Hello, John and Doves,What did Jesus mean when He said...25Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart. 26And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive. 27And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said. 28But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. 29For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.30“Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.
31“So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. 32Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.
33“A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. 34You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. 35A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. 36And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. 37The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”
Well, first we look at the context. The Gospel according to Matthew is written to the Jews, to give a flavor of the rules of the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ. As such, we observe that the undocumented aliens, the unrepentant Pharisees and unrepentant Sadducees, think Jesus is a nut. For that insult, Jesus snarkily gives them more information than they deserve--the Kingdom rules in a nutshell, but in the form of a nut that's hard to crack. That's why it is tricky for us to figure out.
It is best to pray over a passage. When inspiration comes, it is often just one little observation supplied by the ever-gracious Holy Spirit. Don't be discouraged. The key is always smaller than the door. Otherwise, you've got a camel-needle problem.
"This age" refers to the dispensation of the Law and Prophets, because John the Baptist was the last and greatest. [Luke 7:28] "The age to come refers to the Millennial Kingdom. The snarky part comes in here:
God’s Mercy Is for Everyone
25I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ. 26And so all Israel will be saved. As the Scriptures say,
“The one who rescues will come from Jerusalem,
and he will turn Israel away from ungodliness.
27And this is my covenant with them,
that I will take away their sins.”
28Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 29For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn. 30Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against him, God was merciful to you instead. 31Now they are the rebels, and God’s mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share in God’s mercy. 32For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone.
33Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!
34For who can know the Lord’s thoughts?
Who knows enough to give him advice?
35And who has given him so much
that he needs to pay it back?
36For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.
Okay, with 20/20 hindsight, we know that it is written,
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. 4After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.
What, pray tell, was this "joy?" Let's look at King David's penitential psalm:
16You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.
You do not want a burnt offering.
17The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
18Look with favor on Zion and help her;
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
19Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit—
with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings.
Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.
So, then, one of the things that brings Our Father joy is a "right spirit."
Thus, it is written,
1Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God....
15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
How was all this made possible--walking in the way of love, and such?
Let's take a look at the bigger picture--the context of a famous Rapture passage [1 Corinthians 15:51-52].
It is written,
The Resurrection of the Dead
12Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
20But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.
Conclusion: our life is hidden with Christ--always, even if it looks really dark. [Psalm 22:5]
You see, before the Cross happened in human history, there could be NO forgiveness of the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. [You think Paul wasn't guilty? Think again--1 Tim 1:16]
But since the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are echad [Deuteronomy 6:4], it makes sense that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ covers all sin.
Thus it is written, without irony,
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:8 NIV
That's what Jesus meant when He said,Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.
John 15:13 NIV
The bottom line: the joy set before Jesus Christ was that He was and is able to save anyone He wanted to for any reason, or for no discernable reason at all. And time and space are no barrier to salvation.
It is written,
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,
or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;
2 but your iniquities have made a separation
between you and your God,
and your sins have hidden his face from you
so that he does not hear.
Isaiah 59:1-2 ESVIndeed,
Judgment and Redemption
15b The Lord saw it, and it displeased him
that there was no justice.
16 He saw that there was no man,
and wondered that there was no one to intercede;
then his own arm brought him salvation,
and his righteousness upheld him.
17 He put on righteousness as a breastplate,
and a helmet of salvation on his head;
he put on garments of vengeance for clothing,
and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.
18 According to their deeds, so will he repay,
wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies;
to the coastlands he will render repayment.
19 So they shall fear the name of the Lord from the west,
and his glory from the rising of the sun;
for he will come like a rushing stream,
which the wind of the Lord drives.20 “And a Redeemer will come to Zion,
to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the Lord.21“And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says the Lord, “from this time forth and forevermore.”
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For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son [sanctification], that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters [election].
Romans 8:29 NIV
Amen! God elected many, many brothers and sisters. He foreknew all of us. The Father destined all of us to be conformed to the image of His Son! What a Life!~Blessings,Mike