What is your view on Matthew 7:07?
611353
It means that you can find the Lord within yourself, but you have to look.  It is not easy, and it may take years but if you seek him, you will find him.  \n\nSome think the door that is to be opened is the spiritual eye.  Who knows?
642303
You guys need to get your facts straight.The 1000 yr reign and most of revelations has already been fulfilled this is the time that Satan is loosed for a season. 24th chapter of Matthew Jesus was talking to Peter,James,John and Andrew and he said this generation will not pass till all these things be fulfilled. This generation is not that generation.
1021304
It hasn't been quite that long - he died 35 C.E or some year near and it is now 2006. But yes - that is an awfully long time considering many of the early believers are recorded to have thought his return was imminent. Matthew 24 also suggests that his generation would not pass away until the tribulation and his return. Certainly does seem like he missed his appointment, but maybe something about all this is misunderstood - i.e., his words or the expectation of this itself. To me that is good evidence supporting he actually did ressurect, because no one would resonably expect him to return again if they didn't see him return once already.\n\nMany Chrisitians want not only every word of the Bible (which has been translated and rewritten by people with different theologies many times) to be right, but it to fit their interpretation of it. So they come up with scenarios to make it all fit in their minds rather than ponder the difficult questions and admit there are some things few if any of us know.
95770
hi.. First of all, I would like to congratulate you for choosing the way of Christ.\n\nI'll try to answer your question to the best of my ability.\n\nI believe that when God speaks about All flesh\nin Joel 2:28 "And i shall come to pass afterwards that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions."\nHe meant the believers or someone who is being prepared for the Lord's works.\n\nIf you check sub chapters before that verse, God talks about A call to repentance and the land refreshed.\nThe Lord obviously speaks about the people who repent and refreshed into the new creation in Christ (believers).\nThus, I conclude that All flesh, in Joel 2:28, means All believers\n\nThat's why it is important to always read at least a chapter or two before and after the verse.\nFor the bible works as a whole; we should avoid reading bible verses by chopping it individually. If we do that, there is a chance for us to take the verse out of the original context. \n\nAnd, yes there are still prophets appointed by God.\nand as it is true that there are true prophets, there are also false prophets/teachers.\n\nand your question is How we can tell the true from the false one, right?\n\nthere are 3 steps for us to know that a prophet is a false one or not:\n1. God says "My People perish from the lack of knowledge." It is very important for us to read the bible and pray everyday to build a sweet and intimate relationship with God. And also sharpen our knowledge about God's characters.\nWe know that Jesus has warned us about the false prophets/ messiahs in Matthew 24:24-28. So, when there are news about  messiahs that come to deliver us from sin, we knew that we have to be careful with those fake messiahs. We know in our heart that Jesus Christ is our only messiah that no one comes to the Father without going trough Him.\n\n2. From reading the bible everyday and become more and more alert and sensitive to God's voice, we knew that the true prophet sent by God will NEVER contradict the bible.\nSo, when a teacher/prophets come to you and said that he is the messiah or something like you should divorce your husband, we know immediately that this prophet is a false teachers and should be avoided.\nRemember! the bible is the ultimate guide that you should use to check whether a prophet is false or not.\n\nwhen they go against the bible, don't waste your time.\nPack your things and go.. Don't bother listening to them.\n\n3. What if the prophet looks and sounds fine for now...but in the future, he will finally shown his true self. how do you know  that he's not going to trap you in his web of lies. For we know that the devil is cunning and deceitful.\n\nWell, go and look in matthew 7: 15-20.\nIt is okay and even recommended to test those people.\nDon't accept them immediately just because they said they are prophets.\nDon't be rude to them, but keep your Spiritual alert system on all the time.\nTest the fruits and the labors. For the things that came from the Lord always bring forth peace and goodness.\n\nTake whatever good and biblical inside. but, disregard the weird teachings. Keep alert and pray all the time for the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth to you about those prophets.\n \n\nHopefully that helps,\nIn jesus name,\n\n\nAmen
1034780
As it is written, we must forgive "seventy times seven times" our fellow man who wronged us... Lest our sins will not be forgiven us.\n\nPeace be with you!
532748
Ok here goes.\n\nFirst off, you need to revise your question. Matthew 7:9-10 says,"\n\n\nAnd Mark 7:9-10 says this " He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.  For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.\n\n\nNow in the OT (Old Testament) that was the Law.\n\nIn this passage though, it was allegory. If you read before and after these verses you will see that the Pharisees were trying to stump Jesus with another question/accusation, and ended up making themselves look like fools. Lets examine this, shall we?\n\nk, lets put things into context.\n\nMark 7\n\n2 Now when they (pharisees) saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault(they found something with which to accuse him). \n\n3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. \n\n4 When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.\n\n5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, "Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?"\n\n6 He answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.\n\n7 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'\n\n8 "For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men*--the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do."\n\n9 He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.\n\n10 For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother';  and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.'\n  \n11 But you say, 'If a man says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban"--' (that is, a gift to God),\n\n \n\n12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother,\n\n   ***They ended up making Gods law void by picking and choosing what they would and would not follow. See the next verse***\n\n13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do(that aint the only thing you do)."\n\n14 When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone, and understand: \n\n15 There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.\n\n   ***Nothing you enters you from the mouth makes you unclean, it is the things exit your mouth which defile you.***\n\n16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!" \n\n17 When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. \n\n18 So He said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, \n\n19 because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?"\n\n20 And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. \n\n21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, \n\n22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. \n     \n***These are the things that defile a man, examine the above two verses carefully***  \n\n23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man." \n\nAs for the commands to kill you are refering to, yes they are not metaphor, They where rules for capital punishment. \n\nIf a
171730
You need to extend the passage a little.\n\n Now Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" They said in reply, "John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets." And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said to him in reply, "You are the Messiah." Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him. He began to teach them that the Son of Man 7 must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said 8 to them, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel 9 will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? What could one give in exchange for his life? Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this faithless and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." \n\nThis utterance of Jesus challenges all believers to authentic discipleship and total commitment to himself through self-renunciation and acceptance of the cross of suffering, even to the sacrifice of life itself. Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it . . . will save it: an expression of the ambivalence of life and its contrasting destiny. Life seen as mere self-centered earthly existence and lived in denial of Christ ends in destruction, but when lived in loyalty to Christ, despite earthly death, it arrives at fullness of life.\n\nWhat are you doing in your life that is self-centered or not in keeping with what the Master needs?
1049922
I agree that it is out of date, but I don't think that you can just go and arbitrarily change the content.  And by whose standards would it change?\n\nI think that there are many misinterpretations of the bible over the centuries.\n\nI am going to be ordering one that is supposed to be a direct translation from the orginal Aramaic New Testament to see what the difference is.  It is called The Modern New Testament : Translated from the Original Aramaic Sources by G. Lamsa.\n\nHaving said that, I also think that much of the bible directly speaks to that generation's society and political culture and therefore, not a lot of it has to do with how things are in this day and age, although I feel that Jesus taught us timeless lessons of love and acceptance and faith.  \n\nBut I don't believe that Jesus was the only master and that timeless lessons were taught by Mohammed and Buddha and many other masters as well.
574156
Interesting how so many people quote a different part of the bible without dealing with the fact that there is a clear contradictino here.\n\nTHis guy posted a verse that says basically, ask and you shall receive. Not "I'll think about it", but you shall receive.  And you all quote verses saying "not so fast".  Well, which is it? Can we move mountains with faith? Only if it's for a good cause? What?
1121257
The first time I read Isaiah 58, I cried.  And I'm misty reading it again just now.\n\nThis terribly sad Chapter is one of many oracles Isaiah was told to give the Jewish people.  The gist of the entire Chapter is this:  don't say with your mouth you love God, but prove with your actions you don't.  The people said they loved God and they even enjoyed seeking Him in prayer and fasting.  However, when they fasted, they did so for the wrong reasons and they indulged in physical pleasures and iniquity, such as refusing to pay their laborers.  God sees right through this hypocrisy and insists that Isaiah yell his condemnatory message from the rooftops.  The people hated him for it, just as they hated Jeremiah and the rest of the prophets.  And, of course, Jesus.\n\nYes, the world will be angered when you announce its iniquities as if you are blowing a trumpet.  Some, however, will be moved to repentance.  That's what encourages me.\n\nPeace and love in Jesus.
1145207
To me, it would appear that they read Matthew 5:17 and stop at the first 2 words: "Think not".\n\nThey have that down to a science, they just don't think.\n\nIn context Matthew 5:17-20 says:\n"Think not that I am come to destroy the Torah, or the Prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.  For truely I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, not one iota (or Yud in the Hebrew Alephbet) or one tittle (the "crowns" or Taggin) shall in any way pass from the Torah, till all be fulfilled.  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  For I say unto you, That unless your righteousness shall exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."\n\nThe Christians are supposed to be following Torah even more righteously than the rabbis of the time! Of course, Talmud doesn't think much of that generation of rabbis, saying it was their "baseless hatred" that caused the Temple to be destroyed.\n\nPerhaps Christians get around this by saying that Heaven and Earth have passed away?  As far as I can tell they are still here.  Perhaps it is that old "think not" thought process of theirs.  I suspect that a better translation would be "even if heaven and earth pass...." since Torah is eternal in nature.\n\nThey don't realize that for one to violate a command of Torah it is as though he had destroyed it.  Likewise, they don't understand the concept of what the word "fulfilled" means.  I try to tell them that when I pull up to a full and complete stop at a stop sign, I have fulfilled the law concerning stop signs.  But the fact that I have fulfilled the law doesn't mean that everyone else is now free to run the stop sign.  (If they were consistant in their reading of this passage that is exactly how they would have to apply the words.)\n\nThe passage isn't saying that he came to do away with Torah or anything.  It isn't saying he was going to violate the requirements of Torah in anyway.  He was going to keep every command of Torah that applied to him and he wanted his followers to do the same.\n\nSo they should be out teaching each other to keep even the smallest of the commandments.  Why aren't they doing this?  Because they "think not".
217840
In Matthew 27:42\n\n"He saved others, but he can't save himself. If he is the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him.\n\nThat's the closest I can find.\n\nYou probably typed in the wrong statement?
977287
In context, Matthew 23:7-9 reads, "... And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven."\n\nThis is call for humility for those in leadership roles. Not to be taken literally.\n\nWe are not to deny our male parent and cut the Commandment to honor our father and mother in half.\n\nSome leaders in any church may fall into the same folly as the pharisees of Jesus' day.\n\nWith love in Christ.
690612
Matthew tells us that Jesus is the promised son of David the eternal king. as for christian living, A good study of Matthew 5 - 7 will help, \n\nA quote from the article\n\nIn Matthew 5, Jesus explains that true righteousness is internal, a matter of the heart, not just of behavior. In chapter 6, he explains that our religious activities must be sincere, not performances designed to make us look good. In those chapters, Jesus addresses two problems that occur when people focus on external behavior as the main definition of righteousness: external behavior is not all that God wants, and people are tempted to pretend instead of being changed in the heart.\n\nIn chapter 7, Jesus addresses a third problem of a focus on behavior: People who equate righteousness with behavior tend to judge or criticize others.\n\n\nSermon on the Mount\na study of Matthew 5\nhttp://www.wcg.org/lit/bible/gospels/matt5.htm\n\nSermon on the Mount\nA Study of Matthew 6\nhttp://www.wcg.org/lit/bible/gospels/matt6.htm\n\nSermon on the Mount: a study of Matthew 7\nhttp://www.wcg.org/lit/bible/gospels/matt7.htm\n\nAll of the bible is good for learning.\nChristians now are under grace alone faith alone Jesus Alone\nthis does not mean christians can sin a reading of Romans 6:1-23 will show this\n\nHope this helps
709041
Well as far as the Bible I read it and I take it literally.  If I don't understand it I read the Strong's concordance. Whether it be in Hebrew or the Arabic translation, I read the translation and then understand it better. As far as the judging part I think we all do it one time of or another. It's wrong and we shouldn't do it, as we know. Being intolerable, again we all are one time or another, even unbelievers.  The ones who don't believe do think and criticize us a lot when we do human things, like judge, intolerance, gossip, or any other sin they can catch us in because it makes them feel better and possibly superior.  If we were perfect, we would be Jesus!
865845
Dear ES,\n\nI agree with you and I enjoy reading it and giving away copies of the Bible.\n\nLong before I read the Bible from cover-to-cover I intended to re-write the Bible and take out all of the sexist language.  What a joke that was!  When I finally read it I didn't change it but it sure did change me!\n\nOne wonderful thing I noticed was that I had the feeling that it was written directly to me, even though I know it was written long before I was born.  It reminds me of looking at a photograph when it seems as though the subject is looking right back at you.\n\nEven though there have been several translations of the Bible they all say just about the same thing.  However I've seen a few that are not divinely inspired and there is no sense of the Living Word of God.\n\nYes, it is fascinating to look at the prophecies and realize that Jesus was the only person who ever had his biography written before He was born!
1022031
I'm in Matthew right now, just finished the old testament.  so zero times.  I'm a Biblical follower.  Any religion of Christianity that beleives they are right should be the same, but for some reason they divide themselves into infinite amounts of dissagreement and confusion.  They have ministers and interpereters, but there really only is the Bible to get the knowledge from.