Things New and Old: "Hearing they hear not..."

Things New and Old

Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Such ancient truths when rediscovered and relearned are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths.

Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned to His people.

Many things taught by the Apostles of Christ have been perverted or substituted over the centuries. Such fundamental doctrines like salvation by grace and justification have been hijacked and perverted and repudiated by sincere Christians. These doctrines need to be reclaimed and restored to God's people.

There are things both new and old here. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things" 2Ti 2:7.

Monday, April 27, 2020

"Hearing they hear not..."

- Soundbytitis is a disease that afflicts many Christians.

Here is one common example.

A brother said,

"I would offer that the Bible teaches that humankind in general, without distinction into categories of elect or non-elect, has the moral obligation to respond to the gospel call, not only the elect. As the scriptures say "many are called, but few are chosen".

Here are the two passages where that phrase is referenced:

Mat 20:16 "So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen."

Mat 22:14 "For many are called, but few are chosen."

Both are found in the context of the parables of the kingdom of heaven. (see 20:1 and 22:1). Parables of the kingdom of heaven reveal something about the kingdom of heaven; they are not how those outside the kingdom must do in order to get INTO the kingdom. That idea is a popular fable, a gross misunderstanding of the parables.

The parable in Mt 20:1-16 was told in response to the Apostles' oblique complaint, "... we have forsaken all... blah blah blah... what shall we have therefore?" Christ told the parable to remind them of their unique honour as the Apostles of Christ.

Here, it is many are called to serve and labour in the Lord's vineyard, few are chosen to be the Apostles. In the parable, the Lord rebukes them, "It is enough that you are the few chosen ones among the many; you are apostles. It is a unique honour bestowed upon a few chosen for such honour.

The second parable tells us that many of God's children among the Jews were called by the gospel ministry, only a few are chosen to enjoy its blessings. The rest were blinded. (Remember, those dead in trespasses and sins need no blinding; they are blind enough! - that's common sense.)

Read John 12:37-41; Rom 11:5-8

John 12:40

He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

Mat 13:13

13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.