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“Hear Ye Him” Matthew 17:1-13
Matthew 17:1-5 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
Matthew 17:6-13 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist
Matthew 17:1-5 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
“Men often have suggested that additional tabernacles be built, and they have built them! Despite the fact that the Lord has pitched ‘the true tabernacle,’ the church which he has purchased with his own blood, men have not been content therewith (Heb. 8:2). Moses built his house, but, now, Christ has built his. He reigns ‘over his own house,’ the church, ‘whose house are we’ (Cf. 1 Pet. 2:5). Despite that, Joseph Smith built his Mormon tabernacle or church. Others, disregarding the objections of Martin Luther, set up the Lutheran denomination. Earlier, others had erected Baptist churches. Later, some would assemble the Methodist system of faith. Without divine permission, men raised up their tabernacles. Unlike Peter, they did not stop to say, ‘Lord, if thou wilt.’ However, the response is the same today as it was when Peter asked permission, ‘This is my beloved Son...hear ye him.’” Larry Hafley, “Let Us Build Three Tabernacles” – www.biblework.com
Adam Clark on “hear ye Him” “The disciples wished to detain Moses and Elijah that they might hear them: but God shows that the law which had been in force, and the prophets which had prophesied, until now, must all give place to Jesus; and he alone must now be attended to, as the way, the truth, and the life; for no man could now come unto the Father but through him.”(Adam Clark’s Commentary)
Why Hear Christ? • He is the prophet foretold by Moses • Duet. 18:15, 18-19
Deuteronomy 18:15, 18-19 • The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken.… 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. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
Why Hear Christ? • He is the prophet foretold by Moses • Duet. 18:15, 18-19 • He is the gift of God’s Love • Jn. 3:16, 17
John 3:16, 17 • For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Why Hear Christ? • He is the Prophet foretold by Moses • Duet. 18:15, 18-19 • He is the Gift of God’s Love • Jn. 3:16, 17 • He is vested with all authority • Matt. 28:18-20
Matthew 28:18-20 • And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Why Hear Christ? • He is the prophet foretold by Moses • Duet. 18:15 • He is the gift of God’s love • Jn. 3:16, 17 • He is vested with all authority • Matt. 28:18-20 • He is God’s ordained spokesman • Spoke thru the prophets - Heb. 1:1-2
Hebrew 1:1-2 • God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Why Hear Christ? • He is the prophet foretold by Moses • Duet. 18:15, 18-19 • He is the gift of God’s Love • Jn. 3:16, 17 • He is vested with all authority • Matt. 28:18-20 • He is God’s ordained spokesman • Spoke thru the prophets - Heb. 1:1-2 • His word (Doctrine) is truth and life • Jn. 5:24; 8:31-32; 17:17; 2 Jn. 9
John 5:24 • Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
John 8:31-32 • Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:31-32 • Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 17:17 • Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
2 John 9 – John 8:31 • Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. • …If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed
Adam Clark on John 8:31 • “If ye continue in my word” - Or, in this doctrine of mine. It is not enough to receive God's truth-we must retain and walk in it. And it is only when we receive the truth, love it, keep it, and walk in it, that we are the genuine disciples of Christ. - Clarks Commentary
Why Hear Christ? • He is the prophet foretold by Moses • Duet. 18:15 • He is the gift of God’s love • Jn. 3:16, 17 • He is vested with all authority • Matt. 28:18-20 • He is God’s ordained spokesman • Spoke thru the prophets - Heb. 1:1-2 • His word (Doctrine) is truth and life • Jn. 5:24; 8:31-32; Jn 17:17; 2 Jn. 9 • His word will judge us • Jn. 12:48
John 12:48 • He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
Why Hear Christ? • He is the prophet foretold by Moses • Duet. 18:15 • He is the gift of God’s love • Jn. 3:16, 17 • He is vested with all authority • Matt. 28:18-20 • He is God’s ordained spokesman • Spoke thru the prophets - Heb. 1:1-2 • His word (Doctrine) is truth and life • Jn. 5:24; 8:31-32; Jn 17:17; 2 Jn. 9 • His word will judge us • Jn. 12:48 • He is the author of eternal salvation • Heb. 5:8-9; Jn. 6:44-45
Hebrews 5:8-9 • Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
John 6:44-45 • No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
Matthew 10 – Limited Commission • Apostles commanded to go only to the Jews: • “Lost sheep of the house of Israel” (vs.6). • Preach Kingdom of heaven is at hand (vs.7). • Heal the sick, cleanse lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils (vs. 8). • Provide nothing physical (vs. 9-10). • Respect every house (vs. 13). • Leave those who would not hear and receive the truth (vs. 14). • Doom pronounced on those who reject the truth (vs. 15). • Expect persecutions (vs. 16-18).
Mathew 10:14-20 • (14) And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet…(19) But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. (20) For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
Christ Speaks Thru His Apostles • For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me (Jn. 17:8)
Words of the Apostles Are Inspired • 1 Corinthians 2:9-13 • 1 Corinthians 14:37 • Ephesians 3:3-5 • Galatians 1:11-12 • 2 Peter 1:21 Therefore, the words of the Apostles are equal in authority to the words of Christ – Matt. 16:19
Matthew 16:19 • And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Clinton Hamilton on Matthew 16:19 • Since God has so emphatically declared that the scriptures are His product, the result of His out-breathing, what does that say about the authority of scripture? Jesus asserted that scripture cannot be broken (Jn. 10:34,35). The word broken means to loose or to take out of effect. The point is, that whatever God bound cannot be loosed. The same word is used by John the Baptist when he stated that he was not worthy to loose the latchet of Christ's shoes. What God has tied, no man can loose. What the apostles by the authority of Christ bound on earth had already been bound in heaven and what they loosed on earth had already been loosed in heaven (Matt. 16:19; 18:18). Truth Magazine I:12, pp. 1, 22-23, September 1957
Clinton Hamilton on Matthew 16:19 • Since God has so emphatically declared that the scriptures are His product, the result of His out-breathing, what does that say about the authority of scripture? Jesus asserted that scripture cannot be broken (Jn. 10:34,35). The word broken means to loose or to take out of effect. The point is, that whatever God bound cannot be loosed. The same word is used by John the Baptist when he stated that he was not worthy to loose the latchet of Christ's shoes. What God has tied, no man can loose. What the apostles by the authority of Christ bound on earth had already been bound in heaven and what they loosed on earth had already been loosed in heaven (Matt. 16:19; 18:18). Truth Magazine I:12, pp. 1, 22-23, September 1957
Revelation of Truth Promised to the Apostles - John 14:26 • But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Revelation of Truth Promised to the Apostles - John 15:26 • But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
Revelation of Truth Promised to the Apostles - John 16:13 • Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Apostles Were Christ’s Ambassadors • Only the apostles were ambassadors - • 2 Cor. 5:18-20 • Paul claimed to be one • Eph. 6:19, 20
2 Corinthians 5:18-20 • And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; (19) To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (20) Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
Ephesians 6:20 • For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
“Ambassador” Defined “An official envoy; especially: a diplomatic agent of the highest rank accredited to a foreign government or sovereign as the resident representative of his own government or sovereign or appointed for a special and often temporary diplomatic assignment.” Source: Webster’s on-line dictionary
Hodge on “Ambassadors” "An ambassador is at once a messenger and a representative. He does not speak in his own name. He does not act on his own authority. What he communicates is not his own opinions or demands, but simply what he has been told or commissioned to say. His message derives no part of its importance or trustworthiness from him. At the same time he is more than a mere messenger. He represents his sovereign. He speaks with authority, as accredited to him in the name of his master." Charles Hodge, Commentary on the Second Epistle to the Corinthians, p. 146)
John 17:8 • For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
1 Peter 1:12 • Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
Only the Apostles were Ambassadors • Special messengers of Christ • Chosen by Christ - Acts 1:2, Jn. 6:70 • Preached the Gospel by empowerment of the Holy Ghost “sent down from heaven” - Acts 2:4; 1 Pet. 1:12 • Healed the sick, cast out devils - Matt. 10:8 • Were guided into “all truth” - Jn. 16:13 • Clothed with “power from on high” – • Lk. 24:49 • Witnesses of Christ - Lk. 24:46-49 • “Ministers of the New Testament” • 2 Cor. 3:6 There are no Ambassadors today!
Why We Need Christ’s Words: • Sanctified by it - Jn.17:17 • Christ is the ONLY way to the Father • Jn. 14:6 • His Words give spiritual life - Jn. 5:24 • His Word gives understanding • Ps. 119:104 • His Words are a light and guide • Ps. 119:105 • Brings about true unity - Eph. 4:1-4; 1 Cor. 1:10; Phil 1:27 • Saves the soul - Jas.1:21
Why We Need Christ’s Words: • Quick and powerful - Heb. 4:12 • The seed of the Kingdom - Lk. 8:11 • “Sword of the spirit” - Eph. 6:17 • Power unto salvation - Rom.1:16 • Will judge us - Jn. 12:48 • Furnishes unto all good works • 2 Tim. 3:15, 16 • Perfects our love in Him - 1 Jn. 2:5 • Cleanses - Jn. 15:3
Are We Hearing Him On… • The Scriptural Name? • Isa. 62:2 • Acts 11:26; 1 Pet. 4:16; Acts 26:28 • The work of the church? • Evangelism - Matt. 28:18 • Edification - Eph. 4:12 • Benevolence - 1 Cor. 16:1-2 • Discipline - 2 Thess. 3:6, 14 • Morality & Character? • No fellowship with works of darkness • Eph. 5:11; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21 • Attendance? • “Not forsaking assembly” - Heb. 10:25 • Prayer? • Steadfast in prayer - 1 Thess. 5:17
Are We Hearing Him On… • Marriage-Divorce & Remarriage? • Marriage: • Ordained of God - Matt. 19:3-6; Gen. 2:23, 24; Heb. 13:4 • Husbands: • Head of the wife - Eph. 5:23 • Love her as Christ loves church • Eph. 5:25, 28-30 • Wives: • Submit to your own husband • Eph. 5:22, 24 • Divorce: • One Exception: • For the CAUSE of fornication - Matt. 19:9; 5:32
Are We Hearing Him On… • Remarriage: • Only the death of mate frees surviving mate - Rom. 7:2-3 • Put away mate has no right to remarry - Matt. 19:9b • The church? • Christ built ONE - His - Matt. 16:18; Acts 20:28 • He is the Head - Eph. 1:22, 23 • He saved it - Eph. 5:23 • Only one Body - Eph. 4:4
Are We Hearing Him On… • Worship of the church? • Singing - Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:17 • Prayer - Acts 2:42 • Lord’s supper - 1 Cor. 11:23-28; • Acts 20:7 • Giving - 1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 9:7 • Preaching & Teaching - Acts 20:7 • Persecution & Suffering? • The Godly “shall suffer” - 2 Tim. 3:12 • “as a Christian” - 1 Pet. 4:16 • “for righteousness sake” - Matt. 5:10