There is a mystery in the Gospel in what jesus said. "No man born of woman was ever greater than John the Baptist," says Jesus, "but the least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than John." Does Jesus Christ mean to teach us that John the Baptist and all the Prophets and the righteous men were outside the Kingdom of God?
Many of you Christians claim that having salvation by just believing that "Jesus shed his blood on the Cross at Mount cavalry" for your sins, can guarantee you to enter the kingdom of God.
Do you Christians have the right to believe that the "least" among you is "greater" than all the Prophets while we see most of the christians today commit sins which are very disgustiong and abominable while prophets are more holier than they are ???
2006-12-19 11:57:53 · 17 answers · asked by virgin_killer 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Seek God for his understanding the least in heaven before the atonement of Christ..who were the least in heaven? and John was a man still in his flesh. Flesh and blood will not enter the kingdom of God is this a mystery to you?
2006-12-19 12:04:59 · answer #1 · answered by djmantx 7 · 7⤊ 0⤋
This is not a mystery. Just basic theology.
In the simplest of terms, John the Baptist was just like all the rest of humanity, yet he was given the honor of being the prophetic forerunner of the Messiah, and of being the final and greatest old testament prophet, who announced the advent of Christ on the world scene, and who made straight the way for the Lord.
At that time, due to Adam's sin, no human being had yet been admitted to heaven, and no one but God and the angels dwelled therein.
And since the Baptist was a sinner, just like all men, and no one stained by sin may enter the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus' logic was flawless, and his truth absolute.
Jesus had not yet completed his mission of redemption, so John the Baptist, great prophet that he was, was not yet free of his sins.
So, logically and truthfully, even the least of those who already dwelled in heaven with God were totally without sin, and hence greater than the Baptist.
2006-12-19 20:32:53 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The kingdom of Heaven is the church. The church did not come about until after Jesus was crucified, John the baptist died before Jesus was crucified so he was not there to be the least or greatest in the Kingdom.
The verses right after the one you quote say Matthew11:12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.
Those who are committing disgusting and abominable sins are not Christians and therefore are not the least or the greatest in the kingdom.
2006-12-19 21:42:52 · answer #3 · answered by Angie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, I think what Jesus actually meant was John the Baptist was an exceptional person but we are all equally great in heaven and there is no discriminating one for the other of us. We all have a chance to be great in the Lord's eyes not just the famously religious persons.
Who is to say who is holier than anyone else? All we can do is try our best and that is the idea behind being a Christian but somehow being a Christian has gotten all kind of turned around in the US and is not what Jesus told us to do.
2006-12-19 20:04:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The reason that the least in the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is greater than John the Baptist is because they have the benefit of having had the chance to accept Jesus death and resurrection for their sins and receive the Holy Ghost to perform those things, which Jesus commanded. John the Baptist died before any of that could take place. John the Baptist was greater than all the prophets because he was born specifically to announce the day of Jesus first coming to all those who would believe. No prophet no matter how great had ever been given so great an honor. The Kingdom of God is different from the Kingdom of Heaven. The Greek interpretation for The Kingdom of God is God's government, way, or system of doing things. Christian’s, at the moment they repent and accept Jesus, become a part of the Kingdom of God as they desire to do things God's way. This doesn’t mean they will ever be perfect but that is why God gave us 1 John 1:9. The Kingdom of Heaven is Heaven itself. Souls in the Kingdom of Heaven only got there after the death and resurrection of Christ. Before that time all souls went to Paradise or the place of torment to wait for judgment. When Jesus died he first descended (Eph 4:8-10) into hell, preached the good news, and took all those who believed Him to heaven. Those who were in Paradise also went to heaven. Jesus took captivity captive or nullified the power of sin to keep souls out of heaven but only to those who repented and accepted Him. So you see Jesus has set all of mankind free from the danger of eternity in hell but the problem is no everyone will accept or believe Him. You might ask, as I've seen it before, why are Christian's so narrow-minded? Well that can be answered first by telling you that our faith is in God, His Word, His Son, and the Holy Spirit! God's Word / the bible say's:
Eph 4:4-6 4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Matt 7:13-14 13"Enter through the NARROW gate (to God & Heaven). For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction (torment & hell), and many enter through the broad gate. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to (eternal) life (with God), and only a few find it.
2006-12-19 20:32:10 · answer #5 · answered by drivn2excelchery 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I always thought Jesus was saying John (in the flesh) was greater than anyone born here on earth at the time but that in the Kingdom of Heaven, the least was greater than John or John's ability as a man. He said "Kingdom of Heaven" and I always thought he meant those in that realm. No, I don't believe that just believing Jesus died on the cross for our sins guarantees us anything unless we experience change and live accordingly.
2006-12-19 20:06:24 · answer #6 · answered by neptune 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The reference that Jesus is teaching is that to be a true servant is to be selfless or least important. John the Baptist was the one who came before Jesus to proclaim that the Messiah was coming. He did not do this to gain attention to himself, he did this because it was his destiny. He was a great man but he had a servant's heart and did not think of himself as great or important. He was just humbly doing his job. Jesus was telling the disciples that as great as John was he did not proclaim the coming of the Messiah for personal gain. The least among them, even the least important person who believes and repents and has faith in Jesus is greater than John because that person heard the word, turned from sin and repented and spread the gospel.
2006-12-19 20:21:30 · answer #7 · answered by Only hell mama ever raised 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those Christians probably do not really believe. They just call themselves Christians. Many people do that. People who call themselves Christians may not necessarily be in the kingdom of God.
The Bible stated that the 'least' in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John. Hope you understand!
In Christ, Melodie
2006-12-19 20:01:25 · answer #8 · answered by Hannah 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think Jesus was saying that the least person in HEAVEN is greater than the best person on earth. Saying that John was the best Christian on earth is a great complement but John still was not sinless. He may have been great but he wasn't perfect. People that are saved and in heaven are now sinless. They are perfect. Kind of like--The smartest kid in grade school can't compare to the dumbest student in Harvard.
2006-12-19 20:09:57 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Remember that Jesus opened the way to heaven; all the prophets and John the Baptiste died before Jesus died for our sins.
2006-12-19 20:04:42 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋