"Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you." (Matthew 21: 31)
and also
"Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." (Matthew 21: 43)
Here, Jesus was rebuking the Pharisees once again.
He had shared that a camel would more easily thread through the eye of a needle compared to a man entering into the Kingdom of God.
In the last two verses of the Gospel of Matthew, the last two with the phrase Kingdom of God, Jesus glorifies the publicans and the harlots, then the Gentiles, who will enter into the Kingdom ahead of the Jewish leaders.
Why?
Because they have nothing. They have no standing, no wealth, nothing in the flesh to glory in:
"For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:" (1 Corinthians 1:26)
The ostracized, rejected groups, the men and women during Jesus' earthly minister who boasted in nothing: they willingly received Jesus, and everything with Him.
They did not try to earn anything from God. They did not presume anything of themselves. They recognized the grace of God in Christ.
And while the religious leaders would be offended by the phrase "Kingdom of God", those who willingly received Jesus would also boldly receive this Kingdom.
Amen!
The Kingdom of God is all about His grace, and the Spirit of God quickened Matthew to identify His Kingdom directly as "The Kingdom of God" five times.. Receive God's superabounding grace today!
Satan has deceived the whole world into worshipping the god of hate, murder and revenge until the woman of Rev 12:5-6 delivers the true Gospel from the wilderness. Prove All things. A gift is now delivered and proven to the whole world as a witness Matt 24:14 http://thegoodtale.wordpress.com
ReplyDeleteThe woman of Rev 12 is not a church, nor Mary, nor Israel. I am the prophet like unto Moses Num 12:3 raised up of my brethren Acts 3:21-22 proving the power of God in the spirit of Elijah Matt 17:3, Luke 1:17 to restore Matt 17:11 the true word John 1:1 to prepare a people by turning their hearts to all the children of God. God our Father will not put any child of his into a hell fire no matter what their sins, no matter if they repent in this life or not. It never entered the heart or mind of God to ever do such a thing Jer7:31, Jer 19:5. The proof is in the hearing. Resist your carnal mind of hate, murder and revenge Rom 8:7.
Those that refuse to hear all the word delivered to the world is rejecting his word not mine.
*Acts 3:23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.