent by the Father to do the will of the Father. Matt. 11:25-27 Hebrew 2:9-14
Was Jesus filled with the Holy Ghost/Spirit? When Jesus was baptized what happened? None of the gospels clearly state that Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit before His baptism Luke 2:40 is close but not affirmative. Why would Jesus need to be full of the Holy Ghost/Spirit? Philippians 2:5-8. Was Jesus the Messiah the Anointed One? Luke 4:18 Acts 10:38
The Holy Ghost/Spirit descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, Matt. 3:16-17 Luke 3:21-22 Mark 1:10 John 1:32. God put His Spirit upon him. Matt. 12:15-21 The Spirit remained on Him John 1:33
The Holy Ghost/Spirit led Jesus up into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. Matt. 4:1 Mark 1:12. Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost and was led by the Spirit. Luke 4:1. Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit Luke 4:14.
Jesus did miracles by the Holy Ghost/Spirit, Luke 5:17. He cast out devils by the Holy Ghost/Spirit, the Spirit of God Matt.12:28. Also John 14:10 (by the Holy Ghost/Spirit)
The scriptures were fulfilled Luke 4:18-21. The Holy Spirit was given to Jesus without measure John 3:34.
John's water baptism was as you said, God's anointing of the Holy Ghost/Spirit Matt.4:17 Mark 1:11 Luke 3:22.
I know you travel, so like Roy Rogers, happy trails to you, until we meet again. Showing my age, I will send more on the rest of part 1 and part 2.
God bless,
RLW
I will share my view.
In Luke 1:16-17 an Angel tells Johns father, "Zacharias". That he would have a son And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
John the baptist had a great crowd and devout followers and he preached the coming of their expected Messiah and King.
The pressing multitudes that had followed John continued to follow Jesus' ( Luke 5:15, Luke 12:1).
In the context of this chapter we have Jesus authenticating John's ministry.
SO THAT BRINGS US TO THE TEXT.
Mathew 11:12.
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
Let's look at the word violence in this text.
Greek:
Transliteration: biaz
Pronunciation: bee-ad'-zo
Definition: From G970; to force that is (reflexively) to crowd oneself (into) or (passively) TO BE SEIZED: - PRESS SUFFER VIOLENCE
The pressing multitudes that had followed John continued to follow Jesus' ( Luke 5:15, Luke 12:1).
This is what Jesus is saying "The kingdom of God suffers violence." Pointing to the huge crowds that followed John and that were now following Him, Jesus likens them to an invading army surrounding a city to capture it.
Look at Luke's account.
Luke 16:16.
The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
( From the days of John the Baptist until now," there has been an extraordinary rush of people pressing in from all sides eager to hear the gospel that they resembled an army trying to besiege a city.)
Matthew 11:14 he says;
"And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come."
I hope this helps.
God bless.
This chapter is a continuation of a narrative indicting the unbelief Christ had to endure from all members of society. Of all His sufferings before the cross; perhaps this is the most neglected and unappreciated as it took up so much of his time and energy.
First off in verses 1-10 we see the unbelief of His own brethren (probably but possibly not necessarily exclusive to his mother; father; brothers and sisters although Joseph may have died by this point). Jesus' comment about not being His time yet could refer to the fact that He was still keeping things from those who would soon persecute Him once perceived as a threat such as Luke 5:14; or perhaps the full revelation which would occur at the cross.
Verse 15 shows once again their perception of a mere man which Christ responded to in verse 16-17 which once again shows the source of any true wisdom is from God above.
Following this; we once again have Christ validating doing Sabbath day healings to counter a repeated contentious issue. This helps to illustrate that when any TRUE miracles occur; persecution can't be too far behind.
Following this; another failed attempt to sieze Him occured with the Pharisees contending with those who believed in Christ. Apparently Elijah and a couple other prophets indeed came from Galilee; so the allegations of v. 52 were spurious. Since it wasn't His predetermined time to die yet; everyone scattered in v. 53
Deuteronomy 4:2, Revelation 22:18-19
Sometimes people & Church congregations fast for closeness with GOD, to feel HIS presence, & clarity on direction from GOD: Matthew 9:15, Mark 2:19,20, Luke 5:34,35, Ezra 8:21,23, Nehemiah 1:4, Nehemiah 1, (in context.), Daniel 9:2-3, 2Corinthians 6:4,5
Fasting & prayer to help deliver people from sin, addiction, mental illness, demonic oppression, Matthew 17:21, (context) Matthew 17:14-21, Mark 9:17-29,
1Samuel 7:3
1Corinthians 7:3-5,
Fasting for deliverance: 2Chronicles 20:1-30, Esther 4:3,16, in context: Esther 3:8-15, - Esther 4, Daniel 6:12-23, Joel 1:14, Joel 2:12,
Fasting in repentance, sometimes even after GOD's judgement : 1Samuel 7:2-17, 2Samuel 12:7-23, (do you think it was easier to except it because he was fasting? While others were perplexed?) 1Kings 21, note 1Kings 21:27-29, Jonah 3:5-10, Joel 2:15,
Also Isaiah 58,
Jesus fasted an extreme fast: Matthew 4:2,
When it says in: Matthew 10:8, Luke 10:9, Mark 16:17-18, can we do these things without fasting?
I believe there are too many scriptures about power in fasting, direction, deliverance & repentance to think lightly of.
Fasting is submission, Romans 13:7, Luke 20:25, Matthew 17:25-26,
Hopefully these are helpful