How could Jesus tell us to be perfect in Matthew when that's impossible. Why did Jesus say he came only for the lost sheep of Israel and call a Canaanite woman a dog? Why did Jesus tell us not to wash our hands before we eat? Did Jesus nullify many of the laws of Moses and if so I thought he said he came to fulfill the law and not to change one jot or tittle?
Nothing changed, Jesus came only for the lost sheep of Israel because the covenant was only with the house of Israel, it had to be fulfilled before the new covenant could be made. We read Jesus told the woman at the well, salvation is of the Jews, John 4:22. The old covenant had to be satisfied, fulfilled by flesh living a perfect life, the price was paid the contract was completed. Jesus said He was sent only for the lost sheep of Israel, Matthew 15:24.
He also told the apostles not to go but unto the lost sheep of Israel, Matthew 10:6. Even after Jesus ascended, they only went to the Jews until Peter had his dream and Paul was called, this was to fulfill the prophecies. The word given to the Gentiles was still a mystery but as God told Abraham all nations were in the plan, Genesis 26:4. But, yes when Jesus first came was only for the lost sheep of Israel, the covenant had to be confirmed to the Jews first. Daniel 9:27Romans 1:15-17. It was also to make the Jews jealous and save some as it was written, Romans 11:8-14.
Hello, I will only address your first question. I think Jesus said to be perfect because He wants us to strive to be perfect. We all have an inclination to sin, and struggle with fleshly desires and temptations, but Jesus is setting a very high standard. It means we should put out much effort to avoid sin and be perfect. There are many verses saying this and here is one such verse: Luke 13:24
I'm glad you asked. Mr. D'Ambrosio, I had referred so many scriptures to you that I didn't want to overwhelm, even though I had not finished completely what I wanted to point out in scripture.
John 17, whole chapter, note vrs. 20 & 21, John 3:15-16,
Prophecy & prophecy fulfilled
Isaiah 46:13, Jeremiah 3:23, Genesis 49:18, Luke 2, Luke 3:4-6, Isaiah 53, Luke 23, Psalms 22, Psalms 118:19-22,
We are grafted in: Romans 11, whole chapter,
Hopefully these are helpful, there are many more scriptures. Let me know if you would like more.
David, I think Jesus always intended to be the Messiah to all mankind, not just the Jews. He could have come just after Adam and Eve sinned, but he did not. He could have come after the flood in Noah's day, but He did not. He could have come when the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, but He did not. He could have come after the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., when the temple was demolished and the Jews were scattered, but He did not. the Bible states that Jesus came in the fullness of time in the fulfillment of the prophecies, die for all mankind. Whether the Jews accepted Him or not was not a determining factor in whether the gospel was preached and availed to the Gentiles as well as the Jews. If the Jews would have accepted Jesus, He still would have been put to death by some decree. (Herod intended to end is life as an infant.)
And if the Jews had received Jesus as their Messiah and as a nation preached so after His death, resurrection, and ascension, then the gospel would have gone out to the world through many rather than through a few Jews who were His disciples.
Yes, God foreknew that the Jews would reject Him both before and after His death, resurrection, and ascension. But that does not mean that God had to go to plan B and send the gospel to the Gentiles. It was always His plan to bless all nations with the gospel through the seed of Eve, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. That is why Jesus incarnated as a child of Abraham, to fulfill the prophecy.
Galatians 3__Gentiles we're grafted into the Tree - In Reply on John 19 - 2 years ago
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24 Wherefore the law was our SCHOOLMASTER to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
26 For ye are all the children of God BY FAITH in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, AND HEIRS according to the promise.
David,, that was the point of my post, that God sent His Son in the fullness of time. Re-read my post. RE-read your post where you stated, "Anthony, If the lost sheep of the house of Israel had believed who Jesus was then everything would have ended there with the gospel..." That is what I am referring to in my post as well. Thank you for seeking clarification. It helps to do so.
So when you say Jesus came originally only for the lost sheep of Israel, what changed? Do you mean he was supposed to preach only to the Jews first and then the gentiles after? Or do you mean he never intended to preach to the gentiles at all but then had a change of heart somewhere along the line and decided to include the gentiles in the salvation stuff too?
Absence of words do not set an agreement to a matter.
Where did HE say that? About washing? HE said Matthew 15:3, Matthew 15:7-11, Matthew 16:20,
These were leaders, teachers, transcribers of GOD's Laws, "the Holy Scriptures" in the Jewish religion. HE, Jesus "Jewish" Messiah, was pointing out to them the importance of the Laws they were supposed to know, transcribe & teach.
Matthew 15:7-9, HE, Jesus brings of prophetic Words from the very Books they were supposed to know. Then HE addresses the people. Matthew 15:10-12,13,14
Then Matthew 15:15-20 Jesus points out the true defilement Matthew 15:18,19,20,
Matthew 15:22-28, Romans 1:16-24,
interestingly we feel offended for her, yet she persisted, then was granted a miracle & an edification for her "great faith" .
Nothing changed, Jesus came only for the lost sheep of Israel because the covenant was only with the house of Israel, it had to be fulfilled before the new covenant could be made. We read Jesus told the woman at the well, salvation is of the Jews, John 4:22. The old covenant had to be satisfied, fulfilled by flesh living a perfect life, the price was paid the contract was completed. Jesus said He was sent only for the lost sheep of Israel, Matthew 15:24.
He also told the apostles not to go but unto the lost sheep of Israel, Matthew 10:6. Even after Jesus ascended, they only went to the Jews until Peter had his dream and Paul was called, this was to fulfill the prophecies. The word given to the Gentiles was still a mystery but as God told Abraham all nations were in the plan, Genesis 26:4. But, yes when Jesus first came was only for the lost sheep of Israel, the covenant had to be confirmed to the Jews first. Daniel 9:27 Romans 1:15-17. It was also to make the Jews jealous and save some as it was written, Romans 11:8-14.
God bless,
RLW
It Is Written!
John 1:29
"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
God Bless.
John 17, whole chapter, note vrs. 20 & 21, John 3:15-16,
Prophecy & prophecy fulfilled
Isaiah 46:13, Jeremiah 3:23, Genesis 49:18, Luke 2, Luke 3:4-6, Isaiah 53, Luke 23, Psalms 22, Psalms 118:19-22,
We are grafted in: Romans 11, whole chapter,
Hopefully these are helpful, there are many more scriptures. Let me know if you would like more.
would have ended there in the gospels but God knew in His FOREKNOWLEDGE that they would reject His
Salvation through Jesus Christ therefore it became available for all mankind.
And if the Jews had received Jesus as their Messiah and as a nation preached so after His death, resurrection, and ascension, then the gospel would have gone out to the world through many rather than through a few Jews who were His disciples.
Yes, God foreknew that the Jews would reject Him both before and after His death, resurrection, and ascension. But that does not mean that God had to go to plan B and send the gospel to the Gentiles. It was always His plan to bless all nations with the gospel through the seed of Eve, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. That is why Jesus incarnated as a child of Abraham, to fulfill the prophecy.
Yes, I concur, God came as Jesus, when he felt the time was right, to save the "entire world." As per the scripture!
God Bless.
they because they being stiff necked and hardhearted were going to reject him which opened the door for all men.
Also he could not have come before He did that is strictly supposition by intellect, he came in the fullness of God
timetable when all the correct elements were in place set up by God in his Wisdom. The other statements you are
making are by assumption. I'll stick with It Is Written! We gentiles got in strictly by the adopted seeds Israels unbelief
Romans 11:17-24 Gods grace which only He knew. But again its choice as to what someone chooses to believe.
15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.
16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24 Wherefore the law was our SCHOOLMASTER to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
26 For ye are all the children of God BY FAITH in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, AND HEIRS according to the promise.
what he was teaching was to that peoples and culture, but when certain individuals came to Him and Believed
who He Is The Son Of God and didn't see only heard of what He was doing I.E. the centurion Luke 7:2 understood
the authority Given to Jesus and by messenger said He was not worthy although he was in charge of 100 men
and said at your word and His servant was healed, he believed without seeing. Most times in Gospels they saw then
believed. Now to the judeans certain gentiles canaanites and others were considered un believing dogs so to
speak, and yet because of her believing will because she said Have mercy on me son of David therefore she heard
of Him and believed.
The washing of the hands was in criticism of the corruption of the religious leaders who appeared and
acted so self righteous and if you didn't eat with clean hands you can't be walking with God.
Jesus Christ came to fulfill and complete the law of the old testament and nailed it to the cross, so in the age
of grace we fulfill the law by walking in the spiritual law of agapeo the love of God when we are born again which was
not possible until the day of pentecost. In the age of Grace we are to believe Gods Word then we get the works,
in the gospels they mostly saw then believed. That's why Jesus said blessed are they who have not seen and will believe.
Absence of words do not set an agreement to a matter.
Where did HE say that? About washing? HE said Matthew 15:3, Matthew 15:7-11, Matthew 16:20,
These were leaders, teachers, transcribers of GOD's Laws, "the Holy Scriptures" in the Jewish religion. HE, Jesus "Jewish" Messiah, was pointing out to them the importance of the Laws they were supposed to know, transcribe & teach.
Matthew 15:7-9, HE, Jesus brings of prophetic Words from the very Books they were supposed to know. Then HE addresses the people. Matthew 15:10-12,13,14
Then Matthew 15:15-20 Jesus points out the true defilement Matthew 15:18,19,20,
Matthew 15:22-28, Romans 1:16-24,
interestingly we feel offended for her, yet she persisted, then was granted a miracle & an edification for her "great faith" .
Hopefully these are helpful.
Matthew 5:17-19,
Matthew 5:20-48,
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