Tuesday, August 15, 2006
HOPE FOR ISRAEL
At the time that the parables were spoken Judaism had fallen to man’s devices and no longer resembled the true teaching of God and had been rendered ineffective by the wisdom of those left in charge of it. Paul explains the religionists in Rom. 1:21-25 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22. Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23. and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. 24. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, that their bodies might be dishonored among them. 25. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
There is good news (gospel) proclaimed by John in Matt. 3:2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." This same news is also proclaimed by Jesus 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." The question that must surface is: “If Israel rejected Messiah, her King, has God’s plan been thwarted?” This question is addressed in the parables.
The underlying truth about the kingdom is that it would be postponed until Israel would believe and receive her King. Zechariah prophesied this fact in Zech. 12:10 "And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him, like the bitter weeping over a first-born."
There is good news (gospel) proclaimed by John in Matt. 3:2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." This same news is also proclaimed by Jesus 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." The question that must surface is: “If Israel rejected Messiah, her King, has God’s plan been thwarted?” This question is addressed in the parables.
The underlying truth about the kingdom is that it would be postponed until Israel would believe and receive her King. Zechariah prophesied this fact in Zech. 12:10 "And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him, like the bitter weeping over a first-born."
# posted by Castusfumus : 6:52 PM
