Articles
Hear Ye Him – Matt. 17
Hear Ye Him – Matt. 17
Jesus was transfigured before them. Peter yet again spoke, not because he had something to say but, like many of us, because he had to say something. God’s response: “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” (Matt. 17:5).
Peter would not forget this event, even writing about it toward the end of his life (see 2 Pet. 1:16-18!). Echoing through the years was the Father’s voice: “HEAR YE HIM” (Matt. 17:5) He is our Lord, king, savior, and teacher. We are His disciples. We are His sheep that hear and respond to HIS voice but not to others (cp. John 10). Hear Him!
Hear him in obedience even as the demon did (Matt. 17:18). He says come out, we come out. He says go, we go. He say repent, we repent. He says be baptized, we are baptized.
Hear Him concerning the arrival of “Elijah to come” and the kingdom of God as proclaimed by John the Baptist: John the Baptist was the fulfillment of the coming ‘Elijah’ of Malachi’ (Matt. 17:12-13).. With the coming of John Jesus would say: “The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of heaven is at hand; REPENT and believe in the gospel!” (Mark 1:15).
Hear Him about the seriousness of sin in our lives that would cause us to stumble over Jesus (Matt. 18:8-9).
Hear Him concerning our forgiving each other, not once or twice, but even 70 times 7 times (Matt. 18:21-22, cp. Eph. 5:32; Col. 3:13).
Hear Him about pride and competitiveness to ‘be the greatest’ – the greatest among us is he who SERVES (Matt. 18:4, 20:26-27). Let us learn to serve one another in love (Gal. 5:13).
Hear Him concerning the seriousness of our marriage vows: “what God has joined together, let no man separate” (Matt. 19:6). Let us love and honor our spouse in faithfulness to them and to God.
Hear Him concerning riches and the difficulties they present in our lives: with much difficulty will those who have riches enter the kingdom: “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 19:23).
Hear ye Him concerning His resurrection and the promise of saving those who respond in faith and baptism: 15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16).
Are you listening?
Hugh DeLong
