Really? Jesus took the Bible literally like you do huh? Well lets take a look at how Jesus interprets Scripture and see if it is as literal as you yourself choose to interpret the Bible:
Luke 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
This of course is referencing Isaiah 61:
61:1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
So is all of that literal, is that ALL that Jesus did, just a literal interpretation? Did He literally open the prison to them that are literally bound? Did He literally go up and take peoples ashes and give them beauty? Did He literally go up to people and give them oil that is full of joy for their mourning? Did He literally give them a literal garment of praise for their spirit of heaviness? Are we literally trees?
Of course to take all of this literally is absurd, Jesus interpreted this as it was meant to interpreted, Spiritually. Jesus Spiritually binds up our brokenhearts, He has Spiritually proclaimed liberity to us who were once captive, He has Spiritually opened up the prisons who are bound. He has Spiritually given us beauty, and Spiritual oil of joy and Spiritual garments of Praise. It is silly to try and interpret this literally...
Mal 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:
6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
Is this to be literally fulfilled Thunder? According to Scripture it HAS already been fulfilled so does Jesus take this literally, as in Elijah literally will come back?
Luke 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Matt 11:14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
Jesus interpreted this Spiritually, John came in the power and Spirit of Elijah and thus John fulfilled these Scriptures, however your Dispensationalism tells us that we should reject what Jesus says and actually look for a literal Elijah to come sometime in the future.
Ps 118:22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
23 This is the Lord's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
How did Jesus interpret this? Is He saying that a literal stone was rejected by literal builders but has now become the head corner stone? Of course not, again Jesus interprets this Spiritually, Spiritually the people who were supposed to be the builders, the Jews, rejected Him, the Spiritual Stone ( 1 Cor 10:4) has now become the head corner stone of the Spiritual Church. Who else interprets this Spiritually?
Acts 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
Speaking of stones, shall we take this literal?
Is 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Is this a literal stone that was laid in literal Zion? According to Scripture it isnt:
1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
On and on I can go showing how Jesus and the Apostles definitely viewed Scripture as being interpreted Spiritually or being an Allegory. That IS the predominate way that they and the Early Church has interpreted Scriptures especially Prophetic Scriptures. Now I am not saying that they NEVER interpreted Scripture literally, they do, I do and everyone does, but when it comes to the method they interpret Scripture specifically Prophecies, it is overwhelmingly either a Spiritual or Allegory.
Now of course I dont expect you to respond in turn to defend your position or negate mine, I am learning quite quickly that your method of debate is to ignore the points brought up to you, give a base general dismissal and offer little to no rebuttal...
