sense of being deported, these weren’t deportations, for Jacob went of his own volition to Egypt, although Joseph didn’t. The only true captivi ty is that of the Northern and South ern Kingdoms in the captivities in 722 B.C. and 587 B.C. respectively. Many Jewish people still consider themselves to be in captivity or dis persion. The terms are used in the general rather than the precise meaning. Q. San Diego, Calif. — “Since I be came a teenager, our home is a vir tual battleground. I don’t know what’s happened to me or to my par ents. I t seems that we disagree about everything. This makes me miserable and I ’m sure it doesn’t help them either. What would you suggest?” A . This is what is popularly known today as “the generation gap.” First of all, remember the scriptural in junction to honor your father and your mother. You are to be in sub jection to your parents. But this is also a two-way street. The parents have great responsibility toward their children as well. It may be that as a young person you are trying to identify completely with those of your own age group rather than heeding the rules, regulations and admonitions of your parents. If you come from a good Christian home, remember this fact — your parents love you more, with a holy dedication and devotion, than any other person or group in all the world. Our sym pathies are with you. We know the temptations and hardships you have to go through. There is nothing as important as your faith in Jesus Christ. There are no human beings as important as your father or moth er to your own spiritual upbringing. Obey them in the Lord. Even though you may not like it now, some day you will rise up and call them blessed. Q. Inman, Kans. — “Could you make Matthew 12:US-U5 clear to me? I ’ve
anyone, when Scripture is examined, could defend the betrayer, Judas. The Word of God is very explicit on this subject. Christ pointed out in John 13:21 that there would be such a traitor. Matthew 27:3-4 reveals how that Judas himself realized how he had sinned most grievously in be traying innocent blood. Christ point ed out Judas as the one in John 6 :70. Judas awaits his rightful punish ment at the Great White Throne judgment of Almighty God. Jesus Himself said of Judas that he was “the son .of perdition” John 17:12. He was never saved. Q. Portland, Ore. — “In Matthew 5: 25 we read, ‘Agree w ith thine ad versary quickly.’ What does this mean?” A . It is the suggestion that we should seek to come to terms with the in dividual with whom we have had a difference. Small misunderstandings can easily lead to greater problems. In the end, real enmity may result. Paul rightly exhorts us, “Let not the sun go down on thy wrath.” Such circumstances eat away at our lives like a canker, until we ourselves are miserable and useless in the Lord’s service. Although the verse about which you have written is found in the Sermon on the Mount, there is a very practical application for all of us today. We should seek to live at peace with all men, so far as it is humanly possible. Q. Billings, Mont.— “How many times were the children of Israel made captives? Are they still considered so?” A . In general terms, it is usually thought that they were made captive three times. Israel was first taken to Egypt; then to Babylon in the 6th century B.C.; and finally the third in 70 A.D. when Titus de stroyed Jerusalem. Now if we are going to use the word captive in the
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