It is never a question of God wanting anyone, he has settled that issue he desires for all to be saved.
It was a question of me choosing him and his word and that was established years ago, it was then that I became a believer, and with his help, have been eradicating unbelief ever since.
Ok, PJ, & Leon... the question asked is why do salvation experiences vary so greatly.
One reason is becasue we all have different sins, personalities, and characters checks, and we expereince life in different ways, and receive Christ in different manners, and for different reasons.
Also, when God says compel them to come, He means with the gospel. He is not talking about forcing, or pressuring or brow beating anyone to receive Christ. He is speaking about compelling, does mean forcing, but it also means laying out the gospel of Jesus Christ with force of information that is ugently importance to a lost person, so that they will have no choice but to see the Error of their ways, and TURN away from their sins.
There are two meanings going on here in different scrioptures, which this word is used in different parts of the Bible. To compel them by physically pressuring them with force as in Acts, or compel them as in consistant exhortations and encouragements.
Compel them to come is about consistancy in exhorting and encourging lost people with the love of Christ of the need to come to Christ to be saved with the gospel, as in Luke 14:23
If compel meant that it would have also been the word used for the first two groups. The word changed to show the difference. There is way more to this parable, but if people are getting hung up on the basics, there is no reason to try to dig deeper. It would only cause confusion and arguing, and that was not my purpose. I was trying to show that all our infighting was in vain, God had already answered the question. He will draw people however it pleases Him to draw them.
In Acts chapter 26:verse 11, Paul tells the story about how he treated the Christians, saying, "And I punished them often in every synagague, and COMPELLED then to blaspheme and being exceedingly mad against them I persecuted them even in strange cities."
The definition of compel has four meanings in usages, and you must chose which meaning is to being used in order to properly understand and interpret the passages, and/or know how thw word fits into what the comment is talking about.
(1) Compel meanings together, to drive, to force, to constrain. T
(2) The second meaning of the word COMPEL means to get, or bring about by force.
(3) The third meaning of COMPEL means to gather, or drive together by force, as a flock.
(4) The fourth meaning of COMPEL means to cause to yeild, or overpower, or influence, to urge irresistibily.
In Acts Paul is using the word COMPEL to mean how he forced the Christian by constraint and is using the first definition of COMPEL. Paul used coercion to cause the Christian to blaspheme against the truth of the gospel, and he used physical force.
In Luke chapter 14:verse 23, in the parable of the sower, it says, And the lord (owner of the house) said to the servant, Go into the highways and hedges, and COMPEL them to come in, so that my house may be filled.
In this verse the definition of the word being used here are the third and fourth definitons for COMPEL which means to go gather, and drive together by force, (force here means power to persuade or influence, to be effective, and vigorous,) and COMPEL used here means to cause to yield, to influence, to urge irresistibily, to convince to come.
I'm sorry Ella, but the definition you use for compel is not used in the bible. In very case, the first two definitions are the correct ones. It is obvious in all cases. If your definition were correct, there would be no reason to even mention the third group. It would say He sent them back out to finish filling his house. Your definition does not make any sense in the context of the parable.
Jude 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
In this scripture,the word pulling is the Greek word Harpadzo
ἁρπάζω
harpazō
Thayer Definition:
1) to seize, carry off by force
2) to seize on, claim for one�s self eagerly
3) to snatch out or away
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by Thayer�s/Strong�s Number: from a derivative of G138
Citing in TDNT: 1:472, 80
This word Harpadzo;Is the word the Church uses for the rapture.
Yet The words Compel and pulling/Harpadzo,do talk about being taken with or by force,and it could be against
ones will.
In the Scripture Brother Leon uses we need to look at the attitude of the Lord against those that were invited to
the wedding feast of His Son.
The definition of the word Compel hinges upon the Lords attitude.
Luke 14:21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being 'angry' said to his servant, Go out 'quickly' into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
The Master commands His servant to go out quickly.
G5030
ταχέως
tacheōs
Thayer Definition:
1) quickly, shortly
Part of Speech: adverb
A Related Word by Thayer�s/Strong�s Number: from G5036
The Lord is still angry and says:
Luke 14:21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
Luke 14:22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
Luke 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
Luke 14:24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
G3710
The definition for angry is:
ὀργίζω
orgizō
Thayer Definition:
1) to provoke, to arouse to anger
2) to be provoked to anger, be angry, be wroth
Part of Speech: verb
Citing in TDNT: 6:100, 835
A Related Word by Thayer�s/Strong�s Number: from G3709
Citing in TDNT: 5:382,*
There is some digging to be doing when we are reading and studying.
Agape' and Charis:
Shalom and Chesed;
George
ps:Rage and fury-Verse 13
Dan 3:10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:
Dan 3:11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
Dan 3:12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
Dan 3:13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
Dan 3:14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
Well it is somewhat interesting, how one can try to take a verses and change the whole author of the word of God, that in one statement you would want to discredit the the word of God.
No he never forced anyone to be saved, no more than he forced them to hear the Gospel.
Leon, I decided to look up some commenatries on this verse, here is what I found. Comentaries on Luke chapter 14, verse 23, and useage of the word COMPEL...
Commentary by Albert Barnes On Luke chapter 14: Verse 23:
Verse 23. Word COMPEL- Go out into the highways. Since enough had not been found in the lanes and streets, he commands the servant to go into the roads--the public highways out of the city, as well as to the streets in it--and invite them also.
Hedges. A hedge is the inclosure around a field or vineyard. It was commonly made of thorns, which were planted thick, and which kept the cattle out of the vineyard.
"A common plant for this purpose is the prickly pear, a species of cactus, which grows several feet high, and as thick as a man's body, armed with sharp thorns, and thus forming an almost impervious defence"
(Professor Hackett, Scripture Illustrations, p. 174). Those in the hedges were poor labourers employed in planting them or trimming them-- men of the lowest class and of great poverty. By his directing them to go first into the streets of the city and then into the highways, we are not to understand our Saviour as referring to different classes of men, but only as denoting the earnestness with which God offers salvation to men, and his willingness that the most despised should come and live. Some parts of parables are thrown in for the sake of keeping, and they should not be pressed or forced to obtain any obscure or fanciful signification. The great point in this parable was, that God would call in the Gentiles after the Jews had rejected the gospel. This should be kept always in view in interpreting all the parts of the parable.
COMPEL them. That is, urge them, press them earnestly, one and all. Do not hear their excuses on account of their poverty and low rank of life, but urge them so as to overcome their objections and lead them to the feast. This expresses the earnestness of the man; his anxiety that his table should be filled, and his purpose not to reject any on account of their poverty, or ignorance, or want of apparel. So God is earnest in regard to the most polluted and vile. He commands his servants, his ministers, to urge them to come, to press on them the salvation of the gospel, and to use ALL the means in their power to bring into heaven poor and needy sinners. {t} "compel" Psalms 110:3
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Commentary by Burton Coffman on Luke chapter 14:verse 23
Verse 23-Word COMPEL
And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and constrain them to come in, that my house may be filled.
"This time the master of the house invites to his banquet the Gentiles." F31 As this had not yet been accomplished at the time of this parable, it is clear that the parable was prophetic at this point, moving altogether beyond the narrow circle of Israel, either of its leaders or its less noble classes. All men will be laid under tribute to provide guests for the Father's kingdom banquet.
Constrain them ...is translated "COMPEL them" in some versions; but only a moral and rational force is indicated. Despite this, these words are a favorite text of the persecutor and inquisitor.
Long ago, Augustine used this text as a justification for religious persecution. It was used as a defense, and even as a command, to coerce people into the Christian faith. It was used as a defense for the inquisition, the thumb-screw, the rack, the threat of death and imprisonment - and for all those things which are the shame of Christianity. F32
Christ never intended that kind of constraint to bring people into his kingdom; and "The church which tolerates, encourages, and practices persecution is not the Church of Christ; and no man can be of such a church without endangering his salvation." F33
That my house may be filled ...
These words are a definite suggestion that God intends to redeem from earth "a certain number of souls." "The invitation will therefore be continued, and consequently the history of our race prolonged, until that number be reached." F34
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Your favorite teacher__ Commentary by Matthew Henry on Luke chapter 14:verse 23- The word COMPEL....
The servants object not that it will be a disparagement to the master and his house to have such guests at his table; for they know his mind, and they soon gather an abundance of such guests: Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded. Many of the Jews are brought in, not of the scribes and Pharisees, such as Christ was now at dinner with, who thought themselves most likely to be guests at the Messiah's table, but the publicans and sinners; these are the poor and the maimed. But yet there is room for more guests, and provision enough for them all. "Go, then, secondly, into the highways and hedges. Go out into the country, and pick up the vagrants, or those that are returning now in the evening from their work in the field, from hedging and ditching there, and COMPEL them to come in, not by force of arms, but by force of arguments. Be earnest with them; for in this case it will be necessary to convince them that the invitation is sincere and not a banter; they will be shy and modest, and will hardly believe that they shall be welcome, and therefore be importunate with them and do not leave them till you have prevailed with them." This refers to the calling of the Gentiles, to whom the apostles were to turn when the Jews refused the offer, and with them the church was filled. Now observe here, (1.) The provision made for precious souls in the gospel of Christ shall appear not to have been made in vain; for, if some reject it, yet others will thankfully accept the offer of it. Christ comforts himself with this, that, though Israel be not gathered, yet he shall be glorious, as a light to the Gentiles, Isaiah 49:5,6. God will have a church in the world, though there are those that are unchurched; for the unbelief of man shall not make the promise of God of no effect.
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Commentary by People's New Testament on Luke chapter 14:verse 23.. Use of the word COMPEL:
15-24. A certain man gave a great supper. This parable was spoken in reply to the remark in verse 15, and shows that the world is not ready to "eat bread in the kingdom of God." Compare Matt. 22:1-14. Come; for all things are now ready. The second invitation, which it is the usual course to give in the East. John bade all get ready; and the Gospel of Christ bade all to come. Such is still the Gospel message. Began to make excuse. The excuses show that they did not wish to be guests. The first said. The first pleads landed property; the second, business; the third, social considerations; none of them good excuses. Go out quickly. To another class of persons. The first, who despised the invitation, are now rejected. The Jews are primarily meant. The poor, the maimed, etc. An abundant class in the East, a country destitute of alms-houses and hospitals. These probably represent the publicans and sinners. Go out into the highways and hedges. Far away--to the Gentiles. COMPEL them to come in. Use the constraining power of the love of the gospel. None of those men which were bidden. They were excluded by their own act. They had refused to come. The stubborn Jews missed the slightest taste; so do all like them.
I understand your view, I just don't agree. I can find you commentaries to say anything you want, it still does not make it true. Yes, it is popular today to think God never forces anyone, but that is not biblical. It is man's teaching.
Show me one other place in the Bible where compel can be translated as you are trying to translate it. Compared to English, Greek is very precise. If your translation was correct, it would have been used that way every time the word was used. That is not the case. It always carries with it a measure of force.
BTW, Henry isn't my favorite teacher, he is the one I usually quote because he is well respected in almost all circles. He was a brilliant man of God, no doubt. My favorite teacher is Spurgeon.
