We often find repeated phrases
and sentences as we read through the scriptures. Those who find
these sorts of passages should pay close attention to them because
they are used to emphasize fundamental truths which must not be ignored.
One of my favorite passages where this sort of emphasis is found
is in Psalm 24, 7 through 10. Lift up your heads, O ye gates,
and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory
shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The
Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your
heads, O ye gates, even lift them up, ye everlasting doors,
and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of Hosts, He is the
King of Glory. Selah. The Old Testament saints
likely would have considered these words in light of the Ark
of the Covenant being brought into the tabernacle and later
the temple with fanfare and praise. Those who have in the present
time been given eyes to see the glory of the true temple, which
the Lord pitched and not man, can recognize and rejoice in
the resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ into
that holy place in the very presence of the eternal God sent forth
in quite splendid terms. Thus the emphasis of this scripture
is to manifest the eternal sonship of our Lord, who is seated upon
the throne of power and is worthy of all praise. For He is the
Lord, strong and mighty. He has demonstrated His might
in battle, as He has overcome all His enemies, triumphing over
them openly. There is none other who is worthy
of praise, and it is His name before which every knee shall
bow and every tongue confess. He is the King of glory. The
Lord of hosts is He. Neither is there salvation in
any other, for there is none other name under heaven given
among men, whereby we must be saved. The saints gladly lift
up their heads as they see Him as their hope and Redeemer, as
well as the gates of heaven are opened as He enters triumphantly
with the spoils of battle. Reign, sweet Savior, ever reign! Another time when a repeated
phrase is used is found in Luke 13, 2-5. And Jesus answering
said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners
above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? I
tell you, nay, but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise
perish. Or those eighteen upon whom the
tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were
sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you nay,
but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. The Lord
clearly set forth the necessity of the operation of repentance
in those who escape the wrath to come. It is bound in the heart
of a man, by nature, to consider that his own righteousness relative
to that of others has some bearing on his blessing in this life,
and will surely affect his destiny in the ages to come. Yet the
Lord continually laid the axe to the root of such comparisons,
as He often pointed out the wickedness of the Pharisees, whom the Jews
held in high esteem as men of great integrity and righteousness,
who would surely be accepted by God. For I say unto you that
except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the
scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom
of heaven. This was an astounding revelation
to his hearers, and sets forth the impossibility of men gaining
God's blessing by any activity of their own, or anything to
be gained by comparing one man's imperfections to another. In
this consideration they show the work of the law written in
their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their
thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another. But this is the natural thinking
of men. This is that which Solomon spoke
of. There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end
thereof are the ways of death. God is no respecter of persons. This being the case, leave men
without any shred of hope before God, arising from that which
they have performed relative to others. The only righteousness
which any man can stand in, as approved by God, is not a righteousness
which is measured in morality, devotion, or the faithfulness
of sinful flesh. For the Lord is of purer eyes
than to look upon sin. The only source of righteousness
by which a man may stand in the presence of a holy God is the
righteousness of Christ. To trust in any other righteousness
is to surely perish. In whom is your confidence placed?