Christianity can be condensed into four words: Admit, Submit, Commit and Transmit. -Samuel Wilberforce
TO THE JEW FIRST
Most students of God's Word are aware that the Gospel of Matthew presents Jesus as Israel's Messiah. Matthew's genealogy presents Jesus as a child of Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation (Gen. 12:1-2; Mt. 1:1-16); and he repeatedly uses phrases like "this was done that it might be fulfilled" (Mt. 1:22; 21:4; 26:56; etc.). The following two passages show the Lord's mission was to Israel"
"These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Mt. 10:5-6).
"And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto Him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, Thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But He answered...and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Mt. 15:22-24).
However, Matthew also records Jesus as praising the faith of two Gentiles: in 8:5-13, a Roman Centurion pleads with Jesus for help, and after listening to the Centurion, He said,"Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel" (v. 10). Then, in 15:22-28, the Canaanite woman (Gentile) I referred to above, begged Jesus to heal her daughter. Her words to Him prompted Jesus to say, "O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour" (v. 28).
Then, all four Gospels suddenly change. What was His mission to Israel, became His ministry to the whole world! I believe the explanation for that is found in John's Gospel. He wrote: "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name" (Jn. 1:11-12). Matthew's final words clearly show the Gospel is now the message of hope to all mankind! He wrote in 28:18-20:
"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 (always), even unto the end of the (age). Amen."
MONDAY, JULY 21, 2014
Jerusalem In Breathtaking High Definition
http://vimeo.com/101137593
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