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Matthew 23:37-39
John 1:10-13 (NKJV) states, “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” And in Galatians 3:22 the Bible teaches us, “But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” The Apostle Paul continues in Galatians 3:26-29, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Jesus came to be the door to freedom from sin for all who will believe in Him (John 3:16; 10:9), but those in Jerusalem were not willing (Matthew 23:37). Jesus has given warning and direction but still is denied by the religious leaders of the day (scribes and Pharisees). So He leaves them with a quote from Psalm 118:26 declaring in Matthew 23:39, “for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!”
This is an example that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life for all who are willing to believe in Him.
This is the unfolding of God’s great plan of salvation for all who will believe in Him.
The scribes and Pharisees were the religious leaders of the day, and they refused to accept Jesus because they had developed a plan of their own which was not in God’s plan for them. Jesus brought to light their self-centered, prideful ways and led them to repentance, but they refused to believe in Him. Jesus had fulfilled His duty to them and would now leave them as He will not force them, or you, to believe in Him; He offers a gift – a gift that must be willingly accepted and believed in by you, the receiver of the gift, for true salvation and freedom from sin to be taken hold of in your life – in Christ.
Dear LORD,
In today’s Bible study we see the door opening to the Gentiles as those in Jerusalem have refused to believe in Jesus as the Messiah – the Christ. We see Jesus offering everlasting life to all who will believe in Him. Please let it be so LORD. In Jesus name I pray, amen.