Question: Why does the Lord is John 20:17 tell Mary Magdalene not to touch Him, yet in verse 27 He invites Thomas to thrust his hand into His side? T. W.
Answer: From verses 17 to 23 we find truth belonging to the Christian position and relationship. Whereas Thomas figures Israel who as a nation will not believe on, Christ Jesus as their Messiah till they see Him coming in His glory accompanied by His heavenly saints.
The Lord called Mary by name, and led her out of the Jewish fold. (John 10:3). When He says, “Touch Me not,” it is indicative of His new position at the Father’s right hand, where He is not known after the flesh. (2 Cor. 5:16). Then He gives her a message that tells her, Wand all believers now, that they are Christ’s brethren, and that His Father is their Father, His God is their God. In the Verse 19, we have Christ the center of gathering and they look upon His hands and His side, reminding them of ‘His finished work. Verse 21, they are His sent ones, with the message of ‘forgiveness of sins, also verse 22, they receive His resurrection life and the Holy Spirit.
Another period begins, eight days after. Thomas would not believe during the last Period. Now he is compelled to admit it. His confession, “My Lord and my God,” shows it, but it is a Jewish expression.
Verse 29 refers to the believing remnant who are converted after the Church is caught up. They have a more blessed place, some of these are martyred, (Rev. 6:9-11; 12:11; 14:12, 13), while other suffer persecution, but faithfully follow the, Lord. (Rev. 7:14; 14:4). The Lord takes care of them. (12:14). Such passages tell of His appearing. (Zech. 12:10; 14:5; Matt. 24:30; 25:31; Acts 1:11; Rev. 1:7).
Question: Numbers 31:23: by M. D.
Answer: The war in this chapter was under the charge of Phinehas the priest, who had acted for God in judging fornication and idolatry, when it tame into Israel by these same people, through the counsel of Baalam. (Chapter 25 and 31:16.) Here they are instructed to thoroughly cleanse themselves from all taint of evil that might come from such associations. Everything they had taken had to pass through cleansing of fire or water. That is, judgment of evil by the Word of God.
By this we learn to exercise ourselves, to judge ourselves from all defilement from our previous associations, (2 Cor. 6:44-18; 7:1).
Numbers 35. The manslayer is the Jew of today. The Cities of Refuge is the church of God. If found still in his heart a murderer of Christ, he will be executed. If, like Paul (1 Tim. 1:12-15), he did it ignorantly in unbelief and owned his guilt, he will be saved.
There is no safety for him unless through Christ.
The manslayer might go out and be killed, it was only temporal and on condition of keeping inside, but the believer is eternally saved and can never perish, cannot go cut of Christ. (John 5:24). When the high priest died in Israel, the manslayer could return to his inheritance. When the Lord Jesus comes forth from where He sits at the Father’s right hand, Israel can again return to their land of Palestine.
Every sinner, Jew and Gentile, should flee at once to the Savior.
Question: What is the difference of the children of wrath, the children of disobedience. and the children of the devil?
Answer: They are the same persons viewed from different stand points. Children of “wrath” indicates what is before them.
Children of “disobedience” refers to their unbelieving character. Children of the devil contrasts with children of God: Believers are redeemed, are brought to God, and are the children of God. Man, since the fall, is under wrath, is disobedient to God, and under the power of Satan.
Question: Why are the terms “Spirit of God” and “Spirit of Christ” used in Romans 8:9?
Answer: “The Spirit of God” is God’s mark put upon every believer. The Spirit of God dwells in him. He is called the “Spirit of Christ” because by Him the life of Christ is produced and seen in the believer. The same blessed person is spoken of in different ways in this chapter.