BIBLE IN TEN

Matthew 12:30

Sunday, 17 August 2025
 
He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad. Matthew 12:30
 
“The ‘not being with Me,’ he is against me. And the ‘not gathering with Me,’ he scatters” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus spoke of binding the strong man before his goods can be plundered. With that thought complete, He now poignantly states, “The ‘not being with Me,’ he is against me.”
 
There is a great deal of dissension about who Jesus is speaking of in this verse. Some say it is a word against the Pharisees, others say it is referring to Satan, others that it is anyone at any time as they interact with the cause of Christ, etc. Checking the surrounding verses gives us the answer.
 
A man who was demon possessed, blind and mute, was brought to Him. He healed the man (vs. 23). The people asked if He could be the Son of David (vs. 24). He was accused by the Pharisees of casting out by Beelzebul (vs. 24). From there, Jesus gave His words on kingdom division, authority to cast out demons, and binding a strong man (vss. 25-29).
 
In verses 31 & 32, He will speak of blasphemy against the Spirit, stating that speaking a word against the Son of Man is forgivable, but speaking against the Holy Spirit is not. But Jesus has said in verse 28 that if He casts out demons by the Spirit of God, the kingdom of God has come upon them.
 
He is clearly stating that He and what He does are in accord with the Spirit. Therefore, when someone speaks against His actions, they are speaking against the work of the Spirit. As anyone opposed to the Spirit is under the authority of the devil, those opposed to Christ’s works are not in accord with the Spirit.
 
The general words, “the not being with Me,” indicate the devil and those who are his. There is “what God is doing,” and “what the devil is doing.” That is the totality of what is happening in the universe around us. Understanding this, He next says, “And the ‘not gathering with Me,’ he scatters.”
 
A new word, skorpizó, to dissipate, is introduced. It is derived from skorpios, a scorpion. A scorpion penetrates its prey, causing a dissipating effect. One can think of a grenade being tossed into a room, and those in the room scatter, causing a dissipating effect.
 
When the Spirit of God is present, there will be one effect. When the presence of the devil is present, there will be another. Bengel rightly ties the thought of gathering to the word qoheleth, Teacher or Preacher, found seven times in Ecclesiastes. The word is derived from qahal, to convoke or assemble.
 
Through the teaching of the Teacher, there is a gathering effect that takes place in the kingdom of God. Through opposition to it, there is a scattering effect. God is teaching us through the work of the Spirit. As Jesus is filled with the Spirit of God in the fullest sense, what He does is the ultimate gathering for the kingdom that can be realized.
 
Life application: Jesus’ words are not speaking of the general state of any of us on a given day. One day, we may be on fire for Jesus and out telling all about Him and His goodness, handing out tracts and blaring Christian music from our car stereo. The next day, we may be in a grumpy mood and completely ineffective in our witness.
 
This is the normal way of life. Being a Christian does not change that. We are physical, chemical, and biological beings. Variations in those aspects of us can change our whole attitude. But this does not change our state in Christ. If we have accepted the gospel, we are sealed with the Spirit of God (Ephesians 1:13, 14).
 
Those who have not believed the gospel are incapable of being “with” Christ because they do not have the Spirit of God. It is the Spirit that testifies to Jesus Christ. He inspired Scripture, and all Scripture points to Jesus. Jesus’ life is documented in Scripture. We can either accept that He is who Scripture claims or reject that. The gospel is given in the word, and it can be explained by man (Romans 10:14-18).
 
To reject the gospel is to reject what God is doing in redemptive history in and through His Son. The issue Jesus is referring to is being a part of one kingdom or another. If one moves from the devil to Jesus, he is with Jesus, and he gathers with Him because he has the Spirit of God.
 
If Jesus is rejected, the person who rejects Him is not with Him. Therefore, his being, his existence, stands in opposition to the work of the Spirit. This is an all-encompassing thought. It is not a Jew/Gentile issue. It is not a Russian/Ukrainian issue. It is not an “I support Israel” or “I don’t support Israel” issue, nor a democrat/republican issue. And so forth.
 
We have our own divisions for various things we want or desire. At times, what we do may or may not align with God’s plans as they are being worked out in human history. This may be because of stubborn rebellion, poor doctrine, etc. However, the main division of all things comes down to Christ.
 
Are we in Christ because of our acceptance of the Spirit’s working in Him, or are we of the devil, having never been converted to accepting the Spirit’s marking Him as God’s chosen Servant to bring us back to Him?
 
“He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.” 1 John 3:8, 9
 
O God, help us to clearly identify the battle that is raging in the world. The devil has his kingdom, and Christ Jesus has His. Help us to effectively communicate the gospel for others to see this and to call out to You through Jesus. May You strengthen us for this at all times. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.

Matthew 12:29

Saturday, 16 August 2025
 
Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. Matthew 12:29
 
“Or how, any, he can enter into the house of the strong and his goods seize, if not first he should bind the strong? And then, his house he will through-seize” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus emphatically declared to the Pharisees that if He casts out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon them. Next, He questions them with the words, “Or how, any, he can enter into the house of the strong and his goods through-seize?”
 
His question contains a new word, diarpazó. It is derived from dia, through, and harpazó, to seize. Thus, a literal, albeit clunky translation would be to through-seize. Some Greek texts use the word harpazó here and then diarpazó later in this verse.
 
Jesus’ question is concerning ability. There is a house owned by a strong man. If someone wants to rob this guy, how is he going to do it? Jesus provides the answer in the next clause, saying, “if not first he should bind the strong.”
 
If the house of a strong man is to be plundered, the strong man has to first be bound. His strength must be dealt with, or it will be impossible for someone to rob him. Instead, he will get a good pounding and maybe a trip to the hospital. But if he is bound up, Jesus continues with, “And then, his house he will through-seize.”
 
When that which interferes with one’s plans to take an action is removed, the ability to take that action can then go forward. The point of Jesus’ words is built upon what He has already said. This is introduced with the word translated as “or.”
 
His first question in this regard was that if Satan casts out Satan, he divided himself. If so, then his kingdom cannot stand. Thus, the word “or” continues to refer to this concept. Speaking again of Satan, he calls him “the strong.”
 
Some equate the house with the demon-possessed man. But this is too limited. Satan’s house, in this questioning, is his place of rule. Thus, it is the Earth. This is the same as the “house of David” being the scope of David’s rule. Satan has already been shown to have authority over the earth (Matthew 4:9).
 
Therefore, the strong, meaning Satan, must be bound. From there, a person can then thoroughly plunder his house. How did God do this? He sent Jesus, born without sin, into the world. This is why Satan attempted to get Jesus to sin right at the start. But Jesus prevailed over his temptations. Remaining sinless, Jesus has bound Satan’s authority.
 
Therefore, Jesus can now thoroughly plunder his house. One step at a time, this will take place until, at the cross, he is entirely defeated. The sinless death of Jesus is the proverbial final nail in the coffin of Satan’s ability to come against Him. In His death, the law is fulfilled. Therefore, the thing that stood against man and which Satan used against man, law, will no longer be an implement to cause saved humanity to fall again.
 
Life application: The importance of the issue of law versus grace is not to be diminished. Law, a violation of it, is what brought sin into the world. Through sin, man died. That state of sin and death spread to all men. This is recorded by Paul in Romans 5.
 
In Christ, the issue of law, and thus the issue of the imputation of sin, has been dealt with. This is why those who have come to Christ can adamantly avow that they have been saved. They have moved from a position of “under law” in Adam to a position of “in grace” in Jesus.
 
It is also why salvation, once it has been granted, is eternal. It is true, we may ignorantly reimpose law on ourselves after being saved, but we are still in Christ. Therefore, sin is not being imputed, even for the blunder of placing oneself under law. However, in our state of salvation, we will receive no rewards for a life lived under law, even if we remain in grace. By our actions, we are excluding the chance to be rewarded for our conduct.
 
On the other hand, those who never believe the gospel, but continue under law, cannot be saved. Only by rejecting self, accepting Christ’s full atonement through His sacrificial death, which is proved by the resurrection, can someone be moved from “under law” to “in grace.”
 
Once that move takes place, it should be the person’s goal and desire to live for God, loving Him, and being obedient to His guidance as outlined under the New Covenant in order to receive rewards. This is not for being saved or continuing to be saved. That was dealt with in Jesus’ work. It is for rewards and losses in our state of salvation.
 
Let us learn the lesson of law and cling to the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ always.
 
Glorious God, how grateful we are for what You have done for us in Christ. The power of Satan was bound in our lives, and we have been plundered from His hand. We are now under a new Master who will continue to forever protect us from the power of the devil. As this is so, help us to stay away from evil and always strive for what is good and pleasing in Your sight. Amen.

Matthew 12:28

Friday, 15 August 2025
 
But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. Matthew 12:28
 
“And if in God’s Spirit I, I eject the demons, then it preceded upon you, the ‘God’s kingdom’” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus trapped the Pharisees with a question concerning the casting out of demons by their sons, meaning their disciples. With that complete, He now states a proposition to be accepted or rejected by the hearer, beginning with an emphatic statement, “And if in God’s Spirit I, I eject the demons.”
 
Jesus has just clearly demonstrated that He cannot be ejecting demons by Beelzebul, something the Pharisees would have to grant based on His logic. Understanding that it is not by Beelzebul, then it must be from another source. In fact, it can only be from one source. And so He says, “then it preceded upon you, the ‘God’s kingdom.’”
 
Here is a new word, phthanó (ff-than-oh), to precede, as in arriving ahead of time. Because of this, it is an arrival “before something which indicates priority in importance or sequence” (HELPS Word Studies).
 
The use of this word by Jesus indicates that He had already been on the scene, performing healings and miracles while preaching the gospel, but the people didn’t realize that He was who He, in fact, turned out to be. One might paraphrase the thought, “Jesus walked among us, and before we knew it, He had revealed Himself to be the Messiah.”
 
The sense of the word can be seen from Paul’s description of the rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4:15 –
 
“For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede (phthanó) those who are asleep.”
 
Jesus cast out demons. He was accused of having derived His authority from Beelzebub. He demonstrated that such could not be the case. Therefore, what He had accomplished was evidence that what He did was from God, and thus God’s kingdom had already come upon them.
 
As usual, the spiritual leaders of Israel missed the boat in understanding the significance of the events around them. Today, two thousand years later, they sit in synagogues and miss the fact that God’s kingdom has come, rejecting Jesus, and thus rejecting their only hope of salvation.
 
Life application: It is common in evangelical Christian circles for people to give Jews a pass on not accepting Jesus, as if they are ok without Him. This comes in varying degrees. The most extreme case of this heresy is that of dual covenantalism, something preached by John Hagee. It is also the set doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church. Even if it is not openly taught, it is in their doctrinal writings.
 
Others may not openly understand or accept this doctrine, but they still hold to it in their thinking, trying to rationalize away why Jews are ok with God because they are “God’s people,” even while understanding that Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, etc., are condemned without Jesus.
 
This attitude stems from a failure to understand who “God’s people” are at a given time. Hosea prophesied of a time when His people would no longer be His people, but those who were not His people would be His people. Paul explains this in Romans 9-11.
 
While the Jews are out of God’s favor, they are “God’s people” only in anticipation of restoration. However, they are not His people for salvation. Rather, that belongs to those -Jews and Gentiles – who have received Jesus. They are a part of the church.
 
That day will end at the rapture, and a simple question clears up the heretical notion that the Jews today are “God’s people.” Will the Jews who don’t believe in Jesus be taken at the rapture? The answer is obvious, “No.” Rather, they as a collective group will go through the tribulation. This proves that they are not now “God’s people” except in anticipation of restoration.
 
The Christian community would do far better by evangelizing Jews than by proclaiming that they are God’s people, thus bolstering the idea in their minds (meaning the Jews) that they think Christians believe they are right with God. Without Jesus, there is no salvation. Remember the basic equation –
 
In proper theology, one plus one will always equal two.
 
“‘I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 38 I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.’39 They answered and said to Him, ‘Abraham is our father.’Jesus said to them, ‘If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. 41 You do the deeds of your father.’” John 8:37-41
 
Being a descendant (physically descended from) Abraham does not mean one is a child of Abraham from a spiritual perspective. Rather –
 
“Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?— 6 just as Abraham ‘believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ 7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. 8 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.” Galatians 3:5-9
 
Glorious God, help to get our thinking right in relation to what You are doing in redemptive history. Too many reject Israel because of their misdeeds, as if they no longer have the promises of the prophets. But too many fail to acknowledge that without Jesus, the Jews stand condemned. Help us to have clarity of thought, and to pray for and evangelize to this beloved, set-aside group of people. Amen.

Matthew 12:27

Thursday, 14 August 2025
 
And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. Matthew 12:27
 
“And if I, I eject demons in Beelzebul, your sons – in whom do they eject? Through this they, they will be your judges” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus told the Pharisees that if Satan were to cast out Satan, he would have divided himself. If so, his kingdom could not stand. Now, with a kind of “in your face” question for His accusers, Jesus emphatically asks, “And if I, I eject demons in Beelzebul, your sons – in whom do they eject?”
 
In this question, the “sons” are those who sit under the authority of the Pharisees, specifically meaning their disciples. There are two main points to consider in this question. The first is that their disciples must have claimed that they cast out demons. Otherwise, Jesus would not have even bothered with the question. Therefore, it is certain that they claimed this power.
 
Second, Jesus does not say they actually did it. Rather, He is affirming that they practiced the casting out of demons. An example of Jews doing this is found in Acts 19. Other than being a priest, it doesn’t say what position their father held, be it a Sadducee or Pharisee, but the matter is documented by Luke –
 
“Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, ‘We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.’ 14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.15 And the evil spirit answered and said, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?’16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds.” Acts 19:13-18
 
People like this made claims that they were able to cast out demons. Jesus has established through His question that He knows the Pharisees’ disciples made such claims. If this is so, the claim would be that they did it under God’s authority. However, if the argument of the Pharisees was that Jesus was casting out demons by Beelzebul, then their own disciples must be allied with Beelzebul.
 
They have now placed themselves in an impossible trap. Therefore, they have to either retract their claim, which will then validate Jesus’ ministry, or they will have to restate their claim and simply acknowledge that Jesus’ authority is of God. If they don’t, “Through this they, they will be your judges.”
 
The words are again emphatic. The claims and actions (whether real or fake) of the disciples bear witness against the words of the Pharisees. Either they are really casting out by God’s help and thus Jesus is as well, or they are faking it and are charlatans. Either way, they cannot be casting out by Beelzebul because if they were, Beelzebul would have divided himself and fallen.
 
Life application: The Pharisees must have known that their disciples were falsely casting out demons. Having seen Jesus casting them out and realizing that what He was doing was true and effective, it cast on them the certain knowledge that He was able to do something they could not do. Therefore, they projected their failings on Him by adding an unsupportable accusation.
 
This, therefore, is essentially the fallacy known as projection. In essence, their thinking is as follows:
 
We are not really casting out demons. It is just a Benny Hinn show to dupe the masses.We see Jesus really casting out demons. However, we are (surely!) on God’s side.Therefore, He must be doing this at the hand of Beelzebul!
 
However, because they are lying about their abilities, they are actually doing the work of the devil, because their lying certainly isn’t of God. Therefore, they project their own failing on Jesus by ascribing His successes to Beelzebul.
 
This is a common practice among wicked people. They are corrupt, and yet they take what they are doing and ascribe it to their foes. As a modern example of this, which occurs daily in the US, the democrat party and individual democrats do exactly what they accuse their opponents of doing. In doing this, they project their own failings on those with whom they are at variance.
 
Unfortunately, shallow people who are unable to clearly process the events as they occur will often accept the words of such people without attempting to reconcile the words against the actions. It is a sort of brain-dead state where their hatred of a person or ideal completely blinds them to the reality in which they exist.
 
Much of this is a result of a lack of critical thinking, which is no longer taught in schools. Without the ability to see and then rightly process what is actually going on, subjective feelings become a person’s hold on reality. As they already cannot properly process reality, they have nothing but enmity welling up in them toward whoever is being falsely accused.
 
Jesus used critical thinking when dealing with the Pharisees. He was able to cut through their unsupportable accusations and shine the light back on those who made them, exposing their hypocrisy.
 
To rightly understand the accusations of the left, listening to well-trained critical thinking people such as Thomas Sowell, Victor Davis Hanson, Dennis Prager, and others will help you process what is really going on in the minds of the left.
 
The same is true in Christian circles. Be willing to listen to sound teachers who have taken the time to learn Scripture and rightly process when someone is giving an invalid argument from it. What God says and does is logical. Nothing illogical will issue from Him. Therefore, when something is illogically presented, even if it sounds right at first, it cannot be.
 
“With Him are wisdom and strength,He has counsel and understanding.” Job 12:13
 
Lord God, give us wisdom and understanding to rightly process Your word. Help us to possess this in the world around us as well. There is so much unclear thinking out there. Give us clarity of thought, discernment, and the ability to critically evaluate what is presented so that we can then rightly consider and act on what we are told. Amen.

Matthew 12:26

Wednesday, 13 August 2025
 
If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? Matthew 12:26
 
“And if the Satan, he ejects the Satan, he divided upon himself. How then, it will stand, his kingdom?” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus noted what would happen if a kingdom were divided against itself. Using the same idea to ensure the point is understood, He next says, “And if the Satan, he ejects the Satan, he divided upon himself.”
 
This is the second time that Satan is mentioned in the New Testament. The first time was in Matthew 4:10 during Christ’s temptation in the wilderness. At times, it is stated as a name or an appellative, as in Matthew 4:10. In Matthew 4:10, it said, “Withdraw, you Satan!” The meaning is probably closest to, “Withdraw, you Accuser!”
 
In this verse, both times it is preceded by a definite article, “the Satan” and thus “the Accuser.” Thus, it signifies, “And if the Accuser, he ejects the Accuser, he divided upon himself.” As such, it is not that one of his subordinates is ejecting another. It is as if he is ejecting himself.
 
It would be comparable to Joe Biden picking himself up and tossing himself out of the White House. That may be something the general public wished had taken place, but if it did, it would mean that he would no longer be in the White House. Instead, the American public was relieved of him in another way.
 
The point of Jesus’ words is that what the Pharisees accuse Jesus of, meaning casting out demons by the ruler of demons, signifies that when a demon enters a person, Satan has essentially entered that person as well. When Satan ejects a demon, he ejects himself. The thought is contradictory to furthering his goals, but more, it is contradictory to logic.
 
The words are not present tense, saying, “he is divided against himself.” Rather, the verb being aorist says, “he divided himself.” The division is stated regardless of a particular time. It is simply a fact that at some point, when Satan takes such an action, he has at that time divided himself.
 
As for Jesus’ continued words in such an instance, He remarks concerning the Accuser, “How then, it will stand, his kingdom?” The question demands a negative response: “It cannot.” If the verb were present tense, “he is divided against himself,” it could mean he could repair the division.
 
However, with the aorist verb, “he divided himself,” the repair is impossible. Therefore, just as a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand, Satan ejecting himself from his subjects has caused his kingdom to fall.
 
Logically, then, if Satan had given Jesus the authority to cast out demons, he would have given Him the authority to cast himself out. The proposition is ludicrous to even the poorest thinker. As such, Jesus is thoroughly shaming the thought processes of the Pharisees who spoke before thinking.
 
Life application: Jesus speaks of Satan as a real entity. He acknowledges angels and demons as well. Paul also speaks of the spiritual battle that believers face in Ephesians 6. Unfortunately, Christians cling to this as if we could lose the battle. They dwell on the negative aspect as if it is something that could thoroughly overwhelm us.
 
Hollywood is great with this, leading people to assume that Satan can steal away people’s souls while making no distinction between believers and unbelievers. In the case of believers, this is incorrect. Jesus has prevailed over Satan and his demons.
 
During this life, we can be afflicted by these spiritual forces, but if we are in Christ, we will never again be subject to their permanent rule. Paul even tells us of this in 1 Corinthians 5. Speaking of a wayward believer, he says, “...deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
 
Paul’s words of Ephesians 6 give us instruction for conducting our lives as Christians during this life, not “for” the next life. If you want to be free from spiritual affliction, follow the guidelines given there. But your eternal destiny, that of full restoration with God through Christ Jesus, was settled when you believed the gospel.
 
Don’t have the defeated attitude that so many Christians carry around with them. Christ has prevailed! In Him, we too have prevailed. The more we rely on Him and what He has done, the surer we will be that this is true. Stand firm in your salvation, apply the words of Scripture to your life, and don’t let the accuser and his minions rob you of your joy in Christ.
 
Lord God, thank You that because Christ has prevailed, we too have prevailed. May we stand fast in our salvation, knowing that we are free from law and therefore free from the imputation of sin. As this is so, we are free from the consequences that result from breaking the law. Satan can no longer hold such against us. Thank You, O God, that Jesus has prevailed! Amen.
 

Matthew 12:25

Tuesday, 12 August 2025
 
But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. Matthew 12:25
 
“And Jesus, having known their thoughts, He said to them, ‘Every kingdom, having divided against itself, it desolates, and every city or house having divided against itself, not it will stand’” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus was accused by the Pharisees of casting out demons by Beelzebul. This was obviously done quietly among themselves or towards the crowds without Jesus directly hearing it because Matthew next records, “And Jesus, having known their thoughts.”
 
Jesus perceived their thoughts even though He was not openly privy to their conversation. It is a trait that belongs to God –
 
“I, the Lord, search the heart,I test the mind,Even to give every man according to his ways,According to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:10
 
In knowing what they were thinking, He responds to their accusations, as recorded by Matthew, “He said to them, ‘Every kingdom, having divided against itself, it desolates.’”
 
There are two new words. The first is merizó, to apportion. As such, in this context, it signifies to divide one part from another. The second is erémoó, to desolate or make waste. If a kingdom is united, it will be alive and thriving, but when it is divided, it will become like a ruined wilderness where nothing productive takes place.
 
The sly accusation of the Pharisees does not hold water because it stands against simple logic. Jesus next provides a second example to solidify this truth, saying, “and every city or house having divided against itself, not it will stand.”
 
This is an example that would have been obvious to even someone as observantly dull about the world around them as the Pharisees. They may have been so stuck in their legalism that they never lifted their eyes to see how the normal world works, but Scripture and history would tell them that a city that did not possess the same goals and spirit of unity could not stand –
 
“And the house of Joseph also went up against Bethel, and the Lord was with them. 23 So the house of Joseph sent men to spy out Bethel. (The name of the city was formerly Luz.) 24 And when the spies saw a man coming out of the city, they said to him, ‘Please show us the entrance to the city, and we will show you mercy.’ 25 So he showed them the entrance to the city, and they struck the city with the edge of the sword; but they let the man and all his family go. 26 And the man went to the land of the Hittites, built a city, and called its name Luz, which is its name to this day.” Judges 1:22-26
 
A single man not in step with the rest of the city brought the city to destruction. Evidence of such division makes the accusation of the Pharisees completely untenable.
 
Life application: Paul spends most of his time in the book of 1 Corinthians writing against divisions within the church. He does this because of the very precept Jesus highlights in this verse. The church at Corinth had many divisions of various types. If this problem were not corrected, the church could not stand.
 
His letter is a warning and admonition to churches throughout the age. Unless there is unity within the church, little divisions will lead to a total division of the congregation or even a total collapse of the church.
 
People have many pet peeves that drive their choice of church attendance. Generally, doctrine is not first and foremost on people’s minds. Some people want comfortable chairs. Some want a church where food is served. Some look for a certain type of entertainment.
 
When these types of things are one’s priority for church attendance, it is a rather shallow foundation on which continued attendance can be expected. With a simple change in the direction of the music, some will protest. If their protest isn’t catered to, there will be disharmony. Depending on the size of the church, it can cause a split, or it may just cause those who are disenchanted to find another church.
 
As silly as this seems, it is as common as chicken meals at KFC. Churches, first and foremost, are intended to analyze and instruct in the word, which explains God and His redemptive plans for man through Jesus Christ. Once this main reason for gathering loses priority, there is no longer a sound footing for the church to continue without division.
 
Hold fast to the word, honor God through Jesus, and be ready to restore harmony within the church when it is called for. Jesus spoke about division and its consequences. Paul then set the example for us in his letters. We should do our best to emulate his instruction.
 
“Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, ‘I am of Paul,’ or ‘I am of Apollos,’ or ‘I am of Cephas,’ or ‘I am of Christ.’ 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” 1 Corinthians 1:10-13
 
Lord God, may we stand united in our devotion to You and to growing in You through a proper evaluation and right understanding of Your word. Help us in this, O God, so that we may be mature in our thinking, always placing You first in our hearts and lives. Amen.

Matthew 12:24

Monday, 11 August 2025
 
Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” Matthew 12:24
 
“And the Pharisees, having heard, they said, ‘This, not He ejects the demons if not in Beelzebul, prince of the demons’” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, the people, although not committed to the proposition, somewhat suspected that Jesus may be the Son of David. Having stated this, the usual suspects now chime in. Matthew records, “And the Pharisees, having heard.”
 
Having seen their track record thus far, it can already be surmised that these men were indignant at the very thought of Jesus being the anticipated Messiah. Therefore, “they said, ‘This, not He ejects the demons if not in Beelzebul, prince of the demons.’”
 
There is no article before “prince” or “ruler” (NKJV). Thus, the statement speaks of a title more than a position. One can see the emphatic retort to the people’s questioning –
 
23 ‘Not any, this, He is the Son of David?’24 ‘This, not He ejects the demons if not in Beelzebul, prince of the demons.’
 
In order to draw the people’s speculation away from Jesus possibly being the Son of David, they go to the most extreme resolution possible. Not only is He not the Son of David, but He also isn’t even just a charlatan. Rather, He has power, but that power is surely derived from he who is prince of the demons!
 
They couldn’t deny that the miracles were real. The evidence was there before them. But they would never come to acknowledge that what Jesus did was of God. Therefore, the certain explanation that they clung to was that Jesus’ power was demonic.
 
Because of their words, Jesus will carefully explain why their reasoning is faulty and why they are in serious trouble before God because of their accusation.
 
Life application: On 24 June 2025, Adam Sheafe was arrested for crucifying an Arizona pastor several months earlier. Sheafe intended to kill fourteen more pastors, all because they believe in Jesus. The news service said –
 
“The suspect described his plan as ‘Operation First Commandment’ and claimed that the Bible’s New Testament teachings about Jesus Christ go against the biblical commandment that says, ‘You shall have no other gods before me.’ Sheafe stated, ‘His commandments have been annulled by this character called Jesus, a human being who I believe is the son of Satan’” (American Military News).
 
Sheafe is obviously theologically confused. But what would lead someone to take such a stand? The answer is because he was told something about Scripture that was incorrect and, instead of doing the research, he trusted what he was told.
 
The people of Israel were presented with the obvious truth that Jesus was capable of healing the deaf and blind, and yet they questioned whether He was the Messiah or not. To rob them of any faith that may have sprouted in their hearts, the Pharisees quickly intervened and assured them that Jesus was healing by the power of Beelzebul.
 
It is one thing to listen to authority figures, and it is another to do so without checking what they say. Israel was presented with their Messiah. They rejected Him as a nation, and it caused them to, once again, fall under the curses of the Law of Moses. They had agreed to the law, they were to live by it, and they were to accept what it taught.
 
As Jesus noted in John 5, Moses wrote about Him. In Luke 24:27, it says, “beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” Israel rejected this. They continue to do so today.
 
Unfortunately, because of the teachings of modern-day Judaizers and Hebrew Roots adherents, this attitude has spread around the world. Like the Roman Catholic Church, their doctrine denies the all-sufficiency of Christ’s work, mandating individual works as a part of the salvation process.
 
Law has been the problem since the first days of man on earth. It remains a problem to this day. It is what puts a wall between God and man. What is needed is God’s grace. We cannot find life without it, and we cannot find healing and restoration apart from it.
 
May we remember this lesson. Jesus came to demonstrate to Israel that He was their Messiah. As a part of this demonstration, He gave His life up in fulfillment of the Law of Moses. Why would we ever want to go back to that? May we go forward in God’s grace, living for Him and honoring Him by honoring the full, finished, final, and forever work of Jesus Christ our Lord.
 
Lord God, thank You for the all-sufficient nature of Christ’s work. Through what He has done, we are fully reconciled to You. Thank You for Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Matthew 12:23

Sunday, 10 August 2025
 
And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” Matthew 12:23
 
“And they were astounded, all the crowds. And they said, ‘Not any, this, He is the Son of David?’” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus healed a mute and blind man so that he could speak and see. Now, the reaction to that by the crowds is provided by Matthew, saying, “And they were astounded, all the crowds.”
 
A new word, existémi, to be amazed or astounded, is used. It is from ek, out, and histémi, to stand. The idea is that of being knocked off one’s feet or beside oneself. The people saw this and were truly amazed at what they beheld.
 
So incredible was the miracle that, despite not understanding how Jesus could be the Messiah, they still couldn’t dismiss it. This is seen in their seemingly oddly constructed words, “And they said, ‘Not any, this, He is the Son of David?’”
 
The word méti, only seen so far in Matthew 7:16, is used. It comes from me, not, and tis, any (something, certain, some, etc.). A single word that might reflect their thinking would be the word whether. Combining that with “this” to identify Him specifically adds emphasis.
 
They are essentially saying something like, “It can’t be that He is the Son of David, but maybe He is!” They are conflicted and trying to reason between what they presuppose about a Messiah and what their eyes actually see.
 
This is the second time that anyone has specifically addressed Jesus as the Son of David. The first time was an adamant assertion –
 
“When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, ‘Son of David, have mercy on us!’” Matthew 9:27
 
These two blind men were able to discern that Jesus is, in fact, the Son of David, meaning the promised Messiah. However, the crowds who could see could not fully come to such a resolution in their minds. Such is the power of presupposition.
 
Life application: We as humans quite often form presuppositions about a matter or a person based on a limited, imperfect, or tainted understanding of the person or thing. Once that thought is settled in our minds, it is very hard to get it out.
 
For example, a person may sit in a church when he is young, listening to a biblically inept pastor who doesn’t know eschatology very well. The pastor may deny that there is something called the rapture, and without any biblical support, he dismisses it as nonsense.
 
For that young person, he is sitting under an authority figure whom he likes and respects. He trusts that what he has heard is correct. As he grows, he learns that there are not only those who believe in a rapture, but that there is a wide range of views as to its timing.
 
However, his mind is already made up that there is no such thing. And so, when he discusses the matter with others, he already has a wall up to defend against the doctrine, even though it is clearly presented in the word. When presented with the clear and obvious instruction, his mind finds it hard to resolve what he already believed and what Paul precisely states.
 
In this state, he is conflicted, just like the people who saw Jesus’ healing of the deaf and blind man. Two blind people, who couldn’t see what Jesus looked like, knew from their other senses that He must be the Son of David. But these people, allowing for their preconceived notions about Him, were unable to fully perceive what was plain and obvious.
 
What do you believe about King James Only-ism? How do you perceive the state of the nation of Israel today? What do you believe happens to believers when they die? Is the coming temple and its sacrifices a good thing or a bad thing in God’s eyes? Is Jesus both God and Man? Is Jesus the only way to heaven? If you are saved, can you lose your salvation?
 
If you have been around the faith long enough, you have already been presented with views on these matters, whether they were responsibly taught from Scripture or not. What you were originally taught, or what your mind conceived was correct, is what you will believe going forward, unless you are to stop and say, “I will go where the word leads, even if it conflicts with what I currently believe.”
 
This is not an easy path to follow. We usually put a lot of our time and mental thought into what we think we believe. To say, “I was wrong,” is like throwing away a part of who we have become. It can also be embarrassing. And yet, are we going to put God, His word, and proper doctrine first?
 
The people saw Jesus and they beheld His miracles, and yet, they struggled to say, “Surely, this is the Messiah.” Their Scriptures already told them what He would do, but they held stubbornly to presuppositions, conflicted and tossed about in their thinking.
 
“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.6 Then the lame shall leap like a deer,And the tongue of the dumb sing.” Isaiah 35:5, 6
 
Lord God, help us in our thinking. We come to the table with piles of theological baggage heaped up in our minds. Sometimes it is from honest but misguided teachers. Sometimes, it is from people who don’t want us to see the truth. And sometimes, we just made things up in our heads. Help us to clear this out, to see what is correct, and to be pleasing to You in our doctrine. Amen.

Matthew 12:22

Saturday, 9 August 2025
 
Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. Matthew 12:22
 
“Then he was brought to Him ‘being demon possessed,’ blind and mute, and He cured him, so the blind and mute speak and see” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, the quote from Isaiah 42 concerning the coming of the Messiah was finished. Now, the narrative concerning Jesus continues, saying, “Then he was brought to Him ‘being demon possessed,’ blind and mute.”
 
The record of this account with the accompanying charges that will be seen in the next verse is recorded as occurring at different times in Mark and Luke. A couple of possibilities exist concerning this. The first is that Matthew uses the word “then,” meaning it is chronological, whereas the others are merely recorded as fact at a certain point.
 
Another possibility is that in this account, it says, “blind and mute.” However, Luke only says “mute.” Mark doesn’t specifically refer to the state of a person being healed in Mark 3. And so, it could be at different times that the surrounding narratives are repeated. Why can it not be that the same charges were stated against Jesus at various times? Rather, it would be expected, just as such charges are brought against people at various times even today.
 
As it stands, there is no reason to assume the three accounts contradict. Understanding this, a person is blind and mute, something attributed to him being demon possessed. He is brought to Jesus in that state. Next, it says, “and He cured him, so the blind and mute speak and see.”
 
It is a miracle that exceeds the account in Matthew 9, where Jesus cured a man who was mute and demon possessed. Adding in the blindness is an elevation of the matter, demonstrating that Jesus’ healing capabilities were well beyond anything the people could have imagined.
 
Remembering that this is recorded directly after the words of Isaiah, it demonstrates the coldness of the hearts of the religious leaders who will challenge Jesus on this. Isaiah proclaimed that the Gentiles would hear of Jesus and trust in Him. Those who are recorded as coming against Jesus in the next verses didn’t have to hear. They were right there to see with their own eyes.
 
The contrast is purposeful. The words are given to show the immense void that stands between unbelieving Israel, who had sight to complement their own oracles, and believing Gentiles who heard the word in distant lands about the coming of the Christ. The Gentiles accepted its veracity without having seen.
 
Life application: A constant theme found in Scripture is the answer to the question, “What do you believe?” The majority of the people of Israel had Scripture read to them each week in the synagogues of Israel. They had the stories of the coming Messiah so well memorized that they would have been talked about openly on any given day and in any particular setting.
 
When Jesus came, He didn’t sell tickets and go into closed halls to cure for a profit for a few select people. Rather, He did it in the open for anyone near to see. At times, He did take people aside and heal them or raise them in a private setting, but there were reasons this was so.
 
However, He spoke openly, and He cured for the masses to see. All of this was done in perfect accord with the prophecies the people had in their Scriptures. And yet, the nation rejected Him, and many continue to use His name in a derogatory way to this day.
 
On the other hand, and just as Scripture prophesied, the life and events of Jesus were presented to the nations of the world. People of a seemingly infinite number of backgrounds, cultural preferences, differing languages, and from innumerable pagan influences were told the good news. And yet, in only hearing about Jesus, they walked away from their false spiritual beliefs while maintaining their unique cultural and linguistic states, converting to a full acceptance of Jesus as their Savior and Lord.
 
By merely hearing the word, belief set in. This is what pleases God. In Christ, He doesn’t care diddly about the cultural choices of the Jewish people. Nor does He care about their Jewishness without their accompanied belief. What He desires is faith. Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
 
Hear the word, accept it for what it says, and have faith in the God who loved you enough to send His Son to restore you to Himself. This is pleasing in God’s sight –
 
“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:26-29
 
Lord God, help us not to get fixated on things that are not relevant to our salvation in Christ. It doesn’t matter if we are Jews or Gentiles, white or black, intelligent or dummies, or any other such thing. In Your eyes, Your word tells us that You desire us to be people of faith. Help us to be such people, to Your glory. Amen.

Matthew 12:21

Friday, 8 August 2025
 
And in His name Gentiles will trust.” Matthew 12:21
 
“And in His name, Gentiles, they will hope” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, the tender care of Jesus was noted, saying that He would not break a bruised reed, nor would He quench a smoking flax until He had ejected judgment into victory. Matthew’s words were based upon the prophecy of Isaiah 42:4. Matthew next finishes the citation from that verse, saying, “And in His name, Gentiles, they will hope.”
 
A new word is introduced into the New Testament, elpizó, to expect or confide. As such, it provides a sense of trust. When one is expecting something, he trusts it will come. When one confides in another, he is committing his trust in that person. The word is often translated as hope, but that thought must convey the sense of trusting that the hope will come to pass.
 
For example, a person may be told to storm a machine gun nest. He might say, “I sure hope I make it.” There is no sense of trust in that. However, if he says, “You take the right flank. When I go forward, you provide cover. I hope your shots are as good as they were in basic training.”
 
In such an instance, he is placing his trust in the caliber of his buddy’s shooting, feeling assured it will be sufficient to get him safely to the nest so he can take out the commies who have them pinned down. Therefore, Matthew’s intent is that in the name of the Messiah, whom we know to be Jesus, the Gentiles of the world will confidently trust. They will put their anticipation and assured expectation in Him.
 
As for the original words of Isaiah, notice the difference, as there is a bit of deviation from the Hebrew, which says, “And to His law, coastlands – they will wait” Isaiah 42:4 (CG).
 
One might say Matthew was misleading in the intent of his citation because the two don’t closely match. However, the difference is not as disparate as one might originally think. First, Matthew is citing his words not from the Hebrew but from the Greek Old Testament, which says, “and in his name shall the Gentiles trust” (Brenton Septuagint).
 
When the Jews translated the Hebrew, they decided that the name of the Messiah formed its own law. This was probably a result of Jeremiah’s words concerning a New Covenant in Jeremiah 31. If there is a New Covenant, then the Messiah would, by default, introduce a new law. Therefore, the “name” of the Messiah stands for His law.
 
Secondly, the term, iy, coastlands of the Hebrew, is a term used to indicate remoteness. The Topical Lexicon says the word “evokes the picture of islands and distant coastlands—territories bounded by the sea and, to an Israelite audience, situated at the very edge of the known world. The word carries geographical, cultural, and theological freight: it signals remoteness, the mystery of seafaring peoples, and the universal reach of the Lord’s purposes.”
 
Therefore, the idea of Gentile nations is, by default, bound up in the use of this word. The non-Jewish people of the world would place their confident trust in the One promised by the Lord through Isaiah.
 
Life application: In this verse, there is no article before “Gentiles” in Matthew’s words. Unfortunately, many translations insert one there, such as “And in his name shall the Gentiles trust” (KJV). This changes the intent to some degree, making it an all-encompassing statement. There are many Gentiles who do not trust in the name of Jesus.
 
With the article purposefully omitted by Matthew, which is under the inspiration of the Lord, it gives a broad, but not all-encompassing, flavor to the words. It also more poignantly separates the unbelieving Jewish nation from the believing Gentiles. This can be seen when considering both together –
 
And in His name, Gentiles (as opposed to Jews), they will hope.And in His name, the Gentiles (like the Jews), they will hope.
 
The nation of Israel rejected Jesus. This age, the church age, is now a time of instruction for the Jewish people to learn from. Paul, referring to the Jewish nation, explains this –
 
“I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. 12 Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!” Romans 11:11, 12
 
This provocation is intended to meet a specific purpose that will be realized at some point in redemptive history –
 
“For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:‘The Deliverer will come out of Zion,And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;27 For this is My covenant with them,When I take away their sins.’” Romans 11:25-27
 
One can see how the inappropriate inclusion of a single definite article into the translation can change the whole tenor of what is being conveyed. The Jewish people, the nation of Israel, rejected their Messiah. He is not their confident hope and trust. However, He is the confident hope and trust of Gentiles around the world.
 
Someday, this will change. Israel will discover what it has rejected for so long.
 
Lord God, we pray for time so that we can engage in Your word, for illumination as we read it, for confidence as we look to its promises, and a daily heightened sense of anticipation as we draw nearer to the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus. Grant us these things, O God, according to Your wisdom and grace. Amen.
 

Matthew 12:20

Thursday, 7 August 2025
 
A bruised reed He will not break,
And smoking flax He will not quench,
Till He sends forth justice to victory;
 Matthew 12:20
 
Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen). 
 
You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).
 
“A reed, being battered, not He will break, and flax being smoldered, not He will extinguish, until if He ejects judgment into victory” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Matthew continued his citation of Isaiah 42, revealing that the passage prophetically pointed to Jesus and His ministry. That citation continues with his next words, which are comparable to Isaiah 42:3 –
 
“Reed bruised, not He will break, and flax darkish, not He will extinguish it. To truth, He will cause to bring verdict” (CG).
 
Matthew’s words of citation begin with, “A reed, being battered, not He will break.”
 
Two new words are seen here. The first is suntribó, to crush completely, such as breaking into pieces. The next is katagnumi, to rend in pieces, such as cracking apart.
 
The words of Isaiah, and now cited by Matthew, point to extreme care and attentiveness to being gentle. A bruised reed will collapse with the slightest bit of force because its fibers have been damaged. The analogy is to a person who has been bruised by a life of sin or affliction.
 
For example, in Luke 7:36-50, we read about the sinful woman who came to Jesus, washing His feet with her hair. The Pharisee would have taken her and cast her out, destroying any faith-fiber left in her. But Jesus allowed her to wash and kiss His feet, knowing she was crushed from her life of sin. Because of her faithful display of love for the Lord, His words to her were, “Your sins are forgiven,” and “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
 
In a similar metaphor, Matthew next says, “and flax being smoldered, not He will extinguish.”
 
Three new words are seen in this one clause. The first is linon, flax. It is the material (the flax plant) used to make linen. One can see the etymological connection between the two, linon and linen.
 
The second new word is tuphó, a word found only here in the New Testament. It signifies to make a smoke, as in something slowly being consumed by fire, but without a flame. It is hot enough to burn, but there isn’t enough oxygen for it to turn into a blaze, and so it sits and smolders.
 
Also, the word sbennumi is used. It signifies to quench or extinguish.
 
The idea is that a smoldering flax, such as a piece of linen, will go out with the slightest touch. The teeny amount of oxygen that was available to cause the smoldering is removed, and even the smoldering is quenched. The meaning of the words is that of someone with the smallest bit of faith will not have it quenched by the Lord. He will never deprive such, quenching their faith by treating them contemptuously or as if they were unimportant.
 
And this state of care for His people is, “until if He ejects judgment into victory.”
 
There are various opinions on the meaning of the words. Each of them, however, finds its fulfillment in the work of Christ. The care of the Lord for those who are bruised or smoldering will not cease until the end. Their judgment will be realized in victory. The direct translation from Isaiah said, “To truth he will cause to bring verdict.”
 
The judgment of the Lord will be vindicated as a state of truth. The idea seems, therefore, to ultimately point to the Lord’s care of His people until the final victory is realized, such as the state of those who are glorified at the rapture of the church –
 
“For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’55 ‘O Death, where is your sting?O Hades, where is your victory?’” 1 Corinthians 15:53-55
 
None shall be rejected who comes to the Lord by faith, even if their faith is comparable to a bruised reed or a smoldering piece of linen.
 
Life application: Understanding the care of the Lord for His people, we should be careful how we evaluate others. The sinful woman at Jesus’ feet would have been cast out by anyone in the religious circles of Israel. But Jesus understood her faith and was unwilling to quench it merely out of social propriety.
 
The same will be true with anyone who comes to Him in true faith. Each of us will fail the Lord from time to time. This is inevitable, but it demonstrates the immense grace of God that is found in Jesus. Despite our failings, He forgave us. Despite our continued failings, His grace continues.
 
The Lord would have us not sin at all, but He is aware of our limitations. Because of this, even when we do sin, He is not counting those transgressions against us any longer –
 
“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:18, 19
 
Heavenly Father, You are aware of our every failing, and yet You still have forgiven us through our faith in Jesus. Help us to be strong in our ability to stand against sin and its many temptations so that we will be pleasing to You. Above all, help us to keep our faith in Christ strong as we live in Your glorious presence, holding fast to Him until that wonderful Day of redemption. Amen.

Matthew 12:19

Wednesday, 6 August 2025
 
He will not quarrel nor cry out,
Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. Matthew 12:19
 
“Not He will wrangle, nor He will clamor, nor anyone – he will hear in the streets His voice” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus was referred to in Matthew’s citation of Isaiah 42. Isaiah’s words that parallel this verse are found in Isaiah 42:2 –
 
“Not he will shriek, and not he will lift, and not He will cause to declare in the street His voice” (CG).
 
In the Hebrew, the word “lift” must mentally be supplied with the additional words “His voice.” Understanding this, Matthew continues his citation, stating, “Not He will wrangle.” Matthew uses the word erizó, which signifies to wrangle, as in disputing or quarreling. This is its only use in the New Testament.
 
While among Israel, Jesus did not possess a contentious spirit. Rather, He stated His case and rebuffed falsities, but the gospels show that He did not get into lengthy arguments with those who came against Him. Next, it says, “nor He will clamor.”
 
It is a second new word, kraugazó, clamor, as in people shouting vehemently. There are times Jesus is recorded as having lifted up His voice, but it was usually in a petition for reason or a calling of those around Him to come to their senses. There was no sense of violent argumentation in those accounts. The only other time this word is used when referring to Jesus is found in John 11 –
 
“Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth!’ 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Loose him, and let him go.’” Matthew 11:43, 44
 
In that instance, Jesus’ crying out was not violently agitating the people, which is the point Isaiah and Matthew are making. Understanding this, Matthew continues with, “nor anyone – he will hear in the streets His voice.”
 
The idea here is a person who looks to draw attention to himself as a way of gaining popularity. If one went into the streets and started singing or acting, it would mean he was trying to draw attention to himself. Likewise, if he started a public agitation about some leader or against Rome, he would be trying to gain an audience.
 
Jesus didn’t approach His ministry that way. Instead, He led by His actions, not having a need to distract from them with lofty or manipulative words.
 
Life application: There are innumerable ways of getting the word out to the people. It would be a sad loss for people to take the words of this verse and say, “Jesus didn’t do XX, and therefore I will not do that as well.”
 
He has already told His disciples, “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops” (Matthew 10:27). There is no record of Jesus having gone to the rooftops to do this. Jesus set His own example based on His ministry. We are to set our example based on our abilities, culture, situation, etc.
 
It would be inappropriate for a person to stand up in the middle of his office and start preaching like a street evangelist. It would probably lead to his dismissal. Sometimes, handing out a tract is the right thing to do. At others, getting a permit and going to a town square to preach may draw people to you.
 
However, standing on a street corner with a megaphone and yelling at the passing people that they are all sinners and are going to hell is a ridiculous approach that many have taken over the years. That will only cause people to close their ears, laugh at the crazy Christian, and alienate those in the crowd from ever wanting to have anything to do with Jesus.
 
The point of evangelizing is to bring people to Jesus. Understanding the time, situation, location, state of the people, etc., is all necessary to effectively transmit the good news so that it will be heard and accepted.
 
Remember that the exaltation of Jesus as the One God sent to restore us to Him is the primary thing we are to share with others. This is the point of the gospel. We are in a bad spot. God took the initiative to correct that. He sent Jesus, who did everything necessary to restore us to God. All God wants from us is to believe the good news.
 
How you communicate this message is important. Consider it and then act accordingly.
 
Heavenly Father, help us to be aware of the best way to get the message of Jesus out to others. Help us to consider the time and circumstances around us and to then be willing to use them to lead others to a saving knowledge of You. Yes, Lord, give us wisdom in this awesome responsibility. Amen.