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This is the Word of God, Genesis chapter 42, verses 13 to 17. These are the holy words written by the Holy Spirit. They said, "Your servants, we are twelve brothers, sons of one man from the land of Canaan. The youngest son is with our father today, and one is gone." Joseph said to them, "This is what I meant when I said to you, 'You are spies.' This is how you will prove your sincerity: By the life of Pharaoh, if your youngest brother does not come here, you will not leave this place. Send one of you to bring your brother, and you will remain here. I will test your words to see if you have truth in you. By the life of Pharaoh, if your youngest brother does not come here, you will not leave this place. You are indeed spies." And he put them all together in custody.
Ah, when the brothers were accused of being spies, they made excuses. And they proved their innocence. That is the content of verse 13. Ah, they said, "Your servants, we are twelve brothers, sons of one man from the land of Canaan. The youngest son is with our father today, and one is gone." We are twelve brothers. Yes, the youngest son is with our father today, and one person is gone. This was their excuse and proof of their innocence when they were accused of being spies. Then, in verse 14, we see what Joseph said: Joseph said to them, "This is what I meant when I said to you, 'You are spies.'" Rather, Joseph pushed them further, saying that their words claiming innocence actually confirmed that they were spies. Why is that? They said they were twelve brothers. And one is the youngest son, who is with their father, and one is gone. So, how many are there? The number who came down to Egypt is ten. They are the ten who have come down to this place called the world of Egypt, and that is why he calls them spies. In the Bible, the meaning of the number ten signifies the number of the law, just as ten signifies in the Ten Commandments. Ten is the number of the law. So, when they said, "We are twelve brothers, but the youngest son is with our father, and one is gone, so we have come down as ten people," Joseph said, "That means you are spies." You are those who are peeking into the kingdom of God, and you are spies who still belong to the earthly kingdom. That is what he is saying. So, it is seen as an act of trying to obtain provisions through the law.
What is the ultimate outcome? It is verse 17. In the end, he put them all together in custody for three days. Those who are under the law, and those who ultimately seek salvation through their own religious actions, are thoroughly imprisoned in the prison of judgment. This scene is being explained. They are imprisoned for three days. What does this three days signify? It is a time of experiencing despair, a despair that cannot be resolved by the law, a despair that is deeply felt, a time of experiencing death. Three days. Why was Jesus Christ in the tomb for three days, as we well know? Jesus Christ is the completion and end of the law. It was a death that received the curse of the law. So, that is what the three days signify. It is three days related to the law.
Therefore, our understanding of the starting point of salvation should be this. Many people, when they think about the assurance of salvation, or when they check their salvation, should start with the realization that "I am imprisoned." God imprisoned us through the law. The reason the law was given was to show us that we are imprisoned under God's judgment, that we are confined for three days within us. So, the starting point of salvation is from here. "I am imprisoned." How do we know that? It is not by thinking that we were under God's judgment through morality and worldly ethics. It is not like that. It is by recognizing through God's word, which is the law, that we are beings eternally cursed and judged before God. We are spiritually bankrupt, unable to escape this prison by our own strength. This is the starting point of salvation. Have I seen my spiritual reality and had spiritual awareness? Without this, knowing the gospel or saying "I am saved" is not valid. As Pastor Lloyd-Jones said, the gospel is good news, but before we know this good news, there is sad news. What is the sad news? "I am imprisoned." And we must recognize this fact of being imprisoned through the law. This is why God sent us into the world, and this is why He gave us the Bible. Look at Romans chapter 3. "Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced, and the whole world held accountable to God." It silences every mouth, and what is revealed to the world is that all humanity, born from the loins of Adam in this world, is under the law. It speaks to them, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore, the reason and purpose for our birth into this world is to let us know that we are under God's judgment. The law played that role.
So, look at verse 20. "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, it is through the law that we become conscious of sin." Through the law, we recognize that we are imprisoned under God's judgment. This despair, the inability to escape this despair, must be deeply felt. Salvation that begins without knowing this is false. To be already out without experiencing the despair of not being able to get out is not the salvation that the Bible gives us.
Therefore, today, in this passage that we can easily overlook, the reason why ten and the youngest brother are repeatedly connected is explained. The one absolute condition for this prison door to open is the youngest brother. So, look at verse 15. See, Joseph's words: "This is how you will prove your sincerity." That is, prove that you are not spies, in other words, prove that you are saved. He says that if you do this, it will be proof. See what that content is: "By the life of Pharaoh, if your youngest brother does not come here, you will not leave this place." So, the one absolute condition for being able to leave the prison is that the youngest brother must come. Until then, you cannot leave. As the Prime Minister of Egypt, he has imprisoned them. By what power can they escape? But he swears by the life of Pharaoh, "If your youngest brother comes, you can leave." Why specifically the youngest brother, Benjamin? Why Benjamin? Benjamin must come. So, Joseph, being the older brother, might want to see his younger brother, so he earnestly asks him to come. No. The Bible is not talking about human emotions here. Of course, he might have wanted to see his younger brother. But the reason the Bible depicts this necessity for Benjamin, the younger brother, to come down is different. The meaning of Benjamin is "son of the right hand." The right hand signifies God's power and righteousness. So, "son of the right hand," and "son of righteousness." This Benjamin undoubtedly foreshadows Jesus Christ, the true Benjamin. Joseph's message is clear. You are under the law, these ten people, and you cannot leave this prison. Only when Benjamin, the absolute and unique substitute who satisfies God's righteousness, the son of righteousness, the son of the right hand, the son of power, comes, can you be released and live in life. That is the gospel of God.
My gospel, the gospel I think of, is that God gave me grace and love, and I was nothing, I didn't even recognize my state, but God saved me through Jesus. That is my gospel, the gospel I made, the gospel I like, the gospel of my thoughts. The gospel of God that the Bible speaks of is that we, in this world, are ten, the number of the law. In other words, it is nothing else. What the law signifies is faith for myself. Religious zeal for myself, my efforts to be saved. That is what the law speaks of. It is not that God's word within us is wrong, but that our understanding of this word is wrong. We came into this world as beings who have become God due to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Therefore, even with God's word, we do it for ourselves, for our own benefit, to satisfy ourselves. This is the law. To inform us that we cannot be with God through this, we have come into this world with ten, and we are ten beings. Ten people. Only when Jesus Christ, the unique and absolute substitute who can satisfy God's righteousness, comes and enters us, can we be released from this prison and enjoy eternal life. This is the gospel of God.
Why must Benjamin, Jesus Christ, come for us to be released from prison? Why Jesus Christ? Let's examine the word through Matthew chapter 5. Look at Matthew chapter 5, the Word of God. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says consecutively, "Do not commit adultery," and "Do not murder." He says, "Go to your brother." He says that those who call someone a fool are killing them. Look at verse 23. "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift." Many people have this question: "If I call my brother a fool or say 'go away,' I go to hell. I would have gone to hell thousands or tens of thousands of times." And they erase that word. They don't even think about it. And when they read verses 23 and 24, they read it like this: "If I go to worship God and I have said something harsh to my brother, and I remember something that would make my brother resent me, I should go to my brother first before worshiping and say, 'I was wrong. Please forgive me.' Why? For whom? They understand the passage with the intention of wanting to worship God well." Is that the context? Connect it with the context of verse 25. "Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. For your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny." It connects. The "brother" spoken of in this passage is not "brothers" in the plural. It is singular. This brother refers to the unique brother, Jesus Christ. It is about being reconciled with Jesus Christ. And look at Jesus Christ here. If you are not reconciled with Jesus Christ, you are imprisoned. If there is no Jesus Christ, you are imprisoned. And then look at verse 26. "Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny." This "last penny" is "eschatos." It means the final payment. It means you cannot get out until you have paid the ransom without leaving anything behind. So, if you are not reconciled with whom, you cannot get out of this prison, even with a single penny. Without whom? Without the brother. Without Jesus Christ.
Looking at the original text, "until you have paid the last penny," this is "eschatos kōdrantēs." Kōdrantēs is a unit of currency. It is the same as the lepton in the two leptons of the widow, which we know well. It is almost the same price. In American currency, it would be a penny. It is a tiny amount of money, almost worthless. But even this tiny amount of money, if it is not paid as the final payment, you cannot get out of prison. What does this mean? It means that unless the ransom of Christ, the unique brother Jesus Christ, becomes the final payment within you, you cannot get out. This is why the Old Testament depicts the picture that they can only be released if Benjamin comes. The New Testament clearly shows us this part. This is explained through Benjamin. Have you paid the price for your sins? Can you pay even one of your sins? Salvation is only possible through the ransom of Christ. Joseph's intense pressure and obsession with Benjamin are to explain the gospel of the ransom of the cross, the gospel of God, to these ten brothers. Colossians 2:14 says, "having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross." It explains that the cross of Christ, which became the final payment and ransom, canceled all the written codes of the Ten Commandments and the 613 laws. When Benjamin comes, the legal codes are canceled. When Benjamin comes, the empty document within us is resolved. Until Jesus Christ, the final payment, comes, no human religious zeal or action can get us out. Eschatos kōdrantēs. Even a single penny, that tiny amount of money, they demand it. You cannot get out. A penny. Because of that one thing, you can never get out. This is what the Bible says. No matter what religious merit I have accumulated, no matter what kind of faith I have had, without Christ, we cannot escape this prison of three days in this world. The most important question is this: Has Benjamin, the final payment, Jesus Christ, entered you? Has He come? And have you come out because of Him? Thinking that you have simply come out is the gospel you have created. Have I been released because of the coming of Jesus Christ, the final payment, Benjamin? This is what the Bible tells us today.
Look at verse 16 of today's passage. See what the Bible proves more clearly. "Send one of you to bring your brother, and you will remain here. I will test your words to see if you have truth in you. By the life of Pharaoh, if you do not do this, you are indeed spies." In verse 16, the word "test" here is "peirazō," which means a test with a possibility of failure. But this is "peirazō." However, when Benjamin comes and their truth is proven, when they pass and are accepted, it is said, "I will test your words to see if you have truth in you." This truth revealed is "dokimazō." This is confirmation. So, salvation is definitely achieved, the completion of salvation is achieved. This means that when Benjamin comes, when the youngest brother comes, your words are true, you are saved. Until then, it is a test. Until then, is my salvation truly genuine salvation? Yes, it is a test. But what is the one thing that reveals this test as confirmation? Only one thing. The coming of Benjamin. It happens outside of me. "If you are true within yourself, write a confession." Or "Shed blood for the fact that you are not spies." Nothing else is required. Only when the youngest brother Benjamin comes, your salvation is undoubtedly complete. It is confirmation.
So, let's look at 2 Corinthians chapter 13. In verse 5, the Word of God says: "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?" Test yourselves. And see how this test becomes confirmation. "Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?" Otherwise, you are disqualified. "Christ Jesus is in you." This is confirmation. "Dokimazō." The test is whether I have kept God's word well and how I am living according to God's word. This is the test, "peirazō." But this "peirazō" becoming "dokimazō," the evidence of the assurance of salvation, is when Jesus Christ enters us. The only way for my faith to be confirmed as genuine, not fake. It is when the true Benjamin, Jesus Christ, enters me.
You, this is the freedom that the Bible consistently gives us. It is not that we must keep it from God's law. Rather, through God's word, our imprisoned reality is revealed, and from outside, the youngest son, Jesus Christ, comes and releases us. It is a salvation where we are built up as holy people of God in Jesus Christ and taste the Word of God according to His Word. We live according to the Word after we have come out. We cannot live according to the Word to get out. And living according to the Word before coming out is all self-merit and self-righteousness, and through it, we can only prove ourselves. Therefore, those who have not met the youngest brother, Jesus Christ, in prison and come out are doing foolish things: they are still building their own merit with God's word. They cover their shame with fig leaves. And they live in the illusion of salvation. And they lead even more people to hell. No. The Bible is clear from beginning to end. Look at Revelation chapter 20, the last word, verse 11. This is what will undoubtedly happen before the Great White Throne Judgment. Do not be mistaken. The Great White Throne Judgment is not only for unbelievers; it is not that believers are exempt from this judgment. It is a judgment for both believers and unbelievers. For unbelievers, this time is eternal sorrow and death, but for believers, it is a time of great joy, glory, and blessing. This time will surely come. Look at verse 11. "Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and that place was found no more. I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the other books." The books opened are books of deeds. Another book is opened, singular. On one side are plural books of deeds. And on the other side is a single book, the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the other books. Therefore, those who are judged according to the contents of the books of deeds are those whose names are not in the book of life. They are judged according to the books of deeds. The sea gave up its dead, and death and Hades gave up the dead in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. The judgment each person receives according to their deeds is for those not in the book of life. Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. Anyone whose name was not found in the book of life. The contents of the books of deeds are questioned one by one. They are questioned by the law. Those in the book of life are those who encountered their imprisoned state under God's judgment through the law and were delivered through Jesus Christ, and thus received life in Jesus Christ. They are not questioned by deeds. Why? Because Jesus Christ became their deeds. Therefore, the two kinds of books represent the books of deeds, the law. These are the ten brothers. And they are beings who still carry the empty document of deeds, to which Jesus Christ has not yet come. On the other hand, there is the book of life, singular. And they are beings for whom the final payment has been paid in full. Jesus Christ, who said "It is finished," has come into me as the final payment. Therefore, I am a book of life as a being whose every need has been paid in full, fulfilling God's holiness and righteousness. So, faith in the book of life is like this.
Look at Galatians chapter 2. We are familiar with Galatians 2:20: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And the life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." We know this verse well. But what does it mean for Christ to live in me, and for me to no longer live, when connected with this verse? How does Christ live in me? The word tells us. Look at the context. See what it means for Christ to live in you, and let the word illuminate you. Verse 16 says: "Nevertheless, knowing that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified. But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves are found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! For if I rebuild what I tore down—that is, if I rebuild the law—I prove myself to be a lawbreaker. For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God." It connects with this content. "I have been crucified with Christ." How did I die? Yes. I died to the law. My death with Christ was when I was crucified with Christ in my attempt to prove myself through my own efforts in trials. "Then I no longer live." It means that the false thing of trying to satisfy God and show righteousness before God with my own strength is not it. "But Christ lives in me." The final payment, Jesus Christ, lives in me. "And the life I now live in the body." Living in the body means that although the law has been resolved, we are still beings saved under the law, still in God's word. We live in the flesh. But it is by living in faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me, when I fall into powerlessness, stumble, and am seized by guilt because I could not keep God's word. We live by faith in Jesus Christ, who loved me and gave his life on the cross. Amen.
No matter how much I gather my meager legal deeds, I cannot repay even the last penny at the Great White Throne Judgment. No, with that, with that, if I say to my brother, "Go away, you fool," it means going to hell. The Bible relentlessly pushes us to the conclusion that we cannot escape except through Jesus Christ. No, with that, not with that. We are thoroughly imprisoned. The Bible says we cannot get out until we keenly realize and deeply understand that we cannot get out by ourselves and until we receive Jesus Christ. This is God's way of salvation. You must accept this. You must first acknowledge that all your righteousness has been completely bankrupt in the prison of the law. Because you do not acknowledge this, you live your faith life as you please. Not only do you not fear God, but you are not truly grateful and moved by God.
How should we live now? Nail to the cross the deceitfulness of your old self, which still trades with God through legal deeds. As one who has received Jesus Christ who has entered me, our faith should now be like this. We are those who have gained freedom from guilt and condemnation. We are those who have come out of the prison of death. Therefore, when God's word comes to us and implants condemnation, it is the work of the devil. I have now been completely paid for, even that last tiny amount, through Jesus Christ. I have been fully accepted by God. When the youngest brother comes, we come out. I have come out because of the coming of Jesus Christ. Therefore, the condemnation that invades us: "Because you only live your faith like this, your child is like that." "Because you don't pray to God like this and don't serve God, your business isn't going well." That is the devil's word. Even what I just said is the devil's word. We are now those who have gained complete freedom and liberation through Jesus Christ. We are those who have been paid for, and are holy and righteous before God. Therefore, we are freed from these things and exist as blessed beings who truly love God and gladly follow His Word as God's people of salvation. Even if we cannot live according to the Word, we are already those who have lived out the Word before God, who have kept it. We are beings whom the Word can no longer question by deeds before the Great White Throne Judgment. How should we live? I bless you in the name of the Lord to delight in God's Word, follow it, and enjoy Christ more abundantly and gloriously through His Word. Amen.