Luke 23

Pilate finds Jesus innocent verse 1- 5

And the whole multitude of them arose – and led HIM to Pilate

and they began to accuse HIM saying

We found this fellow perverting the nation

and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar

saying that

HE HIMSELF is Christ a King

And Pilate asked HIM saying

Are YOU the King of the Jews?

And HE answered him and said

You say it

THEN said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people

I find no fault in this man

And they were the more fierce – saying

HE stirs up the people teaching throughout all Jewry

beginning from Galilee to this place

Pilate sends Jesus to Herod verse 6- 12

When Pilate heard of Galilee

he asked whether the man were a Galilean

and as soon as he knew that HE

belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction

he sent HIM to Herod

who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time

And when Herod saw Jesus – he was exceeding glad

FOR he was desirous to see HIM of a long season

BECAUSE he had heard many things of HIM

and he hoped to have seen some miracle

done by HIM

THEN he questioned with HIM in many words

BUT HE answered him nothing

AND the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused HIM

and Herod with his men of war set HIM at nought

and mocked HIM

and arrayed HIM in a gorgeous robe

and sent HIM again to Pilate

And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together

FOR before they were at enmity between themselves

Herod sends Jesus back to Pilate verse 13- 17

And Pilate – when he had called together the chief priests

and the rulers and the people said to them

You have brought this man unto me

as one that perverted the people – AND BEHOLD

I have examined HIM before you

have found no fault in this man touching those things

whereof you accuse HIM

No – nor yet Herod – FOR I sent you to him

AND lo – nothing worthy of death is done unto HIM

I will therefore chastise HIM – and release HIM

(For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast)

Pilate releases Barabbas verse 18- 19

And they cried out all at once – saying

Away with this man – and release unto us Barabbas

(Who for a certain sedition made in the city and for murder

was cast into prison)

Pilate tried to release Jesus verse 20- 25

Pilate therefore – willing to release Jesus – spoke again to them

BUT they cried saying

Crucify HIM – Crucify HIM

And he said to them the third time

Why – what evil has HE done?

I have found no cause of death in HIM

I will therefore chastise HIM – and let HIM go

And they were instant with loud voices

requiring that HE might be crucified

and the voices of them

and of the chief priests prevailed

And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required

and he released to them him that for sedition and murder

was cast into prison whom they had desired

BUT he delivered Jesus to their will

Simon carries the cross verse 26

And as they led HIM away

they laid hold upon one Simon – a Cyrenian

coming out of the country

and on him they laid the cross

that he might bear it after Jesus

Jesus gives message to crowd verse 27- 31

And there followed HIM a great company of people – women

which also bewailed and lamented HIM

BUT Jesus turning unto them said

Daughters of Jerusalem – weep not for ME

BUT weep for yourselves and for your children

FOR BEHOLD – the days are coming

in the which they shall say

Blessed are the barren – and the wombs that never bare

and the paps which never gave suck

THEN shall they begin to say to the mountains

Fall on us – and to the hills – Cover us

FOR if they do these things in a green tree

what shall be done in the dry?

Jesus on cross verse 32- 38

And there were also two other – malefactors

led with HIM to be put to death

and when they were come to the place

which is called Calvary

there they crucified HIM – and the malefactors

one on the right hand – and the other on the left

THEN said Jesus

Father – forgive them – FOR they know not what they do

And they parted HIS raiment – and cast lots

and the people stood beholding

And the rulers also with them derided HIM – saying

HE saved others – let HIM save HIMSELF – if HE be Christ

the chosen of God

And the soldiers also mocked HIM – coming to HIM

and offering HIM vinegar and saying

If YOU be the King of the Jews – save YOURSELF

And a superscription also was written over HIM in letters of

Greek – Latin – Hebrew

THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS

Thieves on the cross verse 39- 43

AND one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on HIM

saying

If YOU be Christ – save YOURSELF and us

BUT the other answering rebuked him – saying

Do not you fear God

seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

and we indeed justly

FOR we receive the due reward of our deeds

BUT this man hath done nothing amiss

And he said unto Jesus

Lord – remember me when YOU come into – YOUR kingdom

And Jesus said to him

Verily I say unto you

Today shall you be with ME in paradise

Final moments before death of Jesus verse 44- 46

And it was about the sixth hour

and there was a darkness over all the earth

until the ninth hour

And the sun was darkened

and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst

and when Jesus had cried with a loud voice

HE said

Father into YOUR hands

I commend MY spirit

and having said thus

HE gave up the ghost

Reaction to death of Jesus verse 47- 49

Now when the centurion saw what was done

he glorified God – saying

Certainly this was a righteous man

And all the people that came together to that sight

beholding the things which were done

smote their breasts

and returned

And all HIS acquaintance and the women

that followed HIM from Galilee

stood afar off – beholding these things

Joseph of Arimathea asks for body of Jesus verse 50- 54

And – BEHOLD – there was a man named Joseph – a counselor

and he was a good man – and a just

(The same had not consented to the counsel

and deed of them)

he was of Arimathea – a city of the Jews

who also HIMSELF waited

for the kingdom of God

This man went unto Pilate – and begged the body of Jesus

and he took it down – and wrapped it in linen

and laid it in a sepulcher that was hewn in stone

wherein never man before was laid

And that day was the preparation – and the Sabbath drew on

Women follow Jesus to sepulcher verse 55- 56

And the women also – which came with HIM from Galilee

following after – and beheld the sepulcher

and how HIS body was laid

And they returned – and prepared spices and ointments

and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment

COMMENTARY:

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers

: 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, we found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar saying that he himself is Christ the King. (1294 “perverting” [diastrepho] means to distort, turn aside from the right path, or corrupt)

DEVOTION: Today Christians are said to be turning the world in the wrong direction. Christians are deceiving the world with their teachings. Being a Christian is a common joke on our television sets. Our society thinks that Christians will not fight back, so they joke about us but not about any of the false religions of the world because it would not be nice or politically correct. It is politically correct to put down Christians.

They are corrupting our society with their narrow views. We have run across people on airplanes who don’t like the exclusiveness of the Christian faith because we believe that only those who are born again through Christ will inherit eternal life. Moving from those outside Christianity to those who claim to be inside Christianity, we find that many are questioning all the fundamentals of the faith from inside our theological schools. Some are questioning the omniscience of God. They think that HE is surprised by what is happening in our world. Some are questioning the substitutionary atonement of Christ on the cross. They think that HE was a good moral example to follow but that HIS death on the cross was a surprise to HIM.

The more we read from current “Christian” books that claim to be evangelical, the more surprised we become with their personal interpretation of the Bible. They don’t want to consult those who have gone before but want to start a whole new study. Many don’t feel there are any fundamentals of the faith that are fixed. They are turning our Bible believing world upside down for those who are searching for the truth but have so many different answers out there among those who call themselves “evangelicals.”

Instead we should call them heretics but that is not politically correct, even if, it is Biblically correct. Jesus was not worried about being politically correct before the chief priest or Pilate or Herod or even in front of the thieves on the cross next to HIM. HE stayed true to the calling of dying on the cross for our sins. HE told the thief next to HIM that he would be in paradise with HIM that DAY.

Yes there were lies about Jesus but HE handled them with statements of truth or no statement. HE was not distorting the TRUTH, HE was stating it. It cost HIM HIS life but that was the main reason for HIS coming. HE will be coming back and we are to be watching for HIS return.

Those who believe the fundamentals of the faith and practice them should stand firm even when they are said to distort the nation. Stand firm in the LORD!!!

CHALLENGE: When people put you down, give them the TRUTH. Don’t change the TRUTH to fit society.

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers

: 34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. (863 “forgive” [aphiemi] means to let go, give up a debt, to remit, keep no longer, dismiss, cancel a debt, remit, set free or pardon)

DEVOTION: Jesus came to settle the sin issue with God. We are sinners. Everyone is a sinner from the time they are born until the time they die. Some are considered worse sinners than others by many people. How many sins does it take to spend eternity in the lake of fire? It only takes one!

On the cross Jesus makes this statement concerning those who put HIM on the cross. They had told Pilate that they and their children will face the consequences of their telling him to crucify Jesus. Jesus knew that the truth of the matter was that all people are guilty. HE knew that the consequences were the same for every human being. HE also knew that those who committed the sin against HIM would be pardoned of their sins.

One of the signs that we are genuine Christians is that we are willing to pardon those who have sinned against us. The LORD will not pardon our sins if we are not willing to pardon those who sin against us. Too often people who say they are believers are not willing to pardon those who sin against them.

Our thinking should be that we realize that some people don’t understand that they are not only sinning against us but against the LORD as well. We are to let the LORD deal with them. HE is dealing with us, in that, HE wants us to be willing to let go of what someone has done to us and let HIM handle it.

There is always a purpose for what is happening in our life. God has a plan for our life that will include suffering. Suffering is supposed to cause us to go to HIM for counsel and encouragement. HE wants us to depend on HIM each day. HE wants us to be in HIS presence every day. Jesus was in HIS presence every day. HE was our example to follow.

Don’t harbor resentment or anger against those who hurt us. Don’t allow our enemy Satan to win any battle in our lives.

CHALLENGE: Claim victory by being willing to let go and let God handle those who sin against us. Jesus did!!

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: 43 And Jesus said to him, Verily, I say to you, Today shall you be with me in paradise. (3857 “paradise” [paradeisos] means a garden, a dwelling place of the righteous dead in a state of blessedness, enclosure, pleasure ground, park, among the Persians, a grand enclosure or preserve, hunting ground, park, shady and well watered, in which wild animals were kept for the hunt, heaven understood as a protected, walled garden full of delightful delicacies, or garden of Eden.)

DEVOTION: What happens after we die? Jesus informed this repentant sinner that after he died he was going to be in Paradise with HIM. What is Paradise? It is a place called Abraham’s bosom where those who were Old Testament saints went to wait for the day when Christ was going to arrive and empty the place with HIS resurrection.

So Christ was going to empty Paradise after HIS resurrection, by taking the Old Testament saints to heaven with HIM at HIS ascension. HE was taken up in a cloud of witnesses.

Now we are New Testament saints during the Church Age. Once we die we are separated from our body until the Rapture of the Church. Our soul and spirit go to be with Jesus as soon as we die. Our body will not join us until the time of the Rapture. Remember the promise given that when we are absent from the body in death we are present with the LORD. It is a great promise to those of us who are New Testament saints. We are in the presence of the LORD the second we die.

The Bible talks about three types of saints: Old Testament, New Testament and Tribulation saints. Each group has their own promises. Each saint is going to spend eternity with Jesus.

CHALLENGE: Look for the promises of God to each group of saints as you study the Word of God. Ignorance is not what HE expects from HIS people.

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 55 And the women also, which came with HIM from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulcher, and how his body was laid. (2628 “followed after” [katakoloutheo] means to follow along behind, to keep on following, accompany, to comply with, to act in conformity with, or obey)

DEVOTION: One of the characteristics of the ministry of Jesus is that HE had both men and women following HIM most of the time. These women came from Galilee to Jerusalem to be there with Jesus to celebrate the Passover.

We don’t hear of any women at the Passover celebration with Jesus. It seems to be only the twelve disciples at the dinner.

However, we know that women supported the ministry of Jesus. They provided money to keep the ministry going.

Both men and women are important to the ministry of the church in our world. Each has their gifts. Each has their calling. Each needs to remember to give their whole being to the LORD.

In this passage they were concerned that the body of Jesus needed to be prepared better for HIS death. They were going to return to the tomb to make sure that HIS body was properly carried for.

We have to remember that men and women have different gifts. Many times men are not as detailed as women. Women seem to remember exactly what should be done and the details are important to them. Men sometimes are more project oriented and details can be lost in activity.

CHALLENGE: In the church we need to make sure that we get the projects done well. Details are important to God.

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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)

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)

Jesus prays Father forgive them verse 34

Jesus final prayer to the Father verse 46

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)

Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)

Veil in the temple verse 45

Sabbath verse 54, 56

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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

Commandments verse 56

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

Jesus talks to Father verse 34, 46

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)

Christ verse 2, 35, 39

King verse 2

King of the Jews verse 3, 37, 38

No fault verse 4, 14

Teacher verse 5

Jesus verse 8, 20, 25, 26, 28, 34, 42, 43, 46,52 52

man verse 14

Crucified verse 33

Chosen of God verse 35

Done nothing amiss verse 41

Lord verse 42

Gave up the ghost verse 46

Righteous man verse 47

God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)

Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)

God verse 35, 40, 47, 51

Chosen by God verse 35

Fear God verse 40

Glorified God verse 47

Kingdom of God verse 51

Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)

Pilate verse 1- 6, 12- 25, 52

Caesar verse 2

Herod verse 7- 12, 15

Barabbas verse 18, 19

Simon a Cyrenian verse 26

Centurion verse 47

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)

Accuse verse 2, 10, 14

Perverting verse 2, 14

Forbidding to give tribute verse 2

Fault verse 4, 14

Mocked Jesus verse 11, 36

Murder verse 19, 25

Sedition verse 19, 25

Evil verse 22

Malefactors verse 32, 33, 39

Railed verse 39

Condemnation verse 40

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

Teach verse 5

Miracle verse 8

Forgive verse 34

Saved verse 35, 37, 39

Chosen verse 35

Fear of the LORD verse 40

Prayer verse 46

Glorified God verse 47

Righteous verse 47

Good man verse 50

Just verse 50

Israel (Old Testament people of God)

Nation verse 2

Chief priests verse 4, 10, 13, 23

Jewry verse 5

Galilee verse 5, 6, 49, 55

Jerusalem verse 7

Scribes verse 10

Rulers verse 13

People verse 13

Daughters of Jerusalem verse 28

Calvary verse 33

Joseph of Arimathaea (counselor) verse 50- 54

Church (New Testament people of God)

Last Things (Future Events)

Death verse 15, 22

Paradise verse 43

Kingdom of God verse 51

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QUOTES regarding passage

You will be with me in paradise. Once again the last had become first. The “first” mocked and sought Jesus’ death; this condemned criminal, surely the “last,” sought the Lord’s mercy and amazingly found salvation. In the OT the term “paradise” can refer to a park with trees (Song 4:13; Eccl 2:5; Neh 2:8), a “garden of the Lord” (Gen 13:10), a “garden … in Eden” (2:8), or can be understood in a future eschatological sense (Ezek 31:8). In the intertestamental literature and in the NT (2 Cor 12:4; Rev 2:7) the expression is used more and more to describe the final abode of the righteous. It is used in this sense here. The criminal would experience salvation. He would not “today” experience the resurrection, for the resurrection of the dead will only occur at the parousia. Whatever the temporary state may have been, however, he would have a conscious experience with Jesus in paradise (cf. 16:19–31). This same thought is found in different terminology in 1 Thess 4:17; and Phil 1:21–23. (Stein, R. H. (1992). Luke (Vol. 24, p. 593). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)

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43. In Paradise (παραδείσῳ). Originally an enclosed park, or pleasure-ground. Xenophon uses it of the parks of the Persian kings and nobles. “There (at Celaenae) Cyrus had a palace and a great park (παράδεισος), full of wild animals, which he hunted on horseback.… Through the midst of the park flows the river Maeander (“Anabasis,” i., 2, 7). And again: “The Greeks encamped near a great and beautiful park, thickly grown with all kinds of trees” (2:4, 14.) In the Septuagint, Gen. 2:8, of the garden of Eden. In the Jewish theology, the department of Hades where the blessed souls await the resurrection; and therefore equivalent to Abraham’s bosom (ch. 16:22, 23). It occurs three times in the New Testament: here; 2 Cor. 12:4; Apoc. 2:7; and always of the abode of the blessed. (Vincent, M. R. (1887). Word studies in the New Testament (Vol. 1, p. 431). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.)

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Today shalt thou be with me in Paradise (Σημερον μετʼ ἐμου ἐσῃ ἐν τῳ παραδεισῳ [Sēmeron met’ emou esēi en tōi paradeisōi]). However crude may have been the robber’s Messianic ideas Jesus clears the path for him. He promises him immediate and conscious fellowship after death with Christ in Paradise which is a Persian word and is used here not for any supposed intermediate state; but the very bliss of heaven itself. This Persian word was used for an enclosed park or pleasure ground (so Xenophon). The word occurs in two other passages in the N. T. (2 Cor. 12:4; Rev. 2:7), in both of which the reference is plainly to heaven. Some Jews did use the word for the abode of the pious dead till the resurrection, interpreting “Abraham’s bosom” (Luke 16:22f.) in this sense also. But the evidence for such an intermediate state is too weak to warrant belief in it. (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Lk 23:43). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)

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Our Lord was crucified about 9 a.m. and remained on the cross until 3 p.m.; and from noon to 3 p.m., there was darkness over all the land (Mark 15:25, 33). Jesus spoke seven times during those six terrible hours:

1. “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34).

2. “Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).

3. “Woman, behold thy son” (John 19:25–27).

[Three hours of darkness; Jesus is silent]

4. “Why hast Thou forsaken Me?” (Matt. 27:46)

5. “I thirst” (John 19:28).

6. “It is finished!” (John 19:30)

7. “Father, into Thy hands” (Luke 23:46).

Luke recorded only three of these seven statements, the first, the second, and the last. Our Lord’s prayer for His enemies, and His ministry to a repentant thief, fit in well with Luke’s purpose to show Jesus Christ as the sympathetic Son of man who cared for the needy.

While they were nailing Him to the cross, He repeatedly prayed, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Not only was He practicing what He taught (Luke 6:27–28), but He was fulfilling prophecy and making “intercession for the transgressors” (Isa. 53:12). (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 275). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

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The man was saved wholly by grace; it was the gift of God (Eph. 2:8–9). He did not deserve it and he could not earn it. His salvation was personal and secure, guaranteed by the word of Jesus Christ. The man hoped for some kind of help in the future, but Jesus gave him forgiveness that very day, and he died and went with Jesus to paradise (2 Cor. 12:1–4). (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 275–276). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

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23:43 Paradise. The only other places this word is used in the NT are 2Co 12:4 and Rev 2:7. The word suggests a garden (it is the word used of Eden in the LXX), but in all 3 NT uses it speaks of heaven. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Lk 23:43). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)

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We read that “one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on Him.” Both of them railed on Him at first and said, “If Thou be the Christ, save Thyself and us.” But suddenly divine conviction laid hold of one of those men. As he gazed upon the holy Sufferer on that central cross, possibly as he heard Him pray for His enemies, he seemed to realize who it was who was there being crucified. He rebuked his fellow-malefactor saying, “Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this Man hath done nothing amiss.” He seemed to sense the perfect holiness of Jesus, and in vivid contrast he saw the sinfulness and wickedness of his own life and that of his companion. “But this Man hath done nothing amiss!” What a declaration at such a time! Years before Isaiah asked the question, “Who shall declare His generation? for He was cut off out of the land of the living” (Isa. 53:8). Someone has translated that question, “Who shall declare His manner of life?” Think of the declaration coming from a dying thief, hanging by His side: “This Man hath done nothing amiss!” He then turned to Jesus as he recognized in that thorn-crowned Sufferer, the One who is the King of glory, and he said, “Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.” It was real faith coupled with genuine repentance. So this man hanging there upon that cross was saved. Jesus said, as it were, “You will not have to wait till I come into My kingdom”: “Today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise.” I know there are some who would like to make us believe that what Jesus said was, “Today (not yesterday nor tomorrow) I say unto thee that some day shalt thou be with Me in Paradise.” That does violence to the text as we have it both in the original and in the English Bible, and it would imply that our Lord did that thing which He condemns in us—used idle words. No; what He said was, “Today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise.” And He was; for ere that day closed—according to Jewish reckoning of a day, from sunset to sunset—the Lord Jesus had dismissed His spirit to the Father, and the spirit of the thief had gone to be with Christ in Paradise: the firstfruit of His glorious redemptive work. An old writer has suggested that there is great danger in putting off our salvation until the end of life. In the Bible there is one man who was saved at the last moment. There is one, that none might despair; only one, that none might presume. (Ironside, H. A. (1947). Addresses on the Gospel of Luke. (pp. 683–685). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)

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Ver. 43. And Jesus said unto him, &c.] Jesus immediately answered him, though he said not one word to the other that railed at him, or to the multitude that abused him; and promised him more than he asked for, and sooner than he expected. Verily I say unto thee, to-day thou shalt be with me in paradise; בגן עדן, in the garden of Eden; not the earthly paradise, nor the church militant, but the future place, and state of the happiness of the saints, even heaven, and eternal glory, which the Jews frequently call by this name; see the note on 2 Cor. 12:4. and is so called, because, as the earthly paradise, or Eden’s garden, was of God’s planting, so is the heavenly glory of his providing and preparing: as that was a place of delight and pleasure, so here are pleasures for evermore: as there was a river in it, which added to the delightfulness and advantage of it, so here runs the river of God’s love, the streams whereof make glad the saints now, and will be a broad river to swim in to all eternity: as there were the tree of life, with a variety of other trees, both for delight and profit, so here, besides Christ, the tree of life, which stands in the midst of it, are an innumerable company of angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect: and as the inhabitants of that garden were pure and innocent creatures, so into this paradise shall nothing enter but what is righteous, pure, and holy: and whereas the principal enjoyment of man in Eden was conversation with God, and communion with him, the glory of the heavenly paradise will lie in fellowship with God, Father, Son, and Spirit, in beholding the face of God, and seeing him as he is: and this is the happiness promised by Christ to the penitent and believing thief, that he should be here; and not only so, but with him here, which is far better than being in this world, and than which nothing can be more desirable: and which, when enjoyed, will be for ever: and this he was to enter upon that very day; which shews, that Christ’s soul did not descend into hell, locally and literally considered, or into the Limbus Patrum, the Papists talk of, to fetch the souls of the patriarchs thence, but as soon as it was separated from the body was taken up into heaven; and also, that the souls of departed saints are immediately, upon their separation from the body, there; which was the case of this wonderful instance of the grace of God; and shews the swiftness of the soul, or the velocity of angels in conveying it thither immediately: and this agrees with the sense of the Jews, who say, that “the souls of the fathers, or patriarchs have rest, and in a moment, immediately enter into their separate places, or apartments, and not as the rest of the souls; of whom it is said, all the twelve months the soul ascends and descends, (goes to and fro,) but the souls of the fathers, מיד בהפרדן, immediately, upon their separation, return to God that gave them,” Some would remove the stop, and place it after to-day, and read the words thus, I say unto thee to-day; as if Christ only signified the time when he said this, and not when the thief should be with him in paradise; which, besides it being senseless, and impertinent, and only contrived to serve an hypothesis, is not agreeably to Christ’s usual way of speaking, and is contrary to all copies and versions. Moreover, in one of Beza’s exemplars it is read, I say unto thee, οτι σημερον, that to-day thou shalt be with me, &c. and so the Persic and Ethiopic versions seem to read, which destroys this silly criticism. And because this was a matter of great importance, and an instance of amazing grace, that so vile a sinner, one of the chief of sinners, should immediately enter into the kingdom of God, and enjoy uninterrupted, and everlasting communion with him; and that it might not be a matter of doubt with him, or others, Christ, who is the Amen, the faithful witness, and truth itself, prefaces it after this manner: verily I say unto thee; it is truth, it may be depended on. This instance of grace stands on record, not to cherish sloth, indolence, security and presumption, but to encourage faith and hope in sensible sinners, in their last moments, and prevent despair. The Papists pretend to know this man’s name; they say his name was Disma; and reckon him as a martyr, and have put him in the catalogue of saints, and fixed him on the twenty-fifth of March. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 1, p. 723). London: Mathews and Leigh.)

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FROM MY READING:

Old Testament WORDS for Today by Warren W. Wiersbe

There are times in the Christian’s life when nothing seems to bring peace. Circumstances are pressing, people are too busy to listen, and even our prayers seem ineffective. That’s the time to be silent before the Lord and let him sing you into peace. Don’t try to explain it, because God’s peace “surpasses all understanding” (Phil. 4:7), just enjoy it. (p. 192)

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Titus 1
Paul instructs Titus to appoint spiritually qualified men to oversee the church ministry.
INSIGHT

The Bible is an enormous book that is difficult to master. It contains nearly 1,000 pages of information, none of which is insignificant. While it is true that new Christians can read and study the Scriptures on their own and gain spiritual truths through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, it is highly unlikely that anyone can grow to a mature understanding of the Bible without relying on teachers who know more about the Bible than they do. Herein lies a danger: We may not know enough about the Bible to determine if what is being taught to us is accurate. Therefore it is important to align ourselves with a church that believes and teaches the Bible. This type of setting will help safeguard us from being led into error. (Quiet Walk)

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GOD WORKING IN YOU

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Philippians 2:12-13
Are you aware of the fact that God is working in you? “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,” says Paul, “for it is God which worketh in you.” This is a marvelous, wonderful thing. It is one of the great tests of the possession of the Holy Spirit. It means something like this: We are aware of the fact that we are being dealt with; it is not that we decide to do things. You see, moralists and religious conformists are doing it all themselves, and that is why they are so proud of themselves. They get up on Sunday morning instead of spending the morning in bed, and they go to church. They do it because they have decided to do it, not because they have been moved. They are in control the whole time; and having done it, they preen themselves with their wonderful, ennobling ideals. How marvelous they are!
But that is not what the Bible talks about. “It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do.” In other words, you are aware of the power of God dealing with you, surging and rising within you, and you are amazed and astonished. Far from being proud you say, “It is not I. This is not the sort of person I am. It is God doing something; it is Christ dwelling within me; it is the Holy Spirit who is in me. I am taken up beyond myself, and I thank God for it.” Is God working in you? Are you aware of a wonder-working power active in you, moving, disturbing, leading, persuading, drawing you ever onward? If you are, it is because you have received from God the gift of the Holy Spirit.
A Thought to Ponder: You are aware of the power of God dealing with you, surging and rising within you, and you are amazed and astonished.

(From The Love of God, p. 99, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

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Problems, Problems, Problems
“And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.” (Psalm 55:6)
The 55th Psalm is a psalm of “complaint” (v. 2) by David and gives an insight into his thought process as he tried to deal with the great problems and burdens that were overwhelming him. His first instinct was to run away from them, flying like a dove far off into the wilderness.
The prophet Jonah (whose name means “dove”) tried that strategy years later, only to encounter even worse problems (Jonah 1:3, 15). One does not solve problems by fleeing from them.
Then, David decided to berate those who were causing him trouble and to complain about them to the Lord. “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice” (Psalm 55:17). The words “pray, and cry aloud” here actually mean “complain and mourn.” “Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues” (v. 9). “Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell” (v. 15). His burdens were all the heavier because those whom he had trusted as friends and colleagues were now using deceit and guile against him (vv. 11-14), and the injustice of it all was almost more than he could endure. But complaints and imprecations were also unsatisfying: “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19).
Finally, the Lord gave him an answer, and David found the rest for which he had been so fretfully searching. Here it is: “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved” (Psalm 55:22). The last phrase of the psalm is “but I will trust in thee” (v. 23).
The way to deal with burdens and problems is not to flee from them or to fret about them but to turn them over to the Lord: “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)

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Wesley Aarum writes (NY): I am once again going through the book of Revelation and the judgment that is soon going to fall on this world is almost unbelievable. I watch all that is happening in our world and from the Bible perspective you can see how things are setting up for the rule of the Anti-Christ. The Globalists want a one world ruler and they are soon going to have their wish. Our wonderful country is fast coming to an end but there is still hope that God, in His infinite mercy, will grant us one last chance before the Rapture. That one chance is a nation-wide Awakening that will sweep millions into the Kingdom.That of course will only happen in answer to Prayer. God gives us so many promises of what He can and will do if we will Pray! Dear Christians we have no excuse not to call on God for this miracle.I challenge you, yes I beg you, let’s determine in our hearts and make a covenant with our Heavenly Father that with His help we will become the Prayer Warrior He desperately wants us to be. II Cor. 5:10 is going to happen and when we stand before that throne how thrilled we will be if we have been that prayer warrior and we hear Jesus say to us “Well done thou good and faithful servant,….. enter into the joy of thy Lord.” .Matt. 25:21 This is ‘soul-winning through prayer. I start with asking God for a personal revival in my life and then when that is accomplished.I labor in prayer for the Christians and then the unsaved in our nation. God help all of us to determine to be that person God wants us to be and see Him sweep across our country with such conviction saints will get right with God and sinners will be converted. to Him. God bless all of you reading this!

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Daily Hope

Today’s Scripture

Weekend Scripture: Psalm 135

Prince Phillip, Husband to Queen Elizabeth, passed away today. Over the next several days we will see some of solemn pomp and pageantry of royalty as the British people say goodbye to a representative of their heads of state. This solemn process of grieving will remind us of how protocol and tradition is preserved.

Psalms 135-150 are almost all praise psalms that have been used by both Jewish and Christian congregations through the centuries. Only recently, have these psalms been replaced by the popular hymns, songs, and choruses of our current worship culture. Psalm 135 is marked by the statement, “Praise the Lord”, at the beginning and end of this psalm. It is translated from the Hebrew words hallelu jah, which we contract into the single word “hallelujah. This word is often used in the final psalms and in psalms 145-150 it begins and ends each of these psalms. This summons, “Praise the Lord”, in these psalms have resulted in these psalms being called the Hallel (or Praise) Psalms.

As we go through these final psalms, worshipping the Lord a recurring theme. A good place to begin that worship is to determine to be with God’s people in God’s house on the Lord’s day. Worship occurs best with a group of people who are united in mind and heart, focusing together to honor our Savior. May we “Praise the Lord” in worship this Sunday!

With an Expectant hope, Pastor Miller

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