What Did Jesus Christ Say About Abraham?

King David (see A History Of Jerusalem: The City Of David) is a key ancestor of the Messiah because of his royal significance to "Christ the King of Israel" (Mark 15:32 KJV). But Abraham (see Abraham The Christian) is also a key ancestor of the Messiah because, as we will cover in this study, of his righteousness.

"^1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

^1:2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; ^1:3 And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar [see Who Were The First Jews?]; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; ^1:4 And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; ^1:5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth [see The Messianic Role Of Naomi, Ruth And Boaz]; and Obed begat Jesse; ^1:6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias [see David And Bathsheba]; ^1:7 And Solomon [see A History Of Jerusalem: The Glory Of Solomon] begat Roboam [see A History Of Jerusalem: The Capital Of Judah and Kings of Israel and Judah]; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; ^1:8 And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; ^1:9 And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; ^1:10 And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; ^1:11 And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:" (Matthew 1:1-11 KJV)

As described above, the people of Judah were exiled to Babylon, the birthplace of idolatry, because of their idolatry (see The Babylon Exodus And Exile). They were sent back into the place that the LORD had sent Abraham out of long before (see The Journey From Ur Of The Chaldees). Exactly as prescribed and prophesied by the LORD, the nation of Judah, with the royal line within it (i.e. the sole purpose of "the chosen people" from whom the Holy One would come), was returned to Jerusalem, to Zion, seventy years later, for the sake of the coming of the Messiah (see A History Of Jerusalem: Ezra And Nehemiah and A History Of Jerusalem: Zionism).

"^1:12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; ^1:13 And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; ^1:14 And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; ^1:15 And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; ^1:16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

^1:17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations." (Matthew 1:12-17 KJV)

Unlike a royal line that can be maintained alive for thousands of years, until the Ultimate Heir comes, with many scoundrels in the links, the heritage of righteous example has absolutely nothing to do with ancestry or place of birth. When the self-righteous Pharisees and Sadducees claimed to be "righteous," for no better reason than their ancestry and nationality, John the Baptist confronted (see Who Has A Spirit Of Confrontation?) their Satanic delusions of grandeur with Truth and Reality: "think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham."

"^3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, ^3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. ^3:3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight [see The Path To Glory and The Strait Gate].

^3:4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey [see What Was Strange About John The Baptist?]. ^3:5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, ^3:6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

^3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees [see The Origin Of The Essenes, Sadducees And Pharisees] come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ^3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: ^3:9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. ^3:10 And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

^3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: ^3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor [see Moriah: Separating The Wheat From The Chaff], and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." (Matthew 3:1-12 KJV)

"Many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven"

Jesus Christ frequently spoke of Abraham, as an example of a man who had true righteous - a man whose faith was manifested by his actual obedience to the LORD (see Works Means Obedience). For that reason, we know, by the Word of the Messiah, that Abraham will be in the Kingdom of God (see God's Kingdom: Paradise On Earth):

"^8:1 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. ^8:2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

^8:3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. ^8:4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

^8:5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, ^8:6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.

^8:7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.

^8:8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. ^8:9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

^8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. ^8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven [see What Was The Lesson Of John 3:16?]. ^8:12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

^8:13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour." (Matthew 8:1-13 KJV)

Abraham understood that being "saved" was a future event ("^11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth" Hebrews 11:13 KJV).

"^22:23 The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, ^22:24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. ^22:25 Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: ^22:26 Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. ^22:27 And last of all the woman died also. ^22:28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.

^22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. ^22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. ^22:31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, ^22:32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living [see Could Christ Return Tonight?].

^22:33 And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine." (Matthew 22:23-33 KJV)

Very often, the reason that the religious authorities could not understand what the Messiah was saying is because they were too full of their own words to hear the Truth. On the other hand, those who looked to the Word of God (see What Does Word of God Mean To You?), as Abraham did, were able to "hear."

"^13:10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath [see Sabbath Teachings And Healings]. ^13:11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. ^13:12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. ^13:13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

^13:14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.

^13:15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? ^13:16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

^13:17 And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him." (Luke 13:10-17 KJV)

The reason that Abraham will be saved is the same for all who will be saved: Abraham obeyed the LORD when he was given the means to do so (see When And Where Your Eternal Life Will Begin and The Eighth Day: What Does It Mean?).

"^13:22 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. ^13:23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved?

And he said unto them, ^13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate [see The Strait Gate]: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ^13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

^13:26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

^13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

^13:28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. ^13:29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. ^13:30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last." (Luke 22:22-30 KJV)

As He consistently taught, those who truly repent and obey the Word of the LORD are the "children of Abraham."

"^19:1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. ^19:2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. ^19:3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. ^19:4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.

^19:5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. ^19:6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.

^19:7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.

^19:8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

^19:9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham." (Luke 19:1-9 KJV)

Just as Abraham grew in faith and knowledge, all people of true righteousness must live a life of the Way to Life - as though each day would be the day of Christ's return (again, see Could Christ Return Tonight?).

"^19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. ^19:11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. ^19:12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. ^19:13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

^19:14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

^19:15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

^19:16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.

^19:17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

^19:18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.

^19:19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.

^19:20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: ^19:21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.

^19:22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: ^19:23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?

^19:24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.

^19:25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)

^19:26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. ^19:27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me." (Luke 19:10-27 KJV)

Just as John the Baptist had done earlier, the Messiah rebuked the self-righteous religionists for discarding the righteous example of Abraham and worshipping their own man-made traditions (see Is Your Religion Your Religion?; also Is Your Church A Cult?).

"^8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; ^8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free [see The Yoke Of Freedom]. ^8:33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? ^8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. ^8:35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. ^8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. ^8:37 I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. ^8:38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. ^8:39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. ^8:40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. ^8:41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God." (John 8:31-41 KJV)

The alternative to true righteousness is a rebel's self-righteousness - the lust of Satan to idolize one's self.

"^8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. ^8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. ^8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning [see When Does 'Life' Begin? and The Sins Of The World's Oldest Profession], and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. ^8:45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. ^8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? ^8:47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God." (John 8:42-47 KJV)

The result of self-righteousness is hate of the Truth that Abraham loved.

"^8:48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? ^8:49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. ^8:50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. ^8:51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. ^8:52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. ^8:53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? ^8:54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: ^8:55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. ^8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. ^8:57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? ^8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. ^8:59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by." (John 8:48-59 KJV)

Fact Finder: Did Abraham ever go to "Zion"? Who was Melchizedek?
See A History Of Jerusalem: Melchizedek's Salem

This Day In History, February 15

590: Khosrau II was crowned king of Persia (Persia is known today as Iran; see Iran's Greatest Leader Was Pro-Zionist and A History Of Jerusalem: Ezra And Nehemiah).

1637: Ferdinand III was crowned as the Holy Roman Emperor (see The Holy Roman Empire and Constantine's Crusades In History And Prophecy).

1763: The Treaty of Hubertusburg was signed. It ended the conflict between Austria and Prussia (not to be confused with Russia - Prussia is in Germany) in the Seven Years' War.

1764: St. Louis was founded as a French trading post, named after French King Louis IX (although many regard the loo-ee pronunciation to be slang, it's actually much closer to the original French-accent name than the later English loo-iss). "Missouri" was named after a tribe of Sioux people, the Missouris, who lived in the region.

1898: The Spanish-U.S. War began after the U.S. battleship Maine blew up in Havana harbor. There was no sign of attack upon the ship; many believe that the ship's own 5 tons of gunpowder stores were accidentally detonated (as happened to other such warships where gunpowder was stored in bulk).

1922: The Permanent Court of International Justice, at The Hague in the Netherlands, held its first session. Established to address "crimes against humanity," the court has remained ineffective for war crimes committed by war-mongering nations because many of the greatest war criminals have refuge in their militarily-powerful nations that refuse to deliver them to "foreign" justice - while they themselves have subjected other nations to their "foreign" courts and tribunals during their rampage of invasions. There will however be no escape, for anyone, from God's Justice in due time - all are going to answer to the LORD for all of the evil that they have done, including those who have done their evil in God's Name (see So, You Think You Got Away With It?).

1928: Herbert Asquith died at age 76. Mr. Asquith served as the Prime Minister of Britain from 1908 to 1916, and as such was the leader of Britain during the first 2 years of the First World War (see also A History Of Jerusalem: The British Mandate).

1940: During the Second World War (which began in September 1939 when Germany invaded Poland), Adolf Hitler (see Presidential Quotes On War, Terrorism, Religion) ordered that all British merchant ships would be considered warships.

1942: After having their supplies of ammunition and food cut off, British and allied forces surrendered to the Japanese in Singapore - the single most catastrophic (but temporary) defeat in British military history; over 130,000 British, Canadian, Australian, and Indian troops were taken prisoner.

1944: U.S. warplanes bombed the Abbey of Monte Cassino in an effort to neutralize it as a German observation post in central Italy.

1950: Joseph Stalin and Mao Tse-tung signed a Russian-Chinese mutual defense treaty in Moscow.

1954: Canada and the U.S. began construction of the Distant Early Warning Line ("the DEW Line"), a network of radar stations in the Arctic of Canada and Alaska to detect incoming Russian nuclear bombers. The system soon became obsolete upon the invention, just a few years later, of intercontinental ballistic missiles, as well as short-range nuclear missiles that can be fired from submarines a few miles off the east and west coasts of the entire continent of North America).

1965: Canada adopted the "Maple Leaf" as its new national flag.

1971: Britain converted to decimal currency from pounds, shillings and pence.

1989: The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. The invasion was condemned and protested by the U.S., until the U.S. invaded Afghanistan itself a few years later.

1990: Britain and Argentina restored full diplomatic ties, affirming reconciliation after their 1982 war for the Falkland Islands.

2003: An estimated 30 million people, in 600 cities all around the world, protested (the largest peace demonstration in history) the U.S. invasion of Iraq and the war that followed. A few years later, it was proven that the protestors were correct, and that George W. Bush's justification for the war was totally false - no "weapons of mass destruction" were ever found in Iraq, and Iraq had nothing at all to do with the 9-11 terrorist attacks that were committed by men from Saudi Arabia (Osama bin-Laden was a Saudi-Arabian) and Pakistan - ironically, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, from which the 9-11 terrorists originated, were not invaded and are proclaimed as "allies in the war against terror," while Iraq and Afghanistan were invaded and devastated. Perhaps the greatest irony of all is that, while there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein was a murderer of his own people, captured documents prove that Saddam Hussein not only did not aid the al-Qaeda terrorist group, he actually regarded them as a threat to Iraq.