Sunday, March 16, 2014

The Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God

Luke 6:17-19, 20-26, 27-36, 37-42, 43-45, 46-49 He came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of His disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear Him, and to be healed of their diseases; And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch Him: for there went virtue (an unknown power, Eternal Life) out of Him, and healed them all. (parallel passage Matthew 4:23-25)

He lifted up His eyes on His disciples, and said, Blessed be the poor: for theirs is the kingdom of God. 
Blessed are they that hunger now: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are they that weep now: for they shall laugh. 
Blessed are you, when men shall hate you, for they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers to the prophets.
But woe to you that are rich! for you have received your consolation. 
Woe to you that are full! for you shall hunger. 
Woe to you that laugh now! for you shall mourn and weep. 
Woe to you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets. (parallel passage Matthew 5:1-12)

But I say to you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despite-fully use you. And to him that smites you on the cheek offer also the other; and him that takes away your cloak forbid not to take your coat also. Give to every man that asks of you; and of him that takes away your goods ask them not again. As you would that men should do to you, do also to them likewise. For if you love them which love you, what thank have you? for sinners also love those that love them. And if you do good to them which do good to you, what thank you? for sinners also do even the same. And if you lend to them of whom you hope to receive, what thank you? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, for you shall be the children of the Highest: for He is kind to the unthankful and the evil. Be therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. (parallel passage Matthew 5:38-48, 7:12)

Judge not, and you shall not be judged: condemn not, and you shall not be condemned: forgive, and you shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given to you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you mete withal it shall be measured to you again. (We are to only judge or discern what spirit is in control of the persons actions and words, not the physical person. For the Spirit of God within us will reveal all things to us. What is the abundance of this persons heart? The only thing condemned is the condition of the heart, the physical person deserves God's Salvation because Redemption is already a fact, it's reality needs only to be received and acknowledged by us.)

He spoke a parable to them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. Why behold you the mote that is in your brother's eye, but perceive not the beam that is in your own eye? Neither can you say to your brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in your eye, when you yourself beholds not the beam that is in you own eye? You hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of your own eye, and then shall you see clearly to pull out the mote that is in your brother's eye. (parallel passage Matthew 7:1-5, the person's vision and or hearing, through which understanding of God's revelation is impaired needs to be cleared by God's doing, not ours. This is shown in the next few verses.)

A good tree brings not forth corrupt fruit; neither does a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil: for out of the abundance of the heart mans mouth speaks. (parallel passage Matthew 7:17-20, 12:34-35, all spiritual [Genesis 2:7, 21-23]  and non-spiritual [Genesis 3:7-8, 15] men will know and be known by God from this treasure, His restored Spirit within man.)

Why call Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? For whosoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings, and does them, I will show you to whom he is like: He is like a man who built a house, and dug deep, and laid a solid foundation on rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon the rock. But he that hears, and does not, is like a man that is without a foundation, who built a house upon the earth; against which the floods stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great. (parallel passage Matthew 7:24-27, we all know and hopefully understand the correlation of Christ Jesus being the rock of the ages and His being the House which for all time and Eternality will stand. Psalm 2, 118, Daniel 2)
 

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