Tuesday, September 12, 2006
THE PROPHETS' SEARCH
Matt. 13:17. "For truly I say to you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it; and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
Jesus is teaching on the benefits that this present generation has hearing His voice. This generation has the very one the prophets spoke of to be enlightening them; the prophets in the scriptures did not have this luxury.
He has just quoted the prophet Isaiah and then says, “Many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it.” This very day the miracle of healing the dumb demoniac was a fresh example testifying to Jesus sovereignty over all elements of Creation. The locals in this day saw it happen. However, the prophet Isaiah Never saw anything as remotely close as this but lived in faith that it would happen. The disciples are also sovereignly blessed to hear from the very lips the teaching of that very One whom Isaiah prophesied. John explains in his gospel John 12:37-41 But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him; 38. that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke, "Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" 39. For this cause they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, 40. "He has blinded their eyes, and He hardened their heart; lest they see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, and be converted, and I heal them."
The Old Testament prophets studied what they had written to gain a better understanding of the promised salvation that God revealed but still remained veiled. Heb. 11:13. All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
Peter also alludes to this same fact: 1Pet. 1:10-11 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful search and inquiry, 11. seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.
Isaiah saw clearly the need for repentance of his nation yet could not get his people to see what he saw. Jesus encountered the same frustration in this same rebellious nation who refused to see the truth. But, the nation of Israel in Jesus’ day had the perfect Prophet, who knew all things and created all things, giving them a much clearer picture than that of the prophets of old.
Jesus is teaching on the benefits that this present generation has hearing His voice. This generation has the very one the prophets spoke of to be enlightening them; the prophets in the scriptures did not have this luxury.
He has just quoted the prophet Isaiah and then says, “Many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it.” This very day the miracle of healing the dumb demoniac was a fresh example testifying to Jesus sovereignty over all elements of Creation. The locals in this day saw it happen. However, the prophet Isaiah Never saw anything as remotely close as this but lived in faith that it would happen. The disciples are also sovereignly blessed to hear from the very lips the teaching of that very One whom Isaiah prophesied. John explains in his gospel John 12:37-41 But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him; 38. that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke, "Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" 39. For this cause they could not believe, for Isaiah said again, 40. "He has blinded their eyes, and He hardened their heart; lest they see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, and be converted, and I heal them."
The Old Testament prophets studied what they had written to gain a better understanding of the promised salvation that God revealed but still remained veiled. Heb. 11:13. All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
Peter also alludes to this same fact: 1Pet. 1:10-11 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful search and inquiry, 11. seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.
Isaiah saw clearly the need for repentance of his nation yet could not get his people to see what he saw. Jesus encountered the same frustration in this same rebellious nation who refused to see the truth. But, the nation of Israel in Jesus’ day had the perfect Prophet, who knew all things and created all things, giving them a much clearer picture than that of the prophets of old.
Monday, September 11, 2006
TONGUES
Matt. 13:16. "But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.
This verse is directed at His disciples asking the question of verse 10, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” His disciples did not have the dull heart that the religious leadership did and therefore were blessed with eyes that could see and ears that could hear. They were desirous and also blessed with the distinguishing grace of understanding.
MacArthur explains more on the topic of this distinguishing grace and the judgment that ensues to those who are dull in heart. He writes, “The gift of languages in the early church was still another form of judgment on unbelievers. Quoting from Isaiah 28:11, Paul wrote, “In the law it is written, ‘By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to Me,’ says the Lord. So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers” (1Cor. 14:21-22). Tongues were manifested in an astounding and dramatic way on the day of Pentecost and continued to be manifested from time to time during the apostolic age as a form of testimony against those who refused to believe. The Lord first gave His truth to Israel in simple, clear teaching; and when that was ignored, He spoke to them in parables, which, without explanation, were no more than meaningless riddles. Finally He spoke in unintelligible languages that could not be understood at all without translation.”
This verse is directed at His disciples asking the question of verse 10, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” His disciples did not have the dull heart that the religious leadership did and therefore were blessed with eyes that could see and ears that could hear. They were desirous and also blessed with the distinguishing grace of understanding.
MacArthur explains more on the topic of this distinguishing grace and the judgment that ensues to those who are dull in heart. He writes, “The gift of languages in the early church was still another form of judgment on unbelievers. Quoting from Isaiah 28:11, Paul wrote, “In the law it is written, ‘By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to Me,’ says the Lord. So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers” (1Cor. 14:21-22). Tongues were manifested in an astounding and dramatic way on the day of Pentecost and continued to be manifested from time to time during the apostolic age as a form of testimony against those who refused to believe. The Lord first gave His truth to Israel in simple, clear teaching; and when that was ignored, He spoke to them in parables, which, without explanation, were no more than meaningless riddles. Finally He spoke in unintelligible languages that could not be understood at all without translation.”
