“Must,” Important Classifications

Words are conveyors of information; even the smallest words can be replete with meaning. Such is the case with the term "must." Often overlooked; more often ignored, this important word must be studied carefully. “Must” (Greek, dei) is an impersonal verb that is used about 105 times in the Greek New Testament. It is used by Jesus, Matthew, John, Luke, Peter, and Paul. From the spatial use of “must,” many lessons can be learned and the classifications of the verb that we shall explore are natural and consistent with how “must” is used, I believe.

“Must,” Important Classifications

God has communicated abstractly through the created order of things (Psalm 19:1). He has made his will known concretely by means of words. Christ rebuked the Jews for ignoring the logical connection between Moses' "writings" and his own "words" (John 5: 46, 47). Jesus taught that his "words are spirit, and are life" (John 6:63). Paul affirmed that the things revealed of God to man are made known by "words“ - not words derived from "man's wisdom," but by means of words from God (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 2:13).

“Must,” Important Classifications

“46: For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 47: But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?” (John 5, cp. I Cor. 14: 9, 16, 19).

“Must,” Important Classifications

Words that are found in "community" forms (syntax) are regulated by word rules relatively common to all languages in some form or another. If, therefore, one is to extract maximum benefit from words employed in communal forms (i.e., in phrases or sentences), one must attempt to have some appreciation for relational significance of words.

“Must,” Important Classifications

Verbs are words that convey action or state of being. John wrote that Mary: "came [action] where Jesus was [state of being]" (John 11:32). There is a type of verb that is called an auxiliary verb; it is a verb that serves to help express the meaning of another verb. Consider three auxiliary verbs- "can," "may," and "must."

“Must,” Important Classifications

1."Can" expresses ability. It says nothing about “rightness" as to whether one should or should not do something. A person has the ability to murder another, but there are legal consequence of such if he does (Genesis 9:6).2."May" combines ability with permission. A father may instruct his daughter, "You may stay out until eleven o'clock." She has been granted the right to remain out the specified time.3."Must" goes farther even. It combines ability with permission, and yet imposes obligation. The charge of the watchful father may be: "You must be home by eleven o'clock."

“Must,” Important Classifications

There is a frequent use of "must" that admits man's freedom of choice, yet urges submission to the will of God in view of a promised hope (cp. Acts 16: 30f.).

The Obligatory “must"

“Must,” Important Classifications

“30: And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31: And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. 32: And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33: And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 34: And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house” (Acts 16).

“Must,” Important Classifications

The redemptive “Must”

This use of “must” is sometimes called the case of compulsion (cp. Luke 2: 49, John 3: 30, 4: 4).

The redemptive" must”

“Must,” Important Classifications

“3: He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. 4: And he must needs go through Samaria. 5: Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph” (John 4, cp. Matt. 16: 21).

“Must,” Important Classifications

The authority “must”

Authority from a biblical perspective, is singular. The word of God is God’s authority (2 John 9-11, Heb. 1: 1, 2, Matt. 28: 18).

“Must,” Important Classifications

“11: This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12: Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4).

“Must,” Important Classifications

The inevitable “must”

In some matters, man has no choice and his will does not play an important part (Heb. 9: 27).

“Must,” Important Classifications

“14: And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thy days approach that thou must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation, that I may give him a charge. And Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the tabernacle of the congregation” (Deut. 31).

“Must,” Important Classifications

The condition “must”

While religious division is certainly not something Christians set out to effect, in view of the militant, uncompromising nature of the gospel, division is a must (Matt. 10: 34-37).

“Must,” Important Classifications

“18: For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.19: For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you” (I Cor. 11).

“Must,” Important Classifications

The priority “must”

In God’s perfect planning, there is often the matter of what will first happen to allow for the next occurrence (Mark 13: 10).

“Must,” Important Classifications

“15: So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1).

“Must,” Important Classifications

The sovereignty “must”

Fulfilled prophesy is one proof of the inspiration of the scriptures. Fulfillment involves and presupposes sovereignty (Matt. 26: 54).

“Must,” Important Classifications

“53: Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? 54: But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?... 56: But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled” (Matt. 26).

“Must,” Important Classifications

The consequential “must”

There are many static conditions that call for and result in certain predictable conditions or consequences (Matt. 25: 27).

“Must,” Important Classifications

“26: His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury” (Matt. 25).

“Must,” Important Classifications

The irresistible “must”

While man’s participation determines some things, there are other matters totally independent of man (2 Cor. 5: 10).

“Must,” Important Classifications

“10: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 11: Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences” (2 Cor. 5).

“Must,” Important Classifications

The means “must”

In order for certain things to prevail, there are certain requisite acts (Acts 9: 6).

“Must,” Important Classifications

“6: And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do” (Acts 9).

“Must,” Important Classifications

The faith “must”

Saving faith is so much more than the simple belief that God exists (Heb. 11: 6).

“Must,” Important Classifications

“6: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11).

“Must,” Important Classifications

The incongruity “must”

Some things by their opposite nature cannot together exist (cp. Mark 13: 14).

“Must,” Important Classifications

“14: Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15: And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?” (2 Cor. 6)

“Must,” Important Classifications

The misinformed “must”

Not a few labor under incorrect teaching and information (Acts 23: 1).

“Must,” Important Classifications

“8: Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? 9: I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth” (Acts 26).

“Must,” Important Classifications

The transformation “must”

Change often must take place for certain matters to be possible (I Cor. 15: 53).

“Must,” Important Classifications

“52: In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53: For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (I Cor. 15, 2 Cor. 5: 17).

“Must,” Important Classifications

Conclusion:

As stated at the beginning of our study, “must” is a relatively small word, but packed full of meaning and applicational importance.