When should *you* consider "You" to really mean *you*?

[KevinT]

Matthew 19:21
21Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then [you] come, follow me.” (kt spelled out the implied [you])

When I was a kid, I thought that to truly follow Jesus, it was required to not own any possessions. They had to all be sold and given to the poor. As an adult, I have come to realize that Jesus was given specific instructions to a particular person. A surgeon might need to cut open a certain patient with appendicitis to save their life. But they would never cut open ALL patients. No all advice is applicable to all patients.

The above example is fairly easy to see as not widely applicable, but other texts are not so clear. Below, is Jesus talking to the eleven disciples? Or also to all the other disciples that were present? Or to the church at that time? Or to all humanity?

The Great Commission​

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore [you] go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (kt spelled out the implied [you])

I often seem to be presented with the idea that it is every Christian's job to stop doing whatever their regular job is and to go into the world and become an evangelist. But Jesus, himself, was a laboring carpenter every day until the last 3 yrs of His life. Does God also want regular people to do regular labor today? So does this great commission apply directly to you (and me)?

What do you think? Are there other examples of where "you" doesn't really me you (or me?)

KT

 

[HTacianas]

When I was a kid, I thought that to truly follow Jesus, it was required to not own any possessions. They had to all be sold and given to the poor. As an adult, I have come to realize that Jesus was given specific instructions to a particular person. A surgeon might need to cut open a certain patient with appendicitis to save their life. But they would never cut open ALL patients. No all advice is applicable to all patients.

The above example is fairly easy to see as not widely applicable, but other texts are not so clear. Below, is Jesus talking to the eleven disciples? Or also to all the other disciples that were present? Or to the church at that time? Or to all humanity?



I often seem to be presented with the idea that it is every Christian's job to stop doing whatever their regular job is and to go into the world and become an evangelist. But Jesus, himself, was a laboring carpenter every day until the last 3 yrs of His life. Does God also want regular people to do regular labor today? So does this great commission apply directly to you (and me)?

What do you think? Are there other examples of where "you" doesn't really me you (or me?)

KT

He said to his Apostles, "go forth..." That is the meaning of the word "apostle": Someone who is sent forth. We would consider it to be an emissary or an ambassador today. Now, in reading the bible we find"

1Co 12:28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.

On the next line he asks:

1Co 12:29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?

The answer is no. Apostles, or nowadays evangelists, are chosen by the Church. A layman cannot simply appoint himself to be an Apostle. The Apostles were charged with carrying out the Great Commission:

Mat 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Note that first part of it is to baptize. Yet people say they are carrying out the Great Commission then tell people they don't need to be baptized.

I leave the Great Commission to those it was meant for.