New Testament- Lesson 91
Matthew Chapter 12 - Part 4
Deliverance for a demon possessed man, false accusations and Jesus' teachings on spiritual warfare-Read (Matthew 12:22-29)(Mark 3:23-27)(Luke 11:17-22)
A blind and mute demon possessed man was brought to Jesus who healed the man so that he both saw and spoke and the crowds were amazed and asked, "Could this be the Son of David?" (They knew the Messiah was to come from the lineage of David) (Legally [Through Joseph] and physically [through Mary], Jesus was of the lineage of David). When the Pharisees heard it, they were jealous and said, "This fellow casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons."
But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Jesus plainly told them that they were the ones who used satanic power and not him; his power over demons came from Almighty God. (Finger of God was an expression used by the magicians of Egypt to describe the plague of lice brought upon the Egyptians by God (Moses and Aaron) which they failed to reproduce by their magic and here Jesus uses the same term.)
Jesus expains the working of Satan's kingdom here saying that he couldn't be using satanic power to drive out one of satan's evil ones (as he did in the case of the blind and mute man), because then satan's kingdom wouldn't stand. Satan's kingdom could stand only if there is unity between it's members.
Finally, Jesus asserted that unless one is more powerful than the enemy, one cannot gain victory over him. "When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils." - The demon which had taken possession of the man, making him blind and mute was driven out by a power greater than it, which was in Jesus.
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New Testament- Lesson 92
Matthew Chapter 12- Part 5
For Jesus Or against Him; Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (insulting or disrespecting)- Read (Matthew 12:30-32)(Luke 11:23) (Mark 3:28-30)
There is no third group according to Jesus- either one is with him or one is against him i.e. on satan's side. Those who are with him are involved in gathering souls for the kingdom and those who are not with him or against him are involved in scattering souls. A prime example of this was the Pharisees and scribes who were dealing contemptuously with him and working to thwart his setting up the kingdom of God. In the present day scenario, the statement of Jesus (He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad) stays true. If one is with Jesus, he/she will be in the work of gathering souls. One can't stay neutral in this regard.
Mark writes of the scribes accusing Jesus of having an unclean/evil spirit. Addressing this issue, Jesus spoke of the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. He said, "....every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him." Calling the Holy Spirit in him an evil spirit amounted to "blasphemy against the Spirit" according to Jesus which has no forgiveness from God.
The Holy Spirit no longer deals with a person who has truly blasphemed him. If a person is still convicted in his/her spirit and soul of sins or unrighteousness, that is a sign that the Holy Spirit is still dealing with him/her and the person has not committed blasphemy against him.
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New Testament- Lesson 93
Matthew Chapter 12- Part 6
Make a tree good or bad- (Read Matthew 12:33-37)
Jesus said, "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.", which meant that everyone who heard his teachings had a choice and in our generation as we read or hear the Word of God, we have a choice- to change our inner self; for without that change coming forth, the fruit generated from our lives would be bad. No doubt, it's difficult for one to change oneself without the help of the Holy spirit, but he is always willing to be the Counselor if one permits. When the inner self has been transformed, then the resulting fruit will be good.
Jesus was caustic in his comments regarding the Pharisees and scribes, calling them a brood of vipers who could not say anything good, because their hearts were filled with evil. He said,
"A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him." He warned them who opposed him by telling them that they would have to give an account on the day of judgment for every empty word they had spoken. Their words would acquit them or condemn them depending on the fruit their mouths had produced.
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New Testament- Lesson 94
Matthew Chapter 12- Part 7
The sign of Jonah- Read (Matthew 12:38-40)(Luke 11:29, 30)
Some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus and asked him to show them a sign. Jesus had done many miracles among the Jews and many of the Pharisees and teachers of the law were eye witnesses to the miracles, yet they wanted him to show them a sign for their pleasure or asking. Jesus did only what the Father told him and he would not do a miracle to satisfy their desire. So he answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a whale, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." Jesus, here, was speaking about his impending death, burial and resurrection, as a sign for the seekers, which they did not probably understand.
"For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a whale, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth"- This is a statement that causes confusion because Jesus was not in the grave or tomb for three days and three nights; he was crucified and laid in the tomb on Friday before sunset and he was resurrected on Sunday morning. That would not be "three days and three nights"or 72 hours. For such an event, the crucifixion and death would have to be placed at Thursday but then all the verses in the Gospels concerning the Preparation day (day before sabbath) and Sabbath would go haywire. A likely explanation is that since the Jews consider part of a day as one day, it would be three days-part of Friday, Saturday (the sabbath) and part of Sunday.
It's only Matthew who writes about "the three days and three nights in the heart of the earth".
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New Testament- Lesson 95
Matthew Chapter 12- part 8
Jonah & Nineveh, Queen of Sheba & Solomon, Jesus and God's own people- (Read Matthew 12:41-45)
Nineveh was a wicked gentile nation that had no knowledge of or affinity for God Almighty, yet when Jonah (prophet of God) preached to them, they repented of their wickedness. Here was Jesus, the son of God, greater than Jonah, in the midst of his own people but they would not listen or accept what he had to say for their salvation. The Queen of the south (Queen of Sheba), undertook the challenge of travelling far and through difficult terrain to come and listen to Solomon's wisdom, but here was God's own people rejecting the wisdom of God, Jesus Christ, one greater than Solomon, though he was in their midst.
Jesus compared the Jews of his generation (Israel as a nation) to a person who had been delivered of an impure spirit and it was so for they had almost forsaken idolatry and now free. The driven out spirit, not finding rest because it had lost the one it possessed, decides to return to the person/house (Israel as a nation), but finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order, so it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person/house (Israel as a nation) was worse than at the first. God's own people had become a wicked, adulterous and rebellious generation, which would be condemned by the men of Nineveh and the Queen of the South at judgment time.
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New Testament- Lesson 96
Matthew Chapter 12- part 9
While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. Then one said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You." But He answered and said to the one who told Him, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother." (Matthew 12:46-50)
Also read (Mark 3:31-35)& (Luke 8:19-21)
Matthew, Mark & Luke mention the same account of Jesus acknowledging those who do the will of the Father in Heaven to be his mother and his brothers. Jesus was not insulting his own who came to speak with him, but he imparted the fact that he considered those who were doing the will of the Father in Heaven to be his own.
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New Testament- Lesson 97
Matthew Chapter 13- Part 1
The Parable of the Sower- Read (Matthew 13:1-23)(Mark 4:1-20) (Luke 8:4-15)
Parable comes from the Greek word "parabole"which means "a placing beside" and is a comparison or illustration.
Matthew Chapter 13 is a chapter of 7 parables through which Jesus taught his followers, matters pertaining to the kingdom of heaven. The parable of the Sower is placed first here by Matthew.
Jesus said, "The sower went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some fell by the road, and it was trampled under foot, and the birds of the sky devoured it. Other seed fell on the rock, and as soon as it grew, it withered away, because it had no moisture. Other fell amid the thorns, and the thorns grew with it, and choked it. Other fell into the good ground, and grew, and brought forth a crop, thirty, sixty and one hundred times of what was sown."
His disciples asked him, "What does this parable mean?" Jesus explained....The seed is the word of God. Those by the road are those who hear, then the devil comes, and takes away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are they who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; but these have no root, who believe for a while, and fall away in time of temptation. That which fell among the thorns, these are those who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. That in the good ground, these are such as with a honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold to it firmly, and bring forth abundant fruit with patience."
The Sower is Jesus working himself (then) and later (now) through his disciples. 4 groups of people are seen here- The unsaved listener who does not understand and believe, the emotional convert (not truly born again), the carnal believer and the fruit bearing true believer.
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New Testament- Lesson 98
Matthew Chapter 13- Part 2
Jesus told another parable... "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, "Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?' He said to them, "An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, "Do you want us then to go and gather them up?' But he said, "No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn." Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field." He answered: "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43)
Except the parable of the sower, the other six parables in this chapter start with the phrase- The kingdom of heaven is like...
Tares, weeds or darnel closely resembles wheat while it is young but can be distinguished later. Sons of the wicked one are the ones who are not truly born again but are found among the sons of the kingdom, having a form of godliness but denying it's power. Jesus ends his explanation of the parable by endowing a blessing on the righteous. Verse 25 says, "while men slept".....most probably them who are to be watchmen for the one who sowed the seed (Son of Man)...not being vigilant enough in prayer to thwart the sowing of tares by the enemy.
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New Testament- Lesson 99
Matthew Chapter 13- Part 3
Parable of the mustard seed- Read (Matthew 13:31–32), (Mark 4:30–32), and (Luke 13:18–19)
Jesus told his followers another parable- The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches. (Matthew 13:31, 32)
There are several varieties of mustard plants. Brassica nigra is a mustard tree that grows to about 10 feet; possibly Jesus was speaking of this tree as the end result of the sowing of a mustard seed. Mustard seed must have been the smallest of seeds in the geographical location that Jesus was in at that time for there are other seeds that are smaller.
The fact here being the growth of the kingdom of heaven. Though the beginnings were small, the kingdom of heaven has expanded mightily. Starting with the work of Jesus and later the first disciples, the power of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit has propelled the gospel from Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria to the ends of the earth. Though not all places have been covered as yet, it will be, in God's time.
The birds of the air nesting in the trees branches can signify both believers and unbelievers finding rest, peace and satisfaction from utilizing the resources of the kingdom. Some Bible interpreters however say that the birds can signify the presence of evil pervading the growing healthy tree (the kingdom/church).
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New Testament- Lesson 100
Matthew Chapter 13- Part 4
Parable of the Leaven- Read Matthew 13:33, Luke 13:20, 21
Jesus told another parable- "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened."
Yeast is very small; after put in the meal/dough it is not usually seen; it works from within quietly and finally it has a great impact influencing the whole dough.
The kingdom of God which started with Jesus and his 12 disciples (small beginnings in Galilee) reaching out in to the world with the good news of salvation, has impacted hundreds of nations in small or great measures (yeast though small working through the dough). By grace a person is saved by the working of the Holy Spirit (again like the working of the dough from within and the work is quiet) and those saved then work within their communities and many more are brought in to the kingdom. The kingdom of heaven, then, is inside the born again believer as well as is being built outwardly by the gathering of born again believers all over the world as the Church or bride of Christ.
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Monday, June 1, 2015
New Testament Lessons 81-90
New Testament- Lesson 81
Matthew Chapter 10- Part 5
God values his children much more than he values sparrows- (Matthew 10:29-31)(Luke 12:6, 7)-
Jesus spoke to his disciples regarding God the Father knowing even when a sparrow fell to the ground (dies) and told his disciples that they were of much more value than sparrows. Matthew writes of 2 sparrows sold for a farthing and Luke writes of 5 sparrows sold for 2 farthings (a Roman coin equal to a tenth of a denarius or drachma, nearly equal to a halfpenny)(equal to two lepta; the lepton/mite was the very smallest copper coin). Luke writes of God the Father not forgetting sparrows which have very little value in the eyes of men. Jesus assured his disciples that every detail of their life was known by God, even how many hairs they had on their heads. Once they were consecrated to God and his work, God would be overseeing their lives upto the minutest detail and they were not to fear.
New Testament- Lesson 82
New Testament- Lesson 83
Chapter 10- Part 7
A sword from the Prince of Peace (Matthew 10:34-39)- No doubt that Jesus is the "Prince of Peace", but because some persons in a family being believers and others not, there are clashes and confrontations between members of that family; thus the term "I came not to send peace, but a sword.." is used by Jesus here. But Jesus also clearly says that believers are not to value earthly relations more than they value their relationship with him, their Savior. If they do, then they are not worthy of him. Above all, is the call to take up one's cross (Luke writes picking up cross daily) and follow Jesus, which if one is unable to do, then he/she is not worthy of him. Picking up own cross means consecrating oneself to Christ, self denial and being obedient. A saying of Jesus found in all 4 gospels is...He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it....Valuing worldy personal gains and successes more than one's relationship with Jesus, the Savior makes one a loser and valuing one's relationship with Jesus more than worldy gains makes one a winner.
New Testament- Lesson 84
Matthew Chapter 10- Part 8
Rewards for honoring God's servants/disciples (Matthew 10:40-42)(Mark 9:41)- Matthew ends Chapter 10 by writing about rewards that Jesus promises to them who receive and honor God's servants ot disciples. Jesus said, " He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."
Anyone who receives or honors a disciple or a servant of God, is in fact, receiving or honoring Jesus and the Father. A prophet is rewarded for his labor with more souls added to the kingdom of God and anyone who supports a prophet by receiving or blessing him or his work will be part of the fruit the prophet reaps for the kingdom of God. The Bible is replete with blessings that a righteous man is entitled to and when a righteous man is received or honored, one becomes entitled to the blessings God reserves for that. Jesus emphasized that the smallest acts of kindness like even giving a cup of water to one of Christ's servants would not go unnoticed but would be rewarded in a righteous manner by the Father in Heaven.
These promises stand true to this day and will remain so till the day of Christ.
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New Testament- Lesson 85
Matthew Chapter 11- Part 1
Portions to be read- (Matthew 11:2-15) (Luke 7:18-35)
John, the Baptist, who himself had borne witness to Jesus being the Messiah, now had doubts regarding Jesus' messiahship, because he was in prison and he was not set free even though Jesus knew about it. So he sent two of his disciples to Jesus to ask him whether he truly was the One who was to come or should they look for another. Jesus told them to go tell John all the miracles that they were seeing and hearing and also about the gospel being preached. Jesus also told them that "blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me" which meant that John should not lose his faith because of the circumstance that he was in.
Jesus spoke highly of John, saying that he was a true prophet and a forerunner of him, the Messiah. Of the Old covenant, Jesus said that John was the greatest to be born, but he also added that the least of the believers (in him) of the New covenant was greater than John. Jesus also remarked, "from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force" which meant that John was fearless and determined to fulfill the ministry that he had been entrusted with and so also anyone who is determined will be able to take heaven by force of spiritual power. Jesus affirmed that John the Baptist was the Elijah that was prophesied to come before him.
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New Testament- Lesson 86
Matthew Chapter 11- Part 2
Jesus compares the generation of his time to children being indecisive while playing games; Jesus denounces the cities where he did most of his miracles-(Read Matthew 11:16-24, Luke 7:31-35, Luke 10:13-15)
Jesus compared the generation of his time to children sitting in the market place and being indecisive on what game to play; whether to play a game of a marriage by using instruments and dancing or play a game of a funeral by singing a dirge (song expressing grief). Their indecisiveness was compared to the people of his time because they neither would accept the teachings of John the Baptist nor accept what he was teaching. They accused John of having a devil though John was pious and lived a frugal life and they accused him (Jesus) to be glutton and winebibber and a friend of tax collectors and sinners.
Jesus also denounced the cities (Chorazin, Bethsaida & Capernaum) in which most of his miracles had been performed, because the people there, did not repent of their sins. He said that if the same miracles had been done in Tyre, Sidon or Sodom, the wicked there would have repented. Since the people of Chorazin, Bethsaida & Capernaum had not repented, greater judgement was coming on them than that was to come on Tyre, Sidon & Sodom.
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New Testament- Lesson 87
Matthew Chapter 11- Part 3
God is sovereign, yet he cares for the lost- Portion to be read (Matthew 11:25-30)(Luke 10:21-24)
There were many who considered themselves wise and prudent in Jesus' time, yet God the Father, hid the matters of the kingdom of heaven from them because they were proud and revealed it to them who were poor in the spirit. According to Jesus, "The full revelation of the Father is only known to Jesus and the full revelation of Jesus is only known to the Father." The Son came to reveal the Father to those whom he chooses. Luke adds Jesus saying that many prophets and kings desired to see and hear the things the disciples saw and heard but could not, because God chose to hide it from them and reveal it to the lowly.
The compassion of Jesus is revealed in his call to those who are weary and burdened by sins and unrighteousness- "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I 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."
An eternal rest is what Jesus promises to those who would come to him, trust in him and live for him. He wants them to take his yoke and to learn from his life. He does not want to place a Pharisical yoke upon anyone, that binds them with legalism. He promises freedom and rest for souls who would trust in him. In this matter, many Christians still live in bondage of a fear that God will punish them if they do not legalistically follow his commands. Jesus says that he is gentle and lowly in heart; his yoke is easy and his burden is light; he wants his followers to love him and live for him and the Holy Spirit has been given to lead in the paths of righteousness, those who trust in him.
New Testament- Lesson 88
Matthew Chapter 12- Part 1
On a Sabbath, Jesus and his disciples were passing through a grainfield and the disciples plucked heads of grain, rubbed it in their hands and ate. When the Pharisees saw it, they brought accusations to Jesus against the disciples saying, "Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath". Jesus reminded them of an event (1 Samuel 21:1-6) when David had escaped from King Saul and had come to Nob to the high priest and asked for bread to eat. Since there was no other bread, the priest had given him the show bread which had been taken away to be replaced by fresh show bread. The show bread kept in the Holy Place was only to be eaten by the priests, but was given to David and his friends. Jesus also reminded them that the priests also profaned the sabbath and are blameless, because they are not supposed to prepare any food on that day but for placing fresh show bread in the Holy Place they have to and also they kill and burn sacrificed animals on the Sabbath. God is a righteous God and allows works of necessity and mercy. Jesus affirmed this by reminding them that he desired mercy than religious legalism (Hosea 6:6) and also told them that if they were of a merciful outlook they would not condemn the guiltless. Mark adds Jesus saying, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath." Sabbath was a rest decreed by God for the Israelites and they were not to value the Sabbath more than God's foremost creation "Man" and his needs. Jesus ended this dialogue with the Pharisees by telling them "For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath" signifying his authority over the created day.
(“Showbread” was called “bread of the presence” because it was to be always in the Lord’s presence. The priests baked the bread with fine flour and it remained on the table before the Lord for a week; every Sabbath day the priests would remove it and eat it in the Holy Place, then put fresh bread on the table. Only priests could eat the bread, and it could only be eaten in the Holy Place, because it was holy.)
New Testament- Lesson 89
Matthew Chapter 12- Part 2
Healing of a withered hand amidst accusers- Read (Matthew 12:9-15)(Mark 3:1-6)(Luke 6:6-11)
While teaching in a synagogue, Jesus was being watched by the Pharisees whether he would heal on the Sabbath. Seeing a man with a withered hand, some asked him "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"He said to them, "What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lift it out? Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." Then He said to the man with the withered hand, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. Then the Pharisees were angry with him and went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him. Jesus withdrew from there, carrying on his God given ministry and healing the sick among the great crowds that followed him.
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Matthew Chapter 10- Part 5
God values his children much more than he values sparrows- (Matthew 10:29-31)(Luke 12:6, 7)-
Jesus spoke to his disciples regarding God the Father knowing even when a sparrow fell to the ground (dies) and told his disciples that they were of much more value than sparrows. Matthew writes of 2 sparrows sold for a farthing and Luke writes of 5 sparrows sold for 2 farthings (a Roman coin equal to a tenth of a denarius or drachma, nearly equal to a halfpenny)(equal to two lepta; the lepton/mite was the very smallest copper coin). Luke writes of God the Father not forgetting sparrows which have very little value in the eyes of men. Jesus assured his disciples that every detail of their life was known by God, even how many hairs they had on their heads. Once they were consecrated to God and his work, God would be overseeing their lives upto the minutest detail and they were not to fear.
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Matthew Chapter 10- Part 6
Confession, Denial & It's Rewards (Matthew 10:32, 33)(Luke 12:8, 9)-
2 confessions are important to every person who desires to be a part of the kingdom of God. One is confession of sins and unrighteousness, which a person does when accepting the offer of salvation by God through Jesus Christ (daily confession & cleansing important too... all through life). That's when the Holy Spirit comes and resides in a person and he/she becomes a child of God when born again by water (Word of God) and by the spirit (Holy Spirit). The other confession that Matthew and Luke write here, as spoken by Jesus to his disciples is equally important....Confessing Jesus publicly. He says "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father (Luke writes angels of God) which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." Sadly, this is an area where many beliveres fail. Believers are often ashamed of telling the public at large that they are disciples of Jesus Christ. Fear, cowardice and shame are the prime reasons. A public confession/denial is what Jesus is speaking of here and he says that for them who confess, he will confess in heaven (in the presence of the Father and the angels) that they are his disciples and for those who deny, he says that he will deny that they are his disciples. There's room for repentance though as we see in the case of Peter who denied his Master and Savior Jesus Christ, but later on, went on to become a pillar of the early Church.
2 confessions are important to every person who desires to be a part of the kingdom of God. One is confession of sins and unrighteousness, which a person does when accepting the offer of salvation by God through Jesus Christ (daily confession & cleansing important too... all through life). That's when the Holy Spirit comes and resides in a person and he/she becomes a child of God when born again by water (Word of God) and by the spirit (Holy Spirit). The other confession that Matthew and Luke write here, as spoken by Jesus to his disciples is equally important....Confessing Jesus publicly. He says "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father (Luke writes angels of God) which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." Sadly, this is an area where many beliveres fail. Believers are often ashamed of telling the public at large that they are disciples of Jesus Christ. Fear, cowardice and shame are the prime reasons. A public confession/denial is what Jesus is speaking of here and he says that for them who confess, he will confess in heaven (in the presence of the Father and the angels) that they are his disciples and for those who deny, he says that he will deny that they are his disciples. There's room for repentance though as we see in the case of Peter who denied his Master and Savior Jesus Christ, but later on, went on to become a pillar of the early Church.
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Chapter 10- Part 7
A sword from the Prince of Peace (Matthew 10:34-39)- No doubt that Jesus is the "Prince of Peace", but because some persons in a family being believers and others not, there are clashes and confrontations between members of that family; thus the term "I came not to send peace, but a sword.." is used by Jesus here. But Jesus also clearly says that believers are not to value earthly relations more than they value their relationship with him, their Savior. If they do, then they are not worthy of him. Above all, is the call to take up one's cross (Luke writes picking up cross daily) and follow Jesus, which if one is unable to do, then he/she is not worthy of him. Picking up own cross means consecrating oneself to Christ, self denial and being obedient. A saying of Jesus found in all 4 gospels is...He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it....Valuing worldy personal gains and successes more than one's relationship with Jesus, the Savior makes one a loser and valuing one's relationship with Jesus more than worldy gains makes one a winner.
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Matthew Chapter 10- Part 8
Rewards for honoring God's servants/disciples (Matthew 10:40-42)(Mark 9:41)- Matthew ends Chapter 10 by writing about rewards that Jesus promises to them who receive and honor God's servants ot disciples. Jesus said, " He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."
Anyone who receives or honors a disciple or a servant of God, is in fact, receiving or honoring Jesus and the Father. A prophet is rewarded for his labor with more souls added to the kingdom of God and anyone who supports a prophet by receiving or blessing him or his work will be part of the fruit the prophet reaps for the kingdom of God. The Bible is replete with blessings that a righteous man is entitled to and when a righteous man is received or honored, one becomes entitled to the blessings God reserves for that. Jesus emphasized that the smallest acts of kindness like even giving a cup of water to one of Christ's servants would not go unnoticed but would be rewarded in a righteous manner by the Father in Heaven.
These promises stand true to this day and will remain so till the day of Christ.
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New Testament- Lesson 85
Matthew Chapter 11- Part 1
Portions to be read- (Matthew 11:2-15) (Luke 7:18-35)
John, the Baptist, who himself had borne witness to Jesus being the Messiah, now had doubts regarding Jesus' messiahship, because he was in prison and he was not set free even though Jesus knew about it. So he sent two of his disciples to Jesus to ask him whether he truly was the One who was to come or should they look for another. Jesus told them to go tell John all the miracles that they were seeing and hearing and also about the gospel being preached. Jesus also told them that "blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me" which meant that John should not lose his faith because of the circumstance that he was in.
Jesus spoke highly of John, saying that he was a true prophet and a forerunner of him, the Messiah. Of the Old covenant, Jesus said that John was the greatest to be born, but he also added that the least of the believers (in him) of the New covenant was greater than John. Jesus also remarked, "from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force" which meant that John was fearless and determined to fulfill the ministry that he had been entrusted with and so also anyone who is determined will be able to take heaven by force of spiritual power. Jesus affirmed that John the Baptist was the Elijah that was prophesied to come before him.
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New Testament- Lesson 86
Matthew Chapter 11- Part 2
Jesus compares the generation of his time to children being indecisive while playing games; Jesus denounces the cities where he did most of his miracles-(Read Matthew 11:16-24, Luke 7:31-35, Luke 10:13-15)
Jesus compared the generation of his time to children sitting in the market place and being indecisive on what game to play; whether to play a game of a marriage by using instruments and dancing or play a game of a funeral by singing a dirge (song expressing grief). Their indecisiveness was compared to the people of his time because they neither would accept the teachings of John the Baptist nor accept what he was teaching. They accused John of having a devil though John was pious and lived a frugal life and they accused him (Jesus) to be glutton and winebibber and a friend of tax collectors and sinners.
Jesus also denounced the cities (Chorazin, Bethsaida & Capernaum) in which most of his miracles had been performed, because the people there, did not repent of their sins. He said that if the same miracles had been done in Tyre, Sidon or Sodom, the wicked there would have repented. Since the people of Chorazin, Bethsaida & Capernaum had not repented, greater judgement was coming on them than that was to come on Tyre, Sidon & Sodom.
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New Testament- Lesson 87
Matthew Chapter 11- Part 3
God is sovereign, yet he cares for the lost- Portion to be read (Matthew 11:25-30)(Luke 10:21-24)
There were many who considered themselves wise and prudent in Jesus' time, yet God the Father, hid the matters of the kingdom of heaven from them because they were proud and revealed it to them who were poor in the spirit. According to Jesus, "The full revelation of the Father is only known to Jesus and the full revelation of Jesus is only known to the Father." The Son came to reveal the Father to those whom he chooses. Luke adds Jesus saying that many prophets and kings desired to see and hear the things the disciples saw and heard but could not, because God chose to hide it from them and reveal it to the lowly.
The compassion of Jesus is revealed in his call to those who are weary and burdened by sins and unrighteousness- "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I 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."
An eternal rest is what Jesus promises to those who would come to him, trust in him and live for him. He wants them to take his yoke and to learn from his life. He does not want to place a Pharisical yoke upon anyone, that binds them with legalism. He promises freedom and rest for souls who would trust in him. In this matter, many Christians still live in bondage of a fear that God will punish them if they do not legalistically follow his commands. Jesus says that he is gentle and lowly in heart; his yoke is easy and his burden is light; he wants his followers to love him and live for him and the Holy Spirit has been given to lead in the paths of righteousness, those who trust in him.
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New Testament- Lesson 88
Matthew Chapter 12- Part 1
On a Sabbath, Jesus and his disciples were passing through a grainfield and the disciples plucked heads of grain, rubbed it in their hands and ate. When the Pharisees saw it, they brought accusations to Jesus against the disciples saying, "Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath". Jesus reminded them of an event (1 Samuel 21:1-6) when David had escaped from King Saul and had come to Nob to the high priest and asked for bread to eat. Since there was no other bread, the priest had given him the show bread which had been taken away to be replaced by fresh show bread. The show bread kept in the Holy Place was only to be eaten by the priests, but was given to David and his friends. Jesus also reminded them that the priests also profaned the sabbath and are blameless, because they are not supposed to prepare any food on that day but for placing fresh show bread in the Holy Place they have to and also they kill and burn sacrificed animals on the Sabbath. God is a righteous God and allows works of necessity and mercy. Jesus affirmed this by reminding them that he desired mercy than religious legalism (Hosea 6:6) and also told them that if they were of a merciful outlook they would not condemn the guiltless. Mark adds Jesus saying, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath." Sabbath was a rest decreed by God for the Israelites and they were not to value the Sabbath more than God's foremost creation "Man" and his needs. Jesus ended this dialogue with the Pharisees by telling them "For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath" signifying his authority over the created day.
(“Showbread” was called “bread of the presence” because it was to be always in the Lord’s presence. The priests baked the bread with fine flour and it remained on the table before the Lord for a week; every Sabbath day the priests would remove it and eat it in the Holy Place, then put fresh bread on the table. Only priests could eat the bread, and it could only be eaten in the Holy Place, because it was holy.)
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Matthew Chapter 12- Part 2
Healing of a withered hand amidst accusers- Read (Matthew 12:9-15)(Mark 3:1-6)(Luke 6:6-11)
While teaching in a synagogue, Jesus was being watched by the Pharisees whether he would heal on the Sabbath. Seeing a man with a withered hand, some asked him "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"He said to them, "What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lift it out? Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." Then He said to the man with the withered hand, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. Then the Pharisees were angry with him and went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him. Jesus withdrew from there, carrying on his God given ministry and healing the sick among the great crowds that followed him.
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New Testament- Lesson 90
Matthew Chapter 12- Part 3
Matthew reiterates Isaiah's prophesy regarding Jesus (Matthew 12:18-21)(Isaiah 42:1-4)-
Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased! I will put my Spirit upon Him, and he will declare justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel nor cry out, nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench, till He sends forth justice to victory; and in His name Gentiles will trust.
Jesus was God the Father's chosen one; the Father delighted in his son. The Holy Spirit was upon him and he was to declare justice to the Gentiles. The compassion and humbleness of Jesus was prophesied by Isaiah 700-800 years before Jesus ministered.
....in His name Gentiles will trust- John, the Apostle writes, "He came to his own, and his own did not receive him. But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in his name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:11-13)
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