THE CHANGE IN MATTHEW - J. C. O'Hair

THE CHANGE IN MATTHEW

Pastor J. C. O’Hair

The words of the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 16:21 “FROM THAT TIME FORTH” and in Luke 12:52 “FROM HENCEFORTH” seem to mark rather a radical change in the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ on earth.

First, let us compare the statement in Luke 2:14, “peace on earth,” with the statement in Luke 12:51, “suppose ye that I (Christ) am come to bring peace on earth? I tell you, Nay, but rather division.”

Christ’s words in Luke 12 and the words of the heavenly messenger to the shepherds in Luke 2 by no means agree. On the contrary, they are decidedly, contradictory. There is a great difference between “peace on earth” and “no peace on earth.” There will not be even a united family: “For FROM HENCEFORTH there shall be five in one house divided, three against two and two against three.” Certainly with Jewish families divided there cannot be universal peace. But the time will come when every Jew shall know the Lord. (Hebrews 8:9 to 13).

When will there be peace on earth? When the Lord Jesus Christ as the Prince of Peace reigns on the throne of David. Read Isaiah 9:6 and 7. This is when the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform it.

The Lord Jesus was born in the house of David, of the Seed of David, in the city of David, to be Israel’s Deliverer and to sit on the throne of David (Acts 13:23 - Luke 1:67 to 72 - Luke 2:11 - and Luke 1:27 to 33). But they knew not the time of their visitation for peace. (Luke 19:41 to 44).

Concerning Christ, in Matthew 4:17, note the words “FROM THAT TIME”. What did Christ and His apostles do from that time? They proclaimed “the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Read Matthew 3:2 - Matthew 4:17 - Matthew 10:6 and 7).

That kingdom is not now at hand. It will be at hand when Christ comes to build again the tabernacle of David and take the throne of David, (Amos 9:11 to 15 - Isaiah 9:6 and 7 - Acts 15:13 to 18). Until Christ comes from heaven to earth the times of restitution of all things and universal peace on earth will not come. (Acts 3:19 to 21).

While the Messianic kingdom and “peace on earth” are in abeyance, postponed until the Prince of Peace comes, individual sinners may accept the truth of Colossians 1:20, that Christ on the cross made peace through the blood of His cross to reconcile sinners unto God. By this acceptance they can be included in Romans 5:1: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have PEACE WITH GOD through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

During this parenthetical present evil age, notwithstanding the truth of Titus 2:11, “the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men”, the great majority of the world’s inhabitants, including those in the so-called Christian lands, despise God’s grace and reject His Son (Who is our Peace - Ephesians 2:14 to 16) and are on the road to eternal conscious perdition. Families are divided two against three. There are wars and rumors of wars. When they cry, PEACE, destruction will come. (I Thessalonians 5:1 to 6).

Israel would not have Christ as King. Now let us carefully read Matthew 16:20, 21: “Then charged He His disciples that they should tell no man that He was Jesus the Christ.” “FROM THAT TIME FORTH began Jesus to show His disciples how that he must go into Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priest and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.” The disciples understood none of these things (Luke 18:31 to 34). But you and I should understand the great difference between Christ going to the tree and to the throne. He went to the tree. When He comes again He will go to the throne. (Matthew 25:31 to 41).

Tell no man that I am Israel’s Messiah. What a change. Christ was saying “I am not going to David’s throne, as the Prince of Peace, (Luke 1:27 to 33); but the builders will reject the Stone.” “I am going to Calvary as “the Lamb of God” to make peace by the blood of My cross. “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate; and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.” God has postponed, but not abandoned, this Kingdom program for Israel and the nations.

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Posted By – Cecil and Connie Spivey

Cspivey1953@gmail.com

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