I Corinthians 11
Proper worship etiquette: men and womenverses 1-10
Be you followers of me – EVEN AS I also am of Christ
NOW I praise you – brethren
that you remember me in all things
and keep the ordinances
as I delivered them to you
BUT I would have you know – that the head of every man is Christ
and the head of the woman is the man
and the head of Christ is God
EVERY man praying or prophesying – having his head covered
dishonors his head but every woman that prays or prophesies
with her head uncovered dishonors her head
FOR that is even all one as if she were shaven
FOR if the woman be not covered – let her also be shorn
BUT if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven
let her be covered
FOR a man indeed ought not to cover his head
forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God
BUT the woman is the glory of the man
For the man is not of the woman
BUT the woman of the man
neither was the man created for the woman
BUT the woman for the man
FOR this cause ought the woman to have power on her head
BECAUSE of the angels
Proper prayer etiquette: men and womenverses 11-16
Nevertheless – neither is the man without the woman
neither the woman without the man – IN THE LORD
FOR as the woman is of the man
EVEN SO is the man also by the woman
BUT all things of God
Judge in yourselves
Is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
Does not even nature itself teach you – that
if a man have long hair it is a shame to him?
BUT if a woman have long hair – it is a glory to her
FOR her hair is given her for a covering
BUT if any man seem to be contentious
we have no such custom
neither the churches of God
Improper celebration of LORD’S Supperverses 17-22
Now in this that I declare I praise you NOT
that you come together not for the better
BUT for the worse
FOR first of all – when you come together in the church
I hear that there be divisions among you
and I partly believe it
FOR there must be also heresies among you
that they which are approved may be made manifest among you
When you come together therefore into one place
this is not to eat the Lord’s supper
for in eating everyone takes before other his own supper
and one is hungry – and another is drunken
WHAT! have you not houses to eat and to drink in?
OR despise ye the church of God
and shame them that have not ?
What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this?
I PRAISE YOU NOT
Proper celebration of LORD’S Supperverses 23-26
For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you
That the Lord Jesus – the same night in which HE was betrayed
took bread – and when HE had given thanks
HE brake it – and said
Take eat – This is MY body which is broken for you
this do in remembrance of ME
After the same manner also HE took the cup
when HE had supped – saying
This cup is the new testament in MY blood
this do you as oft as ye drink it
in remembrance of ME
For as often as you eat this bread – and drink this cup
you do show the Lord’s death till HE come
Personal examination required before Supperverses 27-32
WHEREFORE whosoever shall eat this bread
and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily
shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord
BUT let a man examine himself – and so let him eat of that bread
and drink of that cup
for he that eats and drinks unworthily
eats and drinks damnation to himself
not discerning the Lord’s body
FOR this cause many are weak – sickly among you – many sleep
for if we would judge ourselves – we should not be judged
BUT when we are judged – we are chastened of the Lord
that we should not be condemned with the world
Final instructions regarding LORD’S Supperverses 33-34
WHEREFORE – my brethren – when you come together to eat
TARRY one for another
AND IF any man hunger – let him eat at home
that you come not together unto condemnation
AND the rest will I set in order when I come
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. (2776 “head” [kephale] means supreme, chief, prominent or one of pre-eminent status)
DEVOTION: This is a problem verse for today’s world. No one likes anyone over them. Our culture is one that says that the individual is all- important. The individual is allowed to believe whatever they want to and there are no absolutes in our world. We call our age “postmodern.” We no longer accept what was taught in years pass. We question everything. We question whether the Bible applies to today.
However, there is a choice to make by all individuals. The Bible teaches that there is only one way to heaven. The only way is through the blood of Christ. Christ died for our sins. Christ was buried. Christ rose from the dead. The death, burial and resurrection is the Biblical Gospel. The Bible states that it is God’s word to man. The Bible is either absolute for all time or not the rule for any time. The Bible is timeless. The LORD wants obedience.
We think that some of the Bible is cultural and some of it is, but if it is just cultural, does that mean that man doesn’t have to summit to Christ. Does it mean that Christ no longer has to submit to the Father? Does it mean that women don’t have to submit to men? Can it be part or all? Are Christians supposed to be politically correct or Biblically correct? The answer is of course, Biblically correct. Let us obey the teachings of the Word of God.
Now we continue to have a problem. What does this all mean? Is man better than woman? NO! It means that there is an order in God’s world. The order is God – Christ – Man – Woman. It is an order of subjection not superiority. God is not superior to Christ. Christ is equal with the Father but submitted to HIM. Man is not superior to woman but she willfully submits to him. Why? Because that is what the Bible commands her to do. If there is no order, there is chaos. God and Christ are equal but have different responsibilities. Men and women are equal but have different responsibilities.
What happens when there is no submission? Christ doesn’t die on the cross. The home is in chaos. The church is in chaos. God established an order that goes against our current society but we have to answer to the LORD. HE is in control and we are to obey HIS Word until Christ returns. Remember men are to be submission to the LORD which will lead to them leading properly. If men lead properly then it will be easier for women to be submissive to men. Our old nature is both selfish and lazy. So the battle is real daily.
CHALLENGE: Are we willing to follow the Bible or not?
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 18 For first of all, when you come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. (4978 “shisma” means rent, schism, dissension, tear, division of a group into opposing factions, crack, or discord)
DEVOTION: Paul wants everyone in the church to work together to bring glory to God. Too often there are individuals in the church that let their old nature take control of them. They become selfish and don’t want to share their food with others.
There was always a “love feast” before the celebration of the LORD’S Supper in the early church. It is like our pot luck meals that we have in our churches today. Everyone is to bring food to put out for everyone to have a part of for their meal. The rich people were bringing real good food while the poor people of the church could only bring what they could afford. The meals were supposed to show how the church loved one another.
Well, when they got together the rich people were eating and drinking their own food and drink and letting the others just pick from what was left. It was wrong but they were doing.
Paul related this to heresies being in the church. So it was not only bad actions it was also bad beliefs. They were not teaching the truths of the Word of God. Apparently, the leadership was not condemning the actions of the rich and were showing favoritism to the rich which is something God always condemned.
The ideal church has rich and poor sitting together and worshiping together and eating together as one big happy family. Our Biblical churches should not show favoritism or have an elite group in them.
CHALLENGE: Every believer is important to God and they should be important to the local church as well!!!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. (1381 “examine” [dokimazo] means prove, try, approve, discern, test, scrutinize, or to recognize as genuine after examination)
DEVOTION: The two ordinances of the church are baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These are to be practiced by all Bible believing churches. Some churches celebrate communion/Lord’s supper each week. Some do it once a month. Some do it once a quarter. The problem is that some churches don’t even practice very regularly. I was in a church that didn’t celebrate communion for a great number of years. When I was there we had it once a month and they were surprised.
Now communion is supposed to be a celebration of what Jesus did on the cross for our sins. It is a time when we look back and look forward to what HE has done and what HE will do in the future. So it is to be a time of joy. Also it is supposed to be a time of scrutinizing our relationship with the LORD. It is possible for even believers to be living in sin. If this is happening the LORD has to chasten believers to get them back into fellowship with HIM.
We are told in this passage that if there is no examination by the individual and he is a genuine believer the LORD will first strike him/her with weakness. If that doesn’t work HE will strike them with sickness, remember that not all sickness is a judgment for sin. If these two warnings don’t work, HE will take an individual in death.
Remember there are individuals who go to church regularly, give their money in the offering, and practice other Christian beliefs that don’t really know Jesus in a personal way. They think they are going to heaven but their actions out of church and sometimes in church seem to imply that they have never been born again. These same individuals don’t seem to be chastened of the LORD. If both are true, they need to be concerned that then never made a genuine commitment to the LORD because HE chastens all HIS children who continue live in sin. Always keep short accounts with God and thank HIM for HIS chastening when HE sends it your way. It is a sign that HE loves us.
CHALLENGE: When the first Sunday of the month comes remember to go before the LORD to genuinely examine yourself to see if there are any sins that you are committing that need confession and a turning from.
: 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (2632 “condemned” [katakrino] means to be or become subject to a pronouncement of guilt and a punitive sentence in a legal context, to render a verdict of guilt, pass judgment on, to pronounce sentence on, cut off, or to judge against)
DEVOTION: God wants us to realize that HE loves us. One of the ways HE shows HIS love is to correct us when we are wrong. Love is not just letting someone we love do whatever they want. Some things that we can do are bad for us.
Parents have to watch their children all of the time when they are young because they will do things that they don’t understand are bad for them. One of more of my grandchildren has stuck something in a electrical outlet to find out that they get a shock from them. That is not good.
In our Christian life we can do about the same thing and God wants to let us know that a little shock is better than a full charge of electricity. Sin is not good for any believer and if anyone does sin God is the one who lets us know by showing us a different way.
HE knows that those who have rejected Jesus are going to spend eternity in the lake of fire. HE chastens us to show us that we are HIS children.
CHALLENGE: If we are not corrected then we will be condemned with the rest of the world at the final judgment.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Prayingverses 4, 5, 13
Man not covered when prayingverse 7
Woman covered when prayingverses 7, 13-15
Christ gave thanks for breadverse 24
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Come togetherverse 17
Churchverse 18
Eat the Lord’s supperverses 20, 24, 25
Remembrance of Christverse 24
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Godverses 3, 7, 12, 13, 16, 22
Head of Christverse 3
Image and glory of Godverse 7
Creatorverses 9, 12
Church of Godverses 16, 22
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Christverses 1, 3
Head of every manverse 3
Lordverses 11, 20, 23, 26, 27, 29, 32
Lord’s supperverses 20, 26
Jesus verse 23
Lord Jesusverse 23
Betrayedverse 23
Gave thanks for breadverse 24
Cup = new testament in MY bloodverse 25
Lord’s deathverse 26
Cup of the Lordverse 27
Lord’s bodyverse 29
Judgeverses 31, 32
Chastened of the Lordverse 32
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Angelsverse 10
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Head of every womanverse 3
Man: Image and glory of Godverse 7
Woman: glory of the manverse 7
Created beingverse 9
Long hair on man: shameverse 14
Long hair on woman: gloryverse 15
Long hair on woman: coveringverse 15
Condemned with the worldverse 32
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Dishonorverses 4, 5
Contentiousverse 16
Divisionsverse 18
Heresiesverse 19
Mistreating poor of churchverse 21
Hungryverse 21
Drunkenverse 21
Despise church of Godverse 22
Betrayedverse 23
Unworthily taking Lord’s supperverses 27, 29
Guiltyverse 27
Damnationverse 29
Not discerningverse 29
Sin causes weakness and sicknessverse 30
Sin causes premature death (sleep)verse 30
Condemnationverse 34
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Followersverse 1
Brethrenverses 2, 33
Praise verse 2
Prayingverses 4, 5
Prophesyingverses 4, 5
Judgeverse 13
Examine selfverse 28
Ability to discernverse 29
Judge ourselvesverse 31
Chastenedverse 32
Tarry one for another: shareverse 33
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Keep the ordinancesverse 2
Church of God: customverse 16
Lord’s supperverse 20
Church of God: despisedverse 22
Communion serviceverses 24, 25
Judgment of God on believersverse 30
Weakness
Sickness
Death
Last Things (Future Events)
Return of the LORD: till HE comeverse 26
Condemned with the worldverse 32
DONATIONS:
Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org. Also, if you can support this ministry through your local church please use that method. Thank you.
QUOTES regarding passage
18. In the first place, says Paul, but he never gets round to ‘secondly’ or the like. There is no article with church, and some hold that the word is used here in the older sense of ‘assembly’ (as in Acts 19:32, 39, 41). It is the coming together of believers that is in mind. But, even when people met for worship, Paul has heard that there were divisions (schismata). The word is that used in 1:10, but the divisions are probably not the same. Those were based on loyalties to teachers, these were economic (some had food and some had none). To some extent I believe it shows that Paul was not credulous. He recognized that there was some exaggeration in the account that had reached him, but he recognized also an unpleasant amount of truth. (Morris, L. (1985). 1 Corinthians: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 7, p. 155). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
First of all (πρωτον μεν [prōton men]). There is no antithesis (δευτερον δε [deuteron de], secondly, or ἐπειτα δε [epeita de], in the next place) expressed. This is the primary reason for Paul’s condemnation and the only one given. When ye come together in the church (συνερχομενων ἡμων ἐν ἐκκλησιᾳ [sunerchomenōn hēmōn en ekklēsiāi]). Genitive absolute. Here ἐκκλησια [ekklēsia] has the literal meaning of assembly. Divisions (σχισματα [schismata]). Accusative of general reference with the infinitive ὑπαρχειν [huparchein] in indirect discourse. Old word for cleft, rent, from σχιζω [schizō]. Example in papyri for splinter of wood. See on 1:10. Not yet formal cleavages into two or more organizations, but partisan divisions that showed in the love-feasts and at the Lord’s Supper. Partly (μερος τι [meros ti]). Accusative of extent (to some part) like παντα [panta] in 10:33. He could have said ἐκ μερους [ek merous] as in 13:9. The rumours of strife were so constant (I keep on hearing, ἀκουω [akouō]). (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (1 Co 11:18). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
11:18–19. The church was divided at a celebration which was meant to express unity (cf. 10:17). If these divisions (schismata; 1:10; 12:25) were related to those noted earlier (1:10–4:21), then one factor contributing to those divisions is evident here, namely, economic differences in the church (11:21).
Paul did not want to believe the report about their divisions (v. 18b), but he knew that sin was inevitable (cf. Luke 17:1) and would not pass unnoticed by God. God’s approval (dokimoi) resumed a point Paul had discussed earlier (1 Cor. 9:27–10:10), where he used in 9:27 the contrasting word “disqualified” (adokimos).
In the whole nation of Israel, freed from bondage in Egypt and bound for the Promised Land of Canaan, only two of that vast company gained God’s approval and entered the land (cf. 10:5). Many in the Corinthian assembly did not have this approval, which His discipline on them demonstrated (cf. 11:30–32). If the Corinthians thought the ordinances of the Lord’s Supper and baptism somehow communicated magical protection to the participants (cf. 10:12; 15:24), Paul’s excoriation must have been doubly painful since their behavior at this rite was directly linked to their chastisement (11:30–32)—the very thing they sought to avoid. (Lowery, D. K. (1985). 1 Corinthians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, pp. 530–531). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Since the beginning of the church, it was customary for the believers to eat together (Acts 2:42, 46). It was an opportunity for fellowship and for sharing with those who were less privileged. No doubt they climaxed this meal by observing the Lord’s Supper. They called this meal “the love feast” since its main emphasis was showing love for the saints by sharing with one another.
The “agape feast” (from the Greek word for “love”) was part of the worship at Corinth, but some serious abuses had crept in. As a result, the love feasts were doing more harm than good to the church. For one thing, there were various cliques in the church and people ate with their own “crowd” instead of fellowshipping with the whole church family. While Paul condemned this selfish practice, he did take a positive view of the results: at least God would use this to reveal those who were true believers.
Another fault was selfishness: the rich people brought a great deal of food for themselves while the poorer members went hungry. The original idea of the “agape feast” was sharing, but that idea had been lost. Some of the members were even getting drunk. It is likely that the weekly “agape feast” was the only decent meal some of the poorer members regularly had; and to be treated so scornfully by the richer members not only hurt their stomachs, but also their pride.
Of course, the divisions at the dinner were but evidence of the deeper problems in the church. The Corinthians thought they were advanced believers, when in reality they were but little children. Paul did not suggest that they abandon the feast, but rather that they restore its proper meaning. “Let the rich eat at home if they are hungry. When you abuse believers who are less fortunate than you are, then you are actually despising the church!” The “agape feast” should have been an opportunity for edification, but they were using it as a time for embarrassment. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 604–605). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Ver. 18. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, &c.] The place where the church met together to perform divine service, called one place, ver. 20 and is distinguished from their own houses, ver. 22 and the first thing he took notice of as worthy of dispraise and reproof, in their religious assemblies, were their animosities and factions: I hear that there be divisions among you: schisms and parties, either about their ministers, one being for Paul, another for A polios, and another for Cephas; or in the celebration of the Lord’s supper, and that which went before it, they going into separate bodies, and partook by themselves, and each took his own supper before another, one ate, and another did not. This the apostle had heard from the house of Chloe: and I partly believe it; meaning, either that this was the practice of a part of the church to do so, though not of them all; or that part of the report that had been made to him was true; though he hoped in that charity which hopeth all things, that it was not quite so bad as was feared or represented, since things are generally heightened and increased by fame; but yet he had it from such good hands, that he could not but believe there was something in it. So the Syriac version renders it, ומדﬦ מדﬦ, and something, something I believe. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 2, p. 687). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
We come now to Paul’s information (11:18–22). First, there were divisions in the church. He says, “For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you, and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be manifest among you” (11:18–19). Paul was not surprised at what he had heard. There will always be problems in the church down here.
The word for divisions is schisma, from which we derive our English word “schism.” The word pictures a cleft or a rent. It was used by the Lord to depict the rending of a garment (Matt. 9:16). A cognate word is used to describe the rending of the temple veil and also the rending of creation’s rocks at the time of the crucifixion (Matthew 27:51).
Paul also describes these dissentions as “heresies.” The Greek word hairesis refers to that self-willed opinion which opposes truth and which leads to division and to the formation of sects. The word does not denote heresies as we commonly understand the word today, meaning radical departure from the truth.
We know that there was a regretable party spirit at Corinth because Paul has already dealt with it at some length (1 Cor. 1:10–16). The reference here is to a somewhat different problem. There, people were vying for position and rallying around sectarian names. Here, the reference is not so much to party spirit as to social snobbery. There was discrimination against the poor members of the fellowship.
Paul recognized the inevitability of such carnality and worldliness in the church. Much as he might deplore it, he could see a reason for it. God allowed it so that “they which are approved may be made manifest among you.” The word approved comes from dokimos, a word often used of testing metals, as in Zechariah 11:12–13, to see if they are genuine. In such a heterogeneous fellowship as existed at Corinth, it was necessary that attitudes and behavior surface so that the genuine might be distinguished from the false.
But there were not only divisions in the church, there was also disorder in the church (1 Cor. 11:20–22). Note what Paul denied: “When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper” (11:20). The reference here is to the communal meal that preceded the communion service itself. The disorders in the Corinthian church were such that it was impossible for the Lord’s Supper (the emphasis is on the word Lord) to be eaten. True, they came together for supper, and they might even have persuaded themselves that it was the Lord’s Supper of which they were partaking, but the facts proved otherwise. At the Lord’s Supper, rich and poor alike partake together of His bounty. What they were doing was such a mockery of the Lord’s Supper as to negate the idea behind that supper altogether. When the Lord fed the five thousand. He did not show partiality to the rich or to the socially elite members of the crowd. He didn’t seat them together in a special group, make sure they were served first, that the chief apostles waited on them, and that their table was kept supplied even though others seated farther away had not yet had anything to eat. The idea is ludicrous. No wonder Paul regarded the behavior at the “Lord’s Supper” at Corinth as a mere travesty of the feast it was supposed to be. (Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring 1 Corinthians: An Expository Commentary (1 Co 7:1–14:40). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.)
The Lord’s Table is a profound memorial (note not “just” a memorial), and conveys sanctifying (not saving) grace, strengthening believers who reflect upon the tortured body and spilled blood of the Son of God. ….
But (v.28), in order not to partake unworthily one must examine himself to determine if he is entering into communion with the proper focus and intention. For (v.29) strengthens Paul’s admonition in v. 28 about self-examination. (p. 1792-1793)
But when believers are “judged” by God in this life (evidenced by them becoming weak, sick, or dying, ver.30), His action is remedial and redemptive (we are disciplined), not purely punitive (condemned, as is the unbelievers’ present and eschatological end. (p, 1793)
(The Moody Bible Commentary by Michael Rydelnik & Michael Vanlaningham)
FROM MY READING:
OUR LORD’S GLORY ON EARTH There is no beauty that we should desire him. Isaiah 53:2
Think about the glory of our Lord that we are told about when He was on earth: “There is no beauty that we should desire him…a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:2-3). People would look at Him and say, “Who is this fellow?” “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary?” (Mark 6:3). He had laid aside the glory; He had not laid aside anything of His essential being or person or His essential deity. But neither had He held on to it. He had not clutched at the manifestation of His glory. He had laid that aside as one would a cloak and had come in the likeness of man.
Indeed, I must go further than this, because this is the wonder of it all. He decided that His glory should be veiled by flesh. Think of it like this: The glory is there still shining in all its power, but a veil of flesh has come over it so that mankind cannot see it.
Take an Old Testament illustration. In the wilderness Moses went onto the Mount and spoke with God, and when he came down his face was shining. The people saw the glory, and it was so bright that he had to put a veil over his face; the glory was still there, but it was hidden from them. Something like that happened to our Lord.
Yes, but He not only came as man, nor is it only true to say that His glory was veiled by flesh. It is not true to say simply that the eternal Son of God was made flesh. We are told that he was made “in the likeness of sinful flesh” (Romans 8:3). Indeed, He not only came into this world as a man—He took on Him “the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:7). It would have been a wonderful and astounding thing if this eternal King and Prince of glory had come on earth and lived in a palace as a human king with all the pomp and glory of an earthly kingship. But that is not what He did at all! He was born as a babe in very poor circumstances.
A Thought to Ponder: He had laid aside the glory.
(From Saved in Eternity, pp. 72-73, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Exodus 11
The final plague on Egypt is a Passover sacrifice.
INSIGHT
God’s dealings with Pharaoh reveal His longsuffering attitude toward such rebellion. The plagues start out fairly minor, thus giving Pharaoh a chance to change his mind before utter calamity strikes. With each successive act of rebellion, the subsequent plague intensifies. Beginning with the unpleasant but fairly harmless plague of frogs, the process ends with the death of the firstborn of every household in Egypt. At any point, had Pharaoh repented, the plagues would have been stopped.
Analyze your own life. If you’ve entered into conflict with God, abandon the fight before it escalates. (Quiet Walk)
The Holy City
“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” (Revelation 21:2-3)
On the night of the last supper, Jesus made a wonderful promise to His disciples: “In my Father’s house are many mansions. . . . I go to prepare a place for you. And . . . I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:2-3). Eventually, at His second coming, those who belong to Him shall be with Him.
That this promise applies to all His disciples (not just the 11 in the upper room) is evident in His prayer right after this conversation: “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word. . . . Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am” (John 17:20, 24). When the Lord returns, or when we die as believers, “so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
That place where we shall be with Him, which He is still preparing for us, is the Holy City, new Jerusalem; for our text says that “he will dwell with them” there and be their God. The last two chapters of the Bible describe in some detail that beautiful “tabernacle of God” in which we who believe in Christ will all have our Christ-prepared mansions some day.
This magnificent city is not heaven, for John saw it “coming down from God out of heaven.” Right now, therefore, it is in heaven, where the Lord Jesus is, along with the souls of those believers who already have gone “to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). There in the Holy City, “the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him” with eternal joy (Revelation 22:3).
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Hebrews 13:5-6).
The child of God is to have a lifestyle of contentment without covetousness. This is a great treasure. It protects from many dangers and pitfalls. We think of Achan who destroyed himself and his family because of covetousness (Jos. 7:10-26). We think of Lot who lost his family in Sodom because of covetousness (Ge. 19).
Note the connection between adultery in verse 4 and covetousness in verse 5. It is common that these sins go together. The Ten Commandments say, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife … nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s” (Ex. 20:17). The same heart that covets another man’s goods can easily covet another man’s wife. “The love of filthy lust and the love of filthy lucre follow one another as closely akin, both alienating the heart from the Creator to the creature” (Jamieson, Fausset, Brown).
In this passage, we see the definition of covetousness. It is to love and pursue money and wealth instead of being content with the basic needs of life and loving and pursuing God and His will.
The word “covetousness” is the Greek aphilarguros, which is a combination of a (not), philo (love), and arguros (silver), or not a lover of silver, not a lover of money. Covetousness is a heart issue. It is a heart that loves money and possessions. It is the “will to be rich” and “the love of money” (1 Ti. 6:9-10). Money and riches are not wrong if obtained legitimately in God’s perfect will and if used for the glory of God. What is wrong is to set one’s affection upon such things. Covetousness is “an over eager desire of the wealth of this world, envying those who have more than we” (Matthew Henry).
Covetousness is a lack of contentment with one’s lot. This is emphasized in Heb. 12:5. The opposite of covetousness is to “be content with such things as ye have.” Covetousness is to be dissatisfied, greedy. “Contentment is a gracious disposition of mind, whereby the Christian rests satisfied with that portion of the good things of this life which the wisdom of God assigns him, without complaining of the little which God gives to him, or envying the much which God bestows on others” (William Burkitt).
Covetousness is to set one’s heart upon money and the things of this world rather than upon the Lord and His will. This, too, is emphasized in Heb. 13:5-6.
Consider other Bible definitions of covetousness: (1) Covetousness is to desire that which is not mine or that which is forbidden (Ex. 20:17; De. 5:21; Jos. 7:21). (2) Covetousness is to make possessions the focus of one’s life (Lu. 12:15). (3) Covetousness is to live for self-pleasure instead of living for God’s pleasure (Lu. 12:16-34). (4) Covetousness is to live in such a manner that I am rich toward myself instead of “rich toward God” (Lu. 12:21). (5) Covetousness is to enrich oneself at the expense of others; it is to rob, oppress, and abuse others for one’s own selfish ends (Pr. 28:16).
A prominent example of living without covetousness is the apostle Paul, who lived according to the rule of contentment (Php. 4:11-13).
This does not mean that the believer should not work and should merely “trust the Lord” for his livelihood. To the contrary, every believer is enjoined to work hard, and the Bible says that those who do not work should not eat (Ac. 20:35; Ro. 12:11; Eph. 4:28; 1 Th. 4:11-12; 2 Th. 3:7-12).
This does not mean that one cannot aspire to have more and cannot work to advance one’s financial situation. Covetousness is a matter of the heart’s motives and intents. One can work hard and seek to prosper without having the heart set upon wealth and while having one’s trust and confidence in the Lord. Covetousness is to will to be rich (1 Ti. 6:9), meaning that wealth is the objective and heart’s desire.
(Way of Life Commentary Series on Hebrews)
Visit our Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.