Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Luke 7:24-35 comments: Jesus' testimony about John the Baptist


Luke 7:24  And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 25  But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts. 26  But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet. 27  This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 28  For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. 29  And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. 30  But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. 31  And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like? 32  They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept. 33  For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. 34  The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! 35  But wisdom is justified of all her children.

In proclaiming who John the Baptist is Jesus quotes Old Testament prophecy in verse 27.

Malachi 3:1 ¶  Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me…

Verse 28 leads us to a controversial point. First, though, Christ says that the least person in the kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist although John the Baptist was the greatest prophet to that time. The logical conclusion and interpretation of that in context is that each Christian has a greater revelation of Christ than John had, based on the previous exchange with John’s disciples. From a prophetic standpoint each Christian has a greater advantage and a greater access to the truth than John did. 

The controversy for us comes from interpreting the meaning of phrases in the New Testament. If we compare 28 with;

Matthew 11:11  Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

The question then begs itself, what is the relationship between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Heaven, which is mentioned only in Matthew? Let’s compare verse with verse, the most reliable way to interpret scripture.

Matthew 19:23 ¶  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24  And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Then, starting with the verses we just mentioned.

Matthew 11:11  Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12  And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

With;

Luke 7:28  For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

…then…

Matthew 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

With;

Mark 4:10  And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. 11  And 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:

And…

Matthew 13:31  Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 32  Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

With…

Mark 4:30  And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? 31  It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: 32  But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.
  
Luke 13:18 ¶  Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? 19  It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.

And…

Matthew 13:33  Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

With…

Luke 13:20  And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? 21  It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

And…

Matthew 18:3  And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

With…

Mark 10:14  But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 15  Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

Luke 18:16  But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 17  Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.


And…

Matthew 4:17  From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

With…

Mark 1:14 ¶  Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15  And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

And…

Matthew 5:3 ¶  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

With…

Luke 6:20 ¶  And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.

Honestly, without relying on what you’ve been taught outside of the Bible text, would you say that the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Heaven are synonymous or are they two different things like some evangelicals and fundamentalists insist upon by stating that a difference must exist between them to prove the millennial reign of Christ. I would say that there are plenty of verses to prove that without twisting the text to make distinctions and divisions where there are none.

Verse 29 tells us there were two distinct parties; the common people having submitted to John’s baptism and the elite who had not. One accepts Jesus’ testimony about John the Baptist and one rejects. But wisdom is justified of all her children it says.

Those who are wise in that generation accepted the baptism of John and the testimony of Christ. Jesus states that some will simply not respond to joyful or mournful music and they will either accuse John of being too severe and strict or Christ of being too inclusive and open-armed. Those people will neither dance for joy nor weep for sorrow. They will hear neither John the Baptist nor will they receive the testimony of Christ.  

This reminds me of Old Testament words of Jeremiah…

Jeremiah 5:3  O LORD, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.

God visits people and chastises them but they will not receive rebuke from God or even act as if they are aware it is from Him. He visits them and blesses them but they will not acknowledge His hand in it. It is so with many Christians today, sadly.

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