Biblical Concept:
Visitation
1) Vocabulary:
Episkeptomai - Epi
= upon, over. Skeptomai = to look at, inspect.
Episkope - Epi
= upon, over. Skope = inspect, oversee, watch, guard.
2) Examples:
-
Matthew 25:36; I was sick and
you visited (episkeptomai) Me.
Conclusions: 1)
The context is the Divine judgement at the end
of the Tribulation, in preparation
for the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus
Christ (25:34 and note 24:1ff).
2) Visiting the sick is one of the acts
performed by the “righteous”
(25:37a) and praised by God. Note verse
25:40. 3) The
“accursed ones” (25:41a) are judged because they did
not visit (episkeptomai)
the sick and imprisoned (25:43). 4) Visitation is
one of the activities expected
of the righteous by God. Visitation
provides for others.
Compare 25:35-36a.
-
Luke 1:68; Blessed be the Lord
God of Israel, for He has visited (episkeptomai) us and accomplished
redemption for His people.
Conclusions:
1) Luke 1:68 is the beginning of a prophecy by Zacharias, the father
of John the Baptist, concerning the coming “Sunrise from on high”
(1:78b). 2) The visitation would accomplish redemption for
God’s people (1:68b) and the knowledge of salvation and forgiveness of
sins (1:77). 3) Visitation provides for others. 4) Compare
episkeptomai
in Luke 7:16 and episkope in Luke 19:44.
-
Acts 15:36; And after some days
Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return to visit (episkeptomai) the
brethren in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and
see how they are.”
Conclusion:
Visitation is concerned about the spiritual progress of fellow Christians.
-
James 1:27; This is pure and undefiled
religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit (episkeptomai)
orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by
the world.
Conclusion:
Practice the Christian religion by visiting orphans and widows.
-
1 Peter 2:12; Keep your behavior
excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander
you as evildoers, they may on account of your good deeds, as they observe
them, glorify God in the day of visitation (episkope).
Conclusion:
One day God will “visit” us all, to give us the opportunity to glorify
Him.
3) Visitation Summary:
-
God has visited us with a Savior
(Luke 1:68).
-
Visit the sick and imprisoned
(Matthew 25:36), orphans and widows (James 1:27).
-
Visitation expresses concern over
the spiritual progress of Christians (Acts 15:36).
-
God will visit everyone with a
time of evaluation (1 Peter 2:12).
A-Z