TestYourFaith
F a l s e v s. s o u n d d o c t r i n e
Commentary on the New Testament
the Gospels - Page 1
I tell you that something greater than the temple is here
Matthew 12,6
For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory
Matthew 16,27
The Lord said to my Lord
Matthew 22,41-45
He has spoken blasphemy
Matthew 26,63-65
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me (...) baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
Matthew 28,18 f.
Who can forgive sins but GOD alone?
Mark 2,3-11
and my spirit rejoices in GOD my Savior
Lukas 1,46 f.
because they knew he was the Messiah
Luke 4,41 f.
GOD has come to help his people
Luke 7,16
So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him
Luke 8,38 f.
And they were all amazed at the greatness of GOD
Luke 9,42 f.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with GOD, and the Word was GOD (…) And the Word became flesh
John 1,1-18
Make straight the way for the Lord
John 1,22 f.
A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me
John 1,29 f.
for he knew what was in people
John 2,24 f.
No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man
John 3,13
The one who comes from above / from heaven is above all
John 3,27-35
For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling GOD his own Father, making himself equal with GOD
John 5,18
that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father
John 5,22 f.
so He has granted the Son also to have life in himself
John 5,26 f.
Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before
John 6,61
For Jesus had known from the beginning who would betray him
John 6,64
You are of this world; I am not of this world
John 8,23
if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins
John 8,24
before Abraham was, I am
John 8,56-58
I am the good Shepherd
John 10,11-15
I have power to lay it down and power to take it up again
John 10,17
I and the Father are one
John 10,29 f.
This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for GOD’s glory so that GOD’s Son may be glorified through it
John 11,4
Isaiah said this because he saw his glory and spoke about him
John 12,37-41
believe in GOD and also believe in me
John 14,1
Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father
John 14,6-10
and we will come to them and make our home with them
John 14,23
for he shall not speak of himself (...) for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you
John 16,13-15
now I am leaving the world and going to the Father
John 16,28
And now, Father, glorify me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world began
John 17,5
All I have is yours, and all you have is mine
John 17,10
Holy Father, protect them by Your name, the name You gave me
John 17,11 f.
When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground
John 18,6-8
My Lord and my GOD
John 20,28
Matthew 12,6
6 "I tell you that something greater than the temple is here."
In this statement Jesus speaks about his position as Messiah. As the LORD's anointed, Jesus has greater significance than the prophets and kings before him and also than the temple. The Bible testifies that GOD does not live in temples (Acts 7,48 / Acts 17,24). The earthly temple in Jerusalem during the old covenant period was merely the place where Yahweh caused His name to dwell. The Jews were supposed to go to this place to worship GOD and to offer sacrifices to Him - including the sin offerings prescribed in the Mosaic Law. The Bible declares that Jesus Christ is the true sacrifice that takes away man's guilt and that the true temple of GOD is not of stones but of believers with Christ as their head (Ephesians 2,20). In this respect, Jesus is more important than the Jewish temple of that time. This fact does not make Jesus GOD. Rather, the verse expresses that GOD values His children more than a temporary building.
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Matthew 16,27
27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
That Jesus comes in the glory of the Father does not make him GOD. GOD's glory is revealed, among other things, in His absolute power. Jesus is the judge appointed by GOD for all the living and the dead (Acts 10,42 / Acts 17,31 / 2nd Timothy 4,1). After GOD raised the Messiah from the dead, He gave him extraordinary authority over all creation (Matthew 28,18). Jesus' glory as judge, in which he will appear on the day of judgment, comes from GOD, not from himself. In this sense, the glory of Jesus is the glory of the Father (Matthew 25,31). It is the Father's power that enables Jesus to subject all things to Himself (Psalm 110,1) and to execute judgment on humanity. This has nothing whatsoever to do with Jesus' nature.
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Matthew 22,41-45
Psalm 110,1
41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?” “The son of David,” they replied. 43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says, 44 “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” 45 If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?”
GOD gave His servant David, king of Israel and a prophet of the LORD, visions and revelations about the Messiah. This included the revelation that the Messiah, as a descendant of David, would sit on his throne and rule over all nations forever. By asking his listeners this question, Jesus wanted to show that he is not only David's descendant but also David's Lord, since as the Messiah he is superior to David, even though he comes after David chronologically. As the Messiah, Jesus has greater authority than David. This verse does not make Jesus GOD, especially since David distinguishes between the LORD (Yahweh) and his Lord (king). At this point, GOD is speaking neither to Himself nor to another divine person, but to His human Messiah, whom GOD has appointed as ruler and king over His kingdom. GOD (Yahweh) is Most High and sits at no one's right hand. From the context it is clear that Jesus uses the word Lord (Hebrew: adon / ancient Greek: kyrios) as a royal title of authority.
see:
Mt 1,1 / Mt 12,23 / Mt 15,22 / Mt 21,9 / Joh 7,42 / Rom 1,3 / 2nd Tim 2,8 / Rev 5,5
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Matthew 26,63-65
63 But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living GOD: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of GOD.” 64 “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy."
The Greek verb blasphēmeō and the Greek noun blasphēmia are primarily associated with blasphemy. This includes insulting GOD, desecrating something considered holy, or claiming to be GOD in any way (Romans 2,24 / Revelation 13,6). In Greek, these were common words used to describe someone who speaks negatively about other people. In the New Testament the two words are also used in connection with people (Titus 3,2 / Acts 18,6 / Romans 3,8 / 1st Peter 4,4 / Revelation 2,9), angels (2nd Peter 2,10-12 / Jude 1,8-10 / Revelation 13,6), impersonal things like GOD's word (Titus 2,5) or the way of truth (2nd Peter 2,2) used.
In Matthew 26, the high priest explicitly asks Jesus if he is the Christ, the Son of GOD (not GOD himself), which Jesus confirms. This shows that the Sanhedrin understood the title Son of GOD as a synonym for Christ (= the Anointed One) and that they could distinguish between the Messiah and the living GOD. In Luke 21,1-3, Jesus is referred to as king by the Jews (not as GOD). Jesus testifies to Pontius Pilate that he is the King of the Jews (not GOD). In John 19,15, the Jews justify their demand to crucify Jesus by stating that they have no other king than the Roman emperor. The accusation of blasphemy, therefore, has nothing to do with Jesus claiming to be GOD. Rather, the religious leaders considered Jesus' self-designation as Messiah an insult to GOD's reputation. Therefore, they demanded the death penalty for Jesus, as prescribed in the Mosaic Law for blasphemy (Leviticus 24,16). Apparently, the Pharisees and Sadducees in Jesus' time had decided that anyone claiming to be the Messiah was blaspheming GOD and therefore deserved death.
The accusation of blasphemy can also refer to Jesus' statement that he would soon sit at the right hand of GOD. Although this fact was foretold in the Old Testament about the Messiah (Psalm 110,1 / Daniel 7,13 f.), the scribes viewed it as blasphemy. In reality, however, this represents a reward that GOD intended for His Messiah. At the same time, Jesus declared that what was written about him would be fulfilled. Although there was no reason to condemn Jesus, the Jews did so anyway. Their sole aim was to eliminate Jesus because they refused to accept him as king and to maintain power and control over the people. Jesus' truthful statement about his person—that he was the Christ / the Son of GOD / the King of the Jews (not GOD)—was sufficient justification for them.
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Matthew 28,18 f.
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (…)."
After GOD raised him from the dead, Jesus received all power from the Father. The fact that Jesus was given power (Old Greek: edothē) shows that he neither has this power of his own accord nor did he already possess it before his birth. It is GOD who exalts people and gives them power and dominion (Daniel 4,23 / John 3,27 / John 19,10 f. / Matthew 9,8 / John 17,2 / 1st Peter 1,21). The Old Testament prophesied that the Messiah, the Lord’s anointed one, would receive dominion over the whole world (Psalm 2,1-12 / Psalm 110,1). This fact does not make Jesus GOD, but rather the most powerful and respected person in the entire universe after GOD the Father. As in many places related to Jesus, the word all (Old Greek: pasa) here is to be understood in a relative sense. This does not mean that Jesus' power is unlimited like the Father's, but that everything is subject to his rule (both humans and angels); although GOD himself, who authorized Jesus to do so, is of course exempt from this (1st Corinthians 15,25-28). This extraordinary authority is the reward for Jesus' faithfulness to the Father and his unconditional obedience, which Jesus demonstrated in his earthly life (Philippians 2,9). It allows him to act almost without restriction as GOD's representative from heaven. Jesus has become (Old Greek: ginomai) more exalted than all humans and angels of GOD (Hebrews 1,4). He was accorded greater glory and honor than all other creatures. Nevertheless, even after his exaltation, Jesus is and remains a (glorified) man and subject to GOD, the Father (1st Corinthians 11,3).
Verse 19 refers to three; but does not say that they are “one” or that all three are “one GOD”. Mentioning the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit together in one context only shows that these three exist. If the phrase about the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit is original, then the three things to which this verse refers are GOD the Father, His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, the gift or power of GOD. Given GOD's ultimate authority and power, Christ's exalted position as resurrected Messiah and Lord, and GOD's power over His Holy Spirit dwelling and working within believers, it makes sense that Jesus mentions all three here. In the book of Acts, the disciples baptized exclusively in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 2,38 / Acts 8,16 / Acts 10,47 f. / Acts 19,5 f.). There is no evidence that John the Baptist or Jesus' disciples used any formula at baptism as described in the Gospel of Matthew. They baptized people in the name, that is, in the authority of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, pronouncing only the name of Jesus, the risen Lord and Head of the Church, because thereby His entire authority as Savior was expressed. Similarly, Paul rhetorically asked the Corinthians if they had been baptized in his name (1st Corinthians 1:13), which they were not, since Paul had no power to save anyone.
Similar to the Gospel of Matthew, the word name (Old Greek: onoma) is used in the singular in several places for two or more people. Jacob speaks of the name (singular) of his fathers Abraham and Isaac (plural) (Genesis 48,16). GOD commands not to mention the name (singular) of other "gods" (plural) (Exodus 23,13 / Deuteronomy 18,20 / Joshua 23,7). GOD says to David that He has given him a great name, which is like the name (singular) of the great ones (plural) on earth (2nd Samuel 7,9 / 1st Chronicles 17,8). Similarly, it says that the name (singular) of the wicked (plural) will pass away (Proverbs 10,7). In addition, Jesus does not necessarily have to be GOD for people to be baptized in his name. The Israelites were also symbolically baptized into Moses, the servant of GOD, as they passed through the Sea of Reeds (1st Corinthians 10,2). This is about the authority of a messenger from GOD. Therefore, Matthew 28,19 should be understood neither as a confession of faith nor as a Trinitarian baptismal formula.
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Mark 2,3-11
3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. (...) 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but GOD alone?” 8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”
The Pharisees and scribes in Jesus' time believed that only GOD could forgive sins and that anything else would be blasphemy. When Jesus granted forgiveness to the paralytic, he explained that GOD had given him the authority to do so (Matthew 9,6 / Mark 2,10 / Luke 5,24). This special authority was meant to clarify Jesus' position as Messiah and his role as GOD's representative and judge. At the same time, Jesus emphasized that he would never judge or make decisions on his own authority, but always only in accordance with the will of GOD, his Father (John 5,30). Later, Jesus passed this authority on to his disciples (John 20,23). In everything Jesus did, he referred to GOD the Father. If Jesus were GOD, he could do everything on his own authority. It is fundamentally GOD's free and sovereign decision to grant the right to forgive sins to any person. As GOD's representative, Jesus received from GOD the right to forgive sins. However, the fact that Jesus can forgive sins in no way proves that he is GOD.
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Luke 1,46 f.
46 And Mary said, "My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in GOD my Savior (...)"
In the New Testament both Jesus and GOD, the Father, are called Savior (Old Greek: sōtēr) (Isaiah 43,11 / 1st Timothy 1,1 / 1st Timothy 2,3 / 1st Timothy 4,10 / Titus 1,3 / Titus 2,10 / Titus 3,4 / Jude 1,25). GOD, the Father, is the origin of all things and therefore also of the plan of salvation that He realized through Jesus. GOD caused the virgin birth of Jesus (Matthew 1,20) and gave him His Holy Spirit to enable Jesus to live a sinless life (1st Peter 2,22). Without GOD's work, it would have been impossible for Jesus to do GOD'S works and save us. Therefore, GOD the Father can rightly be called Savior. In the Old Testament, GOD raised up various saviors for His people (Nehemiah 9,27 / 2nd Kings 13,5 / Isaiah 19,20 / Obadiah 1,21). It is therefore wrong to say that Christ and GOD are one and the same because they are both called Saviors. Mary's praise in these two verses clearly refers to GOD, the Father. At no point did she call Jesus "her GOD".
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Luke 4,41 f.
41 Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of GOD!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah. 42 At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them.
Demons are not stupid or ignorant. They know the scriptures well, as Satan demonstrated when he tempted the Lord Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4,1-11). After all, the Messiah was the one who would destroy Satan's rule. Therefore, the special attention of all dark forces was on him. Satan's goal from the beginning was to overthrow Jesus and thereby thwart GOD's plan of salvation. First, the devil tried to seduce Jesus. Persecution came later, which ultimately culminated in Jesus' death on the cross. The demons did not fear Jesus because he is GOD, but because they knew perfectly well that he is the promised Messiah and that GOD had given him authority over all demons and evil spirits (Matthew 8,29). From these two verses it is clear that even the demons knew how to distinguish between GOD and His Son. In addition, this statement also confirms that Son of GOD is a synonym for Christ (= anointed one). In Matthew 4,8-11, Satan tempted Jesus by offering him all the kingdoms of the earth for possession. This would make no sense if Satan had believed that Jesus was GOD, since GOD owns the whole world. In this respect, this would not have been a temptation for Jesus if he knew that he was GOD. Furthermore, Jesus told the devil to worship GOD and not himself.
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Luke 7,16
16 They were all filled with awe and praised GOD. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “GOD has come to help his people.”
This statement is to be understood in a figurative sense. GOD comes to help his people by blessing them through the Messiah. In earlier times GOD worked through judges, prophets and priests; finally through His human Son. That people called Jesus a great prophet shows that they did not consider him to be GOD.
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Luke 8,38 f.
38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return home and tell how much GOD has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.
GOD speaks and works through people. So when a miracle is performed, the thanks and honor go first and foremost to GOD, who gave the strength for it, and secondly to the one who performed the miracle in faith. GOD performed great miracles through Jesus and later through the apostles (Acts 19,14). If someone was healed by an apostle, it could be said that both GOD and the apostle healed him. This does not make the believer GOD, but simply means that GOD worked through the apostle. Jesus emphasized in several places that it is the Father who does the works through him (John 14,10 f. / Acts 10,38). It should also be taken into account that the healed person must have been so happy and euphoric after his healing that he wanted to tell everyone about the miracle. Since Jesus had made him well, the first thing he wanted to do was give him credit, even though Jesus instructed him to give glory to GOD. Even in normal everyday life it often happens that you first thank the person who helped you, even if GOD actually deserves the first praise. Regardless of this, Jesus' name should also be honored through signs and wonders that GOD caused to happen in his name (Acts 19,17).
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Luke 9,42 f.
42 Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the impure spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father. 43 And they were all amazed at the greatness of GOD.
All the signs and wonders performed by Jesus and his apostles served to glorify GOD and authenticate the message of the gospel (John 12,28 / Acts 2,22 / Hebrews 2,1-4). Thus, verse 43 does not mean that people considered Jesus to be GOD, but rather is an expression of amazement at GOD's power, which He demonstrated in His Messiah so that people would believe in him.