Hebrewisms of The Bible-Part 4:
In the prophetic writings especially of the N.T. verbs expressive of a person’s doing, and action are often used to signify their imagining something to exist, or to be true, or of the discovering and acknowledging of facts, or of persons declaring and foretelling of future events. Example,
Matthew 10:39, “He that finds his life shall lose it,” this means, “He that expects to save his life by abandonment of what has been professed in God, shall now lose his eternal life.”
1 Corinthians 3:18, “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.” This is equivalent to, strip yourself of your worldly wisdom, be content to be called a fool, and become wise unto salvation, seeking that which comes from God.
Isaiah 6:9-10, “Go and tell this people = (the Jew,) hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat = (dull,) and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes;” Interpreted; “this foretells of the ruin of the Jewish people.”
Acts 10:15, “What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.” God had made a distinction between the Jew, and the Gentile’s at first. The Jews’ had been declared clean, and the Gentiles’ to be unclean. God now removes this distinction, and declares all people to be clean. The good news of Jesus Christ was now to be preached among all men.
How were the following two verses to be understood by the apostles?
Matthew 24:36, “But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”
Luke 14:32, “But of that day and that hour knows no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.”
At that time, neither man, or angels, or Jesus Himself has permission to make know this hidden truth. Jesus had come to finish the work, and to do the will of His Father, and nothing else. His manifestation, His coming, was to seek and to save the lost. He finished the work of redemption, and returned to the right hand of His Father. Beyond this, no further knowledge or truths were to be put forth.
Negative verbs are often put for a strong positive affirmation. As in,
Psalms 84:11, “No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly,” means, “He will give them all good things.”
Romans 4:19, “Being not weak in the faith,” means, “Being strong in the faith.”
John 14:18, “I will not leave you comfortless,” this means, “I will both protect and give you a most solid comfort.”
Phillip Laspino www.seekfirstwisdom.com