The virtuous body of Christ – Part 11
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The Virtuous Body of Christ - Part 11 Discussion
“The virtuous body of Christ” - Part 11
May 15, 2016
with Steven Crook
Properly watching or locking a gate is important to anyone who understands that security is important for the thing or things the wall, fence or hedge are guarding. The gate is the entrance or exit from the thing that is being protected.
In our study today, we are going to examine three verses from Proverbs 31 which show us another angle of who we are to Jesus Christ and who Jesus Christ is to us.
Our Husband is known
Jesus Christ is obviously important to the body of Christ also talked about as the virtuous body of Christ in this series, but Jesus Christ is much more than a man we can imagine in our minds. In fact, Jesus Christ is the way, truth and life to the plan God has for all of humanity.
That all is fairly straight forward and obvious to any Christian, but there are Jews who are in the flesh and Jews who are of the heart, and Jesus Christ to the latter group is much more than a mere man.
Pro 31:23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
Pro 31:24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
Pro 31:25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
Jesus Christ is known in the gates. How is He known in the gates when He sits among the elders of the land?
Elders traditionally are those who are highly respected and esteemed in their communities. They would obviously be those who were trusted and approved of among those in that same community, so how would Jesus Christ be known in the gates when He sits among these elders?
First off, what is the gate being referred to, and secondly who are the elders?
There are many different gates we can refer to and many aspects we could expound upon, but I am going to focus on a very important gate, namely the gate to the tabernacle. This gate and the things that apply to it can corporately be applied to the gate of the “new city” as well, but I don’t want to get to far ahead of myself.
Exo 27:16 And for the gate of the court shall be an hanging of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework: and their pillars shall be four, and their sockets four.
Exo 38:18 And the hanging for the gate of the court was needlework, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: and twenty cubits was the length, and the height in the breadth was five cubits, answerable to the hangings of the court.
Exo 40:33 And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.
We’ve talked a lot of about the blue, purple and scarlet colors and the fine linen within this series, so just take those same principles and apply them to this study.
Hopefully, we will see how the gate and the elders are all connected together with Jesus Christ. Here are some of the verses covering what we should consider the gate as in the New Testament.
Mat 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
The gate can either be wide or strait, but what is the “strait” gate. A few studies back in the awesome hands series, I covered what the “strait gate” is.
In fact, the awesome hands part 96 was named, “Straight Gate”. Instead of “reinventing the wheel” (pun intended if you re-read or listen to that study), I will just copy here what I wrote in that study because it fits directly here.
Remember, I am directly speaking on the tabernacle, the gate, and the fine linen objects currently in the awesome hands series, so it is very appropriate to include in this study and amazing timing of the Lord.
Jesus tells us that “strait is the gate and narrow is the way” that WE must us to ENTER into the kingdom of God.
So, it becomes very important that we understand what this “straight” gate is all about.
Mat 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait G4728 gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
The “strait” gate is G4728 and also means narrow, but it is a STANDING NARROW GATE. Here is the root of G4728.
G4728
stenos
sten-os'
Probably from the base of G2476; narrow (from obstacles standing close about): - strait.
Total KJV occurrences: 3G4728
stenos
Total KJV Occurrences: 3
strait, 3
Mat_7:13-14 (2), Luk_13:24This is only used a handful of times, but is from the base of G2476.
G2476
histēmi
his'-tay-mee
A prolonged form of a primary word στάω staō (of the same meaning, and used for it in certain tenses); to stand (transitively or intransitively), used in various applications (literally or figuratively): - abide, appoint, bring, continue, covenant, establish, hold up, lay, present, set (up), stanch, stand (by, forth, still, up). Compare G5087.
Total KJV occurrences: 156G2576 means to STAND and is used 156 times in scripture with the majority being “stood”, “stand” or “standing”.
G2476
histēmi
Total KJV Occurrences: 161
stood, 60
Mat_2:9, Mat_12:46, Mat_13:2, Mat_20:32, Mat_26:73, Mat_27:11, Mat_27:47, Mar_10:49, Mar_11:5, Luk_5:1, Luk_6:8, Luk_6:17, Luk_7:14, Luk_7:38, Luk_17:12, Luk_18:11, Luk_18:40, Luk_19:8, Luk_23:10, Luk_23:35, Luk_23:49, Luk_24:36, Joh_1:35, Joh_6:22, Joh_7:37, Joh_11:56, Joh_12:29, Joh_18:5, Joh_18:16, Joh_18:18 (2), Joh_19:25 (2), Joh_20:11, Joh_20:19, Joh_20:26, Joh_21:4, Act_3:8, Act_9:7, Act_10:30, Act_12:13-14 (2), Act_16:9, Act_17:22, Act_21:40, Act_22:25, Act_24:20, Act_25:18, Act_27:21, Rev_5:6, Rev_7:9, Rev_7:11, Rev_8:2-3 (2), Rev_11:1, Rev_11:11, Rev_12:4, Rev_14:1 (2), Rev_18:17
stand, 36
Mat_12:25-26 (2), Mat_12:47, Mat_20:6, Mat_24:15, Mar_3:24-26 (3), Mar_9:1, Luk_6:8, Luk_8:20, Luk_11:18, Luk_13:25, Luk_21:36, Act_1:11, Act_5:20, Act_8:38, Act_25:10, Act_26:6, Act_26:16, Rom_5:2, Rom_14:4, 1Co_15:1, 2Co_1:24, Eph_6:11, Eph_6:13-14 (2), Col_4:12, Jam_2:3, 1Pe_5:12, Rev_3:20, Rev_6:17, Rev_10:5, Rev_15:2, Rev_18:15, Rev_20:12
standing, 23
Mat_6:5, Mat_16:28, Mat_20:3, Mat_20:6, Mar_3:31, Mar_13:14, Luk_1:11, Luk_5:2, Luk_9:27, Luk_18:13, Joh_8:9, Act_4:14 (3), Act_5:23, Act_5:25, Act_7:55-56 (2), Act_24:21, Rev_7:1, Rev_11:4, Rev_18:10, Rev_19:17
set, 11
Mat_18:2, Mat_25:33, Mar_9:36, Luk_4:9, Luk_9:47, Joh_8:3, Act_4:7, Act_5:27, Act_6:6, Act_6:13, Act_22:30
standeth, 8
Joh_1:26, Joh_3:29, 1Co_7:37, 1Co_10:12, 2Ti_2:19, Heb_10:11, Jam_5:9, Rev_10:8
still, 4
Mat_20:32, Mar_10:49, Luk_7:14, Act_8:38
establish, 3
Rom_3:31, Rom_10:3, Heb_10:9
appointed, 2
Act_1:23, Act_17:31
established, 2
Mat_18:16, 2Co_13:1
standest, 2
Act_7:33, Rom_11:20
abode, 1
Joh_8:44
brought, 1
Mar_13:9
continue, 1
Act_26:22
covenanted, 1
Mat_26:15
holden, 1
Rom_14:4
lay, 1
Act_7:60
make, 1
Rom_14:4
present, 1
Jud_1:24
setteth, 1
Mat_4:5
stanched, 1
Luk_8:44
Here are a few of those verses:
Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Luk 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
The "strait" gate is one that is a narrow standing. We are called to STAND in the Truth of the Word of God and we are FREE because of it. However, that does not mean we are not slaves/prisoners to our Master Jesus 🙂
Eph 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
Eph 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
We are all called to be witnesses to the work the Lord has started in us all and will eventually work in all of mankind.
Look at what Jesus immediately says after telling us to enter in at the straight gate:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat 7:17 Even so every GOOD TREE bringeth forth good fruit; but a CORRUPT TREE bringeth forth evil fruit.
Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.Eph 4:14 That we HENCEFORTH be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
False prophets have false doctrines. False doctrines are for and about another Jesus. Jesus tells us that these false prophets are trees which are known by their fruit. Therefore, prophets of the Lord, are also trees and will ALSO be known by their fruit.
As the body of Christ and those who have the testimony of Jesus, we are the acacia wood of the temple which is coupled together to form the frame of the tabernacle of God. However, we are used to carry the WORDS of the book WITHIN US as we carry the weight of the covering of the tabernacle on us, the frame of the tabernacle.
If you want to know more about the acacia wood, please read the last 5 or 6 awesome hands studies.
How the “narrow standing gate” connects to Proverbs 31 is very revealing to how we know how to deal with false idols and false doctrines and WHY the Husband of the virtuous body of Christ is known in the gate when He sits among the elders.
Pro 31:23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
Pro 31:24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
Pro 31:25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
Notice in verses 24 that the virtuous woman MAKES fine linen and SELLS it and makes GIRDLES that are wearable by those who buy these goods.
If you were paying attention to the GATE that is MADE of FINE LINEN, then you would also recognize that this gate hangs off of STANDING PILLARS.
The tabernacle has an outer gate where all of Israel must come through to enter into the outer court of the tabernacle and then the inner tabernacle has another fine linen gate leading into the holies.
The outer gate is hung on four pillars and the inner curtain or gate is hanging on 5 pillars, but the thing to take away from this example, and for this study, is that the pillars and the gates are all collectively the “tabernacle”, the Head and body, or otherwise known as Jesus the Christ.
Within that body there are appointments made for elders who are to be overseers. It is very appropriate that Paul speaks about following him AS he follows Jesus Christ.
1Co 4:15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
1Co 4:16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
1Co 4:17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.1Co 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
1Co 11:2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
1Co 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.Eph 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Eph 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Php 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Php 3:16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
Php 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
Php 3:18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:Heb 6:11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
Heb 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.1Pe 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
1Pe 3:13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
1Pe 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
The “watchers of the gate” will always be those who point you to Jesus Christ. Once we individually KNOW the Truth, once we individually KNOW Jesus Christ, then we become those lights in the world who point the way to the narrow gate and way.
That is what making and selling “fine linen” to the merchants is all about. Merchants are those that buy and sell themselves. So, who is BUYING your GOODS?
Who is looking at your CLOTHING and determining what it is you are wearing? After all, your CLOTHING is STRENGTH and HONOR and causes YOU to REJOICE in what is coming for all of mankind.
2Co 5:2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
2Co 5:3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
2Co 5:4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
2Co 5:5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
2Co 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:Rev 4:4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
Rev 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.Rev 10:1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
It should be clear that we are clothed with Jesus Christ, our Husband, but Jesus Christ came proclaiming doctrine. His words are His doctrine and we too, Lord willing, will always be “watchers in/of the gate” and proclaim “His doctrine” to those who are buying our goods.
As watchers, we need to always be listening and taking note of the doctrines that try to “enter into the city” of our hearts and minds, as well as the body of Christ’s heart and mind, so that we can be faithful watchmen.
Isa 52:8 Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion.
Isa 62:6 I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,
Jer 6:17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.
Jer 31:6 For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God.
If you are wondering why I mention and watchmen and the gates together, please review my recent awesome hands series which talk about the “overlay” of gold found on various items in the tabernacle.
The crux of it is that the Hebrew word “overlay” is directly connected to “watchmen”.
Exo 25:13 And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood, and overlay H6823 them with gold.
H6823
tsâphâh
tsaw-faw'
A primitive root (probably rather identical with H6822 through the idea of expansion in outlook transformed to act); to sheet over (especially with metal): - cover, overlay.
Total KJV occurrences: 46H6822
tsâphâh
Total KJV Occurrences: 38
watchman, 14
2Sa_18:24-27 (5), 2Ki_9:17-18 (2), 2Ki_9:20, Isa_21:6, Eze_3:17, Eze_33:2, Hos_9:6-8 (3)
watch, 5
Gen_31:49, 2Sa_13:34, Isa_21:5, Hab_2:1 (2)
watchmen, 5
1Sa_14:16, Isa_52:8, Isa_56:10, Jer_6:17, Mic_7:4
look, 2
Psa_5:3, Mic_7:7
looketh, 2
Pro_31:27, Son_7:4
watching, 2
1Sa_4:13, Lam_4:17
behold, 1
Psa_66:7
beholding, 1
Pro_15:3
espy, 1
Jer_48:19
waited, 1
Job_15:22
watched, 1
Lam_4:17
watcheth, 1
Psa_37:32
watchman’s, 1
Eze_33:6
well, 1
Pro_31:27
A watchman “covers” the city with his watching eyes and attentive service to the safety of the city or thing he is watching over.
Our Husband Jesus Christ is known in the gates as the elders always points to Him and His doctrine.
Our job as the wife of Jesus Christ is to make fine linen coverings to sell to those who are buying so that they too can have strength and honor as their clothing.
Of course the making is always in the form of being DOERS of the WORD and not hearers only, and that can ONLY be accomplished by God working it out in us daily. Let us always pray for this to take place in our lives.
It is an honor for a kings to search our all matters of scripture, and this is especially true for the kings and priests we all are being raised up into. Let us all be diligent watchers at the gate for the voice of the True Shephard.
Pro 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
Other related posts
- The virtuous body of Christ - Part 11 (May 15, 2016)
- The virtuous body of Christ - Part 10 (May 8, 2016)
- Exodus 27:1-21 Instructions About the Bronze Altar, the Courts of the Tabernacle and the Oil for the Lamp (November 7, 2022)