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TWO REQUIREMENTS NECESSARY TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN #45

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TWO REQUIREMENTS NECESSARY TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN #45

 lion and lamb

“At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” Matthew 18:1-6

 

One must not lose sight of the purpose of Matthew’s gospel. He presents Jesus as the son of Abraham, and the son of David. The Kingdom of Heaven has been offered to Israel by Jesus and His disciples, and it was rejected by the nation. In the last half of Matthew, (The Abraham section) Jesus prepares the disciples for suffering, and His own death. However, they were oblivious to both teachings.  Their concern was who would be the greatest in the Kingdom. The question was not about the local church, or heaven.

In answer to their question, He called a little child unto Him. As an object lesson, the child was used to show a truth and a requirement for all who will be citizens in the Kingdom of Heaven. One must have “childlike faith.” A little child has unwavering faith in what his father or mother tells it. He or she, doesn’t doubt or question what it is told. It does not have a thought about how great it is, or will be. Its humility of faith in the father or mother is evident. This is a requirement for Israel to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. We say Israel because there will be those who are invited in, and they had no idea of what they had done to deserve entrance into it. (Matthew 25:31-46).

The second requirement is that of conversion. This is not the same as what we call “born again.” Conversion is a returning to the Lord. The Lord said to Peter, who had been a disciple for, at least, three years, “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Luke 22:32. A Christian gets saved once, but he may be converted many times. Peter preaches that if Israel will return to the Lord, or “be converted” that their sins would be blotted out at the return of Christ to establish His Kingdom on earth. (Acts. 3:19).

Thus, instead of answering the Disciples question, Jesus told them the two requirements to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. 1. Childlike faith. 2. Conversion.

 

JESUS PAID ALL REQUIRED TAXES #44

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JESUS PAID ALL REQUIRED TAXES #44

“And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter saith untolion and lamb him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.  Matthew 17:24-27.

As we consider the subject of taxes, it is important to understand that two different tax systems are discussed in the gospels. One was a temple tax, the other was a tax to the Roman government.

 

On their way from the Mount of Transfiguration, someone approached Peter and ask if Jesus paid the temple tax. Peter’s response was that He did. A tax was required by Old Testament Law to care for the temple. “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them. This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD. Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the LORD. The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls. And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls.” Exodus 30:11-16.

When they came to Peter’s house, the lord ask Peter a question before any other subject could come up. The word “prevented,” means that Jesus spoke before Peter could say anything. The question and its solution reveals many wonderful truths. It meant that the Old Testament Law was still very much in force. Jesus would pay the temple tax, not because He had to, but to fulfill all righteousness, and set an example to others. The kings of the earth did not collect taxes from their own children. They collected taxes from their subjects, or strangers. Since God was the Father of Jesus, He was a son, and not required to pay the temple tax. Nevertheless, He paid them.

Because He valued the Law, the temple, and the purpose for which it served, He voluntary paid the tax.  The ministry of the temple required large sums of money. Among many were the expenses for the Priest themselves. It should be noted that, although much of the temple service was corrupt, Jesus still paid His tax.

In the command to catch a fish that would have a coin in its mouth, with which to pay the tax, we see the omniscience of the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter would never forget that miracle, and it would strengthen his faith for the turn of events that were soon to happen, that is, the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus. Two lessons were learned. One, the importance of setting a good example to others, and that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God.

 

 

JESUS CONTINUES TO REVEAL TO HIS DISCIPLES HIS DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION #43

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JESUS CONTINUES TO REVEAL TO HIS DISCIPLES HIS DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION 

 lion and lamb

“And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:  And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.” Matthew 17:22-23.

 The Kingdom of Heaven had been rejected as offered by John the Baptist, the Twelve, and Jesus. In this second section of Matthew, Jesus begins to prepare His disciples for his personal rejection and crucifixion. This is the second time He mentions it in this new section. The first is in 16:21. “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.” Matthew 16:21.

This truth is more significant than most think. In fact, few notice it, and those who do fail to understand the momentous truth because tradition has blinded them to it. First, this means that the gospel that had been preached by John, Jesus, and His disciples could not have been the same gospel we preach today. They had no clue that He was to die, and when He began to make it known, they really did not hear what He was saying. Secondly, John’s baptism had no connection or relationship to His death. His baptism had an interlay different meaning than the baptism of believers today. John’s baptism was the baptism of repentance, and its purpose was to make the Messiah known to Israel.

There was not one word in the gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven, by anyone, concerning His death, burial, and resurrection. Scripture is abundant on this fact. Luke makes it so clear that a third grader could understand it. Luke 18:31-34.“Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.”  Most Christians, and pastors are as blind to this truth, as the Disciples. We will forgo the mountain of evidence on this subject, except for one text by the Apostle John. “For as yet they knew not the scripture that he must rise again from the dead.”  John 20:9.

There is nothing in Matthew’s gospel that remotely suggest a Baptist church, or a Gentile church of any kind. All in the first half is about the King and the Kingdom of Heaven being offered The last half is about the rejection and suffering of the King.  The church, which was a mystery, and unknown until revealed to Paul, finds no place in the Kingdom of Heaven earthly ministry of Christ.

WHY THE WOMEN IN MY CHURCH DON’T WEAR PANTS

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WHY THE WOMEN IN MY CHURCH DON’T WEAR PANTS

pants

The following are five of the most absurd reasons that I have heard during my ministry:

  1. MOST OF MY PASTOR FRIENDS HAVE THIS STANDARD, AND I DON’T WANT TO LOSE THEIR FRIENDSHIP.

 

  1. I NEEDED A BIBLE VERSE TO JUSTIFY THIS STANDARD, SO I PULLED ONE OUT OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. (“The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.” Deuteronomy 22:5. We hope no one sees “Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woollen and linen together.” Deuteronomy 22:11. We would look like hypocrites, and we could not explain why we don’t obey it.)

 

  1. THUS, OUR WOMEN WEAR DRESSES, EVEN THOUGH THE CLEAVAGE IS TO THE BELLY BUTTON, THE LENGTH IS UP TO THE THIGH, AND IT IS SO TIGHT THEY HAD TO USE VASELINE TO SLIP ONTO IT. THANK GOD, AT LEAST THEY AREN’T WEARING PANTS!

 

  1. I’VE BEEN TOLD THAT WOMEN WHO WEAR PANTS ARE “HUSSIES, WORLDLY, IMMODEST, AND VIOLATING SCRIPTURE.” WE DON’T WANT ANY OF THOSE WOMEN IN OUR CHURCH. THEY WILL CORRUPT THE GOOD GODLY WOMEN.

 

  1. CHURCHES MUST SET STANDARDS ON HOW PEOPLE DRESS.

THE MAN WHO WAS A LUNATIC #42

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THE MAN WHO WAS A LUNATIC

 lion and lamb

“And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, Mt 15  Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. Mt 16  And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Mt 17  Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. Mt 18  And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Mt 19  Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? Mt 20  And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Mt 21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”Matthew 17:14-21.

 

We have moved into a new section of Matthew’s gospel. The two outstanding figures in the genealogy of Christ  are Abraham and David. In the first section He is presented as the Son of David, and the Kingdom of Heaven was preached. “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17. In the second section He is presented as the suffering son of Abraham, as seen in Isaac. “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.  Matthew 16:21. He will travel from the mount of transfiguration to Mount Calvary.

Things had not change below the mountain. A young man is designated as a “lunatic.” He would respond as an epileptic. Some believed that the symptoms were greatest when there was a full moon. In reality, a devil took full control of him at those times to make the people believe it was the moon.

Under the Kingdom ministry personal faith will have a like effect on the sick, and the possessed. This was true in the gospels and early acts, and will be so again in the Tribulation and the Kingdom. The unbelief of the nine rendered them helpless in this special case. However, Jesus had told them, after His departing, they would do greater miracles than these.  Nevertheless, verse 20 and many similar passages in the Kingdom gospels speak of spectacular miracles by those with spectacular faith. For example, (Mt. 21:22; Mk. 9:23; 11:22-24; Jn. 14:12-15; 15:7,16; Heb. 11:6; Jas. 1:5-8). Nothing like this is promised in the church epistles. Thus, these are Kingdom ministry promises, in some cases are a hyperbole.