This week I want us to consider the word “must.” Webster defines this word as “obligated, required, compelled.” Vine’s as “impersonal verb signifying it is necessary or one must.” Strong has “third person singular active present, it is necessary.” Then the finally dictionary Thayer defines this word as, “it is necessary, there is need of it, it behooves, is right and proper.” The word “must” is used 132 times in the King James Version of the Bible. The word that is translated “must” is used 104 times in the New Testament. This word is translated with different words in our King James Version. One of those words is “ought.”
While looking up this word and where it is used in the New Testament one man said that this word does not mean that one is obligated to do something. I wonder if one is not obligated by this word what does it mean? If we look at where this word is used and see what it means in those places we will have a good definition of the word.
In Mark 8:31 it says, “And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.” Luke records it as Jesus actually teaching these things, Luke 9:22. Was Jesus obligated to do these things, was He required to do them and was He compelled to do them? Was it necessary that Jesus go through these things?
Another passage is Mark 13:10 which reads, “And the gospel must first be published among all nations.” Could anything else happen first? The Gospel had to be among all nations before the end of the world or the destruction of Jerusalem and it was (Col. 1:23).
In Luke 2:49 we find Jesus saying to His parents, “How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” Jesus obligated Himself to be about His Father’s business therefore there was nothing else He could do. If obligated ourselves to the Father’s business just how much work could we do for the Lord? How must work would get done?
In John 3:7 Jesus made baptism necessary. Notice what He said, “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” This is something that is necessary. If we want what the Lord is offering then we must do what He says. Here He is saying we must be baptized. How could anyone say that baptism is not necessary for salvation? If we want salvation, we must, it is imperative that we do what Jesus said.
Along those same lines, consider Acts 16:30, “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Did the jailer realize that he had to do something to be saved; that it was necessary, required and he was compelled to do it? I am sure that he did that is why he asked the question. In Hebrews 11:6 we find that faith is necessary. “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.” Can one be saved without faith? There may be a few who would say yes, but that is not what this passage says. This passage says it is necessary and required. Let us stay with that.
The only place one can receive salvation is in Christ. Notice Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” If one wants salvation from God then it is only through Jesus Christ. We must do what He says then to be saved.
Another interesting place the word “must” is used is Colossians 4:16, “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Yes this is the same word translated “must” in other place but here it is translated, “ought.” We ought, must, are required to know then not only what to say but how to say it in answering others about our beliefs. It is necessary, are you prepared to do that?
In dealing with the qualification of an elder we find this word used. In 1 Timothy 3 and in Titus 1 we find this word used. An elder “must” be blameless and he “must” have a good report of them which are without. He also “must” stop mouths of those who subvert whole house, teaching things they ought not to teach. It is necessary then for an elder to have these things and to be able to stop false teachers. No one can set aside any of these qualification and be a God appointed elder. If one does not meet these qualifications then he is not an elder in God’s eyes. We can call a man an elder all we want to but if he does not meet the qualifications that God has set forth, he is not an elder in God’s house.
Thus we can see that there are things that are necessary, that we are compelled to do. There can be no setting aside of any of the requirements of God!
Love, Keith
