BIBLE IN TEN

Matthew 20:23

Thursday, 11 June 2026
 
So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.” Matthew 20:23
 
“And He says to them, ‘The ‘indeed, ‘cup, Mine’,’ you will drink, and the immersion, the ‘I, I am immersed’ you will be immersed. The, also, to sit from ‘rights, Me’, and from ‘lefts, Me’, not it is Mine – these to give, but those it has been prepared under the ‘Father, Mine’.’” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, Jesus told the sons of Zebedee that they didn’t realize what they were asking. He asked them if they could drink the cup He was to drink from and to be immersed with the immersion that He was to be immersed with. They boldly claimed that they were able. In response to that, it next says, “And He says to them, ‘The ‘indeed, ‘cup, Mine’,’ you will drink.’”
 
Jesus’ cup refers to His coming passion. His words do not mean that they would suffer vicariously for others, something Jesus alone could do. Rather, as the Head of the church, those who follow Him will enter into His suffering simply by being His follower. The level at which that occurs for these two is not addressed. Jesus merely states it as a fact.
 
Acts 12:2 reveals that James was killed with the sword by Herod. John’s suffering began at the cross as he watched Jesus die. From that time on, his life was wholly sold out to whatever trials or persecutions came his way. Thus, he was a living martyr, a living witness to the sufferings of Christ throughout his years. Toward the end of them, he wrote to the church –
 
“I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 1:9
 
There is a tradition that he survived being boiled in oil, but there is nothing to substantiate that beyond the tradition itself. Regardless, his life was long and was given over to the call of Christ. Jesus continues, saying, “and the immersion, the ‘I, I am immersed’ you will be immersed.”
 
As noted in the previous verse, Jesus’ immersion was His death on the cross. He died for the sins of the world. This is not what James and John would do, nor could they. However, they were immersed with Christ’s immersion, something all believers participate in when they come to Christ –
 
“In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” Colossians 2:11, 12
 
Christ died for sin, while believers die to sin in Christ. Thus, we are immersed into His immersion. This is referring to what occurs when one receives Jesus, not an outward display of water baptism. Water baptism is a command given by Jesus as an identifying sign of the inner change that has taken place. Jesus continues, saying, “The, also, to sit from ‘rights, Me’, and from ‘lefts, Me’, not it is Mine – these to give.”
 
At first, this seems contradictory to Revelation 3:21 –
 
“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”
 
Jesus has full authority to grant to those who come to Him their place in His kingdom. This would include the position to His left and right, but there is an order and a propriety in all things, including the process of granting such a position. Therefore, Jesus continues, saying, “but those it has been prepared under the ‘Father, Mine’.”
 
The words “under the ‘Father, Mine’” mean “under His authority or direction.” Jesus could not grant what He had not yet received. The Father ordained that Jesus was to be born under the law, live without sinning under the law, and die in fulfillment of the law. For Him to say that He would grant these positions before His work was done would be improper.
 
This is reflected in the opening words of Romans –
 
“Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” Romans 1:1-4
 
As noted, there is an order to all things. Jesus had to follow what was prescribed by the Father, fulfilling His will before He could make such a determination as to who would sit in such a position. Thus, they are positions that are, as He said, “prepared under the ‘Father, Mine’.”
 
Life application: The cup of Jesus’ suffering is one that those who follow Him will participate in. The manner in which it takes place will be different for all. Paul speaks of this in 2 Corinthians –
 
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-7
 
The fact that we have accepted Jesus means that we have partaken of the cup of Jesus’ suffering. Any suffering beyond that will be based on our interactions within the world as followers of Christ. If someone were to move to a country where evangelism is forbidden and started evangelizing, he may be fined, imprisoned, or executed.
 
The choice to go to that country was voluntary. He could have stayed in his hometown and been a plumber. As a plumber, someone might say, “I will never hire that guy. He has a Jesus bumper sticker.” That suffering was also voluntary. He did not need to put the sticker on his car.
 
The level and type of suffering we will receive beyond participating in Jesus’ suffering through faith in His completed work may be up to us, or it may be a result of our environment. The Christians in Nigeria will certainly agree to that. They are slaughtered by the thousands because of the name of Jesus.
 
Therefore, what occurs to any of us in our Christian walk will result from both personal choices as well as individual circumstances that are often beyond our control. No matter what, we should not fear in our walk in this world. We are His, and He will deliver us from this body of death to eternal life with Him.
 
Lord God, help us to have an eternal perspective in regard to our walk with You. Whatever happens here is temporary and will come to an end. But what lies ahead is eternal. May we not squander this short life we possess when it could be used for Your glory, each step of the way. Amen.

Matthew 20:22

Wednesday, 10 June 2026
 
But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”They said to Him, “We are able.” Matthew 20:22
 
“Answering, also, Jesus, He said, ‘Not you have known what you ask! Are you able to drink the cup, the ‘I, I am about to drink,’ or the immersion, the ‘I, I am immersed’ to be immersed?’They say to Him, ‘We are able.’” (CG).
 
In the previous verse, the mother of Zebedee’s sons asked Jesus to grant that her two sons could sit on His right and left sides in His kingdom. In response, Matthew records, “Answering, also, Jesus, He said, ‘Not you have known what you ask!’”
 
As noted in the previous verse, a question like this can cause real problems for the one being asked. His mind will have to consider every contingency that may arise in the future, something such a spur-of-the-moment question will not normally allow.
 
Because of this, a tension arises between granting and not granting the request. In the case of Jesus, no such tension would arise. He would know and understand all future possibilities, including the negatives such a question would entail.
 
In this case, one of the immediate negatives is that the asker, not the one being asked, really has no idea what they (the verb is plural) are truly asking for. In the case of this question, Ellicott correctly states, “That nearness to Him in His glory could be obtained only by an equal nearness in suffering.”
 
It isn’t that they counted such a cost. Rather, they have no idea about such a cost. They think Jesus will be hailed by the people as the Messiah and Israel’s King, but there is not an inkling in their mind what He will go through for that to come about.
 
As this is so, these two men have actually put themselves ahead of Jesus. They are asking for a position in Jesus’ kingdom before He has gone through what is necessary to obtain that kingdom. It is true that their request is conditional on His securing the kingdom, but because of their ignorance of what that involves, it’s like saying, “Whatever happens that causes You to be king, we want to be there on seats with You when it is over.”
 
This is a natural human way of looking at things, and it is just what Jonathan did with David when he was set to become the king –
 
“And he said to him, ‘Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Even my father Saul knows that.’” 1 Samuel 23:17
 
Jonathan assumed that the future was set by his words, but God’s plans and purposes must come to pass according to His will. Jesus, knowing what lies ahead in His ministry, hints that it will not be what these two men think, asking, “Are you able to drink the cup, the ‘I, I am about to drink’?”
 
The cup signifies one’s lot, good and bad. When one drinks from a cup of sweetness, the sweetness becomes a part of that person, invigorating him. When he drinks hemlock, it becomes a part of him, destroying his life. Jesus had come to deal with sin in humanity. Such a cup would mean God’s wrath on sin would be poured out. Israel sinned, and they received God’s cup of wrath –
 
“Awake, awake!Stand up, O Jerusalem,You who have drunk at the hand of the LordThe cup of His fury;You have drunk the dregs of the cup of trembling,And drained it out.” Isaiah 51:17
 
Jesus’ cup would be sufficient to deal with all of the sins of humanity. Thus, it would be a terrifying cup of wrath and judgment. He continues, asking, “or the immersion, the ‘I, I am immersed’ to be immersed?”
 
Immersion signifies a change in direction and even in nature. John’s immersion was one of repentance, turning from sin and returning to the way of the Lord. Jesus’ immersion is found in the cross. It is the instrument of His immersion, going from life with God in Christ to immersion in death and separation from God for man’s sin.
 
These together, the cup and the immersion, were what Jesus was destined for. And they were not for His sake but for the world. Despite this, and having no clue what this meant, the brothers chimed in with words of confidence. Matthew records, “They say to Him, ‘We are able.’”
 
It is a noble and confident affirmation lacking any comprehension of what lay ahead for Jesus.
 
Life application: Imagine what God in Christ was willing to do to restore us to Himself. He was under no obligation to suffer the indignation, torture, and humility of the cross in order to restore us to Him. And yet, He willingly did it.
 
What value does God see in us? It is hard to figure but it is there. His infinite goodness meant setting aside His glory and taking on a frail, human form. And His humanity went through all the struggles and trials humans face. And then it went through more when He was judged for our sins.
 
If you feel you are lacking value, look to the cross of Christ. You have infinite value in God’s eyes when you accept the gospel and follow Jesus in faith.
 
Lord God, it is beyond our comprehension when we try to consider what the cross of Jesus truly signifies. It is the highest point of our existence when we to look and accept what it means. Everything changes from that moment on. Thank You, O God, for Jesus Christ our Lord. Thank You. Amen.
 

Matthew 20:21

Tuesday, 9 June 2026
 
And He said to her, “What do you wish?”She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.” Matthew 20:21
 
“The ‘Also He said’ to her, ‘What do you desire?’ She says to Him, ‘You said that they might sit, these, the ‘two sons of mine,’ one from ‘rights, You’, and one from ‘lefts, You’, in the ‘kingdom, Yours’.” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons, kneeling before Him and asking a petition from Him. Matthew continues with, “The ‘Also He said’ to her, ‘What do you desire?’”
 
When put in a position like this, all a person can do is wait for whatever is coming. It is reminiscent of what occurred between the Lord and Abraham –
 
“Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. 23 And Abraham came near and said, ‘Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked?’” Genesis 18:22, 23
 
Human beings have emotions and desires, wants and needs, and hopes and aspirations. Laying them before the Lord is one of the most common things we do. Jesus sees that what is being requested is obviously of great importance to them. With his question asked, “She says to Him, ‘You spoke.’”
 
The words mean she is asking for an authoritative statement to be made, essentially a declaration. Her request is “that they might sit, these, the ‘two sons of mine,’...”
 
She is asking for a decree to be made concerning her two sons. To sit in this case is not yet defined, but it means to hold a position. Israel “sat” in Egypt, the king “sits” on his throne, etc. A position is being requested. If it is made, it is something that will stand. People do this to other people, and it quite often puts them in a difficult position.
 
The reason for this is that a lifetime of contingencies may lie ahead that cannot be known at the time. Thus, when such a request is made, it can really put a person on the spot. As for the specific request, it is that “one from ‘rights, You’, and one from ‘lefts, You’.”
 
The plural, rights and lefts, is a way of expressing the totality of one’s side. This is common in Hebrew as well. But it is not unknown in English. We may say, “I am boxed in by my surroundings.” Such plural use gives a fuller sense than would be carried with a singular.
 
In this case, she is asking for her sons to sit in the fullness of Jesus right hand and left hand. The right hand is the preeminent position of honor, power, and authority. To be one’s “right-hand man” means he has full authority to exercise the superior’s will, just as Joseph had full authority over Pharaoh’s house. 
 
At that time, Pharaoh said, “...only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” The left side is one step down in prominence. If the one on the right cannot fulfill his duty, the one on the left would assume it.  As for this place of authority, she is asking for, it is “in the ‘kingdom, Yours’.” 
 
Jesus had said they were going to Jerusalem. He had made a statement that they did not understand, but it appeared the promised earthly kingdom was at hand, something that the nation fully expected when they hailed Him on Palm Sunday –
 
“Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:‘Hosanna!Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father DavidThat comes in the name of the Lord!Hosanna in the highest!’” Mark 11:9, 10
 
Because of the nearness of what was anticipated, she has come forward now, seizing the moment in anticipation of her sons being Jesus’ chief men when that day arrived.
 
Life application: The sons of Zebedee have already been called “Sons of Thunder” by Jesus, as recorded in Mark 3:17. They had been a part of Jesus’ inner circle, having been invited to events that only they and Peter were privy to, such as the transfiguration and the raising of Jairus’ daughter.
 
It is evident from John’s gospel that Jesus had a special spot in His heart for John, even allowing him to sit next to Him at the Last Supper. Peter was impulsive and was openly rebuked by Jesus in Matthew 16. Thus, these two seemed like a logical choice to be Jesus’ chief men.
 
Though it may seem presumptuous to us, they probably felt that they had a right to their request already and wanted it solidified with their mother’s appeal.
 
In the end, they will get two distinct places of honor from Jesus. James will be the first apostle to die, while John will be the last. As such, they were granted special honor by Jesus in one way, even if it was not what they expected as they stood with their mother before Jesus.
 
Lord God, thank You for hearing our pleas, misguided as they may be. You know when to grant our requests and when they are inappropriate. Our hearts are opened to You, and we often are overzealous in what we desire. Thank You that You know what is best for us and respond according to Your wisdom. Amen.
 

Matthew 20:20

Tuesday, 8 June 2026
 
Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. Matthew 20:20
 
“Then she approached Him, the mother – the ‘sons, Zebedee’, with the ‘sons, hers’, worshipping and asking something from Him.” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, Jesus told the twelve about His coming passion and the resurrection that will occur on the third day. Matthew next records, “Then she approached Him, the mother – the ‘sons, Zebedee’.”
 
This would be Salome, as can be determined from two separate sets of verses –
 
“And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar, 56 among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.” Matthew 27:55, 56
 
“There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome, 41 who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.” Mark 15:40, 41
 
Some also place her as the sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus –
 
“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.” John 19:10
 
This is possible, but Mark’s “many other women” means that it must remain speculation. Next, Matthew records that she came “with the ‘sons, hers’.” These are specified elsewhere, such as in Mark’s record of this event, as James and John –
 
“Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, ‘Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.’” Mark 10:35
 
It is apparent that the request of James and John (as cited in Mark 10) is mingled with the actions of their mother. Whether they or she initially instigated the event, they were all aware of it and probably figured that Jesus would incline towards their appeal if it was made through their mother. Whatever the case, she came “worshipping.”
 
The word proskuneó, which has been seen ten times already, is used. It is a derivative of pro, to or toward, and either kuón, dog, or kyneo, to kiss. Either way, the sense is understood. It is like a dog that comes to the feet of a master or kissing the feet of a superior.
 
Thus, it implies a sense of worship. In conjunction with her humble prostration, it says, “and asking something from Him.”
 
Unitedly, they have a petition from Jesus. One can tell by the mother’s inclusion that is something beyond a regular request.
 
Life application: Of this event, Cambridge, who was obviously there at the time of Jesus, making a video of the event, says –
 
“St Mark begins ‘And James and John the sons of Zebedee came unto him, saying, &c.’ For once St Matthew is more graphic and true to detail than St Mark.”
 
I mean, how else could they state this unless they were on the same “See the Messiah” tour? The utterly ridiculous nature of their comment is indicative of some arrogant buffoon who has decided what must be true and what must be a fabrication in God’s word.
 
Without ever considering that the two accounts could easily be melded together into one scene, they have derided the word of God and claimed that one account is “superior” to the other. To say “more...true to detail” means that the other account is less true to detail.
 
Rather than such an arrogant and dismissive comment, John Gill handles the variance between the two with logic –
 
“These two disciples, having observed what Christ had said concerning the twelve disciples sitting on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel, and what he had just related, concerning his rising again the third day, which they might understand of some display of his glory; and concluding from all this, that the setting up of his temporal monarchy was at hand, inform their mother of it, and move to her, to use her interest with Christ, in their favour: and which they did, partly to shun the envy and ill will of the rest of the disciples; and partly, to conceal their own pride and vanity; as also, they might think a request from her, on their behalf, would be more easily granted: accordingly, she agreeing to the motion, they all three came, as Matthew relates, and the mother is the mouth, and speaks for her sons; so that they may be said to make such a request by her, she representing them; or they joined in the petition with her; or as soon as she had made it, they seconded it, and made it their own.”
 
Be humble with God’s word. Don’t be arrogant or a know-it-all. Someday, you will have to stand before its Author and give an account concerning how you treated it.
 
Lord God, help us to remember to always handle Your word with respect and care. May we never diminish its sacred contents. You are God. Help us to accept Your word as trustworthy and reliable, seeking to understand the difficult parts with humility. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.
 

Matthew 20:19

Sunday, 7 June 2026
 
and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.”  Matthew 20:19
 
“and they will surrender Him to the Gentiles unto the ‘mock, and flog, and crucify’, and the third day, He will rise up.” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, Jesus reminded His twelve that in going up to Jerusalem, He would be betrayed to the chief priests and scribes who would condemn Him to death. He finishes this thought, saying, “and they will surrender Him to the Gentiles.”
 
Despite the chief priests and scribes condemning Jesus to death, they did not have the authority to crucify Him. As such, the gospels bear out that they went to the Gentiles to have the sentence against Jesus executed. Once in Gentile hands, however, there was more that would be expected. He was delivered “unto the ‘mock, and flog, and crucify’.”
 
For the first time, Jesus specifically notes the means by which He would be killed. It is a new word, stauroó, to impale. But that must be understood not as being pierced through the entire body, but through parts of the body, being affixed to something, such as a cross, pole, wall, etc.
 
In the case of Jesus’ coming crucifixion, there is a debate whether the cross He bore was only the lintel, which was then affixed to a standing tree or pole, or if He bore the entire cross.
 
One theory, clearly refuted by verses in the gospels, is that Jesus was affixed to a single stake. In such a case, His hands would be pierced above His head with His body hanging below them. However, Matthew 27:37 says that the accusation against Him was put above His head. Therefore, that is not how He was crucified. As for His death, which is certain when one is crucified by the Romans, Jesus says, “and the third day, He will rise up.”
 
This is stated in all three synoptic gospels. Jesus would rise on, not after, the third day. It is confirmed in Acts and the epistles as well. It is an important point that many miss, instead assuming that it was three days and then Jesus arose at the start of the fourth day.
 
Life application: Of Jesus’ words, it says in Luke –
 
“But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken.” Luke 18:33
 
Mark adds in another thought, saying, “But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him” (Mark 9:32).
 
Jesus spoke the word concerning His passion directly to the men. He told them exactly what would happen. And yet they didn’t understand, and they were afraid to ask. If you have read the Bible a few times, you begin to realize there are things you just don’t understand.
 
This usually isn’t the case the first few reads through because most people cannot process all that is being thrown at them. Like hearing a song on the radio or learning a new language, it takes a bit of repetition to begin to understand the lyrics of the song or the variation of the words in a language.
 
The same is true with reading the Bible. After a few times through, distinctions in various accounts begin to show up. If this is the word of God, it is telling us something that is true, just like Jesus’ words to the apostles. And yet, we struggle with what is said.
 
Instead of feeling foolish and not asking, and instead of not wanting to bother God, as if He is too busy with other things, He is pleased with our wanting to know what His word is saying. And so, it should be natural to us to call out, “Lord, I don’t understand what is going on here. Show me what you are telling us in Your word.”
 
If you do this, you will often find that very soon after, you will read a commentary, hear someone talking about, or get led to another part of the Bible that exactingly explains what you were wanting to know. God is there, waiting for you to talk to Him. That is called “prayer.”
 
Prayer doesn’t need to be on your knees with your eyes closed and your hands clasped. It is communication between you and God in whatever manner establishes the link. From there, a sense of fellowship is established, and He gladly responds to your petition. That is, of course, if you are in Christ. If you are not, no reply should be expected.
 
But if you are in Christ, you are God’s child through adoption. Your heavenly Father is waiting for you to talk to Him. So open thy mouth, and speak. He will not be bothered at all.
 
Lord God, Your word is big and difficult for us to grasp when we first start into it. It continues to be that way as we dig deeper. But You gave it to us. And so, coming to You is the appropriate way to have it revealed to us. Help us to remember this and to seek Your face when we come to things we do not understand. Open our eyes, O God, to see wonderful things in Your word. Amen.
 

Matthew 20:18

Saturday, 6 June 2026
 
“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, Matthew 20:18
 
“You behold! We ascend to Jerusalem, and the ‘Son, the Man’, He will be surrendered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will sentence Him – death.” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, it said Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. Taking His twelve disciples aside, He readied to speak to them, saying, “You behold! We ascend to Jerusalem.”
 
It is a fact they were aware of. Thus, the meaning is, “Something should be expected when we ascend to Jerusalem.” With that in mind, He continues, saying, “and the ‘Son, the Man’, He will be surrendered.”
 
This is the third time Jesus has spoken of this event. It is why He specifically said, “We ascend to Jerusalem.” What He referred to in the past will now be realized –
 
“From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.” Matthew 16:21
 
“Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.’ And they were exceedingly sorrowful.” Matthew 17:22, 23
 
The first time He spoke of this was just after Peter’s words, acknowledging that Jesus is the Messiah. The second time was shortly after the transfiguration. When they had come down the mountain, and the afflicted boy was healed, He told them of what was ahead. Now, in accord with His previous words, He confirms to them that the time has come. He will be surrendered “to the chief priests and scribes.”
 
These are the religious leaders of Israel. They would be the ones to make various decisions according to the Law of Moses concerning what should be done with transgressors of the law. Despite standing Jesus before their council and finding He had done nothing in violation of the law, Jesus notes, “and they will sentence Him – death.”
 
How could their Messiah and the Son of God, as confirmed before those two previous warnings, be sentenced to death? The disciples, despite hearing Jesus’ words, will be seen not to have understood Him at all.
 
Life application: How often do we hear someone say something and we don’t process it in the manner they intended? Later, when whatever they said comes to pass, we may say, “I thought you were joking” or “I just didn’t get what you were saying.”
 
This is common because we tend to hear what we want to hear. Unfortunately, we do this with God’s word as well. There are pastors, preachers, and teachers of the Bible who purposefully ignore the word, speak against it, or say it has an error.
 
When we hear this, we might say, “Those are really bad people. Look how they treat the word!” And yet, in our own doctrine or beliefs concerning the Bible, we may do exactly the same thing. Do we accept that the Earth is billions of years old? Then we are treating the Bible in the same manner.
 
Do we have a female Bible teacher or pastor? If so, we have rejected what God’s word says concerning such things. When we hear the story of Samson, do we say, “That is just an exaggeration” concerning something reported about him? What right do we have to make such a claim?
 
It is one thing to misunderstand what we are being told, but to block out the clearly spoken (and then recorded) word of God, we make ourselves the arbiter of what God’s word says. Of course, there must be a context to every passage in Scripture. If we are rightly handling the context, then the fault will lie with those who are not doing so. But when something is explicit and in context, we must accept what God has said.
 
It is important to have this attitude. Just because we don’t understand a particular issue, we should still work within the framework of what God has said, accepting it by faith as reliable.
 
Lord God, help us to have the right attitude concerning Your word, never second-guessing what is plainly stated for us. It may be that a translation is faulty or an analysis is wrong, so give us the wisdom to check those things out. But what is said that is plain and clear, may we accept it and apply it to our walk before You. Amen.
 

Matthew 20:17

Friday, 5 June 2026
 
Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, Matthew 20:17
 
“And ascending, the ‘Jesus to Jerusalem’, He took twelve disciples apart alone, and in the road, He said to them,” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, the final thought concerning the parable of the workers in the vineyard was given. With that complete, a new direction takes place, beginning with, “And ascending, the ‘Jesus to Jerusalem’.”
 
Regardless of the elevation where one is, the Bible always describes the journey to Jerusalem as an ascent. In fact, there are many locations with a higher elevation in the land itself. The highest among them is Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights, which sits at 7,336 feet above sea level.
 
After that, many peaks are higher than Jerusalem, a few of them are Mount Ha’Ari, Mount Ramon, Mount ‘Arif, Mount ‘Ofa’im, Mount Hilla, Mount Zafrir, and Mount Hillel. These and other points exceed the elevation of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, which sits at 2,430 feet. Despite this, the trek there is considered an ascent.
 
Of this trek, Charles Ellicott says, “The narrative is not continuous, and in the interval between Matthew 20:16-17 we may probably place our Lord’s ‘abode beyond Jordan’ (John 10:40), the raising of Lazarus, and the short sojourn in the city called Ephraim (John 11:54). This would seem to have been followed by a return to Persea, and then the journey to Jerusalem begins.”
 
If this is correct, it can be found in what is known as a harmonization of the gospels, which several reliable sources have taken the time to put together, showing the exact chronology of events throughout the four gospels. Of this ascent, the narrative continues, saying, “He took twelve disciples apart alone.”
 
At this time, there were probably many people with them on the trek, but Jesus wanted to specifically provide information to the twelve that the others were not yet to be privy to. Therefore, Matthew continues, “and in the road, He said to them.”
 
The verse excitedly ends as if a breath is needed before continuing to the precious words of Jesus to His twelve selected apostles.
 
Life application: It is important to confirm information in commentaries, not taking them at face value until verified and considered in relation to what the Bible says. In John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible, he records the following concerning this verse –
 
“Which was situated (f) in the highest part of the land of Israel: the land of Israel, is said to be higher than any other land whatever; and the temple at Jerusalem, higher than any part of the land of Israel; wherefore Christ's going to Jerusalem, is expressed by going up to it.”
 
His footnote says his information was derived from “T. Bab. Sanhedrim, fol. 87. 1.” When John Gill recorded this, in the 1700s, he was using what information was available to him. Unfortunately, the Babylonian Talmud presented him with erroneous information, which has since been passed on to the minds of those who have read it.
 
At many times, the ascent to Jerusalem is not a physical ascent at all. However, it is always a theological ascent as one moves closer to the point where man meets with the God of Israel. That is why it can be said that a person on Mount Hermon, high above Jerusalem in elevation, will ascend as he makes the trek to Jerusalem.
 
Remember this as you read the Bible. John Gill certainly didn’t intentionally provide wrong information, but for some reason, the compilers of the Babylonian Talmud did. They probably knew what was said was incorrect, but they recorded it anyway.
 
Understanding that this biblical elevation of Jerusalem is stated as it is, it then becomes more pertinent when considering Paul’s words in Galatians –
 
“For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— 25 for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— 26 but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.” Galatians 4:24-26
 
At one point, the city of Jerusalem was considered the pinnacle of elevation because it was where God was dealing with men, interacting with them through temple rites and rituals. That ended with the completed work of Christ. The veil was torn, and access to God through Jesus Christ was made available.
 
The temple in Jerusalem, which ministers the law of Moses, is not, nor will it ever again be, the pinnacle of God’s interactions with man. It is a place of bondage leading to death. It is a place of enmity with God. Wherever Jesus Christ is, that is the place where the spiritual ascent is now realized. That is because He fulfilled the law, set it aside, and introduced the New Covenant in His blood.
 
To miss this point has led to incredibly bad theology in relation to end times events (eschatology) within the church. People openly applaud the coming construction of the temple in Jerusalem, which will reintroduce sacrifices based on the Law of Moses. It is the very thing Christ came to abolish, and yet Christians actively support this diabolical event. This should not be.
 
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus alone, mourning over Israel’s failure to see the One they have missed for so long. Pray for them. Many will die before their time of realization comes about. Pray to God that eyes will be opened before that tragic day which lies ahead comes upon them.
 
Lord God, we lift up the lost in the world, knowing that a day of judgment lies ahead for all unless the word gets to them before it arrives. May You work mightily through missionaries, social media, and the simple but effective words of believers around the world to just open their mouths and speak about Your goodness as seen in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 

Matthew 20:16

Thursday, 4 June 2026
 
So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.” Matthew 20:16
 
“Thus, they will be the last, first, and the first, last. Many, then, they are called; few, also, selected.” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, Jesus finished His parable concerning the workers in the vineyard. His words now sum up the overall thought. They are words that go back to Matthew 19:30, and which closed out that chapter. He says, “Thus, they will be the last, first, and the first, last.”
 
In Matthew 19:30, it said, “Many, also, they will be: first, last, and last, first.” We can see that Jesus specifically built this parable around that thought to explain what prompted that statement in the first place. That was based on Peter’s words. There, it said, “Then answering, Peter, he said to Him, ‘You behold! We, we left all, and we followed You! What hence it will be to us?’”
 
Only by following the progression of the narrative can the explanation for the parable be properly understood. Various views have been proposed as to Jesus’ intent. Some find the laborers to indicate the beginning of the gospel, meaning the selection of Jesus’ disciples at the outset of His ministry. That is then followed by those who labor throughout the church age. Those coming at the end of the age would be those who were hired at the eleventh hour.
 
Others also see it as the church age, but the pay is rewards for the followers, suggesting a connection to 1 Corinthians 3 and 2 Corinthians 5, meaning the judgment seat of Christ. These and other views don’t look back to what precipitated Peter’s question to Jesus.
 
Jesus counseled the rich young ruler who was trying to earn his way to perpetual life. He left sad because he realized he could not do so through law observance. That is when Jesus brought in the difficulty of entering the kingdom with the example of the camel going through the eye of a needle. The apostles were floored, asking who could be saved.
 
Jesus told them that with man, it is impossible, but with God, all things are possible. This is what brought about Peter’s question to Jesus. As such, the vineyard is what is spoken of throughout the Old Testament and into the New. It is highlighted in Isaiah and summed up in Jesus’ words of Matthew 21:40, 41 –
 
“Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers? 41 They said to Him, ‘He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.’”
 
The vineyard is the economy where God is dealing with man in order to bring about a result. Israel was chosen to bring about that result, but they failed to understand that, despite the law, it was not law observance that would bring them restoration with God. This is what Jesus demonstrated in His words with the young ruler.
 
The laborers who were hired early were those in this vineyard who labored for God, be it Moses, Isaiah, Amos, etc. John the Baptist was the last of these. They were promised a certain wage and went into the field. At the time of Jesus, laborers were called to go into the field, starting with the disciples. As noted in the Matthew 20:8 commentary –
 
“Those who came last are to be paid first. It seems contradictory to the way one would normally think, but it is a demonstration to all concerning grace. Grace is getting what one does not deserve. The housemaster wants all of the laborers to see that he will treat the last with care and respect, despite their being late into the field.”
 
The pay is not the issue. It is the grace of what is received that is being conveyed. Those who worked in the field during the heat of the day were those who labored under the law. Their wages were set based on their state under the law. At the end of the day, the laborers who came last were given grace in what they received.
 
Israel could say, “We labored for all that time under the law, and yet, you are giving those who came later what we had to work for.” That thought is well expressed in Jesus’ words about John –
 
“Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Matthew 11:11
 
Jesus, using a harvest of grain instead of labor in the vineyard, essentially explains the parable in John 4 –
 
“Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.” John 4:35-38
 
Understanding this, Jesus completes this thought saying, “Many, then, they are called; few, also, selected.”
 
The meaning is that there were people called to work in the field for eons, laboring until the time of the kingdom, Moses, for example. However, they were not selected for that dispensation. They were of the dispensation of law. John, despite being the greatest of all under the law, was not selected for the dispensation of grace. He was called to service but died before it was ushered in.
 
One cannot merit grace. Israel entered into the labor, the time of grace came, and eventually the vineyard was taken from them and given to others to tend to. God is doing something in the world (expressed by the vineyard), many are called to tend to it, but only when Jesus came, fulfilled the law, and allowed grace to be imparted can people be selected to truly receive what God has promised. That is seen in the final word of the verse, a new word, eklektós, selected.
 
HELPS Word Studies says, “Typically, eklektós (‘select, chosen’) describes people who choose to follow the Lord, i.e. become God’s choice by freely receiving faith (pístis) from Him. Accordingly, these two terms are directly connected (see Tit 1:1; Lk 18:7,8).”
 
Entering the kingdom only comes through faith, and it only comes apart from the law, even if those under the law have faith. For those of Israel who are selected for the kingdom Jesus is describing in the parable, it is (just like Gentiles) only for those who have faith since Christ’s fulfillment of the law, coming to Him by faith.
 
Life application: Laboring for something that is already earned is a waste of time. If you are caught up in adherence to the Law of Moses and expect to receive God’s favor, you will be sorely disappointed when you find yourself excluded from what God has offered those who are willing to come to Him by faith alone.
 
Lord God, we are lost sinners. You have done all that is necessary to reconcile us to Yourself. Why would we think we could do better than that? May we never presume to do so, but to trust wholly in the shed blood of Jesus Christ for our reconciliation with You. Amen.

Matthew 20:15

Wednesday, 3 June 2026
 
Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ Matthew 20:15
 
“Or not it permits me, what I will to do in ‘these, mine’? Or the ‘eye, you’ evil, it is, because I – good, I am?” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, the housemaster told the grumbler to take what was his and go on his way, noting that he wanted to give the last man the same as those who came first. Before the man could exit, he had a bit more to say, beginning with, “Or not it permits me, what I will to do in ‘these, mine’?”
 
He is the housemaster and the one who decides what goes on in the labor related to his house, including the vineyard where the laborers were hired to work. The possessions were his. The only thing that no longer belonged to him was the wages he promised to pay, a denarius for each laborer who began work in the early hours.
 
As they were guaranteed that sum, they were owed that amount. According to the law, he was to settle accounts by the end of the day, which he did. Everything that was due to those he hired had been paid. That means as the next came forward to receive his wages, it was up to the housemaster to pay him what was right, even though no specified amount was stated.
 
As they came forward, he could have given three-quarters of a denarius, half of a denarius, a quarter of a denarius, or even one-eighth of a denarius for those who came at the last hour.
 
However, if he wanted to give them anything above that, because it was his own money, he was fully within his rights to do so. Understanding this, and having fully detailed the situation, he asks, “Or the ‘eye, you’ evil, it is, because I – good, I am?”
 
The evil eye is something that goes back to Deuteronomy 15:9. It is seen again in Proverbs 28:22. In these instances, there is the sense of greed being conveyed –
 
“Beware lest there be a wicked thought in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,’ and your eye be evil against your poor brother and you give him nothing, and he cry out to the Lord against you, and it become sin among you.” Deuteronomy 15:9
 
“A man with an evil eye hastens after riches,And does not consider that poverty will come upon him.” Proverbs 28:22
 
Such references show that the eye is like an open channel leading right to the heart filled with greed. The eye sees, the mind considers, and the heart impels the person to covet, betray, etc. This is even the case with someone who has gotten just what he agreed to, but who sees someone else supposedly getting more than he “deserves” from someone who has good and honorable intentions.
 
Both men are at the end of their day. Both have needs to be met. How can a man live on an eighth of a denarius? Therefore, the housemaster had mercy on his situation and tended to his needs out of a willing heart.
 
Life application: There is a difference between these men who were paid, even those who were paid more than those who started work earlier, and most of those who are on welfare in the world today. What is that difference?
 
These men were out waiting for work to come to them. The problem with welfare is that it rewards people for doing nothing. As people will normally follow the easiest path, they will sit at home and do nothing for as long as the stream of money keeps coming in.
 
Unless there is an incentive for them to get up and get out, they will not do so. Instead, they will become as dependent on their monthly checks as drug addicts are on their daily dose. In fact, the dependence on welfare leads to dependence on alcohol, drugs, etc.
 
Governments have built systems to enslave their own citizens in this manner for one simple reason: power. As long as they keep the money flowing to indolent people, they are assured of their votes. And with their votes come favorable outcomes in elections.
 
With those election wins, there is power to continue and expand the cycle. Thus, from one seemingly good and “helpful” program, a country moves from producers to lazy do-nothings. And the structure of the government leans more and more towards socialism and eventually communism.
 
All the while, the people who are supposedly being helped are caught in slave chains of dependence. Lives are wasted, human potential is taken away, and families are destroyed. This is the power of the liberal agenda. It is a power of corruption and wickedness toward human beings.
 
Lord God, help us to carefully consider who we will support when we cast our votes for our leaders. May we never withhold voting if it is our right to do so. In not voting, we default to the lowest common denominator in our society. May we be responsible citizens of the nations in which we live. Amen.
 

Matthew 20:14

Tuesday, 2 June 2026
 
Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Matthew 20:14
 
“You bear the ‘yours’, and you go! I will, also, this: the last to give as also you.” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, the housemaster told the grumbler that he was a scammer, asking if he didn’t agree to a denarius. Without waiting for a response, he next says, “You bear the ‘yours’, and you go!”
 
In other words, “You got what we agreed on. That is yours. Take it and hit the road.” Having said that, he continues with, “I will, also, this: the last to give as also you.”
 
If such is his will, it has not harmed anyone else. Rather, it was an act of his own charitable goodness to hand out money as he saw fit. There was no wrongdoing, no intent of malice toward another, and the only wrong involved is that of perception by a person who had received what he agreed to work for.
 
Life application: In the United States, it is common to tip people who work in service industries, especially waitresses. They normally receive less pay for the work they do with others based on the anticipation that when they do a good job, they will be rewarded for it by those they serve.
 
It is true that some cultures or individuals don’t tip, but that disregard for the care of others is their own issue. The poor servers just have to bite their lip and live with it. Besides such people, tipping is how some people are able to pay their bills. However, at some point in the past, some restaurants came to the ridiculous conclusion that it was unfair for one server to make more than the others.
 
Think about it. You have hired Lazy Linda. She does the minimal amount of work, is late serving people their food, and shows up ten minutes late every day. You also have Moaning Myrtle. She never smiles, complains to the customers about the amount of food they order, and has plenty of words about her unhappy family life to share with complete strangers.
 
You also have Piggy Peggy. Her clothes are dirty, she doesn’t smell very good, and if she laughs, it is more a grunt than anything joyful. She delivers the food randomly, and when you get it, it seems something may have been picked off the plate on the trip between the kitchen and your table.
 
And then, there is Amazing Amy. She shows up early, always has a well-pressed, clean uniform, smiles at everybody, never has a bad word to say about anyone or anything, and never stops helping others. Her customers become regulars, they know her birthday, and always wish her a merry Christmas with a nice little gift.
 
Why on earth should Amazing Amy have to split the $1000.00 a day she makes in tips with Lazy, Piggy, and Moaning, who collectively make about 85 cents in tips on a good day? This rewards indolence, negative attitudes, and sloppy work. It also penalizes hard work and outstanding effort.
 
The first laborers hired by the housemaster got exactly what they agreed to. Maybe they worked hard, or maybe they slouched on the job, but the housemaster was faithful to meet his obligation to them. The last people were given a great measure of grace, receiving what today would be considered a nice tip for their minimal labors. But nobody was wronged in the process.
 
Be content with your pay. If you are unhappy with it, or with how your boss treats others for whatever reason, as long as he is not violating any law, remember that there are other options available on the other side of the door.
 
As Christians, we should always strive to do our best at whatever we do. Jesus’ name rests on us. So honor the Lord first. In doing so, everything else will find its proper place.
 
Lord God, may we rejoice when others are successful. If we want what they have, may we be willing to expend ourselves to obtain those things. May we not be envious of what we do not possess. And, Lord, keep us from taking from others what they have rightfully earned. Amen.
 

Matthew 20:13

Monday, 1 June 2026
 
But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Matthew 20:13
 
“The ‘also answering one of them’, he said, ‘Scammer! Not I wrong you! Not for a denarius, you harmonized me?’” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, the workers who were hired earlier in the day grumbled that the housemaster made those who worked only one hour equal with those who bore the burden of the day. In hearing this, it next says, “The ‘also answering one of them’.”
 
This is the housemaster. He probably directs his words to the one who was the chief grumbler who stirred the others up. As for his words, “he said, ‘Scammer!’”
 
This is a new and rare word, found only three times, all in Matthew. It may be that because Matthew was a tax collector, there were particular words he and other tax collectors used to identify people of a certain sort. The word is hetairos, a comrade, fellow, or friend.
 
However, HELPS Word Studies provides insights into it, saying it is someone “posing to be a comrade but in reality only has his own interests in mind.” They also say it “suggests someone viewed (associated) as a friend, but is actually an imposter acting for self-gain.” As such, the words scammer or shammer make a suitable translation of the thought.
 
The housemaster continues, explaining why he is such a person, saying, “Not I wrong you! Not for a denarius, you harmonized me?”
 
The agreement which they came to was a denarius for the day’s labor. The offer was made, the man accepted it, and a state of harmony was realized when he went off to the vineyard. Had the housemaster paid him first and sent him out the door, there would have been no complaints or grumbling because he would have been none the wiser.
 
However, jealousy crept into him when he saw that others benefited in a manner differently from him.
 
Life application: The previous administration under Joe Biden frittered away billions of dollars of taxpayer money by wiping out loans that were made to college students. The program was set up to help people get through college with the understanding that the loans were to be repaid at a set rate of interest.
 
It doesn’t matter if the rates later seemed unfair to those who took out the loans. It also doesn’t matter if they never got the job they trained for because they chose a field that nobody has a need for, like “Blue-haired social justice manager for underprivileged surfers.”
 
What matters is that they signed a legal document, took the money, got the education, and were required to pay it back. However, with his inability to effectively run the nation and needing to bolster his list of potential voters, Biden arbitrarily canceled these loans.
 
What kind of example does it set when certain people are granted such favor while others have to pay back their loans? Biden did this with the banking industry as well, bailing out those banks that were unprofitable, but which supported left-wing agendas. When a conservative bank failed, no assistance was given.
 
Such behavior permeated the policies of Biden’s presidency, turning what was right and proper upside down. Understanding this, be sure to always evaluate your voting choices on who most closely will uphold biblical values. In doing so, you may not get the best guy in the world running things, but you will avoid real trouble that inevitably arises from hiring someone who is opposed to the moral principles set forth in Scripture.
 
Lord God, may we not grumble or complain when we are treated unfairly by those we interact with. We can’t see all the circumstances of the future that may change, and so we should not later try to upend our agreements. Help us to stick to what we have agreed to and strive to always set a proper example for others. Amen.

Matthew 20:12

Sunday, 31 May 2026
 
saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ Matthew 20:12
 
“Saying that ‘These, the last, one hour they made, and equal, them, to us, you made those who were bearing the burden of the day and the blaze.’” (CG)
 
In the previous verse, it was noted that those who went to the vineyard to work early grumbled after they had received the same pay as those who came later. That continues with the words, “Saying that ‘These, the last, one hour they made.’”
 
This is what it said in verses 6 & 7. The housemaster found these men idle in the market around the eleventh hour. They were hired and went into the field. Despite that minimal workday of just one hour. As for the others, they continue, saying, “and equal, them, to us, you made.”
 
A new word is seen, isos, similar. It conveys the idea of as much as, equal, like, etc. It is believed to be from eidó, seeing that becomes knowing. As such, one can know when things are equal. It is the root of our modern words, such as isometric, isosceles, etc. Each refers to equivalencies.
 
These men perceive that there is equality of pay, even though there was not equality of work involved. As such, they find an unfair disparity exists between those who were hired later and “those who were bearing the burden of the day and the blaze.”
 
Here is another new word, the noun kausón, blaze. It is derived from the verb kausoo, blazing, as in fervent heat. This is what it is like in Israel. With the clear skies, the sun blazes right down on the land. Working outside, even in a moderate task, is hot and can be enervating. By the end of a twelve-hour day, even the toughest person will normally be wiped out.
 
These men had been in the vineyard. Whatever their task was, it would have been filled with heated labor. By mid-morning, it would be very hot. That would continue right until late afternoon. If there is any relief, it will begin just about the time the last workers were coming to assist, when the western ocean breeze begins to sweep across the land, cooling it down.
 
This all depends on where in the land a person is situated, but the evening is when that process would begin if in the right location. Other than that, and depending on the time of year, the heat can be extreme.
 
Life application: Having the same pay for the same job, regardless of output, is not unheard of. If someone hires people to get a job done without regard to the time or personal success in the matter, he will give his instructions at the outset. For example, “We have a lost child. The search will be difficult, and the terrain is unforgiving. If you get hurt, there will be no one coming to help you. Our concern is finding that child.
 
Anyone who is willing to go out there will be given $5000.00. However, you are committed until the child is found. If you take the money, you are in this until the end.”
 
After the first people are hired, more show up throughout the day. Each person who goes out gets the same pay. In fact, the last person who agreed did so learned that when he walked out the door, the child was found. They called it in only moments after the agreement was made. Is it unfair that the last person didn’t even have to start the search? Not at all. The condition was based on outcome alone.
 
If a man has a vineyard and his intent is to have the harvest completed before the Sabbath, he will motivate people to get out and work based on the completion of the harvest, not necessarily on what any individual does.
 
God has a plan. It is being worked out in dispensations. Each dispensation has its own structure and targeted purpose, but all dispensations are working toward a final, greater result. As such, it cannot be unfair if someone is born under the law and someone is born in the age of grace.
 
Further, in any dispensation, there are things that must occur. For example, there needs to be people to initiate the process of the dispensation of grace. Martyrs are expected throughout the dispensation. Also, there must be one last person who is saved before the rapture occurs.
 
We cannot find fault in where we were placed, either in time or location. The needs of the plan and the final outcome of what God has laid out are what matter. When we are having a bad patch, maybe the nation we are in is at war, and many people are suffering from the effects of it, we cannot blame God for our woes.
 
Life, in whatever situation a person finds himself, is a product of the overall plan that God has set forth. It is not about us as it occurs. Let us consider things from God’s perspective. He has promised us a good end. His word says nothing about a guaranteed good time before we get to that end. In fact, it assures us that troubles can be expected –
 
“For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” Philippians 1:29
 
“Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” 1 Peter 4:12, 13
 
Lord God Almighty, we are assured of eternal glory because of our faith in Christ Jesus. Until that day, help us to endure whatever trials we may face. We are Yours, and we know that You will always do right for those who belong to You. Even in our times of suffering and affliction, we know You are with us. Thank You for this reassurance. Amen.