Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Matthew 11:11 "Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 11:11 "I assure you and most solemnly say to you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater [in privilege] than he. |
Subject: "Least in the kingdom of God"? |
Bible Note: Emmaus, We are not diverging... :-) I agree with what you said about identifying with Jesus or Moses, and also that John the Baptist was the greatest of all the OT saints. I find your comments about being born of the Spirit very important as well. There are Biblical references that the same Holy Spirit was given to people BC and AC as well: (I will only mention NT examples since the OT was written mostly in Hebrew) -David spoke of the Messiah by the Holy Spirit (Mk 12:36) -The Holy Spirit ascended to Mary at His conception (Matt 1:18,20) -The Holy Spirit ascended onto His shoulders when He was baptized (John 1:32) -The Holy Spirit filled Zecchariah (Luke 1:67) -The Holy Spirit would give the words to the believers' mouth in times of tribulation (Mk 13:11) The Greek word is 'pneuma' in all of these cases - so the Holy Spirit, the very same Spirit Whom Jesus also had, was given to people BC, while Jesus was on earth and also AC. That makes me arrive at the conclusion that the OT saints who trusted in the salvation of the Messiah, were saved in the same way as we are... They also received the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth - the prophets prophesied about Jesus, and they actually desired to see the coming of the Messiah (Matt 13:17)! They did not see Him, just like we do not see Him now, but they had the chance to believe in Him and be reborn, just as we have the chance to believe in Him and be reborn... Jesus was, is and always will be the Rock of all ages.. That is the Gospel! But that was only possible in the New Covenant, through the blood of the Lamb, in which He, the Greatest, did become the least in the Kingdom for the time He was on earth... Although John was the greatest person ever born of women, Jesus, even if at the time He was the least (i.e. most humbled) in heaven, was/is/will be greater than him. Therefore I still think He was referring to Himself... As I see we basically agree, even though we do start from two completely different interpretations of the passage - now that's not bad at all. :-) As I have told Angel, I was really touched by this passage some time ago and since then I appreciate the sacrifice Jesus made for us more than ever. And I am ever so glad to have such a wonderfully loving Lord! Have a blessed Pentecost. Zsuzsi |