BIBLE IN TEN

Matthew 5:17

Friday, 22 November 2024
 
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. Matthew 5:17
 
“You, deem not that I came to disintegrate the law or the prophets. Not, I came to disintegrate but to fulfill” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus told the disciples to radiate their good works in order to glorify their Father in heaven. Now, He brings up words that are so misquoted and misapplied within the church that entire cults have used them to justify the unjustifiable. He begins with, “You, deem not that I came to disintegrate the law or the prophets.”
 
First, Jesus’ words are to the people of Israel, to whom the law was given. No other people on the planet were given the Law of Moses. The law was not binding on any other people in the past, and it is not binding on any other people today. The context is Jesus, speaking under the law and to the people of Israel. Nobody else.
 
To remove this context is to form a pretext. It is unsound. Jesus is telling Israel that they should not perceive that His mission was to destroy the law or the prophets. That was not His mission, and nobody was to accuse Him of conducting His ministry otherwise. He was born under the law, and He had no design or intent to set aside Moses in His ministry.
 
But some may accuse Him of such, saying He was disobedient to Moses. No! He exclaims. That was not His mission at all. Because of these words, Judaizers, such as in Paul’s time, and a myriad of cults in our time, such as the Hebrew Roots movement, seize on His words and avow that everybody must adhere to the Law of Moses. He lived under it, and so we are obligated to it too.
 
From there, they will take the words of the coming verse and build upon their terrible theology with those words as well. For now, it is absolutely certain that Jesus did not come to disintegrate the Law and the Prophets. He has clearly avowed that. However, He doesn’t stop there. He next says, “Not, I came to disintegrate but to fulfill.”
 
You can’t stop with half a verse and expect your theology to be complete and proper. Jesus did not come to disintegrate the law. The law is binding on Israel as much today as it was when Moses gave it to them at the foot of Mount Sinai.
 
However, Jesus’ mission was to fulfill it for those who trust in Him, thus setting it aside and offering them His grace in place of it. And fulfill it, He did –
 
“So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” John 19:30
 
Jesus fulfilled the law, finishing the task set before Him. Paul speaks of this as well –
 
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:1-4
 
Paul is writing to both Jews and Gentiles, telling them that the law’s requirements are fulfilled in Christ and they are set aside in Christ. This is explained, explicitly, many times in the New Testament epistles –
 
“For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.” Ephesians 2:14-16
 
Paul says the law is abolished through the cross for both Jews and Gentiles. He repeats this again in Colossians 2, using Christ’s physical body as a metaphor for the law –
 
“And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” Colossians 2:13, 14
 
The author of Hebrews says that the law is annulled –
 
“For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, 19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.” Hebrews 7:18, 19
 
The “former commandment” refers to the Law of Moses. The “better hope” is the fulfillment of the law by Jesus. He also says the law is abolished –
 
“In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.” Hebrews 8:13
 
The words “ready to vanish away” refer to the time when Israel calls to the Lord, receiving the grace of Jesus Christ. At that time, they will no longer observe the law. He also says –
 
“Previously saying, ‘Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them’ (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, ‘Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.’ He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Hebrews 10:8-10
 
The sacrifices of the Old Covenant were ineffectual to bring man near to God. Jesus, not coming to disintegrate the law but fulfill it, did this in accord with the will of God. In His accomplishment of that, the law is “taken away,” and the New Covenant is introduced for all who will come to Him through faith, being sanctified once and forever by the precious blood (meaning the life) of Jesus Christ.
 
Life application: Context matters. Know your Bible through and through. Properly divide what is being said. Attempting to earn God’s favor through law observance is to set aside the grace of the cross – “Thanks God, I know you tried, but I will get this.”
 
It is a proverbial slap in God’s face, and you will find yourself condemned when you stand before Him at the Great White Throne. All that effort... for nothing. Come to Jesus and be saved, once and forever. All His effort... for all things!
 
Heavenly Father, help us not to think more of ourselves and our deeds than we should. Christ did it all. Now, may our lives being lived for Him be a pleasing and acceptable offering back to You for what You have done through Him. May we never set aside the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Matthew 5:16

Thursday, 21 November 2024
 
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16
 
“Thus, radiate it – your light – before men, that they may see your good works, and they may glorify your Father in the heavens” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus spoke to the disciples about placing a lamp on a lampstand rather than placing it under a modius.  Now, He explains this to them, saying, “Thus, radiate it – your light – before men.”
 
In the same manner as a person takes the lamps and places it in a position where it will be most effective, so should the disciple place his lamp so that his light will be seen by all. A great example of following this precept is Paul. He first went to the synagogues in each city he visited. However, eventually, they usually rejected his word.
 
When this happened, he would move on to where the light was most useful, leaving his own Jewish brothers to wallow in their own darkness –
 
“On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, ‘It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us:“I have set you as a light to the Gentiles,That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.”’” Acts 13:44-47
 
This was consistently the case with Paul, going where he could shine forth the light of Christ. This is in accord with Jesus’ next words, “that they may see your good works.”
 
Whatever one does in faith is a work that has value. Paul followed through with this, faithfully living out his commission despite enormous difficulties that arose almost everywhere he went. This is true with many who have followed since. They have been lights in a darkened world, letting all see that Jesus is worth the sacrifice.
 
Ultimately, the goal finds its end purpose, as Jesus next notes, “and they may glorify your Father in the heavens.”
 
What was the result of Paul’s going to the Gentiles? The narrative in Acts continues with these words –
 
“Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.”
 
The word of the Lord is the word of God. And the word of God is a reflection of who God is. In glorifying in the word of the Lord, they were glorifying the One true God who gave that word to men. This is to be our chief aim and goal in life, that we glorify God through a proper presentation of the gospel. Let us be about this sacred business.
 
Life application: We are in a temporary world filled with temporary things. None of this is going to last. Our bodies will die and return to corruption unless the Lord comes first. Our homes would fall apart in mere years without regular upkeep. Our cars... how many have we gone through in our lives?
 
Having a fancy dinner or a quiet one at home... either feeds us, and it will be used up and eliminated in no time. All things are temporary except what we do with our service in furthering the gospel and bringing glory to God.
 
What are your priorities? Don’t follow after the fashions and desires of the world. Instead, look ahead to the prize of the high calling of Christ Jesus! Be about that and you will be about what is most important.
 
Glorious and almighty God, may we spend our days wisely, pursuing You and bringing honor and glory to You. May this be our greatest desire and passion all our days. Yes, Lord, may it be so to Your glory. Amen.
 

Matthew 5:15

Wednesday, 20 November 2024
 
Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Matthew 5:15
 
“Nor do they ignite a lamp and place it under the modius but upon the lampstand. And it radiates all those in the house” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus told the disciples that they were the light of the world and that a city atop a hill cannot be hidden. Now, He continues with, “Nor do they ignite a lamp.”
 
The word translated as lamp, luchnos, signifies an oil-fed lamp. Some older versions say “candle,” which is a faulty translation. Candles were not used at this time. Various oils could be used to light such a lamp, but in Israel olive oil is a common and readily obtained source. With such a lamp, nobody would light it “and place it under the modius.”
 
This is a transliteration of the word modios, a Latin word signifying a certain measure for dry things. Of the modius, a Google search says –
 
“The modius was a unit of measurement used in ancient Rome to measure dry or solid commodities, such as grain, and sometimes liquids. It was roughly equivalent to a peck, or about 8.73 liters. In the first century AD, adult male citizens were given five modii of grain per month, while slaves were given four. The modius was also used to measure land, but the exact amount of land represented by a modius is uncertain.”
 
Further, a modius was also a circular headdress that resembled the measure of grain, and figures wearing it are found in ancient depictions. Next, Jesus continues with, “but upon the lampstand.”
 
The word translated as lampstand is luchnia. Lampstand is a direct translation. It will be seen four times in the gospels, once in Hebrews, and seven times in Revelation 1 & 2. The lampstand would be an elevated stand of some sort where the lamp would be placed, thus providing maximum illumination, which is seen in the final words of the verse, “And it radiates all those in the house.”
 
This would be the point of lighting a lamp in the first place. It would make no sense to place a lamp under something, hiding its light. Rather, it is lit to reveal the area in which it is placed, even to the darker recesses.
 
As this is so, Jesus will explain the metaphor to His disciples next, but the meaning should be easily understood already.
 
Life application: Jesus’ words bring things down to the basic, common-sense level for people to both understand His intent and to also remember what He is instructing as they go through everyday life. A lamp of some sort is something pretty much everyone uses. The way it is used is almost universally understood as well.
 
When one of the disciples was having a bad day, not getting anyone to listen to his message, he might come in tired and frustrated and think, “I am getting nowhere.” However, when he went in and lit a lamp for the evening, he might then think, “My job is to illuminate. That is why I have been sent.”
 
A simple reminder that his job is doing what he had been doing all day. The results of his efforts did make a difference, even if he did not perceive it. Jesus tells us what to do. The epistles further define the words of Jesus, at times clarifying the difference between pre- and post-resurrection instruction. But the point is, we have the manual set before us.
 
What we need to do is apply it to our lives and not think of great things for ourselves. If we are doing our jobs, that is sufficient. Obedience to the word with minimal results is far better than not rightly applying the word and having great “success” by the world’s standards.
 
How wonderful it is, O God, to be right with You, doing our jobs as You have instructed. Even if we don’t have popularity or fame at this time, obedience to Your word is far better than many riches. Help us have this attitude and serve You, and our hearts will be faithfully set on You. Amen.
 

Matthew 5:14

Tuesday, 19 November 2024
 
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14
 
“You, you are the world’s light. A city, not it is able to conceal lying atop a hill” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus noted that His disciples were the salt of the earth. Now, He makes another comparison, saying, “You, you are the world’s light.”
 
Elsewhere in the New Testament, Jesus states that He is the light, such as in John 9:5 –
 
“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
 
John says the same thing about Jesus on several occasions in his gospel and epistles. There is no contradiction here. To share the good news of Jesus is to share His light. Upon His departure, those who share it are said to be lights by Paul –
 
“Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” Philippians 2:14, 15
 
Paul says this elsewhere as well. In Ephesians 5, he specifically says the reason for using this metaphor –
 
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” Ephesians 5:8-11
 
The world is filled with sin. This can be equated to darkness. It casts a spiritual pall over the people of the world. Only in coming to Christ will this change. However, it should be obvious that this is not some type of impartation of light that suddenly changes a person to become a useful light.
 
One must know what their conversion meant and how to convey that to others. That can only come by knowing the word which gives instruction on such matters. Those following Jesus didn’t suddenly get injected with this light. Rather, that is why they are called disciples. They followed Him, learned from Him, and were corrected by Him.
 
The charismatic approach to theology is simply not found in Scripture. Hard work is necessary to be a Spirit-filled light in the world. Understanding this, Jesus continues, saying, “A city, not it is able to conceal lying atop a hill.”
 
The word epanó is used. It extends beyond the word “on” usually used here. It is derived from epi, on or upon, and anó, up, above, up to the top, etc. The city sits atop the hill, in the most prominent position. Other than a cloudy day, it is not possible for such a city to be hidden. It sits openly for all to see.
 
Likewise, if one is outspoken in his ministry of conveying Jesus, it cannot be hidden. The light that is effective is one that has sufficient fuel and oxygen to shine brightly. Jesus is telling us, quite clearly, that to be effective in our lives as Christians, we are to be properly discipled in the word, outspoken in our proclamation, and unashamed of conveying the good news to others.
 
Life application: The words of Jesus here are a clear and unambiguous declaration that to be effective in one’s life as a useful Christian, a person will be properly discipled. Even the disciples that followed Jesus were not like this for much of their time with Him. For example –
 
“From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.” John 6:66
 
These people were not willing to stick it out and do the hard work of discovering what Jesus meant. Instead, when things got a little rocky, they just walked away from Him. It is ironic that the verse this happens in is 6:66. They decided that their Messiah was not the Messiah. Also, Peter, even having been with Jesus so long, betrayed Him, denying Him three times. And this, even after he was told he would do so!
 
Only in the resurrection did he turn back to the Lord. But then! In Galatians 2, he still failed in his stance –
 
“Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12 for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.” Galatians 2:11-13
 
Believing the gospel is only the very beginning of being a light in the world. The fuel to make that light effective is found in ardently sticking out the tough times and unceasingly searching out the word. If you are unwilling to do these things, you will never be an effective light in this darkened world. Knuckle down! Get to it. Follow Jesus, and be a burning torch as you walk in this sin-filled world.
 
Lord God, help us to be effective followers of Jesus. The walk can be tiring, filled with sandpits and snares, and one that is fraught with frustration, but with Your Spirit to guide us, we know we can do it. So, Lord, help us each step of our lives to be faithful followers of our true Light, Jesus our Lord. Amen.
 

Matthew 5:13

Monday, 18 November 2024
 
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. Matthew 5:13
 
“You, you are the salt of the earth, and if the salt – it may be insipid – in what will it be salted? For nothing it strengthens now. If not, having been cast out – trodden by men.” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus encouraged the disciples, telling them that even in times of persecution, if it is for His sake, they should rejoice. They have a greater reward coming. Now, He begins to describe their state in Him, and what they should do about it, beginning with, “You, you are the salt of the earth.”
 
Salt has various uses and connotations in Scripture. It enhances flavor, thus making the bland palatable. It prevents decomposition and corruption. It is used as a base of the temple incense when compounding the fragrances (Exodus 30:35). It was the one mandated addition to the sacrifices and offerings at the Tabernacle that had no prescribed measurement. Etc.
 
Thus, it is a symbol of covenant faithfulness. This is seen, for example, in Numbers 18 –
 
“All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer to the Lord, I have given to you and your sons and daughters with you as an ordinance forever; it is a covenant of salt forever before the Lord with you and your descendants with you.” Numbers 18:19
 
As such, the disciples were to be like these meanings in their lives. Jesus was equating them to salt to indicate how they should conduct themselves as they went forth, sharing the good news of the kingdom. Understanding this, He next says, “and if the salt – it may be insipid – in what will it be salted?”
 
The verb translated as insipid, mórainó, speaks of a person turning to foolishness. The cognate noun móros, speaks of a fool or a stupid person. Today, we would call such a person a moron.
 
The earth needed the salt of the good news. Without it, there would be no good news! But if the disciples were like useless salt, the earth would not find the hope and restoration it needed. They were to be active and “tasty” as they went forth, preserving the message purely while also maintaining absolute covenant faithfulness by not adding nor subtracting from the word.
 
This role continues with believers today. We are not to distract ourselves from our role in this manner but are to give hope in a meaningful way to those we encounter. Otherwise, the earth where we are will not be properly salted. That is seen in the words, “For nothing it strengthens now.”
 
What good is a bump on a log? It is annoying to sit on and will be cut off when the planning process takes place. What good is salt if it has lost its saltiness? It has no value. As such, Jesus says of it, “If not, having been cast out – trodden by men.”
 
Imagine on the day when we stand before the Lord, and we are questioned about our role in continuing the message of Christ. When asked what value we had, our answer is, “I was like a floor mat that people walked over. Other than that, I didn’t do very much.”
 
That is essentially what Jesus is saying to His disciples. “If you aren’t willing to get up and fill your role, you are no better than the dirt under the people’s feet to Me.” Considering that man was formed from the dust of the earth, it is a scathing indictment. “You were as much help in spreading the good news as Adam was before I formed him.”
 
Jesus is using a simple metaphor to convey a wonderful truth about how things should be. Of the terminology here, Vincent’s word studies provides the following story from history –
 
“Dr. Thompson ("The Land and the Book") cites the following case: ‘A merchant of Sidon, having farmed of the government the revenue from the importation of salt, brought over a great quantity from the marshes of Cyprus - enough, in fact, to supply the whole province for many years. This he had transferred to the mountains, to cheat the government out of some small percentage of duty. Sixty-five houses were rented and filled with salt. Such houses have merely earthen floors, and the salt next the ground was in a few years entirely spoiled. I saw large quantities of it literally thrown into the road to be trodden under foot of men and beasts. It was 'good for nothing.’”
 
Life application: Of what value is your salvation to you? In the world, it appears as if most Christians are asleep to the fact that they were once eternally separated from God because of simply being born.
 
Instead, we grade ourselves on a bell curve against others. “Well, I wasn’t a drug addict or a prostitute like... like they were!” Yes, but you were just as far from God as they were. In your arrogance, you are failing to be what God wants you to be now. Which is actually worse?
 
Have salt in your life and be willing to acknowledge the greatness of God, who was willing to do for you what you could never do for yourself. Be one who is willing to make the world a better place by bringing others to a saving knowledge of Jesus. Don’t be foolish and wind up trampled under the feet of the common people as they go about their daily lives, not even noticing that you are there.
 
Glorious Lord God, You have done for us what we could never have done. You removed our sin and placed us high in the heavenly places with You. This is because of Your goodness and love for the people of the world. Help us to act in a like manner toward those we encounter, never failing to be like salt in their lives. Amen.
 

Matthew 5:12

Sunday, 17 November 2024
 
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:12
 
“You – rejoice and cavort, for your recompense – great in the heavens, for thus they pursued the prophets before you” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus noted that His disciples were blessed when they were pursued for righteousness, and when all kinds of evil was spoken against them for Jesus’ sake. Now, He continues, saying, “You – rejoice and cavort.”
 
The word translated as cavort is a new and fun word, agalliaó. The literal meaning is “leap much,” coming from agan, much and hallomai, to gush, leap, or spring up. The single word in English that conveys the same meaning is cavort. Jesus tells his disciples that this should be their attitude when they are pursued for righteousness and defamed for His sake. Next, He says, “for your recompense – great in the heavens.”
 
The meaning is the future life when people are raised and rewarded according to their lives and actions. Jesus will repay every deed done in faith for His name. Nothing will go unrecompensed, and all accounts will be minutely settled according to the goodness of His grace. Understanding that, He closes the verse with, “for thus they pursued the prophets before you.”The thought, naturally, that goes through people’s minds is one of comparison. “Billy Graham was such a great man of God. He will receive a great reward for what he did in his life.” So too, the people of Israel would have read the Book of Jeremiah and said, “Just look at all he went through! He will receive a great reward at the resurrection.”This is natural. The prophets of the past were hounded, pursued, and killed for their faithful adherence to the word of the Lord. And so, people would compare themselves and strive to be more like them in their minds and actions. Jesus comforted these disciples in advance, telling them that what was in store for them would likewise be rewarded when they were so hounded.
 
Life application: What Jesus said was to His disciples under the law and in anticipation of the coming dispensation of grace. However, it follows that the truth stated in His words would apply to anyone in this dispensation as well. Paul speaks of this in 1 Corinthians 3 where he details the rewards and losses that can be expected from the deeds of this life.
 
He also speaks of rewards several other times. God is carefully watching the things we do, and He will reward us according to our faith. Any deed, no matter how small it is, will receive its reward if it is done in faith. If it is not, no matter how big and grand it is, it will receive no reward.
 
Live your days for Jesus, be filled with the Spirit, and let your life be in close harmony with God at all times. When the opportunity arises, even in the smallest deed, do it in faith that your act will receive its just reward. It is for sure that you will.
 
Lord God, may our lives be dedicated to You at all times. Help us to remember to do what is right and to carry through with it, knowing that our labors here will not be in vain. Rather, You are watching, and You will reward according to Your great goodness. Thank You that we know for certain this is true. Amen.
 

Matthew 5:11

Saturday, 16 November 2024
 
 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Matthew 5:11
 
“Blessed are you when they shall defame you, and they shall pursue, and they shall lay forth all evil utterance, falsifying because of Me” (CG).
 
The previous verse noted those pursued for righteousness’ sake, saying that theirs is the kingdom of the heavens. Jesus’ words continue now with, “Blessed are you when they shall defame you.”
 
The word oneidizó, to defame, is introduced here. HELP Word Studies says, “properly, to disgrace (insult), reproach; mock (curse); insult, cast blame (create shame) – viewing someone (something) as culpably guilty and therefore deserving punishment.”
 
The reason for this defaming is not yet given, and so to continue, Jesus next says, “and they shall pursue.”
 
It is the same word introduced into the New Testament in the last verse and which is often translated as “persecute.” It is as if these people continually chase after you, never allowing you to rest and defaming you with every chance they can in the process. And yet, Jesus continues, saying, “and they shall lay forth all evil utterance.”
 
Most newer translations, based on a different source text, leave off the word rhéma, “utterance.” For example –
 
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.” NIV
 
Either way, the thought is that of being constantly spoken against as evil in various ways. One can think of Paul in the Book of Acts, who was constantly hounded by the Jews who opposed him. They lied and manipulated in order to silence his message. This type of evil speaking actually cost Stephen his life in Acts 7. With that noted, Jesus next explains the context of these persecutions, while expanding on the previous clause saying, “falsifying because of Me.”
 
It is another new word, pseudomai, to lie or speak falsely. These are direct attacks against an individual intended to cause harm to him. In fact, such accusations could bring charges and severe penalties depending on the situation.
 
Peter, in his first epistle, and maybe thinking of these words of Matthew, wrote similar words for his audience as well –
 
“If you are reproached [oneidizó] for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.” 1 Peter 4:14
 
Life application: All of these things came upon Jesus, and so it is expected that they would come upon His followers as well. In the Christian Western world, there has been a large bubble of protection over believers as even governments supported the Christian cause.
 
Most of the dissensions didn’t come from outside but from within, such as the Protestant-Catholic wars and upheavals throughout the years. However, the tide has turned. Christians are now openly targeted by the ungodly, rabid left. They are accused of being the haters and usurpers of what is right.
 
This will not decrease. The persecution will grow to a fevered pitch if the Lord doesn’t return first. Churches will be targeted, pastors will be arrested for minor charges, and congregants will have their faith tested. It is no longer a question of “if” but of “when and to what degree.”
 
Folks need to be ready to either stand up for their faith or to walk away and hide cowardly from those who will no longer tolerate lights of righteousness in an ever-darkening world of wickedness.
 
Glorious God, we can see and read the writing on the wall. It is not unknown, and we don’t need a prophet to explain it to us. Rather, we can look around and clearly see that the world is becoming less tolerant of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. Give us strength and wisdom to stand in this hour and boldly proclaim the word in a world that so desperately needs to hear it. Amen.
 

Matthew 5:10

Friday, 15 November 2024
 
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10
 
“Blessed – those having been pursued for righteousness,For theirs, it is, the kingdom of the heavens” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus noted the blessing of the pacificatory. Now, He continues with, “Blessed – those having been pursued for righteousness.”
 
The word translated as pursued, diókó, is introduced here. It signifies to put to flight, pursue, and so forth. For example, this is how it is used in Luke 17 –
 
“Then He said to the disciples, ‘The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 And they will say to you, “Look here!” or “Look there!” Do not go after them or follow [diókó] them. 24 For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day.’” Luke 17:22-24
 
When one pursues another, it means he intends harm, embarrassment, etc. Think of the Pharisees pursuing Jesus from town to town to harm His ministry. Thus, it is a type of persecution. In this case, this is the only time the word is used in the perfect tense. The perfect tense signifies an action completed in the past but which has ongoing effects. They had persecuted, and that continues unabated.
 
The idea is that the person is willing to continue to undergo persecution even after his first ordeal. He doesn’t just proclaim righteousness and then quit when tough times come, but he continues on, slugging it out in his pursuit of what is right. Jesus says of this type, “For theirs, it is, the kingdom of the heavens.”
 
One must consider the context. There is right and there is right. Just because someone pursues a cause that is right in his eyes, women’s rights or the abolition of slavery, for example, doesn’t mean they will inherit the kingdoms of the heavens. Though noble in societies’ eyes, such a pursuit does not merit restoration with God.
 
If it did, it would mean that salvation was of self-works that came by self-motivation. But this is what liberal churches have taught for eons. Someone fights a noble cause, and his picture is hung up in a church as a hero of the Christian faith. Rather, what Jesus is referring to is someone like Noah or Lot –
“For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; 5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; 6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; 7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)— 9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment.” 2 Peter 2:4-9
 
These men saw wickedness, knew that it was against the moral code of God, and they strove to set things in a proper way. Both are rewarded for their struggle against ungodliness. The people around them reveled in doing what was contrary to human morality as described in Romans 1. This is what the Lord is referring to. These were people of faith who proclaimed their faith, even when being pursued for it.
 
Life application: We need to make sure our moral compass is one that is properly aligned with Scripture. At the time this commentary is written, a presidential debate is going on in the United States.
 
People on the left say it is a noble cause to abort children, even until the moment of birth. They say it is a noble cause to have open borders and to give money to those coming in while withholding money due to their citizens. They say it is right and acceptable for society to pay for gender-changing surgeries on young children while denying the parents the right to protest. Are these morally in line with Scripture?
 
People on the right have made concessions to get more votes on many of the se issues, but they are doing their best to keep the nation from devolving into the complete chaos that the other party would bring. The narrative of Genesis 6, which Jesus refers to in His own speeches, is coming.
 
The job of those who are pursued for righteousness is to vote for the most suitable party and then to work within that party, if elected, to continue to calm the uproar of wickedness from the inside. It is not to sit on one’s hands and say, “My vote doesn’t matter anyway.”
 
That is an easy copout, but as Billy Graham said, “Bad politicians are elected by good people who don’t vote.” If you are not a part of the solution, you are a part of the problem. All must stand before God and explain why they did not pursue righteousness. It is true this is not an easy battle. Ground may be lost, but it can also be gained again.
 
Lord God, help us to understand our position in regard to moral issues. If we are not speaking against them, we are implicitly condoning them. May we not be afraid to stand up for what we believe when it is a clear violation of what You have set forth. Give us wisdom and fortitude in these things. Amen.
 

Matthew 5:9

Thursday, 14 November 2024
 
Blessed are the pure in heart,For they shall see God. Matthew 5:9
 
“Blessed – the pacificatory,For they – sons of God – they will be called” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus referred to the pure of heart. Now He next says, “Blessed – the pacificatory.”
 
The word is found only here in Scripture, eirénopoios. It is an adjective coming from two words meaning “to make peace.” No translations, even the most literal, however, properly use an adjective form in their translation. However, the word pacificatory is such an adjective. 
 
The word pacificatory signifies something that tends to promote peace or is conciliatory. It was first used in the late Middle Ages, somewhere around the late 1500s. It comes from the Latin word pācificātōrius.
 
The words of Jesus are taken to unintended and unhealthy extremes by liberal churches. This is not speaking of battle or intensely correcting wrongdoing. Jesus has done or will do both. He vigorously rebuked those who mistreated God’s word, He went into a tirade of sorts when He turned over the tables of the moneychangers and merchants in His Father’s house. He will return again and destroy vast armies coming against Israel.
 
This is not an all-out call for “peace, brother” like the hippies. It is exactly what the word means, to promote peace or make conciliation. Those who work to bring peace between God and man are the particular focus. There is a state of enmity between the two. Without that being restored through a right relationship with Him, there can be no peace.
 
Under the Old Covenant, Malachi gives a marvelous example of this. After rebuking the priests for their unholy conduct in the presence of the Lord, he says –
 
“He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver;He will purify the sons of Levi,And urge them as gold and silver,That they may offer to the LordAn offering in righteousness.” Malachi 3:3
 
Only after there is proper mediation between God and man can the offerings of righteousness be brought before the Lord. Jesus has done this in its fullest sense through the New Covenant. Now, those who work to reconcile others through the word concerning Jesus are the truly pacificatory. They are the peacemakers that are bringing about the kingdom, one soul at a time.
 
Of such, Jesus next says, “For they – sons of God – they will be called.” The term “sons of God” first goes back to Genesis 6 –
 
“Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.” Genesis 6:1, 2
 
This is not referring to giants walking around with knurl brows and clubbed feet. It is a reference to the godly line of Seth which is then noted repeatedly through the rest of Scripture. It is those who live by faith in what God has done for His people. Job (Job 1:6 & 2:1) is called such a son.
 
Those who expend themselves in making peace through reconciling men to God will, indeed, be called sons of God.
 
Life application: The sons of God in Genesis 6 is one of the many highly abused descriptors in Scripture. The reason for this comes down to a single word, sensationalism. And that leads to another matter, popularity and prosperity. By mishandling the word of God through sensationalism, people are thought of as great teachers because they have an ear-tingling message.
 
But there is nothing sensational about mishandling the word of God. Rather, we should pay attention to the surrounding context, understand the type and form of literature being presented, and then make our evaluations based on that. Such teachings are unpopular because they require hard work and diligent study, but they will show us the heart of God as we continue through the pages of Scripture.
 
If you want to know more about the sons of God, two sermons in particular from the Superior Word should be viewed: Genesis 6:1-4 (The Nephilim) and Deuteronomy 14:1, 2 (Sons of the Lord God).
 
Be sure to rightly handle the word of God, and also be sure to be pacificatory in your walk with the Lord. Tell others about the goodness of God in Christ Jesus.
 
Lord God, may it be our desire and yearning to pursue You through Your word properly at all times. Help us to maintain context, and to evaluate carefully the things that we are looking into. May this be to Your Glory. Amen.
 

Matthew 5:8

Wednesday, 13 November 2024
 
Blessed are the pure in heart,For they shall see God. Matthew 5:8
 
“Blessed – the pure of heart,For they – God they will see” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus referred to the compassionate, noting that they will be compassionated. Next, He turns to the first verse I ever memorized. It was on a refrigerator magnate, and I was probably about five. It begins with, “Blessed – the pure of heart.”
 
Jesus is probably referring to a Psalm of David where this thought is presented as ascending to the temple –
 
“Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?Or who may stand in His holy place?4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,Nor sworn deceitfully.” Psalm 24:3, 4
 
However, the psalm doesn’t explain how the heart is pure. Nor does Jesus address it now in the Beatitudes. This is the first use of kardia, heart, in the New Testament. One can immediately see the etymological root of our modern words such as cardiology, cardiac arrest, etc. But what is this referring to? HELPS Word Studies is a big help for our understanding –
 
“kardía – heart; ‘the affective center of our being’ and the capacity of moral preference ... ‘desire-producer that makes us tick’ ... i.e. our ‘desire-decisions’ that establish who we really are. ... [it] is mentioned over 800 times in Scripture, but never referring to the literal physical pump that drives the blood. That is, ‘heart’ is only used figuratively (both in the OT and NT.]”
 
Moral preferences, then, give us a sense of the meaning. Are we morally geared towards the things of God or toward the things of the world? With that understood, how does one actually have his heart purified? The answer is, “To adjust our moral self to match what God expects of us.” However, more directly, the New Testament answer is, “Through faith.” That is seen several times in various ways –
 
“So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 9 and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.” Acts 15:8, 9
 
“Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 2:22
 
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:8
 
In the last example, James is speaking to sinners. To become considered a non-sinner, one must come to God by faith. Only in Him is sin not imputed (2 Corinthians 5:19). When this occurs, our sins are no longer counted against us. Of those who have come to God by faith through Christ, Jesus next says, “For they – God they will see.”
 
God is Spirit. We will never actually “see” God. To see God in His fullness is not possible because He is infinite. The meaning of Jesus’ words, however, is clearly defined by Paul in 2 Corinthians 4 –
 
“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
 
To behold Jesus is to behold God as He ceaselessly and eternally reveals Himself to us through Him. In Christ, Paul says elsewhere –
 
“For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” Colossians 1:19 20
 
To see Jesus is to see the fullness of who God is because in Him dwells the fullness of God. Jesus is the means by which we can see, know, and more fully understand the Creator.
 
Life application: A couple of days before typing this commentary, the “pope” claimed that all religions are a path back to God. He does not ask any to come to Christ, he tells them that following their path to destruction is ok, and he makes a mockery of what Jesus endured to reconcile us to God.
 
Don’t be led astray by false teachers and false prophets. If one person could come to God apart from Christ, it would render the purpose of the cross null and void. Jorge Mario Bergoglio will most likely have to stand before God at the Great White Throne, give an account for his faithlessness, and then be eternally consigned to the Lake of Fire because he lacks the faith to have his wicked heart purified.
 
Status, wealth, position, or fame will not get you to heaven. Only faith in Jesus Christ and His accomplished work will do so.
 
Lord God, thank You for Jesus Christ our Lord who makes access to heaven possible through His shed blood. We glorify You for what You have done through the giving of Your Son. Now, with hearts purified, we may see You because we see His face. Thank You, O God, for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 

Matthew 5:7

Tuesday, 12 November 2024
 
Blessed are the merciful,For they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7
 
“Blessed – the compassionate,For they – they will be compassionated” (CG).
 
Jesus continues the Beatitudes in this verse, beginning with, “Blessed – the compassionate.”
 
The word is eleémón, merciful or compassionate. It can even be translated as being full of pity. It is found only here and in Hebrews 2:17. It is derived from the verb eleeó, to actively have pity on or be merciful to. That will be seen in the next clause.
 
Both words are most commonly rendered as merciful. However, the words are so similar that to keep from adding a lot of extra words to define mercy, which is necessary in the verb form, the word compassionate makes for a simpler translation. This is seen in the words, “For they – they will be compassionated.”
 
A single word describes the act. But what does it mean to receive mercy or be compassionated based on one’s own conduct? A good example of this being worked out in a parable is that of the unforgiving servant of Matthew 18 –
 
“Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, “Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.” 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.28 But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, “Pay me what you owe!” 29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.” 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, “You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?” 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.35 So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.’” Matthew 18:22-35
 
Life application: As believing Christians, we should be more aware of this than any others. We, like all humans, stood at enmity with God. We stood in a state of eternal condemnation, forever to be separated from God. But God took the first step, a step that did not need to be taken, and sent Jesus to bring us out of that state –
 
“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:1-10
 
As this is so, and because we were completely undeserving of the salvation we have been granted, shouldn’t we do our best to be merciful and compassionate to others as well? The greatest sinner is no different than you were. To withhold at least a simple explanation of Jesus to them is the exact opposite of what God in Christ had done for you.
 
It doesn’t matter what color their skin is, what political party they hold to, or what type of perversion they are engaged in, you were just as lost and separated from God as they are. The only difference is that someone took the time to share the gospel with you. Are you going to be like the unmerciful servant? When you stand before the Lord at the Bema seat of Christ, there will be a price to pay for your uncaring, uncompassionate heart.
 
Be sure not to have such a meeting. Instead, change your mind and be willing to share the good news of Jesus!
 
Lord God, give us wisdom on how to conduct our lives before You. We have all kinds of biases, and a cold streak can easily come up in us and get us to stop doing what we should be doing. Regardless of how we look at others, give us the eyes to look at them as You do. They are people deserving of hearing the gospel. What they do with that is up to them. Help us in this, O God. Amen.
 

Matthew 5:6

Monday, 11 November 2024
 
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,For they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6
 
“Blessed – those famishing and thirsting righteousness,For they – they will be filled” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus spoke of the benignant inheriting the land. Now His words continue with, “Blessed – those famishing and thirsting righteousness.”
 
Despite most translations simply following one after the other with “hunger and thirst,” the verbs are present participles – “famishing and thirsting.” The word peinaó means to famish. To crave or hunger are only figurative meanings which cannot be the intent here.
 
Jesus is speaking of those who truly long for righteousness in a situation where it is obviously lacking. There is wickedness from above, and it comes from all sides. There is no place where it is not practiced. Like a man in a desert, he may hunger during the first days of his lack, but he eventually famishes over what he desires.
 
The thought is like that of Noah, who preached to a world of wickedness, longing for it to wake up from its slumber, but it was not realized. He was famished from the lack of it and his soul cried out to God over the state of the world. To supplement this and intensify it, the word dipsaó, to thirst, is added.
 
When facing hunger, it can be quelled temporarily with swallows of water. But when that is lacking, there is nothing to take away the agony of the human body. Jesus combines the two to show what a truly devout person longs for concerning such things. It is a hungering and thirsting with a fervent intensity.
 
This is something He was fully aware of, having come out of forty days and forty nights where He was deprived of the needs of the body. As it said after that time, “He was hungry.” However, despite His hunger, He craved righteousness even more than food. He wanted nothing more than to please His heavenly father and to fulfill all righteousness. Of such people, He next says, “For they – they will be filled.”
 
The word translated as filled, chortazó, is a word that actually signifies “to fodder,” as in grazing animals. It is used with a degree of contempt by Plato. Eventually, it came to generally signify satisfying a hunger. However, the earlier connotation would still exist in the minds of the people.
 
For example, we might say somewhat contemptuously of a large gathering, “Look at all those people grazing in the dining hall.” However, eventually, the word might be taken with a less sarcastic tone. And yet, we would still know the earlier meaning of what the word conveyed. This would be the thought conveyed with this word.
 
Jesus is saying that as a cow is fed in the stalls or is taken to the open field to dine, so would the people of God be fed with a continuous supply of righteousness. The lack they faced (again, think of Noah) will someday be replaced with an enormous abundance that will never cease as God leads His people, filling their true desire for His glorification.
 
The reason for this is that one can only truly hunger and thirst after these things when one has faith that God exists. Without that, any righteousness that fills the mind of the person is one that extends from himself and his idea of what righteousness means.
 
Life application: Depending on where you are in the world today, you will face varying degrees of unrighteousness. In Islamic countries, those who are not Muslims are forced to adhere to nutty laws that are derived from the Koran to some extent or another.
 
For those who live in Catholic nations, there is often a great tolerance for the allowance of other religions, and quite often, they synchronize with the Catholic doctrine, forming religions like Santa Ria. However, the overarching rule of Catholicism will take place. As its fundamental teachings are not in line with Scripture, those who hold to a truly literal interpretation of the Bible are actually outcasts.
 
In Western countries, moral perversion has almost completely taken over the thoughts of those in power. Those who speak against it are almost considered enemies of their own states. However, in hungering after what God’s word says, and in thirsting after what it proclaims, they will someday be filled to overflowing with the goodness of what God has in store for them. As it says in Revelation. 7:16, “They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore.”
 
Hold on to the Lord and stand fast on His word. The time when wickedness shall be eliminated from this world is coming. Jesus will set all things right on that day.
 
Lord God, You have promised a better world to Your people. It will be a world where righteousness rules and where You alone will be exalted as the true and glorious leader of mankind. May that day be soon. Amen.