PSALM 16 (with cross references & topics)
Psa 16:1-11 A miktam (golden psalm); Said to provide fellowship, friendship with God, hope, joy, money, protection & wisdom. Texted in grape are the passages (vv. 8-11) that are quoted in the N.T. (see PSALM 15 N.T. Quotes from PsalmsA.):
Keep Me safe, O GOD (Mighty ONE), for in YOU I take refuge. I said to the LORD (YAHWEH), YOU are My LORD (Authoritative ONE); apart from YOU I have no good thing. As for the saints who are in the land, They are the glorious ones in whom is all My delight. (& also the noble ones [priests] in whom all delight, I said:) The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods (receive another god). I will not pour out their libations of blood or take up their names on My lips. LORD (YAHWEH), YOU have assigned Me My portion & My cup; YOU have made My lot secure.
The boundary lines have fallen for Me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the LORD (YAHWEH) who counsels Me; even at night My heart instructs Me.
I have set the LORD (YAHWEH) always before Me. Because HE is at My right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore as I live My heart is glad & My tongue rejoices; My body also will rest secure (dwell confidently), because Distant prophecy YOU will not abandon Me
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Matt 7:3,5,13-14 A continuation of the beatitudes (covered in PSALM 24 Beatitudes) & teachings begun in Matt 5 (which together are called the "Sermon on the Mount" series), where v.1 says Jesus went up on a mountainside & sat down. His disciples came to Him & He began to teach Them-- but eventually the crowds assembled, as 7:28 says the crowds were amazed at His teaching: Why do You look at the chip in Your brother's eye & pay no attention to the log in Your own eye? 1st take the log out of Your own eye, & then You will see clearly to remove the chip from Your brother's eye. Ref. the new thing of Isaiah 43:19, about entering the kingdom of heaven-- the plan of salvation: Enter purposely [Approach/proceed intently] through the narrow [small/simple] gate [window of invitation opening to the path leading to the house (campground)]. For wide [large & multi-faceted] is the gate [window of opportunities & distractions] & broad [long] is the road [pathway of indecision & non-commitment] that leads to destruction, & many enter through it. But small [simple] is the gate [window of invitation with but 1 facet-- the offer of salvation] & narrow [short] the road [pathway of decision & commitment] that leads to eternal life [permanent residence in the house/mansion-- those who have acquired salvation; though now we live in tents, our citizenship is in Heaven. Plus we have this blessed declaration that Jesus made, In My FATHER'S (PATARE'S) House are many mansions (monays, abodes]: I go to prepare a place (tomos, passage) for You; I will come again & receive You unto myself, that where I am You may be also [John 14:2-3 (KJV)], & only a few find it.
Luke <1> 11:2 <2> 13:24-27 <1> He said to Them [his disciples], When You pray, say FATHER (PATARE), hallowed be YOUR Name. <2> Someone asked Him, Lord, are only a few people going to be saved? He said to them [the crowd], Make every effort (agonize) to enter through the narrow gate [same Greek words & meanings as in Matt] because many, I tell you, will try to enter the house [campground-- they will indeed come to the narrow gate of invitation, perhaps contemplating entering through it, but will change their mind upon seeing it involves commitment in addition to decision-- choosing rather to enter the wide gate, thinking it eventually leads to the eternal life anyway] & will not be able to-- being reluctant to commit. Once the owner of the house [campground-- God is the owner-- whether it be at the end of one's life or at the end of time] gets up & closes the door, You will stand outside knocking & pleading oh so politely, Sir, open the door for us-- the gate of salvation & the path of commitment no longer being there. But HE will answer, I don't know you or where you come from. Then you will say, We ate & drank with YOU-- flirting, being mesmerized by the view; so sad this last conversation, We even answered the invitation by sitting in pews & then coming forward, & YOU taught in our streets-- see our constitution-- true, there was separation of church & state, but did we not symbolically allow you on the grounds?. But HE will reply [repeat], I don't know you or where you come from-- the response to my invitation (back then or recently) was not genuine; you never decided to in turn invite me & commit your heart to me! How gleefully I'd have answered the invitation/commitment, which is to say there would then be a foundation to build upon. Away from ME, all you evildoers. Alas, the time for cleansing is past! S.a. Matt 7:21-27 & Luke 6:46-49 ref. building your house/tent on sand & rock. But in a sense this also has much to do with a self-deception that Christians fall into-- some bona fide Christians imagine they are laying up treasure in Heaven by not doing/dedicating their good works for Jesus, according to God's will). They do not lose eternal life-- just the golden opportunity to lay up treasure in Heaven.
John <1> 6:48-51 <2> 10:9-11 <3> 14:6 <1> Recall that much of what Jesus humbly spoke directly to his disciples HE, seated at the Right Hand of the FATHER, speaks to us today-- a non-Christian accepts the humble Jesus, as even Christians are to conform to His image: I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the earthly manna; I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, He will live forever. This bread is My flesh, which I will give for the life of all living in the world. <2> I am the narrow gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved (kept safe). He will both come in the house [campground] & go out into the field [world], & find pasture; I am come that they might have spiritual life now & have it to the full forever. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep-- he evermore is Jesus ascended, but at the very moment any inhabitant of the world invites him into his/her heart, he becomes Jesus humble. <3> I am the way, the truth & the life. No one comes to the FATHER (PATARE) except through Me.