Month: July 2018

I’m a fan of understanding scripture in context.  However, there seem to always be those who want to overdo context to the point that they carve up the bible into bits and call it rightly dividing.

These are the folks that say “this only pertains to the jews” or “that only applies to the disciples before the cross”.

This puts them as the authority over the word, to decide what does or doesn’t apply to them.

I recently heard someone talk about some things Jesus told the disciples as only applying to them at that time, and not to us now.

I would refer this person to these verses in Matthew…

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Mt 28:18-20 KJB

So, as we see, even if Jesus’ immediate audience was, as in this case the 11 (see v. 16), the all and whatsoever that Jesus had commanded them was to be taught to others including the command to teach all and whatsoever was commanded by Jesus, and so forth…

 

I recently heard someone making the case that certain things Jesus said only pertained to the apostles that He was speaking to at the time.

To folks to hold this view, I would refer them to Mt 28:20

Mt 28:20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

We see that Jesus told the apostles to teach others to “observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you”.

So even if Jesus was just speaking to the apostles at a particular time, the instructions for the apostles was to teach disciples to do the same thing Jesus had instructed them to do.   That includes disciples teaching other disciples to do all the things Jesus instructed.

All things the apostles were instructed in is also applicable to all believers today.

Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Acts 7:55-56 But he [Stephen], being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Eph 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

Heb 8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;

Heb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1Pet 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

Mt 22:44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?

Acts 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.