BIBLE IN TEN

Matthew 11:25

Sunday, 13 July 2025
 
At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Matthew 11:25
 
“In that time, Jesus answering, He said, ‘I acknowledge You, Father, Lord “the heaven and the earth” that You hid these from wise and sagacious, and You revealed them to infants’” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus told Capernaum that it would be sufferable on Judgment Day for Sodom in comparison to them. He now openly speaks to the Father with words based on how these things have played out, beginning with, “In that time, Jesus answering.”
 
As often occurs in Scripture, the word answer is not in response to a question but a matter. Jesus has been speaking about the judgment of God upon those who should have known better. As a response to that thought, He continues with, “He said, ‘I acknowledge You, Father.’”
 
The word exomologeó is used. It was already seen in Matthew 3:6. The word signifies to acknowledge. By extension, that can mean to confess, such as in confessing (acknowledging) one’s sins, professing one’s allegiance, etc. Jesus is acknowledging the ways of His Father who is “Lord ‘the heaven and the earth.’”
 
It is an all-encompassing thought that indicates what is expressed in Isaiah 55 –
 
“‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts,Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord.9 ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth,So are My ways higher than your ways,And My thoughts than your thoughts.’” Isaiah 55:8, 9
 
That this is what is expressed is seen in Jesus’ next words, “that You hid these from wise and sagacious.”
 
The word sunetos is introduced. It signifies someone who can mentally put things together. It may be deemed as intelligence where one plus one equals two. It may be a form of prudence, as in “this and this together are not safe and should not be mixed,” etc. The word sagacious fits because it describes someone with keen mental discernment and who possesses and uses good judgment.
 
In God’s infinite wisdom, He makes the most important matters of all those that must be received by faith. The wise and sagacious will spend their effort working out matters, relying on their own wits, experience, and mental acuity to come to conclusions. Such a person trusts in self, not in God, for the answer to a matter. On the other hand, Jesus says, “and You revealed them to infants.”
 
An infant is not capable of deep thought. He cannot process information because he has no experience or training to do so. He is given instruction, and he will trust that one who has the wisdom is rightly instructing him. This is what Jesus says about those He has been referring to.
 
Chorazin, Bethsaida, Capernaum, and Israel at large had all of Jesus’ words and miracles to attest to who He is. However, they failed to accept Him by simply believing what their eyes saw and what the Father had said in His word. They were trying to process a Messiah in their minds that fit a different paradigm, and they missed the simplicity of what Jesus presented.
 
As such, Jesus is acknowledging the wisdom of God because of how things had been laid out by Him. Surely, His ways are higher than the ways of man.
 
Life application: The words of Jesus are later reflected in the words of Paul –
 
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.’20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
 
Paul tells us that the simplicity of the gospel is something most intelligent and prudent people will stumble over. They cannot grasp that God has brought man’s salvation down to simple belief. Their great intellects will call out to them, “You can do it! You can figure out how to please God with your wisdom.”
 
But God has said, “I have done it all. I just want you to trust Me. Have faith that I will carry you through.” This is nonsense to those who look at their own power, determination, wisdom, etc.  It is the “I” problem that seems hopelessly instilled in humanity. Only those who trust like a little child will set themselves aside.
 
Later in the same passage, Paul says not many of those higher categories will do so. He doesn’t say none will. Some are so prudent that they know they will never be prudent enough. Such a person will acknowledge, “I can’t attain to Your station, O God. Receive me despite my failings. I trust in Jesus.”
 
This is what God expects from His creatures... trust. Have faith in what God has done. It is sufficient to restore you to Him.
 
Lord God, help us to be people of faith. May we be willing to remove ourselves from the salvation equation and trust You, wholly and without reservation, to restore us to You. Your plan is set, it is recorded, and You ask us to believe. May our hearts be tender and do so. Amen.
 

Matthew 11:24

Saturday, 12 July 2025
 
But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.” Matthew 11:24
 
“Moreover, I say to you that it will be sufferable – land Sodom – in Judgment Day than you” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus noted that if the miracles done in Sodom had been done in Capernaum, it would have remained till that day. And more! He continues with, “Moreover, I say to you that it will be sufferable – land Sodom – in Judgment Day than you.”
 
The thought is the same as that of Tyre and Sidon in comparison to Chorazin and Bethsaida in verse 22. Just as the judgment of those two Jewish cities would be weightier than for the two wicked Gentile cities, so would the judgment of Capernaum be in comparison to that of Sodom.
 
The people of those cities would have been offended at such a thought. The judgment on Sodom because of their vile deeds was a key theme in their Scriptures. To be compared to Sodom, and then to be condemned as more deserving of judgment than it, would have been the highest form of offense.
 
Jews reading that today would still find it offensive. No wonder so many hear Jesus’ words and find them offensive. Until one understands the reason, the pronouncement would seem intolerable. However, with greater revelation comes greater responsibility.
 
The city of Sodom may have been filled with sexual deviants who rejected the natural order for humanity, but they only had the general revelation of God to guide them. Capernaum had the full body of Old Testament Scriptures to instruct them.
 
In seeing Jesus’ miracles and not making the connection of Him to being the fullest revelation of God ever made manifest, they were more worthy of condemnation than the perverted city of Sodom.
 
Life application: Imagine the guilt of those who have read the entire Bible, understood the evidence for the coming of Jesus, His fulfillment of the promises of God, His atoning death, internment, and resurrection, and then rejecting what they have read!
 
What more can God have done than what is recorded in Scripture to make it evident that He has fulfilled every promise concerning the restoration of life for those who believe? At some point, faith must be a part of the equation. Five days after Jesus ascended, some Jew may have arrived in Israel who had never heard of His coming.
 
He couldn’t say, “Ok, God, please send Jesus back so I can verify what these men say is true.” Nor could he ask for a video recording of it all to make sure He really did what had been claimed. For that Jew, faith must now come into play.
 
The same is true with us. People who sit on YouTube all day watching videos from false teachers about their visions and divine revelations are using faith in believing what they are being told. Their faith is just misdirected.
 
Though not a video recording of Jesus’ life, the Bible is a record of it nonetheless. It was carefully compiled over the centuries, slowly and methodically expressing God’s ongoing hand in the plan of redemption. When that plan was fully expressed, the final word of Scripture, the word Amen at the end of Revelation 22:21, was penned.
 
Now, we have everything necessary to competently know what God has done. From there, we can decide if the evidence is sufficient for us to accept and believe. Assuredly, it is. There is no need to look for further evidence from God concerning visions, prophecies, and revelations on YouTube. The word has been sealed.
 
Trust what God has presented, accept the gospel message of Jesus Christ, and be saved. To reject what is penned there, due to the complete nature of the revelation expressed, means that the one who is rejecting it is worthy of great condemnation. Don’t be such a person. Believe and be saved! Trust what God in Christ has done by believing the message found in the pages of the Holy Bible!
 
Heavenly Father, may we not neglect the truth of Your word, but read it, accept it, and apply it to our walk with You all the days of our lives. In it is found life, because in it we find Jesus. Thank You for what You have done in the sending of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Yes, thank You, O God. Amen.
 

Matthew 11:23

Friday, 11 July 2025
 
And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. Matthew 11:23
 
“And you, Capernaum, the ‘until heaven you having been elevated,’ until Hades, you will be descended. For if in Sodom they occurred – the miracles, the ‘having occurred in you’ – it remained, if until the day” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus referred to the difference between Tyre and Sidon and Chorazin and Bethsaida on the day of judgment. Next, He says, “And you, Capernaum.”
 
More miracles of Jesus are recorded in Capernaum than in any other city. It was essentially His staging area, going and returning to it while ministering to other cities. So notable were His miracles there that in Luke 4:23, it says –
 
“He said to them, ‘You will surely say this proverb to Me, “Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country.”’”
 
In other words, the word about His miracles in Capernaum had extended beyond there, filling the ears of people in other cities. It is 52 miles from Capernaum to Nazareth, indicating that what the people saw in Capernaum was more than a curious event spoken by a couple of friends, but a word that was conveyed with such excitement that it was passed on until many were made aware of what transpired. Of Capernaum, Jesus next calls it, “the ‘until heaven you having been elevated.’”
 
Here, Jesus introduces the word hupsoó, to exalt. Specifically, it means to raise high or lift up. Metaphorically, the idea of exaltation is then seen.
 
The meaning is that because of Jesus’ ministry there, the people had been provided the highest form of God’s favor. They saw Jesus’ miracles, they witnessed His perfection, they heard His instruction, etc.
 
The incarnate Word of God made that city His dwelling and focal point for ministering to the nation of Israel. No greater favor could ever be imagined. What they saw and heard was more of a revelation of God’s favor and call upon the nation than that of any prophet before, including Moses. But because of their hardened hearts, Jesus says, “until Hades, you will be descended.”
 
Though they had the keys to heaven itself extended to them in the Person of Jesus and the ministry He conducted among them, they chose to reject Him and continue life apart from His saving grace.
 
Instead of continuing to be exalted to heaven, they would be cast down to Hades, meaning Sheol, the place of the dead, awaiting the final judgment. Unfortunately for the city, their judgment will not be a happy one. Jesus next says, “For if in Sodom.”
 
Without going any further, it is a note of utter contempt. Capernaum is being contrasted to the city representative of the epitome of wickedness in the Old Testament. The story of Sodom is recorded in Genesis, but it is referred to almost twenty times elsewhere in the Old Testament.
 
The city was so wicked that its misdeeds reached the ears of the Lord in heaven. It was judged and destroyed by fire. However, Jesus continues, saying that if “they occurred – the miracles, the ‘having occurred in you’ – it remained, if until the day.”
 
About two thousand years had passed since the time of Sodom’s destruction, and yet, Jesus says that if the miracles that were performed in Capernaum were performed in Sodom, the wicked city would have turned and been so affected by what He had done that they would have remained, without destruction, until that day.
 
Having said that, the destruction of Capernaum eventually came about in approximately the 7th century AD. The town was completely abandoned in the 11th century.
 
Life application: To this day, the stories concerning Jesus’ ministry are read and remembered by Christians. We believe, by faith, that what is recorded in the New Testament is a true account of what Jesus did as He ministered among the people.
 
Stories have been written, songs have been sung, plays have been presented, and movies have been made concerning the great things Jesus did. The church has been founded on the deeds of the Messiah, and it has proclaimed this message throughout the world.
 
In nations and cultures of people throughout the world, tears have been shed and hearts have been converted through the words about Jesus, just as He said would happen. During this same time, the name of Jesus has been used as a curse among the people of Israel.
 
There has been a wall of enmity put up against Him that seemed impenetrable. However, that wall has slowly but steadily been broken open over the past century. With each passing year, more Jews hear and accept the word concerning Jesus Christ.
 
Someday, as incredible as it seems at this point, the entire nation will proclaim that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God. Seeing the state of affairs in the world and the alignment of the nations in relation to biblical prophecy, it doesn’t seem like it will be a long time until these things come about.
 
Keep sharing the word! Keep studying the Bible! The message of Jesus is what changes the course of history for the lives of people. Their eternal destiny goes from condemnation to salvation upon the acceptance of the gospel. So be ready to share it at all times!
 
Heavenly Father, help us to be diligent in our study and in our sharing of Your word. May we be faithful to this calling and willing to get the word out. The world needs Jesus. Each person in the world needs Jesus. May we be willing to share this wonderful story of hope and redemption. Amen.

Matthew 11:22

Thursday, 10 July 2025
 
But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. Matthew 11:22
 
“Moreover, I say to you, it will be sufferable – Tyre and Sidon – in Judgment Day than you” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus rebuked the cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida, noting that if the miracles done in them had been done in the wicked cities of Tyre and Sidon, they would have reconsidered their ways. He continues this thought, beginning with, “Moreover.”
 
It is a new adverb, plén. It is derived from pleión, greater than, more excellent, etc. There is a sense of addition to something, furthering, or going beyond. One can see the etymological root of the modern word plenty, signifying a fullness. The word moreover gives the sense in this verse.
 
He has noted that Tyre and Sidon would have reconsidered their ways. Now, He adds to that with “Moreover.” The added words are not happy ones for His audience as He proclaims, “I say to you, it will be sufferable Tyre and Sidon – in Judgment Day than you.”
 
Tyre and Sidon were judged by God and destroyed. Chorazin and Bethsaida could expect nothing less. But more, when the day of judgment that lies ahead comes, it will be more sufferable for those wicked cities than for the inhabitants of Israel. It is axiomatic to say that with more revealed light comes greater responsibility and greater consequences for disobedience.
 
These words should have terrified the people, bringing them to a state of reconsideration and turning to Him. Two thousand years later, the ruins of those cities stand as a witness that they were destroyed. When the day of judgment comes, those who did not accept Jesus as their Messiah will regret their rejection of Him.
 
Life application: In Jewish society, there is the sense that they are God’s people, His chosen and elect, and that this means they are in a good position with Him. Is it true that they are God’s people? The answer depends on the context of the words.
 
They are Israel, chosen of God for His purposes. This is based on the covenant they made with Him at Sinai. However, they are not God’s people, saved and going to heaven, through the New Covenant in Jesus’ blood.
 
Jesus’ words here should tell any reasonable reader of the Bible that the rejection of Jesus means condemnation. The false teaching in the church that Israel is currently God’s people, as if they are in a right standing with Him, must be rejected.
 
Paul’s carefully chosen words concerning Israel in Romans 9-11 show that this is not the case. He cites Scripture showing that the church is “My people,” and that Israel has a remnant that is spared at this time. Jesus calls them a “synagogue of Satan” in Revelation 2:9 & 3:9.
 
When you hear a Jew say, “We are the chosen people,” a common claim, the obvious question should be, “Chosen for what?” It is not for licentiousness, arrogance, and idolatry. They were chosen to reveal the righteous judgment of God. In failing to adhere to the Mosaic Covenant and in failing to enter the New Covenant, they have been under the punishments of the law noted in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28.
 
This is what the law does, it brings judgment. People who are in churches, supposedly returning to the “Hebrew Roots” of the faith, are only bringing condemnation upon themselves. We don’t need more law. We need Jesus, the Fulfiller of the law, to save us from God’s righteous judgment.
 
Thank God that He sent Jesus, born of a woman (the condemned line of humanity), born under the law (the standard set for the righteous judgment of God), to free us from condemnation and its associated punishments.
 
Let us receive what He has done, be freed from “self” in our attempt to be right with God, and continue to trust Jesus until the Day He comes for His people. In the meantime, we should pray for Israel to have their eyes opened to the terrible plight it remains in.
 
Without Jesus, their judgment will be greater than that of Tyre and Sidon on judgment day. They have God’s word, Tyre and Sidon didn’t. His word speaks of Jesus. In rejecting Jesus, they, by default, call judgment down upon themselves.
 
Lord God, the people of Israel are Your people, chosen for a particular purpose. However, they are not right with You because they have rejected Jesus. Being chosen at this time means being chosen for judgment and condemnation as a demonstration of Your righteousness. May they come quickly to Jesus and find Your righteousness in Him for salvation. Amen.

Matthew 11:21

Wednesday, 9 July 2025
 
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. Matthew 11:21
 
“Woe, you, Chorazin! Woe, you, Bethsaida! For if in Tyre and Sidon, they occurred – the miracles, those done in you – if in sackcloth and ashes formerly they reconsidered” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus began to rebuke the cities where He did His mighty works because they did not reconsider their ways. Now, to state His displeasure at them, and to reveal to them their fate, He begins with, “Woe, you, Chorazin!”
 
The word ouai, woe, is introduced. It is a primary exclamation of grief. Also, the name Chorazin is first seen here. It is a city in Galilee. The origin of the name is uncertain. Studying Hebrew root words that may be connected to the Greek transliteration, Abarim defines it as possibly Smoking Furnace.
 
The city is about two- and one-half miles north of a location known as Tel Hum. It remains a ruin to this day. Parts of the city are identifiable, such as the synagogue. This and its houses and buildings are built from locally obtained hard black basalt. Some of the walls that remain are up to six feet high. Next, Jesus says, “Woe, you Bethsaida!”
 
The name is from Beith, house, and tsayad, a huntsman. Thus, it means Hunter’s House. However, being by the Sea of Galilee, some think the hunting is referring to fish and call it Fisher’s House. It is where Phillip, Andrew, and Peter came from as seen in John 1:44. The location is still known and visited today. Of these cities, Jesus says, “For if in Tyre and Sidon, they occurred – the miracles.”
 
Turos, Tyre, and Sidón, Sidon, are both first mentioned here. The Hebrew name of Tyre is Tsor. This comes from tsor, flint, or tsur, rock. Thus, it is the fortified city, Rock. Sidon is from the Hebrew tsud, to lie alongside. Therefore, it signifies to hunt, chase, etc., due to the thought of lying in wait. As such, it is a place of fishing, and it is named after those who lie alongside as they fish. Thus, Fishery is its name.
 
These are cities that were destroyed by the Lord’s judgment. Ezekiel was told to prophesy against Tyre in Ezekiel 26. Ezekiel 27 records a lamentation over Tyre. Ezekiel 28 begins with a proclamation against the king of Tyre and then continues in lamentation over the city. That is followed by a proclamation against Sidon in Ezekiel 28:20-24.
 
The Lord spent a great deal of time laying out His words against them. His descriptions and judgments put them on par with Sodom and Gomorrah as far as examples of wickedness resulting in punishment. Despite that, Jesus tells Chorazin and Bethsaida that if those terrible, wicked cities saw the miracles that Jesus did, “those done in you – if in sackcloth and ashes formerly they reconsidered.”
 
The adverb palai, formerly, is introduced. It is believed to come from palin, again. As such, it gives the sense of retrocession. It can mean all this time, a long time ago, already, formerly, etc. Jesus is saying that in the past, when they were wickedly going about life, there would have been a change in them.
 
The implication here is obvious. God used three chapters of Ezekiel, plus other references to Tyre and Sidon in His word (such as Isaiah 23), to reveal their wickedness. And yet, Jesus says that the hearts of these cities were humbler than those of Chorazin and Bethsaida.
 
If Jesus had gone to them and done His miracles at their time of judgment, they would have done what Nineveh did, reconsidering their ways and demonstrating that change in heart by adorning themselves with sackcloth and ashes.
 
Both of these words are also new. The first is sakkos, coming from the Hebrew saq, a mesh. It is the course material that would be only fitting in a time of mourning. This would be contrasted to the normal garments where life was going well. The other word, spodos, is a primary word signifying ashes.
 
The point Jesus is making, and which He will continue to make, is that if God destroyed these cities for their wickedness, how much more do Chorazin and Bethsaida deserve to be destroyed? They have not reconsidered their ways, but God knew that the hearts of Tyre and Sidon would have.
 
Life application: The meaning of the story of Jonah is a story that mirrors what Jesus is saying here. This is not the usual interpretation that is provided due to translational difficulties in Jonah 4, but when it is properly understood, it is clearly seen that God is contrasting the wickedness of Israel with the wickedness of Nineveh.
 
Nineveh reconsidered its ways, and God relented from His judgment upon it. Israel, with much greater revelation than Nineveh, refused to reconsider and receive their Messiah. Jesus will use exactly this symbolism in Matthew 12 and Luke 11. Israel didn’t pay heed, and they were destroyed and exiled.
 
But the great covenant-keeping nature of God has spared them for another day. He has faithfully saved them, even through judgment, to bring them into the New Covenant. If He is this faithful to Israel through a covenant cut through the blood of bulls and goats, how much more do you think He will save you through the shed blood of Jesus Christ?
 
We are often just as unfaithful as Israel in our hearts and actions, but if we are in Christ, He will carry us through to a good end. Be assured and reassured in this.
 
Lord God, thank You for Your infinite love and grace as is revealed in our Lord and Savior Jesus. Amen.
 

Matthew 11:20

Tuesday, 8 July 2025
 
Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: Matthew 11:20
 
“Then He began to defame the cities in which they occurred – the most of His miracles – because they reconsidered not” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus referred to His conduct, having come eating and drinking, which was contrasted to how John conducted himself. He then noted that wisdom is justified from her children. His next words begin to explain the severity of ignoring this wisdom, beginning with, “Then He began to defame the cities in which they occurred.”
 
The word oneidizó, to defame was previously seen in verse 5:11. It is derived from oneidos, to reproach or disgrace, a word probably akin to onoma, name. Thus, a defaming is indicated.
 
The cities to be mentioned were part of Israel. They were thus filled with Jews who thought that their cultural makeup and national identity were what made them acceptable to God, regardless of their hearts and actions. Jesus will correct them on this as He continues.
 
Matthew, intending to show why Jesus’ words to these cities are justified, next notes what it is that occurred in them, which is “the most of His miracles.”
 
The Scriptures concerning the coming Messiah were read in synagogues. The people would have talked about what the Messiah would have been like as they gathered for feasts and other events. When Jesus came and began performing His miracles, most of which were in the surrounding cities, they should have recognized Him and turned their minds. However, it next says, “because they reconsidered not.”
 
The people saw the miracles He performed, but they didn’t heed the words He or John had uttered. Both of them proclaimed the same words to the people –
 
“And in those days, comes John the Baptist, proclaiming in the desolate of Judea, 2 and saying, ‘Reconsider! For it has neared – the kingdom of the heavens!’” Matthew 3:1, 2
 
“From then, Jesus, He began to proclaim and to say, ‘Reconsider! For it has neared – the kingdom of the heavens!’” Matthew 4:17
 
There was to be a turning of the mind, a reconsideration, concerning their conduct before the Lord. However, Jesus will reveal the true situation of the conduct of these cities.
 
Life application: Jesus is the Word of God. He spoke words on the Father’s behalf that were to be heeded. A spoken word that is heard but not heeded means the speaker’s intent behind the words has been ignored. James says –
 
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:22-25
 
This appeal from James, and the rebuke of the cities by Jesus, were not something new for the people of Israel. They were told to heed the word and do what it said. At the time of Ezekiel, the Lord spoke, saying –
 
“As for you, son of man, the children of your people are talking about you beside the walls and in the doors of the houses; and they speak to one another, everyone saying to his brother, ‘Please come and hear what the word is that comes from the Lord.’ 31 So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain. 32 Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them. 33 And when this comes to pass—surely it will come—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.” Ezekiel 33:30-33
 
Israel failed to heed and went into exile. Even while in exile, they ignored the word through Ezekiel. Jesus came with the final message to the people under the law. A new covenant was coming. In rejecting Jesus’ call to reconsider, they rejected His message.
 
Today, we have been given instructions about how to conduct our lives in relation to God. First, we are to accept the gospel, receiving by faith what God has done through Jesus. But that is not the end of our responsibilities.
 
We are to learn the word and apply it to our lives. Those who go to church and hear the word but who then leave without allowing it to mold them have missed the point of going to church. And it may be that the church doesn’t even properly present the word.
 
Our lives are short. We should make every effort possible to use our time wisely, learning the word and applying it to our walk. Don’t just be hearers of the word, but doers. In this, God will be pleased.
 
Lord God, thank You for Your word that can safely guide us through this troubled walk of life. May we wisely accept its teachings and faithfully apply them to our lives. In this, You will surely be pleased. Be with us in this walk, O God. Amen.

Matthew 11:19

Monday, 7 July 2025
 
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her children.” Matthew 11:19
 
“He came, the Son of Man, eating and drinking, and they say, ‘You behold! A man, a glutton, and a winebibber! A friend of taxmen and sinners!’ And it is justified, the wisdom, from her children” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus noted that John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said he had a demon. He continues with, “He came, the Son of Man, eating and drinking.”
 
Jesus is referring to Himself in the third person, contrasting His life to that of John. As noted in the previous commentary, “eating and drinking” signifies more than just the act of eating and drinking, but doing so in a social setting. Whereas John would refrain from such things, Jesus welcomed them. For example –
 
“Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.’ 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, ‘He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.’” Luke 19:1-7
 
Understanding this, Jesus continues, saying, “and they say, ‘You behold! A man, a glutton, and a winebibber! A friend of taxmen and sinners!’”
 
Two new words are introduced here. The first is phagos, a glutton. The second is oinopotés, a winebibber. It is derived from oinos, wine, and pinó, to drink. Both words will only be seen again in the comparable passage in Luke 7.
 
As in the account of Zacchaeus, Jesus went into the houses of those whom the Pharisees and Sadducees would never enter. He ate and drank what was put before Him without any objections.
 
Seeing this, the judgmental sort called him a glutton and a winebibber. This shows the utter folly of their thinking. John, who refrained from any such thing, was said to have a demon. Jesus, who openly associated with those shunned by the elites, is accused of inappropriate behavior.
 
Neither had committed any infraction of the law, and yet, they were arrogantly dismissed as being something they were not. As such, those saying such things had made themselves the standard of what is acceptable and what is not, ignoring the fact that it is the Lord, through the law, who set the standards of what was acceptable in the society.
 
As for the words, “they say,” it is the same thought from the previous verse –
 
... and they say he has a demon!
... and they say, “You behold! A man, a glutton, and a winebibber!”
 
The words reveal who “this generation” in verse 16 is. It is not referring to John and Jesus, but to the Jews who stood accusing them –
 
Vs. 17 ...they say, “We piped to you and not you danced. We bewailed to you and not you breast-beat.”
Vs. 18 ...and they say he has a demon!
Vs. 19 ...and they say, “You behold! A man, a glutton, and a winebibber!”
 
Jesus is making a one-to-one comparison of those in His example and the Jews who stood around, finger-pointing at the lifestyles of John and Jesus. Because of this, Jesus concludes the thought with, “And it is justified, the wisdom, from her children.”
 
Another new word is seen here, dikaioó, to render just or innocent. It is that which is upright because of meeting a proper standard. Jesus is saying the wisdom, that which is divinely set forth by God, and which seems so arbitrary in how it is displayed, meaning in the conflicting, changeable conduct between John and Jesus, is proven upright from their actions.
 
Both Jesus and John were within their rights to live their lives as they desired while adhering to the Law of Moses as the guide for Israeli society. Despite one living in a certain way while the other lived in a completely different manner, they performed their roles before God in a way that He accepted and that brought Him glory.
 
Life application: Jesus’ words show that God can and does work through different means and allowances to meet the set goals of the plan of redemption. John was used while living the life of an ascetic. Jesus lived His life associating with the outcasts, dining with them, etc. The two seemingly contrary lifestyles merged to form a part of God’s unfolding redemptive narrative.
 
This is like the doctrine of dispensationalism. People have a problem with it because it seems fickle. In the dispensational model, God works one way with one group of people and another way with another group. As such, it seems arbitrary, and it appears that His plans are conflicting and changeable.
 
Such is not the case. The wisdom of God expresses itself through these various methods to form a whole. Bread doesn’t just pop into existence. It first grows as wheat. The wheat is harvested and processed. It is then ground in a mill. After that, it will be mixed into dough. From there, the dough is placed in an oven. Once the bread is finished, butter is slathered all over it, and the family enjoys it as a part of dinner.
 
Each step of the process is different, and yet, a final anticipated result is realized. This is akin to how God’s dispensational plan works from beginning to end. It is a step-by-step process, each dispensation unique and different from the others, culminating in eternal fellowship between God and His creatures. Peace and harmony are restored and realized.
 
Lord God, Your wisdom is on display in everything around us. The movement of the stars, pollination by the bees, males and females forming a couple... each of these and an infinite number more things reveal Your wisdom. It is also seen in Your word, which explains to us how we can be reconciled to You through Jesus. Thank You for such wonderful wisdom, leading to hope and restoration. Amen.

Matthew 11:18

Sunday, 6 July 2025
 
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ Matthew 11:18
 
“For, he came, John, neither eating, neither drinking, and they say he has a demon!” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus gave an example of what “this generation” is like, saying, “We piped to you and not you danced. We bewailed to you and not you breast-beat.” He continues now with, “For, he came, John, neither eating, neither drinking.”
 
The meaning here is more than just his limited diet, which is recorded in Matthew 3:4 –
 
“And he, John, had his apparel from camel’s hair, and a leathery girdle around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.”
 
The thought of eating and drinking extends to social life, where eating and drinking are a part of the natural course of human interaction. In other words, John’s life was that of a prophet preparing the way for the Lord. He did this in the wilderness, living a life of austerity and isolation.
 
In this state, someone may have come and said, “I’d like to talk to you about your message, come and join us at our meal tonight.” This is something John would have likely refused, maybe offering them a bowl of dried locusts instead and saying, “Join me here for a meal. This is where I belong.”
 
John limited his diet and everything that goes along with eating. Parties, feasts, dinner invitations, etc., would all have been shunned by him. Therefore, because of this obscure and difficult to understand lifestyle, Jesus next says, “and they say he has a demon!”
 
This is what it says about the demoniacs in Chapter 8 –
 
“And He, having come into the beyond, into the country of the Gergesenes, two ‘being demon possessed,’ they met Him, coming out from the tombs – exceedingly dangerous – so too, not anyone capacitate to pass through that way.” Matthew 8:28
 
They lived in an area shunned by others, cut off from the normal ways of life. Because John was somewhat like this, instead of recognizing him as a prophet and grasping the importance of his ministry, they accused him of having a demon.
 
Life application: One of the traits that is often seen in people who are exceptional in their field is eccentricity, even to the point of being thought to suffer from mental instability. People with great intellects who have made some of the most profound discoveries in their occupations have been considered unconventional, and their lives troubled.
 
Van Gogh, da Vinci, Nietzsche, Hemingway, Tesla, Mozart, Bonaparte, Byron, Freud, Einstein, and so many others were, at times, close to being off their rocker. Van Gogh cut off his own ear, something not normally thought of as a sign of sharp mental acuity.
 
Fortunately for them, their skills in their professions were recognized and they were appreciated, despite their often-bizarre behavior. If you come across someone who seems a tad eccentric or doesn’t fit into the traditional paradigm that society has set, don’t underestimate him or dismiss him outright. It may be that his focus is so poignantly directed that the normal rules for social behavior don’t interest him.
 
At the same time, he may be as crazy as a loon, so don’t just assume that everyone who is odd is a genius.
 
Lord God, may our judgments about those we encounter always be carefully considered. First and foremost, may we look at each person as an individual who needs Jesus. If we remember this, surely we will see them in a different way than if we judge by mere appearances. Help us to look for Your image in those we encounter. Amen.

Matthew 11:17

Saturday, 5 July 2025
 
and saying:‘We played the flute for you,
And you did not dance;
We mourned to you,
And you did not lament.’ Matthew 11:17
 
“...and they say, ‘We piped to you and not you danced. We bewailed to you and not you breast-beat’” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus began a description of those He calls “this generation,” equating them to children sitting in the markets addressing their companions. Of them, Jesus continues with, “and they say, ‘We piped to you.’”
 
This is a new word, auleó. It signifies “to play the flute,” and thus, to pipe. It is derived from aulos, a flute. There is a piping in the markets by the children, expecting a response from those around them. Despite their hopes, it next says, “and not you danced.”
 
It is a second new word, orcheomai, to dance. It is the etymological ancestor of our modern word orchestra. The word is derived from orchos, a row or ring. One can think of people forming up in ranks or circles, dancing when an orchestra plays.
 
There was the hope of people joining the flute players by dancing, but that did not come about. Next, He says, “We bewailed to you.”
 
It is a third new word, thréneó, to bewail. It is derived from threō, to cry out loud. These children tried a different tactic to get a response. Instead, Jesus next says, “and not you breast-beat.”
 
A fourth new word is used, koptó, to chop. It is a part of the standard way of mourning in the Middle East, where the breast is beaten or chopped at when great sadness or anguish takes place. Despite the bewailing, there was no response from the hearers of the flutists.
 
Life application: The reason for having public presentations is to elicit a response from the public. People naturally want others to join in such things. When there is no response, feelings get hurt.
 
This is especially so because when someone is leading in the presentation, there is a sense of elevation of importance. A few guys who have drumming, guitar, and keyboard skills can become rock stars with people cheering them on, throwing money their way, and fawning over them as if they are gods.
 
Preachers can captivate large crowds and, at times, can become cult-like figures. To not show adoration to such people means one is uninterested or simply neutral in what they are presenting.
 
Jesus is making a point about a situation that was happening in Israel at His time. He will explain His words in the next couple of verses for those who think they should be heeded and why they were not.
 
As Christians, it is best not to get overhyped about the status of others, elevating them to some perceived position that actually does not exist. Each person is of value. Playing the guitar may be great to listen to, but a guitarist who can’t fix plumbing is no help at all when the pipes burst.
 
We tend to place too much value on people with skills that have no real value. So a person can catch a football! Does that make him a hero? If not, why do we almost fervently want to be around such a person? Why would we want his autograph?
 
Let us consider where our priorities should lie, not getting caught up in the hype of society.
 
“My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. 2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, 3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, ‘You sit here in a good place,’ and say to the poor man, ‘You stand there,’ or, ‘Sit here at my footstool,’ 4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?” James 2:1-4
 
Lord God, help us to think clearly about the status of others, understanding that people are people. Those we should gravitate towards should be those who are humble, respectful, and who hold You in the highest esteem. May our thoughts about those around us always consider the character of the person as being of true value. Amen.
 

Matthew 11:16

Friday, 4 July 2025
 
“But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, Matthew 11:16
 
“And to what I will liken this generation? It is like children in markets, sitting and addressing their companions” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus declared that he who has ears to hear should hear. That was stated in regard to John being the Elijah who was anticipated in the book of Malachi. Now, knowing that many will not heed His words, He addresses the crowd, beginning with, “And to what I will liken this generation?”
 
Who Jesus is speaking about in this verse and the coming verses is debated. Although getting ahead in the commentary, this must be determined at some point. Some see “this generation” of this clause as Jesus’ comparison to John and Himself. Others see it in reverse, meaning Jesus is referring to Himself and John as the children calling out.
 
To understand further, Jesus continues, saying, “It is like children in markets, sitting and addressing their companions.”
 
Here, the word agora is introduced. It signifies the town square, but the term is then extended at times to signify a market or thoroughfare. Therefore, there are children playing. These are small children in view of all who come through, where the people are gathered. As they play, they address those around them, here called “their companions.”
 
As for who “this generation” is referring to, seemingly convincing arguments are given for both views. For example, the Pulpit Commentary says –
 
(1) Many modern commentators (e.g. Meyer; Trench,’ Studies,’ p. 148) insist on the grammar and on the historical order in which the complaints are made, and believe that the Jews correspond to the pipers and the mourners, while it is John that refuses to rejoice, and our Lord that will not be sad.
 
(2) But the more usual interpretation is preferable. For
 
(a) in an illustrative saying one has chiefly to regard its general sense;
 
(b) in verse. 18, 19 the action of John and of our Lord in “coming” corresponds to the activity of the children;
 
(c) this interpretation seems much more in accordance with the context. The verses are therefore to be understood as meaning- John mourned in urging repentance, our Lord rejoiced in gospel liberty and preaching, but both alike were only ridiculed by the Jews. Markets; marketplaces (Revised Version); for there is no thought of the children helping their elders in traffic. And calling (which call, Revised Version) unto their fellows. Addressing them, but not necessarily noisily (Luke 6:13; Luke 13:12). Matthew 11:16
 
Vincent’s Word Studies says –
 
“The Rev. Donald Fraser gives the picture simply and vividly: ‘He pictured a group of little children playing at make-believe marriages and funerals. First they acted a marriage procession; some of them piping as on instruments of music, while the rest were expected to leap and dance. In a perverse mood, however, these last did not respond, but stood still and looked discontented. So the little pipers changed their game and proposed a funeral. They began to imitate the loud wailing of eastern mourners. But again they were thwarted, for their companions refused to chime in with the mournful cry and to beat their breasts....So the disappointed children complained: ‘We piped unto you and ye did not dance; we wailed, and ye did not mourn. Nothing pleases you. If you don't want to dance, why don't yon mourn?...It is plain that yon are in bad humor, and determined not to be pleased’” (“Metaphors in the Gospels”). The issue is between the Jews (this generation) and the children of wisdom, Matthew 11:19.”
 
These arguments will be considered in the coming verses. However, a simple way to determine which view is likely correct is to look at the words “this generation.” In doing so, the likely view will be revealed. They are listed (as translated by the NKJV) as, Matthew 11:16, Matthew 12:41, Matthew 12:42, Matthew 12:45, Matthew 24:34, Mark 8:12, Mark 8:38, Mark 13:30, Luke 7:31, Luke 11:29, Luke 11:30, Luke 11:32, Luke 11:50, Luke 11:51, Luke 17:25, Luke 21:32, Acts 2:40. Note: Luke 16:8 is also close in thought to these verses. Likewise, other verses, such as Luke 9:41, though not using the term “this” still refer to the same generation in the same manner.
 
Reading those verses will reveal which view is most likely the correct one, even before all the verses related to Jesus’ words here are completed. In fact, every other instance identifies the same particular category. If the words “this generation” here are not referring to what they are, it would be an outlier.
 
Life application: Although in Scripture there are times when words are used in a sense different from the more common rendering, it can generally be expected that selected words will be used in a consistent manner. In some instances, the consistency will help definitively identify what is being said or pictured.
 
Therefore, doing word and phrase studies is a very helpful tool when analyzing passages. Doing it from English translations may bring out false comparisons because translators often use the same word to translate different words, or they will use different words to translate the same word.
 
Such inconsistencies will cause an analysis to be off a bit. Doing word studies in the original languages is rather easy, but phrase studies can be a bit more difficult. At times, there are commentaries that have already done such studies, thus saving the effort. But even then, scholars can make errors. Therefore, if possible, it is still good to verify their work.
 
When reading commentaries, don’t just hurriedly accept one because it sounds right. Reading those given above, the scholars have come to exactly the opposite conclusions. But if you were only provided with one of the commentaries, you might think that it sounds correct and agree.
 
However, with the two contrasting views, you can see that more thought and study are needed. As no commentary reviewed for this study analyzed the words “this generation,” it seemed like a logical point to check.
 
Expand on what you read. Consider what you come across. Think about what is being said and why the words are being provided by God in His word. Spend your time in the word wisely and check things out. It is a marvelous treasure of wonder and delight.
 
Lord God, help us to judiciously consider Your word, contemplating it from many angles and doing our best to determine what is right. May our conclusions be based on more than picking and choosing what we like or initially think, but on a careful analysis of what is presented. Help us in this, O God. Amen.

Matthew 11:15

Thursday, 3 July 2025
 
He who has ears to hear, let him hear! Matthew 11:15
 
“The ‘having ears to hear,’ let him hear” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus made a pronouncement that was not to be dismissed or casually heard and then forgotten. Rather, the very state of Israel, both the nation and each individual, would be affected by His words, which were, “And if you incline to receive, he, he is Elijah, the ‘being about to come.’” With that emphatic declaration made, He next says, “The ‘having ears to hear,’ let him hear.”
 
In other words, what I just said needs to be heard and assimilated. The reason for this was partly cited in the previous commentary. The final verse of Malachi says –
 
“Remember! Law Moses, My servant,
Which commanded him in Horeb upon all Israel –
Enactments and judgments.
5 Behold! I sending to you Elijah the prophet,
To faces coming day Yehovah –
The whopping and the fearing.
6 And turned heart fathers upon sons,
And heart sons upon fathers.
Lest come and strike the land – anathema.” Malachi 4:4-6
 
Jesus is saying that John is the fulfillment of the promised coming of Elijah. If they rejected his message by rejecting Jesus whom he proclaimed, the land would be struck with a curse.
 
Life application: A few points about the verses from Malachi. When the Lord proclaimed through him to remember the Law of Moses, He was not talking about obeying the law. That was something they were supposed to do already. He was telling them to remember the law that referred to the coming Redeemer.
 
Malachi proclaimed in verse 4:2 that a Righteousness Sun was coming. The meaning to be inferred is that the Law of Moses was not a Righteousness Sun. Rather, Paul states it was a tutor to lead us to Christ (Galatians 3:24). In remembering the law and anticipating the promise set forth in Malachi, the people would then be prepared for the coming of Christ.
 
Understanding this, in verse 4:6 where it speaks of turning the heart of the fathers upon sons, and heart sons upon fathers, that is not a verse describing immediate family relations, as in, “He will turn the people in the families to love one another.” Rather, it is a word concerning the Hebrew people as a whole. The fathers are the patriarchs, especially Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
 
The children are those who had misunderstood both the promise to the patriarchs and the purpose of the law. The heart of the fathers was that of promise while trusting in the gospel of the grace of God. Paul explains this in Galatians 3 –
 
“And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ‘In you all the nations shall be blessed.’ 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.” 
...
“And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.” Galatians 3:8, 9, & 17, 18
 
The hearts of the children, the unbelievers of Israel, will have their hearts turned to the hearts of the fathers who trusted the gospel of Christ as a certain and sure promise. If they do not turn their hearts, the warning of the curse of the law stands firm.
 
In the last words of Malachi concerning the curse, the Old Testament ends with the word kherem, anathema. It speaks of the utter destruction or ban of something. It is a fitting end to the thirty-nine books of law.
 
Only with the hope of God in Christ is there life and renewed fellowship with God. Only in understanding the gospel can that state be realized. In Matthew 23:36, Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.”
 
The nation as a whole rejected Jesus, remained under the law, and fell under the ban because of it. The second fulfillment will be for those of Israel who continue to reject Jesus during the tribulation. However, for the nation, that will eventually end. The land of Israel, symbolized by Jerusalem, was anathema because of Israel’s rejection of Jesus. This is seen in Zechariah 14:11 –
 
“The people shall dwell in it;And no longer shall there be utter destruction [kherem],But Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.”
 
This prophecy concerns the future when Israel finally receives Jesus. Only when the hearts of the children are turned to the hearts of the fathers will this time of woe for Israel end. The day is coming, and the world is being readied for it with the return of Israel to her land. The nation has been reestablished, prophecies of the past have come to their fulfillment, and many more prophecies are set to be fulfilled.
 
Our trust is not to be in the Law of Moses but in the One who is spoken of there and throughout all of Scripture. It is not easy to let go and place ourselves solely under the authority of another, but we must do so.
 
Let us not fail to put our trust in Him. Anything else will not carry us through to the restoration that God offers to His people. Yes, let us trust solely in the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord.
 
Lord God, may our faith in You grow each day as we rely solely on the grace of Jesus Christ. Help us never to put ourselves into the salvation equation except as receiving it by faith and being grateful for what He did. Thank You for Jesus our Savior! Amen.
 

Matthew 11:14

Wednesday, 2 July 2025
 
And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. Matthew 11:14
 
“And if you incline to receive, he, he is Elijah, the ‘being about to come.’” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus said, “For all the prophets and the law, until John, they prophesied.” He next says, still speaking of John, “And if you incline to receive.”
 
Jesus will state a matter which is a certain truth, but He sets it forth as a proposition. Therefore, someone may accept or reject the proposition as he is so inclined. Because it is the Lord speaking, it is to be considered an act of trust as well as faith in the reliability of His word that it is so. This proposition is, “he, he is Elijah.”
 
One can see the emphatic nature of His words, and it is the emphasis that brings about the proper understanding of what Jesus is saying. There is a prophecy in Malachi 4 that everyone would have known about –
 
“Behold! I sending to you Elijah the prophet,
To faces coming day Yehovah –
The whopping and the fearing.
6 And turned heart fathers upon sons,
And heart sons upon fathers.
Lest come and strike the land – anathema.” Matthew 4:5, 6 (CG)
 
Jesus says that John the Baptist is this “Elijah” who was prophesied about. Thus, he is “the ‘being about to come.’” In other words, from the time the prophecy was given, there was the expectation that Elijah was coming. Each year, Jewish tradition taught that he would arrive at a feast, but this is most usually associated with the Passover. For this reason, it was (and still is to this day) a custom for some Jews to leave an empty chair at the seder, hoping it was to their home he would come.
 
However, it is clear from verses in Luke and John that John the Baptist is not Elijah –
 
“He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Luke 1:17
 
“Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, ‘I am not the Christ.’21 And they asked him, ‘What then? Are you Elijah?’He said, ‘I am not.’” John 1:19-21
 
To understand what is going on, one must more fully grasp the words of Malachi. Malachi 3:1 said that the messenger of the Lord, who is John the Baptist, would prepare the way for the Messenger of the covenant, Jesus. Reading the New Testament, it is taken as a certainty that this was referring to John and then Jesus.
John came in the spirit and power of Elijah. Jesus, with His emphatic proclamation, is essentially saying, “John is doing the work of Elijah. You must accept this and not look for any other to avoid the curse of Malachi 4 to come upon you.”
 
However, God knew that Jesus would be rejected by Israel. In Malachi 4:1, it says, “For behold! The day coming...” The day referred to corresponds to what was said in Malachi 3:2 –
 
“But who can endure the day of His coming?And who can stand when He appears?”
 
But what exactly is this day? Scholars vary in their interpretation of its meaning. Some place it at the time of Christ’s coming and the nation’s rejection of Him. Thus, the destruction of Jerusalem by fire and the exile of the people. Others see it as the day when Christ returns in fiery judgment, as in 2 Peter 3:7 –
 
“But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”
 
If this is the same day referred to in Malachi 3, one might assume the day is in Jesus’ first coming. This is what Jesus is testifying to now. However, Malachi 4:5 says that this day is when the Lord will send Elijah the prophet, a man who did not die but who was taken directly to heaven in a whirlwind, as recorded in 2 Kings 2.
 
The answer to the meaning of “the day” comes from understanding God’s irrevocable faithfulness to His unfaithful people, Israel. He has promised that He will bring them into the New Covenant. As a nation, that has not yet happened.
 
And so, the day is not one particular time, nor is it one particular event. It is a succession of events that comprises the day of the Lord’s judgment spanning the history of Israel from Christ’s first advent until His second.
 
John the Baptist came as the promised Elijah, and the nation did not receive Jesus. In the future, Elijah himself will return to testify once again to the nation. If Israel had heeded Jesus’ emphatic proclamation, John’s ministry would have been accepted as the coming of Elijah, they would have accepted Jesus, and they would have avoided the past two thousand years of calamity. But they didn’t.
 
Hence, there is a need for Elijah to return and testify to the nation in the future.
 
Life application: God has not forsaken Israel, and the church has not replaced Israel or become “spiritual Israel.” The Bible never hints at such a thing. Rather, the church is a separate entity, fulfilling God’s plan of redemption while Israel has languished under the punishment of the curses of the Law of Moses for having rejected Jesus.
 
However, despite their unfaithfulness, God has remained faithful. Were He to reject Israel, He would be just as prone to rejecting us in our state of salvation. Such will never be the case. Our unfaithfulness in no way negates God’s faithfulness. We are saved and we continue to be saved despite ourselves. Thank God for Jesus, who has made this possible.
 
Lord God, thank You for the glory of Jesus Christ. His shed blood is sufficient not only to save all who come to Him, but to keep them saved until the day of redemption. We have no need to fear if we could lose what You have granted to us. We are secure until the end because of Jesus and His cross. Thank You, O God, for Jesus. Amen.