Luke 12
Jesus warn of hypocrisy verse 1- 12
In the meantime
when there were gathered together
an innumerable multitude of people
insomuch that they trode one upon another
HE began to say unto HIS disciples first of all
Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees – which is hypocrisy
FOR there is nothing covered – that shall not be revealed
neither hid that shall not be known
THEREFORE – whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness
shall be heard in the light
and that which ye have spoken in the ear
in closets shall be proclaimed upon
the housetops
And I say unto you my friends
Be not afraid of them that kill the body
and after that have no more that they can do
BUT I will forewarn you whom you shall fear – Fear HIM
which after HE hath killed hath power to cast
into hell – yea – I say unto you – FEAR HIM
Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings
and not one of them is forgotten before God?
BUT even the very hairs of your head are all numbered
Fear not therefore
you are of more value than many sparrows
Also I say unto you – Whosoever shall confess ME before men
him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God
BUT he that denies ME before men shall be
denied before the angels of God
AND whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man
it shall be forgiven him
BUT unto him that blasphemes against the
Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven
AND when they bring you unto the synagogues – and to magistrates
and powers – take you no thought how or what thing you shall answer
or what you shall say
FOR the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same
hour what you ought to say
Parable of foolish rich man verse 13- 21
And one of the company said unto HIM – Master – speak to my brother
that he divide the inheritance with me
And HE said unto him
Man – who made ME a judge or a divider over you?
And HE said unto them – Take heed – and beware of covetousness
FOR a man’s life consists not in the abundance of the things
which he possesses
AND HE spake a parable unto them – saying
The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully
and he thought within himself – saying
What shall I do because I have no room where
to bestow my fruits?
And he said – This will I do – I will pull down my barns
and build greater
and there I will bestow all my fruits and my goods
And I will say to my soul
Soul – thou hast much goods laid up for many years
take thine ease – eat – drink – be merry
BUT God said unto him
You fool – this night thy soul shall be required of you
THEN whose shall those things be
which you hast provided?
SO is he that lays up treasure for himself – and is not rich toward God
Jesus deals with provision of HIS Father verse 22- 34
AND HE said unto HIS disciples
THEREFORE I say unto you
Take no thought for your life – what ye shall eat
neither for the body – what ye shall put on
The life is more than meat – and the body is more than raiment
consider the ravens – for they neither sow nor reap
which neither have storehouse nor barn
and God feeds them
How much more are ye better than the fowls?
And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
If you than be not able to do that thing which is least
why take you thought for the rest?
Consider the lilies how they grow – they toil not – they spin not
and yet I say unto you
that Solomon in all his glory
was not arrayed like one of these
If then God so cloth the grass – which is today in the field
and tomorrow is cast into the oven
how much more will HE cloth you
O you of little faith
And seek not ye what ye shall eat – or what ye shall drink
neither be ye of doubtful mind
FOR all these things do the nations of the world seek after
and your Father knows that ye have need of these things
BUT rather seek ye the kingdom of God
and all these things shall be added unto you
Fear not – little flock
FOR it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom
sell that ye have – and give alms
provide yourselves bags which wax not old
a treasure in the heavens that fails not
where no thief approaches
neither moth corrupts
FOR where your treasure is there will your heart be also
Disciples need to be obedient and watchful verse 35- 40
Let your loins be girded about – and your lights burning
and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord
when he will return from the wedding
that – when he comes and knocks
they may open unto him immediately
Blessed are those servants
whom the lord when he comes shall find watching
verily I say unto you – that he shall gird himself
and make them to sit down to meat
and will come forth and serve them
And if he shall come in the second watch – or come in the third watch
and find them so – blessed are those servants
And this know – that if the goodman of the house had known
what hour the thief would come – he would have watched
and not have suffered his house to be broken through
Be ye therefore ready also
FOR the Son of man comes at an hour when ye think not
Parable regarding watchfulness verse 41- 53
Then Peter said to HIM – Lord
speak YOU this parable unto us – or even to all?
and the Lord said –
Who then is that faithful and wise steward
whom his lord shall make ruler over his household
to give them their portion of meat in due season?
Blessed is that servant
whom his lord when he comes shall find so doing
Of a truth I say unto you
that he will make him ruler over all that he hath
BUT and IF that servant say in his heart
My lord delays his coming
and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens
and to eat and drink and to be drunken
The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looks not for him
and at an hour when he is not aware – and will cut him in sunder
and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers
And that servant – which knew his lord’s will – and prepared not himself
neither did according to his will – shall be beaten with many stripes
BUT he that knew not – and did commit things worthy of stripes
shall be beaten with few stripes
FOR unto whomsoever much is given – of him shall be much required
and to whom men have committed much – of him will ask the more
I am come to send fire on the earth
and what will I – if it be already kindled?
BUT I have a baptism to be baptized with
and how am I straitened till it be accomplished
Suppose you that I am come to give peace on earth?
I tell you – Nay – but rather division
for from henceforth there shall
be five in one house divided
three against two and two against three
The father shall be divided against the son
and the son against the father
the mother against the daughter
and the daughter against the mother
the mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law
People can tell the weather by looking at sky verse 54- 57
And HE said also to the people
When ye see a cloud rise out of the west
straightway you say
There comes a shower and so it is
And when ye see the south wind blow – ye say
There will be heat and it comes to pass
Ye hypocrites
ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth
BUT how is it that ye do not discern this time?
Yea – and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
Dealing with legal matters verse 58- 59
When you go with thine adversary to the magistrate
as thou art in the way
give diligence that you may be delivered from him
lest he hale thee to the judge
and the judge deliver thee to the officer
and the officer cast thee into prison
I tell you – you shalt not depart thence
till thou hast paid the very last mite
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: you are of more value than many sparrows. (1308 “more value” [diaphero] means be better, to have worth, be superior to, what is best, right, to be or become of greater quality, or to be of considerable value, or superior.)
DEVOTION: This is one of my wife’s favorite verses in the Bible when we are going through a difficult time. These times happen to every Christian that is trying to live the Christian life from day to day.
She likes the fact that we are “more valuable” than the birds that feed at our birdfeeder each day. They like the provision that we make for them when the weather is bad. They can get all the food they want when the weather is good. In fact, they seem to like worms better than bird feed.
God provides all the food they need even when humans have taken over their territory. HE knew what was necessary to care for all of creation when HE created the world. HE is a God who provides especially for HIS children. HE doesn’t want any of them to not come to HIM in prayer for their daily bread.
CHALLENGE: How often do you think about the fact that you are more valuable than all of the rest of creation in the eyes of the LORD!!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 8-9 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall he Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denies me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. (3670 “confess” [homologeo] means profess, admit, declare, say plainly, acknowledge, speak out freely, or give thanks to)
DEVOTION: Identification is important in our world. We have to carry some form of identification on our person at all times. Most of the time here in America it is a driver’s license. Those that don’t have a driver’s license can go to the local authority and have their photo taken and be given a I.D. card for purposes of purchasing things or going places.
Jesus wants those who are followers of HIM to tell others that they are followers of HIM. HE wants them to profess belief in HIM and what HE has done on the cross. Each time someone comes into our life we have to find a way to graciously tell them that we are a follower of Jesus Christ.
Recently, I had visited an aunt who was dying for the first time in many years. She was sick with cancer. At the end of the visit I asked her if I could pray. She agreed. After the prayer she thought that the prayer was too long. When she continued to decline in health I asked if I could visit again but she didn’t want me to come. She didn’t want a minister hanging around. I told her that I would just come as a nephew but was told that “You are what you are.” It saddened my heart but I realized that I am what I am to those who know me and sometimes they just don’t want me around. It hurts.
Jesus said that if we don’t identify with HIM, HE won’t identify with us. That would be even more tragic. I want to identify with HIM and sometimes that means others will not want to be with me. The choice has to be in my life and your life who we want to identify with. That choice has eternal consequences.
CHALLENGE: Realize that you and I are sinners and will always be sinners. However, Jesus washed our sins away and we need to thank HIM for what HE has done by identifying with HIM.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have much goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry. (5590 “soul” [psuche] means inner self, mind, thoughts, feelings, conscious self, the principle of life, the immaterial part of a person which is the actuating cause of an individual life, or person)
DEVOTION: Here we have a man who thinks that he is self-sufficient. He didn’t need anyone or anything. He was rich. He had all the food he could ever want. He was ready to party. He wanted to eat, drink and be merry.
He had the life of Riley. He could just relax and not do any work for the rest of his life. He was living on easy street.
There are many in our world who wants to be a millionaire. They go to college to get a good job. Then they save every penny toward their goal to retire early with a lot of money in the bank. They don’t need anyone or anything getting in their way. They have a goal. Some of them try to honor the LORD with their money on their way to being a millionaire but others don’t. Once they think they have arrived at their appointed goal – something happens. It isn’t all they thought it would be. They are not satisfied.
This man seemed satisfied but the LORD spoke to him regarding his plan. The LORD was the one who gave him his every breath. The LORD is the one who could withhold his next breath. The LORD told him that that is just what HE was going to do.
Then HE challenged him regarding who was going to spend all his money. HE wanted him to realize that being rich toward HIM was more important than being rich in this world’s goods. We need to learn this lesson too.
Many had worked toward this goal and retirement and found that the company they worked for was going to not pay their retirement. Some had put their money in the stock market to have it crash. Our treasure is to be in heaven. Invest in people.
CHALLENGE : We have to watch our thinking in regards to the future. Our actions today affect our future.
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: 21 So is he that lays up treasures for himself, and is not rich toward God. (4147 “rich” [plouteo] means to have abundance, prosper, to acquire wealth, be generous, or have a great deal of)
DEVOTION: Jesus is telling someone who has come to him to settle an estate. HE didn’t want anyone to think that he was there to help them get rich in worldly goods. He warned the people to watch out for covetousness. HE told HIS disciples that there are two kinds of riches. There is being rich in worldly goods. There is being rich in heavenly riches.
While instructing HIS disciples, HE told them that God would supply their every need. HE gave examples in a parable regarding God supplying every need. The birds are taken care of by the LORD. The grass is taken care of by the LORD. The LORD wants us to realize that HE can take care of our every need.
Our worrying about our needs will not help. Can we add inches to our height? Can we number the hairs on our head? God can. Our relation to money has to be one of distance. If we are more concerned about gaining money than we are about getting close to the LORD, we are in trouble.
Are we gathering money into our accounts for ourselves? Is this a main concern every day? Do we try to figure out ways to get more money for ourselves? Do we know the difference between needs and wants? Our needs will be met.
Jesus is teaching that we are to seek the kingdom of God FIRST and all these things will be added to us. If we only want them while we are seeking the kingdom of God, then we have a wrong desire. Our first and foremost desire needs to be the LORD and HIS kingdom. Our concern needs to be closeness to HIM.
Money should be the last thing we are worried about. It is the first thing that the Gentiles or unbelievers think about every day. What should our first thought be each morning? Should they be to see how we can serve the LORD better? We make a choice each morning.
CHALLENGE: Stop worrying and start working for the LORD more. HE will provide what we need.
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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)
Give alms verse 33
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)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Synagogues verse 11
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Solomon verse 27
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Nothing forgotten by God verse 6
Father verse 30, 32
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Son of man verse 8, 10, 40
Master verse 13
Parable of rich man verse 16- 29
Parable of faithful steward verse 41- 48
Lord verse 41, 42
Come to send fire verse 49
Division verse 51- 53
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Holy Ghost verse 10, 12
Teacher verse 12
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
God verse 6 , 8, 9, 20, 21, 24, 28, 31
Kingdom of God verse 31
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Angels of God verse 8, 9
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
More value than many sparrows verse 7
Nations of the world verse 30
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Teaching of the Pharisees verse 1
Hypocrisy verse 1, 56
Deny Christ verse 9
Speaking against Christ verse 10
Blasphemy against Holy Ghost verse 10
Covetousness verse 15
Abundance of things verse 15
Ease verse 19
Fool verse 20
Treasure for self verse 21, 34
Little faith verse 28
Doubtful mind verse 29
Thief verse 33, 39
Beat others verse 45
Drunken verse 45
Unbelievers verse 46
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Message comes from the LORD in prayer verse 3
Fear God verse 5
More valuable verse 7, 24
Confess God before men verse 8
Forgiven verse 10
Taught by Holy Spirit verse 12
Rich toward God verse 21
Faith verse 28
Needs provided verse 30, 31
Fear not verse 32
Blessed verse 37, 38
Servants verse 37, 38, 43,
Watching verse 37
Faithful verse 42
Wise steward verse 42
Doing verse 43
Ruler verse 44
Division verse 51- 53
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Pharisees verse 1
Friends verse 4
Magistrates verse 11
Powers verse 11
Solomon verse 27
Church (New Testament people of God)
Disciples verse 1, 22
Peter verse 41
Last Things (Future Events)
Hell verse 5
Treasures in heaven verse 33
Son of man comes verse 40
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QUOTES regarding passage
15 The audience (autous, “them”) is probably now the whole crowd, not just the two brothers. The issue revolves around the very nature of “life” (zōē). Greed seeks possessions, which are not to be equated with true “living.” In fact, they become a substitute for the proper object of man’s search and worship—God. Therefore, “greed … is idolatry” (Col 3:5). (Leifeld, W. L. (1984). Luke. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke (Vol. 8, p. 961). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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12:13–21. This passage explains Jesus’ teaching to guard against all kinds of greed. Someone wanted Jesus to instruct his brother to divide up the inheritance which was due him in an equitable way. Jesus’ point was that life does not consist in having many possessions. The disciples needed to learn the lesson that life is more important than material things. To explain this teaching Jesus told a parable about a rich man who continued to build bigger and bigger barns to store all his grain and … goods. His attitude was that he would have an easy life because he had everything he could possibly want or need. God’s response in the parable was that the man was foolish (You fool!) because when he died that night his goods would do nothing for him. They would simply pass on to someone else. Such a person is not rich toward God (cf. 1 Tim. 6:6–10; James 1:10). Luke returned to this subject in chapter 16. (Martin, J. A. (1985). Luke. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 238). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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Covetousness is an unquenchable thirst for getting more and more of something we think we need in order to be truly satisfied. It may be a thirst for money or the things that money can buy, or even a thirst for position and power. Jesus made it clear that true life does not depend on an abundance of possessions. He did not deny that we have certain basic needs (Matt. 6:32; 1 Tim. 6:17). He only affirmed that we will not make life richer by acquiring more of these things.
Mark Twain once defined “civilization” as “a limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities,” and he was right. In fact, many Christians are infected with covetousness and do not know it. They think that Paul’s admonition in 1 Timothy 6 applies only to the “rich and famous.” Measured by the living standards of the rest of the world, most believers in America are indeed wealthy people.
Jesus told this parable to reveal the dangers that lurk in a covetous heart. As you read it, test your own responses to this farmer’s various experiences.
How do you respond to the wealthy farmer’s dilemma? Here was a man who had a problem with too much wealth! If we say, “I certainly wish I had that problem!” we may be revealing covetousness in our hearts. If suddenly you inherited a great deal of wealth, would it create a problem for you? Or would you simply praise God and ask Him what He wanted you to do with it?
There are perils to prosperity (Prov. 30:7–9). Wealth can choke the Word of God (Matt. 13:22), create snares and temptations (1 Tim. 6:6–10, 17–19), and give you a false sense of security. People say that money does not satisfy, but it does satisfy if you want to live on that level. People who are satisfied only with the things that money can buy are in great danger of losing the things that money cannot buy.
This farmer saw his wealth as an opportunity to please himself. He had no thoughts of others or of God.
How do you respond to the decisions of the rich man? Are you saying, “Now that is shrewd business! Save and have it ready for the future!” But Jesus saw selfishness in all that this man did (note the eleven personal pronouns), and He said the man was a fool. The world’s philosophy is “Take care of Number One!” But Jesus does not endorse that philosophy. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 220–221). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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After we have trusted Christ we are warned against laying up treasures for ourselves on earth, where moth and rust corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. Even Christians are in danger of this spirit of covetousness. Happy is he who, instead of laying up treasures on earth, is sending treasure on ahead to be enjoyed in heaven. How do I lay up treasure in heaven? Why, everything I do for others in His name, everything that I give to the needy in His name, is treasure deposited in the bank of heaven. Such deposits draw ten thousand per cent interest; for Christ said, “There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, who shall not receive a hundredfold in this life.” A hundredfold is ten thousand per cent. But that is only in this life, for He adds, “And in the world to come life everylasting.”
One may say, “I do not see that there is much wrong in covetousness. What is there about it that is actually wrong?” You may not see anything very serious about it now, but if it keeps you out of heaven you will find it serious indeed. Untold thousands have been kept out of heaven by this sin of covetousness. It has come between them and the salvation of the soul. (Ironside, H. A. (1947). Addresses on the Gospel of Luke. (p. 412). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
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Ver. 15. And he said unto them, &c.] Either to the two brethren, or to his disciples, as the Syriac and Persic versions read, or to the whole company: take heed, and beware of covetousness; of all covetousness, as read the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, and some copies; that is, of all sorts of covetousness, and every degree of it, which of all vices is to be avoided and guarded against, being the root of all evil; and as the Persic version renders it, is worse than all evil, and leads into it: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth; of flocks and beasts, as the Persic version renders it: a man’s natural life cannot be prolonged by all the good things of the world he is possessed of, they cannot prevent diseases nor death; nor do the comfort and happiness of life, lie in these things; which are either not enjoyed by them, but kept for the hurt of the owners of them, or are intemperately used, or some way or other imbittered to them, so that they have no peace nor pleasure in them: and a man’s spiritual life is neither had nor advantaged hereby, and much less is eternal life to be acquired by any of these things; which a man may have, and be lost for ever, as the following parable shews. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 1, p. 612). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
In direct contradiction to the American dream, God actually delights in exalting our inability. He intentionally puts his people in situations where they come face to face with their need for him. In the process he powerfully demonstrates his ability to provide everything his people need in ways they could never have mustered up or imagined. And in the end, he makes much of his own name. (p 47, Radical by David Platt)
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Old Testament WORDS for Today by Warren W. Wiersbe
Ezekiel 14:3
The Jewish elders seated before Ezekiel were men with divided hearts, and the Lord told his prophet he was not sure they deserved to hear any word from him (Ezek.14:3). These men pretended to obey the Law of Moses, but their hearts belonged to the idols and they were breaking the first two commandments (Exod. 20: 1-6). It was because of their idolatry that the Jewish people were now exiles in Babylon while Jerusalem and the temple were being attacked. Someone has said that “a change in circumstances does not overcome a flaw in character.” God deported the Jews to Babylon and they brought their evil hearts with them! Divided hearts are dangerous, for “a double- minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1: 8). (p. 174-5)
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Treasures from the Greek New Testament
by Kenneth S. Wuest
The rule is as follows: When two nouns in the same case are connected by the Greek word “and,” and the first noun is preceded by the article “the,” and the second noun is not preceded by the article, the second noun refers to the same person or thing to which the first noun refers, and is a farther description of it. For instance, the words “pastors” and “teachers” in Eph. 4: 11 are in the same case and are connected by the “and.” The word “pastors” is preceded by the article “the,” whereas the word “teachers” is not. This construction requires us to understand that the words “pastors” and “teachers” refer to the same individual, and that the word “teacher” is a farther description of the individual called a “pastor.” The expression therefore refers to pastors who are also teachers, “teaching –pastors.” (p. 31)
IN Titus 2: 13 we have “the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.” We find the same construction in the Greek, And the same rule of grammar requires us to interpret the phrase as teaching that Jesus Christ is the great God. Since the Greek word for “and” should be translated by the word “even” who ever the context demands such a meaning, we are justified in rendering this phrase “the great God, even our Savior Jesus Christ,” refer to one individual. The word “even” brings out this meaning. The translation could also read, “our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” Thus, the rules of Greek grammar teach the deity of Jesus Christ. (p. 33)
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THE TEACHING OF THE APOSTLES
…built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Ephesians 2:20
John’s whole purpose in writing his first epistle was to say to the early Christians, “Hold on to what I and the other apostles have told you.” You remember how he began. “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life” (1 John 1:1-2). He is referring to the apostles, and he says that he writes these things so that these Christians “may have fellowship with us” (1 John 1:3). Who are they? They are still the apostles.
Now this is something that is absolutely primary and fundamental. The claim of the New Testament is that it alone is authoritative in these matters. It teaches us that the apostles and prophets were the people to whom God, through the Holy Spirit, had revealed spiritual truth, and He meant them to teach it and to write it. The apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:20 that the Christian church is “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets.” All teaching must derive from them, and so you have this extraordinary claim in the New Testament. These men claimed a unique authority.
Listen to the apostle Paul putting it again in writing to the Galatians; he uses strong language like this: “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed” (1:8). “What egotism!” says someone. No, it is not egotism; it is the claim of a man who has been commissioned by God. God has set him apart; God has given him the revelation. And he goes on to argue in so many of his letters that what he preached was also the message that was preached by the other apostles. This apostle and all the apostles did not hesitate to say that they exhorted these people to test every teaching by their teaching. And you and I are still committed to the same position.
A Thought to Ponder: The apostles and prophets were the people to whom God revealed spiritual truth.
(From The Love of God, pp. 30-31, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Signs of the Day of the Lord, a day preceded by a vast “falling away,” show us we must stand fast.
INSIGHT
Unbelief is dangerous: It leads to deception, and deception leads to destruction. Jesus performed many miracles,convincing people of His identity so they could have a basis for believing in Him. Before His return, the Antichrist, empowered by Satan, will be loosed on the earth and a time of great deception and apostasy will occur. Those people who hate the truth will buy into this deception, precipitating their ultimate destruction. Meanwhile, believers must stand firm, holding tightly to the truth. In a world of falsehood and deliberate deception, we must always be on guard. (Quiet Walk)
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Messages from the Messiah’s Life: Hypocritical Religious Leaders
“But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.” (Matthew 23:13)
Jesus condemned both the Pharisees and Sadducees for the same problem, though the two groups were very different. The Pharisees were like the legalists of our day and the Sadducees like the liberals. Both camps claimed to believe in inspiration and prided themselves on their knowledge of Scripture.
However, both groups were focused on power and authority rather than on the teachings of Scripture. There was no desire to honor the Creator and be agents of witness. The Pharisees developed a vast system of rules to force their followers to behave in a certain way. The Sadducees sought favor with the Roman officials. Jesus’ opinion of them was clear.
- Matthew 23:15: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.”
- Luke 11:52: “Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.”
Their error was consciously twisting the truth of God with interpretations that distorted the message of Scripture. The Pharisees added extra requirements that were “burdens grievous to be borne” (Luke 11:46). The Sadducees denied the glorious hope of the resurrection, denying a core principle of the gospel. As Paul pointed out to the Corinthians, that false doctrine would make “all men most miserable” (1 Corinthians 15:19). May God keep us from such confusion.
(HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
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The essence of dispensationalism is (1)the recognition of a consistent distinction between Israel and the church, (2) a consistent and regular use of a literal principle of interpretation, and (3) a basis and primary conception of the purpose of God as His own glory rather than the salvation of mankind. (p. 51)
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Progressive dispensationalists place the eternal state as the second part of their final dispensation (the first part being the millennial), which is called either ‘the future dispensation” or the “Zionic dispensation.” (p.55)
(Dispensationalism by Charles C. Ryrie)
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DAILY HOPE
Today’s Scripture
Numbers 28-30
Sacrifices come in many forms and at various costs. It may be as simple as a child giving up a toy for another child to have an opportunity to play. As we grow older, the value of our sacrifices may increase but not necessarily the level of importance which they hold in our lives.
Israel was specifically instructed as to what were acceptable sacrifices and offerings to be presented to the Lord. A second generation of people were prepared to enter the land of promise. The required offerings were broken down according to daily, weekly, monthly, and annual contributions to the Lord.
Considering the great number of offering and sacrifices required, Moody Commentary states, “Not including the Day of Atonement sacrifices or other feast day sacrifices addressed elsewhere (e.g. First Fruits; Lev. 23), the burnt sacrifices here included 113 bulls, 37 rams, 1,093 lambs annually, as well as 30 goats for sin offering” (Moody Bible Commentary, p.254-55). The many sacrifices were from people who were already followers and were part of the covenant community of Israel.
These sacrifices were not to be misunderstood as a way of earning salvation but a catalyst to make individuals aware of their sins and the separation between a holy God and man. Each time a sacrifice was made, the individual was dealing with their own personal sins and being restored to God. Sacrifices were not an end in themselves since God was primarily interested in the person.
An individual who brought the right sacrifices with a heart far from God, would never please Him. Repeatedly in the Scripture, it is stated that God is more interested in the person’s heart than the sacrifices they make (Gen.4:1-8; Ps. 40:6-8; Isa. 1:10-18; Micah 6:6-8). Also, in Hosea, it is recorded, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice” (Hosea 6:6). This verse is recounted by Matthew in 9:13 & 12:7.
There is a cost to sacrifice. The Old Testament sacrifices and offerings pointed forward to not only Christ’s death (Hebrews 9:26), but also to believers being daily living sacrifices (Romans 12:1). Let us examine ourselves before the Lord and be prepared to sacrificially present ourselves to Him in our leisure, labors, and language.
In Expectant Hope, Pastor Miller
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