|
Post by wanttobewithGod on Apr 12, 2008 2:44:49 GMT -5
I don't want to hold up the discussion anymore, so we are just going to move on. I will be posting my thoughts on what speaks the most to me in Matthew 10 within the next couple of days. I hope some of you will join me. Michelle
|
|
|
Post by SErVanT7 on Apr 13, 2008 16:59:07 GMT -5
Mat 10:36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
The older sheep know who the wolves are. There is discernment of spirits.
|
|
|
Post by wanttobewithGod on Apr 13, 2008 23:57:50 GMT -5
I agree that this can happen (commenting on the verse). What this means to me, particularly, is...we can either influence our familly members in a good direction or a bad direction...we can be a help or a hinderance. Right now and for some time now, my husband has been a much better Christian than I have, imo. He has been a real encouragement to me, even if he hasn't know it and I admire him for the way he is. (I'm really not trying to sound like I'm giving testimony here, these are just my thoughts....) I hope I can learn to be that way for my/our son...the way he is to me..and not ever be a hindrance to my husband or anyone else in my family. Thanks for sharing this verse...it made me think. I will share other thoughts on Matthew 10 soon and hope many of you will join me. M.
|
|
|
Post by SErVanT7 on Apr 14, 2008 16:56:11 GMT -5
there sure is a lot in that chapter.
|
|
|
Post by CherieKropp on Apr 15, 2008 19:50:13 GMT -5
I love what John MacArthur has to say about this chapter. Here is a part of it. Here is part of his introduction to Matt 10. If Michelle permits, I will continue to post from his talks. ************* In chapter 10 He appoints the first laborers, who are the disciples themselves. And we learn throughout this chapter, how He basically instructs them in carrying out the ministry that He gives to them.
There were four phases in the training of the twelve. FIRST He called them to Himself by way of conversion, you find that in John 1. By way of believing in Him as far as they could believe, as far as they understood. And after they were called to Him to be disciples, to express their faith, there was a SECOND call in which He called them away from their living, away from their normal concourse to follow Him everyday in a permanent relationship. He called them, if you will, into full time training.
And now, in chapter 10, we come to a THIRD phase where He sends them out as interns. This is not their final sending, this is phase three. They go out to get their feet wet. They've been instructed for maybe as long as eighteen months, they're going to have another period of many months of training but before that begins He sends them out. He wants them to experience some things. He wants them to hit the wall a few times. He wants them to fail as well as succeed, and He hovers over them like an eagle over protective little eagles, watching how they do and making sure they're okay. And they go out and then they come back. And they go out, and they come back. And He interacts with them in this teaching internship.
And then, finally, the FOURTH phase comes in Acts 1 when the Spirit of God is sent after the ascension. And they then are sent into the whole world to disciple the nations.
And so, we meet them in phase 3 here, in chapter 10. This is their first opportunity to go out on their own, they go two by two. And He stays very close to watch and see how they fare and then to teach them off of the experience they're about to have.
And, they are essential. They are essential for the future of the Christian faith. Because they are the only plan. The Spirit of God, ultimately, will empower them, they will go and the ones they touch will touch others and it will go like that. They have been already disciples, verse 1 calls them disciples. They are about to be Apostles, verse 2 calls them Apostles. They have been trained, now they're going to be sent. And that's the goal that God has for all of us, to be trained, to be sent. And so we looked at that, and we called that the initiation of the twelve.
|
|
|
Post by wanttobewithGod on Apr 15, 2008 23:32:03 GMT -5
Thank you for your thoughts (and John MacArthurs! ), Cherie. I have read what you posted once and will be rereading again...I have been trying to find time to be on here more, but unfortunately "real life" and real problems have been keeping me away...but I LOVE to read what others think and post and WILL be sharing my own thoughts too. There is nothing to "permit," of course but thank you anyway! I just wish more would come participate but I (definitely now, as I mentioned above!) certainly understand how others just may not have the time. So....I appreciate you chiming in! Anyone should feel free to post any thoughts they have at any time...... Michelle
|
|
|
Post by trolled ya on Apr 20, 2008 16:25:50 GMT -5
And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.
thats in Matt. 10 isn't it?
sitting at the feet of Jesus, with a broken, contrite heart,
listening to his word so precious, joy to us it doth impart..
Comfort gives in times of trial, quickens every true desire,
Fills our hearts with love like Jesus, and with zeal it doth inspire
Fills our hearts with love like Jesus, and with zeal it doth inspire
i tell you, that the hour cometh when the dead shall hear his voice...
when Jesus rose from the dead, many that were dead rose from the ToMBs...
|
|
|
Post by CherieKropp on Apr 20, 2008 18:54:13 GMT -5
Continuing John MacArthur: Then we also looked at the impact of the twelve in verse 1. You remember He gave them power, it says. He gave them exousia which means power or authority or the right. And in that divine authority He gave them, they could do two things; they could cast out the vile, evil, wretched, unclean demons and they could heal all manner of disease and all manner of sickness. That was the gift of miracles, which Paul calls the gift of miracles. It's the gift of dunamis or power, and if you look at the gospels it's power against the demons. So, He gave them the gift of miracles. He gave them the gift of healing. And they went out healing and casting out demons. And this was a confirmation of their message.
The main thing they did was preach. Go down to verse 6. "Go," it says, "to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and as you go preach, saying the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Their primary task was to preach. But if they came along and preached, why would people want to believe them? On what basis would people hear their message? The impact came when they did these marvelous works of casting out demons, showing they had power over the kingdom of darkness, and then healing showing they had power over disease. And so they went preaching. And while they were preaching they were healing and they were casting out demons as an affirmation that they were indeed representatives of God. As Nicodemus had said when Jesus appeared, Nicodemus said: "We know that Thou art a teacher come from God, for no man can do the things You do except God be with Him." And that was what Jesus wanted people to say when they saw these men as well. That's it's obvious you must be of God because of what you are able to do.
Now if you look at a very important verse, it might just help to summarize that thought. In Hebrews 2, listen to what it says in verse 3 and 4: "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord." The first preacher was the Lord. He was the first spokesman. "But then it was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him." And now we go to the second generation. The writer of the Hebrews says we got it from those who heard the Lord. In other words, we got it from the Apostles."And God bore the Apostles witness with signs and wonders and diverse miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit." In other words, the word of the Apostles was confirmed miraculously as they laid down the foundation for the church. So that was their impact.
Now thirdly, and for this morning, we come to their identity... their identity. Who are these twelve who are sent? Having been trained and given this tremendous authority? Let's meet them. Verse 2: "The first Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother. Philip and Bartholomew." Another name for Bartholomew is Nathanael. "Thomas and Matthew the tax collector, James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot who also betrayed Him."
Now frankly, folks, they're just ordinary men. The only one who may have had some special wealth was Matthew and he gained it by being an extortionist and working for Rome. None of them that we know of had any particular academic background. They aren't the resident Ph.D.'s of Galilee. As far as we know none of them have any social status. Not necessarily the highfalutin types, just common people. Some of them are still utterly unknown to us. All we know is their names.
They were chosen from the common people to be the ones who would be the first line of agents of Christ to set in motion the advancement of the Kingdom throughout the history of the world... There has been never in the history of the world, a task to equal the task these twelve were given, NEVER. The most monumental, incredible thing that any man was ever, in the history of the world, asked to do was to finish the work that Jesus began. And that is exactly what it says in Acts 1 verse 1: "The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began to do and teach." And what He began, you'll carry on. And that's why He appeared to His disciples for forty days until His.. .until His ascension, speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom. And then said, Now I've taught you, you wait until the Spirit comes, and when He comes He will empower you and you'll go into all the world and be My witnesses. And the plan was in motion. But it all depended on these twelve.
Now as you look at the list there are some fascinating things to learn just from the list itself. Let me tell you why. It begins this way. The first, Simon who is called Peter, there are four lists of these disciples in the New Testament. One here in Matthew 10, one in Mark chapter 3, one in Luke chapter 6 and one in Acts chapter 1.. .Matthew 10, Mark 3, Luke 6, and Acts 1. Now listen, there are some marvelous similarities. In all four lists, Peter is always first. And when Judas is mentioned he is always.. .what?. . .last. That's interesting. Peter is always first. Why was he first? Was he the first one chosen? No. John 1 makes it clear that he was not the first one chosen. But look at the word there, it says the first Simon who is called Peter. You have to understand the word there.. .protos. That's an interesting word. In this context it means the foremost in rank. You say, - Now wait a minute, I thought the twelve Apostles all had equal twelve thrones in the Kingdom. I thought the twelve Apostles were all equal in authority, equal in power, all told to preach, all told to heal, all told to cast out demons. You're right. They'll all sit and judge the tribes of Israel. That's right. Well how come Peter is the foremost? Aren't they all equal?
|
|
|
Post by Brick on Apr 28, 2008 10:58:16 GMT -5
What did Jesus mean when he said, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand."? [v. 7]
|
|
|
Post by wanttobewithGod on Apr 29, 2008 22:42:17 GMT -5
I always just thought that meant that this Earth would not be much longer, and God's kingdom would be coming soon. In other words, the end of times...for us here on Earth. And to God, it is a blink of an eye as the Bible says, I suppose. What do you say it means? M.
|
|
|
Post by Rob O on Apr 29, 2008 23:58:39 GMT -5
What did Jesus mean when he said, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand"? [v. 7] The kingdom of heaven is the presence and reign of the King being worked out in this current age. Where the gospel is proclaimed, where God is worshiped and glorified, where there is love, healing and restoration, where the principles and ethics of the King are lived out in the lives of the individual and the community, there is the kingdom of heaven. Unfortunately this kingdom is not perfect for it does not yet include all of the chosen (Mt.13:31-32), it is subject to demonic attack (Mt.13:31-32 where the "birds of the air" are a symbol of satan and his angels), and it includes the saved and the unsaved (Matt. 13:24–30, 36–43, 47–51; Matt. 22:1–14; Matt. 25:1–10). The apostles were told to proclaim the nearness of the kingdom of heaven because the King Himself was at hand to set the stage and usher in His reign through His triumph over sin and the demonic forces.
|
|
|
Post by Brick on Apr 30, 2008 8:28:06 GMT -5
I always just thought that meant that this Earth would not be much longer, and God's kingdom would be coming soon. In other words, the end of times...for us here on Earth. And to God, it is a blink of an eye as the Bible says, I suppose. What do you say it means? M. That is what I once thought too, and I don't have a real clear vision on this, but my thinking is similar to what Rob offered, that the Kingdom of God is a reality that we can experience here and now. There is no waiting for death and a resurrection. It is a unity of vision with God which will change the way we look at all things. A paradigm shift, if you will. It is not an external kingdom. Not like a religion or fellowship, but a relationship with the divine. "And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:20-21) Here, the term "Kingdom of God is used rather than "Kingdom of Heaven," but I think they are the same.
|
|
|
Post by ooT on Apr 30, 2008 14:14:58 GMT -5
I agree that what Jesus said indicates that since his time on earth, the kingdom of God (heaven) is readily available here and now.
|
|
|
Post by wanttobewithGod on Apr 30, 2008 16:24:37 GMT -5
Hmmmmm, ok! Thanks for sharing...makes sense!
|
|
|
Post by selah on Apr 30, 2008 16:47:36 GMT -5
This is exactly what I believe too, Brick... at least at this point in time.
Blessings, Linda
|
|
|
Post by wanttobewithGod on Apr 30, 2008 20:47:43 GMT -5
This is why I really appreciate others' thoughts....things I thought were "gimmes" of the Bible...or just really obvious another words.....and I probably have a LOT of them all wrong. It really helps to fellowship with others...even if it is online. M.
|
|
|
Post by CherieKropp on Apr 30, 2008 21:05:34 GMT -5
Oh goodie! One of the subjects I've been studying!! I have several books on the subject and haven't made up my mind quite what I think yet. FWIW - Here is a hodge-podge of my notes about the Kingdom of Heaven/God.
The question: When is the kingdom? may be the debate of the century. Did Jesus have in mind a kingdom that was only spiritual? Did he believe the kingdom had come in His person? Does the kingdom of God exist only in the hearts of those who confess Jesus as Lord? Did Jesus understand the kingdom as a material, political entity in the present? Was the kingdom Jesus proclaimed a new world that would come only at the end of time, at His return? Jesus called on his listeners to enter or receive the kingdom of God (Matt 12:28). There is a present kingdom. Paul speaks of being transferred out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God’s Son (Col 1:13) One cannot be transferred into Christ’s kingdom or receive a kingdom that is not a present reality.
The answer to, “What did Jesus teach?” The basic message Jesus taught was that the Kingdom of God had arrived. Perhaps better than anywhere else, the very essence of Jesus’ teaching; the central theme was summed up by Mark: “The time is fulfilled; and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye and believe the gospel,” (Mark 1:15). It is a summary of the message that Jesus brought His nation which is unfolded in the gospel. Mark indicated that the waiting time had ended and the Kingdom of God has arrived. Mark’s summary is divided into four elements. (1) the time is fulfilled, (2) the Kingdom of God has drawn near, (3) repent, and (4) believe.
In the Old Testament, God’s kingdom was always spoken of in the future tense: “Behold the days are coming…”; or “It shall come to pass in those days…” The Jews were on alert for a King who would come and establish an everlasting kingdom. To understand the kingdom Jesus proclaimed had arrived, one must understand the Jewish sense of expectation and its history.
The message of John the Baptist and Jesus was different from the prophets of the Old Testament, in that they used the present tense. The Kingdom of Heaven was approaching, was at hand, was in their midst, had arrived. That was very good news to the Jews. It was the glad tidings – the gospel—the Good News that God had acted on his promises. What people in all ages had desired to see had arrived on earth, (Luke 10:23-24) What Anna and Simeon longed for and waited to see--had been born—The King of the Jews (Luke 2). And “…he (Jesus) went throughout every city and village preaching and showing the glad tidings of the Kingdom of God” (Luke 8:1).
What is the Kingdom of God? While Jesus proclaimed the kingdom of God repeatedly, he never defined clearly what He meant by the phrase. Nor did any hearer ever interrupt him to ask, “What do the words ‘Kingdom of God’ which you use so often mean?” Jesus was able to use the phrase “Kingdom of God’ in first century Palestine assured it would be understood, and it was. The kingdom of God heaven was in the vocabulary of every Jew. It was something they understood and longed for desperately.
To us on the other hand, the “Kingdom of Heaven” or “Kingdom of God” are strange terms. They mean the same thing. The term does not mean “the Kingdom IN Heaven.” However, if we are to comprehend Jesus’ message, we must know its meaning. Where did it come from? What did it mean to Jesus and those to whom he spoke?
Maybe you think of a “kingdom” as a place where a king rules instead of a president or a prime minister. But kingdom and place don’t always go together. For instance, where on a map do you find the plant kingdom or the animal kingdom? To understand the way the NT writers used the word kingdom, it is necessary to realize that kingdom and place do not always go together. Jesus talked all the time about His kingdom, but he never implied that anyone could find it on a map. Spiritual kingdoms don’t necessarily have geographic boundaries. And when Jesus went about preaching the good news of the kingdom of God, he wasn’t handing out a map with directions to get there. A kingdom is not just a particular geographical area, but a people governed by the will of a king.
So when Jesus announced that the “kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:15), He did not have a physical kingdom in mind. “And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21).
Even though the phrase the “kingdom of God” is absent from the Old Testament, the concept was very important to Israel. The role of God as king, his ruling activity was at the heart of Old Testament faith. Their hope was focused on the coming of the Lord as King. Is 24:1 describes the triumph of God over all nations, while portraying God as Deliverer and Sovereign King. (See Is 24:23; 30:33; 32:1; 33:17, 20-22). The hope of Israel was the hope of the coming Kingdom of God.
“The Kingdom of Heaven” was Matthew’s favorite descriptive term for the “kingdom,” and he is the only NT writer to use it. He uses this term in his gospel thirty times. Matthew presents Jesus as the King, and his key phrase is “that it might be fulfilled.” Luke preferred to use the term “The Kingdom of God,” however, the terms are interchangeable and mean the same. Matthew probably used the Jewish phrase “Kingdom of Heaven” because the Jews would not pronounce the Divine Name and instead they substituted the word “heaven.” Luke used the name “God” more freely.
The phrase “Kingdom of God” was a historical one, handed down from Old Testament prophecies (Dan 7:14, 27) and was in use in Jesus’ day. John the Baptist used it (Matt 3:2) and Jesus also used it (Matt 4:17, Luke 4:43). It meant that the new era prophesied by the prophets and longed for by saints had begun (Luke 23:51). Sometimes it was called “the kingdom of the Son of Man,” or the kingdom that belongs to Christ (Matt 16:28; John 18:36); or the kingdom of the Father (Matt 13:43) and sometimes, just the “kingdom” (Matt. 4:23).
After Jesus had ascended into Heaven, and after Pentecost, the phrases the Kingdom of Heaven or God were still used in preaching. Philip and Paul are both recorded using it. It is used in the sense that all who believe, receive and are baptized in Christ, become members of the universal church and Kingdom of God/Heaven. John also used this phrase to describe a future period when all the kingdoms of this world are openly subject to God, Who through Jesus rules visibly as King (Rev 12:10).
Eleven of Jesus’ parables suggest what the kingdom is “like,” and in these Jesus seems to be building on a basic understanding of the kingdom on the part of his audience, whose view of the kingdom was drawn primarily from the Old Testament. What is the kingdom of God like? It is like a sower who goes out to sow; like a costly pearl; like buried treasure, like a mustard seed, etc. How does one enter? One sells all he has and gives to the poor; one becomes a s a little child; one---------. Is it important? Yes, it is! It would be better to mutilate yourself and enter maimed than not to get in at all.
Long before Jesus arrived, there was an expectation of the coming kingdom. The questions and longings of Israelites had continued for years. After Jesus had risen again and appeared for the last time to the Apostles, they asked, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom of Israel?” (Acts 1:6) and “…the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? (Matt 24:3)
Jesus told them only the Father knows the time when the kingdom will come (Matt 24:36).
The promise of the coming kingdom is found in the three major covenants of the OT; the Abramic covenant (Gen 12:1-3); the Davidic covenant (2 Sam 7:12-16); and the new covenant (Jer 31:31). The Abramic covenant was the first announcement of the coming of the kingdom. The promises to Abraham are expanded in God’s covenant to David. God promised that David’s kingdom or throne would be established forever (Dan 2:44). The prophets announced that the time would come when the Lord would reaffirm His kingly reign and restore to honor the people called by His name. God promised that in that day he would raise up David as king, who would be the Messiah (Jer 30:9). The Jewish nation looked forward to the time when God would fulfill his promises. With the coming of Jesus, that time was fulfilled. John the Baptist, Jesus and the Apostles all proclaimed that the kingdom of God is at hand.
The OT promises and expectations regarding the kingdom included two key aspects. One aspect claims that the Messiah would be a Redeemer who would restore humankind to a right relationship with God; one who would provide a sacrifice for the sins of mankind. The Messianic hope was of the coming Prince of Peace of the line of David ,”For unto us is born, to us a son is given; and his name will be called ‘Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace,” (Is 9:6). The other aspect focused on the Messiah as coming King. The kingdom has a present aspect to it and also a future aspect to it.
The Jews interpreted all the Old Testament prophesies as pertaining to one person (Messiah/Christ) who would come once and save them and rule over them at the same time. It probably never entered their minds that “the kingdom” would come twice—first in the form of a Redeemer/Savior who would die for their sins and who would return a second time (still in the future) and rule the promised Messianic kingdom. How profoundly their expectations differed from God’s plan. So when they heard Jesus, John the Baptist and the Apostles heralding that the kingdom was here, they thought it was a tangible kingdom be installed on earth at that time. There was the hope of political restoration of independence from Rome through military action led by Christ. Perhaps the disappointing realization that Jesus was not going to usher in the physical kingdom of God at that time contributed to Judas selling out.
The word Kingdom is also used with a future reference. Matt 25:31 Jesus says that when the Son of man comes in His glory, “then he will sit on his glorious throne.”
Jesus told Pilate “My kingdom is not of this world” John 18:36
|
|
|
Post by Shushy unlogged on May 10, 2008 3:56:49 GMT -5
Cherie thank you I enjoyed reading the post John Macarthur articulates so well.
In response to Robs words on this. I see the Kingdom of Heaven (spiritual) out working through the lives of indiviual Christians through the Power of the Holy Spirit within an individuals life, and corporately moving to bring change. As the family of God increases and the Power of the Holy Spirit moves on people to bring conviction and repentence. Healing deliverence etc Lives are changed and made whole. (This is what is supposed to happen) The Kingdom of Heaven is within us.
There is a scripture that says...'The Kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force." Any thoughts on this one?
|
|