The original Korean text: https://blog.naver.com/stevision/50025357661
It was the first day Nathanael met Jesus. Hearing that Jesus was from Nazareth in the countryside, Nathanael couldn't recognize Jesus as the Messiah promised in the Old Testament. But this one word of Jesus completely changed Nathanael's thought: "You're an Israelite indeed. There is no guile in you!"
Jesus knew how to capture people's hearts. It is to honestly praise some good points about others. Honest praise opens others' hearts wide. On the contrary, if you like calling innocent people sinners, they'll all leave you.
Who is truly an Israelite? He is a man who is truly a member of the people of God, who will receive the blessings written in the Bible, and who will at last possess the kingdom of heaven. Jesus called Nathanael who had no guile a true Israelite. Therefore, a true Israelite is a man who has pure heart, who has no guile whatever. In the sight of Jesus, Pharisees who pretended to be the holiest at that time, and the priests who were called servants of God by many people at that time were not true Israelites at all, because they had guile in themselves. They pretended to be holy to be seen by people, recited all the articles of the law and taught the people them, but they didn't live themselves as the law commanded. Such double-faced people as those religioners have guile, and they can't be true people of God.
In the Old Testament, some were abundantly blessed by God because they had no guile. One of them is King David. He confessed several times, "I've served God with pure heart. I have clean hands. With these hands I worship God."
Of course, Nathanael might have some defects and weak points. However, Jesus recognized Nathanael, who was honest, as a true Israelite. Who is saved? A true Israelite. Who is a true Israelite? He who comes to Jesus like Nathanael and is recognized as a true Israelite.
Nathanael never betrayed Jesus, who didn't see his weak points but recognized him as a true Israelite, and died as his apostle. Legend has it that he died while preaching the gospel.
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