Matthew 07
Matthew 5:4:
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
- Knowledge of Prophecy is Crucial
- It is impossible to understand the context of Jesus’ message without having a firm grasp on prophecy; not everything Jesus said was “new.”
- John the Baptist, Jesus, and the 12 all come to Israel preaching a clear message of “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
- Prophecy shows that an everlasting kingdom was promised to David (and Israel) 2 Samuel 7:12-16
- Did all of Israel repent and receive their kingdom? Acts 2:23
- Israel Refused their Messiah
- Instead of repenting, Israel killed Christ.
- Remember Jesus’ prayer on the cross? Luke 23:34
- God did not pour out wrath, but rather offered another chance. Acts 2:38; 3:19-21
- Stephen was then murdered and the disciples were intensely persecuted.
- What about Israel now?
- We know from Romans 11:25-27 that Israel’s salvation is yet future. How is this going to take place?
- Zechariah 12:10-14- What a picture of regret and mourning!!!
- Matthew 24:30- Jesus mentions it…
- Revelation 1:7- Wailing is again mentioned at the open of Jesus’ “Revelation” to Israel
- Zechariah 13:1, Isaiah 51:11-12, Isaiah 40:1-2
- The order of events is found in Isaiah 61:1-3 :
1.)Year of the Lord 2.)Vengeance of God 3.)Comfort the mourners
- Is this our Pattern?
- Is this how we are saved today? Punishment/Wrath, repentance/mourning, and then forgiveness???
- Unlike Peter at Pentecost, Paul does not charge his audience with the death of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:21
- The prophetic view of the cross shows “enmity between God and man.” Psalm 2:1-5, 110:1
- But according to prophecy… Ephesians 2:16-17
- The mystery shows that it was by the secret of the cross that Satan was conquered and Christ made salvation possible for all! Colossians 2:14-15