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Post by Josh on Feb 8, 2007 20:43:56 GMT -8
1/11/06:
23: 15, a powerful verse in it's application to the Church's own endeavors at times:
"Woe to you.. you travel over land and sea to make one convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as fit for hell as you are!"
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Post by Josh on Feb 9, 2007 18:58:13 GMT -8
1/11/06:
In Matthew 23:33-39 (as well as chapter 24), we have probably the clearest prophecy of Christ regarding the impending doom of Jerusalem- having been said to firmly apply to "this generation". Verses 35-38 especially hammers home the enormity of the judgement soon to come:
"So all the righteous blood shed on the earth will be charged to you, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. I assure you: All these things will come on this generation!
O Jerusalem! Jerusalem that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I have wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, yet you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate..."
Of course, what's next in Matthew 24: the great "Olivet Discourse" where Jesus expounds more clearly to His disciples about what's going to happen to Jerusalem.
BTW, after a lot of study regarding the term 'this generation', I am personally convinced of it's obvious meaning: the generation Jesus was speaking to, not some future generation of Jews (anyway, that would have to be THAT generation anyway, not THIS generation).
It's really clear here, but we must let a clear passage like this help us interpret the other times Matthew uses the phrase 'this generation' (like in 24:34). And I'm convinced that Matthew uses it in a consistant way.
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Post by Josh on Feb 9, 2007 18:59:01 GMT -8
1/11/06:
Here's a question that's made a lot of waves recently (since about the release of Mel Gibson's the Passion)-
is the New Testament, and particularly the book of Matthew, anti-Semitic? Matthew 23 is cited as proof by some.
What might be a logical Christian response to the accusation?
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Post by michelle on Feb 9, 2007 19:02:00 GMT -8
1/12/06:
1Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2"The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. 3So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.
This is such a powerful passage. Whever I come across it, I always feel the burden to pray for leaders of the church. Satan loves to attack pastors because who is more enjoyable for him to watch fall??
I think it's important to remember "Pastor" Josh in our prayers everyday, that he would have the strength to practice what he preaches and the strength to ward off Satan's attacks. Also, I know that I need to remind myself that while I respect him and look to him as my leader he is not infallible and there may be times I need to hold him accountable.
And Josh, this is in no way a reflection on where I think you are or aren't, just a reminder to myself (and possibly others) of what I need to be doing for you.
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Post by Josh on Feb 9, 2007 19:02:53 GMT -8
1/12/06:
Yep, it's easy to blame the Pharisees but quite convicting to see how this passage relates to Christian leaders.
I am struck by Jesus' anger about how the Pharisees adversely affected their followers- how they twisted them into their own mold, how they distorted the gospel by piled up extra burdens on them.
We'll actually be talking about something like this on Sunday.
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