BIBLE IN TEN

Matthew 17:20

Friday, 6 March 2026
 
So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. Matthew 17:20
 
“And Jesus, He said to them, ‘Through your faithlessness. For amen! I say to you, if you should have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “You depart hence thither,” and it will depart. And nothing, it will be impossible for you.’” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, the disciples came to Jesus and asked why they couldn’t cast out the demon. In response, Matthew records, “And Jesus, He said to them, ‘Through your faithlessness.’”
 
Some texts use a word meaning “little faith,” others use the word indicating unbelief or faithlessness. The point of the wording is that the disciples were unfaithful to the faith. They had seen Jesus perform miracles. They had also been given the power to perform miracles. And yet, they allowed their faith to wane in the presence of such a determined demon.
 
The power they possessed was not actually theirs. It was the power of God bestowed on them to perform duties on behalf of Jesus. Thus, this was not so much little faith as it was faithlessness, even if their faith was also little.
 
Despite this, concerning the little faith they possessed, which is evident from having been able to heal at other times, Jesus continues, saying, “For amen! I say to you, if you should have faith as a mustard seed.”
 
Almost all translations incorrectly say, “if you have faith.” The verb is subjunctive, “if you should (may, might) have.” Jesus knows they have faith based on their previous interactions with healing and casting out demons.
 
Thus, His words now are showing how teeny their faith actually is. “You may have this much faith, but if your faith was as big as a single mustard seed, then...” Next, He tells them what the result would be, saying, “...you will say to this mountain, ‘You depart hence thither,’ and it will depart.”
 
A new word is seen here in some texts, enteuthen. It signifies the thought of “on both sides,” thus, it gives the sense of the word “hence.” The smallest grain of faith would allow them to move mountains. This is certainly why some texts say, “little faith” rather than “faithlessness.” But Jesus’ point is that they were unfaithful, as if unbelieving, concerning the faith.
 
Jesus continues. Not only would they be able to move mountains, but He also goes further, saying, “And nothing, it will be impossible for you.”
 
Another new word is seen, adunateó, to be unable. As such, passively, it means impossible. The word will only be seen again in Luke 1:37. Jesus words here must be qualified. There are things that are in one’s sphere of authority, and there are things that are outside of that sphere.
 
An example of this is found in Luke 9 when James and John asked Jesus if He wanted them to command fire to come down on the Samaritans. The implication is that they felt they could have done it, but they were forbidden from doing so.
 
Life application: The words of Jesus in this verse are quite often taken to unhealthy and unintended extremes. People use the words to claim things they will not receive, and they use them to diminish others in their eyes because of their supposed lack of faith.
 
As noted, there are things in one’s sphere of authority that will restrain him from doing things. It was true with the disciples, even though they were given authority to do things, they were not given absolute authority.
 
Their ministry called for healing and casting out demons to validate Jesus’ ministry. This is no longer required. His ministry was validated, and He is the Messiah of Israel. This is not in question from a biblical perspective.
 
As this is so, we can extend the truth concerning faith to any situation. If God does not want something to happen, our faith will not circumvent God’s will. As the Bible tells us that we live by faith and not by sight, it means that our faith is restricted to matters where faith remains faith.
 
When something occurs because we asked for it in faith, there is still the issue of our needing faith to accept that our petition was granted by God, not merely by chance or by our own power. We cannot go around claiming things, expecting that God is going to do everything we think we have faith to perform.
 
Using reason, along with proper biblical understanding, is necessary to know what our allowances are. The dispensation in which we live is one that calls for faith that Jesus is the Messiah. The Bible proclaims it is so, and we are expected to believe that. Anything we desire beyond that is something that we should strive for, but it is not something we can claim into existence.
 
Lord God, may our walk with You be one that is reasonable. May our lives be faith-filled and glorifying of You, not arrogant and presumptuous. Help us to remember that You are our hope and place of security. Understanding this, our faith will be properly directed. Amen.

Matthew 17:19

Thursday, 5 March 2026
 
Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” Matthew 17:19
 
“Then, the disciples having come to Jesus off alone, they said, ‘Through what we – not we could eject it?’” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus admonished the demon, and it came out of the boy, curing the boy immediately. Matthew next records, “Then, the disciples having come to Jesus off alone.”
 
Matthew’s gospel does not give the location of this verse, as if it could have been right there where the boy was cured. However, Mark says, “And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately...”
 
It appears they were embarrassed about their public failure, and probably timid because of His admonishment of them. As such, they departed to a house, at which time they could readdress the matter without any pokes of laughter or ridicule from the people. With them gathered in the house, “they said, ‘Through what we – not we could eject it?’”
 
It is an obvious question. The twelve had been sent out to tend to the ministry in Matthew 10 with the words, “Being feeble – you cure, leprous – you cleanse, dead – you rouse, demons – you eject. Freely you received, freely you give” (CG). In Luke 10, at the return of the seventy, it said, “Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.’”
 
So this was a part of the ministry they participated in. Despite this, they were collectively unable to cast out this boy’s demon, and they didn’t know why.
 
Life application: As noted, it seems the disciples were ashamed of their inability to do what they had previously been charged to do. And yet, some of these same men either wrote or were certainly consulted about the events regarding their time with Jesus.
 
This is common among people. We don’t want to look dumb in front of others. However, with the passing of time, we openly speak about how stupid, naive, etc., we were in the past. It is as if the past gives us a buffer from the state we once were in, allowing us to convey things that we wouldn’t have dreamt of mentioning when the event occurred.
 
Time is both a teacher and a healer. As we get older, we gain more experience in matters (well, if we are willing to learn from our mistakes and those we see in others), and we also mature in our ability to let go of things that we once held close.
 
Time allows us to process events and resolve them in our minds. It is common after a war for soldiers to come home and refuse to mention any of the horrors they experienced. And yet, after considering the events over months or years, it normally becomes easier to open up and share what happened with others.
 
The disciples took in the things that happened and were able to convey them to us with notes concerning their own imperfections to teach us that it is ok to accept our own failings. This is true with the events of those in the Old Testament as well.
 
David’s failings, along with his victories, times of anger, and so forth, were put into psalms. He was able to express to us how those events affected his life. From there, God chose these recorded events to place in His word, having inspired them for us to learn from.
 
Keep reading the Bible. As events in our lives occur, we can see similar events occurring in the lives of others from the past. From there, we can see how God used those events to reveal many things to us, if we are willing to learn what He is telling us.
 
The Bible is an ever-relevant manual on how we can more perfectly run our lives if we will take advantage of its contents.
 
Lord God, thank You that Your word is so open and frank about human activity. We can learn so much about our own lives and how to deal with our personal circumstances by knowing what Your word says about such things. What a great life manual You have given to us. Thank You for this wonderful word. Amen.

Matthew 17:18

Wednesday, 4 March 2026
 
And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. Matthew 17:18
 
“And Jesus, He admonished it, and the demon, it proceeded from him, and the boy, he was cured from that hour” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus called those who were unable to heal the boy a perverse generation, wondering how long He would have to be with them and uphold them. He then asked them to bring the boy to Him. Matthew next records, “And Jesus, He admonished it.”
 
The verb is masculine, as is the next verb, which refers to the demon. Therefore, it is debated who is being referred to. The Pulpit Commentary says, “Some take the pronoun as masculine, and refer it to the diseased boy; but it is more natural that the rebuke should be addressed to the possessing demon.”
 
They are right. Despite the boy being the nearest antecedent (Bring him here to Me) of the previous verse, Mark tells us who Jesus was speaking to –
 
“When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, ‘Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!’ 26 Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, ‘He is dead.’ 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.” Mark 9:25-27
 
One would normally assume that the nearest antecedent, the boy, would be the subject, but Matthew took the additional care of explaining the verb after the fact, saying, “and the demon, it proceeded from him.”
 
Though this is not the usual way grammar is used, it is acceptable, especially if one knows there is another gospel record to be referred to. Though each gospel is a standalone account, together they form a larger tapestry of what is happening in accounts such as this. With the demon out of the boy, it next says, “and the boy, he was cured from that hour.”
 
The meaning of “from that hour” is “immediately.” That is to be understood from Mark as well.
 
Life application: Whatever specifics the scribes and the disciples were arguing over (as indicated in Mark 9), the fact is that none of them were able to restore the boy to normalcy. And more, the father wouldn’t have just waited around hoping the Messiah would show up someday. He would have consulted physicians, those at the local synagogue, and anyone else who might be able to help.
 
And yet, his son remained in his tragic state. But when Jesus arrived on the scene, it was a few moments of discussion and then instant healing. This is just the same as our salvation. We may entreat eastern religions, seek out spiritualists, meet up with mediums, consult the Koran, or open up the Upanishads, but there is no light and no healing in them.
 
But the moment we come to Christ, accepting the gospel of our salvation, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13, 14). There is no delay, no second-guessing, and no “taking it back” by God at a later date. Rather, there is immediate relief from the burden of sin and total healing of the soul. The connection to God is restored, and we are – from that moment and forever – accepted into His kingdom.
 
Try to always remember the joy of that moment. Carry it with you and remind yourself of it often. The more you hold close the wonder of that day, the better off you will be when times of trial and trouble trickle into your life. They will not be able to overtake you when you remember that everything here is just a temporary step on the way to eternal glory.
 
Lord God, how grateful we are for the immediate and eternal salvation that came to us the day we believed. Thank You for the assurance we possess. We are saved! Yes, saved forever because of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Hallelujah and amen.
 

Matthew 17:17

Tuesday, 3 March 2026
 
Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” Matthew 17:17
 
“And Jesus, answering, He said, ‘O! Generation disbelieving and having been mangled! I will be with you until when? I will uphold you until when? You carry him here to Me’” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, the father of the moonstruck boy told Jesus that he brought the boy to His disciples, but they could not heal him. Matthew next records, “And Jesus, answering, He said, ‘O! Generation disbelieving and having been mangled!’”
 
Two new words are seen here. The first is the adjective apistos, which is derived from the negative particle a and pistos, faithful or believing. Thus, it signifies unbelieving. The second is the verb diastrephó. It is derived from dia, through, and strephó, to twist. Thus, it signifies thoroughly twisted.
 
A word that gets the sense is mangle. It is as if everything expected of the generation had been clenched in the hands of time and been so warped that nothing of what was originally intended is seen. The use of the perfect participle (having been mangled) indicates that this is how it has been since some point in the past, and it continued to be that way even since Jesus’ coming. Essentially, they had learned nothing from His ministry. He continues, saying, “I will be with you until when?”
 
If nothing had been learned to this point, there was much to do to untangle the deformity of the people. This would be inclusive of the scribes who stood there accusing the disciples, as well as the disciples themselves.
 
By this time, Jesus had performed innumerable miracles. Along with that, His words of wisdom and His perfection before the law should have been sufficient to convince them of the divine nature of His ministry.
 
But unless their instructors, both Israel’s leaders and His disciples, could unite in agreeing that He was truly from God, He would have to continue to instruct them. Therefore, He restates the sentiment, saying, “I will uphold you until when?”
 
Another new word is seen, the verb anechó. It is derived from ana, up, and echo, to hold. Thus, it is the act of upholding. He questions how long He would have to carry the burdensome weight of their unbelief, along with their twisted views concerning the things of God. As a sort of poke at them based on this clause, He says, “You carry him here to Me.”
 
In other words, “If I have to keep upholding you, you might as well do the little you are qualified for and carry the boy to Me.” It is an ironic poke at all of them for not having the faith to do what they had been instructed and an opportunity to see how God can, in fact, untangle things that are a result of the consequences of sin.
 
Life application: The fact of the matter, based on Jesus’ questions, is that those in attendance were never capable of upholding their responsibilities, even to the time of, and after, His crucifixion. Thomas proved that his faith was lacking even when the other apostles told him that Jesus had been resurrected. He needed sight to validate what his cold heart could not accept by faith.
 
Without the coming of the Spirit, things would have very quickly devolved into a total lack of cohesion, and the faith would have died out. Likewise, both Israel and the world have continued in a mangled state, even to this day. The church has marched along, often its own worst enemy. Israel has continued without Jesus and in a state of rejection because of it.
 
Only those who have been saved and sealed with the Spirit are capable of properly continuing the cause of Christ. However, unless they are willing to apply themselves, learn what Scripture teaches, and then act in accord with it, they will remain just as mangled as the rest of the world in their thinking and actions.
 
Jesus’ rebuke was directed to those around Him, but the truth of His words is not limited to the moment in which He spoke. The seven letters to the seven churches in Revelation clearly show that this is true.
 
Let each one of us do our best to help direct the world and those around us to a right and proper understanding of what Christ has done and how it impacts, and will impact, everything around us. This is our calling, and it all begins with faith. Ground yourself in the faith of Jesus Christ and then go forth in that state.
 
Glorious Lord God, how desperately the world needs You. If Israel couldn’t carry the message properly, and if the church continues to fail at it, then this should alert us that we need to renew our thinking, directing it to Your word, and then conforming our thoughts and intents to honor You. Help us in this, to Your glory. Amen.
 

Matthew 17:16

Monday, 2 March 2026
 
So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.” Matthew 17:16
 
“And I presented him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, a man came to Jesus begging him to have mercy on his moonstruck son because of his suffering. He often fell into fire and into water. He continues, saying, “And I presented him to Your disciples.”
 
This would have been the nine apostles and any other disciples who accompanied them who did not go with Jesus and the others up the mountain. It would have been inclusive of Matthew, who is recalling the account to share in his gospel. Understanding this, Matthew continues, “and they could not cure him.”
 
This would explain why Mark says the scribes were disputing with them. They were unable to cure the man’s son, but obviously had attempted to do so. The scribes probably chimed right in, calling them false teachers. This would have then elicited a response concerning their abilities and those of Jesus.
 
The entire scene comes alive when considering the accusations of the scribes. But it also shows a failing of the disciples, being unable to tend to the need placed before them. Of this verse, Albert Barnes says –
 
“And I brought him to thy disciples ... - That is, not to the apostles, for they had power over unclean spirits Matthew 10:8, but to others of his followers who attempted to work miracles.”
 
That analysis belies the entire context of what is presented. It appears that it is exactly because they were there and unable to cure the boy that the account is so remarkable. Their schooling was incomplete, and their faith in the Lord and His provision was lacking.
 
Life application: The purpose of the miraculous healings during Jesus’ ministry and during the time of the apostles served several purposes. One of them was to establish that He was the Messiah of Israel. He presented the power of God to the people as a witness that God was with Him and He was dwelling among them as prophesied.
 
A second purpose was that Jesus and His ministry became a sign to the people of their own inability to see, understand, and appreciate the work of the Lord, even when it was directly in front of their eyes and in exacting fulfillment of their own Scriptures.
 
Therefore, they were without excuse in their unbelief, and God was fully justified in His rejection of them. This is laid out carefully in the law and the prophets. The Song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32 spells out their history, including God’s rejection of them, quite clearly.
 
If this is true with His own nation, selected from out of all the people groups of the world, then think about it from the opposite perspective. How pleased God must be when those who had never been told of God’s Messiah hear and believe!
 
They didn’t have the ancient prophecies. They weren’t expecting a Messiah. They had no national, social, or cultural connection to the God of Israel, and yet they heard the word, believed the proposition set forth in the gospel, and accepted what they had been told by faith.
 
What God couldn’t get out of His own chosen nation, He gets daily and around the world from open and receptive hearts of people longing for release from the burdens they carry. Nothing is more precious than to know that we have been redeemed by such a wonderful, loving, and caring God.
 
May we always remember the joy of our salvation, and may we be willing to share that joy with others who so desperately need it as well.
 
Glorious Lord God, how thankful we are to You for having sent Jesus to save not only those of Israel, but people from around the world. You have exalted us to heaven itself when all we deserved was condemnation and eternal separation from You. Thank You for Your tender mercies, O God. Amen.

Matthew 17:15

Sunday, 1 March 2026
 
“Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. Matthew 17:15
 
“Lord, You compassionated my son, for he moon-strikes and he suffers badly, for frequently he falls into the fire and frequently into the water.” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus and the disciples came down from the mountain, and a man came to Him, kneeling before Him to petition Him. Matthew records his words, saying, “Lord, You compassionated my son.”
 
Luke’s gospel notes that the man said, “he is my only child.” It is an additional mark of desperation that certainly touched Jesus’ emotions. Having begun his plea, the father continues, saying, “for he moon-strikes.”
 
It is a new word, seléniazomai, to be moonstruck. It is derived from seléné, brilliancy. That, in turn, is used to describe the moon. That, along with the word haireó, to take for oneself or choose. Together, they give the sense of being moonstruck.
 
The exact meaning is debated. Some say it refers to epilepsy, others to being a lunatic (which is derived from the Latin lunaticus, referring to the luna, moon), or being demon-possessed. The symptoms are recorded in Mark and Luke –
 
“Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. 18 And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid.” Mark 9:17, 18
 
“And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out; it convulses him so that he foams at the mouth; and it departs from him with great difficulty, bruising him.” Luke 9:39
 
The idea of being moonstruck is probably that he had cycles of symptoms that corresponded with the cycles of the moon. Because of his malady, Matthew continues, “and he suffers badly.”
 
Imagine the distress of the father having a child who was in such a state. It would be a frustration fraught existence with no hope of release. And the situation would be exacerbated with wounds or trauma because, as he says, “for frequently he falls into the fire and frequently into the water.”
 
Another new word is seen, pollakis, many times, and thus frequently. When an attack would come upon the boy, at any given moment, apparently, he may fall into a bonfire or fireplace, having been captivated by the flames. Or he may fall into a pond or some other body of water, having been captivated by the reflections.
 
For the father, this would have been a miserable plight and a tedious existence.
 
Life application: I know a man who has a son who is totally disabled. The son is confined to a wheelchair, cannot speak, but rather makes grunting noises, and his body is always twisted and contorted.
 
The father is infinitely patient with his son. He constantly speaks to him with soothing words, no matter how difficult the situation. He has to personally attend to him in the bathroom or for any other regular life function. And yet, he bears with the trial as if he were ordering a burger at McDonald’s.
 
Many times, I have thought, “I could not handle the difficulty that this person so caringly and patiently tends to for even a day.” And yet, he has been tending to his son for over forty years. God gives us what we can handle, and He allows afflictions into our lives for purposes that may be known only to Him.
 
In having a responsibility like one of these afflicted children, all we can do is throw ourselves at the mercy of God and beg for daily strength. And He is gracious to provide it. In the case of the father in Luke 17, Jesus will do something wonderful for him in the verses ahead.
 
In our case, He has promised to provide a life ahead without such trials and frustrations. Our faith will not go unrewarded. God is carefully attentive to all things that His children need. Be confident of this, and don’t lose hope when the days seem overwhelming. Lean on the Lord. He will get you through each one.
 
Lord God, each of us has our own burdens to carry. And You have given us the ability to do so when we put our confidence in You. The strength will come because You are a gracious and caring Father. May we confidently trust this as each day unfolds with its trials and difficulties. Amen.

Matthew 17:14

Saturday, 28 February 2026
 
And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, Matthew 17:14
 
“And they, having come unto the crowd, he approached Him – man, knee-falling to Him, and saying...” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, it said that the disciples understood that Jesus was speaking of John the Baptist in His reference to Elijah. Next, it says, “And they, having come unto the crowd.”
 
Mark’s gospel includes more detail, saying –
 
“And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. 15 Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. 16 And He asked the scribes, ‘What are you discussing with them?’” Mark 9:14-16
 
Luke’s gospel includes the thought that this was the next day after descending the mountain. With Luke’s reckoning, it could mean the next morning. That would square with the general statement by both Matthew and Mark that they descended the mountain and came upon what next transpires, which is, “he approached Him – man, knee-falling to Him, and saying...”
 
There is a new word, gonupeteó. It is derived from gonu, the knee, and an alternate form of piptó, to fall. Thus, it means he fell to his knees. As for what occurred, some texts finish this verse with the words, “and saying...” Other texts begin the next verse with those words.
 
Either way, a man has come and fallen before Jesus concerning an issue that has the disciples and the scribes disputing with one another.
 
Life application: Mark records that there was a dispute going on when Jesus and the others came to them. Though the matter of the dispute is not yet stated, we can learn from this. People dispute matters all the time concerning religion, theology, and doctrine.
 
Religious disputes require determining if what one believes corresponds with reality. In other words, we can know things about God even without the Bible. This is known as general revelation. When evaluating a religion, we need to see if the source of that religion corresponds with what we can know about God by using logic and reason.
 
Does the Bible match what general revelation tells us must be true about God? Does the Koran? Are there many gods or only one God? We can rather quickly whittle things down by understanding God’s nature.
 
Once we have thrown out Islam, Hinduism, etc., we are left with only one possible religious source of what is true about God. That is the Bible. This is God’s special source of revelation, telling us things we could not deduce from general revelation. From the Bible, we can do more whittling, using both general and special revelation.
 
Does the message of the Bible support Judaism? Does it support Mormonism or the doctrine of the Jehovah’s Witnesses? This is important because if we have a faulty view of God, even though we are using the Bible to pursue Him, we still will not be right with Him.
 
Once we have tossed out the incorrect theologies, we are left with what is proper. However, there are still doctrinal issues that are debatable within what we might call “biblical Christianity,” meaning the proper path of pursuing God.
 
Again, where do we go to resolve these issues? The answer is “to the Bible alone.” The people came to Jesus, the Word of God, to settle a dispute. He has now left us with His testimony, the word of God, meaning the Bible. If you are having trouble with conflicting doctrines being placed before you, the Bible will be where you need to go.
 
Is salvation eternal? Some say yes, and some say no. The Bible will provide the answer. Is there a rapture? What is the timing of the rapture? And so on. These issues may be debatable, but only because one (or both) of the people is incorrectly teaching the doctrine. The Bible will have one correct answer.
 
The way to determine if a particular teaching is correct is to keep things in their proper context. One or both of those debating eternal salvation may not be applying the proper context. This is the way we end disputes in our minds. Think about God, think about how He has presented Himself, and then meditate on His word. In doing this, we will be on the right path as we pursue our relationship with Him.
 
Lord God, help us to have the desire and the gumption to read Your word. How easy it is to read books about the Bible. But those books may or may not be in accord with what is right. Rather than wasting so much time on books about the Bible, help us to find a proper balance in pursuing You, with the majority of our time being in Your word. Yes, help us in this, O God. Amen.

Matthew 17:13

Friday, 27 February 2026
 
Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist. Matthew 17:13
 
“Then the disciples, they comprehended that He spoke to them concerning John the Immerser” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus told the three disciples that Elijah had come already. And yet, they didn’t know him, and they did to him whatever they wished. He included the thought that they would likewise cause the Son of Man to suffer at their hands. Having said that, it next says, “Then the disciples, they comprehended.”
 
The word suniémi has already been seen eight times. It is a word that signifies “to put together.” They joined the facts that have been presented to them and have made a conclusion concerning what Jesus is saying, comprehending what they had not yet understood. What they comprehended is “that He spoke to them concerning John the Immerser.”
 
Jesus never said that the person on the mountain with Him and Moses was John the Baptist. Matthew clearly identifies him twice as Elijah. However, on the way down, their question was about the coming of Elijah according to the prophecy of Malachi 3:1 and 4:5, 6.
 
They could not understand how Elijah fit into the scenario if he was supposed to come before the coming of the whopping and fearful day of Yehovah. The voice from heaven told them to listen to Jesus. If Jesus was now the one to listen to, how could Elijah be the messenger to tell Israel to restore the hearts of the people?
 
John came in the spirit and power of Elijah, not as Elijah himself (John 1:21). Unless one believes that the book of Revelation has been fulfilled, as preterists do, which is a giant error in eschatology, the day of the Lord referenced by Malachi is still future.
 
Life application: To assume that all prophecy except the return of Christ is fulfilled is to dismiss a literal interpretation of a majority of the Bible, inclusive of both testaments. And this isn’t just in plain, easy-to-understand prophecies and promises, but in typology as well.
 
It is true that typology can be easily manipulated or misinterpreted, but a proper evaluation of what is being presented leaves no doubt about what is coming. God is not through with Israel, and there is a time when they, as a nation, must (and will) choose to accept that Jesus is their long-rejected Messiah.
 
How anyone can read and misinterpret Romans 9-11 and think that God is done with Israel would be laughable if it were not so sad. One example from that dissertation says –
 
“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
 
A simple question to ask concerning Paul’s words is, “Has the fullness of the Gentiles come in?” Obviously not! Another question that follows naturally is, “Does Paul here call the Gentiles either Israel or Jacob?” Obviously not! He calls them “Gentiles,” thus providing a clear and definite distinction between the two.
 
As Paul refers to turning away ungodliness from Jacob, something Elijah is prophesied to do in Malachi 4, and that is to occur only after the fullness of the Gentiles has come in, then it is as obvious as the nose on a preterist’s face that there is yet a plan and purpose for Jacob, meaning Israel but stated as Jacob to make sure even the dullest sort can understand he is referring to the wayward nation of Israel.
 
Are they enemies of the gospel? Yes! (Romans 9:28). Are they still beloved for the sake of the fathers? Yes! (Romans 9:28). Are their gifts and calling irrevocable? Yes! (Romans 9:29). Israel, a people who are currently not God’s people, will be His people again someday. This is what the Bible teaches.
 
God, despite their disobedience, will again be rich in mercy to them, demonstrating His goodness even to those who have completely walked away from Him, turning their hearts to every “god,” idol, and perversion known. Why? Because He is faithful even when we are unfaithful. Thank God for His merciful kindness to the people of the world.
 
Lord God, how can we not praise You for who You are and for all You have done for us, even us. Our hearts are wicked, our thoughts are perverse, our actions belie our profession again and again. And yet, because of Your covenanting with us through the blood of Jesus Christ, You remain rich in mercy to us. Thank You, O God, for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Matthew 17:12

Thursday, 26 February 2026
 
But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.” Matthew 17:12
 
“And I say to you that Elijah, he came already, and they knew him not, but they did in him as much as they desired. And thus the Son of Man, He is about to suffer under them” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus responded to the disciples, noting that Elijah would come first and that he would reconstitute all things. He continues, saying, “And I say to you that Elijah, he came already.”
 
Because of these words, many scholars who deny a literal fulfillment of the promises to Israel of future restoration conclude that there is one, and only one meaning to what is going on here. Elijah has come, and thus, he is not “coming.” As such, and speaking for this doctrine, Ellicott says –
 
“The disciples need not look for any other personal appearance. The use of the present and future tenses in Matthew 17:11 point to a deeper truth, which they were to learn afterwards. The Elijah ministry, the work of the preacher of repentance, is not a transient phenomenon belonging to one stage only of the Church’s history, but was to be, throughout the ages, on to the end of all things, the indispensable preparation for the coming of the Lord. Only through it could all things be restored, and the path made ready for the heralds of forgiveness and of peace.”
 
In other words, this is the only coming of Elijah, and his work continues on today in the lives of “preachers of repentance” for all times. An obvious problem with this is that John died before Jesus completed His work. He was an Old Testament preacher of repentance and to turn to the Messiah. Acts 19:1-5 makes this perfectly clear.
 
John had no idea about the fullness of Christ’s ministry or what preachers should preach based on His completed work. As for Jesus, He continues, saying, “and they knew him not, but they did in him as much as they desired.”
 
The first messenger mentioned in Malachi 3:1 is clearly referring to John the Baptist. The second Messenger is a reference to Christ. These are both understood to be the case. John came as a messenger to fulfill what was said about preparing the way before the Lord.
 
He did his job in this regard, but the nation as a whole rejected his words. Instead of accepting his message, he was imprisoned and beheaded. Jesus uses the general term “they” to describe the actions of all who stood against John’s proclamation. Concerning what was done to John, Jesus continues, saying, “And thus the Son of Man, He is about to suffer under them.”
 
Jesus explicitly tells the disciples that He will be handed the same type of treatment that John received. The message of both will be rejected by the nation of Israel.
 
The interpretation of many commentators, Jewish and Christians alike, is that the words of Malachi 3:1 and Malachi 4:5 & 6 speak of the same person and the same event. This is incorrect. John clearly stated that he is not Elijah in John 1:21. Luke declares that John came “in the spirit and power of Elijah” in Luke 1:17.
 
Jesus, stating that Elijah has come, means that John has fulfilled the anticipated role of Elijah for the nation of Israel through his message. However, Jesus’ words in Matthew 17:11, which are in the future tense, tell us that the physical appearance of Elijah is still ahead. The coming of John to fulfill Elijah’s role does not negate Elijah coming again to complete what was rejected by Israel. Rather, it is a main purpose of the second advent of Jesus.
 
Life application: Ellicott, along with those of similar thinking, uses Jesus’ words of Matthew 11:14 about John being the ‘being about to come’ and says that the future tense is the same as the future tense here. Ellicott calls it “an emphatic repetition.” The problem is that Matthew 11:14 was not in the future tense. It is a present participle.
 
Jesus’ words about John as “the ‘being about to come’” were a reference to the ongoing expectancy that Elijah was coming. Each year, Jewish tradition taught that he would arrive at a feast, most usually associated with the Passover. For this reason, it was (and still is to this day) a custom for some Jews to leave an empty chair at the seder, hoping that he would come to their home.
 
The Jews are waiting for Elijah, and he is coming. He may even show up at a house with an empty chair waiting for him, as tradition supposes. But when he comes, his message is going to be one that literally shocks those who hear his words: “You missed the coming of the Messiah.”
 
So upsetting will this be to the people that he will eventually be killed along with the other witness who comes to testify that Israel is still, more than two millennia later, heading down the wrong path.
 
They will be in the area of the temple in Jerusalem, telling the people just what the book of Hebrews says. The temple and its sacrificial rites only anticipated Jesus. What they are doing is a refutation of a relationship with God, not a restoration of it. For those who think that what is happening in Israel with the building of a temple and the reinstatement of sacrifices is somehow a good thing, they, too, have misunderstood the import of Christ’s ministry in this regard.
 
A temple is coming. Just because Scripture proclaims this, it does not mean God condones it. This is a mistake in reasoning that has deluded the church into supporting a rejection of what the temple only anticipated. The book of Hebrews makes this clear. To return to temple worship is to recrucify Christ, not glorify Him.
 
God cannot be glorified through animal sacrifices when His Son has come and set that entire order of worship aside, once and forever.
 
Lord God, may we be about the business of getting the word out to Israel and the Jewish people that they need Jesus. There can be no substitute and no end around in coming to You. Help us to ensure all people understand that He, and He alone, is the only way to be reconciled to You. Amen.

Matthew 17:11

Wednesday, 25 February 2026
 
Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. Matthew 17:11
 
“And Jesus answering, He said to them, ‘Elijah indeed, he comes first, and he will reconstitute all’” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, the disciples queried Jesus, asking, “Why therefore the scribes, they say that Elijah, it necessitates, to come first?” Having recalled that, Matthew next records, “And Jesus answering.”
 
What Jesus says is the spoken word of God. Therefore, what He says is to be taken literally. He will make His statement based on what Scripture has already taught about Elijah. Therefore, what seems contradictory in the coming verse is due to a misunderstanding of what Jesus is saying. Understanding this, “He said to them, ‘Elijah indeed, he comes first.’”
 
Some texts omit the word “first,” as if this resolves the issue that many find difficult to understand. However, Mark 9:12 includes the word “first,” but accompanies it with an aorist participle, saying, “Elijah, indeed, having come first, he reconstitutes all.”
 
Thus, there is no reason to assume the word “first” doesn’t belong here. The words of Jesus so far don’t tell when Elijah is coming. It is a statement of fact, “He comes first.” However, the next words add more clarification, saying, “and he will reconstitute all.”
 
The future tense leaves no doubt that Elijah’s coming is yet ahead. Therefore, what is coming is what was prophesied in Malachi 4 concerning him –
 
“Behold! I sending to you Elijah the prophet,
To faces coming day Yehovah –
The whopping and the ‘being feared,’
6 And he will cause to return, heart fathers, upon sons,
And heart sons, upon their fathers.
Lest I come, and I cause to strike the land – anathema.” Malachi 4:5, 6 (CG)
 
These are not words describing immediate family relations, as in, “He will turn the people in the families to love one another.” Rather, this is a word concerning the Hebrew people as a whole. The fathers are the patriarchs, especially Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
 
The children are those who have misunderstood both the promise to the patriarchs and the purpose of the law. The heart of the fathers was that of promise while trusting in the gospel of the grace of God. Paul explains this in Galatians 3 –
 
“And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ‘In you all the nations shall be blessed.’ 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.” 
...
“And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.” Galatians 3:8, 9, & 17, 18
 
The hearts of the children, the unbelievers of Israel, will have their hearts turned to the hearts of the fathers who trusted the gospel of Christ as a certain and sure promise. If they do not turn their hearts, the warning stands.
 
Life application: The Old Testament, the time of man’s living under the curse of law, ends with the word kherem, anathema. It speaks of the utter destruction or ban of something. It is a fitting end to the thirty-nine books of law.
 
Only with the hope of God in Christ is there life and renewed fellowship with God. Only in understanding the gospel can that state be realized.
 
As with the whole chapter of Malachi 4, the final words speak of a dual fulfillment. The first part of it came about when Israel rejected Jesus. He told them as much in Matthew 23:36, saying, “Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.”
 
The nation as a whole rejected Jesus, remained under law, and fell under the ban because of it. The second fulfillment will be for those of Israel who continue to reject Jesus during the tribulation. However, for the nation, that will eventually end. The land of Israel, symbolized by Jerusalem, was anathema because of Israel’s rejection of Jesus. This is seen in Zechariah 14:11 –
 
“The people shall dwell in it;And no longer shall there be utter destruction [kherem],But Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.”
 
This prophecy concerns the future when Israel finally receives Jesus. Only when the hearts of the children are turned to the hearts of the fathers, meaning those who lived in faith and not by law, will this time of woe for Israel end.
 
The day is coming, and the world is being readied for it with the return of Israel to her land. The nation has been reestablished, prophecies of the past have come to their fulfillment, and many more prophecies are set to be fulfilled.
 
The book is written, and these things will come about. We are simply spectators watching as the words of Scripture are faithfully realized, often before our own eyes. At some point, the rapture will take place, and the attention of the Lord will be directed to bringing about the final restoration of Israel while also bringing about judgment upon all who refuse to believe.
 
Malachi sets forth both the hope of restoration and the warning of rejecting it. Though it is directed to Israel, for those who know Jesus, both Jews and Gentiles, we can learn from what is said there.
 
Our trust is not to be in the Law of Moses but in the One who is spoken of there and throughout all of Scripture. It is not easy to let go and place ourselves solely under the authority of another, but we must do so. If we are in need of surgery, we have to trust that the surgeon will get us through the ordeal.
 
In the case of our eternal souls, we have to let go of trusting in ourselves and look to the eternal gospel, which God has slowly and methodically revealed to the world through His word. And that gospel is centered completely and entirely on the Person of Jesus Christ.
 
Lord God, help us in our stubborn desire to earn what You have so freely given. May we never assume that we can somehow merit Your gracious offering of Jesus. Rather, may we trust only in the word that tells us of what He has done, accepting it as the one acceptable means of restoration with You. Thank You for Your grace, which is found in Jesus Christ! Amen.

Matthew 17:10

Tuesday, 24 February 2026
 
And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” Matthew 17:10
 
“And His disciples, they queried Him, saying, ‘Why therefore the scribes, they say that Elijah, it necessitates, to come first?’” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus told the disciples who joined Him on the mountain that they were not to tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man arises from the dead. Continuing the conversation, it next says, “And His disciples, they queried Him.”
 
As with most people who grew up in a place where the Bible is discussed, these men, having grown up in Israel, would have heard all kinds of teachings that people like to focus on. Therefore, they would have an awareness of matters that related to the vision they just saw.
 
Jesus, telling them not to share the vision, now complicates the sequence of events in their minds. To clarify their understanding, they queried Jesus, “saying, ‘Why therefore the scribes, they say that Elijah, it necessitates, to come first?’”
 
The scribes, understanding the prophecies found in Malachi, stated that Elijah would come back before the Messiah was revealed to them. That is based on two thoughts from Malachi –
 
“Behold Me! Sending My messenger,
And he turned, road, to My faces
And instantly, He will come unto His portico,
The Lord, whom you seeking,
And Messenger, the covenant,
Whom you delighted.
Behold! Coming!
He said, Yehovah Sabaoth.” Malachi 3:1 (CG)
 
“Behold! I sending to you Elijah the prophet,
To faces coming day Yehovah –
The whopping and the ‘being feared,’
6 And he will cause to return, heart fathers, upon sons,
And heart sons, upon their fathers.
Lest I come, and I cause to strike the land – anathema.” Malachi 4:5, 6 (CG)
 
The scribes concluded that Elijah would come before the Messenger of the covenant, who is understood to be the Messiah, based on these thoughts. If this is so, and if he came in the vision they beheld, then in their minds, that would mean the prophecy was fulfilled. However, that would only be the case if people knew about it.
 
They could tell the people they saw a vision of Elijah and that the prophecy was fulfilled. Or Elijah could stay and reveal himself. But neither was the case. Elijah was there for a short span, and he disappeared. Along with his disappearance was the voice telling them to hear Jesus, not Elijah.
 
And more, Jesus just told them to tell no one of the vision until after He rose from the dead, and for all they knew, He could be speaking of the end-times resurrection. If they couldn’t tell anyone, and if Elijah had come and left, then nobody would ever know Elijah came. But the scribes were waiting for Elijah.
 
It would be silly to have a prophecy in the Bible that was fulfilled, but nobody knew it was so! Therefore, they could not understand how things fit together because of this.
 
Life application: There are things that are clear and explicit in Scripture. If Scripture is truly the word of God, then those things must come to pass. There are things that must be inferred from Scripture, or which may require taking individual sections and tying them together to conclude what is being said.
 
In the case of the latter, if things are put together incorrectly, a misunderstanding of what will take place will occur. The scribes have the information laid out in Malachi concerning the Lord’s messenger and the Messenger of the covenant from Malachi 3, and they have the note about Elijah from Malachi 4.
 
They put the two thoughts together and drew a conclusion based on those passages. However, Malachi 3 never said the Lord’s messenger was Elijah. And Malachi 4 speaks of the great and dreadful day of the Lord, something they assumed meant the time when the Messiah was set to initiate.
 
Their conclusion was faulty because they misunderstood the content of the verses. And this is because they misapplied what those verses were saying. This is a common thing, especially with those excited about end-times prophecy to the exclusion of the rest of Scripture. They don’t have a full understanding of what the Bible says. In fact, they may never have read the Bible through once. But they are “specialists” in eschatology.
 
This is as common as beans in a Mexican diner, but it is a poor way of handling the Bible. However, when people sound like they know what they are talking about in prophecy and eschatology, they are usually given an ear because people tend to really dig those things.
 
The answer to this problem is for people to read their Bibles and know, in advance, if the things they are being taught match up with what their own studies have made them understand. From there, it is much easier to work through the details than it is to sit blindly, accepting someone’s teaching without any clue if he is doctrinally on the right page or not.
 
Lord God, whatever time we have left in our lives, may we use that time wisely, reading and contemplating Your word. Help us not to get distracted by too many irrelevant things, where we will then forsake this task. Give us wisdom to know You and what You expect of us through reading Your word. Amen.

Matthew 17:9

Monday, 23 February 2026
 
Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.” Matthew 17:9
 
“And descending, they, from the mountain, Jesus, He enjoined them, saying, ‘You tell none the vision until that the Son of Man from dead, He arose’” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, it was noted that when the disciples uplifted their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus. It next says, “And descending, they, from the mountain, Jesus, He enjoined them.”
 
They are returning to where the other disciples are. However, just as they went to the mountain separately for a reason, Jesus wants what they saw to be kept to themselves also. Therefore, He enjoins them concerning the matter, “saying, ‘You tell none the vision.’”
 
A new word is seen here, horama, a vision. It is derived from horaó, to stare at, and which is, at times, translated as behold. This refers to what is beheld. It is something gazed at, such as a spectacle. What these men beheld was a vision.
 
Looking at the various uses of this word leads to the notion that what was seen may not be a concrete event, but a mental perception of something, somewhat like a dream. For example –
 
“But Peter explained it to them in order from the beginning, saying: 5 ‘I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me. 6 When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying to me, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 8 But I said, “Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.” 9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” 10 Now this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven.’” Acts 11:4-10
 
What Peter saw was real to him, but it was not necessarily real. These men saw a vision. Was it a concrete event where Moses and Elijah literally appeared with Jesus, or was a point being made concerning their ministries without them actually having been there? Being dogmatic about the matter may be barking up the wrong tree.
 
Regardless, what they saw was real to the disciples, and Jesus confirms that what they saw should be taken as such. But they were to refrain from speaking of it “until that the Son of Man from dead, He arose.”
 
Mark adds in the words, “So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant.” The words of Jesus were perplexing to them, but they were obedient to His directive, keeping silent about the matter. But two obvious questions that arise from the event and Jesus’ admonition are, “Why weren’t all of the disciples taken along, and why should Jesus not want the other disciples to know what happened?”
 
It can only be speculation, but one reason that seems apparent is that if Judas had gone, or if he had been informed of what happened, he may never have betrayed Jesus. He was looking for one thing, but God had other plans. If he were aware of what took place, the necessary death of Jesus for the people of the world may not have come about in the manner it did.
 
For this, and any other logical reasons, the matter of the transfiguration was kept to a select few men until the time it could be freely spoken of by those who saw it.
 
Life application: Understanding that what the disciples saw may have been a vision without actual substance may then lead to other various points of doctrine or personal opinion falling apart. Pastors will adamantly speak of Moses’ appearance as an actual event where he literally stood there. Because of this, it is then used as a springboard to say that Moses can, in fact, be one of the two witnesses noted in Revelation 11.
 
This would be contradictory, however, to Hebrews 9:27, which says, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” Because of Hebrews 9, it is clear that Moses will not be one of the two witnesses, but despite that, it would be unwise to proclaim either way that what was seen in the transfiguration was an actual physical event rather than a divinely prepared mental image, or vice versa.
 
Did a sheet really drop down from heaven with animals on it in front of Peter? It is unlikely at best. And yet, it seemed as real to Peter as if it actually happened. We should be careful not to be dogmatic about things we simply cannot know. Rather, whether Moses and Elijah actually stood there with Jesus or not, the point of why they were there with Jesus is what is important.
 
The disciples, and thus us because it is recorded in Scripture, were being taught truths concerning the ongoing plan of redemption. Jesus, not the Law and the Prophets, is who we are to focus our attention on.
 
Lord God, someday, we will have many answers to questions resolved. Until then, help us to not stubbornly claim things that may be debatable. Help us to contemplate Your word, consider what You are telling us, and hold fast to the truths we can glean from it. May it be so, to Your glory. Amen.