Hey Pastor John,
I’ve been doing a Bible study on several words, where I look up the word in the concordance and then I read it in the English Standard Version (ESV), the Pastor John’s Version (PJV), and the King James Version (KJV) bibles. One I read I had a question about was John 10:1. It says
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.” John 10:1 ESV
Who is the thief? I assume it was anyone who does it the wrong way. And further, what is the person thieving or robbing? Their own salvation? I don’t think it says anything about tithes anywhere near this, which is what I typically associate with thieving from God. So I assume it is saying if someone tries to enter the fold anyway but how Jesus wants, they’re stealing their own hope of salvation. Is that right?
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The thief is a man who comes to the sheep claiming to be from God, but is not. He may have been officially ordained by a religious institution, but that has nothing to do with the ordination that comes only from God. And what such a man steals with his doctrine is the allegiance of God’s people that belongs to no one but Jesus. The Bible says much about these “false prophets”, false apostles”, and “false teachers” who come as ministers of Christ to believers. Here are a few examples:
Jeremiah 23
- “I did not send these prophets, but they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied.
- But if they had stood in my council and caused my people to hear my words, they would have turned them from their evil way and from the evil of their doings.”
Matthew 7
- “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
2Corinthians 11
- For such men are false-apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.
- And no wonder, for Satan transforms himself into a messenger of light.
- So, it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves to belike ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works.
2Peter 2
- But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you who will introduce opinions that lead to damnation, even denying the Lord who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
- And many will follow them in licentious ways, because of whom the way of truth will be spoken evil of.
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Other question:
Why does Matthew 18:11 not exist in my ESV but it is in KJV? It goes from Matthew 18:10 to 18:12 in my ESV?
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Leftist-leaning scholars use Greek texts that differ from the Byzantine text, which we use. The Greek text is 95% the same in either case, but in a few places such as this one, they differ. Still, it is true, even that verse was not in the original manuscript, that Jesus came “to save that which was lost.”
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Also, what is the relevance of the crowd who mocked Jesus saying let’s see if Elijah will save him when he was on the cross? Why did they say that? Was there a scripture where it says Elijah will save the messiah in the Old Testament that they’re referring to? Matthew 27:49.
Much obliged,
Jonathan S.
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Those mockers were referencing the prophecy that Elijah would come before the Messiah appeared (Mal. 4:5–6). But even then, there is nothing said about Elijah rescuing the Messiah. Those fools were just making fun of Jesus.
Thank you for the questions.
Pastor John
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