Why did Jesus call earth the home-world?
Matthew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the home-world for a witness to all nations and then shall the end come
The word usually translated simply as world in Matthew 24:14, is oikoumene. It literally means “home-world.” Many scholars define oikoumene as merely the inhabited world, ignoring the difference between home world and inhabited world. But, as we shall see, this is an important distinction.
Sinful dysfunctions aside, the word home implies love and relationship. The writer of Hebrews used the word oikoumene when writing of the incarnation of Jesus: “When He is bringing the First Begotten into oikoumene–the home world.
Evolutionists scoff at the idea that humanity is a unique species, created separately from and superior to the animal kingdom, rather than evolving from it. But Jesus called planet earth the “home-world.” This is significant, as homes are more than mere shelters. Animals are content with crudely fashioned shelters, with nests in trees or dens dug in the earth. But homes are more than this, and only humans make “homes.”
God created mortals in his image and placed them on an extraordinary planet fashioned especially for them.
In light of multiverse teaching, which has become popular in these last days, Jesus calling earth the “home-world” is also noteworthy. He counters the multiverse idea by referring to our special planet as oikoumene—home world.
Our Creator is all about relationships. And on planet earth, these always find their genesis in homes. Before Elohim created mortals in his image, a home-world was formed first. Currently, Jesus is building a home for himself in the Ek-Klesia—The Out-Called.
Our planet is special, and we are special because we are here for a purpose. And in all the universe, there is only one home-world, and that is planet earth.
Jocelyn Andersen is the author of several non-fiction books, including, Redemption: Bible Prophecy Simplified, a Study of HOPE.
Note from the editor: I read my Bible every day, always picking up today where I left off yesterday. I call this my “on-track” Bible reading. I have been doing this for over 44 years. It was the best advice I was ever given, and it changed my life. If you are not presently doing the same, I invite you to join me. How much you read on a daily basis isn’t important. It only matters that you read, feeding your spirit with a prayerful dose of the living and powerful Word of God.
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Read more about this commentary HERE.