The “Urban Dictionary” puts it this way: “An American idiom commonly used in military operations to mean the first soldiers to go into a war zone. In common usage, it means the first to venture into a new endeavor. A trailblazer.”
The Bible uses a similar term to describe relationships between Christians in general and between husbands and wives in particular. The word is “Hupotasso“.
You will never find that word spelled, as such, in your Bible, though. It is the Greek word ‘hupotasso’ used for “Submit to” or “be subject to”.
The King James uses the word “submit” but, it reads this way in the New American Standard version of the Bible:
Ephesians5:21, “and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.”
Verse 22. Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. Verse 23. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. Verse 24. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.
The intention of “submission or subjection” is found in the CONTEXT of the words in this chapter of Ephesians, which encourages us to be wise and moral, kind and pure, gentle and forgiving.
The context is also found in the meaning of the words in these verses.
Specifically, “Hupotasso” comes from a Greek military term meaning “to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader”. These troop formations were called a Phalanx. The Phalanx was the formation, usually in triangular form, in which The hoplite phalanx of the Archaic and Classical periods in Greece (c. 800–350 BC) was the formation in which the hoplites would line up in ranks in close order.
Hoplites were citizen-soldiers of Ancient Greekcity-states who were primarily armed with spears and shields. Hoplite soldiers utilized the phalanx formation in order to be effective in war with fewer soldiers. The formation discouraged the soldiers from acting alone, for this would compromise the formation and minimize its strengths.
The hoplites would lock their shields together, and the first few ranks of soldiers would project their spears out over the first rank of shields.
Those at the front were, what we would call today, THE TIP OF THE SPEAR or the POINT MAN. They presented the first defense against the enemy and were the first to engage the enemy and the first to take casualties.
The phalanx therefore presented a shield wall and a mass of spear points to the enemy. Making frontal assaults against it very difficult.
It also allowed a higher proportion of the soldiers to be actively engaged in combat at a given time, rather than just those in the front rank.
This word, “Hupotasso”, in non-military use, is “a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden”.
The Bible gives this as an example for husbands and wives to cooperate and to successfully navigate life and in waging wars against ‘their common enemy’, Satan.
The wife is fully engaged in the marriage relationship, but, God says the husband is to be the Tip of the Spear in order to protect and preserve and, if necessary, the first to fall.
Interestingly, Ephesians 5:22, “be subject to your own” uses the word “idios” which means, uniquely one’s own, peculiar to the individual. It is “stronger than the simple possessive pronoun (‘own’). This emphatic adjective means ‘private, personal’ “.
God gives each husband a wife, designed by God, Himself, to fulfill a role specifically for that husband. God gives the wife gifts, talents, abilities and a calling uniquely designed to serve God and to compliment and to complete the husband.
This is why the Bible says “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.
“So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself”.
It is also why God says “Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord”.
Neither, the husband nor the wife, can be made complete as persons when finding refuge, protection and provision. But as a God given ability, you can mature and sustain one another, until you understand this Spiritual principal and follow it.
Marriage has mutual strength through commitment and cooperation with one another under God’s Steady Hand.
Please take this to heart, dear ones. This message is so important.
The world and the Devil are deceiving the family in to thinking ‘what works for you is OK”. It is NOT OK. God’s design, His plan and His Word is what gives life, and life more abundant. Stop following the world and REASON through God’s Word. Understand it and live!
So, how does this apply to women in the church, and specifically women as pastors in a church? In this instance, it is much simpler to explain from Scriptures and even easier to understand than the first half of this article. Allow me to lay the groundwork:
First, all Scripture is the Breathed-out Word of God, according to 2 Timothy 3:16-17. The Bible tells us that the Word of God is without any error, is dependable, revealing, powerful, piercing, and eternal. It is the lamp unto our feet and the light upon our path. John 14:14-18 tells us that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and that Jesus is the Word! Additionally, Jesus tells us that He came to tell the truth (John 18:37), and that He in fact is The Truth (John 14:6). So, it is safe and wise to believe and to do whatever the Bible says – especially the plain things!
Therefore, when the Bible says, “As in all the churches of the saints,the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says.If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.”
I have read the numerous opinions and commentaries on this matter of women being ordained as a pastor. Reading the pros and cons doesn’t take one long to determine what the varying authors believed before they wrote their opinion. One such opinion, found on Bible.Org, written by a Sandra Glahn, who holds a Master of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS) and a PhD in The Humanities, Aesthetic Studies from the University of Texas at Dallas, tries to frame the Apostle Paul’s words in the context of spiritual gifts, specifically prophecy and speaking in tongues. I find her attempt clumsy and severely biased at best, and the use of eisegesis, a deliberate distortion of scriptures, at worst, connecting dots that don’t align, so to speak.
The context of Paul’s remarks are about orderly worship but come under the heading of submission to authority as a protective covering as described throughout the Bible
1 Corinithians 11:2-3,“Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.”
The rebellious and feeble attempts to change the meaning and the context of this matter and these verses, should cause the rebel to remember these words: “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say…?
His Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. God sent His Son to seek and to save – to make safe, to make whole, to make healthy and sound, with a great purpose and direction in life! And to as many as received Him by faith, He has given them the right to be the children of God.
For your own sake and safety, don’t change even one letter or iota of His Word! Believe and Live!
Judas’ Remorse, Jesus Before Pilate, Jesus Mocked, The Crucifixion, Jesus Burial
The central theme of the Bible, of course, is God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit, but it is also a comprehensive and extensive spiritual document about the creation of humanity, the cosmos and their ultimate end.
The Bible is also the longest ‘breathed out’ love letter ever written and it is written to you by God, which is about you and for you. His Words are spoken to you and if you will consume His Words, (that is to ‘eat His Body and drink His Blood’), He will speak His Words through you! You will have become His instrument to effect His plan, purpose and mission on the earth.
Therefore, it is beyond important to know what he Bible is saying to you so you can come to know God in an intimate and personal way. Then you can gain an understanding of what He is saying to you, about you, for you and through you. Please don’t get lost in the narrative; focus on Him and what He is saying to you.
Judas’ Remorse
Matthew 27:1,Now when morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus to put Him to death; verse 2, and they bound Him and led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate the governor.
(Commentary Break): Please re-read Matthew 27:1-2, and cast them in the light of Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places”. There are two realms. The Spiritual realm and the realm of ‘flesh and blood’, or the natural realm. These verses are comparing and contrasting these realities. Our battle is not against people, but against the rulers, and the powers, and against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places which possess and influence people of flesh and blood to do their evil and wickedness. Which realm is at work in the hearts and minds of the chief priests and the elders? And why would these spiritual forces of darkness and wickedness influence these priests and Elders to confer against Jesus, and to put Him to death? And, why would they eventually hand Jesus over to Pilate?
By understanding these things, you can see and get a better understanding of the battle that rages for your and every man, woman, boy and girl’s heart, soul and mind. These verses, when correctly understood and personally applied, can tell you the deeper meaning and motives of the spiritual forces of darkness and of wickedness. They have come only to kill, steal and destroy! The Bible and these verses in particular, can instruct you and empower you to resist and overcome evil. This is personal. Very personal! (End Commentary Break).
Verse 3. Then when Judas, who had betrayed Jesus, saw that Jesus had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, verse 4, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? You shall see to it yourself!” Verse 5. And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and left; and he went away and hanged himself.
(Commentary Break): Here is the continuing example of a person, (flesh and blood), having been influenced and possessed by the rulers, the powers, the world forces of darkness, and spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places, to do their evil works.
Read again the cold, heartless and wicked response to Judas repentant cry when he bemoans “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” And look at the result; Judas hanged himself. These are the forces which are crouching outside your door, waiting to influence you, to whisper lies to you, to kill and destroy you.
This is not just a story about Judas or a drama about betrayal and murder. This is the cosmic and spiritual battle we all face. This is about life and death and eternity. This is about you and me. This is very personal! (End Commentary Break).
Verse 6. The chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, “It is not lawful to put them in the temple treasury, since it is money paid for blood.” Verse 7. And they conferred together and with the money bought the Potter’s Field as a burial place for strangers. Verse 8. For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Verse 9. Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “AND THEY TOOK THE THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER, THE PRICE OF THE ONE WHOSE PRICE HAD BEEN SET by the sons of Israel; Verse 10. AND THEY GAVE THEM FOR THE POTTER’S FIELD, JUST AS THE LORD DIRECTED ME.”
(Commentary Break): True to form, the chief priests follow their manmade laws above all else, even above their Torah. They “tithe mint and dill and cumin, while neglecting the weightier provisions of the Law, such as justice and mercy and faithfulness”. They are, as Jesus has called them, “blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel, and hypocrites! They clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence!”
Dear ones, please listen. Just like these religious scribe, Pharisees and chief priests, many churches today have these same the rulers, and powers, and world forces of darkness, and spiritual forces of wickedness influencing pastors, elders and teachers, who ardently and stubbornly follow the laws of their own denomination or of their own making while neglecting the weightier provisions of the Law, such as justice and mercy and faithfulness. They too, are blind guides and hypocrites full of robbery and self-indulgence. Do not their bidding, point them out and flee from them. Jesus has warned that these days would come. It began in His time on earth and has intensified in these Last Days. (End Commentary Break).
Jesus before Pilate
Verse 11. Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned Him, saying, “So You are the King of the Jews?” And Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” Verse 12.And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not offer any answer. Verse 13. Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they are testifying against You?” Verse 14. And still He did not answer him in regard to even a single charge, so the governor was greatly amazed.
Verse 15. Now at the Passover Feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. Verse 16. And at that time they were holding a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. Verse 17. So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” Verse 18. For he knew that it was because of envy that they had handed Him over.
Verse 19. And while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “See that you have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.” Verse 20. But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas, and to put Jesus to death. Verse 21. And the governor said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Verse 22. Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Crucify Him!” Verse 23. But he said, “Why, what evil has He done?” Yet they kept shouting all the more, saying, “Crucify Him!”
Verse 24. Now when Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; you yourselves shall see.” Verse 25. And all the people replied, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” Verse 26,Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus flogged, he handed Him over to be crucified.
(Commentary Break): These things had to be accomplished to fulfill the scriptures. I hope you have read these things with this one thing in mind: Jesus is innocent. You and I are the guilty parties. But He was silent when the accusations and the charges were being made. He knew what He was doing, and it was out of love for you and me that He endure this shame and punishment.
Psychologist might say that crowd hysteria had taken over, but they would have been blind to what was truly at work. Satan had released rulers, and powers, and world forces of darkness, and spiritual forces of wickedness and they were now influencing and speaking through the crowds. Undoubtedly, a frightening sight.
Pilate, however, saw through the subterfuge and declared Jesus as innocent. He tried to distance himself, making the feeble statement, “I am innocent of this man’s blood”, but he still condemned Jesus to death.
Then, prophetically, all the Jews in the crowd replied, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” And so it has been, throughout the ages, on the Nation of Israel.
However, the Apostle Paul explains and warns, in Romans 11:20-24, “That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand by your faith [as believers understanding the truth of Christ’s deity]. Do not be conceited, but [rather stand in great awe of God and] fear [Him]; for if God did not spare the natural branches [because of unbelief], He will not spare you either. Then appreciate the gracious kindness and the severity of God: to those who fell [into spiritual ruin], severity, but to you, God’s gracious kindness, if you continue in His kindness [by faith and obedience to Him]; otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they [the unbelieving Jews], if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in; for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and against nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much easier will it be to graft these who are the natural branches back into [the original parent stock of] their own olive tree? (End Commentary Break).
Jesus Is Mocked
Verse 27. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort to Him. Verse 28. And they stripped Him and put a red cloak on Him. Verse 29. And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and put a reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Verse 30. And they spit on Him, and took the reed and beat Him on the head. Verse 31. And after they had mocked Him, they took the cloak off Him and put His own garments back on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.
Verse 32. As they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they compelled to carry His cross.
The Crucifixion
Verse 33. And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull, verse 34, they gave Him wine mixed with bile to drink; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink it.
Verse 35. And when they had crucified Him, they divided His garments among themselves by casting lots. Verse 36. And sitting down, they began to keep watch over Him there. Verse 37. And above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
Verse 38. At that time two rebels were being crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. Verse 39. And those passing by were speaking abusively to Him, shaking their heads,40, and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” Verse 41. In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, verse 42, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself! He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. Verse 43. HE HAS TRUSTED IN GOD; LET GOD RESCUE Him now, IF HE TAKES PLEASURE IN HIM; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” Verse 44. And the rebels who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him in the same way.
Verse 45. Now from the sixth hour, (which was noontime), darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour (which was 3 p.m.). Verse 46. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “ELI, ELI, LEMA SABAKTANEI?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?” Verse 47. And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” Verse 48. And immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink. Verse 49. But the rest of them said, “Let us see if Elijah comes to save Him.” Verse 50. And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and gave up His spirit. Verse 51. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. Verse 52. Also the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; verse 53, and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many. Verse 54, Now as for the centurion and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the other things that were happening, they became extremely frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
Verse 55. And many women were there watching from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee while caring for Him. Verse 56. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
Jesus Is Buried
Verse 57. Now when it was evening, a rich man from Arimathea came, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. Verse 58. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him.Verse 59. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, verse 60. and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away. Verse 61. And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.
Verse 62. Now on the next day, that is, the day which is after the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together with Pilate, Verse 63. and they said, “Sir, we remember that when that deceiver was still alive, He said, ‘After three days I am rising.’ Verse 64. Therefore, give orders for the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise, His disciples may come and steal Him, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” Verse 65. Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how.” Verse 66. And they went and made the tomb secure with the guard, sealing the stone. (End Chapter 27).
(Commentary Break): This series of events actually began with the birth of Jesus, but take a precipitous turn at the noon hour on the day of Jesus’ crucifixion. The Spiritual Real of the Kingdom of Heaven breaks through to the natural realm for all to see. On the day of Jesus’ crucifixion, darkness fell upon all the land, during the middle of the day, from noontime until three p.m., when Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “ELI, ELI, LEMA SABAKTANEI?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?” And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and gave up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. Also the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now as for the centurion and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the other things that were happening, they became extremely frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (End Commentary Break).
The beginning of the Last Days began with the birth of Jesus. The first five seals of the tribulation have been broken from around A.D. 1 through A.D. 95, (see Revelation 6:1-11), and have been overlapping and the effects have been intensifying. These are the harbingers of the coming sixth tribulation seal (see Revelation 6:12-17), which will bring a Great Tribulation such as not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, and never will be again. (see Matthew 24:21).
The next, and final chapter of the Book of Matthew, will put an exclamation point on what had been foretold and has come to pass! Jesus has risen from the dead, conquering death and negating the penalty of sin for all who believe.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.(Galatians 5:22-23).
It is at least interesting that the fruit of the Spirit of Joy is positioned between Love and Peace. Could it be coincidental that we must find love which comes before joy in order to find peace in our lives?
When and from what sources do you find joy? Is it in a job well done? From your career, hobby, family, possessions or good fortune?
This word, JOY, in the Bible and from the Greek language in which it was written, is ‘chara’, (pronounced, ‘khar-ah’), means joy, delight, gladness, a source of joy. The picture is “to extend favor, lean towards, be favorably disposed”. More properly, it means the awareness of God’s grace and favor. Joy is found when God’s grace is recognized.
Read with me over the coming episodes, examples of what the scriptures say about JOY.
“Now the seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name!”(Luke 10:17)
What is this kind of joy, and what is the source of thisjoy? In order to answer this question, first we must get the context of Luke 10:17.
Luke 10:1,Now after this the Lord appointed seventy-two other (disciples), and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come. And He was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Go; behold, I am sending you out like lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no money belt, no bag, no sandals, and greet no one along the way. And whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’
“The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; but the one who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”
Luke10:17,Now the seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name!” And Jesus said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like lightning. Behold, I have given you authority to walk on snakes and scorpions, and authority over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”
Luke 10:23, Turning to the disciples, He said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see the things you see; for I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see the things that you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things that you hear, and did not hear them.”
Notice that Jesus sends the 72 disciples out like lambs in the midst of wolves. They are to take no provisions and no means of defense. Their only means is the authority He has given them and from this authority and it this authority, the disciples find joy.
But Jesus says His authority not to be the source of their joy. But the source of their joy is that their names are recorded in heaven!
Jesus teaches His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what good will it do a person if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul? Or what will a person give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS.
“Truly, I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” (see Matthew 16:24-28).
This is wisdom. Everyone lives but once, and then comes judgement (see Hebrews 9:27). And if our focus is only on our accomplishments in this life, even if we gain the entire world and all that it has to offer, but lose our soul, then we will have lost everything. (see Mark 8:36-38). Everything is from dust and will return to dust (see Ecclesiastes 3:20). But, if we knew of the greatest of all treasures that gives a hundred times as much as all we ask or could even imagine in this age and in the age to come, eternal life, wouldn’t we leave all we have and go buy the field containing that treasure? The kingdom of heaven is that field, and Jesus and the Gospel is the treasure. (see Mark 10:29-31). This is where we find lasting joy. This is where our hope andjoy spring eternal!
This old world in which we live is filled with many tribulations, sorrows and tears. But Jesus has spoken these things to you, so that in Him, you may have joyand peace. Take courage; He has overcome the world!
These are the oracles and the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. They are the pathway to eternal life and true joy. They are the lamp to your feet and the light to your path! It is not enough to know about them, you must come to know them.
“Turning to the disciples, He said privately,“Blessed are the eyes that see the things you see;for I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see the things that you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things that you hear, and did not hear them.”(see Luke 10:23-24). So it is with us today.
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
PS: If you have any comments or questions, please use the comment section below.
Paganism can be equated to hedonism, representing those who are sensual, materialistic, self-indulgent, unconcerned with the future, and uninterested in more mainstream religions.
Hedonist’s, and therefore Pagan’s underlying motivation of all human behavior is to maximize pleasure and avoid pain. As a form of egoism, it suggests that people only help others if they expect a personal benefit. Pleasure is the sole source of intrinsic value. It asserts that other things, like knowledge and money, only have value insofar as they produce pleasure and reduce pain. This view divides into quantitative hedonism, which only considers the intensity and duration of pleasures, and qualitative hedonism, which holds that the value of pleasures also depends on their quality. Pleasure and pain are the only factors of well-being, and that people have a moral obligation to pursue pleasure and avoid pain. The goal is to increase overall happiness for everyone therefore, each person should only pursue their own pleasure. Outside the academic context, hedonism is a pejorative term for an egoistic lifestyle seeking short-term gratification. Pagans are usually described in terms of this worldly stereotype.
Paganism, it could be fairly said, is a form of Gnosticism, i.e., emphasizing personal spiritual knowledge (gnosis) above the orthodox teachings, traditions, and authority of religious institutions. It is a collection of religious ideas and systems that coalesced in the late 1st century AD among Jewish and early Christian sects.
This is an accurate and adequate description of what has infected the psyche of a majority of people in American. You can see it being played out in our lives, through our media entertainment, in our medical systems, in our legal systems and government and now, even in our churches.
One of the major ‘tells’ of a Pagan is that if you ask them why they believe certain things, their answer will be without a foundation. They will usually say, “That is just how I feel” or “that is just what I believe.” Indicating that what they believe is based on their feelings, which springs from past or present experiences that were either extremely pleasurable or extremely unpleasant or traumatic. These people can be found to be undependable, unpredictable, and unstable in their ways displaying a narcissistic personality disorder and can be extremely dangerous to those around them.
This behavior, more recently, can be seen on display in the American democrat political party and their adherents. (It is also foundational in Socialist, Communist and Marxist ideologies and practices.)
PAGANISM – IN THE CHURCH
Many of the traits of this ‘new gospel’, which is similar to the Gospel of Jesus found and taught in the Bible, is divergent as it is an individual-centered or self-centered, ‘feelings or emotion-based’. It is a false gospel.
It has been and is being propagated and promoted by several popular non-mainline religious groups, particularly the American Charismatic movement, Pentecostalism and Word of Faithmovement. In great part, because their beliefs are emotion-based and are ‘individual-centered’, their doctrines and practices are wildly popular and are attracting many new converts, and are leading many mainline denominations and churches to adopt many of their practices.
It can be found to be subtle in some forms and is brazenly open in other forms. It can be seen to be manifested in people exercising controlling or manipulating behaviors, extreme social competitiveness, people who are arrogant, being aloof demanding others earn your attention or approval, and is particularly demonstrated by the absence of civility, which are all behaviors demonstrated by hedonists, Gnostics, and narcissists.
In the church this kind of behavior can be seen as polite avoidance of those around you, and especially toward newcomers. It is demonstrated as a sense of self-piety, self-importance, a need to be closest to the pastor or leadership of the church, clustering with the more important people and leaving others to ‘their own kind’, to name a few behaviors. And, it is endemic.
So, why does this matter? (I really dislike this question and dislike answering it, even more).
It matters because once a person adopts this type of mindset, even inadvertently, they are in danger of being snared by the grip of a pathological disorder known as narcissism, and it can lead to the deeper problem of a narcissistic personality disorder.
Here are some symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder and how severe they are and how they can vary. People with the disorder, even though they may try to disguise or hide these symptoms, can:
Have an unreasonably high sense of self-importance and require constant, excessive admiration.
Feel that they deserve privileges and special treatment.
Expect to be recognized as superior even without achievements.
Make achievements and talents seem bigger than they are.
Be preoccupied with fantasies about success, power, brilliance, beauty or the perfect mate.
Believe they are superior to others and can only spend time with or be understood by equally special people.
Be critical of and look down on people they feel are not important.
Expect special favors and expect other people to do what they want without questioning them.
Take advantage of others to get what they want.
Have an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others.
Be envious of others and believe others envy them.
Behave in an arrogant way, brag a lot and come across as conceited.
Insist on having the best of everything — for instance, the best car or office.
At the same time, people with narcissistic personality disorder have trouble handling anything they view as criticism. They can:
Become impatient or angry when they don’t receive special recognition or treatment.
Have major problems interacting with others and easily feel slighted.
React with rage or contempt and try to belittle other people to make themselves appear superior.
Have difficulty managing their emotions and behavior.
Experience major problems dealing with stress and adapting to change.
Withdraw from or avoid situations in which they might fail.
Feel depressed and moody because they fall short of perfection.
Have secret feelings of insecurity, shame, humiliation and fear of being exposed as a failure.
It matters because it shows that we have veered from our historical and traditional beliefs and behaviors, established in and guided by Judeo-Christian moral and ethical standards. The very foundations that established this once great nation and provided a safer and more prosperous world are being eroded and replaced with a religious fervor by a pagan mindset and hedonistic attitudes and practices, dividing people, setting them at odds and creating a more hostile world.
If you will be honest with yourself, you can probably say you have seen these behaviors in our society, among some of your friends or acquaintances, in the media, in political circles, in our government, in our educational systems and sadly, in many of our churches. And, if you are old enough, you may have the benefit of the perspective afforded by hindsight – and able to see the contrast of the way things used to be.
Hedonism, Gnosticism, and Narcissism are the roots. Paganism is the tree bearing the bad fruit of incivility, possessing the seeds of uncontrolled anger, hatreds, murders, wars, sexual perversions, impurity, indecent behavior, idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drug and alcohol abuse and addiction and more. (see Galatians 5:19-21).
Paganism is an opposition to The Good News of Jesus Christ and by its very nature destroys everything good that it touches, or perhaps I should say it is infecting everyone it touches and they are destroying everything good that they touch!
JOIN THE REMEDY – BE THE REMEDY
Jesus is the Remedy and He is inviting you to join Him. And He is saying to you as He has said to Peter, “upon this massive rock” of many believers, I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you know as true from my Words, you will bind or restrict on earth as it shall have been restricted in heaven, and whatever you permit and call as completed on earth, shall have been permitted and competed in heaven, where all things originate and find their beginnings. (see Matthew 16:18).
Remember, our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
You are to know what this means: Stand firm having belted your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of evil. Wear fast the helmet of salvation and raise the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (see Ephesians 6:10-17).
Listen friends, the old ways would say that if someone gouges you in the eye, they must pay with their own eye. If a tooth gets knocked out, knock out the tooth of the one who did it.’ But I am saying to you, do not entangle yourself in violence! If you are slapped on one cheek, turn the other cheek, too. And if you are ordered to court, and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat too. Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.
There is a tradition that instructs you to love your friends and hate your enemies.But I am saying to you, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In this way you will be acting as true sons and daughters of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust too. But you are to be perfect and spiritually mature, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. (see Matthew 5:38-48).
You know that you are to continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of through the teachings and the example of Jesus, knowing from whom you have learned them,and since that time of your conversion to Christ you have come to know the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
You know that all the Scripture is inspired, and is literally breathed out by God, and is beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work. (see 2 Timothy 3:14-17).
You are to walk by the Spirit so your life will bear the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, self-control..Those who belong to Christ Jesus will have ‘crucified the flesh’ with its passions and desires. And, if we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit as well.Let’s not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another. (see Galatians 5:16-26).
So, do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters,
whatever is true,
whatever is honorable,
whatever is right,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is commendable,
if there is any excellence and
if anything worthy of praise,
think about these things.
As for the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.(see Philippians 4:6-10).
The time is now that each of us get back on course, and closely follow Jesus. Follow Him in all that He has said and continues to say; in all that He has done and continue to do; and all that He Is.
The Plot to Kill Jesus, Precious Ointment, Judas, Last Passover, The Lord’s Supper, The Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus’ Betrayal, Caiaphas, Peter’s Denials
If this were a play, now begins the drama. And therein lies a problem with how the following real life events have been retold. They have been told and retold with such a mind-numbing frequency, that many authors have turned their efforts into a competition, taking literary license. Even within the church community, poorly done plays and inaccurately retold ‘stories’ are desensitizing even the most ardent followers of Christ.
Instead, what you are about to read is a prophetic reality that has been lying in wait, dormant for thousands of years, and is now emerging, which will set in motion a cascade of events, increasing in intensity, such as the world has never seen before and will never see again. It is urgent that the reader use these following chapters to inform and prepare themselves for what is upon us.
The Plot to Kill Jesus
Matthew 26:1, When Jesus had finished all these words, He said to His disciples, Verse 2. “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man is to be handed over for crucifixion.”
(Commentary Break): This is the fourth time Jesus has informed his disciples of His impending death. Additionally, there are at least twenty-eight prophecies found iun the Old Testament concerning Jesus’ death, so most Jews, and particularly the Pharisees, the Sadducees and Jesus’ disciples should have been aware of the significance of what Jesus was telling them. But it was ‘business as usual’. Each group focused on their own needs or agenda. But make no mistake, the world was about to be impacted and changed irreversibly.
How about you? Has it been ‘business as usual for you’, or have you been paying close attention or have you been focused on your own needs and agenda? Because if you are reading this, you and every person on the earth are nearing the cataclysmic climax of these events. (End Commentary Break).
Verse 3. At that time the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together in the courtyard of the high priest named Caiaphas; verse 4, and they plotted together to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him. Verse 5. But they were saying, “Not during the festival, otherwisea riot might occur among the people.”
(Commentary Break): There is much conjecture about the kind of mindset and the kind of people who would collectively decide to murder a man who’s only guilt was to call out the corruption of the existing religious order; a man whose transgression was going about in all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people; all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and severe pain, demon-possessed, people with epilepsy, and people who were paralyzed. Jesus’ greatest transgression in the minds of His adversaries however, was that He claimed to be the Son of God! Please think about this. What kind of people in our world today would endorse the killing of a person or a group of people whose only real offense is that they claim to know the truth? Because they exists and they are among us and they may well be coming for you, too! (End Commentary Break).
The Precious Ointment
Verse 6. Now when Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the Leper, verse 7, a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very expensive perfume, and she poured it on His head as He was reclining at the table.Verse 8. But the disciples were indignant when they saw this, and said, “Why this waste? Verse 9. For this perfume could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” Verse 10. But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you bothering the woman? For she has done a good deed for Me. Verse 11. For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me. Verse 12. For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. Verse 13. Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.”
(Commentary Break): Jesus is telling His disciples, now for the fifth time, of His coming death. Yet they continue to be fixated on their personal needs and matters of the natural world.
Then, amazingly, Jesus announces the Gospel! This Good News has been prophesied in the Old Testament which the Jews know:
Psalms 96:2 – Sing to the LORD, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
Isaiah 40:9 – Go up on a high mountain, Zion, messenger of good news, Raise your voice forcefully, Jerusalem, messenger of good news; Raise it up, do not fear. Say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!”
Isaiah 52:7 – How delightful on the mountains Are the feet of one who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
Isaiah 60:6 – “A multitude of camels will cover you, The young camels of Midian and Ephah; All those from Sheba will come; They will bring gold and frankincense, And proclaim good news of the praises of the LORD.
Isaiah 61:1 – The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD anointed me To bring good news to the humble; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim release to captives And freedom to prisoners;
Nahum 1:15 – Behold, on the mountains, the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace! Celebrate your feasts, Judah, Pay your vows. For never again will the wicked one pass through you; He is eliminated completely.”
The majority of Jews of that day knew of these things, and had been praying, teaching and eagerly anticipating the coming of their Messiah, particularly the educated Jews, such as the scribes, the Pharisees and the Sadducees – the very ones accusing and scandalizing Jesus. Did they misunderstand? Did they refuse to see? Either way, Matthew 8:11-12 tells us this, “And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and dine at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven;but the sons of the kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Now the Light is on. No one will be able to hide from the Truth. It has begun. What will be your answer? (End Commentary Break).
Judas’ Scandalous Bargain
Verse 14. Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, verse 15, and said, “What are you willing to give me to betray Jesus to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver (valued at approximately seven hundred dollars in today’s U.S. currency). Verse 16. And from then on he looked for a good opportunity to betray Jesus.
Verse 17. Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” Verse 18. And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is near; I am keeping the Passover at your house with My disciples.”’” The disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.
The Last Passover
Verse 20. Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve. Verse 21. And as they were eating, He said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.” Verse 22. Being deeply grieved, they began saying to Him, each one: “Surely it is not I, Lord?” Verse 23. And He answered, “He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me. Verse 24. The Son of Man is going away just as it is written about Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” Verse 25. And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself.”
(Commentary Break): There are no coincidences in prophetic scriptures, and the fact that this is occurring on the First Day of Unleavened Bread, leading up to the day of Passover should not escape our attention. Jesus is the Passover Lamb. He is celebrating the completion of His Mission. Now we, in the twenty-first century call it ‘easter’. This too, is scandalous!
Imagine with me being at this meal, knowing what you know today. What would you have been thinking? What would you now do? (End Commentary Break).
The Lord’s Supper Instituted
Verse 26. Now while they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Verse 27. And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; verse 28, for this is My blood of the covenant, which is being poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. Verse 29. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it with you, new, in My Father’s kingdom.”
Verse 30. And after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
(Commentary Break): Jesus has spoken and revealed this deepest of mysteries. He says you are ‘to eat His Body and to drink His Blood’. That is, we are to consume His Words, absorb His voice as if they are the flesh of the Son of Man and drink in His presence, His nature, His being and His existence as if it is His blood, and you have life in yourselves. The one who consumes His Words (The Breath of God) as if they are eating His flesh and drinks in His presence as if it is His blood, has eternal life; and He will raise you up on the last day. For His flesh is true food, and His blood is true drink. The one who eats His ‘flesh’ and drinks His ‘blood’ dwells in and remains in Him, and He in you. Just as God the Father sent Jesus, and He lives because of the Father, if you consume Jesus and all that HE IS, you also will live because of Him. Jesus is that Bread that came down out of heaven – not the same bread as the Jewish fathers ate and died; eat This Bread, you will live forever. (See John 6:53-58).It has been said that we become what we eat and we are as we think. This is indeed the case now! (End Commentary Break).
Verse 31. Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I WILL STRIKE THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK WILL BE SCATTERED (also see Zechariah 13:7).’ Verse 32. But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” Verse 33. But Peter replied to Him, “Even if they all fall away because of You, I will never fall away!” Verse 34. Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Verse 35. Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” All the disciples said the same thing as well.
(Commentary Break): First, Jesus tells His disciples they will all ‘fall away’. This is NOT the same as the coming great apostasy, (apostasia), a falling away from the faith, as reference to in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. This falling away (skandalizó, from whence we get our word, “scandal”), although similar to the ‘apostasia’, is the act of someone stumbling or falling into sin, perhaps due to a scandal. Jesus’ accusers attempt to make a scandal of His life, His Words, His claims and His deeds. The Pharisees and Sadducees promote lies and claims of fraud and deceit against Jesus, even going as far to say that His is an emissary of the Devil. Being associated with this kind of scandal can often lead someone into error or causing them to be offended in a way that leads them away from faith or righteous living. The term often carries a moral or spiritual connotation, indicating a serious hindrance to one’s relationship with God.
How about you? Have you been intimated? Are you fearful, timid or reluctant to be associated with Jesus? Be reminded that the Apostle Paul says, “But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, partly by being made a public spectacle through insults and distress, and partly by becoming companions with those who were so treated. For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better and lasting possession. Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY. BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE WILL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM. But we are not among those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith for the safekeeping of the soul.” (see Hebrews 10:32-39).
Are you willing to proclaim, like Paul, that “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ because it is power of God for salvation to everyone who believes”? Proudly endure it “when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Jesus. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (see Matthew 5:11). (End Commentary Break).
The Garden of Gethsemane
Verse 36. Then Jesus came with them to a place calledGethsemane (meaning ‘oil press), and told His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” Verse 37. And He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with Him, and began to be grieved and distressed. Verse 38. Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved,to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.”
Verse 39. And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” Verse 40. And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and He said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? Verse 41. Keep watching and praying, so that you do not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Verse 42. He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass away unless I drink from it, Your will be done.” Verse 43. Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. Verse 44. And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. Verse 45. Then He came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Verse 46. Get up, let’s go; behold, the one who is betraying Me is near!”
(Commentary Break): Luke’s account of this event (Luke 22:44), tells us that Jesus’ sweat became like great drops of blood, and many mistakenly believe Jesus actually sweated blood. There are many commentaries that try to explain that such great stress as Jesus was facing would cause capillaries and blood vessels to burst. But this is clearly not the case. The description in the book of Luke is carefully phrased as an idiom: It clearly and carefully says that “His sweat became LIKE”. I have heard many Christians say that Jesus was fearful, that sweating drops of blood was a sign of great fear. Please purge any such thoughts from your mind. Fear is the antithesis and an anathema of faith. Jesus NEVER suffered fear. Jesus was grieved. The two Greek words used here for ‘grieved’, in verse 37 is ‘lupeó’, which means to be in pain, to grieve, to experience sorrow and distress; and in verse 38, ‘perilupos’, which means to be deeply distressed, exceedingly sorrowful, very sad, a sense of being overwhelmed by grief or sadness, often in response to a significant or impending event. The New Testament uses these words to express the deep emotional turmoil experienced by individuals in moments of great trial or anticipation of suffering. Jesus is both man and God. This grief and grieving is the human side of Jesus.
This is perhaps a good example for those of us who might face times of great trials. Experiencing sorrows, distresses, sadness may cause a sense of being overwhelmed by grief or sadness in response to a significant or impending event. These are normal human emotions. But fear it is not! Jesus knows that His Father is the author and finisher! Fear Not!
I feel that the rest these verses speak clearly enough that any additional commentary would be superfluous. (End Commentary Break).
Jesus’ Scandalous Betrayal and Arrest
Verse 47. And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people. Verse 48. Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign previously, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; arrest Him.” Verse 49. And immediately Judas went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. Verse 50. But Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested Him.
Verse 51. And behold, one of those who were with Jesus reached and drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. Verse 52. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword will perish by the sword. Verse 53. Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? Verse 54. How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?”
Verse 55. At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a man inciting a revolt? Every day I used to sit within the temple grounds teaching, and you did not arrest Me. Verse 56. But all this has taken place so that the Scriptures of the prophets will be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left Him and fled.
Jesus before the Scandals of Caiaphas
Verse 57. Those who had arrested Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.
Verse 58. But Peter was following Him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and he came inside and sat down with the officers to see the outcome.
Verse 59. Now the chief priests and the entire Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death. Verse 60. They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. But later on two came forward, verse 61, and said, “This man stated, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.’” Verse 62. The high priest stood up and said to Him, “Do You offer no answer for what these men are testifying against You?” Verse 63. But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, “I place You under oath by the living God, to tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.” Verse 64. Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Verse 65. Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? See, you have now heard the blasphemy; verse 66, what do you think?” They answered, “He deserves death!”
Verse 67. Then they spit in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him, verse 68, and said, “Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?”
Peter’s Scandalous Denials
Verse 69. Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a slave woman came to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” Verse 70. But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” Verse 71. When he had gone out to the gateway, another slave woman saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” Verse 72. And again he denied it, with an oath: “I do not know the man.” Verse 73. A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “You really are one of them as well, since even the way you talk gives you away, Verse 74. Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed. Verse 75. And Peter remembered the statement that Jesus had made: “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
Key Words in this chapter: #The Plot to Kill Jesus, #Precious Ointment, #Judas, #The Last Passover, #The Lord’s Supper, #The Garden of Gethsemane, #Jesus’ Betrayal, #Caiaphas, #Peter’s Denials.
There has never been a greater scandal nor a deeper tragedy than the events found in this and preceding chapters that have led us to this point, and matters will only intensify. But this is the cost of our redemption. It should never, in our minds, become rote, routine or dulled by repetition. I pray that even the mention of the events surrounding Jesus’ death, resurrection and His ascension would fill us with deep amazement, inexpressible gratitude and eternal joy!
(1). HOLY. The most important element of God’s nature is His holiness. Holy means “set apart,” and God is clearly separate from His creation based on His nature and attributes. Holiness is the foundation of all other aspects of God’s character. Revelation 15:4 says of God, “You alone are holy.” Revelation 4:8 describes the four living creatures who sing to God day and night, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” It is God’s holiness that makes Him the “consuming fire” that will judge all sin (Hebrews 12:29). Beautiful doxologies exalting God’s holiness are found throughout Scripture, including Psalm 99:9; Psalm 33:21; Psalm 77:13; Psalm 89:18; Psalm 105:3; and others.
(2). ETERNAL. It is also important to understand that God is an eternal spirit (John 4:24). He is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4) who has always existed as three distinct Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He does not have a physical body (although the Son became incarnate). A doctrine is false if it denies the Trinity, views God the Father as a man, or denies the humanity and deity of Christ (see 2 John 1:7).
(3). SOVEREIGN. God is also, by nature, sovereign. He is judged by no one and has absolute authority over the entire universe and everything in it. His sovereignty is expressed in many ways, including His omnipotence. All of His ways are right (Psalm 145:17), and whether mankind believes God’s ways to be “fair” is irrelevant. The Lord God is not constrained by time or place. He has a plan, He has had it from eternity past, and His purpose will be accomplished (Daniel 4:37; Psalm 115:3).
(4). IMMUTABLE. Another key aspect of God’s nature is His immutability. He does not change, being the same “yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). He states outright in Malachi 3:6, “I the LORD do not change.” Because of His unchanging nature, we can depend on His blessings: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17).
(5). OMNIPOTENT. The Almighty’s sovereignty speaks to His right to do whatever He wishes, and His omnipotence speaks to His ability to do so. He also knows everything, from eternity past to eternity future, everything we think, do, and say. He has personal knowledge of every person who has ever lived or will live, knowing them intimately in every way. It is encouraging to hear God’s words in Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.”
(6). RIGHTEOUS. We must not overlook God’s wrath, which flows from His holiness. He has a righteous anger against sin (Psalm 7:11), and, because of God’s impending judgment, mankind needs the gospel message of grace and salvation.
(7). LOVE. It is also God’s nature to love (1 John 4:16), and in His love for the world, He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem us (John 3:16). Nothing less than a perfect sacrifice would do. Love is more than an attribute of God; He is literally the essence of love. This is stated clearly in 1 John 4:8, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” God’s love is eternal. Because He is immutable, His love never changes. His love is perfect and holy.
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38–39).
(1). INFINITE. Self-existing, without origin. Jehovah or Yahweh is the most intensely sacred name to Jewish scribes and many will not even pronounce the name. When possible, they use another name.”
(2). IMMUTABLE. He never changes.
(3). SELF-SUFFICIENT. He has no needs.
(4). OMNIPOTENT. He is all powerful.
(5). OMNISCIENT. God is all knowing.
(6). OMNIPRESENT. He is everywhere, all the time.
(7). WISE. He is full of perfect, unchanging wisdom.
(8). FAITHFUL. God is infinitely unchanging and true.
(9). GOOD. God is good all the time.
(10). JUST. Infinitely right, fair and perfect.
(11). MERCIFUL. Infinitely compassionate and kind.
(12). GRACIOUS. Inclined to spare the guilty.
(13). LOVING. Always and forever, He loves us.
(14). HOLY. God is perfect.
(15). GLORIOUS.
Here are some Biblical descriptions that Biblestudytools.com and GotQuestions.org left out:
God is invisible. Romans 1:20.
God is with you in all that you do. Genesis 21:22.
God is not a man, that He would lie, Nor a son of man, that He would change His mind; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Numbers 23:19.
The LORD your God is the One fighting for you. Deuteronomy 3:22.
God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. Deuteronomy 4:24.
God is within you. Luke 17:21.
God is near. Luke 21:31.
God is True. John 3:33.
God is Spirit. John 4:24.
God is revealed. Romans 1:17
God is evident. Romans 1:19.
God is for us. Romans 8:31.
God is holy. 1 Corinthians 3:17.
But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:3.
God is faithful. 2 Corinthians 1:18.
God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12.
God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:29.
God is one. James 2:19.
God is light. 1 John 1:5.
DEEPER WATERS
God, Himself, put it most simply and succinctly when He said, “I AM THAT I AM.” (see Exodus 3:14).
But, What and Who is God, exactly? It is hard to answer that question because, as John 1:18 explains to us, “No one has seen God at any time; God the only Son, who is in the arms of the Father, He has explained Him.” (New American Standard Version).
It is clear that God is undefinable, and we can know Who He is, and that He is describable, but even this is from our weak and finite perspective.
So, I ask again, beyond knowing the attributes and nature of God, is it possible to know What God is? Can we know His Essence? (This is such a revered matter, a holy matter that to the Hebrew Jew, it is impermissible to even utter His Name, as it would be blasphemous to them).
I would like to put forward an idea. And it is just an idea. But it can be considered to be based on what we can and do know about God – but this may be a little ‘out there’, if you will:
Holy Scriptures, the Word and Breath of God tell us “without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him.”
So, in seeking God, it begins with faith. Furthermore, Scriptures tell us that it is faith that produces belief, and it is through our belief that we can know God exists. A good start, yes?
Furthermore, He tells us that He rewards those who seek Him. So, let’s seek Him.
GOD SAID
The idea that God has spoken or that God has a voice is mentioned scores of times throughout Scriptures.
Genesis 1:3 says, “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”
The Hebrew word for ‘said’ when associated with God, is ‘amar’, which translates “to utter, say”. This word is found 45 times in the King James Version of the Bible.
Deuteronomy 4:33 says, “Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live?”
DEEPER WATERS YET
The Hebrew word for voice when associated with God is ‘qol’, wich translates as “sound, or voice”. This is found two times in the Bible.
In the Abrahamic religions, the voice of God is a communication from God to human beings through sound with no known physical source. In rabbinic Judaism, such a voice was known as a “bat kol”, and was a “heavenly or divine voice which proclaims God’s will or judgment”. It differed from prophecy in that God had a close relationship with the prophet, while the “bat kol” could be heard by any individual or group regardless of their level of connection to God.
According to Pastor Chuck Swindoll, you can’t always tell from Scripture whether God’s voice is audible or “heard” by some other means. When Saul (later Paul) was on the road to Damascus, he heard the voice of the resurrected Jesus talking to him in a vision, and the sound could be heard by his entourage. It was audible. In Genesis 6, God spoke to Noah and gave him specific instructions. We might assume that the voice was audible, that is, he heard spoken words with his ears, but the Lord may have “spoken” to him mind to mind. We don’t know for sure. God’s voice to Daniel sounded like thunder, but centuries earlier to Elijah, He spoke with “a noiseless sound.” In Samuel’s case, God spoke in such a way that Samuel literally heard His voice. He spoke with the voice of a normal Hebrew man so that the boy thought it was Eli calling to him from the other room.
Regardless, when God spoke we do know people heard His voice. At times, God’s voice created an audible sound. And, explained is the very simplest form, it is known through physics, that a voice produces sound, and sound is carried along and measured as sound waves. Sound waves have frequencies of vibration; these frequencies are known as harmonics.
DEEPEST WATERS
When God spoke, audibly or not, He created the cosmos, the worlds, the earth and life! The very elements of the cosmos were created by the creative force of His Voice.
I posit that science is in the process of discovering God and all that God has created. (The great majority of them just do not want to recognize Him or His existence. They want the glory.
However, science recognizes, through disciplines of physics, that a voice produces sound, and that sound is carried along and measured as sound waves. Sound waves have frequencies of vibration; these frequencies are known as harmonics.
In fact, in the 6th century BC, Pythagoras developed the science of harmonics. Legend has it that he was inspired by the sounds emanating from a blacksmith’s shop; producing experimental music with hammers and anvils, Pythagoras realized that the relationship between different musical notes can be expressed in the form of simple mathematical ratios. Pythagoras saw in this a fundamental theory of the universe, and redefined the world, from the motion of celestial bodies to the emotional fluctuations in a human body, as iterations of a kind of cosmic music. More than a millennium later, Johannes Kepler interpreted this musica universalis as proof of Divine splendor, and devoted his career to a description of the geometric and harmonic order of our solar system.
Efforts to chart this celestial harmony can produce strikingly aesthetic images. Kepler’s sketches proved as much in his publications – as does this work by software developer Howard Arrington. Arrington used his own Ensign software to visualize the relationship between pairs of planets, producing a series of intriguing geometric mosaics. Better yet, he shares the program with which he created his images, so that you, too, can capture the music of the cosmos.
Let me be clear that harmonics do not explain or define God. God created all things and harmonics came into being.
God is always speaking. God speaks by the Holy Spirit, through the Bible, through prayer, circumstances and through the Church to reveal Himself, His purposes and His way. This is the nature of God’s voice.
God and His Voice are inseparable. He and His Voice are eternal, omniscient, immutable, and omnipresent. The heavens, (the universe, the cosmos), are speaking and are declaring His Glory.
The heavens were filled with, are filled and shall continue to be filled with the Voice of God. This is the harmonics and the music of the cosmos. This has been the will of God from the beginning.
All things have come into existence by the Will and the Breath and the Word of God. And, the Bible tells us repeatedly that as Christians we are to know this and do the will of God. This is the key to everything from hearing God’s voice, to following Him, resting in Him finding His protection over our lives, receiving His promises, living in His presence, living and walking in the Spirit of God, to answered prayer.
We must hear and obey His Voice (the harmonics of God) and find live in His Will, which is walking in agreement, as in a symphony, with God!
As James says in Acts 15:14-15, Simeon has described how God first concerned Himself about taking a people for His name from among the Gentiles. The words of the Prophets agree, (‘sumphóneó’ from the Greek, meaning to agree, to be in harmony, to be of one mind, i.e., I agree with, harmonize with, agree together), with this, just as it is written.”
Please click this link symphony, and review and study this commentary on this word ‘agree’, as in symphony, from Biblehub.com.
GETTING TO THE BOTTOM
We are living in the presence of an invisible God. We cannot see Him, and in fact, no has ever seen God. But God sent His Son, as His exact representation so we could know Him.
His presence reaches from before time into infinity. His power is indescribable and undefinable. The sun, moon, the stars in all the cosmos are diminished by His glorious radiance. Yet we are His. He cares for us. He keeps us. God is both within us, and He encompasses us. We are continuously bathed in and by His radiance.
Nonetheless, we can resist Him. We can rebel against Him. We can deny that He is and that He exists, even as we rest and glory in His presence, because He has permitted us the freedom and power of choice. We can choose to acknowledge and submit to Him and be made safe, or we can deny Him and lay claim to our complete annihilation. This is true because He is eternal, and without Him there is nothing. If you are without God, you will have nothing after this life except an eternity alone in a vast darkness, where there is wailing and gnashing of teeth.
With all of this in mind, the only real and true benefit from knowing these things about God is to apply what you now know. Choose. Choose to know Him. Choose to become His son or daughter. Choose to stand in His radiance and bathe yourself in His glory. Let His voice, the sound of His voice, the vibrations of His voice and the harmonics of His voice penetrate your mind, soul, spirit and body. Do this purposely. Do this often. Do this continually. Practice the presence of God in your daily life.
KNOW AND DO THE WILL OF GOD – PRACTICE HIS PRESENCE
The Breath and Words of God shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to observe and to do according to all that is spoken; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have insight and achieve success. Has He not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified nor dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. (See Joshua 1:8-9).
He has spoken and says you are to consume His Words, absorb His voice as if they are the flesh of the Son of Man and drink in His presence, His nature, His being and His existence as if it is His blood, and you have life in yourselves.
The one who consumes His Words and Breath as if they are eating His flesh and drinks in His presence as if it is His blood, has eternal life; and He will raise you up on the last day.
For His flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. The one who eats His ‘flesh’ and drinks His ‘blood’ dwells in and remains in Him, and He in you.
Just as God the Father sent Jesus, and He lives because of the Father, if you consume Jesus and all that HE IS, you also will live because of Him.
Jesus is the bread that came down out of heaven, but not the same bread as the Jewish fathers ate and died; if you eat This Bread, you will live forever. (See John 6:53-58).
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
PS: Psalm 1:2 – But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, And on His Law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 4:4 – Tremble, and do not sin; Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah
Psalm 27:4 – One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord And to meditate in His temple.
Psalm 63:6 – When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches,
Psalm 77:6– I will remember my song in the night; I will meditate with my heart, And my spirit ponders:
Psalm 77:12 – I will meditate on all Your work, And on Your deeds with thanksgiving.
Psalm 119:15 – I will meditate on Your precepts And regard Your ways.
Psalm 119:23 – Even though rulers sit and speak against me, Your servant meditates on Your statutes.
Psalm 119:27 – Make me understand the way of Your precepts, And I will meditate on Your wonders.
Psalm 119:48 – And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments, Which I love; And I will meditate on Your statutes.
Psalm 119:78 – May the arrogant be put to shame, because they lead me astray with a lie; But I shall meditate on Your precepts.
Psalm 119:148 – My eyes anticipate the night watches, So that I may meditate on Your word.
Psalm 143:5 – I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your accomplishments; I reflect on the work of Your hands.
Psalm 145:5 – On the glorious splendor of Your majesty And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.
This chapter begins with the word ‘then’, indicating that this chapter is a continuation of the previous chapter. Remember that chapter 24 is about Jesus’ glorious return, the parable of the fig tree and knowing the season of His return, and a caution to be ready for His coming’. Now Jesus continues in this vein, concluding with the starkest of warnings. Please dear friends, let’s not make the mistake of thinking this is just a ‘story’ or a gentle parable or a simple narrative of events. This is a dire warning.
(Please note: A typical or traditional Bible commentary is a series of notes about passages of Scriptures from the Bible, explaining the meaning of those passages of Scripture. A commentary may explain the language used in a section of text. Or it may discuss the historical background. Almost all commentaries attempt to explain the passage in terms of some system of theology. In other words, the commentary is an explanation of how the Bible fits together and what it means. Since a Bible commentary is written by human authors, it will reflect the beliefs and perspective of those writers.
This study is not that kind of commentary. This is meant to be a study of the Bible as a letter written specifically to you for your instruction through teaching, rebuke, correction, and training in righteousness so that you, as a man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work, and not just a study about the Bible.
The distinction here is that a study about the Bible will give you information, with which you may decide what it means and even what it may mean to you. It may even lead you to adopt certain principles for your life. But, it is still largely information collected but not fully utilized for the reason it was given to us. (You can find many good Bible Reference and Commentary sources online that tell all about the Bible).
On the other hand, a study OF the Bible means that you are intent on consuming the words, thoughts, ideas, teachings, actions and behaviors found in the Bible, as one would eat food and take drink for nourishment and as sustenance. Another way of saying, ‘You become what you eat’. And in this instance. A study of the Bible will lead you to discover and partake, (eat and drink), the instructional, creative, causative and prophetic nature of the words of the Bible.
Jesus says as much when He said, “I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the Bread that comes down out of heaven, so that anyone may eat from it and not die. I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats from this bread, he will live forever; and the bread which I will give for the life of the world also is My flesh.”
“Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, the one who eats Me, he also will live because of Me. This is the bread that came down out of heaven, not as the fathers ate and died; the one who eats this bread will live forever.” (See John 6:41-58).
Do this and the Word of God will speak the Truth to you and through you. By this, you are being transformed into the image and attitude of Jesus. You will never be the same.
That is also the intention and purpose of what I call “Commentary Breaks” in this study. They are intended to direct you into a study of the words of the Bible that lead you into a close, personal, interactive and conversational relationship with God. (Links are also provided for greater insights, details, credits, citations and verification of scripture passages.)
Parable of Ten Virgins
Matthew 25:1,“Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. Verse 2. Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. Verse 3. For when the foolish took their lamps, they did not take extra oil with them; verse 4, but the prudent ones took oil in flasks with their lamps. Verse 5. Now while the groom was delaying, they all became drowsy and began to sleep. Verse 6. But at midnight there finally was a shout: ‘Behold, the groom! Come out to meet him.’ Verse 7. Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. Verse 8. But the foolish virgins said to the prudent ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ Verse 9. However, the prudent ones answered, ‘No, there most certainly would not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ Verse 10. But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the groom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. Verse 11. Yet later, the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ Verse 12. But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ Verse 13. Be on the alert then, because you do not know the day nor the hour.
(Commentary Break): The wording, “The Kingdom of Heaven is comparable to”, tells us this is a parable, a simple story illustrating a moral or religious lesson. However, since this is also a purposeful teaching and a Prophetic Word from Jesus, it bears far more weight and force that a simple parable.
This teaching binds, (that is it permits and manifests), on the earth, (which is the natural realm in which we live), what has already been bound, (confirmed and initiated) in heaven, (which is the spiritual realm, the creative realm where all things originate).
Beside the point, that the number ten has significant symbolism as a number of perfection and completion, the spiritual significance of the ten virgins in this teaching, is meant to represent you and every other person who claims to be a disciple and follower of Jesus.
Ten is the number of perfection; such a number of persons was required to form a synagogue, and to be present at any office, ceremony, or formal benediction. Talmudic authorities affirm that the lamps used in bridal processions were usually ten. The “virgins” here are the friends of the bride, who are arranged to sally forth to meet the bridegroom as soon as his approach is signaled.
More significant is that all ten appear to be and are titled as virgins. The spiritual significance of being a virgin represents purity, fidelity, and being undefiled. The perfection and purity is only made possible by the cleansing effect of the sacrificial blood of Christ, which was poured out and over you.
This parable, about a wedding feast, represents the time of the return of Christ for His Bride, the Church. But the larger meaning and message is about the necessity for believers and followers of Jesus to be in a continual state of readiness anticipating His return.
All the virgins represented have oil lamps. The lamps represent the light of Christ fueled perhaps by the oil of the Holy Spirit of God. But surprisingly, the five foolish virgins would run out of oil for their lamps. The question to be asked is, “Can a Christian run out of the oil of the Holy Spirit’? It would seem so from this parable.
The foolish virgins, while absent, searching to purchase more oil, returned late and were excluded from the wedding feast, and were locked out. No true, blood-bought virgin of Christ, which is every man, woman, boy and girl, who have received Christ Jesus as their savior and have humbly submitted themselves to His Lordship, will be left out of the Great Wedding Feast (also see GotQuestions.Org).
Furthermore, the foolish virgins were not left out just because they were late. It was because they lived their lives unprepared for His return.
There are many in our churches today who consider themselves as ‘born again believers’, but are not actually doing what Jesus taught, demonstrated and commanded them. And on that day of the Great Marriage Supper, they will find the door shut and will hear the tragic words, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’
The five virgins who are prudent and were living in a state of readiness. They are compared and contrasted to five who are foolish and are unprepared. Once again, all are virgins. But now Jesus reveals an earthshaking and a prophetic truth emerges by way of a comparison:
Although you may consider yourself a ‘virgin among the ten’, if you are not ready when He returns, that is to be found doing what He has commanded, you will be left behind.
We know of the parables of the sheep and the goats which mingled together until God’s judgement, and of the wheat and the tares which grew in the same field (the Church) until God’s judgement. Now you also know that being and doing are not the same as believing. If you believe Him, you will obey Him and you will be ready when He returns.
Now to the focal point of this parable (and the next parable), which is about your readiness. All these comparisons are like a mirror for you to look at yourself and decide. Which are you? The wise and prudent or the foolish one? Be honest with yourself and choose wisely. The consequence is grave. (End Commentary Break).
Parable of the Talents
Verse 14. “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. Verse 15. To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. Verse 16. The one who had received the five talents immediately went and did business with them, and earned five more talents.Verse 17. In the same way the one who had received the two talents earned two more. Verse 18. But he who received the one talent went away and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.
Verse 19. “Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Verse 20. The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have earned five more talents.’ Verse 21. His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your master.’
Verse 22. “Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have earned two more talents.’ Verse 23. His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter the joy of your master.’
Verse 24. “Now the one who had received the one talent also came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed.Verse 25. And I was afraid, so I went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you still have what is yours.’
Verse 26. “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You worthless, lazy slave! Did you know that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter seed?Verse 27. Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. Verse 28. Therefore: take the talent away from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’
Verse 29. “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. Verse 30. And throw the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The Judgment
Verse 31. “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. Verse 32. And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, just as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; verse 33, and He will put the sheep on His right, but the goats on the left.
Verse 34. “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Verse 35. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; verse 36, naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Verse 37. Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? Verse 38. And when did we see You as a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? Verse 39. And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ Verse 40. And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me.’
Verse 41. “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you accursed people, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; verse 42, for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; verse 43, I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ Verse 44. Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or as a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ Verse 45. Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for Me, either.’ Verse 46. These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
What more could Jesus say to instruct and warn all who profess the Name of Christ? Many are called but few are chosen!
The litmus test is in the works. Are you doing the works He prepared ahead of time for you to walk in?
So ask yourself, Christian. And ask yourself, pastor. When was the last time you personally witnessed Jesus to someone? Fed a hungry person? Cared for a widow? Preached, saying, ‘Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’, healed the sick, raised the dead, cleansed those with leprosy, cast out demons? Do you freely give, or are you busy acquiring gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey?
The power, grace and mercy of God flows freely to and through the obedient, wise and prudent servant of God.
Key words to consider: #The right hand or the left hand of God, #Sheep and goats, #wheat and tares, #the wise and the foolish. #The wedding feast and #the closed door. #Outer darkness and gnashing of teeth. #Eternal punishment. #Enter the joy of your master. #Eternal life.
The Great Tribulation Begins, His Glorious Return, The Parable of the Fig Tree, Be Ready for His Coming
Matthew 24:29,. “But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Verse 30. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. Verse 31. And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET BLAST, and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
(Commentary Break): These are some of the most read yet most overlooked and misunderstood verses regarding the second advent of Christ. These verses are clearly written and easy to understand, yet amazingly, most theologians somehow ignore the plain language of Jesus second appearing, and consider Revelation 19:11-21, when Jesus appears in the heavens on a white horse, He judges and wages war as His second coming.
NOTE: The wording clearly states, in Matthew 24:30 that this is His second appearing and He will gather together His elect, and this is the perfect description of the anticipated rapture! “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet blast, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.”
NOTE: The wording in Revelation 19:11-21 clearly states that He is appearing to wage war, to strike down the nations, and to rule them with a rod of iron. “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many crowns; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Secondly, and just as important, is the literal nature of Verse 29, which must not be overlooked or ignored. “But immediately after the tribulation of those days”. When? And, which days? Immediately after the days of tribulation which Jesus has just described in the verses six through twelve, which Jesus calls the Birth Pains of the tribulation. He is saying immediately after the first five tribulation scroll seals, referring to wars and rumors of war; nations rising against nations; death from wars, famines, plagues, earthquakes; persecutions and martyrdoms.
Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet blast, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
Great worldwide earthquakes and upheavals of the earth’s surface, the blotting out of the sun, the moon turning blood red in color, accompanied by cataclysmic cosmic disturbances, including clusters of asteroids hitting the earth. This is the breaking of the Sixth Tribulation Seal and the beginning of the Seven years of Great Tribulation, also known as the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord and the Wrath of the Lamb.
It is important to know this, so you too can see all these things and recognize that He is near, right at the door. There is no time to wait. You must be ready, now! (End Commentary Break).
Parable of the Fig Tree
Verse 32. “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: as soon as its branch has become tender and sprouts its leaves, you know that summer is near; verse 33, so you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. Verse 34. Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Verse 35. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
(Commentary Break): Jesus uses a simile to compare the unmistakable changes of earth’s seasons to the changes of the eschatological seasons, and tells us that when we see these changes, we will know that Jesus is near, in fact He is at our very gates.
AN IMPORTANT CHRONOLOGICAL MARKER: Jesus emphasizes this point, telling us that this generation, the generation, which actaully translates as an era or an epoch that follows the unmistakable signs of his return, will not pass away until all the things to come, take place. This is the urgent message that with the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal, we will have entered the final seven years of the Great Tribulation, the great and terrible day of the Lord, also known as Daniel’s 70th week. (You can get even a better understanding of the meaning of these verses by reading Daniel chapter 12.) (End Commentary Break).
Verse 36. “But about that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. Verse 37. For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. Verse 38. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, verse 39, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Verse 40. At that time there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Verse 41. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.
(Commentary Break): I will say little more than this is Jesus’ description, by way of a simile, of describing the coming rapture of God’s elect I will say little more than this is Jesus’ description, by way of a simile, of describing the coming rapture of God’s elect. He will (from the Greek word, harpazó), ‘seize, catch up, snatch us away’, out of the way of harm and into His Eternal Presence. (End Commentary Break).
Be Ready for His Coming
Verse 42. “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. Verse 43. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. Verse 44. For this reason you must be ready as well; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.
(Commentary Break): All having been said, Jesus warns, “Therefore be on the alert”. He uses a metaphor comparing the stealth of a thief in the night to His return. It will be sudden and at an unexpected time. And, just like in the case of the thief, if you are not prepared, your most valued possessions, your family and your loved ones, will be plundered. (End Commentary Break).
Verse 45. “Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Verse 46. Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. Verse 47. Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. Verse 48. But if that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master is not coming for a long time,’ verse 49, and he begins to beat his fellow slaves, and he eats and drinks with those habitually drunk; verse 50, then the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect, and at an hour that he does not know, verse 51, and he will cut him in two and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
(Commentary Break): Warning! These verses, forty-five through fifty-one, could be explained in various ways, such as, who indeed, is the ‘faithful and sensible slave’? The clear and obvious answer is that he is one who put in charge of the master’s ‘household’. A metaphor, for sure, but a clear picture, first, of one entrusted with the House of God, His Church. (This could also be considered to be one entrusted with his own household, but more likely, one who has assumed greater responsibilities in the Household of God).
Please read and re-read verses forty-six through forty-nine. These verses are both instructional for the servant over the household and the servants within the household. The primary message is one of encouragement to the faithful servant who provides food, (spiritual, mental and emotional nourishment and maintenance) and a warning to the unfaithful and evil servant, a controlling tyrant, a manipulator, and even a drunk.
These are also instructions to the servants AND member within the household. The faithful servant is appointed by God, and you should listen to him. But you should flee the evil servant, even if it means giving up convenience and comfort or risk suffering the inevitable consequences. (I have seen this happen in far too many churches, as the pastor gets ‘drunk with his own importance, his own agenda, and his own luxury’. Be warned. The signs may be subtle at first, but do not become ensnared. It will become worse, and you could be trapped.)
The final verse should be ample warning for the pastor or church leaders who think they are ‘the anointed of God’ or that they are important in their own rights. When Jesus returns “He will cut this errant and evil servant in two and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth”. ( End Commentary Break).
All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, rebuke, for correction and for training in righteousness; so that you, the man or woman of God, may be fully capable and equipped for every good work.
These chapters and verses, in particular, are the pathways into His kingdom, both now and eternally. They are especially salient and relevant to your everyday life, ‘as a lamp unto your feet’, guiding your through the darkness of this world, and through the thickets of life. Follow Him and His Words to safety and success.
Typically, in our church buildings and organizations today, we are being taught or “fed” an entertainment based gospel intermixed with just enough religion and “Bible idealism” to make us think that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am not saying the information presented in the sermons you may hear is incorrect. I am saying that it is just that – It is information. Most of these sermons are recitals, stories and narratives of what is written in the Bible. It is left to you to decide what to do with that information, how to apply or use that information in your daily life and why applying what you have heard is important.
Compounding the problem of making these decisions, as I see it, is the fact that methods used by churches to communicate this Bible recitals, stories and narratives is by way of,
Religious Lectures
Religious Addresses
Religious Discourses
Gospel Preaching
Bible Sermons
Religious Teaching
Christian Discipleship training
Studies show that most people don’t remember sermons, lectures, addresses or speeches. They don’t even remember paragraphs. What people remember are simple statements, slogans, and phrases. I don’t remember any speech John F. Kennedy gave, but most of us of a certain age remember his statements,
“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country” and, “I am a Berliner!”
I don’t remember any sermon preached by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but I do remember his famous phrase,
“I have a dream!”
People tend to remember:
10% of what they read.
20% of what they only hear.
30% of what they only see.
50% of what they see and hear.
70% of what they say and write down.
90% of what they DO
People will more frequently remember simple repeated statements, slogans, and phrases.
This is the difference between having the truthful statement and knowing the truth.
But most churches are giving sermons that are little more than narratives about the Bible. That is not to say, they are informative and educational, and some are even inspirational – at times. Sometimes these narratives even conclude with a moral motto or an exercise on ethics. Other times the hearer is left to make their own conclusions.
But this is like an alphabet soup. All the letters are in there, but they are all mixed up – just floating around in a broth, so you can nibble on the ones you find to your liking.
Conversely, God has a Message, and His Message gives us His Purpose, His Plan and His Methods and directions for life. It is for us and all of His creation. You can live but you cannot live successfully without it.
One man simply puts it this way:
“Listen. Do you hear God calling you? If you can hear Him, you should listen. And He can change your life in amazing and radical ways, if you really do wish to change. If you wish to become a different person altogether in the sight of God and man; if you really do want health and peace of mind, and spiritual growth that leads to maturity, then Jesus, clearly shows you how it is to be done. The task is not an easy one, but we know that it can be accomplished, because there are those who have done it, but there is a price which must be paid; and the price is the actual carrying out of these principles in every corner of your heart, mind, soul, life, and in every daily transaction, whether you feel like it or not, whether you want to or not, and more particularly where you would much rather not.
If you are prepared to pay that price in order to really and truly break with the ‘old man or woman’, and to allow God to start the creation of the new one, then the true Gospel of Jesus Christ and following Him will indeed be your Sermon on the Mount of Redemption, Salvation, and Liberation.”
Jesus’ Gospel Message and plan shows that there is a purpose to His creation. It shows that there was and is a beginning that had and still has a purpose. His Message and Plan has an end with a purpose, and He has prepared an eternity with a purpose, waiting for those who respond. And whether you believe it or not, does not change one iota of His Message, His Purpose, His Plan and His Method. But whether you believe it or not, does make all the difference for you.
Here is a brief outline of His Message, His Purpose, His Plan and His Methods, for you, from its beginning to the end:
Humankind was created with a flaw; a sin nature. (Genesis 2:17).
Humankind sinned and thereby failed, and condemned themselves to toil in the soil by the sweat of our brow, and ultimately to eternal destruction. (Genesis 3:19).
The great global deluge, also known has Noah’s flood, was a harbinger of things to come and an example of God’s judgements. He says there is a judgement coming, however, such as the world has never seen and will never see again.
God provided a remedy for our sin-flaw and for our ultimate destruction; a Savior to redeem us and to save us from our sin, failure and destruction. (John 3:16).
There are those who say they don’t believe this and that they don’t need to be saved. Their ultimate end is set. They will live and they will die and that is the end. And they are right, for themselves, if they believe that. They will indeed perish.
God, through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, our redeemer and Savior, made a way for us to live now and eternally with Him. He gives us an internal roadmap for life and for our eternity. And, by this one offering, this sacrifice, God is bringing us into the sinless perfection that is required to be in His presence. And by this one sacrifice, He is perfecting all those who are being sanctified – that is being made right and holy with Him. (Hebrews 10:14).
He is coming, at the sounding of the trumpet, on the clouds where every eye will see Him, and He will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other, and we will be with Him forever. (Matthew 24:29-31).
He will gather His armies and defeat His enemies and cast them into the lake of fire. (Revelation 19:11-29).
In the End, He will have created a new heaven and a new earth. Perfect in every respect. We will live with Him, in His perfect presence, and with one another (those who have been called and chosen), in the new Jerusalem, our perfect home in heaven, forever. (Revelation 21, 22).
Everything that occurs in everyone’s lifetime is part of this process. Some will respond and begin this process of being made into His perfect image.
However, be aware that much of what happens in your lifetime will be nothing more than a distraction, and unless you keep your mind focused on Christ and His Calling, His Message, His Purpose, His Plan and His Methods, you can be distracted and in danger of straying.
Let me break it down this way:
THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE JESUS SAYS
Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
But the Good News is,
John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes Him should not perish but have eternal life.
And Jesus instructs us in,
John 14:6, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Romans 10:9, “Because, (it is only) if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
John 3:3, “Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Matthew 7:21-27, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.”
WHAT DOES JESUS SAY WE ARE TO DO?
1 Peter 2:21, “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”
Matthew 16:24, “Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
John 8:12, “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
1 Corinthians 11:1-2,“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.”
Luke 9:23, “And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
3. WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH ME AND TO ME?
Matthew 10:22,“And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”
John 12:26,“If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also.If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”
Matthew 4:19, “And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
1 Peter 1:14-16, “As obedient children,do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
John 15:16-17, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.”
Matthew 4:19-25, “And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.”
4. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO ME?
John 15:14,“You are my friends if you do what I command you.”
Matthew 10:38, “And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”
James 2:20-24,“Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”, and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. “
John 15:5-8,“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”
Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, andI will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Romans 8:16-17,“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”
John 14:2-3, “In My Father’s house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself,so that where I am, there you also will be.
Revelation 22:12-14,“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.”
WHAT ARE THE ODDS?
You know, it’s odd that people say they believe this or that they believe that, but have no substantial basis for what they believe. It just sounds good to them. One saying goes, “it is your own truth”. Okay. But that is truly a fools-folly.
Finally, please, reason with me.
If you were a gambling man or woman, and you were given the odds of 1 to 100, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000, (or 1 to 10 to the 157th power), in favor of something coming to pass, would you bet against it?
These are the odds against – yes, AGAINST – Jesus Christ having fulfilled just 48 of the over 450 prophecies written about Him. But, facts show that
In order to give you some perspective, electrons are very small objects. They’re smaller than atoms. It would take 2.5 TIMES 10 to the 15th power of them, laid side by side, to make one inch. Even if we counted 250 of these electrons each minute, and counted day and night, it would still take 19 million years just to count a line of electrons one-inch long. 19 MILLION YEARS!
Read that again, please. Why is that significant?
It is significant because it gives us evidence that the Bible is true and correct when it says that Christ Jesus came to earth and is the Savior of the world.
It gives YOU evidence, if you choose to pay attention, that your life can be eternal with the only LIFE source which gives eternal Peace, Safety, Security, Joy and fulfillment the universe has ever known or ever will know.
Just think about it: It is a scientific and a mathematical impossibility that HAS COME TO PASS! No odds can defy the REALITY of Jesus Christ.
5. FROM THE ALPHA TO THE OMEGA
So, that is the alpha to the omega. From the beginning to the end. Now, it is up to you. I would urge you to use the one gift God has graciously given to each of His created – the power of choice. A free will. You only get this one chance at life. Make your choices wisely.
Is there such a thing as a perfect Church? Some will say there is no such thing as a perfect Church because a church is made up of people, and there are no perfect people – or so they say!
There are so many examples of where men and women, striving to be Christians, have misunderstood or reinterpreted the Words of Jesus and the Words of the Bible to fit their own understanding and for their own purposes. and it is pervasive. And the matter of “Biblical Perfection” is one of those times. How would things be different if we, Christians, interpreted the Word of God according to how God says and sees things? Allow me to explain and illustrate.
FIRST, THE MATTER OF
Please allow me to start with an encounter I had recently, at church, on the matter of “perfection”:
I was walking into our church building and as I passed one of our pastors, I greeted him and he asked in return, “how are you doing?”. I replied, “perfect”, to which he did an about face, stopped and looked directly at me, frowned and said, “Not hardly. Not in this life”. He said, “we are not perfect and we should not say that. We will not be perfected until we are in heaven”, as if what I said annoyed him. Now, the fact is that I did not say that I am perfect. I responded to the question, “how are things”.
I decided to explain, so I smiled and said, “Well, my past is forgiven. I am living safe in the presence of God today, and my future is secured by His grace and mercy. So, I say, “that is about as perfect as it gets. And besides, I did not say that I am perfect. I answered your question, “how are things”. But while we are on the matter, God does say that you and I are to be perfect – that words translates as becoming “mature in Him”. And, although it may not look that way to you, that’s what is going on inside of me, God willing. And, how are you, today?” To which, he forced a weak smile and went on his way. Maybe he’s just having a bad day? Hmmmmm. But it happens.
We did not have time to get into a theological discussion on “practical and positional sanctification” or that God only sees us through the redeeming and cleansing blood of Christ, etc. But who cares what you think you know, if no one knows whether you care about them? I was just trying to give a positive-minded greeting.
Wow. Welcome to church!
But back to the matter of “perfection”. God, through His Word, commands, (yes, commands), that we, as Christians shall be perfect even as He is perfect. This is both a practical command and a prophetic utterance. See these examples from Scriptures:
Matthew 5:43-48, “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors, do they not do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Even the Gentiles, do they not do the same? Therefore you shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.(from the Greek word, ‘teleios’, having reached its end, complete, perfect, full grown, of full age, specially of the completeness of Christian character). (ESV).
James 1:2-4,Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect, and complete, lacking in nothing. (from the Greek word, ‘teleios’, having reached its end, complete, perfect, full grown, of full age, specially of the completeness of Christian character). (NASB)
Matthew 19:21, Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” (from the Greek word, ‘teleios’, having reached its end, complete, perfect, full grown, of full age, specially of the completeness of Christian character). (ESV).
2 Timothy 3:16, All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man (or woman) of God may be perfect, (from the Greek word, ‘ar’-tee-os’: perfect, complete, fitted, ready. Thoroughly furnished unto all good works). (KJV).
Hebrews 10:14, For by one offeringHe HAS PEFECTEDfor all time those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying, “THIS IS THE COVENANT WHICH I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, DECLARES THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEARTS, AND WRITE THEM ON THEIR MIND,” He then says,
“AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL NO LONGER REMEMBER.” Now where there is forgiveness of these things, an offering for sin is no longer required. (From the Greek word, ‘tel-i-o’-o’, meaning to bring to an end, to complete, perfect, as a course, a race, or the like: I complete, finish, as of time or prediction: I accomplish, (c) I make perfect; pass: I am perfected – PAST TENSE). (ESV).
So, yes, you and I,
Shall be perfect, as our heavenly Father is perfect.
Encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect, and complete, lacking in nothing.
Go and sell our possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Jesus If you want to be perfect.
The man (or woman) of God may be perfect, (This is not optional, by the way.)
NOW, ON THE MATTER OF…
“CHURCH” or “church”,
depending on how you see it.
Jesus and the Apostles through the Bible, define and describe what the Church is and is to be. Beginning with Saint Augustine, the Catholics and now the rest of us in this postmodern world, have done an excellent job of redefining the word and meaning of Church, the mission of the church and the methods of the church, to the point that there is little left that is recognizable.
In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul referred to the church as the body of Christ. Please think about that: The Church as the BODY of Christ. He used this metaphor to relay significant truths about the church and to help believers better understand the value of diversity within the church.
Paul wrote this to the church of Corinth: “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many” (1 Corinthians 12:12-14).
The church is called the body of Christ because Christ is the head of the church and we are called to do the work of Christ, each like members of a body. We have different skills, purposes, and spiritual gifts, yet every believer is equally important to the full functioning, mission, and efficacy of the church.
Church: ekklesia (from Strong’s concordance #1537, ek, “out from and to” and #2564/kaléō, “to call”) – people called out from the world and to God, the outcome being the Church, the mystical body of Christ – i.e. the universal (total) body of believers whom God calls out from the world and into His eternal kingdom.
Next, Jesus described the mission and the method of the Church, first to His disciples, Matthew 10:7, As you GO, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is deserving of his support. And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city. As you enter the house, give it your greeting. If the house is worthy, see that your blessing of peace comes upon it. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace. And whoever does not receive you nor listen to your words, as you leave that house or city, shake the dust off your feet. Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment, than for that city. This is the way that Jesus taught and modeled!
Matthew 28:18-19, Then Jesus said to His eleven Apostles and to the Church, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. GO, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” This is the way that Jesus taught and modeled!
Now in the 21st century we, the church, no longer GO. We invite. We invite ‘them’ to come. We say, “Come to church”, and the marquis say, “Come Join Us”, “Come Grow With Us”. But Jesus said, “GO and make disciples”.
Why have we modified and reversed Jesus’ teachings and ways? Was for our convenience?
And, when and where did we get off track? I’ll tell you when and where. The problem began almost as soon as the Church started and was accelerated by the Roman Emperor, Constantine the First, in A.D. 327, when he legitimized and synchronized Christianity into the existing culture. He gained fame and recognition from the developing Catholic church and the march toward apostasy had begun.
But, let’s go back to the beginning, to Jesus’ resurrection. Christ became a “life-giving spirit” (1 Corinthians 15:45). Therefore, He could take up residence in the believers, thus making them His Temple, His house. Ever since Christ had risen, we Christians became the temple of God. And, It is for this reason that the New Testament always reserves the word church (i.e., ‘ekklesia’), for the people of God. It never uses this word to refer to a building of any sort.” (Excerpts in blue lettering are from Frank Viola & George Barna’s book, “Pagan Christianity”, Tyndale Publishing, 2002, 2008)
When Christianity was born, it was the only religion on the planet that had no sacred objects, no sacred persons, and no sacred spaces.
Although surrounded by Jewish synagogues and pagan temples, the early Christians were the only religious people on earth who did not erect sacred buildings for their worship. The Christian faith was born in homes, out in courtyards, and along roadsides. For the first three centuries, the Christians did not have any special buildings!
As one scholar put it, “The Christianity that conquered the Roman Empire was essentially a home-centered movement.”
Meeting in homes was a conscious choice of the early Christians. It was a coming together in a more intimate setting, a ones’ home. Very little could be hidden in such an environment.
THE DRIFT BEGINS – 391 A.D.
The Church was barely out of its infancy when the religious spirit of innovation appeared, in the late second and third centuries, and a shift occurred.
Christians not only adopted sacred spaces; they also had created sacred objects. (They would soon develop a sacred priesthood.) It might seem they had forgotten Moses and the golden calf.
In all of this, the second and third century Christians began to assimilate the magical mind-set that characterized existent pagan thinking.
These factors made the Christian terrain ready for the man who would be responsible for creating church buildings.
In AD 327,Constantinebegan erecting the first church buildings throughout the Roman Empire, some at public expense.’ In so doing, he followed the path of the pagans in constructing temples to honor God.Augustine of Hippo, a theologian and a philosopher, (later, sainted by the Catholic church), began his work of making the Christian Movement ‘legitimate’ by government and Catholic standards.
Interestingly, he named his church buildings after saints — just as the pagans named their temples after gods. Constantine built his first church buildings upon the cemeteries where the Christians held meals for the dead saints.
(I ask, WHAT WOULD YOU CALL AN ACT LIKE THAT?)
Constantine brought peace for all Christians.'” Under his reign, the Christian faith had become legitimate. In fact, it had risen to a status greater than Judaism and paganism.
For these reasons, the Christians saw Constantine’s rise to emperor as an act of God. Here was God’s instrument who had come to their rescue.
Christianity and Roman culture were now melded together.”
(Again I ask, WHAT WOULD YOU CALL THAT?)
The Christian building demonstrates that the church, whether she wanted it or not, had entered into a close alliance with pagan culture.’ As Will Durant, author of The Story of Civilization (a sweeping, eleven-volume work on world history that earned him a Pulitzer Prize), put it, “Pagan isles remained in the spreading Christian sea.”
As one historian put it, “Church buildings took the place of temples; church endowments replaced temple lands and funds.”
Under Constantine, tax-exempt status was granted for all church property.
Consequently, the story of the church building is the sad saga of Christianity borrowing from heathen culture and radically transforming the face of our faith.
To put it bluntly, the church buildings of the Constantinian and post-Constantinian era essentially became holy shrines. The Christians embraced the concept of the physical temple. They imbibed the pagan idea that there exists a special place where God dwells in a special way. And that place is made “with hands.”‘
(Once again, I ask, WHAT WOULD YOU CALL AN ACT LIKE THAT?)
“As with other pagan customs that were absorbed into the Christian faith (such as the liturgy, the sermon, clerical vestments, and hierarchical leadership structure), third- and fourth-century Christians incorrectly attributed the origin of the church building to the Old Testament. But this was misguided thinking.”
“Most Americans are struggling to clarify their identity. They tend to see themselves as unique individuals, Americans, members of their family, occupational professionals, consumers, and then as followers of Christ — in that order of priority.
“In the minds and hearts of most Americans — even those whose beliefs classify them as “born-again Christians”— their identity as a follower of Christ pales in importance in comparison to the other roles they embrace.
(WHAT WOULD YOU CALL THAT MINDSET?)
Oddly, most of the born again Christians consider themselves to be servants of God and to have been transformed by their faith in Christ.
Clearly, however, there are some missing connections in this self-evaluation. Perhaps the confusion is due to the enormous number of inter-actions and responsibilities that people take on each day.
Maybe it has to do with the disjointed, topical teaching that most of us receive from our churches. It may even be attributable to the lure of competing perspectives and images bombarding us from the ever-present media.
THE DRIFT
AD 1 The Church of Jesus Christ, The Body of Christ, had no buildings, little money and no wealth. The Church was a Movement.
Jesus said to make disciples; collect no money except to make your journey.
The penalty for becoming a Christian was often death.
The Church grew exponentially.
AD 49 The Church expanded into Greece. The Church became a philosophy to many. The Church grew and size and influence.
AD 313 The Church expanded into Rome and it gained recognition. It grew in power and popularity. It obtained wealth, buildings, property and influence. It became an institution.
AD 380 The Church expanded into Europe. It was becoming a worldwide phenomenon. It grew in wealth, stature, power and influence. It had become a culture.
AD 1607 The Church reaches America.
AD 1681 The Church became corporate. It had become a business and incorporated. It became regulated by the government.
The Corporate Church grew. It needed money to support growth and expansion, which meant the Corporate Church needed more people.
AD 1777 The state of Virginia granted tax exemption to houses of worship.
AD 1894 The corporate church was granted tax exemptions by the Federal Government.
AD 1954 The Federal Government regulated what a church could and could not say in order to retain tax-exempt status.
The church continued to grow, and in order to attract more people the Corporate Church lowered its membership and doctrinal standards. More people became ‘members’ and gave more money to support more growth.
The Church corporation is complete with leaders, boards and membership and a business model.
Local churches compete against one another for members (customers). The church is selling itself in “three line slogans”.
The Church members now have choices and have become religious consumers. Church people can shop around for the religious brand and standards that best suits them. (2 Timothy 3)
The Leadership (pastors and preachers) have become CEOs, disciples have become church leaders, growing their 501(c)(3) business models.
Record numbers of pastors quitting because of stress, burnout or are being fired by their congregations (some stats say 1500 – 1700 leave “the ministry” each month).
Church debt in America soars; church foreclosures soar.
AD 1968 The church ordains homosexuals as clergy.
AD 1972 The United church of Christ ordains homosexual clergy
AD 2010 The Lutheran church ordains homosexual clergy
The Episcopal Church in the United States and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) have also allowed ordination of openly gay and lesbian candidates for ministry for some years.
AD 2024 The church is losing and has lost influence. The church in 2020 is losing members.
AD 2024 Much of the church is teaching and living a different Gospel than that of the Apostles.
There is a misguided belief that if you can just ‘lure’ people into church, they can hear the Gospel Message and some will get saved. What has happened, instead, is that the remain pagan in their core beliefs, adopt the name of Jesus for convenience, take over as leaders within the church, and the church becomes apostate! You can see this pattern repeating itself in hundreds and thousands of churches, worldwide.
Now, many, if not most churches, practice a brand of church as a formality, but in reality, they simply tickle the ears of the adherents, while draining their resources. Then they travel around to make one convert, and when someone becomes one, they make them twice as much a son or daughter of hell as themselves! (see Matthew 23:15).
So, you may ask, what’s the big deal? In order to answer that, we must first look at how has this drift has affected societies and governments and how is it being reflected in our government and society:
(#1). There is an increase in hostilities between nations. A war is being waged and is raging, with Marxist and Socialist forces, aligned against democracies in particular, those which have been and are influenced by Judeo-Christian principles. Therefore, there are increasing numbers of wars and rumors of wars between these.
(#2). Nations are realigning and are rising against nations.
(#3.) There is an increasing rejection of traditional Christianity, in society, by the government and in our churches.
(#3.a). Simultaneously, there is an increase in paganistic beliefs and practices in society, in governments and in our churches.
(#4). Around the world, there is a rising persecution and murder of Christians.
(#5). There is a global Christian apostasy taking place; a falling away from the faith.
(#6). There is an exponential increase in lawlessness and anarchy. Societies are fracturing. There is a loss of trust. People’s regard for one another has grown cold.
(#7). There is an increase in the numbers of false Christian teachers and false Gospels, using Jesus’ name, being taught.
How are we to respond in the face of an aggressive and spreading evil?
FIRST, let’s circle back around ‘to the beginning’. For those who have surrendered their life to God, by His grace and through faith in Christ, it is important to remember that, just like in the beginning with Jesus, our struggle is not against flesh and blood. This can be a very difficult thing to do, since our adversaries are clothed as people. But, as Christians, our struggle and our war is against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places which inhabit and are influencing people.
Make no mistake, our adversaries are evil people, but, Matthew 5:39, says, “But I say to you, do not show opposition against an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other toward him also.”
Our struggle is against the schemes of the Devil, and James 4:7 says, we are to instead, to submit ourselves to God, and resist the devil, and he will flee from us.”
Our struggle is a different war and a different warfare than the one we see. Our war is for the lives and souls of people and for the Kingdom of God.
We, as Christian disciples of Jesus, are to (#1), GO and makes disciples, (#2), baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, (#3), teaching them to follow all that He has commanded us!
This is our mission until the day comes, when He will appear in the heavens, and every eye will see Him, and He will gather us, His elect, you and me, from the four corners of the earth, and take us to our eternal destination (see Matthew 24:29-31). Then, He will pour out His judgment and wrath. (see Revelation 8).
Then, He will reappear on a white horse with the armies of heaven to defeat His and our enemies. (see Revelation 19:11-16).
SECONDLY, just like with the establishment of the early Church, day by day, we are to continue with one mind within the Church, and breaking bread from house to house, taking our meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord will add to our number day by day, that is those who are to be saved.
Then, on one particular day and hour, which no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone,the Son of Man will come. It will be just like the days of Noah.For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
At that time there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.
Therefore, we are to be on the alert. We are to be faithful to be doing the things He has told us to do and to be. Those who are not faithful and diligent will find themselves in great distress, for when that time comes, some who thought they would be invited to go with Him, will also be left behind.
Please, dear friends, don’t buy into the simple salvation and cheap grace message. The litmus test is that you are ready and found to be doing the bidding of our Master and Lord, either if and when you should die before His coming and if you are alive at His coming. (see Matthew 24:42 – Matthew 25:29).
It is both as simple as that and difficult as that.
Let’s not be the church just as a noun. A noun is just a description of a person, a place or a thing.
Let’s be the Church of the verb; the part of speech that expresses action! The Church alive, organic, on the move, reaching and reaching out.
A large group of people – who are loving and who show unselfish concern for other; people who are joyful and show an inner peace; people who are patient, and show not only the ability to wait, they wait with kindness, people who are good, faithful, and gentle, showing great self-control. AND, WHAT WOULD YOU CALL THAT? THAT IS THE CHURCH! THIS DESCRIBES WHAT YOU AND I MUST BE.
People who profess faith in Jesus show a loving attitude and behavior that allows them to endure with patience and serenity; a people showing a love that is kind and thoughtful, that is not jealous or envious; a people showing a kind of love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. People who are not rude; not self-seeking, not provoked nor are overly sensitive and not easily angered; People with a loving attitude that does not take into account a wrong endured. They do not rejoice at injustice, but rejoice with the truth when right and truth prevail. AND WHAT WOULD YOU CALL THAT? THAT IS THE CHURCH! THIS DESCRIBES WHAT YOU AND I MUST BE.
People who profess faith in Jesus with a love toward others that bears all things regardless of what comes upon them, believes all things, that is looking for the best in each person, hopes all things, remaining steadfast during difficult times, and endures all things without weakening. People with a love never fails, never fades and never ends. What would you think? What would you do? AND, YES, WHAT WOULD YOU CALL THAT? THAT IS THE CHURCH! THIS DESCRIBES WHAT YOU AND I MUST BE.
I am willing. Are you willing? Let’s do this together, One Body, One Mind, Unified in Christ Jesus.
These troop formations were called a Phalanx. The Phalanx was the formation, usually in triangular form, in which The hoplite phalanx of the Archaic and Classical periods in Greece (c. 800–350 BC) was the formation in which the hoplites would line up in ranks in close order.
This is why the Bible says “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.
Marriage has mutual strength through commitment and cooperation with one another under God’s Steady Hand.
