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-Two
A verse-by-verse commentary by Max Klein
Continuing the Temple Discourse: beginning in chapter 21 and finishing in chapter 23.
Matthew 22:1
Καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Ἰησοῦς πάλιν εἶπεν ἐν παραβολαῖς αὐτοῖς λέγων,
And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables, and said,
Matthew 22:2
Ὡµοιώθη ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν ἀνθρώπῳ βασιλεῖ, ὅστις ἐποίησεν γάµους τῷ υἱῷ αὐτοῦ
The kingdom of Heaven [regenerate individuals on the earth; a relationship established with heaven] is like [often used to introduce a parable] a certain king [God the Father] who made a marriage [the plan of salvation] for his son [Jesus Christ; the bride to be namely the regenerate of Israel].
The bride to be is the regenerate of Israel.
Matthew 22:3
καὶ ἀπέστειλεν τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ καλέσαι τοὺς κεκληµένους εἰς τοὺς γάµους, καὶ οὐκ ἤθελον ἐλθεῖν
And he sent out his servants [patriarchs, prophets, priests, judges: anyone who disseminated the gospel and doctrine in the ancient world] to call those who were invited [every generation of Jews were invited to believe in Christ] to the wedding [analogous to salvation]; and they did not desire to come [the majority would not accept the invitation to believe in Jesus Christ: not at God-consciousness nor at gospel hearing].
Matthew 22:4
πάλιν ἀπέστειλεν ἄλλους δούλους λέγων, Εἴπατε τοῖς κεκληµένοις, Ἰδοὺ τὸ ἄριστόν µου ἡτοίµακα, οἱ ταῦροί µου καὶ τὰ σιτιστὰ τεθυµένα, καὶ πάντα ἕτοιµα· δεῦτε εἰς τοὺς γάµους
Again he sent out other servants [John the Baptist, the disciples], saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatlings are killed [a reminder of the Levitical Offerings], and all things are ready. Come to the marriage’ [‘come’ is a synonym for faith: invitation repeated to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ].
Matthew 22:5
οἱ δὲ ἀµελήσαντες ἀπῆλθον, ὃς µὲν εἰς τὸν ἴδιον ἀγρόν, ὃς δὲ ἐπὶ τὴν ἐµπορίαν αὐτοῦ·
But not caring, they went their ways [the Pharisees took the way of legalism and religion, the Sadducees took the road of rationalism and politics], one to his own field [the Pharisees since they came from the common people], another to his own trading [Sadducees since they came from the priests and aristocrats].
Religious people make light of the gospel. The Pharisees and Sadducees were encouraging a struggle against Rome that they might become independent. The Pharisees wanted a religious kingdom whereas the Sadducees wanted a political kingdom. Both wanted a kingdom apart from the cross. The Pharisees wanted to rule with a religious hierarchy; the Sadducees wanted to rule with a philosophical and rationalistic hierarchy. The Sadducees were Hellenic in their culture; the Pharisees were Judaistic in theirs. A third group were the Herodians who wanted the Herodian line in power in the Middle East.
Matthew 22:6
οἱ δὲ λοιποὶ κρατήσαντες τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ ὕβρισαν καὶ ἀπέκτειναν
And the rest [the Herodians] seized his servants and treated them spitefully and killed them.
Matthew 22:7
ὁ δὲ βασιλεὺς ὠργίσθη, καὶ πέµψας τὰ στρατεύµατα αὐτοῦ ἀπώλεσεν τοὺς φονεῖς ἐκείνους καὶ τὴν πόλιν αὐτῶν ἐνέπρησεν
And the king [God the Father] was very angry. And he sent out his armies [three Roman Legions] and destroyed those murderers [during the siege of Jerusalem], and burned up their city [the destruction of Jerusalem in August of 70 AD]. (The beginning of the 5th Cycle of Discipline)
Between verses 7 and 8, we have the Church Age.
Matthew 22:8
τότε λέγει τοῖς δούλοις αὐτοῦ, Ὁ µὲν γάµος ἕτοιµός ἐστιν, οἱ δὲ κεκληµένοι οὐκ ἦσαν ἄξιοι·
Then he said to his servants [the 144,000 Jews of the Tribulation], “The wedding is ready [will occur at the 2nd Advent], but they who were invited were not worthy [the religious Jews keep on rejecting Christ].
Matthew 22:9
πορεύεσθε οὖν ἐπὶ τὰς διεξόδους τῶν ὁδῶν, καὶ ὅσους ἐὰν εὕρητε καλέσατε εἰς τοὺς γάµους
Therefore, go into the exits of the highways, and as many as you shall find, invite them to the marriage [evangelism in the Tribulation].”
Matthew 22:10
καὶ ἐξελθόντες οἱ δοῦλοι ἐκεῖνοι εἰς τὰς ὁδοὺς συνήγαγον πάντας οὓς εὗρον, πονηρούς τε καὶ ἀγαθούς· καὶ ἐπλήσθη ὁ γάµος ἀνακειµένων
So the servants [the 144,000] went out into the highways and gathered together as many as they found, both bad and good [all kinds of people have an opportunity to believe]. And the wedding was filled with reclining guests [the guests for the most part are the believers alive at the 2nd Advent].
Matthew 22:11
εἰσελθὼν δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς θεάσασθαι τοὺς ἀνακειµένους εἶδεν ἐκεῖ ἄνθρωπον οὐκ ἐνδεδυµένον ἔνδυµα γάµου·
And the king [Christ at the 2nd Advent] coming in to look over the guests, he saw a man seated there who did not have on a wedding garment [the unsaved Jew].
Matthew 22:12
καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ, Ἑταῖρε, πῶς εἰσῆλθες ὧδε µὴ ἔχων ἔνδυµα γάµου; ὁ δὲ ἐφιµώθη
And he said to him, “Friend, how did you come in here without having a wedding garment [wasn’t saved]”? And he was speechless [he had no answer].
Matthew 22:13
τότε ὁ βασιλεὺς εἶπεν τοῖς διακόνοις, ∆ήσαντες αὐτοῦ πόδας καὶ χεῖρας ἐκβάλετε αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ σκότος τὸ ἐξώτερον· ἐκεῖ ἔσται ὁ κλαυθµὸς καὶ ὁ βρυγµὸς τῶν ὀδόντων
Then, the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness [the unbelieving Jew cast off the earth into Torments at the 2nd Advent]. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth [expresses frustration: realizing the implications of having rejected the gospel].
Matthew 22:14
πολλοὶ γάρ εἰσιν κλητοὶ ὀλίγοι δὲ ἐκλεκτοί
For many were called [all Israel were invited to the wedding feast], but few were chosen [only a few responded to the gospel message].
Matthew 22:15
Τότε πορευθέντες οἱ Φαρισαῖοι συµβούλιον ἔλαβον ὅπως αὐτὸν παγιδεύσ
ωσιν ἐν λόγῳ
Then the Pharisees left and took counsel that they might entangle Him by means of words.
The Religious Debate: verses 16-46
Matthew 22:16
καὶ ἀποστέλλουσιν αὐτῷ τοὺς µαθητὰς αὐτῶν µετὰ τῶν Ἡρῳδιανῶν λέγοντες, ∆ιδάσκαλε, οἴδαµεν ὅτι ἀληθὴς εἶ καὶ τὴν ὁδὸν τοῦ θεοῦ ἐν ἀληθείᾳ διδάσκεις, καὶ οὐ µέλει σοι περὶ οὐδενός, οὐ γὰρ βλέπεις εἰς πρόσωπον ἀνθρώπων
And they [the Pharisees] sent their disciples [students studying to be Pharisees] out to Him along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher [they do not recognize him as the Savior and Messiah] we know [condescending phrase: we know that you know a few things and have some principles] that you are true, and that you teach the way of God in truth. Nor are you a respecter of persons [he doesn’t respect someone for his office or what they can do for him], for you do not regard the person of men [not influence by people who can do something for you or people who have status symbols]
This flattery from the Herodians and these future Pharisees as found in this verse was designed to soften up Jesus so that they could trick the Lord in making a strong statement against the Roman Empire. In so doing, the Romans would remove Jesus Christ for the Pharisees and Herodians.
Some background information:
The head of the Sanhedrin was the high priest and was composed of the Sadducees and Pharisees, and to a much lesser extent, the Herodians. The Scribes were the theologians of the country and mainly dealt with the written word but had a religious political party called the Pharisees. (The word ‘Pharisee’ is derived from a word meaning separation. They separated from many things by which they developed their self-righteousness.) The priests and other aristocrats, mostly descendants of the Hasmonean dynasty had become a political party called the Sadducees. Since both the Pharisees and Sadducees formed after the Maccabean Wars, the Sanhedrin formed at that same time. Of course, the Herodians belonged to the Herodian Party which obviously formed during the time of Herod and lasted until the end of the Herodian line. They favored the dynasty of Herod ruling the entire Middle East. So, they wanted the Romans out and were against Jesus since they thought that He as messiah would be in opposition to the Herodian line.
Matthew 22:17
εἰπὲ οὖν ἡµῖν τί σοι δοκεῖ· ἔξεστιν δοῦναι κῆνσον Καίσαρι ἢ οὔ;
Therefore, tell us; what is your opinion [We value your opinion: total deceit]? ‘Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not [taxation]?’”
This is a loaded question; they are not seeking information. They want Jesus to say that it is not lawful to pay taxes to the Romans. Then, they would have run to the Romans and informed them of this revolutionist that the Romans might eliminate Jesus for them.
Is the believer as part of a spiritual kingdom in conflict with the political kingdom of Rome? If not, then what is the relationship? Under the Laws of Establishment, the Romans provided the freedom for the Jews to believe in Christ and to advance spiritually.
Matthew 22:18
γνοὺς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὴν πονηρίαν αὐτῶν εἶπεν, Τί µε πειράζετε, ὑποκριταί;
But Jesus perceived their wickedness [conspiring to destroy him; motivated by jealousy, hatred etc.], and said, “Why do you test Me [to remove you from this life], hypocrites?
While the question of these Jewish leaders was a good one, their motives were evil. Don’t be nice to people who are attacking the truth. When a person is against doctrine, you call them what they are as Jesus called a spade, a spade (a hypocrite, a hypocrite).
While many people enjoy the blessings of an establishment society, they run it down. These are wicked people.
Matthew 22:19
ἐπιδείξατέ µοι τὸ νόµισµα τοῦ κήνσου. οἱ δὲ προσήνεγκαν αὐτῷ δηνάριον
Show Me the tribute money.” And they brought a denarius to Him.
Matthew 22:20
καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς, Τίνος ἡ εἰκὼν αὕτη καὶ ἡ ἐπιγραφή;
And He said to them, “Whose image [Tiberias] and superscription [Tiberias Caesar] is this?”
Matthew 22:21
λέγουσιν αὐτῷ, Καίσαρος. τότε λέγει αὐτοῖς, Ἀπόδοτε οὖν τὰ Καίσαρος Καίσαρι καὶ τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ τῷ θεῷ
They said to Him, “Caesar's [Tiberias at this time].” Then He said to them, “Therefore, render [aorist imperative: pay your taxes at the time when you are taxed] to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things which are God's.”
Where freedom exists, the citizens and others have the right of supporting that national entity. Yes, there were evils in the Roman Empire, but neither Jesus nor Paul ever dealt with those subjects. They concentrated on what was important, the gospel and doctrine.
Summary:
1. Jesus made a clear distinction between religion and the state.
2. Believers are responsible to both the state and to God. So, a spiritual kingdom can co-exist with an earthly political kingdom.
3. Though Judea was under the Roman government, Rome permitted religious freedom. While the Jewish citizens of Judea were expected to pay taxes to Rome and obey the laws of Rome, Rome did not insist that the Jewish citizens follow Roman religion.
4. Until Jesus returns at the 2nd Advent, there can no bona fide union of the spiritual and the state.
5. In the meantime, the two kingdoms, the spiritual and the state coexist, operating in their own sphere. They are able to do so since the bona fide state provides law and order and religious freedom. In turn the believers and religious citizens should support and obey the state.
6. The national governments exist to curtail internationalism, to support the Laws of Establishment and to permit religious freedoms. You can have many forms of government such as monarchy, aristocracy, and republic as long as they allow freedom. Under this umbrella of freedom, there should be the opportunity for maximum evangelism and Bible teaching.
7. When the state does not permit evangelism and the teaching of God’s Word, then God’s authority supersedes the authority of the government as per Acts 5:25-29, “Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people. 26 At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them. 27 The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!”
8. If Jesus had answered either yes or no, he would have been trapped into a false position. However, by not simply answering ‘yes or no’ but clearly stating the co-existence and the symbiotic relationship of both the state and Christianity, and the responsibility of the Christian to both, he was able to shut these troublemakers up.
Matthew 22:22
καὶ ἀκούσαντες ἐθαύµασαν, καὶ ἀφέντες αὐτὸν ἀπῆλθον.
When they heard these words, they were utterly astounded, and they left Him and went away.
Jesus refutes the Sadducees verses 23-33.
Matthew 22:23
Ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡµέρᾳ προσῆλθον αὐτῷ Σαδδουκαῖοι, λέγοντες µὴ εἶναι ἀνάστασιν, καὶ ἐπηρώτησαν αὐτὸν
On that day the Sadducees came to Him, who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked Him,
The Sadducees, the aristocrats of the land, were taken primarily from the priests whereas the Pharisees came from the scribes. The Sadducees want an oligarch ruled by them. As rationalists they did not accept the Scriptures as authoritative.
As unbelievers and rationalists, they did not believe in resurrection or in angels. Even though they did not believe in these truths, their question will be about what will take place in a resurrected state. This was pure hypocrisy. Furthermore, since they did not believe in resurrection, it follows logically that they did not believe in the Old Testament Scriptures since resurrection is clearly taught there (Daniel 12:2; Isaiah 26:19, 53:10; Job 19:26ff; Psalm 16:10, 11).
Matthew 22:24
λέγοντες, ∆ιδάσκαλε, Μωϋσῆς εἶπεν, Ἐάν τις ἀποθάνῃ µὴ ἔχων τέκνα, ἐπιγαµβρεύσει ὁ ἀδελφὸς αὐτοῦ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀναστήσει σπέρµα τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ
saying, “Master [professor: they recognize his academic status only], Moses said [the Pentateuch], ‘If [introducing a hypothetical situation] a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife in order to raise up seed [descendants] unto his brother.’
They quoted the Old Testament even though they did not accept it as per Deuteronomy 25:5-9, “If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her. 6 The first son she bears shall carry on the name of the dead brother so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel. 7 However, if a man does not want to marry his brother’s wife, she shall go to the elders at the town gate and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to carry on his brother’s name in Israel. He will not fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to me.” 8 Then the elders of his town shall summon him and talk to him. If he persists in saying, “I do not want to marry her,” 9 his brother’s widow shall go up to him in the presence of the elders, take off one of his sandals, spit in his face and say, “This is what is done to the man who will not build up his brother’s family line.”
Matthew 22:25
ἦσαν δὲ παρí ἡµῖν ἑπτὰ ἀδελφοί· καὶ ὁ πρῶτος γήµας ἐτελεύτησεν, καὶ µὴ ἔχων σπέρµα ἀφῆκεν τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ
Now, there were with us seven brothers. And the first, when he had married a wife, died. And, having no issue, he left his wife to his brother.
Matthew 22:26
ὁµοίως καὶ ὁ δεύτερος καὶ ὁ τρίτος, ἕως τῶν ἑπτά
The second also did likewise, and the third, to the seventh [ludicrous].
Matthew 22:27
ὕστερον δὲ πάντων ἀπέθανεν ἡ γυνή
And last of all the woman also died.
Matthew 22:28
ἐν τῇ ἀναστάσει οὖν τίνος τῶν ἑπτὰ ἔσται γυνή; πάντες γὰρ ἔσχον αὐτήν
Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife shall she be, of the seven? For they all possessed her.”
The Sadducees with an aristocratic smirk thought that they had placed the Lord in a corner with their profound question. They wanted to ridicule the doctrine of resurrection. In this way they could discredit the Word of God namely the doctrine of resurrection and Jesus Christ at the same time since He has been teaching from the Old Testament which taught resurrection.
In this hypothetical situation posed by the Sadducees, none of the brothers had any children by her otherwise it would not have been necessary for the younger brother to marry his older brother’s wife.
Matthew 22:29
ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, Πλανᾶσθε µὴ εἰδότες τὰς γραφὰς µηδὲ τὴν δύναµιν τοῦ θεοῦ·
Jesus answered and said to them, “You are wrong [stray away, are deceived], not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God [regarding resurrection and what occurs in the eternal state].
Jesus is saying that they are never right for they do not know the Scriptures. Furthermore, one cannot understand the power of God unless he knows the Scriptures.
Matthew 22:30
ἐν γὰρ τῇ ἀναστάσει οὔτε γαµοῦσιν οὔτε γαµίζονται, ἀλλí ὡς ἄγγελοι ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ εἰσιν
For in the resurrection [in which the Sadducees did not believe nor did they believe in life after death], they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in Heaven [neither did the Sadducees believe in angels].
Jesus is saying that angels do not have the ability to procreate as they did with mankind before the flood (Genesis 6). He is also implying that there is a love in heaven much superior to any love found in marriage. Marriage is for time and eternity is an improvement on time.
Matthew 22:31
περὶ δὲ τῆς ἀναστάσεως τῶν νεκρῶν οὐκ ἀνέγνωτε τὸ ῥηθὲν ὑµῖν ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ λέγοντος,
But regarding the resurrection from the dead, have you not read that which was spoken to you by God, saying, [sarcasm]
Matthew 22:32
Ἐγώ εἰµι ὁ θεὸς Ἀβραὰµ καὶ ὁ θεὸς Ἰσαὰκ καὶ ὁ θεὸς Ἰακώβ; οὐκ ἔστιν [ὁ] θεὸς νεκρῶν ἀλλὰ ζώντων
"I am [and keep on being] the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob [They are alive in his presence: Exodus 3:6]?” God is not the God of the dead [as the Sadducees claim by rejecting life after death], but of the living [Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are alive in their interim bodies].
Jesus demonstrates how ignorant and wrong were the Sadducees! The Sadducees and other religious leaders would take an oath by the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in their rituals without realizing that in so doing, they were recognizing life after death. The bodies of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are in their graves yet they are alive namely their souls are in their interim bodies awaiting their resurrection at the 2nd Advent. So, this is a direct attack upon the Sadducees who say that there is no life after death, there is no resurrection. By using this particular Scripture, which the Sadducees used in oath taking, resurrection could not be refuted.
Matthew 22:33
καὶ ἀκούσαντες οἱ ὄχλοι ἐξεπλήσσοντο ἐπὶ τῇ διδαχῇ αὐτοῦ
And when the crowd heard this, they were astonished at His teaching. [but no indication that they believed in Him]
The refutation of the Pharisees verse 34-46.
Matthew 22:34
Οἱ δὲ Φαρισαῖοι ἀκούσαντες ὅτι ἐφίµωσεν τοὺς Σαδδουκαίους συνήχθησαν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό
But hearing that He had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees were gathered together [to decide how they would approach him].
Matthew 22:35
καὶ ἐπηρώτησεν εἷς ἐξ αὐτῶν [νοµικὸς] πειράζων αὐτόν,
Then, one of them, a scribe [their most brilliant theologian], asked, testing Him [to find a weak area or some evil if possible],
Matthew 22:36
∆ιδάσκαλε, ποία ἐντολὴ µεγάλη ἐν τῷ νόµῳ;
Master [professor], what is the greatest commandment in the Law?
The purpose of this question again is to discredit the Lord Jesus Christ, and so of course any way that He answers this (they have figured it out in their meeting before hand) they will put Him down. They will discredit Him no matter which law He mentions. They think that He has to mention one of the ten commandments, that is why it says at the end of verse 34, that they mustered their thinking forces. They had worked out an airtight system so that no matter which of the ten He should choose, they would have an answer that would defeat Him, and so they sent their most brilliant spokesman.
Now you have to remember that the whole structure of the Mosaic law is designed for a proper relationship with God. Codex 1 proves that man is a sinner and needs a savior: codex 2 presents the person and work of Jesus Christ, and codex 3 describes blessing from the Lord and protection in time. But the whole purpose of the law is relationship, so, Jesus is going to answer with the most basic concept of the Law.
Matthew 22:37
ὁ δὲ ἔφη αὐτῷ, Ἀγαπήσεις κύριον τὸν θεόν σου ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ καρδίᾳ σου καὶ ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ ψυχῇ σου καὶ ἐν ὅλῃ τῇ διανοίᾳ σου·
Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your understanding.’
Septuagint: Deuteronomy 6:5
καὶ ἀγαπήσεις κύριον τὸν θεόν σου ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας σου καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς σου καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς δυνάµεώς σου.
וְאָהַבְתָּ, אֵת יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, בְּכָל-לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל-נַפְשְׁךָ, וּבְכָל-מְאֹדֶךָ.
This was a quotation from Deuteronomy 6:5. Since the Pharisees as unbelievers did not have a relationship with the Lord, they did not love the Lord, God. So, love here indicates a relationship as well as a mental attitude and none of the ten commandments as such describe that relationship. So, by quoting from this source, he not only left the scribe and those with him speechless, but also challenged them regarding a relationship with God.
Deuteronomy 6:5, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart [right lobe of the soul--the stream of consciousness], with all your soul [both the left and right lobes], with all your strength [soul strength from your capacity namely integrity, tranquility, contentment, and happiness].
Matthew 22:38
αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ µεγάλη καὶ πρώτη ἐντολή
This is the greatest and first commandment.
Matthew 22:39
δευτέρα δὲ ὁµοία αὐτῇ, Ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν
And the second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ [a quote from Leviticus 19:18]
A few points on impersonal love:
1. Impersonal love is unconditional love directed toward all mankind as a result of maximum metabolized doctrine circulating in the stream of consciousness of the right lobe.
2. Being unconditional, impersonal love emphasizes the virtue of the subject rather than the status quo of the object.
3. Being unconditional, impersonal love is the virtue and integrity of the subject overcoming all problems related to the object.
4. Impersonal love is the spiritual status quo of the believer in spiritual adulthood in which the integrity of the subject exceeds the unattractiveness of the object.
5. Impersonal love possesses both virtue and problem-solving capabilities.
6. Impersonal love is the status of virtue, honor, and integrity in relationship to all mankind.
7. Impersonal love is motivated by love for God, occupation with Christ; therefore, it is non-discriminating.
8. These Pharisees have no impersonal love for their fellow mankind.
Matthew 22:40
ἐν ταύταις ταῖς δυσὶν ἐντολαῖς ὅλος ὁ νόµος κρέµαται καὶ οἱ προφῆται
On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew 22:41
Συνηγµένων δὲ τῶν Φαρισαίων ἐπηρώτησεν αὐτοὺς ὁ Ἰησοῦς
While the Pharisees were gathered, Jesus asked them,
Jesus now presents the issue of salvation in the most brilliant way for a Pharisee. The Pharisees accepted the scriptures as the Word of God, and as authoritative. However, these are not seeking Pharisees, but are there to criticize. To the seeking Pharisee as Nicodemus in John 3, He said, you must be born again; to the critical Pharisees He now gives one of the most beautiful pictures of how to witness to people.
Matthew 22:42
λέγων, Τί ὑµῖν δοκεῖ περὶ τοῦ Χριστοῦ; τίνος υἱός ἐστιν; λέγουσιν αὐτῷ, Τοῦ ∆αυίδ
saying, ‘What do you think of Christ? Whose son, is he?’ They say to Him, David's [His humanity].
He is both the Son of God, his title of deity and the Son of David which explains his human lineage. So, they only gave half the answer. The full answer is that He is the God-Man. Since, they didn’t mention His deity, Jesus hits them with another question.
Matthew 22:43
λέγει αὐτοῖς, Πῶς οὖν ∆αυὶδ ἐν πνεύµατι καλεῖ αὐτὸν κύριον λέγων,
He said to them, ‘How then does David by the Spirit call him Lord [deity], saying,
Matthew 22:44
Εἶπεν κύριος τῷ κυρίῳ µου, Κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν µου ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποκάτω τῶν ποδῶν σου;
"the Lord [Jehovah: God the Father] said to my Lord [Adonai as revealed deity: The Lord Jesus Christ], Sit on My right until I make Your enemies, a footstool for Your feet?"’ [a quote from Psalm 110:1]
Matthew 22:45
εἰ οὖν ∆αυὶδ καλεῖ αὐτὸν κύριον, πῶς υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ἐστιν;
If David then calls Him Lord [deity], how is He his son [his humanity is descended from David, but not his deity]?
Matthew 22:46
καὶ οὐδεὶς ἐδύνατο ἀποκριθῆναι αὐτῷ λόγον, οὐδὲ ἐτόλµησέν τις ἀπí ἐκείνης τῆς ἡµέρας ἐπερωτῆσαι αὐτὸν οὐκέτι
And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor did anyone dare from that day to question Him anymore.
They were not able to answer His question since they did not understand the Hypostatic Union.
Introductory statements regarding the hypostatic union:
1. In the person of the incarnate Christ are two natures, divine and human, inseparably united without mixture or loss of separate identity, without loss or transfer of properties or attributes, the union being personal and eternal.
2. The dispensation of the hypostatic union began at the moment of the virgin birth, also classified as the first advent of Christ.
3. From the time of the virgin birth and forever, our Lord Jesus Christ has been and always will be undiminished deity and true humanity in one person forever.
4. The doctrine of the hypostatic union was confirmed by the Council of Chalcedon in 451 A.D.
a. The two natures of Christ maintain their complete identity though being joined in personal union forever. The attributes of His human and divine nature belong to their corresponding natures though the attributes of either nature belong to the one person of Christ. Each nature has its own attributes that adhere to that nature.
b. There is no mixture of the two natures to form a third substance or hypostasis. The human nature always remains the human nature and the divine nature always remains the divine nature.
c. It is orthodox to refer to Christ as a theanthropic (the God-man) person. The two natures are united without transfer of attributes. It is impossible to transfer an attribute of one nature to the other nature without destroying that nature.
d. The essence is composed of the sum total of its attributes. A change of attributes involves a change of essence. Therefore, there is no change in the essence of deity or the essence of humanity.
5. The focus of the doctrine concerns the union of two natures, divine and human in one hypostatic union, one person.
6. The word “nature” comes from the Greek word ousia, the present participle of eimi, which means “that which is one’s own.” It means essence and it means being. It is the persona of the unique person of the universe. Ousia means “being, existing,” but comes to mean “nature.”
a. Beginning with the incarnation of Jesus Christ, a human nature was inseparably united forever with the divine nature of Jesus Christ. Yet the two natures remain distinct, whole, unchanged, without mixture or confusion, so that Jesus Christ is true humanity and undiminished deity in one person forever. Since the incarnation, Jesus Christ is true humanity and undiminished deity in one unique person forever. Since the first advent, it is no longer the divine nature alone which is expressed in His person, but the human nature as well.
b. The Lord Jesus Christ is unique in the universe. He is God with all the attributes of God. All the attributes of deity adhere to His deity and never cross over and become humanity. All the attributes of humanity adhere to the humanity of Christ and never become deity. The attributes of the divine nature could not be transferred to the human nature of Jesus Christ to help Him to resist temptation or to meet the great problems of life. The human nature of Christ in hypostatic union had to depend entirely upon the plan of God the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit.
c. Jesus Christ had to become perfect humanity to be our savior, to be our high priest, to be the mediator between God and man, and to fulfill the promise of the Davidic covenant that David’s son would rule forever.
7. The Approach to the Hypostatic Union.
a. The two natures of Christ in hypostatic union remain distinct, whole, and unchanged without mixture or confusion, so that one unique person, our Lord Jesus Christ, remains forever truly God and truly man. Whatever the Bible says about either the divine or human nature of Christ must be attributed to the entire person. Whatever is true of either nature is true of the entire person of Christ in hypostatic union. Jesus Christ is not two persons, but one person with two natures.
b. Jesus Christ is the God-man, undiminished deity and true humanity in one person forever.
c. Jesus Christ is not two persons. That is the Nestorian heresy. To deny that Christ is one person is to deny the incarnation, the First Advent, the dispensation of the hypostatic union, and our so great salvation.
