Thieves and Robbers
Thieves and Robbers
Q: Our Lord Jesus Christ says in the Gospel of John: “All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers.” Were the prophets thieves and robbers?!
A: The Lord did not mean the prophets, but rather those who came immediately before Him. We can get an idea about them from what Gamaliel said in the council in defense of the apostles: “Take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men… For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody; a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed.” (Acts 5:35–37)
People like Theudas and Judas are those whom the Lord described as thieves and robbers.
I also see no objection to applying this to the scribes and Pharisees—those to whom He said: “You shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in… You travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.” (Matthew 23:13, 15)
2. Science and Religion
Q: Does science contradict religion?
A: True science does not contradict true religion. But false science may contradict religion, just as a distorted understanding of religion may contradict science.
3. When Is Casting Lots Appropriate?
Q: Are lots always correct? And are they from God?
A: No. Casting lots is only suitable between two matters that are absolutely equal, where the mind cannot distinguish between them—not only the mind of the person drawing lots, but even the minds of all advisers around him. Lots then resolve the confusion caused by this equality.
It is a mistake to use lots between two matters or two persons when one is good and the other is not, for that would be testing the Lord our God!
4. People Who Confessed Yet Were Not Forgiven
Q: What about people who confessed but were not forgiven, such as Pharaoh who confessed his sin to Moses (Exodus 9:27), Achan son of Carmi who confessed to Joshua (Joshua 7), and King Saul who confessed to the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 15:24–26)?
A: The sacrament of confession in the Church is also called the Sacrament of Repentance. A person must repent, then come confessing his sins. Confession without repentance has no value, and the confessor cannot receive forgiveness unless he is repentant.
Those whom you mentioned were not repentant. Pharaoh cried “I have sinned,” while remaining hard-hearted. He was driven not by repentance but by fear of the plagues, and once a plague ceased, he returned to his true nature.
Achan son of Carmi did not come repentant and confessing; rather, God exposed him against his will, and he was forced to admit. The people were defeated, and Achan did not confess. The Lord said, “There is an accursed thing in your midst, O Israel,” yet Achan still did not confess. The lot began, with warnings, and he still did not confess—not when it fell on his tribe, nor on his clan, nor on his household. Finally, the Lord revealed him by name, and he was forced to acknowledge his guilt. Was he repentant through all this?
As for King Saul, he was not repentant. When he said, “I have sinned,” his only goal was for the prophet Samuel to go with him—not out of repentance, but for the sake of his honor before the people! He said: “Honor me now, please, before the elders of my people and before Israel.” (1 Samuel 15:30)
5. Christ’s Descent into Hades
Q: How could Christ descend into Hades?
A: Hades, brother, is not the place of eternal torment; it is not the lake of fire. It is merely a place of waiting. The Lord descended there to take from it the righteous of the Old Testament who were waiting in hope, and to bring them into Paradise.
6. “Will Not Taste Death Until…”
Q: What is the meaning of Christ’s saying: “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.” (Mark 9:1)
A: Your misunderstanding, brother, comes from assuming that “the kingdom of God” refers to the eternal kingdom. Thus, you wonder how some contemporaries of Christ could remain alive until that eternal kingdom comes!
But the meaning is found in what the Lord said: “The kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21) That is, that God would reign over people instead of the devil, who had been “the ruler of this world.” (John 14:30)
So when the Lord sent His disciples to preach—before the Crucifixion—He told them: “Preach, saying: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” (Matthew 10:7) The kingdom was indeed approaching, but the Lord had not yet reigned. When did He reign? The Lord reigned upon the Cross (Psalm 95). Then was fulfilled the psalm: “The Lord reigns; He is clothed with majesty. The Lord is clothed; He has girded Himself with strength.” (Psalm 92:1)
Was the Lord strong when He reigned upon the Cross? Yes, for “the veil of the temple was torn… the earth quaked, the rocks were split, and the graves were opened…” (Matthew 27:51–52). Power appeared in His victory over death by His Resurrection. Thus “He abolished death” (2 Timothy 1:10), and gave us to reign with Him (2 Timothy 2:12). He “destroyed him who had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14). He took “the keys of Hades and of Death” (Revelation 1:18). He “led captivity captive” (Ephesians 4:8), and opened the door of Paradise (Luke 23:43).
The preaching of the kingdom spread with power… “And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.” (Acts 4:33). Even the chief priests asked them: “By what power or by what name have you done this?” (Acts 4:7). It is the power of which the Lord said: “Tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49), and of which Paul said: “According to His working which works in me mightily.” (Colossians 1:29).
Thus within about thirty years Christianity had reached the ends of the known world, and philosophies, religions, and kingdoms fell before it. Many of those who saw the Lord on earth did not taste death until they saw the kingdom of God come with power.
An Article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III – Al-Keraza Magazine – Second Year, Issue Six, August 1966
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