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Post by civic on Jan 7, 2023 10:56:00 GMT -8
I'm very exited to be involved in a mens discipleship ministry at our church. We have 18-20 regular attenders since we started a couple months ago. From that group I started meeting with a young married man who is 21 and about to be a father. We were going through a book on being a disciple and making disciples. He is a seminary student and is required by the seminary to meet on a regular basis with someone in his church for discipleship.
After last weeks meeting one of the pastors asked if he could join our Saturday morning group and it was fine with me and to ask the other person who gladly said yes. Then another man who also asked to join our group. So now we have the 4 of us meeting on a regular basis. Today we were just trying to find out what each one wanted to get out of our time together besides the fellowship/discipleship aspect. And after discussing things our group wanted to deep dive into Christology, the Person and work of Christ. So I'm really looking forward to our time together and they want assignments to prepare for the next weeks get together.
So I suggested lets answer Jesus question below and deep dive into the topic.
Luke 9:18-20
18 Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”
19 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”
20 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.”
Matthew 16:13
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He questioned His disciples: "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"
Mark 8:27
Then Jesus and His disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way, He questioned His disciples: "Who do people say I am?"
So how would you answer the question ? Thanks
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Post by Parker on Jan 8, 2023 5:43:43 GMT -8
That is so awesome, I wish I could be there. I know you guys are going to learn a lot by lifting Him up.
As to your question "Who do people say I am/"? Well there is always the liar, lunatic or lord argument. It attempts to present a case through process of elimination of all other options, that Jesus Christ must be God. It was proposed by C.S. Lewis and popularized in Mere Christianity.
I've always liked the answer given by Dr. S.M. Lockridge, That's My King:
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Post by civic on Jan 8, 2023 5:56:35 GMT -8
That is so awesome, I wish I could be there. I know you guys are going to learn a lot by lifting Him up. As to your question "Who do people say I am/"? Well there is always the liar, lunatic or lord argument. It attempts to present a case through process of elimination of all other options, that Jesus Christ must be God. It was proposed by C.S. Lewis and popularized in Mere Christianity. I've always liked the answer given by Dr. S.M. Lockridge, That's My King: Thanks for bringing up the Lord. liar or lunatic. I will mention this next week.  |
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Post by civic on Jan 8, 2023 6:02:49 GMT -8
That is so awesome, I wish I could be there. I know you guys are going to learn a lot by lifting Him up. As to your question "Who do people say I am/"? Well there is always the liar, lunatic or lord argument. It attempts to present a case through process of elimination of all other options, that Jesus Christ must be God. It was proposed by C.S. Lewis and popularized in Mere Christianity. I've always liked the answer given by Dr. S.M. Lockridge, That's My King: Wow just WOW that is the best 3 minute sermon in the world. It gave me chills. I'm opening up next week with this for sure. We are deep diving into the Person of Christ and I have never heard anything that compares to this outside of the Bible. It makes me want to shout halleluiah. PTL brother !!! |
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Post by civic on Jan 14, 2023 16:38:58 GMT -8
That is so awesome, I wish I could be there. I know you guys are going to learn a lot by lifting Him up. As to your question "Who do people say I am/"? Well there is always the liar, lunatic or lord argument. It attempts to present a case through process of elimination of all other options, that Jesus Christ must be God. It was proposed by C.S. Lewis and popularized in Mere Christianity. I've always liked the answer given by Dr. S.M. Lockridge, That's My King: Everyone really like the video this morning when I shared it to open up our study on the person of Christ and who do people say that I Am. Next week we will be discussing Peters confession in Matthew 16 where he said you are the Christ/ Messiah. We will camp out on the identify of the Messiah as a small group of 4 and share our findings with each other. It may last 1 week or several weeks and I will see what they want to do in that regard. |
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Post by Parker on Jan 15, 2023 4:42:34 GMT -8
civicThat sounds great, I'll study "Christ/ Messiah" along with you. Maybe you can post a little of what you are learning. I'll see what I can come up with.
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Post by civic on Jan 15, 2023 5:04:17 GMT -8
Matthew 16:13-28
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[c] will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[e] loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Jesus Predicts His Death
21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
28 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
The guys wanted to begin with Peters confession that He is the Messiah then we will next talk about the Son of God. Its clear by Peters reaction to Jesus telling them His purpose for coming as the Messiah they had no clue what being the Messiah encompassed. Jesus rebukes him for his remarks.
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Post by Obadiah on Jan 15, 2023 5:47:57 GMT -8
civicBelow is a good explanation given by R. C. Sproul. I think the point may be “Who is Jesus to You Personally and Spiritually”. Who is Jesus in our walk with Him today. And how we came to know Him. It's a great study, our Life Group starts back up next week and I plan to bring it up. “Who Do You Say That I Am?”
The person in the New Testament who perhaps best symbolizes the permanence of regeneration is the apostle Peter. But Peter was not always called Peter; he was Simon Bar-Jonah until Jesus renamed him. What was the occasion for the bestowal of this new name? During the earthly ministry of Jesus, the disciples spent a considerable amount of time with Him. They were able to watch His activities. They saw Him heal the sick (Luke 8:40–48). They saw Him calm the tempest (Luke 7:22–25). They saw Him walk on water (Matt. 14:22–32). They saw Him turn water into wine (John 2:1–12). They saw Him raise people from the dead (Luke 7:11–17). They listened to His teaching (Matt. 5–7). In short, they had the opportunity to see Jesus with a degree of intimacy that the multitudes did not enjoy. On a particular occasion in Caesarea Philippi, Jesus withdrew from the multitudes and spent time with His inner core of friends and disciples (Matt. 16:13–20). During that time, Jesus said to them: “Who do people say that I am? What’s the scuttlebutt out there? Have they caught on yet? What’s public opinion about My ministry right now?” One by one, His disciples gave answers to the question: “Well, Jesus, some say You’re Elijah, some say You’re John the Baptist, and some say that You’re a prophet.” Jesus said: “That’s interesting. But you have an intimate view of who I am and what I’ve been doing. What’s your opinion? Who do you say that I am? What do you think?” Simon acted as the spokesman for the twelve and responded to the question with this affirmation: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (v. 16). This was a profound and bold statement from the mouth of a Jew. A first-century Jew who had been watching Jesus looked at Him and said, “You’re the Messiah.” Our English word Christ comes from the Greek word Christos, which translates the Hebrew mashiyach (“messiah”). Peter was effectively saying: “You are the One for whom we Jews have been dreaming, praying, and hoping for centuries. You are the One who was promised to Abraham, to David, to Jeremiah. You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
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Post by Parker on Jan 15, 2023 7:42:45 GMT -8
Matthew 16:13-2813 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[c] will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[e] loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. Jesus Predicts His Death21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.28 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” The guys wanted to begin with Peters confession that He is the Messiah then we will next talk about the Son of God. Its clear by Peters reaction to Jesus telling them His purpose for coming as the Messiah they had no clue what being the Messiah encompassed. Jesus rebukes him for his remarks. Vs. 27 is really uplifting. They had no clue because of what they were taught in their Synagogue. (see below) THE BIBLE READER’S COMPANION LAWRENCE O. RICHARDS During the first three centuries of the Christian era Matthew’s Gospel was the most admired and quoted of the New Testament’s portraits of Jesus. This, of course, is exactly what a Gospel is: a portrait of the Person who is Himself the Good News of God’s forgiving love. Matthew’s Gospel is the one most rooted in the Old Testament and most concerned with issues that were important to the Jewish people. It contains the most quotes from the Old Testament and the most references to fulfillment of prophecy. It also has the most to say about Old Testament Law, showing its distortion by the traditions so loved by the Pharisees and refocusing attention on the heart rather than behavior. Perhaps the most distinctive theological contribution of Matthew has to do with the kingdom. The Old Testament prophets were convinced that God intended to set up an earthly kingdom under the Messiah, a descendant of David, who would lift Israel to glory and establish God’s righteous rule worldwide. The death of Jesus on the cross raised a critical question. If Jesus is the Messiah, what has happened to the kingdom? Matthew tells us. First, in the Sermon on the Mount he shows us that God’s kingdom has present expression in the gathered and individual lives of believers. Second, in portraying the reaction of the Jewish people to Jesus, he shows us that the promised kingdom was offered to them, but rejected when they refused to acknowledge Christ as Messiah. Third, in reporting the prophetic words of Jesus recorded in chapters 24–26, he explains that the kingdom is coming, but delayed. It will be established when the King returns. While the theme of the kingdom provides the framework around which this Gospel is constructed, its greatest value to us is still found in the images of Jesus it conveys. We share His contemporaries’ awe as we witness His miracles. We are humbled as His teachings strip away our excuses. We are thrilled as we hear Him describe the new and vital life we are invited to live as citizens of the present kingdom of our God. Every chapter helps us grow in our appreciation for who Jesus is. And every paragraph of this matchless Gospel invites us to trust and love Jesus more. |
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Post by Theophilus on Jan 17, 2023 14:41:57 GMT -8
I love the words Jesus spoke at the outset of his ministry. When Jesus chose the text from Isaiah 61 to read in the temple, he was announcing his mission, as recorded in Luke 4. These were the first public words out of his mouth, his first sermon, his first public appearance, his opening gig, and his mission statement. His introduction of himself and his ministry.
When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up and read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. Luke 4:16–19
The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
light has dawned. From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 4:16
He preached the Good News
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matt. 5:1–12
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Post by praiseyeshua on Jan 22, 2023 19:57:58 GMT -8
I love the words Jesus spoke at the outset of his ministry. When Jesus chose the text from Isaiah 61 to read in the temple, he was announcing his mission, as recorded in Luke 4. These were the first public words out of his mouth, his first sermon, his first public appearance, his opening gig, and his mission statement. His introduction of himself and his ministry. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up and read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. Luke 4:16–19 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned. From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 4:16 He preached the Good News “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matt. 5:1–12 I have long believed that there is a grave misunderstanding concerning the teaching of Jesus among the multitudes during His advent. Take for example..... Mat 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; No one during the life of Jesus Christ did this. The only Person to have done this was Jesus Himself. In fact, it is prophetic. This is exactly what Jesus did at Calvary. Loved His enemies. Blessed them that cursed Him. Prayed for those that despitefully used Him to make them look better in the eyes of those who hated Him. I believe it is a mistake to believe that Jesus actually believed anyone would do this. It was a test. A test of self reflection. Sure. There are still those who TRY to do what Jesus did. He was the PERFECT one. Mat 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. |
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Post by civic on Jan 23, 2023 16:11:20 GMT -8
I love the words Jesus spoke at the outset of his ministry. When Jesus chose the text from Isaiah 61 to read in the temple, he was announcing his mission, as recorded in Luke 4. These were the first public words out of his mouth, his first sermon, his first public appearance, his opening gig, and his mission statement. His introduction of himself and his ministry. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up and read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. Luke 4:16–19 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned. From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 4:16 He preached the Good News “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matt. 5:1–12 I have long believed that there is a grave misunderstanding concerning the teaching of Jesus among the multitudes during His advent. Take for example..... Mat 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; No one during the life of Jesus Christ did this. The only Person to have done this was Jesus Himself. In fact, it is prophetic. This is exactly what Jesus did at Calvary. Loved His enemies. Blessed them that cursed Him. Prayed for those that despitefully used Him to make them look better in the eyes of those who hated Him. I believe it is a mistake to believe that Jesus actually believed anyone would do this. It was a test. A test of self reflection. Sure. There are still those who TRY to do what Jesus did. He was the PERFECT one. Mat 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. I see some similarities in the epistles from the Apostles with concepts that affirm Jesus teaching in Matthew 5. Maybe you can expound on your ideas so I don’t assume anything . I’m interested to hear your thoughts on the subject brother . Thanks ! |
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Post by praiseyeshua on Jan 24, 2023 6:03:42 GMT -8
I have long believed that there is a grave misunderstanding concerning the teaching of Jesus among the multitudes during His advent. Take for example..... Mat 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; No one during the life of Jesus Christ did this. The only Person to have done this was Jesus Himself. In fact, it is prophetic. This is exactly what Jesus did at Calvary. Loved His enemies. Blessed them that cursed Him. Prayed for those that despitefully used Him to make them look better in the eyes of those who hated Him. I believe it is a mistake to believe that Jesus actually believed anyone would do this. It was a test. A test of self reflection. Sure. There are still those who TRY to do what Jesus did. He was the PERFECT one. Mat 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. I see some similarities in the epistles from the Apostles with concepts that affirm Jesus teaching in Matthew 5. Maybe you can expound on your ideas so I don’t assume anything . I’m interested to hear your thoughts on the subject brother . Thanks ! Traditionally speaking, I agree that this has long been the understanding associated with Matthew 5 and Luke 6. To begin, there are differences between Matthew 5 and Luke 6 that can not be explained entirely with traditional appeals to Inspiration. There are textual issues. Especially with Matthew 5:48 and Luke 6:36. I will deal with this later. If we look at Matthew 5 from the NET edition. 17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish these things but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth pass away not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter will pass from the law until everything takes place. 19 So anyone who breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever obeys them and teaches others to do so will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness goes beyond that of the experts in the law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven! The interpretation of these verses have long been disputed among those who name the name of Jesus Christ. Forgetting tradition. Let us recognize the facts from these verses that provide the "ground work" to understand the Words of Jesus. 1. When laws become unpopular. They are abolished. This happens in all cultures and in every nation upon the earth. However, Jesus clearly states that He has come to fulfill them. No one had EVER fulfilled them. The goal of the law was to make men guilty before God. The words of Jesus are to make men "guilty" before God. Not to appeal to their abilities but to their inabilities. Fast forward to the Gospel preached to those in Rome in.... Rom 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 2. ALL must be fulfilled. Which is another witness to inabilites of men and the Perfect ability of Jesus. 3. Experts of the law could not accomplish the goal. Now that we have the ground work for the work of Jesus Christ and the perseception of His comments/words. We can see that Jesus isn't actually appealing to the "law" or "Scriptures" as a means of obtaining anything. Rather His words are meant to condemn. Now the appeal to perfection....... Matthew 5:48 and Luke 6:36. Mat 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Luk 6:36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. I've studied the canon and texts for many years. I believe Luke to be the most accurate and trustworthy edition of the Synoptic Gospels. I believe there is an issue here in Matthew. However...... Lets assume Matthew 5:48 is accurate and "perfect". Whenever you read the words "perfect" in English translations, there is always an tradational appeal to "maturity". However, this isn't entirely accurate. Take for example. 1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. While maturity can be seen in this 1 Cor 13:10. There is NO doubt that that maturity is actually COMPLETE perfection. I believe we can agree. Jesus was just that. PERFECT. Without spot. Without blemish. If we take these facts to be true, I believe the traditional interpretation of Matthew 5 and Luke 6 is not accurate. Jesus isn't apeal to others to be perfect. He was appealing for them to recognize His perfection. It is amazing how God Incarnate can make such an meaning point without "tooting His own horn". The Scriptures are written in a way to reveal the hearts of men. Our egos causes to always see ourselves before others. Our egos get in the way. If we stop here and consider who is talking, I believe we can understand our inabilities. |
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Post by civic on Jan 24, 2023 6:59:00 GMT -8
I see some similarities in the epistles from the Apostles with concepts that affirm Jesus teaching in Matthew 5. Maybe you can expound on your ideas so I don’t assume anything . I’m interested to hear your thoughts on the subject brother . Thanks ! Traditionally speaking, I agree that this has long been the understanding associated with Matthew 5 and Luke 6. To begin, there are differences between Matthew 5 and Luke 6 that can not be explained entirely with traditional appeals to Inspiration. There are textual issues. Especially with Matthew 5:48 and Luke 6:36. I will deal with this later. If we look at Matthew 5 from the NET edition. 17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish these things but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth pass away not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter will pass from the law until everything takes place. 19 So anyone who breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever obeys them and teaches others to do so will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness goes beyond that of the experts in the law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven! The interpretation of these verses have long been disputed among those who name the name of Jesus Christ. Forgetting tradition. Let us recognize the facts from these verses that provide the "ground work" to understand the Words of Jesus. 1. When laws become unpopular. They are abolished. This happens in all cultures and in every nation upon the earth. However, Jesus clearly states that He has come to fulfill them. No one had EVER fulfilled them. The goal of the law was to make men guilty before God. The words of Jesus are to make men "guilty" before God. Not to appeal to their abilities but to their inabilities. Fast forward to the Gospel preached to those in Rome in.... Rom 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 2. ALL must be fulfilled. Which is another witness to inabilites of men and the Perfect ability of Jesus. 3. Experts of the law could not accomplish the goal. Now that we have the ground work for the work of Jesus Christ and the perseception of His comments/words. We can see that Jesus isn't actually appealing to the "law" or "Scriptures" as a means of obtaining anything. Rather His words are meant to condemn. Now the appeal to perfection....... Matthew 5:48 and Luke 6:36. Mat 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Luk 6:36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. I've studied the canon and texts for many years. I believe Luke to be the most accurate and trustworthy edition of the Synoptic Gospels. I believe there is an issue here in Matthew. However...... Lets assume Matthew 5:48 is accurate and "perfect". Whenever you read the words "perfect" in English translations, there is always an tradational appeal to "maturity". However, this isn't entirely accurate. Take for example. 1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. While maturity can be seen in this 1 Cor 13:10. There is NO doubt that that maturity is actually COMPLETE perfection. I believe we can agree. Jesus was just that. PERFECT. Without spot. Without blemish. If we take these facts to be true, I believe the traditional interpretation of Matthew 5 and Luke 6 is not accurate. Jesus isn't apeal to others to be perfect. He was appealing for them to recognize His perfection. It is amazing how God Incarnate can make such an meaning point without "tooting His own horn". The Scriptures are written in a way to reveal the hearts of men. Our egos causes to always see ourselves before others. Our egos get in the way. If we stop here and consider who is talking, I believe we can understand our inabilities. Thanks brother this was good !!! |
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Post by Unmerited on Apr 7, 2023 16:03:27 GMT -8
I think a fascinating thing about the Bible is the significance that is often attached to names and titles.
The names and titles for God the Father are many, and they reveal something of His character. The same is true for Jesus.
I heard a sermon one time that consisted of the pastor simply reciting the names and titles for Jesus found in Scripture: “Lord,” “Son of God,” “Son of Man,” “Son of David,” “Immanuel,” “the Word,” and so on. It took him forty-five minutes to exhaust all the names and titles and how each one of them reveals something to us about the character or work of Christ.
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