Topical Bible: Murmuring: Against: Christ

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Murmuring against Christ is a recurring theme in the New Testament, where individuals or groups express discontent or disbelief regarding Jesus' teachings, actions, or identity. This murmuring often reveals a deeper spiritual blindness or hardness of heart.

Instances of Murmuring Against Christ:

1. The Bread of Life Discourse: In John 6, after Jesus declares Himself the "bread of life," many of His followers struggle with His teaching. John 6:41 states, "At this, the Jews began to grumble about Him because He said, 'I am the bread that came down from heaven.'" Their murmuring reflects a lack of understanding and acceptance of His divine origin and mission.

2. The Pharisees and Religious Leaders: The religious leaders frequently murmured against Jesus, questioning His authority and actions. In Luke 15:2 , it is recorded, "So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: 'This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.'" Their murmuring highlights their inability to grasp the inclusive nature of Jesus' ministry and His mission to seek and save the lost.

3. The Reaction to Jesus' Authority: In John 7:12 , during the Feast of Tabernacles, there was much murmuring among the crowds concerning Jesus. "Some said, 'He is a good man.' But others replied, 'No, He deceives the people.'" This division and murmuring underscore the varied responses to Jesus' teachings and the challenge of recognizing His true identity.

4. The Disciples' Struggle: Even among His disciples, there were moments of murmuring. In John 6:61 , after many disciples found His teaching difficult, Jesus asked, "Does this offend you?" This murmuring among His followers illustrates the challenge of fully embracing the radical nature of His message.

Theological Implications:

Murmuring against Christ is often indicative of a deeper spiritual issue, such as unbelief or a hardened heart. It serves as a warning against the dangers of allowing doubt and dissatisfaction to cloud one's understanding of Jesus' divine nature and mission. The murmuring also highlights the tension between human expectations and divine revelation, as Jesus' teachings often challenged conventional beliefs and societal norms.

Response to Murmuring:

Jesus consistently addressed murmuring with patience and truth, inviting individuals to move beyond their doubts and embrace faith. His responses often included deeper explanations of His teachings, as seen in John 6, where He further elaborates on the spiritual significance of His words. Jesus' approach serves as a model for addressing doubt and discontent with grace and truth, encouraging believers to seek a deeper understanding of His message and mission.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Luke 5:30
But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do you eat and drink with publicans and sinners?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Luke 15:2
And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receives sinners, and eats with them.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Luke 19:7
And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
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John 6:41-43,52
The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.
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Library

Our Lord Jesus Christ Having Wrought in Jud??a Many and Great and ...
... Judas, Levi, Nephthalim, Alexander, Syrus, and many others, speaking against Christ. ...
and being greatly enraged, came to Pilate, murmuring against him, how he ...
/.../unknown/the gospel of nicodemus /chapter 1 our lord jesus.htm

Acts v. 34
... very persons, by whose machinations the sentence of death against Christ was procured,
of those same many believe. "There arose," it says, "a murmuring," etc. ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xiv acts v 34.htm

Ninth Sunday after Trinity Carnal Security and Its vices.
... and therefore in order to be saved from wrath and condemnation, they had no possible
alternative but to believe again in Christ. MURMURING AGAINST GOD OPEN ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/ninth sunday after trinity carnal.htm

Wherefore, that Thou May'st be Rightly Disposed Both for Thy Soul ...
... slander of Christ or of any of His Saints; to name His name without reverence;
gainsaying and strife against truthfulness; murmuring against GOD for any ...
/.../chapter vi wherefore that thou.htm

Marah; Or, the Bitter Waters Sweetened
... is our tendency; but, my dear brethren and sisters in Christ, do we ... and so we
hypocritically cover up our repining against him by murmuring against some person ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/marah or the bitter waters.htm

John Chapter vi. 41-59
... For Christ is Himself true God and eternal life. ... For in no other thing is that people
said to have offended the Lord more than in murmuring against God. ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate xxvi john chapter vi.htm

Of the Sons of the Church who are Hidden among the Wicked, and of ...
... redeemed family of the Lord Christ, and by the pilgrim city of King Christ. ... not hesitate
to make common cause with our enemies in murmuring against God, whose ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 35 of the sons of.htm

Genesis xxvii. 38
... Not that, probably, it excites discontent or murmuring against God; nor jealousy
against those whose ... so earnestly by the woman entreating Christ to heal ...
/.../arnold/the christian life/lecture xviii genesis xxvii 38.htm

The Ministry of Love, the Blasphemy of Hatred, and the Mistakes of ...
... first time, we noticed the presence and murmuring of the ... is heard in the discourse
of Christ about John ... the Pharisaic party to increased measures against Jesus ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxii the ministry of.htm

"Because the Carnal Mind is Enmity against God, for it is not ...
... and this keeps out longest against Jesus Christ, till he ... which is the plain expression
of murmuring, in the margin is rendered, rebelling against him, and ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xx because the carnal.htm