What was Jesus Writing in the Dust?

A question I received:

Pearl, 
Can you please tell me what Jesus was writing, when he bent down to the ground at John 8:3-9?
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My Reply:

The first thing that the context reveals to us, is that this situation arose because the religious leaders wanted to entrap Jesus, by putting his teaching to the test (John8:3,6). Take note that the first thing he did in response to that challenge, was to start writing on the ground (John8:6).

Regarding such challenges to entrap him; Matt.22:18 reveals that those who do this, are hypocrites with evil intent.
Mark7:6 shows us more about the nature of such hypocrites. Though they teach some Bible truths, they do not live them (Matt.23:3).

Having hearts "far removed from" God; we see from this situation with the adulteress, that their inclination is to condemn, and not to forgive. What is God's judgment for such hypocrites? (John8:7)
Matt.6:15 explains.
What is the destiny of those whose sins are not forgiven by God? 
Job 7:21 NLT tells us that they descend into the dust, and cease to exist.

Next comes a very helpful scripture, for our answer to your question.
Jer.17:13 
Lord, you are the hope of Israel;
    all who forsake you will be put to shame.
Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust
    because they have forsaken the Lord,
    the spring of living water."

These leaders who sought to entrap the Son of God, were forsaking the Lord. He sent them His only son... the source of living water (John4:10,13-14; 1:9-12,14,29,31,34; Matt.15:24). 

The result to those who reject and murder the chief agent of life? 

(See Acts 3:13-15; John3:18)

Ec.9:5 reads;

"For the living know that they will die,
    but the dead know nothing;
they have no further reward,
    and even their name is forgotten."

As Job 7:21 NLT had stated, "For I shall soon lie down in the dust;
    you will search for me, but I shall be no more."

As those who are not forgiven; Ps.109:15 applies...

"May their sins always remain before the Lord,
    that he may blot out their name from the earth."

What was Jesus writing in the dust?

Writing a name down, establishes God's judgment of condemnation or favor 
(Deut.29:20; Mal.3:16; Dan.12:1; Luke10:20; Heb.12:23; Rev.2:17; 13:8; 17:8; 20:15; 21:27).
Jesus was testifying to those who sought to condemn and murder the adulteress (Matt.9:13; 6:15), 

that their wicked and hypocritical scheme, brought condemnation upon they themselves (Matt.7:2).
Indeed, they were hypocrites (John8:7).
For they themselves were guilty of being spiritual adulteresses...
(Isa.1:1,21; Jer.23:10-12; Matt.23:33-34,35-36,37-38)
...while condemning others to death.

"Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the Lord, the spring of living water." (Jer.17:13NIV)

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Who are the Good and Bad, invited to the Wedding Feast?

A comment/question, left at the end of the post, "Who is Worthy".
as follows;
"The Feast is bounteous, indeed!! Please, what does it mean that the invitees to this Feast being "both good and bad" (Matt.22:8,9,10)?"
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My Reply:

As you may know, I seek to derive anything I teach, from scripture. 

Please consider the scriptures to follow, as regards my reply to your question. After reading them, I will cluster them according to the point we can glean, and add my own comment to those clusters, for your further consideration. I will summarize each scripture cluster with how I see their application, to your question about Matt.22:10.

Gen.3:13,22; 1Tim.6:20; Lev.27:12 ESV; 1Cor.6:2-3; John20:22-23; Matt.18:18; Ec.9:2; 1Pet.3:14-15,16-17; Zech.13:9; Mark 8:35; Rev.9:15,20-21; Matt.12:33; Luke 6:43-45; 2Cor.5:10; Matt.13:48 ESV; Matt.13:41 ESV; Matt.24:31; Rev.14:14-19

Gen3:13,22; 1Tim.6:20

"‘The snake deceived me, and I ate.’

"opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge"

"The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil."

My first learned point, is that the nature of good and bad/evil,

and the difference between them, is...

Good: not mislead, knowing truth

Bad/Evil: mislead, believing falsehood

Application to Matt.22:10: 

Both those who perceive, value, and pursue truth and light, 

and those who do not, will be offered (invited to) the marriage feast.

Lev.27:12 ESV; 1Cor.6:2-3; John20:22-23; Matt.18:18

The priest will evaluate and set/judge, the estimation of what is good and bad.

The saints (as God's priests) are authorized to pass judgment.

Jesus empowers them with holy spirit, so that they can judge sinners.

That judgment leads to either being set free by truth, or bound in Hades.

(https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2017/04/what-is-sheole-hades.html)

Application to Matt.22:10:

Since the priests are the ones through whom the marriage feast is provided, it is their preaching and testimony that can set a person free from deception (Mal.2:7; Rom.1:16; Matt.10:12-13,14-15), thereby offering the light of life (Matt.5:14; John1:4,14; 17:22). Just as Jesus decided who to preach to, and who not to preach to (Rev.3:20; John19:9-10; Matt.27:14; Luke20:1-3,4-6,7-8), so too the priests can choose who is served until all their needs are satisfied... and who is not served (Matt.10:41; 7:6).

Both the "bad and the good" will have the opportunity to be served by the spring of living water (Rev.22:17)...

but those who show hatred toward those vessels of mercy, will then be refused service 

(2Cor.4:7; 2:15-16; Matt.22:11-13; Col.3:14 NLT; 1John3:10; 4:8).

Eccles.9:2 ESV reads;

"All share a common destiny – the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad,

the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not. As it is with the good, so with the sinful; as it is with those who take oaths, so with those who are afraid to take them."

Eccles.9:2 ESV  helps us to understand the terms of good and bad.

The good are seen as clean, serving God, righteous, committing themselves to a noble purpose.

The bad are seen as unclean, self-centered, sinful, afraid to commit to a cause.

Application to Matt.22:10:

Free will, allows the bad to become good (Eze.18:21-22). They are therefore offered the marriage feast.

(https://pearl-copingwithsin.blogspot.com)

(https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2015/03/part-i-invited-and-chosen-at-marriage.html)

1Pet.3:14-15,16-17

This scripture addresses the variety of different situations, regarding those "leaving the city". 
That variable has a direct bearing in determining who is considered good, or bad.

Some are expelled for faithfulness. 
Some are expelled for sin. 
Some walk away on their own.
    (Others though, do remain in the city. 
     They are considered disobedient/bad 
      ----Luke21:21-22; 17:26-28,29-31,32-33; Matt.24:15-18; Rev.18:4; Jer.51:6-7)

The righteous provide a courageous and respectful testimony to those who will condemn and slander them. They suffer expulsion from the city, for "doing good", rather than for doing evil/bad.

Application to Matt.22:10:

While "it is better" to be disfellowshipped/suffer for doing good than for doing evil", 

all sorts leaving the city, will be invited to the marriage feast.

Zech.13:9; Rev.9:15; Mark8:35; Rev.9:20-21

In those scriptures, we learn that there is a symbolic "third" that God is refining by fire (1Pet.4:12; 1:6-7; Dan.11:35; 12:9-10; 1Cor.3:13). That "third" is willing to repent, and die for their loyalty to truth (Rev.6:9-11; 12:10-11; Mark 8:35). They are among those considered, good.

Then there are the other "two-thirds"... "the rest" who are not those of the "third".

They are described at Rev.9:20-21 as those who have not repented of the sins, rife among God's people during that period of time.

Application to Matt.22:10:

All 3 thirds, will initially be offered the marriage feast. It will include 
1. those expelled from the city due to their loyalty to truth.
2. those rebellious who persist in their sinful course and pursue worthless goals devoid of spirit. This third includes those who have abandoned the city, without giving a warning to those who remain in the city. 
3. those who remain in the city, have participated in maligning and condemning the faithful, sought out the harlot's sorcery, consorted with the unfaithful of power, and robbed God's nation of its' inheritance.

Matt.12:33; Luke6:43-45; 2Cor.5:10

These verses help us to make another clarification between the good and bad who are invited to the marriage feast. We are told that the difference will be detectable by the fruit of each. What is the fruit?

Luke explains that it is what a heart produces (Luke6:45) when it speaks (Matt.12:36-37). James chapter 3, explains some of the differences in such fruit. Jesus tells us that we can discern the difference between true and false prophets, by an examination of their fruit (Matt.7:15-16,17-18,19-20). They either speak truths that endure, founded in the Word of God (Deut.11:18; John7:16-18; 8:50,28,47; John15:16) or they speak self-sourced and self-serving human doctrine (John8:40,43,45; Matt.15:9; Rev.13:16) which like rotten fruit, expires and must be replaced. (https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2013/05/mark-of-beast.html)

(https://pearl-finetrees.blogspot.com)

Finally, 2Cor.5:10 shows that the good and bad, are determined by what they choose to do (and say) during the time while they are still able and free, to make those choices.

Application to Matt.22:10:

While there is yet time, God causes his slaves to offer to all, what they need to be aware of their condition and equipped to deal with their spiritual situation and circumstances. Among the Invitees, there are those who have been taught, believe, and teach, demonic falsehood. God wants those humble enough, to have the opportunity to examine those beliefs in comparison to His genuine Word and its authentic message. God wants them to awaken to perceive the real fulfillment of prophecy, taking place around and within them. God desires all possible, to be saved (1Tim.2:3-4). Such ones will be invited to the marriage feast. They are faced with the Valley of Decision (Joel 3:14; Deut.30:19).

Matt.13:48 ESV; Matt.13:41 ESV; Matt.24:31; Rev.14:14-16,17-19

In these verses we see depicted within these parables, the role of the marriage feast in a sorting work. How so? The angels (means: messenger) are the messengers of the provisions being offered. In the last section, we saw that this divine message is either accepted or rejected (John13:20; Luke10:16) by those invited. On that basis, Jesus' angels bear a testimony that sorts those who hear it by their response to the Word of God (John12:48-49; Heb.4:12; 2Pet.3:7), into either good fish or bad fish (Matt.13:48)... either weeded out from the kingdom, or collected into the storehouse (Matt.13:41,30). There will be a "loud trumpet call" from the priest of God's Temple (Matt.24:31; Rev.8:6; Josh.6:8; Isa.58:1; Ps.19:4; Matt.24:14) (Mal.3:1-2; Rev.1:1; 22:6,16; John15:26; 16:8-10,11-13,14-15). 

Application to Matt.22:10:

The harvest will draw to a close. Bad and Good are being given an opportunity to sample the wedding feast. Inside their heart they will make a decision. That decision will become manifest through the words of each attendee, as to the source of their beliefs and the professing of their faith. They will either accept, or reject, the truth (Rev.19:9; 22:6; 10:7; 22:16) (Isa.29:18,24) (Isa.29:10-12).

>(https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2015/03/part-i-invited-and-chosen-at-marriage.html)
That is also the place of decision (Joel 3:14), were all are judged, based upon each person's reaction to the unveiling of the knowledge of God (Rev.20:12; 22:10,6; John12:48; Rev.1:1; John16:8,13-15; 13:20; Luke10:16; Mal.3:1-3; Dan.11:35; 12:3-4,9-10; Prov.9:1; Rev.3:12; 17:9; 13:18; Rev.22:16; 1:20; Matt.5:15; Rev.10:7).

https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2018/01/armageddon.html

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Who is worthy?

A QUESTION:
I understand from your writing, that the marriage feast will come through those who Jesus finds watching when he returns (Luke12:37). If the marriage feast does not exist until after Jesus returns to his faithful slaves and gives it to them, How does that fit with the preceding verse, at Luke 12:36? There it sounds like Jesus is already done with the marriage feast.

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MY REPLY:
Very observant of you! That would seem like a contradiction.
But if we look at the order of events as the Bible depicts them as unfolding, that seeming contradiction is smoothed out.

Let's start with the origin of the marriage feast. Where do those provisions, originate?
Jesus tells us in parable, at Matt.22:2. We can see that further substantiated, at Dan.7:9-10,13 and Rev.5:1,6-7.
In all those scriptures, we see depicted the throne of the Father...
a sealed scroll in His hand which is due to be opened,
and Jesus approaching God's throne to receive that scroll.
Our Father God in heaven, is the source of the provisions of the Marriage Feast.

God has mysteries of wisdom, which no one else possesses (Rom.11:33; Mark 13:32).
Yet Jesus told us that one day, divine knowledge would become completed/abundant... 
(1Cor.13:9-10; John16:13; Prov.4:18; 2Pet.1:19; Dan.12:4; Zech.14:7-9; Isa.29:18; 54:13; Heb.8:11; John16:25), 
...the mysteries of God would be demonstrated/accomplished/manifested (Rev.10:7; Rom.16:25; Amos 3:7; Rev.22:6), 
...and Jesus would be given the knowledge of God (Rev.5:7), and he would pass it to his congregations, through their contemporary prophets (John16:15,12-14,15; Matt.10:20; 1Cor.14:32; Rev.4:5; 5:6; 10:7; 1:20; Matt.5:15)(Rev.5:6; Jer.25:4; 44:4; Rev.22:6; 11:3).
https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2017/12/what-are-seven-spirits-of-god.html The sealed scroll in question, has seven seals (Rev.5:1). The opening of those seals/sacred secrets/hidden mysteries, is depicted within the book of Revelation (Rev.6:1,3,5,7,9,12; 8:1). The opening of those seals, are connected to, the declarations of God's prophets (Rev.8:7,8,10,12) (Rev.8:13; 9:1,12-13; 10:1,3,7)
That book of Revelation, is that sealed scroll. 
The opening of Revelation (which word means, uncovering/unveiling/revealing)... 
Is, the Marriage Feast (Isa.29:18,24; Rev.19:9; 22:6).

So we have established that the first one to know God's mysteries, is God Himself, naturally.
He is the one that owns and possesses, the bounteous spiritual feast of understanding, which He prepares for the marriage of His son.
Who is the second person, to possess these hidden mysteries of God?
Revelation chapter five explains, in verses 1-10:

"1 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.

4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”

6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And they shall reign on the earth.”

There we learn that the second person to possess the secrets of God, is the Lamb.
Jesus Christ alone gets to view the wisdom of God and the contents of Revelation, before anyone else.
If we return to the illustrative parable of the marriage feast; this is how that would translate...
The King prepares a marriage feast for His son (Matt.22:2).
Before anyone else is able to view that feast, the Father shows His son first... what He has prepared for His son's wedding supper.
After the Bridegroom sees what his father has prepared...
  he goes to get his bride to bring her home to the banquet.
  The banquet is then open to all the guests.
  (That was the Jewish tradition)

Jesus Christ is the only one worthy, to first receive and open, the sealed scroll.
Some of the ancient prophets were given glimpses into that information, but they did not understand it. When they requested information, they were told that it would remains sealed, until the time of the End (Matt.13:16-17; Dan.12:8-10; Rev.10:4; 22:10).

Only after Jesus receives the marriage feast, does Jesus send out his last prophet/messenger/angel, to declare and offer that bounteous table, to the last congregation of his Bride members 
(Rev.10:7; 22:10; 1:1,20; Matt.5:15; Rev.22:6,16; Mal.3:1; Rev.10:1).
How will the messenger prophet of the covenant, who receives the scroll of bounty/wedding provisions  from Jesus, be selected?
Jesus tells us in many places...
(Matt.25:6-7,10; 24:45-47; Luke12:35,42-44; Mark 13:33-35,36-37; Rev.2:7,17,26-28; 3:8,20; 4:1)

We saw that in order for Jesus to be given, to open, and to view the contents of the sealed scroll;
it was first required of him that he be martyred for the sake of God's Truth (Rev.5:9,12; Dan.7:13-14). 
He had thereby proven that his faithfulness to God's wisdom, was worth more to him, than his own life (John4:34; 8:29; 18:37; 12:49-50). He faithfully obeyed God's purpose for him. He was therefore rightly rewarded by God, with an even greater measure of God's treasure store of divine wisdom.

What of subsequent recipients of that opened scroll?
They too would need to prove their worthiness 
(Mark 8:35; Rev.6:9-11; 12:10-11; John16:2; Rom.6:5; 8:36; 2Cor.4:10). 
Their need to "die" is especially required, during the End-time Great Tribulation. At that time, the alliance of the false prophet and it's powerful and merciless Wild Beast, will put to death any who do not worship the Beast's Image (Rev.13:15,7-8,11:7). The prophet/angel to receive the message of Jesus to his last congregation, would also have needed to prove its' faithfulness, to the death. Through the ransom of Jesus and the sanctification it provides (Rev.5:9-10; Mal.2:7; 1Cor.4:1), such ones can become honored objects/vessels of God's truths 
(2Cor.5:11,18-20; Rom.9:20,23-24; 2Tim.2:20-21; Eph.2:10; 1Pet.5:10; Phil.1:6).

When the original invitees to the wedding feast, decline their invitation (Matt.22:3,5-6);
that feast then opens up to all... "both good and bad" (Matt.22:8-10).
God does not want His life-giving provisions to go to waste, but is willing to be generous to any who will appreciate God's gracious hospitality. Through the mercy of spirit and the sacrifice of the Bride members, that becomes the only requirement 
(John20:21-23; Rev.22:17; Isa.55:1-2,5-7).

To review the order in which the contents of the Marriage Feast is passed down;
First, it is given directly to Jesus. Jesus Christ is the first one to sample the wedding feast that God has prepared for his marriage.
Second, Jesus gives it to his messenger/angel, a prophet.
Third, Jesus sends that angel in divine vision, to the apostle John. John records the visions in the book of Revelation. John sends that scroll, to the seven congregations.
Forth, That angel/prophet that Jesus sends with the message of Revelation, is also sent to the End-time congregation, in time for that scroll to have it's seals, opened.

So, when we read the verses in Luke ch.12, upon which your question is based....

"35 ‘Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will make them recline at the table and will come and serve them."

There we can now see plainly, that Jesus is the first to take in the contents of the wedding banquet. He is the only one worthy to receive and open that scroll.
After absorbing it, he then finds a slave of his that is awake and working to shine true light, eagerly awaiting the Master's contact... ready to open the door to understanding which Jesus provides 
(Rev.3:20; Luke12:36; 24:45; Rev.3:7; Matt.13:13,16). 
Such a one is chosen to become his messenger prophet, to show the last congregations "the things that will soon take place". That information will be unveiled, through the opening of the seals of Revelation, by the spirit within that last prophet 
(John15:26; 16:12-15,13; Rev.22:6; 19:9-10).

Through this consideration, I hope you can plainly see that there is no contradiction between the availability of the wedding provisions to Jesus' congregation,
and the fact that Jesus samples those provisions, first.
We may tend to think that if the feast is not yet open to us,
then it must not yet exist.
Not so.
The wedding feast has existed eternally in the mind of God. That knowledge was given to Jesus, first. It is only when the time of the End arrives, that the sealed scroll of Revelation is due to be sent to, opened to, offered to, and understood by, humankind.
Luke12:35-37

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