"But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment."
Revelation 20:11
"And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them."
Revelation 20:12
"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works."
Revelation 20:13
"And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works."
Matthew 19:17
"And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments."
Revelation 22:14
"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."
"Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men."
Matthew 6:14
"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:"
Ephesians 4:32
"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
Romans 3:23
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
Good news on my end; my restricted diet to deal with IBS type symptoms seems to be starting to work to keep me more regular.
Not that I need that up on a billboard or anything just that I may have mentioned the situation a few months back.
Let us study Luke 10:21 as it has been on my mind the last few days- In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. It is noteworthy that all other translations I have surveyed other than KJV state the Holy Spirit rather than in spirit. Since He is part of the Godhead perhaps it doesn't mean that much; but this was a rare moment He and the disciples seemed to be "in sync". We also should see that this was the 70 sent out to preach the Good News on a sort of initial "trial run" and they rejoiced that demons trembled at His name.
The following verse clarifies a repeated truth. It states in verse 10:22 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.
This passage indicates God's predestination and calling of His elect ONLY. Read in the broader context we see surrounding verses discuss that this is the fulfillment of what the prophets of old waited for; and sadly the Pharisees refused to see as fulfillment proving that indeed; He was the Messiah. Just as no one had been healed of sight in the O.T. (read John 9 for context); no one had been freed from demons. We do have the case of Saul being temporarily relieved by David's music; which reminds us of Matthew 12:45.
In this case; the report is of demons that seem to flee merely at the speaking of the Truth as they recognize Christ's authority.
This is probably the most common occurrence rather than today's sideshows often filmed for attention online
I focused an earlier segment on 2 Peter 3:16 regarding twisting scripture that is complex; today I want to focus on another verse.
1 Timothy 6:3-5: "If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words."
At best a tare is someone who tolerates church; Bible reading and other Christian activities. One way or another they play church. As the Word says in Matthew 12:34
34 Brood[a] of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
I was thinking of the last part of the passage but in reality we see in the whole verse the true evil we are discussing here.
The Pharisees certainly were masters at form and ceremony for recognition. There are some tares in the church today that do this; if they aren't just sitting on the sidelines; they are likely to be endlessly conversing; oftentimes not about the Word I would surmise. When they are I would say 9 times out of 10 it is praising the Pastor for the message and delivery and people centered on those whose influence is most important to their own social circle of interest (likely business or for gossip purposes). Again as I have cautioned before someone can be immature in the faith who does this; and conversely more dangerously may appear in many more ways to do works that demonstrate genuine faith. Less often would that be focusing on prayer and other such activities outside church. I would say that this could be; as with my earlier posting be someone who is ultimately swayed by a political agenda; and that can be on either side of the spectrum. If we agree with the right for instance it should never be at the expense of idolizing anyone in power; or supporting excesses of power not in their authority to do.
Blessings to you. My thoughts on this topic are below:
"If there is one command that we are to follow that would be sufficient and acceptable to God, it would be..."
God's Word has many commands to follow, not just a la carte. Jesus says what the greatest commandment is and it's not that one. If you're saying only one of God's commands are acceptable to God that's like saying God wants you to ignore what HE says. That doesn't make sense. Of course we're to obey all of God's moral commands.
"I am saved no matter what."
That is not what Paul means by having assurance of salvation. God favors the meek, humble, pure in heart. Proverbs 16:18, Matthew 7:21, Proverbs 22:4, James 4:10, Matthew 12:32, 1 Peter 1:5
"The command to follow Him means 24/7, not when we choose to do so or not do so."
Or else, does anything happen or not? Some believe obedience is only a suggestion and optional, like tipping. James 1:21 to the end explains it well.
Some concluding thoughts on persecution during Christ's earthly reign
Remember what I told you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.'[a] If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. ( John 15:20)
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. ( 2 Timothy 3:12).
Let us summarize several types of persecution:
1. Verbal: Accusing Christ of working with the power of Beelzebub ( Matthew 12:24)
Accusing Christ of illegitimate birth ( John 8:41)
Accusing Christ of blasphemy ( John 10:33 when they attempted to stone Him for claiming to be God
Accusing Christ of being a glutton and alcoholic (implied with response in Matthew 11:18-19) when He ate with
"sinners"
2. Physical Numerous attempts to stone Jesus; throw Him off a cliff; etc.
3. His trial
Twisting prophetic statement of destroying the Temple and rebuilding in 3 days ( Matt. 27:39-40 quoting statement made way back in John 2:19
Mocking Him with regal garments; beating Him with a rod; smashing a crown of thorns on His head; beating with a whip of metal and glass shards; spitting at Him; forcing Him to carry the cross until collapse; and the crucifixion which also involved the Jews urging Him to be crucified and releasing a murdurer; mocking Him again to "get off of the cross"; jeering from those crucified alongside Him; and many other things.
I am abbreviating this study as one needs only to read the Gospels to get a sense of the intensity of the trials which Christ endured for the sake of the elect and His disciples and to do the Father's will; first and foremost. Persecution and death for the Apostles and many in the early church is good reading also to see how true revival often is birthed.
I hope this does you good. I heard someone say How easy it is, with time and emotion, to allow the truth received to become diluted. But now I'm moving towards true love is also watchfulness. - But keeping it, oh, that part is harder. My soul, made for feeling, hasn't always known how to watch.
So, I hope that these words - will be for you a reminder that true faith is simple, the way is narrow, and God's heart is wide in mercy. (Be it Revelation 3:20; See Matthew 12:7; See Hosea 6:6) But our Lord declared firmly and tenderly: 'I want mercy, not sacrifice'. Thus, even those who see themselves without religious titles or external merits can find welcome in Him, for the door that is Christ - as John tells us - there is no key, no ritual, but only trust and step by step. ( Matthew 9:13; John 10).
Hello Janathome2. Job 14:5 states, "Seeing his (man's) days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass..". God, Who has gifted each one of us life, has also determined the day of our death. We might think that someone who has had a sudden unexpected death had his life cut short without God's Knowledge or has 'cut across God's bounds set for him'. But that is not so, as the Giver of Life knows all about us, what we will do with our lives, our acceptance or rejection of Him, and the day of our death. So, we have no power in our minds or even our words, to cause someone to die. Yet, we are accountable to God for the workings of our minds and certainly, if we plan or even cause another person to suffer in any way.
But the Scripture you gave ( Proverbs 18:21) might seem to suggest differently. I believe that the writer is showing us what James in his letter speaks often about; see James chapter 3, where James writes about the tongue (it's boasting, carrier of poison, spewer of both cursing & blessing, a fire, a defiler of our body, etc.). It's only a little member of our bodies, but can do the greatest damage to others, even oneself). And so the Proverbs writer I feel, says the same thing: that how we use our tongue (our words, which come from our minds & hearts), can be either praiseworthy by giving wise counsel, help, & guidance to those in need, or our words can be damnable issuing forth hatred, cursing, trap-setting, false witness and bad justice. But as James writes in verse 2, "If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body." And "perfect" here is the mature, moral, self-disciplined person who has control over his mind and body, and over his tongue that can express the contents of the heart (see Matthew 12:34). So, we can't cause death by cursing another (whether from the heart or the tongue), but we can do great damage to our lives before God.
Ok Bennymkje, since you've shared again, I respond. You've quoted Exodus 34:28 (Moses' fasting), Matthew 4:2 (Jesus' temptation), Acts 1:3 (Jesus' Resurrection) to show the importance and connection to "40 days". Supposing I also add to those: Genesis 7:12 (Rain on the Earth), Numbers 13:25 (searching out the land), 1 Samuel 17:16 (Goliath's presentation), Jonah 3:4 (Jonah's cry); how would these other 40 mentions of mine figure in your interpretation? No connection at all, yet the number 40 is consistent so it must be important, shouldn't it?
Whereas Matthew 12:40 (Jonah in the fish's belly) does connect with Jonah 1:17. Why? Because the Lord Himself wanted to give the religious leaders the sign they sought. Jonah wasn't stuck in the belly because Jesus much later would be "in the heart of the earth". Jonah happened to be in the fish for that time and Jesus used that event to describe & prophesy to these leaders that He too would spend the same time in the tomb. The connection & understanding is clear, for Jesus had made it. But to maintain consistency with this, if I introduce 1 Samuel 30:12 (the young Egyptian who was starving for 3 days & 3 nights), then I destroy what sense and connection the Matthew & Jonah verses made to each other. I hope you can see why it is difficult for me, and likely others, to really understand your connections and interpretations.
Though I do agree with you on this: "If every believer knew truth there would not be so many heresies and so many sects"; and I would add, to "rightly divide the Word", so that Word would become much more precious & rich in every heart who hears it.
Luke 7:30 states But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.
This verse was discussed in the ongoing sermon on Luke today; although I have never noticed until now that statement or considered the implications.
This dangerous action of disobeying God's messenger was to have profound implications which would bring the unique sin of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit later on for these religious leaders. They were exposed and set apart for this particular evil and Jesus said:
31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. ( Matt. 12:31-32).
Consider this in the light of John the Baptist himself. He languished in prison and was asking through messengers if Jesus truly was the Messiah! We see this in Matthew 11:2-3 and then Jesus responds about ongoing miracles; in particular the blind being healed. This is important as no one had seen that miracle in the Old Testament; Elijah had raised a dead child in 1 Kings 17:17-24.
John 9 itself is quite a read; as the entire chapter is about a blind man being healed. Verse 32 is where the blind man after repeated interrogations on the subject rebukes the Pharisees since no one blind had ever been healed then they cast him out of their presence. Finally the man is revealed that Jesus is the "Son of Man" (verse 37) and he summarily worships Christ.
This is some pretty deep stuff and if I haven't gone over it would be good for a more detailed explanation (probably did each chapter in John when going over predestination as a concept).
The climax of the issue is Matthew 12:31-32 in regard to blasphemy of the Spirit. Sobering words.
Not all bibles use the same words but if a translation uses a different word than what we have in the KJB, that does not necessarily mean that the other translation is incorrect.
Taking Isaiah 45:7 as an example (as you have provided), we have to consider the original language used. We know that the OT was mostly written in Hebrew with very little Aramaic.
The Hebrew word used in Isaiah 45:7 is Ra' (pronounced rah) which can be translated into English as Evil, bad, wicked, harmful, or unpleasant. If you look up the Hebrew word Ra' in a Strongs Concordance, it lists evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity as definitions. In some English translations, you will see the word calamity used instead of evil.
So, if an English translation uses one of these words instead of the word evil, they would be correct. For instance, if someone is using the English Standard Version (ESV) Bible, and in Matthew 16:4, their translation says evil, but I'm using the KJB which says wicked, which translation would be correct? Some might say the KJB is correct because all other English translations are "evil" (pun intended).
If I say the King James is correct because I believe it is flawless, then what do I do with Matthew 12:39 (KJB) where Matthew is saying the same thing in Matthew 16:4 (KJB), except in one place he says a wicked and adulterous generation, and in another place, he says an evil an adulterous generation. Which one is correct, evil or wicked?
Concluding thoughts for now on Christ's perfect character.
I am not sure if continuing the rest of Matthew will bring out a lot of new points of this particular subject but I may do it anyway for general insights. The last posting about Jesus and His statement about who are His mother and brothers in Matthew 12:48
must have been rather stinging in the family's ears. He had demonstrated love and loyalty to His family so they had to know there was no malice in His words. Perhaps we need to remember that when we consider counting the cost ( Luke 14:28).
Here's the lyrics of that old song from David Meece originally out in 1983; I'll focus on the second verse as most pertinent today:
The modern-day disciple
Still has a price to pay
There's a war within, and a war with sin
And he fights it ev'ryday
So be sure and understand
The voice you hear behind the call
You can't come with half a heart
Because He's asking for it all
Kind of smacks you like a V-8 commercial. You don't see 'em lyrics anymO!
Ok; I digress. God uses men to help encourage and rebuke us; and generally motivate us by example and prodding for service in the Kingdom. In the long run; we all have to come to personal communion with the Lord regularly to learn to seek His face and hear His voice to continue to run the race and endure to the end. If we don't we WILL fail; burn out or some sadly will apostatize. The thought is enough to bring tears to my eyes; but it must be godly sorrow as a million tears of human sorrow as to unfaithfulness and disobedience amount to nothing. Today frankly we don't even see much worldly sorrow! Jesus was a man of sorrows; and acquainted with our grief ( Isaiah 53:3). Surely the Apostle's lives weren't exactly a rose garden (except for the thorns I suppose). But they would be rewarded ( Rev. 21:14). He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many.. ( Isaiah 53:11)
The extensive use of scriptures in much of the Gospels by Christ were given for several reasons. First explaining the fullness of the law by explanations in His public preaching showed that He was the Lord; even over the Sabbath. It shows fulfillments; and was particularly poignant to the Pharisees who thought they had knowledge but didn't comprehend that Jesus's authority meant that He indeed was the "I am". Their obsession over many man made additions to the law were rebuked by scripture; such as the earlier example in Matthew 12 with David and the shewbread when the law (in this case more ceremonial) was broken due to the necessity of feeding David and His companions fleeing from Saul. It is an interesting sidenote that David also was to become King at a later time much like Christ when He returns and that God had to look after his needs as well.
Jesus saved to the end; including the thief on the cross when He was going through the agony of final moments of the crucifixion. He truly served to the end ( Mark 10:45).
Christ spent most of His life sort of self exiled; being submissive to service to His parents. This would demonstrate the deeper meaning of the age of 30 and Jewish manhood; no doubt. We need to remember that was just as significant as the rest of His life even if we don't see it. Having a perfect worker around is something I can only envy in my own forgetfullness and ineptitude on a daily basis but it must have been a sight to behold. One can only imagine the conversations about the Lord which would have been going on. We also see through the evidence of John being called to live with His mother that Joseph at some time previous to then had died. Therefore He was also living out the mandate that he who doesn't take care of His own family is worth less than an infidel or unbeliever ( 1 Tim. 5:8). Such loyalty makes His statement in Matthew 12:48 more poignant; surely hard to hear.
Matthew 12:33 "Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit."
Matthew 19:16 "And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?"
Matthew 19:17 "And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments."
Exodus 20:8-11 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Christ was also referred to as the 2nd Adam ( 1 Cor. 15:45; also seen in Romans 5). Hence Adam was designed in the image of God but because of his sin it affected all his offspring therefore we inherited his sin nature during conception ( Psalm 51:5). Men at that time when Christ lived on the earth expected the Messiah to come to earth and vanquish them of their enemies; hence tried to make him king ( John 6:15). His reaction was to go to withdraw Himself to the mountains (likely to pray).
A cursory examination of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 shows statements that at first seem to contradict the law; or at the very least make the ramifications more severe for our thoughts about things that may or may not become actions. This was illustrated with lusting after a woman being adultery in the heart; and more stringent laws on putting away one's wife. This explanation was brought out further in Matthew 19:8 with the Pharisees on the subject as to the concepts tied in with Deuteronomy 24. This shows that Christ was; as a member of the Godhead able to define and even change what was considered the law to make it more perfect as no one before Him ever was able to live out a sinless life following the law perfectly. Ultimately certain ceremonial laws were brought to an end as seen in Acts 10:15; but alluded to in Mark 7:18-19.
Hence the method of rituals related to the animal sacrifices also was to be ended with the New Covenant. Overall we can say the 10 Commandments as a moral law remain as a universal statute; although the mandatory 7th day of rest only given for Israel and its occupants has been replaced with Sunday as a day of rest although Colossians 2:16-17 says we should avoid disputes over Sabbath Days and I would add Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath ( Matthew 12:8). I am not here to get into a debate over that issue.
To have the law in our hearts was a future promise that Christ demonstrates ( Jeremiah 31:16-18).
Can we loose our Salvation ? ? This is very scary for any Christians .
Jesus warns us about denying Him .
Matthew 10:33
But whosoever shalldenymebeforemen, him will I alsodenybefore my Father which is in heaven.
Jesus told Peter that he was going to deny Jesus.
Mark 14:30
And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before thecockcrowtwice, thou shalt deny me thrice.
Peter has deny Jesus . As we know, Peter became an Apostle and still followed Jesus after His death. Peter never lost his Salvation.
Mark 14:72
And the second time thecockcrew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before thecockcrowtwice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.
Jesus warns us of blasphemy.
Matthew 12:31
Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin andblasphemyshall be forgiven unto men: buttheblasphemyagainsttheHolyGhostshall not be forgiven unto men.
Apostle Paul, before he got saved, use to be a blasphemer. Apostle Paul never lost his Salvation. Apostle Paul wrote 13 books of the Bible.
1 Timothy 1:13
Who was before ablasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
I believe that you are aware of the verses I am going to list below and probably you interprete them in your own way but nevertheless.
Verses that show that the Holy Spirit is a person, not an impersonal thing, like a mere power:
Firstly it is true that God does everything through His Spirit, but not really everything, we will see it later on. That is why the Spirit is called, especially in the OT, as the hand or arm of God, because as a man uses his hand or arm to do things similarly God uses His Spirit.
1. Matthew 3:16-17, "16And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:" 17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased".
Here we see the Father separate from the Son and the Spirit. The voice from heaven was not the Spirit's voice but Father's
2. Matthew 28:19, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:".
Why is the Holly Spirit included in the name of God if it is a mere thing? And why one name instead of three names?
3. Matthew 12:25-32, "And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; ...26And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; ...? 28if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.....31Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come."
Thanks, brother, I'm not the best at putting on paper my understanding. I know some Scriptures refer to the Holy Spirit as he, but the Spirit is the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God dwells in us, Romans 8:9, 1 Corinthians 3:16 and, more. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that does the work of God, Romans 15:19, Jesus did the miracles by the Holy Spirit, Matthew 12:28, Luke 4:18, Acts 10:38, Hebrews 2:4.
Jesus said the words He spoke were not His words but the Fathers and God did the works, this was done by the Holy Spirit through Jesus. John 14:10. Jesus said the Holy Spirit/Comforter proceedeth from the Father John 15:26, Jesus said the Holy Ghost will not speak of himself but what he is told, so the Holy Spirit is under the direction of the Father and Jesus, John 16:13.
All the salutations are from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is not in any salutations. In Revelation 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb is the temple of it. No Holy Spirit, what I see in Scripture is the Holy Spirit is the conduit that God works through and now Jesus as well.
I hope this gives you enough info to see how I see the Holy Spirit and I know that is not what many believe. I do not want to offend and I hope I don't, but this is what I see in Scripture. I do not see the Holy Spirit as a person but as the power of God that surrounds this earth by which God and Jesus dwell in us to communicate, guide, and comfort us.
Hello Timmywynne. There are many Scriptures that point to the Triune Nature of God, and specifically, that Jesus Christ & the Holy Spirit are revealed to us from the very Being of God the Father. When we think of the Trinity, we know we won't find that word in the Bible, as it is purely a descriptive word of what the Bible declares to be the fullness of God's Being. So to the verses you seek, and you will need to read them fully in your Bible.
Of Jesus Christ: Isaiah 9:6,7 (an Old Testament Prophecy); Micah 5:2 & John 1:1-14 (from everlasting); Matthew 1:22,23; Mark 2:5-7; John 8:56-58; John 16: 27,28; John 17:4,5; John 20:27,28; Philippians 2:5-7; Colossians 1:15-17; Colossians 2:9; 1 Timothy 3:16; Titus 3:13; Hebrews 1:1-3; Hebrews 1:8-10; 1 John 5:7; 1 John 5:20.
Of the Holy Spirit: Matthew 12:31; Luke 1:34,35; Luke 11:13; John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:7-11; Acts 5:3; Acts 8:29; Acts 13:4; Romans 8:14; Romans 8:26,27; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 Corinthians 12:11; Ephesians 4:30; Hebrews 10:29; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 5:6.
The above are a few Scriptures that point to the deity of Jesus Christ & God's Spirit: all showing that they don't work independently from God, but have been sent out from God, from God's Being, to accomplish His Purposes in the world. And we know that Jesus, as the Word of God clothed with humanity, is the very expression of God to the world ( John 14:9; 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 John 4:2). Hope these will help you in your study of this very important doctrine. Blessings.
The Laws that a converted Israel would receive, would no longer be as those formerly written on stone, but now 'in fleshy tables of the heart' ( 2 Corinthians 3:3). The Old has decayed and vanished away, only because of Jesus & His institution of the New Covenant. Let us not abide by things that are from the old economy, as even now, priests still wear religious garb & mitres, with their incense lamps as did the Jewish priests of old, rather to embrace what God's Spirit has for us in our hearts & lives, never leading us into condemnation.
As for your reference to Matthew 12:36-42, I'm not going to debate that, for I believe as you do, in what Jesus said about His death & resurrection relating it to Jonah's entombment in the 'whale'. The issue is first with the references I gave earlier, viz Mark 16:1,2,9, with John 20:1 complementing it. If the two Marys came "very early in the morning on the first day of the week", & "it was still dark", that tells me that they had arrived at the sepulchre to anoint Jesus' Body before dawn broke on the first day of the week (Sunday). Yes, the Jewish Sunday started after sundown Sabbath, but it still was Sunday when morning broke. You stated: "The earliest they (the Marys) could come to the tomb and administer the spices was as Saturday ended that very evening and Sunday began to dawn, which occurs at SUNDOWN. So Mary came at sundown Saturday." If Saturday (Sabbath) ended in the evening, the dawn of Sunday was still 10-12 hours away; if a day dawns, it is when the sun begins to rise - the day cannot dawn straight after the sun sets the previous day. This shows that the women came up to 12 hours after the Sabbath Day ended (i.e. the next day, Sunday). So I don't get your timeline here.
And just a final personal, maybe rhetorical, question: do you consider yourself to be wholly subject to the New Covenant in Christ's Blood, or do you believe it is necessary to embrace both the Old & the New to be right before God?
36But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. 38Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 39But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. 42The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
So now, do you think that Jesus said what he did in idle fashion?
Jonah 1:17
"Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights."
As for what you posted, it is a misnomer. A day starts at evening and ends at evening. There is a mistranslation in scripture. It's not as the sun began to rise ....it's as the new day began to dawn or spring forth, or up. Mary came to the tomb as Saturday ended and Sunday began, which was SUNSET. When a new day begins!
The following verse is a more accurate description and translation.
John 20:1
"The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre."
Isaiah 66:4 says "I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not."
This reminds us of the sobering verse of 2 Thessalonians 2:11 on "The lie" which no doubt means Antichrist and his false prophet ultimately in the Tribulation.
John 10:38 states that we can believe in Christ simply because of the miracles He does; but many others warn of thinking He is anything other than God's Son which itself is only revealed by the Father in heaven to whom He chooses.(see Matthew 16:13-20; and Matthew 11:27 just a couple chapters back as well as much of the Gospel of John for further study on these truths.)
Isaiah 53:2 dispels all the images made of Christ which are venerated. The opposite of not believing Him and the potential of committing the unpardonable sin of blaspheming the Spirit ( Matthew 12:31) is elevating Christ to that of any other man; as the Son of Man is greater than His creation. We see other verses where He excoriates those in the cities where He did many miracles and stated the punishment for unbelief would be greater than that of Sodom. With Peter we see how the thoughts of man no matter how "noble" they may have seemed in respect to Jesus not dying on the cross because of His notoriety brought the stern rebuke against Satan himself who was operating through Peter at the time; remarkably very shortly after Christ revealed that Peter could only have recieved revelation as to who He truly was from God Himself.
We can look at many in the ministry today as we approach the last days judgment of the church before the rest of the world is judged and see how many traps lead men to perdition. We need to be real and believe Jesus when He states the narrow road is only followed by a few; especially when Christianity is "politically correct."
The passage in John reminds me of Matthew 12:48-50.
"But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Matthew 12:23 - And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
Now, the phrase "son of David" is another phrase for the Messiah, the son of David. But in the Greek text, the negative participle that is used means that the question is expecting the answer no. This is not the son of David, is it?
What they are saying is that He's doing all the things that Messiah is supposed to do when He comes, but it can't be Him!
Matthew 12:30 - He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
Two things I want to share with you about the Greek. Do you see the word "is," the third word in the verse? That's actually a Present Participle, and it denotes continuous action. He that is not continually with me is against me. And he that is not continually gathering with me is scattering. So, in other words if you are not continuously gathering together and following Christ, Jesus said you are against me.
There's no gray area and no middle ground! Jesus said you are either following me or you are against me. He didn't say you have to reject me to be against me. Jesus said, if you're not following me, you are against me.
Matthew 12:40 - For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
He says the only sign that you're to receive is the sign of Jonah, for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, and it is not a whale. The Greek word means a great fish. And they have found down through history, large fish from this area with parts of human beings inside, so it is possible. But this was a miracle. A great fish swallowed Jonah and spit him up on the shores of Nineveh.
I am going to stop here for the night. I will try and pick back up tomorrow.
Matthew 8:26 - And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
Jesus gets up and He rebukes. He says to them, why are ye fearful? The word fearful in Greek is not the word for fear. It's a word that means to be without courage. This could be better translated, "Why are you without courage, O little faith ones?"
Matthew 9:17 - Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.
The word bottle is the word skins. These are not bottles that we know.
Matthew 9:32 - As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.
When He went out, they brought to him a dumb man (somebody who couldn't speak). The Greek word would be translated MUTE. His condition was that he was demonized. He was mute because of the demon.
Matthew 10:16 - Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
The word "harmless" in the Greek means artless. It literally means don't use your own ingenuity. In other words, God is not impressed when we use our ideas to do His work. Be wise as serpents. How is the serpent wise? Well, he is very alert and he watches and doesn't make quick reactions. We are to observe and be artless as doves. Jesus said that's the kind of person I will use.
Matthew 12:20 - A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
These are long stemmed reeds that are hollow on the inside, and they break really easy. So, when Jesus comes upon somebody that has a very frail weak condition like one of these weeds, He's not going to break them. He is going to help them.
A smoking flax is a wick of a lamp that is smoldering, but it's not lit.
All truth is in God's WORD destroying the WORKS of SATAN.
2 Corinthians 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into and ANGEL OF LIGHT
Matthew 12:28 If I (TRUTH) cast out devils by the Spirit of God, theis the KINGDOM of GOD has come unto you.
God does his work in AGES, there has been AGES before the AGE we are currently in, and there are AGES to come.
IN the AGE we are a presently in God is calling out a priesthood to be judges of those those billions who never heard the gospel of the kingdom of God, and the ones that did hear, but died in ignorance of the TRUTH.
Those who are CAUSED to BELIEVE his words will be set over those raised at the second resurrection to JUDGE them by the TRUTH of God's word, as we have been judged by the truth of God's word.
Psalms 22:27 ALL the ends of the earth shall REMEMBER and turn unto the Lord: ALL the kindreds of the earth shall WORSHIP before thee.
Psalms 22:29 And they that be fat upon the earth (the called out) shall eat and WORSHIP (in TRUTH and SPIRIT), and they that go down to the dust (death and the grave) shall BOW BEFORE HIM: and NONE can keep alive his own soul.
1 Timothy 4:10 For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the SAVIOR OF ALL MEN (most in the AGES to come), especially of those that BELIEVE (in this AGE).
Philippians 1:29 For unto you it is GIVEN (gifted) on the behalf of CHRIST to not only BELIEVE on him, but also to suffer for his sake,
Obadiah 1:21 And SAVIORS (those that have become the image of Christ) shall come upon mount Zion to JUDGE the house of ESAU, and the kingdom shall be the LORDS
In the Bible, we see devils, unclean spirits that can occupy and control a human body, but I have not found in the Bible where they came from and why they are on the earth. There are angels locked in chains of darkness, 2 Peter 2:4 and Jude 1:6 that said they sinned, but we are not told what that sin was it must be something different than just rebelling, to me this points to Genesis 6. We talk about fallen angels but that is not in the Bible. We see there is a hierarchy of angels and devils we see in Matthew 12:43-45.
Matter of fact these three verses were at the heart of the things that happened, the person who was possessed was trying to get seven of us in one location together the reason was never known because the seven were never all together, and we did not let that happen. Satan has rebelled against God but still has access to heaven, Job 1,2. It does not say but I would understand the other angels who have rebelled still have access to heaven because we see they are cast out in Rev. 12.
I feel that angels and devils/unclean spirits are different just by some things I have seen there is no clear proof in the Bible so you may be correct all I can say their evil thankfully there are more good ones faithful and loyal to God.
The only thing I can understand about what happened in that church was before I was saved and it was trying to stop that from happening, or it was done by God to get us away from that church not sure.
"But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment."
Revelation 20:11
"And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them."
Revelation 20:12
"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works."
Revelation 20:13
"And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works."
Matthew 19:17
"And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments."
Revelation 22:14
"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."
Blessings
"Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men."
Matthew 6:14
"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:"
Ephesians 4:32
"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
Romans 3:23
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
Blessings
James 1:26
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
Matthew 12:36
"But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment."
Blessings
Matthew 12:36
"But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment."
Blessings
Not that I need that up on a billboard or anything just that I may have mentioned the situation a few months back.
Let us study Luke 10:21 as it has been on my mind the last few days- In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. It is noteworthy that all other translations I have surveyed other than KJV state the Holy Spirit rather than in spirit. Since He is part of the Godhead perhaps it doesn't mean that much; but this was a rare moment He and the disciples seemed to be "in sync". We also should see that this was the 70 sent out to preach the Good News on a sort of initial "trial run" and they rejoiced that demons trembled at His name.
The following verse clarifies a repeated truth. It states in verse 10:22 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.
This passage indicates God's predestination and calling of His elect ONLY. Read in the broader context we see surrounding verses discuss that this is the fulfillment of what the prophets of old waited for; and sadly the Pharisees refused to see as fulfillment proving that indeed; He was the Messiah. Just as no one had been healed of sight in the O.T. (read John 9 for context); no one had been freed from demons. We do have the case of Saul being temporarily relieved by David's music; which reminds us of Matthew 12:45.
In this case; the report is of demons that seem to flee merely at the speaking of the Truth as they recognize Christ's authority.
This is probably the most common occurrence rather than today's sideshows often filmed for attention online
I focused an earlier segment on 2 Peter 3:16 regarding twisting scripture that is complex; today I want to focus on another verse.
1 Timothy 6:3-5: "If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words."
At best a tare is someone who tolerates church; Bible reading and other Christian activities. One way or another they play church. As the Word says in Matthew 12:34
34 Brood[a] of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
I was thinking of the last part of the passage but in reality we see in the whole verse the true evil we are discussing here.
The Pharisees certainly were masters at form and ceremony for recognition. There are some tares in the church today that do this; if they aren't just sitting on the sidelines; they are likely to be endlessly conversing; oftentimes not about the Word I would surmise. When they are I would say 9 times out of 10 it is praising the Pastor for the message and delivery and people centered on those whose influence is most important to their own social circle of interest (likely business or for gossip purposes). Again as I have cautioned before someone can be immature in the faith who does this; and conversely more dangerously may appear in many more ways to do works that demonstrate genuine faith. Less often would that be focusing on prayer and other such activities outside church. I would say that this could be; as with my earlier posting be someone who is ultimately swayed by a political agenda; and that can be on either side of the spectrum. If we agree with the right for instance it should never be at the expense of idolizing anyone in power; or supporting excesses of power not in their authority to do.
"If there is one command that we are to follow that would be sufficient and acceptable to God, it would be..."
God's Word has many commands to follow, not just a la carte. Jesus says what the greatest commandment is and it's not that one. If you're saying only one of God's commands are acceptable to God that's like saying God wants you to ignore what HE says. That doesn't make sense. Of course we're to obey all of God's moral commands.
"I am saved no matter what."
That is not what Paul means by having assurance of salvation. God favors the meek, humble, pure in heart. Proverbs 16:18, Matthew 7:21, Proverbs 22:4, James 4:10, Matthew 12:32, 1 Peter 1:5
"The command to follow Him means 24/7, not when we choose to do so or not do so."
Or else, does anything happen or not? Some believe obedience is only a suggestion and optional, like tipping. James 1:21 to the end explains it well.
Remember what I told you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.'[a] If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. ( John 15:20)
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. ( 2 Timothy 3:12).
Let us summarize several types of persecution:
1. Verbal: Accusing Christ of working with the power of Beelzebub ( Matthew 12:24)
Accusing Christ of illegitimate birth ( John 8:41)
Accusing Christ of blasphemy ( John 10:33 when they attempted to stone Him for claiming to be God
Accusing Christ of being a glutton and alcoholic (implied with response in Matthew 11:18-19) when He ate with
"sinners"
2. Physical Numerous attempts to stone Jesus; throw Him off a cliff; etc.
3. His trial
Twisting prophetic statement of destroying the Temple and rebuilding in 3 days ( Matt. 27:39-40 quoting statement made way back in John 2:19
Mocking Him with regal garments; beating Him with a rod; smashing a crown of thorns on His head; beating with a whip of metal and glass shards; spitting at Him; forcing Him to carry the cross until collapse; and the crucifixion which also involved the Jews urging Him to be crucified and releasing a murdurer; mocking Him again to "get off of the cross"; jeering from those crucified alongside Him; and many other things.
I am abbreviating this study as one needs only to read the Gospels to get a sense of the intensity of the trials which Christ endured for the sake of the elect and His disciples and to do the Father's will; first and foremost. Persecution and death for the Apostles and many in the early church is good reading also to see how true revival often is birthed.
Agape.
I hope this does you good. I heard someone say How easy it is, with time and emotion, to allow the truth received to become diluted. But now I'm moving towards true love is also watchfulness. - But keeping it, oh, that part is harder. My soul, made for feeling, hasn't always known how to watch.
So, I hope that these words - will be for you a reminder that true faith is simple, the way is narrow, and God's heart is wide in mercy. (Be it Revelation 3:20; See Matthew 12:7; See Hosea 6:6) But our Lord declared firmly and tenderly: 'I want mercy, not sacrifice'. Thus, even those who see themselves without religious titles or external merits can find welcome in Him, for the door that is Christ - as John tells us - there is no key, no ritual, but only trust and step by step. ( Matthew 9:13; John 10).
But the Scripture you gave ( Proverbs 18:21) might seem to suggest differently. I believe that the writer is showing us what James in his letter speaks often about; see James chapter 3, where James writes about the tongue (it's boasting, carrier of poison, spewer of both cursing & blessing, a fire, a defiler of our body, etc.). It's only a little member of our bodies, but can do the greatest damage to others, even oneself). And so the Proverbs writer I feel, says the same thing: that how we use our tongue (our words, which come from our minds & hearts), can be either praiseworthy by giving wise counsel, help, & guidance to those in need, or our words can be damnable issuing forth hatred, cursing, trap-setting, false witness and bad justice. But as James writes in verse 2, "If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body." And "perfect" here is the mature, moral, self-disciplined person who has control over his mind and body, and over his tongue that can express the contents of the heart (see Matthew 12:34). So, we can't cause death by cursing another (whether from the heart or the tongue), but we can do great damage to our lives before God.
Whereas Matthew 12:40 (Jonah in the fish's belly) does connect with Jonah 1:17. Why? Because the Lord Himself wanted to give the religious leaders the sign they sought. Jonah wasn't stuck in the belly because Jesus much later would be "in the heart of the earth". Jonah happened to be in the fish for that time and Jesus used that event to describe & prophesy to these leaders that He too would spend the same time in the tomb. The connection & understanding is clear, for Jesus had made it. But to maintain consistency with this, if I introduce 1 Samuel 30:12 (the young Egyptian who was starving for 3 days & 3 nights), then I destroy what sense and connection the Matthew & Jonah verses made to each other. I hope you can see why it is difficult for me, and likely others, to really understand your connections and interpretations.
Though I do agree with you on this: "If every believer knew truth there would not be so many heresies and so many sects"; and I would add, to "rightly divide the Word", so that Word would become much more precious & rich in every heart who hears it.
This verse was discussed in the ongoing sermon on Luke today; although I have never noticed until now that statement or considered the implications.
This dangerous action of disobeying God's messenger was to have profound implications which would bring the unique sin of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit later on for these religious leaders. They were exposed and set apart for this particular evil and Jesus said:
31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. ( Matt. 12:31-32).
Consider this in the light of John the Baptist himself. He languished in prison and was asking through messengers if Jesus truly was the Messiah! We see this in Matthew 11:2-3 and then Jesus responds about ongoing miracles; in particular the blind being healed. This is important as no one had seen that miracle in the Old Testament; Elijah had raised a dead child in 1 Kings 17:17-24.
John 9 itself is quite a read; as the entire chapter is about a blind man being healed. Verse 32 is where the blind man after repeated interrogations on the subject rebukes the Pharisees since no one blind had ever been healed then they cast him out of their presence. Finally the man is revealed that Jesus is the "Son of Man" (verse 37) and he summarily worships Christ.
This is some pretty deep stuff and if I haven't gone over it would be good for a more detailed explanation (probably did each chapter in John when going over predestination as a concept).
The climax of the issue is Matthew 12:31-32 in regard to blasphemy of the Spirit. Sobering words.
(Part 1):
Not all bibles use the same words but if a translation uses a different word than what we have in the KJB, that does not necessarily mean that the other translation is incorrect.
Taking Isaiah 45:7 as an example (as you have provided), we have to consider the original language used. We know that the OT was mostly written in Hebrew with very little Aramaic.
The Hebrew word used in Isaiah 45:7 is Ra' (pronounced rah) which can be translated into English as Evil, bad, wicked, harmful, or unpleasant. If you look up the Hebrew word Ra' in a Strongs Concordance, it lists evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity as definitions. In some English translations, you will see the word calamity used instead of evil.
So, if an English translation uses one of these words instead of the word evil, they would be correct. For instance, if someone is using the English Standard Version (ESV) Bible, and in Matthew 16:4, their translation says evil, but I'm using the KJB which says wicked, which translation would be correct? Some might say the KJB is correct because all other English translations are "evil" (pun intended).
If I say the King James is correct because I believe it is flawless, then what do I do with Matthew 12:39 (KJB) where Matthew is saying the same thing in Matthew 16:4 (KJB), except in one place he says a wicked and adulterous generation, and in another place, he says an evil an adulterous generation. Which one is correct, evil or wicked?
I am not sure if continuing the rest of Matthew will bring out a lot of new points of this particular subject but I may do it anyway for general insights. The last posting about Jesus and His statement about who are His mother and brothers in Matthew 12:48
must have been rather stinging in the family's ears. He had demonstrated love and loyalty to His family so they had to know there was no malice in His words. Perhaps we need to remember that when we consider counting the cost ( Luke 14:28).
Here's the lyrics of that old song from David Meece originally out in 1983; I'll focus on the second verse as most pertinent today:
The modern-day disciple
Still has a price to pay
There's a war within, and a war with sin
And he fights it ev'ryday
So be sure and understand
The voice you hear behind the call
You can't come with half a heart
Because He's asking for it all
Kind of smacks you like a V-8 commercial. You don't see 'em lyrics anymO!
Ok; I digress. God uses men to help encourage and rebuke us; and generally motivate us by example and prodding for service in the Kingdom. In the long run; we all have to come to personal communion with the Lord regularly to learn to seek His face and hear His voice to continue to run the race and endure to the end. If we don't we WILL fail; burn out or some sadly will apostatize. The thought is enough to bring tears to my eyes; but it must be godly sorrow as a million tears of human sorrow as to unfaithfulness and disobedience amount to nothing. Today frankly we don't even see much worldly sorrow! Jesus was a man of sorrows; and acquainted with our grief ( Isaiah 53:3). Surely the Apostle's lives weren't exactly a rose garden (except for the thorns I suppose). But they would be rewarded ( Rev. 21:14). He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many.. ( Isaiah 53:11)
The extensive use of scriptures in much of the Gospels by Christ were given for several reasons. First explaining the fullness of the law by explanations in His public preaching showed that He was the Lord; even over the Sabbath. It shows fulfillments; and was particularly poignant to the Pharisees who thought they had knowledge but didn't comprehend that Jesus's authority meant that He indeed was the "I am". Their obsession over many man made additions to the law were rebuked by scripture; such as the earlier example in Matthew 12 with David and the shewbread when the law (in this case more ceremonial) was broken due to the necessity of feeding David and His companions fleeing from Saul. It is an interesting sidenote that David also was to become King at a later time much like Christ when He returns and that God had to look after his needs as well.
Jesus saved to the end; including the thief on the cross when He was going through the agony of final moments of the crucifixion. He truly served to the end ( Mark 10:45).
Christ spent most of His life sort of self exiled; being submissive to service to His parents. This would demonstrate the deeper meaning of the age of 30 and Jewish manhood; no doubt. We need to remember that was just as significant as the rest of His life even if we don't see it. Having a perfect worker around is something I can only envy in my own forgetfullness and ineptitude on a daily basis but it must have been a sight to behold. One can only imagine the conversations about the Lord which would have been going on. We also see through the evidence of John being called to live with His mother that Joseph at some time previous to then had died. Therefore He was also living out the mandate that he who doesn't take care of His own family is worth less than an infidel or unbeliever ( 1 Tim. 5:8). Such loyalty makes His statement in Matthew 12:48 more poignant; surely hard to hear.
Matthew 12:33 "Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit."
Matthew 19:16 "And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?"
Matthew 19:17 "And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments."
Exodus 20:8-11 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Christ was also referred to as the 2nd Adam ( 1 Cor. 15:45; also seen in Romans 5). Hence Adam was designed in the image of God but because of his sin it affected all his offspring therefore we inherited his sin nature during conception ( Psalm 51:5). Men at that time when Christ lived on the earth expected the Messiah to come to earth and vanquish them of their enemies; hence tried to make him king ( John 6:15). His reaction was to go to withdraw Himself to the mountains (likely to pray).
A cursory examination of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 shows statements that at first seem to contradict the law; or at the very least make the ramifications more severe for our thoughts about things that may or may not become actions. This was illustrated with lusting after a woman being adultery in the heart; and more stringent laws on putting away one's wife. This explanation was brought out further in Matthew 19:8 with the Pharisees on the subject as to the concepts tied in with Deuteronomy 24. This shows that Christ was; as a member of the Godhead able to define and even change what was considered the law to make it more perfect as no one before Him ever was able to live out a sinless life following the law perfectly. Ultimately certain ceremonial laws were brought to an end as seen in Acts 10:15; but alluded to in Mark 7:18-19.
Hence the method of rituals related to the animal sacrifices also was to be ended with the New Covenant. Overall we can say the 10 Commandments as a moral law remain as a universal statute; although the mandatory 7th day of rest only given for Israel and its occupants has been replaced with Sunday as a day of rest although Colossians 2:16-17 says we should avoid disputes over Sabbath Days and I would add Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath ( Matthew 12:8). I am not here to get into a debate over that issue.
To have the law in our hearts was a future promise that Christ demonstrates ( Jeremiah 31:16-18).
Can we loose our Salvation ? ? This is very scary for any Christians .
Jesus warns us about denying Him .
Matthew 10:33
But whosoever shalldenymebeforemen, him will I alsodenybefore my Father which is in heaven.
Jesus told Peter that he was going to deny Jesus.
Mark 14:30
And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before thecockcrowtwice, thou shalt deny me thrice.
Peter has deny Jesus . As we know, Peter became an Apostle and still followed Jesus after His death. Peter never lost his Salvation.
Mark 14:72
And the second time thecockcrew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before thecockcrowtwice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.
Jesus warns us of blasphemy.
Matthew 12:31
Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin andblasphemyshall be forgiven unto men: buttheblasphemyagainsttheHolyGhostshall not be forgiven unto men.
Apostle Paul, before he got saved, use to be a blasphemer. Apostle Paul never lost his Salvation. Apostle Paul wrote 13 books of the Bible.
1 Timothy 1:13
Who was before ablasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
Ray, in Christ Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Apostle Paul was a Pharisee and his name was Saul of Tarsus.
Philippians 3:5
Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, aPharisee;
Was this Pharisees Saul of Tarsus ?
Matthew 9:11
And when thePhariseessaw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
Was this Pharisees Saul of Tarsus ?
Matthew 12:2
But when thePhariseessaw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.
Was this Pharisees Saul of Tarsus ?
Matthew 19:3
ThePhariseesalso came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
Apostle Paul does not know Jesus Christ in the flesh anymore. Apostle Paul only knows Jesus Christ in the in the resurrection.
2 Corinthians 5:16
Wherefore henceforthknowwenoman after the flesh: yea, though we haveknown Christ after the flesh, yetnow henceforthknowwehimnomore.
Apostle Paul only knows the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:10
That I may know him, and the power of hisresurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Ray. In Christ Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
I believe that you are aware of the verses I am going to list below and probably you interprete them in your own way but nevertheless.
Verses that show that the Holy Spirit is a person, not an impersonal thing, like a mere power:
Firstly it is true that God does everything through His Spirit, but not really everything, we will see it later on. That is why the Spirit is called, especially in the OT, as the hand or arm of God, because as a man uses his hand or arm to do things similarly God uses His Spirit.
1. Matthew 3:16-17, "16And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:" 17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased".
Here we see the Father separate from the Son and the Spirit. The voice from heaven was not the Spirit's voice but Father's
2. Matthew 28:19, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:".
Why is the Holly Spirit included in the name of God if it is a mere thing? And why one name instead of three names?
3. Matthew 12:25-32, "And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; ...26And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; ...? 28if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.....31Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come."
Why is the Spirit insulted if it is not a person?
See pt2
Thanks, brother, I'm not the best at putting on paper my understanding. I know some Scriptures refer to the Holy Spirit as he, but the Spirit is the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God dwells in us, Romans 8:9, 1 Corinthians 3:16 and, more. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that does the work of God, Romans 15:19, Jesus did the miracles by the Holy Spirit, Matthew 12:28, Luke 4:18, Acts 10:38, Hebrews 2:4.
Jesus said the words He spoke were not His words but the Fathers and God did the works, this was done by the Holy Spirit through Jesus. John 14:10. Jesus said the Holy Spirit/Comforter proceedeth from the Father John 15:26, Jesus said the Holy Ghost will not speak of himself but what he is told, so the Holy Spirit is under the direction of the Father and Jesus, John 16:13.
All the salutations are from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is not in any salutations. In Revelation 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb is the temple of it. No Holy Spirit, what I see in Scripture is the Holy Spirit is the conduit that God works through and now Jesus as well.
I hope this gives you enough info to see how I see the Holy Spirit and I know that is not what many believe. I do not want to offend and I hope I don't, but this is what I see in Scripture. I do not see the Holy Spirit as a person but as the power of God that surrounds this earth by which God and Jesus dwell in us to communicate, guide, and comfort us.
God bless,
RLW
Of Jesus Christ: Isaiah 9:6,7 (an Old Testament Prophecy); Micah 5:2 & John 1:1-14 (from everlasting); Matthew 1:22,23; Mark 2:5-7; John 8:56-58; John 16: 27,28; John 17:4,5; John 20:27,28; Philippians 2:5-7; Colossians 1:15-17; Colossians 2:9; 1 Timothy 3:16; Titus 3:13; Hebrews 1:1-3; Hebrews 1:8-10; 1 John 5:7; 1 John 5:20.
Of the Holy Spirit: Matthew 12:31; Luke 1:34,35; Luke 11:13; John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:7-11; Acts 5:3; Acts 8:29; Acts 13:4; Romans 8:14; Romans 8:26,27; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 Corinthians 12:11; Ephesians 4:30; Hebrews 10:29; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 5:6.
The above are a few Scriptures that point to the deity of Jesus Christ & God's Spirit: all showing that they don't work independently from God, but have been sent out from God, from God's Being, to accomplish His Purposes in the world. And we know that Jesus, as the Word of God clothed with humanity, is the very expression of God to the world ( John 14:9; 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 John 4:2). Hope these will help you in your study of this very important doctrine. Blessings.
The Laws that a converted Israel would receive, would no longer be as those formerly written on stone, but now 'in fleshy tables of the heart' ( 2 Corinthians 3:3). The Old has decayed and vanished away, only because of Jesus & His institution of the New Covenant. Let us not abide by things that are from the old economy, as even now, priests still wear religious garb & mitres, with their incense lamps as did the Jewish priests of old, rather to embrace what God's Spirit has for us in our hearts & lives, never leading us into condemnation.
As for your reference to Matthew 12:36-42, I'm not going to debate that, for I believe as you do, in what Jesus said about His death & resurrection relating it to Jonah's entombment in the 'whale'. The issue is first with the references I gave earlier, viz Mark 16:1,2,9, with John 20:1 complementing it. If the two Marys came "very early in the morning on the first day of the week", & "it was still dark", that tells me that they had arrived at the sepulchre to anoint Jesus' Body before dawn broke on the first day of the week (Sunday). Yes, the Jewish Sunday started after sundown Sabbath, but it still was Sunday when morning broke. You stated: "The earliest they (the Marys) could come to the tomb and administer the spices was as Saturday ended that very evening and Sunday began to dawn, which occurs at SUNDOWN. So Mary came at sundown Saturday." If Saturday (Sabbath) ended in the evening, the dawn of Sunday was still 10-12 hours away; if a day dawns, it is when the sun begins to rise - the day cannot dawn straight after the sun sets the previous day. This shows that the women came up to 12 hours after the Sabbath Day ended (i.e. the next day, Sunday). So I don't get your timeline here.
And just a final personal, maybe rhetorical, question: do you consider yourself to be wholly subject to the New Covenant in Christ's Blood, or do you believe it is necessary to embrace both the Old & the New to be right before God?
Matthew 12:39 Context
36But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. 38Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 39But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. 42The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
So now, do you think that Jesus said what he did in idle fashion?
Jonah 1:17
"Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights."
As for what you posted, it is a misnomer. A day starts at evening and ends at evening. There is a mistranslation in scripture. It's not as the sun began to rise ....it's as the new day began to dawn or spring forth, or up. Mary came to the tomb as Saturday ended and Sunday began, which was SUNSET. When a new day begins!
The following verse is a more accurate description and translation.
John 20:1
"The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre."
Isaiah 66:4 says "I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not."
This reminds us of the sobering verse of 2 Thessalonians 2:11 on "The lie" which no doubt means Antichrist and his false prophet ultimately in the Tribulation.
John 10:38 states that we can believe in Christ simply because of the miracles He does; but many others warn of thinking He is anything other than God's Son which itself is only revealed by the Father in heaven to whom He chooses.(see Matthew 16:13-20; and Matthew 11:27 just a couple chapters back as well as much of the Gospel of John for further study on these truths.)
Isaiah 53:2 dispels all the images made of Christ which are venerated. The opposite of not believing Him and the potential of committing the unpardonable sin of blaspheming the Spirit ( Matthew 12:31) is elevating Christ to that of any other man; as the Son of Man is greater than His creation. We see other verses where He excoriates those in the cities where He did many miracles and stated the punishment for unbelief would be greater than that of Sodom. With Peter we see how the thoughts of man no matter how "noble" they may have seemed in respect to Jesus not dying on the cross because of His notoriety brought the stern rebuke against Satan himself who was operating through Peter at the time; remarkably very shortly after Christ revealed that Peter could only have recieved revelation as to who He truly was from God Himself.
We can look at many in the ministry today as we approach the last days judgment of the church before the rest of the world is judged and see how many traps lead men to perdition. We need to be real and believe Jesus when He states the narrow road is only followed by a few; especially when Christianity is "politically correct."
Phileo Love.
The passage in John reminds me of Matthew 12:48-50.
"But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Thanks and God bless.
Matthew 12:23 - And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
Now, the phrase "son of David" is another phrase for the Messiah, the son of David. But in the Greek text, the negative participle that is used means that the question is expecting the answer no. This is not the son of David, is it?
What they are saying is that He's doing all the things that Messiah is supposed to do when He comes, but it can't be Him!
Matthew 12:30 - He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
Two things I want to share with you about the Greek. Do you see the word "is," the third word in the verse? That's actually a Present Participle, and it denotes continuous action. He that is not continually with me is against me. And he that is not continually gathering with me is scattering. So, in other words if you are not continuously gathering together and following Christ, Jesus said you are against me.
There's no gray area and no middle ground! Jesus said you are either following me or you are against me. He didn't say you have to reject me to be against me. Jesus said, if you're not following me, you are against me.
Matthew 12:40 - For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
He says the only sign that you're to receive is the sign of Jonah, for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, and it is not a whale. The Greek word means a great fish. And they have found down through history, large fish from this area with parts of human beings inside, so it is possible. But this was a miracle. A great fish swallowed Jonah and spit him up on the shores of Nineveh.
I am going to stop here for the night. I will try and pick back up tomorrow.
Blessings to you all in Christ our Savior!
Matthew 8:26 - And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
Jesus gets up and He rebukes. He says to them, why are ye fearful? The word fearful in Greek is not the word for fear. It's a word that means to be without courage. This could be better translated, "Why are you without courage, O little faith ones?"
Matthew 9:17 - Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.
The word bottle is the word skins. These are not bottles that we know.
Matthew 9:32 - As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.
When He went out, they brought to him a dumb man (somebody who couldn't speak). The Greek word would be translated MUTE. His condition was that he was demonized. He was mute because of the demon.
Matthew 10:16 - Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
The word "harmless" in the Greek means artless. It literally means don't use your own ingenuity. In other words, God is not impressed when we use our ideas to do His work. Be wise as serpents. How is the serpent wise? Well, he is very alert and he watches and doesn't make quick reactions. We are to observe and be artless as doves. Jesus said that's the kind of person I will use.
Matthew 12:20 - A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
These are long stemmed reeds that are hollow on the inside, and they break really easy. So, when Jesus comes upon somebody that has a very frail weak condition like one of these weeds, He's not going to break them. He is going to help them.
A smoking flax is a wick of a lamp that is smoldering, but it's not lit.
All truth is in God's WORD destroying the WORKS of SATAN.
2 Corinthians 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into and ANGEL OF LIGHT
Matthew 12:28 If I (TRUTH) cast out devils by the Spirit of God, theis the KINGDOM of GOD has come unto you.
God does his work in AGES, there has been AGES before the AGE we are currently in, and there are AGES to come.
IN the AGE we are a presently in God is calling out a priesthood to be judges of those those billions who never heard the gospel of the kingdom of God, and the ones that did hear, but died in ignorance of the TRUTH.
Those who are CAUSED to BELIEVE his words will be set over those raised at the second resurrection to JUDGE them by the TRUTH of God's word, as we have been judged by the truth of God's word.
Psalms 22:27 ALL the ends of the earth shall REMEMBER and turn unto the Lord: ALL the kindreds of the earth shall WORSHIP before thee.
Psalms 22:29 And they that be fat upon the earth (the called out) shall eat and WORSHIP (in TRUTH and SPIRIT), and they that go down to the dust (death and the grave) shall BOW BEFORE HIM: and NONE can keep alive his own soul.
1 Timothy 4:10 For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the SAVIOR OF ALL MEN (most in the AGES to come), especially of those that BELIEVE (in this AGE).
Philippians 1:29 For unto you it is GIVEN (gifted) on the behalf of CHRIST to not only BELIEVE on him, but also to suffer for his sake,
Obadiah 1:21 And SAVIORS (those that have become the image of Christ) shall come upon mount Zion to JUDGE the house of ESAU, and the kingdom shall be the LORDS
God Bless You
In the Bible, we see devils, unclean spirits that can occupy and control a human body, but I have not found in the Bible where they came from and why they are on the earth. There are angels locked in chains of darkness, 2 Peter 2:4 and Jude 1:6 that said they sinned, but we are not told what that sin was it must be something different than just rebelling, to me this points to Genesis 6. We talk about fallen angels but that is not in the Bible. We see there is a hierarchy of angels and devils we see in Matthew 12:43-45.
Matter of fact these three verses were at the heart of the things that happened, the person who was possessed was trying to get seven of us in one location together the reason was never known because the seven were never all together, and we did not let that happen. Satan has rebelled against God but still has access to heaven, Job 1,2. It does not say but I would understand the other angels who have rebelled still have access to heaven because we see they are cast out in Rev. 12.
I feel that angels and devils/unclean spirits are different just by some things I have seen there is no clear proof in the Bible so you may be correct all I can say their evil thankfully there are more good ones faithful and loyal to God.
The only thing I can understand about what happened in that church was before I was saved and it was trying to stop that from happening, or it was done by God to get us away from that church not sure.
God bless,
RLW