TO: THE CITIES
(Who have ears to hear)
As the saying goes: He showed up...AND SHOWED OUT!
My heart sank as I was recently in a discussion with someone, who, in trying to convince me that we must, as he said, "Do what we gotta do, by any means necessary, to get into heaven." He insisted, referring to Matthew 11:12, "Man is supposed to take it by force." Immediately, it became clear to me how so many here could be misled into thinking that their disrespectful rituals and violent behavior toward a woman of God, "one of the least of these," could somehow be acceptable to God. IT IS NOT. False teachers have entered into the sheepfold perpetuating the foolishness of religious rituals that God says He hates. Question: Why on earth would you continually set before God, an offering which He hates, then respond in anger towards His messenger, when He rejects said offering? Interesting.
Nevertheless, I love how the Holy Spirit keeps leading me into all truth and understanding. Therefore, I felt compelled to share this knowledge with those who are perhaps still a little uncertain about the following scripture:
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. (Matthew 11:12)
For a while it had been a source of confusion for me, as well. It seemed to suggest that God can somehow be subdued. But, there's absolutely no doubt in my mind, that nothing could be farther from the truth. Certainly Heaven can not be taken by force. Some have even suggested that this scripture simply means that man should be bold in his quest for Heaven. While I like the way that sounds, it's a bit presumptuous and altogether taken out of context. The Holy Spirit set my focus on two words in particular: "Until", and "Now."
From the days of John UNTIL NOW. "Until," implies a ceasing, a stopping point. The "Now" that Jesus was referring to, was "His appointed time." So then, the violent men, of whom He so often referred, were the Jewish religious leaders of the temple, whom not only laid heavy burdens of religious law, and circumcision ritual on man, but would ultimately lay violent hands on Jesus, to deliver Him over to death.
Circumcision was a violent ritual. The mutilation of one's own body (God’s Temple). It was not only enforced as a requirement for entering into God's Kingdom, but also set as a roadblock to keep Gentiles (Non-Jews) out of the Kingdom. Unless Gentiles converted to Judaism, through the violent process of circumcision, adherence to certain dietary restrictions, and other religiosity and ritualistic practices, it was believed that they could not enter into Heaven. Those were man's laws.
But, thanks be to God...
When "The Word" became flesh, and dwelt among us... (Whew! pause - PRAISE BREAK!!!) When Jesus showed up on the scene, He showed out!
No longer are man's violent laws of animal sacrifice, circumcision of the flesh, etc. necessary. Because of Jesus’s finished work, and final sacrifice, the only requirement now, is circumcision of the heart. Jesus ushered in a new covenant mindset; whereby, because of the violence He endured, at the instructional hands of violent Jewish Temple leaders, "ALL, who believe in Him," now have access to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Before you accuse me of antisemitism, please understand that I am simply unpacking the text, as imparted:
From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. (Matthew 16:21)
One scripture, in particular, comes to mind in defending Jesus's teachings against violence, disrespectful, and even ritualistic means of access is John 10:1:
(Who have ears to hear)
As the saying goes: He showed up...AND SHOWED OUT!
My heart sank as I was recently in a discussion with someone, who, in trying to convince me that we must, as he said, "Do what we gotta do, by any means necessary, to get into heaven." He insisted, referring to Matthew 11:12, "Man is supposed to take it by force." Immediately, it became clear to me how so many here could be misled into thinking that their disrespectful rituals and violent behavior toward a woman of God, "one of the least of these," could somehow be acceptable to God. IT IS NOT. False teachers have entered into the sheepfold perpetuating the foolishness of religious rituals that God says He hates. Question: Why on earth would you continually set before God, an offering which He hates, then respond in anger towards His messenger, when He rejects said offering? Interesting.
Nevertheless, I love how the Holy Spirit keeps leading me into all truth and understanding. Therefore, I felt compelled to share this knowledge with those who are perhaps still a little uncertain about the following scripture:
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. (Matthew 11:12)
For a while it had been a source of confusion for me, as well. It seemed to suggest that God can somehow be subdued. But, there's absolutely no doubt in my mind, that nothing could be farther from the truth. Certainly Heaven can not be taken by force. Some have even suggested that this scripture simply means that man should be bold in his quest for Heaven. While I like the way that sounds, it's a bit presumptuous and altogether taken out of context. The Holy Spirit set my focus on two words in particular: "Until", and "Now."
From the days of John UNTIL NOW. "Until," implies a ceasing, a stopping point. The "Now" that Jesus was referring to, was "His appointed time." So then, the violent men, of whom He so often referred, were the Jewish religious leaders of the temple, whom not only laid heavy burdens of religious law, and circumcision ritual on man, but would ultimately lay violent hands on Jesus, to deliver Him over to death.
Circumcision was a violent ritual. The mutilation of one's own body (God’s Temple). It was not only enforced as a requirement for entering into God's Kingdom, but also set as a roadblock to keep Gentiles (Non-Jews) out of the Kingdom. Unless Gentiles converted to Judaism, through the violent process of circumcision, adherence to certain dietary restrictions, and other religiosity and ritualistic practices, it was believed that they could not enter into Heaven. Those were man's laws.
But, thanks be to God...
When "The Word" became flesh, and dwelt among us... (Whew! pause - PRAISE BREAK!!!) When Jesus showed up on the scene, He showed out!
No longer are man's violent laws of animal sacrifice, circumcision of the flesh, etc. necessary. Because of Jesus’s finished work, and final sacrifice, the only requirement now, is circumcision of the heart. Jesus ushered in a new covenant mindset; whereby, because of the violence He endured, at the instructional hands of violent Jewish Temple leaders, "ALL, who believe in Him," now have access to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Before you accuse me of antisemitism, please understand that I am simply unpacking the text, as imparted:
From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. (Matthew 16:21)
One scripture, in particular, comes to mind in defending Jesus's teachings against violence, disrespectful, and even ritualistic means of access is John 10:1:
Jesus the True Shepherd
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. (John 10:1)
The way of Christ is love, compassion, kindness, peace; even towards our enemies. Wrath and vengeance belongs to God.
The way of Christ is love, compassion, kindness, peace; even towards our enemies. Wrath and vengeance belongs to God.
