Ques. 124. Does Heb. 10:25 mean the Lord's coming for us, or the day of judgment?
M. T. K.
Ans. Hebrews looks on to God's eternal kingdom. It is in view of it, and God's judgment on every false way. (Chapter 12:28, 29.)
Ques. 125. Please explain: "God came from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran." Hab. 3:3. M. B.
Ans. Deut. 3:2 would show us that there were places where God came forth to deliver His people from their enemies. (See also Obad. 1:9-14.) The prophet encourages Israel by this to trust in Jehovah.
Ques. 126. What is the difference between "iniquity," "transgression" and "sin"? Have we all iniquity? M. B.
Ans. Iniquity is self-will and unrighteousness.
Transgression is breaking the law.
Sin is offense against God.
We have all sinned against God, but we may say, as in Isa. 53:6, "Jehovah hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all."
Ques. 127. Why are the genealogies in Matthew and Luke different? P. H.
Ans. The difference will be better understood by considering the subject of each gospel.
Matthew presents the Lord Jesus as heir of the promises and heir of the throne of Israel. To be this he must have a legal title by His birth through Joseph, who was the natural heir to the throne. So Matthew's gospel gives Joseph's geneology, who was the husband of Mary; this gave Jesus the title as Joseph's Son.
In Luke the Lord is presented as Son of man. Jesus was of the royal lineage of David, but was only supposed to be the Son of Joseph. Matt. 1:20 and Luke 1:35 show His miraculous conception by the Holy Ghost. We must find therefore the actual geneology in Luke. Mary, therefore, was of David's line, but through Nathan, not Solomon; from there the line is different. Now Joseph, the supposed father of Jesus, was not the son of Heli, but was the son of Jacob (Matt. 1:16). So we must leave out the words in Italics and read: Jesus.... was of Heli, of Matthat, of Levi (etc.),... of Adam, of God. Jesus was of all these.
From David's sons the line varies because the one is Joseph's and the other Mary's geneology.
Mark presents the Lord as the Son of God as Servant, so begins when His service begins, with no geneology.
John presents Him as Son of God, the eternal Word, who was with God and was God. God has no beginning, no parentage.