Titus 2
Sound doctrine necessary or proper Christianityverse 1
But speak you the things which become sound doctrine
Training of older menverse 2
That the aged men be sober – grave – temperate – sound in faith
charity – patience
Training of older women who train younger womenverses 3-5
The aged women likewise
that they be in behavior as becomes holiness
not false accusers – not given to much wine
teachers of good things
that they may teach the young women to be sober
love their husbands – love their children
to be discreet – chaste – keepers at home – good
obedient to their own husbands
that the word of God be not blasphemed
Training of younger menverses 6-8
Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded
in all things showing thyself a pattern of good works
in doctrine showing uncorruptness – gravity – sincerity
sound speech – that cannot be condemned
that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed
having no evil thing to say of you
Training of servants (employees)verses 9-10
Exhort servants to be obedient to their own masters
and to please them well in all things
not answering again – not purloining
BUT showing all good fidelity
That they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things
General training of believersverses 11-15
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men
teaching us that – denying ungodliness and worldly lusts
we should live soberly – righteously – godly
in this present world
Looking for that blessed hope – and the glorious appearing of the
great God and our Savior Jesus Christ
WHO gave HIMSELF for us
that HE might redeem us from all iniquity
and purify to HIMSELF a PECULIAR people
zealous of good works
These things speak – exhort – rebuke with ALL AUTHORITY
Let no man despise you
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 But speak you the things which become sound doctrine.(5198 “sound” [hugiaino] means be whole, wholesome, be in health, of a Christian whose opinions are free from a mixture of error, be accurate, well-grounded, to be uncorrupt, or safe and sound)
DEVOTION: There were so many false teachers and false teachings in Paul’s day regarding how to get to heaven.
The Jews thought that if you obeyed the Ten Commandment and the rules of the Pharisees you could get to heaven. The Jewish Christians were trying to teach the Gentiles that they had to be circumcised in order to be truly saved. False teachers who were only interested in money would say anything the people wanted to hear regarding salvation.
Confusion seemed to reign then as it does now. There are many voices out there that are teaching different ways to become a believer. There are many voices out there regarding the end times that can cause people to do things that are wrong like sell everything because someone has predicted a date for the return of the LORD.
When these things happen, those who are not followers of Jesus Christ laugh at those who are followers because they do so many foolish things in the name of God.
Paul is telling Titus to make sure that he only speaks the things that are wholesome for the health of those he is training in their relationship with Jesus. This can only be done with the help of the Holy Spirit and Titus listening to Paul.
Remember Paul received special revelation from Jesus Christ after his conversion. He had the approval of those who were leading the church in Jerusalem regarding his teaching. He went everywhere confronting false teachings.
Today we have to really work hard to understand what the Bible is teaching. Listening to the Holy Spirit in the area of discernment is very important. Every voice we hear or teaching we receive should be checked out through prayer and the Word of God. If a teacher misquotes Scripture to prove his/her point it needs to be confronted.
There are many schools of thought regarding the end times. We need to let the Scripture be our guide. We need grace toward those who honestly disagree with our view. But our view of the other eleven basic doctrines found in this devotional cannot be compromised.
CHALLENGE: Having a doctrinal belief that is not compromised with false teaching is a lifelong process. We have to challenge our beliefs on the basis of the Word of God at all times. Faithfulness to the whole Bible is important.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. (987 “blasphemed” [blasphemeo] means to speak impiously, defame, speak evil, rail on, or to speak reproachfully)
DEVOTION: God established the family in Genesis as one man and one woman living together and having children. The family is supposed to have God at the center. Each individual in a family needs to make a commitment to Christ. Once a commitment is made to Christ the Word of God is the guide for the family and it’s relationships to each other. Children are to honor their parents. Husbands are to love their wives. Wives are to submit to their own husbands in the LORD.
Now we have Titus sent to establish churches on the island of Crete. They have been visited by Paul at least twice. There were churches there but the leadership needed to be improved. Paul wanted Titus to ordain elders to lead the congregations in the right directions.
Titus was to further instruct everyone in the church regarding their relationships to the LORD and to each other. The aged men had certain characteristics that they were to manifest. The older women had characteristics that they were to manifest themselves but also they had the responsibility to teach the younger women how to act.
This verse gives the final instructions for younger women. There are eight characteristics that the older women are to teach the younger women.
Why did the older women have to teach the younger women? If they didn’t no one would. Also, these older Christian women could manifest these characteristics to the younger women they taught. The final reason why the women had to be taught was so that the unsaved world could see a difference between their marriage and a marriage that was considered Christian. One marriage was just two people living together. The Christian marriage was to be three individuals together: man, wife and Christ.
The family is under attack in our nation and around the world. Many states are voting on same sex marriages. The family, that God ordained, is being redefined. The world wants to give privileges to those who are directly disobeying God’s commands.
One of the problems that Paul faced was that there were women who were not obeying God’s Word. Titus had to teach older men, older women, younger women and younger men what God’s standards where regarding each age group. In this passage the older women were to teach the younger women these things. If the older women were not practicing these things, it would be hard for them to teach the younger women to do them.
We need older women who will set the example for the younger women regarding what it means to be a godly woman in this world. If our older women would set the example, some of our present problems would disappear in the church. This verse is talking to married women who need to follow the instructions of this verse, so that, God’s name can be honored instead of defamed.
The unsaved world is looking at Christian marriages and it is sad to say that we are having as many divorces as the unsaved world. The reason being that some think the Bible is culturally wrong. God is not surprised by our western culture. HIS word is true in every culture. We need to challenge the older women to set the example for the younger women. Some are doing it now. Some need to improve. Too many older couples are just getting along with one another rather than loving one another and setting the example for their children and those in the church.
CHALLENGE: If you are a younger woman find an older Christian lady to be your accountability partner regarding how you are treating your husband and children. If you are an older woman, find someone to help be a better mother and wife. God will be glorified in this.
: 8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. (1788 “may be ashamed” [entrepo] means respect, reverence, embarrass, to be or become characterized by shame, make ashamed, or to confound)
DEVOTION: You would think that these instructions should be given to the older men instead of the young men. Can young men learn to the point that they can teach others or do should they wait until they are sixty or so before they feel confident in their knowledge of Jesus Christ and HIS teachings?
Paul seems to think that they don’t have to wait. Yes there can be problems with young men thinking they know it all and are not willing to listen to others but here Paul gives us a proper understanding of the relationship between the older men and the younger men.
The older men are to set the example and the younger men are to follow their example. Once this is in place we find that these young men are willing to follow the teachings of the older men and then share these teachings with others.
Remember that sometimes we make Christianity complicated instead of a lifestyle. We can sometimes think that the young men need to understand all the theological terms before they are ready to teach others.
Theological terms are important unless they lead to spiritual pride in a young man. Some even know the Greek and the Hebrew. These are good tools to understand the Word of God if they are kept in check by a humble spirit.
We have many young men in leadership positions in my area that have both the humble spirit and a good understanding of the Word of God. They are worth listening to each Sunday.
There are also some who need more instruction in the Word of God and should be willing to learn from older men. It is sad when a younger man is not willing to listen to older men who are sound doctrinally.
CHALLENGE: If you are a younger man seek someone who is more mature than you and listen to him. If you are an older man make yourself available to younger men to instruct those who are willing to listen)
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 9 Exhort servants to be obedient to their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again (471 “answering again” [antepo] means gainsay, say against, contradict, to antagonize heavily, or refute)
DEVOTION: We live in a time period in this country where there are not bondservants. These were individuals who were sold for a price. Some of them loved their masters so much that they were willing to be their servants for life. Others just served for the time period that was necessary to pay their masters back for their investment.
Here we have Paul giving instructions to those who serve someone else. It has to do with attitude and actions. The attitude should be one of obedience to proper instructions given regarding their responsibility in the household or in the work place.
The actions deal with the use of their mouth first. The mouth of someone who wants to honor the LORD should be one that is humble and willing to not say negative things on a regular basis. They are not ones who should talk back to their masters. This is like what happens when a child is given instructions by a parent or grandparent regarding proper completion of a job. Some children seem to think it is OK to talk back instead of following the instructions.
Secondly it has to do with stealing on the job. We can steal products or time from a master or employer. God wants us to give of our best to HIM and to those who know that we represent HIM. So a Christian needs to be the most faithful and honest person the employer knows. He should be able to trust a Christian more than anyone else around him.
CHALLENGE: We need to show Jesus Christ through our service in our work place and even in our service in the local church.
:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ. (1391 “glorious” [doxa] means 1 opinion, judgment, view. 2 opinion, estimate, whether good or bad concerning someone. 2a in the NT always a good opinion concerning one, resulting in praise, honor, and glory. 3 splendor, brightness. 3a of the moon, sun, stars. 3b magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, grace. 3c majesty. 3c1 a thing belonging to God. 3c1 the kingly majesty which belongs to Him as supreme ruler, majesty in the sense of the absolute perfection of the deity. 3c2 a thing belonging to Christ. 3c2a the kingly majesty of the Messiah. 3c2b the absolutely perfect inward or personal excellency of Christ; the majesty. 3c3 of the angels. 3c3a as apparent in their exterior brightness. 4 a most glorious condition, most exalted state. 4a of that condition with God the Father in heaven to which Christ was raised after He had achieved his work on earth. 4b the glorious condition of blessedness into which is appointed and promised that true Christians shall enter after their Savior’s return from heaven. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship].)
DEVOTION: One of the great hopes of evolution is that things are progressing along and getting better and better. Someday, things will evolve into life forms that are perfect! If only we can be patient until then, and do the best that we can!
In contrast, our hope is not in things getting better here on earth or in this life. Rather we look for the return of Jesus Christ as King of Kings. Jesus Himself predicted His second coming, and much of the New Testament is given to describing it. John had a vision of it in Revelation 19. Hence, we know that His coming back is sure, and that He will set up His kingdom. Our hope is that we will be resurrected and will reign with Him in His kingdom.
Jesus Christ’s coming to earth the first time was marked by humility (Philippians 2:5-8). This is what we celebrate during the Christmas season. But His second coming will be marked by all the glory that He possesses as the Son of God. At that point, every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is LORD to the glory of God the Father.
So don’t let today’s circumstances get you down. Christ is coming again to set up His kingdom. Don’t let anyone try and talk you out of this glorious hope!
CHALLENGE: Do you personally look forward to Christ’s glorious return? This is intended to be the one true hope of all believers. Christ is coming again! (MW)
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)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Sound doctrineverse 1
Word of Godverse 5
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Godverses 5, 10, 11, 13
Word of Godverse 5
God our Saviorverse 10
Grace of Godverse 11
Great Godverse 13
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Saviorverse 13
Jesus verse 13
Christverse 13
Savior Jesus Christverse 13
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)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Aged menverse 3
Sober
Grave
Temperate
Sound in faith
Charity
Patience
Aged womenverse 4
Holiness
Not false accusers
Not given to much wine
Teachers of good things
Teach young women
Young womenverse 4
Sober
To love their husbands
To love their children
To be discreet
Chaste
Keepers at home
Good
Obedient to their own husbands that the word of God be not blasphemedverse 5
Young menverses 6-8
Sober minded
Pattern of good works
Doctrine show
Uncorruptness
Gravity
Sincerity
Sound speech
that cannot be condemned
Servantsverse 9
Obedient unto their own masters
to please them well
Not answering again
Not purloining
Show all good fidelity
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
False accusersverse 3
Given to much wineverse 3
Blasphemeverse 5
Evilverse 8
Answering againverse 9
Purloiningverse 10
Ungodlinessverse 12
Worldly lustverse 12
Iniquityverse 14
Despise God’s servantsverse 15
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Speak sound doctrineverse 1
Soberverses 2, 4, 6, 12
Graveverse 2
Temperateverse 2
Holinessverse 3
Teachers of good thingsverse 3
Wives love husbandsverse 4
Mothers love children verse 4
Discreetverse 5
Chasteverse 5
Keepers at homeverse 5
Goodverse 5
Obedientverses 5, 9
Good worksverse 7
Good fidelityverse 10
Graceverse 11
Salvationverse 11
Righteouslyverse 12
Godlyverse 12
Blessed hopeverse 13
Redeemverse 14
Purifyverse 14
Peculiarverse 14
Zealous of good worksverse 14
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Sound doctrineverses 1, 7, 10
No Corruptness
Gravity
Sincerity
Sound speechverses 8, 15
Exhortverse 15
Rebukeverse 15
Last Things (Future Events)
Glorious appearingverse 13
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QUOTES regarding passage
12 “It teaches us” declares that grace also operates in the lives of the saved. Grounded in God’s nature, grace makes ethical demands of Christians consistent with his nature. “Teaches” pictures grace, practically personified, as instructing the believer in the things “in accord with sound doctrine” (2:1). The verb basically means “to train a child,” hence “to instruct, train, educate.” It comprehends the entire training process—teaching, encouragement, correction, discipline.
The negative pedagogical purpose of grace is to train us “to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions.” The aorist participle indicates that grace aims to lead the believer to the place where as a definite act he will voluntarily make a double renunciation of the past. He must repudiate and abandon “ungodliness,” the impiety and irreverence that characterized his unsaved life, as well as “worldly passions,” those cravings characteristic of the world in its estrangement from God. Such an act of renunciation, standing at the beginning of a life of Christian victory, must be maintained in daily self-denial.
This negative work clears the field for its positive aim for believers: “to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives.” “Live” (aorist tense) may mean “come to live” but more probably means that our entire course of life should be consistently characterized by three qualities (state as adverbs). In the original these adverbs stand emphatically before the verb. They look in three directions, though sharp distinctions need not be pressed: (1) inward, “self-controlled” (“soberly”), already stipulated for different groups (1:8; 2:2, 5) and now demanded of every believer; (2) outward, “upright” (“righteously”), faithfully fulfilling all the demands of truth and justice in our relations with others; (3) upward, “godly” (“reverently”), fully devoted to God in reverence and loving obedience.
Such a life is a possibility and duty “in this present age.” This present evil age (Gal 1:4) holds dangers for the believer (Rom 12:2; 2 Tim 4:10) and stands in contrast to the anticipated future. (Hiebert, D. E. (1981). Titus. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Ephesians through Philemon (Vol. 11, p. 440). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
2:11–12. Paul had been exploring the affirmation that godly living is demanded by God’s truth. Now he changed his focus to explore that central aspect of God’s truth which demands godly living: grace. The word for (gar) suggests that here is the theological foundation for what the apostle had just written.
When fully understood, it is the gospel of the grace of God which teaches Christians how to live. This grace has brought salvation to all men, i.e., it is universally available. The NIV, however, states that God’s grace that brings salvation has appeared to all men, thus suggesting a universal appearance. The question is whether “to all men” goes with “appeared” (as in the niv) or with the adjective sōtērios (“that brings salvation”). Grammatically “to all men” can be taken either way, but the latter makes better sense and correlates with the clear teaching of 1 Timothy 2:4, 6; 4:10. In each case the reference to God as Savior (cf. 1 Tim. 2:3; 4:10; Titus 2:10) prompted Paul to affirm the universal availability of salvation through Christ. To side with the NIV, on the other hand, introduces an idea foreign to the New Testament and to common sense, since the gospel itself has patently not “appeared” to all men (unless “all men” means all kinds of people and not every single person). The message of God’s grace, when its full implications are seen, leads Christians, negatively, to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions (cf. Heb. 11:24–26), and positively, to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present Age. All the specific instructions of Titus 2:1–10 can fit into these two negative and positive categories. (Litfin, A. D. (1985). Titus. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 765). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Godly living involves both the negative and the positive. We deny “ungodliness [whatever is unlike God] and worldly lusts” (see 1 John 2:15–17). The verb means that we do it once and for all. It is a settled matter. Then, we work on the positive. “Sober” is our familiar word for “self-control, prudence, restraint” (see Titus 2:2). This emphasizes the believer’s relationship to himself, while “righteously” deals with his relationships with other people. “Godly” speaks of the Christian’s relationship to the Lord, though the qualities must not be separated.
Christians live “in this present age” (niv), but they do not live like it or for it. Christ has redeemed us from this evil age (Gal. 1:4), and we must not be conformed to it (Rom. 12:1–2). Neither should we walk according to its standards (Eph. 2:2). We have tasted the powers of “the coming age” (Heb. 6:5, niv), and we should not desire to cultivate the present age with its shallowness and godlessness.
Grace reforms us because God purifies us and makes us His own special possession (Titus 2:14b). This process of purification is called “sanctification,” and its goal is to make the believer more like Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:29). Sanctification is not only separation from sin, but it is also devotion to God (2 Cor. 6:14–7:1). “Peculiar” does not mean “odd” or “strange.” It means “a special people for God’s own possession” (see Deut. 14:2; 26:18). (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 266–267). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Ver. 12. Teaching us, &c.] Not all men, to whom the Gospel appears in its outward ministry; for there are many who externally receive the Gospel, and profess it, who are never influentially taught by it to deny sin, or love holiness of life; they profess in words to know it, but in works deny it; they have a form of godliness, but deny its power: but the persons effectually taught by the Gospel are the us, to whom it was come, not in word only, but in power; and so taught them, not only doctrinally, but with efficacy, both negative and positive holiness, as follows: that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts; all impiety, or sin more immediately against God; or which is a violation of the first table of the law, as idolatry, will-worship, superstition, perjury, and the like; and all sinful lusts, as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life; which fill the world, and are reigning lusts in it, and which are common to the men of the world; and they are under the power of: to deny these, is to abhor and detest them, and to abstain from them, and have nothing to do with them: and this lesson of self-denial, or of the denial of sinful self, the Gospel teaches, and urges upon the most powerful motives and arguments; and when attended by the spirit of God, does it effectually: so that we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; not only temperately, but wisely and prudently, as children of the light, on whom, and into whom the Gospel has shined; and righteously among men, giving to every man his due, and dealing with all according to the rules of equity and justice; as being made new men, created unto righteousness, and true holiness; and as being dead to sin, through the death of Christ, and so living unto righteousness, or in a righteous manner; and as being justified by the righteousness of Christ, revealed in the Gospel: and godly; in a godly manner, according to the word of God, and agreeably to the will of God; and in all godly exercises, both public and private, and to the glory of God: and that as long as in this present world; which lies in wickedness, and in which there are so many strong temptations to a contrary way of living. The Gospel then is no licentious doctrine; it is according to godliness, and teaches and promotes it; it is an holy faith, yea, a most holy faith; wherefore it is a vile slander to charge it with leading to looseness of life and conversation. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 3, p. 356). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
The Christian worldview posits that anything pure and good finds its ultimate source in the self-existent, omnipotent God who is infinite in all his perfections. Thus the Christian worldview reminds us that the “transcendentals”—the good, the true, and the beautiful—are inseparable. Thus when Psalm 27 speaks of the beauty of the Lord, the Psalmist is also making a claim about the goodness of the Lord and the truthfulness of the Lord. While we distinguish God’s attributes from one another in order to understand them better, we must also recognize that these attributes are inseparable from one another.
In our fallen state we often separate the good, the true, and the beautiful from one another. But the Bible reminds us that if something is true then it is good and beautiful. If something is good, then it is beautiful and true. Finally, if something is beautiful, then it is good and true. Thus, while beauty magazines may present an image that is “pretty,” those images are not rightly beautiful because they do not faithfully represent the truth. But the Christian Worldview teaches that the face of a child with Downs Syndrome is far more beautiful than any photo-shopped (and therefore fake) image of a professional model. True beauty is found in what is good and true.
Similarly, the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ is certainly not attractive from the world’s perspective. The agony of the Savior, the blood of his self-sacrifice, and the horror of crucifixion are not pretty. Yet, while the cross is not pretty, it is certainly beautiful. The cross is beautiful because on it Jesus paid the penalty for sin. The cross is beautiful because in it we see the grace and justice of God. The cross is beautiful because it is also good and true. So Dostoyevsky was right, beauty will save the world. Our job as Christians is to remember the difference between the beautiful and the pretty. (part of “Will Beauty Save the World by Albert Mohler)
Jesus is betrayed and arrested.
INSIGHT
Peter is living and reassuring proof that “grace is greater than all our sin.” We struggle, at one time or another, with things in our lives that ought to be corrected but aren’t. We fear that our lives bring a stench to God’s nostrils because we have failed Him so often. But Peter began to curse and swear and deny that he ever knew Jesus. What a colossal sin! Yet, just a few days later (in John 21), Peter is eating with the Lord in perfect fellowship and harmony.
For the Christian, there is no sin so great that God will not forgive.
(Quiet Walk)
THE OFFENSE OF THE CROSS
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness. 1 Corinthians 1:23
The test of whether someone is teaching the cross rightly or wrongly is whether it is an offense to the natural man or not. If my preaching of this cross is not an offense to the natural man, I am misrepresenting it. If it is something that makes him say “how beautiful,” “how wonderful,” “what a tragedy,” “what a shame,” I have not been preaching the cross truly. The preaching of the cross is an offense to the natural man. So it becomes the test of any man’s preaching.
Or let me put it in terms of the congregation. If this element of offense in the cross has never appeared to you, or if you have never felt it, then I say that you likewise have never known the truth about the cross of Christ. If you have never reacted against it and felt that it is an offense for you, I say you have never known it. It is always an offense to the natural man. Invariably, there is no exception. So if you have never felt it, you have never seen it because you are a natural man. Nobody is born a Christian into this world. We have to be born again to become Christians, and as long as we are natural men and women, the cross is an offense.
So if we have never known this element of offense, either we have not seen it or we have had some misrepresentation of it. The cross is an offense to the mind of the natural man. It cuts across all his preconceived notions and ideas. It was a stumbling block to the Jews for this reason. They were expecting a Messiah to destroy the Roman conquerors. So when they found the One who claimed to be the Messiah dying in apparent weakness upon the cross, they were deeply wounded and offended.
A Thought to Ponder: As long as we are natural men and women, the cross is an offense. (From The Cross, pp. 45-46, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Praising the Lord
“Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.” (Psalm 146:1)
Each of the last five psalms (146–150) begins and ends with “Praise ye the LORD”—i.e., “Hallelujah.” They comprise a sort of “Hallelujah Chorus”: a grand epilogue to the five books that make up the complete book of Psalms.
Each of these five books also ends in a doxology. Note:
Book 1: “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen” (Psalm 41:13).
Book 2: “And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen” (Psalm 72:19).
Book 3: “Blessed be the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen” (Psalm 89:52).
Book 4: “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the Lord” (Psalm 106:48).
Book 5: “My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever” (Psalm 145:21).
It is interesting, even if coincidental, that these five final praise psalms—all thanking God for past deliverances and the promise of an eternal future—contain a total of 153 verses. This is the same as the number of great fishes caught in a strong net by the disciples after Christ’s resurrection, symbolizing their going forth to fish for men in all nations, bringing them safe to the eternal shores of glory (John 21:10).
Then come the last five songs with their 10 cries of “Hallelujah!” In the New Testament, “Hallelujah” (or “Alleluia”) occurs only in the setting of the victorious marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:1-6). This suggests that these “Hallelujah Psalms” may be sung by the redeemed multitudes as they gather at His throne in heaven.
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
A preoccupation with money brings corrupt motives and fraudulent activites (1Tim. 6:10). Consequently, we need to have a proper perspective on money. Instead of seeking the pursuit of money at all cost (1 Tom. 3:8; Titus 1:7), we are to recognize that money is a tool to be used for the glory of God. …When we fail to have a proper perspective regarding our own material wealth, we will be misguided in our decisions regarding the ministry and finances of the church.
(p. 58, Developing Leaders for the Small Church by Glenn C. Daman)
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