There is a passage of scripture in Matthew, chapter 23, of which Jesus speaks out against the people of Jerusalem. Just as the people denied Him as their Messiah, they also killed many of the prophets in times past. He wished to help His people, but they continued to deny His help, therefore, God left them unto themselves. Jesus says it better then me. It reads, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” (Matthew 23:37-39) Yes, the Jews that are alive will see Jesus coming in the clouds and finally know that the Lord their God cometh. However, what they don’t realize is that Jesus already came on earth over two thousand years ago and they denied Him then as their Lord and Savior. Now, these verses were not just spoken by Jesus, but paraphrased from 2 Esdras, chapter 1. We already know now that Jesus referenced the Book of Enoch, along with Paul referencing 1 Maccabees. As for this message, we will see how Jesus knew what Ezra said and how it applied to His people in Jerusalem. The parts he mentioned are in bold above.
Ezra wrote, “thus saith the Almighty Lord, Have I not prayed you as a father his sons, as a mother her daughters, and a nurse her young babes, That ye would be my people, and I should be your God; that ye would be my children, and I should be your father? I gathered you together, as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings: but now, what shall I do unto you? I will cast you out from my face. When ye offer unto me, I will turn my face from you: for your solemn feastdays, your new moons, and your circumcisions, have I forsaken. I sent unto you my servants the prophets, whom ye have taken and slain, and torn their bodies in pieces, whose blood I will require of your hands, saith the Lord. Thus saith the Almighty Lord, Your house is desolate, I will cast you out as the wind doth stubble.” (2 Esdras 1:28-33) Wow! Isn’t this amazing to read. Nowhere else in the Old Testament does it say anything like this but what was just read in 2 Esdras, chapter 1. Jesus knew all along that what was spoken of His people then still applied to the people in His time also. Now, why was this book not added to the canon? I would ask the same question about the Book of Enoch and Maccabees. Each one of these books is referenced as scripture by Jesus and Paul. Therefore, it had to have been corrupt men or women that wanted it removed from the Bible. But the elect still knows what is God’s Word.
Let us pray:
Lord, open our eyes and ears to know You more. Help us to have a desire to searches the scriptures for learning and wisdom. How often do people find pleasure in other things outside of You. You have left us a gift with the Bible, but I am afraid that fewer and fewer people still read it. I read it daily, for it is a lamp unto my feet. I love Your ways and Your laws are written on my heart. Lord, make every lost thing that is Yours become found in Your own due time. I know that many people have tried to discourage people from knowing more of You outside the current books of the canon, but if there is more for us to learn from, I am hungry to learn. I am still in awestruck that You referenced both 1 Enoch and 2 Esdras. And we have Paul referencing 1 Maccabees. This is so interesting, that I have to read these books for myself also. I often wonder, Lord, why these books were so open for You and the disciples to read in the past, but are shunned in these latter days. This makes me wonder what kind of spirit is indwelling in people in our day. If people are closed off to learn from other sources than what we find in our canon of scripture, then there is something very wrong. What is lost in time does not have to be lost anymore. Thank You for leading me to find out more about these different books of scripture already. I love You, Lord. I want to know more of You. Lead and guide me. Amen.
