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| 1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!
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Offences – More particularly signifying stumblings, or still more literally, ensnarement. R5445:2
It is not in the power of any today to crucify the Lord and put him to an open shame, but it is within our power to put to shame, to crucify, his "brethren," the members of his Body. R2471:1
Woe unto him – Not unjustly condemning anybody for ignorantly or unintentionally offending, but cautioning those who would deliberately attempt to deceive and ensnare or discourage his followers. R5445:3
Though ignorant of what they do, they nevertheless put themselves under the Lord's sentence. R2471:1
In the Truth, these contentious persons are to be found in considerable numbers, doing a destructive work, an injurious work, instead of a helpful work. R4502:2
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| 2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
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Better for him – He would lose merely the present life, and not the future life during the Millennium. R5445:3
In a word, whoever sins against light and knowledge is endangering his own opportunities for everlasting life. R5445:5
Sowing seeds of discord, and planting roots of bitterness, which are sure to bring forth an evil fruitage, hurtful to many. R4502:2
God has expressed a special reprobation for those who do injury to the Church. R4502:2
Little ones – The consecrated followers of Jesus are called little ones because they are new creatures who have only started in the new way of full consecration to God's will--"babes in Christ" (1 Cor. 3:1); "little children" (1 John 5:21). R5445:2
These were the "little ones" in malice and pride and in the world's estimate. R2063:4
They may be old in years and gray-headed, but their hearts are young and preserve the sweet simplicity of childhood. R1972:2
Little in the world's estimate; not many great or wise. (1 Cor. 1:26) R2063:4
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| 3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
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Take heed – Verses 3 and 4 are apparently a part of the same discourse recorded in Matt. 18:15-22. R5445:5
To yourselves – The lesson is addressed to the followers of Jesus, not to the world. R5445:5
If thy brother – It relates primarily toward their duty toward their brethren of the household of faith, but secondarily it has a broader application. R5445:5
Trespass against thee – Not trivial affairs, not evil surmisings or imaginings, not fancied insults, but positive wrongs done us. R4978:2
Rebuke him – Some intimation that we recognize the wrong, and that it has grieved us and hurt us. R2296:1
With the majority of people, however, it would probably be quite unnecessary to urge the propriety of repentance--unless they were the transgressors whose duty it is to repent. R2296:1
Our duty to do so, kindly, lovingly, wisely. R4978:2
If he repent – God does not forgive our sins until we acknowledge them and ask his forgiveness. We are not to accept one portion of the divine direction and to ignore another portion. R4978:1, 2295:6
It is as much the Lord's command that we do not forgive until he turns again and repents, as it is command that we do forgive, from the heart, when he does turn and repent. R1694:2
To require less than this is to disobey our Teacher's instruction and to do injury to the transgressor by giving him lax ideas as to his duty. R1694:2
But while some need to correct their hearts and conduct against over-forgiving, more, probably, need to guard against an unforgiving spirit. R1694:4
Most people are sufficiently disinclined to forgive to wait until their forgiveness is asked. R2296:1
Forgive him – The lesson is mercy--boundless mercy. The basis of the argument is that all need mercy, divine mercy, because all are imperfect. R5445:5
But not otherwise, though always remaining in an attitude of forgiveness, waiting for the desired and necessary repentance. R1694:2, 4650:5
The large majority apparently do not "forgive from the heart" (Matt. 18:35), but merely from the lips. R2296:1, 3801:5
Heart forgiveness leaves no sting, no animosity, no grudge. R2296:1
Like the father of the prodigal, when we see the repentant one coming in an attitude of humility, we should go out part way to meet him. R4978:4
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| 4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
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Turn again to thee – If he trespass seventy times seven he should be rebuked as often, either by word, conduct, or both, and should repent in words and turn in conduct just as often; and as soon as we believe him sincere, we must be prompt and hearty in our forgiveness. R1694:2,5
Thou shalt forgive – The disposition to forgive should be with us always. R4978:3
The Lord's blessings to us shall be dependent upon our endeavor to exercise this God-like quality of mercy. R5445:5
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| 5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. |
The apostles said – Impressed with the grandeur of Jesus' teachings, and the difficulties lying ahead. R5446:2
Increase our faith – Our Lord's teachings were so adverse to the world's policies that his disciples felt that to adopt them involved a revolution of their former ideas. In yielding themselves, they felt the need of a stronger, firmer faith than they had yet been called upon to exercise. R1967:2
By a continuous, humble and faithful service. R1953:5*
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| 6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
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The Lord said – He made no direct answer, but dwelt on the power and desirability of faith. R1967:3
If ye had faith – A great deal passes for faith which is merely credulity. The faith commended in the Bible is that which relates to things which God has promised. R5446:2
Sycamine tree – Regarding the trees and mountains as symbols of difficulties and obstructions in our individual Christian course, or in the general course of God's work, we know that "miracles" are wrought to those who exercise faith. R1967:5
Plucked up – Thus it was when the Lord caused the barren fig tree to wither for a definite and wise purpose, to teach an important lesson, and also to convince his disciples of his divine recognition and authority. R1967:5
It should obey – Not to attempt to command mountains to be carried into seas, but if they should receive a command from God to move a mountain into a sea, they should give the command with faith and the results would follow. But God gave no such command in respect to mountains or trees. R5446:4, 1967:3
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| 7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
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But which of you – Part of the reply to verse 5--A continuous, humble and faithful service and discharge of duty will result in an increase of one's faith, to a degree greater than indicated by the mustard seed, said to be the smallest of seeds. R1953:5*
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| 8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
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Afterward – We must not sit down and expect our Lord to serve us until we have proved faithful in serving him. R1953:5
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| 9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
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| 10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
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Unprofitable servants – We will still be his debtors; and the more faithful and diligent we are in his service, the more will it be to our own profit--to the increase of our faith, as well as to our upbuilding in character. R1953:5
In the sense that God could just as easily do without us, indeed, could more easily do his work otherwise. He could use as his messengers angels or providences of life. None of us is indispensable to his work and to his glory. R5446:5
As servants of God we owe him the full measure of our ability; hence we may not feel that we have merited or earned the great blessings of heavenly inheritance and joint-heirship with Christ. R1967:6
Though a servant, Jesus was not an "unprofitable" servant, but a "righteous" servant who could redeem the rest--a very profitable servant. R489:1*
Our duty to do – We may not expect rewards of divine favor. When they are received, we are not to regard them as evidences that we have done any more than it was our duty to do. R1967:6
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| 11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
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To Jerusalem – It is surmised that this was his last journey to Jerusalem, which eventuated in his death. R5454:1
Samaria and Galilee – In this locality leprosy still abounds rather more than elsewhere, and groups, somewhat like the one described here, are frequently to be seen. R2722:3
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| 12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: |
Ten men – Drawn together by their common trouble which ignored the racial barriers between Jews and Samaritans. R5454:1
Were lepers – From the standpoint of the Law, it was evident that leprosy was meant to represent sin and its loathsome, contagious and consuming character. R2722:1
Leprosy, a symbol of sin, corrupts the blood, and the joints twist, decay and slough off. R5454:1
Leprosy has long been regarded as incurable and, therefore, is used as an illustration of sin, which is also incurable. CR413:1
Afar off – The isolation of lepers was distinctly enjoined in the Law, but no cure or remedy was prescribed. R2722:2
They were not allowed to approach others nearer than about 150 feet, for fear of contamination. R5454:1
So sinners by divine decree are isolated from the pure, the holy, the righteous. CR413:2
They were obliged to keep at a distance, on the approach of a stranger to cry out, "Unclean! Unclean!" R2722:1; CR413:1
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| 13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. |
Jesus, Master – As only the Master's word could heal the lepers, so nothing short of a divine remedy can cure the leprosy of sin. CR413:1
Jesus is the only physician who can heal the leprosy of sin. CR413:4
Have mercy on us – Ordinarily their appeal was for money. R5454:1, 2722:3
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| 14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go show yourselves unto the priests.
And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. |
Go – He did not, before granting healing, bargain with them, saying, "If I heal you, will you consecrate your lives and become my disciples?" R5454:4
Shew yourselves – Implying a healing, and suggesting that by the time they should reach the priest they would be ready to have him pronounce them clean. R5454:2, 2722:3
Unto the priests – The disease was treated from a religious standpoint, and in every case made amenable to the judgment of the priests. So, in the great malady of sin, God commits to the antitypical priesthood the work of making manifest what is sin, as distinct and separate from what is righteousness. R2722:2
Under the Law Covenant they were to have no sicknesses except as these should represent sins; and the priests were to pass judgment upon cases of leprosy, determining whether or not the disease was indeed leprosy. R5454:1
This implied that the leprosy had ceased its ravages, and they would be pronounced free from contagion. R2722:3, 5454:2
The priests must pass upon a leper's cleansing before he would be readmitted to society. R2722:2
As they went – The lepers must have exercised great faith; for instead of crying out for instantaneous healing, they followed his direction and started for the priest to have an inspection. R5454:2
Thankful for a release from their sufferings. R2722:4
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| 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, |
One of them – How many of the tens, the hundreds, the thousands, whose devotion and faith the Lord has accepted--healed, forgiven and received according to their profession of discipleship--really have become his true followers? R5454:5
Only a "little flock" appreciate the favor of sins forgiven during this age. PD64/74
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| 16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. |
Giving him thanks – The degree of our acceptance with God is measured by our gratitude. It leads to obedience to the divine laws and regulations, whether understood or not, and it leads to self-sacrificing labors in the service of God. R5453:3
Representing consecration. CR414:6; R2723:1
Thankfulness of heart is a very sure sign of the character God is seeking. R2722:6
He was a Samaritan – The Samaritan seems to represent a class of grateful followers of the Lord who seek to give him glory in their words, thoughts and doings, while the majority, similarly receiving his favor, are disposed to pursue the ambitions and pleasures of the present life. R5454:6
We cannot doubt that he will receive a blessing eventually, though he did not receive it then, for he was a Samaritan, an alien, a foreigner from the commonwealth of Israel. R5454:2, 2722:5
Being a Gentile, his healing was a "crumb from the children's table." (Mark 7:28) R5454:2
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| 17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
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Ten cleansed – Representing justification. R2722:6
Where are the nine? – We are not told that the nine were, because of their unthankfulness, in any degree deprived of the blessing already received. R2722:5
We may surmise that the nine never came into the Church. On the contrary, we have good reason to hope for the Samaritan that, his heart nearer to the Kingdom requirement, would, subsequent to the Gospel being preached to the Samaritans, be a ready hearer and receive the good message. R2722:6, 1967:6
Amongst all who receive such blessings and favors at our Lord's hands, how few, comparatively, return and lay themselves at his feet living sacrifices. R2722:6
The majority, hearing of God's loving and merciful plan, go on their way rejoicing because delivered from the bondage of error, but will not offer themselves in service. R5441:3
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| 18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
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There are not found – Not having a sufficiency of love, appreciation and thankfulness to return in their cleansed condition to, first of all, acknowledge the giver of the blessing they had received. R2722:4
Save this stranger – A Samaritan, an alien, a Gentile, a foreigner from the commonwealth of Israel (Eph. 2:12), debarred, for the time, from spiritual blessings. R5454:2, 2722:5
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| 19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
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Go thy way – Had the returning one been a Jew instead of a Samaritan, no doubt he would have been invited by Jesus to become one of his followers. R5454:3
We cannot doubt, however, that when the time came for the opening of the door to the Gentiles, he was amongst those who gladly received the message, and made a full consecration. R5454:3
Thy faith – Not that it was the man's faith aside from divine power, but rather that it was the Master's using divine power in connection with the faith of the individual. The power of God and the faith of the man cooperated for his healing. R5454:3
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| 20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
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When – Supposing the Kingdom would be visible, composed of himself and his followers in the flesh; and seeing no army or other evidences of temporal power for the establishment of an earthly kingdom. 366:1
He was demanded of – Not with any hope of correcting him, but with a view to opening the eyes of his followers to the weakness and fallacy of his teachings. SM751:2
Being insincere; when their questions, intended to trap the Master, were answered and foiled, they merely acknowledged their defeat by their silence. SM752:1
Should come – Appear--When will we see it? HG346:6
He answered – With "Our Lord's Great Prophecy"--Compare Matt. 24; Mark 13; Luke 17:20-37. D563
The Kingdom of God – They purposed to entrap Jesus. If he should say, A long time, his followers would be disheartened. If he should say, A short time, they would proceed to query, Where will you get your army? R5455:2
Not with observation – Without manifestation, outward show (margin). R5181:3, 189:1; A276; B142; 664:6
Without noise or other demonstration to attract attention. B143
Earthly show, display. HG366:1
My Kingdom, the Kingdom of heaven of which I am the King, will not appear at all. SM752:1
That is to say, when the Kingdom should come, people would not see it. R5455:2
Unseen, and for a time, unrecognized. A277
His Kingdom, when established, would pervade all society and control all, but be seen by none. R113:3
There will be no outward demonstration until the Church is gathered, whenever that takes place--soon or in the distant future. R264:4, 20:5
Christ and his glorified Church will be as invisible to men as are Satan and his angels now, because they will be spirit beings. R3075:3
The entire glorified Church will be as invisible to the world as the Heavenly Father is, and as our Lord Jesus was after his resurrection. R2981:3
His Kingdom will be observed plainly enough, for there is no single question that must not pass through the fire. Yet his presence is unseen, except as revealed by these, his acts. R794:4*
But it shall act through visible agencies and produce visible results, not baneful and atrocious, but grand and glorious. R210:6*
Doing a work of which the world, for a time, will be entirely unaware. B143
Outward display. Jesus said not one word about anyone seeing himself or any one of the apostles in Kingdom glory. But he did say, "Ye shall see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and all the prophets" ( Luke 13:28,29). R5199:5
The Lord and the glorified Church will all be spirit beings, fully able to administer the world's affairs and yet be unseen by mankind. They will be manifest in the rewards, punishments and judgments of that day. R5181:5
2 Pet. 3:4 tells us that so unperceived will be his presence that scoffers will say, "Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep all things continue as they were from the beginning." R794:1*; B167
The signs of the time will not be in the outward condition of the world. On the contrary, everything will be going along in as quiet and orderly a manner as ever, just as in the days of Noah. R5455:6, 793:6*
They err who divide the second advent into two parts: with Jesus going away with his Church, unseen to the world; and then coming again with them in the flesh, visible to human sight. R631:5
Jesus' first advent had been obscure and unrecognized by many. R710:2
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| 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
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Neither shall they say – For the Kingdom of God would be the power of God exerted everywhere in the midst of the people. R5455:2
Lo here! – They cannot observe it with the natural eye, nor can they point it out or locate it, although it will be everywhere present amongst men; an omnipresent and omnipotent rule, or reign of righteousness. R2980:3; HG347:1
They were expecting him who would be the glory of the world, and whose capital would be located at Jerusalem. NS697:3
There was a measure of truth in the Jewish expectation concerning the promised Kingdom, which will in due time be realized; but our Lord's reference here is to the spiritual phase of the Kingdom, which will be invisible. A277
The kingdom of God – A kingdom is always represented by its king. R5455:3
"God's Royal Majesty"--Diaglott. R629:6
The glorified Church. R102:1
Is within you – Among (margin). HG33:1
A closer examination of the original would have shown that the text would better be translated, "The kingdom of God is in your midst." R5455:3, 2980:3; HG347:1; NS511:4
The Diaglott and Rotherham's translation render this "among you," which is synonymous with "in your midst." A276
"In the midst of you"--a present, but invisible authority, government, rule of righteousness. R2981:4, 397:4
In the midst of men--good, bad and indifferent. HG366:2
It will be amongst mankind, everywhere present, but wholly invisible. R2980:3; A276; HG347:1
Present in power, though hidden from view; revealed by its operations and through its servants, but not to natural sight. HG664:6
The Kingdom of God will be among but invisible to men in its coming. It is only after it has come and done a work that the visible phase is due--during the Millennial age. R287:1,4
In due time it will bring mankind into harmony with itself. Then the Kingdom of God will be among men; then men will be the visible representatives of the invisible or spiritual Kingdom. R397:4
Unseen by the natural eye, and at first undiscovered by the world. R629:6
Jesus, as the King, was present in their midst, but they did not recognize him. Similarly, all through the Gospel age, the Church of Christ, his "Body," has been undiscerned by the world. R5455:3
It could not have been our Lord's intention to say that the Kingdom of God was then or ever would be within the hearts of the class addressed, which elsewhere he styled "hypocrites, whited walls and sepulchers." R2980:3, 397:4; HG347:2; 366:2; NS511:5
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| 22 And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.
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Unto the disciples – Turning from the silenced Pharisees. R5455:4
To see – As you now see me present and in the flesh. R113:6
Ye shall not see it – Now he has a work to do alone, and requires no eye witnesses. HG25:4
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| 23 And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.
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They shall say – False teachers who will exercise much influence upon the Church. R113:6
See here – Greek, idou; not horao, as in Matt. 24:30--"then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven." R555:2*
Go not after them – Do not believe anybody who will tell you I will come in any such manner. R5455:5; D583
Beware of false teachers. R123:5
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| 24 For as the bright shining that shines out of the one part under heaven, gives light unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.
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The lightning – Translate the Greek word astrape as "shining" instead of "lightning." It evidently refers to the sun, which rises in the east and sets in the west. R5455:5; B155
Not suddenly, like lightning; but gradually, like the dawning sunlight. B156
"The bright shining of a candle doth give thee light." ( Luke 11:36) R5455:5; B155, B156
"The Sun of righteousness shall arise with healing in his beams." (Mal. 4:2) B156, B165; D583
Invisible, its presence recognized only by the thunder and the flashes of light which come from it. R228:2
As the lightning is discernible only by its shining and power, so will I be in my day recognizable to my waiting bride by the light of truth, and afterward to the world, in the light of events and the "flaming fire" of the day of trouble. R189:2
As the flashes of truth upon all subjects and questions lighten up more and more the understandings of mankind. R794:1*, 629:6, 123:5
It shines in the heavens (the Church), but it is sometimes a very destructive agent on earth (to the world). R114:5
Man can see by the destruction it leaves, where the lightning has been; so, in the day of the Lord, men will come to recognize by the national trouble and overturning that the great day of his wrath is come. R598:2
Lightning and thunder give evidence that atmospheric changes are taking place, that the vitiated and corrupt "air" is to be changed, and we rejoice that it will be pure after the storm. R153:1
Not that he will come like the lightning, but he will be like the lightning after he has arrived and is present. R348:5
Electricity, unseen, can go six to ten times around the earth in one second. R123:4, 114:4
It is the electric fluid that lightens or causes the flash; then let us read: "As the electric fluid which causes the flashes of light." R348:5, 153:1, 114:4
Not as he was in the flesh, But "as the lightning." HG29:1
Spiritual bodies are represented as shining as the lightning-- Luke 10:18; Matt. 28:3; Dan. 10:6; 1 Cor. 15:8. HG25:5
Shineth – Everywhere, instantly, noiselessly, gradually bringing to light the truth on every subject; to be first discerned by those first awake. B160, B165; D583
The Son of man – The seed of Adam, through Eve, the Son of the Man. E152, E153; R944:1
In his day – This word day [Greek, heemera] is the same as in verse 26. Hence, notwithstanding Christ is to be "as the lightning," in his day; yet it is to be "as it was in the days of Noe," when they planted and builded, and knew not. HG28:5
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| 25 But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.
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| 26 And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
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The days of Noe – The presence of Christ is not compared to the flood, but to the days of Noah, the days that were before the flood. R580:5; HG24:6
The end of the first dispensation and that of this present dispensation are wonderfully similar. Previous to the end of the first dispensation a superhuman influence had entered into the world. Today we find a similar condition. R4797:2
The great teacher, Jesus, here confirms the narrative of Noah and the flood. A61; HG317:5
Apparently God will soon cease to restrain the fallen angels, and they will then proceed to vent their fury upon humanity, so that the whole earth will be full of violence. R5470:4
When the end comes, it will find the earth in much the same state that it was when the flood came in the days of Noah--unconverted. R2798:2*
There will be no outward sign to the world of the Lord's presence and when he will begin to deal with them and set up his Kingdom. R5455:6, 2974:5
The ignorance of the impending trouble here will be similar to that of the people of Noah's day. R2974:5
In the – Not before his day, nor after his days, but in (during) his days. B162
Days of the Son – As the "days of Noah" were not days before Noah's time, neither are the "days of the Son of Man" days before the Son of Man's presence, but the days of his parousia, or presence--invisible and unknown to the world; known only to the watchers, and seen by them only with the eye of faith. R2974:5
Surely the days of the Son of Man are not before his days. R580:5, 264:3, 20:5
Clearly teaching that our Lord will be present in the end of this age, entirely unknown to the world, and unseen by them. B162
Closing days of this Age, in which we are now living. R5696:2; T86
All Scriptures referring to this day point to the great time of trouble. R5696:2
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| 27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
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They – Only Noah and his family knew; the people knew not. Similarly now, the only ones who will know of his presence, or have a clear apprehension of what or who is coming, or the outcome, will be the Lord's people. Others will "know not." D606
The world in general was pursuing the ordinary, proper affairs of life, ignorant of the impending catastrophe. R1874:1; D607
Did eat – Proceeding with its usual affairs. HG305:4
The world's affairs will not be interrupted by his presence. NS200:3
These things are not signs of wickedness, but are mentioned to show us that there will be no outward sign to indicate to the world the time of the second presence of Christ. R5455:6, 4797:2, 2974:5, 349:1; B161; NS7:6, 33:6
Without the slightest faith in the preaching of Noah. So, in the early part of the Day of the Lord, the world, having no faith in the announcement of his presence and of the impending trouble, will go on as usual, giving no heed. B143
They were too busy to consider the testimony carefully. B168
The world is going into large contracts, etc., quite unaware of how near we are to the new arrangement, the incoming Kingdom. R5470:4
They did know when the flood came; and they will now know when every eye shall behold him. HG24:6
The words of Paul, "Ye brethren are not in darkness that that day should come upon you as a thief," indicate that the Church should possess a light on the subject while the world would be in ignorance. (1 Thess. 5:4) R289:3
Not only does Jesus intimate that his coming and presence will be unknown to the world, but that many of his servants will be so asleep and overcharged with things of this world, that the day of the Lord will be upon them as a snare. R123:4
They may have been wicked then, doubtless were, and may be similarly wicked now, but wickedness is not the point of comparison. R580:5, 20:4; B161
Married wives – Producing giants--today known as the Sugar Trust, Coal Trust, etc. As the giants were in control in the days of Noah, so the giants are getting more and more control of the situation now. But we read that they will be utterly destroyed; that there will be no hope of resuscitation. R4797:5
Until the day – The presence is not likened to the flood, or the days of the flood, but to the days that were before the flood. NS200:4
Referring to his parousia, his presence before the apokalupsis, or revealing in flaming fire or trouble. NS200:3
Let time be the last part of the "good news" and tell no one of the time and presence, except they show that they have "an ear to hear." R216:6
There must needs be just such scoffing in the days of Jesus as was in the days of Noah. R349:4; B167
Noe entered – The Little Flock, typified by Noah, going from among men into the condition of safety (from the coming storm), represented by the ark--"one taken and another left." R188:4
Into the ark – Type of Christ and the power in him which will replenish and reorganize society. A318
The flood came – Though there shall never be another flood to destroy the earth (Gen. 9:11), it is written that the whole earth shall be devoured with the fire of God's jealousy (Zeph. 3:8)--not the literal, physical earth in either case, but the existing order of things in both cases. B162
Contrary to the teachings of many modern theologians. A61
As the flood came suddenly, so would come the time of the ushering in of the new dispensation. R4976:6
Destroyed them all – Picturing that Messiah's Kingdom is to be established upon the wreck of present institutions. R5455:6
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| 28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
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They did eat – Lot endeavored to get his relatives, married to Sodomites, to flee with him. His words seemed to them like idle tales. Even Lot and his family were so tedious that the angels laid hold of their hands and urged them out. R228:6
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| 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
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The same day – Emphasizing the suddenness with which the calamity will overtake the world. R5456:1
Lot went out – Called to go out before sunrise. R228:6
Those who, like Abraham, are the friends of God, will be far off from the danger; others, not so faithful, will be in the full midst of the trouble, yet, if loyal at heart to the Lord, will be delivered with great loss. R2858:1
God tells his "friends," represented by Abraham, who live separate from the world, of what is coming upon Sodom, and delivers the class who become almost overcharged with the affairs of this life. R228:6
Of Sodom – Christendom is "that great city [Babylon] which spiritually is called Sodom." (Rev. 11:8) D608
Sodom sinned grievously, but they had little light, and practically no knowledge of God. R5076:4
Fire – "Sodom set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal [Greek, aionios, age-lasting] fire [destruction]. (Jude 7) R1618:2
Destroyed them all – God saw good to make the destruction of the Sodomites an example of the fate of sinners--death, not everlasting torture. PD24/35
They were temporarily destroyed by fire as an example of the absolute annihilation which ultimately will come upon all willful sinners, the second death. But before any will be thus cut off, they must first be brought to a full knowledge of the truth and have a full trial. R4599:5
It was not a preservative fire. HG222:6
Those Sodomites had no share in any day of judgment, except in the sense that they were children of Adam, and by heredity they were condemned in him and shared in his death sentence. OV43:2
The death of the Sodomites was merely the Adamic death, hastened; not the second death. OV43:2
Yet the Sodomites were not so great sinners in his sight as were the Jews, who had more knowledge. HG345:4; OV227:T; NS833:1
Why should not the Sodomites have an opportunity to reach perfection and everlasting life, as well as Israel, or as any of us? A110; OV227:T
Why did not God send Abraham to preach to them? Why did he not give Lot a commission to start a revival meeting? NS703:3
An example of the fate of sinners--death, not everlasting torture. PD24/35; R4599:5
"If the mighty works which have been done in thee had been done in Sodom, it would have remained unto this day." (Matt. 11:23) A110
"Sodom and her daughters shall return to their former estate" (Ezek. 16:55), implying their resurrection. R659:4, 545:5
Their temporary destruction is an illustration of the ultimate absolute annihilation of all willful sinners in the second death. R4599:5
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| 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
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Even thus – There was nothing special to alarm the antediluvians before the day that Noah entered into the ark; nothing special to startle the men of Sodom ere the fire from heaven fell. R661:6*
Therefore there could be no thought of such a thing as the conversion of the world before the second advent. R1343:6*
Shall it be – The similarity here pointed out is that of ignorance, not wickedness. D606; R2974:5, 264:3
The Son of man – Already present. D607
Is revealed – Greek, apokalupsis. The judgments of the coming time of trouble will begin as soon as the saints have all been changed. Thus the Son of Man will be revealed a present Judge who already had for some time been present sealing and gathering his "elect." R2979:4
The Greek text shows a difference between the parousia, or presence, of Christ before the time of trouble, and the later epiphania, or revealing. R5456:1
Now present and being revealed to the living members of the Little Flock, though others know not of his presence. T86
Made manifest--first to his watching "virgins," later, in the trouble, to all men. D607
"He shall be revealed in flaming fire." (2 Thess. 1:7,8) R5456:1
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| 31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.
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In that day – Of his parousia, presence, before his revealing. R5456:2
He which shall be – Members of the nominal household. R228:3
Upon the housetop – Those nearest heaven, the most devoted and consecrated ones, the jewels which the Lord says he will gather. R228:3
His stuff – Individual interests centered in the organizations, such as honor, respect, family ties, friendship. R228:3
In the house – The nominal church. R229:5, 228:3
Not come down – Some seek to take it with them; this involves delay, and is dangerous. R228:5; 5456:4
To take it away – Leave the stuff--sacrifice it in obedience to the Lord's Word. R229:4, 5456:4
In the field – In the world, not a church member. D574; R5456:4
Not return back – Not join the nominal church. D574; R5456:4
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| 32 Remember Lot's wife.
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Remember Lot's wife – An injunction for the foolish virgins. C194
She began to remember her goods. R228:6
Lot and his family were not accused of sharing the evil practices of the Sodomites. His wife's outward fault was merely that of looking back. We may reasonably suppose that this implied a heart out of harmony with her deliverance and in some degree sympathetic with the things God had condemned. R1860:2, 5948:3
If we love the things behind so that we, with any degree, look back or long for the evil things doomed to destruction in the coming trouble, it will mean that we will not be worthy of having any part in the deliverance. R2858:1
The Lord's people, when they flee, shall not covetously look back to the things which, under divine condemnation, are to pass away. R4706:2
Those who assume to be more gracious and long-suffering than the Lord make of themselves opponents, who, instead of being students of the principles of righteousness, attempt to be judges and teachers of Jehovah. R1860:2
Let us be of one mind with the Lord. His friends only must be our friends; his enemies only our enemies. If we affiliate with the Lord's enemies we will at least get into a Lukewarm condition toward him and his friends; and the Lukewarm he will spew out of his mouth. R1861:1
While we should always be on the alert to render assistance wherever needed, to convert a brother from the error of his ways, we should make no such effort for him as would tend to make us fall from our own steadfastness into the error of the wicked. R1860:3
Neither are we to waste sympathy upon those who depart. If we can neither persuade them nor pull them out of the fire, we must let them go, and should turn at once and render aid to others more worthy. R1860:6
Those who, under the special guidance of the Lord, are now fleeing for safety to the Mountain of the Lord's Kingdom, will be held to a much stricter account than are others. R5948:2, 1860:2
Applies particularly to the Lord's people who have "come out" of Babylon. Let them not look back or otherwise manifest sympathy with that which is condemned of the Lord to overthrow and destruction. R5949:3
How slight would be the appropriateness of this injunction if applied to those who fled from Judea in AD 70; but how intensely forceful it is as a caution to God's people now, in the close of the Gospel age. D607
"No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God." ( Luke 9:62) C194
Jesus' reference authenticating the literal accuracy of the story of Lot's wife turning into a pillar of salt. Q834:1
Who became a monument of the folly of sympathizing with evil and evil-doers after God has given them up. R5948:3, 1861:4
Type of some who sympathize and fraternize with those who once enjoyed, but have left, present truth and are condemned by the Lord. R5948:3, 1860:2
Type of the Great Company, more in sympathy with the things behind than the things before. C194; D607, D608; R2858:1
The Lord's people will be tested along the line of their separation from the spirit of the world. R2858:1
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| 33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
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Seek to save – By compromises of conscience and staying in Babylon. D607
His life – Greek, psuche--soul, being. E336
Honor, reputation, friends, etc. R229:4
Shall lose it – If, after made a partaker of the holy Spirit, tasting the good word of God and the powers of the coming age, one should stifle these blessed influences and turn again to the spirit of the world, he would destroy his spiritual life. R1981:5, 859:6*
Shall lose his life – Greek, psuche--soul, being. E336
Willingly sacrifice his life for the Lord's sake. R859:6*
Those who hold new title to the divine nature, have of course relinquished all former claims to the perfect human nature. R859:6*
Shall preserve it – We are on the race course for life, and must be faithful unto death if we would receive the crown of life. R294:4
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| 34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
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In that night – Before the day has dawned, yet a part of that day. R229:1
There shall be two – This verse is omitted by Matthew. D608
In one bed – A bed is a place in which to rest. It is here used to represent the resting place of the Church--its belief or creed. R229:1; D608
The same as the short one mentioned in Isa. 28:20. R513:6, 229:1; D608
One shall be taken – Referring not to a change from natural to spiritual bodies, but to a translation out of the kingdom of darkness into the light and liberty of the Kingdom of light. R513:6
Not out of one "bed" into another of about the same size; not out of one "mill" into another "mill." D610
Other shall be left – Some will be so short that they will feel no inconvenience, and others so sleepy and drowsy as to not notice the matter. R229:2
There are two classes of Christians: one is to escape all these things which are coming upon the earth; the other class is to be left in the midst of these troubles. HG81:6
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| 35 Two shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
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Women – This word is spurious. D609
Grinding together – Representing teachers seeking to prepare food for the household of faith--some of these will be taken, others left to grind on at the unsatisfying husks and chaff. R513:6, 229:4
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| 36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
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In the field – The field represents the world. R5456:4
Representing a condition outside the nominal "house"--outside of Babylon. D609
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| 37 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.
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And they – The disciples. D610
Where, Lord? – Where will these be taken? D610
The body is – Carcass, dead body. The attraction is the point of the illustration: as the eagles are, by an unerring instinct, sure to find the carcass, so the Spirit in the saints will surely bring them to him whom their soul loveth. R211:4*
The gathered and gathering ones come together because they "hunger and thirst after righteousness" and they are finding the satisfying portion which the Lord himself has provided, and each for himself is eating thereof. D611
Carcass, food, the real food, a satisfying portion; away from the short bed and from grinding the husks of human tradition. R513:6
The food of "present truth." D610
What causes the assembling together of the eagles from various quarters? Hunger! R229:5
The eagles – They live high up above the world, in the mountains, far-seeing; having eyes adapted to looking at the light; representing intelligently earnest Christians. R229:4
As the eagles seem instinctively, without call, noise or warning, to assemble from every different point, near and far, so, we understand the Lord to teach, will be our gathering together unto him. R114:2
Be gathered – From the four winds of heaven--from every quarter of the Church-- attracted as eagles are attracted, by food, for which they have a keenness of vision and appetite. D610
Together – Such as thus seek food find it and meet the others similarly hungry and feed together. R229:5
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