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The Truth Of The Matter Is- Episode: 153 Only To The Lost Sheep Of Israel Part 1
33 Plays6 months ago
This week on the show we address the instructions of Jesus to his disciples found in Matthew chapter 10 specifically in verses 5 and 6 and it reads:These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” So in Spirit of curiosity the question is why did he instruct them not to go near the Gentiles and the town of Samaritan. To take it a step further Johnathan takes us to Romans 1:16 to begin with Paul's wording. Tune in to hear what the Word of God has to say while also learning what are Jonathan's thoughts on the manner from a personal perspective.
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Transcript
Introduction and Personal Reflections
00:00:40
Speaker
Welcome to the Truth of the Matters podcast. I'm your host Jonathan and this is episode 153. Of course, let's begin by recognizing and appreciating all of our new and consistent listeners.
00:01:03
Speaker
We thank you all in advance for continuing to press play at your own convenience. Thank you for tuning in today. And I pray that this podcast, regardless of the episode that you press play on is a blessing to you. Of course, here on the truth of the matters podcast, we begin by
00:01:22
Speaker
me mentioning one to three ways of how we believe that the Lord has blessed you this week. I'll do the honors and I hope with what I've started here, you started to do the same thing with yourselves, among yourselves, okay? So as I reflected over the week, I believe that the Lord allowed me to witness two occurrences that happened on Sunday. So normally I come at you with an episode Monday. These occurrences happen on a Sunday
00:01:51
Speaker
And it was interesting because I was actually trying to decide, how has the Lord blessed me this week? And normally I had that reflection throughout the week, trying to decipher, is this a blessing? Is this a blessing? Is this a blessing? And it was something that occurred late that was important. And I figured it could be a great teacher moment. And therefore I'm going to share that with you today.
Communication and Respect
00:02:16
Speaker
and what occurred these occurrences gave me something seriously to think about the importance of how you should speak to people publicly of course from a humanity standpoint and that there are other ambassadors and representatives in close proximity within the world and therefore you don't have to be a hero all the time you don't have to be a superhero all the time and i'll get to that in a moment so in the first example i witnessed
00:02:46
Speaker
I was doing shopping in the supermarket, full bazaar, and it was a mother talking to her daughter extremely harshly. And as I pushed the shopping cart by, she told her daughter to move at least four to six times. So imagine someone saying move, move, move, move, move, move, move, move, right? And I witnessed this on the other end because I was pushing the shopping cart. I parked the shopping cart not too far from where they were.
00:03:16
Speaker
And yes, of course, the daughter was standing in my way blocking the path, but I figured there was a better way to express that to her daughter. Of course, I said, excuse me. And I would say probably some kids are a little bit distracted and she probably didn't hear me. Now, as I reached for some seasoning on the shelf, I couldn't help but look at the mother and daughter. And one of the things I witnessed and heard
00:03:46
Speaker
And so it was that the mother was looking for something and the daughter wanted to be of help, right? So she posed the question, wait, is it this? And the mother said to her, I need you to do me a favor, stand here and shut up. Now, why was it important that I witnessed this? And why am I telling you this? Well, it starts with speaking to people respectfully so that they don't resent you.
00:04:17
Speaker
I'm gonna say that again. It starts with speaking to people respectfully so that they don't resent you. Treat them with dignity and respect. Sometimes it's not what you say. It's how you say it. So remember, whether it's a child, it's an animal, an adult, the elderly,
00:04:46
Speaker
Areas you don't just talk to anyone just any old kind of way need to be cautious Animals and humans have feelings and how you communicate sometimes is key because you don't want to embarrass People that are most close to you nor the pets
00:05:11
Speaker
who actually rely upon you to eat, to function, to live, to enjoy life just like you, who are obviously here and their lifespan is much shorter. I remember as a child experiencing that, right? And I can tell you right off the back, it doesn't feel good.
00:05:31
Speaker
You feel ashamed. You feel like the spotlight is on you. I don't know if anyone's had that experience or someone flash the light in your eyes and maybe your heart starts to skip a beat a little bit. It's a feeling that's very uncomfortable. And I know time ago, even today, the aggressiveness to how you raise a child can be key because some children
00:05:57
Speaker
have a hard head and they don't listen and understand how maybe with a louder tone, they will hear you. But the insults around others can be degrading and extremely foul. Now, of course, I didn't say anything when this occurred because that's not my child. It's not my place.
00:06:22
Speaker
However, due to the fact that I witnessed it, was enough to reflect and learn from it, desiring that one day when I have children, that I don't want to talk to them that way in public, nor behind the scenes.
Acts of Kindness and Giving
00:06:40
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Because eventually the things that you do behind the scenes come eventually to the light.
00:06:48
Speaker
truthfully, the things that you do when no one is watching are habitual and eventually that type of mentality, that type of behavior will make its way into public spaces and environments that you didn't necessarily anticipate for it to be found out and seen. Now, of course,
00:07:21
Speaker
My point in saying all of this is that we have to be conscious of how we communicate something, especially to young kids at a young age. The mother's mistake or aggressive parenting
00:07:38
Speaker
was a lesson for me and I want it to be a lesson for you today to keep an eye on. And if you're a parent, I urge you, I suggest to maybe consider being a better communicator to your children. The second story is a response to the statement that I made earlier. There are other ambassadors and representatives
00:08:04
Speaker
in close proximity to us and therefore we don't have to be superheroes all the time. Now, how did this come about? Well, there was a woman in the parking lot who began rubbing her tummy, saying she's pregnant and that she has a child and that she wants to eat for herself and the baby.
00:08:27
Speaker
Now she mentions her preference, which is Chipotle, a Mexican fast food restaurant. Now, did she look pregnant? No. Could she have been pregnant? Absolutely. Could she have been also lying? Sure. Now I actually come out of supermarket with items from a customer ready to drop it off and load it in my car when she came up to me. So once she asked,
00:08:58
Speaker
In all honesty, I hesitated. And my response was, I didn't have any cash, which of course is a true statement. However, I'm not opposed to buying someone food. I am, of course, opposed to just handing money to people, not knowing what they intend or plan to do with it. Now, I sat in the car and something told me to wait two to four minutes because I started to tell myself
00:09:28
Speaker
to call out to her, tell her to get in the car and do what she requested. And I kind of do this often. If I see someone less fortunate than me, I try to buy them food. And I try to practice Matthew 25 quite often. And I saw something. Guess what happened? I actually saw at least two people give her something.
00:09:57
Speaker
And then I had to tell myself, I can't give to everyone that I see all the time. And it's true, I can't, right? And it hurts because I want to. But the truth of the matter is, I am not the only believer on this earth. I am not the only believer in this world who wants to do good acts for others. There are even those who don't even believe in Jesus.
00:10:23
Speaker
that God can touch their hearts and minds and use them to give to those who are less fortunate than us. So my mindset changed and I realized just because I passed by someone and decided not to help them, it doesn't mean that they won't get helped. They will because the same heart that I have, others have.
00:10:47
Speaker
The same heart that Christ gave me, a new, regenerated heart that changed my mind, heart in Ezekiel 36, 26, or Hebrews 8, 10, other believers have. There are other believers who are not far away from me, and actually who are far away from me, who have the desire to fulfill Matthew 25.
00:11:15
Speaker
Now, here's an additional thought. Of course, I speak about Matthew 25 often here on the podcast. And I've quoted 1 John chapter three verse 17 through 18 as well. Just a quick reminder, here's what it says. This is 1 John chapter three verses 17 through 18. It says, but whoever has the world's goods, adequate resources, and sees his brother in need, but has no compassion for him,
00:11:47
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How does the love of God live in him? Little children, believers, dear ones,
00:11:54
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Let us not love merely in theory, with words or with tongue, giving lip service to compassion, but in action and in truth and practice and in sincerity, because practical actions of love are more than words. So I want to repeat that.
00:12:20
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because practical acts, I said actions, but practical acts of love are more than words.
Biblical Teachings on Salvation and Priority
00:12:27
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By the way, this is the Amplified version. So there are plenty of believers in the world today fulfilling this verse, which is why I said, there are other ambassadors and representatives in close proximity or far proximity from me. And therefore, I don't always have to be a superhero.
00:12:49
Speaker
I hope that these stories are a blessing to you. Maybe it will change the way you think or motivate you to act with the love of God that he placed inside of you that others are rightfully deserving of. Only time will tell. And on that note, let's move right into prayer first and foremost before we go to the passage for today.
00:13:14
Speaker
O God in the name of Jesus, we thank you for all that you have done and all that you will continue to do. We bless you today. We lift you up today as we go to your word. Today, I pray that it is a blessing to all of us. I pray that we spread the word of how good you are and valuable you are to those who have placed their faith in you.
00:13:39
Speaker
Lord, you deserve all the glory, yon, and appraise the accolation for all that you do. Bless our eyes to see, our ears to hear, and our minds to understand. Ask for forgiveness of sins of all those who will repent and do so right before the Father.
00:14:10
Speaker
All those in agreement saying, Jesus name we pray, amen. By the way that pause was intentional and it's because those who are listening who have a desire to repent, I wanna give people a chance to repent as well because we are all in this space desiring the presence of God to move us in a direction that pleases him.
00:14:36
Speaker
So last week we went over the points of Matthew chapter nine, verse 35 to 38, which prepared us for Matthew chapter 10 verses one through 15. Today, I want us to address the instructions Jesus gave his disciples. And I want to try and answer a question. By the end of this episode, maybe the question will be answered in your opinion and maybe it won't be answered.
00:15:04
Speaker
Maybe there are several answers that could be true. But the goal here is to get you to ponder on why Jesus gave these specific instructions. Of course, if you have any thoughts, don't hesitate to reach out to me on IG or TikTok and the handle is thetruthoftmis, thetruthoftmis,
00:15:34
Speaker
speed ed 83 at gmo.com the Guinness SP Ed Ed 83 at gmo.com. So let's go to the text for today. And that's going to be Matthew chapter 10. Specifically, versus five to six English standard version.
00:16:01
Speaker
These 12 Jesus sent out instructing them go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Sumerians, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. I read it one more time. These 12 Jesus sent out instructed them go nowhere
00:16:27
Speaker
among the Gentiles that enter no town of the Sumerians but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. So the question is why did Jesus limit his disciples only to the lost sheep of Israel and not to the Gentile nations nor the town of the Sumerians?
00:16:49
Speaker
So I'm going to give you some scripture to think about what the possible reasoning is. And I'll end with some of my thoughts from a philosophical, psychological approach. So there's two sides of this conversation. I'm going to give you some scripture.
00:17:04
Speaker
that I believe might hint at the answer. And then I'm going to tell you some of my personal thoughts, reflection over the scriptures I provided and other scriptures that I've read through that give me confidence in why I believe what I believe. And of course you can share with me what your thoughts are. And I don't have an issue taking out an episode, an extra episode of sharing some of your thoughts so that we can all be educated in this space.
00:17:34
Speaker
So let me first by, let me first start by looking at Romans chapter one, verse 16. And I'm going to read the English standard version. It says, this is Paul, by the way, I, for I am not ashamed of the gospel for I am not ashamed of the gospel. For it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes to the Jew first and also
00:18:03
Speaker
to the Greek. So based on this verse, there seems to be an aura of how salvation came. First to the Jew, then the Gentile. Now before we go deeper, first we need to address the word choice here because it's key and it might be because of how it was translated.
00:18:23
Speaker
So the Apostle Paul uses the word Greek, which is synonymous with the word Gentile, which refers to any non-Jewish ethnicity. Next, I pondered on this and asked myself, what does Paul mean when he uses the word first? Now, the Greek word for first is proton, P-R-O-T-O-N.
00:18:51
Speaker
which has a meaning similar to usage in our English language, which communicates either sequence or prominence, which in my opinion, I found interesting. For those who don't know what prominence is, it means the state of being important or famous. When you look at those two options, we are given it in this definition.
00:19:19
Speaker
The word important is what we need. And I believe answers what we believe is being said here. Because remember, in the English language, it says prominence is a state of being important or famous, famous or important. Now, several occasions I have spoke about the importance of being exposed to several different translations and how
00:19:50
Speaker
It can be helpful and a helping hand when it comes to our desire to understand things much more deeply. Now, as I went through some translations, I found an interesting translation, one in which I don't necessarily read, but I think can play a role historical wise. And that's called a CJB, which is the Complete Jewish Bible Translation. The Complete Bible.
00:20:21
Speaker
Jewish translation perhaps, in my opinion, comes close to the market saying, to the Jew especially but equally
00:20:32
Speaker
to the Jew and Gentile.
Jewish and Gentile Roles in Gospel Spread
00:20:34
Speaker
I read that again, because this is interesting. The CJB, which is the complete Jewish Bible, translate Romans chapter 1 verse 16, perhaps to the closest that meets the mark in terms of the adequate equality in what I believe Paul's saying here.
00:20:56
Speaker
I believe there should be a fine balance existing between emphasizing the Jewish priority on the one hand and upholding the equality of Jewish and Gentile on the other. We see this in the book of Galatians chapter 3 verse 28 and I'll read it in the Amplified version and it says,
00:21:21
Speaker
There is now no distinction in regard to salvation, neither Jew nor Greek. There is neither slave nor free. There is neither male nor female, for you who believe are all one in Christ Jesus. No one can claim a spiritual superiority.
00:21:51
Speaker
Galatians 3 verse 28 and the 5 version says there is no distinction in regards to salvation neither Jew nor Greek there is neither slave nor free where there is neither male nor female for you who believe are all one in Christ Jesus no one can claim
00:22:21
Speaker
a spiritual superiority. Okay, let's go to another text. Deuteronomy chapter seven verse six through seven ESV which says, for you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession. Out of all the people
00:22:50
Speaker
who are in the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord said his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all people." Now this speaks to, of course, the priority of the Jewish people, which is why I'm reading this text.
00:23:14
Speaker
and explaining why Jesus has placed his focus specifically on the lost sheep of Israel. Now, of course, the Jews won the God's first covenant. And if you remember the Tower of Babel, which wasn't a tower at all,
00:23:37
Speaker
And the way we see it now when we say tower and we sort of simulate tower with a skyscraper, it was actually a pyramid at that time. God separated the nations by language.
00:23:50
Speaker
and chose his own nation to ultimately make the other nations jealous and envious of his relationship with his own nation, that he would eventually redeem through Jesus Christ, who would then die, and not just die for one nation, but for all nations, that whoever actually places their faith, which is what's required, faith in Christ, belief in Christ Jesus,
00:24:19
Speaker
which in my opinion was really brilliant. And when you think about it, it's interesting because remember, when we get to the book of 1 Samuel 2 Samuel, there wasn't even supposed to be a king, a physical king.
00:24:38
Speaker
But the people wanted to be just like all the other nations, which is why Saul was who was placed in charge. And specifically God tells Samuel that they rejected me, but no worries. It eventually is what leads to Christ being the king on the throne. But the point is, this is how it started.
00:25:07
Speaker
It happened slowly, but surely progressively arrived Jesus Christ. Speaking of Jesus and his public ministry, he spoke about being sent to who? The Jews. And he focused his efforts on them. He was of course the Jewish Messiah. He had come in part to strengthen Judah and save the tribes of Joseph.
00:25:37
Speaker
Evidence that I have is this is in the book of Zachariah chapter 10 verse six, which says, I will strengthen the house of Judah and I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back because I have compassion on them and they shall be as though I had not rejected them. For I am the Lord their God and I will answer them. This is evidence.
00:26:06
Speaker
that there was a specific relationship the Jews had with the coming Messiah, that Christ was the son of David. And the hope of the Messiah had long been held by the Jews. How do I know that? Let's go to the Gospel of Luke chapter 2 verse 38 and it says,
00:26:27
Speaker
And coming at that very hour, she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. So when the gospel of Christ was first proclaimed, the Jews had priority. So again, the complete Jewish Bible, CJB translation,
00:26:59
Speaker
says, to the Jew especially, but equally to the Jew and Gentile. Now we see this in the book of Acts. Check this out. In Paul's first missionary journey, every time they would come to a new city, Gentile city by the way, Paul and Barnabas would preach in the synagogues to the Jews in that city. So that's the Jews especially.
00:27:30
Speaker
But in Antioch, they were opposed by the unbelieving Jews. For context, of course, let's go to the book of Acts chapter 13 verse 36. Book of Acts chapter 13 verse 46, ESV says, and Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly saying, it was necessary that the word of God be spoken first
00:27:55
Speaker
To who? You. Since you thrust it aside and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. As you can see, it was equally to the Jew.
00:28:12
Speaker
and Gentile as well. But who had priority? The Jews. Now God did not cease saving Jews in order to save Gentiles. But repeat that again. God did not cease in saving Jews in order to save Gentiles. In all of Paul's missionary journeys, he continued to preach first in the synagogues. The truth of the matter is God continues to desire salvation
00:28:41
Speaker
of all people from all over the world. How do I know this? Well, let's go to 1 Timothy chapter 2, verses 1 through 7, ESV. I urge the supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made for all people.
00:29:03
Speaker
for kings and all who are in high position that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly, dignified in every way. This is good.
00:29:15
Speaker
and it is pleasing and inside of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and there is one media between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. For this, I was appointed a preacher
00:29:41
Speaker
and an apostle, I am telling the truth. I am not lying. A teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. Again, to the Jews especially, but equally to the Jew and to the Gentile. These are the scriptures that I have put together that I believe summarize the importance of why
00:30:06
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able to the Jew, especially but equally to the Jew and Gentile. CJB, complete Jewish Bible. Now here are my thoughts on the matter. Second half of the conversation, my thoughts on the matter. Jesus instructed his disciples not to go to the Gentiles in a town
00:30:32
Speaker
of the Sumerians because he understood that the lost sheep of Israel would have a different perspective when it came to grasping the good news of the kingdom of heaven from the Gentiles and the Sumerian nations. I'll tell you why in a second. And I mean, when you think about it, for me, it starts with this verse right here. Let's go to 1 John chapter 2 verse 7.
00:31:01
Speaker
First John chapter two, verse seven. It's what it says. Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command, but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. So from a genuine perspective, will the Gentiles understand this? I don't think so.
00:31:31
Speaker
Why, you may ask? Well, because God chose one nation, again, to operate in and be in close proximity with, and that nation was the nation of Israel. If you remember the passage I've read early in the book of Deuteronomy, it says, God chose them because they were what? Few in number. And in my humble opinion, that's a very intentional decision. Remember what the Tower of Babel was all about.
00:31:59
Speaker
Paul says that God allowed all the nations to go their own way. Let's go to the book of Acts for verification of this chapter 14 verses 16 through 17 again book of Acts chapter 14 verse 16 through 17 and it says
00:32:19
Speaker
In the past, He permitted all the nations to go their own ways, but He never left them without evidence of Himself and His goodness. Amen. For instance, He sends you rain, good crops, and gives you food and joyful hearts. Joyful hearts. So understand this, that God's goodness
00:32:47
Speaker
was and still is on full display today to those who have accepted Him or those who haven't. For a bit more support of God's goodness on a basis of a scale from 0 to 2, look no further than Genesis chapter 8 verses 23 through 27 for more information about what God's goodness really looks like from a large special point of view. Let's go back to verse 7 of 1 John chapter 2.
00:33:17
Speaker
It says this old command is the message you have heard. So when reading this verse, do you honestly believe everyone knew of this message or even heard of it? If you weren't Jewish? In my opinion, the answer would be no. Taking it a step further, when you think about God, making it appearance, it was associated with at first who? Abraham.
00:33:44
Speaker
This is where you get the phrase, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob. When I think about Moses and his encounter with God, it came, of course, out of burning bush. And the message he left Moses to tell the people and Pharaoh was simply, I am that I am, because that's what Moses said. What should I say you are? I am that I am. Verse seven.
00:34:15
Speaker
of 1st John chapter 2 says, I am not writing you a new command, but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. I'm not sure if I can say confidently that that message would be universally understood throughout all the nations at that moment in time. Hope you follow me when I say that. I'll say it again. I'm not sure.
00:34:39
Speaker
Based upon what first John chapter two verse seven means when he says, I am writing you a new command, but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. And I can't say confidently that meant that message would be universally understood throughout all the nations in that particular moment in timeframe at that time period. This is why I believe.
00:35:06
Speaker
It would be easier for the law sheep of Israel to accept the message that was being said to them because they knew of the message.
00:35:16
Speaker
The Gentile nations, I don't believe would have known. And to a lesser degree, I don't think the Sumerian nations had any of that knowledge as much either because they resided where in the mountains and happened to be at a distance. This was briefly spoken between Jesus and the women at the well. And this actually runs much deeper because it's very much associated with the book of first Kings.
00:35:45
Speaker
And if you know anything about the book of First Kings, it speaks about the separation between Jeroboin and Rehoboin and that story and how those things unfolded and why you have the separation between the trial of Judah and the trial of Israel.
00:36:04
Speaker
Something else that comes to mind that should be taken into consideration as well as to why Jesus wanted his disciples to focus on the lost sheep of Israel was because Jesus was Jewish. Jesus came to fulfill the old covenant while also shifting us from being under the law to being under grace and mercy. Of course, successfully, without a doubt, Jesus then fulfills the law
00:36:33
Speaker
As the book of Hebrews puts it, he became the mediator between God and humanity. I think it's best said in the gospel of John chapter six, verse 37 through 40, which says, all those the father gives me will come to me. And whoever comes to me, I would never drive away.
00:37:01
Speaker
For I have come down from heaven not to do my will, but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of those who have, who he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.
00:37:24
Speaker
For my father's will is that everyone who looks to the son and believes in him shall have eternal life. And I will raise them up at the last day.
00:37:39
Speaker
The truth of the matter is God's love was and is still on full display when he showed fairness by being faithful to his old covenant with the Jews and by giving them priority and entering into the new covenant. So when we look at Matthew 10, Jesus knew the harvest was plentiful, but the workers were few.
00:38:10
Speaker
So of course he gave his 12 disciples power and I believe he wanted them to have some experience in serving and also knowledge and understanding of what it took to expand the kingdom by spreading the news that he would ultimately preach when he arrived at those towns. Of course later, three years later in fact,
00:38:35
Speaker
Jesus renders his disciples that mission to preach the gospel to all nations because he now had confidence in them, that they were capable of undertaking the mission that would be called the Great Commission, of course, with the help of the Holy Spirit so that things will move along.
00:39:00
Speaker
with great intention, knowing that the Holy Spirit will work and do a great work in those disciples who eventually lead us into a time period where faith will ultimately be what it is that we needed to place our faith in, which is Christ. So that ultimately God will get all the glory, honor and praise. Last thing that I just thought about,
00:39:30
Speaker
is that I believe Jesus knew in the long run, for the most part, that the Jewish people would be skeptical and at times hard to convert due to the preconceptions about who the Jewish Messiah will be. And so there is a critical window in which Jesus
00:39:56
Speaker
ultimately during this period of time of his appearance could directly give them evidence of his divinity by fulfilling things like prophecy.
00:40:10
Speaker
And one of the well known things that he does can be found in the gospel of Luke chapter four verse 16 to 21. And I'll read it quickly. Luke four verse 16 to 21. And it says he went to Nazareth where he had been brought up.
00:40:28
Speaker
And on the Sabbath day, he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He took up to read in the scroll of the Prophet Isaiah.
00:40:42
Speaker
was handed to him. While rolling it, he found the place where it was written. The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, recovery of the sight of the blind, to set the press free. Verse 19, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor. Verse 20, then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant,
00:41:10
Speaker
sat down, the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, today the scriptures fulfilled in your hearing. And of course, on the other hand, the Gentiles will be, in my opinion, easier after the fact to be converted after Jesus's death due to the gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus meant his gospel.
Unity in Christ and Conclusion
00:41:40
Speaker
to be for all people. But the initial focus on the Jewish nation was a matter of fairness and strategic timing. Now, obviously, we've spoken a lot today about what my thoughts are, about what I believe the scriptures tell us. And I encourage you to listen again if need be.
00:42:08
Speaker
And I want to say thank you for tuning in today. Without further ado, let's finish, of course, with devotional time. We're going to be looking at Ephesians chapter two verse 13 through 16. And it reads, but now in Christ Jesus, you who were once far away now have been brought nearby the blood of Christ.
00:42:33
Speaker
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one, and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing war of hostility, by sending a sign in his flesh, the law with its commandments and regulations.
00:42:49
Speaker
His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity. Out of the two, thus making peace and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross by which he put to death their hostility. When it comes to identifying who we are in Christ, there's no such thing.
00:43:14
Speaker
as a black Christian, or a white Christian, or a Spanish Christian, or a Greek Christian, or Irish Christian. We are brothers and sisters in Christ in the kingdom of God.
00:43:31
Speaker
We should not be seen separated by culture and race categories, but we all should be seen as one in the body of Christ. My suggestion is that you remember that God does not care about the outward appearance as much as we have. Instead, he looks at what? The heart. The heart. Here's a short prayer that closes out. Father God in Jesus name,
00:44:02
Speaker
Truthfully speaking, we will all create in your image deserving dignity and respect, deserving dignity and respect. As ambassadors and representatives of you, Lord, enable us to continue to be Christ-like. Treating others the way we want to be treated. Set an example for others who may be watching.
00:44:24
Speaker
In Jesus name we pray. Amen. And of course, next time the truth of the matter is podcast audience. Be careful, be vigilant and watchful as we depart from one another, but never the presence of the Lord. Amen. See you next time.
00:44:59
Speaker
you