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I'm sort of embarrassed to be posting one of those "Bible problem" questions but I'm not sure what to make of Matthew 6:33. Everybody knows it: Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteous, and all these things shall be added unto you. It's the last part. The meaning seems clear enough. Craig Keener http://www.craigkeener.com/tag/all-t...dded-unto-you/ explains that it means that if you seek God's righteousness, then your basic needs like shelter and food will be taken care of. However, how do we interpret this when it comes to the issue of homelessness and people struggling to make ends meet? There are homeless Christians out there. Does this mean that they failed to trust God? Or does this mean that Jesus's statements should not be taken as a literal promise? I remember reading a news story about a trucker who got stranded in a snowstorm. His body was found with diary entries about how he was certain God would provide. It would seem like he followed the instructions given in this verse to a T.
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"I am not angered that the Moral Majority boys campaign against abortion. I am angry when the same men who say, "Save OUR children" bellow "Build more and bigger bombers." That's right! Blast the children in other nations into eternity, or limbless misery as they lay crippled from "OUR" bombers! This does not jell." - Leonard Ravenhill -
I have never known anyone who could seek the kingdom of God with all heart. That certainly does not include me, try though I may.Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? -
True. But the verse in question does not demand wholehearted seeking. It "only" requires that we give the Kingdom first priority (as opposed to exclusive priority).Originally posted by Jedidiah View PostGeislerminian Antinomian Kenotic Charispneumaticostal Gender Mutualist-Egalitarian.
Beige Federalist.
Nationalist Christian.
"Everybody is somebody's heretic."
Social Justice is usually the opposite of actual justice.
Proud member of the this space left blank community.
Would-be Grand Vizier of the Padishah Maxi-Super-Ultra-Hyper-Mega-MAGA King Trumpius Rex.
Justice for Ashli Babbitt!
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Arrest Ray Epps and his Fed bosses!Comment
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First, one could take Keener's article as a whole to suggest that the promise applies mainly to those who are actively and sacrificially engaged in the work of the Kingdom.Originally posted by KingsGambit View Post
Second, the passage as a whole is speaking in generalities, contrasting genuine believers with both hypocrites and unbelievers. So, much as I dislike the idea, we probably should not take 6:33 as an absolute promise. Similar uncomfortable cases can be found in the "prayer promises" of such places as John 14, 15, and 16. We are told to ask for "anything," whatever we "wish," and we will receive it. Of course we can find ways to qualify those promises by appealing to the whole section instead of individual verses, or by bringing in verses from other places. That does not change the wording of THOSE verses. They are absolute, and yet reality tells us they don't really mean what they say. :-(Geislerminian Antinomian Kenotic Charispneumaticostal Gender Mutualist-Egalitarian.
Beige Federalist.
Nationalist Christian.
"Everybody is somebody's heretic."
Social Justice is usually the opposite of actual justice.
Proud member of the this space left blank community.
Would-be Grand Vizier of the Padishah Maxi-Super-Ultra-Hyper-Mega-MAGA King Trumpius Rex.
Justice for Ashli Babbitt!
Justice for Matthew Perna!
Arrest Ray Epps and his Fed bosses!Comment
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Differing interpretations.Originally posted by NorrinRadd View PostMicah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?Comment
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"What I pray of you is, to keep your eye upon Him, for that is everything. Do you say, 'How am I to keep my eye on Him?' I reply, keep your eye off everything else, and you will soon see Him. All depends on the eye of faith being kept on Him. How simple it is!" (J.B. Stoney)Comment
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Maybe God did provide.Originally posted by KingsGambit View Post"As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths." Isaiah 3:12
There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.Comment
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You seem to be all over the map here. Let's look at the surrounding verses to get a better idea of what's going on:Originally posted by KingsGambit View Post
Jesus is clearly admonishing his disciples not to worry. Don't fret about this life like it's the only one you've got and preoccupy yourself with the accumulation of possessions. Don't let money enslave you. What about homeless Christian's? It appears their basic needs are met, which is why they are surviving. What about the tragic story of the guy stranded in the snow storm? He died, but it appears his basic needs were likewise met before he died.Comment
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Blessings,
Lee"What I pray of you is, to keep your eye upon Him, for that is everything. Do you say, 'How am I to keep my eye on Him?' I reply, keep your eye off everything else, and you will soon see Him. All depends on the eye of faith being kept on Him. How simple it is!" (J.B. Stoney)Comment
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Maybe it should be taken as hyperbole ? Jesus, and the early Christian community, could hardly have been unaware of the objection, yet the problematic passage was retained as part of early Tradition, and became part of the Gospel text.Originally posted by KingsGambit View Post
Why would the passage be intended as a promise ? To take it as a promise multiplies the problem it poses. Doing so reads too much into those words.Comment
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