Author: Administrador

271. What Is Meant by "A Rich Man Shall Hardly Enter the Kingdom of God"? To rightly understand the full significance of the passage in Mat_19:1-30; Mat_20:1-34; Mat_21:1-46; Mat_22:1-46; Mat_23:1-39 read Luk_18:24-27. It may be liberally interpreted: "How hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter! Unless this idolatrous trust and confidence … Continue reading “271 – What Is Meant by "A Rich Man Shall Hardly Enter the Kingdom of God"?”

272. What Is the Parable of the Laborers Intended to Teach?Mat_20:1-6. There has, probably, been more difference in explaining this parable than any other. To us it appears mat the incidents of it are not intended as laying down a business principle, but as a commentary of the events in the preceding chapter. Peter had … Continue reading “272 – What Is the Parable of the Laborers Intended to Teach?Mat_20:1-6.”

270. What Was the "Needle's Eye"? The "needle's eye" (Mat_19:24) was the small gate or wicket at the side of the big gate at the entrance to the city wall. When the big gate closed for the day, all entrance had to be gained through the small gate, and to a loaded camel, or indeed … Continue reading “270 – What Was the "Needle's Eye"?”

268. What Is Meant in Jesus' Advice "Turn to Him the Other Also"? Christ's teaching in this and other passages was intended to inculcate principles, rather than blind, literal, servile obedience. He would have his followers patient, gentle, non-resistant, forbearing, submitting to be wronged rather than resisting. His own example in yielding himself to death, … Continue reading “268 – What Is Meant in Jesus' Advice "Turn to Him the Other Also"?”

269. Who Are the People to Whom Christ Referred as Being "Joined Together of God"? We may understand the remark better by reading the whole passage (Mat_19:1-12). The Pharisees were trying to draw Christ into a controversy which, at the time, was raging between the schools of different Jewish teachers. One school contended that a … Continue reading “269 – Who Are the People to Whom Christ Referred as Being "Joined Together of God"?”

266. What Are the Tares Mentioned in Mat_13:25? The tares in the parable refer to the seed called "darnel," a rank and widely distributed grass, and the only species that has deleterious properties. It- is poisonous and its grains, if eaten, produce vomiting, purging, convulsions and sometimes even death. Before it comes into the ear … Continue reading “266 – What Are the Tares Mentioned in Mat_13:25?”

267. What Was the Power Conferred on Peter by Christ's Commission of the Keys? The keys and the power of binding and loosing referred to a common Jewish custom. When a man had passed his examinations for the high position of a doctor of the law, he received as his diploma, a key which was … Continue reading “267 – What Was the Power Conferred on Peter by Christ's Commission of the Keys?”

265. What Are We to Understand by Christ's Parable of the Return of the Unclean Spirit? Its first application, as the closing words show, is to the Jews of that time. (See Mat_12:43, Mat_12:45. They were rid of the evil of idolatry, but were worse than their fathers, who worshiped idols, in that they rejected … Continue reading “265 – What Are We to Understand by Christ's Parable of the Return of the Unclean Spirit?”

263. What IsMeant by "This It Ellas Which Was to Come"?Mat_11:14. There was a prophecy that God would send Elijah or Ellas to turn the hearts of the people (Mal_4:5). When John appeared the Jews asked him if he was Elias, and he answered that he was not (Joh_15:21). They evidently expected that the literal … Continue reading “263 – What IsMeant by "This It Ellas Which Was to Come"?Mat_11:14.”

264. What Are the "Idle Words" that Men Shall Give Account of? The passage in Mat_12:36 means unseemly or improper conversation, levity, slander, scoffing, boasting, swearing, mocking at sacred things. The Saviour had been speaking of blasphemy and of the scoffing attitude of the Pharisees, who imputed his miracles to Beelzebub. The "idle words" presumably … Continue reading “264 – What Are the "Idle Words" that Men Shall Give Account of?”