Title: Must, Important Classifications
1Must, Important Classifications
- Words are conveyors of information even the
smallest words can be replete with meaning. Such
is the case with the term "must." Often
overlooked more often ignored, this important
word must be studied carefully. Must (Greek,
dei) is an impersonal verb that is used about 105
times in the Greek New Testament. It is used by
Jesus, Matthew, John, Luke, Peter, and Paul.
From the spatial use of must, many lessons can
be learned and the classifications of the verb
that we shall explore are natural and consistent
with how must is used, I believe.
2Must, Important Classifications
- God has communicated abstractly through the
created order of things (Psalm 191). He has made
his will known concretely by means of words.
Christ rebuked the Jews for ignoring the logical
connection between Moses' "writings" and his own
"words" (John 5 46, 47). Jesus taught that his
"words are spirit, and are life" (John 663).
Paul affirmed that the things revealed of God to
man are made known by "words - not words derived
from "man's wisdom," but by means of words from
God (cf. 1 Corinthians 213 1 Thessalonians
213).
3Must, Important Classifications
46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have
believed me for he wrote of me. 47 But if ye
believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my
words? (John 5, cp. I Cor. 14 9, 16, 19).
4Must, Important Classifications
- Words that are found in "community" forms
(syntax) are regulated by word rules relatively
common to all languages in some form or another.
If, therefore, one is to extract maximum benefit
from words employed in communal forms (i.e., in
phrases or sentences), one must attempt to have
some appreciation for relational significance of
words.
5Must, Important Classifications
- Verbs are words that convey action or state of
being. John wrote that Mary "came action where
Jesus was state of being" (John 1132). There
is a type of verb that is called an auxiliary
verb it is a verb that serves to help express
the meaning of another verb. Consider three
auxiliary verbs- "can," "may," and "must."
6Must, Important Classifications
- 1."Can" expresses ability. It says nothing about
rightness" as to whether one should or should
not do something. A person has the ability to
murder another, but there are legal consequence
of such if he does (Genesis 96). - 2."May" combines ability with permission. A
father may instruct his daughter, "You may stay
out until eleven o'clock." She has been granted
the right to remain out the specified time. - 3."Must" goes farther even. It combines ability
with permission, and yet imposes obligation. The
charge of the watchful father may be "You must
be home by eleven o'clock."
7Must, Important Classifications
The Obligatory must"
There is a frequent use of "must" that admits ma
n's freedom of choice, yet urges submission to
the will of God in view of a promised hope (cp.
Acts 16 30f.).
8Must, Important Classifications
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what
must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be
saved, and thy house. 32 And they spake unto him
the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his
house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the
night, and washed their stripes and was
baptized, he and all his, straightway. 34 And
when he had brought them into his house, he set
meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God
with all his house (Acts 16).
9Must, Important Classifications
The redemptive" must
The redemptive Must This use of must is somet
imes called the case of compulsion (cp. Luke 2
49, John 3 30, 4 4).
10Must, Important Classifications
3 He left Judaea, and departed again into
Galilee. 4 And he must needs go through Samaria.
5 Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is
called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that
Jacob gave to his son Joseph (John 4, cp. Matt.
16 21).
11Must, Important Classifications
The authority must
Authority from a biblical perspective, is
singular. The word of God is Gods authority (2
John 9-11, Heb. 1 1, 2, Matt. 28 18).
12Must, Important Classifications
11 This is the stone which was set at nought of
you builders, which is become the head of the
corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any
other for there is none other name under heaven
given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts
4).
13Must, Important Classifications
The inevitable must
In some matters, man has no choice and his will
does not play an important part (Heb. 9 27).
14Must, Important Classifications
14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thy
days approach that thou must die call Joshua,
and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the
congregation, that I may give him a charge. And
Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves
in the tabernacle of the congregation (Deut. 31).
15Must, Important Classifications
The condition must
While religious division is certainly not
something Christians set out to effect, in view
of the militant, uncompromising nature of the
gospel, division is a must (Matt. 10 34-37).
16Must, Important Classifications
18 For first of all, when ye come together in
the church, I hear that there be divisions among
you and I partly believe it.19 For there must
be also heresies among you, that they which are
approved may be made manifest among you (I Cor.
11).
17Must, Important Classifications
The priority must
In Gods perfect planning, there is often the
matter of what will first happen to allow for the
next occurrence (Mark 13 10).
18Must, Important Classifications
15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to
preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ
for it is the power of God unto salvation to
every one that believeth to the Jew first, and
also to the Greek (Rom. 1).
19Must, Important Classifications
The sovereignty must
Fulfilled prophesy is one proof of the
inspiration of the scriptures. Fulfillment
involves and presupposes sovereignty (Matt. 26
54).
20Must, Important Classifications
53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my
Father, and he shall presently give me more than
twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then shall
the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must
be?... 56 But all this was done, that the
scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.
Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled
(Matt. 26).
21Must, Important Classifications
The consequential must
There are many static conditions that call for
and result in certain predictable conditions or
consequences (Matt. 25 27).
22Must, Important Classifications
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou
wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I
reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have
not strawed 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have
put my money to the exchangers, and then at my
coming I should have received mine own with
usury (Matt. 25).
23Must, Important Classifications
The irresistible must
While mans participation determines some things,
there are other matters totally independent of
man (2 Cor. 5 10).
24Must, Important Classifications
10 For we must all appear before the judgment
seat of Christ that every one may receive the
things done in his body, according to that he
hath done, whether it be good or bad. 11 Knowing
therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade
men but we are made manifest unto God and I
trust also are made manifest in your consciences
(2 Cor. 5).
25Must, Important Classifications
The means must
In order for certain things to prevail, there are
certain requisite acts (Acts 9 6).
26Must, Important Classifications
6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord,
what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said
unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it
shall be told thee what thou must do (Acts 9).
27Must, Important Classifications
The faith must
Saving faith is so much more than the simple
belief that God exists (Heb. 11 6).
28Must, Important Classifications
6 But without faith it is impossible to please
him for he that cometh to God must believe that
he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek him (Heb. 11).
29Must, Important Classifications
The incongruity must
Some things by their opposite nature cannot
together exist (cp. Mark 13 14).
30Must, Important Classifications
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with
unbelievers for what fellowship hath
righteousness with unrighteousness? and what
communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what
concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part
hath he that believeth with an infidel? (2 Cor.
6)
31Must, Important Classifications
The misinformed must
Not a few labor under incorrect teaching and
information (Acts 23 1).
32Must, Important Classifications
8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible
with you, that God should raise the dead? 9 I
verily thought with myself, that I ought to do
many things contrary to the name of Jesus of
Nazareth (Acts 26).
33Must, Important Classifications
The transformation must
Change often must take place for certain matters
to be possible (I Cor. 15 53).
34Must, Important Classifications
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at
the last trump for the trumpet shall sound, and
the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we
shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must
put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on
immortality (I Cor. 15, 2 Cor. 5 17).
35Must, Important Classifications
Conclusion As stated at the beginning of our s
tudy, must is a relatively small word, but
packed full of meaning and applicational
importance.