Who is least in the kingdom of heaven

[RichardBurger]

Who is least in the kingdom of heaven?

Who is Jesus talking about in Matthew 11:11?

Matthew 11:11
11 "Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is “””least””” in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
NKJV

Since every word is scripture is there by the will of the Holy Spirit and not there just to fill up the pages I believe God told us who Jesus is talking about.

1 Corinthians 15:9-10
9 For I am the “””least””” of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
NKJV

Ephesians 3:8-9
8 To me, who am less than the “””least””” of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;
NKJV

I also want to show, again, that Eph. 3:9 says the gospel Paul preached was “””hidden in God.””” --- If, as some say, Paul’s gospel was already in effect, and not hidden, then the Holy Spirit put the wrong words in the scriptures. However, if these words are, in fact, the truth, and I believe they are, those that deny their meaning are IMHO teaching a false gospel.

 

[Vengle]

Only in this sense: 1 Corinthians 2:14 "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

Sorry Veteran but you are taking a thought out of its context and running with it.

We have all done that at times.

Now is the time to face up to it and get over it.

 

[RichardBurger]

Only in this sense: 1 Corinthians 2:14 "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

Sorry Veteran but you are taking a thought out of its context and running with it.

We have all done that at times.

Now is the time to face up to it and get over it.

Did you use the wrong name. There is no post or reply on this thread by Veteran.

By the way, what purpose does your words "Now is the time to face up to it and get over it" serve except to cause resentment?

 

[Vengle]

Yes I did grab the wrong name, didn't I. LOL. A brain quirk!!!

Brother, if you are so quick to be moved to wrath when someone loves you enough to be honest with you concerning what is a stumbling stone in your path, that is on you. That is your choice to take offence.

That is nothing more than the Jews did to Jesus and all who lovingly tried to help them see.

And you know that. The wounds of a brother are faithful. That is what the Proverbs tells us.

If what I say causes you unpleasentness, I have no joy in it doing that. But I love you enough to speak honestly to you all of the time. Not only when it feels good to you for me to do so.

 

[RichardBurger]

Yes I did grab the wrong name, didn't I. LOL. A brain quirk!!!

Brother, if you are so quick to be moved to wrath when someone loves you enough to be honest with you concerning what is a stumbling stone in your path, that is on you. That is your choice to take offence.

That is nothing more than the Jews did to Jesus and all who lovingly tried to help them see.

And you know that. The wounds of a brother are faithful. That is what the Proverbs tells us.

If what I say causes you unpleasentness, I have no joy in it doing that. But I love you enough to speak honestly to you all of the time. Not only when it feels good to you for me to do so.

You have an ego problem. You believe that everyone that does not agree with you is wrong and you are the only one right. Well I happen to think you are wrong and I am right. You just can't say what you believe without telling the other they are wrong. You have shown no love for me. Every thing I write you are on it to say I am wrong. I truly believe that if I say white was white you would say it was black. Don' t try to flatter me with your platitudes. I see through them. They are designed to make you the good one over me the bad one. A very foolish endeavor. You seem to be unable to carry on a friendly discussion.

This thread was about who is the least in the kingdom of heaven and you have made it an arguement.
What about it!? Do you have any intelligent comment about the subject or does it please you to just talk about me? And if that is true, WHY, since you love me so much.

If you can't respect me then why should I respect you. You are no better than I in the sight of God.

 

[Vengle]

You have an ego problem. You believe that everyone that does not agree with you is wrong and you are the only one right. Well I happen to think you are wrong and I am right. You just can't say what you believe without telling the other they are wrong. You have shown no love for me. Every thing I write you are on it to say I am wrong. I truly believe that if I say white was white you would say it was black. Don' t try to flatter me with your platitudes. I see through them. They are designed to make you the good one over me the bad one. A very foolish endeavor. You seem to be unable to carry on a friendly discussion.

This thread was about who is the least in the kingdom of heaven and you have made it an arguement.
What about it!? Do you have any intelligent comment about the subject or does it please you to just talk about me? And if that is true, WHY, since you love me so much.

If you can't respect me then why should I respect you. You are no better than I in the sight of God.

Thank you for bringing your observation to my attention Richard. I will certainly consider what you have said.

I am sorry you feel the way you do about my conversation with you and it is certainly not my intention to offend you.

I believe it is not about my being right Richard. Nor is it about any man being right. There is only one who is right and that one is God. I in my feeble way am seeking agreement with him.

I love you brother.

Peace be with you. I will refrain for your sake from commenting on your posts so often.

May God find delight in blessing the spirit we show.

 

[Prentis]

My understanding is that it has the same meaning as 'he who wishes to be great in the kingdom must become the servant of all.'

Yes, Paul fit into that. The more he loved the less he was loved.

It also fits with what Paul says about apostles, that they are the least of all, and servants of all. I don't believe it refers to Paul specifically, but rather that Paul is a great example of it, as are Peter, John, James, etc.

 

[Vengle]

I also want to show, again, that Eph. 3:9 says the gospel Paul preached was “””hidden in God.””” --- If, as some say, Paul’s gospel was already in effect, and not hidden, then the Holy Spirit put the wrong words in the scriptures. However, if these words are, in fact, the truth, and I believe they are, those that deny their meaning are IMHO teaching a false gospel.

Yes, that is How I see that also Prentis.

My comment was concerning how it is that this is hidden in God. As per his last paragraph.

I believe he is mis-applying what it means that this was hidden in God. It was hidden from the wisdom of the world. The carnal mind cannot perceive of it.

 

[Prentis]

Yes, I share the same understanding.

The gospel is hidden was hidden from the gentiles, and it is hidden from man, but not because it is a 'new' or 'other one'. As it says in the old testament, God's ways are above our ways, and his judgments unsearchable.

Does that mean no one back then walked in his ways?

No, it means it is hidden, for us to seek out. If we do, then the Lord reveals it to us and gives us understanding. I agree, brother

 

[RichardBurger]

Yes, I share the same understanding.

The gospel is hidden was hidden from the gentiles, and it is hidden from man, but not because it is a 'new' or 'other one'. As it says in the old testament, God's ways are above our ways, and his judgments unsearchable.

Does that mean no one back then walked in his ways?

No, it means it is hidden, for us to seek out. If we do, then the Lord reveals it to us and gives us understanding. I agree, brother

For us to seek out you say. Are you saying it was not Paul who wrote the scriptures telling us about the gospel of grace. If it were not for Paul's writings we would all think we are still under the Law of Moses. Jesus revealed this gospel of grace to Paul and sent him out to the world to reveal it to mankind. We didn't find it, God sent it to us.

 

[Prentis]

Yes, God revealed it to men.

Only it was revealed in Christ before that. Christ told his disciples to break the law in picking the wheat on the Sabbath, and many other things. He was already teaching this, that we would follow the Spirit. Also, Christ revealed to Peter that the gentiles were to be grafted in. This gospel was nothing new.

Rather God gave Paul much grace, and empowered him, anointed him, and filled him with wisdom and understanding so that he could preach this gospel to the Gentiles.

But this gospel is one and the same.

 

[Vengle]

Hebrews 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

They saw by faith what others could not see by the carnal mind. They may not have know all the details but they saw it and knew the dispensation of God's grace was coming on behalf of any who would but believe and place their trust in God.

 

[Perspectives]

Cannan means humiliation. How many would embrace that in order to enter the promised land, the type of The Kingdom? The least that Jesus speaks of is always the most humble, and it's not just one! Remnant people that God has reserved for Himself have the right stuff, being the treasure in the field. Moses was refered to as the meekest man that ever lived. Meekness is not weakness it's controlled strength. When a man stops proping up his facade and trashes the worlds idea of manhood and bows his head like the head of a ready to harvest wheat stock, 30,60,100 fold of many things manifest, primarily for ministry to those whom are still tares. A real man that has found balance in all things, especially where meekness and strength meet.

 

[RichardBurger]

Yes, God revealed it to men.

Only it was revealed in Christ before that. Christ told his disciples to break the law in picking the wheat on the Sabbath, and many other things. He was already teaching this, that we would follow the Spirit. Also, Christ revealed to Peter that the gentiles were to be grafted in. This gospel was nothing new.

Rather God gave Paul much grace, and empowered him, anointed him, and filled him with wisdom and understanding so that he could preach this gospel to the Gentiles.

But this gospel is one and the same.

The Jews were under the Law of Moses and Jesus never said they weren't.

Matthew 23:1-3
23 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples,
2 saying: "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat.
3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.
NKJV

Jesus never said the Jews were no longer under the Law of Moses why do you insist that He did?

 

[Prentis]

Perfect! This shows the contrast between being under the Law of Moses and being obedient to God!

Jesus did allow them to do things they shouldn't do on the Sabbath and Jesus, after the ressurection, commanded Peter to eat something forbidden by the law!

Yet he said to do what the Pharisees did?

Yes. Jesus is talking about obeying God, and following him. David broke the law, should of died and didn't. It is because of faith. We are to obey God, and obey his leading also. We are only free from the law when we walk according to the law of life in the spirit! If we follow the spirit, it is above the law, thus we are being obedient. But in all times, we must still be obedient, that is, we must love God and our neighbor and be faithful.

Always, God leads his people himself, as he did in the desert with the pillar of fire. And salvation is only there in following him.

 

[RichardBurger]

Perfect! This shows the contrast between being under the Law of Moses and being obedient to God!

Jesus did allow them to do things they shouldn't do on the Sabbath and Jesus, after the ressurection, commanded Peter to eat something forbidden by the law!

Yet he said to do what the Pharisees did?

Yes. Jesus is talking about obeying God, and following him. David broke the law, should of died and didn't. It is because of faith. We are to obey God, and obey his leading also. We are only free from the law when we walk according to the law of life in the spirit! If we follow the spirit, it is above the law, thus we are being obedient. But in all times, we must still be obedient, that is, we must love God and our neighbor and be faithful.

Always, God leads his people himself, as he did in the desert with the pillar of fire. And salvation is only there in following him.

I have a question for you. At the bottom of each post you make there is a section in which you have put scripture that is attached. How did you get it to be part of your reply?

 

[Episkopos]

I have a question for you. At the bottom of each post you make there is a section in which you have put scripture that is attached. How did you get it to be part of your reply?

It is called a "signature". You have access to it in your profile!

 

[Prentis]

To edit it, go to your profile, and at the top right corner there is an 'Edit Profile' button, then go to 'signature' on the right hand menu that will come up.

 

[Duckybill]

Jesus' clear message is that those who live in sin will not inherit His Kingdom.

 

[Comm.Arnold]

Richard, you so crazy.