Matthew

[@sorinankitt]

Christ is our new garment. Without Him, we can not ever hold what He has to offer. Praise God.

[@sorinankitt]

Great explanation. Thank you.

[@fredmorgan5387]

Rom 3:31, from unbelief to belief 2 Cor 3

[@JonHurley-o4o]

Thank you. fasting is groaning. we groan within ourselves to be clothe upon

[@BibleAnswerMan]

You are welcome!!! 🙏

[@sombra6153]

Thanks for this lesson. On another note, I have a comment about Acts 6:7, “…and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.” NIV. I’ve read Acts many times and this time, the fact that a substantial representation of the priesthood accepted Jesus as Messiah and Lord. It seemed significant to me this time but not yet sure why other than God revealed to me what I’m ready to receive. Of course the next events were the trial and “execution” of Stephan and the incredible conversion of Paul…

[@thy-ine]

Because Christ, the bridegroom, was with His children, His human presence was cause for rejoicing. Jesus - God the Son, when He was in His human presence on earth (Fully God and fully human), was confronted with the question, from the disciples of John, and their question was "Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?" Jesus answered by saying "Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and then shall they fast." The context of Christ's words, best describes the natural response to the various calamities that would befall the disciples, after Christ's departure (Matthew 9: 14-15). The meaning, of Christ's words, was not in the context of Pharisaical (Monastic) fasts. The Pharisaical fasts were preaching about themselves, but they were not preaching Christ. The natural response to dying to self, for the sake of not preaching about ourselves, but for the sake of preaching Christ, is persecution, human loss, suffering and mourning, and fasting. See 2 Samuel 3: 35/Luke 23: 28-31. Acts 1: 13-15 says that the disciples abode together, and they, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, continued with one accord in prayer and supplication. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus our Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake (2 Corinthians 4: 5). Fasting is a way to demonstrate to God, and to ourselves, that we are serious about our relationship with Him. For example, when we are stirred up, by the Holy Spirit, to sit around God's word, we are inspired with a sincere desire to want to know God's truth, not only in the presence of a priest, but by the Holy Spirit stirring us up to work out our own salvation, with fear and trembling (Philippians 2: 12). Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4: 4/John 6: 56/2 Timothy 2: 15). During times of serious study, of God's word, we, without ever having noticed, can discover that 12 or more hours had transpired during study, without having eaten any food, and sometimes without having had anything to drink; at day-part, a break must be taken, because we realize we haven't eaten any physical food. Sometimes, studying God's word, in order for us to be shown that God's word is truth, can keep us up all night. The Scriptures, which contain the authority of God's own words, is the words of truth (John 17: 17/Ephesians 5: 26). So fasting, whether personal or in a group, is appropriate for Christians but it is not specifically ordained. Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation (Hebrews 9: 6-10).