Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Mike Johnson Acknowledges Biden's Presidency Is 'God's Will'
Newsweek ^ | Jan 17, 2024 at 1:22 PM EST | Nick Mordowanec

Posted on 01/18/2024 6:01:26 AM PST by JSM_Liberty

House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Wednesday that Joe Biden's presidency is "God's will."

The Louisiana Republican and evangelical Christian took over House leadership in October following Kevin McCarthy's tumultuous tenure. Johnson, who has served in Congress since 2016 but whose platform and personal ideologies were not relatively known prior to taking the gavel, has faced scrutiny by some for views characterized by some as "dangerous." He evoked scripture during his October 25 speech, saying: "The Bible is very clear that God is the one that raises up those in authority." He said that Marxism and communism fail because their ideologies do not stress a belief in God, and he espoused a pragmatic sentiment imploring all House lawmakers to take advantage of the gifts they receive from God. On Wednesday, following a Republican conference meeting on Capitol Hill, Johnson was asked by a journalist if he thought Joe Biden's presidency was "God's will." Johnson harkened to the speech he made just before he was voted speaker.

"I said in my speech before I took the gavel that I am a Bible-believing Christian," Johnson responded. "A Bible-believing Christian believes what the Bible says, right? The Bible says that God is the one that raises up people in authority. I believe God is sovereign. By the way, so did the founders. "It must have been God's will then. That's my belief, right, but I think that a nation makes a decision collectively 'cause we're given the free will to do that, and I think we're gonna make a much better choice as a country coming up in this election cycle. We're very much looking forward to that regime change." ...

(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 121-140141-160161-180181-183 next last
To: Magnum44

Bump


141 posted on 01/19/2024 6:12:40 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 133 | View Replies]

To: daniel1212

Job would be proud - patience wise.


142 posted on 01/19/2024 6:14:08 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 137 | View Replies]

To: Luke21; Mister Da; Karliner
What a kook and a clown this guy is.

Rather, in context, which the left and many conservatives ignore, Johnson is being wholly Scriptural in recognizing that government is God's will, not anarchy or rebellion every time it is judged as being evil to some degree, which are not in their position unless it was God's will.

But which simply does not translate into their election being what obedience to God directive will for man would be (neither that Saul would be king), nor that all their actions are consistent with that will.

However, in the context that it is God's will to is allow people to make choices, and experience the consequences of them and affect others thereby (for good or evil), then this includes particular rulers being in their position, yet by which the purposes of God's will are accomplished.

Therefore it was in the will of God that Pilate himself had his position, whose disobedience to God's directive will for man accomplished God's will in providing salvation for man.

Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. (John 19:11)

Likewise, God's will allowed Joseph to be sold into slavery, then framed and forgotten, all contrary to His directive will for man, but being in God's will enabled God's will for the salvation of his people to be realized, to the glory of God "who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will." Ephesians 1:11)

In this context, the whole Roman government, which often persecuted Christians, was there by God's will (as is the present US admin) who are to punish evil and reward well-doing, to which conditional submission is enjoined insofar as they act consistent with its charter.

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. (Romans 13:1-7)
Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: (1 Peter 2:12-15)

Which submission is extended to slaves, as commanded to them in a slave state:

Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. (1 Peter 2:18-19)
Yet, refusing to comply in instances when those who have their power as allowed in God's will abuse it, as in becoming a "terror to good works" in punishing well-doers, and praising of them that do evil.

And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done. (Acts 4:18-21)
And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned? (Acts 22:25)

Which extends to exposing such injustice and calling the leaders to accountability - in order preach the gospel:

And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace. But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out. (Acts 16:36-37)

Thus, as the powers that be are ordained of God (Romans 13:1) in the context of government being itself God's will, and allowing men to make choices and God's response to them, then rather than this God-fearing Johnson - whose position itself is the will of God - being "a kook and a clown," in affirming Romans 13, etc., it is those who denigrate him that are guilty of being so, though usually in ignorance of context and the word of God.

Johnson's error was that of presuming that affirming what are pearls of theological wisdom would be understood in that context, versus tearing what is holy Truths. May we not be partakers with them.

143 posted on 01/19/2024 6:23:00 AM PST by daniel1212 (Turn 2 the Lord Jesus who saves damned+destitute sinners on His acct, believe, b baptized+follow HIM)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 135 | View Replies]

To: Elsie
Billy Grahamesque

Me? I'll take that as a compliment.

144 posted on 01/19/2024 6:24:25 AM PST by Perseverando (Antifa, BLM, LGBTQs, RINOs, Islamonazis, Marxists, Commucrats: It's a Godlessness disorder!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 110 | View Replies]

To: daniel1212
What part of “don’t post to me any further” did you not understand?

You are like a Mormon missionary. You have to shut the door in their face to get them to leave.


145 posted on 01/19/2024 6:37:36 AM PST by Magnum44 (...against all enemies, foreign and domestic... )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 139 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican
Gehenna was a a smoldering garbage dump near Jerusalem when Jesus Christ was alive.

Yes, and a pearl referred to something physical, but represented the kingdom of God (Matthew 13:45,46) and a lamb referred an animal with wool and the temple was a building made of stone, both of which represented the incarnated Messiah, (John 1:29; 2:19-22) and water referred to H2O, but represented eternal life, (John 4:13) and meat was physical food man physically lived by but which represented the word of God by which man spiritually man is to live by, (Mt. 4:4; Jn. 4:34; 6:57-63)

In such use of allegory, known physical realities are used as representing spiritual counterparts.

Likewise, Gehenna was a smoldering garbage dump but which in its spiritual counterpart represented a place of where their "worm' dieth not, and the Hell "fire is not quenched," (Mark 9:48) even " the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever" (Revelation 20:10) to which the lost "goats" are sent. "And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name." (Revelation 14:11)

146 posted on 01/19/2024 6:45:29 AM PST by daniel1212 (Turn 2 the Lord Jesus who saves damned+destitute sinners on His acct, believe, b baptized+follow HIM)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 134 | View Replies]

To: Magnum44
What part of “don’t post to me any further” did you not understand?

If you want “don’t post to me any further” to be observed then stop resorting to spitwads as "You have given me a headache" in lieu of an actual argument that can be sustained, which your insult of Johnson (incredibly stupid thing for Johnson to say") that provoked this debate, cannot be.

However, as the mod on the RM wisely advised,

If the other guy is throwing spitwads at you on an “open” thread it probably means he has run out of ammunition. Take it as a backhanded compliment. You won, walk away.

147 posted on 01/19/2024 6:55:43 AM PST by daniel1212 (Turn 2 the Lord Jesus who saves damned+destitute sinners on His acct, believe, b baptized+follow HIM)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 145 | View Replies]

To: daniel1212

I said stop, that means stop. GTFA.


148 posted on 01/19/2024 7:56:15 AM PST by Magnum44 (...against all enemies, foreign and domestic... )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 147 | View Replies]

To: daniel1212

“And if God did not let Hillary run for president, Trump would not have been elected.”

No evidence for such a statement.


149 posted on 01/19/2024 8:21:26 AM PST by Wuli
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 86 | View Replies]

To: USA-FRANCE

The goal is to produce food for thought.

In one case it appears to have fallen on deaf ears.

I sense a great degree of thought precisely in line with a known reality.


150 posted on 01/19/2024 10:07:07 AM PST by wita (Under oath since 1966 in defense of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 61 | View Replies]

To: Wuli
And if God did not let Hillary run for president, Trump would not have been elected.”

No evidence for such a statement.

Rather, there is no conclusive evidence, but it is a reasonable argumentative proposition akin to arguing that if Covid-19 and its extreme reaction and economic downfall did not take place, then Trump would have been re-elected, overcoming attempts to prevent this.

Based upon the final evidence of Hillary being quite unpopular among many potential voters, and with the FBI investigation hurting her chances, then it is reasonable to assume that (absent from even a more poorer liberal candidate) then Hillary was a type of asset in electing Trump, as is the current admin for his election.

151 posted on 01/19/2024 10:54:04 AM PST by daniel1212 (Turn 2 the Lord Jesus who saves damned+destitute sinners on His acct, believe, b baptized+follow HIM)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 149 | View Replies]

To: daniel1212

What I reject is that God “let” Hillary run for President.

If that were the case, then God is being portrayed as giving contradicory help to folks noticably not working in God’s interests.


152 posted on 01/19/2024 11:01:33 AM PST by Wuli
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 151 | View Replies]

To: Elsie

I find it interesting that almost all of the footnotes point directly to translations or revelations given to the Prophet Joseph Smith. The so called Inspired Version of the Bible contains a much expanded Genesis given to Moses that further elucidates God’s interaction with Adam and Eve in the Garden.

Doctrinally there is little if any to take issue with.


153 posted on 01/19/2024 11:56:10 AM PST by wita (Under oath since 1966 in defense of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 115 | View Replies]

To: Wuli
What I reject is that God “let” Hillary run for President. If that were the case, then God is being portrayed as giving contradicory help to folks noticably not working in God’s interests.

No, the conclusion that God is assisting evil does not logically follow from the fact that God enables man to make choices, right and wrong, and that such have consequences, effects, while also enabling man to choose to resist evil. A gun dealer is not responsible for the misuse of the device when it is sold only for lawful purposes. Nor can God be blamed for the misuse of our brains, biceps, bipedal abilities, tongue and testicles, etc. when all such misuse is contrary to God's directive will for man to obey.

It is God's will that man can make choices, and that there are consequences to such, for good or evil, and thus be God's will by way of allowance of consequences, And yet which God allows as serving to accomplish His plan for man, according to His will.

In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: (Ephesians 1:11)

The counter argument that God is immoral since He knew/knows what evil man will do with his ability to choose is also fallacious, since God did not make man to do evil nor without the ability to refuse evil (as God appealed to the first murderer to do: Gn. 4:7), at least initially (thus saving oneself from a habit), while God, as being only omniscient, omnipotent, infallible eternal giver of life, knows what all the effects will be of every action, can and will make all to ultimately work out for what is Good, with justice as well as mercy.

Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. (1 Peter 4:19)
Ultimately all that God has allowed and done can be seen to be morally pure, while near-sighted, myopic, finite, fallible and failing man is in no position to sit in judgment upon any omniscient, omnipotent, infallible being. Neither do created things warrant being one's god, and thus their ultimate source of security and object of allegiance, and of spiritual affection, as only God warrants being so.
154 posted on 01/19/2024 3:09:20 PM PST by daniel1212 (Turn 2 the Lord Jesus who saves damned+destitute sinners on His acct, believe, b baptized+follow HIM)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 152 | View Replies]

To: Magnum44

It’s aggravating being forced to read all his stuff.


155 posted on 01/20/2024 4:53:41 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 145 | View Replies]

To: wita
The so called Inspired Version of the Bible contains a much expanded Genesis given to Moses that further elucidates God’s interaction with Adam and Eve in the Garden.

And yet, even though GOD is claimed to have told JS to create the IV, it is NOT considered Scripture by the powers that be in Salt Lake City.

156 posted on 01/20/2024 4:56:26 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 153 | View Replies]

To: wita
Doctrinally there is little if any to take issue with.

You guys had better NOT take 'issue' with it!

Or ANYthing else that your leaders have come up with!!






 
"Any Latter-day Saint who denounces or opposes, whether actively or otherwise, any plan or doctrine advocated by the 'prophets, seers, and revelators' of the Church is cultivating the spirit of apostacy..."
(Improvement Era, June 1945, p. 354)
 
 
 
Reinforced here......
 

MP3 File

This is the audio clip of Dallin H. Oaks, current Mormon Apostle leader, from the PBS documentary, "The Mormons", declaring unequivocally:

"IT'S WRONG TO CRITICIZE LEADERS OF THE (MORMON) CHURCH, EVEN IF THE CRITICISM IS TRUE."
 

 
Don't criticize?

 
 
 
 
And here:
 

Temple Recommend Questions:

 1 Do you have faith in and a testimony of God the Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost?

 2 Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Christ and of His role as Savior and Redeemer?

 3 Do you have a testimony of the restoration of the gospel in these the latter days?

 4 Do you sustain the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator and as the only person on the earth who possesses and is authorized to exercise all priesthood keys? Do you sustain members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators? Do you sustain the other General Authorities and local authorities of the Church?

 5 Do you live the law of chastity?

 6 Is there anything in your conduct relating to members of your family that is not in harmony with the teachings of the Church?

 7 Do you support, affiliate with, or agree with any group or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or oppose those accepted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

 8 Do you strive to keep the covenants you have made, to attend your sacrament and other meetings, and to keep your life in harmony with the laws and commandments of the gospel?

 9 Are you honest in your dealings with your fellowmen?

10 Are you a full-tithe payer?

11 Do your keep the Word of Wisdom?

12 Do you have financial or other oblgations to a former spouse or children? If yes, are you current in meeting those obligations?

13 If you have previously received your temple endowment:

     Do you keep the covenants that you made in the temple?

     Do you wear the garment both night and day as instructed in the endowment and in accordance with the covenant you made in the temple?

14 Have there been any sins or misdeeds in your life that should have been resolved with priesthood authorities but have not been?

15 Do you consider yourself worthy to enter the Lord's house and participate in temple ordinances?
 
 
 
 


Oh, they can say that their leaders were NOT speaking for GOD when they said    WHATEVER    but that's NOT the same as criticizing!


 
 


157 posted on 01/20/2024 4:59:31 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 153 | View Replies]

To: Elsie

And yet, even though GOD is claimed to have told JS to create the IV, it is NOT considered Scripture by the powers that be in Salt Lake City.

Why let that bother you? It’s the doctrine that counts.


158 posted on 01/20/2024 5:06:59 AM PST by wita (Under oath since 1966 in defense of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 156 | View Replies]

To: Magnum44
...Johnson was being far too kind in his comments about Biden.

Was that the Christian thing to do, like turning a cheek?
Perhaps.

Should he have said something discerning about Bidens presidential disasters instead?
Absolutely.


Maybe he is saving the "WOE" thing for a future date.


Matthew 23
 
  1.  Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:
  2.  "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat.
  3.  So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.
  4.  They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
  5.  "Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries  wide and the tassels on their garments long;
  6.  they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;
  7.  they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them `Rabbi.'
  8.  "But you are not to be called `Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers.
  9.  And do not call anyone on earth `father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.
 10.  Nor are you to be called `teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ.
 11.  The greatest among you will be your servant.
 12.  For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
 13.  "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. 
 14.   Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. 
 15.  "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are. 
 16.  "Woe to you, blind guides! You say, `If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.'
 17.  You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?
 18.  You also say, `If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.'
 19.  You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?
 20.  Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.
 21.  And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it.
 22.  And he who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it.
 23.  "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
 24.  You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
 25.  "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
 26.  Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
 27.  "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!  You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean.
 28.  In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
 29.  "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous.
 30.  And you say, `If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.'
 31.  So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.
 32.  Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers!
 33.  "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?
 34.  Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town.
 35.  And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
 36.  I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation.
 37.  "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.
 38.  Look, your house is left to you desolate.
 39.  For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, `Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.' "
 

159 posted on 01/20/2024 5:11:09 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 133 | View Replies]

To: Magnum44
...Johnson was being far too kind in his comments about Biden.

Was that the Christian thing to do, like turning a cheek?
Perhaps.

Should he have said something discerning about Bidens presidential disasters instead?
Absolutely.


Maybe he is saving the "WOE" thing for a future date.


Matthew 23
 
  1.  Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:
  2.  "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat.
  3.  So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.
  4.  They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
  5.  "Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries  wide and the tassels on their garments long;
  6.  they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;
  7.  they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them `Rabbi.'
  8.  "But you are not to be called `Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers.
  9.  And do not call anyone on earth `father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.
 10.  Nor are you to be called `teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ.
 11.  The greatest among you will be your servant.
 12.  For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
 13.  "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. 
 14.   Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. 
 15.  "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are. 
 16.  "Woe to you, blind guides! You say, `If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.'
 17.  You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?
 18.  You also say, `If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.'
 19.  You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?
 20.  Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.
 21.  And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it.
 22.  And he who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it.
 23.  "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
 24.  You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
 25.  "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
 26.  Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
 27.  "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!  You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean.
 28.  In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
 29.  "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous.
 30.  And you say, `If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.'
 31.  So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.
 32.  Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers!
 33.  "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?
 34.  Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town.
 35.  And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
 36.  I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation.
 37.  "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.
 38.  Look, your house is left to you desolate.
 39.  For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, `Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.' "
 

160 posted on 01/20/2024 5:15:30 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 133 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 121-140141-160161-180181-183 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson