Matthew 23:13

[faithfulmark]

But woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You keep locking people out of the kingdom of heaven! For you neither enter nor permit those trying to enter to go in.

Can someone please elaborate on this?

Jesus said the Kingdom of Heaven is within you. Within you are precious spiritual gifts. Is there something that is stopping people from entering into their self? or their soul?

 

[childofGod31]

Kingdom of Heaven is within you - means you become a part of the Kingdom of God when you become a child of God. It only applies to those who believed in Jesus Christ. It means that the Holy Spirit has entered our hearts and dwells in us. He is our King and we are his subjects.

It has nothing to do with "entering into their self". This kind of terminology applies more to new age, agnostics, mystics and/or people who believe that "we are God" and that being enlightened is the way to God (which contradicts what Jesus said which was: no one can come to the Father, except through me)

 

[faithfulmark]

which contradicts what Jesus said which was: no one can come to the Father, except through me

A close analysis and understanding of the translations and it doesn't at all..

John 14:6 reads: Jesus replied, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." He does not say "I am the only way." See? This still leaves another part of the passage that remains vague. "Nobody comes to the father but through me." The Greek word 'dia' which is translated as 'through me' means "the ground or reason by which something is or is not done." This means that his teachings were based on reality, and no other teachings can replace his. His teachings are how it is done. This certainly does not define Jesus as the only way to life.

His teachings were based on reality, so you could only get to the Father through his teachings. The pharisees taught that all you had to do was attend this church and pay for self-indulgences to get to heaven.

It does not contradict it at all.

 

[HypnoToad]

That particular verse is condemning the Pharisees for adding a bunch of rules and saying, "you have to obey all these, or you're damned." Instead of focusing on a relationship with God, the Pharisees had reduced their faith to nothing but an endless list of rules.

 

[Beasley]

10let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead--by this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11"He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone.
12"And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."


God the Father did not die on the Cross for our sins, nor did the Holy Spirit, nor did Buddha, Mohammed or Allah.


There is one way to be saved and that is faith in Christ who died and gave himself up for us.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

That particular verse is condemning the Pharisees for adding a bunch of rules and saying, "you have to obey all these, or you're damned." Instead of focusing on a relationship with God, the Pharisees had reduced their faith to nothing but an endless list of rules.

Didn't JESUS also say they would be judged by the Law/Books of Moses/Joshua?

http://users.aristotle.net/~bhuie/lazarus.htm

JOHN 5:45 "Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you -- Moses, in whom you trust. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"

Reve 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the land and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and Books were opened. And another book was opened,

 

[HypnoToad]

Didn't JESUS also say they would be judged by the Law/Books of Moses/Joshua?

http://users.aristotle.net/~bhuie/lazarus.htm

JOHN 5:45 "Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you -- Moses, in whom you trust. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"

Reve 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the land and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and Books were opened. And another book was opened,

I'm not talking about the law God gave to Moses, I'm talking about what the Pharisees ADDED to it. Read Mark 7:1-13.

 

[faithfulmark]

That particular verse is condemning the Pharisees for adding a bunch of rules and saying, "you have to obey all these, or you're damned." Instead of focusing on a relationship with God, the Pharisees had reduced their faith to nothing but an endless list of rules.

Couldn't the 10 commandments be seen as rules to follow to enter the Kingdom?

Another thing that puzzles me. All the major religions that claim to be true and condem others mainly are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Obviously, one has to be right. The other two have to be wrong. That is clear.

Maybe it is not that clear though. I read in the Bible that Jesus said "you must got further than what the pharisees have taught you." Maybe all the major religions that claim to be the only true one are all wrong. A paradox. What if you have to step out of this endless loop of rules and condemning?

I don't know, but what do you think? Please understand this also, please don't reply to this with a verse with the Bible. The pharisees also had books that followers used to say "Hey man! God sent his Son to us! Not them!" So let's think about this with out a one sided view (no offense).

 

[childofGod31]

There are a lot of places in the Bible that say: do not judge. So it's good to not condemn. But in the same time, the reason we say Christianity is the only way because we believe that's what the Bible says. Perhaps other religions don't teach that they are the only way. If those other religions teach that there are many ways to God, why should they condemn anybody? According to them, the path is wide open. And you can do what you want. Christians condemn other religions only because they are worried about the people, worried that if they don't choose Christianity, they won't be saved. If Christians didn't care about people, why would they care what religion anyone is involved in?

Jesus said: LUK 13:24 "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.
MAT 7:14 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

JOH 10:7 Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.
8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.

You say that Jesus said that nothing can replace Jesus' teachings, and through his teachings is the only way to God. But what IS Jesus' teachings?

Jesus said: JOH 3:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

JOH 3:3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

What is born again? Whoever reads the Bible and starts to believe Jesus and asks Him to take over his life - is the one who then receives the Holy Spirit - is the one who is born again. (If other religions don't do that, then "they stand condemned", then "they cannot see the kingdom of God, unless they are born again.)

1PE 1:23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

1PE 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

 

[faithfulmark]

Jesus said: LUK 13:24 "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. MAT 7:14 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. JOH 10:7 Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.

Forgive me if I sound like I'm taking things out of context, but with an eye for it, all Jesus' teachings (not necessarily the other books of the Bible) could be seen in Light of a Gnostic or Buddhist theme. Allow me to show you, then you decide.

Matthew 7:14 reads: But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it.

Let me again show you the definition of some of the words in Greek.

The meaning of 'thlibo' is "to trouble, afflict, distress." This is why very people will be able to enter into the Kingdom. I have talked to other people about this, and they tell me that the trouble and stress here is refered to as keeping your faith in Christ through all the tests of your faith. But perhaps this means something on a more cosmological level. Upon reaching Enlightenment, Buddhists and Mystics teach that there are different levels of consciousness that you progress in. Each level increases the amount of Divine presence but for every action, there is a reaction. Every amount of Light, is encountered by the same amount of darkness. This is why it is hard for Gnostics and Buddhists to reach Enlightenment. The journey rips apart who they thought they were so that they now feel naked and distressed. That is the darkness attempting to stop you in your tracks. They teach you pust pray and focus on the Light to overcome these challenges.

The meaning of 'heurisko' is "to get knowledge of, come to know, God." This can easily be seen as the Divine presense that appears in your life through each level of consciousness.

The Gnostics and Buddhists teach that when you become Enlightenment, you have reached the hightest point of view possible. Instead of caring for a country or something small, you then care about everything in the infinite universe. Nothing is ever seen the same again. This reminds me of the saying "old things passed, look new things have come!"

Zoe, or 'life', means "life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection (being re-born) to be consummated by new accessions (among them a more perfect body), and to last for ever." This life can be seen as true life. The life of being a pure spiritual being. Being a clean mirror for the unguided souls on earth. The resurection is also taught to be what everyone must do to enter the Kingdom of God. The resurection is taught that it is the event that final releases every aspect of who you really are. Enlightenment. They teach when they do this, you can do anything. Walk on water, go through walls, etc. Many Masters right know in the east can do these amazing things. Don't go around showing everyone to boast there ego, but their students know they can. Also, in revelations, it teaches the "god's people" will have a new body that they will use to preach to the world the message of the Kingdom of Heaven. Revelations also teaches that these people will be 'resurected' (as mentioned a moment ago). This might be way the translation of "dead" from "rise from the dead" means "spiritually dead."

10:7 So Jesus said to them again, “I tell you the solemn truth, I am the door for the sheep. 10:8 All who came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 10:9 I am the door. If anyone enters through me, he will be saved, and will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.

First thing that must be considered is that he does not say "I am the only way." He says "I am the way" because his teachings are based on a cosmological reality.

Forgive me if I sound un-christian. I'm just trying to make a good argument that I believe should be addressed.

God Bless...

 

[HypnoToad]

I don't know, but what do you think? Please understand this also, please don't reply to this with a verse with the Bible. The pharisees also had books that followers used to say "Hey man! God sent his Son to us! Not them!" So let's think about this with out a one sided view (no offense).

So, you question a passage in Scripture (the statement about Pharisees), and you reference another Scripture passage (the Kingdom inside you), but you DON'T want us to incorporate the use of Scripture which might shed light on this?

I also don't get what you mean about the Pharisees' books or the one-sided comment.

 

[childofGod31]

I did not find that the Bible talks about enlightnment as a way to God and it doesn't use gnostic and mystic terminology. The Bible does say though that Jesus dying on the cross and being resurrected is the way to God. And it says that whoever doesn't believe in His Son, is condemned.
1JO 2:23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

So that's what I believe.

I also found that verses in the Bible could be interpreted many different ways: hence all the different denominations and beliefs. (although all Christians of all denominations believe in Jesus and don't argue about that point clearly spelled out in the Bible.)

So there is a danger of some people misinterpreting the Bible according to their point of view.

 

[faithfulmark]

Rev 2:3 I am also aware that you have persisted steadfastly, endured much for the sake of my name, and have not grown weary. 2:4 But I have this against you: You have departed from your first love! 2:5 Therefore, remember from what high state you have fallen and repent! Do the deeds you did at the first; if not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place – that is, if you do not repent. 2:6 But you do have this going for you: You hate what the Nicolaitans practice – practices I also hate.(force of darkness, or or satan, w/e you want to call it.) 2:7 The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers,(the path that is hard and narrow, and very few reach it) I will permit him to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.

This also could be interpreted as Enlightenment (along with many others). Or being 'born' of 'water and spirit.'

 

[AllTalkNoAction]

Can someone please elaborate on this?
Jesus said the Kingdom of Heaven is within you. Within you are precious spiritual gifts. Is there something that is stopping people from entering into their self? or their soul?

Lu:17:20: And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
:21: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Obviously the kingdom was not within them as natural people, it was among them in the body of Jesus, but they should not be looking for some physical / political movement, but something more personal, God coming into a person.

The pharisees taught people to follow them and they were unrepentant even though they were wrong and didn't keep the law themselves.

They taught people to try to keep the Law instead of seeking God's grace, God's Christ.