by SES » Sun Nov 26, 2017 5:19 pm
Make no mistake about it, the sins of the people of Sodom were so egregious that they had to have known they were in wrong. Though their consciences should have been enough, but God also warned them and gave them time to repent. Prophecies against Tyre and Sidon (Ezek 26-28) were delivered directly to the people (27:1-3) and the king of Tyre (28:1-2), and they could have repented at any time and still been forgiven (Jer 18:7-8). The city of Ninevah responded to similar prophecies by repenting, and was spared (Jonah 3:4-10)
The people knew they were doing wrong, they were responsible for their actions, but also could have repented of them. But you are trying to say that their failure to repent and believe is not their own fault, but God's fault?!?!?
I've never read it that way; Jesus wasn't speaking to those in Sodom, but to the those in His presence. I think Jesus was being hyperbolic - exaggerating to make a point.
First, Jesus seems to agree with the common Jewish opinion that the inhabitants of Sodom, Gomorrah, Tyre, and Sidon were as completely wicked thus they did deserved every bit of the destruction God brought against them. They were the absolute rejecters of God. If anyone deserved judgment, they did.
Second, Jesus argued that if Sodom, Gomorrah, Tyre, and Sidon were justly condemned by God for rejecting the prophets of the Messiah how much more just is God's coming condemnation against those who reject the Messiah.
In other words the only way the unbelievers could overturn his argument would be to argue that, in fact, maybe Sodom, Gomorrah, Tyre, and Sidon didn't deserve God's judgment—something no one of his day would be willing to argue.
One way to figure out if an interpretation is correct is to see if that is the way those at that time understood it. So, did those at that time go away thinking that Jesus just taught that those is Sodom, Gomorrah, and etc could have been saved if God had put forth a little bit more effort? Or did they go away thinking that Jesus was teaching that He is the Messiah and that they are condemned if they reject Him? Since they killed Him for the latter it is justified to conclude that their understanding was much more in line with my interpretation than yours.
Make no mistake about it, the sins of the people of Sodom were so egregious that they had to have known they were in wrong. Though their consciences should have been enough, but God also warned them and gave them time to repent. Prophecies against Tyre and Sidon (Ezek 26-28) were delivered directly to the people (27:1-3) and the king of Tyre (28:1-2), and they could have repented at any time and still been forgiven (Jer 18:7-8). The city of Ninevah responded to similar prophecies by repenting, and was spared (Jonah 3:4-10)
The people knew they were doing wrong, they were responsible for their actions, but also could have repented of them. But you are trying to say that their failure to repent and believe is not their own fault, but God's fault?!?!?
I've never read it that way; Jesus wasn't speaking to those in Sodom, but to the those in His presence. I think Jesus was being hyperbolic - exaggerating to make a point.
First, Jesus seems to agree with the common Jewish opinion that the inhabitants of Sodom, Gomorrah, Tyre, and Sidon were as completely wicked thus they did deserved every bit of the destruction God brought against them. They were the absolute rejecters of God. If anyone deserved judgment, they did.
Second, Jesus argued that if Sodom, Gomorrah, Tyre, and Sidon were justly condemned by God for rejecting the prophets of the Messiah how much more just is God's coming condemnation against those who reject the Messiah.
In other words the only way the unbelievers could overturn his argument would be to argue that, in fact, maybe Sodom, Gomorrah, Tyre, and Sidon didn't deserve God's judgment—something no one of his day would be willing to argue.
One way to figure out if an interpretation is correct is to see if that is the way those at that time understood it. So, did those at that time go away thinking that Jesus just taught that those is Sodom, Gomorrah, and etc could have been saved if God had put forth a little bit more effort? Or did they go away thinking that Jesus was teaching that He is the Messiah and that they are condemned if they reject Him? Since they killed Him for the latter it is justified to conclude that their understanding was much more in line with my interpretation than yours.