12 July 2014
1 Samuel 25
Jeremiah 2
Matthew 13
"SO IT WILL BE AT THE CLOSE OF THE AGE"
Today's 13th chapter of Matthew contains 6 parables of Jesus and at the end of the last one our Lord says, "so it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." [Matthew 13:49-50] The parables are symbolic stories, thus the "fiery furnace" is a symbol of the end of existence for some. We must face the fact that, in the end, as God sees humans, the highest form of his creation, there are really only two classes of people! Did you note in yesterday's chapter that Jesus said, "Whoever is not with me is against me." [Matthew 12:30]
Each of the parables in their own way teach the same lesson - that a choice is put before all men and women and "at the close of the age" there will be a time when God will make a decision about the future of everyone. The best known parable is that of the sower sowing seed and the different types of soil (i.e. hearts) into which it (his message) fell and how that seed grew - or didn't! Another parable is of the wheat and weeds growing together and no action is made to pull out the weeds until harvest time.
It is becoming more and more evident that God's harvest time is near - although, of course, it comes for everyone when they die! The harvest time, said Jesus, in explaining the meaning of the parable, is the time when "The son of man will send his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear." [Matthew 13:41-43]!
In these days we could add to that saying - those who have eyes to read let them read - and having read - may they, as a result, live their lives in ways that will please the sower. Are you hearing what you read?
-------
- DC
Matthew 13:52
"Then said he (Jesus) unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things NEW and OLD."
The Greek for both NEW and OLD, are both used together in Matt 9:17 when Jesus speaks about putting NEW wine into OLD bottles, speaking of the old and new covenant, that which is under the Law and that which is in Christ.
So, those who are truly instructed in the Kingdom of God, is likened unto a wise head/leader of the house who brings out the spiritual treasures from the Law and Christ for the others in the household.
We are reminded of furthers words of exhortation from the Lord Jesus:
"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to GIVE THEM MEAT in due season? BLESSED is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing."
Thought for the Day
12 July 2014
"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever." He will never change. In Luke 12 we have a delightful picture which shows this and is of interest to you and myself. To those servants of his whose loins are girt and lights burning and who open the door as soon as their Lord knocks, Christ says: "Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them" (Luke 12:37)."
- T.J. Barling
Our Reasonable Service (1979)
1 Samuel 25
Jeremiah 2
Matthew 13
"SO IT WILL BE AT THE CLOSE OF THE AGE"
Today's 13th chapter of Matthew contains 6 parables of Jesus and at the end of the last one our Lord says, "so it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." [Matthew 13:49-50] The parables are symbolic stories, thus the "fiery furnace" is a symbol of the end of existence for some. We must face the fact that, in the end, as God sees humans, the highest form of his creation, there are really only two classes of people! Did you note in yesterday's chapter that Jesus said, "Whoever is not with me is against me." [Matthew 12:30]
Each of the parables in their own way teach the same lesson - that a choice is put before all men and women and "at the close of the age" there will be a time when God will make a decision about the future of everyone. The best known parable is that of the sower sowing seed and the different types of soil (i.e. hearts) into which it (his message) fell and how that seed grew - or didn't! Another parable is of the wheat and weeds growing together and no action is made to pull out the weeds until harvest time.
It is becoming more and more evident that God's harvest time is near - although, of course, it comes for everyone when they die! The harvest time, said Jesus, in explaining the meaning of the parable, is the time when "The son of man will send his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear." [Matthew 13:41-43]!
In these days we could add to that saying - those who have eyes to read let them read - and having read - may they, as a result, live their lives in ways that will please the sower. Are you hearing what you read?
-------
- DC
Matthew 13:52
"Then said he (Jesus) unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things NEW and OLD."
The Greek for both NEW and OLD, are both used together in Matt 9:17 when Jesus speaks about putting NEW wine into OLD bottles, speaking of the old and new covenant, that which is under the Law and that which is in Christ.
So, those who are truly instructed in the Kingdom of God, is likened unto a wise head/leader of the house who brings out the spiritual treasures from the Law and Christ for the others in the household.
We are reminded of furthers words of exhortation from the Lord Jesus:
"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to GIVE THEM MEAT in due season? BLESSED is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing."
Thought for the Day
12 July 2014
"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever." He will never change. In Luke 12 we have a delightful picture which shows this and is of interest to you and myself. To those servants of his whose loins are girt and lights burning and who open the door as soon as their Lord knocks, Christ says: "Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them" (Luke 12:37)."
- T.J. Barling
Our Reasonable Service (1979)
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