Matthew shared how Joseph after being in Egypt with Mary and Jesus, “came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene. Matthew continued, “In those days came John the Baptist, and saying, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leather girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan, and were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance”, and in chapter three and verse nine of his book, John the Baptist tells the Pharisees and Sadducees not to say, “we have Abraham to our father” where we read:
And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you,
that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
The verse reads, “And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: ...” Matthew began with the words, “and think not” which means “and do not suppose, be accounted and reputed” “to say” or “to utter, declare and proclaim” “within yourselves” which means “inside the Pharisees and Sadducees themselves”, “we have Abraham” or “the Pharisees and Sadducees are descendants and prodigy of Abraham whose name means father of a multitude and the son of Terah and the founder of the Jewish nation” “to our father” which means “as the generator or male ancestor”. Matthew told the Pharisees and Sadducees not to depend on the fact that “Abraham” was their ancestor.
The verse goes on to say, “... for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” Matthew continued with the words, “for I say” which means “even, indeed, no doubt, seeing thing and therefore John the Baptist uttered, declared and proclaimed” “unto you” or “to the Pharisees and Sadducees” “that God” which refers to “that the Godhead and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit” “is able” or “is capable” “of these stones” which means “out of and from the small rocks or stones” “to raise up children” or “to arouse, cause to rise and make appear” “unto Abraham” which means “to Abraham whose name means father of a multitude” and was “the son of Terah and the founder of the Jewish nation”. Matthew shared how God was powerful enough to raise “children of Abraham” from the “stones or rocks” which surrounded them.
When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how John the Baptist told the Pharisees and Sadducees not to place their confidence in the fact that they descended from Abraham who was the “father of their nation”. God was able to make “children and offspring” out of the “stones” which surround John at that time, and just because they belonged to the family of “Abraham” gave them no special entry into the kingdom of God. God's desire is to save every person, and no one should trust in their heritage, family or ancestry to gain entrance into the kingdom of heaven. There is only one way to have a relationship with God, and that is through believing in His Son Jesus as “Savior and Lord”. Regardless of the genealogical record, each person must examine their own lives and “bring forth fruit meet for repentance”.
Next time John the Baptist tells the Pharisees and Sadducees, “the ax is laid to the root of the trees” 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”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
No comments:
Post a Comment