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NASB | Matthew 16:6 And Jesus said to them, "Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 16:6 Jesus said to them, "Watch out and be on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." |
Subject: How Holy Is Marriage? |
Bible Note: Hi, Robert... Scripture must be rightly interpreted in context. Every word has a context of a sentence, every sentence the context of a passage, every passage the context of a book, etc. You asked, "Have contemporary Christians become Sadducees and Pharisees?" It would be difficult to speak of all Christians in a sweeping condemnation like this. We could probably generalize in specific groups, at least to one degree or another. I'm uncertain that I could suitably generalize the Christians of the 11th century let alone the 21st. In my own Baptist tradition we pretty much cover the spectrum of libertinism to legalism. The faults of the Sadducee and the Pharisee exist in my own heart. I'm unsure why'd you'd want to paint all "contemporary Christians" with such a broad brush. You asked, "Was it not the law of the the Jew and the law of Rome that murdered our Lord?" Neither. It was the pleasure of God the Father to kill Jesus, for His glory and our redemption (Isaiah 53:10; John 6:38; 10:17-18; Hebrews 10:7-10). It was the key component of God's eternal purpose (Acts 2:23). The means by which He accomplished it was by men, but only through the explicit authority of the Father (John 19:10-11). You asked, "Was it the law that brought you to the Lord?" That's like asking, "Was it your car that brought you to work today?" "Whosoever truly understandeth the division of the places of the Law and of the Gospel, gathered out of the holy scriptures, cannot by any man's doctrine be seduced from the truth, or read the scriptures but to edify both himself and others: whereas he that is ignorant of the same cannot, though he were a great doctor of divinity, and could rehearse every text of the bible without book, but both be deceived, and deceive others; as the experience hereof (the more pity) hath taught, nay, seduced the whole world. Therefore, I say, take to thee the glass of God's law; look therein, and thou shalt see thy just damnation, and God's wrath for sin, which, if thou dreadest, will drive thee not only to an amendment, but also to a sorrow and hatred of thy wickedness, and even to the brim of despair, out of which nothing can bring thee but the glad tidings of Christ, that is, the gospel: for as God's word doth bind thee, so can nothing but God's word unbind thee; and until thou comest to this point, thou knowest nothing of Christ." --John Calvin (1548) You wrote, "Yes, I did say affliction and if any one thinks I speak something untrue, please take care that you are not judged as you judge." Young man, this is often the refuge of those who refuse to be taught (Proverbs 9:8). When we correct someone who has arrived at a sum of five in adding two and two, one is not "judging" the errant student. Our supreme authority is the Scripture itself (2 Timothy 3:16). Read that verse, please. You will see that reproof and correction are some of the valuable things that arise from the Word. (By the way, you might want to revisit Matthew 7:1 in the context of the full Sermon on the Mount. Remember, every text without a context is a pretext.) You wrote, "Thank you for this opportunity to share with you. I will remove myself from this forum as you saints cause my heart to grieve." That is unfortunate that you would remove yourself from correction. You cite 2 Peter 1:10 but ignore Ephesians 4:8-21. Rebuke is simply the application of the truth, which is one of the most loving things we can do for one another (Proverbs 27:6). The truth is rarely comfortable -- it often wounds deeply. Although you may absent yourself from some, and seek out those with whom you find greater compatibility, the truth won't be something you'll be able to resist forever. For your ultimate blessing -- and the blessing of those in your family -- those reading this post will be praying. We don't seek victory in our debate. We seek the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the washing of His bride in the sanctifying and cleansing Word. In Him, Doc |