The will or testament of the now dead man is to be read but not changed! The terms of the will is to be put into force; in other words, action to see that everything written in the will is now law. The ones in charge of this were at first the twelve apostles as identified by Luke: “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. “ (Acts 2:1-4). This is the beginning of the Apostolic Commission as outlined in Matthew 28:20, Mark 15:15, and Acts 1:8).
Jesus had promised the apostles that the Holy Spirit would guide them “into the truth.” Let us take the time to make a point that is so often overlooked. Generally speaking, our good brethren has gotten this correct. Jesus told the disciples this truth, before his death: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 15:26). What is my point? The pronouns “You and Your” in this context does not have you and me in it! It is to the apostles and only to the apostles! The Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth, starting on the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts two, when Peter stood up the eleven and began to speak as the Holy Spirit gave him utterance! Thus things Peter and the other apostle spoke the term of the last will and testament of Jesus Christ, the Son of God! This went on through the history recorded in Acts of the Apostles. Thus, the apostolic commission!
The books: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, are in part the “last will and testament” of Jesus. Many people have trouble determining what is and what is not part of the “last will and testament” of Jesus and what is not. Generally speaking, it is not all that hard. Clearly when Jesus says, “ye have heard” he is not going to talk about something that is part of the old law, as he concludes with, “but I say unto you!” When Jesus is looking forward, these things are part of his “last will and testament.”
Frank R. Williams