Here’s bit of a mystery to those into mysteries, which is most of mankind I would tend to think. This one is from the Bible and it’s probably not what you think. It concerns a missing name or generation in the lineage, or genealogy of the Lord Jesus Christ, from Joseph's line in Matt 1.
I find the passage in Pr 25:2 intriguing and I believe it applies to situations such as this one. Pr 25:2,
“It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.”
‘But you’re not a "king"’ I faintly hear. Actually that’s not true. I may not be an earthly king, or a member of some royal family—though I have been the servant of earthly kings and royalty— I am a king of my King, Who is the King of kings. At salvation this amazing and certainly undeserving title is given to all of God's saints:
"And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." (Rev 1:5-6; see also 5:10)
Roughly 2,027 years ago Jesus Christ our Lord was born into the blessed lineage promised to Abraham (Gen 3:15; 15:6; Gal 3:16). He was “the seed of Abraham” (Heb 2:16), and “the seed of David” (2 Tim 2:18), "the son of Abraham" (Matt 1:1) and "the son of David" (Matt 1:1), and this lineage is given to us in Matt 1. The entire lineage that is detailed by the 42 generations, is that of only born again believers. They are no unbelievers, heretics or apostates in this lineage. Thats an important point to make, though it should really be common sense to anyone that is truly converted.
Matt 1:17 says,
“So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.”
We read here there are three sets of 14 generations, in Christ's lineage—though filled with scandals and failures—where all were truly converted children of God. King David plays a significant part in this lineage, noted even in how the chapter starts off, not with Christ being "the son of Abraham" mentioned first, but rather "the son of David" (Matt 1:1), even though Abraham came long before David of course.
Yet when we count the names, which correspond with the generations, in Matt 1:2–16, we count "14" names from Abraham to David, "14" from David to Babylon, but only "13" from Babylon unto Christ. For some unusual reason, one of Jesus' ancestors is kind of missing. I know; how is someone kind of missing?! Go ahead, have a read and count them for yourself. I have counted and recounted but only number 13 names in that last group.
Abraham to David:
Abraham
Isaac
Jacob
Judas
Phares
Esrom
Aram
Aminadab
Naasson
Salmon
Booz
Obed
Jesse
David the king
David until the Babylonian captivity:
Solomon
Roboam
Abia
Asa
Josaphat
Joram
Ozias
Joatham
Achaz
Ezekias
Manasses
Amon
Josias
Jechonias
Babylonian captivity unto Christ:
Salathiel
Zorobabel
Abiud
Eliakim
Azor
Sadoc
Achim
Eliud
Eleazar
Matthan
Jacob
Joseph
Jesus, who is called Christ.
What? How can this be? Why are only 13 names named, when v. 17 says there are 14?
Is this a mistake or contradiction in the Bible?
No it's not, though it may appear like that. There are no mistakes or contradictions in the Bible. Not even one. God's Word is perfectly inerrant and infallible down to the smallest jot and tittle (smallest members of the Hebrew grammar), because its given by a perfectly infallible and inerrant God, who is not the author of confusion — but “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.” (Pr. 25:2).
Have a study yourself who is the missing name (he is a king). The name of the game is the game of the name. Can you do it? I’m absolutely, resolutely, acutely, and astutely certain you can!
Or keep on reading for the answer.
The Answer to the Mystery, and Its Extraordinary
There are various suppositions and theories as to why there are only 13 names given in that third batch of names in the genealogy of Christ in Matt. 1, and no we cannot count the same namebut the only one that stands the test of Scripture is the following.
The answer is actually found in Matt 1. Right there in the lineage. But the Book of Jeremiah gives the explanation.
It is "Jechonias." The king of Judah.
Twice Jechonias is counted in the genealogy of Christ, in Joseph’s family line (Matt 1:11-12), which then brings the count to 14 in the third grouping, just as Matt 1:17 says there are. Jechonias was first counted in his unsaved estate prior to the Babylonian captivity (v. 11, without children) and once after Babylonian captivity (in his saved estate, v. 12, with children) — there are no unsaved people without children in Christ’s royal lineage. No where.
Of the 42 names, his name is the only name counted twice (Matt. 1:11 and 12), and there is an important reason for that. Remember, the first name listed under each grouping is counted as number one. That means Jechonias is counted twice. At the end of the second grouping, he is the 14th name (v. 11), and then again as the 1st name in the last grouping (v. 12), following the same counting procedure as the previous groupings, though here the name/individual appears twice. These passages read,
"And Josias begat Jechonias [14th count] and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: [12] And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias [1st count] begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;" (Matt 1:11-12)
Why would Jechonias be counted twice, while everyone else is numbered once?
The answer for that, found in the Book of Jeremiah, is both profound and incredible, wonderfully reflective of God's majestic grace and mercy.
You see, Jeconiah the king of Judah was a lost and wicked king during his first mention, the 14th name in the lineage of Christ, before the Babylonian captivity (v. 11), with him (along with his father, the wicked king Jehoiakim, 2 Ki 23:37; Jer 22:19; 36:30, who had the godly prophet Uriah killed, Jer 26:20–23, and suffered an ignoble death as prophesied) being the actual primary cause of Israels captivity to Babylon (Jer 22:25-29). In fact, the way Es 2:6 reads, it might've very well been because of Jeconiah that Israel was carried into captivity, being under the judgment of God (as was disobedient and unsaved Israel), quite possibly tied to Christ's lineage of which Jechonias was to partake, and the captivity by Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon (Es 2:6; 1 Ch 3:17) being what led to his eventual conversion. But thereafter, a completely changed man in his second mention (v. 12), at which time he is a converted and godly believer, counted as the 1st name after the Babylonian captivity (v. 12). This is amazing and again evident of Gods amazing grace and mercy. He was to be in the lineage of Christ but he was lost. He then gets converted, putting him there twice, and truly in His lineage, of His seed. There is no unsaved childless person in Christ's lineage. This is paramount to understand. All are not only of Abraham's fleshly seed (the children of Israel) but also of Abraham's spiritual seed (the children of God), meaning all are truly regenerate (Rom 9:8).
In the days of Jeremiah, the nation of Israel was altogether unsaved, and in wicked rebellion toward her LORD. So Jechonias' condition wasn't abnormal in Israel. The entire nation of Israel was lost in their sin (See for instance Jer. 1:7-19; 3:1-2; 4:3-4, 8, 14; 7:14; 15:12; 25:4), though the Lord held some responsible for it, such as Jechonias. One can only find two accounts of saved people besides Jeremiah in his book, that of Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian in Jer. 38:4-13 and 39:15-18, and that of Jehoiachin the king of Judah in Jer. 52:31-34.
Jer 22:24-30 gives us the account of how wicked Jechonias was and God's thoughts and curse towards him, His wrath and anger upon him, calling him a "despised broken idol" and "a vessel wherein is no pleasure" casting out Jechonias (and his mother) captive to Babylon where he would die and be cursed childless:
“As I live, saith the Lord, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck thee thence; . . . Thus saith the Lord, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.” (Jer. 22:24, 30)
He is called “Coniah” here, one of three names he is known by (“Jechonias,” “Coniah” and “Jehoiachin”). For the purposes of this article, he'll be referred to as Jechonias, following Matt 1's spelling.
Well now, this is quite curious, isn’t it? Jechonias was wicked and cursed and to be childless. How could a man both wicked and cursed and to be childless end up in the lineage and family tree of Jesus?
Some claim the curse of Jechonias invalidated Jesus’ right to the throne of David. But is this true? The Davidic Covenant promised that the Messiah, the “Son of David,” would reign forever on Jerusalem’s throne (1 Ch 17:11-14) — so if Jesus is a descendant of Jeconiah, then how can He be the Messiah, since the curse bars any of Jeconiah’s descendants from assuming David’s throne?
Furthermore, Jer. 22:24 appears to indicate that God’s curse upon him is irreversible! So how is it possible that Jechoniah was the great, great, great, etc., grandfather of Jesus?
I have heard the following solution to this difficulty, which is fairly common, this one by David W. Cloud (found in his books, Things Hard to be Understood and Advanced Bible Study Series: The Gospels),
“He [Jechonias] was cursed of God so that his seed could not inherit the throne of David. Yet in Matthew Jechonias is listed in the lineage of Christ, the Son of David. This is another proof of the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. If Christ were not virgin born, if Joseph were truly His father, he could not have inherited the Davidic throne. As it stands, He inherits through Mary’s lineage (Luke 3) via David’s son Nathan, an entirely different line which bypasses Jechonias. Praise the Lord!”
This is not only a stretch but actually totally unscriptural. Christ's inheritance came through both Mary and Joseph, that was the point in being virgin-born to Joseph and Mary, and the two genealogical lineages listed in Scripture. The genealogy tree intersected and amalgamated with Joseph and Mary, in the fullness of time.
"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law," (Gal 4:4).
Matt 1 is not some sort of make-belief genealogy or some sort of gaslighting deception, as one would conclude from what Cloud writes. Its there for a purpose, as is the "missing name" (as it so appears) of the third grouping, and its also significant that the New Testament opens with this amazing genealogy that contains such mysterious deep things hidden within.
Though Jechonias was wicked and cursed, couldn't it be reversed? Matt. 1:12 reads,
“And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel”
Indeed, God reversed the curse, obvious from the fact that Salathiel was his son (as 1 Ch 3:17 makes crystal clear), and the next name in the lineage, Zorobabel, was his grandson. So quite apparent, the curse had to have been lifted since the curse made him childless, but Jechanias had a child, and then later, a grandchild, all of which became part of the same greatest lineage ever known to mankind! 1 Ch 3:17 details that Jechanias had a sons, so he was not cursed or childless anymore (the curse was tied also to being childless). If Jechonias' curse had continued, then all of Jechonias' descendants, thus the entire lineage listed afterward in Matt 1, is cursed, which would then mean that not only Christ but also Joseph—Jesus’s earthly father—were cursed, thus unsaved, but that is very far from the truth. Jesus, the Father's "beloved Son," obviously was not cursed and will sit on David's throne (the everlasting Davidic covenant), and Joseph was a godly born again believer, he was “a just man” (Matt 1:19), so obviously not cursed either. Jechonias's family would rule again, so obviously God lifted the curse. Jechonias is most certainly listed in the lineage of Christ, which them means he was no longer accursed since he was counted again in the third grouping after the Babylonian captivity, and it didn't require Christ to be virgin born, though that is how God had ordained it. He would certainly have inherited David's throne because Jechonias was not childless. God repented of the evil He had purposed towards Jechonias and reversed the curse.
Why did God lift the curse? What caused God to repent, to change His mind and will about the evil He had purposed towards Jechonias, in similitude to the Ninevites (Jon 3:10) who implored His repentance from the "evil, that he had said that he would do unto them;" (Jon 3:10), that He would "turn away from his fierce anger, that [the Ninevites] perish not," which is exactly what He did "and he did it not" (Jon 3:9-10)?
Could it be the same thing that cause Him to turn from His fierce anger towards the Ninevites? Indeed, it was. Just like the Ninevites—who turned from their wicked and sinful ways in repentance of sackcloth and ashes, crying out in repentant faith for the mercy and grace of God to be extended upon their desperately wicked and deceitful souls (Jon 3:5-8)—so did Jechonias, the evidence of which is detailed in Jer. 52:31-34; 2 Ki 25:27-30. Lost people are cursed, saved people are blessed. Before the Babylonian captivity, he was cursed. After he was blessed. And that is exactly what occurred in Jer. 52:31-34; 2 Ki 25:27-30 — his conversion.
So how could a cursed (unsaved) and childless king be part of Christ’s lineage? It couldn't be possible... unless of course something drastic and supernatural happened, such as true conversion and then God repenting of the evil He thought towards Jechonias (cf. Jon 3:10; Am 7) all because of Jechonias humbling of self and repentance, since “with God all things are possible.” (Mk. 10:27).
This is exactly what happened. You can read of it in Jer. 52:31-34 (parallel passage in 2 Ki. 25:27-30), both books ending with this amazing account of God's grace and the conversion of a very wicked sinner, God saving the wretched soul of Jechonias while in prison.
Jer. 52:31-34,
"And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the five and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the first year of his reign lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and brought him forth out of prison, [32] And spake kindly unto him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon, [33] And changed his prison garments: and he did continually eat bread before him all the days of his life. [34] And for his diet, there was a continual diet given him of the king of Babylon, every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his life."
Verses 33-34 are actually a play on words, a Hebrew poetic device.
Every day
Until the day of his death
All the days of his life
Its a Hebrew poetic device that shows us Jechoniah was given a second life! Through the second life that God gave him, the new birth, the curse for his evil first life was cancelled! The Scriptures are full of priceless and beautiful treasures.
2 Ki 25:27-30, the account as it first appears in Scripture, further demonstrating its importance as it appears twice in Scripture:
"And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison; [28] And he spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon; [29] And changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life. [30] And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life."
After thirty seven years of prison captivity, the king of Babylon brought king Jechonias ("Jehoichin") out of prison, and set him free! This passage is very obviously speaking of his conversion, in Biblical typology that corresponds and harmonizes with the rest of Scripture. The king of Babylon spoke kindly to king Jehoiachin and gave him a seat above all the seats of the other kings who were with him and put off his prison garments. He who humbles himself, God will exalt. And every day of his life he dined regularly at the king’s table. In addition to all this, he was given a regular allowance until the day of his death, as long as he lived. How incredible is that! A story of such great redemption and love and mercy, buried in the lineage of Matt. 1! There is no other explanation given to this great grace and mercy being shown to an ungodly king, besides salvation. The Bible doesn't exalt humanism or sentimentalism, as neo-evangelicalism, and others such, does.
But its truly fitting of God's grace and mercy towards sinners, giving us the promised Son in that same chapter, His name would be "JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." (Matt 1:21).
Rev. 3:18 happened to him:
"I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see."
He was a wicked and cursed Hebrew but then was converted while in prison, though Scripture does not give us the details around that conversion, it does provide us the evidence thereof. The king showed him great favour and love, like the King of kings does His children.
Consider the salvation language used in Jer. 52:31-34 and 2 Ki 25:27-30, that is used to show the great change of heart concerning wicked Jechonias. (No this is not unscriptural spiritualizing of Scripture, but rather applying the principles of these passages in harmony with other Scripture):
He was released from prison and freed from his bondage (v. 31) just like salvation frees prisoners from the bondage of their sin (cf. Is. 61:1; Lk. 4:18);
He was spoken kindly to by the king (v. 32a), whereas he had been under his wrath before (which is all unsaved people, who are under His wrath and condemnation); just like salvation brings God's lovingkindness and favour towards repentant sinners (cf. Ti. 3:4-7; 1 Cor. 13:4; Ps. 117:2; Gen. 50:21; Jon. 4:2; Joel 2:13; Pr. 8:35), but never towards His enemies;
He was exalted after being abased (v. 32b), in the same manner that occurs in salvation (cf. Matt. 23:12; Lk. 14:7-11; 18:13-14; Rev. 1:5-6);
He had his prison garments changed (v. 33a), just as salvation brings a new garment of white raiment (cf. Is. 1:18; Rev. 3:4-5; 4:4; 6:11; 7:9, 13-14; 19:8, 14; Lk 5:36);
He was fed daily and never hungered again all the days of his life (v. 33b-34) in the same precise manner when we are converted to Christ through the new birth, they "shall never hunger" and they "shall never thirst" (cf. Jn. 6:35, 48-51-56; 4:13-14; Matt. 5:6; 6:24-34).
Is. 61:1 proclaims the truth of what occurred with Jechanias, both spiritually and physically:
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;”
The Lord Jesus Christ is the One who heals the brokenhearted, delivers the captive, and opens the gates of prison to those who are bound,
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,” (Lk. 4:18)
Even several rabbinic sources teach that Jechoniah repented in Babylon and that God forgave him and lifted the curse.
What a wonderful way to complete the Books of Jeremiah and 2nd Kings!
But the Story of Jechonias in Christ's Lineage Doesn't End There
The lineage continued with Jechonias. After Babylon, he’s given a new life. And he has a son whom they name Salathiel (Shealtiel), who continues the lineage through which Christ would come (and then his son likewise, Zorobabel, Jechonias's grandson).
Salathiel's very name also helped, or aided in solving the mystery of the missing name in Matt 1 and then why Jechonias was freed from prison and given a son. Because Shealtiel literally means (with the explanation mark),
“I have asked of God!”
What did he ask God? Well, it could only logically be the very thing that brought about the great change in this wicked man: salvation of course! To be saved and forgiven! To give him new life to serve his King! To lift the curse! If he hadn’t, he wouldn't have been changed, and would've rotted to his death in prison. He also would’ve never been in the saved blessed lineage of Christ!
“He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever.” (Ps. 21:4)
Unsaved people ask for life and God gives them life, eternal life, if they do what He says for conversion. If they "obey the gospel" (Rom 10:16; 2 Th 1:8; 1 Pet 4:17), which is "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ac 20:21). It is God's desire and will (2 Pet 3:9), the goodness of His pleasure to save repentant sinners (Lk 15:1-32).
The Lord Jesus said,
“For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord.” (Pr. 8:35).
Not only had Jechonias found favour with God through the new birth (cf. Heb 11:6), but so also would his son and his grandson! As promised in the Word of God, He would bless the seed of His children, and their seed's seed (Is 59:21; 1 Cor 7:14; etc).
In Hag. 2:23b, God sends the prophet to Jehoiachin's grandson Zerubbabel with the message,
"In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts."
Now isn't that interesting. Here we have clear proof of God's wonderful and merciful reversal of the curse He had put on Zerubbabel's grandfather, Jechonias or Coniah and his family, yea of God's obvious repentance in response to Jechonias's repentance. When the Lord had cursed Jechonias (Coniah), He proclaimed that even if "Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck thee thence;" (Jer 22:24). In other words, even if Jechonias was the seal or ring of authentication upon God's right hand (the meaning of signet), He would nevertheless pluck Coniah from His hand, breaking the seal; a declaration that makes one tremble and shudder at the anger and wrath that God had towards this king of Judah — fast forward two generations, and the Lord says of Coniah's grandson, "will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts." (Hag 2:23). The curse would cause God's wrath to pluck the signet from His hands, but that would be replaced by blessing where God makes Jechoniah’s grandson the "signet" upon His hand. Wow! The “signet” imagery of Jechoniah’s curse being repeated in his grandson Zerubbabel’s blessing, is certainly more than a coincidence.
My, how true Biblical repentance and conversion changed the tide and course of this family, who would've been cursed and full of every sort of evil, misery and destruction imaginable to man, but now reaping the blessings of the Lord because of one man, the king of Judah, genuinely repented in sackcloth and ashes, changing the destiny of his soul and influencing the souls of his offspring, and offsprings offspring. Glory to the God of heaven and earth, of His marvellous works towards mankind! What a difference submitting oneself before Almighty God makes, in contrast to pride, self-exaltation and refusing to humble self and the trajectory this awful and miserable broad way leads to.
Friend, the hours speak to the generations.
Zerubbabel would go on to be blessed and prospered by God as the one to govern the Israelites exiles as they returned from Babylonian captivity and sought to re-establish back in their home land. God reassured the Israelites in Hag. 2 that He was with them and had not abandoned His covenant.
Conclusion
I believe the Biblical evidence speaks for itself. It is plain as day why the 3rd group of generations only contained 13 names. I believe it is also clear as to why God lifted the curse.
Jechoniah's salvation isn't an anomaly or unusual occurrence in Scripture, where many are recorded in exactly the same manner, or outside of Scripture for that matter, though the circumstances and environment surrounding conversions are different. It is an amazing and glorious thing that God repents of the evil He purposes to do to us wicked and evil sinners (which is ALL Jews and Gentiles), when we ourselves repent and are converted and thus find favour in His eyes. The repentance of Nineveh in the Book of Jonah is a wonderful example of this, but so is the case of what we are reading now. God had declared to king Jeconiah in Jer. 22:24,
"As I live, saith the LORD, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck thee thence;"
But He repented as we see in Hag 2:23 and Matt 1:11-12. God turns from His justly and righteous purpose in dealing with our sin, when we surrender and submit ourselves to Him in godly, humble, sorrow which leadeth to repentance, turning from our sin, our selves, our stuff, and our people, and receiving His only begotten Son Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour and entering into a wonderful personal and eternal relationship with Him as His beloved sons! (Mk. 8:34-37; Lk. 14:25-15:32; 1 Th. 1:9-10). God's wrath and condemnation is upon every sinner (Jn 3:18, 36), but He turns from what He purposes to do when we repent and surrender to Him, all because of the glorious salvation wrought by His Son and the blood He shed for us.
"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." (Rom 3:24-26)
"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. . . . He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (Jn 3:18, 36)
So the miracle for Jechonias is the miracle for all of us. It’s the miracle of the King of kings. Jesus, God manifest in the flesh, Emmanuel (God with us) came to earth to save and cleanse sinners of all their sin. It’s the miracle of the birth of Christ. Christ has come . . . for you! He’s here to deliver you from whatever prison you’re in, to remove your prison garments, to give you a place at his table. We only have to "strive to enter in at the strait gate" (Lk 13:24) which means to repent, or turn, with godly sorrow, from all our sins and self, turning from it all and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and petitioning him, in godly sorrow, with a broken and contrite heart, even as Jechonias would have.
If you are unsaved (don’t be deceived, many think they are Christians when they are actually not) then like Jeconias,
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (Matt. 7:7-11)
“Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.” (Jn. 4:10)
So the important question is, how do we ask for salvation? Is it really as simple as merely "asking," like asking for an ice cream cone?
Not exactly, but the idea is there.
Asking for life, for forgiveness, for God's favour, comes through the new birth, by
"repentance towards God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ac 20:21)
If you've never been born again, including those who have decieved themselves into thinking they are (which is many, very many, most in fact), please read here on how you can ask of God to save you, and give you life, for now you are spiritually dead and condemned and under God's wrath and curse. Those with some form of false pretense—which is most—your tears, big smiles, kindness to your neighbours, giving away money or things to the poor or to the church, or going to church, or going about with an air of piety, won't save you in the day of wrath. Your heart remains "deceitful above all things and desperately wicked" (Jer 17:9), so the only right and required response is to humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, surrender your soul to Him through sorrowful repentance and faith in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Or you will perish in the unquenchable fires of hell.
The hours speak to the generations.
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