why didn't Jesus want the righteous

[UnchartedSpirit]

Note: This is a multiple subject post. All questions and comments below are meant to be discussed in this thread. This is because I didn’t want to clutter the forum with everything I wanted to talk about:

WOuld the OT be used to prove there is not man that God doesn't want to come to him because it talkes about every sinful person possible? Anyway, why didn't Christ offer redemption to the Pharaciees? Is He always harsher on the more Godly people when they havent accepted him?

 

[TaterTot]

huh?

 

[Helen]

Christ offered redemption to all. He spoke FIRST in the synagogues and was rejected by the leaders -- the Pharisees and teachers of the law. These were the people who were supposed to know the Scriptures the best and so their rejection was a rejection of the truth they actually knew to be true. We read in Romans 1 that God's wrath is being poured out on those who suppress the truth.

It was those who didn't know what the Pharisees did to whom Christ turned next. Whereas we only know of two Pharisees accepting Christ -- Nicodemus and Saul/Paul -- we see a number of the 'lay people' did, including His disciples.

"Godly people" as seen by the world are usually those who are very public and show-offy about their religion. Their 'righteousness' is from their own works which God says are about as good as menstrual rags in His eyes (that's in Isaiah 64:6).

It is the humble, admitted sinner who is maybe scared to even try to pray to whom Jesus exhibits incredible gentleness and mercy.

 

[gb93433]

The religious folks of the day were proud and arrogant. They thought they had God all figured out and did not receive the message of the good news of the gospel. They thought they were God's people and rested in their idea.

Their own righteousness was expressed in their stateemtn of faith the shema whereas Jesus taught real righteousness was found in Him.

Jesus taught salvation was in Him not in a statement or idea that they thought they were God's people.

 

[UnchartedSpirit]

is it just that mercy doesnt work to bring the proud and self-righteous and rich to Christ, what does?

 

[Helen]

If you look at Romans 2, you will find that first Paul is severely reprimanding those who pass judgment on others -- and this was very much the case with the Pharisees and teachers of the law.

But then, in verse 4, I think you will see the answer to your question: "...not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance..."

It is when our kindness stands in stark contrast to the rest of the world's judgments that even the 'teachers' might take note. This may lead them to the repentance which is the first step toward salvation in Christ. The proud need to have their pride cracked. The self-righteous need to have their false righteousness exposed. The rich need to have their real poverty exposed.

God often does this Himself, bringing a person 'to the end of his rope' via the circumstance in his life, so that he will finally, at last, turn to God and scream for help.

 

[OldRegular]

The Pharisees were not Godly people, they were self righteous people as noted below.

Luke 18:10-14

10. Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

 

[Clean1]

God came to save everyone... even the Pharisees. He loves them just the same as everyone else. Yes He denoted them most of all because they were hyprocrites as it is so many times proclaimed in the NT: Mt:23:13-15,Mt:23:23 and 25,Mt:23:27,Mt:23:29,Lk:11:44, etc.
They denied that God was the Messiah, called Him a blashpemer, and turned many Jews and others against Him. But does God remove any mercy? NO! He died for them too. John:1:29,"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." and John 3:16 talks about how Christ died for EVERYONE even the proud and arogant.

 

[Brother Ian]

He did. They chose their own way instead of Christ's way.