Matthew 16
Religious leaders want sign of Jesus’ authority verse 1
The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came
and tempting desired HIM that HE would show them
a SIGN from heaven
Jesus responds to request verse 2- 4
HE answered and said to them
When it is evening – you say – It will be fair weather
FOR the sky is red
AND in the morning – It will be foul weather today
FOR the sky is red and lowering
O you HYPOCRITES – you can discern the face of the sky
BUT can ye not discern the SIGNS of the times?
A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a SIGN
and there shall no SIGN be given unto it
BUT the SIGN of the prophet Jonah
AND HE left them and departed
Jesus warns disciples of false teaching of
religious leaders verse 5- 6
And when HIS disciples were come to the other side
they had forgotten to take bread
THEN Jesus said unto them
Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees
and of the Sadducees
Jesus confronts disciples’ verse 7- 11
AND they reasoned among themselves – saying
It is because we have taken no bread
Which when Jesus perceived – HE said unto them
O you of little faith – why reason you among yourselves
BECAUSE you have brought no bread?
Do you not yet understand
neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand
and how many baskets you took up?
neither the seven loaves of the four thousand
and how many baskets you took up?
How is it that you do not understand that I spoke it not to you
concerning bread that you should beware of the
leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
Disciples understand teaching of Jesus verse 12
THEN understood they how that HE bade them
not beware of the leaven of bread
BUT of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees
Jesus asks disciples who others think HE is verse 13- 14
When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi
HE asked HIS disciples – saying
Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
And they said
Some say that YOU art John the Baptist
some – Elijah
and others – Jeremiah
or one of the prophets
Jesus asks disciples who they think HE is verse 15
HE said unto them – But whom say you that I am?
Peter gives correct statement verse 16
AND Simon Peter answered and said
YOU are the Christ – the Son of the living God
Jesus compliments Peter’s answer verse 17- 19
AND Jesus answered and said unto him
Blessed are you – Simon Barjona
for flesh and blood has not revealed it to you
BUT MY Father which is in heaven
And I say also unto you
That you are Peter – and on this rock I will build MY church
and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it
And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven
and whatsoever you shalt bind on earth
shall be bound in heaven
and whatsoever you shalt loose on earth
shall be loosed in heaven
Jesus warns disciples not to tell others who HE is verse 20
THEN charged HE HIS disciples that they should tell no man that
HE was Jesus the Christ
Jesus instructs regarding HIS death verse 21
From that time forth BEGAN Jesus to show unto HIS disciples
how that HE must go unto Jerusalem
and suffer many things of the elders
and chief priests and scribes
and be killed
and be raised again the THIRD DAY
Peter rebukes Jesus verse 22
THEN Peter took HIM – and began to rebuke HIM – saying
Be it far from you – Lord – this shall not be to YOU
Jesus rebukes Peter verse 23
BUT HE turned – and said unto Peter
Get you behind ME – Satan – you are an offense unto ME
FOR you savor not the things that be of God
BUT those that be of men
Jesus defines a true follower verse 24- 28
THEN said Jesus unto HIS disciples
IF any man will come after ME – let him deny himself
and take up his cross – and follow ME
FOR whosoever will save his life shall lost it
and whosoever will lose his life for MY sake
shall find it
FOR what is a man profited
IF he gain the whole world – and lose his own soul?
OR what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
FOR the Son of man shall come in the glory of HIS Father
with HIS angels and then
HE shall reward every man
according to his works
VERILY I say unto you
There be some standing here
which shall not taste of death
till they see the Son of man
coming in HIS kingdom
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 One day the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus, demanding that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority. (3985 “test” [peirazo] means tempt, to prove, to trap, examine, assay, or to learn the true nature or character of.)
DEVOTION: False religious leaders didn’t want to believe anything that Jesus taught. They thought HE was a false teacher. They came to HIM and demanded HE show from where HE received HIS authority.
They wanted HIM to give them proof that HE was the Messiah. They wanted their minds to be satisfied that HE was genuine article. They wanted HIM to follow their rules.
Jesus was not about to do that. HE told them that HE wouldn’t give them a sign of authority. HE would only tell them that Jonah was a sign in the Old Testament to the working of the LORD.
Jonah had tried to run from God and didn’t succeed. He was to preach to the city of Nineveh. He was to preach to a group of people that he hated. He wanted them to all die. He didn’t care for them to be saved. However, the LORD did want their salvation.
Jesus came to a group of people who were religious but they were not Godly. HE was sent to reach a group that didn’t want to listen. The religious leaders who were supposed to be worshiping the Godhead were not doing it. HE tried to reach them with HIS message but they rejected everything HE did and gave it all over the fact that they thought HE was a follower of Satan instead of one of the persons of the Godhead.
CHALLENGE: People like that don’t want an answer but only an excuse not to follow Jesus.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 11 How is it that you do not understand that I spoke it not to you concerning bread, that you should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? (2219 “leaven” [zume] means pretense, hypocritical teachings, yeast, or ferment.)
DEVOTION: This word is used in a good sense and in a bad sense. In this verse it is used in a bad sense.
Yeast is added to a recipe for making bread. It helps the bread to rise to a point where you have to punch it down and then let it rise again. It is good in making bread.
However, in the life of a believer there are two senses in which yeast is used. It can be used for good or for bad regarding following the teachings of men which can permeate our thinking.
Christ was warning HIS disciples not to let the hypocritical teaching of the Pharisees to influence their lives. It would be a bad influence because they were doing everything for show. They were legalistic in their interpretation of Scripture to the point that they continued to add to the Word of God. They listed at least 365 negative commands that people had to follow to be a true follower of God. They were wrong additions. They caused people to live in a legalistic state where they thought they were better than others because they looked good on the outside but inside they were thinking sinful thoughts.
Sometimes the disciples caught what HE was teaching but other times it went over their head. HE had to force them to think through what HE was teaching them. HE was always trying to get the concept into their head that the internal life will manifest itself in their external life. Not the other way around. They could fake belief which the Pharisees and Sadducees were doing or they could be genuine and straighten out their internal life through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
We have to watch out for false teachers every day. There are books in Christian book stores that teach false doctrine. There are publishing house that produce “Christian” books but are only concerned with the bottom line so they will publish whatever is popular. Some publishers of Christian books are not Christian. We need to ask someone we can trust if we should buy a popular book. Today our enemy has infiltrated the church to the point that we have to be very careful to check out what I am saying and what everyone else we hear is saying by the Word of God. We are all to search the Scriptures daily to see that what is being taught is accurate according to our Bible.
CHALLENGE: Jesus’ warning to the disciples is a warning to us today as well. The best defense is a good offense. Search the Scriptures!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 21 From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. (1166 “show” [deiknuo] means expose to the eyes, to give evidence or proof of a thing, or to expose by words or teach.)
DEVOTION: This is a chapter of challenges. The Pharisees challenged Jesus to give them a sign. The disciples were challenged not to heed the doctrine of the Pharisees. They didn’t understand. Jesus challenged the disciples to tell HIM who HE was in the eyes of the people? Then HE challenged to tell HIM who they thought HE was.
With all these challenges Jesus put in front of the disciples one that really scared the disciples, it was that HE was going to Jerusalem to die. Then Peter challenged the LORD. Jesus rebuked him. Finally Jesus challenges all the disciples to take up their cross and follow HIM.
Jesus was exposing to the disciples the future plans of the LORD. These plans were established before the foundation of the world. The kingdom of God was going to be established on earth in the future.
For now the LORD was going to go to Jerusalem. HE was going to suffer on the cross. HE was going to die. The great announcement after that was that HE was going to be resurrected from the dead on the THIRD DAY.
These details didn’t please the disciples. Peter was the one with a big mouth. He usually stuck his foot in his mouth. He told Jesus these things should not happen. That is what the enemy would have wanted. The disciples didn’t understand it at the time but they would.
We don’t understand what the LORD is doing in our lives but we need to trust HIM to do only what is good for us. Many are going through hard times. Sometimes there was a warning. Most of the time there is no warning.
Our responsibility is to trust the LORD. The disciples needed to trust the LORD, even though, they didn’t understand. We need to go into the presence of the LORD with prayer and fasting to ask HIM to help us understand HIS commands.
CHALLENGE: Believe what is taught in the Word of God. There are teachings that we need to learn that will sometimes cause us to wonder what is happening.
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:27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. (591 “apodidomi” means pay, recompense, to render what is due, requite, restore, yield, or to give or do something in fulfilment of an obligation or expectation.)
DEVOTION: Some people don’t think that we have enough information to make a good judgment regarding what the LORD teaches concerning the future.
Jesus gives the Pharisees a sign of Jonah regarding what is going to happen during the coming generations. There are going to be those who will become believers in the LORD. HIS first coming presented the message of salvation that is available to every human being in our world. They have to answer to the preaching that they hear regarding HIM.
HE gives this illustration regarding the future. HE knows the future because HE is part of the Godhead. HE knows that HE is going to return a second time. The second time will be HIS coming in the glory of HIS Father. HE came the first time as a suffering servant. HE is coming a second time as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
HE is going to come with angels. They are going to be at HIS side. HE is going to defeat the enemy with the word of HIS voice alone. HE doesn’t need an army to defeat Satan or anyone.
After the battle is over there is going to be time of judgment. EVERY MAN is going to be judged according to their actions while they were here on this earth. I am going to be judged for all of my actions. One of the great things is that God has an actuate according of all of our motives behind all of our actions. HE knows the truth of everything that has ever happened in our life.
We will be judged according to those truths. Each person will receive a reward for his actions. Some will be rewarded with crowns while others will receive no reward.
In fact, we are told in other places that most will receive a judgment of eternity in the lake of fire. There is a judgment day coming. What will be said of each one of us on that day???
If we are headed in the wrong direction we can through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the right direction. It is never too late while we are still here on this earth. Change is always necessary for all those who are believers. Definite change is necessary for those who have never become followers of Christ.
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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)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Jonah is a sign verse 4
Elijah verse 14
Jeremiah verse 14
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Living God verse 16
Father in heaven verse 17, 27
God verse 23
Glory of the Father verse 27
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Jesus verse 6, 8, 13, 17, 20, 21- 24
Perceived thinking of disciples verse 8
Son of man verse 13, 27, 28
Christ verse 16, 20
Son of the living God verse 16
Jesus charges disciples verse 20
Jesus the Christ verse 20
Jesus shows disciples future verse 21
Go to Jerusalem
Suffer
Killed
Raised again the third day
Lord verse 22
Calls Peter Satan verse 23
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)
Satan – Peter under the influence of him verse 23
Father’s angels (good) verse 27
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Coasts of Caesarea Philippi verse 13
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Tempting verse 1
Seeking a sign verse 1, 4
Hypocrites verse 3
Wicked verse 4
Adulterous generation verse 4
Leaven [doctrine] of the Pharisees verse 6, 11, 12
Little faith verse 8
Reason among self verse 8
Not understanding verse 9
Leaven [doctrine] of the Sadducees verse 11, 12
Rebuking Jesus verse 22
Offence of Peter verse 23
Understanding only things of men verse 23
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Understanding verse 9, 11
Remember past blessings verse 9, 10
Blessed verse 17
Revelation verse 17
Keys of the kingdom verse 19
Understanding the things of God verse 23
Deny self verse 24
Take up cross verse 24
Follow the LORD verse 24
Reward verse 27
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Pharisees verse 1, 6
Sadducees verse 1, 6
Prophet Jonah verse 4
Disciples of Jesus verse 5- 28
John the Baptist verse 14
Elijah verse 14
Jeremiah verse 14
Prophets verse 14
Simon Peter verse 16- 20, 22, 23
Jerusalem verse 21
Church (New Testament people of God)
Jesus going to build HIS church verse 18
Last Things (Future Events)
Signs of the times verse 3
Gates of hell verse 18
Keys of the kingdom of heaven verse 19
Son of man coming verse 27
Reward every man according to his works verse 27
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QUOTES regarding passage
16:27–28 (Mark 9:1; Luke 9:26–27). As Jesus continued to instruct His disciples, He spoke prophetically of His second coming when He, the Son of Man, would return in His Father’s glory with His angels (cf. Matt. 24:30–31; 2 Thes. 1:7). As “the Son of … God” (Matt. 16:16) He possesses a divine nature, and as “the Son of Man” He possesses a human nature (cf. comments on 8:20). At that time the Lord will reward His servants for their faithfulness. Speaking of His return led Him to state that some disciples standing there with Him would be permitted to view His coming kingdom before they experienced death. This statement has caused many to misunderstand the kingdom program, for they wonder how the disciples saw the Lord coming in His kingdom. The explanation is found in the following event, the transfiguration (17:1–8). (Barbieri, L. A., Jr. (1985). Matthew. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 59). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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16:28 some … standing. In all 3 of the synoptic gospels, this promise is made immediately prior to the Transfiguration (Mk 9:1–8; Lk 9:27–36). Furthermore the word for “kingdom” can be translated “royal splendor.” Therefore, it seems most natural to interpret this promise as a reference to the Transfiguration, which “some” of the disciples—Peter, James, and John, would witness only 6 days later (see note on 17:1).
17:1 Six days later. The precise reference to the amount of time elapsed is unusual for Matthew. It seems he is carefully drawing the connection between Jesus’ promise in 16:28 and the event that immediately follows. Mark agrees on the figure of 6 days (Mk 9:2), but Luke, probably counting the day of Peter’s confession and the day of Christ’s Transfiguration separately at the start and end of this time period, says it was “some eight days” (Lk 9:28). Peter and James and John. These 3, in the inner circle closest to Christ (see note on 10:2), are often seen alone together with Jesus (26:37; Mk 5:37; 13:3).
17:2 transfigured. Christ underwent a dramatic change in appearance, so the disciples could behold Him in His glory.
17:3 Moses and Elijah. Representing the law and the prophets respectively, both of which had foretold Christ’s death, and that is what Luke says the 3 of them were discussing (Lk 9:31).
17:4 three tabernacles. This is undoubtedly a reference to the booths that were used to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, when the Israelites dwelt in booths for 7 days (Lv 23:34–42). Peter was expressing a wish to stay in that place.
17:5 listen to Him! Peter erred in placing Moses and Elijah on the same level as Christ. Christ was the very one to whom Elijah and Moses had pointed. The voice of the Father (v. 5) interrupted while Peter “was still speaking.” The words were the same as those spoken from heaven at Christ’s baptism (3:17). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Mt 16:28–17:5). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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The Coming of Jesus in His Kingdom. According to Matthew 16:27, Jesus promised his disciples that their lives of self-denial would be rewarded at his return—in his Father’s glory with his angels. This is a clear reference to the coming of Jesus to the earth at the final judgment (13:40–41; 24:30–31; 25:31; 26:64). But 16:28 is more perplexing because it seems to emphasize the certainty of that glorious coming by stating that some of Jesus’ contemporaries would live to see “the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.” All of Jesus’ disciples died long ago, so either Jesus and Matthew were wrong (Beare 1981:360, 472–473), or the “coming” spoken of here is something other than that which ushers in the final judgment. Evangelical scholars understandably take the second option and suggest that Jesus was speaking of his transfiguration (Blomberg 1992:261; Toussaint 1980:209), his resurrection, his sending the Spirit at Pentecost, or the judgment of Jerusalem in ad 70. Some attempt to see 16:28 as a general prediction of Christ’s future glory up to his return to earth, encompassing the resurrection, ascension, Pentecost, and present heavenly session (Carson 1984:380–382; France 1985:261; Hendriksen 1973:659–660; Morris 1992:434–435).
Although the last view mentioned above has merit, the view associating this “coming” with the transfiguration seems most likely. Seen in the light of 16:28, the transfiguration, which occurred only six days later (17:1), amounts to a foreshadowing of the future glorious coming. Perhaps Keener (1999:436) is correct in saying “probably the transfiguration proleptically introduces the whole eschatological sphere.” The transfiguration was a glorious experience (17:2, 5), and though it was only temporary, it could serve as a preview of what was to come with permanence at Jesus’ future return to the earth. Some of those who heard Jesus make the prediction in 16:28—namely Peter, James and John—did witness the transfiguration (17:1). Peter himself seems to reflect on his participation in the temporary glory of the transfiguration as a confirming anticipation of the truth of Christ’s powerful future coming to the earth (2 Pet 1:16–18). For further discussion of 16:28, see Beasley-Murray (1986:187–193). A previous text that presents similar difficulties is 10:23. In the commentary on 10:23, I argued that this passage states that the mission of the church to Israel will continue until Jesus’ glorious return to the earth. (Turner, D., & Bock, D. L. (2005). Cornerstone biblical commentary, Vol 11: Matthew and Mark (pp. 225–226). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.)
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The closing verse should really be the first verse of chapter 17. Whoever edited the book and divided it into chapters and verses made the break in the wrong place. When Jesus said, “Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom,” He was referring to the great event which followed “after six days,” the Transfiguration, which we know from the words of the Apostle Peter presented the kingdom in embryo for the confirming of the Father to the disciples. (Ironside, H. A. (1948). Expository notes on the Gospel of Matthew. (p. 209). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers.)
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Ver. 28. Verily I say unto you, &c.] This is a strong asseveration, Christ puts his Amen to it; declaring it to be a certain truth, which may firmly be believed: there be some standing here; meaning either his disciples, or some of the audience; for it is clear from Mark 8:34 that the people were called unto him with his disciples, when he said these words: which shall not taste of death; that is, shall not die; a phrase frequently used by the Jewish doctors: they say, “All the children of the world, “טעמין טעמא דמותא, taste the taste of death.” That is, die: till they see the son of man coming in his kingdom; which is not to be understood of his personal coming in his kingdom in the last day, when he will judge quick and dead; for it can’t be thought, that any then present should live to that time, but all tasted of death long before, as they have done; for the story of John’s being alive, and to live till then, is fabulous, and grounded on a mistake which John himself has rectified at the close of his Gospel: nor of the glorious transfiguration of Christ, the account of which immediately follows; when he was seen by Peter, James, and John, persons now present; for that, at most, was but an emblem and a pledge of his future glory: rather, of the appearance of his kingdom, in greater glory and power, upon his resurrection from the dead, and his ascension to heaven; when the spirit was poured down in an extraordinary manner, and the Gospel was preached all over the world; was confirmed by signs and wonders, and made effectual to the conversion and salvation of many souls; which many then present lived to see, and were concerned in: though it seems chiefly to have regard to his coining, to shew his regal power and authority in the destruction of the Jews; when those his enemies that would not he should reign over them, were ordered to be brought and slain before him; and this the Apostle John, for one, lived to be a witness of. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 1, pp. 189–190). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
But even here the concept of ζύμη may be neutral. For the idea is that every man has a leaven. That is to say, every man or teacher exerts an influence, whether for good or for bad. (Kittel, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament vol. 2, p. 906)
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Additional Information: Leaven is applied to that which, though small in quantity, yet by its influence thoroughly pervades a thing; either in a good sense as in the parable Mat. 13:33; or in a bad sense, of a pernicious influence, “a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump”. (Strong, J. (2001). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)
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But even here the concept of ζύμη may be neutral. For the idea is that every man has a leaven. That is to say, every man or teacher exerts an influence, whether for good or for bad. The emphasis, then, is not on the ζύμη but on the genitive: τῶν Φαρισαίων κτλ. (Vol. 2: Theological dictionary of the New Testament. 1964- (G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley & G. Friedrich, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (906). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.)
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One Minute AFTER YOU DIE by Erwin W. Lutzer
Martha and Mary had their “if onlys” too (John 11: 1- 44). When Christ was told that His friend Lazarus was sick, He stayed away for two extra days so that Lazarus would already be dead and buried by the time He arrived in Bethany. The sisters individually voiced their complaint, “If only you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Yet Christ wanted them to know that Lazarus had died within the will of God; he had died according to the divine schedule. (p.122).
We never have to say of a believer, “He departed.” Rather, we can say, “He has arrived.” (p. 124)
He (JESUS) died between three and six in the afternoon, just as the Passover lambs were being slaughtered. (p. 126)
There is no combination of evil men, disease, or accident that can kill us as long as God still has work for us to do. To those who walk with faith in God’s providence, they die according to God’s timetable. (p. 128)
What must we do to receive the gift of righteousness and a new nature within? The answer is to admit our helplessness, to acknowledge that we are dependent on God’s mercy. (p. 137)
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Old Testament WORDS for Today by Warren W. Wiersbe
The Christian life is a journey, not a parking lot, and we must meet certain conditions if we are to stay on his path and not wander into detours. (p. 112)
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Romans 13
The Christian is to obey the government and love his fellow man.
INSIGHT
Love is the central characteristic of the Christian. In Matthew 22:37-40, a lawyer asks Jesus which is the greatest commandment. Jesus says: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Then the Lord gives the second greatest commandment: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul writes that love is the greatest characteristic-even greater than faith or hope. Now in Romans this theme is picked up again. Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the Law. God is love. If we are to be like Him, we also must love.
(Quiet Walk)
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WALKING IN THE LIGHT
If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1 John 1:6-7
John is fond of the phrase, “walking in the light”; how often this idea occurs in his Gospel, and here it is again. It is not obvious on the very surface that if you take this in an absolute literal sense it can mean only one thing, and that is absolute perfection. If to walk in the light as God is in the light is taken strictly literally, as it is expressed here, there is only one deduction to draw: As Christians our only hope of forgiveness and therefore of being Christians at all is that we should be absolutely perfect as God Himself is perfect.
But clearly that is impossible! Which of us is perfect? Which of us is without sin? “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (verse 8); we cannot, therefore, be absolutely perfect. So immediately we find that this phrase of walking in the light as God is in the light must be interpreted in terms of the way in which John customarily employs this picture. And the key to that is to be found in the phrase in 1 John 1:6 where we read about walking in darkness: “If we say we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.”
We interpret this verse about “walking in the light” as the antithesis and the exact opposite of “walking in darkness.” Therefore it does not mean that I claim absolute perfection; but it does mean that I claim that I now belong to a different realm, to the kingdom of light and to the kingdom of God.
A Thought to Ponder: I now belong to a different realm, to the kingdom of light.
(From Fellowship with God, pp. 126-127, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Sing and Give Thanks
“Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.” (Psalm 30:4)
When we do remember God’s holiness and then remember how the mighty seraphim in the heavenly temple are continually crying out “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 6:3), and then further remember the prophet’s prayer acknowledging to God that: “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity” (Habakkuk 1:13), and then still further remember that, as Paul said: “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing” (Romans 7:18), we can only marvel at the infinite mercy and grace of God. He has not only forgiven our sins, saved our souls, and promised us eternal life, but “daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation” (Psalm 68:19). What can we do except to perpetually “sing unto the LORD, . . . and give thanks,” as David exhorts us in our text for today.
But how can this be? A God who is too pure and holy even to “look on iniquity,” yet promises unworthy creatures such as us that “goodness and mercy shall follow [us] all the days of [our lives]: and [we] will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever” (Psalm 23:6). How can that be?
This could not be, of course, were it not for the incredible love of God in Christ, who “hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). “The chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
Therefore: “Be ye thankful. . . . singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:15-17).
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Judas had
The best pastor
The best leader
The best adviser
The best counselor
Yet he failed
The problem is not the leadership or the church you go to.
If your attitude or character doesn’t change or your heart doesn’t transform
You will always be the same. (Keith O)
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These days Christian people are crying out for more and more singing and entertainment, Everything must be done in the modern fashion. But gospel truth is “strong meat”
(Heb. 5: 12), not mere entertainment. We must cease to be children wanting to be constantly pampered, spoon-fed, and entertained. We must be ready to us our intellects and gird up the loins of our mind and be strong and hope to the end for the salvation that is about to be revealed to us. (p. 150, A Merciful and Faithful High Priest by Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Daily Hope
Today’s Scripture Ecclesiastes 9:1-10
My mother had her ninetieth birthday yesterday! We had a party the week before and so yesterday was a quiet day for her as her children and some grandchildren called or visited her to wish her well! Special birthdays offer an occasion to celebrate and to rejoice the accomplishment!
Solomon looked at the events of life and recognized that all the works of man are in the hand of God (v.1). He observes that we have joyous as well as sad times. Some will love and experience hatred irrespective of their good or evil actions or lifestyles. The one thing all individuals have in common is all will die. Lucius Annaeus Seneca stated, “Death is the wish of some, the relief of many, and the end of all.” The reality of this truth is what Solomon wanted his readers to understand. There seems to be no fear or depression in the writer’s statement, just factual acceptance of life’s brevity.
The author repeats facts regarding death as stated earlier in this book, (See 1:4; 2:14–17; 3:18–20; 4:8; 5:15–16; 6:6; 8:8; 12:1–7). Death is an appointment (Hebrews 9:27), a destiny that nobody but God can cancel or change. God knows your works, (v.7) so live your life with joy, fulness and no regret. As Harriet Beecher-Stowe has stated, “The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.”
For the believer, there is an anticipation of greater and more beautiful events to behold for eternity in the presence of our Savior. C.S. Lewis anxiously anticipated the future as he stated, ““There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” Paul said in Philippians 1:23, “… having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.”
While heaven is something to look forward to, we can enjoy activities here on earth! Enjoy the daily activities such as work, marriage, friends, hobbies, and activities that enable us to grow in wisdom and enjoyment. These opportunities are ours to enjoy while we have this time on earth (vv.9-10).
With an Expectant hope, Pastor Miller
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