I have often sung the chorus "Freely, freely you have received, freely,freely give" it was a favourite during the charismatic renewal in the 1970's. The melody was nice,lilting. I always got the sense that the sing meant that because I had received forgiveness and salvation that my gratitude should cause me to reach out and testify. I realised today 50 years after first singing that chorus that the meaning is probably more straightforward than that, notwithstanding that gratitude does cause us to want to reach out. In verse one Jesus gives the disciples power to heal and deliver. In verse 8. He in effect says, don't make people pay for it, as likely some other healers did. The Apostles may have been anxious that they could really perform healing, Jesus gad no such doubts about his impartation and simply told them not to charge!
I have often sung the chorus "Freely, freely you have received, freely,freely give" it was a favourite during the charismatic renewal in the 1970's. The melody was nice,lilting. I always got the sense that the sing meant that because I had received forgiveness and salvation that my gratitude should cause me to reach out and testify. I realised today 50 years after first singing that chorus that the meaning is probably more straightforward than that, notwithstanding that gratitude does cause us to want to reach out. In verse one Jesus gives the disciples power to heal and deliver. In verse 8. He in effect says, don't make people pay for it, as likely some other healers did. The Apostles may have been anxious that they could really perform healing, Jesus gad no such doubts about his impartation and simply told them not to charge!