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BIBLE PRAYER LINE – Bible Questions Answered
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Prayer Line Index
Bible Questions Answered:
“Pastor,
what is the meaning of Matthew 9:16?...”
Sharon/
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Bible Answer:
Bible Texts:
Matthew
9:14-17 NLT
14
One day the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked
Him, “Why don’t your disciples fast like we do and
the Pharisees do?”
15
Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with The
Groom? Of course not. But someday The Groom will be taken away from
them, and then they will fast.
16
“Besides, who would patch old clothing with new
cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old
cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before.
17
“And no one puts new wine into old wine skins. For
the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and
ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wine skins so that both
are preserved.”
Three examples from Our Lord, to the fact that He had
not come to destroy The Law,
Jesus explained why His disciples should not fast while
He was with them (verses 14,15).
Now concerning patching old clothing, any seamstress
knows only too well, you can't mix and match old clothing. And the
reason is that when washed, the new cloth will shrink considerably,
while the old cloth can not, and the result will be a tear in the
sewn garment.
Putting new wine into old wine skins, will end in
disaster, because old wine skins cannot tolerate the pressure of the
new wine, and so they would burst.
To what was our Lord alluding to, by these stories.
The Old, must make way for the new!
613 commandments
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Jewish tradition that there are 613 commandments
(Hebrew: תרי״ג מצוות,
romanized: taryag mitzvot) or mitzvot in the Torah (also known as the
Law of Moses) began in the 3rd century CE, when Rabbi Simlai
mentioned it in a sermon that is recorded in Talmud Makkot 23b.[1]
Although there have been a lot of attempts to codify and
enumerate the commandments contained in the Torah, the most
traditional enumeration is Maimonides'. The 613 commandments include
"positive commandments", to perform an act (mitzvot aseh),
and "negative commandments", to abstain from certain acts
(mitzvot lo taaseh). The negative commandments number 365, which
coincides with the number of days in the solar year, and the positive
commandments number 248, a number ascribed to the number of bones and
main organs in the human body.[2] Though the number 613 is mentioned
in the Talmud, its real significance increased in later medieval
rabbinic literature, including many works listing or arranged by the
mitzvot. Three types of negative commandments fall under the
self-sacrificial principle yehareg ve'al ya'avor, meaning "One
should let oneself be killed rather than violate it". These are
murder, idolatry, and forbidden sexual relations.[3]
The 613 mitzvot have been divided also into three
general categories: mishpatim; edot; and chukim. Mishpatim ("laws")
include commandments that are deemed to be self-evident, such as not
to murder and not to steal. Edot ("testimonies")
commemorate important events in Jewish history. For example, the
Shabbat is said to testify to the story that Hashem created the world
in six days and rested on the seventh day and declared it holy.
Chukim ("decrees") are commandments with no known
rationale, and are perceived as pure manifestations of the Divine
will.[4]
Many of the mitzvot cannot be observed now, following
the destruction of the Second Temple, although they still retain
religious significance. According to one standard reckoning,[5] there
are 77 positive and 194 negative commandments that can be observed
today, of which there are 26 commands that apply only within the Land
of Israel.[6] Furthermore, there are some time-related commandments
from which women are exempt (examples include shofar, sukkah, lulav,
tzitzit and tefillin).[7] Some depend on the special status of a
person in Judaism (such as kohanim), while others apply only to men
or only to women.
Wikipedia.org
Actually some Bible scholars have put the number of
commandments to over 1,000.
Why were there so many Mosaic commandments?
There were so many commandments, as to show mankind,
that they were incapable of keeping all of them! And how true that
was.
Jesus had come to....
Matthew
5:17 KJV
Think
not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come
to destroy, but to fulfill.
Mankind, cannot save itself by do's and don'ts.
It can hardly remember them all, and of the ones it does, it fails
miserably.
In Jerusalem...”some of the believers who belonged
to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and insisted, “The Gentile
converts must be circumcised and required to follow the law of
Moses.”
(Faith Plus Works=Salvation) So the Pharisees taught.
The
Story:
Acts 15:1-21 KJV (The Council at Jerusalem)
1
While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men from Judea
arrived and began to teach the believers: “Unless you are
circumcised as required by the law of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
2
Paul and Barnabas disagreed with them, arguing vehemently. Finally,
the church decided to send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem,
accompanied by some local believers, to talk to the apostles and
elders about this question.
3 The church sent the delegates to Jerusalem, and
they stopped along the way in Phoenicia and Samaria to visit the
believers. They told them—much to everyone’s joy—that the
Gentiles, too, were being converted.
4
When they arrived in Jerusalem, Barnabas and Paul were welcomed by
the whole church, including the apostles and elders. They reported
everything God had done through them.
5
But then some of the believers who belonged to the sect of the
Pharisees stood up and insisted, “The Gentile converts must be
circumcised and required to follow the law of Moses.”
6
So the apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue.
7
At the meeting, after a long discussion, Peter stood and addressed
them as follows: “Brothers, you all know that God chose me from
among you some time ago to preach to the Gentiles so that they could
hear the Good News and believe.
8
God knows people’s hearts, and He confirmed that He accepts
Gentiles by giving them The Holy Spirit, just as He did to us. 9 He
made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts
through faith.
10
So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers
with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear?
11
We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved
grace of The Lord Jesus.”
12
Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul told about the
miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among the
Gentiles.
13
When they had finished, James stood and said, “Brothers, listen to
me.
14
Peter has told you about the time God first visited the Gentiles to
take from them a people for Himself.
15
And this conversion of Gentiles is exactly what the prophets
predicted. As it is written:
16
‘Afterward I will return and restore the fallen house of David. I
will rebuild its ruins and restore it,
17
so that the rest of humanity might seek The Lord, including the
Gentiles— all those I have called to be Mine. The Lord has spoken—
18
He who made these things known so long ago.’
19
“And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the
Gentiles who are turning to God.
20
Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from eating food
offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from eating the meat of
strangled animals, and from consuming blood.
21
For these laws of Moses have been preached in Jewish synagogues in
every city on every Sabbath for many generations.”
The Apostle Paul, and the Jerusalem council concluded,
that Salvation, is by faith “alone,” in the risen Lord Jesus.
He alone is the sacrifice for sin.
Ephesians
2:8,9 KJV
8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is The Gift Of God:
9
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Titus
3:5 NLT
He
saved us, not because of the righteous things we
had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our
sins, giving us a new birth and new life through The Holy Spirit.
Righteousness, must by come by a new heart controlled
by The Spirit Of God!
See here, how our Lord goes from command of works, to a
heart, that is of full of love for Him.
Matthew
5:1-48 KJV (From the heart)
1
And seeing the multitudes, He went up into a mountain: and when He
was set, His disciples came unto Him:
2
And He opened His mouth, and taught them, saying,
3
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for
they shall be filled.
7
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of
God.
10
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and
shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake.
12
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven:
for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
13
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor,
wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but
to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot
be hid.
15
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a
candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
17
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am
not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
18
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one
tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and
shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of
heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be
called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20
For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter
into the kingdom of heaven.
21
Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not
kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without
a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say
to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but
whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
23
Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest
that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24
Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be
reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
25
Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with
him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and
the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
26
Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till
thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
27
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not
commit adultery:
28
But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after
her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29
And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out (Metaphor.ed)
, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of
thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast
into hell.
30
And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee:
for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish,
and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
31
It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give
her a writing of divorcement:
32
But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving
for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and
whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
33
Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou
shalt not forswear thyself (Break
your vows.ed), but shalt perform unto The Lord thine oaths:
34
But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is
God's throne:
35
Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for
it is the city of The Great King.
36
Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one
hair white or black.
37
But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is
more than these cometh of evil.
38
Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth
for a tooth:
39
But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall
smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40
And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let
him have thy cloak also.
41
And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42
Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee
turn not thou away.
43
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor,
and hate thine enemy.
44
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do
good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use
you, and persecute you;
45
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He
maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain
on the just and on the unjust.
46
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even
the publicans the same?
47
And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do
not even the publicans so?
48
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is
perfect.
Patching old garments with new cloth, could never
work, neither salvation by works! It couldn't because mankind is not
capable of keeping all of the commands!
God's prophets had prophesied ….
Ezekiel
36:26 KJV
A
new heart also will I give you, and a new Spirit will I put within
you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I
will give you an heart of flesh.
And that is the answer. Mankind needs to be Born Again.
John
3:1-21 KJV
1
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the
Jews:
2
The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto Him, Rabbi, we know
that thou art A Teacher come from God: for no man can do these
miracles that thou doest, except God be with Him.
3
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4
Nicodemus saith unto Him, How can a man be born when he is old? can
he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born
of water and of The Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of
The Spirit is spirit.
7
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound
thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth:
so is every one that is born of The Spirit.
9
Nicodemus answered and said unto Him, How can these things be?
10
Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and
knowest not these things?
11
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and
testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12
If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye
believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13
And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from
heaven, even The Son Of Man which is in heaven.
14
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must
The Son Of Man be lifted up:
15
That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal
Life.
16
For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting
life.
17
For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but
that the world through Him might be saved.
18
He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not
is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of The
Only Begotten Son Of God.
19
And this is the condemnation, that Light is come into the world, and
men loved darkness rather than Light, because their deeds were evil.
20
For every one that doeth evil hateth The Light, neither cometh to The
Light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21
But he that doeth Truth cometh to The Light, that his deeds may be
made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, be merciful to me a sinner.
I confess and forsake my sins, and ask you to forgive me, and make me
a child of God, for you have said, “...whosoever shall call on
the name of The Lord shall be saved.” Acts 2:21 KJV
Thank you for dying for me, taking my
place in judgment, that I might be pardoned. I take you as the
Savior, and Lord (Master) of my life. Help me to read your word,
confess you, and live for you.
Amen
