BIBLE IN TEN

Friday, 30 January 2026   When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” Matthew 16:13   “And Jesus, having come to the allotments – Caesarea, the Phillipi, He entreated His disciples, saying, ‘Whom they say, the men, Me to be, the Son of Man?'” (CG).   In the previous verse, the disciples finally clued in to what Jesus was trying to teach them. His words about the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees were speaking of their evil doctrine. Matthew now continues the narrative of their time after arriving on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, saying, “And Jesus, having come to the allotments – Caesarea, the Phillipi.”   A new word, Kaisareia, Caesarea, is introduced. It is derived from Kaisar, Caesar, a Latin word referring to the title of the Roman Emperor. Caesarea refers to two places in the area of Israel. The first is this location, Caesarea Philippi. Of this location, Albert Barnes says –   “There were two cities in Judea called Caesarea. One was situated on the borders of the Mediterranean (See the notes at Acts 8:40), and the other was the one mentioned here. This city was greatly enlarged and ornamented by Philip the tetrarch, son of Herod, and called Caesarea in honor of the Roman emperor, Tiberius Caesar. To distinguish it from the other Caesarea the name of Philip was added to it, and it was called Caesarea Philippi, or Caesarea of Philippi. It was situated in the boundaries of the tribe of Naphtali, at the foot of Mount Hermon.”   Having come to this general area, “He entreated His disciples, saying, ‘Whom they say, the men, Me to be, the Son of Man?'” Translations consider His words in one of two ways. One is “Whom do men say that I am? The Son of Man?”, or “Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”   The latter is correct. Jesus has referred to Himself as the Son of Man nine times already, making this the tenth. Peter's answer will also show that He is not asking if people say He is the Son of Man. Rather, He is asking what He, the Son of Man, is called by others. He is preparing them for a great pronouncement by asking this probing question first.   Life application: Jesus came to His own country in Matthew 13:53-58. He was rejected by them. In Matthew 14:1-12, the account of the beheading of John the Baptist was given. That was followed by the feeding of the five thousand in Matthew 14:13-21.   Jesus then walked on the sea, as is recorded in Matthew 14:22-33. From there, they came to the area of Gennesaret, at which time He fully saved all who simply touched Him. In Matthew 15:1-20, it then noted the traditions of the Jews which Jesus condemned, explaining that what comes out of a man is what defiles, not what enters into him.   That was then followed by His journey to the allotments of Tyre and Sidon, where the faith of the Canaanite woman was noted, and her daughter was saved. After that, Jesus went around the Sea of Galilee to the eastern side of it. There, He healed many and eventually fed four thousand. After feeding them, they crossed the Galilee, coming to the region of Magdala.   While there, He was accosted by the Pharisees and Sadducees who looked for a sign from heaven. He told them no sign would be given but the sign of Jonah. Once that was complete, they once again crossed the Sea of Galilee to the eastern side, being instructed on the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Now in the account, they have remained on this eastern side and gone north to the area of Caesarea Philippi.   This crisscrossing of the land and the Sea of Galilee all has a purpose. Jesus' movements are being used as a walking instructional tool in what God is doing in redemptive history. It is good to stop and reconsider where He has gone and where He is at any given time. By considering these things, we can follow what God is doing in reconciling the world to Himself through Jesus.   Each area visited, each topographical marker that is mentioned, and each thing Jesus does is being woven into a marvelous tapestry for us to ponder and learn from. Keep paying attention to the details, both from a micro and macro viewpoint. God is telling us a story of humanity's long trek back to Him, and it is all centered on Jesus.   Lord God, it would make no sense for You to send Your Son into the world unless there was something to be gained from it. His life of trials and burdens, culminating in His cross and resurrection, tells us that there is a great plan that has been put in place to bring Your people to a place we cannot even imagine at this time. We are grateful to be on this journey because of Jesus! Thank You for the sure hope we possess. Amen.

Thursday, 29 January 2026   Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Matthew 16:12   “Then they comprehended that not He said to caution from the leaven – the bread, but from the teaching – the Pharisees and Sadducees” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus explicitly told the disciples that He didn't speak to them about bread, but about the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. With His words spoken to them, the light bulb came on. Matthew says, “Then they comprehended.”   Jesus took the disciples through an instructional process to help them learn how to think clearly. Instead of just saying what He was talking about, He asked them questions that would help them to think through the matter.   With the questions complete, He then told them what He was talking about while still using the leaven metaphor. From there, they would have to make the final leap from the metaphor to the matter He was addressing, which was, “that not He said to caution from the leaven – the bread.”   They now know it isn't leaven of bread. Jesus told them He was referring to the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. As Pharisees and Sadducees are not loaves walking around, either leavened or unleavened, Jesus had to be referring to something else while using a metaphor.   With this understood, they were able to deduce that it wasn't really leaven He was addressing, “but from the teaching – the Pharisees and Sadducees.”   This is their lightbulb moment. Jesus has successfully schooled them on a matter while giving them a warning about that matter. What the Pharisees and Sadducees had asked from Jesus was hypocritical, wicked, and adulterous according to Jesus' words to them.   Understanding this, Jesus then let the disciples know that such people, who ask for signs when there are already signs galore to confirm what they had wanted, are false teachers. As false teaching comes from a sinful heart, their doctrine itself is sinful.   Jesus told the disciples to beware of their doctrine, meaning concerning the things of God, because the source of what they taught was corrupt. This is essentially the message Jesus conveys to them. It is somewhatone analogous to what He said to them earlier concerning false prophets –   “From their fruits you will recognize them. Not any, they gather from thorns a grape or from thistles figs? 17Thus, every good tree, it produces good fruit. And the rotten tree, it produces evil fruit. 18Not, it can, a good tree, bad fruit produce, nor a rotten tree good fruit produce. 19Every tree not producing good fruit, it is exscinded, and it is cast into fire. 20Hence, from their fruits you will know them.” Matthew 7:16-20   Life application: These leaders in Israel were to be obeyed in accordance with the law. Jesus will make this explicit in Matthew 23. However, the disciples were told to beware of what they taught, as it was an infection that would only lead people away from a sound relationship with God.   Nothing has changed with Israel's religious leaders since then. The rabbis teach what is contrary to what God has determined, meaning salvation by faith through grace, as is found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is what God is doing. If they are teaching contrary to that, they are not teaching what God is doing.   This is such a sad situation for the people that many rabbis over the years have been proclaimed the Messiah. Today in Israel, there are billboards and banners along the highways proclaiming one person or another is the Messiah.   Until they get this right, as a nation, they will remain under the curse of the law. However, isn't this what has happened in Christian circles many times as well? Throughout church history, a litany of false teachers has claimed they were God's representative on earth.   There are people who have started aberrant cults and sects. There are those who claim the Messiah is alive today and he lives in the Philippines, Russia, Miami, and elsewhere. Why is this the way it is? It is because in both Israel and throughout the rest of the world, people don't take the time to learn the Bible.   In not knowing the Bible, we cannot know if what we are being told is true or not about what God is doing. All we have to lean on is what we are told and whatever discernment we possess. Unfortunately, quite often those who claim the “gift” of discernment are the ones lacking even a modicum of it.   It is important for us to read the Bible. It has been given to keep us from being led down the primrose path. Be sure to use wisdom, pick it up, and read it!   Lord God, You have said in Your word that there is a proper path leading to restoration with You. If there is a proper path, then not being on it will not lead to that restoration. Help us to be wise and discerning concerning such things. May we be willing to put in the effort necessary to hold fast to You alone by knowing how to do so through Your word. Amen.

Wednesday, 28 January 2026   How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Matthew 16:11   “How not you recollect that I spoke not concerning bread to you! Caution from the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus continued His reminders to the disciples concerning His miracles, specifically the giving of the bread to four thousand, which was followed by collecting seven large hampers of leftovers. Because of this, He incredulously asks, “How not you recollect that I spoke not concerning bread to you!”   He had multiplied bread to feed many thousands on two separate occasions. And more, there was enough bread left over that people could have grabbed a snack for the journey on the way. So why would He care about the disciples not bringing bread? He wouldn't. Something entirely different was on His mind. That is stated with the words, “Caution from the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”   There are two small changes in some of the texts –   How not you recollect that I spoke not concerning bread to you, but to caution from the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. How not you recollect that I spoke not concerning bread to you! Caution from the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.   Either way, the sense is understood. In the second example, there seems to be a bit of impatience implied in the response, something that would be completely understandable. Jesus' words in verse 6 said, “You behold, and you caution from the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”   Not getting the metaphorical nature of His words, they had assumed He was upset that they hadn't brought bread. But now, after reminding Him that He could multiply bread at will, He restates what He had originally said to them, if not a bit more impatiently. He wants them to contemplate the metaphor without His having to explicitly explain it.   Life application: What Jesus is doing is instructional. Instead of just outright telling the disciples what He means, He gives them a chance to think through the words. Teachers may do this in class.   Instead of saying what the answer to a problem is, they may restate it as a question. In doing this, it forces the students to think through what the teacher intends to say. Otherwise, the students may hear the information in one ear, and it will go right out the other.   However, when confronted with the chance to appear smart or refrain from looking uninformed, the question will cause each person to pay attention and contemplate what is on the teacher's mind.   An even more subtle approach is what Jesus did. He didn't ask a question. Instead, He said something intending for a metaphor to be considered, but knowing that probably wouldn't be understood at first.   Then, after seeing the frustration of the disciples, He takes time to explain why their thinking is askew, and then He restates the original question, implying a demand for them to think again about what they had originally considered.   Suppose a person who owns a bell factory is getting married. He walks into the company and says, “I hear bells ringing soon.” The employees may say, “We are working on the whole new line. They should be ready soon!”   But the owner repeats his original statement, “I hear bells ringing SOON.” By repeating the same thing, he is letting them know he didn't mean what they thought he meant. By adding stress, he asks them to reconsider the entire paradigm. Searching the recent past, they remember that the boss has been doting on Polly Pretty a lot lately.   Suddenly, the bells in their own minds ring clearly. The boss is talking about getting married. The metaphor is not only understood, but it has also been highlighted for them to joke about and reconsider in the years ahead. Jesus has used such a tool. That has now been reiterated to us in millions and millions of copies of the Bible for the past two thousand years.   We have learned, explicitly, what leaven is to be equated to when we read the Bible.   Lord God, we love how Your word instructs us. Again and again, teaching techniques are used that are intended to help us perfect our doctrine and also remember lessons that may otherwise escape our memories. But because of the way the word is laid out, we will remember many details as clearly as the ringing of a bell. Thank You for this. Amen.  

Tuesday, 27 January 2026   Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? Matthew 16:10   “Nor the seven loaves – the four thousand, and how many hampers you took?” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus reminded the disciples about the five loaves of the five thousand, asking them to recollect how many handbaskets they had taken up. He next reminds them of the second feeding of a multitude, saying, “Nor the seven loaves – the four thousand.”   If the chronology is as recorded by Matthew, this was a very recent event. It is recorded in Matthew 15:32-38, as the chapter closed out. Therefore, unless the events are not chronological, it has been an extremely short period of time since then.   They went to the area of Magdala, had an interaction with the Pharisees and Sadducees, and then they departed. Upon their departure to the other side, Jesus warned them about the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The implication is that all of this was in a very short time span. And yet, Jesus is questioning them about what happened, as if they had completely forgotten. He continues with, “and how many hampers you took?”   The answer is seven hampers, meaning big basketfuls, of leftovers. How they could have forgotten that and worried about not having taken bread is a bit astonishing.   Life application: Despite being incredible that the disciples forgot the great thing Jesus did, how can we look down on them for having done so? Do we remember what Jesus did for us? He saved us from the power of sin and the hand of the devil.   One would think we would be constantly and eternally grateful for this. And yet, how often do we forget as we go through our daily lives? We may go back and do some of the stupid things we once did, or we may find some other thing that we never did before and pick up that habit.   Instead of living holy lives and honoring Him, we fail Him often. Imagine the words He would say to us! “Don't you remember the pit you were in? Don't you remember the joy of the day you first believed? How can it be that you have forgotten those things and have picked up the ways of the world again?”   The good news is, Jesus didn't say, “You guys can't be my disciples anymore. Your memory is short, and your level of understanding isn't up to par.” Rather, He continued to work with them despite their many faults and limitations. And He will continue to work through those He has saved throughout the ages.   We are fallible creatures doing an imperfect job in telling the world about the goodness of God in Christ. This is how Jesus has set things up, and it is how God is being glorified as the years pass. When people point their finger at you and say, “You aren't a good Christian because of XXX,” you can respond, “XXX is why I am a Christian. Jesus saved imperfect me. I understand my faults, and Jesus does too. We are in the process of getting me to be more like Him. That is why I need Jesus!”   If we were all perfected when we came to Christ, there would be no need for us to grow in Him. We wouldn't be dependent on Him for our walk. But just as the universe is being held together by the power of His word, we are continually being saved by the power of His all-sufficient atonement.   Thank God for Jesus Christ, who has accepted us and granted us eternal life. How great He is! Let us not forget the great thing He has done and is doing for us. Praise God for His goodness to us.   Lord God, thank You for the surety we possess because of Jesus. We are ever-unfaithful, and yet You are ever forgiving of it because You have saved us through the fully sufficient sacrifice of Jesus. Despite our faults and waywardness, we are Yours. Hallelujah! Hooray for Jesus! Amen.  

Monday, 26 January 2026   Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? Matthew 16:9   “You grasp, not yet, nor you recollect the five loaves – the five thousand, and how many handbaskets you took?” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus called the disciples little-faithed for thinking His words were about not having brought bread. Now, He continues His rebuke, saying, “You grasp, not yet, nor you recollect.”   Two new words are seen here. The first is oupó, not yet. It is derived from ou, no, or not, and po, an enclitic particle of indefiniteness meaning yet, or even. Taken together, they form the thought of “not yet.” The disciples were slow on the uptake, and Jesus is letting them know it is so.   The second new word is mnémoneuó [mnay-mon-YOO-oh], to exercise the memory. Thus, it signifies to recollect or remember. Jesus is letting them know that they need to pay attention, consider, exercise their memories, and recollect what had already taken place... right in front of their eyes.   What they needed to recollect is a continuation of the question, saying, “the five loaves – the five thousand, and how many handbaskets you took?”   These same men had been with Jesus when there was almost nothing to eat, and yet, from five loaves, He had multiplied the bread to feed five thousand people. The disciples were not thinking things through clearly. But Jesus isn't done yet. He has more to remind them before He finishes.   Life application: What is it that is causing you to question your faith, or to lack faith in something the Bible says? If you believe the word, you will remember that the Bible says God created everything by simply speaking the word. The Bible also says that everything is currently being held together by the power of that same word.   God fashioned every living thing on the planet to do certain things. For example, bees spend their lives gathering nectar to make honey. God had to design everything in the process of making honey to work together. There have to be flowers that make nectar.   There needs to be bees to gather the nectar. At the same time, they pollinate other flowers and plants as they move around. There has to be rain and sunshine for the plants to grow. Bees have to have a little compass in their heads to direct them. There has to be a communication system set up for them to tell other bees about where the best spots to go are.   Really... think about it. You could spend all day thinking of things necessary for bees to make honey. And even then, you still wouldn't have all of the parameters necessary for it to happen. And yet, everything has been set up by God so that we have honey.   If He puts this much attention into such a process, don't you think He is tending to the fulfillment of His word to His people? Think of all that it has taken to preserve Israel. They became a nation and have endured for thousands of years, despite all that the Bible and recorded history tell us has come upon them.   But His word said this would be the case. We are without excuse in believing that God can do what His word says. The evidence is right in front of us in ten jillion ways. Don't be discouraged or disheartened about whether God will fulfill His word to you. He will.   When all is said and done, there will be a life for us that is so much more wonderful than this one that we cannot even imagine what lies ahead. Have faith! God has got everything under control. Be confident of this.   Lord God, we do have moments of weakness from time to time. Help us in such times to remember all that You have done and are doing. Our insignificant little issues will fall into their proper place in our minds when we consider all You are doing. Surely, You have all things under control! Amen and amen.  

Sunday, 25 January 2026   But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? Matthew 16:8   “And Jesus, having known, said to them, ‘Why – you deliberate in yourselves, little-faithed? Because you took no bread?'” (CG).   In the previous verse, the disciples reasoned that Jesus' words concerning the Pharisees and Sadducees were because they had taken no bread. Matthew continues the narrative with, “And Jesus, having known.”   Matthew doesn't say how He knew. Mark doesn't provide any extra info. He may have known their thoughts, reasoned it out by watching them, or He may have overheard them. Whatever transpired, He knew and “said to them, ‘Why – you deliberate in yourselves, little-faithed?'”   Notice how He didn't rebuke them for not reasoning the matter through, but for their lack of faith. In this case, the two do complement each other, but they are distinct enough to show where their true problem resided, which is a lack of faith.   They had failed to consider Jesus, what He had done, and the outcome of the things He did. He will explain this to them in the next few verses, but for now, this verse finishes with, “Because you took no bread?”   Jesus gets to the heart of their faith problem. They are worried that they failed to bring bread, not having taken the time to think through Jesus' words about leaven. If their faith in Jesus and His capabilities was properly directed and sufficiently strong, they would have either reasoned through what He was talking about or come and asked Him to explain things.   Life application: Jesus' words concerning faith are, at times, taken to unintended extremes. This is quite common among charismatic denominations. They make claims based on their supposed faith concerning healing, financial success, obtaining a goal, etc. They will even make claims about changing the weather, such as not being harmed by a hurricane, earthquake, tornado, etc.   As ridiculous as that may sound, it is as common as drumbeats on a Beatles album. This unbalanced faith-driven mentality is used to demonstrate a supposed superiority over others who don't make such claims, such as “You got sick because you are lacking faith” or “You didn't get the promotion you wanted because you lacked faith.”   This type of attitude demonstrates a lack of understanding of the true purpose of faith, and it dismisses many facts, both from a scriptural sense as well as from the perspective of how things work in the world.   Claiming something you want, like a financial breakthrough, is not a demonstration of faith. It is a self-centered attitude that does nothing to glorify God. The fact is that God uses troubles, trials, and hardships in our lives to mold us and instruct us.   It may be that our affliction is intended to lead others to a relationship with God or a right understanding of His word. When we have a desire, we should pray about it, knowing that God is fully capable of granting it, but we should also understand that He is not obligated to make it come about.   All people suffer loss. One cannot faith-claim away death from those around him. To blame God after our little demands aren't granted is also a nonsensical way of handling our relationship with Him.   If you sit down with people who have this faith-claim attitude and explore their knowledge of the Bible or doctrines that stem from the Bible, you will normally find that they are lacking in real biblical understanding.   Don't feel like your level of faith isn't what it should be based on such people. You will never win at that game. Rather, let your faith be directed to what is reasonable and in accord with the words of Scripture. With this attitude, you will have a proper balance in your relationship with God.   Lord God, help us to rightly direct our faith as we walk in this fallen world. It is true that faith can move mountains, but it is also true that You may not want us to move a particular mountain. Help our faith to be properly directed and motivated through the desire to glorify You. Amen.

Saturday, 24 January 2026   And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have taken no bread.” Matthew 16:7   “And they deliberated in themselves, saying, ‘Because not we took bread!'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus said to the disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Because of Jesus' words, not understanding the metaphor He spoke to them, Matthew records, “And they deliberated in themselves.”   A new word, dialogizomai, to reckon thoroughly, is seen. When one reckons a matter, he deliberates. HELPS Word Studies says, “properly, go back-and-forth when evaluating, in a way that typically leads to a confused conclusion. The term implies one confused mind interacting with other confused minds, each further reinforcing the original confusion.”   This word is only found in the synoptic gospels. At times, such as in Luke 1:29, it signifies an internal pondering or musing over a situation. In this case, however, any internal musing spilled over into dialogue where they deliberated the words of Jesus, “saying, ‘Because not we took bread!'”   Not understanding Jesus' intent concerning His words about the Pharisees and Sadducees, they could only grasp at straws about what He meant. Eventually, they came to the faulty conclusion that He must be scolding them for not bringing bread. Thus, they assumed Jesus meant their shortsightedness would leave them hungry on their journey.   Life application: The definition concerning the word dialogizomai given by HELPS words studies spoke of a confused conclusion, which resulted from one confused mind interacting with other confused minds. Because they have started with the wrong premise, their conclusions will be faulty.   This pretty much sums up any rapture discussion board you may go to. People start with a faulty premise. In doing so, their analyses will always end with faulty conclusions. Jesus' last words to His disciples were based on a question they proposed to Him –   “Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, ‘Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?' 7 And He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.'” Acts 1:6-8   Paul, when referring to the timing of the rapture, uses Jesus' words to explain end times matters –   “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.” 1 Thessalonians 5:1, 2   The Lord, through His word, has told us that we are simply not going to know when the rapture will take place. That is the end of the matter... well, unless you think you are smarter than God. And so people constantly and nauseatingly come up with a constant stream of predictions as to when the rapture will take place.   This has been going on for two thousand years. Eventually, some false prediction is bound to correspond to the day, merely because every day, someone has a false prediction about the rapture.   There will be no reward for “getting it right” by such a person. In fact, there will be no rewards for having wasted one's life sitting on rapture boards with other ill-informed people, deliberating a day that we are told we will not be able to identify. Instead, there will be many who stand before the Lord and have absolutely nothing of value to present to Him for the lives they lived.   It is even questionable if many of these rapture seekers are even saved. The best way to avoid coming to faulty conclusions because of debating with confused-minded people is to not bother debating with them.   Instead, read your Bible, study it carefully, and be ready to tell people about the goodness of God in Christ. This is what we have been tasked with, so be about that good business. The Lord will come when He comes. Let's leave that to Him.   Lord God, help us not to get caught up in sensationalism, predictions about things we are told we will not know, and focusing on the nothingness of useless banter about unproductive things. Instead, may our deliberations be based on what is sound, reasonable, and glorifying of You. Amen.

Friday, 23 January 2026   Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.” Matthew 16:6   “And Jesus, He said to them, ‘You behold, and you caution from the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees'” (CG).   In the previous verse, it was noted that the disciples had forgotten to take bread as they traveled. Matthew next records, “And Jesus, He said to them, ‘You behold, and you caution from the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.'”   Leaven, yeast, is something that has been noted many times in Scripture. It was something the people knew was forbidden during the Passover –   “Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses. For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. 16 On the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you. No manner of work shall be done on them; but that which everyone must eat—that only may be prepared by you. 17 So you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this same day I will have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day throughout your generations as an everlasting ordinance. 18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. 19 For seven days no leaven shall be found in your houses, since whoever eats what is leavened, that same person shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a stranger or a native of the land. 20 You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwellings you shall eat unleavened bread.” Exodus 12:15-20   Elsewhere, leaven is forbidden at various times during the instructions for the sacrificial offerings, etc. The disciples would probably not understand Jesus' words outside of that type of context.   In Hosea 7:4, the use of leaven is used in a metaphorical sense, but it is not a verse that most people would look at and understand the scriptural idea that is to be explained by Jesus. There, it says –   “They are all adulterers. Like an oven heated by a baker— He ceases stirring the fire after kneading the dough, Until it is leavened.” Hosea 7:4   Jesus used leaven in a parable in Matthew 13:33. That too would be tough to get metaphorical meaning out of unless the disciples specially asked Him what He was talking about. In Matthew 13:51, Jesus asked the disciples if they understood everything He had spoken to them, but it is questionable if they understood it as He is now relaying.   Their thoughts would be directed to Jesus' words being literal, something Matthew will confirm.   Life application: As you read the Bible, there are thoughts that are presented, such as having no leaven in the house during the time of Passover and Unleavened Bread. It is right to stop and ask why that would be included.   Eventually, when you get to the New Testament, the idea of leaven being a metaphor for sin is explained several times. As this is so, we can know exactly why the Lord instructed the people as He did.   It was an instructional tool to teach us about the nature of sin, how God would deal with it in Christ, and our responsibilities, as well as our position in Christ. Because it is explained in the New Testament, we should go no further with metaphorical applications. Scripture has interpreted Scripture –   “Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” 1 Corinthians 5:6-8   Look for the meaning of things in the unfolding pages of Scripture. If no explanation is given, then careful thought should be given to why certain things are presented. Don't just make stuff up out of your head.   Instead, let the Bible provide insights into the typology. If it is correct, a panorama of interesting information will arise that will then be consistent throughout the rest of Scripture. If this doesn't happen and things don't fit elsewhere, it means your original idea was not correct.   Be careful and contemplative as you consider what the word is saying.   Lord God, what a great and precious word You have given us. May we handle it carefully and analyze it in hope of finding what You intend for it to say, not what we want it to say. Help us in this endeavor, O God. Amen.  

Thursday, 22 January 2026   Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. Matthew 16:5   “And His disciples, having come to the beyond, they overlooked to take bread” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and Sadducees for having sought after a sign. From there, it says He left them and departed. The meaning of where He departed to will be found in the next words, “And His disciples, having come to the beyond.”   In Matthew, it isn't obvious where Jesus is at this time. The reason is that in verse 15:39, it says that Jesus got into a boat and came to the region of Magdala. Nothing is said about His disciples, which is usually the case.   However, Mark specifically notes that they all had traveled together. Therefore, they have gone from the eastern shore of the sea to the borders of Magdala (Dalmanutha in Mark). Jesus talked to the Pharisees and Sadducees in that area. They then went back to the eastern side of the sea. When there, Matthew records, “they overlooked to take bread.”   A new word is seen here, epilanthanomai, to lose out of mind. It is derived from epi, upon, and lanthanó, to escape notice. The sense, then, is a focus on the consequences that arise when one forgets. The word overlook is a suitable match for what the Greek signifies.   Because of this oversight on their part, the disciples will misunderstand what Jesus will next convey to them.   Life application: It is interesting that Matthew did not record if the disciples traveled with Jesus in Matthew 15:39. Nor did he mention if His disciples went with Him in verse 16:4. Because of that, one might question if His disciples came to Him in Magdala in verse 16:5 or if He and His disciples traveled together to the eastern shore. This is unlike Matthew's normal precision concerning Jesus' travels, but it shows that the accounts are dependent on each other to fully understand what is going on. And yet, each is a single whole that gives exactly what is needed to meet the intent of the narrative.   The Bible does this in both testaments. Each main narrative is sufficient for the purpose being conveyed, but there are details that must be determined from other narratives to see the full scope of what actually happened.   A long and detailed example is found between the details of the books of Kings and the books of the Chronicles. They each provide the necessary information to understand the intent of the books, and yet, without having both of them, there seem to be contradictions in the timing of the kings' histories. However, when placed side by side and along with an understanding of the type of dating used by each author, the histories come together to form a complete whole. Along with that, adding in the overlapping historical and prophetic narratives found in other books, an even more detailed understanding of what is being conveyed comes into focus.   This is true with the book of Acts and the epistles as well. Taken together, the timing and details of what occurred at various times are more fully understood. And so, what we have is a collection of books that are independently sufficient for the intended purpose being conveyed, but they are actually all dependent on the whole for the entire panorama of God's redemptive purposes to be fully understood. Without including all sixty-six books, there would be a deficiency in knowing what the ultimate purpose of Scripture is. There would also be an unraveling of being sure of the authenticity of the books.   Therefore, the Bible is like a tapestry that has been perfectly woven together. By pulling out one string, the book would unravel in its perfectly harmonious intent.   This pattern is followed by authors of series today. Each book written by an author is an independent whole, but when details refer forward or back to other books, you can say, “Ah ha! I see why this happened in that other book!” There was no lack in the other book. And yet, there is a synchronization of all of the books that forms a complete panorama of the intent of the author. The difference, however, is that the Bible spans about fifteen hundred years and has about forty human authors.   And yet, it is a perfectly harmonious whole where thousands of years later, people are still finding new insights, almost daily, where it can be said, “Ah ha! I see why this happened in that other book!”   As the majority of the human authors had no idea who the other authors were, having come from different lands and different times, it means that the Bible is either the greatest fluke in human literary history, or it is truly the divinely inspired word of God. By faith, you can choose to believe the latter. That would be the wise course to take.   Lord God, we confidently receive the Bible as a reliable record of Your dealings with humanity as You work to reconcile us to You through the span of history. We know what we possess, and we thank You for it. Be glorified, O God, in our cherishing and careful handling of this precious word. Amen.

Wednesday, 21 January 2026   A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed. Matthew 16:4   “Generation – evil and adulteress – it seeks a sign, and a sign – not it will be given it – if not the sign of Jonah the prophet. And having left them, He departed” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus noted those who could tell the day would be one of inclemency because of a morning red sky. He then called the Pharisees and Sadducees hypocrites because they knew how to discern the face of the heaven, but the signs of the seasons they could not discern. Having said that, He continues with, “Generation – evil and adulteress – it seeks a sign, and a sign – not it will be given it – if not the sign of Jonah the prophet.”   The words are identical to Matthew 12:39 except that in some manuscripts, the words “the prophet” are not included. To understand the meaning, refer to that commentary. In short, however, the sign of Jonah is the proclamation of Jonah to the Ninevites, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”   Jesus equated those forty days to Israel's offering of Jesus, a day for a year. In their rejection of Him, the temple was destroyed, and the people were exiled in 70AD. To confirm that this is what He was referring to, Peter said this in Acts –   “And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, ‘Be saved from this perverse generation.'” Acts 2:40   The same generation, wicked and adulterous, was described by Peter as skolias, warped, and thus perverse. Peter implored the people to come to Jesus and be saved from what would come upon them. As for Jesus' words to the Pharisees and Sadducees, once He stated them, it says, “And having left them, He departed.”   The meaning is that He got into a boat and left their area.   Life application: The preaching of Jonah is a part of the Old Testament Scriptures. Jesus' words concerning this sign are something that can be read and then compared to literal history.   Though there is debate about the exact timing of Christ's ministry, it is generally accepted that it encompasses the year 30AD. Seeing that the temple was destroyed in 70AD, as any competent scholar will testify, it is a certainty that Jesus' words were a prophecy that can be attested to as true and reliable.   This was to be the sign for the Jews that they missed what was plainly there in front of them. To this day, they fall under the same descriptions given two thousand years ago by Jesus and then Peter.   To become a righteous generation, then, they must repair the breach that they caused. The only way to do this is to receive Jesus as their long-rejected Messiah.   This happens in individual Jews anytime they turn to Christ, but it is the nation, as a whole, that must acknowledge Jesus before they can enter into the New Covenant. Today, it is common for Christians to cite Genesis 12:3 and claim that when Christians do not support Israel, they fall under a curse.   In fact, Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, did this when speaking to a group of pastors in early December 2025. There is a problem with this thinking. Actually, several. First, the promise was to Abraham. Paul demonstrates in Galatians 3 that only those of faith are counted as the seed of Abraham.   Second is the fact that Israel rejected Jesus. When they did, they were cut off from this fountain of blessing, instead falling under the curses of the law. God cannot spiritually bless those who are under His curse. They must first come out from under the source of that curse, meaning the Law of Moses (see Galatians 3:10).   Third, Christians are saved through faith in Christ, not through accepting or rejecting Israel's place in the world.   It is doctrinally correct that Christians should support Israel and the plan for them, which Scripture lays out concerning their future. However, it is incorrect and a misuse of Scripture to cite verses out of their intended context in order to motivate that support.   Rather, scholars, professors, pastors, preachers, and teachers should properly handle the issue of Israel because it is a type and a picture of individual salvation as much as it is an ongoing and, so far, stormy relationship between God and the people of Israel.   Would it be appropriate to say that we must support a person's present wayward walk because we know that they will someday be saved? The thought is unimaginable. Rather, we should speak against whatever wickedness they hold to and evangelize them in hopes of that day of salvation arriving.   The same is true with Israel. To blindly support a nation that is at odds with God's plan for them, as Jesus has clearly presented in the gospels and as is painstakingly explained in the epistles and Revelation, can only harm, not help, the situation.   Unfortunately, the modern Christian Zionist movement is doing exactly that. So what are we to do? The answer is to stand up boldly and support Israel because God has a plan in motion to bring them back to Himself. However, we are to include in that stand that Israel as a nation is currently unrighteous and at odds with God, and to convey the explicit idea that it is Jesus who will make restoration and righteousness possible.   Anything else, such as supporting Israel's building of another temple and going back to national law observance, is to directly and unambiguously challenge the cross of Jesus Christ as a means to restoration with God. May we never have such a purpose for these people who so desperately need Jesus. Jesus! Israel needs Jesus.   Lord God Almighty, You have set forth a plan for Israel's restoration. You have carefully laid out what is necessary for that to come about. You have given innumerable examples of it in typology and prophecy in their Scriptures. Help us to show them what they need and how to obtain it. Jesus! Help us to show them Jesus. Amen.  

Tuesday, 20 January 2026   and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. Matthew 16:3   “And early, ‘This day... inclemency!', for glowering, the heaven, it reddens. Hypocrites! Indeed, you know to discern the face of the heaven, and the seasons' signs, not you can” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus said to the Pharisees and Sadducees that they can tell when the weather is good simply by noticing the red sky at night. He continues, saying, “And early, ‘This day... inclemency!'”   Two new words are seen here. The first is the adverb prói, early. It signifies the time of dawn. The second word is used, cheimón, the rainy season or foul weather. In essence, the person looks out and understands that a stormy day is ahead. As such, the noun inclemency suits perfectly. From the earliest moments of the day, people can walk outside and tell if it will be a stormy day. Jesus gives the reason for this, saying, “for glowering, the heaven, it reddens.”   Another new word, stugnazó, to glower, is seen. The idea is rendering something gloomy. When the sky is red in the morning, it is as if the sky is glowering down on the people, ready to drop rain, hail, etc., rendering their day as gloomy as it appears.   Jesus' words in both verses are pretty much universally understood. The old saying, “Red at night, sailor's delight, red in the morning, sailor's take warning,” has been used in one form or another throughout the people groups of the world.   Each has its own nuances, but it is common for people to speak of the sky in such simple, understandable ways. Because of this, Jesus says, “Hypocrites! Indeed, you know to discern the face of the heaven, and the seasons' signs, not you can.”   The point of His words is that the messianic signs He had performed, along with everything else that pointed to Him in prophecy, were as evident as the color of the sky in telling what was going on.   John the Baptist was prophesied to come as the forerunner of the Messiah. The prophetic timeline in Daniel, of which they would have detailed knowledge, pointed to the coming of the Messiah. The star of Bethlehem was a clear herald of the coming of the Messiah, as evidenced by “the chief priests and scribes” being brought before Herod to confirm the location where He would be born.   Everything in the land was swirling with the hope of the Messiah and the surety of His having come because of the confirming signs and wonders He was accomplishing. And yet, despite this, and much more evidence as well, these men had come to Jesus asking for a sign from heaven.   The only possible meaning of this is that they were willfully ignoring these things, as well as their own Scriptures, to challenge Jesus as they were doing.   Life application: The same attitude found in Israel at the time of Jesus is on full display among the religious elite today. How many Christian scholars, teachers, pastors, and priests see the people of Israel back in the land, exactly as Scripture prophesies, and ignore what is going on?   Many deny that it is the same group of people. Others claim that the church has replaced them, and there is no more plan or purpose for them. Some simply call the situation an aberration that will eventually be dealt with by their enemies, removing all trace of this disobedient nation in the process.   And yet, these same people will gleefully acknowledge that Israel received its just punishment under the law when they were exiled and scattered among the nations. But those prophecies don't end with permanent destruction. Rather, they end with restoration.   Even the epistles proclaim restoration for Israel. But somehow, the mental disconnect severs these deniers from accepting that God could possibly be gracious to them once again. The problem is one found in the heart. No wonder so many teach that grace requires works as proof of salvation! No wonder so many teach that salvation can be lost.   If God can withhold His grace from the people He covenanted with at Sinai, then He can do so with those He covenanted with in Jesus as well. One misunderstanding in God's nature will inexorably lead to more. The world is swimming in a pool of bad theology because we cannot understand the simple word “grace.”   Grace cannot be earned. It is unmerited favor. God's grace comes through faith in Christ for salvation. It comes from God's faithfulness to His covenant-keeping for Israel. We can trust God's grace. It is unconditional, and it will never expire.   Lord God, thank You for the grace that is found in our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Monday, 19 January 2026   He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red'; Matthew 16:2   “And answering, He said to them, ‘Evening having come, you say, “Good weather!”, for the heaven, it is red'” (CG).   In the previous verse, the Pharisees and Sadducees approached Jesus, asking for a sign from heaven. He now responds to their request, saying, “And answering, He said to them, ‘Evening having come, you say, “Good weather!”   A unique word is seen here, eudia, good weather. It is derived from eu, well or good, and the alternate of Zeus, Dia (the accusative case), the god of the weather. Jesus remarks to them that in the evening, it is normal for people, including the scribes and Pharisees, to walk outside and deduce that good weather is ahead.   The words are colloquial. One might walk out with a wife, a friend, or, when his neighbor is outside, look up and simply say, “Good weather!” That is next followed by Jesus' explanation, as He says, “for the heaven, it is red.”   The clause contains another new word, purrazó, to be red or, intransitively, to redden. The word is only found in this verse and the next. It is derived from purrhos, fire-like, and thus red. Jesus' words are axiomatic. People observe the sky and understand its regular patterns.   Life application: In Florida, when the wind may start racing from the south during winter, there is a ton of moisture and heat being drawn up from the tropics. This warm (or even hot) muggy air tells the locals that a cold front is on its way.   As the front nears, the wind turns to a west breeze. For those who surf, they start waxing their surfboards. Eventually, the wind switches to the north, and a line of often very heavy rain will come rushing through.   That is the same moisture that was being drawn up from the south. It is now being returned to the people, often with violent thunder, lightning accompanying it as the cold air meets the tropical air.   Very quickly, the temperatures begin to drop, the waves build, the surfers surf, and the bays that are along the Gulf Coast between the islands and the mainland will drop many feet in level, sometimes so much that fish are left lying on the bay's bed, flopping around, waiting to be picked up by the thousands.   People know these things will come about, and they anticipate the changes coming simply because they understand the obvious nature of what is occurring. At such times, the bays can be so drained that one could walk across them without it getting more than knee deep.   This can all happen in a few hours. It is how the Red Sea passage is described in Exodus 14, where a strong east wind blew all that night.   Anyone who thinks the story is implausible has never seen the events in Florida at times as described above. Wind can be a strong force in drying out deep bodies of water.   Believe the Bible. It is reliable.   Lord God, we know that You can do all things, including drying out the sea for Israel to pass through it on foot. You even told us how You did it. Help us in our times of unbelief about things that we don't have an explanation for. Be with us in our times of weakness and doubt. Amen.

Sunday, 18 January 2026   Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. Matthew 16:1   “And having approached, the Pharisees and Sadducees, testing, they queried Him to show them a sign from heaven” (CG).   The previous verse closed out Chapter 15. Matthew 16 begins with, “And having approached, the Pharisees and Sadducees.”   It is similar to the two groups who approached Jesus to open Matthew 15 –   “Then they came to Jesus from Jerusalem, scribes and Pharisees, saying...”   “And having approached, the Pharisees and Sadducees...”   Their presence is consistently presented as antagonistic and challenging. Each time they show up, it is certain that a dispute of some sort is ahead. Jesus, understanding this, is always ready to stand against their challenges. This time, they have come “testing.”   In other words, they may have just heard of Jesus' miracle of feeding the four thousand and are suspicious about how He did it. They may suppose He had gone to the area a few days earlier and dug underground bunkers, filling them with enough bread to feed an army. How else could such a thing have transpired?   As such, they are testing Him, looking for a validation that He can really make the miraculous come about. Therefore, “they queried Him to display to them a sign from heaven.”   A new word is seen here, epideiknumi, to display. It is derived from epi, upon, and deiknumi, to show. Thus, it literally would be to “upon-show.” The word is found only seven times. Reading the context of those seven uses, one can see that “display” gives the proper sense.   Unfortunately, pretty much every translation punts and says “show,” the same translation as deiknumi. Thus, the reader will never know that a more poignant thought is being conveyed. They are asking for an actual display of a sign, as if Jesus could hold it in His hands, put it on like a garment, or set it before them as a piece of heavenly evidence.   This is the second time they have asked for something like this –   “Then, they answered, some of the scribes and Pharisees, saying, “Teacher, we desire to see a sign from You.” Matthew 12:38   “And having approached the Pharisees and Sadducees, testing, they queried Him to show them a sign from heaven.” Matthew 16:1   Apparently, Jesus doing a sign has been elevated to Jesus displaying a sign from heaven. If their request is, in fact, based on having heard about the feeding of the multitudes, they have gone from wanting a miraculous sign from Jesus to a magnitude greater, demanding one from heaven.   Elisha had multiplied bread in 2 Kings 4. Being an account in their Scriptures, it was considered a divinely sourced miracle. As such, and as the claim is that Jesus did this, they now want something greater, perhaps fire from heaven.   Life application: People want more than the written word. It is as if the masses have an insatiable hunger to have proof that God is God and that He is as He claims. Paul speaks of this in 1 Corinthians 1 –   “Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” 1 Corinthians 1:20-25   Perfectly understanding the question of the Pharisees and Sadducees, because he was a Pharisee, Paul says that Jews request a sign. Having lived and evangelized among the nations, Paul also fully understood the Greek mind, always seeking after wisdom.   Such people want proof of what they have been told. There is nothing wrong with thinking things through, but it is an entirely different level when God says XX, and we demand that He prove XX. Who are we to question God?   Rather, if we read the Bible and understand that it answers to the needs of humanity, we should then, by faith, accept God's word and, by faith, acknowledge what it says about Jesus, the gospel, and our eternal hope.   To many people, videos about dreams, books about coming back from the dead, and attending churches with supposed miraculous events are what life in Christ is about. But those things are opposed to life in Christ.   God is pleased with faith in His faithless people. So even a little bit will do. Have faith and be pleasing to God.   O God, may Your word be enough to guide our hearts and minds. Help us to faithfully follow You and trust in Your word and the promises found in it. May we not seek or demand that which is contrary to faith. Help us to have this attitude, O God. Amen.  

Exploring the Connection Between Matthew 15 and Ezra For BibleInTen.com - By DH, 17th January 2026 Welcome back to Bible in Ten!     Today, we have another bonus episode as our daily commentary from the Superior Word closes out Matthew Chapter 15. Matthew's Gospel contains 28 chapters, and remarkably, it mirrors the first 28 books of the Old Testament as arranged in the Christian Bible. So in this episode, having concluded our walk through Matthew 15, we'll now look at its fascinating counterpart: Book 15 of the Old Testament-Ezra. Please do check the last episode to see how Chapter 15 of Matthew gives a picture of what is going on in the world from the time Jesus fulfilled the law until the rapture. The verses, though literally occurring at the time of Jesus, point to truths after the completion of Jesus' ministry. Authority from Jerusalem  Matthew 15 opens with scribes and Pharisees coming from Jerusalem to challenge Jesus. Jerusalem represents authority still bound to Sinai. Ezra came from Babylon to Jerusalem as a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses. That was necessary then. But Matthew 15 shows what happens after the Law has been fulfilled. The authority remains -  but the life is gone. Paul explains this tension in Galatians: “Jerusalem which now is… is in bondage with her children.” The challenge to Jesus does not come from pagans -   but from Law-bound religion. 2. Tradition Replacing God's Word  In verses 2 through 9,  Jesus exposes the condition of Israel. They honor God with lips, but their hearts are far away. Ezra saw the same problem. Israel had returned from exile. The Temple was rebuilt. But the heart problem remained. Ezra tore his garments and confessed: “After all that has come upon us… should we again break Your commandments?” External obedience never cured internal rebellion. Matthew 15 shows that the problem has hardened. 3. Where Defilement Truly Comes From  Jesus says: “What goes into the mouth does not defile a man, but what comes out of it.” This is more than food. It is proclamation. Israel refuses to confess Jesus. Paul later explains: “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart… you will be saved.” Defilement is not ritual failure. It is rejecting the Rock. Ezra spoke of a land defiled by peoples and practices. Jesus reveals the deeper truth - defilement flows from the heart outward. 4. Blind Leaders and Separation  Jesus then says something severe: “Let them alone.” Blind leaders. Blind followers. Ezra enforced physical separation. Jesus declares spiritual separation. Same judgment. Different stage of history. The Law has reached its limit. 5. A Turn Toward the Gentiles  Verse 21 is pivotal. Jesus goes out from there to Tyre and Sidon. Ezra's restoration preserved Israel. Jesus now expands the promise. Tyre means Rock. Sidon means Fishery and fish relates to increase. Israel abandoned their Rock. The nations who receive Him will increase. A Canaanite woman approaches - humbled, persistent, faithful. Ezra allowed Gentiles who separated from uncleanness to join Israel. Jesus reveals the heart of that principle. Faith, not bloodline, is the door. 6. Bread, Crumbs, and Faith Jesus speaks of children's bread. The woman doesn't argue. She trusts. “Even the crumbs are enough.” This is not rebellion against Israel. It is trust in Israel's Messiah. Ezra guarded the holy vessels carefully. Jesus shows that grace is not diminished by sharing. Faith gathers what Law could only preserve. 7. The Mountain and the Multitudes  Jesus ascends a mountain near the Sea of Galilee - Liberty. A great gathering forms. Ezra gathered Israel to restore covenant order. Jesus gathers the nations under Himself. Broken people come. They are healed. And Matthew records something unique: “They glorified the God of Israel.” The Gentiles now do what Israel was called to do. Paul later says: “That the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy.” 8. Bread, Fulness, and Preservation  The feeding of the four thousand follows. Three days. Divine fullness. Seven loaves. Spiritual completeness. Four thousand - the world number. Ezra preserved what was holy by careful accounting. Jesus preserves what is holy by abundance. Seven large baskets remain. Nothing is lost. The fullness of the Gentiles comes in while Israel remains partially blinded. 9. Toward the Tower of God The chapter ends with a quiet note. Jesus goes to Magdala - Migdal-El, the Tower of God. Not Babel. Not the tower of man. Ezra ended with restored order. Matthew 15 points toward final deliverance. Ezra shows us what faithfulness under the Law looked like. Matthew 15 shows us what happens when grace takes the field. The Rock rejected by Israel becomes the foundation of the nations. CONCLUSION Ezra supports the typological interpretation of Matthew 15 because it provides the historical “control text” that shows Matthew follows an existing biblical pattern.    The reason Ezra confirms the typological reading of Matthew 15 is that Ezra provides the final Old Covenant pattern.   Matthew typologically provides the New Covenant pattern. In Ezra, Israel is restored to the land, the Law is fully reinstated, scribal authority is established, separation is enforced, and a remnant is preserved - yet the heart problem remains unresolved. Matthew 15 follows that same sequence in order: authority from Jerusalem, Law elevated through tradition, defilement exposed, separation declared, a preserved remnant, and then a movement beyond Israel to the Gentiles. The difference is that what Ezra preserves under the Law, Jesus resolves through Himself. Because Matthew follows Ezra's structure rather than inventing a new one, the typology is not imaginative - it is controlled, historical, and intentional. Matthew 15 is not merely a series of confrontations, healings, and feedings, nor is it simply a lesson about religious hypocrisy or personal faith, as it is often reduced to in casual teaching. Rather, it is also a picture of what is going on in the world from the time Jesus fulfilled the law until the rapture. What Ezra records historically - Israel restored under the Law, preserved through separation, yet still bound by the limitations of Sinai - Jesus reveals prophetically. Matthew 15 walks through that same reality step by step: Jerusalem-based authority bound to tradition, a people near in speech but distant in heart, blindness leading blindness, separation declared, and then a decisive movement outward to the nations. Ezra preserves a remnant under the Law. Jesus gathers a people by grace. Ezra safeguards holiness through consolidation and exclusion. Jesus reveals holiness through mercy, healing, and abundance. Seen together, these chapters show that Matthew 15 is not simply about what happened on a particular day in Galilee, but about what God has been doing in redemptive history from the close of the Old Covenant to the fullness of the New. It is the Law reaching its limit and Christ stepping into that space - not to abolish what came before, but to fulfill it. Matthew 15, read through Ezra, becomes a sweeping retelling of Israel's restoration, its partial blindness, the inclusion of the Gentiles, and the preservation of God's people - all centered on the person of Jesus Christ, the true Rock, the Bread of Life, and the Lord of the harvest. Lord God, we thank You for Your word - holy, faithful, and true. We confess that it is easy to handle Scripture carelessly, to bend it toward our own ideas, or to use it as a tool rather than receive it as a gift. Guard our hearts from pride. Guard us from turning truth into tradition and obedience into self-righteousness. Teach us to read Your word with reverence, to see Christ where You have revealed Him, and to submit ourselves to what You have spoken. May Your grace reach deeper than our habits, deeper than our defenses, and deeper than our fears. And may our lives reflect not just knowledge of Your law, but the transforming mercy found in Jesus Christ our Lord. To Your glory alone. Amen.   Before we close this episode, we want to share something very simple and very personal. The following song was made up and sung by our Gracie when she could barely speak. She created the words herself and sang it from her heart. It's hard to understand in places, and it's certainly not theologically precise - but that's actually part of why it feels so fitting here. In Matthew 15, Jesus reminds us that what truly matters is not polished words, tradition, or perfect expression, but the heart. This little song isn't about getting everything right; it's about love, trust, and a heart turned toward Jesus. So we'll let it stand just as it is - imperfect, sincere, and honest - a small reminder that faith begins in the heart even before it can be explained. >>>> Grace sings “I love you Jesus” >>>> 

Saturday, 17 January 2026   And He sent away the multitude, got into the boat, and came to the region of Magdala. Matthew 15:39   Note: You can listen to today's commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)   You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).   “And having dismissed the crowds, He in-stepped into the boat, and He came to the borders of Magdala” (CG).   In the previous verse, it was noted that there were four thousand men, besides women and children, who comprised the multitudes Jesus fed. With that portion of the narrative complete, and to close out the chapter, Matthew next notes, “And having dismissed the crowds, He in-stepped into the boat.”   They have been on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee. With this cycle of attending to a Gentile woman in the allotments of Tyre and Sidon noted, followed by a time in the Gentile-led eastern regions near the Decapolis completed, He got into a boat, “and He came to the borders of Magdala.”   This is a location not named this way anywhere else in Scripture. Some manuscripts note the location as Magadan, meaning Megiddo, but that is incorrect based on Matthew 16:5, which notes they are still in the region of the lake. Rather, the town Magdala in Hebrew is Migdal-el, Tower of God, a city of Naphtali recorded in Joshua 19:38.   This is also known as Al-Majdal (Mejdel) on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, north of Tiberias. Mark 8:10 notes that when they got in the boat, they came to the allotments of Dalmanutha. Saying it this way, there is no contradiction to be found. Just as Jesus went to the “allotments” of Tyre and Sidon, meaning the surrounding areas, in Matthew 15:21, so they went to Magdala in the allotments, meaning the surrounding areas, of Dalmanutha.   Life application: Chapter 15 of Matthew gives a picture of what is going on in the world from the time Jesus fulfilled the law until the rapture. The verses, though literally occurring at the time of Jesus, point to truths after the completion of Jesus' ministry. The New Covenant is now what God is doing in the world. Israel as a whole, however, rejected that.   Though they no longer observe the Law of Moses, they remain bound to it. During this dispensation, they are spiritually led by rabbis, both in their writings in the Talmud as well as in their cultural and religious life.   These are reflected by the scribes and Pharisees who came from Jerusalem (verse 1) to challenge Jesus. Paul explains in Galatians 4:21-31 that the earthly Jerusalem reflects them and their teaching. The main point for now says –   “But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, 24 which things are symbolic. 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 4:23-26   In verses 2-9, Jesus explains the state of Israel at this time, living by the laws of men rather than by the law of God. After the introduction of the New Covenant, the law of God is not the Law of Moses. Rather, that is fulfilled.   At this time, religious Israel draws near to the Lord with their lips, but their hearts, because of their rejection of Jesus, are far away from Him.   In verse 11, Jesus stated that what goes into the mouth does not defile. Rather, what comes out of it does. Though that was a truth concerning the traditions of these elders, it is a truth that is spiritually seen in Israel to this day. They refuse to proclaim Jesus.   This is their defilement. But what does Paul say concerning this? In Romans 10, he says –   “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:8-13   The only thing that can cleanse a person from sin is Jesus. Anything else, meaning any other proclamation, defiles that person. As such, Jesus says in verse 14 to let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind, and both will fall into a pit.   In verse 15, Jesus reexplained to dull Peter (later, the Apostle to the Jews) the matter of the heart and what it is that causes defilement. While Israel remains in their state of defilement because of their oral proclamations, something else takes place. This is seen in verse 21, where Jesus “went out from there,” meaning from the Jewish people to the allotments of Tyre and Sidon, a Gentile area.   Tyre (Hebrew: Tsor) signifies Rock. While Israel abandoned their Rock, the Gentiles received Him. That this is speaking of Christ is seen, for example, in Deuteronomy 32:32, where it says, “For their rock is not like our Rock.” There are those who are confident in their rock (tsur), and yet their rock is not the Lord who is the Rock (tsur).   Sidon (Hebrew: Tsidon) signifies Fishery. It is a place for catching fish. Everyone is like a fish. When Jesus said to Simon and Andrew that they would be fishers of men, He meant that men are like fish to be caught.   While in this area (verse 22), a Canaanite woman came to Jesus and begged for compassion for her demon-possessed daughter. Canaan signifies Humbled, Humiliated, or even Subdued. She pictures those of faith who have humbled themselves before the word of Christ.   The issue is the daughter. In Scripture, a son or a daughter is representative of the state of something. A “son of death,” for example, is a person deserving of death. That is his state. A daughter, in this case, is the state of a group of people, such as “daughter of Jerusalem,” “daughter of Tarshish,” etc. What is the state of the Daughter of the Humbled who are also Gentiles?   Jesus said in verse 24 that He had come “if not to the sheep, the ‘having been lost' – House Israel.” Despite there being a New Covenant, with whom was that covenant made? The answer is found in both Jeremiah and Hebrews –   “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.” Jeremiah 31:31   The early church did not understand that the word was to go to the Gentiles. That is a major subject found in Acts. It is representative of the disciples' comments found previously in verse 23 when they told Jesus to dismiss her.   It literally took an act of God to get them to see that the New Covenant included Gentiles, first with the Ethiopian eunuch and then the house of Cornelius. Jesus' calling, though, to redeem the House of Judah and Israel, is inclusive of the Gentiles of faith, as seen in this account. It is something prophesied in Isaiah 49:6, but which is revealed in typology here.   The woman was told that it wasn't “good to take the children's bread and cast to the puppies.” In the Bible, dogs represent Gentiles. That is seen in the Caleb series of sermons. Caleb, kalev, is from kelev, dog. It is also seen in the account of Gideon and his men, who lapped like dogs, a typological picture dealing with the Gentiles.   The woman didn't argue Jesus' point. Instead, she noted that “even the puppies – he eats from the crumbs, the ‘falling from their master's table.” Jesus thus remarked concerning her great faith, something evidenced in the Gentile world. At that time, it noted the child was cured. Salvation, in fact, is also directed to the Gentiles. They are brought into the commonwealth of Israel (Ephesians 2:12).   From there, verse 29 said of Jesus that “He went near the Sea of the Galilee, and having ascended to the mountain, He sat there.” The Galilee has previously been explained as “the Liberty.” It is a picture of freedom from sin. As sin stems from a violation of law, it ultimately signifies freedom from law.   A mountain in the Bible represents a lot of something gathered. In typology, it is synonymous with a large but centralized group of people. Though it is only stated in Mark, the last area noted was the Decapolis, a Gentile controlled area.   Thus, this is typologically referring to a large but centralized group (meaning under Jesus) of Gentile people. The Canaanite woman already established that, but this is an extension of the thought, explaining the result of the dispensation of the Gentiles. In other words, “What will happen in the world once it is established that Gentiles are to be included in the New Covenant?”   In verses 30 and 31, multitudes came to Jesus for healing, so many that they were strewn about Him. It is reflective of the broken Gentile world coming to Christ for healing and salvation. As many came, He healed them so that “they glorified the God of Israel.”   As noted at that time, the term is unique in the New Testament. It suggested the presence of Gentiles on the mountain, but it typologically asserts this fact. Paul's ministry literally shouts out the parallel to this thought in Matthew –   “Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.” Acts 19:11, 12   Was the God of Israel glorified through this? The answer is found in Romans –   “Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, 9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: ‘For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name.'” Romans 15:8, 9   And...   “For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient— 19 in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” Romans 15:18, 19   In verses 32-38, the feeding of the four thousand is recorded. Jesus said they had been with Him three days. In Scripture, three “stands for that which is solid, real, substantial, complete, and entire. ... Hence the number three points us to what is real, essential, perfect, substantial, complete, and Divine.” Bullinger   The time these people have been with Jesus speaks of a divine fullness, something reflected in Romans 11:25, “that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” It goes right back to the state of Israel, noted in Matthew 15:14, where the blind are leading the blind.   While Israel is blinded, the blind of the Gentiles (Matthew 15:31) are brought to sight. The miracle of the bread (think of Jesus, the Bread of Life) and fish (a word which signifies “increase” in Hebrew) speaks of the immense harvest. There were seven loaves, the number of spiritual perfection, and a few tiddlers. However, they were enough to feed the multitude of four thousand. The number is a product of four and tens.   Four is the number of material creation, the world number. It speaks of the entirety of the world hearing the gospel, just as Jesus said it would. Ten is the number where nothing is wanting, and the whole cycle is complete. The entire world of the Gentiles will be evangelized before the end comes.   To demonstrate the immense harvest that will be realized in the church age, the baskets of fragments were collected, totaling seven large baskets. Notice the difference from the feeding of the five thousand –   “And they ate all, and they gorged, and they lifted the superabounding pieces – twelve handbaskets full. 21And those eating, they were about five thousand men, besides women and children.”   “And they ate all, and they gorged, and the superabounding of the fragments they lifted – seven hampers full. 38And those eating, they were four thousand men, besides women and children.”   Whereas a remnant of the twelve tribes of Israel represented by the twelve small handbaskets (Greek: kophinos) was collected, there will be an immense harvest of the seven churches (as defined in Revelation 2 & 3), represented by the seven large hampers (Greek: spuris).   The chapter ended with a location only mentioned here in Scripture, saying of Jesus, “And having dismissed the crowds, He in-stepped into the boat, and He came to the borders of Magdala.”   The town Magdala in Hebrew is Migdal-el, Tower of God, a city of Naphtali recorded in Joshua 19:38. Migdal El is contrasted to the tower of man, meaning Babel and all that accompanies her. Thus, this is implicitly a picture of the ending of the church age, where believers are delivered from the Babylon of the end times recorded in Revelation.   To understand why these conclusions have been made, one should refer to the descriptions of these locations found in the Old Testament sermons given by the Superior Word. Each location, number, or other reference has been drawn from the information already recorded there. Thus, the typology is not new. It has already been seen and has been reused without change, confirming that this analysis of Matthew 15 is sound.   Lord God, Your word is beyond amazing. It is a lifeline for the soul caught in despair. It is a treasure for the seeker of riches. It is a guide for the path of our lives. And Lord, it is so much more. It is so glorious to enter into its pages and find rest for our souls in the Person of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Thank You for this precious word. Amen. Matthew 15   15 Then they came to Jesus from Jerusalem, scribes and Pharisees, saying, 2“Through what – Your disciples, they sidestep the tradition of the elders? For they wash not their hands when they may eat bread.”   3And answering, He said, to them, “Through what – also you, you sidestep the ‘God's commandment' through your tradition? 4For God, He enjoined, saying, ‘You honor your father and your mother,' and the ‘disparaging father or mother,' death – he expires!' 5And you, you say, ‘Whoever, he should say to father or mother, “Gift – whatever if from me you should benefit.”' 6And no, not he should honor his father or his mother. And you invalidated God's commandment through your tradition. 7Hypocrites! Well, Isaiah, he prophesied concerning you, saying,   8‘He neared Me, this people – the mouth, And the lips – he honors Me, And their heart, it distances far from Me. 9And vainly they revere Me,  Teaching instructions – men's injunctions.'”   10And having summoned the crowd, He said to them, “You hear and comprehend! 11Not the ‘entering into the mouth' it profanes the man, but the ‘proceeding from the mouth,' this, it profanes the man.”   12Then His disciples, having come near, they said to Him, “You have known that the Pharisees, having heard the saying, they stumbled!” 13And having answered, He said, “Every planting that not He planted, My heavenly Father, it will be uprooted. 14You leave them! They are blind, blind-conductors. And blind, if they should conduct, both – they will fall into a pit.”   15And Peter, having answered, he said to Him, “You expound to us this parable.”   16And Jesus, He said, “And yet, you, you are unintelligent! 17Not yet you grasp that all, the ‘entering into the mouth,' into the stomach it contains, and into the john it ejects? 18And those proceeding from the mouth, it comes from the heart, and those, it commonizes the man. 19For from the heart, they come: evil meanderings, murders, adulteries, harlotries, thefts, false-witnessings, blasphemies. 20These, they are, the ‘defiling the man,' but to eat with unwashed hands, not it defiles the man.”   21And having departed thence, Jesus, He withdrew to the allotments – Tyre and Sidon. 22And you behold! A Canaanite woman from those same borders, having come, she cried to Him, saying, “You compassionate me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter, she is demon possessed-badly.”   23And He answered not a word.   And having approached, His disciples, they entreated Him, saying, “You dismiss her! For she cries after us.”   24And answering, He said, “Not, I was sent, if not to the sheep, the ‘having been lost' – House Israel.”   25And having come, she worshipped Him, saying, “Lord, You rush-relieve me!”   26And answering, He said, “It is not good to take the children's bread and cast to the puppies.”   27And she said, “Yes, Lord. And even the puppies – he eats from the crumbs, the ‘falling from their master's table.'”   28Then, Jesus answering, He said to her, “O! Woman, your faith is great! It become to you as you determine.” And she's cured, her daughter, from that hour.   29And having departed thence, Jesus, He went near the Sea of the Galilee, and having ascended to the mountain, He sat there. 30And they came to Him, great crowds, having with them lame, cripples, blind, mutes, and others – many, and they strewed them near Jesus' feet, and He healed them. 31So too, the crowds marveled, seeing mutes speaking, cripples healthy, lame walking, and blind seeing, and they glorified the God of Israel.   32And Jesus, having summoned His disciples, He said, “I gut-wrench upon the crowd because already three days they bivouac with Me, and naught they have that they may eat. And I wish not to dismiss them unfed, not lest they should collapse in the way.”   33And the disciples, they say to Him, “Whence to us in solitude – loaves so many as to gorge a crowd so vast?”   34And He says to them, Jesus, “How many loaves do you have?”   And they said, “Seven, and a few tiddlers.”   35And He ordered the crowds to sit upon the ground. 36And having taken the seven loaves and the fish, and having thanked, He broke, and He gave to His disciples, and the disciples to the crowd. 37And they ate, all, and they gorged, and the superabounding of the fragments they lifted – seven hampers full. 38And those eating, they were four thousand men, besides women and children. 39And having dismissed the crowds, He in-stepped into the boat, and He came to the borders of Magdala.

Friday, 16 January 2026   Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. Matthew 15:38   “And those eating, they were four thousand men, besides women and children” (CG).   In the previous verse, the multitudes ate, and yet, after the meal, the disciples took up seven hampers full of leftovers. With that stated, Matthew next reveals the size of the crowd, saying, “And those eating, they were four thousand men.”   It is a new word, tetrakischilioi, four thousand. It is derived from tessares, four, and chilioi, a thousand. Thus, it is four times a thousand, or simply four thousand. The number is derived from four and tens.   In the Bible, four, according to Bullinger, “always has reference to all that is created. It is emphatically the number of Creation; of man in his relation to the world as created; while six is the number of man in his opposition to and independence of God. It is the number of things that have a beginning, of things that are made, of material things, and matter itself. It is the number of material completeness. Hence it is the world number, and especially the ‘city' number.”   Ten “is one of the perfect numbers, and signifies the perfection of Divine order, commencing, as it does, an altogether new series of numbers. The first decade is the representative of the whole numeral system, and originates the system of calculation called ‘decimals,' because the whole system of numeration consists of so many tens, of which the first is a type of the whole. Completeness of order, marking the entire round of anything, is, therefore, the ever-present signification of the number ten. It implies that nothing is wanting; that the number and order are perfect; that the whole cycle is complete.”   Of this number of men, Matthew adds, “besides women and children.” If one were to figure each man had a wife and two children, the crowd would have been about sixteen thousand. It is impossible to know if there were this many, more, or fewer, but it is a good estimation of those who were fed.   Life application: As the chapter is winding down, take time to think about all that has been going on. God is giving us information in the things Jesus does, the places He goes to, etc. There is the surface text, which is given to provide a literal historical account of what occurred. There is normally an underlying pictorial or typological story or truth being conveyed.   At times, there will be a prophetic application. And finally, there is usually a moral application to be considered. These will not always be included in every chapter, but they will be seen throughout the Bible for one who is attentive to what is being said.   And more, these four ways of viewing Scripture will often overlap. The main thing is to be careful not to insert information into the text. Rather, it is to be drawn out based on a reliable reading and understanding of the overall tenor of Scripture.   As an example, within twenty-four hours of having typed this commentary, a pastor was in the news saying that Jesus must have been “super gay” because He was always around twelve men. Not only is this an unfaithful reading of the life of Jesus, inserting a homosexual agenda into Scripture, but it is also a morally perverse statement.   The person teaching this will be held accountable for his blasphemous remarks. He thinks he is scoring points with a congregation, but what he is actually doing is storing up wrath in His day of condemnation.   Be careful to never take your own ideas about what a passage is saying and apply them to the word. The Bible is not about any one of us, what we hope for, or how we can manipulate it for some perceived profit. It is a holy word given to us by God to understand what He has done and is doing in redemptive history. Above all, it is a book pointing to His work in and through Jesus Christ. Be sure to always look at it from this perspective.   Lord God, it is terrible how people treat Your word, shame Your glory, and bring reproach upon themselves as they tear apart Your precious word. We know they will be dealt with, but it is troubling to us at this time. Help us to never bring discredit upon Your glorious name, but rather exalt You at all times. May it be so, to Your glory. Amen.

Thursday, 15 January 2026   So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left. Matthew 15:37   “And they ate, all, and they gorged, and the superabounding of the fragments they lifted – seven hampers full” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus took the loaves and fish, gave thanks, and broke them. He then gave them to the disciples who, in turn, passed them to the crowds. Of this event, it next says, “And they ate, all.”   It was noted in verse 30 that there were “great crowds.” Even without yet knowing the number, for all of them to have eaten, it means there would have had to have been a very large grocery store of bread and fish. And yet, all that was available were the seven loaves and a few fish.   Like the feeding of the five thousand, this is an assured miracle. Attempts to downplay it, as liberal scholars attempt to do, prove they have a purposeful agenda to deny the miraculous. And more, not only did they all eat, but it next says, “and they gorged.”   They didn't just eat, but they ate until they were fully satisfied. This note is important because they could have symbolically taken the loaves and fish and broken off a teeny weeny, eensy weensy, speck of food for each person as a gesture of thanks. It would be akin to our modern Lord's Supper, where a small piece of bread is taken by each person. But no, that wasn't the case.   Rather, they all ate, and they all were gorged. But even more incredible are the next words, “and the superabounding of the fragments they lifted – seven hampers full.”   Here is a new word, spuris. This is a large basket. In fact, a spuris was used in Acts 9:25 to secretly lower Paul down the wall of Damascus so that he could escape. It is unknown how big these baskets were, but they were quite large. The point then is that an immense amount of food was left over after the crowds had gorged themselves.   As an important side point, notice the very poor nature of the translation of these two verses:   And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments [kophinos] that remained twelve baskets full. Matthew 14:20   And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets [spuris] full. Matthew 15:37   The King James Version translated the two words, kophinos and spuris, with the same word. How can anyone rightly understand what is being conveyed without knowing that different things are being described? Without going to the original texts, people who have read the KJV wouldn't have an inkling about the wonderful things God is conveying to us in His word.   Life application: Imagine the marvel of sitting on the mountain with Jesus and being so hungry that you think you will pass out as you start home. There are no stores around, everybody around you has eaten, and there are no wagons of food with Jesus and His disciples.   Now imagine that Jesus receives enough bread for a ceremonial thank offering to God. You are reminded that the world doesn't revolve around you. Jesus has been tending to the people for three days with hardly any time out of the public view. And here He is, once again, tending to the people by teaching them that thanks to God is the most important thing of all.   As Jesus gives thanks, something seems to happen, something you know is unimaginable, and yet, you don't know what it is. But there seems to be a sense of multiplication in the air? The anticipation of something unexpected arises. And then, suddenly, the disciples begin to pass out bread to everyone.   In fact, the hands of every person who reaches out are filled, even to the point that there is no way they could finish what they have been handed. No truck has pulled up, and there were no underground storage facilities opened. Rather, there was a loaf in the hand of the disciple, and when he handed it to a person, there was... another loaf in his hand.   This went on throughout the entire body of people. What is going on here?   Have you ever felt that Jesus' grace and mercy will never extend to someone like you? Or have you ever thought that you have worn out any grace that you once received when you called on Jesus? The word tells us that it will never happen. No matter how fallen you are or how far you fall, when you reach out to Jesus, the supply of His tender mercies will continue to satisfy.   Now think of the magnitude of this aspect of Christ. He has been saving the worst of offenders for two thousand years. What did Paul say –   “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:15-17   At the earliest point in church history, Paul was so bad that he thought he was the worst of all offenders. Since then, billions of “worst offenders” have been brought into a restored relationship with God because of Jesus. And what did Paul say the purpose of that is? It is to the honor and glory... of God!   He saves us because He is merciful and gracious, and He wants us to know this and consider it for all eternity. Jesus is the Bread of Life. He is an inexhaustible source of life. Never make the error that your sin is so great that God has removed you from His list of the redeemed. Your sin is not greater than His goodness as found in Jesus Christ. No way, José.   Lord God Almighty, You are great and greatly to be praised. All glory, honor, and majesty belong to You, forever and ever. Amen.

Wednesday, 14 January 2026   And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude. Matthew 15:36   “And having taken the seven loaves and the fish, and having thanked, He broke, and He gave to His disciples, and the disciples to the crowd” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus ordered the crowds to sit upon the ground. That continues now, saying, “And having taken the seven loaves and the fish, and having thanked.”   As noted in the verse 34 commentary, the word ichthus, fish, is now used instead of ichthudion, tiddler. What was seen as insignificant by the disciples is acknowledged to be sufficient when Jesus receives it from their hands.   Also, a new word, eucharisteó, to give thanks or be thankful, is seen here. That is the basis for eucharistia, thankfulness, found first in Acts 24:3. These words are the etymological root group for our word eucharist, thankfulness.   Jesus was careful to set the example for those in attendance, ensuring the continued practice of giving thanks for the abundance God provides. After giving thanks, it says, “He broke, and He gave to His disciples.”   Considering that it was seven loaves and a few fish, giving it to the disciples already tells us that multiplication had taken place. Even if it were only the twelve, there wouldn't be enough for each to have a full portion. And yet, they received something from Jesus' hand. And more, the verse finishes with, “and the disciples to the crowd.”   Despite having done this in the recent past, the sensation of walking around vast multitudes of people, handing out bread without diminishing the amount you started with, must have been beyond exhilarating.   Even today, in a world where stores are filled with food, to see that accomplished would not fail to cause the one handing out the food to be utterly astonished at what was occurring.   Life application: Think of what happened, now for the second time, as these men handed out the food to the people. Now consider it in relation to the salvation provided by Jesus as well as the truths found in the pages of Scripture.   Jesus' atonement was effectual not just for a few first-century Jews on the day of Pentecost. Rather, His salvation extended throughout much of the Roman Empire as recorded in the Bible. But since the completion of the Bible, it has continued to save people around the entire planet, and for a period that is now over two thousand years in duration.   There is an unlimited amount of salvation being passed out to the people of God. Indeed, if every person on the planet heard and received the message, every single one of them would be included in His salvation.   Likewise, the Bible has been feeding people for thousands of years. Even before it was completed, people were relying on it for their light, food, and understanding of God. But think of it! Since it was completed two thousand years ago, people are still, even day by day, discovering new patterns and hidden treasures in the word.   These things should give us complete confidence that God is in control and that we are being safely and assuredly carried along in our lives to a final, good destination. Living in a fallen world means troubles, uncomfortable times, pains, sadness, and loss.   None of us is getting out of here alive unless the Lord comes during our lifetime. Death is a part of life that is inescapable. So why should we fret over it? Its effects are but a temporary moment on the way to eternal glory.   No matter what we face, may it be with the hope-filled determination that we will live out our days giving thanks to God for the abundance He gives us in this walk of life. May He be our point of boasting and the recipient of all of our praise. Yes, may it be so.   Lord God, You are good, and all that You have done and are doing serves a good purpose. We may not see it as we face difficult times, but we can know it is true. Help us to have the right and positive attitude, regardless of what we face in this temporary walk. May we look ahead to the glory that You have promised us, knowing for certain that it will come. Amen.

Tuesday, 13 January 2026   So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. Matthew 15:35   “And He ordered the crowds to sit upon the ground” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus asked the disciples how many loaves they had. The answer was seven, with a few tiddlers. With that in mind, it next says, “And He ordered the crowds to sit upon the ground.”   In Matthew 14, at the feeding of the five thousand, they were told to sit on the grass. In fact, John 6:10 notes there was much grass. Depending on how much later this is, and this state of abundant grass would not last long, there may have been only scorched grass or bare ground. The lack of the note of grass tends to suggest this.   It is probable, though unstated, that He had them sit in groups as before. This would simplify passing things out. It would also allow for counting the people more accurately.   Life application: The lack of noting grass is an important clue concerning the timing of the event. As summer closes in, the land quickly heats up, and such vegetation hastily dries out. The seasons in Israel are distinct, and throughout the Bible, the Lord uses them to teach truths concerning many things.   For example, of the grass, it says –   “The grass withers, the flower fades, Because the breath of the Lord blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:7, 8   The Lord equates man's existence to mere grass that rises quickly, lives abundantly (as noted in its flowering), and then quickly fades away. This is in contrast to the word of God. The implication is that in our temporary, otherwise futile existence, we should be learning and applying the word of God to our lives. If we want to participate in the eternal, this is a necessary step for us to take. This thought concerning the grass is used by both James and Peter –   “Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 10 but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. 11 For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.” James 1:9-11   “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, 24 because ‘All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, 25 But the word of the Lord endures forever.' Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.” 1 Peter 1:22-25   As you go through Scripture, be sure to look at the metaphors God uses to describe things. He created us, He created the land, He set the seasons in place, etc. As He has done all things, His use of metaphor is given as an accurate description of what He intends to convey.   The word equates the life span of grass to that of man. Almost all people on earth see the grass come and go. It is something we can easily grasp in our minds. Some things are more relevant only when the land of Israel is understood in relation to the metaphor. Therefore, doing studies on those things from a documented perspective of the land is immensely helpful.   And there are innumerable sources to find such things. Be sure to take advantage of studies that complement your Bible reading. This will help you mentally perceive the wonderful things God is conveying to us in His word.   Lord God, thank You for the wisdom that is displayed on every page of Your word. There is a lifetime of things we can learn from it, even more in fact. No matter how much time and study we put into it, there will always be new things we can glean from it. What a precious gift You have given us. And above all, thank You for Jesus, who is the focal point of this wonderful word. Amen.

Monday, 12 January 2026   Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven, and a few little fish.” Matthew 15:34   “And He says to them, Jesus, ‘How many loaves do you have?' And they said, ‘Seven, and a few tiddlers.'” (CG).   In the previous verse, the disciples asked Jesus where they could get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a large crowd. Matthew next records, “And He says to them, Jesus, ‘How many loaves do you have?'”   Unlike the previous event, Jesus asks this of the disciples, whereas there, they provided the information –   16“And Jesus, He said to them, ‘They have no need to depart. You, you give, them to eat.' 17And they, they say to Him, ‘Not we have here, if not five loaves and two fish.'” Matthew 14:16, 17 (CG)   Jesus told them to feed the people, and they incredulously noted that there was no way they had enough to feed them. Here, Jesus turns the matter around, knowing they would now remember the past miracle. Mark's gospel agrees with this. In response to His question, Matthew notes, “And they said, ‘Seven, and a few tiddlers.'”   Here is a new word, ichthudion, a diminutive of ichthus, a fish. Thus, it refers to little fish, properly known as tiddlers. The word was brought to the public eye in a book story by Julia Donaldson and Alex Scheffler in 2007. That was later made into a 2024 movie. Mark's narrative leaves off the mention of any fish.   What is interesting is that their mocking note about the fish, being tiddlers, will not be repeated in verse 36. At that time, Matthew will call them ichthus, fish. What may seem at first insignificant suddenly becomes of full measure when the Lord approves of it and uses it for His glory.   Life application: In Zechariah 4:10, the Lord says –   “For who has despised the day of small things?”    The things that we look at as insignificant, despised, worthless, or not worthy of attention can be used by the Lord for great purposes. A small gift to a ministry may keep it going until the day when it again gets on sound footing. An unwanted child in foster care may grow to be a great missionary or preacher, and a seemingly worthless tract found on the road may lead someone to salvation in Christ.   We as humans look to what is great, flashy, expensive, famous, and so forth, thinking that is where real value comes from. But this is hardly the case in most circumstances. A preacher in a little church with a few congregants may do more to explain the word of God than fifty preachers in mega-churches. Those few congregants are blessed beyond measure each week as they hear the Bible come alive.   A missionary in a small village may have more of an impact on the surrounding world than anyone could ever imagine if his evangelism and instruction take hold. Whereas the garbage cans may be full of uneaten food after a large banquet, a small home living in poverty wastes nothing, understanding the importance of every morsel they receive.   And with their small but satisfying meal, there is thanks in abundance to God who gave it. At the large banquet, there may not have been a single person who even acknowledged that there is a God, the provider of all things.   Don't despise the day of small things, and don't underestimate the value of things that seem unimportant in the world's eyes. That which is truly of value is that which feeds the soul of man when it is received from the goodness of God with thanks and praise.   Lord God, may we not look down on those things which are of value to You, even if they are seemingly insignificant and of little value to the world around us. You have care for Your people and how they interact with You. Help us to remember this and always focus on You and Your goodness to us through such things. Amen.

Sunday, 11 January 2026   Then His disciples said to Him, “Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?” Matthew 15:33   “And the disciples, they say to Him, ‘Whence to us in solitude – loaves so many as to gorge a crowd so vast?'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus told the disciples that He had compassion on the crowd, knowing they had not eaten for three days. He noted that He didn't want them to depart hungry lest they might collapse on the way. Matthew now records, “And the disciples, they say to Him, ‘Whence to us in solitude – loaves.'”   A new word is seen, erémia, solitude. It is derived from erémos, lonesome. Both give the sense of a wilderness or waste area, including a desert. The disciples are concerned about presenting bread to the people, as there was no place near enough to obtain it.   This attitude perplexes scholars who immediately assume they would have remembered the feeding of the five thousand and taken it for granted that this would be expected again. Such an attitude is shallow, and it dismisses the reality of life with Jesus.   They traveled to places, had to feed themselves, such as when walking through the grainfields picking the heads, they ate at people's houses, etc. At these times, Jesus didn't just pop food in front of them. Luke specifically records this thought in his gospel –   “Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.” Luke 5:17   The words seem to presuppose that there were times when the power to heal wasn't openly manifest. They may have gone to many towns where He taught, and yet no healings took place. We weren't there and cannot know.   This is true with the disciples and apostles as well. There were times when they could heal and times when they did not. This continued through the apostolic age. Paul specifically mentions a number of people with physical troubles whom he did not heal. There are times when Peter and Paul restored the dead to life. But these were unique, non-repeatable events.   This attitude also dismisses the record of Israel where there were great miracles, such as the crossing of the Red Sea, the bitter water made sweet, manna and quail being provided, etc., and within no time, Moses was saying –   “The people whom I am among are six hundred thousand men on foot; yet You have said, ‘I will give them meat, that they may eat for a whole month.' 22 Shall flocks and herds be slaughtered for them, to provide enough for them? Or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to provide enough for them?” Numbers 11: 21, 22   There is no reason for the disciples to have been confounded by Jesus' words. One miracle does not presuppose that it can be or will be repeated. Throughout the times in the wilderness, Israel faced hardship and deprivation as a means of testing the people. Jesus is now testing His disciples, who continue with the words concerning their need for bread, saying, “so many as to gorge a crowd so vast?”   The multitude was expansive, and the location was barren. Just like Israel in the wilderness being led by Moses, the answer to their dilemma was and is –   “Has the Lord's arm been shortened? Now you shall see whether what I say will happen to you or not.” Numbers 11:23   Life application: It is easy for us to look back on the narrative in Scripture and say, “Why are they so dull?” John Calvin reflects this superior attitude, “nimis brutum produnt stuporem: They reveal too much brute stupor.” But we can be certain that Calvin's faith ebbed like the tides in the Bay of Fundy at times.   We look at the Bible as events occurring in seconds and without any discomfort or temporal confusion for us as we sit reading and turning page by page. But those with Jesus, as well as the apostles later in their ministries, faced daily life, trials, attacks by foes, splinters, and thorns as they walked, heat in the day, and cold at night.   The disciples' understanding that Jesus is the Messiah is not the same as understanding that Jesus is God. It took until after the resurrection to figure that out. In the meantime, they thought they were dealing with a guy selected by God to do what God instructed Him. When power was available, they saw it and were amazed. When it wasn't, they had to struggle through daily life.   Elijah, through faith, conquered the challenge of the four-hundred prophets of Baal. The next day, he ran away as scared as a kitten at the threat of one woman.   We have the full counsel of God with the knowledge available to us that Jesus is God and He prevailed over death for us, and yet our faith wanes at times. Who is in the weaker position? To avoid such times of consternation, we should ensure we read the word daily, stay in tune with the Lord at all times, and hold fast to our faith without easing up. Life is difficult, messy, and each moment is uncertain. Eyes on Jesus! That will carry us through the rough patches of this earthly walk.   Lord God, help us to remember You as we enter into times of uncertainty, trouble, loss, grief, and so forth. We know You are there, and yet our minds are so easily distracted. May we have the wisdom to keep You and Your promises at the forefront of our minds to help carry us through the days of difficulty. Amen.

Saturday, 10 January 2026   Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” Matthew 15:32   “And Jesus, having summoned His disciples, He said, ‘I gut-wrench upon the crowd because already three days they bivouac with Me, and naught they have that they may eat. And I wish not to dismiss them unfed, not lest they should collapse in the way'” (CG).   In the previous verse, the crowd marveled over Jesus' ability to heal the many who came to Him. Matthew continues now, saying, “And Jesus, having summoned His disciples.”   As will be seen, there has been an extended period of time during which the crowds were with Jesus as He ministered to them. With a plan in mind to tend to them, He calls the disciples together. Once with Him, “He said, ‘I gut-wrench upon the crowd.'”   This is the third time the word splagchnizomai, to gut-wrench, has been seen. Each time, it has been seen in relation to Jesus' concerns for the people. He is again emotionally distraught for their well-being. This time, the reason is, “because already three days they bivouac with Me.”   A new word, prosmenó, to stay further or remain in place, is seen. It is derived from pros, forward or toward (in many variations), and meno, to stay or remain. As this has been three days, the term bivouac gets the sense.   They would have put up a shelter with blankets or whatever else they had available, temporarily residing in the open. And more, Matthew next says, “and naught they have that they may eat.”   Whatever the people brought had been used up. As such, they would be weakened and not prepared for a return to their places of dwelling. Understanding this, Jesus explains it to His disciples, saying, “And I wish not to dismiss them unfed.”   Another new word is seen, the adjective néstis, not to eat and, thus, unfed. It is derived from the inseparable negative particle ne- and esthió, to eat. Such a situation can be voluntary or involuntary. In this case, the people simply ran out of food after three days with Him. Jesus didn't want them to trek home in this condition, “not lest they should collapse in the way.”   One more new word is seen, ekluó, to relax. It is derived from ek, out of or from, and luo, to loosen. The word thus means to relax. However, the context signifies relaxing from not eating, and, thus, to collapse.   As was always the case with those He ministered to, Jesus considered them and their needs even beyond their immediate presence, thinking on their plight even after departing from Him.   Life application: If you ever stay with people you didn't know well, you can learn a lot about them by how they send you off. People will often tend to their guests while they are in residence. They will give them care, ensuring their needs are taken care of in whatever way is necessary for them to be comfortable.   However, when the guests are departing, those who are truly caring by nature will go beyond that and have a care package set aside for the travelers as they depart. One of the interesting things that is seen at such times is that those who do so are usually the poorer members of society. The richer someone is, the less likely they are to consider such situations.   This is not true in all circumstances, but it is a general reality that is seen. It is also seen in the Bible. The story of the Good Samaritan gives insights into this. The account of David and Nabal does as well.   Should you ever have guests who come by, don't just tend to them while they are there, but maybe consider sending them off with a token based on any anticipated needs. However, if they are flying by air, don't give them something they would have to toss at the customs inspection. Be attentive to the reality of the situation and act accordingly.   Now there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel, and the man was very rich. He had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. ... Then Nabal answered David's servants, and said, “Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who break away each one from his master. 11 Shall I then take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men when I do not know where they are from?” 1 Samuel 25, 2 & 10, 11   What a loser. Don't be like Nabal.   Glorious Lord God, help us to be considerate of those whom we encounter in life. If we have the ability to tend to their needs, help us to be conscientious and do so. This doesn't just mean money or things like food. It goes to the true spiritual needs as well. May we be willing to hand out tracks or even Bibles to those who may have never considered how needy they truly are. Amen.  

Friday, 9 January 2026   So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel. Matthew 15:31   “So too, the crowds marveled, seeing mutes speaking, cripples healthy, lame walking, and blind seeing, and they glorified the God of Israel” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus healed the many people with various maladies as they were strewn before Him. Matthew now continues with, “So too, the crowds marveled.”   Seeing what they were seeing would marvel anyone in any generation. These weren't false Charismatic church healings that would astound the audience until their deceitful, magician-like tricks are discovered. Rather, these were true miracles performed on people whom those in the crowd had interacted with for many years.   Jesus, filled with the power of God, was able to diagnose and correct any and all infirmities set before Him. Matthew next gives a list of some of them, saying that the people were “seeing mutes speaking.”   The participle, seeing, used here, along with the others in the verse, indicates the people actively beholding the miracles that had taken place. One can see the crowds watching, unable to take their eyes off these joyous souls as they, one after another, were freed of their afflictions. Mutes who may never have uttered a word in their lives spoke. Also, “cripples healthy.”   This is the same word, kullos, introduced in the previous verse. These people were broken and rolling about when they were brought in, but they were raised up to perfect health. As noted, the word may even indicate they were missing limbs but were restored. Along with them, there were the “lame walking.”   People brought in on beds would no longer need them. Instead, they could give a free ride to the tired soul who brought them in, repaying them for the years of lugging around their bodies bound with infirmity. Matthew also says, “and blind seeing.”   People who needed to be guided up the mountain to the feet of Jesus could now lead the way back home, learning the terrain of the land and the ancient paths that crisscrossed the hills they previously were unable to see. Because of these marvelous things, it says of the crowds, “and they glorified the God of Israel.”   This seems to suggest that the crowds included Gentiles. The exact term is used only here in this manner. There is a reference to the Lord God of Israel in Luke 1:68, along with other variations of the words elsewhere, but the exact phrase is unique in the New Testament to this event.   Therefore, even if Jesus' ministry was to the lost sheep of the House of Israel, it may be that to build upon the excited faith of the Canaanite woman, Jesus purposefully went through the Decapolis as noted in Mark 7:31 in order to elicit more Gentile awareness concerning His abilities. The interesting underlying meaning of the miracle of feeding these people that lies ahead in the narrative seems to indicate this.   Life application: Whether Jesus actually healed any Gentiles or not isn't the point here. He had just traversed through a predominantly Gentile area. As He did, it is obvious that people followed Him to this location on the mount. As they flocked to do so, any Jew would tell their Gentile neighbors that this was the great Teacher and Healer of Israel.   Therefore, even if Jesus only healed Jews (and we cannot know), it is likely that a multitude of Gentiles witnessed the event. Jesus' movement from the Canaanite healing through this Gentile area, then, indicates that this was His intent.   A few scattered Gentiles within the land, seeing His miracles, would be outnumbered in number by those who gathered here in the region of the Decapolis. Therefore, saying, “and they glorified the God of Israel,” is intentionally stated to draw attention to this matter.   God was not uninterested in the Gentile people of the world. But there had to be an order and propriety to His working through Christ Jesus to step by step reveal Himself to His people first, while still allowing Gentiles to behold and later understand through Scripture, what He had done and continues to do for all the people of the world.   Unlike the Messianic fervor that fills churches today, which exalts everything Jewish, this is not the intent of Scripture for Gentile people. Rather, they are to come to the Lord as they are, in whatever culture, using who they are to glorify God. Color is irrelevant. The means of worship are left up to the group, etc.   What God is looking for are people who will worship Him with their whole existence, just as they are and just where they are.   “Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.'” John 4:21-24   Lord God, thank You that we don't have to change one iota of who we are culturally in order to worship You. We don't need to go to a temple in the earthly Jerusalem, which reflects Your now-fulfilled law. Rather, we can worship You through Jesus in a manner that truly glorifies You. No more pointless rituals that only looked ahead in shadows. Now we have the substance. We have JESUS! Amen.

Thursday, 8 January 2026   Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus' feet, and He healed them.  Matthew 15:30   “And they came to Him, great crowds, having with them lame, cripples, blind, mutes and others – many, and they strewed them near Jesus' feet, and He healed them” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus was said to have departed from where the Canaanite woman was, drawing near the Sea of the Galilee and going up a mountain to sit there. Next, Matthew records, “And they came to Him, great crowds.”   Matthew doesn't record how they found Jesus, but it appears that the words “near the Sea of the Galilee” from the previous verse may mean He stopped in a town. As Mark says that He went through the midst of the Decapolis and healed a deaf and mute man, that may have been the trigger to draw so many to where He now is.   The people would know He was there and decided to follow Him. Regardless, it next says, “having with them lame, cripples, blind, mutes and others – many.”   Of these afflictions, one is new, kullos, crippled. It is from kulió, to roll about. Thus, it is someone maimed in the hands or feet. Some commentaries say that the idea of rolling about means that a hand or foot was actually missing. If so, the word should be translated as limb-lost or something similar.   Whatever the exact intent, the adjective “many” indicates that they just kept coming and coming. The sea of humanity in need of the care of Jesus seemed limitless, even though it was in a small part of a very small country. Matthew continues, saying, “and they strewed them near Jesus' feet.”   The word rhiptó is used. It was already seen in Matthew 9:36. It signifies to deliberately fling or hurl something. It gives the idea of sudden motion. The word strew, to scatter or spread things untidily, gives the proper sense. There were so many people that those helping them cast them down in any available spot. One cannot help but think of the words of Isaiah –   “Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows.” Isaiah 53:4   These people, suffering from all types of afflictions, were brought forward and hurled wherever space would allow by people who were frustrated with the tedium of caring for them day after day. Their only hope in their suffering was Jesus. Understanding this, Matthew notes, “and He healed them.”   The scene gives the sense of one person after another. If not, what would be the point of strewing them around? Jesus could have just said, “I heal all of you,” and been done with it. Rather, it appears He carefully evaluated each, probably talked to them with care, and then healed them. The tender care of the Lord for the people reveals the heart of God for those who will come to Him with their needs.   Life application: The sad part of this story is the part that remains unstated at this point. Jesus came to Israel, spent His life restoring people who would otherwise have been permanently afflicted with various maladies, and tended to the people's spiritual needs as well.   His fame was so great that the gospels record that the people wanted to make Him king (John 6:15). However, when prompted by the leaders, Jesus was rejected, crucified, and maligned as a wrongdoer. That attitude toward Him remains to this day among the vast majority of Jewish people.   How poorly humans tend to pick their leaders and heroes. And how faithless we are to those who tend to us. This includes those of the church in their attitude toward Jesus. We are granted restoration and eternal life through what He did for us, and yet we spend much of our time pursuing the things of this life.   Everything we have and all those we know will fade away with time, but Jesus is with us forever. And yet, we constantly seek what is temporary, forgetting to honor the Lord in the process.   Someday, it won't be like this. A new type of existence is coming, but we should be anticipating that now, holding fast to the Lord, and doing our utmost to get the word out to others. Let us not be waffling or unfaithful in our faith toward and love of the Lord.   Glorious God, we can be so easily pulled away from a close and personal walk with You. It usually isn't intentional. Things just come up, and off we go in pursuit of that which doesn't profit. Help us, Lord, to redirect our hearts and minds to You at all times. Give us wisdom to walk in this temporary world with an eternal view. May it be so, to Your glory. Amen.

Wednesday, 7 January 2026   Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there. Matthew 15:29   “And having departed thence, Jesus, He went near the Sea of the Galilee, and having ascended to the mountain, He sat there” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus noted the Canaanite woman's faith and granted her desire, healing her daughter. It next says, “And having departed thence.”   They were in the allotments of Tyre and Sidon (Matthew 15:21). With this short excursion complete, they return to the area of the Galilee, where Matthew records, “Jesus, He went near the Sea of the Galilee.”   As a reminder, the Galilee is a somewhat circular area in Israel which borders the sea, hence this name. However, the sea has a couple of other designations as well: Kinneret, the Sea of Kinnereth (Chinnereth), Lake Gennesaret, and the Sea of Tiberias.   As for the name, the Galilee, as has been seen before, it is derived from the verb galal, meaning to roll or encircle. Hence, it signifies Rolling, Circle, or Circuit. The verb galal is also the basis for Gilgal, which bears a similar meaning. However, to roll something away gives the sense of being liberated. Thus, the meaning extends to Liberty.   Despite saying Jesus went from Tyre and Sidon to near the Sea of the Galilee, Mark more specifically identifies this trek to be inclusive of going through “the midst of the region of Decapolis.” That is on the eastern side of the sea, so it was a large area He traversed before finally getting to where He is now.   With His return to this area, Matthew records, “and having ascended to the mountain, He sat there.” This will set the stage for another great gathering of people and another noted miracle to take place.   Life application: Despite seeming random, Jesus' movements in and through the land of Israel are purposeful. His movements are like a walking picture of other events. When we stand back and look at the places He goes and the things He does, pictures of other things in God's process of redemption can be seen.   This is known as typology. One thing is being used as a type or picture for something else. The Old Testament is filled with typology. Each story is included for a reason, including every detail.   It is important not to jump to conclusions with typology, though. The pictures God reveals have many nuances that must be carefully considered. When they are, rather amazing parallels to what occurs elsewhere in God's plans can be elicited from the text.   When they are mishandled, erroneous conclusions result. When this occurs, it can actually mar the theology of others, leading them to believe something inaccurate about what God is doing. So be careful as you read and consider the word.   Do your best not to insert what you want the text to say. Rather, let the text provide the information without bias or presuppositions. This is not easy, but it is an important step in understanding these hidden truths tucked away in this precious word.   Heavenly Father, Your word has so many levels of information in it that we cannot process them all. It is wonderful that different people, with different abilities, likes, and understandings, have access to Your word. Each can build on the work of others as we work to understand the marvelous things You have secreted away in it. Thank You for this precious word. Amen.  

Tuesday, 6 January 2026   Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. Matthew 15:28   “Then, Jesus answering, He said to her, ‘O! Woman, your faith is great! It become to you as you determine.' And she's cured, her daughter, from that hour” (CG).   In the previous verse, the Canaanite woman agreed with the Lord's assessment concerning bread going to the children, but she noted that even the puppies got the crumbs from the table. With that, we next read, “Then, Jesus answering, He said to her, ‘O! Woman, your faith is great!'”   These words are not because of her astute assessment of the workings of a household. Rather, her note concerning crumbs being sufficient for the great miracle she requested in the healing of her daughter is what set her apart. How unlike Naaman the Syrian, who misunderstood God's workings and capabilities –   “Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he stood at the door of Elisha's house. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, ‘Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.' 11 But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, ‘Indeed, I said to myself, “He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.” 12 Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?' So he turned and went away in a rage.” 2 Kings 5:9-12   Naaman was looking for something great and exciting as a means of healing his servant. This Canaanite woman asked for no such thing. She was observant of how things worked in a house. In hearing Jesus' words concerning His mission, she was able to take the two and conclude how things must work in God's economy.   In other words, “If God has a plan and purpose for the lost sheep (a metaphor) of Israel, and that purpose is to provide bread to the children (another metaphor), then He must be dealing with Israel in a way which reflects those metaphors.”   Astute, yes, but her faith is in understanding that bread, no matter how small the amount, would crumble off and be uneaten when it was broken. And more, that teeny amount of bread would be sufficient to tend to her needs.   Understanding this, Jesus next says, “It become to you as you determine.” The woman had asked in faith, Jesus accepted her request, and from there His words noted that as she determined, so it would come about. Just as when a person calls out for spiritual healing, the physical healing was to be realized for her daughter. This is noted in Matthew's closing words, “And she's cured, her daughter, from that hour.”   The woman determined that healing her daughter was what she desired. Jesus responded accordingly, and her daughter was immediately healed. Concerning salvation, Paul says –   “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.” Ephesians 1:13   Life application: The word repent has been so thoroughly abused from its original meaning that there is no longer any sense of what God expects of His people in order to be saved. See if you think these words from George Barna match what Paul says concerning salvation as noted in Ephesians 1 –   “Tens of millions of people who attend Christian churches every week, and who consider themselves to be followers of Christ and eternally secure, do not seem to understand that repentance is necessary for salvation, and repentance demands a change in behavior.” He stressed that “repentance is not merely sorrow over misdeeds” but “must include a determined effort to change both mind and actions to avoid committing the same sins in the future.”   The answer is that not only do they not match what Paul says, but they are heretical. The gospel says that we come to Jesus with nothing but faith. If we need to change our actions before salvation, then it means that our salvation is up to us, not to Jesus Christ.   This woman was not told, “Ok, then you need to go get medicine and administer it to your daughter three times a day, and she will be healed.” This is essentially what George Barna is saying concerning the woman's faith, which would not be sufficient at all to heal her daughter.   The Greek word translated as repent is metanoeó. It means to “think differently.” That may lead to action, but action is not a part of what the word means. If we have to go beyond a mental assertion that we need a Savior and that Jesus can save us, then we have merited our salvation. This is not the gospel.   However, it is what almost all preachers in the world present to their congregations, week after week. Instead, we come to Jesus needing a Savior. We believe that He can save us. Jesus saves us. From that time, we should have actions worthy of our repentance. Even Jesus said that in Luke 3:8 to the people of Israel while still under the law.   We must keep our theological boxes separate, or we will fall into contradiction, legalism, or full-blown heresy. Be circumspect in your soteriology (doctrine of salvation), never crossing the lines of the beautiful gospel that Jesus has presented to the people of the world.   Lord God, give us the wisdom to consider what You have done and of what You expect us in relation to salvation. May we never tread on Your ground, attempting to earn what has already been provided by Jesus. May our hearts be trusting in Him alone for reconciliation to You. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.

Monday, 5 January 2026   And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.” Matthew 15:27   “And she said, ‘Yes, Lord. And even the puppies – he eats from the crumbs, the ‘falling from their master's table'.'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus responded to the Canaanite woman, telling her it wasn't good to take the children's bread and cast it to the puppies. Now, her incredible response to His words is given. Matthew records, “And she said, ‘Yes, Lord.'”   This Canaanite woman doesn't argue Jesus' premise, nor does she go off on some woke tangent, crying that His words are xenophobic, racist, or anti-Canaanitish. She fully accepts His statement, knowing it is right and logical.   However, she has words for Jesus that not only acknowledge this, but which highlight them in the most profound way, saying, “And even the puppies – he eats from the crumbs, the ‘falling from their master's table.'”   A new word, psichion, crumbs, is introduced. It will only be seen here and in the parallel account in Mark. It is also found in Luke 16:21 in some texts. Of this word, the Topical Lexicon says –   “First-century Mediterranean households commonly used small flat loaves both as food and as utensils for dipping and scooping. Portions too small or too soiled for human consumption were discarded from hand to mouth or allowed to fall to the floor, where house dogs—kept not as pampered pets but as low-status scavengers—would consume them. In that light, ‘crumbs' suggests the tiniest, seemingly insignificant portion of sustenance. The woman's statement accepts her social standing without protest while affirming the superabundance of the Master's provision: even leftovers from Israel's table are sufficient to meet her need.”   This woman understood the power of Jesus, obviously having paid heed to what was said by others who had encountered Him. She understood that she had no standing in Israel but that the God of Israel was abundant in mercy and was capable of extending Himself beyond the Israelite nation.   Using the metaphor of the dog receiving table crumbs, she acknowledges Jesus' words concerning her being a dog. Without finding any fault in His statement, she humbly accepts her status but wisely notes that even in Israel, where dogs are unclean animals according to dietary laws, it did not make them inherently unclean within the society or the household.   Instead, they were a recognized and acceptable part of the family and received their sustenance, including that which was reserved for the family under ceremonial laws of cleanliness, when it was surplus to the needs of the family.   This woman had in no way “out-mastered the Master.” Rather, she had brilliantly relieved the tension that He faced in the matter of being sent to the lost sheep of the House of Israel, which was contrasted to His innate desire to help this distressed Gentile woman.   Jesus' response to her logic will be seen in the next verse.   Life application: No person who has heard the gospel message of Jesus and believed that it is true should ever feel that he is unacceptable to be saved. It doesn't matter if a woman was a prostitute or a lesbian, it doesn't matter if a man was a womanizer or a drunk, it doesn't even matter if someone was a cannibal. God's mercy in Christ is without any such limit.   People from each of these categories, and an innumerable list of others, have heard, been saved, and gone on to do great things for Jesus. To assume that your earthly status, culture, skin color, or past is a limiting factor in your being accepted by God is to place that supposed issue above God, who created all things.   All such things are incidental to your state as a human. It is your humanity that allows these things to be overlooked because Jesus shared in human existence. Don't fret that you are unworthy to be saved. Every other person ever saved has been unworthy of being saved. Rejoice that in our state of unworthiness, God sent His Son to reconcile us to Himself. Rejoice in this and praise His name!   “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples! 2 For His merciful kindness is great toward us, And the truth of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!” Psalm 117   Lord God, we stand in awe of You. You have created all things and given life to all beings. We are the ones who strayed and offended, and yet You, in Your infinite grace and mercy, have brought us back to Yourself through Jesus Christ our Lord. Thank You for Jesus! Amen.  

Sunday, 4 January 2026   But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs.” Matthew 15:26   “And answering, He said, ‘It is not good to take the children's bread and cast to the puppies'” (CG).   In the previous verse, the Canaanite woman came to Jesus and worshiped Him and asked Him to help her. Following this, Matthew records, “And answering, He said, ‘It is not good to take the children's bread and cast to the puppies.'”   A new word is seen, kunarion, a diminutive form of kuón, a dog. Thus, it refers to a puppy. The word is found only four times. All four are in the same account found in Matthew and Mark. According to the Law of Moses, a dog is an unclean animal in regard to dietary restrictions.   It does not logically follow that dogs are unclean and not to be associated with, apart from those dietary laws. If that were true, those of Israel could not ride on donkeys, horses, mules, or camels. Therefore, equating a dog to something inherently unclean is not something to be found in Jesus' words.   Further, Jesus' words about casting the bread of the children to the puppies are not devaluing the woman at all. It is simply a truth that Jesus, the Bread of Life, was sent to the house of Israel, not to the Gentiles.   And that brings up the obvious metaphor used in the Hebrew Scriptures of Caleb. His name means Dog. He is used typologically as a picture of the Gentiles every time he is mentioned. Likewise, in Judges 7:5, the dog is used again typologically referring to Gentiles –   “So he brought the people down to the water. And the Lord said to Gideon, ‘Everyone who laps from the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set apart by himself; likewise everyone who gets down on his knees to drink.'” Judges 7:5   In that seemingly cryptic passage, the focus is not on how the lapping is conducted but on which animal did the lapping, the dog. The dog, anticipating Gentiles in Scripture, is thus typologically equated in that story to the fact that Gentiles during the church age will lap up the water (the word, Christ, the Spirit, etc.), meaning by faith. They reflect those who will engage in the spiritual battle that Israel failed to accept at the coming of Christ.   Jesus' words here do not speak in a derogatory manner. Rather, there is the matter of priority. God covenanted with Israel. Therefore, Jesus' ministry was to be focused on the House of Israel. Only after they rejected Jesus would the Gentiles become the focus of God's ongoing redemptive narrative.   Life application: It has been said that the actions of Jesus toward this Canaanite woman show a flippant, derogatory attitude toward Gentiles. The exact opposite is the case. Referring to a group of people by their nature is simply a way of making people understand a particular point about them. This is as common as threads in a weaving factory.   Throughout the Bible, the names of people groups are identified by the things they do, the places they live, or certain characteristics they possess. This is true in both testaments. Instead of finding offense in such things, we should try to discover why the name of a person or a people group identifies them in such a way.   By doing this, we will understand more about their nature and how God and other people groups perceive them. Further, when we understand these things, we can then understand how they and their names anticipate other things typologically. The entire Old Testament is filled with typology, anticipating other truths that are realized in Jesus Christ, His church, the future state of Israel, the dispensations of time, and so forth.   The only thing that is derogatory about the account of Jesus and this Canaanite woman is how people misuse it for various reasons. However, in understanding how God views the Gentiles, using the dog as a metaphor for them, and then in understanding the noble traits of the dog, we find that God is actually exalting the Gentiles, placing them in a preeminent position in Scripture.   While Israel failed to accept Jesus, the dogs of the world, the Gentile people, have been lapping up the spiritual truths of the word, faithfully following their Master, eagerly awaiting His return, and doggedly defending His house until He returns. Hooray for the dog! For a wonderful, short look at the dog, check out this song by Wendy J Francisco: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H17edn_RZoY&list=RDH17edn_RZoY&start_radio=1   Lord God, Your creation reflects You in such wonderful ways. You created the dog, which is faithful, loving, infinitely patient, and always forgiving when we return to it. Thank You for what we can learn about You when we consider our pet dogs.  Amen.

Saturday, 3 January 2026   Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” Matthew 15:25    “And having come, she worshipped Him, saying, ‘Lord, You rush-relieve me!'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus said to His disciples that He was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. However, the woman who had been crying out after Jesus was unrelenting. Matthew next records, “And having come, she worshipped Him.”   It is a word already seen several times, proskuneó. The idea of worship here does not have to mean as to a deity. Rather, it is a type of reverence where she would have bowed down before Him, acknowledging His abilities and petitioning Him to favor her with them. That is seen in her words, “saying, ‘Lord.'”   The wording of the previous verse implies Jesus' response about only being sent to the lost house of Israel was directed to the disciples. However, it appears she heard His words because she has stopped using the term Son of David from verse 21.   This is unlike the blind men in Matthew 20, who continued to call Him Son of David after the people rebuked them. As such, the woman, understanding that His ministry is only to Israel, drops the reference to David. She has no claim on His Jewish heritage.   Despite this, she still refers to Him as Lord, acknowledging His position and authority. With this understood, her words continue with, “You rush-relieve me!”   She introduces a word to Scripture, boétheó, to help, aid, or relieve. It is derived from boé, intense exclamation, and theō, to run. Therefore, it signifies “to run and meet an urgent distress-call (cry for help); to deliver help, quickly responding to an urgent need (intense distress)” HELPS Word Studies. Lacking any suitable single word to describe the intent, rush-relieve is a suitable substitute.   With her in Jesus' presence, the tension of her needs, His set mission, and His human desire to assist her reaches its highest moment.   Life application: The humanity of Jesus went through all of the struggles that man is familiar with. The love of God for His creation, despite the sin that has infected it, means that God desires reconciliation with the people of the world.   However, a tension exists between God and man. This tension is the result of sin. God cannot arbitrarily overlook sin because He is just and righteous. Because of this, reconciliation without removal of sin is not possible. Thus, this tension between the different attributes of God exists.   These things are resolved through the human body of Jesus. For example, sin must be dealt with. Jesus received the penalty and punishment for our sin. Therefore, God can now fellowship with us through the work of Jesus.   This process of restoration leaves nothing undone. Everything necessary to restore man to God is complete through the work of Christ. The law is satisfied, sin is removed, and felicity is restored. However, despite everything being done, restoration is not automatic. God will not force His offer on anyone.   Rather, each person must come to Him voluntarily through His offering of restoration. This truth is clearly taught in Scripture. The Calvinistic notion that God selects those whom He chooses to save and then saves them apart from their free will choice is not found in Scripture.   Likewise, one can see how offensive the doctrine of law observance is to God. If He has done everything necessary to secure our salvation, and yet we attempt to add to that, we mar the grace that He has offered. It is a heretical doctrine that excludes salvation for those who hold to this aberrant view.   The tension between Jesus' mission to Israel and His desire to assist this woman actually existed. God is teaching us through such things. In understanding them, we can then understand our own relationship with Him as well.   Pay attention to the carefully constructed stories found in Scripture. God is giving us information on how things work in the process of redemption. Consider the nature of God. In doing so, we can resolve the difficult questions that arise in the world that cause people to question His goodness.   God is good. But that is not the end of the story. Rather, it is the beginning. His goodness is revealed in His ongoing redemptive plan. Consider it and know that He is working out all things through Christ to bring those who will receive Him back to Himself.   Lord God, when we see suffering, death, and disaster, we wonder where Your hand is in such things. But as we learn about You and what You are doing through Christ Jesus, we find that You are intimately involved in bringing us back to Yourself. You not only care, but You are also doing something about it. How great it is to know Jesus and receive Your offer through Him. Amen.

Friday, 2 January 2026   But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Matthew 15:24   “And answering, He said, ‘Not, I was sent, if not to the sheep, the ‘having been lost' – House Israel” (CG).   In the previous verse, the disciples came to Jesus, urging Him to send the Canaanite woman away because of all her croaking after them. Matthew next records words concerning Jesus, “And answering, He said, ‘Not, I was sent, if not to the sheep, the ‘having been lost' – House Israel.”   The KJV and several other versions did a terrible job, saying, “I am not sent...” The verb is aorist, not present. Rendering it this way leaves the reader thinking that this was His only reason for being sent. Rather, He was sent on a mission. When that mission is fulfilled, the aorist leaves the narrative open for the change that will come, something a present verb fails to convey.   Jesus was sent to those of Israel who were lost, meaning all of Israel. Nobody is saved until Christ saves them. The exclusivity of the thought rests in the words “House Israel.” Jesus was only sent to the people of Israel. This was proper because only Israel had been given the Mosaic Covenant.   No other people received it, and it applied to no other people. Jesus came to fulfill this law, bring Israel out from under it through His fulfillment of it, and introduce a New Covenant with them, which would also include the Gentile people of the world. Charles Ellicott rightly says –   “Those wandering sheep, without a shepherd, were the appointed objects of His care. Were He to go beyond that limit in a single case, it might be followed by a thousand, and then, becoming, as it were, before the time, the Apostle of the Gentiles, He would cease to draw to Himself the hearts of Israel as their Redeemer.”   There is an order in which God's redemptive plans take place. For Jesus to include Gentiles, who were never under the law, would thoroughly disaffect Israel from considering His Messiahship. Even without tending to the Gentiles, the nation as a whole still rejected Him. As for the metaphor, it would be understood from several passages in the Old Testament, such as –   “My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray; They have turned them away on the mountains. They have gone from mountain to hill; They have forgotten their resting place.” Jeremiah 50:6   As noted in the previous verse, there is a tension that has arisen in the narrative. Jesus ignored the woman while the disciples specifically asked Him to tell her to leave. Instead of doing that, His response to them was that He was sent to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. All He had to do was tell her to go away, but He didn't.   One can see that Jesus, in fact, wanted to help her. However, His mission was not to minister to the Gentiles. Should He voluntarily help every Gentile that came His way, it would be a violation of His principal ministry. And so, the tension existed. “There is something I do not want to do, which is to send this person away. However, I have been charged with doing this thing for Israel, which does not include helping this Gentile. Therefore, I will ignore the issue and see how it plays out.”   The case of the centurion having his request fulfilled by Jesus was resolved by the very people He came to minister to –   “And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. 3 So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, 5 ‘for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.'” Luke 7:2-5   There was no tension in the issue of tending to the centurion's request. The people of Israel, in fact, the elders of the people, petitioned Him to heal the person. As they saw it advantageous to their cause, Jesus could respond favorably without it affecting His principal mission.   Life application: Jesus was, in fact, sent to redeem all people. That is seen from Israel's own writings –   “Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.'” Isaiah 49:6   In fact, because Israel wasn't a people at the fall in Genesis 3, and the fall is when a Redeemer was promised, the truth that the Redeemer would save the whole world stands as an evident truth. However, because God selected Israel to carry the spiritual banner and preserve proper worship of the Lord until the coming of the Messiah, Jesus' mission was first directed to the task of fulfilling the law associated with that covenant.   Only after it was fulfilled could a New Covenant, inclusive of all people, be enacted. As unfortunate as it is, the main recipients of that New Covenant are the very people it was given to. In rejecting Him, they remain under the Old Covenant, while only individual Jews, along with the rest of the world, are offered the New.   Lord God, we see Your love for the people of the world on full display in the pages of the Bible. Thank You for each story and instruction it provides. We are being shown Your very heart as the pages of Scripture unfold before us. Thank You, O God, Amen.

Thursday, 1 January 2026   But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” Matthew 15:23   “And He answered not a word. And having approached, His disciples, they entreated Him, saying, ‘You dismiss her! For she cries after us'” (CG).   In the previous verse, the woman of Canaan came to Jesus while He was in the region of Tyre and Sidon, begging Him to have mercy on her, seeking help for her demon-possessed daughter. Matthew continues the narrative, saying, “And He answered not a word.”   There are various thoughts on the cold shoulder, which is presented here. Some think that Jesus knew all along what would occur, and He was testing her, allowing the situation to unfold before doing what He knew He would do all along. Ellicott thinks that “the prevailing power of prayer working on the sympathy of Christ” is what eventually will motivate Him.   But at this point, He is candid about why He does not respond to her. That will be seen in the next verse. Jesus was on a mission. It was purposeful, targeted, and required His full attention. Hence, at this time, He did not answer her as she croaked out for her daughter. Matthew continues, saying, “And having approached, His disciples, they entreated Him.”   A new word is seen here, erótaó, to interrogate. HELPS Word Studies says, “make an earnest request, especially by someone on ‘special footing,' i.e. in ‘preferred position.'” A good word to define this is entreat. The disciples are in such a preferred position, and they want to know why He is allowing this to continue.   One can see them, saying to Him (the verb is imperfect), “Why are you allowing her to annoy us. Why don't you just tell her to leave!” It was an interrogation of sorts as to His motives for doing nothing, one way or another. In their ongoing words, Matthew notes they were “saying, ‘You dismiss her! For she croaks after us.'”   Stating the obvious doesn't help anything here. Jesus knows she is there, and yet He is neither dismissing her nor assisting her. Therefore, their petition must be more for their own benefit than to convince Him. They are trying to figure out why He is not acting.   Life application: Put yourself in such a position. If you have been given instructions to do something, and yet an issue arises that does not fit within the parameters of your instructions, but you also don't want to ignore the issue, what would you do?   It is probable that most people would not act. Not acting is not a violation of the mission unless it was made explicit from the outset. To cover every such condition would mean an infinitely long list. Hence, such things are normally not even addressed.   Think of any movie or play where such an event arises. A person has to do something. A secondary issue enters the scene that is not a part of the mission, but which has taken hold of the main actor. It introduces a tension into the narrative as both issues are dealt with. The main directive is followed while the secondary issue is allowed to play out, even though nothing is actively done about it by the main character.   This type of thing happens in real life all the time. An example might be a missionary who goes to a foreign land. His mission is to evangelize the people, making converts. He is not being paid for other things. While there, he meets a lady whom he is big time interested in. However, she is not a Christian, having not accepted the gospel.   What will he do? He cannot act toward her to develop a relationship because that would be contrary to the faith. However, he doesn't want her to go away either. And so he does nothing. Regardless of the outcome (but for the sake of the love story, we'll say she eventually accepts Jesus and they get married), the tension has developed.   This is as common as bullets in an ammo factory, and it is just why so many stories, plays, and movies are developed with this theme. It is a part of the human condition. In the end, when the rules are adhered to and yet the outcome is positive, we always get the best feeling when the story is over. Why? Because to do wrong, despite often being our default setting, is never the preferred option.   Therefore, to allow events to play out to a resolution (hopefully a happy one like our missionary example) is what stirs our human emotions the most. Think about this and consider it as this short story, relayed by Matthew, unfolds before us.   “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16   Lord God, thank You for the humanity of our Messiah, Jesus. In seeing how He responded to the world around us, we have the perfect example of how to conduct our own affairs. May we learn to hold fast to Your word at all times while allowing surrounding events to play out in a way that will be favorable to our hopes and desires. Amen.

Wednesday, 31 December 2025   And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” Matthew 15:22   “And you behold! A Canaanite woman from those same borders, having come, she croaked to Him, saying, ‘You compassionate me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter, she is demon-possessed badly'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus left the land of the Gennesaret and departed to the allotments of Tyre and Sidon. With Him there, Matthew next records, “And you behold! A Canaanite woman.”   This is the only time that the word Chananaios, Canaanite, is seen in the New Testament. That is derived from Chanaan, Canaan, found twice in Acts. This was the early name of the land of Israel, having been named after Canaan, the grandson of Noah through Ham.   The meaning of the name Canaan (Hebrew kna'an) is debated. It is variously translated as Land of Purple, Low, Merchant, etc. The likely meaning is Low, Abased, Humble, Humiliated, something along these lines. This is based on the account of Genesis 9, where Canaan is first mentioned.   In Mark, it says of this same woman that she “was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth.” There is no contradiction in this. Syro-Phonecia is the area, and the term “Greek” is being applied as we might when we say of a person from Germany, “He is a European.” One is a wider explanation of a more precise designation. Albert Barnes provides the historical understanding –   “In ancient times, the whole land, including Tyre and Sidon, was in the possession of the Canaanites, and called Canaan. The Phoenicians were descended from the Canaanites. The country, including Tyre and Sidon, was called Phoenicia, or Syro-Phoenicia. That country was taken by the Greeks under Alexander the Great, and those cities, in the time of Christ, were Greek cities. This woman was therefore a Gentile, living under the Greek government, and probably speaking the Greek language. She was by birth a Syro-Phoenician, born in that country, and descended, therefore, from the ancient Canaanites. All these names might, with propriety, be given to her.”   Of this woman of Canaan, it next says, “from those same borders.” The meaning is based on the previous verse, that it is the “allotments – Tyre and Sidon.” Understanding this, Matthew continues, saying, “having come, she croaked to Him, saying, ‘You compassionate me, Lord, Son of David!'”   Nothing is said about how she knew of Jesus, but it is apparent that His fame had extended far and wide. In both Mark and Luke, by this time in the narrative, it was already acknowledged that people from Tyre and Sidon had come to see Jesus (Mark 3:8 and Luke 6:17). Thus, Jewish residents of that area had already gone to see Jesus, returned, and spoken of the things they saw.   Now, knowing He was in the area and understanding that He was the promised Messiah, indicated by the words “Son of David,” this Canaanite woman begs for compassion to be extended even to her, a Gentile.   But more, she is of the cursed line of Canaan. This is based on Noah's cursing of Canaan for what Ham did to him in Genesis 9. The last thing a person of such lineage might expect from the Jewish Messiah would be compassion. And yet, she faithfully came forward in hopeful expectation that He might listen to her plea, which was, “My daughter, she is demon-possessed badly.”   This woman, having heard of Jesus' capabilities, has placed the situation concerning her demon-possessed daughter in the hands of Jesus, hoping He will respond and cure her. Her faith is on prominent display, even if the level of it is not yet revealed.   Life application: In commentaries on this verse, both Cambridge and Vincent's Word Studies say something similar –   “...out of the same coasts] Literally, those coasts. Jesus did not himself pass beyond the borders of Galilee, but this instance of mercy extended to a Gentile points to the wide diffusion of the Gospel beyond the Jewish race.” Cambridge   “Lit., as Rev., from those borders; i.e., she crossed from Phoenicia into Galilee.”   They cannot accept that Jesus traveled outside of Galilee. This, despite two different words having been used to describe His going there. The first was in verse 21, where Jesus is said to have traveled to the “allotments – Tyre and Sidon.” The second, in verse 22, says “from those same borders,” meaning she was born, raised, and lived in the same area where Jesus had traveled to.   These scholars got it stuck in their heads that Jesus never left the area of Galilee based on what it says when He charged His disciples not to go in the way of the Gentiles and by His words that will say that He was sent to minister only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Because of this, their faulty deduction is that “Jesus never left the Galilee.”   Both of those statements were addressed in the comments of verse 15:21. It explicitly says Jesus traveled to this area. But once we have a presupposition stuck in our head, cognitive dissonance takes over, and we will do anything to justify falling in line with what we want the text to say.   What do you believe about the timing of the rapture? Have you got that in your head because of what you were taught? If so, the chances are that you will argue that point regardless of what the Bible actually says. That is unwise. We must be willing to acknowledge that we could be wrong.   Be sure to keep all things in their proper context. This is of paramount importance. From there, be willing to accept that what you think is true might be wrong. After that, do your study and don't violate the “context” issue if you find you might have been wrong. This is what most people do when faced with the reality that things aren't matching up with what they thought.   Context is king. So keep everything in its proper context. From there, stick to it at all times. Your doctrine will improve as long as you stick to what is said, regardless of what you think you know.   Lord God, none of us wants to be proven wrong. And none of us wants to betray the teachings that we received from a beloved pastor or teacher by contradicting what they taught us. And so, we put up a defense against change. Help us not to do this. May we be willing to go where Your word teaches, regardless of whether we find we were wrong. Help us to have this attitude at all times. Amen.

Tuesday, 30 December 2025   Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. Matthew 15:21   “And having departed thence, Jesus, He withdrew to the allotments – Tyre and Sidon” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus finished His explanation of the things that defile a man. Eating with unwashed hands was not among those things. Next, Matthew records, “And having departed thence.”   The last record of where they were was in the land of Gennesaret. That was noted in Matthew 14:34. The account doesn't say why they left, but some scholars assume it was to avoid the anger of the Pharisees whom He had shamed. Regardless of the reason, it next says, “Jesus, He withdrew to the allotments – Tyre and Sidon.”   This is not the first time that these two cities are mentioned, but it is the first time that it notes Jesus having gone to them. The first time, it was in reference to His works, which evidenced His being the Messiah –   “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.” Matthew 11:21, 22   As for the terminology, it says that He went to the allotments of Tyre and Sidon. Thus, He may not have gone to these cities, but to the surrounding area. However, it would be inappropriate to assume that He didn't go there based on His words to the disciples about not going in the way of the Gentiles (Matthew 10:5) or His words concerning being sent only to the House of Israel, which will be stated in verse 24 of this chapter.   The reason for this is that, despite being Gentile cities, there was probably a sizeable Jewish presence there. Going to a Jewish home in a Gentile area would not violate either statement. He would remain in the “way of the Jews,” and He would be ministering to the House of Israel.   Of this visit, the Pulpit Commentary says –   “If, as Chrysostom suggests, Jesus, by going to these partly Gentile districts, wished to give a practical commentary on the abrogation of the distinction between clean and unclean (breaking down the wall of partition between Jew and Gentile), this lesson was given equally well by the acceptance and commendation of the Gentile woman's faith, even though Christ himself was outside of pagan territory.”   This is, as noted in a previous commentary, not an appropriate sentiment. It is true that Jesus fulfilled the law and set aside all dietary laws in its fulfillment. It is also true that the wall of partition is brought down in Christ. However, it is an unacceptable leap to assume that Jesus was there to “give a practical commentary on the abrogation of the distinction between clean and unclean.”   That is putting the cart before the horse. Only in the completed work of Christ is that realized. The introduction of the Gentile woman will be the same lesson to Israel as that stated by Him in Luke 4:23-27. God does not favor Jews over Gentiles, and His mercy towards Gentiles was evidenced concerning this in the past.   His point is the same there as it was with the centurion already noted in Matthew 8. God is looking for faith in people. He would rather have a faith-filled Gentile than an entire nation of Jews lacking faith. True as this is, it has nothing to do with Jesus hinting that the ceremonial parts of the law had been abrogated by Him.   If that was what He intended, and the people of Israel would have known this very well, they would have taken Him out and stoned Him. Even after the resurrection, the Jews still didn't get this. They insisted on maintaining the dietary laws scrupulously. Peter had to be explicitly told that this was not appropriate in Acts 10 before he was told to go to the house of Cornelius.   Life application: It must be trumpeted loudly that the dispensational model is a necessary part of what God is doing in order for us to rightly divide Scripture. Until it was fully laid out and explained, commentaries throughout the centuries were wholly incorrect in explaining what Jesus did and what the effects of His work meant for the people of the world.   Even to this day, churches that do not understand or properly teach dispensationalism have all kinds of aberrant doctrines they must contend with. Actual contradictions in their doctrine and theology arise because of mishandling this important precept.    It affects the doctrines of salvation, end times matters, law observance, and so much more. Be sure to study and remember the principal tenets of the dispensational model. In doing so, you will avoid many pitfalls that some of even the greatest teachers of Scripture have failed to get right.   Lord God, help us to rightly divide Your word, the word of truth. It is without error or contradiction. But when we misunderstand the context, we will have both creep up in our doctrine. Help us to get things right. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.

Monday, 29 December 2025   These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.” Matthew 15:20   “These, they are, the ‘defiling the man,' but to eat with unwashed hands, not it defiles the man” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus gave a list of things that stem from the heart and which defile a person. He confirms this now with the words, “These, they are, the ‘defiling the man.'”   The list from Jesus, as recorded in Matthew, is not all-inclusive. In Mark, rather than seven items, Jesus gives a list of thirteen. It is certain that the list could go on all day as the human heart thinks up new ways of sinning. That is a thought stated by Paul in Romans 1:30, where he notes those who are “inventors of evil things.” In fact, the Lord, through Jeremiah, says –   “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? 10 I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:9, 10   It is the heart where the source of true defilement of a man comes. Jesus continues, saying, “but to eat with unwashed hands, not it defiles the man.”   Here is a new word, aniptos. It is derived from the negative particle a, and the word niptó, to wash or cleanse. Therefore, it signifies unwashed. Jesus explicitly says what He was referring to concerning foods entering the mouth. He was not speaking of the foods themselves, but of the fact that they are unwashed.   Without considering these words, scholars have run ahead of the dispensation's completion and said that Jesus was claiming that all foods are acceptable to be eaten. However, that would be a violation of the Law of Moses, something not yet fulfilled by Him. Having said that, the parallel account in Mark says concerning food –   “...because not it enters him into the heart, but into the stomach and into the john it ejects, cleansing all the foods.” Mark 7:19   Taking this to a wholly unintended extreme, the NIV et al, which is based on the offset of the NU text, thus implying it is the wording of Mark, says, “(In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean)”. This is not at all what Jesus is saying. He is saying that the food is purified through the process of going through the body. As in Matthew, the context is that of ceremonial washing of foods, not the types of foods.   It is true that during this dispensation, all foods are acceptable –   “For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving.” 1 Timothy 4:4   This sentiment is taught by Paul in several ways in Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 8, Colossians 2, etc. But this is not what Jesus is referring to while under the Law of Moses. The distinction must be made and kept separate. Until the law was fulfilled, it had to be obeyed.   Life application: Those who have come to Christ “are not under law but under grace” Romans 6:14. If there is no law, then there can be no imputation of sin (Romans 5:13, 2 Corinthians 5:19, etc.). As this is so, believers cannot lose their salvation.   However, Jesus states moral truths in the verses we have been looking at. The things that we do, which stem from a wicked heart, are wicked. No, we will not be imputed sin and lose our salvation for doing those things. However, we are not blameless either.   In doing such things, we harm our relationship with the Lord, we set a very poor example for the world to see, and we will lose rewards at the Bema seat of Christ. We may also lose our lives, health, savings, etc., in the process of doing such things. These are truths that the Bible proclaims.   We are not given license to do wrong, something those who say the doctrine of eternal salvation necessarily must teach. That is a false dichotomy that is unsupportable from Scripture. Scripture teaches eternal salvation, while it also teaches holiness and consequences for wrongdoing.   Be sure not to get bullied by those who claim you can lose your salvation. They have poor doctrine and nothing biblical to stand on. At the same time, never take your eternal salvation as a license to sin. That is the surest way of making your life miserable. Actions have consequences. Be holy to the Lord and honor Him with your lives.   Lord God, help us to be ready to defend sound doctrine at all times. But may we not be arrogant as we do. Also, Lord, help us to be holy in our thoughts, words, and deeds for the sake of Jesus' name. We can so easily get distracted from these things. So help us in this, O God. Amen.

Sunday, 28 December 2025   For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. Matthew 15:19   “For from the heart, they come: evil meanderings, murders, adulteries, harlotries, thefts, false-witnessings, blasphemies” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus told the disciples that it is what proceeds out of the mouth that defiles a man. Having said that, He now explains what that means, saying, “For from the heart, they come.”   Rather than something entering externally and passing through, this is something that begins internally, in the heart. Therefore, it reveals the nature and characteristics of the one from whom those things issue. In the case of defilement, Jesus begins His list of seven defiling items with “evil meanderings.”   It is two words in Greek, dialogismoi ponēroi. The first word is new, dialogismos, a discussion. Internally, it signifies a consideration (by implication, purpose). Thus, it would signify a meandering. The second word is an adjective signifying evil.   Taken together, this refers to the general evil thoughts that arise in a person's head. The thought itself is wicked. To act on such meanderings only compounds the guilt of the person. Next, He says, “murders.”   It is another new word, phonos. It is from pheno, to slay. In this case, it is intentional, unjustified homicide. Jesus continues with “adulteries.”   Another new word is given, moicheia, the act of adultery. It will only be seen again in Mark 7:21 and John 8:3. Throughout the Bible, the act of adultery is condemned as wrongdoing, but the act begins inside the person. Jesus will later note that the thought alone brings guilt, even without committing the act. Continuing on, Jesus says, “harlotries.”   It is a word already seen, porneia. It signifies various harlotries, such as adultery, incest, and fornication in general. Next are “thefts.”   It is yet another new word, klopé, meaning stealing or theft. It is derived from the verb kleptó, to steal. One can think of a kleptomaniac. But it includes any stealing, not just the compulsive type. A person taking something that does not belong to him is a thief. The act is known as theft. Jesus continues with, “false-witnessings.”   It is another new word, pseudomarturia. One can easily see the breakdown. The first part is pseudo, being derived from pseudés, that which is false or untrue. It defines what a liar speaks. The second half of the word is from martus, a witness. Thus, it speaks of a false witness.   The word martus has come to signify a martyr because one's witness will often lead to his martyrdom. This word, pseudomarturia, only refers to a false witness. Jesus finishes the list with “blasphemies.”   It is a word already used in Chapter 12. It refers to vilification, especially against God. As such, it is defined as blasphemy, evil speaking, and railing in general.   Life application: Jesus says these things stem from the heart and render a person unclean. The fact is that most of us have had many of these thoughts in our hearts many times. They exist as a part of fallen humanity. It isn't that we would necessarily act on these thoughts, but we may even have done or still do them.   As people, we are responsible for quelling the inner urges that stem from within us, keeping them from overtaking us. When we fail, does the Lord understand? The answer is, Yes. He knows our weaknesses and frailties.   David was overtaken by adultery. That started in his heart, and he acted out his desire. This led to his next wicked act, murder. Again, that started in his heart. He acted against one of his own soldiers. The law called for death in such instances. However, the record of the account says –   “So David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.' And Nathan said to David, ‘The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 14 However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.'” 2 Samuel 12:13, 14   David's sin was taken away. He acknowledged his sin, the Lord looked on his heart and knew that he was repentant, and forgiveness was provided. David still had to live with the consequences of what he did, but he remained in the Lord's favor. If the Lord did this for David, even before sending Jesus to atone for our sins, we can know that God will forgive us when we come to Him, acknowledging our wrongdoing.   No person is outside of God's potential forgiveness, and no person's sin is too great to be forgiven. Trust that this is so, come to Jesus, and receive forgiveness and eternal life because of what He has done for His people.   Lord God, how grateful we are to You for what You have done in sending Jesus. May we stay close to You at all times, but when we stray, we know we have an Advocate who stands with us, ready to defend us for His name's sake. Hallelujah for Jesus our Lord! Amen.

Saturday, 27 December 2025   But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. Matthew 15:18   “And those proceeding from the mouth, it comes from the heart, and those, it commonizes the man” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus gave the disciples a lesson in basic human physiology, something they should have thought through by themselves. Now, He uses that instruction to provide an example of what defiles a man, something foods do not do. He begins with, “And those proceeding from the mouth.”   Jesus turns the thought around. “Proceeding from the mouth” corresponds to “into the john it ejects.” Therefore, the source of what He is referring to will be different than the previous example. That is stated in the next words, “it comes from the heart.”   The meaning is that what enters the mouth is something external. It passes through the body and then is ejected. There was nothing defiling in the process. However, that which proceeds from the mouth, meaning that the words of man, come from within the man. Their source is the heart.   Remember that the heart in the Bible does not refer to the organ that pumps blood. It is only used figuratively for the place where moral preferences are derived. It is the biblical source of thoughts and feelings, of which Jesus next says, “and those, it commonizes the man.”   Here is a new word, koinoó, to make (or consider) profane. Thus, it is that which treats what is sacred as common or ordinary. To get the meaning, the adjective form is used this way in Acts 2 –   “Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common [koinos], 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.”   People are to be sacred, having been made in the image of God. However, man becomes commonized through what comes from his heart and the words that proceed from his mouth. Jesus will explain why this is so in the next two verses.   Life application: The heart is the inventor of wickedness in man. This is then turned into action as he is spurred on by what the heart has developed. As noted, Jesus will explain the various ways that this occurs. However, we can already consider how this process is realized in us.   The things we think are often not things we would actually act on. Further, we would not normally say the thoughts that well up in us. We have filters and checks that properly suppress such things.   At times, however, the filters may be lacking. We blurt out something that is caustic, and it causes damage to a relationship. Even if it was unintentional, what we have said is perceived to be the reality of what is going on inside of us by the recipient of our words.   Likewise, the checks on our words and actions are usually in place to keep us from acting in certain ways. However, if we are hungry, that can exacerbate our mood in a negative way. We become hangry, releasing our anger because the normal checks are blocked through our physical degradation. This can be true with a lack of sleep, high-pressure situations, etc.   We are still accountable for our words and actions, but there are reasons they occurred. When it happens, we regret what we have done, showing that it wasn't our intention to act in such ways. In an old Clint Eastwood movie, he said, “A man's got to know his limitations.”   When we feel we are reaching a point where we may do wrong, we need to work harder at limiting the inclinations that arise. We may also want to remove ourselves from whatever situation we are in. This will keep us from saying or doing something we will later regret.   Everyone responds to internal and external stresses differently. Therefore, it is up to us to carefully monitor ourselves and respond to those things that stress us.   Having said that, there are people who have no such limitations. They openly act on their inappropriate impulses. The problem with this is that it can become ordinary as others follow suit. Pretty soon, you are in full San Francisco mode, where the majority of the people openly act out perversions, illegalities, and harmful conduct towards self and others.   Once this happens, the society is set in a doom loop that is very hard to rectify. This is why the whole world had to be destroyed by the flood. It is also why the whole world will once again be destroyed by fire. Be sure not to follow the world. Rather, be like Noah, who remained righteous in a world full of iniquity.   Lord God, give us wisdom in how we should deal with our weaknesses and limitations. We all have them, and we all need to carefully monitor ourselves when faced with pressures and stresses that weaken us. Be with us and help us to always be fixed on You and what You would want us to do. Amen.

Friday, 26 December 2025   Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? Matthew 15:17   “Not yet you grasp that all, the ‘entering into the mouth,' into the stomach it contains, and into the john it ejects?” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus chided the disciples, noting their still being unintelligent. He now explains their question with basic information that any child could understand, beginning with, “Not yet you grasp.”   Two new words are seen here. The first is oupó, yet. It is not found in all manuscripts. Instead, some say, “Not you grasp.” Either way, the word will be found in all manuscripts starting in Matthew 16:9.   The second new word is noeó, to exercise the mind. Thus, it means to understand, comprehend, etc. To keep it distinct from other similar words in a translation, saying “grasp” satisfies the need.   HELPS Word Studies says that this word “underlines the moral culpability we all have before God – for every decision (value-judgment) we make. This follows from each of us being created in the divine image – hence, possessing the inherent capacity by the Lord to exercise moral reasoning.”   What Jesus wonders if they yet grasp is “that all, the ‘entering into the mouth,' into the stomach it contains.”   Jesus gives them a lesson in basic human physiology. In fact, it is characteristic of life everywhere. In these words are two more new words. The first is eisporeuomai, to enter. When a person feeds himself, food enters his mouth. From the very first moments of a baby's existence, this is understood. They know exactly what to do to obtain nourishment.   The next new word is chóreó, to be in space or to give space. Thus, it gives a sense of holding. When a person eats, the food doesn't just stay in his mouth. Rather, it takes a journey down the alimentary canal. As it heads down, it stops in the stomach. While there, the stomach contains it and processes it.   Anyone who has had a meal knows this. The feeling is sensational each time we eat as the stomach whirls and churns, breaking down the food. If there was something upsetting in the food, the feeling may still be sensational, but in a bad way. Maybe we would call the sensation miserable. Whatever way it affects us, it eventually leads to Jesus' next words, which finish His question, “and into the john it ejects?”   Here is yet another new word, aphedrón, a place of sitting. Eventually, the food is processed in the stomach, continues on a long meandering journey through the bowels, and eventually it is ejected in the place of sitting.   In English, we have innumerable words to describe the location. There are locative descriptions, such as outhouse. There are accommodating descriptions, such as privy. We have coyly deceptive descriptions, such as powder room. And then there are colorful descriptions that every schoolboy knows, and many build upon.   And there is, of course, the memorial word john. That is most likely named after Sir John Harington. He was a 6th-century godson of Queen Elizabeth I. Being Mr. Inventive, he designed an early type of flushing toilet. Even though he wasn't the first to invent a flushing toilet, his invention, along with a satirical pamphlet he wrote about it, popularized the word john. Thus, his name became slang for his device.   Jesus' basic physiology course ends. He will next teach a truth about this process, making a contrast with it to something else.   Life application: Imagine your name is associated with such an invention, being repeated millions of times every day. There are lots of ways to be remembered that are far more tasteful. However, the best way of all is to be remembered on the day the Lord comes for His church.   Paul describes the event –   “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-53   You may not be famous now, but you are important to God if you have trusted the gospel. So get ready for transformation day when Jesus calls us out of this corruptible body. We are talking about a name with eternal fame, simply by believing. So be ready by trusting Jesus!    Lord God Almighty, You designed us according to Your wisdom, and we are wonderfully made. But what will we be like when we have our change? The thought captures our attention. How we long for that day. May it be soon. Amen.

Thursday, 25 December 2025   So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? Matthew 15:16   “And Jesus, He said, ‘And yet, you, you are unintelligent!'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Peter came to Jesus and said, “You expound to us this parable.” With that, Matthew records, “And Jesus, He said.”   Jesus' response is not a question. Rather, it will be a statement. He has been instructing them on matters, and they have been unable to put His words into intelligent meaning in their minds. Therefore, what He says is an emphatic declaration. It is also in the plural. He is speaking to all of the disciples, “And yet, you, you are unintelligent!”   There are two new words. The first one, akmén, means “a point.” The idea is that it refers to a point in time. If one were to coin a new word to suit the literal meaning while conveying the intent, the word “pointly” would get the point across. Someone should consider coining it in this context.   For now, the adverb “yet” is sufficient. The point in time is reached, and yet, there is something that is awry. That leads to the next new word, the adjective asunetos, unintelligent. It comes from a, the particle of negation, and sunetos, to mentally put together, and thus sagacious.   HELPS Word Studies says, “foolish because incoherent (failing to ‘put facts together').” Also, “a person failing to structure information in a meaningful way, and therefore unable to reach necessary conclusions.” The word is often translated as “without understanding.” A single word that exactingly describes the person is “unintelligent.”   Jesus isn't asking them if they are yet without understanding. He is affirming that they are, as yet, unintelligent. They have heard His words, and they have not learned to come to proper conclusions concerning what He is saying. This will continue even till the time of His crucifixion.   Life application: It may seem harsh for Jesus to say to His disciples so directly that they are foolish or unintelligent, but it is not at all uncommon in Scripture. Such words are used throughout the Old Testament when referring to the people of Israel –   “When its boughs are withered, they will be broken off; The women come and set them on fire. For it is a people of no understanding; Therefore He who made them will not have mercy on them, And He who formed them will show them no favor.” Isaiah 27:11   Such examples are common. The Lord rebukes the people for their lack of heeding Him, attending to His words, etc. In our modern society, it is considered offensive to say directly to people that they are foolish, unwise, unintelligent, and so forth. But to coddle people unwilling to engage their brains will lead to a generation of people who truly are unintelligent.   If we remain in a slumber, without rebuke for our unwillingness to learn, there is no incentive to strive for better. When everyone on a team gets the same award, there is no reason for anyone to strive to be the best. The Bible unashamedly says otherwise –   “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.” 1 Corinthians 9:24   In fact, striving for what is right is so important that Jesus instructs those of Israel to do so with the thought of eternal consequences for not doing so –   “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” Matthew 13:24   When we approach matters of life, we should take time, demonstrating patient perseverance and wholehearted dedication to the task at hand. Marble will not tolerate an impatient and impulsive sculptor. Rather, the one who is wise with the hammer and chisel will slowly and methodically pay attention to the task set before him, mentally shutting out what will distract him.   If this is so for worldly things, how much more dedicated and patient should we be in our pursuit of God and of obtaining right understanding in His word? Are we so foolish as to strive for the best in polishing our car but neglect the eternal rewards there are for seeking God as He intends for us?   Jesus pointedly said to His disciples, “And yet, you, you are unintelligent!” Is He speaking the same to us today? Or is He pleased with our pursuit of who He is, as we attend carefully to His words? Let us receive a word of commendation from Him as we rise each day to consider Him and reflect on His majesty.   Lord God, thank You for the rebukes of life that spur us on to greater achievements. Yes, words of chastisement can be painful at the time, but we know that they are normally working for something better in us if we just pay heed. May we learn the lessons from them and strive to excel as we seek You in Your superior word. Amen.

Because I believe Jesus came from Heaven to Earth  to show the way From the Earth to the Cross  my Sin Debt to pay From the Cross to the Grave From the Grave to the  Sky His love for me will never die

Wednesday, 24 December 2025   Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.” Matthew 15:15   “And Peter, having answered, he said to Him, ‘You expound to us this parable'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus noted that if the blind-conductors are also blind, they will both fall into a pit. Having finished His words, Matthew notes, “And Peter, having answered, he said to Him.”   Peter heard something that needed clarification from Jesus' words. Therefore, he continues, “You expound to us this parable.”   Here is a new word, phrazó. It is found only here in the New Testament. It means to indicate by word or act. Thus, it is rightly defined as “expound,” which signifies to explain the meaning in a detailed manner. Peter goes back to Jesus' words of verse 15:11, not knowing the meaning of the parable –   “Not the ‘entering into the mouth' it profanes the man, but the ‘proceeding from the mouth,' this, it profanes the man.”   The problem with Peter's words is that Jesus wasn't speaking in a parable at that time. Hence, he misunderstood the intent of Jesus' words. For this, he will receive a rather stern rebuke, followed by a more detailed explanation of Jesus' intent.   Life application: It is not always easy to know when something in the Bible is being spoken literally, metaphorically, in parable, or in some other way. It is also difficult to determine if what is being spoken of is one thing rather than another.   A good example of this is found in Joshua –   Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon; And Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.” 13 So the sun stood still, And the moon stopped, Till the people had revenge Upon their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. 14 And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the Lord heeded the voice of a man; for the Lord fought for Israel.   Translations generally assume that Joshua's words indicate that the sun and moon literally stood still in the heavens. This is then bolstered by the words of verses 13 and 14. However, the words are poetic, having been included in the Book of Jasher. The way it properly reads and what is happening is as follows –   “Then, he will speak, Joshua to Yehovah, in day gave Yehovah the Amorite to faces sons Israel, and he said to eyes Israel:   ‘Sun, in Gibeon, you must be silent. And moon in depth Aijalon.' And is muted, the sun. And moon stood. Until he will avenge nation – his hatings.   Not it written upon scroll the Upright (One)? And it stood, the sun, in the half the heavens and not it hastened to go, according to day complete. And not it was according to day, the it, to its faces and after it, to hearken, Yehovah, in voice man, for Yehovah being fought to Israel.” (CG)   Notice the structure:   V.12 – [Then, he will speak, Joshua to Yehovah, in day gave Yehovah the Amorite to faces sons Israel, and he said to eyes Israel].   V.13 Until he will avenge nation [Israel] – his hatings.   V.15 - And not it was according to day, the it, to its faces and after it, [to hearken, Yehovah, in voice man, for Yehovah being fought to Israel].   The bracketing thoughts explain what the exceptional thing was. It wasn't that the sun and moon stood still in the skies. Rather, it was that the Lord listened to the voice of a man and fought for Israel.   As you read the Bible, understand that what you are reading has been translated by man. A translator comes to the text with biases and presuppositions. If he is only a translator, he is also trying to make sense out of very difficult language. Therefore, it is natural to make assumptions based on a lack of study.   Even scholars will start with presuppositions, reading a translation first and then working with that picture in their minds. Because of this, be careful to stop and contemplate what you are reading from other perspectives. You may find that what you thought was correct was not.   In the end, you will get out of the word as much as you put in.   O God, may we be willing to carefully consider all things Your word tells us. Help us not to get caught up in sensationalism or “going with the pack” mentality. May we first and foremost consider what You are telling us and why. Help us in this so that our time of study will be methodical and filled with proper insights concerning Your word. Amen.  

Tuesday, 23 December 2025   Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.” Matthew 15:14   “You leave them! They are blind, blind-conductors. And blind, if they should conduct, both – they will fall into a pit” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus told His disciples that every plant His heavenly Father had not planted would be uprooted. He now says, “You leave them!” The words are imperative. Their instruction is based on corruption, not the truth. What the Father plants is truth, but the devil only sows lies, confusion, etc. To explain further, Jesus says, “They are blind, blind-conductors.”   A new word is seen here, hodégos. It is from hodos, way, and hégeomai, to lead. Thus, it speaks of one who leads in the way, and thus a conductor. With the adjective blind attached to the thought, they are conductors of the blind.   And yet, Jesus notes that they, too, are blind. Paul, speaking to the Jews in Romans 2, uses the opposite terminology to describe the way they felt about themselves, even though they acted contrary to their teachings –   “Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God, 18 and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, 19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. 21 You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? 22 You who say, ‘Do not commit adultery,' do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? 24 For ‘the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,' as it is written.” Romans 2:17-24   This is the attitude that Jesus rebukes in these leaders of Israel. They were blind leading blind people. It is a recipe for disaster. He next says, “And blind, if they should conduct, both – they will fall into a pit.”   It is an obvious truth. When a blind person is conducted, it is where the conductor takes him. He is placing his trust in the one leading him. But if the conductor himself is blind, any step he takes could bring him to the edge of a pit. The next step will see him tumbling in along with the one he was charged to lead.   Now imagine one who is willfully blind, like these leaders of Israel. They were disregarding the law and causing others who were untrained in the law to follow them –   “One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination. 10 Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, He himself will fall into his own pit; But the blameless will inherit good.” Proverbs 28:9, 10   Isaiah prophesied of Israel's blindness. It was a chronic condition with them –   “Hear, you deaf; And look, you blind, that you may see. 19 Who is blind but My servant, Or deaf as My messenger whom I send? Who is blind as he who is perfect, And blind as the Lord's servant? 20 Seeing many things, but you do not observe; Opening the ears, but he does not hear.” Isaiah 42   Life application: Think of the variety of doctrinal disputes between Christian instructors:   *Israel are God's people vs. Israel are not God's people. *The church replaced Israel vs. Israel and the church are separate entities. *Salvation is eternal vs. Salvation can be lost. *There is such a thing as the rapture. There will be a pre-trib rapture. There will be a mid-trib rapture. There will be a post-trib rapture. *The church began at Pentecost vs. the church began with Paul's conversion. *Believers are free from the law. Believers must adhere to the law. Believers are free from the civil law but are bound to the moral law. *The Sabbath must be observed. A Christian Sabbath must be observed. No Sabbath is necessary. *Bacon is bad vs. bacon is good.   On and on it goes, with ten thousand points of doctrine. When a teacher is wrong in his doctrine, he is blind, at least in that area. But he is now leading others who are blind because they have never been taught to see properly. Imagine something as critical as law observance, and what Paul says about that –   “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:8, 9   People who teach observance of the law, the subject of Paul's letter to the Galatians, are exactly the type of people Jesus was speaking about. They are blind, and they are leading others into the same pit they are in.   How can you know if you are being taught something incorrectly? The only way to even have a hint of it is by at least being aware of the source of what you are being taught. In the case of Christianity, the source is Jesus. The place to find instruction about Him is in His word. So be sure to read your Bible daily. It is important.   Glorious God, wisdom is found within You. Help us to pursue You and to desire to know the truth of what Your word tells us. So many people teach so many different things. So, Lord, as we read Your word, give us sound and proper insight into what it says. Help us to be wise as we look for instructors of Your word to guide us. Amen.

Monday, 22 December 2025   But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Matthew 15:13   “And having answered, He said, ‘Every planting that not He planted, My heavenly Father, it will be uprooted” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus' disciples came to Him, exclaiming that Jesus knew the Pharisees were offended when they heard His saying. In response to that, Matthew records, “And having answered, He said, ‘Every planting that not He planted, My heavenly Father.”   A new word in Scripture is seen, phuteia, a plant, but literally a transplanting. It is found only here in the Bible. Jesus is referring to the religious leaders, equating them with plants. It is probable, He is connecting this to the parables He gave in Chapter 13 –   “Another parable He near-set them, saying, ‘It is likened, the kingdom of the heavens, to a man having sown good seed in his field. 25 And in the ‘sleeps the men,' he came, his enemy, and he sowed darnel in between the wheat, and he went away.'” Matthew 13:24, 25   The explanation of that parable is found in Matthew 13:37-43. Along with that, there are other such references to be found in the Old Testament, such as in Deuteronomy 29 –   “...so that there may not be among you man or woman or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations, and that there may not be among you a root bearing bitterness or wormwood; 19 and so it may not happen, when he hears the words of this curse, that he blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall have peace, even though I follow the dictates of my heart'—as though the drunkard could be included with the sober.” Deuteronomy 29:18, 19   “And the Lord uprooted them from their land in anger, in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is this day.” Deuteronomy 29:28   As was recorded at times in the Hebrew Scriptures, something the scribes and Pharisees would have known and understood, and as Jesus relayed to the disciples in Matthew 13, Jesus notes of these apostate leaders, like darnel or a root of bitterness and wormwood, “it will be uprooted.”   Just as a plant can be transplanted by one person, it can be uprooted by another. If the devil has sown into God's field worthless plants, it is certain that the Lord will have them uprooted and disposed of through judgment and fire.   Life application: The Bible uses simple metaphors to convey deep spiritual truths. The things it mentions are things that were understood by the people in the land. And despite Israel being a land that many people may not be able to fully identify with, such as a desert if someone is raised in a forest, the surrounding explanations are usually sufficient to enlighten people to whatever is being conveyed.   And yet, the spiritual truths that are tucked away in Scripture are so deep and so profound that to this day, people are still discovering new information from this word. Because of this, you will get out of the Bible whatever effort you put into it.   At the same time, some things are only meant to be properly understood or interpreted at specific times. God slowly releases the information, inspiring His people to understand His word according to His wisdom.   This is why new things continue to be found. So don't be frustrated if something comes out and you think, “Why didn't I get that!” There is enough in the word of God to satisfy the minds of His people until the consummation of all things comes to pass.   Keep reading, meditating, and studying His word. It is a treasure trove of God's wisdom in relation to the process of redemption that is going on in the world around us.   Glorious God, what a wonderful word You have given us. Thank You for its insights into so many areas of life. When we pick it up and read it, it always seems relevant to what we need to hear right at that moment. What an amazing and relevant word You have given us! Amen.

Sunday, 21 December 2025   Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” Matthew 15:12   “Then His disciples, having come near, they said to Him, ‘You have known that the Pharisees, having heard the saying, they stumbled!'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus noted that it isn't what goes into the mouth that defiles a man. Rather, what comes out of his mouth is what does. Having said that, it next says, “Then His disciples, having come near.”   Jesus spoke to the scribes and Pharisees, probably without the others grouped around them. Room was allowed for Jesus to engage in the conversation without interruption, but still close enough that the disciples could hear and learn.   Once the conversation with them was finished, Jesus called to the crowd, and with an implicit rebuke to these leaders, told the people His words about what defiles a man and what doesn't. After He said this, the disciples, probably seeing the leaders go off in a huff, came to Jesus to personally address Him. Once with Him, “they said to Him, ‘You have known.'”   This is not a question, as translations imply. The verb is a perfect participle without any form of negation to indicate a question is being proposed. The participle signifies a completed action with a state that continues into the present. More likely, it is an exclamation, “You have known!”   They were completely surprised that Jesus said what He said, knowing it would elicit a negative response. He was aware of what would happen, and He continued in that state, knowing they were miffed. That is explained in their next words, “that the Pharisees, having heard the saying, they stumbled!”   The word translated as stumbled is rightly paraphrased as “offended.” They took offense at Jesus' rebuke concerning transgressing God's commandment. They were offended at His continued rebuke of them for being hypocrites by placing tradition above that commandment. They were offended at His citation of Isaiah, which pointed directly at their hypocrisy, even suggesting that Isaiah was referring specifically to them.   And if they heard His words to the crowd, they would have been offended at what He said to them as well. He had taken their tradition and spoken against it to the general public, taunting them with His wisdom that was superior to their poor, self-centered customs.   Life application: Jesus came on a mission. It was to fulfill the Mosaic Covenant and introduce a New Covenant in its place. However, as long as the Old Covenant was in effect, He defended it while still implying that something better was to be found in Him.   There is nothing contradictory in this. The words of the covenant, along with their associated penalties for disobedience, were written down. Obedience was not optional. However, within the Mosaic code, which included the later writings, Jeremiah prophesied a day when God would cut a New Covenant with Israel.   Jeremiah never said, “This is great! Now we are no longer under this covenant, and we are free from the curses and the punishment.” Instead, he acknowledged Israel's transgressions and accepted that their punishment was just and deserved.   Jesus, likewise, conveyed this same truth to Israe l. They would remain bound to the Mosaic code until they came to Him. Knowing they wouldn't, He prophesied of all the disasters that would come upon them.   If those disasters came upon them, which were according to the Mosaic Covenant, then that means, by default, that they are still, even to this day, bound to that law. Unfortunately, because the Mosaic law is fulfilled by Jesus, it is no longer what God accepts in order to be right with Him.   They will build a temple. The rites and sacrifices associated with it will take place. And not one iota of what they do will be accepted by God. Rather, this will only continue to keep them from any possible right relationship with Him. Until they realize this, forsaking the law by coming to Christ, they will continue to suffer terrible times.   Jesus is the key to understanding all of Scripture and the entire history of the Jewish people. Pray for them as they continue to rebel against Him through their rejection of Jesus. It is right that we do so.   Lord God, we lift up the nation of Israel to You. Along with all the other lost souls in the world, they need Jesus. We pray that many will come to know Him before the rapture. After that day, hard choices will need to be made by them. Open their eyes to the glory of Jesus our Lord, O God. Amen.

Saturday, 20 December 2025   Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” Matthew 15:11   “Not the ‘entering into the mouth' it profanes the man, but the ‘proceeding from the mouth,' this, it profanes the man” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus called for the attention of the crowd to “Hear and understand.” He now explains to them, “Not the ‘entering into the mouth' it profanes the man.”   This is based on the shocked attitude of the scribes and Pharisees as the chapter opened –   “Then they came to Jesus from Jerusalem, scribes and Pharisees, saying, 2 ‘Through what – Your disciples, they sidestep the tradition of the elders? For they wash not their hands when they may eat bread.'” Matthew 15:1, 2   Jesus then went through an explanation of how these same people who had set up traditions were actually violating God's law. Because of this, their hearts were far from God. What the people ate, regardless of any external washings of hands, pitchers, bowls, etc., was clean.   It was something God had given to man for food to sustain him, and that was its purpose. A man is not rendered unclean by such things. However, He continues, saying, “but the ‘proceeding from the mouth,' this, it profanes the man.”   He has already explained the meaning of this in His citing of Isaiah. What God finds deplorable are those who disobey Him, or even those who obey Him, but do it with an evil heart. Because the disciples missed the point of Jesus' words, He will have to explain the intent more fully in verses 18-20 of this chapter.   Life application: Missing the point of what is going on, Charles Ellicott, citing the general tenor of innumerable scholars, pastors, preachers, and teachers, says –   “Now a great broad principle is asserted, which not only cut at the root of Pharisaism, but, in its ultimate tendency. swept away the whole Levitical system of ceremonial purity—the distinction between clean and unclean meats and the like. It went, as the amazement of the disciples showed, far beyond their grasp as yet. Even after the day of Pentecost, Peter still prided himself on the observance of the Law which was thus annulled, and boasted that he had never ‘eaten anything common or unclean (Acts 10:14).'” Charles Ellicott, et. al.   The last thing on this planet that Jesus would have done is to hint that the Levitical law (the Levitical system of ceremonial purity) was done or that it could be ignored or sidestepped. He was born under the law, and He abided by it, fully and completely. To not have done so, or to have taught others to not do so, would have been to fail fulfilling... Anyone? – Yes, the law!   “Cursed is the one who does not confirm all the words of this law by observing them.” Deuteronomy 27:26   More to the point, however, is that Jesus would have been taken out and stoned as a lawbreaker if He were to have promoted ignoring God's law. What Jesus is telling these people is something they would have understood from the context of their lives under the law. There were certain foods they were allowed to eat and certain foods they were not permitted to eat.   There were also times when foods were rendered impure as well. Jesus is not speaking of these things, nor would the people have thought He was. Jesus was questioned about ceremonial washing. As noted, Mark gives more details, saying –   “Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.” Mark 7:2-4   This is what these religious leaders were referring to and what Jesus was likewise referring to. The law deemed eating a camel as unclean. Not a person there would have thought or taught differently. The same is true with pigs, bats, bunny rabbits, and lobsters.   Mixing Peter's misunderstanding of the fulfillment and ending of the law in Acts 10 (and elsewhere) with what was occurring under the law is a doctrinal error known as “mixing dispensations.” Jesus is speaking to the people of Israel, to whom the law was given. The law had not yet been fulfilled, and it was in full effect upon every person of Israel.   Only after Christ Jesus fulfilled the law did it lose its force, power, and effect over those with faith in Christ Jesus' fulfillment of it. This is why Israel, to this day, still stands condemned through failure to uphold the law. They bound themselves to it by covenant agreement. They rejected Jesus' fulfillment of it, and thus, in God's eyes, they remain under its full penalty for failing to adhere to it.   The main theme of this life application is DO NOT MIX DISPENSATIONS. What belongs to the law remains under the dispensation of the law. What belongs to the grace of God in Christ belongs to the dispensation of grace. Keep the boxes separate, and your doctrine will be simple, sound, and sensationally super.   Lord God Almighty, give us wisdom to rightly apply dispensational understanding to our study of Your word. Without it, we will be contradicting, misunderstanding, and unsatisfying in our understanding of what it is instructing us. May our understanding be sensationally super through a right application of this important doctrine. Amen.

Friday, 19 December 2025   When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: Matthew 15:10   “And having summoned the crowd, He said to them, ‘You hear and comprehend!'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus finished citing the words of Isaiah, which He had said rightly referred to the scribes  and Pharisees. Next, He will begin a new thought, but one which is still connected to His ongoing words against these leaders of Israel. The words begin with, “And having summoned the crowd.”   This would be the crowd gathered in the land of Gennesaret, as noted in verse 14:34. They would have seen the ongoing dispute the scribes and Pharisees had with Jesus. With His words to them complete, He turns to the crowd to instruct them on the matter.   This is particularly important because the scribes and Pharisees would have been considered the cream of the crop in religious circles. The people would have heard them and accepted their word concerning such matters. And yet, Jesus had strongly refuted them, directly quoting Scripture to make His point.   With that complete, He turns to the crowd. One can see the scribes and Pharisees still there while Jesus ignores any further discourse with them. Instead, He addresses the people in what will turn out to be a stinging rebuke of these religious leaders. It will conclude His thoughts about what they presented to Him in verse 15:2. Understanding this, Matthew records, “He said to them, ‘You hear and comprehend!'”   The crowds have been filing away the thoughts of the scribes and Pharisees all their lives. Anytime they needed to know a matter, it would be these men who would be consulted for a definitive answer to their question.   In this case, however, Jesus will address the crowds directly. Saying, “You hear and comprehend,” is like saying, “Pay careful heed. I have an important matter for you to hear and then file away for future reference when these people come to you with their faulty conclusions concerning this matter.”   Life application: In any argument, be it religious, political, mechanical, structural, nuclear, etc., the only thing that matters is what is true. Truth can be defined as “that which corresponds to reality.” If two nuclear scientists disagree on the effects of adding tritium into the fission process when developing a nuclear bomb, there are certain parameters that can be determined by mathematical calculations.   The calculations will determine the truth of the matter. But if one scientist continues to disagree, building a bomb with the disputed amount of tritium and igniting it will resolve the matter. Likewise, if someone says that he wants to build a skyscraper in a certain way, there are calculations to determine if his plans will succeed or fail.   If a point of stress is misidentified or ignored, the entire structure could fail and come tumbling down. When debating religion, it doesn't matter how someone “feels” about a matter. If what he says contradicts Scripture, it doesn't matter if he claims the Spirit told him, God spoke to him, he had a dream or a vision, etc. If Scripture is God's standard in understanding Him, then such claims are irrelevant.   People all over the world, and also for the past two thousand years, have made claims about matters of faith, doctrine, inspiration, etc. And yet, none of them has added a single word to God's word. It is true that some have claimed such additions, like Ellen G. White of the Seventh Day Adventists and Joseph Smith of the Mormons.   However, their writings, which are supposedly inspired by God, have only caused division, confusion, and apostasy from the truth of Scripture.   Therefore, when talking to someone about matters of doctrine or theology, there must be a basis for any disagreement, meaning a standard by which the matter can be resolved. If someone claims he has had a dream that tells him something and it contradicts Scripture, then either Scripture is wrong, or his dream is false.   If the standard that is set is Scripture, then the dream, by default, must be false. However, if the claim is made that the dream is valid, there is no longer a standard by which the two can dispute the matter. You are now arguing apples and oranges. There is absolutely no point in continuing the discussion.   This is what Jesus faced. He was given a supposed standard. That standard was not in accord with Scripture. As such, He cited Scripture and ended the discussion, instead turning to the crowds to present information based on His conclusion.   Don't be duped into arguments with people who have no set standard that you can agree upon. You are wasting your time and will inevitably bolster their nutty ideas in their own minds and possibly in the minds of others.    Lord God, Your word instructs us concerning when to engage a dispute and when to step away from one. Give us wisdom to apply this to our own lives as we encounter those who have made claims on matters related to Scripture. Help us to know when to engage and when to disengage from such matters. Amen.

Thursday, 18 December 2025   And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'” Matthew 15:9   “And vainly they revere Me, Teaching instructions – men's injunctions.” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus cited the first half of Isaiah 29:13. He now completes citing that verse, beginning with, “And vainly they revere Me.”   Two new words are seen. The first is matén. It gives the sense of an unsuccessful search. Adverbially, it then signifies something done aimlessly, to no purpose or in vain. The second is sebó, to revere.   Jesus, being the Lord who reads the hearts and minds, had seen numerous generations of men come and go, one after the other, paying lip service to Him while their hearts were turned far from Him. In His incarnation, He knew how they worshiped God, and He called them out for it. Their holding tradition above the commandments of God was one of the ways in which this was done.   Further, He continues the citation, saying, “Teaching instructions – men's injunctions.” Two more new words are seen. The first is didaskalia, instruction. That is derived from the noun, didaskalos, an instructor. That, in turn, is from the verb didaskó, to teach, which is also found in this same clause.   They are “teaching instructions” which are “men's injunctions.” This includes the next new word, entalma, an injunction or religious precept that focuses “on the result of following the directive to its end” (HELPS Word Studies). In this case, they are derived from men. Thus, the instruction does not have the ultimate goal of glorifying God, but satisfying man in some manner.   Looking at the verses again, we can see the structure.   And vainly they revere Me, Teaching instructions – men's injunctions.   The “vainly” corresponds to “men's injunctions,” while the “revere” is directed to the instructions. In this case, the reverence should have been directed toward God, but the instruction belies the supposed intent, leading to the satisfaction of man, not the glorification of God.   Life application: When you go to church, pay attention to the things done in the church as it is conducted. What is the goal and purpose of what is being done? When songs are sung, are people truly glorifying God through them, or are they “me” centered? If the church wants you to wear a certain type of clothes, is it because God will be glorified, or that some pet peeve of man is being imposed on the people?   Pay attention to the various aspects of the service and see if they match what the Bible instructs or omits as instruction. The psalms are written to glorify God. That is their intent and purpose. The type of clothing expected in church is never addressed. However, a poor man's clothing is spoken of by James. How such a person with his raggedy clothing is treated is highlighted by him.   Quite often, you'll find that a church has devolved into a “me” centered group. The things they do have nothing to do with honoring God or being obedient to His precepts. Such things will often have the opposite effect by moving people away from sound worship. Eventually, some will rebel and just stop going to church.   Legalism is an infection in the church. Me-centered worship only increases the neurosis of the congregation because their eyes are always directed at sinful beings whose faults and limitations are not being addressed in a God-centered manner.   If you see something in a church that is following a path that directs people from proper worship, it is right to address it. Asking why things are done as they are is proper. There is no need to be accusing or finger-pointing at such times. But it is right to know why the church does things as they are done. Usually, tradition has stepped in and taken over for a heartfelt worship of the Lord. Getting back to the basics will be a breath of fresh air as proper God-centered worship is encouraged.   Lord God, may our lives be directed to You at all times. Help us not to get stuck in unhealthy ruts in life that keep us from a close and personal walk with You. Instead, may our hearts be open to You at all times, and may our worship and praise of You flow from hearts of gratitude and joy in You. Amen.

Wednesday, 17 December 2025   ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. Matthew 15:8   “He neared Me, this people – the mouth, And the lips – he honors Me, And their heart, it distances far from Me” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus called the scribes and the Pharisees hypocrites. He then noted that Isaiah had rightly spoken of them. What Isaiah said is next cited by Jesus, saying –   “He neared Me, this people – the mouth.” The words begin the quote of Isaiah 29:13. It is what people do when they speak about, praise, thank, or petition the Lord. They will draw near to Him with the mouth. The words are in a common Hebrew form of speaking.   First, the people are referred to in the singular through a masculine verb, as if one man, “He neared me.” It is then explained by the words, “this people.” From there, the plural is given when speaking of the individual mouth of each person, “their mouth.”   The Lord acknowledges this form of expression. As a collective, the people truly near themselves to the Lord. And more, He acknowledges, “And the lips – he honors Me.”   It happened all over Israel as people would call out, honoring the Lord with their lips. One can think of any apostate church. They will draw themselves near to the Lord in their words. In those words, there will be great words of honor and adoration for God. However, it is all done falsely as Jesus next notes while still citing Isaiah, “And their heart, it distances far from Me.”   A new word is seen, the adverb porró, far. It is derived from the preposition pro, forward (as in proceed, project, etc.). Thus, it refers to something at a distance. The point is that even though the people openly draw near to the Lord, honoring Him with their lips, the true substance of who they are (the heart) remains a far distance from Him.   One can think of a church with a lesbian preacher or priest, such as is quite common in many mainstream denominations today. They stand in the pulpit, raise their hands, and say, “We honor You, Lord of the universe. We call on You to send Your Spirit upon us anew today.”   The fact is that if they were honoring the Lord, she wouldn't have been appointed, and she wouldn't be a lesbian. There is no heart for the Lord. Instead, there is a show-and-pretend religion. This type of pretense allows people to claim they are right with God when their lives and actions deny any relationship with Him at all.   One can see the patterns in Isaiah's words that are common in Hebrew writings –   “He neared Me, this people – the mouth, And the lips – he honors Me, And their heart, it distances far from Me”   Nearing and honoring are set in parallel and then contrasted to distancing. The mouth and the lips are set in parallel and then contrasted to the heart. At the same time, the first two clauses are reversed in order, though parallel in thought. In the third line, the word “far” is given to accentuate the truth of the matter. The structure calls out for thought and then an active consideration of the state of those it is referring to.   Life application: One of the joys of reading many different translations is that the mind can think differently when seeing things laid out differently. The translators of the LSV disagree, saying, “While some readers may prefer paragraph breaks in narrative and line breaks in poetic portions for the purpose of readability, it was the decision of the translators to mimic the style of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek autographs in presenting God's word as a continuous text block. ... Furthermore, the modern trend even extended to differentiating the words of Christ in red letters, as if God's word should be divided in such a way. The LSV is the polar opposite, regarding the entirety of Scripture as God-breathed, with its different genres of literature resting on a level playing field.”   That is ridiculous. First, the translators admit that there are purposeful markers within the text that naturally break the flow of the reading for the mind of the reader. Why shouldn't such marks be variously employed for the modern reader in his own language?   But more poignantly, as noted above, there is almost no punctuation or capitalization in the original manuscripts. There are also no chapter or verse divisions. To use their logic in a consistent way would mean that they should do the same thing and have everything follow a simple block format with no other markings, including capitalization, punctuation, etc. It would be insane for an English reader to even bother reading such a translation, and so these changes are made.   A third point is that between the Old and New Testaments in their version, a painting is included in the hard copy translation. Where is that found in the original manuscripts? As nice as the painting is, was that painted by God as breathed out through His Spirit? Obviously not. It is a hypocritical thing to say one thing and do another. These and many other translational changes by them demonstrate that their words in the preface do not align with their translation at all.   As for the text itself with the various formatting differences, at what point does it become “wrong” to make a translation more understandable for the reader? This is the fallacy of the beard, and the LSV translators entered into it just when the beard was enough to tickle the faces of baby readers who first pick it up. Others have a beard a bit longer and can tickle even toddlers. While others choose for the beard to be fully grown and mature.   Don't get legalistic! Get into the word! How it is formatted is something each reader will find suitable to his own needs. So, look through the next Bible you want to read, see if it will help you in your reading, and buy that one.   Lord God, You have given us the freedom to translate Your word, highlighting nuances for the benefit of the reader, setting parts off for greater clarity and understanding, and so forth. Thank You for those who have done the hard work so that we can more fully appreciate this wonderful word You have given us. Amen.

Tuesday, 16 December 2025   Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: Matthew 15:7   “Hypocrites! Well, Isaiah, he prophesied concerning you, saying,” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus told the scribes and Pharisees that they had invalidated the commandment of God through their tradition. He continues, sharply criticizing them for this, saying, “Hypocrites!”   The word has been seen several times already, but this is the first time Jesus has directly called these men “hypocrites” to their faces. The word comes from two separate words signifying under and judge. It is a person who judges like a performer under a mask. Thus, he is two-faced.   This is exactly how these men were in their ungodly teachings while claiming to be the epitome of godly examples to the people. Of this sort, Jesus said to them, “Well, Isaiah, he prophesied concerning you, saying.”   The words of Isaiah are words of Scripture, given by God through a prophet. Without yet reading what words Jesus will cite, we can already guess that His reference to these men will not be favorable concerning them and their actions.   Life application: These scribes and Pharisees had an agenda. The conversation began with them asking Jesus why His disciples transgressed the traditions of the elders. Although the tone of their voice is unknown, the very question implies that they felt somehow better than Jesus and His disciples because these supposed religious leaders do something that others don't do.   It is a way of attempting to shame others into compliance with their lifestyles, values, morals, etc. This is a common way that people handle such things. Look at the world around you at any given time, and you will see people doing this constantly. For example, people are currently in the habit of shaming others if they disagree with all sorts of perverse lifestyles, such as homosexuality. The news media and Hollywood elites shame people because of their skin color, as if being anything but black is bad.   In Christianity, people who read the KJV will constantly demean and shame those who don't, as if the translation they are reading makes them less of a Christian. One key aspect of all such matters is that the one who is making the accusation is the one who has no valid argument for his stand.   The shaming, when understood from this perspective, is an underhanded attempt not to do right, but to do what is wrong. Those who are doing right have no need to shame others in such a manner. They can call out what is wrong based on their properly aligned position.   For example, nature itself tells us that homosexuality is a perversion of what is normal. Being abnormal, there is no moral justification for such a stand. Therefore, the way to make people accommodate this type of behavior must be pressed from a position of weakness. Shaming others is an inevitable tactic that must be employed to silence those who oppose the behavior.   Shaming someone because of his skin color is a ridiculous proposition. A person is born with skin. It isn't the skin that makes the person. That is an incidental mark of who he is, like the color of his eyes or the size of his foot. How the person behaves within society, regardless of skin color, is what makes him valuable or worthless. But for those who have an agenda against a predominantly white society, shaming the majority because of their skin color serves their purpose. Let them go to China and try that with yellow skin!   As for cults, those who hold to an untenable position, like KJV Onlyism, will attempt to justify the unjustifiable in their doctrine, covering up errors in their own text as if they don't exist. At the same time, they will shame others because of the Bible they read, using fallacious thinking and verbal attacks in an attempt to embarrass others into acquiescing to their ridiculous stand.   Be ready to defend your stand on why you believe homosexuality is wrong, why it is ok for you to have whatever color skin you have, and why you read one version of the Bible rather than another. And these are only three of innumerable examples of such things you should be aware of in the world in which you exist. Jesus didn't cave to shamers, and neither should you.   Glorious God, thank You for the words of Scripture that give us insights into how to live and operate in the world You have placed us in. May we not be ashamed of our stand for the gospel or the truths contained in Your word. Help us to boldly stand on what Your word teaches, knowing that Your word is truth. Amen.  

Monday, 15 December 2025   then he need not honor his father or mother.' Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. Matthew 15:6   “And no, not he should honor his father or his mother. And you invalidated God's commandment through your tradition” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus began explaining the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees in regard to the issue of tending to one's parents as commanded by the law. He continues that, saying, “And no, not he should honor his father or his mother.”   By the leaders' granting the people to take their gifts and dedicate them in this fashion, a practice that was derived from tradition, they created a rift in people's proper adherence to God's prescription. That is stated by Jesus with the words, “And you invalidated God's commandment through your tradition.”   The word akuroó, to invalidate, is first seen here. It will be used in the comparable passage in Mark 7:13 and then only again in Galatians 3 concerning the surety of the covenant of promise given to Abraham that is not invalidated by the temporary Law of Moses –   “And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul [akuroó] the covenant that was confirmed before by Godin 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 3:17, 18   These leaders were essentially saying, “Isn't it more important to give your gifts to God than to keep them around, taking up space, cluttering up your lives and your homes?” They knew full well that by convincing people they were doing a service to God that they would rush to give. Never mind that these leaders would be on the receiving end of such gifts in one way or another and that the parents would be left unattended to in their old age.   The perverse nature of the doctrine is laid bare by Jesus, shaming the people for their greed, dishonesty, and outright hypocrisy. God doesn't need their gifts. Rather, what He wants from His people is obedience to His prescriptions.   “Hear, O My people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you; I am God, your God! 8 I will not rebuke you for your sacrifices Or your burnt offerings, Which are continually before Me. 9 I will not take a bull from your house, Nor goats out of your folds. 10 For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills. 11 I know all the birds of the mountains, And the wild beasts of the field are Mine. 12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine, and all its fullness. 13 Will I eat the flesh of bulls, Or drink the blood of goats? 14 Offer to God thanksgiving, And pay your vows to the Most High. 15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” Psalm 50:7-15   Life application: Do you ever hear preachers or teachers making an appeal for donations that includes catchphrases like seed offering, increase, multiply, tithe, tithing, tithes, pleasing to God, firstfruits, opening the storehouses of heaven, and so on?   If you hear these things, be sure not to give to such people. If you are giving to receive in return, you are giving for the wrong reason. If you are giving because someone told you that you are going to make God happy by giving them money, you are giving for the wrong reason.   God is happy with your faith, praise, and thanksgiving. He doesn't need your money, even if His people do. If His people do, and you are able to give, then do so without expecting anything in return. Be cheerful in your giving, or don't give. Giving grudgingly will not lead to future rewards.   Glorious Lord God, we come before You to praise You for who You are, to thank You for Your grace and tender mercies, and to glorify You for the salvation You have granted to us through simple belief in the full, final, finished, and forever work of Jesus Christ. We believe and we thank You. All praises to You, O God. Amen.

Sunday, 14 December 2025   But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”—Matthew 15:5   “And you, you say, ‘Whoever, he should say to father or mother, “Gift – whatever if from me you should benefit”'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus cited the fifth commandment and then a penalty found in Exodus for cursing one's father or mother. He continues His words to the scribes and Pharisees, emphatically saying, “And you, you say.”   The stress indicates a teaching of these men that will come into conflict with the laws just cited from Exodus 20 and 21. In essence, “God says this, and you, you say this...” The treacherous teaching they say is, “Whoever, he should say to father or mother, ‘Gift – whatever if from me you should benefit.'”   A new word is seen in this verse, ópheleó, to be useful, to benefit, to profit, etc. The parents could have received benefits from the child, but that is no longer the case because it has been given as a gift.   The words make little sense to us because the idea has to be understood from the cultural practices of the people. The inserted words of many translations, to God, help provide clarity. A person has parents he is required by law to tend to. However, if he gives the gift to God, it becomes sacred and can no longer be used for common purposes. Charles Ellicott gives a suitable explanation –   “If he had once devoted his property once said it was ‘corban,' or a gift to God - it could not be appropriated even to the support of a parent. If a parent was needy and poor, and if he should apply to a son for assistance, and the son should reply, though in anger, ‘It is devoted to God; this property which you need, and by which you might be profited by me, is “corban” - I have given it to God;' the Jews said the property could not be recalled, and the son was not under obligation to aid a parent with it. He had done a more important thing in giving it to God. The son was free. He could not be required to do anything for his father after that. Thus, he might, in a moment, free himself from the obligation to obey his father or mother.”   In the end, this shows a mean-spirited attitude towards one's parents by giving a gift to God, something the leaders would be all too happy to receive, and thus denying the parents what was otherwise commanded by God. Once it was devoted to God, even though it violated the law by denying the parents what he was responsible for, it was henceforth out of reach for that proper purpose.   Life application: There are all kinds of ways of getting around obligations. Some are good and some are devious. Some are legal, the legality of some may be questionable, and some are obviously illegal. Man has contrived many ways of getting around what they are directed to do.   In some cases, the government itself makes allowances for getting around paying taxes. These usually benefit people who have the money to do so, such as gift and inheritance taxes. However, some countries allow money to be given to churches or other charitable organizations that would otherwise have been taken as taxes.   These usually start with good intent. A charitable organization, such as a food ministry to the poor, is set up. People can give to it and get a tax deduction. The problem is that the food organization begins funneling money off to other things, still legally, that really have nothing to do with helping others.   This has gotten completely out of control in the US, where organizations like BLM were receiving millions of dollars for really perverse purposes. All the while, the people who set the organization up were pocketing millions.   At the same time, because of the hard left ideology of those in the government, real charitable organizations, based on Christian values, were being targeted or denied tax-exempt status in order to frustrate their efforts.   The path people will normally take is the bad one. Tax exemption programs are a great place for people to do devious things. When you give to such organizations, be sure to check them out thoroughly. Don't just assume that what you are giving is being handled properly.   If a preacher has a Learjet, you can bet he also has a giant house, maybe two or three. Is that where you want your money to go? Be wise and discerning in how you give. It is important.   Lord God, help us to have discernment in how we spend our money. There are a lot of teachers and preachers of Your word who have hidden agendas that do nothing to further the gospel or an understanding of Your word. We pray that You direct us so that we don't get duped by those who appear one way but are not at all what they seem. Amen.  

Saturday, 13 December 2025   For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother'; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' Matthew 15:4   “For God, He enjoined, saying, ‘You honor your father and your mother,' and the ‘disparaging father or mother,' death – he expires!” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus challenged the scribes and Pharisees, asking why they sidestepped the commandment of God because of their traditions. He now explains how they were doing this, beginning with, “For God, He enjoined.”   There is a difference in source texts here. Some use the word legó, to speak or say. Others use the word entellomai, to enjoin. Either way, the word of God, when spoken to the people as a matter of law, is to be taken as a command. As for what God enjoined, Matthew continues, “saying, ‘You honor your father and your mother.'”   Another new word, timaó, to prize, is seen. The sense is to fix a valuation upon, and thus to reverence or honor. One will fix a value on something based on how he perceives its value.   If someone finds a stick, if he has need of it for a fire, the value set upon it is that it will be burned. However, if he finds a Van Gogh painting and knows what it is worth, he will put a high value on it and give it an honorable place on his wall.   Jesus cites the fifth commandment, that of honoring the parents. In Exodus 20:12, as the people gathered before God at Mount Sinai, they were commanded that parents are to be highly esteemed in the eyes of His people. This was repeated by Moses in Deuteronomy 5:16.   As a command of God, the parents are to be honored. And more, as this was His command, there were penalties for not upholding the edict. That is seen in His next words, “and the ‘disparaging father or mother,' death – he expires!'”   Still another new word is seen, kakologeó, to revile. It is derived from kakos, worthless, and logos, something said. As such, it would be to speak a word of worthlessness about another. A good word to match the intent is to disparage.   This precept is explicitly stated in Exodus 21:17. In this command of God to His people, to ensure that reverence was paid to the parents, the penalty for disparaging them was that their lives were forfeit. They were to be put to death. The forceful way Jesus states this penalty to these men is a clear indication to them that when He finishes, they will understand this is what they deserve.   Life application: When a person is given a word from a higher up that he is expected to be obedient to, how he responds to that word is an implicit assignment of value to the Lord who gave the word.   When a person is given a word from a boss to do something, he may ignore it, showing contempt for what he was told to do, and thus contempt for the boss who told him to do it. The same is true with parents, an official statute from a city, county, state, or national body, or even God.   In Jesus' words, and as will be analyzed in just a few verses, it will be seen that these people honor (the same Greek word, timaó) Him with their lips, but their hearts are far from Him. In other words, they pay lip service to Him, but their will and intent, as it is worked out, actually disparage Him.   We could say, “Well then! They got what they deserved when the temple was destroyed and the people were carried away in the Roman dispersion.” However, every time we are disobedient to the word that has been given to us, meaning the directives that apply in any given dispensation, and as the context demands, we are doing exactly what Jesus rebukes the leaders of Israel for.   But more to the point, we may not even know what the Lord's word to us is. So, we could say, “I wasn't disparaging God. If I had known, I would have done what the word said.” This is a feeble excuse, and it actually shows a contempt for the word of God, and thus Him, because we didn't even bother to check and know what God expects of us.   For us, the old saying, “Ignorance of the law is no excuse,” could more rightly be stated, “Ignorance of God's word is inexcusable.” Think the matter through. We heard the word of salvation. We accepted the proposition and Jesus saved us, sealing us with the Holy Spirit. Our eternal state has now been changed from condemnation to salvation.   Does this eternity-changing state mean anything at all to us? In ages past, not knowing God's precepts may have been excusable. There were no Bibles at hand, and those who believed were at the mercy of the competency and caring of the one who possessed maybe the only copy of the word for many miles.   Today, however, a Bible can be obtained for free anywhere and at any time. If you are connected to the internet, you have no excuse. If you have a church you attend that cares about the word, it is certain they will give you a copy of the Bible. A used Bible that has never been opened can usually be picked up at a Goodwill for a dollar or two, meaning less than you spend on the cheapest of your daily purchases.   Don't make excuses! Get a Bible, pick the thing up, and read it, honoring God as you do. And then, be sure to do what it says, meaning in the proper context of the church age, thus honoring God through obedient adherence to what He expects of you. Anything less is truly unacceptable.   “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:16, 17   Glorious God, may our honoring of You be in spirit and in truth, not with lip service but no heart for You and what You expect of us. You are God. May we remember this and understand our lowly state before You without Your kind mercies as extended to us in the Person of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.