JESUS' SERMON ON THE MOUNT SERMON SERIES2. Four Witnesses |
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There are 4 people who recorded Jesus' life and teachings. They are: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Because they wrote concerning Jesus we call what they wrote, "gospels." We say, "Matthew's gospel" or "Mark's gospel" etc. When we talk about the four gospels we sometimes say "gospels." For example we might say, "In the gospels we read such and such." There are two gospels that record Jesus' sermon on the mount: Matthew and Luke.
Sometimes people ask, "Why are there four gospels? Because these are different from one another doesn't that prove that Bible has been changed?" Unfortunately those who say this show their ignorance regarding revelation. Most of the time they are simply rehearsing what others have said even though they don't know about the subject at all. However there are some honest people are not trying to disparage the Bible but really want to know about the subject. I will speak to those people today.
What is revelation? How does it work? Often in the culture we are living in people think that revelation is only when God chooses the actual words and then communicates it to others through and angel. But is revelation only this? No. Let me explain.
The Bible consists of 66 books. The 66 books have approximately 40 authors. Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek experts can see the differences in style between the 40 authors. The education and writing ability of the 40 authors was different. Some of them were shepherds, some were priests and some were kings.
Although written with human hands, the Bible points to God as its author.
Ezekiel 1:3 the word of the LORD came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was upon him there.Ezekiel is saying to us that the message he gave came from God.
Joel 1:1 The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.Likewise Joel is saying that the message he had was not his own but the words of the Lord.
All of the truths came from God.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
But the truths were communicated in the language of men. God shed light into the hearts and minds of His servants through the Holy Spirit. God gave His servants the prophets dreams and vistions and symbols and examples. The prophets to whom the truths were revealed put their thoughts into the language of men.
The Ten Commandments however are the actual words that God spoke and wrote. They are His precise wording. They are not of a human but divine quality. But the Bible which expresses in human language what was given by God presents the human combined with the divine.
The Bible shows the particularities of the authors who lived at different times and came from different classes and occupations. Different authors used different expressions. Often the same truth is presented by one author is a more striking way than another. Some authors present a subject with various aspects and relations. While the surface reader, the careless or biased reader may see apparent contradictions the thoughtful and respectful reader will see the underlying harmony in a clear way.
Different individuals put forward the truth with various aspects. One author is more impressed by one aspect of a subject. Another one evaluates another aspect. But there is a perfect harmony even though the truth is seen from different perspectives.
Of course God guided the minds of the prophets in what they would write and say. But inspiration does not act on the prophet's words but on the prophet himself or herself. The prophet is imbued with the thoughts under the influence of the Holy Spirit. The words of the prophet are influenced by the prophet's individual mind. The divine mind is diffused. The divine will and mind are combined with the human mind and will. Thus the words of the prophet are the words of God.
Ezra 1:1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying,The Bible is this: God's perfect message in imperfect human language.
Some people see the differences in the gospels and say this shows that the writings are not trustworthy. But if you think carefully, it shows the opposite. The writers of the gospels considered themselves witnesses. The risked their reputations and even their lives on their testimonies.
Today in a court of law if two witnesses have the exact word for word testimony their testimony is considered invalid. Why? Because experience has shown that no two people see an event in exactly the same way. One point influences a witness in one way. Another witness is more impressed by another point. Even though they saw the same event they use different words to express themselves. As long as the testimonies do not contradict one another, their testimonies are considered valid.
If the witnesses' testimony is exactly the same however, the witnesses are considered liars. They have colluded together.
Jesus spoke in Aramaic. Luke and Matthew wrote in Greek. Two translators choose different words but both communicate the message faithfully.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
2 Peter 1:21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
Let's say I am in the lobby of this building and a fireman comes in and says, "The building is on fire, leave the building." I run up here and say in broken Turkish, "The fireman said to me, 'A fire is happening. Run for your lives!'" Would you say to me, "We don't believe you because no Turk would say, "A fire is happening." The message has been changed. We will stay here"? The message of the fireman was correct. Even though the messenger is imperfect, the message is understood. Believe in the Bible. Because in our future is a real fire.
Now you are not ignorant on the subject of revelation. You will not repeat someone else's uneducated accusations. Besides the Ten Commandments, the Bible is not word-inspiration but thought-inspiration.
Luke and Matthew express Jesus' sermon on the mount in different ways. But as we look at each one we will understand God's truth better. The differences increase the reliability of the Bible.
Sometimes people ask, "Why are there four gospels? Because these are different from one another doesn't that prove that Bible has been changed?" Unfortunately those who say this show their ignorance regarding revelation. Most of the time they are simply rehearsing what others have said even though they don't know about the subject at all. However there are some honest people are not trying to disparage the Bible but really want to know about the subject. I will speak to those people today.
What is revelation? How does it work? Often in the culture we are living in people think that revelation is only when God chooses the actual words and then communicates it to others through and angel. But is revelation only this? No. Let me explain.
The Bible consists of 66 books. The 66 books have approximately 40 authors. Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek experts can see the differences in style between the 40 authors. The education and writing ability of the 40 authors was different. Some of them were shepherds, some were priests and some were kings.
Although written with human hands, the Bible points to God as its author.
Ezekiel 1:3 the word of the LORD came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was upon him there.Ezekiel is saying to us that the message he gave came from God.
Joel 1:1 The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.Likewise Joel is saying that the message he had was not his own but the words of the Lord.
All of the truths came from God.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
But the truths were communicated in the language of men. God shed light into the hearts and minds of His servants through the Holy Spirit. God gave His servants the prophets dreams and vistions and symbols and examples. The prophets to whom the truths were revealed put their thoughts into the language of men.
The Ten Commandments however are the actual words that God spoke and wrote. They are His precise wording. They are not of a human but divine quality. But the Bible which expresses in human language what was given by God presents the human combined with the divine.
The Bible shows the particularities of the authors who lived at different times and came from different classes and occupations. Different authors used different expressions. Often the same truth is presented by one author is a more striking way than another. Some authors present a subject with various aspects and relations. While the surface reader, the careless or biased reader may see apparent contradictions the thoughtful and respectful reader will see the underlying harmony in a clear way.
Different individuals put forward the truth with various aspects. One author is more impressed by one aspect of a subject. Another one evaluates another aspect. But there is a perfect harmony even though the truth is seen from different perspectives.
Of course God guided the minds of the prophets in what they would write and say. But inspiration does not act on the prophet's words but on the prophet himself or herself. The prophet is imbued with the thoughts under the influence of the Holy Spirit. The words of the prophet are influenced by the prophet's individual mind. The divine mind is diffused. The divine will and mind are combined with the human mind and will. Thus the words of the prophet are the words of God.
Ezra 1:1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying,The Bible is this: God's perfect message in imperfect human language.
Some people see the differences in the gospels and say this shows that the writings are not trustworthy. But if you think carefully, it shows the opposite. The writers of the gospels considered themselves witnesses. The risked their reputations and even their lives on their testimonies.
Today in a court of law if two witnesses have the exact word for word testimony their testimony is considered invalid. Why? Because experience has shown that no two people see an event in exactly the same way. One point influences a witness in one way. Another witness is more impressed by another point. Even though they saw the same event they use different words to express themselves. As long as the testimonies do not contradict one another, their testimonies are considered valid.
If the witnesses' testimony is exactly the same however, the witnesses are considered liars. They have colluded together.
Jesus spoke in Aramaic. Luke and Matthew wrote in Greek. Two translators choose different words but both communicate the message faithfully.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
2 Peter 1:21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
Let's say I am in the lobby of this building and a fireman comes in and says, "The building is on fire, leave the building." I run up here and say in broken Turkish, "The fireman said to me, 'A fire is happening. Run for your lives!'" Would you say to me, "We don't believe you because no Turk would say, "A fire is happening." The message has been changed. We will stay here"? The message of the fireman was correct. Even though the messenger is imperfect, the message is understood. Believe in the Bible. Because in our future is a real fire.
Now you are not ignorant on the subject of revelation. You will not repeat someone else's uneducated accusations. Besides the Ten Commandments, the Bible is not word-inspiration but thought-inspiration.
Luke and Matthew express Jesus' sermon on the mount in different ways. But as we look at each one we will understand God's truth better. The differences increase the reliability of the Bible.