Bible Study WELCOME TO AN IN DEPTH STUDY OF MATTHEW'S GOSPEL.

[jasonc]

This has evolved into striving over words, something we are told not to do, unless something new is introduced I won't be a part of it.

you cant just ignore the difference of sheol/hades and gehenna and hell. if you were ever to debate a person whom doesn't believe in hell and eternal torment they wont be convinced. I was one of those

 

[Karl]

you cant just ignore the difference of sheol/hades and gehenna and hell. if you were ever to debate a person whom doesn't believe in hell and eternal torment they wont be convinced. I was one of those

Brother, therein lies the problem, this is Bible Study where we present Scripture and allow the Holy Spirit to teach us all Truth 1 Jn 2:27

Debates are for over in the Foyer and Lounge where you can find all kinds different of opinions.

 

[Chopper]

Day 101 Monday 2/16/15 Matthew 12:38-42 We Want A Sign!

Matthew 12:38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you."
12:39 But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
12:40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
12:41 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
12:42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.

V.38 The Scribes and Pharisees were a little upset at a characterization of being "a brood of vipers" that Jesus had called them. At this point I think I would have faded into the crowd of people totally embarrassed. After all, who wants that title over a person, a brood of vipers, come on! Well, not these pompous leaders that's for sure. So, for what ever reason, they asked for a sign. I said to myself, "for what?" Jesus had already done miracle after miracle, certainly those miracles were enough for anyone to realize that this is the Messiah. Even this poor blind man knew that Jesus was from God, yet these leaders of Israel who knew the Hebrew Scriptures refused to give in to the very plain evidence that Jesus put forth.

V.39 Jesus knew the reason that they wanted a sign, partly to test Him, and another to see something that He hadn't done before. I think they wanted a puppet to order around....Anyway Jesus gave them another rebuke. "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign" Ha! Take that you blind leaders!

V.40 The "sign" of Jonah was a proper sign in that it represented a death, burial and resurrection of Jonah. Personally, I think that this sign was meant to be remembered by the Scribes and Pharisees after our Lords death, burial and resurrection. It's interesting that when these unbelieving Jews ask questions, Jesus hardly ever gives them a straight answer....Why do you folk think the reason was?

V.41 "Someone greater is here." I don't know about you but, that's a dead give away of Who in speaking to them. "Huh?" the Pharisees would say? "Someone greater than Jonah?" Boy, were they blind or what!

V.42 We have the same statement about Queen Sheba. Solomon was a great man of God with great wisdom and Jesus said, in our understanding, I'm greater than Solomon....I'm wondering what exactly was the problem with the leaders of Israel. Were they so afraid that Jesus was going to take over and kick them out of their cushy jobs? What do you folks think about these verses.

NOTE: I'll try and post the continuing study on Matthew. I'm way to busy to post each day, but I'll try Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Please help me with your comments. I'm going to give some information on each verse. Thank you.

 

[ezrider]

I am glad to see that you will be resuming with your study Chopper. As much as I enjoy them, do not make it so that it becomes a burden to you. Call it an exercise in patience. :biggrin

It's funny that you should post these verses today because I had just saw a larger sign than I knew of before that is connected to sign of Jonah when I was responding to a post in my thread in the A&T forum on what we belief about the resurrection.
http://christianforums.net/Fellowsh...ve-about-the-resurrection.58279/#post-1057699

There is a prophecy in Ezekiel 37 concerning the establishment of the new covenant and within it the following reference.

Ezekiel 37:12-14 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord.

This was a prophecy of the resurrection of Christ, and then his promise of sending forth the Holy Spirit, the Comforter to dwell within our hearts. On the day when Jesus rose, surely as the sign that he gave to them, the graves where opened fulfilling this prophecy.

Matthew 27:50-54 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

 

[Chopper]

Thank you ezrider, I liked the resurrection of Jonah because he was a man like me who experienced certain death in the belly of that great fish. The difference between Jonah and me is, He caused a large City to repent because God caused His grace to enter that big belly, and caused Jonah to be vomited out of the fish. Jonah was dead, and then was alive thru a resurrection and continued to live....In my case, I was dead in my sins, but in Jesus' grace, I became a new creation thru the spiritual resurrection from death to life. I have been resurrected to a living position as a bond Slave of Jesus.

As you say, Jesus is the resurrection! Everything I am is resurrected. Spiritually I'm not under the Law which caused me to sin. I am free to live a new covenant expression of peace, love and joy because I'm alive. I was dead, but now I live . I like this portion of Scripture.

Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

I don't know if I'm even close to what you are proposing, These are just my thoughts because I know that I have so very much of LIFE in me. And God uses me because He has made me alive from the dead. I have experienced a lot of miracles that had their origin in the living God, If I had death within me, I would have nothing useful for God to use. But, I'm alive, never to die any more. Oh my body will change when Jesus comes after me to take me to His place in the finished Kingdom, still alive, I never died. What Jesus accomplished on the Cross and said "it is finished" I boast in the work of Jesus since He abolished death in me, and gave me new life.

 

[reba]

nice to have this back... and dittos to ezrider no need to hurry Chop

 

[reba]

The generation then is not different then the generations today... We look we search for a sign.. WWI was THEE sign opps WWII was the sign O NO it wasn't WWII ! Israel becoming a nation over night ( that night was about 60 years long) that is the sign.. Wait must be 7 years 1955 nope? 40 years more 1988...
We can look at Matt 12 and think what more of a sign did they need for Pets sake... and what do we look for day?

 

[ezrider]

Thank you ezrider, I liked the resurrection of Jonah because he was a man like me who experienced certain death in the belly of that great fish. The difference between Jonah and me is, He caused a large City to repent because God caused His grace to enter that big belly, and caused Jonah to be vomited out of the fish. Jonah was dead, and then was alive thru a resurrection and continued to live....In my case, I was dead in my sins, but in Jesus' grace, I became a new creation thru the spiritual resurrection from death to life. I have been resurrected to a living position as a bond Slave of Jesus.

As you say, Jesus is the resurrection! Everything I am is resurrected. Spiritually I'm not under the Law which caused me to sin. I am free to live a new covenant expression of peace, love and joy because I'm alive. I was dead, but now I live . I like this portion of Scripture.

Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

I don't know if I'm even close to what you are proposing, These are just my thoughts because I know that I have so very much of LIFE in me. And God uses me because He has made me alive from the dead. I have experienced a lot of miracles that had their origin in the living God, If I had death within me, I would have nothing useful for God to use. But, I'm alive, never to die any more. Oh my body will change when Jesus comes after me to take me to His place in the finished Kingdom, still alive, I never died. What Jesus accomplished on the Cross and said "it is finished" I boast in the work of Jesus since He abolished death in me, and gave me new life.

Yeah, yeah. Music to my ears.

I may copy this and re-post it in my thread on What do we believe about the Resurrection? But your characterization of Jonah just caused me to reflect upon something, and oh boy what new insight. I'll explain in my response to the question that reba posed.

 

[ezrider]

The generation then is not different then the generations today... We look we search for a sign.. WWI was THEE sign opps WWII was the sign O NO it wasn't WWII ! Israel becoming a nation over night ( that night was about 60 years long) that is the sign.. Wait must be 7 years 1955 nope? 40 years more 1988...
We can look at Matt 12 and think what more of a sign did they need for Pets sake... and what do we look for day?

What do we look for today? What a question to ponder. Is the answer right before us in the sign of Jonah the prophet? Was it a sign of the resurrection of Jesus? Or is it THE SIGN of being in the resurrection of Christ?

Chopper's characterization of Jonah made me realize something. Why was Jonah in the belly of the whale in the first place. Was it not because he refused to go and declare the Lord's mercy and grace if they would turn from their evil ways. Jonah in his mind thought that Nineveh should have been destroyed. He wanted to see God's Judgement, and so he spent three days in the belly of the whale, and as you said Chopper, the Grace of God worked upon Jonah while he was belly of the beast until he was ready to be cast forth to go proclaim the salvation of the Lord. The three days in the belly of the beast was the work of the Lord transforming him from a child of wrath into a child of Grace to go forth and proclaim his salvation.

As in the Resurrection of Christ, Jonah first died as a prophet of wrath to rise again a prophet of salvation. I contrast this to another thought. I am reminded of a story in the gospels where Jesus and the disciples were rejected coming into a certain city. The disciples asked Jesus if they should call down fire from heaven as Elijah did. Jesus rebuked them in saying "know you not what Spirit you are of?

Elijah was a prophet of wrath and called down fire from heaven in judgement. But Jesus cautioned they we are not of that spirit. The sign of Jonah represents our transformation in the Resurrection of Christ from the spirit of Elijah and the wrath of God to the Spirit of Christ and the salvation of the Lord. We die to the law and the old covenant that speaks of wrath and death, to awaken under the new covenant with the confidence in the Grace of the Lord and the salvation through the resurrection of Christ to live by His Spirit as his image is created within us.

The sign of Jonah presents the two sides to the Resurrection of Christ (John 5:29). The Spirit of Elijah and the Spirit of Christ. If we are preaching a message of sin, and wrath and Judgement, then we are of the Spirit of Elijah. But if we can live displaying the grace and mercy of the Lord toward others, and to proclaim his salvation and the gospel of his kingdom, then are we of the Spirit of Christ.

 

[ezrider]

Something else to consider:

Hosea 6:1-3
Come, and let us return unto the Lord:
for he hath torn, and he will heal us;
he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
After two days will he revive us:
in the third day he will raise us up,
and we shall live in his sight.
Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord:
his going forth is prepared as the morning;
and he shall come unto us as the rain,
as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

Now let me show you something.

Revelation 20:5-6 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Read it carefully, I may be crazy, but this is what I read.

The rest of the dead lived not again until after the thousand years are finished. This is the first resurrection.
In the first resurrection they shall reign with Christ a thousand year.

1,000 + 1,000 = 2,000 In the third day he shall raise us up.

 

[ezrider]

If I had death within me, I would have nothing useful for God to use.

I would not characterize that way. We are all but instruments in the hand of the Lord to use as he wills. From Moses until Christ, death was imputed unto them through sin, and yet God used both the good and the wicked to his purpose. From the kings to the prophets, all were by some measure of use to his will. Even today, the ministration of death still has its purpose, to create within us the knowledge of our own death that we might then glorify the Son of our righteousness in the power of his resurrection. The dead are useful in bringing others to the knowledge of their death. But only the living can testify of the power of His Resurrection and the knowledge of his salvation so that another might hear the Word of God and believe and be raised to glory.

 

[Deborah13]

Nice. Great posts all.

 

[Chopper]

I would not characterize that way. We are all but instruments in the hand of the Lord to use as he wills. From Moses until Christ, death was imputed unto them through sin, and yet God used both the good and the wicked to his purpose. From the kings to the prophets, all were by some measure of use to his will. Even today, the ministration of death still has its purpose, to create within us the knowledge of our own death that we might then glorify the Son of our righteousness in the power of his resurrection. The dead are useful in bringing others to the knowledge of their death. But only the living can testify of the power of His Resurrection and the knowledge of his salvation so that another might hear the Word of God and believe and be raised to glory.

I see what you mean. Thanks.

 

[Chopper]

Day 102 Wednesday 2/18/15 Matthew 12:43-45 Demon Possession.

Here is a subject that a lot of people would rather avoid than to learn about....I remember being the pastor of my first full time church. I had decided, after I'd been there for about two years, that I'd teach a short series on demon's and how to be aware of them. My head deacon was a very godly man who had been in the church all his life. I deeply respected his viewpoints. He informed me that he thought it best that I didn't teach on that subject for several reasons. I listened and decided that when a Scripture that I was presenting came to a place that demon possession was there, I'd preach on it.

Matthew 12:43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
12:44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
12:45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

V. 43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man....What happened? It could be one of the demons that Jesus cast out of a person. It also could be that a demon was so active in a person that it had to leave for a little R & R. Your guess is as good as mine. At any rate this demon sought out a desert to rest in because deserts are not a place usually that the Gospel has had an impact. Demons don't like strong Christians because they are so close to Jesus and they are a threat to demons. Christians who don't really take their position in Jesus are easy targets for demons to demonize them. Demons can't possess these Christians but they can wreck havoc on the outside of them.

I remember a situation with my Wife's twin Sister who lived in an apartment of equal housing. Mostly poor folk lived there. Her apartment had at least one demon who had taken residence in her apartment probably from the folk who had rented it before Debi's Sister. During the night time, objects in the kitchen would fall to the floor, she would go down and put it back in a more secure place. A little time went by and BANG it would hit the floor again.

Also, it was like someone was walking up the stairs, and when she looked, no one was there. This went on and on for quite some time. She told me about it and I went to her apartment with her and my Wife. I anointed each door with oil, and each window, commanding the demons to leave and not to return in Jesus Name. She never had any more problems. That's what I mean when demons can demonize.

V. 44 Finds the demon returning to "his house" but finds the body of the person swept clean. It may be that the demon possessed person turned over a new leaf, so to speak, or the person hears an evangelist and walks the isle, and believes what the evangelist says and has a change in his/her life. Problem is, this person believed on Jesus for a reason other than Salvation. Perhaps they made the decision to get the prosperity that was promised.

After a short while, the person goes right back to their old sinful ways opening the door for the demon and his buddies to return and the condition of the person is worse than it was before.

V.45 Jesus says that because the present people who were hearing the messages of Jesus to repent and believe on Him refused, these demon activities will continue.

I have often thought that today there is a lot more demon possession out there than we realize, and because the Church of Jesus Christ is asleep, demons are having a great time unhindered....I praise the Lord for the few churches that are teaching all the gifts of the Holy Spirit and are experiencing success in the casting out of demons.

There are two books that I recommend that all Christians have in their possession. They are, "Victory Over The Darkness" and "The Bondage Breaker" written by Neil T Anderson. I personally have taught from these books a number of times with extremely good reports from the folk who attended. So many people said that the information that they had learned made them feel free and peaceful. Mr Anderson has had a fruitful ministry in the realm of being oppressed and dominated by the forces of evil. I too have learned a lot from these books that I've put into practice with great results.

 

[ezrider]

Day 102 Wednesday 2/18/15 Matthew 12:43-45 Demon Possession.

Here is a subject that a lot of people would rather avoid than to learn about....I remember being the pastor of my first full time church. I had decided, after I'd been there for about two years, that I'd teach a short series on demon's and how to be aware of them. My head deacon was a very godly man who had been in the church all his life. I deeply respected his viewpoints. He informed me that he thought it best that I didn't teach on that subject for several reasons. I listened and decided that when a Scripture that I was presenting came to a place that demon possession was there, I'd preach on it.

Matthew 12:43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
12:44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
12:45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

V. 43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man....What happened? It could be one of the demons that Jesus cast out of a person. It also could be that a demon was so active in a person that it had to leave for a little R & R. Your guess is as good as mine. At any rate this demon sought out a desert to rest in because deserts are not a place usually that the Gospel has had an impact. Demons don't like strong Christians because they are so close to Jesus and they are a threat to demons. Christians who don't really take their position in Jesus are easy targets for demons to demonize them. Demons can't possess these Christians but they can wreck havoc on the outside of them.

I remember a situation with my Wife's twin Sister who lived in an apartment of equal housing. Mostly poor folk lived there. Her apartment had at least one demon who had taken residence in her apartment probably from the folk who had rented it before Debi's Sister. During the night time, objects in the kitchen would fall to the floor, she would go down and put it back in a more secure place. A little time went by and BANG it would hit the floor again.

Also, it was like someone was walking up the stairs, and when she looked, no one was there. This went on and on for quite some time. She told me about it and I went to her apartment with her and my Wife. I anointed each door with oil, and each window, commanding the demons to leave and not to return in Jesus Name. She never had any more problems. That's what I mean when demons can demonize.

V. 44 Finds the demon returning to "his house" but finds the body of the person swept clean. It may be that the demon possessed person turned over a new leaf, so to speak, or the person hears an evangelist and walks the isle, and believes what the evangelist says and has a change in his/her life. Problem is, this person believed on Jesus for a reason other than Salvation. Perhaps they made the decision to get the prosperity that was promised.

After a short while, the person goes right back to their old sinful ways opening the door for the demon and his buddies to return and the condition of the person is worse than it was before.

V.45 Jesus says that because the present people who were hearing the messages of Jesus to repent and believe on Him refused, these demon activities will continue.

I have often thought that today there is a lot more demon possession out there than we realize, and because the Church of Jesus Christ is asleep, demons are having a great time unhindered....I praise the Lord for the few churches that are teaching all the gifts of the Holy Spirit and are experiencing success in the casting out of demons.

There are two books that I recommend that all Christians have in their possession. They are, "Victory Over The Darkness" and "The Bondage Breaker" written by Neil T Anderson. I personally have taught from these books a number of times with extremely good reports from the folk who attended. So many people said that the information that they had learned made them feel free and peaceful. Mr Anderson has had a fruitful ministry in the realm of being oppressed and dominated by the forces of evil. I too have learned a lot from these books that I've put into practice with great results.

Oh bless you Chopper. Your characterization caused me to think upon something that allowed me to see these scriptures in an entirely different light. Before I go there, I must first point out that this is the third time today that I have come across these dry places, and the fourth time since I started the thread on the resurrection. Ezekiel 37:1-12, Zechariah 9:9-12 and Luke 16:19-24.

Matthew 12:43-44 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.

When you jokingly characterized the thought that maybe the unclean spirit needed a little rest and relaxation, I nearly fell off of my chair in wonder. I immediately thought of something that I have shared with you before, and suddenly realized the truth of it.

Here is my comment from a few months ago:

The Lord of my Salvation is both patient and kind, and overflowing with tender mercies. Welcome him in when he knocks at the door, I think you might like Him. I must warn you though. It is written that he comes as a thief in the night, and if the good man of the house had known what hour his Lord doth come, he would not have suffered his house to be broken in. But do not be afraid. For I do not know if I heard the knock at the door and opened; or maybe I thought him to be a thief instead, not knowing who he was. But I did not know that he had already come into my house until the day when I looked to my own house again, and found that someone had already entered in and had made themselves at home, cleaning the place out, rearranging the furniture, and putting the clutter of books in order. Just waiting to be found that I might ask him who he is.

Then it struck me. The unclean spirits are those who try to perfect themselves by the works of the law. We have all tried it, trying to remain obedient to the law of sin and performing the works thereof. Yet for all we try, we can never free ourselves from sin. Trying to be perfectly obedient before the law can take its toll. It wears us down and causes us to loose faith until the point that we walk away from the Lord. We step away for a bit and enjoy some of the pleasures of the flesh. Being fully occupied in the flesh, the unclean spirit has left the house because we ceased for the moment from trying to obey the law. The dry places are the places we hide from the presence of the Lord, seeking rest and finding none, thirsting for water, cut off from the fountain of life. In the mean time, the Lord like a thief in the night enters into our house and sets to work changing our hearts and minds and calling us back to the Lord. When we come again to look upon our own house and find a thief has entered in and cleaned the place. It is up to us at that point to listen to the Lord who enters as a thief into our hearts and learn to hear his voice, and embrace his Grace and mercy. To embrace His finished work, and to enter into our rest in the resurrection of Christ, for it is his blood that has made all things clean. But not all accept his call, for when the unclean spirit returns to his house, his shame turns to commitment and dedication instead of humility, and a new found determination to obey the law; even if it means loosing friends and family over doctrine, or hiding himself from the elements of the world because he might commit sin. And then becoming judgmental of others, still glorying in sin. These unclean spirits are likened unto the Pharisees when Jesus said you search the world over to make one proselyte, yet make him twice the child of hell than when he began.

 

[AirDancer]

[ The law & demon possession? Uhm, no worries.... after all, possession is 9/10ths of the law, or so they say.................]

 

[Chopper]

Oh bless you Chopper. Your characterization caused me to think upon something that allowed me to see these scriptures in an entirely different light. Before I go there, I must first point out that this is the third time today that I have come across these dry places, and the fourth time since I started the thread on the resurrection. Ezekiel 37:1-12, Zechariah 9:9-12 and Luke 16:19-24.

Matthew 12:43-44 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.

When you jokingly characterized the thought that maybe the unclean spirit needed a little rest and relaxation, I nearly fell off of my chair in wonder. I immediately thought of something that I have shared with you before, and suddenly realized the truth of it.

Here is my comment from a few months ago:

The Lord of my Salvation is both patient and kind, and overflowing with tender mercies. Welcome him in when he knocks at the door, I think you might like Him. I must warn you though. It is written that he comes as a thief in the night, and if the good man of the house had known what hour his Lord doth come, he would not have suffered his house to be broken in. But do not be afraid. For I do not know if I heard the knock at the door and opened; or maybe I thought him to be a thief instead, not knowing who he was. But I did not know that he had already come into my house until the day when I looked to my own house again, and found that someone had already entered in and had made themselves at home, cleaning the place out, rearranging the furniture, and putting the clutter of books in order. Just waiting to be found that I might ask him who he is.

Then it struck me. The unclean spirits are those who try to perfect themselves by the works of the law. We have all tried it, trying to remain obedient to the law of sin and performing the works thereof. Yet for all we try, we can never free ourselves from sin. Trying to be perfectly obedient before the law can take its toll. It wears us down and causes us to loose faith until the point that we walk away from the Lord. We step away for a bit and enjoy some of the pleasures of the flesh. Being fully occupied in the flesh, the unclean spirit has left the house because we ceased for the moment from trying to obey the law. The dry places are the places we hide from the presence of the Lord, seeking rest and finding none, thirsting for water, cut off from the fountain of life. In the mean time, the Lord like a thief in the night enters into our house and sets to work changing our hearts and minds and calling us back to the Lord. When we come again to look upon our own house and find a thief has entered in and cleaned the place. It is up to us at that point to listen to the Lord who enters as a thief into our hearts and learn to hear his voice, and embrace his Grace and mercy. To embrace His finished work, and to enter into our rest in the resurrection of Christ, for it is his blood that has made all things clean. But not all accept his call, for when the unclean spirit returns to his house, his shame turns to commitment and dedication instead of humility, and a new found determination to obey the law; even if it means loosing friends and family over doctrine, or hiding himself from the elements of the world because he might commit sin. And then becoming judgmental of others, still glorying in sin. These unclean spirits are likened unto the Pharisees when Jesus said you search the world over to make one proselyte, yet make him twice the child of hell than when he began.

Thank you so much for your thoughts, they make sense. I had never thought of it just that way. You have an incredible view into spiritual things and bring forth revelation to my mind. Your words cause me to ponder deeply the things of the Lord of which I love to do. Again, thank you for sharing what our Lord places in your heart.

 

[Chopper]

Day 103 Friday 2/20/15 Matthew 12: 46-50 Jesus' Real Family.

Matthew 12:46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
12:47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
12:48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
12:49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

V.46 Here we see that probably Jesus is in a house or public place where He could teach. His family was more than likely very concerned about His welfare. Because Jesus put much more emphasis on teaching spiritual matter than eating, this preoccupation with His divine mission rather than His physical needs, His Mother and siblings naturally thought that Jesus was beside Himself and not able to take care of His personal needs. Therefore His family was outside because there were to many people for them to get inside to speak with Him.

Jesus may have thought that His family was interrupting His most important duty of teaching about the Kingdom. As a result we see His remarks in V. 48 & 49. I don't think Jesus meant to overlook the importance of His immediate family, He was truthful in stating that all people were His family. I have heard other explanations of these verses, perhaps you folk have some other ideas, I'd like to hear them.

V.50 This is to me a comforting statement of Jesus. To have believed in and on Jesus Christ as Savior and Master Owner, having our sins forgiven and a new life in Him causes us to be as close as anyone can be to Jesus.

 

[reba]

Is Matt 12 a picture of what had become of the Jewish religion?
What could be more evil than rejecting the Lamb... Had Abraham rejected the ram i would have killed Isaac.

 

[Chopper]

Is Matt 12 a picture of what had become of the Jewish religion?
What could be more evil than rejecting the Lamb... Had Abraham rejected the ram i would have killed Isaac.

That's an interesting question Reba. The more I read in the Gospels about the rejection of the Scribes and Pharisees toward Jesus and His disciples, the more I realize how much they really disliked YHWH. They just refused to believe that their God could not have sent Jesus. I actually think that they were worshiping a false god, the god of their imagination. You ask about the Jewish religion. For what I can figure out, as much history that is revealed in the Nation of Israel being led by God to their Promised Land, and all the reports of the Prophets predictions of where and who the Christ would be born and live, there was absolutely no excuse for their rejection of Jesus other than God's own blinding them so we Gentiles could come into God's favor.