Genesis 23
Sarah died at 127 years oldverses 1-2
And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old
these were the years of the life of Sarah
And Sarah died in Kiriath-arba
the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan
and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah
and to weep for her
Abraham wanted to buy a grave site for Sarahverses 3-9
And Abraham stood up from before his dead
and spoke unto the sons of Heth saying
I am a stranger and a sojourner with you
give me a possession of a burying place with you
that I may bury my dead out of my sight
And the children of Heth answered Abraham – saying to him
Hear us my lord – you are a mighty prince among us
in the choice of our sepulchers bury your dead
None of us shall withhold from you his sepulcher
but that you may bury your dead
And Abraham stood up – and bowed himself to the people of the land
even to the children of Heth – and he communed with them
saying
If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight
Hear me – and entreat for me to Ephron – the son of Zohar
that he may give me the cave of Machepah
which he has – which is in the end of his field
FOR as much money as it is worth he shall give it me for
a possession of a burying place among you
Abraham pays full price for grave siteverses 10-16
And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth
and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham
in the answered of the children of Heth
even of all that went in at the gate of the city saying
Nay – my lord – hear me – the field give I you
and the cave that is therein
I give it you
In the presence of the sons of my people
give I it you – bury your dead
And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land
and he spoke to Ephron in the audience of the
people of the land – saying
But if you will give it – I pray you – hear me
I will give you money for the field
Take it of me and I will bury my dead there
And Ephron answered Abraham saying to him
My lord – hearken unto me
the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver
What is that between me and you?
bury therefore your dead
And Abraham hearkened to Ephron
and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver
which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth
four hundred shekels of silver
current money with the merchant
Abraham brought the land for permanent possessionverses 17-20
And the field of Ephron – which was in Machpelah
which was before Mamre – the field
and the cave which was in it
and all the trees that were in the field
that were in all the borders round about
were made sure
To Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth
before all that went in at the gate of his city
And after this – Abraham buried Sarah – his wife
in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre
the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan
And the field – and the cave that is in it
were made sure to Abraham for
a possession of a burying place
by the sons of Heth
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 And Sarah died in Kirjath-arba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her. (5594 “mourn” [caphad] means lament, wail, to beat the breast, be in a state of sorrow, or grieve)
DEVOTION: Funerals are not fun. It is a time to mourn someone we love. I have been to a couple of funerals in the last couple of months. Each one was unique. One had visiting hours and the other did not. One had a casket and the other did not.
Is there a right way and a wrong way to have a funeral? The answer is hard. The right way to have a Christian funeral is to have a message that presents the Gospel to those who attend.
Many people who don’t attend church will be at a funeral. It might be the only time they hear a message where they can respond to the message. They might hear the message on the radio or television and feel no need to respond.
However, at a funeral there can be a response to a family member or to the pastor. This would be pleasing to the LORD.
Secondly, funerals for a believer should always be a celebration. You are sad but you also know that they are with the LORD in heaven as soon as they die. Believers have hope that those who don’t know Christ don’t have. We need to share that hope with those who are around us.
Abraham was dealing with a heathen culture when he was dealing with the men around him for a burial place for Sarah. They didn’t understand who God was but they had respect for Abraham because of his testimony.
The testimony of those who die in the LORD can attract people to become followers of the LORD. People who come to the funeral know the testimony of the one who has died and will respect their wishes regarding the presentation of the Gospel.
One of the characteristics of someone who loses a loved one is to mourn their death. This is good even for a believer because we will miss the one that has died but inside we will be happy for them because they are in heaven. We can tell others of the good memories we have regarding the one who has died.
Children who attend a funeral are sad if it is a grandfather or grandmother. The two funerals that I attended had grandchildren who were sad because they would miss their grandparents. It is OK to be sad but adults have to explain what is going on so they understand.
CHALLENGE: We need to explain to children before someone dies about the two places that people go after they die. Our message has to be one of Biblical hope for those who have become followers of Jesus Christ and warning for those who have not died in the LORD.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 4 I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a burying place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight. (8453 “sojourner” [toshab] means a dweller, not a native citizen, a temporary inmate, or resident alien)
DEVOTION: Death of a loved one is hard. It is so permanent. If it is a spouse that has been married to you for many years it is hard to imagine living without someone you are used to having around. Some think it would be great to not have to answer to their spouse anymore. Others think that they will be lonely without them. There are many reactions to death. Some are good and some are bad. Some people carry the grief with them too long.
Here we have Abraham losing his wife, Sarah to death. He has to bury her in a strange land. Hebron means fellowship, so he wants to stay in the area. He has to buy land to bury her in. He is living among the Philistines. In the last chapter he made a three generational promise to not harm the Philistines.
We are resident aliens in this present world. We are sojourners. We are strangers. Too often we try to make everyone happy here on this earth with us. We don’t want to witness to them because we might offend them. However, the choice is not ours. God tells us to tell others about HIM. Abraham was living a land that he in which he was a stranger and needed a place to bury his wife. He knew that the sepulcher was only a temporary location for her body. He was willing to pay for the place he wanted. He met with the land owner who offered to give it to him for free but in the eastern culture that was common. Abraham knew that he wanted money for the land. He gave him the money. He owned the property. The cave was used to bury other relatives in the future.
Our home is heaven once we accept Christ as our Savior. The Old Testament saints looked forward to the coming of Christ. They were saved by grace. We look back to the death of Christ and we are saved by grace because of HIS shed blood. As we look around our world, we see that things are progressively getting worse. Sin seems to win over righteousness.
Please remember that we may lose some battles, but the war is going to be won by the LORD. Don’t look at the present circumstances as a final chapter. God has written the final chapter and we are included with those who win. This is the victory, even our faith. Let’s remember that our home is heaven and we have the responsibility to reach all those in our world for HIM.
On a side note, we realize that the Old Testament saints rested in Abraham’s bosom until Christ emptied it on his resurrection. Once we as believers die our body may stay in the grave but our soul and spirit are present with the LORD immediately waiting for the resurrection of our bodies in a glorified form at the Rapture of the New Testament saints.
CHALLENGE: Remember that we are here for a short period of time and need to be witnesses for the LORD NOW!! Even in death we can witness for the LORD. Every sermon at a funeral should have a salvation message.
:15 My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead.(996 “betwixt” [beyn] means between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship])
DEVOTION: Abraham is mourning the death of his wife Sarah. At this point they had probably been married 100 years at least (remember that she was 127 when she died, and so he had his 137th birthday that year). It is difficult to imagine how deep the loss must have been for him.
So, as he is preparing for her burial (this is the first real burial described in the book of Genesis), he goes to the Hittites who live in the land and offers to buy a cave on Ephron’s land. This is the only recorded property that Abraham was ever to own in Canaan, despite God’s promise to him to give him all the land for his descendants. Since Abraham wanted to maintain a good testimony for the LORD among these people, he chose to purchase this burial plot from Ephron.
Often, we allow petty annoyances to get in the way of our relationships with other people. We tend to think that they should be able to read our minds and realize that we want something from them that they are not giving us. This sense of entitlement can mushroom from a grievance or disappointment into a grudge, and then into full-blown hatred. Instead of allowing things to continue to fester between us and the other person, we need to take the initiative to make sure that we have a right relationship with them from the beginning, even if it costs us something that we feel we are not obligated to give.
CHALLENGE: Are you allowing anything to get between you and another person? If so, make it a priority to contact that person and take steps to restore your relationship with them. (MW)
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 16 And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant. (8254 “shekels” [shaqal] means weigh, pay, a unit of weight varying between a third to just under a half ounce, coin, or monetary unit)
DEVOTION: There seems to be a habit in Arab culture to haggle over the price of something. Here we find Abraham trying to buy a piece of land for a burial site for his wife Sarah.
He is living in a foreign land and is working with the leadership of the local city. He was asking for a place to bury his wife and so the community seemed to get involved.
The owner of the land was named Ephron who lived among the children of Heth. So the children of Heth helped in the sale of the land. At first the land was offered to Abraham for free. This was not a real offer but a way to negotiate a good price for the land.
When it was all said and done the price of the land which had a cave on it for burial was four hundred shekels of silver. Abraham paid the price in front of the leadership of the city, so that, he had witnesses to the transaction.
Abraham wanted to pay a just price for the land and this was the way he had to do it. We should negotiate a just price for any transactions we do with others.
Christians are not cheat individuals out of what is a rightful price for something. Christians are not to take advantage of people when they are dealing with them. There should always be witnesses to all of our transactions.
Our activities in public are part of our witness for the LORD. If we get a reputation of not being honest in our dealings with people, that will reflect on the LORD.
Too many times we have Christians in a community that has a bad reputation in their dealings with others in the community. This should never be if we want to keep a good witness for the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Try to keep a good reputation in your community for the LORD. If you have failed in the pass start fresh and work toward a better reputation. The LORD will help you.
: 20 And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure to Abraham for a possession of a burying place by the sons of Heth. (4631 “ cave” [“ma’arah] means den, a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground, a burial place, or temporary dwelling)
DEVOTION: Should Christians have possessions? Does having possessions make them something that takes the place of the LORD in their life? Can we worship possessions?
These are questions that each individual has to answer for themselves. They know if they think more of their possessions than God or those who they love around them. Possessions should never be something that has control over us but we should have control over our possessions.
Now we have Abraham with a burial site that he has purchased from Ephron. He paid a good price for the land. He owned the land. It was going to be in possession of the children of Israel for a long time after they arrived.
The issue here could be what do Christians do with a gravesite of someone they love? Do they visit it every week? Do they think more of the one who is dead than the living? Does a believer need to move on with their life after the death of a loved one?
The Bible teaches that death is not the end of the existence of anyone. There is a life after death. There is a life in heaven or hell. We need to remember to help people while they are alive to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. There is not second chance after death.
So are we to mourn at a graveside of someone we love that has not made Jesus their Savior for a long period of time? NO!! We are to deal with the living that doesn’t know the LORD.
Some people are more concerned with the dead than the living. This was not the case with Abraham and it shouldn’t be the case with us.
CHALLENGE: Honor the dead but move on with your life.
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)
Four hundred shekels of silververse 16
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)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
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)
Sarahverses 1, 19
127 years old
Died in Kirjath-arba = Hebron
Land of Canaan
Buried
Abrahamverses 3-20
Stranger
Sojourner
Wants a burying place
Mighty prince
Bowed down to people
Sons of Hethverses 3-18
Gave choice of their sepulchers
Ephron the son of Zoharverses 8-18
Cave of Machpelah
end of his field
Hittite
Worth of cave = 400 shekels of silver
Field of Ephronverses 17, 19
Which is Machpelah
Before Mamre = Hebron
Field, cave, trees
borders round about
made sure
Gate of the cityverse 18
purchase made here
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Mourn for the dead verse 2
Handling death properlyverses 1-20
Paying full priceverse 16
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Future land of children of Israelverses 17-20
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Dealing with death of Sarahverses 1-20
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QUOTES regarding passage
When Abraham bought this cave, he was renouncing Paddan Aram, that is, northwest Mesopotamia (cf. 25:20). This had just been brought to the reader’s attention (22:20–24) indirectly by mentioning the relatives of Abraham who remained in Mesopotamia (cf. 11:27–31).
Canaan was now Abraham’s new native land. But interestingly the only part of the Promised Land Abraham himself ever received he bought, and that was a burial cave. This first property of the patriarchs—a cave—bound them to the Promised Land. This was a real “occupation” of the land. There would never be a return to Mesopotamia. Later patriarchs would also die and be buried with their ancestors in Canaan.
Abraham knew he could not exhaust God’s promise, so he made plans for the future. By buying the land for his dead, he was forced to realize that God’s promises do not end with this life. God will do far more than He has done in this life, which is the hope of all who die in faith.
The promise of the land is one of the major themes in Genesis. But so is death. Death entered by sin and ruined the race. The deaths of patriarchs and saints are brutal reminders that people are sinners. Death brings out mourning. But death in this passage was also a basis for hope. In life the patriarchs were sojourners; in death they were heirs of the promise and “occupied” the land.
The patriarchs and others died, not receiving the promises; yet they died in faith (Heb. 11:39–40). It was not God’s plan to give them the promised rest without the participation of New Testament believers. A Sabbath-rest yet remains; yet those who believe enter into it even now and will fully realize it in the future (Heb. 4:8–10). The point is that God’s promises to those in the faith are not exhausted in this life. As Abraham in hope bought a grave site in the land, so believers today have a hope beyond this life. The time of death—when one’s natural inclination is to mourn as the world mourns—should be the time of a believer’s greatest demonstration of faith, for the recipient of God’s promises has a hope beyond the grave. Jesus Himself referred to Abraham when discussing the resurrection with the Sadducees (Matt. 22:31–32). God’s promises demand resurrection! (Ross, A. P. (1985). Genesis. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, pp. 66–67). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Abraham’s tomb (Gen. 23:17–20). The key phrase in the chapter, used seven times, is “bury my [the, thy] dead.” Even though Sarah was gone, Abraham showed respect for her body and wanted to give it a proper burial. This is the pattern for God’s people throughout the Scriptures. Neither the Old Testament Jews nor the New Testament Christians cremated their dead. Rather, they washed the body, wrapped it in clean cloth with spices, and placed it in the ground or in a tomb. While there may be some situations when cremation is the better way to dispose of the body, for the most part, Christians prefer burial. This is the way our Lord’s body was handled after His death (Matt. 27:57–61), and Paul seems to teach burial in 1 Corinthians 15:35–46.
When Abraham purchased the cave of Machpelah for a tomb, he was making a statement of faith to all who were there. He did not take Sarah back to their former home in Ur but buried her in the land God had given him and his descendants. He did not ignore the body but gave it a proper burial in view of the promised resurrection. When God saves us, He saves the whole person, not just “the soul.” The body has a future, and burial bears witness to our faith in the return of Christ and the resurrection of the body.
It must be pointed out, however, that resurrection is not “reconstruction.” God will not reassemble the dust of the body and restore the body to its previous state. God promises us a new body! In 1 Corinthians 15:35–38, Paul makes it clear that there is continuity but not identity between the old body and the new body.
He illustrated this miracle with the planting of a seed. The seed dies and decays, but from it comes a beautiful flower or some grain. There is continuity but not identity: The same seed does not come out of the ground, but what came out came from the seed that was planted. Christian burial bears witness that we believe in a future resurrection.
When you get to the end of Genesis, you find that Abraham’s tomb is quite full. Sarah was buried there, and then Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, and Leah (Gen. 49:29–31); and then Jacob joined them (50:13). Genesis ends with a full tomb, but the four Gospels end with an empty tomb! Jesus has conquered death and taken away its sting (1 Cor. 15:55–58). Because of His victory, we need not fear death or the grave.
Abraham owned the whole land, but the only piece of property that was legally his was a tomb. If the Lord Jesus does not return to take us to heaven, the only piece of property each of us will own in this world will be a plot in the cemetery! We will take nothing with us; we will leave it all behind (1 Tim. 6:7). But, if we are investing in things eternal, we can send it ahead (Matt. 6:19–34). If we live by faith, then we can die by faith; and when you die by faith, you have a wonderful future.
In November 1858, missionary John Paton landed in the New Hebrides to establish a ministry among the people. On February 12, 1859, his wife gave birth to a son; and on March 3, his wife died. Seventeen days later, the baby died. “But for Jesus and the fellowship He gave me there,” said Paton, “I must have gone mad and died beside that lonely grave.” But we do not sorrow as those who have no hope! We have been born again “to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3, NKJV), and we are “looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). (Wiersbe, W. W. (1991). Be Obedient (pp. 131–133). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
23:19 After this. Once the purchase had been made, Abraham buried Sarah. Moses notes the place is Hebron in Canaan, to which his initial readers were soon headed.
23:20 So the field and the cave … were deeded. This is an important summary, because finally, after years of nomadic wandering, Abraham owned a small piece of real estate in the midst of all the land divinely promised to him and his descendants. The cave also became many years later the family burial plot for Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Leah, and Jacob (cf. 25:9; 49:31; 50:13), with Rachel being the exception (35:19). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Ge 23:19–20). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
Ver. 19. And after this, &c.] After this affair was over, the bargain struck, the money paid, and possession secured: Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre; and here he himself was buried, and also Isaac and Rebekah, and Jacob and Leah, ch. 25:9, 10 and 49:29, 30 and 50:13. Benjamin of Tudela says, in his time (who lived in the latter end of the 12th century), in the field of Machpelah was a city or town, and in it a large temple called Saint Abraham, where were shewn the sepulchres of the six persons before mentioned, and inscriptions over each of them, shewing whose they were; and that at the end of the field was the house of Abraham, and before the house a fountain, and no other was suffered to be built there in honour to Abraham: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan; that is, Mamre is the same place which afterwards was called Hebron, a city in the land of Canaan, in the tribe of Judah, about 22 miles from Jerusalem to the south, and was one of the cities of refuge. Hebron has the title of Hhaleah, i.e. the chosen or beloved, among the Arabs, where the (Mag-gar-el Mamra) cave of Mamre or Machpelah is still shewn, and is always lighted up with lamps, and held in extraordinary veneration by the Mahometans. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 1, pp. 161–162). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
“After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan. And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a buryingplace by the sons of Heth.” “I give it thee, I give it thee, I give it thee,” cried Ephron again and again—three times in one verse (23:11). Over against that we set one more New Testament text. “My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you” (John 14:27, italics added). The world does not give, it takes. When Jonah decided to go the way of the world he went down to Tarshish, found a ship and “paid the fare thereof”—he paid. But God is a generous giver.
Ephron never had any intention of giving Abraham that cave and field. He knew exactly what he was going to ask for it when the negotiations reached the crucial point, and he asked plenty. The other day I heard a man on the radio offering a large, expensive Bible to anyone who would send in for it—so long as they sent twenty-five dollars to support his work. That is worldliness—give something to me and I will give something to you. The noted psychiatrist Dr. Eric Berne, in his best-selling book Games People Play, points out that we do not even give so much as a handshake or ask the question “How are you?” without expecting something equivalent in return.
Abraham faced life’s tears with natural but not inconsolable grief. He faced life’s testings knowing that although the promises of God seem terribly slow of fulfillment, they are all settled in heaven. Not even the sight of the sons of Heth with their crafty faces and their broad grins and underhanded calculations could upset him. He faced life’s treacheries with equanimity, knowing that man’s word may or may not be sure, but God’s word is. (Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring Genesis: An Expository Commentary (Ge 23:19–20). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.)
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 Bland Illusion
I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. JOHN 10:10
Bill Bright used to tell the story of a man who carefully saved his money until he was finally able to travel on a beautiful cruise ship. It was all he could do just to save enough to buy his ticket. Thinking he wouldn’t have enough money to buy meals in the ship’s fine dining room, he decided to take along some cheese and crackers for food.
For several days he sat in his cabin, watching the stewards go by with carts full of luscious lobster, prime rib, fresh fruits and vegetables. Finally, he couldn’t stand it any longer. He reached out and grabbed one of the stewards by the arm and begged him for a plate of food. “Please, help me. I’ll go to work, I’ll scrub the deck. I’ll do anything to get something to eat. My cheese and crackers are turning stale, and I’m starving to death.”
“But, sir,” the steward replied, “don’t you know? Your food comes with your ticket.”
Many Christians live the way this passenger did on the cruise ship. They are “cheese and crackers” believers, living off rations when they could be dining on steak and baked potatoes. They don’t allow the Holy Spirit to take control of their lives and produce the luscious fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Instead they live in spiritual poverty. I’ve been a “cheese and crackers” Christian on more than one occasion. I’ve been satisfied at times with the bare bones of salvation, figuring that is all I should really expect. But my spiritual hunger finally got the best of me, and I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ. Nothing can satisfy like Him.
DISCUSS
How well are you feasting on the abundant life that Jesus Christ came to give you?
(Dennis and Barbara Rainey “Moments with YOU)
Ezra 1
The Lord prompts the king of Persia to rebuild the temple.
INSIGHT
The Bible says that God “removes kings and raises up kings” (Daniel 2:21) and that “the king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord” (Proverbs 21:1). We see a classic example of these truths in the book of Ezra. The Israelites are taken captive by the Babylonians for 70 years. During that time, the Babylonians are conquered by Persia. Then the Lord moves in the heart of the king of Persia to orchestrate the return of the Jews to Jerusalem. God is in control. Bad things will still happen; we live in a fallen world. But God is in control and history is moving toward His end. The ultimate needs of His children are met, and we have the promise of eternal life. Beyond that, we must cling to the fact that we are pilgrims, sojourners to another world—heaven, where our true citizenship lies.
(Quiet Walk)
PREACHING
Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God. Mark 1:14
The word preaching came in this way. When a son and heir was born to the emperor, a proclamation was made, and the word that was used for that very process was the word translated “preaching.” It was an announcement; it happened when the heir was born, when he came of age, and at his accession to the throne or to the imperial power. So what we are told here is that when John the Baptist was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee announcing, proclaiming, heralding. It was the particular work of the herald to do this very thing.
The word preaching is interesting, therefore, because it at once conveys this notion and idea. A herald does not make an uncertain announcement or get up and blow his trumpet and say, “Listen, we do not quite know what’s happening or what is going to take place, but…well, we hope that something is going to happen!” That is not heralding! No; the herald has a definite, specific message, and that is why he gets up and blows his trumpet. “Listen,” he says, “I have something to tell you.” Now that is the term that is used here about what our Lord did. It is also the term that is used about what the apostles did afterwards, and it is the word that has been used about preaching in the Christian church ever since.
So you see we start with a note of certainty, issued from the Imperial Palace. That was the first word uttered, not just a man getting up and saying, “Well, my opinion is that before long there will be an announcement.” No! He stood up with a bit of paper in his hand and said, “Issued by the Imperial Palace at such and such a time, we have the honor to inform you…” That is it. Preaching–the very word carries with it the whole notion of authority, an absolute unequivocal statement.
A Thought to Ponder: Jesus came into Galilee announcing, proclaiming, heralding.
(From The Kingdom of God, pp. 11-12, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Light for Every Man
“That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” (John 1:9)
The Bible clearly teaches that faith in the person and saving work of Jesus Christ is essential for salvation. Jesus Himself said: “I am the way…no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
This means that there is no salvation whatsoever in Islam or Buddhism, and certainly not in evolutionary humanism—or anything other than faith in Christ!
But what about the millions over the ages who have lived and died without ever hearing about Christ? Paul answers: “But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world” (Romans 10:18). That is, they have heard! Our text reminds us that Jesus Christ is the true Light that has been sent to every man in the world. Paul was referring to the familiar 19th Psalm, which reminds us that God’s glory is declared by the heavens themselves.
Paul also stressed that even God’s “eternal power and Godhead” are “clearly seen” “from the creation of the world,” so that those who don’t see are “without excuse” (Romans 1:20). Thus, as Peter said, “in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him” (Acts 10:35). Although Christ has provided at least some light for “every man,” the tragedy is that “men loved darkness rather than light” (John 3:19). But for those like Cornelius (to whom Peter was sent with the gospel—Acts 10) who act on whatever light they have (in nature or conscience or any possible remnants of primeval truth in their native religion), God will send more light, for “he that doeth truth cometh to the light” (John 3:21).
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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