I'm kind of new here, and sorry for posting this if such a topic already exists, but there are some Biblical verses I'm not sure about what they're supposed to mean:
"And everyone who has left their houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and inherit eternal life."
Luke 14:26-33
I suppose that goes with:
"If anyone comes to me and does not hate their mother and father, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters - yes, even his own life - he cannot be my desciple."
Luke 14:26-33. Hmm, aren't we supposed to love one another?
In Matthew 5, it tells that if we sin, we should cut off our hands. If everyone is a sinner, how could that work?
Oh, and somewhere in the OT it says that if you have been really naughty, your offspring up to the 10th generation will be damned. Huh? That's not fair, is it?
I'm a Christian and I'm not trying to undermine our faith, but I just don't get this. I'd be so grateful if anyone could explain it to me.
These kind of questions often come up with those who do not have an understanding of God's written word and or His nature. First and formost Jesus, the NT, and the other contributers found in the NT are not making commandments. They are imparting wisdom , giving entightenment and guidence. And for the most part they are speaking in terms relevent to the culture of that time. The priciples are timeless, as is the Holy Spirits indeling and interpritation for the individual.
Mat 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
When Jesus walk, discipleship was truthfuly a matter of forsaking ones posestions and literaly following Jesus. Today, it is a matter of spiritualy if not phyisicaly placing descipleship in Jesus. Being ready if called upon to forsake ones own life for the will of our father in heaven.
Luk 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Jesus is making a point, setting a standard, explaining what was essential to become a disciple. That being (If need be) forsaking everything ,even ones own life, to be His disciple. And in fact many of His disciples did exactly that. Left their families lives even sacrificed their mortal life in discipleship to Jesus. And even today there are those who are imprisoned maytered and killed in His name.
Mat 10:36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
Many to this day, when they come to discipleship in Jesus literaly make enemies of their families and friends. If you think that there are no consiquences for discipleship, better think again. That is what the scriptures are telling us. Discipleship in Jesus is the most controversial and essential decission anmy on will ever make in their life on theis earth. It was then and certianly is today.
Ask yourself, If you "
knew" it would cost you all you own ,your family posessions, life???? could you ,would you do it??? would you forsake it all and follow his will for you???? If you could and you did you are a disciple.
In Matthew 5, it tells that if we sin, we should cut off our hands. If everyone is a sinner, how could that work?
It is better to be without hands than spend eternity in hell, as it is better to be without eyes than spend eternity in Hell. That is what is being said here.
in the OT it says that if you have been really naughty, your offspring up to the 10th generation will be damned.
Exo 34:7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
It's not ten generations but 3 or 4 generations. And in fact that is exactly what happens with every child born, every day, since the begining. the iniquity of the parents, the sins ,failures, errors, bad habits in life all fall down upon the children during their time on this earth. It a natural occurance. and so very common we don't even realize it is happening.
How? because the parents are the primary influence in every childs life. They learn ,like little sponges, soaking up every little word ,action that they see and hear from their parents.
It is us that pass on our sins, transgressions, iniquity upon our children, but God who forgives out of mercy both us and our children.
Sincerely
His
and Yours
Cliff