Eternal Answer for the True Family (Matthew 12:46-50) 5/5/2024
Eternal Answer of 1st 2nd 3rd RUTC:
Eternal Answer for the True Family (Matthew 12:46-50) 5/5/2024
May is a family month. There are many scriptures in the Bible that tells us how to develop family relationships that God has allowed us. However, there are scriptures that are difficult to understand. In Matthew 10:34-36 it says, “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” It also says, “a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.” (NIV, Matt 10:34-36) What does this mean?
Today’s passage is similar. Jesus’ family came to visit, but in front of these disciples and congregation, He says, “Who is my mother and who are my brothers? For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” It may sound confusing. Perhaps Jesus was not able to greet his family because it was a public gathering, but what he said might sound like he is ignoring his family members. However, that was not what he meant. Later, among the main figures that led the church of Mark’s Upper Room were his mother and his brothers (Acts 1:13-14).
- Why did Jesus say such words? This is where he explains the true meaning of a family relationship that believers must enjoy.
A believer has at least three family relationships. The family must share a relationship that fulfills the will of our Father God in heaven.
1) Physical family relationship. Blood relations or genetically aligned relationships. Many people take genetic tests to confirm their relationships. It may be helpful, but it also brings many problems.
① A physical family is surely a relationship that God has allowed. We must cherish, be thankful, and be used by God (Ecclesiastes 9:9, Ephesians 5:22-6:4). If not, that relationship will create difficult conflicts and bring tremendous pain and spiritual problems.
② All conflicts began from a family relationship. Adam and Eve were the first spouses. The relationship that began as “the bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh” became corrupted by Satan. They ended up blaming each other, resenting each other, and being shameful (Genesis 3:7-12). What about Cain and Abel who were born of the same parents? As one failed to worship and could not spiritually communicate, the older brother became seized by Satan and ended up murdering his younger brother by stoning him (John 8:44). The first murder began from within a family. The ones who sold Joseph out of jealousy were his brothers. Look at David and his first wife Michal (2Samuel 6:16)
③ This is why Jesus said he has come to “bring a sword” and the “enemies will be the members of the household “(NIV, Matt 10:34-36). It does not mean for us to keep fighting. We must wage a spiritual war against the darkness that works to shatter the family, create misunderstandings, and bring pain. We must help with what we can, await God’s time schedule, and fight in prayer. This is how we must save unbelieving families and families in conflict. We must become the spiritual watchman.
2) Spiritual family relationship. Those who are saved together in the gospel and have become a spiritual family. The moment we received Christ, we became a family that can enjoy the blessings of our Father God (John 1:12) and share those blessings together (Ephesians 2:19).
① After Adam and Eve fell and family problems began, God gave us this blessing of a spiritual family. Many people in this age refuse marriage, family, and children because this age is so difficult and evil (2Timothy 3:1-3).
② From where must we receive comfort and strength? This is one of the reasons immigrants gather at the church. The church is like our mother, it is the house of God (1Timothy 3:15), and the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:23). We must create unity in the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:3), sympathize one another and forgive (Ephesians 4:32).
3) Eternal family relationship. Whether it is a blood-related family, legal family, or spiritual family, we must be within the Gospel to become the eternal family.
① This is why we must pray for the evangelization of unbelieving families. If not, it becomes an eternal farewell. The place that saved people of God will go is different from the place that unsaved people will go.
② After resurrection, there will not be my parents and my brothers (Luke 20:27-40). The Jewish takes up his brother’s wife if he dies without children, and other people get remarried. In heaven, like angels, we will not get married but live as the priests of Christ and children of the Father.
③ If we met someone in the field and they received salvation, they also become our eternal family. The relationships we have on this earth requires us to receive strength for each other, but the eternal family of that day will become our eternal comfort and strength for each other. That is why it is so precious.
- What must we do?
1) We must raise the Prayer Bartizan for our families, family line, and posterity and become the watchman that prays 24 hours.
① We must be thankful and happy because of our families for the days that we live on earth and meet as eternal families on that day. Moreover, we must stand as a family that fulfills God’s will while we live on earth, to have glory to enjoy together on that day.
② Joseph was sold by his brothers into slavery, but because he enjoyed being with God 24 hours, he was able to save all his family. Through him and his brothers the 12 tribes were made, Christ came, and that Gospel has even reached us.
③ Jesus’ mother, his aunt, and his brothers all gathered at the bartizan of Mark’s Upper Room and became the watchmen of prayer. Upon them, the Holy Spirit and answers of the throne came. They conquered Rome and salvation has even reached us.
2) Cherish the house of God and the body of Christ that is the church. Cherish the family members of the church, sympathize, and help each other. We are raising the Church Bartizan so that God has no choice but to work through the church.
① Have a time of concentration to first deeply experience the love of God and the grace of Christ. The time of pain, loneliness, and despair will be a time of “only” where you can grow deeper in Him.
② From then on, you will be able to embrace the heart of God who gave you His Son and the heart of Christ that threw everything away (Philippians 2:1-5). From then on, true devotions will come out. With the grace and love you received, you will be able to accept all things and surpass all things. Paul confessed that mystery is because the love of Christ strengthens him (Philippians 4:12-13).
③ When the house of God, the church receives strength through our love, devotion, and prayers, that flow will come upon us and our families.
3) Create the eternal family that will together raise the Mission’s Bartizan that will save 237 nations.
① You can adopt the children you meet in the field or the mission’s field as your spiritual child (financial support and prayer support, virtual communication).
② You can adopt the children in the most difficult mission’s fields as your legal child (many adopted orphans after the Korean war).
③ Lead them to become the remained ones of this age, the “Blessing of Remnant.” We are fulfilling the will of God that is His eternal delight.
Conclusion – God has given us the blessing of three families. May we eternally enjoy the answers of the true family and household.