Presents
Pamphlet #4427
Presents
Pamphlet #4427
Matthew 18:7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must
needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
My
Hi-lite: Matthew 18:8
Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them
from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather
than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
9
And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is
better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two
eyes to be cast into hell fire.
As we read earlier, it was foretold by Christ Himself in Mat. 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 that there would be massive offenses (deception and leading astray, i.e. casting of stumbling blocks) in these last days by the many would come claiming to represent Him. Just make sure you are not involved in the "scandalizing" of the little children by teaching them to follow the vain (empty) traditions of men which make void the Word of God, i.e. make it of none effect (Mat. 15:16, Mark 7:13).Furthermore, do not support those members who do teach those vain traditions which cause our people to stumble and fall or you become partakers of their evil deeds (2 Jn. 1:11).Let us be reminded of the 3rd Commandment.[7] Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
It reads as follows:
Again, to take the name of the LORD is to claim His authority, to claim that you represent Him and therefore His Word.Exodus 20:7
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
So if you set yourself up as a teacher, taking and using His name by claiming you represent Him, and you teach the vain (empty) traditions of men instead of teaching His words, the Word of God, chapter by chapter and line by line, thus leading His children astray and causing them to be lost, you will pay a great price. "The LORD will not hold him guiltless that takes His name in vain".
To that end, the following analogies Christ gives to us are given to instruct us how to "spiritually" separate ourselves from members of the body of Christ who unrepentantly cause offenses to the body.
Christ is in no way talking about severing a flesh body part for the subject is still "scandalizing" the children of God which includes all our brothers and sisters. He is speaking of those members of the body which bring offence and cause our people to stumble and fall and miss out on salvation. A "hand" for example is used to symbolize "work" and as it is written to the whole body, all 7 churches in Rev. 2 & 3, He knows your works, i.e. what your hand does! If your "hand" (work) causes children of the kingdom to stumble and fall, as do the works of 5 out of the 7 churches in Rev. 2 & 3, then you better stop it! Cut it off... as in cut it out,! Likewise if other hands or laborers will not turn and humble themselves as little children but continue to set stumbling blocks before the people, cut them off as well. The same applies to a "foot" who walks not in the path of righteousness (His Word) but carries the body down the wrong path. Go on crutches if you must, but always walk in His way... unerring in His Word.Matthew 18:8
Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
Your "eye" is that member which "sees" and watches over the body and which keeps an eye out (pun, pun) for the enemy while guarding the Word of Truth and Justice. If your "seer" is seeing and teaching things other than that which is written in Father's Word, like an any moment rapture theory or some other nonsensical and non-scriptural doctrine, then separate yourself from that part which causes the offence. Again, the subject is "scandalizing", the leading astray by false doctrines and the traditions of men which cause our people to fall into apostasy and lead them straight to hell, to the lake of fire at the end of Millennium.[9] And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.
As we learned in a prior study, many so-called Christian preachers and ministers are nothing more than thieves and robbers who teach for vainglory and/or money! In fact, that is the problem with the members of the church of Pergamos who held to the doctrine of Balaam, i.e. whose ministers preached for money.
The word "stumblingblock" in Greek is "skandalon"! You "see", Balaam was even a true priest of Israel, but if one takes the time to read the account he or she will find he preached to Balac, i.e. the Moabites, for MONEY.Know any churches like that? Do you know any churches that concentrate on tithes, and fund raisers, and pledges of money, and pass the plate, and building funds, etc, etc. fact at one point Balaam had his ass so loaded with "donations" that God intervened with an angel and had the ass speak to Balaam to bring him to his senses. So if you listen to or support a "seer", a teacher who should be a true watchman but who instead sees big $$$$ and is always asking for money or donations, then be wary my friend and "turn about" and sever yourself from that part.Rev. 2:14
But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
Here are Christ's words to the church of Pergamos who supports the doctrine of Balaam: Rev. 2:16 "Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth."
So that takes care of the unrepentant "offenders", but where does that leave the little ones?
Matthew 18:10
Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
The point is, our Father knows exactly what is happening to His children at any given moment. In fact, all that has ever happened is a matter of recorded witness and testimony and the fact is that the children of house of Israel have been "scandalized" by false prophets (even in the first earth age) and they have wandered so far astray from His Word that they have lost their way back home to the Father. That is why Jesus Christ came... to save that which was lost.2 Kings 6:17
And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
The lost sheep of the House of Israel have sinned and gone astray and now wander in the wilderness. However, our Father has NOT lost track of the very least of them and though they are sinners, they are still His children and each and everyone of them are dear and precious to Him. And you know what? When one of them repents and finds his or her way back home, their angels REJOICE, even their own family members who have lived and died and are now part of that heavenly host being that they are in their spiritual bodies.Matthew 18:11
For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
So do not despise, as in cast aside, even one of the little ones who believe in Him! To that end, Christ now gives an analogy of how wonderful it is find a lost sheep after diligently seeking for him or her.
Did you know that one hundred denotes "Election of Grace" or the "Children of Promise" in Biblical numerics?Matthew 18:12
How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
What a wonderful feeling it must be after having a child that you love so much but who has gone astray, finally return home to your open arms. Would you not call that the happiest day in your life? Well, our Father has many lost children due to the great "scandalizer" himself, Satan the devil, and all those who have become hands and feet and eyes for him in these last days. However, make no mistake about it! Father still loves each and everyone of His lost children and it is His heartfelt desire that each little one repent and return to His open arms.[13] And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.
Peter (petros) knew and understood this and gives a second witness to our Father's desire that ALL should come to repentance and not be cast into the hell fire![14] Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
What a happy day it is for our Father when one of His lost children does come to repentance and returns home to Him. Therefore, do not neglect nor despise the little ones, but rather receive them in His name and lead them to the kingdom of heaven through His precious Word. He will love you for it!2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits;
to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy
Spirit, you accomplish both.
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