Question: If the Father and the Son are the same person, then at Matthew 16:17, why did He say that he would come in His Father's glory . . . not His own?
MATTHEW 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Response: This is a matter of the context in which He came into this world. As explained on the preceeding pageAs explained at www.halfshekel.com/one-faq/servant_intro.html, when God came as the man Jesus Christ, He came in the role of a servant—not as a master or lord. When Jesus spoke, He spoke accordingly—as a servant of God like everybody else. Servants have no glory. Their masters (God as the Father, in this case) get all of the glory. Consider, if you will, the wording that Christ Himself used when He taught us to pray:
MATTHEW 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
MATTHEW 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
MATTHEW 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
MATTHEW 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
MATTHEW 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Question: At Matthew 20:20-23, the mother of James and John asked Jesus to let them sit on His right and left when He comes into the Kingdom. If the Father and the Son are the same person, then why did Jesus answer (in verse 23:) " . . . but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by my Father."
MATTHEW 20:23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
Response: As explained on the preceeding pageAs explained at www.halfshekel.com/one-faq/servant_intro.html, when God came as the man Jesus Christ, He came as a servant and not a master or lord . . . it's a matter of the context in which He came. As a servant, Christ could not just give away what belonged to His master.
DEUTERONOMY 10:14 Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD's thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.
Question: When referring to the day in which Jesus will return at Matthew 24:36, Jesus said "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only." If the Father and the Son were the same person, then why did He say this?
MATTHEW 24:36 ¶ But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Response: As explained on the preceeding pageAs explained at www.halfshekel.com/one-faq/servant_intro.html, when God came as the man Jesus Christ, He came as a servant and not a master or lord . . . it's a matter of the context in which He came. When He spoke or acted, He did so not as Master or Lord, but as a servant of God . . . and servants are not privy to the doings of their masters.
Question: At Luke 2:49 Jesus said to them "...Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?"
LUKE 2:49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
Response: As explained on the preceeding pageAs explained at www.halfshekel.com/one-faq/servant_intro.html, when God came as the man Jesus Christ, He came as a servant and not a master or lord . . . it's a matter of the context in which He came. When He spoke or acted, He did so accordingly—as a man (or boy) who is subject to God. This is what precisely what servants do: they tend their [master's] business.
Question: At John 10:18, Jesus said that He received a commandment from the Father. Doesn't that prove that the Father and the Son are two different people?
JOHN 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
Response: No, it does not. This is a matter of the context in which Christ came. As explained on the preceeding pageAs explained at www.halfshekel.com/one-faq/servant_intro.html, when God came as the man Jesus Christ, He came in the role of a servant, and not of a master or lord. When Jesus spoke, He spoke accordingly—as a man subject to God. Servants do what their masters tell them. (See Isaiah 42:1-4, Matthew 12:18-21, Philippians 2:5-8, etc.).