The Least in the Kingdom of God

In my reading from the Gospel according to St Luke today, I came across a saying of our Lord that I found difficult to understand.

In Luke 7:28, the Lord told his audience that, whilst John the Baptist was the greatest among all born into this world, the "least" in the kingdom of God is greater than John.

How can this be? Who is the "least" in the kingdom of God that our Lord was referring to?

I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John,
yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
Luke 7:28  New International Version

I found my answer in a verse two chapters later, in Luke 9:48.

In this verse, the Lord Iesus used an example of a little child to teach his disciples that the least among them (in the kingdom of God) is the greatest.

It is not surprising therefore, that such a person, the "least", will also be greater than a great person like John the Baptist.

Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me;
and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.
For he who is least among you all — he is the greatest.”
Luke 9:48  New International Version

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, let us endeavour to be among the least in the kingdom of God.

Our Lord prayed alone

Today, in my reading of the Gospel of Luke, I came across two verses telling us that our Lord Iesus the Anointed made it a habit to pray alone by himself in quiet places.

The first verse I saw is Luke 5:16 which say that our Lord often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Luke 5:16  New International Version

The second verse is Luke 6:12 which tells of a time when Iesus spent a whole night praying alone by himself in the hills.

One of those days, Jesus went out into the hills to pray, and spent the night praying to God.
Luke 6:12  New International Version

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, let us follow the example of our Lord Iesus who often withdrew to lonely places to pray alone. Let us find time to pray alone by ourselves too.

The Power of the Name of God

20 Behold, I send an angel before you, to keep you by the way, and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.
21 Pay attention to him, and listen to his voice. Don’t provoke him, for he will not pardon your disobedience, for my name is in him.
Exodus 23:20–21  World English Bible

Today I learned that the Angel of the LORD, sent ahead of Moses and the Children of Israel as they sojourn in the wilderness, carried the Name of the LORD (Yehovah). This implies that the Angel carried the power and authority of the LORD Himself. In other words, wherever the Angel went, the Presence of the LORD was with him, even in him. One can say that the Angel of the LORD represented the LORD Himself.

This passage also reminds me of the words of our Lord Iesus in his High-priestly Prayer recorded in John 17:11 – 12a:

11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.
12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me.
Exodus 23:20–21  World English Bible

I can observe that just as the Name of the LORD was given to His Angel who accompanied the Children of Israel in their wandering in the wilderness, the same Name of God was also given to His Messiah. It was by the power of "that Name you gave me" (Jn 17:12a), that our Lord Iesus kept his disciples safe throughout his ministry on earth. Our Lord also prayed for his disciples, and for all who would believe in him (see John 17:20), that the Father will protect all believers by the power of His Name.

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, let us remind ourselves — that we who have put our faith in the Lord Iesus are protected by the power of the Name of God.

Thanks be to God.

The Chief Corner-stone, Elect and Precious

Isaiah chapters 8 and 28, and likewise Psalm 118, contain prophecies about a corner-stone chosen by God at which some will take offense and over which some will stumble. However, those who put their trust in this corner-stone will not be put to shame.

This corner stone is chosen and precious, yet rejected by the builders:

1 Peter 2:6 – 8  KJV  King James Version

6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

Esaias 28:16  LXX  Septuagint Brenton

therefore thus saith the Lord, even the Lord,
Behold, I lay for the foundations of Sion a costly stone, a choice, a corner-stone, a precious stone, for its foundations; and he that believes on him shall by no means be ashamed

Psalm 117 (118):22 – 23  LXX  Septuagint Brenton

22 The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner.
23 This has been done of the Lord; and it is wonderful in our eyes.

Matthew 21:42  WEB  World English Bible

Jesus said to them, 'Did you never read in the scriptures, 'The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner. This was from the Lord. It is marvelous in our eyes?'

Mark 12:10 – 11  WEB  World English Bible

10 Haven't you even read this scripture: 'The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner.
11 This was from the Lord, It is marvelous in our eyes'?'

Luke 20:17  WEB  World English Bible

But he looked at them, and said, 'Then what is this that is written, 'The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the chief cornerstone?'

Acts 4:11  WEB  World English Bible

He is 'the stone which was regarded as worthless by you, the builders, which was made the head of the corner.'

Our Lord Iesus the Anointed is this Chief Cornerstone on whom the household of God is built.

Ephesians 2:19 – 20  WEB  World English Bible

19 So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,
20 being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;

Many will take offense at this stone, will stumble over and even be crushed by it.

Esaias 8:14 – 15  LXX  Septuagint Brenton

14 And if thou shalt trust in him, he shall be to thee for a sanctuary; and ye shall not come against him as against a stumbling-stone, neither as against the falling of a rock: but the houses of Jacob are in a snare, and the dwellers in Jerusalem in a pit.
15 Therefore many among them shall be weak, and fall, and be crushed; and they shall draw nigh, and men shall be taken securely.

Luke 20:18  NIV  New International Version

Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.

Romans 9:33  WEB  World English Bible

even as it is written, 'Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. And no one who believes in him will be put to shame.'

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, let us not be ashamed to put our trust in Iesou the Chief Cornerstone, Elect and Precious.

May our Lord Iesus help us

Today I read from First and Second Thessalonians, passages that tell us about the work of our Lord Iesus in our lives.

In 1 Thessalonians chapter 3 verses 11 to 13, the Apostle asked the Lord Iesus, together with our God and Father, to guide him, and Silas and Timothy, on their way to visit the Thessalonian assembly.

In the same passage, the Apostle asked that the Lord Iesus would teach them to love one another, and also that the Lord would build up their characters to be blameless and holy before the presence of God our Father.

11 But may our God and Father Himself--and our Lord Jesus --guide us on our way to you;
12 and as for you, may the Lord teach you to love one another and all men, with a growing and a glowing love, resembling our love for you.
13 Thus He will build up your characters, so that you will be faultlessly holy in the presence of our God and Father at the Coming of our Lord Jesus with all His holy ones.
1 Thessalonians 3:11 - 13  Weymouth New Testament

Later, in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 verses 16 to 17, the Apostle asked the Lord Iesus, and God our Father, to comfort the hearts of the Thessalonian brethren, and to make them steadfast in good work and speech.

16 And may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself--and God our Father who has loved us and has given us in His grace eternal consolation and a bright hope--
17 comfort your hearts and make you stedfast in every good work and word.
2 Thessalonians 2:16 - 17  Weymouth New Testament

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, let us acknowledge the grace of God our Father working through our Lord Iesus the Anointed One. Let us ask our Lord Iesus, together with God our Father, to guide us on our way, to teach us to love one another, to build up our characters, to comfort our hearts and to make us steadfast in every good work.

Everlasting joy shall be upon their heads

Today I am reminded of the promise of God to His people in Isaiah 35:10 (cf Isaiah 51:11) that the "redeemed of the LORD" will one day come to the City of God with singing and with everlasting joy.

For context, Isaiah 35:3 - 4 and 35:10 are quoted below:

3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.
10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Isaiah 35:3, 4, 10  King James Version

This prophecy is also similarly repeated in Isaiah 51:11, a verse which is used for a well-known song of praise sung in many Churches.

11 Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
Isaiah 51:11  King James Version

Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Iesus the Anointed One, let us rejoice in the Lord with gladness and joy always.

---

I would like to share with you a post that I wrote twelve years ago entitled, "Thanksgiving, Prayer and Praise in the Epistles". In this blog post, I present a list of verses from the Pauline Epistles showing how the Apostle Paul gave thanks and praise to the "God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christos".

• Thanksgiving, Prayer and Praise (12Mar2010)

Gentiles called by God

Today, I am reminded of several passages in Scripture that tell of Gentiles being called to enter the Kingdom of God.

Gentiles shall seek God.

“And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse,
Who shall stand as a banner to the people;
For the Gentiles shall seek Him,
And His resting place shall be glorious.”
Isaiah 11:10  New King James Version

Gentiles called by the Name of God.

16 ‘After this I will return
And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down;
I will rebuild its ruins,
And I will set it up;
17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name,
Says the Lord who does all these things.’
Acts 15:16 - 17  New King James Version

11 In that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen,
and will rebuild the ruins of it,
and will set up the parts thereof that have been broken down,
and will build it up as in the ancient days:
12 that the remnant of men,
and all the Gentiles upon whom my name is called,
may earnestly seek me,
saith the Lord who does all these things.
Amos 9:11 - 12  LXX Brenton

God sends His Messenger to be a light to the Gentiles.

47 For so the Lord has commanded us:
‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles,
That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 13:47  New King James Version

6 And he said to me, It is a great thing for thee to be called my servant,
to establish the tribes of Jacob,
and to recover the dispersion of Israel:
behold, I have given thee for the *covenant of a race,
for a light of the Gentiles,
that thou shouldest be for salvation to the end of the earth.
Isaiah 49:6  LXX Brenton

---

I have written several posts about the calling of the Gentiles into the Kingdom of God, links as follows:

• Gentiles who bear the Name of God (24Nov13)
• The Day of Outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Gentiles (10Feb22)
• Until the fulness of the Gentiles come in (18Feb22)