The Meaning of “Whoever” in Matthew 19:9 (2 of 3)

Dave Miller, Ph.D., Apologetics Press
• John 4:14—“whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.” Can non-Christians drink
the water? Or must they already be in covenant relationship before they drink? To ask is
to answer.
• John 5:24—“I tell you the truth, whoever [already in covenant relationship with Christ] hears
my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has
crossed over from death to life.” Who crosses over from death to life—Christian or non
Christian? The “whoever” refers to the non-believer whom Jesus challenges to cross over
from death to life.
• John 8:12—“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the
world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”
Jesus was admonishing non-Christians—unbelievers—to follow Him.
• John 10:9—“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go
out, and find pasture.” What is the status of the person prior to entering through Jesus?
That person is not in covenant relationship with Christ.
• Revelation 22:17—“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say,
‘Come!’ Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift
of the water of life.” Who is the “bride”? The bride is the church—the receptacle of the
saved, i.e., Christians. Here the Holy Spirit and the church are inviting outsiders—
those not yet in covenant relationship with God—to enter into fellowship with Him by
drinking the water of life.
The Old Testament has the same application:
• Genesis 4:13-14—“Cain said to the LORD, ‘My punishment is more than I can bear. Today you
are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless
wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.’” Was Cain concerned that those
in covenant relationship with God might kill him?
• Genesis 9:6—“Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the
image of God has God made man.” Were only those in covenant relationship with God
subject to this declaration?
• Genesis 12:3—“I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all
peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” In His remarks to Abraham, was God
speaking only of covenant people—or all peoples on earth?
• Genesis 44:10—“‘Very well, then,’ he said, ‘let it be as you say. Whoever is found to have it
will become my slave; the rest of you will be free from blame.’” Acting as an Egyptian,
did Joseph mean to refer only to covenant people? Or did he use “whoever” to refer
exclusively to his brothers—not his father or other family members, nor anyone else?
• Job 29:11—“Whoever heard me spoke well of me, and those who saw me commended me.”
Job was a Gentile living among Gentiles. Were all those who had heard of Job in a covenant
relationship with God?
• The numerous uses of “whoever” in the Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes are intended to refer
to all people who should benefit from the wisdom given. For example, Ecclesiastes 12:13
says the “whole of man” is to obey God. Does this verse refer only to those in covenant
relationship with God? And consider Proverbs 8:35-36—“For whoever finds me finds life
and receives favor from the LORD. But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who
hate me love death.” Proverbs 12:1—“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he
who hates correction is stupid.” Are these universal instructions, or are they limited only
to those in covenant relationship with God?
— continued next week