The term "and whoever" is a phrase that appears in various contexts throughout the Bible, often introducing a conditional statement or a promise that applies to all individuals who meet certain criteria. This phrase underscores the inclusive nature of God's commands, promises, and warnings, emphasizing that they are applicable to anyone who fulfills the specified conditions.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the phrase "and whoever" is used to convey the universality of God's laws and the consequences of obedience or disobedience. For example, in Leviticus 20:2 , God commands the Israelites, "And you are to say to the Israelites, ‘Any Israelite or any foreigner residing in Israel who gives any of his children to Molek must be put to death. The members of the community are to stone him.’" Here, "and whoever" signifies that the command applies to both Israelites and foreigners living among them, highlighting the comprehensive nature of God's law.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, "and whoever" often introduces teachings of Jesus that emphasize the broad reach of His message and the inclusivity of the Kingdom of God. In Matthew 10:32 , Jesus states, "Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven." The phrase "and whoever" in this context underscores the open invitation to all people to acknowledge Christ, with the promise of divine acknowledgment in return.

Similarly, in Matthew 16:25 , Jesus teaches, "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." This statement highlights the paradoxical nature of discipleship, where self-denial leads to true life, and it applies universally to anyone willing to follow Christ's path.

Theological Implications

The use of "and whoever" in Scripture reflects the impartiality and fairness of God's dealings with humanity. It indicates that God's promises and warnings are not limited by ethnicity, social status, or background but are available to all who choose to respond to His call. This aligns with the biblical theme of God's desire for all people to come to repentance and knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).

Practical Application

For believers, the phrase "and whoever" serves as a reminder of the personal responsibility each individual has in responding to God's commands and promises. It encourages Christians to live out their faith in a way that reflects the inclusive nature of the Gospel, inviting others to experience the transformative power of a relationship with Christ.

In summary, "and whoever" is a significant biblical phrase that highlights the universal applicability of God's word, inviting all people to participate in the blessings and responsibilities of His covenant.

The Rewards for Following Jesus' Teachings
... Whoever wishes to be great among you must serve you, and whoever wishes to
be first among you must be ready to be the servant of all. ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/the rewards for following jesus.htm

When He was Living at Rome He Wrote a Treatise on the Preservation ...
... at Rome he wrote a treatise on the preservation of virginity, which all the pagans
and enemies of God, all apostates and persecutors, and whoever else hate the ...
/.../5 when he was living.htm

Manich??us Promises Truth, but Does not Make Good his Word.
... 12. "These," he says, "are wholesome words from the perennial and living fountain;
and whoever shall have heard them, and shall have first believed them, and ...
/.../chapter 11 name promises truth.htm

Final Admonitions.
... For without are the Sodomites, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the
murderers, and the idolaters, and whoever loveth and practiseth falsehood. ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/final admonitions.htm

And as we Teach, Moreover, that "Wisdom Will not Enter into the ...
... occupied with elevated and heavenly things, can say, "The lifting up of my hands
is as the evening sacrifice," [3615] let him come to us; and whoever has a ...
//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen against celsus/chapter lx and as we.htm

The Captions of the Arabic Canons Attributed to the Council of ...
... and over all their peoples, as he who is the Vicar of Christ our Lord over all peoples
and over the whole Christian Church, and whoever shall contradict this ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/the captions of the arabic.htm

Of the Worship of Images and Earthly Objects.
... And whoever shall do this, he will be judged altogether wise, he just, he a man:
he, in short, will be judged worthy of heaven whom his Parent will recognise ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xix of the worship of.htm

All Righteous Men Before and after Abraham are Children of the ...
... Far be it from us to deny that righteous Noah and the righteous men of the earlier
times, and whoever from that time till the time of Abraham could be righteous ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 8 all righteous men before.htm

Rebuke and Grace do not Set Aside one Another.
... by means of rebuke, who is it that worketh salvation in their hearts but that God
who giveth the increase, whoever plants and waters, and whoever labours on ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 43 xiv rebuke and grace.htm

God with Us, and we with God
... Where He comes He comes to help; not to be a spectator, but an ally in the warfare;
and whoever sets the Lord before him will have the Lord at his right hand. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/god with us and we.htm

And'whoever (1 Occurrence)
And'whoever. And'what, And'whoever. Anem . Multi-Version Concordance
And'whoever (1 Occurrence). Matthew 5:21 "You have heard that ...
/a/and'whoever.htm - 6k

Loses (17 Occurrences)
... (WEB RSV NIV). Matthew 16:25 For whoever desires to save his life shall lose it,
andwhoever loses his life for my sake shall find it. (WEY NAS RSV NIV). ...
/l/loses.htm - 10k

Wishes (37 Occurrences)
... (See NAS). Matthew 16:25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and
whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it. (See NAS). ...
/w/wishes.htm - 16k

Receives (43 Occurrences)
... Mark 9:37 "Whoever receives one such little child in my name, receives me, andwhoever
receives me, doesn't receive me, but him who sent me." (WEB WEY DBY NAS ...
/r/receives.htm - 17k

Commits (39 Occurrences)
... Matthew 5:21 "You have heard that it was said to the ancients, 'Thou shalt not commit
murder', andwhoever commits murder will be answerable to the magistrate. ...
/c/commits.htm - 18k

Exalts (13 Occurrences)
... Exalts (13 Occurrences). Matthew 23:12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and
whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (WEB WEY NAS RSV NIV). ...
/e/exalts.htm - 9k

Discharge (30 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 15:19 "'If a woman has a discharge, and her discharge in her flesh is
blood, she shall be in her impurity seven days: andwhoever touches her shall ...
/d/discharge.htm - 18k

Insults (34 Occurrences)
... Matthew 5:22 But I tell you, that everyone who is angry with his brother without
a cause shall be in danger of the judgment; andwhoever shall say to his ...
/i/insults.htm - 15k

Carrieth (10 Occurrences)
... (KJV ASV WBS). Leviticus 11:25 Andwhoever carrieth ought of their carcase shall
wash his garments, and be unclean until the even. (DBY). ...
/c/carrieth.htm - 9k

Good-for-nothing (22 Occurrences)
... Matthew 5:22 But I tell you, that everyone who is angry with his brother without
a cause shall be in danger of the judgment; andwhoever shall say to his ...
/g/good-for-nothing.htm - 13k

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