Question: What does it mean to be gathered in or unto the name of Christ? (Matt. 18:20). A. D.
Answer: To be gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus is to be gathered in separation from evil, and in the unity of the Spirit. His name is holy and true (Rev. 3:7). We must therefore seek to walk in holiness, and according to the truth. We are members of His body (1 Cor. 12:12, 13). He is our Head and Center, and we are enjoined to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace, apart from all divisions of men.
Question: If leaven is a type of evil in Scripture, should the loaf for the Lord’s supper be made of unleavened bread? R. P.
Answer: Our care for the bread used at the Lord’s supper into have it one bread, a piece of dough baked as one. There is nothing said about size or kind. The bread and wine are only symbols of Christ in death. We know Him as living now for us. We remember Him in His death for us.
The bread in 1 Corinthians 10:16, 17, recognizes all the children of God as one body (Eph. 1:4).
Question: Who are the many that “run to and fro?” What knowledge is increased? (Dan. 12:4). O. T.
Answer: It is the last days of Israel’s history under the times of the Gentiles. Another translation puts for “running to and fro,” “shall diligently investigate.” The Psalms, Prophets, Gospels and Revelation will be well investigated, and guidance given to both converted Jew and Gentile then, where the gospel of the Kingdom is preached. It is not yet. Daniel’s book is still sealed.
Question: What is the application of Haggai 2:11-14?
Answer: The house of God has just been rebuilt, and the Lord, by His word is leading the people to judge their unclean state. The temple could not make them holy, but they would defile it to go in unjudged. Verse 14 tells their need of judging their profane ways. Holiness must exclude evil. After that, He promises blessing.
Question: Why is the description of the manna in Exodus 16:31, so different from what it is in Numbers 11:7-9 7 What are we to learn from this? D. C.
Answer: Exodus 16:31 describes it as the Lord gave to the children of Israel when they were newly out of Egypt, and, as it were, fresh and happy in their souls. If they murmured, the Lord granted their desires, for they were under grace, and the law had not been given. The book of Numbers describes the faithfulness of God, and the failures of the people under the law. Here in chapter 11, they are murmuring: they loathe the manna. In their hearts they go back to Egypt, and think of the fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. The manna was the same as before, but the people gathered it, ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it, then the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil. Despite their perverted taste, the manna kept on. The faithful Lord did not forsake them (verse 9), but chastens them for their sinful murmurings.
Does not this state of the people have a voice for us? The Lord said He would give them bread from heaven to eat. All they had to do was to gather it every morning, except the seventh day. But here in Numbers, their hearts are going after Egypt’s food. They had grown cold, and let the world in, then Christ did not satisfy their hearts.
Is there not a danger of this with us? Is He still the satisfying portion of our hearts? Has our love for Him waned? Do we need some worldly pleasures to be added to make us happy? Well, may our hearts take His dealings with us as love. “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous, therefore, and repent.” Such love as His deserves a hearty response on our part.
Question: What is meant by eating the flesh of the Son of Man and drinking His blood? (John 6:53). W. I. C.
Answer: John 6:53 to 55 is one feeding on the death of Christ the Son of Man, and so has everlasting life, and will be raised up in the resurrection of the just. We do this by believing that He died for us. Verses 56, 57 is also feeding on Him for our daily life in communion.