ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 Pulelulu Sanuali 12, 2022

EXALT THE WORD

HIKI HAKE ‘A E FOLOFOLA´

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons

ACTS 10:34 KJV

Pea ofa‘aki ‘e Pita ‘ene lea ‘o ne pehē, Tā ko ‘ene toki mahino mai ē kiate au, ‘oku ‘ikai ke filifilimānako ‘a e ‘Otua:

NGAUE 10:34

Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Ko e Folofola´ pe   

We are talking about the Word of God now, and the truth of the Gospel. That Gospel is more excellent than all apostles. God accepteth no man's person. Peter is quoting Moses: "Thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty" (Leviticus 19:15). This quotation from Moses ought to shut the mouths of the false apostles.

“Don't you know that God is no respecter of persons" cries Peter. The dignity or authority of men means nothing to God. The fact is that God often rejects just such who stand in the odor of sanctity and in the aura of importance. In doing so God seems unjust and harsh. But men need deterring examples. For it is a vice with us to esteem personality more highly than the Word of God. God wants us to exalt His Word and not men. There must be people in high office, of course. But we are not to deify them. The governor, the mayor, the preacher, the teacher, the scholar, father, mother, are persons whom we are to love and revere, but not to the extent that we forget God.

MARTIN LUTHER

‘I he taimi ‘oku tau lave ai ki he Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua, ‘a ia ko e mo’oni ‘o e Kosipeli.  Ko e Kosipeli ko ia ‘oku fungani ange ia ‘i he kau ‘apositolo hono kotoa.  ‘Oku ‘ikai ke filifilimanako ‘a e ‘Otua.  Ko e to’o mai eni ‘e Pita ‘a e lau ‘a Mosese ‘i he tohi Levitiko 19:15; “’oku tapu ho’o piko’i ‘a e fakamaau: ‘e ‘ikai te ke toka’i ‘a e masiva, pea ‘e ‘ikai te ke afeitau’olunga; ka te ke faitotonu ‘i ho’o fakamaau’i ha taha.”  Ko e lea ko eni ‘a Mosese, ‘oku taau ke ne tapuni ‘a e ngutu ‘o e kau ‘apositolo loi.  

Ko e Kalanga ‘a Pita, “’oku ‘ikai te mou ‘ilo ‘oku ‘ikai ke filifilimanako ‘a e ‘Otua?”  Ko e langilangi mo e mafai ‘o e tangata, ko e me’anoa pe ia ki he ‘Otua.  Ko hono mo’oni, ‘oku taliteke’i ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a e kau ‘afungi mo e kau fakamafutofuta.  Ka ‘i he’ene fai pehee, ‘oku hange ‘oku ta’e’ofa pe ta’engali ia mo e ‘Otua.  Ka ‘oku fiema’u ke fakahinohino’i mo akonaki’i ‘a e tangata.  ‘Io, ‘oku masiva ‘a e tangata ‘i he’enau feinga ke fakahikihiki’i ‘a e ngaahi tu’unga ma’olunga ‘o laka hake ia ‘i he Folofola ‘a e ‘Otua.  ‘Oku finangalo ‘a e ‘Otua ke tau fakahikihiki’i ‘a ‘ene Folofola ‘o ‘ikai ko e tangata.  

‘Oku mahino, kuopau pe ke ‘i ai ha ngaahi lakanga mo ha ngaahi tu’unga.  Ka ‘oku ‘ikai ke totonu ke to ‘etau fakamamafa ‘i hono hapai ‘o e ngaahi tu’unga.  Ko e kovana, pule fakavahe, faifekau, faiako, palofesa, tamai, fa’e, ko e kakai kotoa eni ‘oku taau ketau ‘ofa ki ai mo faka’apa’apa’i, ka ‘e ‘ikai ‘i ha founga ‘e ngalo ai ‘a e ‘Otua ‘iate kitautolu.