The Book of Matthew - Part 23

The lesson on February 2, 2025 was part 23 of “The Book of Matthew” study. We reviewed what we learned in the previous lesson about how “but now” is an expression that changes what was going on. This is a very important aspect of right division and interpreting what is being compared to understand the context. Then as we got into today’s topic, Wayne took on some apparent concern of passages making a statement but not coming true! Wayne posed the question “Did Jesus promise that the disciples would see the Son of man return in their lifetime?” We looked at the Greek construction of Matthew 10:23 to see how the Greek provides an article that conveys a condition. Using software, Wayne can ask for all the passages in Matthew that contain this and compare them. Those passages were: Matt. 5:18, 26; 10:23; 16:28; 23:39; 24:34 (in the New Testament, this Greek term appears in these other passages: Mk. 9:1; Lk. 9:27; 13:35; 21:32). Looking specifically at Matthew 10:23 KJV it says “23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.” The condition of “till the Son of man be come” is the translated English equivalent. The particle “an” in Greek makes it conditional. The one thing that was conditional was the repentance of Israel. If you are a new Christian and you are approaching the scriptures, be sure and come with faith and belief that all scripture is correct. There are no contradictions, errors or unfulfilled promises. When you study, trust that the answer will be revealed to you as you continue in the word.

The scripture reading was from Matthew 10:23-33 KJV “23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. 24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. 25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? 26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. 27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. 28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. 32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”