Question: Why was it that the Lord Jesus asked those He healed not to make Him known? (Matt. 12:1616And charged them that they should not make him known: (Matthew 12:16)).
Answer: Because that He as Messiah was rejected, and Israel was no longer to be accounted His people. The next chapter shows us the new aspect of the kingdom of heaven, not to be set up in power at present, but in its mysterious form, by the preaching of the Word, while the King is absent in glory, and the Holy Spirit is dwelling in His people on earth.
Answer: We are to hold the “Mystery of the faith” in a pure conscience (chap. 1:19). The faith is what is given us to know and hold as Christianity.
“The Mystery of Godliness” is the truth about the person of Christ. Christ was God manifest in flesh; He was justified in the Spirit as God’s beloved Son. “Him hath God the Father sealed.” The angels saw their Maker in the babe in Bethlehem’s manger; He was preached unto the Gentiles as their Saviour; we have believed on Him in this world; He is now received up into glory.
Answer: It is something to show the Lord’s appreciation of the servant’s behavior.
Question: Was Paul a Jew or Gentile? L.
Answer: He was a Jew by birth, who had obtained Roman citizenship, and when brought to know the Lord Jesus, and sealed with the Holy Spirit, He became a citizen of heaven (Phil. 3:2121Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:21)), a member of the body of Christ, and so became neither Jew nor Gentile but a Christian (1 Cor. 12:1212For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12); Gal. 3:27, 2827For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:27‑28)).
Answer: These were jealous of Paul, and their hearts being away from the Lord, they thought to do him harm. We need to cleave in close communion to Christ our Lord to serve Him rightly.
Answer: Read verses 18-20. The whole church (meaning assembly in Scripture) at the beginning was gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ’s name is the only name in Scripture to which the Holy Ghost would gather the members of the body of Christ. It is the same today; it is the only Name, the only center God has for His saints to gather to, and there we have the promise, “There am I in the midst of them.”
The name of the Lord is “holy and true” (Rev. 3:77And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; (Revelation 3:7)). To be gathered to His Name is to be gathered in separation from evil associations, evil doctrines, evil behavior, as 2 Tim. 2:2222Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22); and that includes the unity of the Spirit. All truly gathered, are in one fellowship. Acts 20:3030Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. (Acts 20:30) foretells how divisions came, and Romans 16:17, 1817Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. (Romans 16:17‑18).