Date: Tue, 24 Jan 1995 20:54:53 +0100
Reply-To: t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl
Sender: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
From: Teus Benschop
Subject: The Scriptures opened, 15
Contents
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1. Weekly reading, Exodus 23:2
2. Psalm 40:1,2
3. New Testament, John 3:1-21, part 1
4. Books
1. Weekly reading, Exodus 23:2
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Exodus 23:2
Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in
a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment.
This verse deals with the judges. They have to speak right in the
lawsuits. This verse can also be applied to us. Also we may not follow
the multitude to do evil. When everybody, or nearly everybody has some
habit, even when it is against God's law, it is often not considered as a
transgression. Everybody follows the multitude to do evil. And when you
say: "This is against God's law", then the answer is often: "What?
Everybody does it. Why is this not allowed?" But God warns us not to
follow the multitude to do evil. Let the Law be our norm, not the people.
The Bible is full of examples of this verse; both of the same warnings
and of transgressions of it. Here follow some examples.
Solomon warns us not to follow the multitude to do evil, when he says:
"My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not." (Prov.1:10)
Aaron followed the people to commit idolatry, when he made the golden
calf at Sinai. "And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down
out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and
said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for
this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot
not what is become of him." (Exod.32:1) "And when Aaron saw it, he built
an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a
feast to the LORD." (Exod.32:5)
In the beginning of the world, everybody had corrupted his way on the
earth. The one saw it of the other, and all sinned. "And God looked upon
the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his
way upon the earth." (Gen.6:12) Noah however, that holy and righteous
man, was righteous in the midst of a corrupt generation. "And the LORD
said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I
seen righteous before me in this generation." (Gen.7:1)
While the children of Israel travelled through the desert, they often
murmured together. When one begun, the rest followed. "And all the
children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the
whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land
of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!" (Num.14:2)
Elijah, that holy and righteous prophet, was one of the few among the
disobedient Israel, who still served God. "And he (Elijah) said, I have
been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel
have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy
prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my
life, to take it away." (1 Kin.19:10)
Also in the New Testament, you see the same. For example, Joseph, one
of the college of counsellors, was good and just, and followed them not
to do evil. "And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and
he was a good man, and a just: (The same had not consented to the counsel
and deed of them;)" (Luk.23:50-52)
Felix perverted the justice to show the Jews a pleasure. "But after
two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to
shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound." (Acts 24:27)
The wicked, while they know God's laws, nevertheless transgress it,
and also love it when the others do the same evil. "Knowing the judgment
of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only
do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." (Rom.1:32)
In present times, the people follow each another like a sheep the
flock. When, for example, the fathers forsake the Sabbath, their wives
and children will follow them to do this evil.
The Messiah however, it totally else. He is righteous, yea, He is The
Righteous. He will not judge according to the desires of the people, but
He will judge rightly. "And shall make him of quick understanding in the
fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes,
neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness
shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the
earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with
the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked." (Isa.11:3,4) The LORD,
our God, is righteous. When you transgress, keep this in mind. At the
other hand, when the people deal wickedly with you, you may know that God
is righteous, and will surely help you. When you cry at all unto Him, He
will surely hear your cry.
2. Psalm 40:1,2
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Ps.40:1,2
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my
cry.
In this Psalm, David thanks the LORD for the deliverance. He was not only
in common danger, but he had approached the death. This is clear from the
next verse, where he says: God "brought me up also out of an horrible
pit, out of the miry clay." (Ps.40:3) We know of David's life that he has
endured many great dangers. In his young years, he was always persecuted
by Saul. Later, while he was king, the enemies always attacked him, yea,
even his own son. But in this enduring dangers and attacks, he kept the
belief. He not only says that he "waited" for the LORD, but he doubles
the word: "I waited waiting for the LORD". This indicates the long time
of waiting while he was in distress. His belief made him believe that God
surely would come. It might seem that it would take a long time, but he
believed that once God would come and deliver him. This shows us the
truth of his belief. A belief is tried in this way, namely by testing it
during a long time.
While David was in dangers, and patiently waited for the LORD, he cried
to Him. He asked in his prayer for deliverance, and cried to his God. And
what happened after a long time? The LORD "inclined unto me, and heard my
cry". At the end, God freed him. The belief of David had not been in
vain. The proof was ready, and the belief showed itself to be enduring
and true. God heard his cry and brought David up also out of a horrible
pit, out of the miry clay.
What can we learn of this? Many. First, we learn that when we are in
dangers, that it can take a long time before God helps us. But let not
our faith cease. When God delays long, He does so to proof the faith of
His children. For, when we always get that what we want, and also very
soon, we never can show whether we have belief. For, when there are no
problems, everybody can say that he has belief. But the real faith will
be tested by God to show its truth. The unbelief, when tried, says: "I
have already so long asked God, but He does not hear me". "God does not
exist", says the unbelief, "because He does not help me". The real belief
however, like David's was, will say: "I wait patiently for the LORD, and
He will surely incline His ear to me, and He will hear my cry. Though I
am in distress now, and it seems that God not hears, I know and believe
that he will come to my deliverance".
We can also be helped when we look at David. The end of this verse
shows that God came. When we also are in his situation, surrounded by
impossibilities, we may draw hope from it. David's end was good, and also
our end will be good, when we only not lose our belief. When we are
delivered from our problems, let we then do the same as David did,
saying: "I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and
heard my cry."
3. New Testament, John 3:1-21, part 1
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This time, we start the explanation of John 3, verse 1 to 21. It is
recommended that you read it through in its totality. You will then see
that the short contents are as follows. Christ teaches Nicodemus about
the necessity and the way of the rebirth, and punishes his ignorance in
this subject. He uses the example of the serpent of metal to show that He
had to be lifted up to save all people who believe in Him. But those who
not believe in Him will be damned.
Let us now begin the explanation.
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the
Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know
that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these
miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
Nicodemus came to Jesus by night. Why did he not come on the day? The
reason will be that he feared to be thrown out of the synagogue, "for the
Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ,
he should be put out of the synagogue." (John 9:22) Therefore, to save
himself from that danger, he came at night in order that nobody would see
it. The question might arise if Jesus not had to sleep at night, and if
Nicodemus had to awaken Him. The answer could be that Jesus often prayed
at night, like the Gospels tell us. Another answer could be that Jesus
knew that Nicodemus would come, and that He therefore waited, for there
is written that Jesus knew what was in the man: He "needed not that any
should testify of man: for he knew what was in man." (John 2:25)
Nicodemus, at the other hand, must have had a great desire to speak with
Jesus. When he not had this desire, he would have stayed in his own house
at night. However it be, Nicodemus came to Jesus at night, and they had a
conversation.
Nicodemus started the talk by confessing his belief, no, even his
knowledge that Jesus was a teacher come from God. He said: "Rabbi, we
know that thou art a teacher come from God". He says not only that he
himself believed it, but he says: "we" believe it. With "we", he means
the other Pharisees. Nicodemus, being one of them, says that they
believed that Jesus was a teacher from God. When we than read in the
Gospels that they tried to kill Jesus, and laid snares before him, we
will be not a little amazed. On the one hand they believed that He was
come from God, and on the other hand they tried to kill Him! This people
must have acted against their consciences, what is a sign of an
extraordinary great hardening of their hearts.
How did they know that Jesus was a rabbi, come from God? From the
signs which He did. Nicodemus says that He comes from God, "for no man
can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him." Let we
now go to the Pharisees, and listen to them: "Therefore said some of the
Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath
day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And
there was a division among them." (John 9:16) Jesus made Himself known as
come from God by the signs and wonders which He did.
But let we now go back to the conversation of Nicodemus and Jesus.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
To see the kingdom of God, the rebirth is indispensable. "Except a man be
born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God". What is that, to be born
again? It is to be saved from the inborn destruction by the Holy Ghost,
and renewed to a new spiritual life. The rebirth is also called to be
born of God. "Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the
flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:13) It is also called
a renewing of the mind: "be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind."
(Rom.12:2) Being born again is a spiritual event, but it will not be hid.
Like a natural birth becomes public, also the spiritual rebirth. After a
natural birth, the life becomes visible, the babe cries, it wants food.
Also the spiritual birth: the life becomes visible, he cries for God, he
wants the spiritual food of God's Word. But though I make this
comparison, it is a spiritual event. Nicodemus however, did not
understand it. He took it literally and naturally. He could not think
spiritually.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can
he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Nicodemus' minds cleaved so much to the outward things, that he was
unable to think about a spiritual rebirth.
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be
born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of
God.
Because Nicodemus thought too naturally, Jesus made the rebirth more
clear. The rebirth has nothing to do with a natural mother, but one has
to be born of water and of the Spirit. "Except a man be born of water and
of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God". What is that, to
be born of water and the Spirit? That is to be cleaned of sins through
the power of the Holy Ghost, like the external spots are washed away with
water. It is the same as whereof the prophet speaks. God will wash the
people with water: "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye
shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I
cleanse you." (Ezek.36:25) Also, God will give His Spirit to the people
in order that they will obey Him. "And I will put my spirit within you,
and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and
do them." (Ezek.36:27)
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of
the Spirit is spirit.
What is born of the flesh is flesh. In other words, what is born from the
natural father and natural mother is flesh, that is, it is sin. The
natural man is always sinning. To be flesh means to be inclined to sin
and other desires of the flesh. But that which is born of the Spirit is
spirit. In other words, what is born of God is spiritual and is inclined
to the true service of God.
When Nicodemus heard this explanation, he marvelled. He never had heard
such things. We will be amazed at this, that he never had heard about
those things. The more is this amazing while Nicodemus was a scholar in
the Torah. Had he not read in the Tanach that God must renew the hearts
(Ezek.36:26)? That God can give a heart to serve Him (Deut.29:4)? Because
Nicodemus wondered at these things, Jesus said to him:
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound
thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so
is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Jesus explains the rebirth, the birth of the Spirit. He takes the example
of the wind. You hear it, but you cannot see it, nor do you know where it
originates. You can feel the wind blowing, but we know not where it goes.
The same is it with everybody who is born of the Spirit. You hear the
Spirit in His works, but you cannot see Him. We do not know when He
begins; we only see when He is working. The result of the work of the
Spirit is a new person, born again.
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
Nicodemus still did not understand this, like in verse four. "How can
these things be"? He means, how can these things be, which You said about
rebirth and spiritual workings?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and
knowest not these things?
Jesus gave Nicodemus a reprimand: "Art thou a master of Israel, and
knowest not these things?" Nicodemus had to teach the people in the Godly
doctrine, but he even did not know these main points. How could he then
teach the people? Because Nicodemus did not know these main things, he
necessarily taught the people the less important things, like washings,
external rites, how far you may travel on the Sabbath, what you can eat
and what not, etc. Though some of these things had their function, and
others were invented by the fathers, Nicodemus did not teach the main
point: reconciliation with God through rebirth and belief. So, he got
stuck in the little things, and was unaware of the true way to please
God. Poor people who had such an ignorant leader. However, Nicodemus was
not unwilling to learn; he did his best. Therefore he came to Jesus, the
highest Teacher and Prophet come from God.
Also today, Judaism does not believe in the rebirth, in the renewal of
the heart. And that in spite of the fact that the Old Testament teaches
these things clear enough. I will now quote some texts, which speak about
the renewal of the heart, about spiritual workings, about the metaphor of
the circumcision of the heart.
- Circumcision of the heart. "And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine
heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine
heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live." (Deut.30:6)
- God gives one a perfect heart to keep His commandments. "And give unto
Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy
testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things." (1
Chron.29:19) These words are taken from David's prayer.
- God creates a clean heart and a renewed spirit. "Create in me a clean
heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." (Ps.51:10)
- God gives a heart to fear Him. "And I will give them one heart, and one
way, that they may fear me forever, for the good of them, and of their
children after them" (Jer.32:39)
- God gives His fear in the hearts, and makes an everlasting covenant, in
order that the people walk in His holy ways. "And I will make an
everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to
do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not
depart from me." (Jer.32:40)
- God transforms one's heart from a stony heart to a willing heart of
flesh. This metaphor shows that God makes the people willing. "And I will
give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will
take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of
flesh:" (Ezek.11:19)
- God will wash the people from their filthiness and idols. "Then will I
sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your
filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you." (Ezek.36:25)
- God gives His Spirit in order that they do His Law. "And I will put my
spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall
keep my judgments, and do them." (Ezek.36:27)
And in this way, I could continue, but this is enough. The Old
Testament abundantly testifies that it is God's work to let the people
walk in His ways and do His Law. The more will we marvel that this is not
taught in Judaism. After we have read this, we will understand why Jesus
wondered about the ignorance of Nicodemus, and the unwillingness of many
people to believe what He said. This wondering is expressed in the
following verse.
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and
testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
Jesus speaks out his amazement that they not believe the eye- and ear-
witnesses. He says: We speak what we know and what we have seen, but you
do not believe our witness. It is a bad practice to deny the witness of
the people who have seen it, and to believe yourself, who not has seen
it. The Pharisees did so. This a very unreasonable deed, not to believe
the witnesses.
With "we" are meant Jesus and John the Baptist, for they have seen the
spiritual things, and have also spoken about the baptism with water and
Spirit. With "we" is also meant Jesus and all the prophets, because they
all spoke about the renewal of the heart, as is just proved.
(will be continued D.V. the next time)
4. Books
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Thomas Goodwin, The object and acts of justifying faith
This book deals with the excellence of faith. Beginning with the Old
Testament, Goodwin shows that faith is supported by "two grand pillars",
God's promise of Christ and God's precious nature. He shows what God does
for "humbled and broken hearts". It is Christ rather than faith which
becomes the theme.
ISBN 0 85151 447 2
608 pp. Cloth-bound.
Price around $19.00
Ordering: ask your local bookstore or reply this description to
chr-exp-request@nic.surfnet.nl - Your order will be forwarded to a
bookshop. When ordering by reply, include your full name, address, ZIP-
code and state and/or country.
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Chr-Exp, a Christian explanation of the Tanach and the New Testament
Editor: Teus Benschop - t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl
No copyrights on this publication
Institution Practical Bible-education, the Netherlands
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file: /pub/resources/text/ipb-e/so: s-open-015.txt
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