Put Out of the Synagogues

“They shall put you out of the synagogues:

yea, the time cometh,

that whosoever killeth you will think that

he doeth God service.”

(John 16:2)

Much like places of worship in our day, the synagogues in the first century were often large public buildings that served many functions other than worship, although worship formed their primary purpose. Religious centers today are built to attract people of all kinds of interests whether religious or social.

It was in these very centers that they plotted the death of the LORD Jesus and ultimately had Him put to death, Matthew 26:3-4. Yes, these were places where the Scriptures were read but interpreted in ways other than why they were written; to reveal God’s redemptive history awaiting fulfillment by God’s Son Who came to accomplish every type, picture, prophecy and promise. As when the LORD Jesus Christ had read from Isaiah 61:1-2 in Luke 4:21, “And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” Ultimately, they would cast Him out because He declared that He was sovereign in whom He came to save and did not come to save everyone, Luke 4:25-26. He declared His Father’s purpose to save only those that the Father had given Him from eternity, [John 17:2] and only their debt would be fully paid in that year of Jubilee in which He laid down His life. It was in fulfillment not only of the Passover feast but also the remitting of all the sin debt of His people according to the law of the Jubilee in the Old Testament, Luke 4:18-19.

Is it any wonder then that the LORD told His disciples that they also would be put out of the synagogues? So it must be in all ages, particularly in our day. The Scriptures cannot be broken. “… for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14) Christ the Good Shepherd will call His sheep out of the fold of works religion and they, hearing His voice through the Gospel preached, must and will follow Him alone Who came to pay their sin debt, John 10:27-30. They may well have grown up in a religious organization and made a profession in ignorance and darkness but if they are one of the LORD’s, they must be put out of fleshly works religion and cast on Christ Jesus alone as their ALL in ALL. While some might linger, as did Lot in Sodom, God will use persecution and opposition to cast them out. Religious groups will think they are doing God a service by getting rid of you, as a thorn being removed from the body but it is the LORD Who is drawing you out and away to Himself, "These things will they do unto you because they have not KNOWN THE FATHER NOR ME." (John 16:3) While initially, sorrow filled the disciples’ hearts, yet when the time came, by the Grace of God they went forth “...rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name." (Acts 5:41) So it is for any one of the LORD’s elect, redeemed ones that He has called to Him. We thank God for having so separated us.