As more people transition from mainstream worship to more intimate and in depth small group Bible studies, churches that are losing members (and revenue) wonder why. Many of these churches opt for entertaining worship hoping to regain membership only to find this creates a revolving door effect. This trend will continue unless the church returns to the foundation on which the faith is founded. Jude 1:3 tells us that we should struggle for the faith that was delivered once to the saints. This faith is not found in entertainment but in living the way our Creator designed unto live.

Question 260: What Is Meant By: “This Is Elijah Which Was To Come?”

Answer:

There was a prophecy that YHVH would send Elijah or Elisha to turn the hearts of the people (Malachi 4:5). When John appeared, the Jews asked him if he was Elijah and he answered that he was not (John 15:21). They evidently expected that the literal Elijah, who is represented as ascending to heaven without dying (2 Kings 2:11), would be sent to earth. John knew he was not that He regarded himself as a humble messenger, a mere voice, with no distinction but that of preparing the way. The character of his preaching however shows that, like other messengers from YHVH, he underestimated his dignity. When Moshiach spoke of him He settled the question definitely in the passage you refer to. John, He said, was the Elijah to whom the prophecy referred.

Question 259: What Is Meant By: “For I Am Come To Set A Man At Variance With His Father?

Answer:

This statement (Matthew 10:35) showed the result of His coming, not the purpose of it Moshiach was warning the people who came to Him of the sufferings they would have to endure, among which was this of the hostility of their near relatives. Many were offering themselves as His disciples who expected that He would become the King of Israel and that they would share His glory and He wished none to come with any such idea. He wanted them to count the cost and He told them of the trials awaiting them if they followed Him. They must be quite sure that they loved Him so well that if their fathers or their brothers cast them off for being believers they would be faithful to Moshiach, even at the cost of losing the love of their relatives.

Question 258: What Is Meant By: “I Came Not To Send Peace, But A Sword?”

Answer:

Moshiach's work on the individual soul may help you to understand His meaning (Matthew 10:34). The converted soul enjoys a peace passing all understanding; but how is it attained? The first stages of the process are those of fierce conflict. See the agony, the distress that the majority of men pass through when they are under conviction. It is through conflict that peace is attained. It is so with the evil in the world. Moshiach's Kingdom is one of peace; but not the despicable peace with wickedness and oppression. With those evils there must be war. If a father wisely loves his son, he does not ignore that son's bad ways; he punishes him in order to save him. You may say how do we reconcile the rod in the father's hand with his love for his child. There is no need to reconcile. The rod is a sign and proof of the father's love. So Moshiach's coming brought a sword to smite the evil that is cursing the world.

Question 257: What Is Meant By: “Who Is Able To Destroy Both Soul And Body In Hell?”

Answer:

Gregory Stier and some other writers contend that it is Satan to whom Moshiach refers in Matthew 10:28, but the context disproves this theory. The whole tenor of the chapter is directed to encouraging men to trust in YHVH and to fear offending Him. Moshiach shows in the following verse how YHVH's control covers all life and that without His permission no life is lost Moshiach does not teach us anywhere to fear Satan, but to rejoice that, through Himself, Satan has been overcome. In this passage the contrast is between the fear of man on the one hand, which might lead us to keep away from Moshiach or desert Him lest we should be persecuted; and the fear, on the other hand, of YHVH whose power is infinite in extent and whom we should dread to displease.

Frequently asked questions and answers:


Question 256: Why Did Yeshua Want The News Of His Miracles Kept Quiet?

Answer:

It was probably out of consideration for His followers, as there might be a popular rising which might lead to slaughter. The people were expecting the Messiah to be a King and, if they had recognized Moshiach and still held that notion they would probably have risen in rebellion against Rome. On one occasion (John 6:15), He hid Himself to prevent such a rising. It was safe after His death to preach Him as the Moshiach, because then the spiritual nature of His Kingdom would be understood; but while He lived, it was necessary to avoid publicity. Even the disciples expected that He would make Himself King and did not understand His real purpose until after the resurrection.

Question 255: What Is Meant By: “Let The Dead Bury Their Dead?”

Answer:

The language employed by Moshiach (Matthew 8:22) on the occasion in question is to be accepted figuratively, as in many other instances of His teachings. He was speaking of the characteristics of true discipleship and particularly referred to those who permitted themselves to become so entangled in worldly affairs, that they persistently procrastinated in spiritual things. To these, Yeshua showed that all other claims were inferior to the divine claim upon their energies and the paramount command to "preach the Kingdom of YHVH." These should take precedence even of the highest claims of nature. While immortal souls are in peril, the true disciple must not hesitate, but must go even at the sacrifice of all he holds dear. Those who remain, being dead to the spiritual call, may well be relied upon to fulfil all needful natural duties to the dead or the dying among themselves. The disciple's duty is to obey the call, leaving the consequences with YHVH.

Question 254: What Is Meant By: “The Children Of The Kingdom Shall Be Cast Out Into Outer Darkness?”

Answer:

In this passage (Matthew 8:11-12) Moshiach was evidently referring to the Jews. His remark was called forth by a Roman officer exhibiting more faith in Him than had ever been done by a Jew. He therefore warned His Jewish hearers that, although they prided themselves on being children of the Kingdom of YHVH, through their descent from Abraham, they might be excluded from the Kingdom because of personal unfitness; while others, who could not claim that illustrious pedigree, would be admitted because of their personal fitness. The present application of His Words appears to us to be not to converted persons, but to nominal believers, who have never been converted, but expect to enter heaven because they belong to Christian families, have been baptized and admitted to membership in a church; but have not the Spirit of Moshiach and Moshiach's Words here also apply to people in Christian countries who having a knowledge of the things of YHVH, do not live according to their knowledge. They too, will see people who had not their advantages admitted, while they themselves are excluded.

Question 253: Who Are The Angels Of The Little Ones?

Answer:

The reference in Matthew 8:10 has caused discussion among divines in all periods of the Church and is by no means satisfactorily explained. Yeshua seems to have lifted for a moment the veil over the unseen state and to have spoken of a matter familiar to Him, but incomprehensible to us. The apparent meaning is that even the humblest followers of Moshiach are ministered to by angels, who have access to the presence of YHVH Himself.

Question 252: What Are We to Understand By: “Lead Us Not Into Temptation?”

Answer:

YHVH does not tempt anyone. He may permit us to be placed in positions where, if left to our own resources, we would fall; but He does not tempt us to evil. Eve said, "The serpent beguiled me" (see Genesis 3:1, 4, 5, 13.) She yielded in her weakness and suffered accordingly (verses 14, 15, 16). In Matthew 4:1 and parallel passages, it is distinctly stated that the devil was the tempter of Yeshua. In 1 Corinthians 10:13 it is made clear that though YHVH may permit us to be tempted, He is not the tempter. See James 1:13, where it is emphatically asserted that YHVH tempts no man. The withdrawal of Ruach HaKodesh exposes us to temptation, by leaving the heart open to the attack of the tempter; but nothing is more erroneous than to assume that temptation or the placing of any agent in man's spiritual path which may cause him to fall, comes from YHVH. If this were true, He would be the author of eternal ruin to multitudes who rush into sin by yielding to temptation. See also Job, 1st and 2nd chapters, where Satan is shown as the tempter who pleads to be allowed to test the spiritual stability of the patriarch. The only sources of temptation in any case are the evil spirit, the world and the flesh. Unless we are fortified by the presence of the Divine Spirit, when these assail, we are especially exposed and liable to fall. See further on the subject Revelation 12:9; John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 11:13, 1 John 3:8; Mark 1:13, Luke 4:2; Acts 5:3; Matthew 26:41. Even when YHVH has made a trial of man's faith, He has done so in every instance by the removal of spiritual safeguards and leaving man to his own resources, when the tempter availed himself of the opportunity. In this sense, it is evident that a test is not a temptation. Some cannot reconcile the statement that YHVH did tempt Abraham, Genesis 22:1, with the assertion of James 1:13 that YHVH tempts no man. James refers to allurements to sin. Abraham was not tempted in that sense. He was tried and tested. Temptation is a trial and a test because when a man is tempted, he learns his strength and weakness, hence the confusion in the meanings of the word. It is obvious however, that the trial may come in different ways. In Abraham's case he was ordered to do something that was against his nature and the question was whether he would do what he did not wish to do at the Command of YHVH. James, on the other hand, is speaking of a case in which a man is prompted to follow his own inclinations and to commit sin. YHVH tempts no man to commit sin, but He does test our faith in Him and love for Him by trials. Job must have been tempted to take his wife's advice and curse YHVH; but his trials as we know, were tests of his disinterested allegiance, not such temptations as James refers to.