As Paul
the apostle continued his instruction to Timothy his “son in the
faith”, he warned Timothy of people who were promoting
doctrines other than the gospel of Jesus Christ. These “Judaizers”,
as they were called, desired to be teachers of the law but didn't
“understand or affirm” what they were saying. Paul told
Timothy “that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for
the lawless and disobedient”, and he included the “ungodly”,
“sinners”, “unholy”, “profane”, “murderers of fathers”,
“murderers of mothers” and
“manslayers” in
his list. In chapter one and verse ten of his letter to Timothy, Paul
continued his list for whom the law was made where we read:
For whoremongers, for
them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars,
for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is
contrary to sound doctrine;
The verse begins, “For
whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for
menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons,...” As
Paul continued his list he began with “For whoremongers”
who are “men who prostitute their bodies to another's lust
for hire, male prostitutes, or men who indulge in unlawful sexual
intercourse otherwise known as fornicators”. Paul added, “for
them that defile themselves with mankind” which is the Greek
word “arsenokoitēs” and
means “one who lies with a male as with a female, a sodomite or
homosexual”. Paul included, “for menstealers”
which are “andrapodistēs”
and
refers to “a slave-dealer,
kidnapper, man-stealer, one who unjustly reduces free men to slavery
and one who steals the slaves of others and sells them”. Next Paul
wrote, “for liars”
which means “one who breaks faith or a false and faithless man”,
and finally “for perjured persons”
which were “false swearers and perjurers”. As we can see, the law
of God was directed toward a large group of people who manifested
“lawlessness and disobedience” in a number of ways.
The verse goes on to say, “and
if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;”
Just in case he excluded a
particular manifestation of “lawlessness and disobedience” Paul
added to the list, “and if there be any”
or “whatever” “other thing”
or “another” “that is contrary”
which means “to be set over against, opposite, opposed to,
adverse to and withstanding” “to sound” or “good and
healthy” “doctrine” or “teaching, instruction or
precepts”. Rather than continuing his list with specific examples,
Paul combined the possibilities into “any other thing”.
As we think through Paul's
further examples for whom the law was provided, it is interesting to
note that “liars” and “perjured persons” were
among the others listed by him. So often the other manifestations of
“lawlessness and disobedience” to God are highlighted, and these
are judged by men as “lesser sins”. The truth of the law of God
was that it was to expose all manifestations of sin and the spirit
behind them. Jesus said in the gospel of Matthew in chapter five and
verse twenty-one thru twenty-two:
You have heard that it
was said by them of old time, You shall not kill; and whosoever shall
kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That
whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in
danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca,
shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, You fool,
shall be in danger of hell fire.”
Jesus
also added in verses twenty-seven and twenty-eight of the same
chapter:
You have heard that it
was said by them of old time, You shall not commit adultery: But I
say unto you, That whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her has
committed adultery with her already in his heart.”
It
is the spirit of murder and lust that are sinful, and not just the
physical manifestation of them. Jesus showed us that it was the
spirit of a person who commits “lawlessness and disobedience”,
and the law of God exposes that in all of us. The law shows us our
need for a Savior, and Jesus Christ ultimately paid the price for our
sins and disobedience to God. As we think on these things, may we be
grateful to the Lord Jesus Christ for His provision for Salvation,
and when we lean toward “lawlessness and disobedience” no matter
how it is manifested, may we turn our ways toward His, and realize He
has our best interests in mind.
Next
time Paul shares about the “glorious gospel”, so read
ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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