MAX KLEIN BIBLE MINISTRIES
The Seven Baptisms
Written by: Max Klein
Baptism means identification or association:
Introduction:
1. This meaning began in Homer's time. Homer wrote of the one-eyed giant, Cyclops who had trapped Ulysses and his men in a cave and was eating them one at a time. The ingenious Ulysses devised a plan. He had his men sharpen a large log and together they rammed this log into the eye of the one-eyed Cyclops rendering him blind. They identified (baptized) the sharpened log with Cyclops’ eye which changed Cyclops from a seeing giant to a blind giant. Having blinded the Cyclops, they were able to maneuver their way out of the cave. Another example by Homer: Homer's Odyssey, book 9, used baptism for hot metal identified (baptized) with water when a smith dipped a piece of hot iron into water. This is how a blacksmith would temper swords in the ancient world. After this identification, the sword was made stronger and so less likely to bend.
2. Xenophon said that the Spartan military recruits after finishing infantry training would identify (baptize) their spears with pig’s blood. They would run by a barrel of pig’s blood and thrust their spears into this blood. This ritual, identified their spears with killing and the soldier’s readiness for combat with the enemy.
3. Euripides used the word for a ship identified with the bottom of the sea when it sank. Before sinking, the ship was valuable; after sinking it had no value at all.
4. So "baptize" in the classical Greek meant to identify one thing with another so that the characteristics of the original thing were altered. Therefore, the interpretation of the word "baptism" is identification with something that brings about a change.
5. There are a number of cognates related to this Greek word such as bapto, baptizo, baptisma, baptismos, baptistes, and embapto. A few examples follow:
6. John 13:26, “Jesus then answered, ‘That is the one for whom, I shall dip [the future of the Greek word bapto] the morsel and give it to him. So, when he had dipped [the aorist participle of bapto; the sop now takes on a new meaning that of honor] the sop [the morsel], He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.”
To give someone a sop [a special bit of food usually a piece of bread or meat with a tasty sauce] was the highest honor of a banquet. At a banquet a special piece of bread or meat was prepared along with a special sauce for the guest of honor who would then honor someone by giving it to that person. Jesus as the guest of honor took this sop and dipped it into a special sauce and gave it to Judas. In this way, the Lord Jesus Christ honored Judas as a member of the family of God, and for his ministry as an apostle to the Lost Sheep of Israel. This honor should have given Judas second thoughts regarding his plan to betray Jesus to the Sanhedrin.
7. Matthew 3:7, “but when he [John the Baptizer] saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism [identification: the Greek word baptisma], he said to them, “You brood of vipers [poisonous snakes], who warned you to flee from the wrath to come [Baptism of Fire: identification with the fire of Torments and then the Lake of Fire]?”
8. Hebrews 6:1-2, “Therefore, leaving behind the elementary teaching about Christ, let us advance to maturity, not laying again the foundation [of the basics such as]: a change of thinking about dead works [just as an unbeliever must have a change of mind about Christ to obtain salvation, so the believer must have a change of mind about legalism (dead works) in order to obtain the spiritual life], and of faith toward God [Faith-Rest Drill], (2) doctrine of baptisms [the Greek word baptismos; a reference to the seven types of baptism as found in Scripture] as well as the laying on of hands [ritual rebound in the age of Israel], and of resurrection from the dead, and of eternal judgment [the Great White Throne Judgment].
9. Matthew 3:1, “In those days John the Baptizer [the Greek word baptistes; when John baptized someone into the Jordan River, the converts were identified with the plan of God and his kingdom.] came proclaiming [as a herald] in the desert of Judea.”
There are two categories of identification in Scripture namely an actual identification or a real baptism and a representative identification or a ritual baptism which uses water.
The four real or actual identifications with something that has significance.
1. The Baptism of Moses: 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 presents the baptism of Moses, "For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea; (2) and all were baptized [the Greek word baptizo] into Moses in the cloud [the Lord] and in the sea." This was a real identification in which Moses was identified with the Lord and the open path through the Red Sea and the Jews were identified with Moses. By the way, none of the Jews got wet, only Egyptian unbelievers who were immersed in the water as a means of death.
2. The Baptism of the Cross is found in Matthew 20:22, “But Jesus answered [Salome by addressing her sons] and said, “You [plural: a reference to James and John] do not know what you [James and John] ask. Are you [James and John] able to drink of the cup [bear the punishment of all the sins of the world] that I am about to drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism [the sins of the world identified with Christ followed by the Father judging them] that I am baptized with [identified with]?” They [James and John] said to Him, “We are able. [the dumbest statement that James and John ever made]” [I selected the longer text as did Jerome.]
3. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Retroactive Positional Truth and Current Positional Truth) occurs at salvation for Church Age believers only.
Colossians 2:12. Having been buried [aorist participle] with Him [Jesus Christ] by means of the baptism [God the Holy Spirit identified us with the burial of Jesus Christ as part of our salvation] by means of which [Baptism] you have been raised up [main verb] with Him [in union with Jesus Christ seated at the right hand of the Father] through faith [at the point of salvation] in the operational power from the source of God who has raised Him [the humanity of Christ was given a resurrection body] out from the dead [physical death].
Romans 6:3-9:
Romans 6:3: Or do you not know that all of us who [a correlative] have been baptized into [identified with] Christ Jesus [Current Positional Sanctification: we are in union with Christ in his life in heaven], have been baptized into His death [Retroactive Positional Truth and so identified with his substitutionary spiritual death on the cross]?
Positionally, (in union with Christ) we share His righteousness, heirship, priesthood, destiny, election, eternal life, royalty, sonship etc. All these making us a new spiritual species in Christ Jesus. The plural correlative hosoi (ὅσοι) means that if we were identified with Christ in heaven and we were, then also we have been identified with Christ in his substitutionary spiritual death in which he removed the power of sin nature. Thus, the sin nature should not have power over our lives.
A few more points will be noted:
1. Note that the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation enters the believer into union with Christ at the right hand of God the Father which union is called current positional truth.
2. This verse also mentions identification with Christ in His spiritual death on the cross which identification theologians call retroactive positional truth. Retroactive positional truth also includes identification with Christ in His physical death and burial as well.
3. Identification with Christ in His death, then, has a two-fold connotation namely all personal sins were judged at the cross and since that is the case, God the Father is free to provide in grace, the Recovery Procedure. The second connotation is that good and evil were rejected by Jesus on the cross since good and evil are a part of Satan’s policy and plan. On the cross, Jesus relied on the proto-type spiritual life which operated under the two power options namely God’s power system.
4. So, the old sin nature’s ruling power over the Christian has been broken since all sins were judged on the cross and the Recovery Procedure has been provided. So, Retroactive Positional Truth has destroyed the sovereignty of the old sin nature over the life of the Christian.
5. Also, since Jesus rejected the good and evil policy of Satan so should the believer reject Satan’s policy of good and evil as the believer applies Retroactive Positional Truth.
Romans 6:4: Therefore, we have been buried together with Him through the identification [Baptism of the Spirit] into His death [physical], in order that just as Christ has been raised up from the dead [on Resurrection Sunday], through the glory of the Father [through the Father’s power], [So also we, the dead in Christ, will be raised from the dead by the power of the Father, and those alive at the Rapture, by the power of the Holy Spirit.] in this manner we also might walk in newness of life [Experiential sanctification should reflect our future ultimate sanctification.].
Christ had to die physically “and Jesus having shouted clearly with a loud voice said, Father, into your hands I deposit my [human] spirit, and having said this, he exhaled” (Luke 23:46). This last exhale caused His soul and spirit to depart from his mortal body resulting in physical death. Just as Christ had to die physically in order to obtain his resurrection body, so we must depart from our body of corruption, or mortality in order to receive our eternal body called our resurrection body.
The Newness of Life:
1. The newness of life provided through the baptism of the Spirit includes positional freedom from producing good and evil. Not only are we free from the tyranny of good and evil but we are also free from having to produce good and evil.
2. The believer has no obligation to improve the devil’s world through social action, socialism, welfare state, communism, environmentalism, or any social gospel, social action, getting involved, etc.
3. The human race is protected from Satan’s policy of good and evil through the laws of divine establishment which promote freedom instead of improvement at the cost of freedom.
4. In addition to the Laws of Divine Establishment the believer is insulated from good and evil positionally through the baptism of the Spirit.
5. Divorced from the Old Sin Nature positionally and its useless activity of human good and the function of evil, the life of the believer can be devoted to glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ through maximum knowledge and application of Bible doctrine.
Romans 6:5: For if we have become united with Him [Christ, the new husband] in the likeness of His death [the substitutionary spiritual death of Christ on the cross], and we have, and not only this, but also, we shall be [united in the likeness] of His resurrection [Current Positional Truth: in union with the resurrected Christ].
Romans 6:6: Be knowing this [through Retroactive Positional Truth], that our old man [our former husband, the sin nature dates back to the Garden] has been crucified together [with Him], in order that the [human] body, with reference to its sin nature, [the sin nature located in the body] might be rendered powerless [when we use Recovery Procedure and the two power options], that we should no longer be slaves to the sin nature.
“Our old man has been crucified with Him” meaning that the power of the sin nature has been broken on the cross. Since the power of the sin nature was broken by the work of the cross, we as believers have no excuse for not executing the spiritual life. We will not be able to say to Christ at our evaluation that our sin nature was too powerful for us to execute the spiritual life.
A few points for further clarification:
1. Retroactive positional truth is that phase of the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation which identifies the believer with Christ in His spiritual death, physical death and his burial.
2. In the substitutionary spiritual death of Christ on the cross all the personal sins in human history were imputed to Christ, but at the same time the other two trends of the old sin nature were not imputed for judgment.
3. Good and evil is the policy of Satan as the ruler of this world and the function of the old sin nature as the sovereign of human life. In fact, the sin nature functions as the agent of Satan.
4. Good and evil were not imputed for judgment on the cross. Hence, in the spiritual death of Christ on the cross they were rejected to remain an issue in the angelic conflict, rejected to be perpetuated in human history as an issue every believer must face, and either overcome through the intake of doctrine or be entrapped by ignorance of doctrine and therefore lose out in glorifying God in time.
5. We are identified with Christ in His spiritual death, which means that we must understand that our sins have been judged and that good and evil has been rejected.
6. It all adds up to the fact that the sovereignty of the old sin nature over human life has been made powerless through retroactive positional truth.
7. The imputation of all personal sins of the human race to Christ on the cross means that the believer through the rebound technique is instantly forgiven sins, cleansed from all wrong doing which includes Satanic good and evil, restored to fellowship and filled with the Spirit.
Romans 6:7: For we who have died [the Christian is identified with the substitutionary spiritual death of Christ: theologically called Retroactive Positional Truth] have been acquitted [positional deliverance] from [the power of] the sin nature.
A few points for further clarification:
1. A dead person is discharged from the obligations of his former sphere of life. This is why the word “death” is used in this context. It is not a literal, physical death we are discussing but identification with Christ in His death.
2. As unbelievers we were under the authority of Satan as the ruler of this world, and under the authority of the old sin nature as the sovereign of human life.
3. Both the power of Satan and the old sin nature have been abrogated through the baptism of the Holy Spirit at salvation.
4. This passage, then, emphasizes the annulling of the power and the authority of the old sin nature as the sovereign of human life.
5. Positionally, the power of the sin nature has been broken. Experientially, the old sin nature controls to the extent that we fail to understand and utilize the provision and support of logistical grace.
Romans 6:8: Now if we have died with Christ, and we have [retroactive positional truth], we also believe that we shall live in association with Him [the instrumental of association; a reference to Current Positional Truth].
In this verse, the 1st Class conditional sentence shows the relationship between Retroactive Positional Truth with Current Positional Truth. The protasis, the ‘if’ clause states the reality of Retroactive Positional Truth and the apodosis, the concluding clause states the doctrinal inference and the reality of Current Positional Truth. While Retroactive Positional Truth presents positional rejection and separation from good and evil as the policy of Satan and the function of the old sin nature, Current Positional Truth relates the believer to the function of the royal family of God. In other words, they have separate functions.
Romans 6:9: Knowing that because Christ has been raised from the dead [He received a resurrection body], no longer can He die; [physical] death is no longer a master over Him.
Analysis:
1. Retroactive positional truth destroys the sovereign authority of the old sin nature over human life. Current positional truth, on the other hand, destroys the limited authority of physical death in human life.
2. Instead of being ruled by the old sin nature located in the cells of the human body and influencing our souls toward sin, good and evil, we now have a new sovereign, the Lord Jesus Christ. We are identified with Him in His deaths, in His burial, resurrection, ascension and session.
3. Before salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit our lives were under the absolute rule of Satan who is the ruler of this world and under the rule of the old sin nature which is the ruler of life, and under the limited rule of physical death. All of that, of course, has been changed since salvation.
4. Now both retroactive and current positional truth have abrogated the authority and power of these former rulers. The power of Satan over our lives has been broken through identification with the rejection of good and evil namely Satan’s policy and plan and through our position in union with Christ. The power of the old sin nature is broken through retroactive positional truth and the power of physical death is broken through current positional truth.
5. Therefore, having studied these things by principle and by implication we are now ready for application, verses 12 & 13 specifically.
6. Having been positionally liberated from the sovereignty of the old sin nature as an absolute ruler, and the authority of physical death, we must recognise and apply doctrine for the experiential victory commanded in verses 11-13.
Galatians 3:25-28, “But now that faith has come, we are no longer under the authority of [have need of] a school bus. (26) For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (27) For all of you who were baptized into Christ [identified with Christ through union with Him] have clothed yourselves with Christ. (28) There is neither Jew nor Greek [no racial distinction], there is neither slave nor free man [no social or economic distinction], there is neither male nor female [no gender distinction]; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [All Christians have the same privileges and opportunities to execute the spiritual life.]”
Current Positional Truth, Elaborated:
In the Church Age, Current Positional Truth establishes our relationship with Christ as opposed to religion. It refers to the Church Age believer in union with Christ and is the key to understanding the Church Age and how the royal family came into being. Therefore, it is the basis for distinguishing between Christianity and religion. Christianity is a relationship with God without merit whereas religion is a system of works to gain the approbation of God. Never shall the twain meet!
The mechanics of Current Positional Truth is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, whereby the Spirit enters us into union with Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:13, “For also by agency of the one Spirit we are all baptized [identification resulting in becoming a new spiritual species] into one body [in union with Christ], whether Jews or Greeks [racial distinctions are removed], whether slave or free [class and economic distinctions are removed], even all were made to drink [the aorist passive, the voice of grace] the one Spirit [The Holy Spirit did not ask us whether we wanted to be put into union with Christ or not.].” Ephesians 4:5, “One Lord [becomes our Lord positionally at Salvation]), one faith [faith alone in Christ alone; Acts 16:31], one baptism [Baptism of the Holy Spirit takes place at salvation].”
Current Positional truth guarantees that there will be no judgment for believers in eternity, Romans 8:1, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Thus, the condemnation which occurred at the first birth was removed at the 2nd birth. As a result of being born with the sin nature and the imputation of Adam’s Original Sin, we were condemned to the Lake of Fire for all eternity, but now that has been removed. Romans 5:12, “For this reason just as through one man [Adam] the sin [nature] entered into the world [procreation], and so spiritual death through the sin [the imputation of Adam’s Original Sin to the sin nature], and so spiritual death spread to all mankind, because all sinned when Adam sinned [since we were all genetically in Adam when he sinned, we will receive Adam’s Original Sin].” However, at our spiritual birth, the 2nd birth, our pre-salvation sins were all forgiven including Adam’s Original Sin. After which, the Spirit entered us into union with Christ where there is now no condemnation (Romans 8:1).
Current Positional truth qualifies the believer to live with God forever. To live with God forever, the believer must have eternal life and God’s perfect righteousness, 1 John 5:11-12, “And this is the deposition [testimony] that the God [the Father] has given to us, eternal life, and this life is in his son [Since we are in union with Christ, we share this life.]. (12) and he who has the son [a relationship with the Son] has the life [eternal life] and the one who does not have the son of God [relationship with the Son] does not have the life [eternal life].” 2 Corinthians 5:21, “And He [the Father] made Him who knew no sin [perfection] to be a sin offering [imputation of sins on the cross] as a substitute for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him [current positional truth].” To live with God forever means you must have His life, and you must be as righteous as He is.
Positional truth guarantees the believer’s eternal security, Romans 8:38-39, “For I am persuaded that neither death [nothing in death] nor life [nothing in life] nor angels nor principalities [ruling angels] nor powers [human organizations] nor things present nor things to come (39) nor height [nothing in heaven] nor depth [nothing in Hades] nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Eternal life in Christ is for all eternity!
Positional truth belongs to all categories of believers whether they be apostate, mature, immature, spiritually adult, or carnal. Since Current Positional Truth occurs at the point of salvation before experience in the Christian life begins, it doesn’t depend on that experience. 1 Corinthians 1:2, “to the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus [at salvation], called saints together with all who call upon the person of Our Lord Jesus Christ, their [Lord] and ours.” So, even though you may be carnal or in reversionism, you still have positional truth. Being in union with Christ has nothing to do with what you do [experiential righteousness], or don’t do [failure to execute God’s plan]. Current Positional sanctification is completely the work of God the Holy Spirit and so is not based upon our volition, but on the sovereign decision of God. We make the decision to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, but we don’t make the decision to enter into union with Christ “all were made to drink the one Spirit” as per 1 Corinthians 12:13. God the Holy Spirit graciously did that for us and so it cannot be undone.
Current Positional truth creates a new spiritual species in Christ as per 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ and he is, he is a new spiritual species. The old things have lost their power; behold, new things have come to pass.” You become a new spiritual species at salvation by being put into union with Christ. It is what God does for you, and therefore it is grace. It is not what you do after salvation, such as the self-righteous works of legalism. The “old things” have to do with spiritual death and those things related to that death; the “new things” refer to things you receive at salvation such as the 40 assets and the unique spiritual life.
Positional truth should motivate the production of divine good and a pattern of life compatible with royalty as per Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his creation, having been created in Christ Jesus [a new spiritual species with many assets] for the purpose of divine good production [via experiential sanctification] which the God [the Father] has prepared in advance [in eternity past, God the Father provided election and predestination as part of our Portfolio of Invisible Assets], that we in the sphere of them [election and predestination] may pattern our lives.”
Even though a Christian may die the Sin on to Death, he will not lose his position in union with Christ (1 John 5:18-20), and so cannot lose his salvation. In order for a believer to lose his position in Christ, he would have to sin in that status, but since the believer cannot sin in union with Christ, he cannot lose his position in Christ and so cannot lose his salvation. Thus, it is comforting and reassuring to a believer to know that even though a loved one may have died the ‘sin on to death’, he has not lost his salvation.
Because we are in union with Christ, we share His:
1. Eternal life, 1 John 5:11, “And this is the deposition [testimony] that the God [the Father] has given to us, eternal life [At salvation, God the Father imputes this life to the human spirit], and this life is in his son [The Christian also shares the life of Christ through union with Him]. (12) and he who has the son [a relationship with the Son] has the life [eternal life] and the one who does not have the son of God [relationship with the Son] does not have the life [eternal life].”
John 14:6, “Jesus said to him [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth and the life [eternal life]; no person [in human history] comes face to face with the Father [having an eternal relationship with the Father] except through Me.’”
2. Perfect righteousness, 2 Corinthians 5:21, “And he (God the Father) made him [Jesus] who knew no sin (perfection) to be a sin offering as a substitute for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in him [positional truth]. Sharing the righteousness of Christ, we become the objects of God the Father’s love as per Romans 8:39.
3. Election, Ephesians 1:4, “just as He [the Father] has elected us for Himself in Him [Jesus Christ] before the creation of the world [in eternity past], that we may be set apart [experiential sanctification] and blameless [ultimate sanctification] in the presence of Him [Father].”
4. Destiny, Ephesians 1:5, “By means of love, He has predestined us for the purpose of adoption as adult sons to Himself through Christ Jesus our Lord according to the grace purpose of His will.”
5. Sonship, Galatians 3:26, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
6. Heirship, Romans 8:16-17, “The Spirit Himself testifies together [bears witness] with our [human] spirit, that we are the children of God. (17) Now, if we are children and we are, also heirs, on the one hand heirs of God [the Father], and joint heirs with Christ. If indeed [if it is true that], we suffer with Him [pass all three stages of undeserved suffering], that also we might be glorified with Christ.”
7. Sanctification, 1 Corinthians 1:2, “to the church of God which is in Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called saints together with all who call upon the person of Our Lord Jesus Christ, their [Lord] and ours.”
8. Priesthood, Hebrews 7:12-19, “For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change in the Law also. (13) For the One [the Lord Jesus Christ] concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe [the tribe of Judah] from which no one has officiated at the altar. (14) For it is evident that our Lord has descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests, (15) and this is clearer still, if another priest arises similar to Melchizedek, and there has, (16) who has become a priest not on the basis of physical requirement [a reference to the Levitical Priesthood] but on the basis of indestructible life [the Lord’s priesthood is forever]. (17) For this reason, it is witnessed, ‘You are a priest forever similar to the order of Melchizedek.’” [We are in union with Christ. Therefore, we are royalty and priests forever. We represent ourselves before God as royal priests.] (18) For, on the one hand, there is a rescinding of the former commandment [the Mosaic Law that authorized the Levitical priesthood] because of its weakness and uselessness (19) (for the Law brought nothing to completion), but on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope [the second door of hope for the Church Age believer—a personal sense of destiny—by which we enter the adult spiritual life] through which we draw near to God.”
Hebrews 7:26-28, “For it is fitting that we should have such a high priest, impeccable integrity, the One who cannot do evil, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; (27) Who does not need daily, like those Levitical priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for their own sins, and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He [Jesus] offered up Himself. (28) For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of His [God the Father’s] oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, who has become perfect forever [Jesus Christ is a perfect high priest].”
9. Royalty, 1 Peter 2:9, “ But you and only you are an elect [elect by God the Father] race [as a new spiritual species], a royal priesthood [since Jesus is a king-priest], a holy nation [God’s entity: a nation of priests: every Christian is a priest], a people for God’s own possession [a protected people], so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him [Christ] who has called [in eternity past] you out of darkness [spiritual death and the Cosmic Systems] into His amazing light [his plan];”
10. New Spiritual Species, 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ and he is, he is a new spiritual species. The old things have lost their power [Old Covenant]; behold, new things have come to pass [This would include the New Covenant to the Church.].”
Current Positional Truth changes our relationship with Angels.
1. Through current positional truth the believer is higher than angels positionally.
2. Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father, and so superior to all angels. By virtue of being in union with Christ, every believer is now positionally superior to angels.
3. Positional truth has fulfilled the believer’s triumph with Christ in the angelic conflict. We are victorious with Him already.
4. Furthermore, positional truth demands compatibility with experiential righteousness. Therefore, the believer’s walk on this earth must be compatible with positional truth since we have perfect security in Christ, we have the freedom to choose for Jesus Christ, to love Jesus Christ, to respond to His love, and to fulfill our purpose on this earth.
What positional truth is not?
1. It is not an experience, emotions or ecstasies.
2. It is not progressive; it cannot be improved in time or eternity.
3. It is not related to human merit or ability.
4. It cannot be changed by God, man or angels. It is eternal in nature.
5. It is not obtained gradually as you grow in grace, but in toto at salvation.
6. It is not known apart from the metabolization of doctrine.
7. From understanding the doctrine of positional truth, we progress in our spiritual life, but we cannot improve it since it is perfect at salvation.
8. We are not in Christ because of what we do (execution of the spiritual life) or fail to do (fail to execute the spiritual life), but because of what God has done.
A few points of explanation:
1. The conclusion from positional truth, whether retroactive or current, is that the Christian must apply these doctrines to his spiritual life.
2. In Romans 7:1-4 where we have an illustration of a woman whose first husband has died freeing her to marry another. This is what actually happens to us as believers at salvation. The old sin nature is the husband up to the point of salvation, but at the moment we believe in Jesus Christ positionally the sin nature is dead, as it were, the first husband has died and we have a new husband through union with Christ. Retroactive Positional Truth removes our first husband, the sin nature whereas Current Positional Truth enters us into union with Christ, our new husband.
3. The old sin nature-husband is still around, still seeking to regain his control over his former wife, the believer. But union with the second husband, the Lord Jesus Christ, has broken the first husband’s authority over the former wife.
4. The Baptism of Fire:
Matthew 3:11, “On the one hand I [John the Baptizer] baptize you [believers] by means of water because of a change of thinking [about Christ], but the one coming after me is mightier than I whose sandals I am not worthy to lace [loosen, remove]. He himself will baptize by means of the Holy Spirit [a reference to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in the Church Age] and by means of fire [a reference to the Baptism of Fire at the 2nd Advent].”
Baptism of Fire: The baptism of fire (identification with fire) is defined as the judgment of unbelievers both Jew and gentile at the Second Advent. They will be removed from the earth and placed in fire for 1000 years until the Last Judgment, Luke 3:16-17; Mathew 25:31, 33. The analogy to the Baptism of Fire is found in Matthew 24:36-41. The one left in the field is the mature believer; the one taken is the unbeliever.
Parables of the Baptism of Fire:
1. The wheat and the tares (the unbelievers), Matthew 13:24-30, 36-40.
2. The good and bad fish (unbelievers), Matthew 13:47-50.
3. The ten virgins: five wise, five foolish (the unbelievers), Matthew 25:1-13.
4. The sheep and the goats (the unbelievers), Mathew 25:31-46.
5. The talent test, Matthew 25:14-30. The one talent man represents the unbeliever.
If Jesus Christ had not been rejected by the Jewish people, then the age of Israel would have continued until its completion (the Tribulation completes the age of Israel). (However, they did reject Jesus Christ as Savior and Messiah and so the client nation was destroyed, and the Church age was intercalated that is inserted before the age of Israel was complete.) After the completion of the age of Israel at the end of the Tribulation, comes the wrath of God namely the Baptism of Fire when the Lord removes both Jewish and gentile unbelievers from the earth and identifies them with fire forever. After which, the Millennial reign begins.
The Three Ritual Baptisms. None are extant at the present time. They are representative identifications in which water is used as a training aid to represent some principle of doctrine.
1. The Baptism of John is found in Matthew 3:2-6, “Saying, ‘Change your thinking [regarding Christ] for the kingdom of heaven is near.’ [The future king was already on the earth] (3) For this is what was communicated through Isaiah, the prophet saying, ‘The voice of one [John the Baptizer] proclaiming loudly in the desert [of Judea]. Prepare [the aorist tense is a one time-decision] the way of the Lord [an idiomatic expression for salvation]. Keep on making upright [the use of the Recovery Procedure followed by the development of experiential righteousness] His paths!’ (Isaiah 40:3) (4) Now, John himself kept on having a garment of camel’s hair [very uncomfortable] and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. (5) Then [after John went where God wanted him to be] Jerusalem kept on going out to him [face to face] and all Judea and all the districts around the Jordan. (6) and they were being baptized [identified with the kingdom] by him [under John’s authority] in the Jordan River [where Israel crossed when they entered the land], and they kept on confessing their sins [post-salvation confession of sins].”
MAX KLEIN BIBLE MINISTRIES
The Gospel of Matthew: Chapter Twenty-Three
A verse-by-verse commentary by Max Klein
ὃν οὐκ ἰδόντες ἀγαπᾶτε, εἰς ὃν ἄρτι µὴ ὁρῶντες πιστεύοντες δὲ ἀγαλλιᾶσθε χαρᾷ ἀνεκλαλήτῳ καὶ δεδοξασµένῃ,
1 Peter 1:8. Whom [a reference to Christ] you have not seen [these Christians had never seen Christ], you love, and though you do not see Him now, but keep on believing [faith perception and application to maintain their love], you greatly rejoice with inexpressible happiness and with having received glory [that goes on forever: by glorifying God at spiritual maturity and at passing of Evidence Testing, you also receive glory both in time and in eternity].
Matthew Chapter 23
Outline:
Verses 1-33: the indictment of religion namely the indictment of the scribes and Pharisees:
Verses 34-39: the Temple Discourse terminates with the curse on Jerusalem:
Matthew 23:1
Τότε ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐλάλησεν τοῖς ὄχλοις καὶ τοῖς µαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ
Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples,
Having addressed the powerful groups in Judea namely the Herodians, Sadducees and the Pharisees, He now turns his attention to the people in general and to his disciples.
Matthew 23:2
λέγων, Ἐπὶ τῆς Μωϋσέως καθέδρας ἐκάθισαν οἱ γραµµατεῖς καὶ οἱ Φαρισαῖοι
saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat [the seat of the highest professorship of the Mosaic Law and Old Testament theology]
The scribes are the theologians and teachers of the Mosaic Law. The Pharisees are taken from the scribes to sit in the Sanhedrin. They are legalists who distort the Mosaic Law. The scribes write and teach this legalism, the Pharisees execute this religious legalistic system in both the Sanhedrin and elsewhere and teach as well.
Matthew 23:3
πάντα οὖν ὅσα ἐὰν εἴπωσιν ὑµῖν ποιήσατε καὶ τηρεῖτε, κατὰ δὲ τὰ ἔργα αὐτῶν µὴ ποιεῖτε· λέγουσιν γὰρ καὶ οὐ ποιοῦσιν
Therefore, whatever they communicate [introducing a 3rd Class Conditional Sentence] to you [about the Mosaic Law which is accurate], execute [in your life] and guard [in your soul], but stop executing on the basis of their works [the legalistic distortions of the Mosaic Law]; for they communicate [the Mosaic Law], and do not do [they do not execute the Mosaic Law correctly because of their legalistic distortions].
Obey the Mosaic Law, but don’t obey the distortions of the Mosaic Law.
Eight points in connection with this verse:
1. The works and production of the scribes and the Pharisees will be described in chapter 23.
2. By way of summary, they include three things: legalism, religionism, externalism (ritual without reality).
3. These professors of theology had authority but this authority was accompanied by incompetence. They could not handle their subject, the Mosaic Law.
4. The only way to obey the Mosaic Law is to start with the cross. This can be seen from an analysis of the three parts of the Law namely Codex 1, Codex 2, and Codex 3.
5. When the unbeliever or the legalist teaches the Law, he simply distorts it into a system of religion and ritualism. This in turn causes hypocrisy.
6. These religious distortions of the Mosaic Law do not provide an excuse to ignore or reject the Law. It isn’t the Law that is wrong, it is the legalists misinterpreting the Law.
7. While Jesus does not condone the legalistic perversions of the Pharisees, He does demand an observance of the Law in its true Biblical perspective. (Remember that Jesus lived in the age of the Law.)
8. The scribes distorted the Law into a system of salvation and spirituality by works, rather than putting the true emphasis on the Law namely that man is spiritually bankrupt and needs a savior.
Matthew 23:4
δεσµεύουσιν δὲ φορτία βαρέα καὶ ἐπιτιθέασιν ἐπὶ τοὺς ὤµους τῶν ἀνθρώπων, αὐτοὶ δὲ τῷ δακτύλῳ αὐτῶν οὐ θέλουσιν κινῆσαι αὐτά
For they [the scribes and Pharisees] bind heavy and hard-to-carry burdens [extra biblical taboos] and lay them on men's shoulders [they require everyone to observe these taboos]. But they themselves will not move them [the burdens] with one of their fingers [they make no effort to remove these legalistic burdens].
The scribes and Pharisees, religious taskmasters, are being compared to the Egyptian taskmasters. They were just as callous and cruel as their former Egyptian taskmasters if not more so.
Illustrations of some of these burdens:
The Bible says, “Remember to keep holy [to set apart extra time for prayer, thanksgiving, Bible study and meditation] the Sabbath Day.” In other words, the Sabbath was instituted to spend one’s extra time in meditation and in remembrance of the Lords’ gracious provisions. However, this was distorted by all kinds of taboos which forbade doing something. Keep in mind that there is no spiritual merit in not doing something. It is relationship with the members of the Godhead that is important. However, since these religious leaders had no relationship with God, they emphasized doing something or in this case not doing something. According to the Mishnah it was unlawful to carry food from one house to another on the Sabbath for that was construed as work. An egg could not be boiled on the Sabbath nor could it be put near a hot kettle, boiled in a hot cloth or placed in sand heated by the sun. (The Jews cleverly tried to get around the taboo of not boiling an egg) In the end, one had to eat his eggs raw. It was unlawful to light or extinguish lights on the Sabbath. So, if one needed to get around at night, he would have to stumble around in the dark. One could not wear ornaments on the Sabbath for they were considered burdens. One could not tie or untie sandals on the Sabbath- too much effort. It was illegal to fix a leaky barrow of water. You had to just watch your family’s water disappear which water you had carried some distance. You could not stop the bleeding of a wound on the Sabbath. Just had to let the poor fellow die. False teeth or gold plugs could not be taken-out or put-in on the Sabbath – too much work. All weaving, dyeing of clothes, cooking etc. was forbidden. A radish could be dipped into salt, but not too long since that would imply pickling and pickling was forbidden on the Sabbath. Dried mud on a dress might be crushed once and shaken off, but the dress must not be cleaned or washed on the Sabbath. These are just a few of the ridiculous taboos that these religious legalists dreamed up.
We have our taboos regarding Sunday. You shall not work nor allow others to work on the Sunday-Sabbath. Children and families shall not play on the Sunday-Sabbath etc.
Matthew 23:5
πάντα δὲ τὰ ἔργα αὐτῶν ποιοῦσιν πρὸς τὸ θεαθῆναι τοῖς ἀνθρώποις· πλατύνουσιν γὰρ τὰ φυλακτήρια αὐτῶν καὶ µεγαλύνουσιν τὰ κράσπεδα,
But they do all their works in order to be seen of men [motivated by approbation lust]. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders [hems] of their garments.
What you wear doesn’t make you a believer or spiritual as a believer. The phylactery was a leather pouch in which was put three pieces of paper with a Scripture verse on each piece written in very fine handwriting. The four Scripture verses were as follows: Exodus 13:1-10, 13:11-16; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 11:13-21. The pouch was tied with seven straps to the forehead, or wrist and less frequently on the ankle. Furthermore, they had a gold band around their robes with gold knots tied to it. Each gold knot represented a certain amount of merit points for prayer etc. By application, crosses, statues, amulets, pictures are no substitute for regeneration and spiritual growth.
Matthew 23:6
φιλοῦσιν δὲ τὴν πρωτοκλισίαν ἐν τοῖς δείπνοις καὶ τὰς πρωτοκαθεδρίας ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς
And they love the first couch [a couch of most importance usually in the upper most rooms] at feasts, and the chief seats [the best seats at the best tables] in the synagogues,
Religious people love the superficialities of life. They had big banquets where they all got up and said something nice about each other. When one first entered the banquet hall, the first room next to the door is where the peons sat, the non-religious leaders. Then you climbed a few steps and entered another room where the next social level sat namely those going up the chain. As one climbed, he would eventually get to the head table where the religious hierarchy sat. The same occurred in their synagogues. Thus, these religious leaders obtained prominence and approbation for a short time in life.
Matthew 23:7
καὶ τοὺς ἀσπασµοὺς ἐν ταῖς ἀγοραῖς καὶ καλεῖσθαι ὑπὸ τῶν ἀνθρώπων, Ῥαββί
and they loved the greetings in the market-places, and to be called, Rabbi, by men.
How a Jewish Rabbi satisfied his lust for approbation and power. A Rabbi was a person who had graduated from one of the two theological seminaries and gained a degree equivalent to being a theological professor. These Rabbis liked to be recognized by people which again appealed to their approbation lust. Also, since the Rabbis had a lot of influence and power, it satisfied this lust as well.
Verses 8-10: a parenthesis.
Matthew 23:8
ὑµεῖς δὲ µὴ κληθῆτε, Ῥαββί, εἷς γάρ ἐστιν ὑµῶν ὁ διδάσκαλος, πάντες δὲ ὑµεῖς ἀδελφοί ἐστε
But you [Jewish believers] must not be called Rabbi [the one with the final authority in Scripture], for One is your professor [Christ], and you are all brothers.
Jesus Christ has the final authority regarding Scripture, not the Rabbi. Now since the Bible is the thinking of Christ, it is the final authority.
Matthew 23:9
καὶ πατέρα µὴ καλέσητε ὑµῖν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, εἷς γάρ ἐστιν ὑµῶν ὁ πατὴρ ὁ οὐράνιος
And call no one [no religious person] your father on the earth, for One is your Father in Heaven.
Since God the Father is the author of the plan, and the one to whom we address our prayers, we call him, Father. Father carries the concept of absolute authority.
Matthew 23:10
µηδὲ κληθῆτε καθηγηταί, ὅτι καθηγητὴς ὑµῶν ἐστιν εἷς ὁ Χριστός
Nor be called masters [to guide according to a norm or standard], for One is your [spiritual] master, even Christ.
Christ guided believers while he was on the earth; now the Word is our guide.
Matthew 23:11
ὁ δὲ µείζων ὑµῶν ἔσται ὑµῶν διάκονος
But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant [one who provides help or comfort].
This is accomplished through teaching doctrine, administering in a Christian organization or by praying for others.
Matthew 23:12
ὅστις δὲ ὑψώσει ἑαυτὸν ταπεινωθήσεται, καὶ ὅστις ταπεινώσει ἑαυτὸν ὑψωθήσεται
And whoever shall exalt himself, [religious hierarchy for the purpose of power, praise or approbation] shall be abased [receive disappointment and punishment], and he who shall humble himself [orientation to grace] shall be exalted [promoted].
Verses 13-35: the Seven Woes: (the 1st in verse 13; the 2nd in verse 15; the 3rd in verses 16-22); the 4th in verses 23-24; the 5th in verses 25-26; the 6th in verses 27-28; the 7th in verses 29-35)
Matthew 23:13
Οὐαὶ δὲ ὑµῖν, γραµµατεῖς καὶ Φαρισαῖοι ὑποκριταί, ὅτι κλείετε τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν ἔµπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων· ὑµεῖς γὰρ οὐκ εἰσέρχεσθε, οὐδὲ τοὺς εἰσερχοµένους ἀφίετε εἰσελθεῖν
But woe to you (the 1st), scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of Heaven against men [teach the way of salvation incorrectly]. For you neither go in [they do not believe in Christ], nor do you allow those entering [a person positive at God consciousness] to go in [hindered and blinded by religion like Saul of Tarsus].
There is no verse 14 in the original.
Matthew 23:15
Οὐαὶ ὑµῖν, γραµµατεῖς καὶ Φαρισαῖοι ὑποκριταί, ὅτι περιάγετε τὴν θάλασσαν καὶ τὴν ξηρὰν ποιῆσαι ἕνα προσήλυτον, καὶ ὅταν γένηται ποιεῖτε αὐτὸν υἱὸν γεέννης διπλότερον ὑµῶν
Woe to you (the 2nd), scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you traverse sea and the dry land [strong zeal, strongly motivated through works even in great difficulty and danger] to make one proselyte [a gentile who becomes a Jew through circumcision followed by the acceptance of Judaism], and when he becomes [a proselyte], you make him twofold more the child of Gehenna [Satan since he is associated with the Lake of Fire] than yourselves [the converts to Judaism are twice as zealous as their leaders].
Gehenna a Greek word for the Hebrew hinnōm. Hinnom was a deep, narrow glen to the South of Jerusalem. This narrow glen was called the valley of the Son of Hinnom (2 Kings 23:10; Jeremiah 7:31; 19:2-6). In later times it served as a receptacle of all sorts of putrefying matter and all that defiled the holy city, and so became the representative or image of the place of everlasting punishment, especially on account of its ever-burning fires. Passages of the New Testament show plainly that the word ‘Gehenna’ was a popular expression for the Lake of Fire (Matthew 5:22, 29–30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15, 33; Mark 9:43, 45, 47; Luke 12:5).
A bit more elaboration: Prior to the reign of Josiah, the Jews worshiped false gods such as Molech in the Valley of Gehenna. At times they even sacrificed their children. When Josiah became king, he wiped-out these evil demonic temples and turned this valley (glen) into a dump for all kinds of garbage. This garbage would then be burnt. So, whenever a Jew would look toward Gehenna, he would see these fires burning. Because of this, Gehenna became a synonym for the Lake of Fire.
Verses 16-22: the third woe:
Matthew 23:16
Οὐαὶ ὑµῖν, ὁδηγοὶ τυφλοὶ οἱ λέγοντες, Ὃς ἂν ὀµόσῃ ἐν τῷ ναῷ, οὐδέν ἐστιν· ὃς δí ἂν ὀµόσῃ ἐν τῷ χρυσῷ τοῦ ναοῦ ὀφείλει
Woe [interjection of calamity] unto you [dative of disadvantage], blind guides [the Pharisees as the religious leaders], saying, whoever shall swear [to take a solemn oath] by the temple, it is nothing [has no efficacy]; but whoever shall swear by the gold of the temple [must put down some money] he is obligated [to keep the vow, and if he should fail to keep his vow, he loses his gold.].
This time the words “scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites” is omitted and the reason is because the third woe emphasizes the influence of these religious leaders on their proselytes. So, this particular omission of “scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites” has the purpose of emphasizing that there is only one thing worse than religious people and that is religious leaders with their influence. To have a guide who is blind is the epitome of stupidity. If you have eyesight and you select a blind guide there has to be something wrong with you.
At this particular point we have the word “swear” time after time after time. It doesn’t mean to swear in the sense of using profanity, it means to take a solemn oath in the name of God, in the name of the temple, or in the name of the altar. You could take an oath in the name of God, and if you did, you were saying, If I am telling a lie, then God should strike me dead or discipline me (which, of course, He would). The second was an oath in the name of the temple, in effect you were taking an oath in the name of Jesus Christ since the temple speaks of the person of Christ. If what you said was not true and you did not fulfill your obligation then Jesus Christ should put you under tremendous discipline, which of course He would. And then there was the third oath which you could take and this was in the name of the altar. The altar also speaks of Christ with emphasis on His work on the cross.
Oaths were bona fide in the Age of Israel until religion distorted the proper use. This oath taking was always in the name of someone who could punish you if you were not telling the truth, and it was used in the law courts of Israel, and in business arrangement. But once religion came along the emphasis changed. Since religion seeks money more than anything else, it says that it isn’t enough to take an oath, you have to put down some money. Religion, of course, always places great emphasis on money and teaches that you can buy your way into blessing, that you can buy your way into heaven etc. This was the basis of the religious practice which we have in focus in the third woe.
Vows were allowed and practiced in the Old Testament, but not in the Church Age.
Numbers 30:1-2, “Then Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the citizens of Israel, saying, “This is what the Lord has commanded. (2) If a man makes a vow to the Lord or swears an oath to bind himself by a binding obligation, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.”
Deuteronomy 23:21-23, “If you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay fulfilling it, for the Lord your God will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin. (22) But if you refrain from vowing, you will not be guilty of sin. (23) You shall be careful to do what has passed your lips, for you have voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth.”
James 5:12, “And before all things, my brethren, stop making promises with a solemn oath neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath; but let your yes be yes, and your no, no; that you do not fall under judgment [divine discipline].”
Matthew 5:33, “Again [another case regarding the Mosaic Law and giving its proper interpretation], you have heard [when the disciples were taught the Mosaic Law] that the ancients were told [a reference to the Old Testament], ‘You shall not make false vows, but you shall fulfill [discharge your obligations] your vows to the Lord’ [a reference to Leviticus 19:12].”
Leviticus 19:12, “You shall not swear falsely by My name, so as to profane the name of your God; I am the Lord.”
Profaning God can involve a vow or just using God in some way for your cause. So, never make a statement in the name of something or someone that is reliable and try to make that something or someone that is reliable stand responsible for your statement. In other words, don’t use someone reliable [like God] to support your false statements or vows. That is tantamount to profaning God. For example, in a church business meeting some deacon, a pillar in the church as it were, may say regarding some matter, “I have prayed about this for a month and so, I know that it’s God’s will (or God has made known to me) that we should do it this way etc.” How does that person know that his plan is God’s will? It is pure arrogance for a deacon or anyone else to state that God supports his plans. Why does this type of profaning God, successful in so many churches? Well, Christians are generally so ignorant of God’s word that they are afraid to oppose anyone who brings in God as a co-signer to their plans.
A statement is no stronger than the person making it. If a person says I love you by God (by Jerusalem, by his dear departed mother etc.) it still is no stronger than the stability and responsibility of that person. If a person is unstable and irresponsible, his statement is meaningless.
Some don’ts: Don’t make a promise that you do not intend to keep. Don’t say you are going to do something because it is convenient to do so and then weasel out of it later. Don’t tell someone that you love them when you don’t. Don’t perjure yourself by attempting to cover up a lie with an oath by God “I swear by God etc.” On the other hand, a Christian should always keep his word no matter what it cost him, and to always be honest for it is part of his testimony as an ambassador of the Lord.
Matthew 5:34-37, “But I say to you, do not make a promise with an oath at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God [Christ enthroned at the right hand of the Father] (35) nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet [at the 2nd Advent, His enemies both fallen angels and unbelievers will be made his footstool; this subjection will be completed at the end of His Millennial reign], nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King [the Lord Jesus Christ will rule as the king of the world from Jerusalem during the Millennium]. (36) Nor shall you make an oath by your head [a Jewish system of taking an oath], for you cannot make one hair white or black [you cannot think red and suddenly have red hair etc.]. (37) But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no [let your “yes” be “yes” and your “no” be “no”; keep your word];’ anything beyond these is out from the evil one [lies are from the father of lies].”
Matthew 23:17
µωροὶ καὶ τυφλοί, τίς γὰρ µείζων ἐστίν, ὁ χρυσὸς ἢ ὁ ναὸς ὁ ἁγιάσας τὸν χρυσόν;
Idiots, and blind ones: for which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold [a rhetorical question]?
Jesus calls a spade a spade: religious people are morons. He attempted to awaken them to their true soul condition and to warn others about religion.
Matthew 23:18
καί, Ὃς ἂν ὀµόσῃ ἐν τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ, οὐδέν ἐστιν· ὃς δí ἂν ὀµόσῃ ἐν τῷ δώρῳ τῷ ἐπάνω αὐτοῦ ὀφείλει
And whoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing [according to the scribes and Pharisees he is not obligated to keep his vow]; but whoever swears by the gift [in this case gold] that is on it, he is obligated [to keep his vow]!
A few points:
1. To make a vow or to take an oath by offering money is tantamount to posting bond that you will keep your word.
2. For the religious leaders making an oath or taking a vow on the altar is not as strong as forfeiting one’s money in the event the vow was not kept.
3. In other words, the money on the altar was of more value than the significance of the altar.
4. The gold that you brought to the temple was more important than the temple according to the teaching of these religious leaders.
5. Religion always emphasizes money; it emphasizes the materialistic rather than the spiritual.
Matthew 23:19
τυφλοί, τί γὰρ µεῖζον, τὸ δῶρον ἢ τὸ θυσιαστήριον τὸ ἁγιάζον τὸ δῶρον;
You blind: which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift?
By illustration, some businessman wanted to make clear that he would stick to his agreement to the person with whom he had entered into a business transaction. So, he would go to the temple to take an oath by the altar to demonstrate to the other man his honorable intentions. However, the Pharisees would say that the Altar has no significance, no value, but gold does. So, he would be coerced into paying for the vow.
A few points for clarification:
1. No one can gain the approbation of God by the use of their money.
2. Neither salvation nor spiritual blessing can be purchased.
3. This is contrary to the principle of grace.
4. In salvation Christ paid for our sins, in phase two God provides blessing on the basis of what He gives, on the basis of who and what He is. God is not a politician and so He cannot be bribed.
5. Man can only enter into relationship with God on the basis of grace, on the basis of who God is, on the basis of what He does, never on the basis of what we do.
Matthew 23:20
ὁ οὖν ὀµόσας ἐν τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ ὀµνύει ἐν αὐτῷ καὶ ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἐπάνω αὐτοῦ·
Therefore, whoever shall swear by the altar swears by it, and by all things on it.
Matthew 23:21
καὶ ὁ ὀµόσας ἐν τῷ ναῷ ὀµνύει ἐν αὐτῷ καὶ ἐν τῷ κατοικοῦντι αὐτόν·
And whoever shall swear by the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwells in it [the Shekinah Glory dwelt in it up to 586 B.C.].
Matthew 23:22
καὶ ὁ ὀµόσας ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ὀµνύει ἐν τῷ θρόνῳ τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ἐν τῷ καθηµένῳ ἐπάνω αὐτοῦ
And he who shall swear by Heaven swears by the throne of God, and by Him [God the Father] who sits on it.
To swear by the Lord, Temple or Altar was a solemn oath and meaningful in that dispensation, on the other hand to swear by money was meaningless. The worst penalty one could suffer when taking an oath by money was the forfeiture of that money. To make the Lord your witness could end up in perjury and great discipline from the Lord. One gets discipline for his dishonesty and discipline for bringing the Lord into a dishonest deal, taking his name in vain.
Matthew 23:23
Οὐαὶ ὑµῖν, γραµµατεῖς καὶ Φαρισαῖοι ὑποκριταί, ὅτι ἀποδεκατοῦτε τὸ ἡδύοσµον καὶ τὸ ἄνηθον καὶ τὸ κύµινον, καὶ ἀφήκατε τὰ βαρύτερα τοῦ νόµου, τὴν κρίσιν καὶ τὸ ἔλεος καὶ τὴν πίστιν· ταῦτα [δὲ] ἔδει ποιῆσαι κἀκεῖνα µὴ ἀφιέναι
Woe to you (the 4th), scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin and you have left undone the weightier matters of the Law [Old Testament], judgment [the Pharisees sat in the Sanhedrin], mercy [grace in action: as theologians they should have been teaching grace], and faith [as related to salvation and the spiritual life]. You ought to have done these and not to leave the other undone [other matters related to their responsibilities].
Religion does what they shouldn’t do and doesn’t do what they should. Religion always places great emphasis on collecting money from its people for they not only tithed money, but every kind of seed. On the other hand, they failed in their responsibilities in general and as supreme court-judges in particular.
Matthew 23:24
ὁδηγοὶ τυφλοί, οἱ διϋλίζοντες τὸν κώνωπα τὴν δὲ κάµηλον καταπίνοντες
You blind guides who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
The gnat represents all these legalistic requirements which they force upon the people. The camel refers to the weightier matters of the Law. A common saying, “He who has killed a flea on the Sabbath is just as guilty as if he had killed a camel.”
Matthew 23:25
Οὐαὶ ὑµῖν, γραµµατεῖς καὶ Φαρισαῖοι ὑποκριταί, ὅτι καθαρίζετε τὸ ἔξωθεν τοῦ ποτηρίου καὶ τῆς παροψίδος, ἔσωθεν δὲ γέµουσιν ἐξ ἁρπαγῆς καὶ ἀκρασίας
Woe to you (the 5th), scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and of the serving dish [with high sides with a narrow opening to keep the food warm], but inside they are full of extortion [mental pillaging and plundering] and excess [lusts].
1. The Pharisees emphasized the external condition of a person and ignored the internal condition.
2. They emphasized taboos and outward morality, yet taboos and morality can neither provide salvation nor a spiritual life.
3. Internal sins make external appearances a sham. Their outside appearance is by morality and taboos, but their inside is filthy with mental sins and lusts.
Matthew 23:26
Φαρισαῖε τυφλέ, καθάρισον πρῶτον τὸ ἐντὸς τοῦ ποτηρίου, ἵνα γένηται καὶ τὸ ἐκτὸς αὐτοῦ καθαρόν
Blind Pharisee [because of their rejection of truth]! First cleanse the inside of the cup and of the dish [analogous to pre-salvation sins forgiven at salvation and then after salvation Rebound when necessary.], so that the outside of them may be clean also [true experiential righteousness based on metabolized doctrine].
With legalism man gets the glory; with grace God gets the glory.
The 6th Woe: verses 27, 28.
Matthew 23:27
Οὐαὶ ὑµῖν, γραµµατεῖς καὶ Φαρισαῖοι ὑποκριταί, ὅτι παροµοιάζετε τάφοις κεκονιαµένοις, οἵτινες ἔξωθεν µὲν φαίνονται ὡραῖοι ἔσωθεν δὲ γέµουσιν ὀστέων νεκρῶν καὶ πάσης ἀκαθαρσίας
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tomb stones, which indeed appear beautiful outside, but inside they are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
Explaining ceremonial uncleanness: If a person walked over or on a tombstone before the Passover, he would be unclean and unable to participate in the Passover. Since a poor man’s tombstone was small, faded and concealed, the hierarchy would have them whitewashed before the Festival Days. In this way people would not inadvertently touch them and become ceremonially unclean. Numbers 19:16, “Also anyone who in the open field touches one who has been slain with a sword [in battle] or who has died naturally or a human bone or a grave shall be unclean for seven days.”
Matthew 23:28
οὕτως καὶ ὑµεῖς ἔξωθεν µὲν φαίνεσθε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις δίκαιοι, ἔσωθεν δέ ἐστε µεστοὶ ὑποκρίσεως καὶ ἀνοµίας
Even so you also appear outwardly righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
The 7th Woe: verses 29-35.
Matthew 23:29
Οὐαὶ ὑµῖν, γραµµατεῖς καὶ Φαρισαῖοι ὑποκριταί, ὅτι οἰκοδοµεῖτε τοὺς τάφους τῶν προφητῶν καὶ κοσµεῖτε τὰ µνηµεῖα τῶν δικαίων,
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets, and decorate the tombs of the righteous,
They have the same anti-doctrine, hateful attitude as those who murdered these great men of the past. However, since these religious people do not understand what made these prophets and other men of God great, they build tombs for them and provide a lot of decorations.
Matthew 23:30
καὶ λέγετε, Εἰ ἤµεθα ἐν ταῖς ἡµέραις τῶν πατέρων ἡµῶν, οὐκ ἂν ἤµεθα αὐτῶν κοινωνοὶ ἐν τῷ αἵµατι τῶν προφητῶν
and say, “If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.”
These self-righteous scribes and Pharisees have the same arrogance of their forefathers who had put many prophets to death. These arrogant religious leaders will go one step further by putting the humanity of Christ on the cross.
Matthew 23:31
ὥστε µαρτυρεῖτε ἑαυτοῖς ὅτι υἱοί ἐστε τῶν φονευσάντων τοὺς προφήτας
Therefore. you are witnesses to yourselves [of the sentencing of Jesus to death], that you [with the same hatred and murder lust] are the sons [descendants] of those who killed the prophets;
These descendants are more religious and more hateful than their murdering forebearers.
Matthew 23:32
καὶ ὑµεῖς πληρώσατε τὸ µέτρον τῶν πατέρων ὑµῶν
and you, fill up the measure [up to the top] of your fathers.
The killing of Isaiah, Zechariah and other prophets fills the glass a little, but the killing of Jesus completely fills the glass. Jesus was prophesizing something which would happen within a week. The prophets produced experiential righteous, but Jesus is the righteous one. So, by killing Him, they committed more evil than their forebears.
Matthew 23:33
ὄφεις γεννήµατα ἐχιδνῶν, πῶς φύγητε ἀπὸ τῆς κρίσεως τῆς γεέννης;
Serpents! Offspring of vipers [full of venom]! How can you escape the judgment of Gehenna? [They can escape the Lake of Fire only through faith in Christ which gospel message they have already rejected]
These religious scribes and Pharisees are full of religious venom which spews from their mouths every time they speak. They, like a viper, strike and destroy many people.
Matthew 23:34
διὰ τοῦτο ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἀποστέλλω πρὸς ὑµᾶς προφήτας καὶ σοφοὺς καὶ γραµµατεῖς· ἐξ αὐτῶν ἀποκτενεῖτε καὶ σταυρώσετε, καὶ ἐξ αὐτῶν µαστιγώσετε ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς ὑµῶν καὶ διώξετε ἀπὸ πόλεως εἰς πόλιν·
Therefore, behold, I send [futuristic present] prophets [in the Church Age] and wise men [teachers of the Word] and scribes [the theologians of the Church] to you. And out of them, you will kill [such as Thomas and James] and crucify [Jesus]. And some of them you will scourge [for example, Paul was scourged by religious Jews three times] in your synagogues and persecute from city to city [a prophecy regarding Paul];
Matthew 23:35
ὅπως ἔλθῃ ἐφí ὑµᾶς πᾶν αἷµα δίκαιον ἐκχυννόµενον ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἀπὸ τοῦ αἵµατος Ἅβελ τοῦ δικαίου ἕως τοῦ αἵµατος Ζαχαρίου υἱοῦ Βαραχίου, ὃν ἐφονεύσατε µεταξὺ τοῦ ναοῦ καὶ τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου
so that it shall come upon you [the guilt] of all the righteous blood poured out [shed] on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel [by the self-righteous religious Cain] to the blood of Zechariah whom you murdered between the temple and the altar [2 Chronicles 24:20-22: in 836 B.C.].
Abel was the first martyr in human history and was killed by Cain who was religious. The first murderer was a religious man, and the first martyr was a grace man. The words “son of Barachias” should not be in the verse above for it was added by a scribe. This is not referring to Zechariah the son of Barachias who wrote the book of Zechariah, but this refers to Zechariah the high priest, the son of Jehoiada who was slain in the temple itself. Jesus makes a comparison between the first martyr, Abel, and Zechariah the son of Jehoiada, who was the high priest in 836 B.C.
2 Chronicles 24:20-22, “Then the Spirit of God came on Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, ‘This is what God says: ‘Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands? You will not prosper. Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken you.’ (21) But they plotted against him, and by order of the king they stoned him [Zechariah] to death in the courtyard of the Lord’s temple. (22) King Joash did not remember the kindness Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had shown him [Jehoiada had saved the life of Joash] but killed his son, who said as he lay dying, “May the Lord see this and call you to account.”
Luke 11:50-51, “Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, (51) from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all.”
Matthew 23:36
ἀµὴν λέγω ὑµῖν, ἥξει ταῦτα πάντα ἐπὶ τὴν γενεὰν ταύτην
Truly I say to you, all these things [regarding the 5th cycle of discipline] shall come on this generation.
Matthew 23:37
Ἰερουσαλὴµ Ἰερουσαλήµ, ἡ ἀποκτείνουσα τοὺς προφήτας καὶ λιθοβολοῦσα τοὺς ἀπεσταλµένους πρὸς αὐτήν, ποσάκις ἠθέλησα ἐπισυναγαγεῖν τὰ τέκνα σου, ὃν τρόπον ὄρνις ἐπισυνάγει τὰ νοσσία αὐτῆς ὑπὸ τὰς πτέρυγας, καὶ οὐκ ἠθελήσατε
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who murders the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I [divine sovereignty] wanted to gather your children together the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling [God respected their negative volition].
The sovereignty of God never violates the will of mankind. God decreed in eternity past that his will and man’s will would co-exist in human history. Jesus is walking out of the city after the temple discourse. The prophets were those who taught doctrine. The sovereignty of God wanted to fulfill the four unconditional covenants to Israel, but the Jews, generation after generation rejected Jesus Christ. Instead of accepting the truth, they distorted the Mosaic Law into a system of legalism.
Matthew 23:38
ἰδοὺ ἀφίεται ὑµῖν ὁ οἶκος ὑµῶν ἔρηµος
“Behold, your house [the temple, constructed by Herod the Great] is being left to you desolate [the witness was completely obscured, and the temple building was finally destroyed in 70 A.D.]!
The purpose of the temple was to be a witness of Christ, “the tabernacle of witness” (Acts 7:44). Everything in the temple was to testify and teach something about Christ, but since Jesus Christ was not accepted as Savior, his thinking was not in their stream of consciousness. In their souls was only religious thinking; they had accepted the ritual but had rejected the reality.
Now to the disciples, the temple and the surrounding buildings were beautiful. They were not thinking of the true purpose of the temple. It’s not the beauty of the buildings which is important, rather it is the spiritual life of the believers occupying those buildings. Always when a people degenerate spiritually, they emphasize the building, or the number of people involved. ‘O look how beautiful our church is.’ ‘Fifty thousand Christians attend our church.’ Jesus Christ deemphasizes the buildings and emphasizes doctrine (Matthew 24:2).
Matthew 23:39
λέγω γὰρ ὑµῖν, οὐ µή µε ἴδητε ἀπí ἄρτι ἕως ἂν εἴπητε, Εὐλογηµένος ὁ ἐρχόµενος ἐν ὀνόµατι κυρίου
“For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord [this very phrase regarding the 2nd Advent is what started the Temple Discourse]!’”
This is a quote from Psalm 118:26 which is a reference to the 2nd Advent. This explains the failure of the Jews on Palm Sunday when they shouted, “Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” They wanted a political deliverance from the Romans, but they were not interested in salvation. The Jews did not want the salvation of the 1st Advent, but the political deliverance of the 2nd Advent.
