To Mr. Smith,
No argument about the placement of the comma or Christ being dead for three days. What I always wanted to know is this, why even bring up all this business about paradise anyways? What does this paradise location mean to the thief or more importantly the reader of the bible?
Thanks,
Matthew
Dear Matthew:
There were people standing around the crucifixion. That is how these things were heard in the first place. What Jesus spoke in public was not MEANT to be understood. That is why Jesus always taught in parables to the public. Same reason Isaiah prophesied:
"But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and FALL BACKWARD, AND BE BROKEN AND SNARED, AND TAKEN" (Isa. 28:13).
Same reason God warned about "Adding to and taking away from" His Word. To assure that there WOULD be people who would and did take away from and add to His word, so that men might condemn themselves in charging God with folly.
Read my paper: Twelve Rules to Understanding God's Word
God be with you,
Ray
