- Dec 27, 2005
- 3,068
- 434
- 65
- Country
- United States
- Faith
- Catholic
- Marital Status
- Married
- Politics
- US-Republican
Jesus' meaning when He says that people are forcing their way into heaven since John the Baptist started baptizing.
Jesus tells us that from the time John the Baptist started baptizing, that there were evil people abusing John's baptism to force their way into the kingdom of God. The Pharisees were there, following Jesus and John the Baptist, during their ministries. The Pharisees were getting baptized as Christians. It was not until Jesus and John pointed out that the Pharisees, due to their unrepentant wickedness, were not entering into the kingdom of God, through Baptism, but the repentant tax collectors and prostitutes were, entering into the Kingdom of God, that, the Pharisees, then sought to murder Jesus.
The Jewish term "Pharisee" means "the separated". The Pharisees abused John the Baptist's, baptism to verbally force their way into, the Kingdom of God, that John the Baptist spoke of. The Pharisees ruthlessly exalted and separated themselves from other people as God's chosen (baptized) sons in possession of eternal life. It is the Pharisee's lust for worldly exaltation as God's (baptized) sons, in possession of God's kingdom, that the Pharisees violently crucified the Jesus to protect.
The Pharisees did not literally force their way into heaven. The Pharisees only verbally exalted themselves as in possession of the kingdom of God that John the Baptist spoke of. Jesus tells us that because the Pharisees exalted themselves as in possession of heaven, through 'eucharisteo', above others, they are not 'justified' (going to heaven). 'Eucharisteo' is the Greek word Jesus uses to describe the Pharisees 'thanks to God' in their self righteous prayers.
Jesus tells us that from the time John the Baptist started baptizing, that there were evil people abusing John's baptism to force their way into the kingdom of God. The Pharisees were there, following Jesus and John the Baptist, during their ministries. The Pharisees were getting baptized as Christians. It was not until Jesus and John pointed out that the Pharisees, due to their unrepentant wickedness, were not entering into the kingdom of God, through Baptism, but the repentant tax collectors and prostitutes were, entering into the Kingdom of God, that, the Pharisees, then sought to murder Jesus.
The Jewish term "Pharisee" means "the separated". The Pharisees abused John the Baptist's, baptism to verbally force their way into, the Kingdom of God, that John the Baptist spoke of. The Pharisees ruthlessly exalted and separated themselves from other people as God's chosen (baptized) sons in possession of eternal life. It is the Pharisee's lust for worldly exaltation as God's (baptized) sons, in possession of God's kingdom, that the Pharisees violently crucified the Jesus to protect.
The Pharisees did not literally force their way into heaven. The Pharisees only verbally exalted themselves as in possession of the kingdom of God that John the Baptist spoke of. Jesus tells us that because the Pharisees exalted themselves as in possession of heaven, through 'eucharisteo', above others, they are not 'justified' (going to heaven). 'Eucharisteo' is the Greek word Jesus uses to describe the Pharisees 'thanks to God' in their self righteous prayers.
Matthew 3:8
They were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins. When he saw that many of the Pharisees and Sadducees were stepping forward for this bath, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who told you to flee from the wrath to come? Give some evidence that you mean to reform. Do not pride yourselves on the claim, 'Abraham is our father.' I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these very stones."
Luke 16:16 The Law.
"The law and the prophets were in force until John. From his time on, the good news of God's kingdom has been proclaimed, and people of every sort are forcing their way in. It is easier for the heavens and the earth to pass away than for a single stroke of a letter of the law to pass.
Matthew 11:11
"I solemnly assure you, history has not known a man born of woman greater than John the Baptizer. Yet the least born into the Kingdom of God is greater than he. From John the Baptizer's time until now the kingdom of God has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force."
Matthew 21:37
"Finally he sent his son to them, thinking, "They will respect my son.' When they saw the son, the tenants said to one another, 'Here is the one who will inherit everything. Let us kill him and then we shall have his inheritance!" With that they seized him, dragged him outside the vineyard, and killed him."
Matthew 12:14
When the Pharisees were outside they began to plot against him to find a way to destroy him.
Luke 18:9 The Pharisee and the tax collector.
He then addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. "Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, 'O God, I thank [eucharisteo] you that I am not like the rest of humanity--greedy, dishonest, adulterous--or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.' But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, 'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.' I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.
"Eucharisteo; with the dative it always stands where there is implied a kindness done, a favor, a charis, a grace for an undeserved gift received where it appears as thanks for any good experience.
Charis; from chairio, to rejoice, or chara, joy, favor, acceptance, a kindness granted or desired, a benefit, thanks, gratitude, grace. A favor done without expectation of return; absolute freeness of loving kindness of God to men finding its only motive in the bounty and freeheartedness of the Giver; unearned an unmerited favor.
Quoted from: Lexicon to the Old and New Testaments, Copyright 1984 by Spiros Zodhiates, TH.D AMG publishers. D/B/A AMG Publishers. Baker book House, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
They were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins. When he saw that many of the Pharisees and Sadducees were stepping forward for this bath, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who told you to flee from the wrath to come? Give some evidence that you mean to reform. Do not pride yourselves on the claim, 'Abraham is our father.' I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these very stones."
Luke 16:16 The Law.
"The law and the prophets were in force until John. From his time on, the good news of God's kingdom has been proclaimed, and people of every sort are forcing their way in. It is easier for the heavens and the earth to pass away than for a single stroke of a letter of the law to pass.
Matthew 11:11
"I solemnly assure you, history has not known a man born of woman greater than John the Baptizer. Yet the least born into the Kingdom of God is greater than he. From John the Baptizer's time until now the kingdom of God has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force."
Matthew 21:37
"Finally he sent his son to them, thinking, "They will respect my son.' When they saw the son, the tenants said to one another, 'Here is the one who will inherit everything. Let us kill him and then we shall have his inheritance!" With that they seized him, dragged him outside the vineyard, and killed him."
Matthew 12:14
When the Pharisees were outside they began to plot against him to find a way to destroy him.
Luke 18:9 The Pharisee and the tax collector.
He then addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. "Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, 'O God, I thank [eucharisteo] you that I am not like the rest of humanity--greedy, dishonest, adulterous--or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.' But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, 'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.' I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.
Eucharisteo
"Eucharisteo; with the dative it always stands where there is implied a kindness done, a favor, a charis, a grace for an undeserved gift received where it appears as thanks for any good experience.
Charis; from chairio, to rejoice, or chara, joy, favor, acceptance, a kindness granted or desired, a benefit, thanks, gratitude, grace. A favor done without expectation of return; absolute freeness of loving kindness of God to men finding its only motive in the bounty and freeheartedness of the Giver; unearned an unmerited favor.
Quoted from: Lexicon to the Old and New Testaments, Copyright 1984 by Spiros Zodhiates, TH.D AMG publishers. D/B/A AMG Publishers. Baker book House, Grand Rapids, Michigan.