Heaven and earth

[ed]

I'm working heaven and earth in the book of Matthew.

Anyone else see it as the theme of the book?

Matthew 3
10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down , and cast into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear : he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

The coming of Jesus Christ was the axe laid at the root of the tree.  The fire represents a  soon coming judgment.

Matthew 3
12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Again the fire represents judgement..........I don't believe it is talking about the end times, but the present times that Jesus was in.

Matthew 3
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come ?

Matthew 4
8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world(Kosmos), and the glory of them;

Heaven and earth are what the devil was talking about.  The king of heaven was getting ready to thoroughly defeat it.........the adversary, and take charge of heaven and earth.

Matthew 5
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth(Ge).

The kingdom of heaven is on earth through Jesus Christ.  The Body of Christ is the method through which the king ministers on earth.

Matthew 5
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy , but to fulfil . 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass , one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled .

I'm interested in how Jesus Christ fulfilled the law and the prophets........or has he?   This is where I am looking for more light.

Matthew 5
34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool : neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.

Matthew 6
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come . Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Matthew 6
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt , and where thieves break through and steal : 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt , and where thieves do not break through nor steal.

What heaven is being talked about?  A future heaven?  I have always believed the present heaven.

I'm still working the sermon on the mount..........It may take me a little while to get to


Matthew 28
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

[Tom]

"MATTHEW'S ACCOUNT

MATTHEW manifests the Messiah as the Son of David and the Son of Abraham. He is the King of Israel and the Owner of the land. His genealogy is presented to prove His title to the throne and attest His inheritance from the father of the faithful. This account is occupied with the kingdom to Israel and the land of promise. It is concerned with the covenants made with Abraham and with David.
     The four accounts or portraitures of Christ give four discriminated aspects of their common subject: and are not intended to be "harmonized". Each writer has his peculiar principles of selection and arrangement. Matthew's account, ever recognized as the Hebrew gospel, is the true commencement of the Greek scriptures, showing how they grow out of the Hebrew writings. It quotes at every step from the older scriptures. It is both a history and a fulfillment of prophecy. Matthew never rises above the plane of Israel's interests and hopes.
     The characteristic phrase is "the kingdom of the heavens". This refers to Daniel's prophecy, "And in the days of these kings the God of the heavens shall set up a kingdom which shall not be harmed for the eon, and the kingdom shall not be left to another people. It shall crush and terminate all these kingdoms.... (Dan.2:44). "And the kingdom and the authority and the majesty of the kingdom under all the heavens is granted to the people of the saints of the supremacies..." (Dan.7:27) It is a kingdom in the sense that Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece were kingdoms; it is still future; it is the rule of one people over other nations; yet it will not be destroyed as its predecessors in world dominion, but will last for the eons.
     Notwithstanding the fact that Messiah is sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (15:24) and that He forbade His apostles to go to the nations or Samaritans (10:5), the few instances in which the aliens are mentioned are most significant. Four gentile women enter the genealogy (1:3,5,6). Tamar's sin introduced her into the line of ancestry, Rahab came in by faith. In Ruth's case grace triumphed over the law that would ban a Moabite from the congregation of Jehovah. Bathsheba reminds us of David's great transgression and shows us grace reigning despite sin. The magi come to worship Him, while Herod seeks His life (2:1-12). The centurion exhibits a faith unknown in Israel (8:5-12). The Canaanitish woman is commended for her confidence in Christ (15:21-28). Pilate and his wife refuse responsibility when the Jews seek to condemn Him (27:10,24). The centurion at the cross acknowledges that He is the Son of God (27:54). It is only at the end of the account, after all authority on earth is in the hands of the King, that the disciples are commissioned to go and make disciples of all nations. This cannot occur until the kingdom comes. Thus the proclamation of the kingdom of the heavens is restricted to the people of whom the prophet Daniel spoke.
     The narrative is divided into two distinct periods, each of which begins with His acknowledgement as Son of God by a voice from heaven and closes by its acknowledgment by men, the first by the disciples the second by the nations. The first extends from John's baptism (3:16-17), and closes with Peter's confession (16:16). During this period the kingdom is proclaimed and rejected, so that He forbids its further proclamation. The second period is occupied with His priestly preparation for the sacrifice on Golgotha. It begins with the transformation on the mount (17:1-5) where Moses and Elijah spoke of His decease, and continued to the crucifixion, where the centurion said, "Truly this was God's Son!" (27:54)." (Concordant Commentary pg.10-Matthew's Account)

[micah7:9]

I for one, and that is just me personally, getting weary of "Concordant Commentary."
I use the CLV translation, and find it very good, but the continual inference that it holds a "period" at the end of it's offer causes me to just wonder.  :2c:

[Tom]

I for one, and that is just me personally, getting weary of "Concordant Commentary."
I use the CLV translation, and find it very good, but the continual inference that it holds a "period" at the end of it's offer causes me to just wonder.  :2c:

Well, when I quote something from it, bro, it's not meant to be the one and only perspective or an authority. Even Knoch said it shouldn't be considered as such. It's just a "commentary" by one man that is sometimes helpful for folks.

[Tom]

I think the word of God is the authority, and Knoch has said so too.

[Tom]

I've seen various comments on this forum that I don't agree with, but I accept them as personal perspectives because that is what we all share here.

[micah7:9]

Three posts to say one thing. Condense. :dsunny: :Peace2:

[ed]

So when we read:

Matthew 5
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

I automatically see the kingdom of heaven as being right then for those who were hearing and for all time.  The Kingdom of heaven is always.

And again:

Matthew 5
11 Blessed are ye , when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely , for my sake . 12 Rejoice , and be exceeding glad : for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

The reward in heaven is always present, just as the kingdom of heaven is always present........I don't see it as a far off treasure that we get at the end of the road, I see the reward in heaven as an ever present reality.

.

[ed]

Matthew 5
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid . 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy , but to fulfil .

Reading the above all in one section, I wonder if I can say that fulfilling the law and the prophets is making a people that are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. 

Jesus Christ fulfilled the law and the prophets by making a people that were indeed the true salt of the earth and light of the world. This people is the people who know the kingdom of heaven and bring it to earth through every day encounter.

It is interesting the tone change between chapter 5 and 6..........  Chapter 6 is all about not doing your works for men to see.

.

[rosered]

 
Bro ed ,
  always love what you share with us !!   
I agree   with you
  the old heavens and earth are under the old covenant    of the law    and prophets   as a servant

  to me   the new heavens and  earth are those    under the grace of God though Jesus Christ  and the sons of God

I believe Jesus come to fulfill or  finish the work that the law and prophets    started all them generations      under the  tree of knowledge of good and evil   
  we see the good of God  in the old heavens and earth  testament and  we see the good and perfect in the new testament  tree of life

and Even Jesus telling us to choose the good in that old tree         so the perfect will come !   it  is  a continued     progression of the HOLY SPIRIT  OF TRUTH   /SPIRIT OF PROPHECY

GOD BLESS YOU !!   Jesus come to   complete the old     covenant  , the water baptism      was fulfilling all righteousness Jesus got baptized to fulfill all righteousness. Exodus 29:1-7, according to the law and prophets      bring in the new covenant  the everlasting one     bringing in many sons of God into glory   !!!     aaron means light bringer and Jesus is the Light of the world   
    Jesus explains this      in Matthew       21   33-45

  Parable of the Evil Farmers
33 "Now listen to another story. A certain landowner planted a vineyard, built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country. 34 At the time of the grape harvest, he sent his servants to collect his share of the crop. 35 But the farmers grabbed his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. 36 So the landowner sent a larger group of his servants to collect for him, but the results were the same.

37 "Finally, the owner sent his son, thinking, 'Surely they will respect my son.'

38 "But when the tenant farmers saw his son coming, they said to one another, 'Here comes the heir to this estate. Come on, let's kill him and get the estate for ourselves!' 39 So they grabbed him, dragged him out of the vineyard, and murdered him.

40 "When the owner of the vineyard returns," Jesus asked, "what do you think he will do to those farmers?"

41 The religious leaders replied, "He will put the wicked men to a horrible death and lease the vineyard to others who will give him his share of the crop after each harvest."

42 Then Jesus asked them, "Didn't you ever read this in the Scriptures?

'The stone that the builders rejected
    has now become the cornerstone.
This is the Lord's doing,
    and it is wonderful to see.'
43 I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit. 44 Anyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on."

45 When the leading priests and Pharisees heard this parable, they realized he was telling the story against them—they were the wicked farmers.

[rosered]

  There are so many treasures  of the heart to keep in them 
the law and prophets   under the law of the tree of knowledge of good and evil        exposes  the sin     and need for repentance   a change of mind/ heart  and garments  as nakedness  for sin  as a covering

  and with Jesus Christ we  have     humility      ,,      humbled   to the obedience to the will of God the Father  and being clothed in Christ 

Gal    3 26For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus

[micah7:9]

Mat 5:1  And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
Mat 5:2  And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

Not speaking to the multitudes. Just saying. :dsunny: He is talking to us, disciples.

[rosered]

Mat 5:1  And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
Mat 5:2  And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

Not speaking to the multitudes. Just saying. :dsunny: He is talking to us, disciples.

  Yes ,   Bro ,all students  of the Word of God by the SPIRIT OF TRUTH   IT sure was in   the Lord Jesus Christ, right ? the ONE  whom  was , is and will always be .
  come to Christ and sit at His feet



  Matt 11 27"All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father;

nor does anyone know the Father except the Son,

and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.


28"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS :flowerred:

[ed]

Thank you rosered for post #9..........I have not gotten there yet.   Matthew is something I never had much interest in.........I've always been a John type of guy. 

Posted by: micah7:9
« on: Today at 03:39:33 PM » Insert Quote
Mat 5:1  And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
Mat 5:2  And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

Not speaking to the multitudes. Just saying. :dsunny: He is talking to us, disciples.

Thanks, I never noticed that.  I always thought it was the sermon on the mount to the multitude.............  :dsunny:

[joeteekay]

Yes the sermon on the mount was for the disciples and for the ELECT.

Mat_13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

:banana:

[ed]

  Matt 11 27"All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father;

nor does anyone know the Father except the Son,

and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.


28"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS :flowerred:

Very cool.

Matthew 11
25 At that time Jesus answered and said , I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

[rosered]

  I love  what Bro M
  brought up  because the Lord does fulfill all righteousness to the T   very precise and perfect ,   

for me ,     THE  thing is the building of the foundation   and the walls
  was to be the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12/ disciples/students  to  apostles /ambassadors to represent    in Rev     21  ,22  and the increase of God  to the fullness  and end   being the   Holy City    as the new heavens and earth increase   in Spirit and truth  by God Himself

    Revelation 21:17-18




  those twelve were  like Bro Joe says  given to know    , just as are    now    as the growing is a daily thing      the Day of the Lord is the 1000  years to me  2 Peter 3 personally

Mat_13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.      Gods plan   is perfect /complete and entire lacking nothing    :flowerred:
     

  Eph  4 ...12for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;

13until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

[dajomaco]

I can see us grow in the knowledge of Gods Son.

It seems impossible to me that we would reach unity in faith.

What is impossible for man, is the starting point with God.
Jesus said that he personally would build up the body to be ONE.

  And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God's Son, growing into a mature man with a stature measured by Christ's fullness. 14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. 15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head—Christ. 16 From Him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.

[dajomaco]

  Matt 11 27"All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father;

nor does anyone know the Father except the Son,

and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.


28"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS :flowerred:

Very cool.

Matthew 11
25 At that time Jesus answered and said , I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

Is now the times of Babes growing?

[dajomaco]

Mark 10 23
Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!"  24 But the disciples were astonished at His words. Again Jesus said to them, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."

26 So they were even more astonished, saying to one another, "Then who can be saved?"

27 Looking at them, Jesus said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God."

[dajomaco]

The unity of the faith is so far away.
Yet we are told to get there we must rest our souls .

[joeteekay]

Growth into the fullness of Christ is a process. First as babes in Christ and feeding on milk, then growing unto perfection. Can we ever be truly unified while in the flesh?

1Co_3:2  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

Heb_5:13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

Eph_4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

[rosered]

The unity of the faith is so far away.
Yet we are told to get there we must rest our souls .

:thumbsup:

Growth into the fullness of Christ is a process. First as babes in Christ and feeding on milk, then growing unto perfection. Can we ever be truly unified while in the flesh?

1Co_3:2  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

Heb_5:13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

Eph_4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

:thumbsup:

[dajomaco]

There is only one doctrine that unifies the body
and that is the doctrine of the crucified Christ.

There is only one way into the kingdom of God
and that is  through the crucified son of God.

Jesus cried out to the Father before the crucifixion.

There is no other way than the Son submitting to the Father.

But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us!

[Seth]

Growth into the fullness of Christ is a process. First as babes in Christ and feeding on milk, then growing unto perfection. Can we ever be truly unified while in the flesh?

1Co_3:2  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

Heb_5:13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

Eph_4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

:thumbsup: :dsunny: