Matthew the apostle wrote how, “Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death. And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again. Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshiping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. And he said unto her, What do you desire? She said unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on your right hand, and the other on the left, in your kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, You know not what you ask. Are you able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he said unto them, You shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren”, and in chapter twenty and verse twenty-five of his book, Matthew shares how Jesus told His disciples, “you know that that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them” where we read:
But Jesus called them unto him, and said, You know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
The verse reads, “But Jesus called them unto him, and said, You know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, ...”. Matthew began with the words, “but Jesus” or “moreover and Jesus whose name means Jehovah is Salvation and is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate” “called them” which means “summoned, bid and invited His disciples” “unto him” or “to Jesus Himself”, “and said” or “uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “you know” or “the disciples perceive, pay attention to, observe, notice, discern, discover and ascertain” “that the princes” which refers to “that the rulers, commanders, chiefs and leaders” “of the Gentiles” or “belonging to tribes, nations and people groups of the same nature or genus” “exercise dominion over” which means “bring under their power, make subject to, subdue , master and lord” “them” or “other people”. Matthew shared how Jesus referred His disciples to the way “pagan nations and people” “rule and master over” other people.
The verse goes on to say, “... and they that are great exercise authority upon them.” Matthew continued with the words, “and they” or “and the people” “that are great” which means “who are predicated of rank, eminent in ability, virtue, authority and power” “exercise authority upon” or “wield power over and have full privilege over” “them” which means “other people”. Matthew wrote how the rulers of “the Gentiles” “wield power and are privileged over” others as well.
When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus referred to the way “rulers and leaders” among the pagan nations of the world “rule and wield power over” other people. They also have “full privilege” over them. Jesus knows there is no “power and rule” given that is not granted by God Himself, and as the absolute authority and power this same God desires a loving personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus Christ. Those who are wise shall realize the true source and origin of “authority and power” and yield their lives to Him as “Savior and Lord” today.
Next time Matthew writes how Jesus said, “it shall not be so among you”, 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
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Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
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