Examining the Greek: Emphatic Negations in the Sermon on the Mount

Comments

1. Chris says

   May 30, 2012 at 5:32 am

   Thanks for the post. Is Jesus saying that until heaven and earth pass away all that was written and has been written will not pass away? For example, their are prophecies and teachings in the first covenant that have not been fulfilled entirely. For example, Loving God with all of your heart, honoring the Sabbath, and others. I know that we do not earn righteousness by keeping the Sabbath or any other requirements of the Law, however, isn’t Jesus teaching that nothing shall pass away until all is fulfilled, meaning His second coming and ultimately, “The Day of the Lord?”

   • Tracy says

     May 30, 2012 at 7:14 am

     This is what I have wondered as well…thanks!

   • Justin Alfred says

     May 31, 2012 at 2:41 pm

     Dear Chris:

     That is a very good question, but you are misunderstanding both what Jesus said, as well as what I was writing. With regard to the Law, Jesus is the fulfillment, and ONLY through His life, death, burial, and ressurection is the Law then fulfilled in us who accept Him as our Lord and Savior. For example, with regard to “Loving God with all of your heart, honoring the Sabbath,” NO HUMAN BEING CAN LOVE THE LORD THAT MUCH because of our sin, and even in the Old Testament, the continuous sacrifices were for that very reason – that is, mankind could not fulfill the Law and thus, the absolute need for the sacrifices for our sin. But now in Jesus, His once and for all sacrifice completes us who have accepted Him as our Lord and Savior. Thus, as I wrote in the Blog, Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law, and in Him and Him alone is the righteousness of God fulfilled. That means that for everyone who accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior, they too will have the Law fulfilled in them.

     I hope this helps to answer your question, and if you have any more, don’t hesitate to ask.

     God bless you,

     Justin T. Alfred

     • Chris says

       June 6, 2012 at 6:51 am

       Thanks you for your response. After reviewing the question I posed to you I did not really ask the question I was trying to ask. Jesus mentions until heaven and earth pass away. Heaven and earth have not passed away so how has all been accomplished? When Jesus proclaimed it is finished, wasn’t he referring to His purpose for coming, redemption? What I was asking is, aren’t there still valid prophecies and scriptures written in the Old Covenant which have not been fulfilled, therefore all is not accomplished. It also seems as if Jesus is giving a declarative statement. “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” If Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection accomplishes this statement why then the emphasis on heaven and earth? The Greek word used for pass (as I am sure you know literally means to pass by). Also here is a perfect example of a scripture that is still yet to be fulfilled from the Old covenant. Zechariah 14:1, and Zech 14:4. There are many many more. What do you think?

2. steve morrow says

   May 30, 2012 at 5:43 am

   Proverbs 8:8
   All the words of my mouth are in RIGHTEOUSNESS
   there is NOTHING froward or perverse in them

   Psalm 119:144
   The righteousness of thy TESTIMONIES IS EVERLASTING
   give me understanding and I SHALL LIVE

   Romans 10:3 For they being ignorant of GODS RIGHTEOUSNESS
   and going about to establish their own righteousness
   Have not SUBMITTED THEMSELVES UNTO THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD

   2 Timothy 3:16 ALL scripture is is given by inspiration of GOD
   and is PROFITABLE FOR DOCTRINE FOR REPROFF FOR CORECTION
   FOR INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS

   LOVING THE LORD

3. John Brown says

   May 30, 2012 at 6:04 am

   Thank you, even in your grammar notes, for acknowledging the inspiration of the scriptures. I find that MANY errors among TV preachers and “disciples of Diotrophes” (who love to have preeminence) are born out of exegesis of the english text in ignorance of the “roadsigns” put there in the original language text by the Holy Spirit to guide the diligent pilgrim.

   PS – BlueLetterBible is doing something even Tyndale couldn’t dream of — to put a beginning understanding of the Greek and Hebrew text “in the hands of anyone with a compluter.” May God bless you for this mighty work.

4. Daniel Taylor says

   May 30, 2012 at 7:57 am

   Thank you for this well-thought study on emphatic negations. I agree that the Sermon on the Mount does a lot of comparing the Pharisees’ “righteousness” versus the righteousness God provided through Jesus. I do have one question, related to verse 18 that I would like to get your opinion on. Based on your interpretation, Jesus is saying “that nothing at all out of the whole of God’s Law (i.e., the whole of the Old Testament) ‘shall pass away (οὐ μὴ παρέλθῃ – ou mē parelthē) until all is accomplished,’ and that ‘accomplishment’ will be through His life, death, and resurrection!” It seems that you are making an inference that “accomplished” (genetai) means “death/resurrection,” but that connection isn’t obvious based on the text. This is especially so when you consider that the author uses the exact same construction (heos an) for both “accomplished” and the disappearance of heaven and earth in the same verse (“until heaven and earth disappear”; “until all is accomplished”). Taken together, I would infer that “accomplished” is better understood with the end of the age and disappearance of heaven and earth, not strictly with the resurrection. What do you make of the first part of verse 18, “Until heaven and earth disappear…” based on your understanding that “accomplished” means “life/death/resurrection”?

   None of this would diminish the fact that Jesus is saying that the righteousness provided in and through him alone is superior to the “garments of menstruation” of the Pharisees. I’m just one student of the Bible appealing to another.

   • Jerry S. says

     May 31, 2012 at 5:25 am

     I agree. I got the same inpression, that the text did not connect “accomplished” to the “death and resurrection” which is what seem to be infered. Our righteousness before our Creator was accomplished, but all will not be accomplished until a future date.

     Seperate issue, I do not believe that the “Jews of that day and time” were as “blind” is was infered. I believe the “Jews of that day and time” were well aware of who and what the Roman appointed Jewish leadership of that day and time was. Also, based on Gospel accounts, the Jewish people followed the Lord in throngs not soley for the miricales performed, but by His clear teaching of scripture of which they had to be familiar with to recognize it’s validity.

     I do so greatly appreciate this sounding board of discussion. I pray that it continues.

     • Justin Alfred says

       May 31, 2012 at 5:22 pm

       Dear Jerry:
       Thanks so much for your response to Daniel’s question, and I hope as you read my response to his question that some of your questions concerning this passage will be answered. However, I am not totally sure I understand your statement, “I do not believe that the ‘Jews of that day and time’ were as ‘blind’ is was infered. I believe the “Jews of that day and time” were well aware of who and what the Roman appointed Jewish leadership of that day and time was.” Indeed, the Jewish population of Judea was well aware of the support given the Sanhedrin by the Romans, but that would have nothing to do with their ‘spiritual and intellectual blindness’, any more than many people today in the United States understand quite well the authority Obama has as President, as well as our 1st Amendment rights, but that doesn’t in any way diminish the ‘spiritual blindness’ of this current President, who professes to be a believer in Jesus Christ, and his administration as a whole, as evidenced by so many of the decisions they have made (e.g., the current debate with the Catholic Church and their ban on contraception, the abortion decisions rendered by this administration, not to mention the position now taken on homosexual marriage, etc.), or a great host of people in this country who may be religious, but do not have a saving relationship with Jesus. Thus, in the time of Jesus, the ‘works based salvation’ of the established, Jewish, religious leadership is unquestionable – you only need to read the rabbinic writings of that day and time, as well as their midrashic commentaries during that period to clearly see that the Jews then, as well as ALL OF MANKIND without a saving faith in the righteousness of God, view their salvation as based on their works. And yes, the Jews were quite familiar with scriptural readings in their synagogues, but, based on the Gospel witness, as well as the Book of Acts and the Pauline epistles, it doesn’t appear that much spiritual light was being disseminated, but rather a great deal of ‘religious darkness’ surrounding and permeating the Jewish culture and society of that day and time:

       And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 And He answered and said to them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. 12 “For whoever has, to him shall more be given, and he shall have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. 13 “Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 “And in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, ‘You will keep on hearing, but will not understand; And you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive; 15 For the heart of this people has become dull, And with their ears they scarcely hear, And they have closed their eyes Lest they should see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart and return, And I should heal them.’ 16 “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. (Matthew 13:10-16)

       It is true, however, that the people recognized a difference in Jesus’ teaching, versus that of the Pharisees, for when we come to the end of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s Gospel, we read: “The result was that when Jesus had finished these words, the multitudes were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes” (Matthew 7:28-29). The word for “authority” in the Greek is ἐξουσία (exousia), and its basic meanings are, “the right to control or command, to exercise authority, and a demonstration of the capability to exercise might and power,” and here in Matthew, without any equivocation, this “demonstration of the capability to exercise might and power” had to do specifically with Jesus’ understanding of and disseminating the truth of God’s Word, which apparently WAS NOT SOMETHING coming from the teaching of the Pharisees. In addition, this ἐξουσία (exousia) did not come through the dead legalism of a ‘works based salvation’, but rather from the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit based on a relationship with the eternal God, which was emanating from Jesus because it was real with Him, but obviously not from the Pharisees because that relationship was not real with them. On the contrary, their teaching, once again, based on the Gospel witness and the Pauline epistles, as well as the other New Testament epistles, was based on “dead works”:

       Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you too outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. (Matthew 23:27-28, as well as the whole of chapter 23)

       You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? 2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain– if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does He then, who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? (Galatians 3:1-6)

       But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:11-14)

       As I mentioned above in the first quote from Matthew 23, that whole of chapter 23 is replete with references to the ‘spiritual deadness’ of the Pharisees, but what is even more important with reference to your statement that, “I do not believe that the ‘Jews of that day and time’ were as ‘blind’ is was inferred,” are the following statements by Jesus referencing the “blindness” of the Pharisees, and thus, those who would follower them would be equally so:

       Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, . . . Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obligated.’ 17 “You fools and blind men; which is more important, the gold, or the temple that sanctified the gold? 18 “And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing, but whoever swears by the offering upon it, he is obligated.’ 19 “You blind men, which is more important, the offering or the altar that sanctifies the offering? . . . You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! . . . You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also. (Matthew 23:1, 16-19, 24, 26).

       The point to be made, Jerry, is that there was indeed great ‘spiritual blindness’ over the Jews, as well as over all mankind, not only in the time of Jesus, but from the fall forward, and it was this ‘spiritual blindness’ that Jesus was addressing in Matthew 5:17-20.

       I hope this may answer some of your questions, and do not hesitate to ask again.

       God bless you,

       Justin T. Alfred

       • Jerry S. says

         June 3, 2012 at 5:39 am

         There were no questions in what I wrote. No offense meant in what I said. So much for a sounding board of discussion.
         J.

         • Maciek says

           June 4, 2012 at 9:05 am

           Hi Jerry
           I want to agree with you and I also say that we cannot put all Jews of that time to one sack and Christ certainly didn’t do that. Law given by Moses origin from God and is good and even spiritual like said Paul Apostle in his letter to Romans. During Jesus’s earthly time there were people there who were obedient to that law law given through Moses by God. For example about Zechariah and Elizabeth is written in Luke 1:6 “And they were both just before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.” Another example is Simeon Luke 2:25 about him is written that he was righteous and devout. Furthermore lets examine beginning of the Mat 5 because with his first words Christ is addressing Jews who were there and what he says: That some of them are blessed – them with poor spirit, them who are hungry for righteousness and so on. If we look back before Christ was born we see that beautifull range of Psalms written by Jews like Ps 1, Ps 51, Ps 119 and all 150 of them. Enough to see how in high esteem was Moses and Prophets between them righteous Jews who have composed these Psalms Songs and Poems. Pharisees and scribes belonged to corrupted class of people who perverted Law of God More exactly Christ addresses them in Mat 23. Zechariah, Simeon, Apostle Peter didn’t belonged to that class and this is why they were able recognized Christ who was able to give them Kingdom Of God – true – full righteousness that one which fulfil the law in full true sense and origin from God himself.

           My best regards to you

   • Justin Alfred says

     May 31, 2012 at 3:51 pm

     Dear Daniel:
     You bring up an excellent point, and it is great that you are inquiring about the adverbial clause, ἕως ἄν (heos an), with regard to just what the “accomplished” is referring to. First of all, it is important to note that Jesus is the subject of the verbs “abolish” and “fulfill” – “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.” Thus, Jesus is indeed talking about Himself as being the ‘fulfillment’ of the Law and the Prophets. Now does that ‘fulfillment’ include His Second Coming, the Great Tribulation, His millennial reign, the Great White Throne Judgment, and the coming of the New Jerusalem? Unequivocally His ‘fulfillment’ embraces all of that. But in this particular passage, what specifically is Jesus talking about? He is talking about the Pharisees et al restructuring the Law in such a way that NO WAY represents what God intended, but rather they have exalted themselves in a self-deified manner and insinuated by doing so that their salvation is based on their own goodness. And thus, they were viewed by the ordinary Jews as being the ‘mouthpiece’ of God, in MUCH THE SAME WAY Muslims do today with their Imams – that is, the Imams, especially in the Shi’a branch of Islam, are viewed as next to God and His very mouthpiece, much the same way as did the Jews of that day and time. However, further on in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus makes it clear that the Pharisees ARE NOT the representation of God on earth: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you too outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Matthew 23:27-28). Therefore, as I look at Matthew 5:17-20, as well as the whole of Matthew 5, it appears to me that what Jesus is talking about here is the means by which one is declared “righteous,” and He is making a very strong point that the “righteousness” of the Pharisees is TOTALLY INSUFFICIENT! Thus, when Jesus makes reference to the “Law” and the “Prophets,” He is doing it with regard to the Pharisees distorting these two sources of divine inspiration concerning the means whereby one attains to righteousness, and thereby is received into heaven. When we then come to Matthew 5:20, Jesus is saying that there is a “righteousness” that exceeds that of the Pharisees, and unless that possess that righteousness, a person “shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

     Therefore, I view the ἕως ἄν (heos an) here in particular in this particular instance as Jesus referring “until all is accomplished” (ἕως ἂν πάντα γένηται – heos an panta genetai) with regard to the salvation of mankind through Jesus’ righteousness, which will be passed to all mankind who believe through His death, burial, and resurrection. In other words, in this instance, I clearly see Jesus referring to the salvation that is promised to mankind in the Law and the Prophets in comparison to the distortion of salvation as presented by the Pharisees, and, consequently, I see Him narrowing the focus of γένηται (genetai) in this context to that of salvation through His righteousness.

     I hope this is helpful, and if you have any more questions, don’t hesitate to ask them.

     God bless you,

     Justin T. Alfred

     • Maciek says

       June 4, 2012 at 10:10 am

       Hi Justin
       I would rather say that Christ in Mat 5 confront righteousness of Scribes and Pharisees not with his teaching but with Moses and Prophets teaching which He pointed in verse above Mat 5:19. When He called them who were listenning to stick to that teaching of Moses and Prophets. Pharisees and sribes didn’t do that so later they were not able to recognise Jesus as Son of God and Messiah foretold by Moses and Prophets. Look to Mat 23:3 where Jesus himself order people to obey what Pharisees and scribes rightly teach from Moses and Prophets.
       And Law of Moses which was from God was about righteousness of work! And they were to do their works to be called righteous like it was written in Deut 6:24-25 “this will be our righteousness if we do what Jahveh our God commanded us.” So righteousness of works wasn’t bad because God told them that this was to be their righteousness. And nothing what God gave them was bad.
       My best regards

       • Jerry S. says

         June 5, 2012 at 5:08 am

         What better example of righteousness received thru the Law of Moses than our Lord Jesus whose life as the Son of Man was obedient to the law and prophets and was deemed righteous by our Father and Creator as evidenced by His resurrection. An accomplishment all are able to share in by God’s grace and faith in that accomplishment. It would serve us all well to remember the lesson taught to Saul when he was knocked off his horse. His blind eyes were opened to the reality that he was in fact persecuting the God he thought he was serving, namely Yeshuah, Messiah, Son of David, King of the Jews. I say this as a gentile believer.

5. Marc says

   May 30, 2012 at 12:12 pm

   Hello,

   First I want to thank God for this website and the great encouragement these articles (particularly this one on righteousness) has been for me. You know those moments when God just unlocks something for you and you get it? Well, I feel sharpened and deepened. The clarity of the this teaching is wonderful.

   I thank God for you Justin and those you work with. May the name of the Lord Jesus be ever glorified as you continue to humble yourself under his mighty hand!

6. steve morrow says

   May 30, 2012 at 6:01 pm

   –NOTHING AT ALL– FROM THE WHOLE OF GODS LAW (THE OLD TESTAMENT)
   — ———————————- —
   DEUTERONOMY 18:18
   I WILL RAISE THEM UP A PROPHET FROM AMONG THEIR BRETHREN
   —LIKE UNTO THEE —
   AND WILL PUT MY WORDS IN HIS MOUTH
   AND HE SHALL SPEAK UNTO THEM ALL THAT I SHALL COMMAND HIM

   ACTS 3:22&23
   FOR MOSES TRULY SAID UNTO THE FATHERS
   A PROPHET SHALL THE LORD YOUR GOD RAISE UP UNTO YOU OF YOUR BRETHREN
   LIKE UNTO ME —HIM— SHALL YOU HEAR IN ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER
   —HE— SHALL SAY UNTO YOU

   (23)AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS —THAT EVERY SOUL—
   WHICH WILL NOT HEAR THAT PROPHET
   —-SHALL BE DESTROYED FROM AMONG THE PEOPLE—

   O MY LORD JESUS DID YOU NOT COME BACK —AFTER— YOUR CRUCIFICTION THAT PAUL WOULD SEE YOU AND HERE YOU SPEAK
   UNTO HIM THE WHOLE OF THE WILL OF THE FATHER

   ACTS 22:14
   AND HE SAID
   THE GOD OF OUR FATHERS HATH CHOSEN THEE
   THAT THOU SHOULDEST —KNOW HIS WILL—AND SEE THAT JUST ONE—
   AND SHOULDEST —-HEAR THE VOICE OF HIS MOUTH—-

   ROMANS 15:4
   FOR WHATSOEVER THINGS WERE WRITTEN AFORETIME WERE WRITTEN FOR OUR LEARNING THAT WE THROUGH —PATIENCE— AND COMFORT— OF
   THE SCRIPTURES —-MIGHT HAVE HOPE—-

   1 CORINTHIANS 10:11
   NOW ALL THESE THINGS HAPPENED UNTO THEM FOR EXAMPLES
   AND THEY ARE WRITTEN FOR OUR ADMONITION
   UPON WHOM THE ENDS OF THE WORLD ARE COME

   JOHN 7:38
   HE THAT BELIEVETH ON ME AS THE SCRIPTURE HATH SAID
   OUT OF HIS BELLY SHALL FLOW RIVERS OF —LIVING WATER—

   GALATIANS 5:4
   YOU ARE GONE QUIET FROM CHRIST AS MANY AS ARE JUSTIFIED
   BY THE LAW AND ARE FALLEN FROM GRACE (TYNDALE BIBLE)

   GALATIANS 5:7&8
   YOU DID RUN WELL WHO WAS A LET UNTO YOU THAT YOU SHOULD NOT
   OBEY THE TRUTH (JESUS IS THE TRUTH)THANK YOU LORD AMEN
   (8)EVEN THAT COUNSEL IS NOT OF —HIM— THAT CALLED YOU

   ROMANS 8:2
   FOR THE LAW OF —THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN JESUS CHRIST—
   HATH MADE ME FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN & DEATH

   GALATIANS 5:18
   BUT IF YOU BE LED OF THE—SPIRIT—
   —YOU ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW—

   JOHN 6:63
   IT IS THE SPIRIT THAT QUICKENETH
   THE FLESH PROFITETH —NOTHING—
   THE WORDS THAT —I—SPEAK—UNTO YOU
   THEY ARE SPIRIT
   THEY ARE LIFE

   GALATIANS 5:4
   YOU ARE GONE QUIET FROM CHRIST AS MANY AS ARE JUSTIFIED
   BY THE LAW AND ARE FALLEN FROM GRACE

   MARK 8:35
   FOR WHOSOEVER WILL SAVE HIS LIFE —SHALL LOSE IT—BUT—
   WHOSOEVER SHALL LOSE HIS LIFE —FOR MY SAKE AND THE GOSPELS—
   —-THE SAME SHALL SAVE IT—-

   FATHER GOD WE COME TO YOU IN PRAYER THROUGH YOUR SON JESUS
   CHRIST ASKING THAT OUR —HEARTS —SOULS—MINDS AND BODIES
   WOULD BE CLEANSED LORD THAT WE WOULD BE DONE WITH DARKNESS
   LORD GOD AND THAT YOU PROTECT US FROM THE devil and his demons and angels HELP US LORD JESUS WE PRAY IN YOUR NAME

   LOVING THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

   • J.Walsh says

     May 31, 2012 at 5:35 am

     I am sort of confused as to why you are praying that our hearts and souls be cleansed from darkness… aren’t the people reading and commenting on this blog already on a path towards God? a path they have chosen to explore on their own and wanting to know more about what God’s Will looks like for their life… Do you disagree that Jesus’s life, death and resurrection fulfilled/completed the Old Testament Law from the prophets of God?
     Because to disagree with something that Jesus plainly taught himself, by His and God’s Authority, is to disagree with GOD HIMSELF! Jesus was manifested as a man but at the same time Jesus HAS BEEN AND WILL ALWAYS BE GOD.
     GENESIS 1:26 “And God saith, ‘Let Us make man in Our** image, according to Our** likeness…”
     **Anyone who thinks they can believe in God and want to work for His kingdom, must also believe that Jesus is the SON OF GOD and was with GOD and the SPIRIT before the world began.

     • Barbara LeFevre says

       May 31, 2012 at 12:57 pm

       J~

       If I understand what you are saying, it’s for the same reason that Jesus told us in His model prayer that we are to pray that God keeps us from temptation and delivers us from evil. We may be new creatures in Christ Jesus, but we can still choose to sin. Our initial salvation only puts us into positioning so that we can be cleansed from all unrighteousness. Although God accepted us like we were, He most certainly can’t leave us that way because Christ is coming for a spotless bride. The alternative to thinking that we don’t need to be “cleansed from darkness” is that we are perfect, and no one can say that.

       In Christ~
       Barbara

   • Kalvin C. says

     May 31, 2012 at 6:43 pm

     Steve,

     I am puzzled by the capital letters. In many circles, it would appear you are emphasizing your words to the point of yelling. All capitals here and there is fine for simply emphasizing a word or phrase but the entire post is capitalized and indicative of some sense of disagreement you must have with the author or a particular audience member. What seems to be the problem with the lesson or the feedback to it? If I’m off base, I apologize for misinterpreting your writing.

     Kalvin

     • steve morrow says

       June 1, 2012 at 10:11 pm

       O MY LORD JESUS WHOS WORDS HAVE YOU AND OUR FATHER
       —COMMANDED—US TO LISTEN TO —TRUST—AND BELIEVE— AND MY LORD HAVE YOU NOT TAUGHT US THAT
       YOUR WORDS/TESTIMONIES ARE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND—ALL—YOUR COMMANDMENTS ARE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND YOUR WORDS ARE SPIRIT AND LIFE AND TRUTH AND LIGHT AND THAT YOUR COMMANDMENTS AND TESTIMONIES ARE FAITHFUL

       HELP US LORD JESUS THAT WE WOULD HAVE YOUR FAITH
       HELP US O LORD TO UNDERSTAND LIVES ARE AT STAKE
       HELP US TO EMPHASIZE IN ANY WAY THAT IS POSSIBLE

       THANK YOU LORD JESUS FOR YOUR CLEANSING FOR I WOULD NEVER THINK OF YELLING AT YOU THANK YOU LORD THAT YOU ARE FAITHFUL AMEN

       Hebrews 2:1
       Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which have been heard lest at any time we should let them slip

       John 5:19&20
       Then answered JESUS and said unto them
       Verily verily I say unto you THE SON can do nothing of HIMSELF but what HE seeth the FATHER DO for what things soever HE doeth these also doeth the SON likewise
       (20)For the FATHER loveth the SON and showeth HIM —ALL—things that HIMSELF doeth
       and HE will show HIM greater works than these
       that you may marvel

       John 15:5
       I am the vine you are the branches
       He that abideth in —ME— and —I— in him
       The same bringeth forth much fruit
       For without—-ME—- you can do nothing

       James 3:18
       And the —FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS—is sown in peace of them that make peace

       Romans 14:17
       For the kingdom of GOD is not meat and drink
       —BUT RIGHTEOUSNESS—and peace and joy in the holy spirit

       John 12:49
       FOR I HAVE NOT SPOKEN OF MYSELF
       BUT THE FATHER WHICH SENT ME HE GAVE ME A COMMANDMENT WHAT I SHOULD SAY AND WHAT I SHOULD SPEAK

       John 14:15
       IF YOU LOVE ME KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS

       LOVING YOU LORD THANK YOU

7. steve morrow says

   May 31, 2012 at 7:28 am

   O LORD HOW IS IT THAT WE ESCAPE THE DARKNESS

   John 3:20&21
   For every one that doeth evil hateth the light neither cometh to
   the light lest his deeds should be reproved

   (21)But he that doeth truth cometh to the light
   That his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in GOD

   Mark 8:35
   For whosoever will save his life shall lose it
   But whosoever shall lose his life for MY sake —and—
   the gospels the same shall save it

   2 Corinthians 4:3&4
   But if our gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost
   (4)In whom the god of this world hath blinded the —MINDS—
   of them which believe not
   LEST THE LIGHT OF THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL OF CHRIST
   WHO IS THE IMAGE OF GOD SHOULD SHINE UNTO THEM

   Psalm 119:130
   The entrance of thy words giveth —LIGHT—
   It giveth understanding unto the simple

   1 Peter 4:17
   For the time is come that judgement must begin
   at the house of GOD
   And if it first begin at us
   What shall the end be of them that —OBEY NOT—
   THE GOSPEL OF GOD

   1 Peter 4:18
   AND IF THE RIGHTEOUS SCARCELY BE SAVED
   WHERE SHALL THE UNGODLY AND THE SINNER APPEAR

   2 Thessalonians 2:10
   And with all deceiveableness of unrighteousness in them that perish because they received not the —LOVE OF THE TRUTH—
   that they might be saved

   LOVING THE LORD