Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Matthew 5:44 "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 5:44 "But I say to you, love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, [Prov 25:21, 22] |
Subject: Praying for the 'World'. |
Bible Note: Dear Brothre Tim, You wrote, "If we are not expected to respond to the appeal, why make it?" So that the goats will be distinguised from the sheep. So that the tares will be distinguished from the wheat. So that God's glory will be manifest by the work of His grace in the lives of some, and by the measure of His righteous judgement in allowing the rest to meet their just deserts. We declare the Gospel out of obedience and love for the lost. We do not present the Gospel in order to convince people to transform themselves from goats into sheep. :-) Only God can do the work of regeneration. He doesn't need man's permission or participation. And, Tim... we do not "appeal." As John Gill says of this verse, "Since God has made reconciliation by Christ, and the ministry of it is committed to us, we are ambassadors for Him; we come with full powers from Him, not to propose terms of peace, to treat [negotiate] with men about it, [or] to offer it to them, but to publish and proclaim it as made by Him." In Him, Doc |