Lay hold of that which you have been laid hold of by Christ

[Lion222]

What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? 8Otherwise, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Look, those who wear fine clothing are found in kings’ palaces. 9What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10This is the one about whom it is written:

‘Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You,

who will prepare Your way before You.’d

11Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater (little christian) than he. 12From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subject to forceful men and the forceful lay claim to it. 13For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. (they did it. and your are much greater then them in Christ) 14And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.f

15He who has ears let him hear.

16To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:

17‘We played the flute for you,

and you did not dance; (they dont lay hold of it with the force of their joy)

we sang a dirge,

and you did not mourn.’ (they dont lay hold of it with the force of their grief)

Who will have the fullness of the Salvation of God?
Who will enter in and take hold of what the kingdom of heaven has to offer?

He played His part for our joy.

He sang the most grief filled drudge of the cross.

Will you get up off your posterior and take the promise land of the kingdom of God or not?

 

[lenna]

Same today.

 

[Guojing]

What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? 8Otherwise, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Look, those who wear fine clothing are found in kings’ palaces. 9What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10This is the one about whom it is written:

‘Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You,

who will prepare Your way before You.’d

11Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater (little christian) than he. 12From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subject to forceful men and the forceful lay claim to it. 13For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. (they did it. and your are much greater then them in Christ) 14And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.f

15He who has ears let him hear.

16To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:

17‘We played the flute for you,

and you did not dance; (they dont lay hold of it with the force of their joy)

we sang a dirge,

and you did not mourn.’ (they dont lay hold of it with the force of their grief)

Who will have the fullness of the Salvation of God?
Who will enter in and take hold of what the kingdom of heaven has to offer?

He played His part for our joy.

He sang the most grief filled drudge of the cross.

Will you get up off your posterior and take the promise land of the kingdom of God or not?

One basic rule of bible interpretation is this "Who was it written to"?

Are you also included in the same audience?

 

[Lion222]

One basic rule of bible interpretation is this "Who was it written to"?

Are you also included in the same audience?

lets see...
He began to speak to the crowds
spoke about how great John B was
How he was bot some wimp or pushover but was bold and forceful - my paraphrasing.
Compared him with the prophets and the law itself.
With specific information regarding the very lest in the kingdom of God being greater still

So I would say he was talking to the crowds who where listening.
His disciples who where listening no doubt.
telling the the kind of man John B was and how to lay hold of what John did and the prophets did and how much more since Kingdom people are greater in that regard / ability.

Then he talked about them hearing what he just said and about them not doing anything
having no response like a living breathing alive person should.
no dancing
no mourning

 

[Guojing]

lets see...
He began to speak to the crowds
spoke about how great John B was
How he was bot some wimp or pushover but was bold and forceful - my paraphrasing.
Compared him with the prophets and the law itself.
With specific information regarding the very lest in the kingdom of God being greater still

So I would say he was talking to the crowds who where listening.
His disciples who where listening no doubt.
telling the the kind of man John B was and how to lay hold of what John did and the prophets did and how much more since Kingdom people are greater in that regard / ability.

Then he talked about them hearing what he just said and about them not doing anything
having no response like a living breathing alive person should.
no dancing
no mourning

Do you think the crowds consisted of both Jews and Gentiles? What was the famous remark he made to the Canaanite Lady in Matthew?

Incidentally, you may find this passage interesting regarding this in John 12

20 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:

21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.

22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.

23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

Do you think Jesus ended up speaking to them at all in that instance?

 

[Lion222]

Do you think the crowds consisted of both Jews and Gentiles? What was the famous remark he made to the Canaanite Lady in Matthew?

Incidentally, you may find this passage interesting regarding this in John 12

20 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:

21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.

22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.

23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

Do you think Jesus ended up speaking to them at all in that instance?

Same with the woman he called a dog.
Jew first and then everybody else.
Satisfy one covenant start a better one and include the old crew in that the same as the new.

 

[Guojing]

Same with the woman he called a dog.
Jew first and then everybody else.
Satisfy one covenant start a better one and include the old crew in that the same as the new.

So did the new and better one began before Christ died on the cross?

 

[Lion222]

Do you have a problem with the OP?
Do you have something to say?

 

[Guojing]

Do you have a problem with the OP?
Do you have something to say?

I am saying the kingdom of God was a promise to Israel. It refers to Jesus bringing heaven down to Earth, ruling Israel from David's throne in Jerusalem.

In his first coming, Jesus was sent to the circumcision only, to confirm the promises made to their fathers. (Romans 15:8)

 

[Lion222]

I am saying the kingdom of God was a promise to Israel. It refers to Jesus bringing heaven down to Earth, ruling Israel from David's throne in Jerusalem.

In his first coming, Jesus was sent to the circumcision only, to confirm the promises made to their fathers. (Romans 15:8)

John 18:36

 

[Guojing]

John 18:36

Yes, in the end, Israel rejected their Messiah, they wanted Jesus crucified.

Paul also mentioned that in Romans 11. That is why us gentiles can now be saved, independent of them.

 

[Lion222]

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

 

[Guojing]

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

Interesting that you used the sermon of the mount, can you contrast what Jesus preached to the circumcised, to what Paul now preached to the Body of Christ in ephesians 1:3?

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

If our spirit is blessed with every spiritual blessings in Christ, can we still be said to be "poor in spirit"?

 

[Lion222]

Yes.

 

[Lion222]

if you want to be right first you need to become very very good at being wrong.

 

[Guojing]

Yes.

You want to elaborate why, currently, you regard us as still poor in spirit, when Ephesians 1:3 is true for us?

 

[Lion222]

No. your seem like a smart person. you can go figure out how you might be wrong. Or you could ask God.

 

[Guojing]

No. your seem like a smart person. you can go figure out how you might be wrong. Or you could ask God.

I am just curious how another interpret the 2 passages, but of course, if you don't want to share your thinking, I am fine too. Cheers.

 

[Prycejosh1987]

11Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater (little christian) than he. 12From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subject to forceful men and the forceful lay claim to it.

I always thought that this means that a faithful christian is more powerful and effective in evangelism then john the baptist. I think it can have a spiritual meaning. I do believe that the most non loyal christian at the church that i go to has greater than john the baptist. The average christian typically evangelising much than john and gives more than this. But that is my insight into those verses.

 

[Lion222]

I always thought that this means that a faithful christian is more powerful and effective in evangelism then john the baptist. I think it can have a spiritual meaning. I do believe that the most non loyal christian at the church that i go to has greater than john the baptist. The average christian typically evangelising much than john and gives more than this. But that is my insight into those verses.

I think it is about what John B laid hold of and made use of that made him the greatest under Adam.
How even the least in the kingdom of Christ has access to more then John did.
Now do we dance, celebrate in it and take it for ourselves and put it into use?
Do we mourn the fact that we have done so little with it?
Both are healthy responses but to do neither like your already dead, what does that say?

It is like getting gift card and whenever you check the balance it just says there is more.
But you use it like it might not be enough for tomorrow.
Or like finding it in your winter coat pocket after decades of poverty only to realize then that it never runs out.