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The Daily Word of Righteousness
Ministry by the Spirit, #8
And the Lord said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. (Numbers 11:16)
It is apparent in the Old Testament Scriptures that God recognized the existence of, and the need for, older, wiser men who were willing and able to bear before the Lord the responsibility for the congregation.
During the days of the Lord Jesus, the Sanhedrin, the council of Jewish elders, administered the affairs of Israel.
And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? (Matthew 21:23)
The chief priests and elders are referred to many times in the Gospel accounts.
The chief priests and elders of Jesus' day had succumbed to the love of money and of political power. They represented organizationally imposed leadership and ministry, not ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had chosen Simeon and Anna to announce God's Christ. The Spirit did not use the organizational leadership.
And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. (Luke 2:26)
And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. (Luke 2:38)
The rulers of Israel apparently did not recognize the Divine anointing upon Simeon and Anna. Because of their blindness to the things of the Spirit they rejected their Christ. Whenever the Holy Spirit brings an advance in God's Kingdom, an advance that does not insure the continuation of organizational leadership, the ruling administrators and elders will go to war against the Spirit. We know of no exception to this, and believe the warfare will commence anew as the Spirit announces His determination to raise up ministries and gifts among the members of Christ's Body.
From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. (Matthew 16:21)
"Suffer many things of the elders."
Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, (Matthew 26:3)
Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; (Matthew 26:59)
The chief priests and elders possessed authority over the conduct of the Israelites. Because of their envy they murdered Christ. They were unwilling to submit to the spiritual authority of the Lord.
And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. (Matthew 27:12)
For he [Pilate] knew that for envy they had delivered him. (Matthew 27:18)
Though the elders of Israel did not realize it, Jesus would not have interfered with their political status. His mission was spiritual. His Kingdom is not of this world.
To be continued.