Revelation 20:15 "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." We do love to just see how much we can pull out of a particular statement in Scripture, by comparing it with other Scriptures. That’s the name of the game you know, building Scripture on Scripture. That is called by God as seeking Him and He requires us to do so. Why? To acquire the mind of Christ, having the spirit of our minds renewed. This is to change the way we see things ie. to reprogram our minds from worldly thinking to a heavenly mindedness.
Hebrews 2:3a "How shall we escape, (that is the wrath, and doom, and eternal state of being lost) if we neglect so great salvation;…" Now that word neglect, we think we all experience it. We know we try to tell my sons in our title business, you know you can’t get careless, you can’t cut corners or skip a step in the search, because just as sure as do, it’s going to hit you in the pocket book. So, neglect, you see is a word that catches us almost everyday of our lives regardless of what our lifestyle is. Neglect leads to carelessness and it means the same thing here.
Hebrews 2:3a "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation;…" It isn’t that Salvation isn’t there. We mentioned it so often in John chapter 10, the chapter on the good shepherd - where is the door of the sheepfold? Right at ground level. Not up on some high cliff or across some raging river, but rather it’s right at ground level, and in front of every lost person throughout their life. All they have to do is step in by faith, but they neglect to do that. Alright, let’s just use a couple of Scripture verses to point that out. But first remember that for the Hebrews salvation was what they were to enter after having passed through the corral or tutorial period under the guidance of the Old Covenants Law. Now for us its no different like we've said before when we first come through conversion God by His power places us all into the first estate. One for our learning and training by the Holy Spirit and second where we're to also learn to listen and trust Him as our guide and trainer. Who points out our need for holiness and righteousness through the valley of the shadow of death because the first administration of that first estate only reveals our sin or undone condition and need for more of God. This was also to be Israels state but they did not get it, they remained blind to it because of their unbelief. Much the same as the worlds church of our day and time. Much the same as the worlds church of our day and time. Its through the passage of a death that we are to pass that we enter salvation's working in us and then through us to others.
Hebrews 2:3a "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation;…" Alright we’ll stop right there and come back to Matthew chapter 22, where the same Greek word, in a little bit different form, nevertheless it’s the same Greek root word here in this chapter, and let’s look at verses 1-5. But in order to get the real meaning of the verse, I guess we should go to the beginning of the parable, because this is the Lord Jesus speaking during His earthly ministry, and remember these parables again were directed primarily to the Jewish people, and the Pharisees in particular. In fact while you’re in this chapter just go back a chapter to 21:45, because I always like to use this verse to explain to people what I mean when I say, that everything Jesus said, was said to Jews under the Law. So let’s look at that passage first.
Matthew 21:45 "And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke of them." Do we see how plain that is? They understood that all His parables were directed to them, because they were the ones that were so guilty. Now you come into chapter 22, He gives another parable.
Matthew 22:1 "And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables, (So who do you think He’s directing it to? Well the chief priest and the Pharisees) 2. The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3. And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 4. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come to the marriage. 5. But they made light of it, (they neglected it,(the Jews, no gentiles here) they didn’t pay any attention. They neglected their invitation to the wedding feast. So in their neglecting it, what was their response?) and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise;"
Now look at chapter 23
Matthew 23:37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kills the prophets, and stones them which are sent to you, how often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not!" Why not? They neglected. They didn’t pay any mind. He’s making reference of course to the whole Old Testament economy when the prophets were constantly warning Israel of their chastisement, how that other nations would over run them, and then, he says: "You would not." So consequently because of their neglect He says:
Matthew 23:38 "Behold, your house is left to you desolate." Oh, what awful condemnation, but that wasn’t God’s fault. God pleaded with them, and pleaded with them, and pleaded with them. "But they would not!" So in 70 AD the Romans flatten not only the temple but Jerusalem as well. Now let’s turn to the Book of Acts, chapter 2 for a little bit and pick up this same thought. This is on the Pentecostal sermon that Peter is preaching. This vast crowd of Jews has gathered for the Feast of Pentecost. Remember this is just 50 days after the crucifixion and ten days after His ascension, and here’s the same response, total neglect.
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