Jesus' Commission
About five months ago, I came across a verse which I had never noticed before (by no means the only I never noticed before. I was reading out of the CLNT. Since purchasing the Concordant Literal New Testament, I have discovered a lot of verses I hadn't noticed before or had missed the significance the verse. Now I don't get a percentage, but I hardily recommend it. But I digress.). When I read the verse in one of Martin Zender's books, I checked it out. I stopped and said, "Huh??? That can't be right." But there it was, straight out of Matthew's gospel; Chapter 15, verse 24. It was pretty plain and simple. Does it mean what it says? I thought to myself, "Literal first if possible. If not possible, figurative." This verse seemed a completely plausible verse which made perfect sense to me. But, did it really mean what it said. I like some comments about what you think it means. Go for it. MATT 15
24 Now He, answering, said, "I was not commissioned except for the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
posted by Don @ 11:00 PM
8 comments
8 Comments:
Yes you are seeing this right. It doesn't fit in with free-will though. That is why you never hear these from the pujpit today.In John 17:9 Jesus also prays "Not for the world but for the one that the Father gave Him".I believed free-will for over 20 years then God opened my eyes to see His will is free, and mine isn't!Also read mark 10:45, that will make you question that"He died for the whole world " thing!Also Romans 9:13-18, that should raise a few questions ,I could go on and on. So I'll leave on that comment.
In my fundie evangelism days, I was street preaching about our sinful nature and our need to accept Christ, and somebody turned and said to me, "why would Jesus want me to accept him, I'm not a Jew!"
At the time, I thought it was just this guys way of being sarcastic, but since then I've learned that Jesus ministry was to save the Jews.
Thing is, in completing his mission to become the ultimate sacrifice for "his people" (the Jews), he became the total sacrifice for all mankind. Maybe God's purpose for him was greater than even he knew? Interesting subject!
Well, if you keep reading to the end of verse 28, and I'm sure you have, it seems to me pretty clear that Jesus was testing the woman. For he did grant what she asked for, and he did not grant it with reluctance either. His change in attitude seemed quite sharp. He seemed excited by her faith, like she had just passed a test.
Jathan
Jathan- Thank you for your input. I appreciate the comment. What you say is completely true. I feel there was a test going on too. Are you saying also, that He perhaps expanded his commission at this time to include non-jews as well who had not been included before? Not trying to put words in your mouth, just trying to clarify your statement to myself... Peace...
Don,
Nah, I wouldn't go that far. I don't really have much thoughts as to when Jesus was focusing on what. But my gut feeling has been that Jesus knew that his immediate mission was to Israel, so that he could, among other things, prepare it to be a priesthood to all nations, spreading the good news. He came for Israel, and Israel was supposed to go the world. That has been my thinking.
In this passage, he remains silent at first. I figure he's chewing things over in his head, trying to think of the best way to answer the woman. Or perhaps he's got it more together than that. Maybe that's just the beginning of the test?
Yet there are passages, aren't there, that speak of Jesus making detours through "non-Jew" territory to preach the Kingdom?
Right. I'm of the opinion that when He commissioned his disciples to "go into all the world" near the end of His time here,it just didn't happen as HE wanted. So, a little later, He picked, which by man's standards, the worst choice ever to carry His message to the world, Rabbi Saul. I believe that Paul may well have been receiving that "new" gospel for the nations while he was in Arabia. There he was prepared for his commission to the nations. This new gospel was one of total grace and not Law. Just my opinion, not set in stone.
Hey Don, I agree totally with your last comment. Also remember that when the angels announced the birth of the Messiah, they stated that it was to be "good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people".....as you said the good news to the nations....not just the Jews....or the "church" which often today seems to look a lot like the self righteous holier than thou Jews of Jesus and Paul's days.
Man, logs can be so blinding to what Father is doing.
Steve-
And your quote was from Dr.Luke's gospel, not from whom we mught expect it, Paul, the deliverer of the grace gospel....
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