|
|
|
Praise the LORD. How thankful I am to share God's Word in freedom on His holy sabbath. So many things we have to be thankful for today. Seems like alot of folks out there trying to shout 'em down with the gospel, but no matter how loud one yells, if a person doesn't have spiritual ears, they won't be able to understand (hear) the gospel message. Let's quietly look at these verses, without even any capitalizations. In these seven verses in Matthew 25 we have a big chunk of the meat of the Word, even for believers who have studied for many years. A brief exhortation from these verses and comparing some scripture with other scripture can only be offered here but nevertheless even skimming over these wonderful verses is a pleasure. So let's begin this brief overview by looking at verse 35a where we read:
"For I was an hungred" ....
When we compare this with other holy scripture we know that what is in view is fasting. And we also that know fasting identifies with the sending forth of the gospel. Compare Matthew 25:35 with Isaiah 58:7 and the context there:
"Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?" - Isaiah 58:3-7.
Ezekiel 18 speaks of the same thing as Matthew 25:35 and Isaiah 58:
"And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment; He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man, Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD." - Ezekiel 18:7-9.
Matthew 25:35b: "I was a stranger, and ye took me in".
Now let's compare this with some of the earliest Biblical writings in the book of Job:
"The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller. If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom: Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door? Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book. Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me. I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him. If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain; If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life: Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended." - Job 31:32ff.
All these verses point to the fact that we as believers are to share the gospel we have been blessed with only because of grace. The strangers we take in are a spiritual picture of unbelievers; Christ takes them in to be part of His body, the eternal church made up of all the elect. The instrument that is used is the Word, the LORD's holy gospel. So much of this is interchangeble yet still has overtones of divine mysteries.
Now let's look at Matthew 25:36b:
"ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me".
Now comparing with James 1:27, we read:
"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." - James 1:27.
Just from citing these few verses of scripture, it is evident and unrefutable that our LORD wants His children to share the gospel. Of course, sharing begins with our closest Christian friends:
"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." - Galatians 6:10.
We should not be intimidated in the least about sharing the gospel with others, nor need it be a complicated task.
"At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." - Matthew 11:25-30.
We do not have to go right away and discuss complicated doctrines or lengthy issues; often all that is needed is just a single Bible verse; period. God can work through one verse just as He can a lengthy book or tract. If the Spirit is working in the heart of the individual they will follow-up on the bread we share with them if not at once, then at sometime and place in the future of which we may not even be aware of and so is this another aspect of the mystery of God's providence.
Also, one need not worry about not being able to answer questions. If someone has a question that cannot be anwered, we simply be truthful with them and say that we honestly do not know the answer to their question but will attempt to research the answer then get back to them. Also we must remember to try and be humble. This is difficult, but very important because when we see a great deal of pride as we do in the world today, the Bible informs us that something is about to "go down":
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. - Proverbs 16:18.
Putting away ourselves the best that we can through the faith of Christ, let us march forth in the Holy Spirit of the LORD where there is liberty; sharing His gospel as He has commanded us and fulfilling our holy calling, fixing our eyes upon Jesus the foundation of all true and beloved brethren:
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. - Romans 8:29.
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. - Matthew 25:40.
|