Ezekiel 37:15-28 and Matt 18:1-19:30 (Prophets and New Covenant Readings)

[Ben Avraham]

EZEKIEL 37:15-28

Here, “Yeches’kel Ha Navi” (Ezekiel the Prophet) sees the joining of Judah and the children of Israel, and Yosef, with his son Efrain” and they are joined together as ONE (Echad) “One in Unity” Once they were separated, Yosef and his sons in Egypt, and Israel, Judah, and his brothers, in Canaan, but NOW, together as ONE FAMILY as we are also ONE (echad) in Messiah Yeshua's love. We are “Kehilah Echad” (One congregation united in Yeshua) even though there are thousands of “Kehilot” all over the world, our relationship in Yeshua makes us ONE.

There are many different denominations within Christendom and even amongst Messianic Jewish congregations, there are different doctrinal beliefs, yet, besides the differences, we all must have these basic beliefs;

That Yeshua/Jesus paid the ultimate price for our sins, His own life and blood, and that through accepting Him as LORD and Savior, we become "born again" and part of God's extended family, which reaches to all 4 corners of the Earth. The Bible is the inerrant Word of God, spoken to the Prophets and written down by their hands through the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) We are saved by faith and by faith alone, followed by righteous living by living God's commandments in our lives. We can expect Yeshua/Jesus' second coming soon, this time as King (Yeshua Ben David). All believers are citizens of the New Jerusalem, our future and eternal home.

MATT 18:1-19:30

Yeshua says “Unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the Kingdom of Heaven”. A child is “innocent” and has an eager mind to learn. When we are “born again” we start anew, like “little children” and slowly “grow into maturity” Yes, we will stumble and fall, get into trouble, and get “spanked” by the Father, but HE will still love us as HIS CHILDREN.

Matt 18:8,9 often causes one to think twice. “If your hand or foot becomes a snare for you, cut it off and throw it away…If your eye is a snare for you, pluck it out and cast it away..”

Why did Yeshua use this terminology? Certainly, this is not literal. Of course not. If not literal, it has to be moral and spiritual. The end focus is heaven. It is the physical against the spiritual. We can look at this by doing things with our hands and feet. Our hands perform actions and our feet take us to different places. We must be careful that we don’t participate in actions that can hinder our spiritual growth. We must be careful not to go to certain places, or events that are completely worldly and have nothing to do with our relationship with Messiah.

One sin which comes through "looking" and "touching" is "fornication and adultery". Joseph took the right course of action; HE RAN AWAY! HE GOT HIMSELF OUT OF THERE! even though it cost him time in prison, he did not fall into that sin.

How about what we see? We see with our eyes and we must take care of what we watch. Does what we watch (on TV or the Net) cause a stumbling block in our spiritual walk? Does it hinder our growth? If it does, we better “cast” our eyes elsewhere.

Our future hope is Heaven, in Yeshua, we are secure, yet what we do here on earth as believers will have either a positive or negative effect in Heaven. A loss or gain of rewards. So, what we do here will “eternally” affect us! Just think about that! (and I am speaking to myself too, big-time!)

Shalom.

"Let's get down and study the WORD"

 

[Josheb]

If a New Testament author treats a statement by God in a non-literal manner (figuratively, symbolically, allegorically, etc.) are we to read the verse as it might have been understood by those living in the Old Testament (who did not possess the newer revelation explaining the older revelation), or are we to accept and believer what the New Testament author stated, writing under the inspiration and power of the Spirit to explain what had been previously reported?

 

[Mr GLee]

If a New Testament author treats a statement by God in a non-literal manner (figuratively, symbolically, allegorically, etc.) are we to read the verse as it might have been understood by those living in the Old Testament (who did not possess the newer revelation explaining the older revelation), or are we to accept and believer what the New Testament author stated, writing under the inspiration and power of the Spirit to explain what had been previously reported?

I would offer "parables" the signified understanding. . . hiding the spiritual understanding from the start, like Genisis 3:15

The difference I would think between the old and new is, the old used Jews in parables under Elijah, the power of raising the dead. Power of the Holy Spirit it was passed on to John the Baptist a witness to that power

Matthew 11:13-15For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.;He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Luke 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord

Both new and old working as one.

Moses to represent the letter of law of the lord death. Elias the power to raise the dead using both Elias and Moses to represent (sola scriptura)

The law and the prophets the testimony of the law . the "let there be as law and the good testimony.

Without parables Christ spoke not

Matthew 17:3-5And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.;While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. . . . . . . . . . . . . .sola scriptura

Law and prophet. . Moses and the testimony Elias. One powerful living word denonasted as awarnking not to sek the dead for the living

Isaiah 8:19-20And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? T o the law (Moses) and to the testimony (Elias) : if they speak not according to this word, (one) it is because there is no light in them.

 

[Ben Avraham]

Thanks for your comments. Scripture is inspired (all) by the Ruach Ha Kodesh (Holy Spirit) and much is written symbolically, and we have delve deeper into the meaning, using original Hebrew (which helps) and/or Greek. That is just part of Bible Study, to go "deep sea fishing" instead of "fishing from the shore"

 

[Josheb]

Without parables Christ spoke not

To clarify: Jesus spoke only in parables at that time to those people. The verse is not asserting Jesus always, everywhere taught solely in parables.

 

[Mr GLee]

To clarify: Jesus spoke only in parables at that time to those people. The verse is not asserting Jesus always, everywhere taught solely in parables.

How would you know that?

He says without parables, the signified tongue. . . using the temporal historical seen as a sign mixed with the unseen eternal.. . without the signified understanding he spoke not.

From my experience many even say he did not start speaking parable until the New Testament where the word "parable" is found. Matthew 13:3

Many look at the parables \prophecy as good bedtime stories. . . not receiving the unseen spiritual understanding. . They remain as mystery

Mark 4:11And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables

The bible opens as a parable comparing the temporal things seen (creation) performed by an invisible faithful Creator .who is Light ,is Spirit and is Love

Let there be light. . introducing his own self. . . invisible made visible. The law of faith or power (unseen) let there be and it was good the temporal seen.

:Genesis 1:1-2 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

The valuable tool needed to rightly divide parables must be used or the parables remain a mystery of faith (the unseen eternal things of God

The valuable tool needed to rightly divide parables must be used or the parables remain a mystery of faith . . the unseen thing of God

I would say don't study without that tool

2 Corinthians 4:18While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

They must be mixed or no gospel rest. . . . . . . . . . .(Hebrews 4)

Again, it remains a mystery the searching must continue . . dig a little deeper

 

[Josheb]

How would you know that?

Because 1) I can read, and 2) I know how to properly exegete scripture.

He says without parables, the signified tongue. . .

And yet Jesus is also recorded to have used exposition, commentary, rhetoric, and a host of other didactic and oratory devices. Every example of which inherently contradicts any interpretation of the verse in question that renders Jesus speaking ONLY in parables.

Furthermore, the passage in which the verse occurs explains why Jesus spoke "to the crowds" only in parables.

Matthew 13:10-17
Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

And then the text continues on to report Jesus explaining the parables to the disciples...... thereby contradicting your position. Jesus did not teach ONLY in parables. He taught heart-hardened crowds in parables, and he did so in fulfillment of a prophecy.

Mark 4:30-34
And He said, "How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it? "It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil, yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that the birds of the air can nest under its shade." With many such parables He was speaking the word to them, so far as they were able to hear it; and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples.

Adjust thinking, doctrines, and posts accordingly .

 

[Mr GLee]

Because 1) I can read, and 2) I know how to properly exegete scripture.

And yet Jesus is also recorded to have used exposition, commentary, rhetoric, and a host of other didactic and oratory devices. Every example of which inherently contradicts any interpretation of the verse in question that renders Jesus speaking ONLY in parables.

Furthermore, the passage in which the verse occurs explains why Jesus spoke "to the crowds" only in parables.

Matthew 13:10-17
Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

And then the text continues on to report Jesus explaining the parables to the disciples...... thereby contradicting your position. Jesus did not teach ONLY in parables. He taught heart-hardened crowds in parables, and he did so in fulfillment of a prophecy.

Mark 4:30-34
And He said, "How shall we picture the kingdom of God, or by what parable shall we present it? "It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the soil, though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soil, yet when it is sown, it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and forms large branches; so that the birds of the air can nest under its shade." With many such parables He was speaking the word to them, so far as they were able to hear it; and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples.

Adjust thinking, doctrines, and posts accordingly .

Thanks. Recalculating lol

Without. . . "not only". . Hiding the gospel understanding in order to teach mankind how to walk by faith the unseen power of Christ. Comparing the temporal historical to the spiritual eternal according to the valuable prescription given in 2 Corhtitains 4:18 needed to rightly divide the parables.

2 Corinthians 4:18While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

A good example is found in Luke 9 and Mark 9. Teaching how to walk or understand the unseen eternal things.

A whole series of parables hiding the gospel spiritual undestanding, while the disciples wonder, wonder and in the end , verse 55, he rebukes the apostles and informs them to the manner of spirit they are of . . of this world, unconverted dying mankind .

It helped them to trust the use the prescription (2 Corinthians 4:18) needed to rightly divide the parable

(PURPLE) By added suggestion

Luke 9:42-55 .;And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father. ;And they were all amazed( not understanding. . .no faith ) at the mighty power of God. But while they "wondered" ( not understood. . .no faith )every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,;Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men. But they "understood not" this saying, and it was "hid" from them, that they perceived it not:( No faith) and they feared to ask him of that saying. Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.; (The greatest two feet from them. They must of thought he went off the deep end even his own family could not understand because without parables. . . spiritual understanding, he spoke not .Probably the loneliest man, save the father in Him, that ever walked on water ) And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,; And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great ( John not undestanding the parable made it all about what the eyes see the temporal ).And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us (Jewish flesh and blood) .;And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.(they served the wrong kind of "us" avoiding the spiritual understanding) And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, (gentiles) to make ready for him.And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw this, (They commanded the Lord to bring down fire and consume them just as if they were never born the first time .The pagan foundation out of sight out of mind ) they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

Now days it seem that many look for a sign before they will believe Sign and wonders gospel on the rise another mystery source like a parable but they have no end . .wondering, wondering, marveling by the king of lying sign to wonder after, using wonders as if true prophecy deceiving many

Same ones that made Jesus into a circus seal. show us a miracle do some magic then when we se with our own eyes . . maybe we will for a 1/2 a second ..

 

[Josheb]

Without. . . "not only". . Hiding the gospel understanding in order to teach mankind how to walk by faith the unseen power of Christ.

Oops! That right there is incorrect.


According to the gospel writer's use of Isa. 9:6, the reason for speaking in parables was so the hard-hearted would not be healed, repent, and come to salvation, and that including those whose God had hardened.

Matthew 13:14-15 BSB
In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’

This happened so they would see and hear, but not correctly perceive or understand because otherwise, they might be healed. The more literal translations use the word "lest," implying a causal relationship.


Gotta go. I'll take up the rest of the post when I can.

 

[Mr GLee]

Oops! That right there is incorrect.


According to the gospel writer's use of Isa. 9:6, the reason for speaking in parables was so the hard-hearted would not be healed, repent, and come to salvation, and that including those whose God had hardened.

Matthew 13:14-15 BSB
In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’

This happened so they would see and hear, but not correctly perceive or understand because otherwise, they might be healed. The more literal translations use the word "lest," implying a causal relationship.


Gotta go. I'll take up the rest of the post when I can.

Hi Thanks

According to scripture the reason for speaking parables the signified understanding was to hide the mysteries of the gospel from the unbelieving world . Its who Matthew 13:14-15 is speaking of.

The temporal historical(signified) must be mixed with the unseen eternal, spiritual things of Christ or no gospel rest the parable remins a mystery

Sings and wonders for the hard hearted

 

[Josheb]

Hi Thanks

According to scripture the reason for speaking parables the signified understanding was to hide the mysteries of the gospel from the unbelieving world . Its who Matthew 13:14-15 is speaking of.

Argumentum ad nauseam.

The hiddenness of Jesus' preaching was limited by the text to the hard-hearted (and the Jewish hard-hearted, in particular), not everyone everywhere for all time. The purpose of revelation is for revealing. not further obfuscation. Repeating the same argument in different words is not an argument.

The temporal historical(signified) must be mixed with the unseen eternal, spiritual things of Christ or no gospel rest the parable remins a mystery

No, it doesn't, and in this case the text itself limits the use of parables as Jesus described.

Sings and wonders for the hard hearted

I assume that's supposed to be "signs and wonders." Here, again, the signs and wonders are specific to that time and place. The generation about whom he is speaking is the generation to whom he is speaking. If that were not the case, then Jesus would necessarily be speaking about every generation and that would be contrary to his point. All rebellious people demand signs to prove right the speaker, but the rebellious people to whom Jesus was referring were the ones standing before him on that day and time.

 

[Mr GLee]

Argumentum ad nauseam.

The hiddenness of Jesus' preaching was limited by the text to the hard-hearted (and the Jewish hard-hearted, in particular), not everyone everywhere for all time. The purpose of revelation is for revealing. not further obfuscation. Repeating the same argument in different words is not an argument.

No, it doesn't, and in this case the text itself limits the use of parables as Jesus described.

I assume that's supposed to be "signs and wonders." Here, again, the signs and wonders are specific to that time and place. The generation about whom he is speaking is the generation to whom he is speaking. If that were not the case, then Jesus would necessarily be speaking about every generation and that would be contrary to his point. All rebellious people demand signs to prove right the speaker, but the rebellious people to whom Jesus was referring were the ones standing before him on that day and time.

Hi Thanks

It would seem lying sign and wonders of doubt have replaced prophecy. . beginning in the garden. "Neither shall you touch it." The lust of the flesh drew them to hidden tree in center of the garden. By the lust of the eye Satan's two building block of false pride, they ate that lying wonder .

Beautiful garden parable.

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Remember Satan is not subject to the gospel it is hid from him the god of this world as well as the whole unbelieving world. He has no spiritual understanding none, faithless.

When tempting the Son of man Jesus he said if you are the Son of God .He has no understanding of the gospel .To him it is about the things seen the temporal historical not mixing faith the unseen power as a understanding therefore no gospel rest .

I would offer. hard headed pagans according to their foundation . . ."out of sight out of mind .No eternal vision of prophecy

The king of wondering, doubting the accuser of the brethren day and night

In that way signs and wonders have no specific that time and place.

If not care full they can replace prophecy. . . specific time and place.

It is why I think when he spoke to Nicodenmus a lying signs and wonders seeker, in respect to the greatest possible miracle "born again" .He lovingly commandment him Marvel not

The power of Christ to rise comes by hearing .Not seeing the temporal dying.

 

[Josheb]

bump, @Ben Avraham,

If a New Testament author treats a statement by God in a non-literal manner (figuratively, symbolically, allegorically, etc.) are we to read the verse as it might have been understood by those living in the Old Testament (who did not possess the newer revelation explaining the older revelation), or are we to accept and believer what the New Testament author stated, writing under the inspiration and power of the Spirit to explain what had been previously reported?