Podcasts about Herod

Are borders tyrannical or necessary? Returning guest Chris Polk helps us dismantle the political theater around immigration and ask what allegiance to Jesus looks like when the state shows up with masks and rifles. From truck-stop stories to John 4, they explore why restricting movement may be the worst tyranny and how ordinary neighbor love beats team-red/blue fear. Chris argues both parties fed the ICE machine, shares a Cuban car rescue story that needed no papers, and reminds us that Jesus walked through Samaria, not around it. If Mary and Joseph fled Herod today, would we demand their passports? They dig into: Why “do something!” turns into state violence Borders as cages that keep you in vs. others out The Good Samaritan as the “Good Immigrant” Cop-aganda and qualified immunity “Would Jesus follow the law?” when the law crushes the least

We delve into the trial of Jesus Christ before Pontius Pilate and Herod. We explore the parallels between Jesus and the Passover lamb, examining how He fulfills the role of the perfect sacrifice. The episode covers key events such as Jesus' silence before His accusers, the crowd's choice of Barabbas over Jesus, and Pilate's attempts to release Jesus. The narrative includes the brutal scourging of Jesus, His mocking by soldiers, and the crowd's demand for His crucifixion. Support the showRead along with us in the Bible Brief App! Try the Bible Brief book for an offline experience!Get your free Bible Timeline with the 10 Steps: Timeline LinkSupport the show: Tap here to become a monthly supporter!Review the show: Tap here!Want to go deeper?...Download the Bible Brief App!iPhone: App Store LinkAndroid: Play Store LinkWant a physical book? Check out "Bible Brief" by our founder!Amazon: Amazon LinkWebsite: biblebrief.orgInstagram: @biblelitTwitter: @bible_litFacebook: @biblelitEmail the Show: biblebrief@biblelit.org Want to learn the Bible languages (Greek & Hebrew)? Check out ou...

Monday, 17 November 2025   And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. Matthew 14:14   “And Jesus, having withdrawn, He saw a great crowd, and He gut-wrenched upon them and He cured their sick” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus, having heard the news about Herod, withdrew in a boat from where He was to a desolate place. At the same time, the crowds followed him on foot. Next, it says, “And Jesus, having withdrawn.”   The most prevalent view among scholars is that this refers to Jesus having come out of a desolate place to meet the crowds. That is based on a misreading of John 6. They dismiss it as meaning He came out of the boat He was taking. However, the same account in Mark says exactly that –   “But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. 34 And Jesus, when He came out [exelthōn], saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.” Mark 6:33, 34   Luke's account doesn't address this part of the narrative, simply noting that they “went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida” (Luke 9:10). However, Luke's account does note the crowds being healed during the day before the miracle of feeding the multitudes. John's gospel also mentions this account –   “After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.3 And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.” John 6:1-3   John's gospel acknowledges the crowds, but says nothing of them at the time of arrival except that they followed Him. It only mentions them coming toward Him later when the time for the miracle of feeding the multitude had arrived.   This doesn't necessarily mean that He got out of the boat, went to a retreat, and then only later saw the crowds, something that would contradict all three other gospels. It means that John is focusing on the crowds and the miracle at the later point of the day.   In other words, the crowds were already there when the boat arrived (Mark 6:34). He began to teach and heal them at that time. It only says that later in the day that Jesus performed the miracle of feeding the people. John skips over that entire portion of the day and focuses on the multitude's needs at the end of the day.   Despite the obvious meaning given in Mark 6, scholars note it and ignore that it means He withdrew from the boat. But the same Greek word is used in Luke 8:27 to convey the exact same thought –   “And when He stepped out [exelthonti] on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs.”   The point of the specificity is to show the zeal of the people, rushing along the shore to meet Jesus as He arrived in the boat. Any other analysis diminishes the clear and precise wording and the excitement of the people to continue to be with and hear Jesus. Understanding this, it next says, “He saw a great crowd.”   Imagine going from one location to another to get some solitude, and before you even get there, an entire crowd is excitedly waiting for you, having sprinted from where you left to where you were heading just to continue to be with you. Because of this display of zeal and love for Jesus and His abilities, it says, “and He gut-wrenched upon them.”   The word was used in Matthew 9:36. It indicates yearning, sympathy, compassion, etc. It is based on an emotion that literally moves the inner parts of man. Jesus felt this when He understood that these people longed to continue in His presence and experience His abilities, including the ability to heal. This is seen in the final words of the verse, “and He cured their sick.”   This means that this group of people probably carried their sick on their backs or on litters to get them to Jesus as He was arriving. It is an amazing note concerning the zeal of the crowds to experience Jesus and His messianic ministry.   Life application: It is good to be reminded of the various tricks our minds play on us when we don't want to face a situation or confront a matter that may affect our sensibilities in a particular matter. Things like biases, prejudices, presuppositions, cognitive dissonance, etc., can affect how we think and hinder us from thinking properly.   In this verse, it is obvious that it is the same account referred to in Mark 6, Luke 9, and John 6. Scholars acknowledge this because all four gospels detail the same miracle of the feeding of the five thousand.   Mark 6 is more precise and details exactly what occurred as Jesus sailed across the Sea of Galilee. And yet, commentaries will, even after acknowledging Mark 6:34, ignore what it says because they have already made up their mind about what Jesus must have been doing –   “The words imply that our Lord, from the height to which He had withdrawn, saw the crowds drawing near, and then, instead of retiring still further, went forward...” Ellicott   “...from the solitude into which he had retired. In opposition to Matthew 14:13, Maldonatus and Kuinoel, following Mark 6:34, interpret: out of the boat.” Myers   These and other commentaries look at John 6, see how the two accounts are somehow irreconcilable (which they are not), and attempt to reconcile them based on what John says. This is totally unnecessary.   Understanding that the feeding of the multitudes occurred many hours later, “When the day was now far spent” (Mark 6:35), brings all four gospels into harmony. In fact, the only time a contradiction arises is when John's gospel is used as the basis for the word in question concerning His coming out. If it means from the boat, all four gospels square. If it means from a mountain retreat, there is a contradiction in what happens.   Be sure to consider if you are biasing an analysis because of some sort of prejudice, presupposition, or a case of cognitive dissonance. Do thorough research and consider what is being said and how each perspective fits into the greater narrative.   In the end, we will always find that the Bible is without contradiction if we take the information from it as it is logically presented.   Glorious God, how good it is to share in Your wisdom as it is displayed in Your word. Help us to not approach it with incorrect thoughts that may bias our study of it. Rather, may we carefully consider that what we thought was right at first may be in error. If so, may our pride not step in and force the narrative in a way not intended by You. Amen.  

Witam was w podkaście Historie Biblijne. Dzisiaj zajmiemy się jednym z najstarszych miast na świecie. Chodzi o Jerycho. Historycy uważają je właśnie za jedno z najstarszych, nieprzerwanie zamieszkanych miast na świecie. Czy jednak było ono nieprzerwanie zamieszkane? Do tego pytania wrócimy. Zacznijmy jednak od początku.Jerycho znajduje się na wschód od Jerozolimy. Prowadziła tam droga, o której opowiadał Jezus w przypowieści o Miłościwym Samarytaninie. W Łukasza 10:30 czytamy: “Pewien człowiek szedł z Jerozolimy do Jerycha i wpadł w ręce zbójców, którzy go obrabowali, poranili i odeszli, zostawiając go na pół umarłego”. Żyd z tej opowieści schodził z Jerozolimy do Jerycha. Jerozolima leży w górach, a gdzie jest Jerycho? Znajduje się ono w dolinie Jordanu, jakieś 250 metrów poniżej poziomu morza. Dlaczego ludzie się tam osiedlili?W okolicach Jerycha znajduje się wiele źródeł wody. Ponieważ to miasto znajduje się w dolinie Jordanu, 250 metrów poniżej poziomu morza, panuje tam klimat podzwrotnikowy. Właśnie to miasto oglądał Mojżesz z drugiej strony Jordanu. W Powtórzonego Prawa 34:3 czytamy co widział: "I Negeb, i obwód doliny Jerycha, miasta palm, aż po Soar". Jerycho nazwano miastem palm. Warto zapamiętać także tę nazwę.Nazwa Jerycho prawdopodobnie znaczy Miasto Księżyca. Jarikh to słowo z języka amoryckiego. Oznacza przynajmniej trzy rzeczy: imię boga, księżyc oraz miesiąc. To słowo weszło do języka hebrajskiego i było zapisywane jako JRH. Uczeni zajmujący się lingwistyką nie są zgodni, ale wielu wskazuje, że nazwa Jerycho pochodzi od imienia tego boga księżyca. Co o tym mieście zdradziła archeologia?Wykopaliska w tych rejonach prowadzono jeszcze przed I wojną światową. Np. już w 1868 pierwsze wykopaliska przeprowadził Charles Warren (znany z szybu Warrena). Najbardziej są jednak znane wykopaliska profesora Johna Garstanga z 1930 roku. Twierdził on, że odkrył mury z czasów Jozuego. Jednak późniejsi archeolodzy uważają, że odkryte przez niego mury pochodziły z 3000 p.n.e. Niestety, wykopaliska z 1930 roku zniszczyły cenne warstwy archeologiczne, utrudniając badanie pozostałości 12 innych murów.Najstarsze zabudowania w Jerychu były okrągłe. Chodzi o to, że budynki były zbudowane na fundamencie w kształcie koła. Także Wieża, która jest najstarszym budynkiem w tym mieście, była okrągła. To miasto zostało jednak zburzone, a kolejne miało już budynki o podstawie prostokątów. Takich warstw, jak już mówiłem, jest 12, a najstarsza ma właśnie te budowle o okrągłych podstawach. Później nadeszła era domów na planie prostokątnym. Ludzie mieli wtedy już udomowione owce i kozy. Wygląda na to, że te starsze domy o podstawie koła powstały przed udomowieniem tych zwierząt.Najbardziej znaną postacią biblijną mieszkającą w Jerychu była Rachab. W Jozuego 6:25 czytamy: “Nierządnicę Rachab, rodzinę jej ojca i wszystko, co miała, zachował Jozue przy życiu. Zamieszkała ona wśród Izraela po dzień dzisiejszy, ponieważ ukryła posłańców, których wysłał Jozue, aby przeprowadzili wywiad w Jerychu”. Znalazła się w linii rodowej Jezusa jak mówi Ewangelia Mateusza 1:5.Jeżeli więc spodziewaliście się, że archeologia potwierdzi lub zaprzeczy zdobyciu Jerycha przez Jozuego to muszę was rozczarować. Współczesna archeologia prowadzi bardzo ostrożne wykopaliska z pędzelkiem i małą łopatką. Niestety w okresie międzywojennym wykorzystywano zwykłych robotników z łopatami. Nie ma dowodów na zdobycie miasta przez Jozuego, ale jest chyba dowód na coś innego.Według Biblii Jozue zdobył Jerycho około roku 1473 p.n.e. W Jozuego 6:26 czytamy, że przeklął każdego kto odbuduje to miasto. W 1 Królewskiej 16:34 czytamy: “Za jego to czasów Chiel z Betelu odbudował Jerycho. Na Abiramie, swoim pierworodnym, założył jego fundamenty, a na Segubie, swoim najmłodszym jego, bramy, według słowa Pana, jakie wypowiedział przez Jozuego, syna Nuna”. Z Biblii wynika, że Jerycho było nieodbudowanie przez parę stuleci. Czy archeologia to potwierdza?Według archeologów Jerycho pozostało nieodbudowane przez jakieś 500 lat, od około XV do około X wieku p.n.e. Według Biblii Jerycho zburzono w czasach Jozuego. Odbudowano je w czasach izraelskiego króla Achaba. Wtedy żona Achaba Jezebel wprowadziła kult Baala. Właśnie wtedy jakiś człowiek odważył się odbudować przeklęte przez Jozuego miasto.Odbudowano Jerycho w czasach króla Achaba, który uciskał Moab, o czym mówi nie tylko Biblia ale także stela Meszy, króla Moabu. Co ciekawe wcześniej zdarzyło się coś odwrotnego. W Sędziów 3:13 o królu Moabu Eglonie czytamy: “Skupił on przy sobie Ammonitów i Amalekitów a wyruszywszy, pobił Izraela, i zajęli miasto Palm”. Chodzi o Jerycho, które nazywano miastem palm. Dlaczego Eglon i Achab potrzebowali Jerycha?Przy tym mieście znajdował się bród. Eglon który mieszkał po wschodniej części Jordanu aby najeżdżać Izrael potrzebował bezpiecznej przeprawy przez Jordan. Dokładnie tego samego potrzebował później Achab, który zdobył Moab. Tak więc Eglon robił najazdy z Moabu przez Jordan na Izrael. Wiele wieków później Achab najeżdżał Moab przekraczając rzekę w drugą stronę.Biblia więc mówi, że Jerycho zostało zniszczone w czasach Jozuego i ponownie odbudowanie w czasach Achaba. Archeologia potwierdza, że miasto pozostawało nieodbudowane. Czy to znaczy, że nikt tam nie mieszkał? Prawdopodobnie w okolicznych kamieniołomach mieszkał król Moabu Eglon. Przy samej przeprawie mieszkali też ludzie w czasach króla Dawida. Mieszkali tam też proroczy, a szczególnie Elizeusz.W czasach Elizeusza był problem z wodą. W 2 Królewskiej 2:19 czytamy: “Rzekli więc obywatele tego miasta do Elizeusza: Oto dobrze się mieszka w tym mieście, jak to mój pan sam widzi, lecz woda jest zła i ziemia jest niepłodna”. Prorok miał uzdrowić tą wodę. Dziś w Jerychu jest źródło Eliasza, nazwane tak według tradycji że to właśnie tamto, które miał uzdrowić prorok.Z Jerychem jest związana pozorna sprzeczność. W Ewangelii Mateusza 20:29 czytamy: “gdy On wychodził z Jerycha, szło za nim mnóstwo ludu”. Jezus wychodzi z Jerycha i spotyka później niewidomych. Tak samo opisano to w Marka 10:46. Jednak w Łukasza 18:35 czytamy: “gdy On przybliżał się do Jerycha, pewien ślepiec siedział przy drodze, żebrząc”. Czy więc Jezus wychodził z Jerycha czy do niego wchodził? Czy rację mieli Mateusz i Marek czy Łukasz?Odpowiedź związana jest z historią tego miasta. W I wieku p.n.e. istniało starożytne miasto Jerycho. Herod Wielki zbudował obok starożytnego miasta drugie Jerycho właśnie obok źródła Eliasza. Było to coś w rodzaju kurortu. Jest tam bardzo ciepły klimat. Jednak w 36 p.n.e. Marek Antoniusz podarował Jerycho swojej kochance Kleopatrze. Dalej mieszkał tam Herod ale musiał płacić Kleopatrze czynsz. Właśnie w tym okresie Herod Wielki kazał zamordować swojego szwagra właśnie w Jerychu.Arystobul III brat Mariamne żony Heroda utopił się w Jerychu w basenie. Prawdopodobnie to Herod Wielki kazał go tam utopić. Józef Flawiusz pisze, że Herod zaprosił szwagra do swojego pałacu w Jerychu. Podczas jednej z uczt został namówiony do kąpieli w basenie. Tam utonął w obecności sług Heroda. Arystobul był ostatnim męskim potomkiem dynastii hasmonejskiej. Był bardzo popularny wśród ludzi, a Herod był Idumejczykiem.Wracając do pozornej sprzeczności w Ewangeliach. Prawdopodobnie Jezus wychodził z jednego Jerycha i szedł w kierunku drugiego. Istniały wtedy dwa Jerycha. W historii Polski też były takie wypadki. Np. istniały dwie Warszawy obok siebie. Dla pełnego obrazu warto wspomnieć, że w czasach bizantyjskich i islamskich powstało trzecie Jerycho, które istnieje do dzisiaj. Gdybyście pojechali dziś do Jerycha pojechalibyście do tego trzeciego miasta.W czasach Jezusa panowali tam Rzymianie. Kontynuacją tego byli Bizantyjczycy. Jednak po wiekach panowania rzymskiego i bizantyjskiego, Jerycho zostało zdobyte przez armie muzułmańskie w 638 roku n.e., włączając je do rozwijającego się kalifatu. Później miasto weszło w skład Imperium Osmańskiego (Tureckiego), które dominowało w regionie do I wojny światowej. W 1918 roku Jerycho przeszło pod kontrolę brytyjską, stając się częścią Mandatu Palestyny. Po wojnie arabsko-izraelskiej w 1948 roku, rejon Jerycha i Zachodni Brzeg Jordanu zostały zajęte i włączone do Jordanii.Ten status utrzymał się do wojny sześciodniowej w 1967 roku, kiedy to miasto zostało zajęte przez Izrael. Następnie, na mocy Porozumień z Oslo w 1994 roku, Jerycho stało się pierwszym miastem oficjalnie przekazanym pod kontrolę rodzącej się Autonomii Palestyńskiej. Choć później, w okresie Drugiej Intifady (rozpoczętej w 2000 roku), było tymczasowo ponownie zajęte przez siły izraelskie (w marcu 2002 roku), ostatecznie zostało w pełni oddane Palestyńczykom 16 marca 2005 roku, zgodnie z ustaleniami Sharm el-Sheikh.A Jezus, nawiązując do tego, rzekł: Pewien człowiek szedł z Jerozolimy do Jerycha i wpadł w ręce zbójców, którzy go obrabowali, poranili i odeszli, zostawiając go na pół umarłegohttp://biblia-online.pl/Biblia/Warszawska/Ewangelia-Lukasza/10/30I Negeb, i obwód doliny Jerycha, miasta palm, aż po Soar.http://biblia-online.pl/Biblia/Warszawska/5-Ksiega-Mojzeszowa/34/3Nierządnicę Rachab, rodzinę jej ojca i wszystko, co miała, zachował Jozue przy życiu. Zamieszkała ona wśród Izraela po dzień dzisiejszy, ponieważ ukryła posłańców, których wysłał Jozue, aby przeprowadzili wywiad w Jerychu.https://biblia-online.pl/Biblia/Warszawska/Ksiega-Jozuego/6/25W tym czasie kazał Jozue ludowi złożyć przysięgę: Przeklęty będzie przed Panem mąż, który podejmie odbudowę tego miasta, Jerycha! Na swoim pierworodnym założy jego fundament i na swoim najmłodszym postawi jego bramyhttp://biblia-online.pl/Biblia/Warszawska/Ksiega-Jozuego/6/26

Sunday, 16 November 2025   When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities. Matthew 14:13   “And Jesus, having heard, He withdrew thence in a boat to a desolate place by Himself. And the crowds, having heard, they followed Him afoot from the cities” (CG).   In the previous verse, it was noted that John the Immerser's disciples came to retrieve his body and bury it. They then went and told Jesus. Now, it says, “And Jesus, having heard, He withdrew thence.”   It is to be remembered that the narrative of John the Immerser was predicated upon the words of Matthew 14:1, 2 –   “At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus 2 and said to his servants, ‘This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.'”   In other words, the disciples of John going to tell Jesus was a part of the narrative that went from Matthew 14:3-12. The words, “And Jesus, having heard,” return to the main narrative about Herod, not the sub-narrative about John. Jesus heard that Herod was curious about Him. Therefore, He withdrew thence.   Meyer's NT Commentary disagrees and says that the words of Matthew 14:13 follow after the “having come, they told Jesus” of the previous verse. This discounts the fact that Matthew 14:1 says, “at that time Herod...” which sets the stage for the narrative now. This is further supported by Mark 6, where the explanatory sub-narrative about John is also addressed after the note about Herod.   That sub-narrative is followed by the note about the apostles coming and telling Jesus all they had done and taught while ministering in Israel. This is how Herod heard about Jesus, and it sets the stage for Jesus' departure to a desolate place.   This is fully supported by the narrative as it is laid out in Luke 9, where the sub-narrative concerning John is omitted, and only a short note about him is given. The connection is to Herod's hearing about Jesus, not John's beheading. Therefore, it next says, “in a boat to a desolate place by Himself.”   Jesus was at some location around the Galilee, likely Capernaum, based on Luke's account as indicated in Luke 8, which leads into Luke 9. The apostles were given their commission, they went forth, returned, and at that time Herod heard about Jesus. At the same time, the disciples returned to tell Him about all they had done.   As Jesus and His apostles got into a boat to go to a desolate place, it says, “And the crowds, having heard, they followed Him afoot from the cities.”   A new word is seen, pezē, foot-wise or afoot. The people figured out where Jesus and His apostles were heading and headed to the same area, trudging afoot to meet Him there. This sets the narrative for the great event about to be described.   Life application: A basic reading of the narrative thus far in Matthew 13 would lead one to assume that Jesus retreated to the desolate place because He had heard about the death of John the Baptist, and the distress of that event drove Him to seek isolation.   This is a commonly used thought for preachers when addressing the matter in sermons on Sunday morning, but it is not a correct analysis of the events. Two things precipitated Jesus' decision. The main one is Herod's interest in Him. This can be deduced from the fact that all three gospels refer to that event first in the narrative: Matthew 14:1, Mark 6:14, and Luke 9:7. Each sets the stage for the rest of what is stated.   The second thing to bring this about was the return of the apostles from their time of ministry, as noted in Mark 6:30 and Luke 9:10. As noted, it would have been the expanded presence of Jesus' ministry in Israel that alerted Herod about Jesus.   Therefore, the retreat into the desolate area was probably an expedient to avoid the events of Jesus' passion beginning before the proper time while also allowing the apostles to process their time ministering in Israel. Mark 6:31 said there was so much going on, they didn't even have time to eat. These two thoughts will come together in the miracle that is set to take place.   Understanding this detail should alert you, once again, to the fact that following someone as a Bible teacher because he has a certain ability that others may not possess doesn't mean his instruction is correct. People thoroughly trained in Greek, like the Myer's NT Commentary, do not equate to properly understanding what is being said in the text.   This is true of famous preachers, having a particular genealogy (like being Jewish), having gone to a particular seminary, etc. Just because someone has certain abilities or characteristics does not make him a specialist in the Bible. Myer's Commentary gets many things right, but it also makes errors. This is true with any Bible preacher, teacher, or scholar.   Consider each commentary on each passage you study as suspect until you have researched it and read varying opinions on what is presented. Unless you do this, you may be setting yourself up for incorrect conclusions or even faulty or heretical doctrine.   Heavenly Father, give us the wisdom to consider Your word carefully in each passage we read and study. May we be willing to think beyond the single verse or paragraph we are evaluating and to consider the greater context of what is being said. By doing this, we will be able to more perfectly piece together what You are telling us. Yes, Lord, help us in this lifelong pursuit of Your word. Amen.

We are already living in the "Kingdom of already-but-not-yet." But who is the king? In this sermon, one week before "Christ the King Sunday," Pastor Chris took a look at a Scripture passage where Jesus' disciples asked Him about Herod's Temple. His answer was packed full of meaning and importance, not only for them, but also for all time. What does it mean that "Christ is King," and just which king are we talking about? The painting associated with this sermon is titled "Crystal Sea" (detail) by Ron Richardson. It can be seen on the Epiclesis podcast page but does not appear in the iTunes application.

Readings: Isaiah 12; Psalm 98; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13; Luke 21:5-19. Central Theme: Jesus's prophecy against Herod's ornate temple reflects a consistent biblical pattern of God rejecting centralized religious power and wealth accumulation in favor of decentralized, agrarian faithfulness. Key Insights: Luke writes post-70 CE with knowledge of the temple's destruction, but this doesn't negate Jesus's prophetic vision The name "Jesus" (Yeshua = "salvation") connects Christ to Joshua the builder of the plain-Jane Second Temple Septuagint (LXX) Exodus 15:3 reads "The Lord brings wars to nothing" vs. Masoretic "The Lord is a warrior" - a crucial difference for understanding God's relationship to violence Hebrew root LHM carries both "laham" (fighter) and "elohim" (gods), pointing toward a God who undoes physical violence through spiritual battle. Theological Argument: Salvation is cooperative work between humans and God, not passive reception of predetermined grace. The biblical witness consistently undermines those who claim entitlement without labor (Pharaoh, Herod, Solomon) and instead elevates agrarian mutuality and decentralized interpretation. Contemporary Challenge: We must "federate our faith" and resist religious institutions that enforce monopolies on meaning. The oldest manuscripts we possess are Hellenized texts that already represent a tension between imperial power and prophetic decentralization - we should embrace this pluralism rather than seek singular authority. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The sermon centers on Jesus' encounter with Gentile seekers in John 12, using their desire to 'see Jesus' as a powerful metaphor for the ongoing call to evangelism in a world hungry for truth. It emphasizes that, just as the Greeks were barred from the inner courts of Herod's temple, many today are spiritually blocked by religious barriers, making the church's role as 'serving hands' essential. The core message is that true discipleship requires surrender—like the grain of wheat that must die to bear fruit—inviting believers to actively share the gospel with courage and humility. The preacher underscores that salvation comes only through faith in Christ, not works or tradition, and calls both the unsaved to respond and the saved to lead others, highlighting that every soul's conversion brings joy in heaven and fulfills Christ's mission to draw all people to Himself.

Saturday, 15 November 2025   Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus. Matthew 14:12   “And his disciples, having come, they lifted the body and they interred it. And having come, they told Jesus” (CG).   In the previous verse, John's head was brought to Herodias' daughter on a platter. From there, she took it to her mother. With that noted, it next says, “And his disciples.”   This refers not to Jesus' disciples but John's. They probably tended to John while in prison, such as bringing him meals, stopping by to talk, and so forth. Upon going to the prison to attend to him, someone would have let them know that John had been beheaded. With that understood, it next says, “having come, they lifted the body and they interred it.”   A new word, ptóma, is seen here. It is derived from piptó, to fall. It signifies a ruin, but specifically a lifeless body, meaning a corpse, carrion, etc. The disciples determined to ensure that John's body was treated with dignity after the sad treatment he had received at the hands of Herod.   As for its disposal, almost all translations say “buried” here, but this is not the way bodies were handled in Israel at the time. Rather, they were placed in tombs to decay. Normally, after some amount of time, the bones would be collected and placed in ossuaries, or they would be stored in a single section of a tomb. This is what probably would have been the case with John's body as well. Once John's body was interred, it says, “And having come, they told Jesus.”   This would be the natural extension of such a series of events. What seems likely, although unstated, is that these disciples would henceforth follow Jesus. If so, the death of John would have immediately changed the course of their lives in more than one way.   Life application: It is quite often the case that at some point after a tragedy, death, or catastrophe, something good will result. At the time of the event, things seem overwhelming, and sadness or grief may take hold of us for a spell. Eventually, however, when our minds have adjusted and our lives have settled, we can look back and process the unfolding of events.   When we do, we can often see how what seemed a one-way street of woe was actually a path that turned onto another road of opportunity for joy and a new direction in life. However, some people never accept this and stay wallowing in their misery, blaming God for the events that brought them so much grief.   But this is God's world, we are His creatures, and He has a right to choose the events of our lives. Instead of holding things against Him, we should take time to evaluate what has taken place and how it fits into the greater picture of our continued existence.   When we do, we will be able to see how things brought us into a new dynamic with new hopes and possibilities. So, let us take the time to grieve, but not to get stuck there. Rather, as Solomon noted, there is a time for everything. And as the author of Lamentations notes, the compassions of the Lord are new every morning.   Wait for time to heal the wounds of life, and look for the hand of the Lord to be with you each day as He sends His gracious favor to you in the process. You will find out that this is how He works in the lives of His people.   Lord God, thank You for Your tender mercies. There is trial, trouble, tribulation, and catastrophe in this life, but there are still wonderful blessings that come to us, even in such times. May we focus our minds on You, even as we struggle through this life. Surely, when we do, things will always make sense as we continue through our walk on the path to You. Amen.

The story of Herod and John the Baptist is one of the saddest moments in Mark. But not for the reasons you might expect. What was the opportunity placed before Herod? And why did he miss it? This passage invites us to consider how we respond to God's word.

Friday, 14 November 2025   And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. Matthew 14:11   “And his head, it was carried upon a platter, and it was given to the damsel, and she carried to her mother” (CG).   In the previous verse, it was noted that Herod sent and he beheaded John in prison. It next says, “And his head, it was borne upon a platter.”   The word pheró, to bear, is introduced here. HELPS Word Studies says, “properly, to bear, carry (bring) along, especially temporarily or to a definite (prescribed) conclusion (defined by the individual context).”   Once John was beheaded, it was placed upon a platter, being carried to its now rightful owner according to the oath made by Herod. It next says, “and it was given to the damsel.”   Something new concerning Herodias' daughter is seen here. She is called a damsel, a little girl. It explains why she went to her mother (as recorded in Mark) to determine what she should ask for when the oath and offer were extended to her by Herod.   From the prison where John was beheaded, it was borne by an attendant and taken to Herodias' daughter. She was the one who had pleased Herod in the dance and to whom the promise was made. Therefore, the burden of carrying it to its final destination was accomplished by her. As it says, “and she bore to her mother.”   Nothing beyond this is recorded concerning what happened to the head. Some extra-biblical comments about it have been made, but the Bible itself is silent on the matter.   Life application: In the story of the life of King David, the account of David encountering Goliath on the battlefield is recorded. There it says –   “So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it.” 1 Samuel 17:48-51   A bit later, it says, “And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent” (1 Samuel 17:54).   To understand the significance of what occurred in that account, sermons from the Superior Word detail the events and their typological significance in detail. One thing that can be deduced about the beheading of John is connected to that account concerning Goliath.   Everything about the law is associated with death. God gave Adam a law in the Garden of Eden. Adam violated that law, and it brought about his death (Genesis 2:17), and it also brought about death in humanity (Romans 5:12). Even Jesus, who was under the Law of Moses, died in fulfillment of it. It was a necessary death for grace to be bestowed.   John the Immerser was the final prophet under the law. He was the herald of the coming of Christ. As such, he was destined to die as an example of the law's power of death over life. Only in coming to Christ's completed work is the matter reversed, and life, meaning life in Christ, prevails over death.   As terrible as the account concerning John the Baptist is, we are being instructed in the difference set forth between Adam's failure and Christ's victory. This includes the death of John, who proclaimed law to the world.   The law had to come to an end for grace to be bestowed. John is the one who brought it to that point. Jesus is the One who then acted, completing the task and offering something far more glorious to the people of the world. Let us never forget the lesson of law vs. grace. Hold fast to the grace of God as it is revealed in the Person and work of Jesus Christ, our Lord.   Lord God, in the end, it is all about what You are doing in Christ Jesus for the people of the world. Help us to remember this and to hold fast to this truth. We don't need more law! What we need is grace. Thank You for the grace offered through His completed work. Amen.

Who was Herod the Great? What can we learn from what the Bible says about Herod the Great?

Thursday, 13 November 2025   So he sent and had John beheaded in prison. Matthew 14:10   “And, having sent, he beheaded John in the prison” (CG).   In the previous verse, despite being grieved, Herod commanded that what Herodias' daughter asked for was to be given to her. Because of that, it next says, “And, having sent, he beheaded John in the prison.”   The word apokephalizó, to decapitate or behead, is first seen here. It is from apo, from or away, and kephalé, head. The meaning is clear. A separation between the body and the head is realized.   Of this word, it is in the third person singular. The action, though carried out by an executioner, is laid at the feet of Herod: “he beheaded.” It cannot be thought that the word is referring to the executioner, because none is identified in the previous words, even if one is implied. The nearest antecedent, being Herod, places him as the responsible agent for John's death.   There is a dispute concerning where the execution took place. If Herod was in one location and the prison in another, then there would be a day or two separation between the beheading and its presentation to Herodias' daughter.   It could also be that this birthday party took place in the location where the prison was. In reality, it doesn't matter. The narrative ties the event of John's beheading to the request of the daughter. The dance took place, the oaths were made, the request to fulfill the oath was stated, and the king ordered the beheading.   If the Bible wanted us to know the other details, it would have included them. However, the fact that the execution took place immediately after the request is what the narrative is concerned with.   Life application: There is often as much to learn from what is not stated in Scripture as what is. When details are specifically left out, we can know that they were omitted for a reason.   For example, if there is a narrative about a particular person, and it notes that he went to seven different named locations, and then he had various things occur at a particular place, but the name of that place is never given, it means that the name is left out to not mar the typology that is being presented.   This happens quite often. A list of people is mentioned, and their names are given. However, another person who is mentioned many times, such as a servant or a friend, is never identified beyond his position. We have no idea what his name is, despite being mentioned repeatedly.   Pay attention to such things. Information is being conveyed within stories and the record of particular events. Each name or description provides some sort of detail that God is using to continue His typological and pictorial presentations for us to learn other truths from.   Nothing is superfluous in the word of God. It all has bearing on what He is doing. Looking to discern His intent will allow us to understand why odd or obscure stories have been selected from history and included in His word.   In the end, it is all pointing to Jesus and what occurs in relation to Him in the greater context of redemptive history.   Lord God, thank You for the intricacy and incredible depth of Your word. The smallest child can pick it up and find You and the key to eternal salvation and fellowship with You. And yet, the greatest scholar can pick it up and find something to challenge him to the point of mental fatigue as he struggles to plumb the depths of Your word. What a treasure it is! Amen.  

In this Bible Story, we witness the tragic yet noble death of James. He would be the first apostle to become a martyr, and he would not be the last. As persecution of the church increases, so does the risk of imprisonment. Yet death is no match for Jesus, nor is it a threat to those who believe in him. This story is inspired by Acts 12. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is Acts 12:7 from the King James Version.Episode 227: As men and women ran from burning buildings to escape death, they were captured by King Herod and imprisoned. These Christians were the only thing standing between him and power. James, one of the Lord’s twelve disciples, remained in the city preaching about the restoration that Jesus brings. While he was preaching, Herod sent guards to kill him where he stood. A public death sent a message from Herod that he is King, not Jesus. But this persecution could not stop Jesus or His followers. Even when Peter was captured and imprisoned, God made a way for him to escape death.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world’s greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wednesday, 12 November 2025   And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he commanded it to be given to her. Matthew 14:9   “And grieved, the king, but through the oaths and those co-reclining, he commanded it given” (CG).   In the previous verse, Herodias' daughter made her petition to Herod to give her the head of John the Immerser on a platter. In response, Matthew records, “And grieved, the king.”   A new word is seen, lupeó. It signifies distress. Reflexively, it thus signifies to be sad or grieved. In his impulsiveness, Herod opened his mouth without thinking. It has now cost him because he failed to consider that this girl might first go to her mother and seek her advice. In doing so, the mother would know exactly how far she could go without stepping over a line that was not to be crossed.   It is true that Herodias' advice would put Herod in a personal bind, but it was not something that he would refuse to grant. As such, Herod grieved that he had been outsmarted in the matter of John, something that had probably already come up between him and his wife previously. Despite the uncomfortable request, Matthew next says, “but through the oaths.”   The plural, oaths, goes back to verse 14:7 where it said, “with an oath he assented.” He made an oath and then restated it as a binding surety that he was being sincere. When such a proclamation is made, it would show a lack of character to withdraw the offer, thus breaking the vow stated with such adamancy. Along with his oath was the added embarrassing note, saying, “and those co-reclining.”   Not only had Herod made a vow and then assented to it, but he had done so in the presence of others. For him to withdraw his words, even after such a request, would mean that when these men spoke to him in the future, they would always wonder if his words would match his actions.   The girl's request was exceedingly embarrassing, but not impossible to grant, petition. Therefore, “he commanded it given.”   Herod, maybe laughing as a disguise for his horror, ordered his men to have John's head removed and brought forward. Not only would this be a trying evening for him personally, but it would be an event that would bring him notoriety and shame in the eyes of those who heard about it. It would also add a gruesome sight for those who were in attendance to remember and consider when invited to dinner with the king in the future.   Life application: Despite all of the gore to be seen on TV and in movies, and even in the news to some extent, seeing a dead person close up for the first time is always a shocking event.   One of the common things seen inside a mortuary when a first-time visitor is brought in is for the person to stop, step backwards, and place his hand over his mouth. There is a sense of mental horror that a dead person is really right there in front of his eyes. This isn't just a Hollywood movie or a prop in play, but a human being who is no longer alive.   Stepping back is a mentally horrified reaction that death somehow can be avoided if enough distance is put between the person and the corpse. And the hand over the mouth usually occurs because people somehow equate death to an influence that actually permeates the air. Covering the mouth and nose is not based on a reaction to smell, but the presence of death itself, as if it can be breathed in.   Imagine being at the banqueting hall of royalty and seeing the platter with John the Immerser's head on it. If it was covered with linen, the mind could escape the truth of what was under it. However, with the linen removed, anyone who had never seen a dead person in closed quarters would probably react as those first-time visitors who enter a morgue will react.   When looking at a dead person, we can remember that the person lying there is dead for a reason. Ultimately, it is because of the results of sin. Now consider those who saw Jesus when He died. His body was removed from the cross, and He was carried away to be interred.   Those in attendance, if they understood theology, would know that sin caused Jesus' death. What they would not know is that it wasn't His sin that did so. However, an astute person standing by the tomb on the third day, seeing Jesus alive and well a well, would be able to theologically process the information. Jesus died because of sin. Jesus rose again. Therefore, Jesus must not have had any sin.   But if the wages of sin is death, then how could Jesus have died in the first place? If that person understood the Scriptures, had heard the words of Jesus during His ministry, and considered the true role of the coming Messiah, he would be able to say, “I get it!”   Jesus Christ really died, He was truly interred in the tomb, and He truly rose again. The magnitude of what Jesus did is the highlight of all human existence since the creation of man. From time to time, we must stop and consider what God in Christ has done for us. The lifeless body of Jesus signifies the removal of our sin. The resurrection of Jesus proves to us that it is so and that it is permanent. Thanks be to God for Jesus Christ our Lord.   “And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place, the tabernacle of meeting, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat. 21 Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man. 22 The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to an uninhabited land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness.” Leviticus 16:20-22   Lord God, thank You for the death, internment, and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

**Thank you for supporting this ministry, I lovingly refer to as "The Little Green Pasture." Click here: PayPal: http://paypal.me/JoanStahl **Please prayerfully consider becoming a ministry partner: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/joaniestahl **Contact Email: jsfieldnotes@gmail.com **Subscribe to me on Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-534183​Have you ever hit rock bottom? Felt the crushing weight of fear or the temptation to hide and give up? ​In this powerful message, we dive into Luke 13:31-33, where Jesus is warned that the "fox-king" Herod wants to kill him. Instead of running, Jesus delivers a stunning, confident reply that reveals the true heart of our mission.​The devil tries to use threats, fear, and intimidation to get us to hide and kill off our joy, courage, and faith. But we are called to the Spirit of Life! Discover how to stand firm, complete your mission, and run the race with full confidence, even when the enemy tries to tell you to quit. Jesus Himself will see to it that you will finish your race with great joy, and powerful victory, you can rely on it. You can rely on Him."Satan is not particular what lie he tells you; one will work as powerfully as another if he can get you to believe it." - William Gurnall​ Hitting rock bottom Luke 13:31-33 Jesus and Herod The Spirit of Life vs Spirit of Fear Overcome fear and adversity Christian motivation spiritual confidence fulfilling your mission devil's threats joy courage faith keep the race

Tuesday, 11 November 2025   So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, “Give me John the Baptist's head here on a platter.” Matthew 14:8   “And having been instigated by her mother, she says, ‘You give me here upon a platter the head of John the Immerser'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Herod offered by oath whatever Herodias' daughter asked for. With his offer made, it next says, “And having been instigated by her mother.”   A new word, found only here in the New Testament, is seen, probibazó, to instigate. It is derived from pro, before, and biazó, to force. Thus, it is to force forward, hence, to instigate as one prods another to take a certain action.   Mark 6:24 fills in the detail left out by Matthew, saying, “So she went out and said to her mother, ‘What shall I ask?'” Her response, still in Mark 6:24, was, “The head of John the ‘Immersing'!” That is then explained by Matthew with his continued words, where “she says, ‘You give me here upon a platter the head of John the Immerser.'”   Another new word is seen, pinax, a platter. It is a variant form of plax, a molding board, meaning a flat surface. Going along with her mother's instigation, the young lady requests the immediate execution of John, seen in the word “here,” with his head presented to her.   It is a rather gross request, but young ladies will be young ladies, and she was obedient to her mother's instigation. Thus, the request was set before Herod in regard to her mother's desire.   Life application: As tragic as John's beheading was, the fact that he would die before Jesus has already been hinted at. In John 11:11, Jesus said, “Amen! I say to you, not he has risen in ‘born of women' greater than John the Immerser, but the least in the kingdom of the heavens, he is greater than he.”   If John were to have survived until after Jesus' death, he would have certainly believed the good news of the resurrection and been a part of the church age. Therefore, John's death had already been factored into things as they unfolded.   Despite this, there is a hope for those who died in faith in the promises of God. In Daniel 12, it says –   “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.” Daniel 12:1-3   After the church age, the world will enter into the tribulation. It will be a terrible time on earth, but once that is over, those who were of faith will be raised to eternal life. This included Daniel, as stated to him in Daniel 12:13. As such, it is certain it will be inclusive of all who died before the coming of Jesus who were people of faith, including John the Immerser.   We don't need to worry that God's plan is out of control, and we do not need to fret over comments by people who claim God is somehow unfair or uncaring when they make negative comments over things, like John's beheading, as if it demonstrates God is not good.   This life is temporary, and unless the Lord comes first at the rapture, we are all going to die. It really doesn't matter how that occurs. Once you are dead, that's it. As we are told in John 6:33, the flesh profits nothing. What matters is what we do with this life now.   Be sure to focus on Jesus, trust Him even in the most difficult of times or circumstances, and trust His word. In the end, good things are in store for those who do so.   Lord God, thank You for the promises set forth in Your word for us. We are undeserving of the least of Your mercies, and yet, You have promised us that great things are in store for Your people. Help us to focus on this as we walk in this world of troubles, trials, and wickedness that hem us in. Amen.

Reading Luke 23:1-12 where Jesus is brought before Pilate and Herod to be questioned, and the two rulers became friends in doing the same evil. Visit wwutt.com for all our videos!

Monday, 10 November 2025   Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. Matthew 14:7   “Whence with an oath He assented to give her what if she should ask” (CG).   In the previous verse, it was noted that Herod had a birthday celebration and that Herodias' daughter danced for him, pleasing him. Matthew continues the narrative, saying, “Whence with an oath He assented to give her what if she should ask.”   The word that confirms the oath is homologeó, to assent. It signifies “to voice the same conclusion” (HELPS Word Studies). What is probably intended is affirming a matter by repeating it, a common Hebrew form of speaking, such as, “I vow with a vow to do this thing,” or “Vowing with a vow, he confirmed his word.” In this case, the repetition is seen in the exchange as recorded in lengthier statements in Mark 6 –   “And when Herodias' daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.' 23 He also swore to her, ‘Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom.'”   Herod was enamored with the girl's dancing and wanted to reward her for it publicly, something that would demonstrate his magnanimity to those around him. When assenting to his oath, he binds himself to whatever she asks. It is not a wise way of engaging in gift giving. However, being the king, the one who is offered something with such an oath would not be expected to abuse the request, thus eliciting the disfavor of the king.   Life application: In Scripture, people are seen to make vows that can be taken as rash and unwise. A glaring example of this is found in Judges 11 –   Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh, and passed through Mizpah of Gilead; and from Mizpah of Gilead he advanced toward the people of Ammon. 30 And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord, and said, “If You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hands, 31 then it will be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord's, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.” 32 So Jephthah advanced toward the people of Ammon to fight against them, and the Lord delivered them into his hands. 33 And he defeated them from Aroer as far as Minnith—twenty cities—and to Abel Keramim, with a very great slaughter. Thus the people of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel. 34 When Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, there was his daughter, coming out to meet him with timbrels and dancing; and she was his only child. Besides her he had neither son nor daughter. 35 And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he tore his clothes, and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low! You are among those who trouble me! For I have given my word to the Lord, and I cannot go back on it.”   Jephthah made a vow that, unfortunately, cost him the life of his daughter. He understood that despite the consequences of his vow, it was one made to the Lord, and it had to be fulfilled. The reason for this story being included in Scripture is to make a point about what God is doing in redemptive history concerning salvation and His favor or rejection of a particular people group.   To understand what is going on in that passage, you can refer to the Superior Word sermons on Judges 11. As for our words today, a point made by Jesus and which is repeated by both Paul and James is that when we speak, we are to refrain from making vows concerning such matters.   Instead, we are to let our Yes be Yes and our No be No. In other words, when we say we are going to do or not do something, our integrity should be so accepted by others that they know we will perform our word. Additional vows and oaths are unnecessary and will detract from what the Lord expects of us.   This does not mean that we are not to make any oath at all. In society, we must swear oaths in court, on legal documents (with our signature, for example), etc. But when speaking, we should refrain from people thinking there is any necessity to go beyond a simply stated affirmation concerning our intent.   Lord God, help us to be people of integrity where others can trust our words, taking them at face value. Help us to remember that when we speak, You are being evaluated through the performance and accomplishment of what we say. Help us to remember this and follow through, to Your glory. Amen.

QUOTES FOR REFLECTION“Might be back on the ropes,Might be down in the ring,Oh, Death, you're a fighter,But you've lost all your sting.So the more that you hit meThe more you can't win.You can knock me down, drag me out,But ring the bell for one more round.I'll get up again, ‘cause this is not the end.”~“This Is Not The End” by The Grey Havens “God never fumbles the ball. If he turns it over to the other side for a few downs, it's because he knows a better way to win.”~John Piper, pastor and author “What would it mean for Christians to give up that little piece of the American Dream that says, ‘You are limitless?' Everything is not possible. The mighty kingdom of God is not yet here. What if ‘rich' did not have to mean ‘wealthy', and ‘whole' did not have to mean ‘healed?' What if being the people of ‘the gospel' meant that we are simply people with good news? God is here. We are loved. It is enough.”~Kate Bower in Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved “This is the most precious answer God can give us: wait. It makes us cling to him rather than to an outcome. God knows what I need; I do not. He sees the future; I cannot. His perspective is eternal; mine is not. He will give me what is best for me when it is best for me.”~Vaneetha Rendall Risner in The Scars That Have Shaped Me SERMON PASSAGEActs 12:1-24 (ESV) 1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. 6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. 11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. 13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 Recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place. 18 Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. 19 And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there. 20 Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king's country for food. 21 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. 22 And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.24 But the word of God increased and multiplied.

Opening and Welcome "Amen. Praise the Lord. Welcome to Sunday morning Victory Church." Welcome to new visitors on behalf of Pastor Richard and Lisa. Prayer for God to speak to the congregation. Romans Overview and Chapter Focus Review of Romans chapters 1–11: Paul presented biblical/theological foundations for salvation. Chapter 12: Practical application—responsibility to God and society. Chapter 13 (today's focus): Responsibility to authority and neighbors. The Issue of Authority Authority is a challenging topic in modern times. Emphasizes a biblical rather than natural or emotional perspective on authority. Jesus' Teaching: Give to Caesar, Give to God Story from the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke): Religious leaders try to trap Jesus with a question about paying taxes to Caesar. Jesus' response: Give Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give to God what belongs to God. The intent was to expose their motives and teach about priorities. Romans 13:1–10—Responsibility to Authority God's Established Order (Verses 1–4) God has instituted human governments for societal order and protection from wrongdoing. Government is meant to be a servant for people's good and well-being. Calling vs. Command: Respect and Cooperation Christians are called to respect and cooperate with government, not to unconditional obedience. The Greek word for "submit" implies voluntary cooperation. When state laws conflict with God's commands, believers must obey God's word (Acts 4–5). Importance of interpreting scripture in context. The Nature of Authority (Verses 5–7) All authority comes from God, whether we understand or like it. God places people in authority to fulfill larger purposes (examples: Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus, Herod). Followers are called to submit for the Lord's sake and pray for those in authority (1 Peter 2:13, 1 Timothy 2:1–2). Accountability for Leaders and Followers Leaders are expected to rule justly and will be held accountable by God. Followers must live righteously; everyone is responsible for their own choices. Example: Roman Centurion's Understanding of Authority Roman centurion understood both earthly and divine authority. Authority flows from a higher source: God. Jesus commended the centurion's great faith. Love as the Divine Motivator (Verses 8–10) Love is the solution to authority issues. Ongoing debt of love ("let your only outstanding debt be your debt of love"). John 3:16 cited as the ultimate example of divine love. Greatest commandments: Love God and love your neighbor. Love fulfills the law and breaks the chains of authority issues. Conclusion and Application Culture distorts concepts like authority and love; scripture renews perspective. God's authority is ultimate; believers are called to please and live for Him. Prayer that misunderstandings and misconceptions would be resolved through relationship with God. Encouragement to let Christ's image be formed in us, to be diligent, light in darkness, and to be salt in the world.  

Sunday, 9 November 2025   But when Herod's birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. Matthew 14:6   “And being Herod's birthday, she danced, the daughter of Herodias, in the midst. And she pleased Herod” (CG).   In the previous verse, it was noted that although Herod wanted to put John the Immerser to death, he feared the multitude because they reckoned him to be a prophet. It next says, “And being Herod's birthday.”   A new word is seen: genesia, birthday. It is the plural of genesis, which means birth, origin, and genealogy. It signifies one's recurring birthday or the ceremonies accompanying it. Despite being plural, rendering it in the singular is to accommodate the standard usage in English. On his birthday, “she danced, the daughter of Herodias.”   This was Salome, the daughter of Herodias by her former husband. Victorian-era commentaries on this condemn the matter as if it were the most inappropriate event imaginable, remarking how sensual and voluptuous the scene must have been. Ellicott's comments reflect their general sentiment –   “Dances in filmy garments that but half concealed the form, commonly of an impure or voluptuous nature, were common enough both at Eastern and Roman banquets, the guests being simply spectators. But the dancers were, for the most part, women who made it their calling, like the nautch-girls of India; and it was a new thing, at which every decent Jew would shudder, for the daughter of a kingly house to come-thus into a shameless publicity and expose herself to the gaze of the banqueters.” Charles Ellicott   One must wonder what such scholars do with the contents of the Song of Songs! Dances have been common at public and private gatherings for all of human history. Cultural norms set the parameters for such things, and it is only the most prudish sort that would condemn such things without considering them in more than their own limited context. Of Salome's dancing, it next says it was “in the midst.”   The meaning is that she would have been in the midst of the room, hall, etc., with those in attendance gathered around. When dances or performers came in, the people would direct their attention to the event. In the case of Salome's dancing, it next says, “And she pleased Herod.”   Another new word is seen, areskó. It signifies to be agreeable and thus, to please. In Romans 8:8, Paul says that those who are in the flesh cannot please [areskó] God. Herod saw the dance and found it satisfying.   Life application: One of the ridiculous standards set forth in the Jehovah's Witnesses is that they do not celebrate birthdays. Their reasoning is that only two birthday celebrations are noted in Scripture, and both are held by bad guys, Pharaoh and Herod.   Therefore, they illogically deduce that God finds the celebration of birthdays unacceptable. Such a conclusion is based on several fallacies. One of them is what is known as an argument from silence.   An argument from silence is when one makes a faulty conclusion based on it not being stated in a source. Yes, there are two examples of birthdays in the Bible, but they merely present the basis for what occurs in the surrounding narrative. There is no need to mention other birthdays, but because no other birthdays are mentioned, the supposedly obvious conclusion is that nobody else observed them, and those who did were bad people.   Another fallacy that accompanies their inane logic is known as a slippery slope. There are various types of slippery slope fallacies, such as the causal, precedential, and conceptual. The conceptual argument is that because no clear line between two concepts on a spectrum exists, there is no meaningful difference between them.   So if Pharaoh and Herod had birthdays and they resulted in negative events or had negative effects, then all birthdays must result in negative outcomes. This is also known as the fallacy of the beard. A person doesn't shave for 12 hours, and he develops a shadow on his face. By the next morning, he has stubble. In two days, he will have bristly hairs.   At what point is it called a beard? The argument is ridiculous, whether it is based on a birthday or a beard. The thought process is unclear and has no basis in reality. Unfortunately, such fallacies are not limited to the Jehovah's Witnesses. They permeate the thinking of the people of the world, including those in the church.   Because of this, all sorts of legalism creep into churches. That is as harmful as a liberal attitude toward Scripture. Whether adding in rules and regulations that have nothing to do with biblical intent, or ignoring things made explicit in Scripture because they don't suit personal mores, the results will always be unhealthy, even detrimental.   Learn about fallacies and remember to think clearly and critically when evaluating the reasons why people come to conclusions. Quite often, you will see where the faulty thinking lies, and you will be able to avoid it.   Lord God, may we learn to think clearly and critically about what Your word presents. Help us not get caught up in things that pull our hearts and minds away from focusing on You. At the same time, may we live our lives in the manner that will bring You glory while also enjoying the lives You have given us here in this world. Amen.  

Matthew 117 Matthew 20:20 ESV   20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something.       Matthew 20:21 ESV   21 And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom."       Matthew 20:22-23 ESV   22 Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?" They said to him, "We are able." 23 He said to them, "You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."       Psalm 16:5 ESV   The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;   you hold my lot.       Isaiah 51:17 ESV   Wake yourself, wake yourself,   stand up, O Jerusalem,   you who have drunk from the hand of the Lord   the cup of his wrath,   who have drunk to the dregs   the bowl, the cup of staggering.       Acts 12:1-2 ESV   About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword       Revelation 1:9 ESV   I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.       Matthew 20:24-28 ESV   24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."       2 Corinthians 1:7-9 ESV   7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.   8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.       Luke 22:31-32 ESV   31 "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."       2 Corinthians 12:7-10 ESV   7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.       1 Peter 4:12-13 ESV   12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.       Romans 5:1-5 ESV   Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.       1 Peter 1:6-9 ESV   6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.       Hebrews 12:7, 11 ESV   7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?   11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.       Romans 8:18 ESV   18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

In a powerful exposition of Luke 13:31–33, the sermon reveals how Jesus confronts both the deceptive warning from His enemies and the fear of human authority with unwavering trust in God's sovereign plan. Though the Pharisees and Herod conspire to manipulate Jesus into fleeing, He sees through their malice and declares that His mission—casting out demons, healing, and fulfilling His divine purpose—will continue until He reaches Jerusalem, where He must die as the appointed Prophet. The sermon emphasizes that Jesus' death was not a defeat but a deliberate, redemptive act, fulfilling God's eternal design, and that all human evil, including the crucifixion, is ultimately overruled for the good of God's people. Drawing from Romans 8, it affirms that nothing—neither persecution, death, nor any created thing—can separate believers from God's love, calling Christians to live with confident hope, knowing that God is sovereignly working all things for the advancement of His kingdom and the eternal good of His people.

NOV 9 | V The Mission of the King | Mark 8:14-21 …The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”“Twelve,” they replied.“And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”They answered, “Seven.”He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

NOV 9 | V The Mission of the King | Mark 8:14-21 …The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”“Twelve,” they replied.“And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”They answered, “Seven.”He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

NOV 9 | V The Mission of the King | Mark 8:14-21 …The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”“Twelve,” they replied.“And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”They answered, “Seven.”He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

NOV 9 | V The Mission of the King | Mark 8:14-21 …The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”“Twelve,” they replied.“And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”They answered, “Seven.”He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

NOV 9 | V The Mission of the King | Mark 8:14-21 …The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”“Twelve,” they replied.“And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”They answered, “Seven.”He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

NOV 9 | V The Mission of the King | Mark 8:14-21 …The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”“Twelve,” they replied.“And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”They answered, “Seven.”He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

NOV 9 | V The Mission of the King | Mark 8:14-21 …The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”“Twelve,” they replied.“And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”They answered, “Seven.”He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

NOV 9 | V The Mission of the King | Mark 8:14-21 …The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”“Twelve,” they replied.“And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”They answered, “Seven.”He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

“Herod kept trying to see Him.” Herod wants to see Jesus, but not for good reason. Herod wants to see Jesus, but will not uproot himself in order to see Him. Do you want to see Jesus? Why do you want to see Jesus? Will you uproot yourself in order to go in search of Him?

Kingdom of God; Stuff posing as Church; Revelations from Genesis 37; Private interpretation; Knowledge vs Spirit; Meaning of words; Discovering where you're wrong - humility; Social safety net; "FDR"; "LBJ"; Civil Rights Act; Baptism; Pentecost; Corban through the Temple; King Jesus; Christ/Messiah; "Priest"; Melchizedek?; Abimelech?; Christ's public ministry; Reading bible guided by Holy Spirit; AI?; "Corban" = sacrifice; "Religion"; Family unit; First corporation; Blind man story; Tens; Subsidizing insurance companies; Corruption; Taking care of the needy; Sharing divine revelation; Joseph's dream; Homeschooling; Government funding churches?; Removing morality; Herdsmen with Jacob; 70 with Jacob?; Possessions?; Human resources; Majorities; Gen 37:2 Joseph shepherding brothers; Word order?; Right to choose to tithe; Freewill offerings; Living as Israel; Community-administered social safety nets; dalet-tav-nun; Adam and Eve hiding; appetite for benefits; Exercising authority over others; "Pious" performance of duty; Drinking from two wells?; Birth certificates; Fervent charity; Knowing what, where, when to give; resh-ayin-hey = feeding the sheep; Idolatry; Empowering kings; Gathering together; Tattle tale Joseph?; Laban's idolatry; Nature of government of Israel; Militia; Love = Charity; Masoretic text debate; Herod's free bread - by force; Leaven?; Following Christ; "Sachem"?; lamad+resh-ayin+vav+tav; Forced sacrifice; Declaration of Independence - not U.S.?; Consent of the governed; Bible about government; LBJ's Great Society; Beast welfare; Mark of God; Gaza?; Allow others their right to choose.

Saturday, 8 November 2025   And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. Matthew 14:5   “And desiring to kill him, he feared the multitude for they held him as a prophet” (CG).   In the previous verse, it was noted that John had told King Herod that having his brother Philip's wife was unlawful. Therefore, Matthew continues with words concerning Herod's attitude toward John, saying, “And desiring to kill him.”   In Mark, it notes that Herodias wanted to kill him, but she couldn't because Herod feared John “knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him” (Mark 6:20). No contradiction should be considered between the two.   It should be obvious to anyone who has been accused by another that Herod was certainly miffed at John when he was confronted with his wrongdoing and scolded for it. Being king, he probably thought, “I'll just have this guy killed... problem solved!”   However, after thinking about it, he would have then reconsidered, something Herodias was unwilling to do. As for Herod, the account next says, “he feared the multitude for they held him as a prophet.”   These words align with the thought given in Mark and match the suggested state of Herod just noted. Herod was confronted with his sin. He didn't like it, and Herod wanted him killed. However, after thinking it through and realizing this would not be a popular course of action, he renounced that thought.   The prophets were often hated by everyone. They called out sin in the people, and depending on the overall attitude of the populace, they could go from being popular with the commoners to being hated by them as well. In John's case, he not only called out for people to turn to the Lord, but he also proclaimed the immediate coming of the Messiah.   This would have been very popular with the commoners who had to suffer under the rule of the dirty priests, the oppressive kings, and the even more oppressive hand of Rome, to whom even these lesser positions were responsible. Add in the arrogant and controlling attitude of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes, and they would have been elated at the thought of a new rule under the Messiah.   On the other hand, these people in positions of power and authority would openly claim they were happy about the coming of the Messiah, but only so far as He would continue to allow them to retain their exalted positions.   Regardless of what the leaders thought, the people were happy with John as a prophet and could have thrown the nation into turmoil if Herod executed him, especially when it was Herod who was violating the law and which brought about John's words of rebuke.   Life application: It should come as no surprise when a Bible preacher is not liked by people in general. His job is to preach the whole counsel of God. In doing so, the general population will not like his message because it highlights sin in humanity.   This is not something people want exposed in their lives, even if nobody else is aware of it. Scripture exposes each individual's sinful state in relation to God. People would rather hate the messenger than acknowledge their sin.   People in the church will also get miffed at preachers. If someone believes people can lose their salvation, but the preacher rightly explains why this is incorrect, the preacher will be mocked and spoken against by those who disagree with him.   The safest way to avoid such things is not to address them at all. Hence, some preachers have churches that fill stadiums because they give easy messages that the masses won't feel intimidated by. Those who may have personal views on particular doctrines are never challenged on them.   For the preacher, it is a safe and often effective walk on a path of mediocrity that keeps money coming in, people content in their weekly church experience, and nobody is seemingly harmed by it.   But this is incorrect. People must be made aware of what the Bible expects and approves of and disapproves of. If not, they will not be properly prepared for the true challenges of a close walk with the Lord in a fallen world of choices that must be made to stay in line with what He expects from His people.   Consider what it is that you want when you select a church. If you are wise, you will desire to attend where the Bible is fully explained, even from those sections that can cause division and animosity. After all, they too are a part of God's word.   Lord God, be with us as we pursue a right understanding of Your word. Open the eyes of our pastors and teachers to rightly understand and properly teach Your word so that we will know what is correct. Amen.

Temple Structure & the Gospel, Part 1 of 3: Herod's Temple was an architectural marvel of the ancient world. But it was much more than a grand building. It was the heart of the Jewish people's worship of the Lord God. This fact was evident in the purposeful design of the Temple, as it separated sections of the structure to ... Read More The post Temple Structure & the Gospel, Part 1 of 3 | November 8, 2025 appeared first on The Friends of Israel Today Radio.

Friday, 7 November 2025   Because John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” Matthew 14:4   “For John, he said to him, ‘Not it permits for you to have her'” (CG).   In the previous verse, it was noted that Herod had bound John and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. That continues now with the words, “For John, he said to him, ‘Not it permits for you to have her.'”   John, being a prophet of the Lord, was careful to uphold the word of the Lord. In the case of Herod, it was especially important to call out his misdeeds because, as the record of the kings of Israel bears witness, as the leadership of the nation goes, so goes the nation.   When a king was willing to violate the law, the people would see this and gladly follow suit. With the turn of a page, the history of Israel as recorded in Scripture often goes from prosperity and a tendency to follow the Lord to corruption and rejection of Him and His law. The example of the king was the preeminent reason for this, time and again.   In the case of Herod, as noted in the commentary of the previous verse, he had taken his brother's wife. Therefore, he was guilty of committing adultery, thus violating the seventh commandment –   “You shall not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14   He was also guilty of breaking the moral codes recorded in Leviticus –   “You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother's wife; it is your brother's nakedness.” Leviticus 18:16   Also, it is implicit that he first broke the tenth commandment –   “You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's.” Exodus 20:17   The term “neighbor” extends to any such situation, be it an actual neighbor or any other person, such as one's brother. It was John's responsibility to highlight the illegal actions of Herod, calling them out for the people to know that even someone of such a high position was not above God's law.   Life application: The tenth commandment is a secret commandment when it is violated, except as it is then displayed in the actions of an individual. Nobody may know that another covets his neighbor's wife. But the Lord does.   One can see that the Lord is not merely evaluating the external deeds we do, but He is searching our hearts, looking at the intent behind our actions. If one covets his neighbor's wife for ten years, not another soul might know it. But then, in a fit of passion, he may take whatever action is needed to have her.   Once this occurs, that coveting has become another violation of the law. It may even lead to a third. First, there is the taking of another man's wife, like King David did. From there, murder follows suit, as King David did. And it all started with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and/or the pride of life.   Any of these can step in and lead to catastrophe for us if we are not constantly in tune with the Lord. As human beings, we are not above temptation and falling prey to our temptations. And so, we should constantly be talking to the Lord, interacting with Him in our hearts and minds while staying in His word to remind us of our position in relation to Him.   “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God'; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” James 1:12-15   Lord God, be with us in our frailties and weaknesses. You fashioned us. You know our limitations and or proclivities. So help us to be attentive to You and our relationship with You. May You give us wisdom and strength to overcome those things which lure us into sin. May it be so, to Your glory. Amen.

Message by Pastor Mat - Nov 6, 2025 Apologetics, Debate, Bible Discussions, Evangelism, and much more Discerning the fruits of the Spirit vs the fruits of self - Mark 7:5-23 "The mystic fruit bowl" - https://youtu.be/kw7QiLQMQ_M?si=356Fx_r9ohUeTLwjThe Deity of Jesus Christ and the Gospel of Salvation - https://www.youtube.com/live/gquqBQIL_0U?si=7zmPLi1X0CcW-v7f(Discussing discipleship) Bible study on Luke 9:60-62 "Let the dead bury the dead" - https://www.youtube.com/live/BkWtkOrEs-Q?si=y-zyqNGfWi3kzVu2To know more on how to be saved, what are the requirements and such, please see our playlist on the Gospel and Eternal Security (assurance of salvation) - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3pJdCnnwrEeCQOCTTmDW1GjUYxpd44DG&si=_rT-lThl0klHt5Cd Our Ministries Website - https://christiancoffeetime.ca/ 1John 5:20) "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life." - Intro Music: A Flourish by Niya is licensed under a Creative Commons License.https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...Support by RFM - NCM: https://bit.ly/2xGHypM -

Cooler temps have Jase missing Phil and imagining exactly what he'd be saying about all the missed weather reports. Jase points out how people have always craved the same three things—sex, money, and power. Al and Zach connect the dots from the ancient kings of Israel to the modern world's obsession with the same idols. The guys dive into how Jesus turned the entire system upside down, conquering not through wealth or force but through sacrifice, proving that real power comes from surrender, not control. In this episode: Deuteronomy 17, verses 6–7, 14–20; 1 Samuel 8, verses 1–22; 1 Samuel 16, verse 7; Daniel 2; Luke 17, verses 20–21; Luke 21, verses 5–6, 12, 20; Luke 22, verse 53; Luke 23, verses 1–25; John 18, verse 36; John 19, verse 8; Matthew 27, verse 24; Matthew 3, verse 10; Luke 24, verse 7; Mark 9, verse 1 “Unashamed” Episode 1203 is sponsored by: Stand firm for values that matter. Join the fight & give today at https://www.frc.org/unashamed https://andrewandtodd.com or call 888-888-1172 — These guys are the real deal. Get trusted mortgage guidance and expertise from someone who shares your values! https://meetfabric.com/unashamed — Join the thousands of parents who trust Fabric to help protect their family. Get an extra 25 cents back for every gallon on your first tank of gas when you download the FREE Upside App and use promo code UNASHAMED! https://www.puretalk.com/unashamed — Get PureTalk for just $25 a month. Make the switch today! http://unashamedforhillsdale.com/ — Sign up now for free, and join the Unashamed hosts every Friday for Unashamed Academy Powered by Hillsdale College Chapters: 00:00-05:50 Jase calls out the weatherman 05:51-16:34 God's criteria for Israel's king 16:35-23:24 Israel chooses evil kings over & over 23:25-27:32 Jesus & Barabbas have the same name 27:33-39:16 Evil creates strange bedfellows 39:17-45:48 Pilate's wife dreams of Jesus 45:49-56:49 Jesus leaves Pilate & Herod's households shaken Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thursday, 6 November 2025   For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. Matthew 14:3   “For Herod, having seized John, he bound him, and he placed in prison for Herodias, his brother Phillip's wife” (CG).   In the previous verse, Herod exclaimed his belief that John the Immerser had risen from the dead, which is why he had the miracle powers working in him. The narrative will now explain what led to John's imprisonment. That begins with the words, “For Herod, having seized John.”   Herod himself was behind the arrest of John. One can already sense that his conscience was nagging at him as the narrative begins. Something about John's death came about because of Herod. Understanding this, the narrative continues, saying, “he bound him, and he placed in prison.”   Cambridge notes the location of this prison –   “At Machærus, in Peræa, on the eastern side of the Dead Sea, near the southern frontier of the tetrarchy. Here Antipas had a palace and a prison under one roof, as was common in the East. Cp. Nehemiah 3:25, ‘The tower which lieth out from the king's high house that was by the court of the prison.' It was the ordinary arrangement in feudal castles.”   The reason Herod put him in prison is stated as, “for Herodias, his brother Phillip's wife.”   To understand the abbreviated thought, and in anticipation of the words of the next verse, Albert Barnes states –   This Herodias was a granddaughter of Herod the Great. She was first married to Herod Philip, by whom she had a daughter, Salome, probably the one that danced and pleased Herod. Josephus says that this marriage of Herod Antipas with Herodias took place while he was on a journey to Rome. He stopped at his brother's; fell in love with his wife; agreed to put away his own wife, the daughter of Aretas, King of Petraea; and Herodias agreed to leave her own husband and live with him. They were living, therefore, in adultery; and John, in faithfulness, though at the risk of his life, had reproved them for their crimes. Herod was guilty of two crimes in this act:   Of “adultery,” since she was the wife of another man.   Of “incest,” since she was a near relation, and such marriages were expressly forbidden, Leviticus 18:16.   John was the last prophet under the Law of Moses. His duty was to call the people to repentance in preparation for the coming of the Messiah. Instead of the king turning and accepting his wrongdoing like David, he doubled down in his sin like so many of the biblical kings under the law had done.   And like so many of those kings, he acted against the Lord's prophet, attempting to silence him from publicly exposing his deeds.   Life application: Under the New Covenant, there is no Law of Moses for believers to condemn people with by living it out for them to see. However, there is the truth, like during the time of Noah, that the world is accountable to God for its actions.   Paul says, “because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression” Romans 4:15. And yet, he speaks elsewhere about the law of conscience –   “...for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.” Romans 2:14-16   Because of conscience, especially since the coming of Christ and His fulfillment of the Law of Moses, it is still right for believers to call out wrongdoing in others, particularly those in positions of authority.   In the world, this has been a dicey thing to do at times. It is becoming that way again in much of the world. Like in the times of Noah, the whole world is marching towards ungodliness and actively pursuing wickedness. Despite this, believers need to stand fast on what is wholesome and morally proper.   Numerous denominations and churches have caved to the inappropriate and ungodly mores of fallen humanity. This only makes it more important for Christians to be ready to speak out concerning what is proper.   Not only are we tasked to evangelize the masses within society, but we need to do so with those who are supposedly members of the church. Let us continue to be beacons of light, even if the whole world is clamoring to be rid of us. This is right and proper, and it is what the ancients are remembered for –   “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” Hebrews 11:13-16   Lord God, despite the trouble it is bound to bring us, help us to stand firm on Your word, openly living out what is expected of us for others to see. When the chance comes for us to defend Your word or to speak against the immorality around us, may we boldly do so, knowing that there is a reward ahead for the stand we take. Amen.  

Wednesday, 5 November 2025   and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.” Matthew 14:2   “and he said to his servants, ‘This, he is John the Immerser! He, he is aroused from the dead, and through this the miracles work in him!'” (CG).   In the previous verse, it said that Herod the tetrarch heard the words about Jesus. Now, that continues, saying, “and he said to his servants, ‘This, he is John the Immerser!'”   Both Matthew 16 and Luke 9 show that there was speculation about who Jesus was. Among them, there were three predominant views –   “When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, ‘Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?' 14 So they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.'” Matthew 16:13, 14   The reason Herod was certain that Jesus was actually John the Baptist will be the subject of the coming verses. Through verse 12, it will explain Herod's interactions with John and members of his household that led him to a seemingly neurotic state concerning John. Of this deduction made by Herod, he emphatically continues, saying, “He, he is aroused from the dead.”   The word dead is plural. In English, “dead” is normally a cumulative word, especially when preceded by a definite article. Herod is stating that John was among those who had been dead, but he had somehow been raised from among them. The emphatic nature of his words shows that he was certain this was the case. As a result of this, he continues, saying, “and through this the miracles work in him!”   Herod ties the power of working miracles as the result of being raised from the dead. This confirms the words concerning John recorded in John's gospel –   “Then many came to Him and said, ‘John performed no sign, but all the things that John spoke about this Man were true.'”  John 10:41   In his life, John didn't perform any signs. However, Herod says, “through this,” meaning through the resurrection, he was now able to perform signs. If one thinks this through, it shows the ridiculous stupidity of his thought process.   If John were raised from the dead, after losing his head, that itself would be the greatest miracle, not any of the others instead. And more, it shows without any ambiguity at all that Herod thought that the dead could be raised.   Life application: Have you ever talked to someone about Jesus and been told that he didn't believe it is possible for the dead to rise? It is not uncommon for people to hold this view.   And yet, the same type of people accept that the universe exploded itself into existence and then put itself together in such a way as to create the precision of life on planet Earth. Along with that, it planned the placement of the sun, moon, and earth, so that eclipses can take place with absolute predictability and precision, the seasons are perfectly marked to support life and return at the exact time necessary for the cycle to continue, etc.   Others claim that life is sacred and killing a person, even if he has committed the most horrendous of crimes, is wrong. And yet the same people claim that killing the unborn or euthanizing the physically or mentally defective and elderly is perfectly acceptable.   Still others believe that ghosts exist, demons can live within people, various gods have control over events in nature, or things coincide within the span of time in order to have certain objectives met according to predetermined plans (things understood by divination, for example).   People can accept the most ridiculous propositions, including people rising from the dead (like Herod's belief about John the Baptist), but they turn around and deny that the dead can actually rise when presented with the evidence concerning Jesus.   It is as if we have a default setting in us that says, “If the true God is involved in the process, it cannot be true.” However, we will accept the exact same type of evidence without reservation once the true God is taken out of the picture.   God created and made everything perfect for man to inhabit the earth. “No, it cannot be!” God says that life is sacred and that when someone violates that principle, he must be executed. Jesus came to die for the sins of all people, including murderers. He died for them and rose again. “No, it cannot be!”   Jesus rose again, proving there is more than the material realm that is working in the world around us. “No, it cannot be!”   If you encounter such unclear thinking, as frustrating as it is, you can use their unclear reasoning (if they are willing to consider your thoughts) to show them that they already believe what they deny, and that what they need to do is to reconsider the source of their belief, going from a non-God centered reality to a God-centered reality.   It is not always easy, but if you have the time to work with people by learning what they accept or do not accept, you can then help them understand the hypocritical thoughts going on in their head, assisting them to realign their thinking to what is sound and reasonable.   Lord God, You have changed our hearts and minds to go from a state of unbelief to one of accepting the proposition concerning the good news of Jesus. Help us to now work with others to think clearly about what we believe, demonstrating to them why our thoughts are reasonable. We know the truth of Your word, so help us to present it to others so that they can see it as well. Amen.

Tuesday, 4 November 2025   At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus Matthew 14:1   “In that time, Herod the tetrarch, he heard the ‘Jesus hearing'” (CG).   In the previous verse, Chapter 13 ended with words concerning Jesus' not doing many miracles in Nazareth due to their faithlessness. Chapter 14 now begins with, “In that time, Herod the tetrarch.”   A new word is seen, tetrarchés. It signifies the ruler of the one-fourth part of a country or region. In other words, he is not a ruler of a country with three other rulers. Instead, his rule covers one-fourth of the area of a county.   Thayer's Lexicon notes that “the word lost its strict etymological force, and came to denote ‘the governor of a third part or half of a country, or even the ruler of an entire country or district provided it were of comparatively narrow limits; a petty prince.'”   Of this particular Herod, Charles Ellicott provides the following description –   “The son of Herod the Great by Malthace. Under his father's will he succeeded to the government of Galilee and Peræa, with the title of Tetrarch, and as ruler of a fourth part of the Roman province of Syria. His first wife was a daughter of Aretas, an Arabian king or chief, named in 2Corinthians 11:32 as king of the Damascenes. Herodias, the wife of his half-brother Philip (not the Tetrarch of Trachonitis, Luke 3:1, but son of Herod the Great by Mariamne, and though wealthy, holding no official position as a ruler), was daughter of Aristobulus, the son whom Herod put to death, and was therefore niece to both her husbands. Prompted partly by passion, partly by ambition, she left Philip, and became the wife of Antipas (Jos. Ant. xviii. 5, §4). The marriage, at once adulterous and by the Mosaic law doubly incestuous, shocked the conscience of all the stricter Jews. It involved Antipas in a war with the father of the wife whom he had divorced and dismissed, and it was probably in connection with this war that we read of soldiers on actual duty as coming under the teaching of the Baptist in Luke 3:14. The prophetic spirit of the Baptist, the very spirit of Elijah in his dealings with Ahab and Jezebel, made him the spokesman of the general feeling, and so brought him within the range of the vindictive bitterness of the guilty queen.”   Concerning this Herod, Matthew records, “he heard the ‘Jesus hearing.'” In other words, the news (it is a noun signifying “a hearing”) of Jesus was circulating everywhere. He heard of this exciting news, and it set the stage for what lies ahead. Today, such a hearing might be precipitated by a statement like, “Have you heard the news about the guy from Nazareth, Jesus? He is incredible!”   Such a statement is the hearing. Herod heard it and will react to it.   Life application: Some of the translations of this verse say, the fame of Jesus, the news of Jesus, the report of Jesus, the reports of Jesus, heard about Jesus, the hearing of Jesus, concerning Jesus, etc. Various smaller changes from some of these exist.   Don't think that because a translation doesn't exactly match the original that there is an error. The intent is essentially the same. Some versions give a thought-for-thought rendering. Some attempt to give a closer rendering of each word, but amend it to sound more common to the hearing of the audience.   A literal, or close to literal, translation can be extremely unpleasant to listen to and tiring to the mind to read. Trying to make sense of the structure of the original language while also trying to understand the intent in a reasonable way is much more difficult with a direct rendering of each word.   Also, there is the consideration that different people will come up with different words to describe the same original word. Therefore, at times, there are going to be a seemingly infinite number of differences in translations, but they all will carry the same message to some extent.   We should never tolerate purposeful manipulation of the text, something that scholars will search for and highlight. Such manipulations have occurred in the New World Translation of the Jehovah's Witnesses as well as some Hebrew Roots Movement translations.   In order to meet their perverse agenda, such manipulations are underhandedly introduced. If you are looking for a new translation to read, be sure to check up on whatever you are leaning towards buying, just in case someone has identified such things.   But be sure to check the source you are reading as well. Some commentaries on Bible translations are biased towards one translation, the KJV, for example. Therefore, they will find all other versions damnable. That is not a healthy way of looking at such things either.   In the end, just keep reading the word. Keep thinking about what God has done in the giving of Jesus. Let the word of God dwell in you richly. It will bring delight to your heart, joy to your day, and contentment to your soul as you consider the eternal blessings that lie ahead for the redeemed of the Lord.   Lord God, thank You for allowing us to enter into the study of another chapter of the book of Matthew. We anticipate a great adventure as we analyze it day by day. Give us the clarity of mind that is needed to properly understand what is being conveyed. Amen.

In this sermon by Chris Romig, the focus is on Revelation chapter 11, where John is told to measure the temple, the altar, and the worshipers. Chris explains that this act of measuring represents both evaluation and the delineation of God's people. Drawing from Old Testament prophecies, he highlights the Jewish context in which these visions take place and traces the history of the temple in Jerusalem—from Solomon's and Zerubbabel's temples to Herod's expansion and their destruction. The central question addressed is what temple John is referring to, since no temple stood in Jerusalem at the time Revelation was written. Chris discusses prophetic passages that point to a future Third Temple, which he connects to events preceding Christ's return, including the rise of the Antichrist and the tribulation period. He closes by emphasizing God's enduring covenant with Israel, warning against antisemitism, and urging believers to remain biblically grounded and prayerful. Ultimately, the message is a call to trust in God's promises, to pray for peace, and to remain faithful as history unfolds in line with Scripture.

This episode of Red in 30 marks the beginning of Red State Of Mind—a deep dive into how the red words of Jesus illuminate the inner world of thought, perspective, and identity. The reflection opens with a bold concept: what if the places in scripture—Jerusalem, Galilee, Israel—were parallels for the mind, and the people within those stories represented thoughts? With that lens, the reading through Matthew 1–3 becomes not just historical but deeply personal. Every genealogy, every name, every event becomes a mirror for the mentalities that live within us.The conversation reframes the genealogy of Jesus as a picture of generational thought patterns. Abraham's faith and fear, Solomon's excess, and others from that lineage represent inherited mentalities that can still try to define us today. But the birth of Christ—conceived not by man but by the Holy Ghost—signals a divine interruption. Identity, the episode explains, isn't meant to be handed down through human lineage but conceived by God's Spirit. To be “with child of the Holy Ghost” is to let divine thought conceive something new in the mind—a Christ-consciousness that saves every other thought from misalignment.As the conversation moves through the story of Herod and the wise men, ego and inner resistance take center stage. Herod represents the part of the self that refuses to relinquish control—the thought that kills anything that threatens its throne. The birth of the Christ nature exposes how ego-driven thoughts fight to survive, even at the cost of peace. Yet, like the wise men, certain thoughts are meant to recognize and bow to the true King within. The baptism of Jesus then becomes a symbol of alignment—each experience, each past season paving the way for the full expression of the mind of Christ inside us.The episode closes with an invitation to treat scripture as a mirror rather than a manual. The 30-day Red Reading Cycle isn't just study—it's spiritual pregnancy. It's the process of conceiving, carrying, and birthing the mind of Christ in private and personal ways. When read this way, the Bible stops being distant history and becomes a living journey of inner renewal. The Christ thought doesn't just visit the mind—it transforms it from the inside out. Get full access to REDIN30 at redin30.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is part 33 in a study of the gospel of Luke. Jesus is threatened by Herod. Jesus attends a party given by a Pharisee and has some advise for the crowd at the party about humility. https://thebiblestudypodcast.com/luke-13-14-party-healing-and-advice/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - Luke 13:31-35 - Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, "Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill You." He replied, "Go and tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish My purpose. Yet I must continue on My way today, tomorrow, and the following day, for it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem.' "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling! Behold, your house will be abandoned. But I tell you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord." Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2, 3, 4) Terry discusses what must be done to foster vocations to the Priesthood, and the influences of the Saints and others

Gospel Luke 13:31-35 Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, "Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you." He replied, "Go and tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose. Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day, for it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem.' "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling! Behold, your house will be abandoned. But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” Reflection The most likely reason that Jesus says he must be killed in Jerusalem is the fact that Jerusalem was the place of most of the resistance to any of the messages of the prophets. So it was there between the temple and a prophetic voice, that this story unfolds in a very unfortunate way. They continue to resist the truth. And what is so touching about this passage is the way in which the truth is that God, through Jesus, has always longed to gather the children of Israel into a family, into a place of intimacy with him. And they've always refused. And today they still refuse. Closing Prayer Father, you ask us through the Holy Spirit's power to face so many things within us that we really don't want to look at. We don't want to face. Bless us with openness to your prophetic word, to your truth, so that we can feel the fruits of what it means to be cared for by you, loved by you, forgiven by you. And we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Melissa wrote to The Patrick Madrid Show, her email was simple and direct: she’d been a bridesmaid in two weddings years ago, both involving Catholics who married outside the Church without dispensation. Now that she understands her faith better, she wonders if she sinned by participating. Patrick begins with calm reassurance. “If you didn’t know the Church’s teaching at the time, then no – you didn’t sin,” he says. “You can’t be guilty of what you didn’t know.” Ignorance doesn’t excuse every act, but it removes moral culpability when the person truly doesn’t understand what they’re doing. Still, he added, “If your conscience bothers you, bring it to confession. Just mention it briefly and leave it at the foot of the Cross.” Patrick then turns to the practical question: should Catholics attend such weddings? To explain his answer, he points to the example of St. John the Baptist. Herod’s marriage to his brother’s wife wasn’t valid, and John spoke out against it. That’s what led to his imprisonment and death. Patrick imagines Herod visiting John in prison: “Can you picture Herod saying, ‘John, I know you disagree with my marriage but just come to the reception. Keep the peace. Have a good meal.’ Do you think John would have said yes?” Patrick pauses. “If St. John the Baptist wouldn’t go along to get along, why should we?” For him, the choice is about integrity. A Catholic can love family without surrendering faith. In moments of tension, fidelity to Christ matters more than social comfort.

Read Online“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling!” Luke 13:34It's helpful to ponder the Sacred Heart of Jesus. His heart is one that is strong and gentle, compassionate and just, merciful and truthful. In this Gospel passage, we are given a glimpse of Jesus' love for the people of Jerusalem. He was not expressing His love for the city, but for the people in the city. It is clear that His deepest desire, His strong yearning, was that they allow Him to draw them close to Him so that He can protect them from all evil.Jesus begins by speaking the word “Jerusalem” twice. This expresses deep compassion for the people of that city. It also expresses a lament that they have not turned to Him, remaining unwilling to change. Their refusal began long before Jesus walked the earth when their forefathers rejected the call of the prophets to repent and turn back to God. The stubbornness of their fathers continued with the people of Jesus' day, and He experienced their rejection. This rejection did not lead Jesus to anger or condemnation as much as it led Him to holy sorrow.The image of a hen gathering her brood under her wings is a lovely image to meditate upon. A mother hen protects her chicks with great courage and without concern for her own safety. When danger approaches, she extends her wings and covers the vulnerable chicks to protect them. Jesus uses this motherly image to express His desire to protect not only the people of Jerusalem, but all of us.If Jesus yearned to gather the people together under his “wings” to protect them, then we should know, with certainty, that we need our Lord's protection. He would not desire something that was unnecessary. He is not an overly protective God Who irrationally worries about His children. His concern is real and necessary, and we must know that we need His protection.As you go about your daily life, do you feel as though you can handle life on your own? Do you act as an independent child who wants to separate yourself from the safety of your parents? Though we must all work to become responsible in life, we will never arrive at a point where we no longer need the protection of our loving God. The world in which we live is filled with dangers from which only God can protect us.At the beginning of today's Gospel, Jesus referred to Herod as a “fox.” That image must be seen in the context of Jesus desiring to act as a mother hen, protecting her brood. Jesus was told that Herod was trying to kill Him, but He clearly was not afraid of Herod. Of Herod's desire to kill Jesus, Jesus said, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.'” As a protector, Jesus took authority over demons, performed healings and opened the gates of Heaven by rising from the dead on the third day. As we go through life, there will be many demons who seek to attack us. We will need many forms of healing, and without the gift of Jesus' triumph over death itself, we will not be led to the glories of Heaven. Demons are real. Wounds are real. And the need for a Savior is real. Reflect, today, upon the image of Jesus acting as a mother hen, extending His wings over you to protect you from the many temptations and diabolical attacks you will encounter in this world. Ponder the fact that you need His daily protection. The demons will never stop their attacks. Mental, emotional and spiritual wounds need His healing. Jesus is the only one Who can protect you and heal you so that He can then pour forth the gift of eternal life. Remain under His protective care, and allow Him to fulfill the yearnings of His Sacred Heart. My compassionate Lord, You yearn to protect me from the many evils in this world. You yearn to heal me of the wounds my sins have caused. And You yearn to bestow upon me the gift of eternal life. I accept Your protection, dear Lord, and pray for the healing I need. Please cover me always and bestow upon me the gift of eternal life. Jesus, I trust in You.  Images via Adobe Stock: Main; FeaturedSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Mark 8:14-21 (ESV)Andrew and Edwin discuss the apostles' misunderstanding of Jesus's leaven parable and what the leaven of the Pharisees and Herodians is.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here.    Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org.    Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here.   Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=23246The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/