Ans. "The tree of life" is figurative language for the blessedness of Christ, known and enjoyed by our souls for all eternity. Its twelve manner of fruits every month, speak of its freshness and satisfying, but not satiating food for our souls. Its continual supply is the "River of Water of Life", going out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. Source and fountain of all blessedness, where there is no decay.
Ques. (a) What connection has Matt. 5:23, 2423Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. (Matthew 5:23‑24), with the Lord's table? (b) What is the difference between Matt. 18:1515Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. (Matthew 18:15), and Luke 17:33Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. (Luke 17:3)?
J. D.
Ans. (a) The spirit of Matt. 5:23, 2423Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. (Matthew 5:23‑24), shows that if we have not endeavored to put ourselves right with a brother whom we have offended, or seems to be offended with us, we are not in the right spirit to approach God in prayer, either at the Lord's table, or anywhere else. (Mark 11:25, 2625And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. (Mark 11:25‑26).)
(b) In both these passages we are told to rebuke or tell the brother his fault; but in Matt. we find more detail in trying to win, or gain the brother, and it might be necessary, as a last effort, to tell the case to the assembly. We need to humble ourselves first, and see that we are enjoying the love of Christ, and loving the brother with the love of Christ to him. Alas! this is where we so often fail. We fail in making his sin our own before God. We, as priests, are to eat the sin offering for our brother in the holy place. (Lev. 6:2626The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation. (Leviticus 6:26).) What we want is love in exercise. (John 13-1; Eph. 4:2, 32With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:2‑3).)
Ans. To Matt. we might add Luke 12:58, 5958When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison. 59I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite. (Luke 12:58‑59). Both primarily indicate Israel, or the Jews' position. It was a call to them not to reject Christ. It was the moment of their trial, but they did reject Him, and so were delivered up to the judge and to the officer, and have been cast into prison (out of their land, and among the Gentiles), out of which they can never come till the last farthing is paid, and they can never pay, but God who gave His Son to die for them, can in His own time say:
In Rom. 6:44Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4), we see the significance of the act of the servant in baptizing; it was unto, not into, the death of Christ, and that should teach the Romans not to live in sin. We do not see the believer risen in this Epistle, but Christ is, and re, in it, are taught to walk in newness of life. Baptism changes the person's position on earth, and it gives a new responsibility, but confession is no attached to it. Acts 8:3737And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Acts 8:37), according to the best translations, is not acknowledged as the Word of God. There are many Scriptures to exhort believers not to walk in sin, but to walk after the pattern and example of the Lord Himself. 1 John 2:11My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (1 John 2:1), is a good example, also Verse 6.
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