BIBLE IN TEN

Monday, 6 October 2025   Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”'” Matthew 13:30   “You allow both to co-grow until the harvest. And in the harvest season, I will say to the harvesters, ‘You gather first the darnel, and you bind them into bundles to incinerate them, and wheat you collect into my barn'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus said that the servants of the landowner were instructed not to gather up the darnel, lest they should also uproot the wheat with them. He continues the landowner's words, saying, “You allow both to co-grow until the harvest.”   A word is seen only here in Scripture, sunauxanó, to co-grow. It is derived from sun, with or together, and auxanó, to grow. As for the words of the landowner, there is no point in causing harm to the efforts of the sower and those who then tend to the wheat as it grows.   Leaving the darnel, though it may affect the growth of surrounding plants due to soaking up needed moisture, is not something that will destroy them. As the labor needs to be done at one point or another, there is no reason for causing more harm than good while the crop is maturing. As such, he continues, “And in the harvest season.”   The Greek reads, “and in season the harvest.” The article is before harvest, but it is lacking before season. There is a season when the harvest will be ready. It is then that the harvest is gathered. At this time, the landowner continues, “I will say to the harvesters, ‘You gather first the darnel.'”   Although the truths found in the parable can apply to any dispensation to some extent, these words negate the parable being applied specifically to the church age. There is no indication in Scripture, and every reason to reject the notion, that false teachers will be gathered out of the church before the pre-tribulation rapture. The timeline for the rapture is set by God through Paul's writings. It is his writings that revealed the mystery, including its very specific details concerning the event and its timeline.   As such, though points from the parable can be used to refer to truths within the church age, such as not pulling up the darnel before the harvest, the gathering of false teachers before the rapture is not something that will occur. As for this harvest, the landowner continues, “and you bind them into bundles to incinerate them.”   Unless Jesus is simply making a point about false teachers being spiritually gathered for the day of judgment, having been identified as such at the time of the rapture, these words continue to dispel the notion that this is referring to the church age. Such an analysis, though highly unlikely, is not out of the realm of possibility, but the gathering and binding of false teachers is not a physical event that will take place during the church age.   Therefore, if these words are referring to the church age, there needs to be a specific spiritualization of some of what is being said. Based on Jesus' coming explanation, the points He makes do not accurately fit into the doctrine of the rapture at the end of the church age. Either way, the landowner finishes his instructions with, “and wheat you collect into my barn.”   John the Baptist has already given hints of this event and what precedes it, saying, “Whose winnower - in His hand, and He will thoroughly cleanse His threshing-floor. And He will gather His wheat into the granary, but the chaff He will incinerate – fire unquenchable.”   Therefore, there is judgment on those who are considered darnel, there is a separation of those who are considered chaff, and then there will be a time when these will be cast into unquenchable fire, incinerating them for eternity.   Jesus will explain this parable later in the chapter, but its truths are readily discernible by understanding the metaphors He uses.   Life application: As noted, this parable, though containing truths that exist in the church age, does not fit the sequence of events as laid out by Paul concerning the rapture. The sequence of events as the church age closes out is carefully detailed by him –   1) Rapture of the church, 2) the falling away and the revealing of the Antichrist, 3) the day of Christ (Day of the Lord).   The rapture is an event that will have no sign preceding it. It will occur suddenly, in the twinkling of an eye, and the church age will end. Until that day, we should be about the business of the church. Too many hours are squandered away by believers who have an unhealthy fixation on the rapture.   Be productive, know that Christ is coming, and in the flash of an instant, we shall be gathered to Him. This is great news for those who are His. For the rest of the world... not so much.   Glorious God, what a wonderful hope we possess because of what You have done in the sending of Jesus. May we be busy in sharing this news with others as we await the wonderful day when we are gathered and brought into Your glorious presence. Amen.

Sunday, 5 October 2025   But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Matthew 13:29    “And he said, ‘No! Not lest gathering the darnel, you should uproot with them the wheat'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus said that the servants of the landowner asked him if he wanted them to gather up the darnel from the field of grain. He continues now with, “And he said, ‘No! Not lest gathering the darnel, you should uproot with them the wheat.'”   A new word, ekrizoó, to uproot, is seen. It is derived from ek, from or out of, and rhizoó, to root. Hence, it is to uproot. If you've ever worked in a garden, you know the wisdom of the landowner's decision. When you have weeds around the plant you are growing and pull them out, you can often damage your plant's roots or even pull the plant out with the weeds.   In the case of the darnel, its roots would be entangled with the good stalks, easily ruining them if you try to pull it out. There is also the chance of treading on the good stalks while going through the field to get the darnel.   And even if both of those were avoided, as noted above, the soil around the good stalks could be disturbed enough to negatively affect or kill those nearby. It is not worth the risk to take such chances.   Life application: Think of the patience and wisdom of the Lord. The devil has his dirty fingers all over the church, even since the very beginning. At the earliest days of the church, Paul and the other New Testament writers were writing letters of warning to the churches concerning those who were harmful darnel within the good crop –   “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.” Romans 16:17, 18   “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days.” James 5:1-3   “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.” 2 Peter 2:1   “I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church. 11 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.” 3 John -9-11   “These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. 17 But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: 18 how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. 19 These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.” Jude -16-19   Think of it. These people were writing in the very earliest days of the church. Each personally encountered the risen Christ. And yet, they were already warning of the proverbial darnel among the wheat. But the Lord's example in this parable was to allow them to continue lest good stalks were harmed in the process.   But can't these false teachers harm the crop as well? The answer is, “Most assuredly.” This is why these warnings have been written. But how are you, a stalk of good grain in the body of believers, going to avoid being harmed by them? By knowing what the word says!   It is not sufficient to trust your pastor. He could be one of the false brethren noted above! Didn't the church suffer (and it still suffers to this day) through the teaching of people like Joseph Smith, Charles Taze Russell, Ellen G. White, and innumerable other false teachers? Haven't countless people lost their lives to false teachers like Jim Jones and David Koresh?   Display wisdom! Know what the Bible says by reading it daily. When a false teacher enters into your sphere of existence, you will be able to identify him (or her!) and alert others. Be sure to do so. The Lord will take care of them in the end, but we have our part to do now.   Glorious God, give us wisdom in identifying false doctrine and those who teach it. May we responsibly handle Your word, learning it and being on the lookout for those who might harm the crop the Lord is preparing. Help us in this, O God. Amen.

Saturday, 4 October 2025   He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?' Matthew 13:28   “And he said to them, ‘Enemy! A man did this!' And the servants, they said to him, ‘You incline, therefore, having gone, we should gather them?'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus noted that the servants of the landowner came to him and asked him whether or not he had sown good seed in his field because there was also darnel growing in it. Jesus continues, saying, “And he said to them, ‘Enemy! A man did this!'”   The owner, without throwing an unfounded accusation at anyone in particular, identifies the problem immediately. An enemy has entered his field and sown darnel in with his good seed. In stating it this way, it could include or exclude anyone, even if the owner had already identified in his mind who was responsible.   Further, it could be that there is a main enemy who has used agents to accomplish his destructive work. Nothing is excluded by the way the statement has been presented. With this stated as a certain fact, Jesus continues, “And the servants, they said to him, ‘You incline, therefore, having gone, we should gather them?'”   With the understanding that there is a problem, and that it has been caused by an enemy, the servants are desirous to see the matter resolved. However, they intend to do whatever the master has determined, and so they ask his opinion. In essence, “We can take care of the darnel now if you want. We can identify it and remove it right away.”   The choice of what to do with it is now in the landowner's court. Whatever he decides will be what they follow through with.   Life application: This parable presents a truth that is not limited to a particular dispensation. During the time before the flood, there were those already identified as “sons of the God,” meaning those who were of faith in the promise of God concerning the coming of a Messiah. Noah was “a preacher of righteousness” from this line.   The world was filled with darnel that needed to be removed. The same is true after the flood. Job was of the “sons of the God.” The implication is that there were others who were not, simply because the group he worshiped with was. A contrast between the two exists. Likewise, during the time of the law, there were those who were of faith and those who were not.   That truth exists in the church today. There are those who are sons of God, a term noted in verses such as Romans 8:14. The context of Paul's words indicates that there is a contrast between them and those who are not sons of God.   Within these groups are obviously those who claim they are of the seed of God who are not. They may look like true sons. But eventually, they will fail to produce the proper fruit and other characteristics that sufficiently identify who is of the true seed.   Whatever dispensation Jesus is equating His thoughts to for the sake of the parable, it is a truth that has existed and which continues to exist in the world. It may be that the parable is intended to cover any such situation.   Understanding that there are such people in the world, even in government or private entities, we can more carefully consider what is going on around us. For example, if you are employed by the government, there are certainly bad actors who have been planted in your area by those who intend harm.   Communist countries like Russia and China have cultivated people for eons to enter into the military and steal information as well as sow discord. They look like anyone else in uniform, but they are there with evil intent.   This is true with any branch of government. People elected to office, even in the highest positions in the land, have been groomed by unfriendly governments to infiltrate and ruin our society. It is our responsibility to carefully evaluate those around us, whether in our workplace, church, government, etc., and be careful not to allow those who bear bad fruit to ruin the efforts of those who are working for the proper purpose intended by the one in charge.   In the case of the church, Jesus has set the standard. It is recorded in the word. When we find that someone has entered into the church at large who is bearing bad fruit, it is our responsibility to identify him as such.   At times, however, some take this to unintended extremes, identifying every little pet peeve of theirs as proof of someone being a false prophet or a false teacher. Likewise, false teachers level accusations against true believers, claiming what is sound doctrine is actually false.   The only way to sort through this mess is to read and know what the Bible says. It is our blueprint for proper living and a right understanding of what is true and what is false within the church. Know your Bible!   Lord God, it is hard to sort through all of the accusations directed at people in the ministry, claiming they present a false message of some sort. Help us to go to the source for understanding this, Your word, in order to rightly identify what is true and what is false. Help us in this, Lord. Your word is big and filled with a lot of information. Give us understanding in it as we seek out Your truth. Amen.

Friday, 3 October 2025   So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?' Matthew 13:27   “And having come, the servants of the housemaster, they said to him, ‘Lord, not good seed you sowed in your field? Whence, therefore, it has darnel?'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus continued the parable of the wheat and the darnel. He continues further, saying, “And having come, the servants of the housemaster, they said to him, ‘Lord, not good seed you sowed in your field?'”   It is an obvious question to set the tone of voice for what will next be said. There is darnel rising in the field along with the wheat. Rather than abruptly telling the master it is so, making him look incompetent, it is natural to ask in a positive manner. It will allow him to deduce on his own what must have taken place. As such, they continue with, “Whence, therefore, it has darnel?”   A new word is introduced, pothen, whence. It gives the sense of from which or from what. In this case, a single word to define the intent and speaking style would be whence. They know the answer to their own question, it being rhetorical in nature. Therefore, they continue with an obvious follow-up question to help alleviate the owner's tension.   Life application: Having tact when approaching a sensitive matter is important. Barging up to someone and telling him that his brother just died without showing care and empathy would be considered rude. The same is true with any sensitive matter.   In some cases, people can get upset or angry over things we might not even consider sensitive. Such instances cannot be helped. But we can take the general idea of tact that is understood in a given society with us when we talk to others. Being the bearer of news means that responsibility is attached to the delivery.   As some people lack any sense of tact at all, it is good to identify them and make a mental tag, never assigning them to passing on sensitive matters. They may even be close friends, but it is important to make these types of divisions in our minds and remember them. Learn who around you can't keep a secret.   Such a person might be the nicest guy around, but he just cannot keep quiet when entrusted with information. So mark him as such and keep from sharing things that may be sensitive with him. This thought can even extend further, such as knowing personal relationships that exist around you. Someone who is normally trustworthy may have a beef with someone or a group of people.   Knowing this and keeping harmony between the disaffected parties is important. So the more situational awareness you have, the more effective you will be in keeping seemingly little things from getting out of hand. Pay attention to such things. Work on developing your skills in identifying who should carry a word or message about a matter, and then deploy this knowledge wisely. Such things are seen even in Scripture –   “Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, ‘Let me run now and take the news to the king, how the Lord has avenged him of his enemies.' 20 And Joab said to him, ‘You shall not take the news this day, for you shall take the news another day. But today you shall take no news, because the king's son is dead.' 21 Then Joab said to the Cushite, ‘Go, tell the king what you have seen.' So the Cushite bowed himself to Joab and ran.” 2 Samuel 18:19-21   Lord God, grant us the wisdom to be situationally aware concerning matters of tact, diplomacy, and trust. The world is a place where people can get easily hurt or offended. So help us to be wise and discerning in matters that require special care. Yes, Lord, be with us and help us to grow wise in such matters. Amen.  

Thursday, 2 October 2025   But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. Matthew 13:26   “And when it sprouted, the grass, and it yielded fruit, then it appeared, also, the darnel” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus noted that the field of wheat was invaded by an enemy who went in and sowed darnel among the wheat. With that action accomplished, it next says, “And when it sprouted, the grass, and it yielded fruit.”   When the two plants first begin to grow, they are almost indistinguishable. Both look like grass in their early stages. So much is this the case that only the most observant person would be able to tell the difference. But nobody would normally look for such differences, assuming that all of the field was sown with wheat, which is what originally occurred.   However, as the two plants continue to grow, noticeable differences begin to occur. The color of the wheat begins to turn the familiar golden brown, and the heads will begin to nod or bow on the stem as they approach harvesting time. The darnel, however, remains greener and continues to stand upright. It is as this maturing time approaches that Jesus says, “then it appeared, also, the darnel.”   The evident differences have alerted the farmers that there is a problem. Darnel has been found among the wheat. This is a problem that must be rectified. However, as will be seen, the decision of how to do so must be handled by the owner.   Life application: The differences between the wheat and the darnel can teach us things that the people of Israel would already know. They were an agrarian society, and these things would be common knowledge as the people interacted with the farms each year.   Wheat is a grain crop. Its seeds are nutritious and are used to make flour for bread, pasta, cakes, pasties (oh! pastries), crackers, etc. The straw also has uses, such as insulation, animal bedding, paper, etc. Further, the wheat byproducts can be used in animal feed. These include the bran and the germ. The whole plant has some uses that are beneficial. There are seven stages of wheat growth –   Growth Stage 1: Germination. When the seed absorbs water, growth from the seed's dormant state begins. Growth Stage 2: Leaf Development. The sprout rises and forms. Growth Stage 3: Tillering. The grass forms new stems or shoots from its base, thus increasing the overall density. Growth Stage 4: Stem Elongation. The stems continue upward, preparing for the next stage. Growth Stage 5: Booting. The head, now fully formed, is enclosed within the swollen sheath of the flag leaf. This is just before the head fully comes forth. Growth Stage 6: Inflorescence Emergence, Heading. It is when the visible appearance of the grain, known as the inflorescence, emerges. This is the transition point between the vegetative and reproductive phases. Growth Stage 7: Flowering, Anthesis. The blossoms open and become functional, and the reproductive stage is realized.   Darnel grows about the same height and the same speed as wheat, mimicking it until a certain point. The seeds are much lighter than the wheat, and this is why they continue to stand up while the wheat bows. Darnel is poisonous to both humans and livestock. Their side effects are dizziness, nausea, and even death when consumed in high amounts.   The roots of the two plants can get intertwined. Because of this, an obvious negative effect of pulling the darnel out is seen. This is why their state must be decided by the owner. As for the end purpose, wheat is harvested, processed, and the grain is stored as a valuable source of food. The darnel, however, is separated from the wheat, heaped up, and burned.   Reread the two descriptions (which are not all-inclusive of their traits) and think about how closely each represents what you would expect as you evaluate teachers, preachers, and congregants within the larger church (or within the people of Israel at the time of Jesus).   Think about churches with proper doctrine, sound handling of Scripture, and proper growth of the people. Contrast them with other churches you may have attended, or church figures you may have seen on TV, or heard about.   Lord God, even the grasses of the fields can teach us lessons about You, Your wisdom, what You cherish among people, and what You find repulsive and offensive. If we just open our eyes and compare the world around us to what You tell us in Your word, we can learn so very much. Help us to do so as we interact with Your word and the world we live in. Amen.  

Wednesday, 1 October 2025   but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. Matthew 13:25   “And in the ‘sleeps the men,' he came, his enemy, and he sowed darnel in between the wheat, and he went away” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus began the parable of the wheat and the darnel. He continues now, saying, “And in the ‘sleeps the men,'”   Fields are not normally things that get attacked. In daily life, people go out to their fields, come in, and eventually go to bed. Guards are not posted, and there are usually no walls or fences around agricultural fields unless it is an area which necessitates it.   In this case, while those who work in the field were sleeping, Jesus continues with, “he came, his enemy, and he sowed darnel in between the wheat, and he went away.”   A new word, zizanion, darnel, is introduced. It refers to a poisonous rye grass that closely resembles wheat as it sprouts out of the earth. It is used figuratively when speaking of false believers who spring up among those who truly believe.   The man had an enemy who disliked him enough to actually go in and cause him grief. But in this world, there are all kinds of people who are willing to harm others simply because they have a personal beef with them. This is not unheard of in the Bible. Though the reasons are given, what occurred between Absalom and Joab shows that a person's crops can be a target between those who disagree at times –   “And Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, but did not see the king's face. 29 Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king, but he would not come to him. And when he sent again the second time, he would not come. 30 So he said to his servants, ‘See, Joab's field is near mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire.' And Absalom's servants set the field on fire. 31 Then Joab arose and came to Absalom's house, and said to him, ‘Why have your servants set my field on fire?'” 2 Samuel 14:28-31   Life application: Jesus' words could be considered from many different angles. We could apply them to our work environment, our family life, our church, etc. When we are being productive in a particular area, it is to be expected that there is someone lurking in the distance who will want to tear what we do apart.   For example, in the United States, there is a constitution that provides certain guarantees for the citizens of the nation. The people of the nation have taken these rights for granted and have been inattentive to those who hate the freedoms we possess. Many of these enemies are right within our borders, and they have crept into all levels of government, even to the presidency.   While the people of the nation slept through times of prosperity and abundance, the enemy has been planting seeds of discord, immorality, and un-American ideals throughout our school systems. Now, instead of a good crop of sound-minded, freedom-loving Americans, we are faced with entire populations of people who actively hate the prosperity they participate in.   They hate the rights granted by the Constitution because these rights take away the opportunity for societal control that they desire, and which has been instilled in them by the enemies of freedom.   This happens in churches as well. It is so prevalent that there are ministries dedicated to getting people out of churches that steal away the freedoms found in the Bible in order to control their followers. For example, Ministry Watch published an article entitled, Ministry Helps Christians Escape ‘High-Control' Churches.   High control over churchgoers is one of the surest ways to keep followers giving lots of money and effort to a church. When a church teaches people that one's salvation must continue to be earned after it has been received, the people find themselves in a state of bondage never taught in Scripture.   However, it is the most common of all teachings. It permeates Roman Catholic doctrine. It is awash in Adventism, it overflows in Holiness churches, etc. Even in churches where grace is taught, there are often subtle undertones of implied necessity to do things, such as tithing.   Why are people bound in such situations? In America, it is because the people put too much trust in their leaders and do not take the time to understand the source of their freedoms, meaning knowing what the Constitution says and what the founders wrote about its precepts.   In the church, people likewise put too much trust in spiritual authorities. Instead of reading the Bible and understanding its precepts, they allow those who work in the darkness, meaning their ignorance, to destroy the good crop that they are entitled to.   Be on the lookout by knowing what the source says, be it the US Constitution for political matters or the Bible for your spiritual walk. Don't let the wicked people of the world deprive you of your rightful heritage!   Lord God, we have a religion that is founded on the greatest work of all, that of Jesus Christ. It is a religion of faith in what He has done. May we not squander our right to this by listening to others who would rob us of this precious freedom in one of so many ways. Help us to know and rightly apply the word to our walk before You! Amen.  

Tuesday, 30 September 2025   Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; Matthew 13:24   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” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus finished the explanation of the parable of the Sower. Now, He immediately moves on. Matthew records, “Another parable He near-set them.”   A new word is seen, paratithémi. It signifies to place alongside, before, near, etc. It is used at times when referring to placing food before someone. In Luke 23:46, it is the word Jesus uses to commit His Spirit to His Father. Jesus is setting near, or presenting, this new parable. In presenting it, He was “saying, ‘It is likened, the kingdom of the heavens.”   The verb is aorist. He doesn't say, “It is like,” or “It will be like.” Rather, it is a state that already exists. In God's mind, all of history is laid about before Him. Therefore, the Bible can speak about what lies ahead in various ways.   The past can be called also into the present, such as in Matthew 22:32. Therefore, regardless of when the events of the kingdom Jesus is referring to occur, the truth exists already in God's mind. Jesus is likening this state through a parable. His comparison is “to a man having sown good seed in his field.”   The meaning of “good” is not the same seed, some spoiled and some good. Rather, it is a type of seed that is good. For example, sowing wheat is sowing good seed. A farmer wouldn't take thorn seeds and plant them. That would be bad seed.   This farmer has seed that is for a good purpose.   Life application: It is good to study the meaning of words in the Bible. The new word in this verse is variously translated as commend, commit, entrust, give evidence, present, propose, propound, put forth, relate, serve, set before, tell, etc.   The word itself stresses the nearness of the setting. It can be hard to match a comparable English word to all of the instances where it is used. In other words, Jesus sets this parable before the people. Food is set before people at a table. Jesus sets His Spirit before God. One word may not convey each meaning as we might understand.   The literal “near-set” may also not be understandable, but it is a very close translation. As you read the Bible more and begin to study it in detail, doing these word studies will help you to see where a translation that you thought conveyed meaning may not be what is intended.   Saying “told” is true, but it fails to give the more exacting nature of the word. There are other words where saying “told” is fine, but here it lacks the intended nuance. So be sure to check things out if you are at all in doubt. Your time interacting with the word will only be as rewarding as the amount of study and effort you put into it.   Having said that, there is nothing wrong with also picking up a paraphrase and enjoying it simply for the general information being conveyed. Whatever circumstance you find yourself in at the time, just be sure to have the Bible (in some form) with you. It is your personal window into understanding the mind of God. Be sure to read your Bible!!   Lord God, Your word is a treasure and a blessing to our souls. Thank You for how we can come to know You and Your intent for us in such a precious and personal manner. Praise to You for Your word that tells us of Your love for us as expressed in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Monday, 29 September 2025   But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” Matthew 13:23   “And the ‘upon the good earth having been sown,' this, it is ‘the word hearing and comprehending' who surely he fruit-bears and it yields – some indeed hundred, and some sixty, and some thirty” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus explained the state of the one who is like a seed cast into a thorny spot. He next continues the explanation of the parable, saying, “And the ‘upon the good earth having been sown.'”   This is the person first described in verse 8, which said, “And others, it fell upon the good earth, and it gave fruit. Some, indeed, hundred, and some sixty, and some thirty.” This is the aim of all gardeners (or Bible teachers in this case): to find good soil and plant there. This is because the anticipated result, which is that “this, it is ‘the word hearing and comprehending.'”   A new word, suniémi, to comprehend, is seen here. The word comes from sun, with or beside, and hiemi, to send. Thus, it signifies “to put together.” When someone puts things together in his mind, he then comprehends the information that has been received.   Interestingly, the word used to describe the process in Mark is paradechomai, to receive (as in accepting), and in Luke it is katechó, to hold down (as in retaining or keeping in the memory). Thus, the explanation, and therefore, the meaning, by default, must be interpreted differently in each gospel –   Comprehend Receive Retain   As for the person who comprehends the word, Jesus says he is one “who surely he fruit-bears.”   While the others may be saved, depending on the circumstances as given in Matthew, they never bore fruit. In the case of Israel, Jesus scolded the nation for not bearing fruit, telling them that their vineyard would be taken from them and the owner would “lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons” Matthew 21:41.   However, Jesus has been speaking of individuals in Matthew. Therefore, the analogy to be derived is certainly that of individuals in response to hearing the word. When someone is like a seed in good soil, he bears fruit, “and it yields – some indeed hundred, and some sixty, and some thirty.”   A couple of new words are seen here. The first is dé, indeed. It is a particle of emphasis or explicitness. The second is karpophoreó, to be fertile and thus, to bear. The seed is the same. Despite this, different harvests result. The difference is not in the word. Therefore, the circumstances in which the seeds find themselves must be what causes the change.   Seed in one part of the field may get more fertilizer, water, loaminess of soil, and etc. This can be equated to different people receiving the word with different abilities, availabilities, amounts of determination, etc. Those things, along with the directive hand of God, will be realized in different increases –   “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.” 1 Corinthians 3:5-8   Life application: The word has been given, the gospel is available, and the various soils (or lack thereof) are out there. Not only can you be more productive by improving your own soil, you can be productive by sharing the word with others and then prompting them to receive the word gladly and in a manner that will bear fruit.   This life is our one chance to prepare for the eternal state that we will find ourselves in. How willing are you to forego the present things that can choke out your productivity, deprive you of moisture, or steal the word away from you entirely?   Eyes on Jesus! Open your ears and allow the word to enter! Think about what you hear! Receive what is proper and reject that which will not benefit. Determine now to be the best fruit-bearer that you can be. This is the sweet spot in your walk with God.   Glorious God, how great You are to allow us to share in Your goodness and to allow us to decide what our walk with You will be like. You offer heaven, and You do so in any measure we choose to receive it. Help us to have prudence in our walk before You, bearing fruit for Your eternal kingdom. Amen.  

Sunday, 28 September 2025   Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. Matthew 13:22   “And the ‘into the thorns having been sown' this is the ‘the word hearing,' but the care of this age, and the delusion of wealth, it strangles the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus explained the state of the one who is like a seed cast on stony places. He next continues the explanation of the parable, saying, “And the ‘into the thorns having been sown.'”   This is the person first described in verse 7, which said, “And others, it fell upon the thorns, and they ascended, the thorns, and they choked them.” Of the person represented by this seed, Jesus says, “this is the ‘the word hearing,' but the care of this age, and the delusion of wealth, it strangles the word.”   Three new words are seen. The first is merimna, solicitude or care. It is derived from merizó, to divide. As such, it is a person whose anxieties divide and fracture his attention, actions, etc. Such a person is distracted from the main point or purpose he is trying to achieve.   The next word is apaté, delusion, a state of deceit, etc. It is the state of having a false impression about something. Because of these things, the third new word, sumpnigó, is the result. It signifies to completely strangle. Literally, it means to drown, but it can also figuratively be used when describing a throng, such as when crowds pressed in on Jesus, choking His movement, in Luke 8:42.   With these things working against the person, Jesus next says of his state concerning the word in his life, “and it becomes unfruitful.”   Another new word is found in this clause, akarpos, without fruit. It is derived from the negative particle a and the word karpos, fruit. Because of the things that tangle this person's life up, he is unable to bear fruit. Instead, there is a sense of survival mode only.   As noted in earlier commentaries, there is a difference between similar peoples' situations and the dispensation in which they live. A person under law may be viewed differently from a person under grace when he is like the person described here. However, even people under the law were only saved by God's grace.   The difference is that those under law were required to adhere to the law. This was the standard for their society. Their hope in God's promises coming in the Messiah is actually what brought them salvation, even if they were expected to live out the law. With the law fulfilled, it is no longer a factor in our relationship with God. Rather, applying the law to our lives actually sets us at enmity with God's grace.   Understanding that first, the explanation of this person's situation may be viewed differently based on the dispensation in which he lives. But if we apply the parable to ourselves, we can make some deductions about this state.   First, the word is heard, received, and it germinates into roots. A person is saved by belief. Therefore, the person would be considered saved. The distractions described by Jesus obviously hinder the person's growth and ability to bear fruit, but who, since being saved, has not had distractions?   This is a thorny world, filled with trials, temptations, distractions, etc. How we respond to them after being saved will not affect our salvation. Rather, they will affect our rewards at the judgment seat of Christ. If you are living in a thorn patch, remove the thorns or remove yourself from them and press on in Jesus' goodness.   Life application: Of this type of person, Barnes says –   “See the notes at 1 Timothy 6:7-11. How many, O how many, thus foolishly drown themselves in destruction and perdition! How many more might reach heaven, if it were not for this deep-seated love of that which fills the mind with care, deceives the soul, and finally leaves it naked, and guilty, and lost!”   In the verses cited by Barnes, Paul was writing to Timothy about those in the church, meaning saved believers. Paul never questions their salvation, but warns against the trap of loving money, which causes people to stray from the truth.   If those people could lose their salvation because they diverted from the truth, it means that their salvation was not of grace through faith when they first believed. It means that it was based on their continued performance, it was conditional, and it was not by grace through faith.   To equate a saved person who strays from the truth to a person that is finally left “naked, and guilty, and lost” is to admit that salvation is not by grace through faith in Christ's completed work. This is a heretical Arminian view that maligns the all-sufficient atonement found in Jesus' shed blood.   Barnes does not normally espouse such views, but at times, his commentary strays into this type of thinking. The fact is that every person ever saved by Jesus has had time in his own thorn patch, unless maybe he was saved and keeled over of a heart attack a minute later.   If your life is hemmed in with distractions, temptations, and things that choke out your faith, it is up to you to start cutting out the thorns that are affecting you. Life is not easy, but Jesus can be your proverbial clippers if you just put Him back into your main focus. Read the word, fix your eyes on Jesus, and get clipping those thorns!   Lord God, life is so filled with distractions and temptations. Our bodies and brains are biological, chemical, and electrical units that are affected by everything we come in contact with. You know this because You created us. Help us to keep control of who we are so that we can quash the externals and internals that continuously work against us. May Your Spirit direct us as we pursue You. Amen.

Saturday, 27 September 2025   yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Matthew 13:21   “And he has no root in himself, but he is temporary. And having come pressure or persecution through the word, immediately he stumbles” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus began to explain the seed cast on rocky places. He continues that with the words, “And he has no root in himself.”   The word was received with joy. However, for one of an almost infinite number of reasons, the person has no root in and of himself. It was not possible because of the circumstances in which he received the message. Like a seed on rocky soil, there is no way to establish a deep and abiding foundation, a root, to sustain himself. Because of this, Jesus continues, saying, “but he is temporary.”   It is a new word, proskairos. It is derived from two words. The first is pros, a word indicating to or toward and thus about, near, against, etc. The context will determine what the intent is. The second word is kairos, an occasion, opportunity, season, etc. It is often translated as “time.” The two words together give the sense of “for the occasion or time only.”   Jesus does not make a charge concerning the character of the individual, as most commentators claim. Rather, He is basing His message on the circumstances in which He exists, meaning as a seed on rocky soil. Because there is no root, He next says, “And having come pressure or persecution through the word.”   There are two new words, thlipsis is the first. It speaks of pressure. Vincent's explains that it is derived from tribulum, the threshing-roller of the Romans. However, it is not referring to the process of separating the corn from the husk, but to the pressure that causes it. As such, he notes as an example “the provision of the old English law, by which those who wilfully refused to plead had heavy weights placed on their breasts, and so were pressed and crushed to death.”   The next new word is diógmos, persecution. It comes from a word signifying to follow after. One can think of a person being hounded. Wherever he goes and whatever he does, he is unable to get free from his pursuers. As such, when pressure or persecution comes to this fellow because of the word he received, he has no roots to endure, and therefore, “immediately he stumbles.”   Without a suitable root to feed him and ensure he can endure the heat of the day, like a sprout that withers, he is offended and falls away.   As noted, Jesus does not speak of the character of the person, but the circumstances of his root. Therefore, a person with a strong character can be just as likely to fail as someone with a lesser character. The root brings in water and nutrients. This is what the word is for. The point is, no matter what, the seed cannot survive without a proper foundation.   This is why weak people who read, know, and apply the word to their lives will last, even when a staunch and hearty person who heard the word and loved its message may fall away. This is exactly the reason why so many commentaries misapply the lesson to be learned.   Be sure to continue reading below. The words will provide additional and invaluable insights into this truth for your walk with the Lord.   Life application: A few examples of incorrect analysis of this verse are cited below. The first is from Cambridge. They say, “Jesus forecasts the persecution of Christians, and the time when ‘the love of many shall wax cold,' ch. Matthew 24:12.”   This is wrong on the surface. Matthew 24 is not speaking of church-age Christian persecution. Jesus is speaking to the Jews about matters that apply to them as a nation. It is true there will be those of Israel who hear the message and believe during the tribulation, but this is the reference. Maintaining proper context is important in understanding Matthew 24.   Albert Barnes says, “Yet they have no root in themselves. They are not true Christians. Their hearts are not changed. They have not seen their guilt and danger, and the true excellency of Christ. They are not ‘really' attached to the gospel; and when they are tried and persecution comes, they fall - as the rootless grain withers before the scorching rays of the noonday sun.”   Barnes has made the error noted above. Jesus is not speaking of the character of a person, though this can be a part of such a matter. He is speaking of the circumstances in which the person received the message. The seed was placed in the wrong spot for it to mature properly.   Whether Jesus is speaking of Israel and their reception of the message or those of the church, the words carry the same truth. The difference is that Israel was under law. Law demands perfect obedience. Without Jesus, that is impossible.   Those in the church are under grace. Grace does not demand performance, but belief. What does Jesus say about this person? He says, “...this, he is, the ‘the word hearing and immediately with joy receiving it.'” What does the gospel say? Jesus gives the basis for it in John 3:16: belief. Paul explains it in detail in his epistles, noting it is based on belief. This person has believed. He received the message with joy. And what is the result of that belief when under grace? 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, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13, 14   Albert Barnes, et al, failed to consider that the difference is Jesus in how a person is treated. A person can live and die under law, or he can live and die under grace. This is the initial circumstance that must be defined.   However, that circumstance is then further defined by the circumstance of place, meaning where the seed grows. If a person is saved, he is saved (reread Ephesians 1:13, 14 again!). However, if the person who is saved has no church, no copy of the Bible, and no further understanding of his obligations because no one told him, he will have no root to carry him through the pressures and tribulations that arise.   This is why it is so immensely important to feed oneself with the word. In today's world, we can shape the circumstances of our faith by actively feeding ourselves. Passively, the family we are born into may have provided sound soil. The activities at school may provide that as well. Church attendance may (depending on the church) do so also.   Reading the word, meditating on it, and applying it to one's life is the main source of such fertile soil. Pay heed to what feeds you, how you are fed, and the time you spend feeding yourself. Circumstance! Take advantage of the circumstances that you find yourself in. May you grow healthy and in an abundant manner so that you will be able to endure the difficulties of life when you face them.   Heavenly Father, thank You that when we believe the gospel, our salvation is realized. Thank You for the grace of God found in Jesus Christ our Lord. Now, help us to be responsible and pursue that good gift all the days of our lives. Amen and amen.

Friday, 26 September 2025   But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; Matthew 13:20   “And the ‘having been sown upon the rocky places,' this, he is, the ‘the word hearing and immediately with joy receiving it'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus described the seed that was sown near the path. He next says, “And the ‘having been sown upon the rocky places.'” This type was mentioned in verse 5. What happens to a seed when it is cast on a rocky area? For those who farm, the answer is obvious.    The seed will sprout because there is usually moisture on rocks in the early hours. As such, there is life now coming from the seed. However, this will only last for a while. Unless it is a gray and moist day, the sprout will quickly dry up and die when the heat of the sun blazes on it. Of this seed, Jesus next says, “this, he is, the ‘the word hearing and immediately with joy receiving it.'”    Whether Jesus is referring to people in general, those of Israel who are following Him at the time, or in the context of the Christian church as a mystery being revealed concerning what lies ahead, His words carry a truth that can be seen in any field, vocation, or religious context.   Something is seen, it is appealing, and it is quickly accepted as a goal and received as such.   Life application: Without evaluating the conclusion found in the next verse concerning this sort of person, we can look at our own lives and find examples of this type of person in a given situation.   Suppose you go to the beach with your friends and you see people surfing. It's the coolest thing you've ever seen, and so you quickly rush out to buy a surfboard. You saw what was exciting, a seed of interest germinated in you because of what you saw, and the idea of yourself becoming a surfer starts growing in you.   What will it take to make that goal come about? Think about the innumerable things that will affect your new, excited decision. You get to the surf shop and discover how expensive a new board is. You will have to settle for an old, beat-up one.   You find out that the waves only come at certain times and under certain conditions, so you have to be ready to give up other things when the waves are breaking.   Surfing means looking like an otter floating on the surface to sharks...   The best waves are in the winter, and even with a wetsuit (which is also expensive), you don't like getting into the cold water.   In finding this and so much more out, you have to decide concerning the pursuit of your new and exciting avenue of life's adventures. As noted above, this type of thing can also apply to a vocation or a religious experience. Making choices about major goals in life requires thought, commitment, and the expenditure of time and energy.   What will be the result of your decision if your roots are not sunk deeply into the ground? This is what Jesus is explaining to the people of Israel as they prepare to follow the One they have called their Messiah.   Heavenly Father, when people hear about what Jesus has done, there is often a strong and amazingly excited pursuit of Him at first. Will that continue? What is it that will keep them strong in this new direction? Help us to evaluate ourselves as well as those to whom we tell the gospel to. May we be prepared to set our goals and stick to them as we follow Him all our days. Amen.  

Thursday, 25 September 2025   When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. Matthew 13:19   “Everyone hearing the word of the kingdom and not comprehending, the evil, he comes, and he seizes the ‘having been sown in his heart.' This, he is, the ‘having been sown near the path'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus prepared His disciples for hearing the explanation of the parable. He now begins that explanation, saying, “Everyone hearing the word of the kingdom and not comprehending.”   Jesus has already spoken of such people when He cited the words of Isaiah. There are people who hear, but in hearing, they do not comprehend. One can go to a lecture on nuclear physics, hear the message of the speaker, understand the individual words, but not comprehend the meaning of what is being said.   Likewise, a person can read the Bible (hearing in his mind) and not comprehend what is being said. A common reason for this might be reading a passage, for example, Joshua 10, knowing what it says, but not comprehending why it is even in the Bible. This might be because the person has not read the Bible and, thus, has no context to understand what is being conveyed in the overall message.   Such examples help us grasp why someone can hear and not comprehend. In such an occurrence, Jesus says, “the evil, he comes.”   This would be referring to the devil. The adjective prefixed by the article marks the evil off as an entity. It isn't just that evil comes. Rather, an entity that is evil comes. As such, translations normally insert the word one, resulting in “the evil one.” This evil one comes, “and he seizes the ‘having been sown in his heart.'”   The perfect participle indicates that the word had been received at some point, and it was a completed action that continues at the time being referred to. It is not that the word was not received, but that it was received, and then it is seized from him.   Therefore, this would be like the person Peter refers to –   “For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.” 2 Peter 1:9   The person received the message, but he failed to diligently do the things Peter refers to in 2 Peter 1:2-8. Because of this, Jesus says, “This, he is, the ‘having been sown near the path.'”   There was a seed sown, but it was snatched away, never becoming productive.   It should be noted that the words of this parable are not identical to those of Luke's account in Matthew 8. There, Jesus says of this seed, “...then, he comes, the devil, and he lifts the word from the heart of them, that not having believed, they should be saved” (Luke 8:12).   Due to the different use of the verbs, and the plural “they” instead of the singular “he,” it means Jesus probably said this parable on different occasions and geared it towards the audience at that time.   Both accounts say the disciples asked Him for an explanation. There is no problem with this, it could mean other disciples than those who asked the other time in Matthew. Unlike Luke, a loss of salvation does not appear to be the intent in His explanation here in Matthew.   Life application: Israel was given the word, but for the most part, they never heeded it. As such, it was stolen away from them, generation after generation. There was a failure on their part to do what they were instructed, to be the people they were called to be, and to honor God as He determined.   Despite this, and despite rejecting Jesus when He came, Israel remains. This shows the covenant faithfulness that God has maintained toward them. Their disobedience does not negate His faithfulness.   If we can remind ourselves of this truth, we would be much better off in our minds concerning our own walk with Him, knowing that despite our failings, He remains faithful and will uphold His commitment to carry us through to the completion of our salvation.   If we would remind ourselves of this truth, we would also be better off in our minds concerning others' walk with Him as well. It is so easy to point at other believers, knowing they at one time called on Jesus, and then assuming that God has taken away their salvation.   This is a common theme in churches that hold to the Arminian traditions. It is also nonsense. God will remain faithful, even to those who walk away from the faith. Peter does not question the salvation of those he refers to in the verse above. In fact, his words clearly indicate a state of salvation (he was cleansed).   Think about what the Bible says concerning God from His perspective, not ours. We fail others, we take back our gifts, we break our commitments, etc. God does none of these. His spoken word is an eternal decree, and Jesus' blood is sufficient to cover all our sins.   Thank God for His faithfulness.   Lord God, may we think clearly and carefully consider the things Your word teaches us concerning You. In our minds, we will often project onto You what we experience. A bad father must equal a bad heavenly Father. But no! You are good, You do not change, and Your intent for us because of Jesus means we are secure. Thank You for Your faithfulness, O God. Amen.  

Wednesday, 24 September 2025   “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: Matthew 13:18   “You, therefore, you hear the parable, the ‘having sown'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus spoke of the prophets and righteous men of the past who desired to see and hear what the disciples saw. They, however, did not see or hear those things. Only at the time determined by God would the Christ come to fulfill the law and usher in a new dispensation. Based on His words concerning this, He next says, “You, therefore, you hear the parable, the ‘having sown.'”   The things those people desired to see and hear were to be revealed to the disciples. This included the meaning of the parable He had spoken to them concerning the sower with his seeds.   This parable is normally called the parable of the sower. The Greek reads tou speirantos, “the ‘having sown,'” meaning the one having sown. By extension, it refers to the sower through the use of the article affixed to the verb.   His addressees are the disciples, placing them in the emphatic position, “You, therefore, you...” In other words, His words connect first to verse 16, and then contrast with verse 17. This can be seen when the three thoughts are presented in order –   * And you, blessed the eyes, because they see, and the ears, because it hears.   * Amen! For I say to you that many prophets and righteous, they passioned to see what byou see, and not they saw, and to hear what you hear, and not they heard.   * You, therefore, you hear the parable, the ‘having sown.'   Jesus is conveying to them the greatness of the place and time in which they are and the position which they have been entrusted. This is contrasted first with those of Israel, who heard the parable but were not given its explanation.   However, secondly, the immediate contrast is to those great men of the past, showing the disciples that they have a privilege that goes beyond the hopes and dreams of generations of people whose desire it was to see and participate in the coming of the Messiah. It is reflective of the words of Peter –   “Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.” 1 Peter 1:10-12   Life application: The church has a similar hope to that of the saints of old who anticipated the coming of the Messiah. They longed to see His coming and to draw near to Him to see and hear His words.   In the church, we have been promised that Jesus will return. At that time, those who are waiting for Him will have the realization of their hope. Unlike the saints of old, however, who came and died before the coming of the Messiah, the Lord has promised to bring with Him all of those who have received Him, even since the first believers.   We will be drawn near to Him, see Him with our own eyes, and hear Him with our own ears. Not a single saint from this dispensation will be left behind. Because of this, Paul gives us words of absolute comfort and continued hope, even for those who die before His coming –   “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18   It is good to be reminded of this from time to time. God's promises will be realized. If you are facing the loss of a loved one, the separation is painful. However, if he or she was saved through faith in Jesus, this is a temporary separation. God has not abandoned you, and He will not forget them on that great Day.   Get ready, Jesus is coming again. Maybe today.   Lord God, thank You for the sure hope we possess because of what Jesus has done. How grateful we are to You that we don't need to fear death, nor do we lose hope when we experience it in the loss of those we love. Rather, we have a sure and enduring hope of being gathered together forever when Jesus returns for His church. Amen.

Tuesday, 23 September 2025   for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. Matthew 13:17   “Amen! For I say to you that many prophets and righteous, they passioned to see what you see, and not they saw, and to hear what you hear, and not they heard” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus told His disciples that their eyes and ears were blessed. He now provides an explanation of that, saying, “Amben! For I say to you that many prophets and righteous.”   The promise of a Redeemer was spoken by the Lord in Genesis 3. Until the record was written down by Moses, it would have been an oral tradition. It is certain, based on the surrounding text, that Eve thought she would be delivered by the birth of Cain. However, that didn't pan out.   From there, a list of “the sons of the God” is recorded in Genesis 5, and the story of the division between these sons, meaning those who believed and those who didn't, is given in minimal detail in Genesis 6. Noah was deemed a righteous man and was spared from the destruction of the world by the flood.   He and his family repopulated the earth, still passing on this story of a coming Redeemer. Eventually, proper worship of God began to fade. This is implied in Job 1 & 2 where the “sons of the God” are noted as gathering for worship. If there are sons of “the God,” there are those who are not. The world was again losing its memory of the promised One.   Such people, like Job, would have been deemed righteous (Job 1:1). However, an appropriate mode of worship was needed to keep the memory of the Redeemer's coming alive and to ensure that worshiping God as He deemed proper necessitated the introduction of the law.   Throughout these ages, some of those whom Jesus refers to are recorded, fitting a pattern that would include all who were like them. Hebrews 11 gives a summary of such people. The thing that identifies them as such is not, however, observance of and adherence to the law. Rather, it is... faith. Time and again in Hebrews 11, the words “by faith” are used to describe these people.   Each of them had a grounded hope in the coming of the Messiah. Hebrews 11 is summed up with the words –   “And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.” Hebrews 11:39, 40   In accord with that, Jesus says, “they passioned to see what you see, and not they saw, and to hear what you hear, and not they heard.”   These people, by faith, waited and hoped. They looked ahead to what God promised, not around at what man has tainted. Their eyes were fixed unashamedly on the fulfillment of the promise, not considering the taunts and attacks of those who live for this world.   Their desire and passion were to see the Messiah and to hear His instruction concerning matters that could never be contemplated or deduced without God's special revelation. With the coming of Jesus, these things were spoken and explained.   Life application: Jesus told the people –   “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Matthew 11:11   Jesus has come. There is no longer a need to wait for what God's promised Messiah would do or say. We now have an accurate and detailed record of what His disciples heard and saw.   We can, by faith, be deemed righteous. We look back to the incarnation, the life lived, the cross, and the resurrection, and we believe. In accepting God's word concerning the all-sufficient work of Jesus Christ, we are deemed righteous.   From there, we can, by faith, look ahead to the promises of total restoration with God, not just as a spiritual truth (which we now possess), but as a tangible, eternal reality. For those who have been saved by faith, we have been given a guarantee that what we hope for will be realized –   “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, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13, 14   How strong is your faith that the words of Scripture are true, accurate, and reliable? How deeply do you believe that Jesus is the fulfillment of that word? Are you sure in your heart of hearts that what the Bible tells us lies ahead is really coming? What is it that you long for most in this world? There is a reward ahead for those who live by faith –   “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:8   Hooray for Jesus!   Lord God, thank You for the hope we possess in You, in Your word, and in what it says about Jesus' coming and His return for us someday. Thank You for the guarantee You have given us, securing us as Yours until that day. Thank You, O God, for Your everlasting faithfulness. Amen.

Monday, 22 September 2025   But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; Matthew 13:16   “And you, blessed the eyes, because they see, and the ears, because it hears” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus finished the quote from Isaiah concerning Israel's spiritually deadened state. Now, He contrasts His disciples to the overall nation, saying, “And you, blessed the eyes, because they see.”   These words are in line with what was already said in verse 11 –   “He answered and said to them, ‘Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.'”   They had willingly followed Jesus. Because of this, He would explain His parables and other seemingly cryptic sayings to them without reservation. However, the general crowd would only be given the parable without an explanation.   If they wanted to know what the meaning of His words was, they would need to ask. It is sure that He would not purposefully hide the explanation from someone who wanted to know. This is all the more certain because the gospels were eventually written and disseminated.   Because of this, all it took was seeking. In doing so, they would find what they sought. This step was unnecessary for the disciples who were there with Jesus and were provided the explanations. As seen in a previous commentary, this is stated explicitly in Mark –   “And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it. 34 But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.” Mark 4:33, 34   Along with seeing eyes, Jesus also says, “and the ears, because it hears.” Some texts read this in the plural, “they hear,” others in the singular. The point is that the spiritually lethargic state that permeated most of Israel did not permeate all of it. The disciples and those like them who were looking for the truth would find it.   Life application: Having dulled senses is not restricted to Israel, although at this time it is a national condition. Along with them, there are innumerable people in the world who are likewise affected. They feel secure in their religiosity and are uncaring about whether what they believe is actually the truth of God or not.   Unfortunately, this condition permeates much of the church as well. People go to church on Sunday morning, listen to the sermon, go home, and nothing in their lives is changed. The message they hear isn't taken to heart, and the word doesn't penetrate the dull ears.   But this isn't merely limited to congregants. There are churches full of dead pastors. They speak from the pulpit about how love wins, that God accepts people's lifestyle regardless of how perverse they may be, and speak ill of those who want to rectify the immorality in their nations, either through politics or conservative churches.   To them, the Bible is a pick-and-choose tool to obtain verses that will keep people feeling good and coming back. Maybe it isn't even referred to at all. Their concept of Jesus is driven by sexual mores or financial gain, apart from the reality of how God has presented Him in His word.   When you talk to people about Jesus, pay attention to what they say. The truth is, just because they attend church, it does not mean that they are saved. You may need to evangelize them as much as the drug addicts and hookers in your town's shady district.   Don't assume that someone is right with Jesus from their initial words to you. Pay heed, get to know what they believe, and be ready to present Jesus and what He expects, as is outlined in Scripture. And you cannot do this without knowing the word. Please read, know, and contemplate your Bible.   Lord God, help us to be discerning about those around us. May we not assume that just because someone says he is a Christian that he is saved. Rather, may we be attentive and carefully present the gospel for all. People need Jesus, the true Jesus, whom You have revealed in Your word. May we be willing to tell the world about Him. Amen.

Sunday, 21 September 2025   For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.' Matthew 13:15   “For it thickened, the heart of this people And their ears, heavily they heard, And their eyes, they shut, Lest not they should behold – their eyes, And they should hear – their ears, And they should comprehend – the heart, And they should return, And I will heal them” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus began to quote a verse from Isaiah concerning the state of Israel, specifically their inability to understand or perceive the meaning of spiritual truth. Jesus continues that quote, which explains why this is so, beginning with, “For it thickened, the heart of this people.”   Here is a new word, pachunó, to thicken. It is found only here and in Acts 28:27 when Paul cites this same verse. The thickening is that of excess fat. Therefore, it signifies having a dull, insensitive heart.   In Scripture, the heart is the seat of moral preference. It is the spot where the decisions that reveal our true character are made. In the case of Israel, their collective heart had thickened to the point of being insensitive. Their moral preferences had become contrary to the will of the Lord. Next, He says, “And their ears, heavily they heard.”   Here is another new word, the adverb bareós. It signifies heavily. In this case, it is in a figurative sense. This word is also only found here and in Romans 28:27. The meaning is that it is as if something is hanging over their ears, their ears are full of wax, or for some other reason, and the sound entering them is dulled and difficult to understand. Next, it says, “And their eyes, they shut.”   A third new word, again only found here and in Romans 28:27, is seen, the verb kammuó. It is derived from kata, down, and muó, to shut the eyes. Thayer's Lexicon says, “the phrase designates the inflexible pertinacity and obstinacy of the Jews in their opposition to the gospel.”   This is correct. There is a sense of a purposeful shutting of the eyes to block out what God would otherwise reveal to them. These spiritual insensitivities permeated the Jewish society, but this was not the Lord's fault. This can be seen in the next words, which reveal that their state was a self-inflicted wound. Notice how the following three thoughts are stated in the reverse order of the previous three, forming a short chiasm –   “Lest not they should behold – their eyes, And they should hear – their ears, And they should comprehend – the heart.”   The meaning is that if the people were to redirect their moral senses, there would be a change. It isn't that the Lord caused this, but that they willingly closed themselves off from being able to properly discern the incoming information. With that noted, Jesus finishes the quote, saying –   “And they should return, And I will heal them.”   The future tense is purposeful. Each of these points is dependent on the actions of the people. That it is speaking of the nation and not merely individuals within the nation is to be understood from the plural, they, and then the singular, the heart, noted above.   Israel had purposefully closed itself off to God's salvation as seen in the coming of their Messiah. However, there is a day ahead when this will change. At that time, the Lord promises that they should return and He will heal them. This will be according to His design. Until that point, the words speak of a constant state of dullness in their collective eyes, ears, and heart.   Life application: The words of Isaiah, as quoted by Jesus and later Paul, clearly refer to free will in man. In the case of Israel, they are so closely knit as a people that, despite their amazingly diverse political, moral, and religious differences, they are still intimately united as a single body.   In this state, their almost universal rejection of Jesus is understandable. It is the crowd mentality that is strengthened through a close-knit family bond. Until this ubiquitous set of blinders is removed, the nation will continue in this state.   It is God's intent and purpose for Israel to be saved. And more, it is clearly prophesied in His word that this will take place. However, they need to be brought to such a calamitous state that they will finally look beyond themselves and their supposed superiority as a people to realize that they are nothing without Jesus.   Until that day, be careful to evangelize them, pray for them, and have pity on them. Without Jesus, they are a hopeless, rudderless ship in a sea of overwhelming sin. Only Jesus can rescue them from it.   Lord God, we pray for the people of Israel. Your word went to them first, and it was rejected. But You are not through with them. Your covenantal fidelity to fulfill the promises made to them in Your word will be realized. But Your word also tells us of disastrous days ahead for them. So, Lord, we lift them up to You for many to be saved before that day comes. Amen.

Saturday, 20 September 2025   And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive;  Matthew 13:14   “And it fulfills upon them, Isaiah's prophecy, saying, ‘News you will hear and no, not you might comprehend, And seeing, you will see and no, not you might see'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus noted that He spoke to the people in parables because, in seeing, they do not see, and in hearing, they don't hear or understand. Therefore, Jesus continues, saying, “And it fulfills upon them Isaiah's prophecy.”   A new word, anapléroó, to fully complete, and thus to fulfill, is seen. It is derived from ana, up, and pléroó, to fill up or complete. The prefix intensifies the action. Therefore, the present tense verb completes the action, even though it is as if the work is still in progress. In the Textus Receptus, the word is followed by the preposition ep, upon.   The things the disciples did not understand concerning Jesus' parables were actually prophesied and recorded in their own Scriptures. The source of the prophecy is from the Greek translation of Isaiah 6:9, 10.   Isaiah prophesied words that were applicable to the people of Israel. They were fulfilled at his time, but the people at the time of Jesus continued to have the same spiritually dull senses as those Isaiah addressed. Therefore, his words would find their fulfillment again in the coming of Jesus and His ministry. This is highlighted by the inclusion of the word ep, upon. Isaiah's words were fulfilled upon them.   Jesus preached to the people, and yet, they completely missed the point of what He was telling them. This begins to be seen in His next words, where He was “saying, ‘News you will hear and no, not you might comprehend.'”   The spiritual senses of the people were dull and seemingly incapable of assimilating what He was trying to convey to them. Some parables included words of judgment, others (such as the parable He just gave concerning the seed) included words that indicated many would reject, misunderstand, or have stolen away His teachings.   But they were Israelites! They thought they were ok with God simply because of who they were as people. Therefore, the intended meaning could not be speaking of them! Because of this attitude, the point of what He was conveying seemed to have no discernible application in their lives. Along with the dull ears, Jesus continues with, “and seeing, you will see and no, not you might see.”   The people would see things, and yet, there were spiritual truths being conveyed through what He did that would be completely missed by them. For example, Jesus healed the centurion's servant in Matthew 8. At that time, He exclaimed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!”   The people saw Jesus' willingness to heal a Gentile's servant, they heard His words concerning the faith of the centurion, and yet they failed to process that, by default, they had less faith than a Gentile. The most important point of the entire event passed right through the ears and minds of the people without ever being assimilated and/or understood.   Because of these things, Isaiah's prophecy was fulfilled upon them.   Life application: Most of us have seen or known people who do things that are immoral or illegal, and yet the same people act as if they have done nothing wrong. At the same time, they agree that others doing the very thing they are doing should be punished.   For example, at this time, there are several government officials who are under investigation for illegally transmitting national secrets. It is certain they have done this, and they will hopefully be held accountable for it. And yet, these same people accused the sitting president of having done exactly what they had been doing! He was found innocent. They had been projecting their own evil deeds onto others while ignoring or mentally dismissing their own misconduct.   The old saying, “People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones,” is realized in them. They threw charges at an innocent person, while the whole world can now see that they had been doing the exact same thing they accused him of.   Now think about people in church. You may know someone who is having an affair. And yet, he sits in church, hears the preacher preach against immorality, and even calls out “Amen” as the words are spoken. There is a complete disconnect between the actions of his life and the acknowledgement, that when done by others, it is wrong.   This is the state of Israel, even to this day. The words of Isaiah 6, now being cited by Jesus, are also quoted by Paul as the book of Acts closes out. This tells us that the state was ongoing, even though Jesus said the words of Isaiah were completed upon those He was speaking to. It is as if the words are being completed upon them from moment to moment as history unfolds.   Unfortunately, this attitude will continue until there is almost nothing left of them as a people. Only in Jesus' direct intervention by coming back to stop their enemies will this state finally be ended. Let us evaluate our own lives, looking for areas where we are projecting our own evils upon others while not tending to those evils in our own lives.   Lord God, help each of us to remember Your word, applying it to our lives at all times. It is so easy to spot fault in others, but are we willing to do so in ourselves? Help us to do so and to live lives that are honorable in Your presence. Amen.  

Friday, 19 September 2025   Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Matthew 13:13   “Through this I speak to them in parables, because seeing, not they see, and hearing, not they hear nor comprehend” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus noted the truth concerning the mysteries of the kingdom that those who have will be given more, while those who don't will have what they do have taken from them. Understanding this, He next says, “Through this I speak to them in parables.”   The words “through this” have already been seen. It is a way of saying “therefore” or “because of.” There is a reason why Jesus speaks to the people in parables. Israel had squandered its spiritual heritage, and the mysteries of the kingdom would be taken from them because of it.   It is because of their poor stewardship of what they had been granted that it was to be so. Thus, Jesus deprived them of an open explanation of things. The Jews would have to come to Him like anyone else today, by faith. They could not rely on their status as Jews to receive the ongoing revelation of God's working in the coming dispensation. This is explained in His next words, “because seeing, not they see, and hearing, not they hear nor comprehend.”   A new word, suniémi, to put together, is seen here. It is derived from sun, with, and hiemi, to send. In putting things together by joining facts, one can then comprehend what is going on in a given situation. In being given the mysteries in parables, Israel could not see the deeper spiritual meaning, and they could not hear the message that was being conveyed.   Because of this, they could not put two and two together and then conclude what Jesus was talking about. This doesn't mean they were mentally incapable of doing so. Rather, like the disciples, they would have to ask for understanding and an explanation of His words.   But even with that information, biases and presuppositions can stand in the way of accepting the message. This is the state in which Israel exists today. It is not a nation of illiterate people. But it is a nation that cannot comprehend that they are not what God is “doing” at this time. They have never set aside the notion that they are God's people and thus the object of His attention and favor.   However, Paul explains the situation concerning God's favor during this dispensation of grace –   “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:26-29   Jewishness, cultural heritage, past circumstances, and so forth have no bearing on one's position in Christ. The only thing that matters is faith in Him. Without that, there is no connection to God.   Life application: The information found in the New Testament is just as available to the Jewish people as it is to the rest of the world. There are Jews who have decided to pick up the Bible and read the New Testament without any knowledge about what it says. In reading it, they have said, “Hey, this is all written from a Jewish perspective!”   From there, they think about their history and how they fit into it and realize that what they were told concerning the promise of the Messiah has already been fulfilled in the coming of Jesus. The light comes on, the words are illuminated, and they are able to put the facts together to make the decision to place their faith in Him.   Others have been taught that the New Testament is all lies and does not reflect what God is doing. And so they never read it, or they read it with a presuppositional bias against what it says. With this attitude, they are not looking for the truth. Because of this, it is likely they will not accept what it says.   Some may, however, conclude that they were misinformed and that it is the truth. This is no different than people who are believers in Jesus and come to the Bible to learn doctrine. Someone who has never even heard of the rapture may put the facts as Paul presents them together and rightly conclude that it is a real event and that it will happen before the tribulation.   Those who have been told there is no such thing as the rapture may read the same words and believe what they were told rather than what the word says, simply because they have the blinders on. Likewise, they may believe in the rapture, but because they were told that it is mid-trib, they will look for ways to justify that stand, taking things out of context simply to have the matter fit their presuppositions.   When reading the Bible, we need to go where it goes and ensure we take its words in the proper context, not seeking evidence to fit our presuppositions from places where it should not be taken. Let us attempt to look for the proper interpretation of spiritual matters through prayer, open minds not clouded by presuppositions, and with a heart to accept what the word says concerning its truths.   Lord God, may we stay focused on our time in Your word, not finding reasons to skip it from day to day. Rather, may this be one of the things we commit to unfailingly all the days of our lives. It is too precious not to be tended to even above our necessary food. Amen.  

Thursday, 18 September 2025   For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Matthew 13:12   “For whoever he has, it will be given him, and he will superabound. And whoever not he has, and what he has it will be lifted from him” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus responded to the disciples concerning His speaking in parables. He told them that they were given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. However, to the others, it had not.   To make this point, He next states an understood truth that applies in many worldly contexts. It can apply to wealth, health, business acumen, etc. As such, it is something understandable and verifiable. He begins with, “For whoever he has, it will be given him.”   Suppose someone has good health. That person will generally use his health wisely, increasing it and staying healthy. A person who has business smarts will generally make more good business decisions. It doesn't even really matter what type of business. He may have a successful auto company and decide to buy a social media platform.   People may think he is nuts, but both remain profitable. He may add in a tunnel boring company and it will be successful as well. Why is this when the companies are so different? It is because he understands the business model regardless of the industry.   Therefore, he has and he keeps on receiving because his efforts are wisely directed from that perspective. This is so much the case that Jesus continues, “and he will superabound.”   As noted, this is a general principle, but it is something that usually occurs. The point is that the disciples were selected to carry forth the message of Jesus. They had received the proper spiritual insights to prosper in this realm. Israel as a nation had squandered their spiritual heritage. This is seen, for example, in the parable of the wicked vinedressers found in Matthew 21.   The disciples followed Jesus and would superabound in their spiritual growth. However, like the wicked vinedressers, Jesus says, “And whoever not he has, and what he has, it will be lifted from him.”   A person with no business acumen will usually find out very quickly that it is so. He lacks a proper understanding of the business model, and his desire to have a particular business will normally fail. What he has, as in saving to start the business, doing all the things necessary to get it going, and then putting up the OPEN sign on the first day, will turn into dashed hopes.   In fact, if he had understood his level of incompetence, he would have done better to put up a GOING OUT OF BUSINESS sign when he first opened the doors. Israel, from its first moments after receiving the law, had failed in a right application of their spiritual lives.   While Moses was on Sinai receiving further instructions after the giving of the Ten Commandments, Israel was fashioning the golden calf. This state of failed spiritual understanding, with few exceptions, continued throughout their history. In fact, the societal structure they developed based on their being stewards of the law meant they were doomed for failure.   The leadership of Israel had so departed from the proper “business model” that they were incapable of understanding spiritual matters properly. Paul refers to this in 2 Corinthians 3 –   “Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech— 13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” 2 Corinthians 3:12-16   Understanding this, Israel would have the prospect of the kingdom being taken from them. It would transfer to those who were willing to produce in accord with God's will. The kingdom, as it is currently defined, is the age of grace. Israel has remained under law and under the curse, while the church has grown as a separate entity.   Israel will learn its lesson someday and receive the promises of the millennial kingdom, but it will be a difficult journey before it arrives.   Life application: Paul refers to the Law of Moses and the veil that remains over the spiritual eyes of Israel. The law, though standing between God and man, was not the problem, something Paul explains in Romans 7. Rather, it is sin in man that is the problem. The law merely highlights this fact.   Israel, however, failed to see this. They refused to understand the simple five-letter word GRACE. When Jesus came, they had no understanding of what He was referring to in His words because they trusted that, despite their sins in relation to the law, God thought they were great and worthy of His stunned care of them, as if they were the point of His dealings with man.   This is so much the case that even after Paul wrote his inspired epistle concerning the law and their state before it, they could not see through their own biased opinion of themselves. To this day, rabbis openly reject what Paul wrote, as if it were a complete misunderstanding of God's interactions with them.   And yet, being inspired by Him, it is actually a herald's call out to them, beckoning them to stop and think through what He is telling them. Jesus' words of not having and the little they do have being lifted from them are, from a spiritual sense, openly validated in them on a global scale.   They, as a nation, are on worldwide display as to their inability to perceive the grace of God in Christ. This will be highlighted when they have some sort of national victory that will allow them the right to build the temple in Jerusalem again. This is prophesied to occur in Daniel 7. It will be based on a seven-year covenant with the antichrist.   They will equate their technological and military prowess, and national exaltation because of these things, to be signs of God's favor toward them, something that America has been famous at for decades.   Their rejection of Jesus will be on worldwide display, particularly when the two witnesses of Revelation 11 stand and testify concerning Him. If it were not for Jesus' personal intervention by returning to save Israel, no flesh would survive, as noted in Matthew 24:22.   God is using Israel, with all of their spiritual faults, to reveal to the world its desperate need for the grace of Jesus Christ. Understanding this, we can more fully appreciate the cosmic blunder of the doctrine of the Judaizers (Adventists, Hebrew Roots, etc.) who mandate law observance in their theology. Trust in grace, hold fast to it, and revel in what God has done in the giving of Jesus for our sins.   Lord God, thank You for the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Wednesday, 17 September 2025   He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. Matthew 13:11   “And having answered, He said to them, ‘Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries ‘the kingdom the heavens.' And to them, not it has been given'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus was questioned by His disciples as to why He spoke to the people in parables. Matthew next records, “And having answered, He said to them, ‘Because it has been given.'”   Scholars vary on what “given” means. For example, some say this is a special act of God. That depends on how you interpret what a special act of God means. Myers NT Commentary, citing Weizsäcker, says, “through the unfolding, that is, of your inward powers of perception, not merely by means of the exposition.”   Stating such a thing defies logic. First, Jesus was speaking in a parable. They asked Him why He speaks in parables, not how to interpret them. Second, in verse 36, they will come to Him and ask Him to explain a parable. In Mark 4, it says that when they were alone, Jesus would explain all things to them.   Understanding a parable does not take a special act of God from within nor an inward power of perception. The answer is found in the next words of Jesus. He continues His words to the disciples, saying, “to you to know the mysteries ‘the kingdom the heavens.'”   The word mustérion, mystery, is introduced. HELPS Word Studies rightly defines the term, saying, it “is not something unknowable. Rather, it is what can only be known through revelation, i.e. because God reveals it.”   This is what the Bible is for. God reveals something, it is recorded in the Bible, and the information is now available. An example of this would be the rapture. It would be impossible to know that a rapture will take place someday unless the Bible said it would occur. God could have just not told us. When it came about, it would then be a mystery revealed, at least to those who were taken.   Because it is recorded in Scripture, it is now a revealed mystery. God has said it will occur, and yet innumerable saved believers deny that the event will take place. This includes well-versed Bible scholars.   The problem with them is not that God has kept it from them and their “inward powers of perception.” Nor is the meaning lacking in the “means of the exposition.” Paul expounds on the event called the rapture, in particular, in 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4. A child can pick up those passages, read them, and say, “Because I believe in Jesus, someday I am going to be taken directly to heaven.”   Without the mystery having been revealed by Paul, he never would have known this. But because it is written down, it is now a mystery revealed. So why can't the scholar accept that the rapture will happen, just as Paul details? The answer may be that he had it taught out of him, something not uncommon in seminaries. It may be that he has presuppositions that he is unwilling to let go of.   It isn't because he is lacking some spiritual ability. Even a non-believing Jew could pick up the Bible and understand what it says. “Oy! Those stupid goy believe they are going to be taken directly to heaven someday.” The reason Jesus spoke to the people in parables is explained in the coming verses. For now, He finishes with, “And to them, not it has been given.”   Jesus has purposefully taught in parables to obscure His intent. The information is there, but they need to have it explained to them. The question then is, “Are they willing to ask Him the meaning?” Those seeking will find the answer they desire. From there, they need to either accept it or reject it.   Life application: Having all the information necessary to be saved and live properly before God is found right in the pages of Scripture. The mysteries are explained. That is why they are included in the Bible. There is information we could never deduce without it being told to us. But once it is revealed, it is our job to accept what it says, taking the instruction in the proper context.   In Revelation 10:4, John is told, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.” In 10:7, it says, “but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.”   The utterances of the seven thunders were sealed up. They are words that speak of things that cannot be deduced apart from God revealing them. As they are not recorded, when they are proclaimed, nobody will know beforehand that they were the seven utterances. What they convey will have to come about according to the unfolding of God's mystery.   What is the mystery of the church? It is explained by Paul. What is the mystery of Christ? Paul explains it to us. Likewise, he explains the mystery of godliness. These and other mysteries are things that God has explained to us in His word. Once they are explained, they are revealed mysteries.   Their meaning is right there for any person to pick up and read. Whether he accepts the explanation is up to him. Judaizers have the same explanation for the mystery of godliness as anyone else does. They just don't accept its meaning. The mystery of godliness is based on the Person and work of Christ, nothing else.   They reject this and say that you must adhere to the Law of Moses to be godly. It isn't something kept from them to know the meaning. Rather, it is their own presuppositions and arrogant, self-directed attitudes. These lead to a failure to accept that Christ has done everything necessary for their salvation. But the Bible says otherwise.   Lord God, help us not to sensationalize Your word beyond its intent. The Bible is sensational enough just as it is, without us making things up that are not in accord with what You have revealed. May we approach Scripture logically, with a passion for its contents, and with minds that are open and willing to accept what it says. Amen.  

Tuesday, 16 September 2025   And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”  Matthew 13:10   “And the disciples, having come, they said to Him, ‘Through what in parables You speak to them?'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus called out for those who heard His parable to hear. Next, Matthew records, “And the disciples, having come.”   Although not a problem, it is unknown exactly when this transpires. It doesn't say “then,” or “at that time.” Therefore, their question could have come at any time, but Matthew is recording it here for the convenience of understanding.   Mark 4:10 says, “But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable.” Luke 8 brings this question up in the same manner as Matthew, placing it right after the time Jesus tells His audience to hear.   Jesus was in a boat giving this parable. It appears that He continued His discourse and that the question came later. When it came, it was something asked not only by the twelve, but by many of the disciples.   Whatever the exact timeline, “they said to Him, ‘Through what in parables You speak to them?'”   The disciples' question is natural. Instead of just plainly telling the people what He was talking about, Jesus' words are interesting but veiled. Their question is probably as much a petition to have the explanation to the parables provided as it is one asking why He spoke this way.   At the time, despite being disciples, they were also a part of the audience. If someone from the crowd came up and asked them to explain the parable, they would have been incapable of doing so. This probably occurred and brought about their question to Jesus. This seems likely based on what it says in Mark 4 –   “And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it. 34 But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.” Mark 4:33, 34   Life application: In Matthew 7, Jesus has already been recorded as saying this:   “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7, 8   Jesus may be speaking in parables, and the disciples may not understand why, but He has already told them that in seeking, the answer will be found. How He responds to their question will, therefore, apply to anyone who comes to Him for an answer.   To this day, the words of Jesus are open to the Jewish people. They are not secreted away by the Lord where they cannot be saved during this dispensation. But there has to be a motivation to seek the truth. In the recent past, a soldier in Israel shared his story about his father's conversion.   He “came to faith after picking up a flyer about Jesus on the street that was just lying around. Reading it and then going to the Bible and reading the gospel about Jesus. Because of all the stigma, he thought the New Testament was written by Nazis, but when he picked it up, he said ‘I felt like it's the real deal that continues the Old Testament.'”   Imagine that. A gospel tract was thrown away by one person, but another picked it up and was willing to check things out. He was encouraged and challenged enough that he had to know if it was true. The disciples have asked Jesus about the hidden mysteries of God. But nothing is really hidden if one searches for the truth and then opens his heart to what he discovers.   Lord God, our time in handing out tracts may seem wasted when we don't hear about any conversions or breakthroughs in the area where we hand them out, but give us the desire to continue to share the good news this way and in any other way that we can. A plant cannot grow unless the seed is first planted. Amen.

Monday, 15 September 2025   He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Matthew 13:9   “The ‘having ears to hear,' he – hear!” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus spoke of the seed falling on the good earth and the abundance it provides. Having completed the parable, He next says, “The ‘having ears to hear,' he – hear!”   Jesus' words are the same as Matthew 11:15. It is an admonition to listen, understand, and pay attention, applying His words to their lives. In this case, He has instructed the people concerning soil and seed. What He says has value to the person sowing real seed.   This is how things work, and most people listening to Him, who planted the seed, would know this. Some people may never have thought the process through, just helping out on a farm or being young and unaware of how things worked. They could then say, “I heard that Rabbi speaking about sowing seed and I'll follow His advice.”   But Jesus' intent is not to teach about farming practices. The words were given as a parable, and the people would have known this. The problem is that when He says for them to hear, they may not have understood what He was telling them. In fact, in the giving of this parable as recorded in Luke, it says, “Then His disciples asked Him, saying, ‘What does this parable mean?'” (Luke 8:9).   To this day, people differ on the interpretation or intended audience for Jesus' words. Because this is so, having ears to hear may not be as easy as it seems.   Life application: Despite differing interpretations on parables, verses, intended audience for a given passage, etc., there is a proper and intended meaning for everything in Scripture. There are several important points that must be considered for everything that is recorded. The main point above all is considering the context.   A simple example of this is the Law of Moses. Who is the intended audience for adhering to the law? The context is stated right in the giving of the law and within the law itself. The law was given to Israel. Really, go check it out. Read Exodus 19 and 20, where the basis for the law was given, meaning the Ten Commandments.   After that, Israel is the intended audience throughout the entire time of the law. For example, go read Deuteronomy 5:1 and Jeremiah 2:4, among almost a billion other times that words of law are spoken. Israel alone is always the intended audience. Even Jesus addresses Israel directly, quoting the law, such as in Mark 12:29.   No other nation on the planet was given the law. No other nation was required to observe the law. And when Jesus died, it was in fulfillment of the law. Thus, in its fulfillment, it was ended. This is stated explicitly by Jesus Himself. It is also recorded in the epistles numerous times. So why do churches continue to tell people they have to tithe, not eat pork, or to observe the Sabbath?   These are points of law. The context tells us who the law was for.   To understand the meaning of a parable or who the intended audience is for it may not be readily apparent, but the matter will not be solved and solidified in your mind in a manner that matches Scripture unless you read and rightly apply Scripture.   It may be that you have an exceptional preacher or teacher who properly explains these things, but unless you also know the book, you can only assume what he says is correct. In the end, each of us is responsible for his or her doctrine. To place one's eternal soul in the hands of someone else's doctrine without verifying what they say is the height of stupidity.   If you go to any Jehovah's Witnesses meetings, they will tell you they trust the doctrine of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. And yet, what they teach is heretical and anathema to God. Imagine that. Over nine million people in the Jehovah's Witnesses are destined for eternal separation from God because they fail to accept the principle point of Scripture, that Jesus Christ is God.   Be discerning. Read the Bible, consider its context, and don't be led astray by people who have an agenda to control your life by controlling the doctrine of your faith.   Lord God, help us in our understanding of Your word. Open our eyes when we read it to find the truth as You present it. Please keep us away from false teachers and unsound teachings. Please lead us to a right understanding of it and to a closer walk with You. Amen.

Sunday, 14 September 2025   But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Matthew 13:8   “And others, it fell upon the good earth, and it gave fruit. Some, indeed, hundred, and some sixty, and some thirty” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus explained that when seed fell among the thorns, the thorns sprang up and choked them. He next says, “And others, it fell upon the good earth, and it gave fruit.”   The Greek includes the definite article, “the good earth.” The implication is that there is, in fact, good earth. When the seed is scattered, some of it is lost to the various places previously identified, but some of it will land in earth that is properly suited for the intended purpose of the sower, which is to produce a harvest.   The words assure Jesus' hearers that God has provided good earth for this to come about. It is up to the one looking to obtain a harvest to select the right field, prepare it accordingly, and then begin sowing.   Though there is good soil, effort is required to obtain the harvest. Thus, there is the provision of God and the labor of the sower uniting to gain the benefit of the soil. When these are harmoniously combined, the result is “Some, indeed, hundred, and some sixty, and some thirty.”   Each of these numbers is used for the first time: hekaton (100), hexékonta (sixty), and triakonta (thirty). The latter two are formed as decades of the words hex (six) and treis (three).   Jesus' words are a general statement about the various grains that are sown and the quality of the good earth into which it is sown. As such, the numbers should not be pressed when Jesus explains the parable. He is simply providing an example of how things will work when the seed is sown into good soil.   To obtain a hundredfold is not something that was considered impossible. Centuries earlier, the record of Isaac's life says –   “Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him. 13 The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous; 14 for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants. So the Philistines envied him.” Genesis 26:12-14   Life application: Normally, one will get out of his efforts what he puts into them. This isn't always true because there can be catastrophes that sweep away one's efforts. For example, someone may plant papayas around his property. Those plants that are in good soil, have proper sunlight, and have abundant water will produce fruit.   Others that are out of the sun may not be productive. And because papayas need sufficient water, others may have the buds fall off or produce really deficient fruit if not kept properly watered. This is to be expected when someone tries various spots on his property for planting them.   The ones that meet all the right conditions may produce a large harvest. However, just as the harvest is almost ready (I mean, within days), a hurricane (we'll call it Hurricane Helene) comes through the area and floods the property with saltwater from the nearby gulf. That fruit will be ruined because of the saltwater. The plant is likely to be blown over by the wind, too.   Such things can happen, and one has to ask himself whether it is worth the risk of planting fruit trees at all. For certain, there will be no fruit if one doesn't try. In other words, life is a risk. It takes getting up and working in order to produce a harvest.   Fruit trees abound in the world, but when they are in uncleared areas, they generally are not as productive as they will be when land is cleared, prepared, and the trees are planted in optimum conditions. Sometimes, several years of experimenting may take place before any results are realized.   Thomas Edison said, “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” Eventually, he made a lightbulb that works and lasts. How willing are you to make the effort to learn biblical languages, learn to share the gospel, or excel at playing music (which includes playing at church on Sunday morning)?   We will never have results if we don't get to work. God has given us the time, place, and ability to make things happen. So get up, pray about what you intend to do, asking God to bless your efforts, and then get to work.   If a hurricane (this time we'll call it Milton) comes through and destroys your efforts, you have more choices to make. Pray that God will lead you in the right decisions to continue to glorify Him.   Lord God, may our actions and words be directed first and foremost to Your glory. Only when that is the case, may we then produce the right results that will cause our efforts to multiply. Keep us from thoughts of abundance without effort unless the glory is directed to You. Whether we reap a harvest with a lot of effort or without it, may we acknowledge You as the reason it came about. Amen.

Saturday, 13 September 2025   And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. Matthew 13:7   “And others, it fell upon the thorns, and they ascended, the thorns, and they choked them” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus described how the seed that fell on the rock-like areas scorched and withered. He now turns to another category, saying, “And others, it fell upon the thorns.”   Thorns in Israel are about as bad as they get. They are everywhere, and they come in a seemingly unlimited number of torturous varieties. When God cursed the earth and said that it would produce thorns and thistles (Genesis 3:18), it seems He was specifically highlighting this promised curse in the land of Israel.   Everyone listening would understand His words. The sower is out spreading seed. As he does, some of it falls on the uncleared area where thorns had not been fully removed through burning or tilling. They may not be evident if the tops were burned off, but the roots remained because they weren't in the main part of the field that was fully tilled and cleared.   Leaving thorns around a field can have a positive purpose, such as keeping out unwanted creatures, but once the seed falls into such an area, there is no going back and picking it out. It is there for the duration. Once cast there, Jesus says, “and they ascended, the thorns, and they choked them.”   Like dominant plants in any area, those that are hardiest will overcome those that are not. Thorns don't need much water to thrive. They get started early, and when the rains come, they are already prepared to speedily grow beyond whatever else is in the soil. As such, the grain cannot compete against the thorns, and they become choked out, never reaching maturity. Vincent's Word Studies notes the words of Ovid that closely match Jesus' words of these past verses –   "Now the too ardent sun, vow furious showers, With baleful stars and bitter winds combine The crop to ravage; while the greedy fowl Snatch the strewn seeds; and grass with stubborn roots, And thorn and darnel plague the ripening grain." Metamorphoses   Life application: If you go to Israel on a vacation, business trip, tour, or whatever, be sure to have long pants and appropriate shoes if you plan on going for walks in the fields or mountains.   There are thornbushes, thistles, scratchy weeds, etc., all over the place. One can have a jillion lacerations after a short walk through an area that was not cleared. Many of these look innocuous until you step into them. Once you do, it is painful just trying to back out.   This is true throughout the world. The curse that was pronounced at the beginning has continued to be proven true throughout human history. In Israel, a land that is still being reclaimed after two thousand years of inactivity due to the curses of the law being brought to bear against the people for rejecting Jesus, every hill that remains unoccupied bears a reminder of the curse.   Slowly, Israel is subduing these areas and rebuilding towns and villages in the wilderness. Where they haven't, the walk may appear beautiful and an exciting challenge when viewed from a distance, but once you get into the area, you may find yourself wishing you had gone to Tahiti or even to North Korea... anywhere but the painful hill you are walking on.   So be careful if you go. If you remember to avoid such pitfalls, you should probably have a great adventure as you enjoy the land where Jesus walked.   Lord God, it will be really great when we are given a new place to set our feet, one without thorns, thistles, poison ivy, and harmful critters. Violating one law brought about all of this and so much more. But we know that through the grace of Jesus Christ, what we willnow experience will be more wonderful than we can imagine. Thank You for this sure hope we possess. Amen.  

Friday, 12 September 2025   But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. Matthew 13:6   “And sun, having risen, it scorched, and through not having root, it desiccated” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus spoke of the seed that fell on the rock-like area. When it did, it sprang up quickly. However, He now says, “And sun, having risen, it scorched.”   A new word, kaumatizó, to burn or scorch, is seen. It is derived from the noun kauma, a burn. That, in turn, is derived from kaió, to set on fire or to light, as in lighting a lamp. In the case of the seed, it doesn't catch on fire, but rather heats, scorching it. With this occurring, Jesus next says, “and through not having root, it desiccated.”   Another new word, xérainó, to desiccate, is seen. It is derived from the adjective xéros, dry or withered. The seed has no root in the ground to protect itself. Instead, the root lay exposed along with the shoot. Once the dew or whatever other water is absorbed, there is no source left to continue to keep the shoot fresh, and the entire seed desiccates and withers away.   Life application: Even before reading Jesus' explanation of this seed, we can contemplate what this would be like if it were a human instead of a seed.   If a person goes into the desert with only a certain amount of water, he will need to get more or he will also wither and die. If there are stores along the way, they can be likened to water supplies for keeping him alive. If not, there may be cactus that can be used to hydrate with.   Knowing where water sources can be found is essential in such a place. It is why desert dwellers can survive. The aborigines in Australia are able to live in the harshest conditions imaginable because they understand the layout of the land, accessing the minuscule water sources to stay alive.   Spiritually, things are no different. The word is equated to water in Ephesians 5:26, where Paul speaks of the washing of water by the word. It is the source of becoming connected to God. Suppose a person hears the gospel, believes, and is saved. At that moment, he is sealed with the Holy Spirit as stated in Ephesians 1:13, 14.   However, that is a note of eternal salvation more than anything. It is not a note of remaining close to God during our earthly walk. In other words, the sealing of the Spirit regenerates us into a state of eternal life. We will never lack this again. However, without the word after salvation, our spiritual walk in this life will dry up.   We cannot progress in our understanding of God without knowing Him as He has revealed Himself in His word. And so, without reading and applying the word to our lives, we will, like a seed without water, dry up in our spiritual lives. Peter speaks of this type of thing in 2 Peter 1:2-9.   A person who doesn't pursue the things the Bible lays out, even if saved, will eventually forget that he was saved at all. God doesn't, thankfully, but our lives in Christ while here in this life will be desiccated and lacking any cognitive connection to God without staying connected to Him and growing more like Him as we emulate who He is as described in His word.   Obviously, some people cannot read, and so this continued growth can come through church attendance, Bible lessons, etc. But these things need to be in accord with the word. Be sure to stay close to the word. It will tell you of the wonderful workings of God, how to live in a manner pleasing to Him, etc.   It's important! Be sure to drink in the word each day.   O God, help us to renew ourselves daily as we engage with Your word. May we not neglect this. We heard the gospel and were saved. But we must remind ourselves of this as well. Give us the desire to grow in You and to be closer to You. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.

Thursday, 11 September 2025   Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. Matthew 13:5   “And others, it fell upon the rock-like, where it had not much earth, and immediately it out-rose through not having soil depth” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus continued His parable concerning the sower and his seed, noting that some seed fell on the road, explaining that the birds came and devoured them. He next tells of what happens to some of the other seed, saying, “And others, it fell upon the rock-like, where it had not much earth.”   A new adjective, petródés, is introduced. It is derived from petra, a rock or mass of rocks, and eidos, a view as in a form, appearance, shape, etc. As such, it is a place appearing rocky. In this case, it would be a rocky area, but not everything rock-like is actually rocky, such as a wall painted like rocks.   In this case, it may be an area where stones that have been tilled up are tossed, heaping up in a pile. It also might be an outcropping of rocks that abuts the tillable land. Whatever the situation, the sower, while tossing out his seed, inadvertently has some land on this rocky area. When he does, Jesus next says, “and immediately it out-rose.”   A second new word, exanatelló, is used. It is derived from ek, out or from, and anatelló, to rise or spring up. The seed feels the warmth of the sun, and the rock may have had dew settle on it, spurring the seed to germinate and begin to rise. There is a problem with this, though. Jesus notes what it is, saying, “through not having soil depth.”   A third new word, bathos, deep or a depth, is introduced. Some etymologists place this word as the origin of our modern word bath. Others say that it is derived from a Germanic word. Either way, the seed has no soil to cover it. Jesus will explain the result of those seeds' germination in the coming verse.   Life application: The parable of the sower is given based on something almost every person there would fully understand. The society was mostly agrarian. There are those who had other professions, but even those people would be at least familiar with what happened when a seed landed on a rocky spot.   In other words, Jesus is dealing with the people in a manner they would be able to comprehend if they thought the matter through. They may not understand the spiritual application He intended, but at least they would know what was being conveyed concerning seeds.   His speech was plain and directed to them without a lot of nonessential extras. This is just how we should speak to people about the gospel. God has made it extremely simple to understand. So much so is this the case that little children can hear it and be saved. People who are mentally challenged can comprehend it and call on Christ.   And more, it is universal in its ability to convert. It is not limited to some cultures, a “western” mindset, skin color, age, education level, or any other dividing factor. God is perfect and holy, and man is fallen and separate from God because of sin. In this state, he is condemned.   However, God sent Jesus to live the perfect life that we cannot. He was crucified for our sins according to Scripture. He was buried. He rose again on the third day according to Scripture. This is the gospel, the good news, that saves a person when he believes. Nothing else is needed, and its effects are eternal.   Tell this message to a little child who just got caught stealing a cookie, and he will get it. Tell it to a prostitute who wants to be freed from the life she is living, and she will get it. Tell it to a doctor or a scientist, and he will understand the meaning.   The message will be understood. The issue isn't whether a person will hear and understand. It is whether a person will hear and believe. All God wants for His gospel to effect salvation is for the hearer to accept the premise, admit that they have sinned, and believe that God has accomplished what is necessary to bring about restoration.   How simple the message is, and yet how difficult it is for some to believe. And more, people may hear the message and reject it today, but hear it again tomorrow and believe. So keep on giving the simple message of salvation to those who need to hear it.   Glorious God Almighty, with all the wisdom You possess and with all the knowledge in the universe held by You, when it comes to saving humanity, You made the message so simple. There is no need to search high or low, or north or south. Rather, it is right with us when it is spoken in our ears. May we be responsible enough to share it with those who so desperately need You. Amen.  

Wednesday, 10 September 2025   And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Matthew 13:4   “And in his sowing, some, indeed, it fell near the road, and it came, the birds, and it devoured them” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus began His first parable concerning sowing seed while sitting in the boat. Continuing that parable now, He says, “And in his sowing, some, indeed, it fell near the road.”   The word hodos signifies a road of any kind. It can be a highway, a traveling route, a path, etc. It is also used to signify one's journey at times, with the road being stated as the trip itself. It is also used to speak of a person's conduct. We do the same thing when we say something like, “This is not a good path you are on.”   In this case, it refers to either a main road which passes through fields to the right and left, or it could refer to foot paths that are between fields on the sides of a main road, providing access to the various fields in a district.   Either way, as the farmer goes out, he reaches into his bag, pulls out a handful of seed, and casts it towards the furrows that were plowed for the next planting. Without a precise aim for each kernel, some of them will miss their intended target.   Of the grain that misses, some of it will fall near the road or path. Because it is in the open, Jesus continues, saying, “and it came, the birds, and it devoured them.”   Some texts amend the first verb to a plural reading. Unless both verbs are plural, that change makes no sense. Rather, the singular verbs mixed with the plural “birds” is probably referring to a flock, speaking both of the individuals and them collectively.   Regardless of this, the point is that the seed lay exposed on a flat, trodden area. It was clearly visible to the birds as they passed by and easy to pick up and devour. This word, katesthió, to devour, is new. The word kata intensifies esthíō, to eat. As such, the birds hungrily devour the seed, it being easy prey.   As Jesus will explain this parable to the disciples, an analysis of His explanation will come at that time.   Life application: Without getting to Jesus' explanation, we can still think about what may be presented there from a general standpoint. What is it about separation in an open area that makes things an easy target?   One of them is that there is little effort needed to identify or lay hold of something like that. If you have a mob of people beating someone up, there is so much commotion that the eyes won't focus on any single person. But if one of the people smacking the poor fellow gets tired and takes a break to watch others beat him up, he may step outside of the crowd.   With his hands all bloodied from the pounding, he obviously participated in the pummeling. And yet, he is now in an open and exposed place, standing motionless. The girlfriend of the guy getting wailed on has a chance to look at him, remember what he looks like, and file that away for later identification.   This simple example extends to anything that is alone, motionless, and exposed. A shovel full of dirt may have diamonds in it, but they are not exposed. That same shovel full of dirt might be put into an agitator to help separate the contents, but as long as it remains in motion, only glimpses of any diamonds will be seen. When the diamonds pass into a trough carrying only diamonds, a single diamond will not be discernible from the others.   All three of these traits need to be available for a diamond to be easily identifiable. Once it is alone, not in motion, and exposed, the quality of the diamond will be easier to determine. This is why filling a job requires checking out each candidate individually.   Think about Jesus' approach to identifying the state of the seed He describes in this example. If you are alone, idle, and exposed, you are an easy target for a foe. Think of fish balls in the ocean. They cluster when a predatory fish is around, swirling as one in a ball. The same is true with swallows in the air, forming what is known as a murmuration. Be sure to check fish balls and murmurations out on YouTube. They are amazing to see.   But why do they do this? It is because the predators are far less likely to catch prey in such a commotion. Now, think about how you can protect yourself in a spiritual manner based on this simple principle.   “Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12   Glorious God, give us wisdom to keep safe from the enemy that is working against us. Help us to be on the lookout, prepared for his attacks, and capable of overcoming them when he does. Your word tells us how to do these things. So give us the wisdom to pick it up and read it. Amen.

Tuesday, 9 September 2025   Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. Matthew 13:3   “And He spoke to them, many in parables, saying, ‘You behold! He went out, ‘the sowing' to sow'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus got into a boat and sat while the multitudes stood on the shore. Next, Matthew records, “And He spoke to them, many in parables.”   There is a new word in Scripture, parabole, a parable. It is derived from para, near, and ballo, to cast. Thus, it signifies to throw alongside. Therefore, it signifies to liken or compare. Using a parable, then, is to state something in a way that is comparable to something else.   Of parables, HELPS Word Studies says they are “a teaching aid cast alongside the truth being taught. This casts additional light by using an arresting or familiar analogy, (which is often fictitious or metaphorical, but not necessarily).” The Topical Lexicon says –   “Fifty times in the Greek New Testament, the word clusters around the ministry of Jesus Christ and appears twice in Hebrews. A parable is more than an illustrative story; it is a spiritual gem embedded in earthy language, inviting faith‐filled listeners to dig for meaning while veiling truth from the hard-hearted.”   As can be seen, the importance of this literary device is not to be underestimated. Jesus will convey truths through these simple but also deep teachings to inform God's people. They are words to guide them in understanding the workings of God in redemptive history. Understanding this, He begins His first parable of Matthew, “saying, ‘You behold! He went out, ‘the sowing' to sow.'”   In the Greek, the locative verb (he went out) is first, laying stress on the act. After that, the one who went out is then described as “the sowing.” The meaning is, a person who is set to sow in the fields. The implication is that the ground has been cleared and plowed. Thus, it is ready to receive the seed that will become the next crop.   Life application:  Jesus' parables are given to make a comparison between two separate things that have a common application. Those separate things are the natural world in which life takes place for humanity, or at least is understood by humanity, and the spiritual realm in which God's workings take place.   This spiritual realm can be worked out in various ways, such as human reaction to something that occurs, angels working behind the scenes to accomplish tasks, Jesus the Messiah fulfilling His ministry or guiding the effects of His ministry, the working of the Spirit of God, etc.   The fact that a parable is used to describe spiritual things by using common earthly/human events shows that the two concepts are not disparate at all. Rather, when a topic is chosen, such as a sower sowing seed, there will be something in the spiritual realm that somehow mirrors what is going on there.   With only a few words of the parable revealed so far, we can consider what it means for a sower to sow. As noted, there is a person going out from one place to another. At the time of Jesus' incarnation, He did just that. A sower will sow when the ground is prepared for receiving grain. The time of the law, the word of the prophets, the span of Israel's existence, and so forth, all were used to prepare the people for His coming.   A sower will obviously have seed to sow. There is a spiritual dynamic of sowing that will take place, intended to bring about a result. Seed, zera in Hebrew, is that which is used to bear more fruit like the one it came from. The word is from zara, to sow (with the implication of producing), exactly what the sower is there to do.   A sower's seed will be in a bag. The seed will have been kept safely away from things that could harm it until it is ready to be sown. At the time of Jesus, a sower scattered his seed by hand, the symbol of authority and power. The seed will be cast by the action of the arm. The arm, zeroa, speaks of power and exertion but also of effective reach.   Notice the intimate connection between the three words. The basic verb zara (to sow) leads to the nouns zera, seed, and zeroa, arm (for scattering seed). Jesus is beginning His first parable with a thought that goes back to the first page of Scripture, where seed is noted several times, beginning with these words –   “Then God said, ‘Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields (zara) seed (zera), and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed (zera) is in itself, on the earth'; and it was so.” Genesis 1:11   The next time seed is mentioned after Genesis 1 is in Genesis 3 –   “So the Lord God said to the serpent: ‘Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life. 15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed (zera) and her Seed (zera); He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.'” Genesis 3:14, 15   As all seed reproduces after its own kind, what will this Seed of the woman be? There is a physical reality being spoken of to reveal corresponding spiritual truths. Pay attention to what Jesus is saying in His parables. Think about what Scripture says about things as you open the word each day. God is telling us a story of what He is doing in a world that He created for us to understand Him and His ways, and all of it is centered on what He is doing through Jesus Christ.   Lord God, give us wisdom and understanding in Your word. May our pursuit of it bear much fruit in our lives as we seek out the details of this wonderful story of redemption and restoration. Thank You for Your word that tells us of Jesus, and thank You for Jesus, our great Lord and Savior. Amen.

Monday, 8 September 2025   And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. Matthew 13:2   “And they gathered to Him, great crowds, so too He, having in-stepped into the boat, sat. And all the crowd, they had stood on the beach” (CG).   In the previous verse, Chapter 13 began with Jesus going out of the house He was in and sitting by the sea. Next, Matthew records, “And they gathered to Him, great crowds.”   The miracles and teachings of Jesus were of great interest to the people. Therefore, anytime He was in an open area, people would naturally flock to Him. In this case, such great crowds began to surround Him that Matthew next records, “so too He, having in-stepped into the boat, sat.”   Some texts omit the definite article, saying “a boat.” Either way, there was a boat available at the particular location, and so He got in and sat down. This would allow more people to hear and see Him without overcrowding.   Although the exact spot is unknown, there are places along the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee where the land makes a U-shaped formation. In such an area, the number of people who could see and hear Him would increase even more. They could almost encircle Him and listen. Whether this was the case or not at this time, the nature of the shore itself can be determined from the next words, which say, “And all the crowd, they had stood on the beach.”   Here is a new word, aigialos, a beach. It is derived from aisso, to rush, and hals, salt. Although the Sea of Galilee is not a saltwater sea, the idea is that the beach is like one found on a salty sea, where the waters rush upon it. This is likely a beach with sand or small pebbles.   In the immediate area, there are shores with large stones, smaller stones, pebbles, and sand. Some are mixed with large stones leading up to the beach and then small slivers of beach that meet the sea, or vice versa. Doing an image search or watching videos about the area, such as the one at this link, will give a sense of what the shoreline looks like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifTro5uRaT8   Life application: When you gather at church, what is your intent for doing so? The people of Israel surely had various ideas for going out to hear Jesus. Some were probably interested in seeing a miracle. Some may have wanted to hear the wisdom that overflowed from His teachings. There may have been some checking to see if He crossed every t and dotted every i in relation to the law.   Other people may have simply wanted to be close to the increasingly famous Teacher, making that a point of boasting when they talked to their friends, “Oh my, I got to sit in the front row, just feet away from Him!”   Today, people go to churches for such varied reasons as well. If you go each week to see a miracle, healing, or people speaking tongues, that will explain what you think the purpose of church is. If you are going to sit near a famous pastor, that will explain something about you.   Maybe you go because you want to challenge everything you hear, thus showing how much more you know about the sermon subject than the pastor. Each person's reason for going to a church will be a little bit different because we are all individuals with our own wants, desires, and thoughts about religion.   Consider yourself and what motivates you. Next, consider what you think God would want you to focus on. Does what you want match what you think God would want for you? A few points are certain. God wants to be recognized for who He is, meaning His being, such as what He is like, what His attributes are, and why He has done things the way He has done them.   When we ask people about such things, they are happy to respond because you are showing an interest in them. God wants you to be interested in Him. God also wants you to know His word. It is the word of God that most poignantly reveals Him to us. It is a testament that details creation, spans human history, explains why things are the way they are, and so forth.   God also wants you to see Jesus. His word tells us this explicitly, such as in Hebrews 12:2. However, according to Jesus, it does so in other ways as well. He said this a couple of times in John 5. In reading the Bible, we can find Jesus typologically, pictorially, and in other ways.   So, when you go to church, you should be pursuing these avenues of knowing God. If the church you attend is not doing this, your time in church is misdirected. Be sure to compare if what you do in your pursuit of Christianity is actually based on what Christianity is about.   Read the word, know what it says, and be willing to continue to learn more as you attend a church that explores the many facets of God and His interaction with His creation, especially in relation to Jesus Christ.   Lord God, may our priorities be aligned with Yours more and more each day. Help us to focus on You, and on Your word. May we make a concerted effort to have a closer and more personal relationship with You at all times. Help us in this, O God. Amen.  

Tuesday, 7 October 2025   Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, Matthew 13:31   “Another parable He presented them, saying, ‘The kingdom of the heavens, it is like a mustard kernel, which a man, having taken, he sowed in his field'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus completed the parable of the sower. Without any intervening thoughts, it says, “Another parable He presented them.”   Whether this was actually stated one parable after another, or if this one is just placed here by Matthew categorically may be debated, but either way, the information is presented to continue to illuminate Jesus' instruction through this teaching method. Understanding this, He was “saying, ‘The kingdom of the heavens, it is like a mustard kernel.'”   Two new words are introduced. The first is kokkos, a kernel of seed or simply a grain. As a different word is used for seed, that is not a great choice for translation, although some versions use it. The second word is sinapi, mustard. Strong's said the word may be derived from sinomai, to hurt. Thus, it would explain the biting flavor of the herb.   Those listening would know immediately what Jesus was referring to. Being an agrarian society, the people would understand the various seeds that were available. Further, Mom would have them all around the house for use in the kitchen. In this case, the reason for using the mustard seed in His example will be seen in the next verse, but the people would know it already.   Therefore, His words are not an explanation of the seed. Rather, they will be used as a comparison. As such, it isn't cheating to explain that the mustard seed was the smallest seed used by farmers in the land at the time. Of this eensy weensy seed, Jesus next says, “which a man, having taken, he sowed in his field.”   Mustard seeds grow into mustard plants. These bear more mustard seeds (see Genesis 1:11). Mustard seeds have many uses. They can be kept whole or ground up when used in cooking. They are prized for their nutty, spicy flavor, which is used in dishes such as curries, pickled treats, dressings, marinades, etc.   They are also used in condiments. Beyond these culinary-type applications, they are considered to have health benefits. They can also be used to make mustard oil. These and a host of other uses explain why farmers would have mustard plants in their gardens. Jesus will make His comparison as He continues.   Life application: In Mark 4, the same parable says the following (as translated by the NKJV, et al.) –   “Then He said, ‘To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? 31 It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth.”   This seems to be an error on Jesus' part. The mustard seed is not the smallest seed on earth. How will you take that newly presented information? If Jesus is God incarnate, wouldn't He know this? Will you now close your Bible and give up on your faith?   A few points should clear this up. The first is that despite other seeds being smaller, such as types of orchids, man doesn't sow them into the ground for food, which is what Jesus just implied in His words. There may be seeds that are smaller that are sown (point 1) for food (point 2), though. What if there are?   The word translated as earth in Mark 4 is gé. It does not necessarily mean “the inhabited globe known as Earth.” Rather, it is just as often, or even more commonly, translated as soil (Matthew 13:8), ground (Matthew 10:29), or land (Matthew 10:15), etc. In other words, there is a context to what is being said. When speaking of the coming Messiah in Matthew 4, the word is used when referring to the land (gé) of Zebulun and the land (gé) of Naphtali.   Jesus is sitting in Israel talking to people who live in an agrarian-based economy. When He tells them this is the smallest seed used for sowing in a plot of land in Israel for gardening, He is telling them both the truth and something of which they were perfectly aware.   He was not concerned about orchid seeds in the Amazon jungle, nor were His listeners. There must be a context to every statement made by Jesus, or a challenge against His words is simply given to form a pretext.   If you are presented with a difficulty in what is said in the word, don't close your Bible, curse God for having fooled you into believing He exists when He doesn't (which is kind of ridiculous, because if you are cursing God who doesn't exist, you are wasting your breath!), and then spend the rest of your life mocking Christians for being so blind.   Rather, check out what you have been told, consider the information from the context presented, and understand why Jesus says what He says. When you do, you will find that His detractors are the inane ones. Your faith is well placed. Your hope is in a real Savior who came from the true God who created all things.   Jesus Christ is not wrong in His words about the mustard seed. His detractors are the ones who will stand before Him in judgment someday. Hold fast to your faith.   Glorious God Almighty, thank You for the wisdom of Your word. It is a marvelous place for us to find the truth, to rightly direct our hope, and to find the love that extends from You for Your creatures. Thank You above all that in it, we find Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sunday, 7 September 2025   On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. Matthew 13:1   “And in that day, Jesus, having departed from the house, He sat by the sea” (CG).   In the previous verse, Chapter 12 finished with Jesus saying that whoever does the will of His Father in heaven is His brother and sister and mother. Chapter 13 now begins with, “And in that day.”   Such words as this will have various meanings based on the context. For example, the Lord may say, “In that day, I will rescue Israel.” Or we may read of the “Day of the Lord.” Such days actually reflect past or future events or extended periods of time. The same terminology is used in English as well.   However, there is no need to assume anything other than a literal rendering of the word here. Therefore, it is either referring to the previous verses or to something coming in the verses ahead. The most obvious and likely meaning is the day on which He had already been speaking. That this is likely is seen in the next words, where it says, “Jesus, having departed from the house.”   Jesus was specifically noted as being inside based on the words of Matthew 12:46 –   “While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him.”   Noting His mother and brothers were outside means that He was inside. Now, having departed from that house, it next says, “He sat by the sea.”   This is the Sea of Galilee. The narrative is preparing to enter into more words from Jesus by introducing the location and circumstances.   Life application: Because Jesus was in a house, only a certain number of people could hear His words. That is clearly evidenced by the fact that His mother and brothers wanted to speak with Him. He was engaging the scribes and Pharisees in one setting. Even though His words are recorded now for all to know what went on in the house, at the time, what He said was not heard by the people.   However, Jesus' heading out and sitting by the sea is a purposeful decision to allow His coming words to be heard and considered by many more people. As you read the gospels, think about what is going on in the surrounding context.   Jesus walks in various locations at various times. If the name of the location is given, it is certain that particular information is being provided to understand a greater picture. It is as if His very movements are forming a picture for us to consider.   Likewise, when He says something, it is quite possible that His words are fulfilling other pictures from the Old Testament Scriptures. For example, Jesus said, “For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:33).   In that sentence, Jesus equates Himself to the manna given to Israel in the wilderness. That is explained more fully in the surrounding words. But Jesus also noted that He comes down from heaven. In Hebrew, the word yarad, to descend, is used. It is where the name Jordan, or in Hebrew yarden, is derived.   In studying the uses of yarden in the Old Testament, amazing pictures of Christ, the Descender, will be seen. The very topography of the land of Israel is noted in Scripture to tell us greater stories of Jesus, His work, and how it applies to His people.   But typology can be manipulated. It is easy to “make anything say anything” and claim that is what the Bible is saying. So be careful as you read the word and make conclusions about things you read. Also, be careful about how people present typology.   Something may sound right, but be completely wrong. There must be a reasonable connection to what is being said, and the typological representations must be consistently used. If they are properly searched out and presented, truly amazing stories of God's redemptive plans will shine through.   Consider what God is telling you, both on the surface and how it points to Jesus. This is what Jesus told us would be the case as we read this precious word –   “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” John 5:39   Lord God, what an intricate and amazing word You have given us. There are many levels of information being conveyed to us all at the same time. Your word is a marvel and a delight for our minds to consider, wonder at, and rejoice in. Thank You for this precious word. Amen.  

Saturday, 6 September 2025   For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:50   “For whoever, if he should do the determination of My Father, the ‘in heavens,' he – he is – My brother and sister and mother” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus extended His hand toward the disciples and exclaimed, “Here are My mother and My brothers!” In order to explain that, He next says, “For whoever, if he should do the determination of My Father, the ‘in heavens.'”   Jesus sets the parameters for whom He is referring from the previous verse, explaining what He meant. But what is the “determination of My Father” that He is referring to? The answer to the thought is found in John 6 –   “Then they said to Him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?' 29 Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.'” John 6:26   This explains what Jesus is referring to. Jesus is not (by a long shot) telling His hearers that they must observe the Law of Moses. That is what Jesus came to fulfill. He is not telling us that He is kin to the stock of Israel and that we must bless them to receive a blessing, even if His literal descent is from Israel. He does not say that those who have big churches full of wealthy congregants are His family.   The famous, beautiful, athletic, politically connected, royalty, etc., are excluded without believing in Jesus. Cutting out all categories of people, Jesus identifies those whom He is referring to as those doing “the ‘determination of'” His Father. To exactingly identify them, He next closes out Matthew 12, emphatically saying, “he – he is – My brother and sister and mother.”   Genealogy is excluded. This is why Paul says –    “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:26-29   Paul further says –   “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.” 1 Corinthians 1:20, 21   It is true that at the time of Jesus' ministry, those of Israel who were under the law were expected to observe the law. Nobody should dispute that. But Jesus' words in John 6, as explained by Paul and the other apostles in the epistles, tell us that we are to have faith in the works of the Son. His works include sinless perfection in His life before the law, His death in fulfillment of it, and His resurrection, which proved that it was so. Belief in this is what God expects of His people. This is the good news of Jesus Christ.   Life application: To cut out much of the theological error that rushes your way from the pulpit, computer, TV screen, etc., remember what God is doing in the world as explained in Scripture. God has a plan of redemption set forth to restore humanity to Himself.   That plan of redemption is based on the work of His Son, Jesus Christ. This plan, centered on His Son, is often co-opted by those who want to control others in various ways. At the time of the early church, it was Judaizers coming in and trusting in the flesh, boasting over those they circumcised.   As the church developed, various cults and sects have arisen to pull people away from the gospel. Eventually, the church became such a large and powerful entity that it exalted itself and its doctrines above the simple gospel. Because of this, the reformation occurred.   In America, a nation that allows freedom of religion, people took advantage of others by proclaiming aberrant ideas through a manipulation of Scripture. Sometimes, there is the exalting of a particular version of Scripture, not Jesus, who is the focus of that Scripture, as a supposed necessary condition for salvation.   Today, unconditionally supporting Israel, a nation that has rejected Jesus at this point, is said to be a necessary condition for receiving God's blessing. In fact, this false teaching is explicitly taught by many supposed Jesus-centered ministries. It is Jesus, not a person, Bible version, nation, or denomination, who brings salvation.   When should believers support a church? The answer is when that church proclaims the gospel. When should believers exalt a people group or nation? The answer is when that nation exalts Jesus Christ. Israel, as a nation, has not yet done this. But unlike other nations, they are explicitly prophesied as someday doing so. For this reason, prayers for them should be raised to God that His will be done in this rebellious group of people.   At the same time, we should be willing to evangelize and pray for all people, telling them about the saving message of Jesus Christ. This alone will bring people to a right relationship with God.   “So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 9 and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.” Acts 15:8-11   Lord God, thank You for the simple gospel of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Help us to have our priorities right, clearly thinking through what it means to be in a right standing before You. Your word tells us what it is! It is through faith in Him and what He has done. Yes, thank You for this simple gospel. Amen. Matthew 12   12 In that time, Jesus, He went – the Sabbaths – through the grainfields, and His disciples, they hungered, and they began to pluck kernels and eat. 2 And the Pharisees, having seen, they said to Him, “You behold! Your disciples, they do what it permits not to do in Sabbath.” 3 And He said to them, “Not you read what he did, David, when he hungered, he and those with him? 4 How he entered into the house of God and the bread ‘the before-setting' they ate, which not it is being permitted him to eat, nor those with him, if not the priests only? 5 Or not you read in the law that, the Sabbaths, the priests in the temple the Sabbath profane, and they are guiltless? 6 And I say to you that the temple – greater, it is here. 7 And if you had known what it is, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' not you condemned the guiltless. 8 For Lord, He is – even of the Sabbath – the Son of Man.”   9 And having departed thence, He went into their synagogue. 10 And, you behold! Man, he is, having a withered hand. And they queried Him, saying, ‘If it permits, the Sabbaths, to cure?' That they should accuse Him.   11 And He said to them, “What man, he will be from you, who he will have one sheep, and if this, it should fall into a pit on the Sabbaths, not he will seize it and he will raise it? 12 Therefore, how much man – he excels a sheep! So too, it permits – the Sabbaths – to do good.” 13 Then He says to the man, ‘You outstretch your hand.' And he outstretched it, and it reconstituted, healthy as the other. 14 And the Pharisees, they took counsel against Him, having gone out, how they might kill Him.   15 And Jesus, having known, He withdrew thence. And they followed Him, great crowds. And He cured them all. 16 And He admonished them that not they should make Him apparent. 17 That it should be fulfilled, the ‘having been spoken' through Isaiah the prophet, saying:   18 “You behold! My Servant whom I chose, My beloved in whom it approved, My soul, I will place My Spirit upon Him, And judgment to the Gentiles, He will proclaim. 19 Not He will wrangle, nor He will clamor, Nor anyone – he will hear in the streets His voice. 20 A reed, being battered, not He will break, And flax being smoldered, not He will extinguish, Until if He ejects judgment into victory. 21 And in His name, Gentiles, they will hope.”   22 Then he was brought to Him ‘being demon possessed,' blind and mute, and He cured him, so the blind and mute speak and see. 23 And they were astounded, all the crowds. And they said, “Not any, this, He is the Son of David?”   24 And the Pharisees, having heard, they said, “This, not He ejects the demons if not in Beelzebul, prince of the demons.” 25 And Jesus, having known their thoughts, He said to them, “Every kingdom, having divided against itself, it desolates, and every city or house having divided against itself, not it will stand. 26 And if the Satan, he ejects the Satan, he divided upon himself. How then, it will stand, his kingdom? 27 And if I, I eject demons in Beelzebul, your sons – in whom do they eject? Through this they, they will be your judges. 28 And if in God's Spirit I, I eject the demons, then it preceded upon you, the ‘God's kingdom.' 29 Or how, any, he can enter into the house of the strong and his goods through-seize, if not first he should bind the strong? And then, his house he will through-seize. 30 The ‘not being with Me,' he is against me. And the ‘not gathering with Me,' he scatters.   31 Through this, I say to you, every sin and blasphemy, it will be forgiven men, but the ‘Spirit blasphemy' not it will be forgiven men. 32 And whoever if he should speak a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him. But whoever, if he should speak against the Holy Spirit, not it will be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in the coming.   33 Either you make the tree good and the fruit of it good, or you make the tree rotten and the fruit of it rotten. For from the fruit, the tree – it is known. 34 Viper's offspring! You can, how, speak good – being evil? For from the surplus of the heart, the mouth, it speaks.  35 The good man, from the good treasure of the heart, he ejects good, and the evil man, from the evil treasure, he ejects evil. 36 And I say to you that every inactive utterance that if they will speak, men, they will render a word about it in judgment day. 37 For from your words, you will be justified, and from your words, you will be condemned.”   38 Then, they answered, some of the scribes and Pharisees, saying, “Teacher, we desire to see a sign from You.” 39 And having answered, He said to them, “Generation – evil and adulteress – it seeks a sign, and not it will be given it, if not the sign of Jonah the prophet. 40 For just as Jonah, he was in the lunker's belly three days and three nights, thus He will be, the Son of Man, in the earth's heart three days and three nights. 41 Men, Nineveh, they will arise in the judgment with this generation and they will sentence it, for they reconsidered at the proclamation of Jonah. And you behold! Jonah's greater is here! 42 Queen, south, she will arise in the judgment with this generation and she will sentence it, for she came from the extremities of the land to hear Solomon's wisdom. And you behold! Solomon's greater is here.   43 And when the unclean spirit, it departs from the man, it traverses through waterless spots seeking rest, and it finds not. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house whence I departed.' And having come, it finds ‘holidaying,' having been swept and having been arranged. 45 Then it traverses, and it takes with itself seven other spirits, itself eviler, and having entered, it dwells there. And the last of that man, it becomes worse than the first. Thus it will be also – this evil generation.”   46 And He yet speaking to the crowds, you behold, His mother and His brothers had stood without seeking to speak to Him. 47 And, he said, someone to Him, “You behold! Your mother and Your brothers, they have stood without seeking to speak to You.” 48 And answering, He said to the ‘telling Him', “Who, she is, My mother, and who, they are, My brothers?” 49 And having extended His hand to His disciples, He said, “You behold! My mother and My brothers. 50 For whoever, if he should do the determination of My Father, the ‘in heavens,' he – he is – My brother and sister and mother.”

Friday, 5 September 2025   And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! Matthew 12:49   “And having extended His hand to His disciples, He said, ‘You behold! My mother and My brothers'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus rhetorically questioned who His mother and His brothers are. Having so questioned, He immediately provides the response, “And having extended His hand to His disciples.”   One can see Matthew, along with the others, observing His actions and probably feeling overwhelmed by the coming words. Noting that He extended His hand provides a warm and graphic gesture described by eyewitness testimony. Upon extending His hand, “He said, ‘You behold! My mother and My brothers.'”   The words do not exclude Mary and His brothers. They simply make a point that trying to pin down a family relationship based on blood or genealogy as an exceptional excuse to either a right-standing with the Lord or some type of added holiness based on near kinship is an invalid proposition.   Rather, those who are considered nearest of all to the Redeemer are those who will be described in the next verse. When thinking this through, one can see that the cult of Mary, which has so grotesquely permeated the Roman Catholic Church, is completely excluded by Jesus' words in this verse. It is an aberrant teaching that completely misdirects people from what God intends for us to focus on.   Life application: The church has gone through much misdirection, many redirections, and constant ups and downs since its inception. There have always been groups, sects, cults, and aberrant offshoots that claim to be the true way in relation to what Christ offers. For example, the Roman Catholic Church claims to be the true church. Baptism in it supposedly leads to a right relationship with God.   Jehovah's Witnesses claim that they alone are following the proper path that was restored after eons of apostasy. The same is true with Mormonism, Seventh Day Adventism, the Church of Christ, and on and on and on (and on). So many supposedly lay claim to the truth as if they alone possess what the Savior offers freely to the whole world.   An example of this, and one that both started with the early church and that has also arisen in modern times, is refuted by Jesus' words in this and the surrounding verses. It is the cult of the Judaizer, which today is most prominently known as Hebrew Roots.   Everything Jewish is exalted. Being Jewish implies a special connection to the Messiah. People who fit this condition are exalted, not because they have any special qualifications, abilities, or biblical understanding, but simply because they are Jewish.   So much is this the case that some teachers claim to be of Jewish descent even though they don't have any genealogical ties to the Jewish people. However, they know that by making the claim, people will follow their teachings, cling to them as if they have a special connection to the Messiah, and fawn over them as if they were rock stars.   People in Israel hear about how profitable it is to be a Christian teacher or singer and work feverishly to establish themselves as sound, responsible, Messiah-loving servants. Unfortunately, innumerable people are duped by such people because they have failed to know Scripture.   They get sucked into law observance in various degrees and spend their lives trying to measure up to impossible standards set by theological quacks when the avenue to salvation has already been paved by Jesus. It is through faith in Him and what He has done that leads the lost soul back to God. Nothing else will do.   If someone has Jewish blood, speaks Hebrew, or was born in Israel, Jesus would say, “So what!” if their teaching is unsound. He expects us to follow Scripture because Scripture reveals Him to us. Don't waste your time following such people. Read your Bible and follow Jesus!   Lord God, help us to think properly about our standing with You. The gospels have been recorded to show us that Jesus is the Messiah, that He fulfilled the prophecies that speak of His coming, and that He fulfilled the law that stood against the people. In His fulfillment of it, restoration through what He has done is available. May we remember this and cling to JESUS! Amen.  

Thursday, 4 September 2025   But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” Matthew 12:48   “And answering, He said to the ‘telling Him', ‘Who, she is, My mother, and who, they are, My brothers?'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus was told that His mother and brothers were outside seeking to speak with Him. Matthew next records, “And answering, He said to the ‘telling Him', ‘Who, she is, My mother, and who, they are, My brothers?'”   The words seem curiously distant, as if Jesus is removing Himself from the family relationship He was born into. This is not the case. It needs to be remembered who He has been speaking to. Earlier, it said –   “And all the multitudes were amazed and said, ‘Could this be the Son of David?' 24 Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, ‘This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.'” Matthew 12:23, 24   Since then, He has been speaking to them concerning their accusation, carefully refuting it. It said in verse 46, “While He was still talking to the multitudes...” This tells us that it has been an ongoing speech. The scribes and Pharisees had accused Jesus not only of not being the Messiah (the Son of David), but that He was in league with the devil.   Therefore, in being presented with the note of His mother and brothers coming to speak to Him, He is taking the opportunity to further refute the accusation of the Pharisees. That will be seen in verse 12:50 as the chapter closes out.   Life application: Various charges against both Jesus and Mary have been made because of the words in the se final verses of the chapter. Some may accuse Jesus of not living in accordance with the command to honor His mother according to the law. Such an accusation is unfounded. The gospels bear witness to His concern for her, even to His dying words on the cross.   Likewise, there are those who take Jesus' words to extremes, not even hinted at concerning Mary. Without addressing their inane comments directly due to their ridiculous nature, the reason for their words comes back to contempt for Roman Catholicism's inexcusable fixation on Mary in other ways.   Because of RCC doctrine, and in order to start a tit for tat war of words, Mary as a person is purposefully diminished and disparaged. This intentional poking serves no purpose except to stir up animosity between parties. If there was any substance to what they were saying, they would include the brothers of Jesus in their comments as well.   The words Jesus conveys, when properly understood, are exactly how the Savior of the world would be expected to respond. They form another strong contradiction to the accusations of the scribes and Pharisees. They also support the notion that those who are in a right standing with God are not those who trust in their own merits, like these accusers. Rather, they will reveal those who are favored by the Messiah in the redemptive process that God has set forth.   Lord God, thank You for the wisdom that is carefully revealed in Your word that can, if we analyze it properly, impart that wisdom to us as well. May we carefully consider Scripture as Your word, intended to build us up in the knowledge of who You are and what You are doing in the world as You guide us back to Yourself. Amen.  

Wednesday, 3 September 2025   Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.” Matthew 12:47   “And, he said, someone to Him, ‘You behold! Your mother and your brothers, they have stood without seeking to speak to You.'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus' mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. Now, it says, “And, he said, someone to Him, ‘You behold! Your mother and your brothers, they have stood without seeking to speak to You.'”   This verse is lacking in several ancient texts. Some claim it is an insertion to bridge the thoughts of verse 12:46 and 12:48. The main contents are close to those of the previous verse, but this verse more poignantly ties the brothers with Mary.   In other words, it would be easier to say that verse 12:46 could refer to Mary and some other close relatives who are not necessarily sons of Mary. However, when someone speaks to Jesus of Mary and the brothers in the same breath, it heavily implies that they are of the same intimate family.   As such, it seems likely that rather than being an inserted bridge, the words belong in the text and were dropped out for some unstated reason. The “perpetual virginity of Mary” was introduced into Christian lore early on, being found in the late second-century text known as the Protoevangelium of James, a book never canonized.   This early distraction from the admonition to seek Jesus as the point and purpose of Scripture soon blossomed and has become a source of real apostasy within the church.   Life application: Mary is mentioned only a few times in Scripture. When she is, it is always in relation to the Person of Jesus, even if He is not directly mentioned. The last time she is mentioned is in Acts 1:14, noting her among the other believers. Even then, she is called “the mother of Jesus.”   Someone had to be the mother of Jesus in order for Jesus to be incarnated. Mary was selected because she fit the ancient prophecies about Jesus. For example, she was a virgin, she was betrothed to Joseph, whose registry was Bethlehem, and who later returned to Nazareth, etc. Each of these things was necessary to bring about the fulfillment of prophecies that refer to Jesus. Mary's role in them, though necessary, was incidental to this fact.   When evaluating Scripture, we are to search for Jesus. Studying the Bible to find clues about the “other world,” as many do, is mentally exciting but ultimately a waste of time. And yet, it is studies, videos, and TV shows about this type of thing that enraptures many. It brings fame and a lot of money, but it serves no purpose in glorifying God.   If one is not looking for Jesus, what He has done, or how it bears on the lives of His people, that time in the Bible was not properly focused. This doesn't mean we shouldn't know about things that are mentioned concerning side issues, but that those things should not be our main line of focus.   Teachings about wealth, abundant life, being prosperous, etc., are self-centered. Teachings about extra-worldly encounters with angels or UFOs, or the different levels of heaven, are misguided or even entirely incorrect. Those who constantly pursue end times prophecy have an unsound fixation that misdirects their thoughts away from Jesus.   The list of such things goes on and on. Why is this? It is because what should be man's highest desire and goal, that of intimately knowing and fellowshipping with God, is not our normal priority. We should actively remind ourselves from day to day to change that and seek the Lord first in all things. In doing this, our priorities will be properly aligned.   Lord God, may our greatest desire be a close relationship with You. May our hearts seek You through Your word, searching for Jesus who has made the bridge back to You possible. Open our eyes as we read Your word, revealing Him and His greatness as we are drawn into Your very presence through Him. Amen.  

Tuesday, 2 September 2025   While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. Matthew 12:46   “And He yet speaking to the crowds, you behold, His mother and His brothers had stood without seeking to speak to Him” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus finished His words about the unclean spirit returning to the home it had previously left. Matthew next records, “And He yet speaking to the crowds, you behold, His mother and His brothers.”   Though the words seem to lack any really pertinent information other than the surface meaning, they are important both to the surrounding narrative and to Christian theology. As for the surrounding context, that will be seen as the next verses unfold. However, the fact that Jesus' brothers are mentioned flies in the face of the Roman Catholic heresies or false teachings surrounding Mary.   Though not heretical, the doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary is a complete distraction and a direct attack on the concept of keeping our eyes on Jesus. Instead, those in the Roman Catholic Church spend much of their time fixing their eyes on Mary.   The word used here, adelphos, signifies a brother. It can be taken figuratively as a brother in the faith, which is the way it is commonly used in the epistles. In fact, it is used in that manner by Jesus in verse 12:49.   The word is derived from the connecting particle a and delphus, the womb. Thus, it is a sharer of the same womb. The word applies to a brother of the same father and mother, or only of the same father or same mother. As such, Roman Catholics insist that Jesus alone was born of Mary and the others were born to Joseph by a wife before Mary.   This is found in an apocryphal gospel, not in the Bible. However, the Roman Catholic church is famous for going to such texts when it is convenient to obtain theology that supports their aberrant teachings. In the case of this account, by mentioning Mary along with Jesus' brothers, the implication is that they are her sons.   In Mark 6:3, it mentions sisters as well. Of all of these, Jesus was accounted as the Son of Joseph in Matthew 1 and Luke 3 for the purposes of lineage. If Joseph had previous sons, it would remove Jesus from the firstborn status to him.   It is true that there are provisions in the law for raising children of deceased relatives. These and other considerations mean anything is possible concerning Mary. But the obvious and clear understanding to be obtained from reading the accounts in the canonized gospels is that these other sons noted here are from Mary. With this as the intended understanding of the passage, it says they “had stood without seeking to speak to Him.”   Mary and Jesus' brothers had come and stood outside the area where He was and waited to speak to Him. The pluperfect verb gives the sense that they were there while Jesus was speaking to the Scribes and Pharisees, and when He finished His words to them, He was notified of their having come.   Life application: A few points to be considered concerning Mary need to be addressed. Whether Mary was a perpetual virgin or not cannot be determined from the canonized gospels. Nothing is said of it, and therefore, it is not a doctrine that is acceptable to be taught in the church.   As noted above, a reading of the surrounding narrative concerning Mary without any bias or presupposition would immediately alert the reader to consider that these brothers of Jesus were sons of Mary. Unless there was a valid reason to assume otherwise, there would never be a hint that further investigation was necessary.   The terminology in Matthew 1:25, which says that Joseph did not know Mary (meaning he did not have sexual relations with her) until she brought forth Jesus, implies that he did, in fact, know her afterwards. Likewise, in that same verse, Jesus is called her Firstborn. It is true that a firstborn can mean a first and only, but the Greek monogenēs, only begotten, would have made more sense if she were to have no more children.   Such logical deductions tell us that the Roman Catholic Church has a set agenda in distracting people from the prescription found in Hebrews 12:2, where believers are to fix their eyes on Jesus. The willful manipulation of what is clearly implied in the case of Mary having other children tells us this.   For whatever reason, the cult of Mary was introduced, and it has blossomed into an entire subsect of Roman Catholicism. It is highlighted numerous times throughout the year by the main church as well.   Rather than being distracted by such teachings, the clear intent of Scripture is that we should focus our minds, hearts, and attention on Jesus. To do anything else is to fall short of what is expected by God, who gave us Scripture to guide us in our understanding of theology.   Glorious God, give us the desire to focus on the contents of Your word. It is the word that tells us of Your coming in the Person of Jesus to restore us to Yourself. May we not be distracted by that which is false and unprofitable.. Amen.  

Monday, 1 September 2025   Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.” Matthew 12:45   “Then it traverses, and it takes with itself seven other spirits, itself eviler, and having entered, it dwells there. And the last of that man, it becomes worse than the first. Thus it will be also – this evil generation” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus spoke of the unclean spirit returning to the house it departed and finding it holidaying, swept and arranged. He continues now with, “Then it traverses, and it takes with itself seven other spirits.”   The spirit, realizing it had a good thing going, and seeing that there is plenty of new room available for even more uncleanness, goes out seeking friends to join in with possessing the man once again.   The number seven, hepta, is introduced here.    The number seven is the number of spiritual perfection. In this case, even though the spirits are unclean, there is a fullness implied in using the number. It stresses the potency and the immensely malignant nature of the event. This is stressed by the words, “itself eviler.”   There is an amalgamation of evil that will exude from this newly infested person. This is certain because even one unclean spirit will manifest itself in evil. With seven more, Jesus says, “and having entered, it dwells there.”   The verb translated as “it dwells” is singular. Despite being many, they align as one in purpose. It is similar to the account of the demon Legion in Mark 5 and Luke 8:30, where the verbs are singular when referring to many demons. With such a force now inhabiting this restored home, Jesus says, “And the last of that man, it becomes worse than the first.”   This is the certain result of the matter. The man had an evil situation in his life. He had it supposedly taken care of, and yet, he wound up being worse off than at the first because he failed to obtain a complete correction to his state. Jesus next clearly states the subject to which He is referring, saying, “Thus it will be also – this evil generation.”   In verse 12:39, the scribes and Pharisees asked for a sign. Jesus next called them “evil and adulteress,” explaining that it would not be given a sign except that of the prophet Jonah. Had He given them a sign, they would have exclaimed like the people did concerning Simon the Sorcerer in Acts 8 –   “But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, 10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, ‘This man is the great power of God.'” Acts 8:9, 10   The people didn't actually care about Simon. They just wanted to be amused by his tricks. If someone came along, like David Copperfield, they would have left Simon and gone after David. They were looking for a quick cure to their insatiable desire to be delighted with surprise.   Jesus knew this was their heart attitude, and so He refused to give them a sign, telling them instead that their sign would come from Scripture itself. He told them why in John –   “For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” John 5:46, 47   The sign would be wowed over until someone came and did something new and exciting. Without accepting the word, which was the basis of life and conduct for Israel, they would never truly accept and believe Jesus.   Life application: This set of verses contains a truth that extends beyond just the immediate context of the parable. What Jesus says will prove true in a great number of situations. Take an alcoholic, for example.   A person who has an alcohol addiction can be equated to a person with an unclean spirit, and indeed it is so. He knows he has a problem and strives to overcome it. Eventually, he prevails. The demon of addiction departs. Relieved, the man sweeps out his house, arranges it nicely, and says, “Self, you done well.”   However, he never takes the time to fill this empty house with Jesus. Eventually, when some trial, temptation, or situation arises where he finds himself in a weakened state, he succumbs to drinking again.   However, it is normally the case that the reacquired addiction will manifest itself in worse ways than before. He may take up drugs, get lost in pornography, etc. Eventually, he is bound to lose his home, job, and family. In the end, he is in a much worse state than he ever imagined because He failed to heed his wife's advice to come to church and seek the Lord.   This parable is an excellent one to use when talking to someone about the addiction he is facing. Cheer him on! Tell him to persevere! Offer to be there and assist in any way you can. But be sure to tell him that his void needs to be filled with his Creator's love found in Christ. Without that, things will not go well.   Personal note: I have spent a lot of time dealing with people whose lives were fraught with addiction. Having told many of them what to do when they get clean, far too many of them failed to do so. Most eventually went back to their old addiction, with more problems heaped on their lives. Several have died, leaving loved ones behind. Be careful to ensure you and those you minister to are filled with Jesus.   Heavenly Father, help us to have our priorities right in life. There are many things we can do that may distract us from healthy living. We can get addicted to the internet as quickly as we get addicted to drugs. Help us to instead focus on Jesus and have a proper balance in all other things. Yes, help us in this, O God. Amen.  

Sunday, 31 August 2025   Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.' And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Matthew 12:44   “Then it says, ‘I will return to my house whence I departed.' And having come, it finds ‘holidaying,' having been swept and having been arranged” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus spoke of an unclean spirit departing a man and traversing through waterless spots seeking rest. However, he didn't find it. Therefore, Jesus continues, saying, “Then it says, ‘I will return to my house whence I departed.'”   Not having found a place to rest, the spirit remembers that he had it pretty good in his last spot. He was able to dwell in him, keep him satisfied with little to no effort, and he didn't have to worry about being overworked. The person was satisfied with the shallower things in life. Therefore, “And having come, it finds ‘holidaying.'”   It is a new word, scholazó, to take a holiday or be at leisure. As such, it can, by implication, mean to devote oneself wholly to, as in 1 Corinthians 7:5. It is derived from scholé, school. One can think of a pursuit a person devotes himself to.   In taking a holiday, there is a state of being unoccupied. This can be positive or negative. In the case of this person, there is an empty house “having been swept and having been arranged.”   Both thoughts are based on new words. The first is saroó, to brush off or sweep. The second is kosmeó, to put in order or decorate. That is derived from kosmos, an orderly arrangement and which is often translated as world because the world is an orderly arrangement.   The substance of Jesus' words so far is that this person had an unclean spirit. This spirit left the man for whatever reason. With the spirit gone, the man swept out his house and made it orderly and left it empty, as if it were on holiday. The unclean spirit decides he had it pretty good where he was, and so he goes back to see if there is space available. What do you suppose will be the result?   Life application: Jesus is making an example for the Jews who requested a sign to consider. His words are instructive, and they ask His hearers to think about what they hear and take action to ensure that what He says is then applied to their lives.   The words of this parable apply to an almost unlimited number of situations, any of which will turn out well if what Jesus says is applied to one's life. However, because He is the Creator who fashioned man, if His words are not heeded, it is a good bet that things will not go well.   When someone comes to you for biblical advice, give them advice from the Bible. Don't tell them, “I think...” It doesn't matter what we think. Tell them, “The Bible says...” But don't be disheartened if, after telling them, they don't take the advice.   The Bible presents us with the state of man. It is a fallen state that says, “You cannot fix yourself.” God offers to fix us, and, in fact, He has already provided the remedy. But people hear what the Bible proclaims and decide that they would rather pursue their own path, thus rejecting the blueprint set forth by the Creator.   In such a situation, don't be upset. Keep being the sound believer you were and keep being a proper example to those around you. Maybe, just maybe, when things don't work out for them the first time, they may be back to ask your advice again. If so, there is a chance they will listen.   Be an example of faithful Christian living, and be willing to share about the goodness of God that is found in Jesus Christ. For those who are willing to listen, their house will be filled with many good things.   Heavenly Father, help us to be ready and willing to share the good news of Jesus with others, and to also share with them what the Bible recommends when their lives are not going so well. May we faithfully proclaim Your word so that others can find relief and proper direction in their walk of life. Amen.  

Saturday, 30 August 2025   “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Matthew 12:43   “And when the unclean spirit, it departs from the man, it traverses through waterless spots seeking rest, and it finds not” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus spoke of the coming of the queen of the South rising up in judgment and condemning those of Israel in that generation, noting that One greater than Solomon was there. With that complete, a new thought begins with, “And when the unclean spirit, it departs from the man.”   There are various ideas about the interpretation of the words of this parable. However, a few clues help direct the analysis. In verse 12:38, the scribes and Pharisees had asked for a sign. Jesus' response noted that a generation, evil and adulteress, sought a sign. A second clue is that in verse 12:45, He will say that it will also be as “this evil generation.”   Therefore, the words apply to those He is speaking to, referring to their inherent evil. Therefore, “the man” is referring to them. He has an unclean spirit. If Jesus were to give a sign to them, oh boy! They would see it and accept the sign as some type of sure proof that He was their Messiah, as if they were free of their evil state.   While they are basking in this condition, Jesus says of the unclean spirit that “it traverses through waterless spots.”   In these few words are three newly introduced words. The first is dierchomai. It is derived from dia, through, and erchomai, to come or go. Thus, it refers to passing through an area. A single word that suits would be traverse.   Next is anudros, it is from hudor water (think of hydrate), which is prefixed by the negative particle a. Thus, it signifies “no water,” or “waterless.” The third is topos, a spot or location. One can immediately see the etymological ancestor of topology, topographic, etc. This unclean spirit is out in arid places “seeking rest.”   The obvious meaning is that it had a home in the man. It then left the man and went searching for a new place to settle down. However, men don't frequent arid places unless they have a purpose for being there. A man with a purpose is not a suitable place for an unclean spirit because the man is focused on his business.   But such an unclean spirit needs a person who is not clearly focused. He needs someone whose ears are easily tickled and who is swayed by goofy videos on YouTube that have nothing to do with proper theology. Instead, he wants sensationalism, just like those speaking to Jesus wanted a sign to excite their minds and stimulate their otherwise dull lives. This unclean spirit has looked for a suitable place, “and it finds not.”   There are either no bodies at all in the arid places, or those who are there have brought their own water and are satisfied with their pursuits, being actively employed in a life activity that would make them unsuitable to infest. Such was the case with John the Baptist –   “In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!' 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.”' 4 Now John himself was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.” Matthew 3:1-6   Life application: As noted above, unclean spirits revel in those who are not grounded in life's proper pursuits and activities. When humanity gets out of focus with what has been instilled in it by the Creator, unclean spirits find easy targets to infest and inflict them.   This is why larger cities inevitably fill with people who appear absolutely immoral and even demonic. In large cities, people migrate away from hard work and industry and turn towards social programs, easy access to easy lifestyles, attraction to sensationalism, etc.   There is an increasing hunger for things that replace the idea of a Creator God who holds man accountable for their actions. It is why cities normally shift towards left-leaning ideology. For example, abortion becomes common because lovers multiply. Because of this, consequences for affairs only get in the way of more affairs.   People gravitate towards what is fascinating, miraculous, etc. A magician can set up on the corner of a busy avenue and impress the people with tricks that are unexplainable to the masses. People think they possess special powers and abilities.   The newest Nephilim video on YouTube will score a million view, but the sound preacher who carefully explains biblical doctrines may get no views at all. Jesus refused to give a sign because He would have been appealing to the masses' desire for that which is sensational.   Stay away from this type of thinking. Focus on what is right, sound, and proper. Just because something sounds exceptional does not mean it is. The magician's tricks are always explainable. When they are revealed, people say, “Duh! I see now.” And then, they go looking for another magician to tease their senses.   Lord God, help us to think clearly and logically as we view the world around us. Help us to not get caught up in sensationalism and hype, but to pursue a path of hard work, careful and circumspect conduct, and – above all – a close and personal walk with You. Amen.  

Friday, 29 August 2025   The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here. Matthew 12:42   “Queen, south, she will arise in the judgment with this generation and she will sentence it, for she came from the extremities of the land to hear Solomon's wisdom. And you behold! Solomon's greater is here” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus referred to the account of Jonah's preaching and how Nineveh repented at it. He then noted that a greater than Jonah was there with them. He now reiterates this general thought, beginning with, “Queen, south.”   The queen of the south is identified in 1 Kings 10:1 –   “Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions.”   This woman came to discover if the reports of Solomon's wisdom were true. She was, in essence, a woman in search of discovery greater than silver or gold. Rather, she was looking for wisdom and truth concerning the human condition in relation to their Creator. As such, it says, “concerning the name of the Lord.”   One can see her mind asking, “Is Israel's God the true God?” It reflects the search of those in humanity who truly want to know if the knowledge of the Most High can be ascertained or not. As it says several times in various ways in Scripture –   “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10   Sheba is probably in the area of Saudi Arabia today. This can be discerned from Isaiah 60:6, which refers to other known areas in that general location. This woman traveled from this location specifically to obtain wisdom. It can be deduced from Jesus' words that she found it because it says that “she will arise in the judgment with this generation and she will sentence it.”   It is the same thought as in the previous verse concerning the men of Nineveh. Whereas the men of Nineveh would rise in judgment against those of Israel whom Jesus came to reveal Himself to because they reconsidered at the proclamation of Jonah, this queen would do so, “for she came from the extremities of the land to hear Solomon's wisdom.”   A new word, peras, an extremity, is used. It is from an obsolete derivative of peiro, to pierce. Like the proverbial Starship Enterprise, one can think of a trek piercing the unknown, even until the end of the trek.   This woman came from an area lying at the extremity of Israel's knowledge of the inhabited world to simply hear Solomon's wisdom in relation to the Lord God of Israel. Understanding this, Jesus finishes with, “And you behold! Solomon's greater is here.”   What is it that Jesus has done, both with the previous verse and this one? He has made an implicit claim to deity. Jesus first spoke of the “proclamation of Jonah” and then that “Jonah's greater” was there. Here, He refers to “Solomon's wisdom” and then says that “Solomon's greater” was there.   Jonah's proclamation was the proclamation of the Lord. Jesus is actually not referring to Jonah the man, but his position as the Lord's prophet. As it is said in Jonah 1:1, “Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah.” Of Solomon's wisdom, it says, “behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you” (1 Kings 3:12).   Jesus claims a proclamation greater than that of Jonah. But Jonah's proclamation was that of the Lord, albeit indirectly. Jesus claims a wisdom greater than Solomon's, but it was the Lord who gave Solomon that wisdom. The meaning is that Jesus claims to be the Source of wisdom itself. He is the Lord God.   The men of Nineveh discerned this. The queen of the south discerned this. However, the men of Israel, representative of that generation, were unable to do so. Thus, those who received and accepted the word and wisdom of the Lord from Nineveh and the south would be there at the judgment of Israel, condemning them for their total lack of discernment.   The very people of the Lord, and who possessed the oracles of God, were to be cast into outer darkness (Matthew 22:13) for failing to see who Jesus is.   Note: As promised in a previous commentary, after this commentary, the timeline of Jesus' Passion will be provided. Keep it handy, as it is something people around the world continue to misunderstand to this day.   Life application: In both the previous verse and this one, there is no article before the subject. It simply says, “Men, Nineveh” and “Queen, south.” Saying it this way provides emphasis to His statements. But why would Jesus refer to them this way? The answer lies in who His audience is.   Jesus is speaking to the scribes and Pharisees of Israel. They have the law. They are the religious elite of the “chosen people.” By making His declarations, He is essentially saying, “The Gentiles immediately and completely perceived what you are unable to discern.”   To this day, the people of Israel have the exact same information that the Gentile peoples of the world possess in order to discover if Jesus is God or not. They, however, have rejected that information and refuse to acknowledge their Lord.   They are determined to shun Him, rebuild a temple for worship that rejects Him, and attempt to find justification through their own merits by observing a law that only pointed to Him, awaiting His fulfillment of it.   The book of Hebrews clearly and unambiguously tells what the penalty for such a crime against Him is –   “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?” Hebrews 10:26-29   Pray for Israel. They need Jesus.   Lord God, You have patiently waited for Israel to turn to You for salvation. Many have begun to do so in recent years, but the nation is still fighting against Your truth. We pray that the good news will spread greatly before the rapture comes, and Israel must endure the trial that lies ahead. Amen.   TIMELINE OF JESUS' WEEK OF PASSION   Misconceptions -   1) Sign of Jonah / Three days and three nights. Matthew 12:40 –   a: The sign of Jonah is not the Lord's time in the belly of the great fish. It is the message He preached and which will be rejected. Jonah cried out, “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be destroyed.” As is consistent in the Bible, it was a warning, a day for a year. Israel would be destroyed in 40 years.   With a cursory look at Jesus' words in Matthew, the sign seems to be His death and resurrection. But Luke leaves out both the time frame and the entire account of the fish. When he does this, he clears up the context – that the sign of Jonah is his preaching, and what that preaching stated… that destruction was decreed in 40 days. The preaching to the Ninevites was the sign.   When Israel disobeyed in the wilderness, they were given a day for a year punishment for every day that the spies were gone. It was 40 days, and thus 40 years of punishment. In Ezekiel chapter 4, he was told to lie on his right side for 40 days, signifying a day for a year of punishment for Judah. He was told to do the same for his left side, but for 390 days. It was a day for a year for the house of Israel. Together, they form the prophetic basis for the return of Israel in 1948.   Forty years after Jesus' words, for a day, Israel was destroyed and carried away into exile. The Romans came in and did what Nineveh was spared of. God's judgment fell heavily upon them for failing to repent, receive their long-awaited Messiah, and conform to the will of God, which is found in the finished work of Jesus Christ.   b: “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Matthew 12:40   This is an idiomatic expression. It does not mean literally three days and three nights. This is a misunderstanding of the phrase as it relates to Biblical time. It's important to note that this verse is from Matthew and is directed to the Jewish people, Jesus as King.   Hebrew idioms would have been understood and not needed any clarification or verbal amending. To the audience, Matthew was writing that any part of a day is considered to be inclusive of the whole day. It's no different from the terminology we use today. If I arrive in Florida on a plane at 11:30 pm on 11 April, during a later conversation, I would still say I was in Florida on that day.   The biblical pattern of “evening and morning” being a day goes back to the first chapter of the Bible and includes an entire day, regardless of what part of a day one is referring to. If you want to understand the term day and night as an idiomatic expression, simply type “day and night” into your Bible search engine and see how many times, throughout the Bible, the term is used in this way. It goes on and on. Jeremiah does a great job of using it in this way. Study!   The same verse, as recorded in Luke, says, “And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say,    “This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. 30 For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation. 31 The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.”  Luke 11:29-32   As you can see, Jesus explicitly states that the sign is the preaching of Jonah. In this instance, Luke was not writing only to Jewish people, but predominantly to non-Jewish people – Jesus as the Son of Man. Therefore, the terminology is amended to avoid confusion. This occurs many times in the gospels, and therefore, the addressees (or the background of the writers themselves) need to be identified to understand proper terminology.   The same phrase is given in Esther 4:16 –   “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”   This is then explained in Esther 5:1 –   “Now it happened on the third day (b'yom ha'shelishi) that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, across from the king's house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house.”   As you can see, what she said in verse 4:16 is explained as an idiomatic expression in verse 5:1. This same phrase is exactly repeated in the NT 13 times – “On the third day,” not “After the third day.”   2) High Sabbath. John 19:31 –   “Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.”   The second issue to be resolved is that some scholars claim that John “appears” to place the crucifixion on a different date than the other writers. Because of this, an attempt was made to insert a second type of Passover meal, or a second Sabbath, into the Bible. This supposedly helps the Bible out of an apparent problem.   However, no such meal, or Sabbath, is identified in the Bible at any time. Nor is it necessary to make something erroneous like this up. The Bible identifies the timing of the entire Passion Week, dispelling the problem. The terminology for “Preparation Day” used in all four gospel accounts absolutely clears this up and will be noted as we go on.   The terminology "high Sabbath" is pointing to the fact that the Sabbath (there is only one Sabbath, Saturday) coincided with the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a "holy convocation" according to Exodus 12:16 and Leviticus 23:7. There are only six times in the Bible that something is called a Shabbath Shabaton, or “Sabbath of complete rest.” Four of them speak of the Seventh Day Sabbath, one concerns the Day of Atonement, and the last speaks of the seventh-year Sabbath rest for the land.   Thus, there is no second Sabbath. A holy convocation is not a Sabbath. On a Sabbath, meals could not be prepared. However, Exodus 12:16 says –   “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.”    3) Four days. Exodus 12:3 –   “Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household.'”   This requirement has nothing to do with the Passover at Jesus' time. Nothing in Scripture can be used to justify what is commonly taught, saying that the Passover lamb was selected each year to test it for defects. The opposite is true. The lamb was selected because it had no defects. Thus, this has nothing to do with Palm Sunday and the subsequent days leading up to Passover. Rather, this animal was selected early to ensure that every household had a lamb before the plague of darkness that fell on Egypt. It is never mandated again. People bought their lambs in Jerusalem from keepers of the flock who had already inspected them. Further, they did it within a day of the Passover.   There are four things that occurred at the first Passover that are not required in the annual celebration found in Leviticus 23 –   The eating of the lamb in their houses was dispersed through Goshen. Taking the lamb on the tenth day. The striking of its blood on the doorposts and lintels of their houses. And, Eating it in haste.   The four-day requirement never occurred again. There is no biblical support for it. People have picked and chosen selected verses, without following through on the study, to come to an incorrect conclusion on this.   Chronology of the Events –   1) The easiest way to identify the day of Passover from the gospels is by reviewing the term “Preparation Day.” It is in all four gospels, and it exactingly identifies the day of the Passover –   Matthew 27:62 – “The next day, the one after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate.” This was the day after the crucifixion. Matthew says it is the day “after Preparation Day.” After this is recorded the day after the Sabbath (Matt 28:1, the first day of the week).   Mark 15:42 – “It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached...” This is the day of the crucifixion. Mark says, “It was Preparation Day.” Mark 14 ends on the night of Christ's time in the Garden of Gethsemane. Mark 15:1 then identifies that it is “immediately, in the morning,” meaning Preparation Day.   Luke 23:54 – “It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.” This is the day of the crucifixion. Luke says, “It was Preparation Day.” Luke 23:56 then says that they rested on the Sabbath, and then He was raised on the day after the Sabbath, Sunday, the Lord's Day, the first day of the week (Luke 24:1).   John 19:14 – “Now it was Preparation Day of the Passover.” This is the day of the crucifixion. John says, “It was Preparation Day.” This definitively, and without any chance of coming to any other conclusion, identifies the day as Friday, followed by the Saturday Sabbath. As sad as it is that this is denied by many, it is what the Bible actually teaches.. The four gospels are harmonious in this, and it is… irrefutable. However, the rest of the Passion week identifies this as well.   And so, let's break all this down. Here's what you need to know:   Paul plainly states that the Feast of Firstfruits is a picture of the resurrection:   “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”  1 Corinthians 15:20   The feast of Firstfruits was a Sunday according to Leviticus 23:15 – “From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks.” Note: the Sabbath referred to here is a Saturday. We don't need to go any further there to know this is correct and that Christ rose on a Sunday.     Here is the math from the gospel accounts. It's all there in black and white and very easy to look up –   **“Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.”  John 12:1 This would have been a Sabbath day (Saturday).   **“The next day, the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem.”  John 12:12 This would have been 5 days before the Passover, meaning Sunday (Palm Sunday), as the Passover would have started Thursday night at sundown and run until Friday night at sundown (remember biblical days start at sundown).     The account couldn't be clearer that the next day after the Passover was a Sabbath. This is indicated several times. As I said, some people have attempted to use the terminology in John (it was a “high day” or a “special Sabbath”) to indicate that it could have been a day other than a Saturday. All special Sabbaths are specified in Leviticus and don't necessarily fall on Saturdays. However, the term “Sabbath” as used in the other gospel accounts indicates a Saturday. There is nothing to support, anywhere in Scripture, that there were two Sabbaths in a row on this particular week. Further, the special Sabbaths in Leviticus do not apply here. As I said, one is the Day of Atonement, which occurs in the seventh month. The other is a Sabbath for the land every seventh year. Neither applies.   In fact, such an analysis does an injustice to the reading of the text. Therefore, the special Sabbath occurred on a regular Sabbath day (Saturday). As I said earlier, it was a great (high) Sabbath because it coincided with the holy convocation, which is the first day of Unleavened Bread. From this, we can give the entire week's schedule (refer to the cited verses in your own Bible to familiarize yourself with what's being said) –   Sabbath 6 before // John 12:1 - ...six days before the Passover.  Bethany/Lazarus. Sunday 5 before // John 12:12 & Mark 11:10 - The next day...  Palm Sunday/Riding the donkey. Monday 4 before // Mark 11:12 Now on the next day... Jesus cursed the fig tree. Tuesday 3 before // Mark 11:20 Now in the morning... The withered fig is identified. Wednesday 2 before // The gospels are silent on what occurred on this day. Thursday 1 before - Passover starts at Sundown //Mark 14:1 After two days it was the Passover... (this is the first timing mentioned since Mark 11:20, which was Tuesday). - Note:  Pay special attention to the fact that in the following accounts, Mark is using Jewish time (sunset to sunset and John is using Roman time – from midnight) –   Mark 14:12 - "Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread when they killed the Passover Lamb."  Here, Mark, like Luke, unites the Passover with the Feast of Unleavened Bread.   John 13:1 - "Now before the Feast of the Passover..."    Both Mark and John are speaking of the same day – The meal, washing of feet, Gethsemane, etc.    ***Christ was crucified during this same 24-hour period, but it was obviously after the final night at Gethsemane and then the illegal trial.  Mark is speaking of this event from sundown, John is speaking of it in Roman time (this is obvious because they use different terminology for the same meal where Judas left to betray the Lord… can't miss this point and get it right).   6 days before – Saturday 5 days before – Sunday 4 days before – Monday 3 days before – Tuesday 2 days before – Wednesday 1 day before – Thursday The Day – Friday   The problem with people believing that John was speaking of a different day (as mentioned above) is that they miss the fact that the terminology for the day is different based on the author. To clear up any misunderstanding here, one needs only to compare the uses of the term “Preparation Day.” Once one does this, there are no discrepancies in the accounts. Go back and review what I said about that earlier. The timeline is set, it is irrefutable, and it is the only biblical option. Anything else inserts unbiblical information into the record.   Based on the biblical evidence,        1) There is no discrepancy between any of the accounts.     2) Jesus was crucified on a Friday.     3) Jesus rose on a Sunday.   Again, the Bible says 13 times that He was raised “on” the third day.  This is mentioned by Jesus Himself as well as the apostles. Therefore, it must have been Friday that Christ was crucified. --------------------------------------------------------------------   Finally, please don't believe (as some have claimed) that Christ rode the donkey into Jerusalem on a Saturday instead of a Sunday. This would have been the Sabbath. If He did, He would have violated the law –    “Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you.”  Deuteronomy 5:12-14   There is no need to make the assertion that it was a Saturday unless you simply wanted to finagle the dating. There is also no biblical provision for an exemption to the commandment prohibiting working a donkey.

Thursday, 28 August 2025   The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. Matthew 12:41   “Men, Nineveh, they will arise in the judgment with this generation and they will sentence it, for they reconsidered at the proclamation of Jonah. And you behold! Jonah's greater is here!” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus noted that just as Jonah was in the belly of the great lunker three days and three nights, He would be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. Next, He continues His address to the scribes and Pharisees, saying, “Men, Nineveh, they will arise in the judgment with this generation.”   The location Nineveh is introduced here. The name Nineveh may be a word of foreign origin, but if connected to Hebrew, its meaning is Offspring's Habitation. As the Bible is written from a Hebrew perspective, the Hebrew name is what is to be considered.   Nineveh is a city that was built at the earliest times of man after the flood. It was noted as being built by Nimrod in the Table of Nations in Genesis 10:11. It is noted in 2 Kings, Isaiah, Jonah, Nahum, and Zephaniah, but the main biblical accounts of Nineveh are recorded in Jonah and Nahum.   Jesus is referring to the account in Jonah, saying that the inhabitants of Nineveh will arise to judge the generation of Israel in which He came. And more, He next says, “and they will sentence it.”   The verb katakrinó, to judge against, is introduced. In judging against, it means an unfavorable verdict is rendered, leading to condemnation. Condemning or condemnation in the Bible is often associated with eternal punishment. This is not always the case when the word is used.   To condemn means expressing disapproval, censuring, sentencing, etc. The context will derive the meaning. In this case, Nineveh will be a part of the judgment and sentencing of Israel's people at Jesus' time. The reason is, “for they reconsidered at the proclamation of Jonah.”   Another new noun is stated, kérugma. It signifies a proclamation. Preaching is a type of proclamation. Jonah was sent to NinevehJonah to speak a word of the Lord against Nineveh. This was his kérugma, his proclamation –   “Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.'” Jonah 1:1, 2   “And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day's walk. Then he cried out and said, ‘Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!'” Jonah 3:4   As noted in the Matthew 12:39 commentary, Jonah's time in the belly of the lunker is not the sign of Jonah. The sign of Jonah is something Nineveh was aware of. They had no idea that Jonah was in the lunker's belly. The sign of Jonah is the kérugma, the proclamation, of Jonah.   But more, it is specifically what the proclamation stated, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” As noted in the Matthew 12:38 commentary, a sign is something that stands for something else. It may be a miracle or a wonder, but a sign points to another thing, such as “this indicates this.”   Jesus clearly states in Luke 11:30-32 that the preaching of Jonah is the sign, just as Jesus' preaching to the people of Israel is the sign. Jonah preached and promised destruction in forty days. Jesus preached and promised destruction as well.   The sign of Jonah is the preaching, which, if rejected, would lead to destruction after forty days. Jesus' time in Sheol, followed by the resurrection, simply bears witness to the truth of Jesus' preaching, which was to an already unbelieving people.   His words of the kingdom and reconsideration to “this generation” are the ultimate sign to them. Other prophets spoke in the name of the Lord, but Jesus spoke in His own name and under His own authority as the Son, and so He next says, “And you behold! Jonah's greater is here!”   The warning to reconsider or be overthrown turned out to be a day for a year, just as it was in the Old Testament. When Israel disobeyed in the wilderness, they were given a day for a year punishment for every day that the spies were gone. It was forty days, and thus forty years of punishment.   In Ezekiel chapter 4, he was told to lie on his right side for forty days, signifying a day for a year of punishment for Judah. He was told to do the same for his left side, but for three hundred and ninety days. It was a day for a year for the house of Israel. Together, they formed the basis of the prophecy concerning the return of Israel in 1948.   Forty years after Jesus' words, a day for a year, Israel's temple was destroyed, and the people were carried away in exile. The Romans came in and did what Nineveh was spared of. God's judgment fell heavily upon them for failing to reconsider, receive their long-awaited Messiah, and conform to the will of God, which is found in the finished work of Jesus Christ.   Life application: The sign of Jonah is the preaching of Jonah. The word of God, spoken to Israel in fulfillment of Scripture, and under the full authority of the Messiah who had been promised since the very beginning of man's time on the planet, was the sign. The resurrection simply proved it.   It is the word that conveys this to us. Thus, the word is its own sign to the people of the world. In essence, “I have used My people, Israel, to be a sign to the world as a proof that My word is true and that it is to be understood and accepted as such.”   The sign of Israel is a sign that is not yet fully fulfilled. To assume that the church has replaced Israel reflects a fundamental flaw in Christian understanding. It fails to match the reality of what is coming upon the world in the tribulation and millennium.   Be sure to have your theology concerning Israel properly aligned with what God is doing in the world. Otherwise, events that lie ahead will leave you surprised and confounded.   “Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, 35 that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.36 Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.” Matthew 23:34-36   Lord God, thank You for being with us as we engage with Your word. On our own, it is often hard to see what is being conveyed. Add on top of that, innumerable incorrect analyses of what is being said have been loaded upon us. Help us cut to the heart of what You are telling us by reminding us to stay in and study Your word all our days. Amen.

Wednesday, 27 August 2025   For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Matthew 12:40   “For just as Jonah, he was in the lunker's belly three days and three nights, thus He will be, the Son of Man, in the earth's heart three days and three nights” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus told the scribes and Pharisees that a “Generation – evil and adulteress – it seeks a sign, and not it will be given it, if not the sign of Jonah the prophet.” He continues with that now, saying, “For just as Jonah, he was in the lunker's belly.”   Two new words are seen. The first is found only here in Scripture, kétos, a huge fish. It is believed to possibly be from chasma, a chasm. That comes from an obsolete word, chao, to gape or yawn. Thus, the idea is that of the gaping mouth of such a fish. The type of fish is not stated here. Some translations say “whale.” That could be correct, even though whales aren't fish.   Some say sea monster, great fish, huge fish, etc. As it is unknown whether it is a fish, whale, or other sea monster, a single word that gets the idea across is lunker, which signifies “an exceptionally large specimen of something, in particular (among anglers) a fish” (Online Dictionary).   The next new word is koilia, the belly or womb. It is derived from koilos, hollow. Thus, it signifies a cavity. The context of the sentence will then provide the appropriate sense of what is being referred to. Jesus next says that Jonah was in this lunker's belly “three days and three nights.”   The duration is specific, but its meaning, like many such things in Scripture, must be derived from the surrounding context. That will be considered momentarily. For now, Jesus says, “thus He will be, the Son of Man, in the earth's heart.”   It is a term not found in exactly this manner elsewhere, and so the meaning must be derived from the story of Jonah in relation to the events coming upon Jesus. Any other view will force something not intended into the narrative.   Special note: To understand the amazing details of Jonah's life, it would be unconscionable not to read or watch the Jonah sermons from the Superior Word library. There, the incredible story is opened up and explained in a manner not found anywhere else.   Having said that, when Jonah was cast into the sea, a picture of Christ's death. He was swallowed by the dagah, fish, in Hebrew, or the kétos, fish, in the Greek Septuagint. From there, it says in Jonah 2:3 –   “From womb Sheol, I cried, You heard my voice, And you caused to cast me – depth, In heart seas.” Jonah 2:3 (CG)   In Greek, the word translated as heart is kardias, the same as that used by Jesus here in Matthew. Likewise, the word translated as womb in the Hebrew text is the same as what Jesus uses here, koilia.   In other words, Jonah is speaking in parallelism, a literary device found elsewhere in the book and throughout the Bible. He is equating Sheol (Greek: Hades) and equating it directly to the belly of the fish. That is then set in parallelism to the heart. This is done while citing the essential contents of Jonah 2:3.   Jesus is taking the story of Jonah and equating the heart of the seas to His own coming death. As such, He has replaced “heart of the seas,” something the Jews were perfectly familiar with from the story, and equates His coming descent into Hades as the “heart of the earth.” This is the parallelism (Sheol = heart seas/heart earth) from which the intent must be derived. Understanding this, He next says this will be for “three days and three nights.”   This is a phrase that, unfortunately, leads to all kinds of misinterpretations and misanalyses of what Jesus went through. The timeline of Jesus' passion, crucifixion, and resurrection is painfully clear when properly laid out. Jesus was crucified on a Friday, He was in the tomb throughout Saturday, and He arose on Sunday.   To confirm this timeline, a complete analysis of it will be attached at the end of the verses referring to Jesus' words in this account, meaning after Matthew 12:42. Because of Jesus' words here, however, some dogmatically claim that Jesus had to be in the grave a full three days and three nights. Some go so far as to demand a literal 72 hours.   This then leads to unscripturally backing up the crucifixion to Thursday or even Wednesday. But this then leads to many other unjustifiable claims, such as a “second Passover meal,” etc. These things are unscriptural, but must be made up to justify the unjustifiable.   The term “three days and three nights” simply speaks of any part of a day and a night. This is seen, for example, in 1 Samuel 30:12. However, it is explicitly noted with the same terminology as Jesus in Esther 4:16, where it says, “neither eat nor drink for three days, night and day.” In Esther 5:1, it reads, “Now it happened on the third day...” Thus, the time frame in Esther, which Jesus uses in Matthew, means three days, up to the third day.   Life application: Care needs to be taken to ensure that what is said in one place aligns with what is said in another place. The only source of understanding Jesus' words in Matthew 12:40 is to be found in the reference that Jesus is using. In the case of the heart of the earth, the reference is explicitly stated in Jonah, where Sheol (Hades) is set in parallel to the heart of the seas. This is an explanation of the belly of the great sea creature.   The “three days and three nights” of Jonah 1:17, which Jesus also cites, is to be interpreted from other Old Testament passages, if available. As it is, explicitly so in Esther 4:16 and then interpreted in Esther 5:1, there is a full and justifiable explanation for the meaning of Jesus' words in Matthew, without fudging or making anything up.   Think about our own use of such terminology. If someone leaves late Monday afternoon and comes back early Wednesday morning, he may comfort his wife by saying, “Don't worry, I'll be back in three days.” This is a true statement, even from a biblical sense (as seen in Esther), and yet, he will only be gone for as little as maybe 48 hours, or less.   Jesus died at approximately 3 pm (Luke 23:44) on Friday afternoon. This would be about three or four hours before the beginning of the Sabbath. That would last until the next evening. From there, it says He rose “very early in the morning” (Luke 24:1), it may have been at 5 am or earlier. This could be a time in the heart of the earth as little as 45 hours. And yet, He is said (again and again in Scripture) to have risen “on the third day.”   Be ready to challenge what you believe. Accept what Scripture says regardless of biases or presuppositions. In the end, you will find an answer to every seeming contradiction that you have been taught exists. None do, because this is the word of God!   Lord God, thank You for the surety and reliability of Your wonderful word. It is a precious treasure and a delight to consider. Amen.  

Tuesday, 26 August 2025   But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. Matthew 12:39   “And having answered, He said to them, ‘Generation – evil and adulteress – it seeks a sign, and not it will be given it, if not the sign of Jonah the prophet'” (CG).   In the previous verse, some scribes and Pharisees came to Jesus, saying that they wanted to see a sign from Him. In response, Matthew next records, “And having answered, He said to them, ‘Generation – evil and adulteress – it seeks a sign.'”   The noun moichalis, an adulteress, is introduced. Almost all translations say adulterous, the adjective form of the word. This is incorrect. It is a feminine noun referring to a female who is unfaithful.   As throughout the Old Testament, Jesus equates the relationship of the Lord with His people as a covenant of marriage. A wife was to be respectful, obedient, and faithful to her husband. But Israel had been none of these things. That had not changed in the generation He came to.   As for His words, He sees their asking for a sign as an indication of evil, something that an adulteress would seek. The reason for this is that in seeking a sign, there is no faith behind their request. A person of faith does not need a sign. Instead, he will believe based on the surrounding evidence and the surety of the hope he possesses.    That surety should come from past history. They had the Scriptures, which detailed all of Israel's history as well as prophesying of its coming Messiah. All they had to do was go there to find the fulfillment of innumerable signs given in prophecy.   From that springboard, they were to accept what their eyes beheld when they looked to Him. Jesus found this lack of faithful understanding highly displeasing, and so He next says, “and not it will be given it.”   The response holds the same weight and tone as what He says in John 5 –   “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.” John 5:39, 40   Without directly saying it, Jesus essentially conveys the same thought now. “If you want a sign, go back and search the Scriptures. Compare My ministry to what you see. After that, have faith.” Because of this, He next says to them, “if not the sign of Jonah the prophet.”   Here, Jesus tells them just where to go to find a sign confirming He is the Messiah, meaning Scripture. “Go to Jonah and see the sign He gave. Jonah's words speak of what will come to pass. When they are fulfilled, you will have received your sign.”   But what is the sign of Jonah? Spoiler alert: it is not what Jesus will say in the next verse. The coming statement was a confirmation of Jonah's inescapable call upon him as a prophet. It was a surety that his words were to be spoken as the Lord instructed and that they would come to pass.   Life application: Jesus says that no sign but that of the prophet Jonah would be given. As noted in the previous commentary, Mark 8 says that no sign will be given, period. But that was based on the people seeking a “sign from heaven.” The thought is not unlike what Paul says in Romans 10 –   “But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, ‘Do not say in your heart, “Who will ascend into heaven?”' (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7 or, ‘“Who will descend into the abyss?”' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart' (that is, the word of faith which we preach).” Romans 10:6-8   The Jews in Mark 8 wanted to bring a sign down from heaven. The Jews in Matthew 12 are looking for something already available. Jesus expects people to use what is available, and which points to Him, to make their decision about Him, meaning Scripture.   We do not need a sign from heaven to confirm what we can deduce from the word and accept by faith. What we need to do is evaluate the word, see if it matches what we know about the world around us and our relationship with God, and then accept, by faith, that Jesus is the solution to our dilemma.   Don't be a person looking for a sign every time you need direction in life. Be confident that the Lord has you where He wants you, that He has a good plan and a purpose for you, and that by knowing and adhering to His word, He will direct your steps according to His wisdom.   “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.” 1 Corinthians 1:21-24   Lord God, forgive us when our faith fails. Help us to be confident that, because of Jesus, we are where we should be as we live out our lives. No matter what our station in life is, You are with us. Someday, we shall be in Your presence and have what we must now only hope for. May this hope be sufficient to carry us through each day. Amen.  

Monday, 25 August 2025   Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” Matthew 12:38   “Then, they answered, some of the scribes and Pharisees, saying, ‘Teacher, we desire to see a sign from You'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus noted that from one's words he will be justified and from one's words he will be condemned. Now, the direction changes based on the following. Matthew records, “Then, they answered, some of the scribes and Pharisees, saying, ‘Teacher, we desire to see a sign from You.'”   The words are similar in content in Matthew 16:4, Mark 8:11, 12, and Luke 11:29-32. Each varies a little, but what seems likely is that this request for a sign is something that was asked of Him more than once.   In Mark, it seems contradictory to the other accounts because it says, “Assuredly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.” In Matthew and Luke, a sign is promised, but none is in Mark. However, in Mark, the request is for a sign “from heaven,” something not requested in Matthew or Luke. Therefore, it is probable that Jesus was addressing that specifically in Mark.   Putting the three accounts side by side and analyzing them, no contradiction arises. There is just different information being conveyed with each account. As for the words here in Matthew, it is some of the scribes and Pharisees who petition Him.   In MarkMatthew, only the Pharisees are noted. In Luke, there is no one mentioned first. Rather, Jesus directly addresses the crowds. Whether His address was in response to a petition, as in Matthew and Mark, is unknown.   Concerning their petition, they desire to see “a sign.” It is a new word, sémeion, a sign which is normally miraculous in nature. It is derived from the verb, sémainó, to indicate or signify. Unlike a miracle, wonder, etc., a sign is something that stands for something else. It may be a miracle or a wonder, but a sign points to another thing, such as “this indicates this.”   On the other hand, a miracle or wonder is its own thing. The purpose of a miracle is determined by why it was given in the first place, such as exalting the Lord, bringing glory to God, etc. In John, specific signs are noted, each having the intended purpose of establishing Jesus as the Messiah.   Some translations, such as the KJV, inconsistently translate the word “sign” as “miracle,” “wonder,” etc. They may be these things, but the intent is that it is a sign pointing to something else. This is the same with the word oth, sign, in the Old Testament. For example –   “Then God said, ‘Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs [oth] and seasons, and for days and years.'” Genesis 1:14   From there, the Bible will give signs in the heavens to indicate that other things will happen. Thus, the sign points to the event. For example, the star of Bethlehem, though not called a sign, is exactly that. It was a celestial event that pointed to the coming of the Messiah.   Life application: The Bible itself is a sign. It is something that is given to point to other things: there is a Creator, there is a problem that exists between God and man, God will send a Redeemer into the world to fix the relationship, God loves His creation, etc. Each of these things is found in the Bible.   It is a witness and a testimony to what He has done, is doing, and promises to do. The Bible may be miraculous in how it was received and in the contents it contains, such as future prophecy, but it is a miraculous sign.   When you pick it up and read it, consider it as such. God is pointing you to truths about Himself and what He is doing. Someday, Jesus will come again for His church. The Bible testifies to this, and it will be a sign to the people of the world who are left behind that what He did was anticipated by those who trust in Him.   Be sure to read your Bible and consider the marvel and wonder that it contains. It is God's wonderful gift to us, a sign of His love for us.   Lord God, help each of us to remember that when we read Your word, we are reading YOUR word. It isn't just something about You, but it is from You. Therefore, it reflects Your very heart and intent for us as we live before You. May we treat it with respect and carefully consider its sacred contents. Amen.  

Sunday, 24 August 2025   For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:37   “For from your words, you will be justified, and from your words, you will be condemned” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus noted that for every inactive utterance spoken by man, it will render a word about it in judgement day. Now to fully establish the thought as a set precept concerning man's state, He says, “For from your words, you will be justified, and from your words, you will be condemned.”   This is a general truth regardless of dispensations. Good trees bear good fruit while bad trees bear bad fruit. Likewise, a person's words reveal his nature. What a person says will lead to justification or condemnation.   This, however, has to be taken in its overall sense. People say things that are not good despite being followers of the Lord. And people who don't follow the Lord are fully capable of speaking good things.   If people were to receive eternal condemnation for saying the wrong thing at times, it's pretty certain there wouldn't be any saved people. Peter promised to stick to Jesus no matter what. And yet, even after being told what would happen, he still failed to live by his words.   It can't be that a “bad” person who was capable of saying really good things is going to be justified for all the other bad things he has done. Jesus, therefore, is speaking of the nature of the tree, not every fruit. Good trees with the right fruit can still have bad fruit on them.   The overall substance of the tree is what keeps it from getting cut down. During the time of the law, the people were expected to live by the law. When they failed, as David did, they were to acknowledge their failings and do the things necessary according to the law to be restored.   This is where faith comes in. A person who lived under the law and kept it meticulously may not have an ounce of faith in the provision of God. He is interested in justifying himself through his works.   In this dispensation, the instructions concerning Jesus' words are even clearer to comprehend because the muddy waters of law observance, which are still fully dependent on faith to be justified, have been removed. Paul tells us about words of justification that are perfectly in line with Jesus' proclamation –   “For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, ‘The man who does those things shall live by them.' 6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, ‘Do not say in your heart, “Who will ascend into heaven?” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7 or, “Who will descend into the abyss?” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).' 8 But what does it say? ‘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 10:5-13   Life application: Words are a reflection of the heart. They may be temporary words that do not reflect the overall character of a person, but rather words spoken out of stress, anxiety, or other pressures. When the moment has passed, the person may say, “I'm so sorry, Lord. I was overwhelmed and just lost it.”   Such a statement indicates faith that wrong words were spoken, and the person's heart was grieved. But more, they indicate faith that the Lord is there and knows our words and actions. If the faith is properly directed, meaning toward God in Christ, there is already forgiveness granted for what was said   The words of justification were spoken at some point. From there, he was sealed with the Spirit, and the blood of Christ is sufficient to cover all his sins – past, present, and future. Another person may have just as much faith that there is a God watching over him, but he has called on the wrong god. He has not been justified through his words because he has not called on Jesus for his atonement.   The difference comes down to Jesus. Only He can remove sin. Therefore, it is not the conscience that saves. Rather, it is properly directed faith. This is why getting Jesus right is so important. Let us remember to tell others about God's wonderful provision in the giving of His Son for our sins.   “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.” 1 John 3:18-21   Lord God, our hearts get overwhelmed by the things we say and do, knowing that we have not conducted ourselves appropriately in Your presence. David understood this and found comfort in You. Help us to do the same. May You be our place of rest in this world of difficulty, trial, and failure. Jesus has prevailed! May that be our comfort and rest always. Amen.

Saturday, 23 August 2025   But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. Matthew 12:36   “And I say to you that every inactive utterance that if they will speak, men, they will render a word about it in judgment day” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus referred to the things people bring out of what is stored in their hearts, good or bad. Now, He explains a truth concerning that to which His audience was expected to consider and heed, saying, “And I say to you that every inactive utterance that if they will speak, men.”   A new word is introduced, argos, inactive. When one is inactive, he idles around doing nothing. As such, he will be unemployed, useless, lazy, etc. The word closely corresponds to the Hebrew word mibta, found only in Numbers 30:6 & 30:8, where a woman makes a rash vow. That word signifies hasty or thoughtless. That is derived from bata, to babble.    Jesus is saying that people speak carelessly, not thinking through the ramifications of their words. However, God hears everything man says, even if it is an idle utterance. But more, not only does He hear them, but He is also accounting our idle utterances to who we are in relation to the totality of our personhood.   The thought is general in nature and certainly applies to all humanity at all times, but in this case, Jesus is making a point about the utterances of the Pharisees who spoke carelessly about Jesus without thinking through the logical explanation that He then provided.   He could not be casting out Beelzebul by the prince of demons. His explanation thoroughly refuted the notion. Even if they didn't fully grasp the ramifications of their idle accusation, the Lord heard and was there to render a judgment based on their words, as He next says, “they will render a word about it in judgment day.”   The meaning is that they must give an account for what they spoke, meaning even their idle utterances. Understanding this, Jesus will give an overall summary of this thought in the next verse.   Life application: For now, even before getting to Jesus' summary of the overarching thought presented in this discourse between the Pharisees and Him, we should heed the truth stated by Jesus in this verse.   It is true that those in Christ are in a different economy than those under the law. Despite this, God doesn't change. His ears didn't suddenly turn off when the dispensation of grace came. In other words, everything we say is still known by God and will be set before us by Him when we are brought before Him.   Therefore, we should consider our words carefully. In North Korea, children are executed or sent to grueling penal colonies (which may be worse than death) for speaking like South Korean children, repeating lines from their movies, and so forth.   Such treatment of citizens has occurred throughout human history. An idle word or thoughtless action has led many to the gallows or firing squad. If this is how we may be treated for carelessly speaking before human leaders, how much more severe will it be for those who carelessly and casually malign the Creator?   And yet, it happens innumerable times a day all over the world. People, without thinking through the logic of who God is and what He has done, flippantly ignore the evidence and arrogantly make false proclamations and accusations about Him and His nature. People challenge His word, claiming error or contradiction without considering what it may actually be saying.   In doing these things, we diminish His glory in the eyes of others and place ourselves above Him or what He has done. If humanity understood the consequences of its unholy attitudes, we would be more careful and circumspect in what we say and do. But we fail to consider these things, bringing judgment on ourselves.   For Christians, our condemnation has been decided at the cross of Christ, but what lies ahead still requires judgment for our words and actions now. Let us consider this and pay heed.   Lord God, how often do we say things without thinking through the full scope of what we have uttered? We offend others, we demean those in authority, and we bring dishonor to Your name, even if it was not intentional. Help us to think more clearly and to be careful as we speak, knowing that our words have meaning and may result in unhappy consequences. Amen.  

Friday, 22 August 2025   A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. Matthew 12:35   “The good man, from the good treasure of the heart, he ejects good, and the evil man, from the evil treasure, he ejects evil” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus called the Pharisees vipers' offspring, telling them that from the surplus of the heart, the mouth speaks. He next explains the result of that, saying, “The good man, from the good treasure of the heart, he ejects good.”   The word ekballo, to cast out or eject, is used. It is more forceful than “bring out,” such as in the NKJV. The meaning then is that the goodness of a good man wells up inside him until the point where goodness simply exudes from him, being ejected under its own pressure.   The words here show us that Jesus' words in Matthew 9:17 are a comparative statement intended to make a point. In responding to being called “Good Teacher,” Jesus said –   “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”   Jesus was making a comparison of goodness in relation to God. Likewise, Jesus is here making a comparison between people. One is good in relation to others. Because he is, good things will be ejected from him.   This is certainly a comparative statement, because even a good person can get frustrated or fed up, and something not so good will come out of his mouth. However, his character in general is one that demonstrates an inherent goodness in relation to others. Likewise, Jesus says, “and the evil man, from the evil treasure, he ejects evil.”   This is a person who is comparatively evil. The things that come out of such people, welling up and being ejected into their regular conversation, will be evil. But even such “evil” people can say something nice. Jesus is referring to their general character.   To get the sense of such a person, all one needs to do is turn on the TV and watch people arguing from a political standpoint. Those on the left will spew forth invectives, call out for illegal activities to be condoned, rage against goodness while embracing those who do truly wicked things, etc.   To them, morality is defined by theft and murder, not hard work and self-sufficiency. Those who pray to God are an offense who must be silenced. Because of their character, evil proceeds from them like a well under pressure. In opening their mouths to speak, the evil gushes forth.   Life application: In Luke 6:45, the same words are spoken by Jesus in His sermon to the people, but there are differences –   Matthew - “The good man, from the good treasure of the heart, he ejects [ekballo] good, and the evil man, from the evil treasure, he ejects [ekballo] evil.”   Luke - “The good man, from the good treasure of his heart, he hauls [propheró] good, and the evil, from the evil hauls [propheró] the evil. For from the heart's surplus, it speaks – his mouth.”   In Matthew, different words concerning the motion of what is in the heart are used. One says to eject while the other uses a word meaning to bear forward. A good single word to get the intent would be to haul. Also, in Matthew, the thought about the heart's abundance came in the preceding verse, whereas Luke places it afterwards.   Other slight variations in the Greek exist as well. So the question may be asked, “Which is the original and which one has an error?” Or the statement may be made, “See, there is a contradiction in the two accounts.”   When you are faced with such a question or statement, how will you respond? A suitable explanation is that both can be correct. This could be for various reasons. The first is that it is assumed that Jesus was originally speaking in Aramaic. Different people will write what they heard in Greek in different ways.   Likewise, the change in order of what is said may be a part of that translation process. Therefore, such changes would be expected. But what if the person says, “But even the context of what is said is different! One is to the Pharisees and one during a sermon!”   Is this a contradiction? Not at all! How many times have you repeated a point that is true in your life? Jesus was preaching and proclaiming. He probably stated the same truth innumerable times that are not recorded, along with those that are.   He may have changed the structure of His words, chosen different words, and spoken these things in a multitude of contexts. If the narratives were identical, those who want to tear apart the Bible would (and do!) say that the accounts were simply copies and the events belong to one source. Thus, there are not three different testimonies to Jesus' work.   If they have any differences, the accusation that there are contradictions immediately arises. Don't let such things bother you. Be prepared to show these people the folly of their thinking. From there, drop the argument. Some people wouldn't be content if God spoke the word of Scripture personally.   Wait... He did!   “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16, 17   Lord God, we trust that You have given us a word that carries Your intent for us to know and understand what You desire for us. Help us to be diligent in reading it and contemplating it all the days of our lives. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.

Thursday, 21 August 2025   Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  Matthew 12:34   “Vipers' offspring! You can, how, speak good – being evil? For from the heart's surplus, the mouth, it speaks” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus spoke of making the tree either good or bad. As it is made, so its fruit will be. Thus, a tree will be known by its fruit. Now, changing the metaphor, He directly addresses the Pharisees, saying, “Vipers' offspring!”   It is also what John the Baptist said to this same group as the people from the surrounding areas came out to be baptized –   “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, ‘Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?'” Matthew 3:7   This is probably a reference to the temptation and fall of man in Genesis 3. Serpents continue to be noted in Scripture after that. One instance is especially highlighted in the account of the time during the wilderness wanderings in Numbers 21. There, the people were bitten by serpents, and many died. In this, the people acknowledged their sins, and a remedy was given by the Lord to heal the people.   As such, the main thought of both John and Jesus is probably that of these men being the spawn of Satan, who caused the people to sin, separating them from God. They were the evil offspring of their evil parent, acting in crafty and malevolent ways. Of them, He next says, “You can, how, speak good – being evil?”   The analogy of the tree in the previous verse becomes clear here. They were like evil trees that could only speak evil. This is because they were vipers' offspring. He is uniting the various metaphors into a picture of this group of men standing there, accusing Him. To further explain this, He continues with the words, “For from the heart's surplus, the heart, the mouth, it speaks.”   Here is a new word, perisseuma. It is derived from peri, around. Therefore, it signifies “all around” or “excess” as in “more than anticipated.” These men had wickedness in their hearts that abounded so greatly it welled up out of them in the words they spoke.   They could not say anything good about Jesus because they themselves were corrupt and incapable of determining what was good. Thus, they ascribed evil to His actions, projecting their deficiencies upon Him instead of conducting self-reflection to determine if they were not the ones in error.   Life application: In Matthew 3, John uses the same metaphors, vipers, fruit, and trees, when referring to the same group of people. The full thought recorded there says –   “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, ‘Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our father.” For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.'” Matthew 3:7-12   Such metaphors are found elsewhere in Scripture. They provide insight into what God wants us to consider while reading His word. Remember, as you read, that God is the One who created these things. That is recorded right on the first page of the Bible.   As this is so, and as He is using them in metaphor later in Scripture, He is asking us to consider the inherent nature of these things. Sometimes, such metaphors are explained as to their meaning or intended use.   At times, we have to infer what is being said. But in paying heed to what is being conveyed, we will have a fuller and richer sense of what God is telling us. Take time to consider the use of the various literary devices found in Scripture, and there are a lot of them. The content of Scripture will come alive in new ways when you do.   Take time to read Jeremiah 24. It is only 10 verses long. There, the Lord uses figs as a metaphor for the people of Israel. As you read, remember that the fig is used to indicate a spiritual connection to God or its lack thereof. That is consistently the case throughout Scripture. So think about that meaning as you read the chapter.   In remembering this meaning, the passage will make new sense to you that it may not have previously made. And more, because you are committed to reading your Bible every day, you will come across the fig at other times. When you do, remember its significance and think about why it has been mentioned at a particular time. What a treat it will be for your mind as you say, “Now I understand what God is telling me.”   Lord God, what a great, consistent, and beautiful tool of instruction Your word is for us. Wow! Thank You for how You have laid it out to show us a pattern of all of redemptive history, taking us from Eden and returning us to paradise in heaven. We can see how it all fits as we march toward that state of glory! Amen.

Wednesday, 20 August 2025   “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Matthew 12:33   “Either you make the tree good and the fruit of it good, or you make the tree rotten and the fruit of it rotten. For from the fruit, the tree – it is known” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus spoke of speaking against the Holy Spirit and that such an offense will not be forgiven in the current age or the coming age. Next, He begins another thought with, “Either you make the tree good and the fruit of it good.”   The words are stated as an example of a truth that exists. If what Jesus proposes in metaphor were the case in humans, what He says would be the result. There are various types of trees. Some are good and some are bad. He is not speaking of each individual fruit, but of the type.   For example, one can make grafts and produce something good. The nature of the type of fruit is what is referred to. Understanding this, His words are explanatory of what has transpired in their discourse. The Pharisees stated that Jesus cast out demons by Beelzebul.   If this were true, then He would be aligned with the devil. However, He refuted this charge by stating that if that were true, Satan would have divided and his kingdom had fallen. So He could not be a bad tree. His fruits (casting out demons) were examples of good fruit. Because of this, their charges against Him were blasphemous. With that understood, He next says, “or you make the tree rotten and the fruit of it rotten.”   If Jesus were a bad tree, the fruits He issued forth would be bad. However, the first premise concerning good fruit has already shown that this cannot be the case. He has cast out demons, something they openly acknowledged with the words, “This, not He ejects the demons if not in Beelzebul, prince of the demons.”   Despite stating it in the negative, their words substantiate that He, in fact, cast out demons: “He ejects the demons.” As they have asserted this with their own words, and as ejecting demons is a good fruit, guess what? The tree must be a good tree, “For from the fruit, the tree – it is known.”   Jesus has taken control of their own words to demonstrate an exacting and undeniable truth. They didn't say, “He pretends to eject,” as if His works were the works of a charlatan. It was obvious from the things He did that His works were real.   Throughout the gospels, the people who are highlighted as having demons cast out, those with afflictions or sicknesses, were known by others as being so afflicted, etc. Some were noted as being born that way, some were seen by the crowds before the healing, some were evidenced in advance to be so afflicted by those challenging Him (such as Matthew 12:9-14), etc.   What He did was not in question. What they challenged was the Source of His ability to do it. With His logical explanations, they must either concede what He says or be subject to blasphemy not of Him, but of the Holy Spirit.   Life application: When a person claims to heal by the power of Jesus and is later seen to be a false healer, it must be questioned how their actions line up with the logic of Jesus' words. They are obviously bad trees because their fruits are bad.   However, if they are claiming they are fruits from a good source, their claims make a mockery of God and bring shame on the Spirit. Ascribing the work of the Spirit to Satan is shown to be an accusation worth condemnation. How about ascribing false fruits (false miracles) to the power of the Spirit?   How much will God tolerate from man before He says, “This line has been crossed?” God knows, we do not. However, for those who make false claims, it seems appropriate to say, “Man, I would not want to be the one standing next to him on judgment day.”   One of the best things we can do as followers of Jesus is to be honest in our actions and claims concerning God. We should never ascribe to God something that didn't happen. False tongues, false healings, false dreams and visions, etc., should never be ascribed to the power of the Holy Spirit.   If we had a dream that seemed real to us, it does not mean it was from God. It is best not to make a claim in such a case than to incorrectly claim. If you had an experience you think might have been from God, either keep it to yourself or tell others without trying to make a claim that may not be what you think it was.   How often do you hear people say something like, “The Lord showed me to do XX,” or “the Lord gave me insight into XX.” However, the thing later doesn't pan out or proves to be incorrect. The person claimed it was of the Lord when it wasn't. It is best to avoid any such rash claims.   Lord God, may our actions and words be so honest and reliable that people won't mind standing next to us on the day we stand before You for judgment. Amen.

Tuesday, 19 August 2025   Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come. Matthew 12:32   “And whoever if he should speak a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him. But whoever, if he should speak against the Holy Spirit, not it will be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in the coming” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus noted that every sin and blasphemy would be forgiven men, but the “Spirit blasphemy” will not be forgiven men. He now continues and builds upon that thought, saying, “And whoever if he should speak a word against the Son of Man.”   Such was to be expected. Here is a Man who lived a poor existence, was from Nazareth, something looked down upon, was the Son of a carpenter, and who probably did these labors Himself, who had argued with the Pharisees about the dietary laws, who had healed on the Sabbath, etc.   Everything about Him was not what one would expect of the Messiah, even if He had a group of disciples around Him and His teachings were interesting. It is obvious they were interested in Him and what He was up to because they kept popping up in accounts recorded in the gospels, inspecting Him and His movements.   But because He didn't fit their notions about a Messiah, they spoke against Him and what He did. Eventually, they would rid themselves of Him by having Him crucified. These things were forgivable, as Jesus notes, “it will be forgiven him.”   It is certain that being complicit in Jesus' death was pardonable. This is evident from the appeals of the apostles after the resurrection –   “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Acts 2:36   This thought is reiterated in Acts 4 when Peter addresses the “rulers of the people and elders of Israel.” Even after their actions against the Son of Man, they could still obtain mercy and forgiveness. However, Jesus continues, saying, “But whoever, if he should speak against the Holy Spirit, not it will be forgiven him.”   The words “speak against” are to be taken as parallel in meaning to the “Spirit blasphemy” of the previous verse. It is the point that is highlighted for these people to understand the consequences of such words. Mark provides additional understanding of what Jesus is referring to with the words, “because they said, ‘He has an unclean spirit.'”   The men accusing Jesus were ascribing the work of the Spirit to an unclean Spirit. Jesus logically defended why this could not be the case and that He must, in fact, be casting out demons by the Spirit of God. This is the issue. With that now understood, those who understood the Source of His power would have to concede the argument and accept the authority of the Spirit in Christ's works.   To continue in such accusations would be to speak against the Holy Spirit. At what point God determined this threshold had been met, such a person's fate was determined. There would be no forgiveness “neither in this age, nor in the coming.”   The point of the Levitical sacrifices was to obtain forgiveness for transgressions under the law. There are instances where it is noted that forgiveness would not be granted to people under the law. One example is found in the sons of Eli in 1 Samuel 3. Another is found in Isaiah 22:12-14.   In both cases, there was a complete abandonment of God. The Spirit was spoken against as if being ineffectual in the lives of these people through their words and actions. In the coming age, which appears to be referring to the age after Christ's resurrection, it is the Spirit who seals a person for salvation.   This “age” cannot be speaking of the state after death. One's life determines one's state before God. It cannot be speaking of the final age where all saved humanity will be glorified. The eternal state of man will be set at that time. To limit it to the millennium is too narrow a focus for the intent of Jesus' words. Therefore, the age He refers to would be the time after the law is fulfilled and abolished.   To reject the calling of the Spirit upon one's life is a life action that can be equated to speaking against the Spirit. To deny Christ and His power to save, a power evidenced and validated by the resurrection, is to deny the only hope one has of being saved. There can be no forgiveness for this.   Only God can restore man to Himself. To deny this is to deny what God in Christ has done. To do so can be equated to saying Christ had an unclean spirit. Otherwise, it would be obvious that the narrative concerning Him is true. If it is true, it would mean God had ordained Him to be the Author of salvation.   Life application: The door to forgiveness and salvation in Christ remains open until one's final breath. After that, man must face judgment. Some people will never hear the message and will die apart from God. Some will hear and not believe for whatever reason. However, they may at some point believe and be saved.   Others will hear the message and never accept it. The Spirit cannot work in the life of such a person. There can be no forgiveness for such a denial of what God has done. Jesus is the necessary key to understanding the words of this verse.   His resurrection is the proof of the Spirit of God's power to save all men –   “Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” Romans 1:1-4   “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:9-11   Lord God, help us to be about the business of sharing the good news concerning forgiveness through the shed blood of Christ. May You guide us as we talk to others so that our words will be effectual in leading them to a right understanding of what You have done. Yes, Lord, help us in this. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.  

Monday, 18 August 2025   “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Matthew 12:31   “Through this, I say to you, every sin and blasphemy, it will be forgiven men, but the ‘Spirit blasphemy' not it will be forgiven men” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus said that the one not being with Him is against Him, and the one not gathering with Him scatters. Now, to build upon that thought, He says, “Through this, I say to you, every sin and blasphemy, it will be forgiven men.”   The word blasphémia is introduced. It signifies vilification, especially against God. The meaning of Jesus' words is that sins occur and people blaspheme. These things are a part of being human. People may be uninformed, misinformed, etc. Similarly, people get frustrated, tempted, over-exerted, etc. When these things occur, stamina is weakened, thoughts and emotions get distorted, and so forth.   People can be forgiven of these things through the correction of their heart attitude. The weakness of the flesh might be what disrupts a right attitude. Through being reinvigorated, stamina and mental clarity arise in place of what is evil. Through self-evaluation, a pro-abortionist can redirect his thinking to understand the wrong thought process he previously held.   Such examples as this are understood by God, and when a change to right thinking with a turning from sin and blasphemy, restoration is possible. However, Jesus next says, “but the ‘Spirit blasphemy' not it will be forgiven men.”   Jesus' words, although understood by Christian thinking, reflect a separation that exists within the Godhead. There is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Israel at the time was unaware of these tenets.   Clues to the nature of God may be found in the Hebrew Scriptures, but without the introduction of New Testament theology, such things would remain unclear and obscure at best. What Jesus is saying is in accord with what a Hebrew thinker would understand. God's Spirit, the same Spirit who hovered over the waters in the creation, was known to those hearing Jesus' words.   What He says about “Spirit blasphemy” would have been understood because of this. The Pharisees were accusing Jesus of casting out demons by Beelzebul. They were ascribing the work of the Spirit of God to the devil.   Whether this, in and of itself, can be considered as “Spirit blasphemy” is debatable. The reason for this is that after being so accused, Jesus corrected their words, and thus (hopefully) their thinking, with a logical reason why it could not be so.   People can do, say, and think things that seem to be beyond the pale, but they may not have any idea of the ramifications of what they are saying or even understand the thought process behind their actions.   The fact is, however, that Jesus' words set a bar that, when it is reached, equates to “Spirit blasphemy.” At that point, there will be no forgiveness obtainable for that person. As the Topical Lexicon rightly states –   “Matthew 12:31-32 and Mark 3:28-30 locate the unpardonable sin in attributing the unmistakable work of the Spirit to satanic power. It is not a single rash word but a settled verdict against the light, revealing a heart hardened beyond repentance.”   Life application: People often wonder if they have committed blasphemy of the Spirit, worrying about the state of their eternal souls for something they thought or did. The very fact that they are concerned about that should tell them it has not happened.   Unfortunately, there is a great deal of incredibly bad theology taught in seminaries and churches concerning this issue. True story: A group of young boys was outside of a charismatic church where women were rolling on the ground, disgracing themselves through false manifestations of the “Spirit.” The boys laughed at them. One of the women said to them, “You can never be saved. You have blasphemed the Holy Spirit.”   One of the boys lost hope, became a drunk and a rebel in life. In the military, he heard the message about the King of kings and realized the lie that he had heard was nonsense. He gave his life to Christ and became a missionary, telling others about the goodness of God.   The women, not the boys, were much closer to blaspheming the Spirit. They were ascribing their ridiculously stupid actions, showing off in public, and acting like fools to the work of the Spirit.   If someone, we'll say a Muslim, says, “The Bible is the work of the devil.” Is that blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? The Bible is inspired by the Spirit. Therefore, someone could make the claim. But what if the Muslim never read the Bible and was just repeating what he had been told? He had no idea what the Bible said concerning God, the Spirit, Christ, or the Christian faith.   He is condemned because he is not in Christ, just like any other human. But what if, after saying what he said, he got the desire to check out the claims of the Bible? In reading it, he realized that he was wrong, that the Bible is the inspired word of God, and that Jesus is the Christ. Can he be saved? Yes. His words about the Bible, although incorrect, did not meet the bar set by Jesus.   Keep your fingers from pointing. Paul, a Pharisee who heard all about Jesus, did everything he could to destroy the faith. And yet, despite all he had done, he was not only forgiven by God, but he was given an appointment as His ambassador and apostle.   “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.” 1 Timothy 1:12, 13   O God, help us to learn and rightly apply sound doctrine to our lives. Help us to not get swayed by false or manipulative people. Rather, lead us in understanding You, Your word, and what is correct as we live our lives in Your presence. Amen.