794.

CAN YOU BE TAUGHT WITHOUT ANNOYANCE?
(See Matthew 13:15 Greek Interlinear Translation).

THE TEACHING OF 1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-26.
Our Father's Word has often been misunderstood or taught incorrectly. Jesus had to correct many, even his own disciples. Often, he found it necessary to teach by way of illustrations. When asked why, he said, "...because looking they look in vain, and hearing they hear in vain, neither do they get the sense of it". And the reason he gave for this was: "For the heart of this people has grown thick, and with their ears they have heard with annoyance, and they have shut their eyes, that they might never see with their eyes or hear with their ears and get the sense of it with their hearts and turn back and I heal them." (Matt 13:13-15). Their hearts had grown thick, and so Jesus, realizing this, knew he could not be direct in word as it would offend rather than benefit those listening. So he spoke to them by way of a story to illustrate the principle.

Even some of his disciples would no longer walk with him, when he once spoke in a direct way. For example, Jesus said: "He that feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has everlasting life." (John 6:53-58). He was referring to his spiritual body of followers who would inherit everlasting life if they were fed on his spiritual "body" and called to heavenly life. They became angry and did not get to know on that occasion a very important teaching that he had tried to convey in a symbolic way. When combining words with spiritual matters some things are difficult to explain. To do this is often a task needing a certain level or depth of spiritual thought. Having achieved this in the case of the following often misrepresented teaching, you will hopefully and beneficially understand it correctly without your being annoyed.

"SO THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO DIVISIONS IN THE BODY, BUT THAT
   ITS MEMBERS SHOULD HAVE THE SAME CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER".

Mistakes in word and deed by those claiming to belong to the 'governing body' of the "little flock" and the "other sheep" of God's people in the Lord's day have been many. Does this mean that individually they have also been in agreement with these mistakes? This division is not as respects imperfections and/or having varying levels of understanding of our Father's inspired Word. True understandings are only given to those who are fully obedient anyway. The divisions I am referring to can only be caused by those who are not individually caring for other members of the body of our Lord. That of course means loving care. Otherwise they are divided, with some showing a definite lack in their service to other members. (V.25). Those of  the "body" of The Christ alive today have been reported as thousands, not just twelve or eighteen members calling themselves the 'governing body' of JWs. Also, the scriptures of 1 Corinthians chapter 12 convey that among the member parts of the "body" there would be those who would appear unseemly or less honourable than others. But the body is incomplete and suffers as a whole when the full number is not functioning harmoniously and giving their due measure (their Spirit contributions). So Paul said, "...the parts of the body which we think to be less honourable these we surround with more abundant honour, and so our unseemly parts have the more abundant comeliness." (V.23).

(Cont. on Page 795).

14/1/77.

 

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