Quote:
Originally Posted by awareness
Mat_21:31 .... Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
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Unfortunately, this is an example of fortune-cookie scripture reading. Without context, it seems to suggest that the people the law railed on get in first. And being "Babylon the Great, Mother of Harlots" may not be such a bad thing.
What is surely missed in this particular passage is that the ones who get in are those who recognize their failure and turn to God. Those who think they have no need do not turn. Or take longer to turn. So those with the greater need are the ones who turn more quickly (and therefore are "first"). Since the kingdom is not just the New J, they
do enter first. They enter when they turn.