Was Jesus a ransom for many or a ransom for all? (Matthew 20:28 and 1 Timothy 2:6).
A ransom is the price paid to set someone free. In this case, the ransom is paid to God to whom we are all indebted because of our sins.
Matthew 20:28 says, “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life A RANSOM FOR MANY.” In this verse, we see that the ransom has been paid for MANY. The death of the Lord Jesus Christ was great enough to satisfy all God’s righteous demands against sin. How powerful was that wonderful work that God is able to forgive all who come to Him in faith. This sacrifice is only effective to the many who put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We have a similar thought in Matthew 26:28, “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is SHED FOR MANY for the remission of sins.”
1 Timothy 2:6 says, “Who gave himself A RANSOM FOR ALL, to be testified in due time.” In this verse, we see that the ransom has been paid for ALL. This means that the substitutionary death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary was sufficient to save ALL sinners. This does not mean that ALL will be saved, but that provision has been made for ALL. We have a similar thought in 1 John 2:2, “And he (Christ) is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” We also read in 1 John 4:14, “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.”
Although the death of the Lord Jesus is sufficient to ransom ALL sinners, only the MANY who put their faith in Him will be ransomed and saved. It is so interesting to see that when the Lord Jesus cried out from the cross, “IT IS FINISHED” (John 19:30), that He literally spoke only one Greek word…TELEO. That word means PAID. The debt of sin had been paid and salvation is now available to all.
What about you, dear reader? Have you trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as your savior from sin? He gave Himself so that you might be saved, but if you do not repent of your sins and put your faith in Him, you will not be saved. The Lord Jesus said in John 6:37, “…him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” If you put your faith in the Lord Jesus, He will save you. He will not reject you. Indeed, He loves you and died for you so that you might be saved. (458.4)