Matthew Blog

July 03/08 Matt. 12:38

Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

The Pharisees wanted a sign. Where had they been? Hadn't Jesus done enough miracles? Their request for a sign wasn't because they needed to be convinced that Jesus was Who He said He was. It was just another trick to waste His time and try to confuse people. They had already decided what they were going to believe.

In modern times the challenge is often, "Prove God exists." Many times, like the Pharisees, these people have already made up their minds what they are going to believe. No amount of evidence will convince them otherwise. It becomes a waste of time and resources to try.

July 02/08 Matt. 12:37

For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Because words flow from the heart and actions flow from words, words are very important. They will be the foundation of our judgment for better or worse. No one ever did anything - good or bad - without words, at least in thought form. We are so careless with words and yet with words God created and sustains all that is. We, too, create with words. Our lives, our characters, our families, our worlds are built or destroyed with words. Take words seriously.

June 30/08 Matt. 12:36

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

This is a scary thought. How often do we speak evil, hurtful words? If we are going to have explain to God every idle word, how much more every evil word?

This is a good motivation to watch our words carefully and speak only after thinking! Don't just burst out with what first comes into your mind. Think. Say what you mean, and mean what you say.

What is an idle word anyway? An idle word is an unproductive word. No word for God ever returns to Him void or unproductive, it always accomplishes what God wants it to. Even so, we should not be talking just for the sake of talking. Neither should we waste time instructing people who do not want to learn. Our words should be productive words.

June 28/08 Matt. 12:34-35

O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

What is in our heart will eventually come out of our mouth and be displayed in our actions. The Pharisees had a beautiful religious outside, but when opposed by Jesus they revealed a heart of hatred, murder, blasphemy, and all sorts of wickedness. We cannot ultimately hide who we are. It will come out eventually. If you would be a good judge of character, learn to listen - not only to what is said but to what is left unsaid.

This is one reason not to rush into marriage [or business partnerships]. Take time to study the potential spouse. How do they react under various situations and with different people. If he or she treats you well but does not always treat others well [especially parents] you know that what is in the heart will eventually come out against you. Don't make the mistake of thinking a person will change because of you. They make cover up who they are for awhile, but only God can change a heart.

June 27/08 Matt. 12:33

Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

Jesus did not like hypocrisy. Especially He opposed evil men who pretended to be righteous. That is why the Pharisees felt His wrath on more than one occasion. They were evil men with a religious exterior. I suspect this sin will met with a harsher judgment that some others that we might think to be worse.

A tree is known by its fruit. A man is known by his reputation. For an evil man to have a good reputation is deception. It is a deception that can lead innocent people to destruction and so needs to be exposed.

June 26/08 Matt. 12:31-32

Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

What is this famous unpardonable sin? Some live in fear that they have committed the unpardonable sin and so are locked into a dark destiny. This life is the time of probation. No one is beyond hope until death.

The Holy Spirit is the One Who convicts of sin and leads people Christ. If He is rejected, then there is no hope. The unpardonable sin is rejection of the Holy Spirit Who alone can recreate our hearts so that we can accept Christ as Lord and Saviour.

Jesus was making this point especially against the Pharisees who had just implied that the Holy Spirit was an unclean spirit. With that attitude of blasphemy they were not in a position to accept the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Without that work of the Holy Spirit they were forever doomed.

Roman Catholics use the last part of verse 32 to try and prove their doctrine of purgatory. They claim that it implies that some sins can be forgiven after death. That is not what Jesus was saying. He was underscoring the fact that salvation is impossible at all times and in all place without the work of the Holy Spirit.

June 25/08 Matt. 12:30

He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

There is no neutrality in this world. If we think we are neutral and objective, we are self-deceived. We all view the facts through certain presuppositions or assumptions. We all are either working for Christ or working against Him. There is no middle-of-the-road. This is a war where all of us are fighting one side or the other. Some may do it in ignorance, but they are on someone's side regardless.

Neutrality is one of the biggest lies of the devil. No government is neutral in respect of Christ. They are either enforcing His laws or destroying them. No school is neutral. They are teaching someone's religion. In fact, the public schools are the largest churches in North America. They actively promote and indoctrinate in the religion of humanism and are violently opposed to real Christianity. Any Christian parent who send their children to public school is training them in the religion of humanism. A few children may make it out with their faith intact but most will fall victim to a war they did not understand. They are today's human sacrifices. Sacrificed to the devil on the altar of humanism because their parents believed a lie, or because their parents had wrong priorities.

June 24/08 Matt. 12:29

Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.

The strong man represents satan. He was the ruler of the world. Jesus entered the strong man's house and defeated him. The ability of Jesus to cast out devils was evidence of the defeat of satan. Because Jesus had no sin, satan had no power over Him. Jesus could enter the strong man's house and the strong man was unable to do anything about it.

The problem is that we are infected with sin. The ability of Jesus Himself did not help us long term. We were still under the strong man's power. It was only when Jesus became sin for us, satisfying the justice of God on our behalf, that we were able to take on His sinlessness. We stand perfect before God because of the act of Christ, not because of our own acts. Because of that the strong man is bound and we have the same authority that Jesus had while on earth. We can spoil the goods of the strong man and set the captives free in Jesus' Name.

June 23/08 Matt. 12:28

But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

The fact that Jesus had power over the demonic realm was evidence that He was bringing the Kingdom of God. In His life Jesus gave evidence that the Kingdom of God was near. At His death and resurrection He established it. On the Day of Pentecost it was officially launched. The Kingdom of God is here in power and glory for those with eyes to see. Unfortunately, there are many sincere Christians who refuse to accept this fact. They are looking for the same type of physical kingdom the carnal Jews were looking for...and they will be just as disappointed.

June 21/08 Matt. 12:27

And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.

Jesus turned the accusation back to them. If they were going to charge Him with using devils to cast out devils then the same thing must apply to their own people. They couldn't have it both ways.

Because Jesus was totally guided by the Holy Spirit He could have the correct answer every time. How often do we get into trouble because we say the wrong thing at the wrong time. We have to learn to have our tongue yielded to the Holy Spirit.

June 20/08 Matt. 12:25-26

And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?

In order for a kingdom to stand it must be united. Civil war destroys nations. The same is true of families, businesses, and any organization. The members need to stand in unity even if they have areas of disagreement in order to accomplish the overall goals.

Satan's kingdom must steal the Godly principle of unity in order to operate. Satan is determined and his forces are united in their attack against God and His people. We also must be serious and united.

June 19/08 Matt. 12:24

But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

Of course the Pharisees, like all good legalists, had to find some excuse to explain their own lack of power. They claimed to be the experts with God, but they knew they did not have the power and authority that should have come with that relationship. Something was wrong but they were unwilling to humble themselves and repent.

It reminds me of the story of Gladys Aylward who failed in her theology studies and so no mission board would send her to China where her heart's desire was. So she went on her own and became one of China's great missionaries. [The Inn Of The Sixth Happiness is a great biography.] This is not to say that study and doctrine is not important - obviously I believe it is or I would not be investing so much of my time in this site - but relationship with Jesus is the key element. If that is missing, nothing else matters.

June 18/08 Matt. 12:23

And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?

The people saw the power Jesus had over demonic activities and it was a testimony to them that Jesus was the Messiah, the true Son of David. Demon powers are overwhelming when viewed from a human perspective, but when viewed from God's perspective they are immaterial. Christ won the victory on our behalf. As we walk under the blood of Christ, we have nothing to fear from the demonic realm.

June 17/08 Matt. 12:22

Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.

No all physical ailments are caused by direct demonic activity, but some certainly are. This man was blind and dumb not because of physical deformity but because of a demon. Demons hate humanity. They will do all they can to bring death and destruction. One reason for their hate is that humans are redeemable and they are not. In any case, we need to be protected by the blood of Christ and not open ourselves up to demonic activity by horoscopes [even in "fun"] or other occult influences.

June 16/08 Matt. 12:21

And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

This is interesting especially considering that some Christians teach Jesus came to offer the Jews a physical kingdom. It is true, that while Jesus was on earth, He went almost exclusively to the Jews. Why? Was it because they were God's super people and everyone else was dirty dogs? No. God's plan has always been world-wide. For a time it had to be limited in order to bring the Messiah into the world. The Jews were the instrument of bringing the Messiah into the world so it was only right that they should have the first opportunity of entering the newly established Kingdom of God. For about 7 years the good news was preached to Jews only...then it went world-wide. Everyone could enter on an equal basis. The Gentiles could trust in the name of Jesus. From now until eternity the door is open for all. It will never again be limited to one physical nation. We study this in detail in the Covenants series.

June 14/08 Matt. 12:20

A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.

Continuing with a look at the character of the Messiah, Jesus would be tender and kind. No matter how bruised or wounded a person was, He would not destroy them. His touch would be tender and healing. No one need be afraid of coming to Him. The smoking flax - the fire about to go out - would be restored. No matter how far a person had fallen, the hand of Jesus would be there to pick him or her up. He would restore them, give them new life. We see that in the life of Jesus in the Gospels and in the testimonies of millions of people over the last 2,000 years or so.

We tend to look at judgment in a negative way. Judgment is simply making a ruling on something. The judgment of Jesus brings victory to His people and destruction to His enemies. That is why Christians can look forward to the judgment of God in specific cases and, of course, to the Final Judgment.

June 13/08 Matt. 12:19

He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.

Obviously, this is a prophetic statement of character, not a literal statement of activity because we know Jesus did talk in the cities, he did oppose the Pharisees, and He did cry out in the temple. This is picturing for us the character of the Messiah. He was not One Who insisted and fought for His own rights. He was not pushing a political agenda. He was working for something far greater. He was establishing the Kingdom of God with His own blood - a Kingdom which would revolutionize every area of life including politics. He was laying a solid foundation. It was not a Kingdom to be established by violence and war, although violence and war would be used against it. The character of the Messiah was one of quiet, persistent, diligent, fulfilling the will of God for His life.

June 12/08 Matt. 12:18

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 shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

Jesus was a servant. He did not seek to rule, only to obey. Should we try to be greater than our Master? Are we seeking position and power or are we seeking obedience and service.

Jesus was chosen by God. As the Son, He was chosen by the Father for the greatest mission possible. We also are chosen by God. His hand is on our lives. We, too, have a mission we are to fulfill on this earth.

Jesus was loved by God. He knew the unconditional love the the Father. He never doubted the love of God in all the up and down situations of life. He died that we could know the love of God as well and become His beloved.

The Father was well-pleased with Jesus. Jesus lived His life solely for the benefit and pleasure of the Father. He did nothing for His own benefit. He walked in perfect obedient. Who do we try to benefit?

The Holy Spirit was upon Jesus. He knew total fellowship and guidance. He walked with confidence.

Jesus was to show God's judgment - righteousness - to the Gentiles. They were to be drawn to God by seeing the beauty of justice. God's ways are glorious. Much of the frustration in the West is because we want to keep the benefits of the judgment of God while forsaking His ways.

June 11/08 Matt. 12:17

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

Jesus fulfilled every Old Testament prophecy made about Him. Skeptics laugh and say that since Jesus knew the prophecies He deliberately fulfilled them. They are partly correct. Jesus was very familiar with the Old Testament and the prophecies would have guided Him as He followed God, which was part of the reason for them in the first place. However, there are many prophecies over which He could have no control - such as the time and place of birth. Even of the other prophecies, no one with their natural abilities could fulfill them all. Only because Jesus was the promised Messiah could His life perfectly line up with all prophecies.

June 10/08 Matt. 12:16

And charged them that they should not make him known:

Unlike many modern ministries, Jesus did not promote Himself. In fact, He often went the opposite direction. He was willing to allow God to promote Him. He did not struggle and strive to get to the top.

His command was not primarily to escape the Pharisees attention because they would have been aware of any large crowd. As the following verses show, His command was due to the fact that He was seeking God plan not man's approval.

June 9/08 Matt. 12:15

But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;

Jesus did not tempt God. When He knew there were plots on His life, He left. There is nothing wrong with retreat. We do not have to let pride force us into confrontation and, perhaps, early death. Jesus did not retreat as a coward. He could confront and stand firm when the situation required it. He could also retreat with honour when it didn't. He did not have prove Himself to man, He only had to be obedient to God.

Jesus did not heal everyone He came across, but He did heal all who came to Him. Come to Jesus, in faith, and have your needs met.

June 6/08 Matt. 12:14

Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

Jesus only did that which was good. He had just healed a man, yet some hated Him so much they wanted to kill Him. Legalists are so focused on their details that they miss the big picture. They can develop a hatred for anyone who disagrees with them. A quick survey of Church History shows the bloodshed of legalism.

Sometimes we think if we do good everyone will like or accept us. Not so. Sometimes doing good or doing the right thing earns us enemies. The old saying that you can't please everybody is right. No matter what you do, someone is likely to disapprove. The important thing is to please God, everyone else is secondary.

June 5/08 Matt. 12:13

Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.

Jesus wasn't just a Man of theory. He did what He said. It was acceptable to do good on the Sabbath so He healed the man with the withered hand. It wasn't an academic exercise, He didn't heal just to make a point, or to prove He could, He saw the man and his need. Jesus had a heart of compassion. To Him everyone was valuable and their needs and concerns were important. It is still that way today.

June 3/08 Matt. 12:12

How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

Jesus next presented them with a fact they could not argue with. A man definitely is more valuable than a sheep. [This is, of course, before the foolishness of extreme environmentalism.] If that was the case - if they could help a sheep on the Sabbath - then there could be nothing wrong with helping a man on the Sabbath. The Sabbath wasn't meant to be a day sitting around and doing nothing. It wasn't even originally given as a day of worship. It was a day of rest and Godly rest is doing good. After all, God rested on the seventh day but He hasn't stopped doing good.

June 02/08 Matt. 12:11

And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?

Jesus answered their question with a question. He brought out a practical example which He knew they could not disagree with. Everyone of them would have "worked" on the Sabbath to get their sheep out of a pit.

Sometimes we feel we have to have the answer to every question, we have to be able to solve every problem. We don't. We are not God. It's fine to relax and take time to think. It's even OK to say, "I don't know" as long as it is not an excuse.

May. 31/08 Matt. 12:10

And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.

Jesus lived with constant pressure. His enemies were always setting deadly traps for Him. But because Jesus kept His eyes on the Father fear could not touch Him. He could sidestep all His enemy's plans because He had divine insight. We too can come to the place where we trust God in the midst of life's pressures. We do not have to be fearful or worried when people oppose us - even with malicious intent.

The Pharisees did not care about the man with the withered hand. He was just an unimportant tool to their ungodly ends. Legalists are only concerned with their petty rules and have no real concern for the people around them.

May. 29/08 Matt. 12:9

And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:

It was the Sabbath so when Jesus had finished with the issue of the corn, He went into the synagogue where the Jews would be gathering. Jesus went where the people were. He was comfortable wherever He was. He could speak from a boat or from a pulpit. Sometimes we get hung up on form rather than content. We have to be flexible and meet people where they are.

May. 28/08 Matt. 12:8

For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

God is in control. He is not bound by legalistic interpretations of His Law. Some people try to manipulate God. They claim that if they preform certain actions or have enough faith, then God is required to respond in the way they want Him to. Nonsense. As human beings there is absolutely nothing we can do to "make" God do anything. God does make promises and He is faithful to keep His Word but we cannot force Him into it...especially in our time frame. God is Lord of all.

May. 27/08 Matt. 12:7

But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

It was not that sacrifice was not important. It was necessary but it was never enough. God's eyes were not on the sacrifices, they were on the heart. A sacrifice without a heart commitment was useless, a true heart commitment would joyfully offer the sacrifices. Even in the Old Testament, the heart attitude was the vital point.

Legalists are not happy with following their own convictions. They want everyone else to follow them as well. If God speaks to a legalist and tells him he is spending too much time playing golf and should give it up, it is never enough for him to give it up, he wants everyone else to give it up as well - even through it is not God's word to them. And so condemnation and guilt are piled on innocent people.

May. 26/08 Matt. 12:6

But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.

The Pharisees were so concerned about the temple - the building of which was begun by the mass murderer Herod the Great - that they missed the One of Whom the temple was a type. They focused so much on the physical that they missed the spiritual. They missed the real Temple. Unfortunately, a lot of popular Christianity in North America does the the same thing. They focus on the "literal" nation of Israel and miss much of what Israel was supposed to be a type of. They fail to see the purpose of Israel in the Old Testament and its New Testament application. Like the Pharisees, their eyes are fixed on the type and they fail to see the fulfillment. How sad.

May. 24/08 Matt. 12:5

Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?

No one was supposed to work on the Sabbath, yet the priests did a lot of work on the Sabbath. It was their busiest day! However, they were not Sabbath-breakers. God's Law is uncompromising; nevertheless, those who legalistically follow the letter of the Law and ignore the spirit of the Law often find themselves in opposition to the intent of the Law. The context and application of the Law must be carefully considered. No Law can justly be considered as a item in itself. It must be considered in the broad scope of Divine revelation. It's relation and purpose to the whole must be understood before proper application can be made.

May. 23/08 Matt. 12:4

How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?

God's servants the priests were the ones who were to eat the shewbread. Fresh bread was daily put before the Lord and the day old bread was taken and eaten by the priests. David and his men, when fleeing for their lives from Saul [1 Sam. 21:1-6], requested the bread from the priest. The priest insisted that the men be pure according to the law. When he was satisfied that they were he gave them the bread because that was all they had.

David, as God's servant, had the right to partake of God's provisions. This is a picture for us. Jesus is the Bread of Life. Those who have come to Him in faith have the right to partake of His provisions. Obedient children have a right to the family resources, but those outside the family do not.

May. 21/08 Matt. 12:3

But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;

Jesus had a sense of humor. He was talking to the Pharisees who prided themselves on knowing the Word of God. They memorized large portions of it. They debated and discussed it. They were the experts. Yet Jesus addresses them in mock surprise like Sunday School kids, "Haven't you read...?" Jesus had no patience or tolerance for religious legalists.

When David - that great hero of the faith - was hungry and in need what did he do?

May. 20/08 Matt. 12:2

But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.

The Pharisees did not object to the disciples taking corn because they knew it was in line with the law. Their objection was that it was done on the Sabbath. Like good legalists their eyes were on the details not on the issues. This doesn't mean that God's Law can be violated for humanistic reasons [or for any reason for that matter]. However, the Pharisees in sinful zealousness had added so many laws and details to God's Law that it was no longer God's Law they were enforcing. It was their own laws, in God's Name, which often subverted God's true Law. Legalists are like that. In their "wisdom" they add to what God has said.

May. 19/08 Matt. 12:1

At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.

The sabbath was a day of rest, not total inactivity. Jesus had places to go on the sabbath.

Sometimes we forget that Jesus and the disciples were real men. They had the same needs and desires as we have. In this case, the disciple were hungry and, since they were in a corn field, they had meal before them. This was not theft. The Law allowed people to eat what was available. It was unlawful to pluck it and take it away to save for another day or to sell. That would have been theft. Biblical law provides the balance between helping the poor and protecting the owner's rights.

May 17/08 Matt. 11:30

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Now for the really good part! Jesus' yoke is easy. It is not hard or difficult or painful. In fact, He yokes Himself with us and He pulls most of the load! [Of course, we do all the complaining.]

In Jewish teaching the yoke was considered to be the Law. The Pharisees - just as religious, self-righteous people today - made the Law hard. They added to it. They taught people you had to keep the Law in order to please God. They condemned.

Some people today had swung to the opposite extreme and said the Law of God doesn't apply, i.e. there is no yoke. This also is error.

The good news of Jesus is that we don't keep the Law in order to please God. He is happy with us as His children. And His Law, properly understood is for our benefit and protection. It is a good and easy thing when are hearts are right. The Holy Spirit puts within our heart the desire to keep the Law and then works in us the increasing ability to fulfill our desire.

May. 15/08 Matt. 11:29

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Jesus never promised that we would not have a yoke. A yoke is necessary for oxen to work together to pull a heavy load. Jesus did offer us His yoke instead of satan's harsh yoke. Either way we will wear a yoke. The only question is: Whose yoke?

Jesus set the example. He doesn't put a yoke us that He has not experienced Himself. He can lead the way. He knows how to do it. He is not a proud, harsh Master whipping His poor animals. He is meek and lowly. He is teaching us to work in unison with Him and each other. In that is true rest and peace. Rest is not inactivity, but activity without stress and worry.

May. 13/08 Matt. 11:28

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

God calls us and places in our hearts the desire to know Him, but still we must come. We can stand afar off and only hear about the good things of God. Like the elder brother, we can be jealous of what others receive. Or we can come and experience the fullness of God for ourselves. God is not a respecter of persons. You can come.

Who should come? Those that are discouraged. Those that are depressed. Those who think they have to earn God's favour. Those who are tired and ready to give up. Those who are overwhelmed. Anyone who realizes the truth that they cannot handle life on their own.

What will Christ do when we come? He will give us rest. We will find peace. It doesn't mean that the storm on the outside will go away at once, but the storm on the inside of us certainly can. We can rest in the fact that He is in control. We can be a peace in the fact that we are loved and treasured by God apart from any works that we do.

May. 12/08 Matt. 11:27

All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

This further enforces the teaching that even though nature and reasoning screams out about God, our minds are clouded with deception and our hearts are so black with sin that we cannot know God on our own. No one seeks for God. No one even desires God until God puts that desire in their hearts.

Everything Jesus had and did came from the Father. He was not an independent man. He relied on His Father and His Father provided everything He needed.

May. 10/08 Matt. 11:26

Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.

God does whatever He wants. It is His universe after all. God used His vast, unmeasurable wisdom to design how things were operate. Instead of complaining that we don't like God's system because we don't really understand it, we should be thanking Him that He did it in the best way possible.

It was God's wisdom that He didn't choose the mental giants. We are all on an equal footing when it comes to the ability to know God. Pride, self-confidence, and independence are the real stumbling blocks.

May. 9/08Matt. 11:25

At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

A simple faith is required. It does not mean the Christianity is not logical but it does mean that wise men, blinded by the world, will never figure it out. It takes a faith in the Word of God. A good example of this is the evolution debate. Many otherwise intelligent scientists embrace evolution. They despise or mock creation. They look at the same evidence as creationists but they keep coming to the wrong conclusions! Creationists don't deny scientific facts, but looking at them from God's point of view they can see how the facts make perfect sense with a Biblical creation view.

There is so much that can only be known by revelation not be experimentation. God reveals His secrets to those who love Him and seek after Him. To know God is the highest calling.

May. 8/08>Matt. 11:20-24

Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

Mighty works don't soften hard hearts. Sometimes we think that if God would do a mighty miracle all our friends or our community would see the light and convert to Christ. Miracles get people's attention but only a work of the Holy Spirit can change a dark heart.

Interestingly, sometimes the most hard-hearted people are religious people...and they can be the cruelest. The cities of Israel rejected Christ whereas heathen cities would have accepted Him if they had had the opportunity. The degree of judgment is based, at least in part, on the knowledge we have or could have had and how we used it. Many religious people, some of whom think they are saved, are going to face harsher judgment then those who never heard the Word plainly declared.

May. 7/08<><>- Matt. 11:16-19

But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

No matter what you and I do, someone is going to criticize us - usually religious people! This is why we cannot be swayed by the opinion of others. We have to discover the will of God and follow it no matter what the crowd may say. We have to hold to a straight path even when gossip and rumor threaten to destroy us. God is able to defend us. We follow Him and trust in Him.

May 6/08 ><>- Matt. 11:15

He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Sometimes we wonder what people don't understand the Gospel or reject it. They do not have ears to hear. They are locked into their preconceived ideas and will not listen to anything else. If even people who heard the words of Jesus directly could have deaf ears, how much more those who hear His words through us. Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit is able to heal their ears.

May 5/08 <>- Matt. 11:14

And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.

Isaiah [Elias] was prophesied to return before Jesus. This was not to be a physically resurrected Isaiah, but someone, like Isaiah, who came in his anointing and power. That person was John the Baptist.

This points out a major interpretation issue. The Old Testament must be understood in the light of the New Testament. The New Testament teaches us what the Old Testament was really talking about. This is very important because there is a section of Christianity which insists on applying most of the Old Testament to natural Israel and/or to the millennium. This is NOT how the New Testament handles the Old Testament. We must reject every theory of man - no matter how much it appeals to us - which contradicts the plain teaching of Scripture. [We look at the theory in greater detail in Death and Beyond.]

May 3/08 - Matt. 11:13

For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

This is a favourite verse of the Law haters. They don't want to live by the standard of God's Law so they find every way possible to say the Law no longer applies. They confuse Law and Grace, justification and sanctification. Yes, the Christian no longer stands condemned by the Law. Yes, the Christian does not keep the Law to earn God's favour. But that does not mean the Law - God's perfect standard for life - is done away with. [see the e-mail course Life Line].

Anyway, these people say, "See, the Law ended at John!" Often they forget about the prophets being mentioned together with the Law because with still want to use the prophets. Selective reading? In any case, all this verse is saying is that the Law and the Prophets were looking forward to the New Testament age which was introduced at the time of John the Baptist. Jesus Himself said the same thing when He said all the Law and the Prophets pointed to Him.

May 2/08 - Matt. 11:12

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

Another version words this verse this way: ...the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing... [God's Word] This helps us to see what the KJV means by "suffereth violence."

For the 400 silent years the Kingdom of God seemed to lay dormant. It was a dry time spiritually. As we can see from the ministry of Jesus, many demons had invaded the land of Israel and were oppressing the people as well as false spiritual leaders. Then the voice of John the Baptist was heard. The Kingdom of God seemed to wake up from its long sleep. The occupation of the Enemy was challenged. Then Jesus came with full authority over all demonic forces. The kingdom of darkness ran for cover at His presence. But this war was not for the fainthearted. Jesus trained the disciples to storm the gates of Hell. It was a three and a half year training program but when it was done, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit, they were the men who continued on the war.

And the war goes on. We are the new warriors. The Kingdom of God will not advance if we retreat. It takes courage to advance the Kingdom of God. We have to stand against the forces of evil in the oppression of people's lives, spiritual blindness, government oppression, false doctrines, evolution and "christian" compromises with it, civil evils, and everything that opposes the knowledge of God. It is not a mission for the fainthearted. However, as we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, we can stand. We can too can storm the gates of Hell in our world and withstand the counterattack.

Apr. 30/08 - Matt. 11:11

Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

John the Baptist was the last of the Old Testament prophets. He was the greatest because he pointed directly and clearly to Christ. Never dishonour the past or what was accomplished in the past. Nevertheless, in the New Testament age, we have Jesus living right inside of us. That is greater than anything experienced by the Old Testament prophets and saints. Our lives should reflect more the glory and righteousness of God than anything that has gone before. To our shame, often it does not.

Apr. 28/08 - Matt. 11:10

For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

John the Baptist was the spiritual Elijah who was prophesied to come before Christ. If some were looking for Elijah personally to be resurrected and appear as Christ's messenger then they were disappointed. The New Testament itself shows that many, if not most, of the Old Testament prophecies have spiritual fulfillments in New Testament times. Yet there are a popular group of Christians who insisted in literal fulfillments and so twist Scripture from being a beautiful picture of Jesus Christ and His Work to a distorted focus on something else.

John's job was to open the minds and hearts of the people so they would be able to hear the words of Jesus. It was a difficult job. For 400 years there had been no prophetic word from God. The soil was hard. Now, with the voice of John, people once again began to hear a voice from God. Their expectations began to grow. There was a feeling that something great was around the corner.

Apr.25/08 - Matt. 11:7-9

And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.

Even through John had wavered under discouragement, Jesus never spoke against him. We need to be very careful about how we speak of men and women of God no matter what weaknesses we may see in their lives. God honours His leadership and we should do the same.

Apr.24/08 - Matt. 11:6

And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

Blessed is the one who follows after Jesus even in times of confusion and doubt. There times when our head is spinning and we don't know which way is up. Life seems shattered. Hold on to Jesus. Don't leave Him. Things will work out in the end. Through the tears and the doubts and the pain, keep close to Jesus.

Apr. 23/08 - Matt. 11:4-5

Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

Jesus did not respond to John's doubts with theological arguments. John already knew them all anyway. Instead, Jesus responded with visible evidence. He showed him the results which were what the theologicial teaching predicted the Messiah would do. Jesus was doing the works of the Messiah, so He must be the Messiah. John's work and witness was being vindicated.

We have to respond to what people really need. Sometimes all we have is theological arguments [which are important]. Many times, though, knowledge is not the problem. We need to be able to correctly identify the real question and respond to it.

Apr.22/08 - Matt. 11:2-3

Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

John the Baptist was in deep discouragement. He had faithfully proclaimed the Word of God. He had identified the Messiah. He had courageously stood against immorality in government. He had done everything God had asked him to do...and now he was rotting in a foul prison.

The enemy's questions and doubts assailed him. Why? Had he been mistaken? Were his sacrifices for nothing? Had he misled the people? Was his life wasted?

John never lost his faith in God, but he did wonder if he had misunderstood his call...if he had missed the will of God...if he had caused untold damage by identifying the wrong Man.

Apr. 21/08 - Matt. 11:1

And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.

Jesus did not give principles to consider. He did not give ideas for a successful life. He was not a motivational speaker. He did not make suggestions. He was a General training His disciples. He issued commands that were expected to be obeyed. This is why Jesus never instructed anyone to make converts. He commanded us to make disciples. A disciple is not simply a believer. A disciple is totally committed to following the footsteps of the Master.

After Jesus had laid the foundation with His disciples He was ready to move out into wider areas. The disciples were still far from perfect, but the foundation was laid. After a solid foundation has been laid, it can be built upon. Many times we fail because we are building on a shaky foundation. Better to invest the time on the unseen but vital foundation.

Apr. 19/08 - Matt. 10:41-42

He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

When we follow God, He rewards us. God is not a miser. He is generous. Everything we do for Him here and now will be abundantly rewarded in the future. This life is an investment for the future. God not only sees our actions but also He weighs the motives of our heart.

Apr.18/08 - Matt. 10:40

He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

There is an unseen chain reaction. When we honour other Christians we are in fact honouring Jesus. And when we honour Jesus we are honouring the Father. If we mistreat or take advantage of other Christians we are, in fact, doing the same to the Lord. As John points out in his letter, anyone who claims to love God but mistreats his fellow Christians is a liar. How we treat the people God puts in front of us is the same way we treat God.

Apr. 17/08 - Matt. 10:39

He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

The Kingdom of God is upside to the way the world thinks. The world says, "Look out for #1. Promote yourself. Get and keep the best for yourself. You deserve it." That is Satan's fantasy world. Reality is different. To get ahead you have to help others, not caring if you get recognition or not. You have to forget about yourself and your desires. You have to put your entire effort into expanding the Kingdom of God and helping others get ahead. You have to be able not to be jealous if they pass you. Our priorities must be right or - like the Pharisees - our reward will be limited to what we can get for ourselves in this world. We should be patient for what God will give us in this world and in the next one!

Apr. 16/08 - Matt. 10:38

And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

This was a shocking statement to the disciples of Jesus. They had seen the Romans crucify many Jews on crosses. It was a painful and inhuman method of executing criminals. Now Jesus was telling them to voluntarily undergo the painful humiliation to carrying a cross to the place of execution. This is the total removal of all pride. It is learning to simply walk in the steps of the Master heedless of where they lead. Anything less and we are still trying to be independent and so cannot completely follow Jesus. We have a divided mind.

The encouraging thing is that Jesus is not asking us to do something He Himself was unwilling to do. We are to follow Him. In submission and total dependance on the Father He had His body ripped to shreds and hung naked from a cross for all the world to see. If we draw back in pride or self-pity from whatever cross is on our shoulders we are not worthy of our Lord.

Apr. 14/08 - Matt. 10:37

He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Jesus will be the priority in our life. If anyone or anything else has a higher "rating" then we have a god above Jesus. This cannot be. Jesus will not be second to anyone. We are His priority and He must be ours, no matter what it costs.

Apr. 12/08 - Matt. 10:34-36

Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

We often think of Jesus as the Prince of Peace, which He is. He has brought peace between God and man. But being at peace with God means being at war with those who oppose God. This can be members of our own families. The Spirit of Light and the spirit of darkness divides across family lines, splitting those ties if family members are opposed to God.

Apr. 11/08 - Matt. 10:32-33

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

The is no such thing as a secret Christian. In some countries there may be undercover Christians because of persecution. You don't jump up and yell, "Here I am, shoot me." On the other hand, no matter where we are we can't deny Christ. Peter denied Christ and then repented with tears. He was forgiven and the time came when he held strong to his confession and was [according to tradition] crucified upside down.

Foxe's Book of Martyrs records of one man who under extreme pressure denied Christ. He was released but felt so bad about what he had done that he publicly cut of the hand which had signed the denial. He was then re-arrested and executed.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit we must maintain our confession of faith. If we give in with the evil thought that we can always get forgiveness later, later may never come.

Christ represents us in heaven the way we represent Him on earth. That should be a good motivating thought.

Apr. 10/08 - Matt. 10:29-31

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

God is not a distant God Who set the world in motion and then withdrew to watch it. He is actively involved in it. He is even aware of what we we consider unimportant things like the welfare of birds and the number of hairs we have. If God is so concerned about that, how much more is He actively involved with the being He created to be the king of His creation. We do not have to walk in fear no matter what happens. God is watching over us every step of the way.

Apr. 9/08 - Matt. 10:28

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

The worst anyone on this planet can do to us is kill our body. They can end or make this life difficult, but they cannot effect our soul and our eternal destiny. We do not have to be afraid of anything that happens in this life.

What is really scary is what happens after this life if we do not know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Our life will never end, but if we do not know Christ our eternal existence in Hell will make even the worst events in this life look mild.

For a more detailed study of this take the course: Death and Beyond.

Apr. 8/08 - Matt. 10:27

What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

We are to spread the teaching of Jesus around the world. What we have learned from God we are to share. We are not to keep it to ourselves. The Good News must be presented to every creature. The first century Christians took their assignment seriously and the gospel did go to the known world in their lifetime. And in our generation we have the same assignment.

Apr. 7/08 - Matt. 10:26

Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.

We do not have to be afraid of them. We can trust God through every situation. We know in the end the truth will come out. All lies will be exposed. God the Just Judge - Who is also our Father - will see justice done in the end.

Mar 31/08 - Matt. 10:24-25

The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?

Jesus came as a servant. He did only that which was right and good. Yet He was hated and rejected. Can expected any less? We are to have that servant attitude and work for the benefit of others, yet we should not be surprised if we are not always appreciated. If we follow in the footsteps of our Lord, it is enough.

Mar 29/08 - Matt. 10:23

But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.

This is Jesus specific instructions to His disciples. They were not to waste their time where they were not wanted. The harvest is ripe - work with the ripe harvest, not the stoney ground. Unless God has specifically spoken otherwise, this is good instruction for us, too. Look for good ground. If you are being rejected in one place, look for another.

Obviously Jesus was not talked about His Second Coming when He said "till the Son of Man be come." The Bible refers to many different kinds of "comings" of Jesus - one of which is the Second Coming. Much confusion comes into the topic of the Second Coming because people confuse these comings. Context must be studied carefully. The courses on the Book of Revelation and Death and Beyond will help to understand the various comings of Christ.

In this case, Jesus is referring to his Judgment Coming when He would judge the nation of Israel for their rejection of Him and His messengers. This happened in the Jewish War of AD 66 - AD 70.

Mar 28/08 - Matt. 10:22

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

The pressure to give up on the Christian life will be tremendous whither it is outward attack or subtle influence. The enemy knows he cannot attack God directly - he tried that and failed - so he attacks God through His loved children. This is satan's blind rage and intense hatred manifested through his human servants. They are often unaware of the source of their hatred of Christians. Logically, it makes no sense but they are driven by a hard master.

Salvation comes to those who finish the race - not those who start the race. Many start and give up. Those called by God will be given the grace to finish. They have the perseverance to keep at in even in the discouraging times. John the Baptist hit bottom in discouragement when he began to wonder if Jesus really was the Messiah, but he finished his race. And so must we.

Mar 27/08 - Matt. 10:21

And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.

This religious battle cuts across all lines of friendship and family. As those in persecuted countries can testify, family members will betray other family members to prison, torture, and death. The war is deadly serious and everyone is on one side or the other. Jesus came to bring division between the children of light and the children of darkness. The children of darkness will use whatever means necessary to destroy the children of light. It may be open attack or it may be subtle influence, but the goal is always the same. Wipe out Christianity. God has promised that all such attempts will fail, but the process to victory may be long and painful.

Mar 26/08 - Matt. 10:20

For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

Not only will God defend us in such a situation, but also - if we will allow Him - He will speak though us. This does not mean that end earthly result is always pleasant. Stephen is an excellent example. The Holy Spirit spoke through him in a brilliant defense but it only angered the judges more and they stoned him to death. However, he did see Jesus and there is no greater reward. And his witness burned itself into a hard-hearted man named Saul. Later Saul was to convert and become the great apostle Paul. Would that have happened without the seed planted by the witness of Stephen? Only God knows.

Mar 25/08 - Matt. 10:19

But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.

The instruction of Jesus is not to worry about our defense. Our eyes are to be on God. Nothing happens that He did not allow. We are to trust Him even when we are hauled into court by religious hypocrites or pagans bent on our destruction. God will strengthen us and give us the grace to face whatever happens.

Mar 24/08 - Matt. 10:18

And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.

Not only would religious people hate true Christians, but also they would be put on trial in the secular realm. The prime example of this was Jesus Himself Who was betrayed by a friend, hated and tried by the religious authorities, and then turned over to the secular government for trial and execution. We may face the same thing, certainly the disciples did.

Notice an interesting point, it was a testimony against the secular rulers and non-Christians. Their judgment and reaction to the Christian becomes the witness against them in the court of God. While they are judging God's loved children, God is judging them. That is why even when we are under judgment we can feel sorrow for our persecutors because we realize they are going to undergo a worse judgment because of their actions.

Mar 22/08 - Matt. 10:17

But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;

In walking in wisdom we have to be aware of the deceptiveness of men. People will hide their true agendas. Or they will betray us. Even through we are harmless - and should be the best citizens in any country - we uncompromisingly represent the King of kings. That is threat to any who wish to rule their own kingdoms independent of Christ. So, even through we operate with the best interest of individuals and nations in mind, they will often viciously turn on us. Inspired by satan they want to rid themselves of Christians without realizing that they are destroying the very people who stand between them and the anger of Almighty God. Notice that these are religious people who are doing the persecuting and betraying. Religion without relationship with Jesus Christ is a hard and soul-destroing master.

Mar 21/08 - Matt. 10:16

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

God has called His people to be peaceable, but this world is full of war and strife. On the surface it looks as impossible as a sheep walking safely through a hungry wolf pack. Yet God watches over us. We are not to use the world's violent and self-seeking ways to gain our objective. The church has tried to rule the world and it was a bloody disaster. [That is not to say the civil government is outside the authority of the Bible. No, the civil government is to protect its nation according to Scripture and Christians are to be very involved in this process.]

A serpent is patient and often waits for its victim to come within its grasp. So we are to be patient and realize we have to build our lives and our world solidly - not necessarily quickly. Because we know the sovereignty of God, we can wait for Him to work out situations. We do not have to rush around and be uptight. Wisdom and harmlessness are our watch words.

Mar 20/08 - Matt. 10:14-15

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Sometimes God will place us somewhere where the ground is hard and there seems to be no fruit from our ministry because He is investing for a future harvest. More often, though, if the ground is hard and the message is rejected it is time to move on. There is much ground that is soft and ready for harvest. Why should we spend our time on unproductive soil when ripe grain is rotting because there is no one to harvest it?

Those who hear - or had the opportunity to hear - the gospel and reject it are going to face a harsher judgment than those who never heard it clearly presented. This is one reason why I think the hard-hearted church goer who is just doing a religious duty will face a hotter Hell than the drunken bum or prostitute who never had the message proclaimed to them through human lips.

Mar 19/08 - Matt. 10:11-12

And when ye come into an house, salute it. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.

There is blessing that comes from ministering to God's ministers and a blessing that we miss if we are too busy or self-centered to serve those who serve us spiritual food.

The peace spoken of seems almost to be a tangible thing.

Mar 18/08 - Matt. 10:9-10

And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.

It is a privilege - not an ugly necessity - to provide for the men and women of God that He sends our way. They are a gift from Him - starting with our Pastor - and are to be treasured. God will bless those who bless His ministers.

Likewise, sometimes ministers have a low opinion of themselves. They think they are only worth little and should not have much. Second or third hand clothes are all they need. Nonsense. They are ambassadors of the Great King. Even if all they can afford is second-hand clothes, they should wear them with dignity and honour. Theirs is a high calling. Neither should they be giving their spiritual treasures to ungrateful people but they should find who is worthy. This does not mean a judgmental spirt but a spirit to discern character and attitudes.

The time is coming when men and women of God will be the heroes, not football or movie stars. While we are all ambassador's Christ, special honour goes to those called by God - not themselves - to minister from the Word full time.

Mar 17/08 - Matt. 10:9-10

Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

In this case, Jesus was commissioning His disciples to live off of the ministry. If they were able ministers of spiritual things, people would be responsible to provide for their physical needs and desires. In our backward Western society we often place greater emphasis on physical needs. We will pay the gas attendant, the grocery store, the bank, etc. but when it comes to paying those who work to give us the far more important and eternal spiritual food and clothing we try to give as little as possible or nothing at all. Getting Western Christians to tithe - let alone pay generously for spiritual food - is worse than pulling teeth. If you don't believe me, ask the average Pastor or missionary.

Mar 15/08 - Matt. 10:8

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

We are to minister to people out of a joyful heart for all that God has given us. He has bountifully given to us and we just keep passing it on. With the ability and faith that God has given us, we minister to others. A person who truly walks with God will not be conscious of poverty. He may or may not have this world's good but either way his eyes are generous and he doesn't think about his own position. It is interesting that many times people poor in this world's goods are more giving that those who have plenty. In some poor nations of the world native Christians will go hungry for days in order to bless a visiting missionary with a good meal. But there is no reason why everyone who has received from God can't be generous. Two mites or two million...God looks at the heart.

Mar 13/08 - Matt. 10:7

And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Interestingly, there are Christians today who say the Kingdom of God has not yet come. Jesus told His disciples 2,000 years ago that it was "at hand" or close by. 2,000+ years is not "at hand." Do these people know more that Jesus, or did the Kingdom of God actually come on the Day of Pentecost? I know which choice I will make.

Mar 12/08 - Matt. 10:5-6

These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

The disciples were not sent the Gentiles or Samaritans. Why not? Did God love them less? Was God a racist? Were the Jews some kind of Teacher's pet?

If you have studied our Covenant's course you already know the answer. God's plan has always been world-wide. This is obvious even in the Old Testament. The Jewish nation was chosen as the womb through which Christ would be born. In the Old Testament God prepared and protected them for this very special mission. It was only fair - and God promised it - that, when the Messiah did come, they would have the first opportunity to accept Him and enter the Kingdom of God. After they had had their first opportunity [about 7 years] the gospel went world-wide, as we see in the Book of Acts. The door is now - and forever will be till the Second Coming -open to everyone. God's plan has reached fulfillment in bringing in the nations to His family. Through Christ, anyone can be part of the family of God.

Mar 11/08 - Matt. 10:2-4

Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

Jesus chose 12 men to train. He did not try to train a hundred. He poured Himself into 12. He ministered to thousands, but He trained 12. He also chose them after they had been with Him for a little while. He had been able to observe them and see their character. Sometimes we try to do too much. We need to know our boundaries and stay within them. We have to start small. That is one reason why God sets us in families...we have a small group to pour ourselves into and train in the ways of God. Then we can expand to others, but no one can really pour themselves into great numbers of people. That is why Paul told Timothy to train men who could then train others, etc. It grows as everyone works with someone but no one can work with everyone.

One of the 12 would betray Jesus and Jesus knew that right from the start. Yet He loved and treated Judas the same as all His other disciples. He did not withdraw for fear of being hurt.

One reason Jesus chose 12 disciples/apostles is that they were the counterpart to the Old Testament 12 tribes. In Revelation we see the 24 elders - which show the Old and New Testament saints [12 + 12] - united in the praise and worship of Jesus.

Mar 10/08 - Matt. 10:1

And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

Jesus was not power mad. He did not have to do everything Himself. He knew how to not only delegate responsibility but also how to empower His disciples. Responsibility without corresponding authority is frustrating and ineffective.

The amazing thing is that Jesus trusted His disciples with this kind of responsibility. This is before the Day of Pentecost. They were diamonds in the rough...very rough. But these were the men that needed to be trained to handle responsibility. They were the ones who would be the foundation of the church. They needed experience before He left...and there is only one way to get experience.

Mar 8/08 - Matt. 9:38

Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

First of all we need to realize that the harvest belongs to God. It is His, not ours. Second we need to pray that God will send the harvesters to collect the harvest. Third we need to say, "Here am I, send me." It may not be across the ocean, it may only be across the street but it will be working in the harvest.

In line with that we need to realize that evangelism is only one part of harvest collecting. It is the first part, but is not the only part. There are many parts of working in the harvest and we can all be involved in some way.

Mar 6/08 - Matt. 9:37

Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

There is so much work that needs to be done. The harvest that is not reaped is lost. This is the vision that Hudson Taylor [in the 1800's] saw as he prayed for and worked for the millions of Chinese who were going to Hell without ever having heard the good news of the Gospel. He was embarrassed when one of his converts asked him how long the Europeans had had the good news. After he told him, the convert said with tears in his eyes, "Why did it take you so long to come?"

People all around us are dying and going to an eternal Hell. They needed to be reached by the Gospel. We need to have compassion on them and share the good news. There is much work to do, and few who seem willing to do it.

Mar 4/08 - Matt. 9:36

But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

Jesus was not a hard-hearted "professional" just doing His job. He was not so focused on God or His ministry that people were secondary or unimportant. Jesus cared for the people of God. It hurt Jesus that they had no one to lead them, guide them, protect them. Although Jesus was perfect and had all the Gifts, He was only one Person. He could only be in one place at a time. Physically there was only so much that He could do.

Mar 3/08 - Matt. 9:35

And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

The opposition of the Pharisees did not stop Jesus. It didn't even slow Him down. He kept right on doing the will of God. We will have opposition in this life, but we cannot let it sidetrack us. We must complete the mission God has given each one of us.

Mar 01/08 - Matt. 9:34

But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.

The Pharisees, of course, were jealous and embarrassed. They claimed to be the religious experts but they knew they had no power over the demonic realm. They were afraid the works of Jesus would expose them as frauds. The right thing to do would have been to confess their powerlessness and submit themselves to Jesus. Then, under the authority of Christ, they could have been true religious leaders. Instead, like so many, they had to make excuses why they could not do what Jesus could do. The best way to do that was to discredit Jesus and try to bring Him down. Sometimes we wonder why people we thought would support us in the things of God end up attacking us. Often it is because they have the religious spirit of the Pharisees. They do not have what we have but they do not want to humble themselves in order to get it. They don't want to move on with God, but they don't want to look bad before others so they try to prevent anyone else from moving on with God.

Feb 29/08 - Matt. 9:33

And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.

In this case it is plainly stated that the cause was demonic. When the demon was cast out, the man was able to speak.

The people were amazed. They had never seen anyone with power over demons before. They had always had to live in fear and subjection. Now, here was One Who had authority and power over the demonic realm. When He spoke, it obeyed.

Feb 28/08 - Matt. 9:32

As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.

Being under the influence of a demon can have physical consequences. In this case, the demon prevented the man from speaking. Being unable to speak - and other things - can be due to physical causes, emotional stress, or demon oppression. We need to be careful not to jump to conclusions as to which one it is. We need the discernment and wisdom of the Holy Spirit.

Feb 25/08 - Matt. 9:31

But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.

The men were so excited about getting their sight that they could not keep their mouth's shut. How do you keep a thing like that quiet? Nevertheless, it was an act of disobedience because Jesus had strictly instructed them not to tell. Sometimes we do much damage in our excitement and enthusiasm. We need to control our emotions and think things through. Yes, we need to be excited, but it has to be channelled in the right ways.

Feb 22/08 - Matt. 9:30

And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

These men received what they asked for.

Again, we see that Jesus was not seeking fame. If He had been a modern day preacher He would have called the TV and radio stations, printed up flyers, gone on talk shows, "held over" His healing meetings... Not so with Jesus. He didn't want the publicity. Too much attention could hinder what God really wanted to do through His life, it might tempt Him to be distracted from His real purpose. Success in God's eyes is not the same as success in the world's eyes. The Pastor of a church of 30 can be as successful as the Pastor of a church of 30,000 in God's eyes. Or they could both be failures. It all depends on the will of God for their lives, not on outward appearances.

Feb 20/08 - Matt. 9:29

Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

Jesus touched them at their point of need. What they had believed for, they would get. Many times we do not get what we ask for because we do not really believe or we act in presumption. A word of caution: We should never condemn anyone for "lack of faith." Sometimes God has a higher purpose and so must answer, "No" even through faith is there. It is the cruel act of "Job's comforters" to assume that lack of faith is the reason behind every No or delayed answer from God.

Feb 16/08 - Matt. 9:28

And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

Jesus did not just drop everything to deal with them the moment they requested it. He was not driven by need. In the right time, He gave them His attention.

The first thing He asked them was if they believed He could heal them. Seems like a stupid question, they had been asking Him to do it for the last few hours. But, honestly, how often do we ask God for things not really expecting Him to answer? Maybe we don't want to get our hopes up. Maybe it is a last desperate attempt for a solution that we don't really think will work. Maybe we doubt if God will hear or care. Maybe...

In any case, these men believed Jesus could do it.

Feb 15/08 - Matt. 9:27

And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.

The two blind men were desperate. They had a problem only Jesus could help them with. They did not care if they were dignified or not. They could not afford to miss this opportunity. They did not know if they would ever be around Jesus again. It was now or never. Sometimes we are too laid back in our pursuit of God. We are not serious enough. We don't perceive our need as that great. So Jesus walks away and we go on in our blindness.

The title "Son of David" was a title of the Messiah. These blind men had no trouble declaring Jesus as the Messiah. Sometimes those outside the "inner" circle have more awareness than those who are inside. Sometimes being close or having a mental knowledge of the truth causes us to take things for granted.

Feb 14/08 - Matt. 9:26

And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.

Although Jesus did not seek fame, when you raise someone from the dead word gets around - even without the media! Unlike a lot of ministries today, Jesus was not concerned with promotion. He did the works of God, if that led to fame and crowds, fine, if it led to rejection and desertion, fine. His eyes were always, only on the will of the Father.

Feb 12/08 - Matt. 9:25

But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.

Jesus did not allow the scorn of the crowd to hinder His work. He knew what the Father wanted and He did it. First, He got rid of the scoffers. He had no need to argue with them or try to convince them He was right. Just get them out of the way, it wasn't about them anyway. Often we spend a lot of time trying to convince people of things they are not going to believe anyway. Why waste the time?

Jesus simply went in re-united the girl's soul with her body and that was that. No big drama. It was just doing the will of the Father.

Feb 11/08 - Matt. 9:24

He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.

Jesus saw the reality. Death is not non-existence. The soul is immortal. All Jesus had to do was re-united the soul with the body. Not hard for God. From His perspective, the girl was simply sleeping [this does not teach soul sleep, by the way].

The crowd laughed at Jesus as if He was some kind of fool. They knew - from an earthly perspective - the girl was dead. The crowd rarely sees reality. Jesus did not allow their disbelief to shape His faith or upset Him. If they couldn't see reality, they had the problem, not Him.

Feb 9/08 - Matt. 9:23

And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,

Notice Jesus never allowed Himself to be pushed or rushed into things. The ruler had come to Jesus with a urgent, life or death, need. But Jesus did not run to his house. He walked. He took time to minister to the woman with the issue of blood. When He arrived at the house, to the eyes of the world, it looked like He was too late. Jesus never looked through the eyes of the world. He saw reality.

There was no doubt that this young lady was dead. The official mourners were already about their work of comforting the grieving.

Feb 7/08 - Matt. 9:22

But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

From other accounts we know Jesus felt the power going out of Him and asked the crowd who had touched Him. When the woman confessed what she had done - and was too happy to be embarrassed - Jesus encouraged her. He did not reject her for her unorthodox way of getting her healing. She had had faith and she had had the courage to act on it. She was rewarded. Jesus never rejects or scorns anyone who comes to Him in truth and faith.

Feb. 5/08 - Matt. 9:20-21

And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

This woman had suffered many things and for a long time. Yet, she had faith that Jesus could heal her. In fact, she did even think Jesus had to say or do anything. If she could only touch a piece of His clothing....that would be enough.

This woman was desperate and she had courage. For a woman to touch a man who was not her husband was unthinkable to the Jewish mind. Also, she had an embarrassing disease. To just walk and explain everything in front of the crowd and ask for a healing would be embarrassing not only for her but [in her mind] for Jesus as well. Add to that that since it was an issue of blood, she was "unclean" and should not have been in the crowd to begin it. If she stepped out and asked for healing in the usual way she had every reason to think that she would be rejected and scorned. Nevertheless, she was not going to miss this change to be healed.

Sometimes we have to be driven to desperation before we are willing to humble ourselves enough to get anything from God. It should not be that way, but many times it is.

Jan. Feb 04/08 - Matt. 9:19

And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.

Although it would have been easier [and just as effective] to speak the word, Jesus rose to honour this ruler's request by going to lay His hands on the daughter. The disciples went along, too. They were always with the Master. How many times to we miss what Jesus is doing because we are off doing our own thing instead of following the Master? We are not leaders, we are followers.

Feb. 02/08 - Matt. 9:18

While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.

What is worship? One expression of worship is faith. It was an act of worship on the part of this ruler to believe Jesus could heal or resurrect his daughter. Too many people think of worship as something that is done on a Sunday morning. No, worship is a lifestyle that is pleasing to God. Worship is who we are more than what we do.

We know from other accounts of this story that the daughter had not died when the ruler had originally tried to talk to Jesus. But as he was talking or trying to talk to Jesus he was informed that she had, in fact, died. Even death would not stop him. With God all things are possible.

He did not have as much faith as the Roman officer who asked Jesus to speak the word only; however, Jesus did not criticize him but honoured his faith where it was at.

Feb. 01/08 - Matt. 9:16-17

No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

We have to be wise in our actions. Sometimes we are so anxious to move into something new that we destroy the old in the process. This, by the way, is what revolution does. It seeks to destroy the old and build something new out of the ashes. That is why revolutions always destroy a society and build nothing but monsters.

There are new garments and new wine but we don't move into the new by destroying the old. The new is built on the old just as the New Covenant is built on the Old Covenant [as we study in Covenants]. There is no reason why we cannot have the best of the old as we move into the best of the new. We cannot be stuck in the "old" and never move on, but neither can we reject the old.

Of course, this also has application as the New Wine of the Holy Spirit is poured into the new vessel of the Church. To try to limit this New Wine to one physical nation would have wasted the New Wine. The old vessel - the physical nation - needed to move into the new vessel - the world-wide spiritual nation - to be preserved. While many individuals did make this transition, the nation as whole did not and it was destroyed never again to hold the New Wine.

Jan. 31/08 - Matt. 9:15

And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

Jesus wasn't embarrassed or defensive about their question. He had nothing to hide and He was confident in His actions. Nor did He put them down for asking such a question. He did not say they were wrong for fasting, either.

He answered their question straightforwardly. There is a time for rejoicing and a time for mourning. There is a time to celebrate all the goodness of God and a time for disciplining the body and focusing the mind. When Jesus with the disciples it was a time of great joy and He personally led them and declared the will of God to them. The time was coming when He would no longer be physically present. After that, although there would still be times of joy, there would also be times of fasting as the disciples needed to focus their minds to discover the will of God for themselves.

It is all about knowing the times and seasons of life. And we are not all in the same season at the same time. Someone may be in the season of rejoicing while another is in the season the fasting or trial. We need to be sensitive to each other and not except everyone to be in the same season we are in.

Jan. 30/08 - Matt. 9:14

Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

Was this an honest question or was it busy-body, legalist question? If it had come from the Pharisees then I would have had no question. Coming from the disciples of John the Baptist, perhaps we should give them the benefit of the doubt.

In any case, they noticed Jesus and His disciples were different. They maintained their holy standards but they were not withdrawn from the people. They mingled, they were welcome, and they did not lose the people's respect because of it.

The particular question had to do with fasting. Fasting was a way of disciplining the body and focusing the mind on spiritual things. Why did the disciples of Jesus neglect this important exercise of self-control?

Jan. 26/08 - Matt. 9:13

But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Sacrifice was necessary under the Old Testament system but it was never enough. Ritual is never enough. It must come from faith...from the heart. The Pharisees had the ritual down but their heart was hard so the ritual was useless. Mercy shows a soft heart, a heart that reaches out to others. Mercy is the heart of God.

The outwardly righteous - if it is not a heart-righteousness - are only self-righteous. They are legalistic and cut down anyone who doesn't measure up to their standards. Legalism is a dog eat dog world. God wants us to live righteous lives through the Lord Jesus Christ but that causes us to reach out to others in mercy and love... not to reject them. It is people who know they are unrighteous that are often the most ready to hear the gospel...if it will come from loving lips and helping hands.

Jan. 25/08 - Matt. 9:12

But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

Jesus became aware the discussion at the edge of the party. His reply is classic. It is the sick people who need help. No point in sending the doctor to someone who is healthy! Who could argue with that logic?

Jesus was not saying that the Pharisees were healthy. In many ways they were more sick than the publicans and sinners. However, they thought they were healthy. The first step to solving any problem is to admit there is a problem. If person is living in denial, then the healing process cannot be begun. The person who knows they have a problem and is willing to face it is the person who can be helped.

Jan. 22/08 - Matt. 9:11

And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

Of course, the religious rulers frowned on such activity. The disciples must have been near the door because they were the ones the Pharisees could talk to the easiest. The Pharisees could not understand why Jesus would hang out with outcasts. Neither could the disciples. Jesus was making a bad name for Himself and dragging them down with Him! They might get thrown out of the synagogue if this kept up. In that society being thrown out of the synagogue was a big thing. They would be outcasts themselves, disowned by their families and looked down on and rejected by every "good" person."

Jan. 21/08 - Matt. 9:10

And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

Matthew was so happy that Jesus called him and respected him and he did the greatest thing he could think of: He gave Jesus a party. He invited Him for dinner - and, of course, he invited all his friends, too. Because of who he was, his friends were not the good up-right citizens the disciples wanted to hang out with. They were tax collectors, criminals, prostitutes...the rejects of good society. The disciples were probably sitting as close to the door as they could wishing they were anywhere else! Jesus; however, was right at home. He did not partake of their sin but he wasn't condemning either. They liked Him! They wanted to be around Him! Is that how the world feels about His disciples today?

Jan. 19/08 - Matt. 9:9

And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

Matthew was a tax collector. A Jew who had sold himself to the Romans to collect their charges from his own people. A more hated man could not be imagined. Often tax collectors were corrupt taking more than they had to in order to line their own pockets. It would be someone like collecting extortion fees for the mafia.

Nevertheless, Jesus choose him. The other disciples probably cringed to think of this man being included in their group. Tensions were probably high. Jesus saw the heart. He never looked on outward appearances, He always dealt with the heart. He saw people as lost and redeemable. In love, He reached to Matthew.

Matthew, of course, is the one who wrote this gospel. He is the only writer to say that Jesus "saw a MAN." Everyone else who looked at him saw a dog, a worm, a criminal, etc. Jesus saw a man. Jesus gave him respect. In dealing with people, we need to treat them with respect and honour no matter what their outward appearance or actions are.

Jan. 18/08 - Matt. 9:8

But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

While the religious leaders did not appreciate the works of Jesus, the average person did. They were amazed that God had given such power to men. It had been 400 years since a prophet of God had walked the earth and now here was One in their lifetime doing wonderful works and showing the love of God. Since Jesus returned to the Father, the Holy Spirit has been sent to carry on the works of God through His people. You and I can also bring the love and forgiveness of God to hurting people through the power of the Holy Spirit. He can do miracles through our lives as well. One of the things Jesus did was to show us how man without sin should live. He is the example of what mankind was always intended to be.

Jan. 17/08 - Matt. 9:6-7

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. And he arose, and departed to his house.

The man's healing was evidence that his sins had been forgiven. In other words, he could not have been healed until his sins were forgiven. The scribes understood this. They should have been excited that now the Messiah had come. Sin could be forgiven - not just covered. But no, they saw it as a threat to their power, authority, position. It just entrenched them all the more in their warfare against Jesus. Even the best of acts will not make friends of everyone. In some cases, it will just make them bitter enemies. Nevertheless, we do not stop obeying God and doing acts of kindness because we are afraid of the reactions of some people.

Jan. 15/08 - Matt. 9:5

For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?

Because this man's sin was the root problem forgiveness and healing went together. I wonder if many times [not all times] when we pray for people and they don't get healed it is because we are trying to deal with symptoms instead of root causes. In our compassion we may be wanted to relieve pain and ignoring the cause. We need the discernment of the Holy Spirit.

Jan. 14/08 - Matt. 9:4

And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

Jesus knew what they were thinking. This was not because of His Divine nature. When He came to earth He laid aside His Divine nature and all the advantages of it. He lived His life here just as you and I do. He knew what they were thinking because it was revealed to Him by the Holy Spirit. This is the same Holy Spirit Who lives in you and I. He is able to reveal the true nature of people and circumstances around us if necessary...and we are listening.

Jan. 12/08 - Matt. 9:3

And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.

The hard-harded scribes thought Jesus was blaspheming. Of course, if Jesus had been merely a Man operating on His Own authority, they would have been right. As scribes - masters of the Old Testament - they had no excuse for their ignorance. They knew Who Jesus was, or they certainly should have known. They studied the evidence everyday.

Study is important but by itself it does not produce righteousness. It can produce pride and hard hearts. We need to study - and apply - the Word of God with open and teachable hearts. Then we will truly learn and not make the same mistake the Scribes made as them committed blasphemy themselves!

Jan. 11/08 - Matt. 9:2

And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

Interestingly the Bible does not say whether the sick man had faith for his own healing or not. It was the people who brought the sick man to Jesus who had the faith. Since faith is a gift from God, when Jesus saw faith, He knew the will of the Father was to heal the man.

Jesus did not start with the healing. He encouraged the man, helping him to overcome whatever fear he may have had. Then Jesus went to the root of the problem. It is dangerous coming to Jesus because He never deals with symptoms until the root cause is out in the open. Many people want to be delivered from the consequences of their actions but they do not want to change their actions! This man's sin - we are not told what specific sin - had caused his sickness. Sin had to be dwelt with first. Jesus forgave the sin. Case closed.

It is important to know that sickness is in the world because of original sin. Specific, personal sins can cause physical sickness - as in this case. But not every sickness is caused by personal sin. Some sickness comes simply as a result of living in a fallen world. If we become sick we do need to examine ourselves to see if sin is at the root of it while realizing that it is only one of several possible explanations. In the same way, if a friend is sick we are not to condemn them for a lack of faith or for sin in their lives. That may not be the reason at all.

Jan. 10/08 - Matt. 9:1

And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.

Jesus did not force Himself on the unwilling city, He did not try to convince them of their mistake, He did not condemn them for their request. He simply left. He wasn't wanted, He left.

This should be a warning for us. If we ask Jesus to leave, He will. If we don't want His presence, we won't have it. If we want to walk in the hardness of our own hearts, He will let us. Jesus will not force Himself on us. But He is not puppet to be called back at our will or whenever we want Him. If He leaves, He may never return until judgment day. Or He may give us another opportunity. This choice is His, not ours. Be careful what you ask for, you might get it.

Jan. 9/08 - Matt. 8:34

And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.

When the whole city heard what had happened, they came out. In all fairness it does not seem that the loss of the pigs was their primary concern. They knew the power of the devils in these two demonized men. If Jesus had cast out the devils, then He must be more powerful. That scared them. It was a power beyond their ability to understand and control. Like us, they wanted to think they were in control of their destiny and they resisted anything or anyone that would expose their fantasy world. And so, instead of submitting to Jesus, they asked Him to leave. How sad, but how many times do we do the same thing?

Jan. 8/08 - Matt. 8:33

And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.

The heathens who kept the pigs fled. They were scared by what they had witnessed. But their fear drove them away from Jesus instead of to Jesus. We need to allow our fears, struggles, temptations to drive us to Jesus. It is there we can find the answers for what we need and have peace of soul in every situation. Often; however, we allow things to drive us away from Jesus. Going to Jesus becomes a last option after everything else has failed.

Jan. 7/08 - Matt. 8:32

And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.

I do not understand why Jesus allowed the devils to go into the pigs. Why not just cast them out and be done with it? If you have any ideas, let me know.

For whatever reason, Jesus did it but the unclean animals could not contain the unclean spirits and the animals rushed over a cliff and drown. The evil spirits ended up without bodies anyway. There seems to be something about evil spirits that desires a body to live in. If they cannot get a human body, it seems they may settle for an animal one. The dramatization of a true story in the movie The Ghost And The Darkness would give the impression that animals could be demonized.

Even though the demons were a legion they could not resist Jesus. His Word is Law. They had to obey. It seems that Jesus has more challenges getting His own people to walk in obedience that anything or anyone else in any realm!

Jan. 5/08 - Matt. 8:30-31

And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.

The devils were wiser than a lot of Christians. They knew their time of tormenting these men was over and they wanted to delay their final punishment so they presented and alternative plan which they thought would be acceptable. Often we go to Jesus in prayer - or even just live life - without any plan or purpose. We make general requests without any specific goals or plans. Then we wonder why God fails to answer.

Pig were unclean animals so it is only fitting that unclean spirits should reside there. We also know this was not a God-fearing community because no one familiar with the Laws of God in Old Testament times would have been keeping pigs.

Jan. 4/08 - Matt. 8:29

And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

These dangerous, demon-possessed men, who terrorized the neighbourhood, where scared of Jesus. Or rather, the demons who possessed them were scared of Jesus. They knew that here was One Who was more powerful than they were. They knew where they were going to spend eternity - in the agonies of Hell - and they wanted to delay it as long as possible. There was no question of a power struggle. They knew Jesus had the authority to do what He wanted with them.

In the same way, we now have Jesus living inside of us via the Holy Spirit. As we walk in submission to Christ, we need fear no demonic power. We are sealed and protected. In fact, they are to fear us. If this knowledge makes us proud or careless then we are headed for a fall.

Jan. 3/08 - Matt. 8:28

And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.

Jesus did not always meet the nice people. Some strange and dangerous people came across His path. Since Jesus knew He was in the center of God's will, fear was never an option. Anything or anyone that the Father allowed into His life was there for a purpose and He had the power of God to deal with the situation. The same is true of us, if we are walking with God. Everything that happens is allowed by God for our good and His glory if we will handle it in the right way. We can face even the difficult situations of life with confidence. We do not have to be fearful or overwhelmed.

Jan. 2/08 - Matt. 8:27

But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

The disciples were surprised when Jesus answered their desperate cry. They were shocked at the extent of His power and authority. The storm was an opportunity for God to open their eyes to the true nature of reality. It was a chance to respond in faith. Even through they failed the test, Jesus did not reject them. He corrected them, and then moved on. There would be other tests and other opportunities. Jesus does not reject us when we fail. He loves us still. He meets our needs. And He leads us on.

Jan 1/08 - Matt. 8:26

And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

Jesus rebuked His disciples for their fear and lack of faith. The disciples were driven by fear of the circumstances. Yes, the circumstances were serious, but they could not get their eyes off the problem and see the hand of God behind the problem. They saw the physical reality but failed to see the spiritual reality. Their faith was in the problem not in the Answer. When we respond in fear or panic to situations - no matter how serious - we reveal a lack of trust and faith in God. If God is in control we can be at peace no matter what is happening around us. Let us keep our eyes on God and follow Him fearless of where He may lead.

Dec. 31/07 - Matt. 8:25

And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.

Most of these disciples had been professional fishermen. They were familiar with the ways of sea. If they thought they were in danger - they were in danger. Their lives were on line. In fear they ran to Jesus. At least, they knew where to go. How they thought Jesus would save them I don't know because they were surprised when He did. When we are in a panic we don't think things through.

Dec. 29/07 - Matt. 8:24

And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

Just because we follow Jesus does not mean life will be smooth. Sometimes Jesus leads us into the storm! This was not a minor upset. This was a life-threatening situation. We seek the clam but Jesus walks in the storm. Following Jesus will drive us out of our comfort zone. The question is: Do we want to follow Jesus or not?

Notice the action of Jesus. He is asleep. The waves are rolling, the water is swamping the boat and He is peacefully sleeping. He knew God was in control. He knew He had to die on the cross; therefore, He could not die before that time. No need to worry or get upset. The disciples were driven by the very real circumstances around them. Jesus looked to the Truth beyond the circumstances. We too can walk calmly through the storms of life. Nothing can touch us that God does not allow for our good. We can trust Him. We don't have to worry about life. Unless we are tempting God, we are immortal until it comes to God's time for us to die, and when God's time comes no force on earth will save us.

Dec. 28/07 - Matt. 8:23

And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.

Wherever Jesus went, His disciples followed Him. They did not give Him directions. They did not direct His paths. They followed. That is our job as well. We don't give God directions. We don't set the agenda. We follow.

Dec. 27/07 - Matt. 8:21-22

And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

There can be no priority in life greater than following Jesus. We cannot compromise the Gospel. Many try to make the Gospel "acceptable" to the world by compromising with evolution, world systems, political agendas, blind nationalism, etc. NO. Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords. His only terms are: Unconditional Surrender. His way or no way. This does not mean that we present the Gospel in an offense way, but it does mean we present to true Gospel. Neither does this mean that we neglect our earthly responsibilities. Part of a truly spiritual life is being responsible to our families, employers, etc.

Dec. 22/07 - Matt. 8:19-20

And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath nowhere to lay his head.

How you start the race is not as important as how you finish the race. Many have great goals and intentions. but discover later on that the cost is more than they want to pay. Someone has said, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions." We need to count the cost in advance and then be faithful to our commitment.

Jesus, Creator of the Universe, owned no property. He left it all for us. This does not mean that we cannot own property or enjoy that things of this world. Jesus left it all so we could enjoy life - eternal life and life in this world. There are times when we, too, must make sacrifices for the cause of the Gospel. We are involved in a war. If God allows us to enjoy many things in this life, great, but never let that become a priority. The Kingdom of God is always the priority.

Dec. 21/07 - Matt. 8:18

Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.

Jesus was the opposite of most preachers today. Jesus saw the crowds coming and instead of polishing His sermon, He left. While Jesus ministered to people His priority was always doing the will of the Father. We wear ourselves out, get under stress and guilt, and desert our families because people are our priority. They do have real needs and we feel we have to meet all of them. The need of the people often out weighs the will of the Father. When that happens we not only destroy ourselves and often our family, but also we do not really help others either. The will of the Father must be our priority. We are not God. We are not responsible for meeting everyone's needs. We are responsible to obey God, nothing more, nothing less.

Dec. 20/07 - Matt. 8:17

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

The small picture is the individual lives that were changed [very important]. In the big picture He was fulfilling the prophecies about the Messiah. He was showing Himself to be God in the flesh, the Chosen One.

Jesus did not separate Himself from our needs. He identified with them. He took our problems and sicknesses on Himself. He was not offended or turned off by our weaknesses. He simply rolled up His sleeves and went to work. He got involved.

Dec. 19/07 - Matt. 8:16

When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:

Jesus did not heal everyone He came across in life, but He did heal everyone who came to Him. As far as I know, with only one exception, all the healings were immediate. He also cast out evil spirits. He showed His authority over the spiritual and natural aspects of the world. He only needed a word. It was not a dramatic show or epic fight. He spoke and it happened.

Dec. 18/07 - Matt. 8:15

And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.

Jesus was a Man full of compassion. He instantly healed her.

When I read this I used to think it was a little mean for her to have to start serving as soon as she was healed. But I have come to see that she was the type of person that loved to serve. You probably couldn't stop her! As soon as she was feeling well her natural response was to see that everyone was well fed [Jesus, have that last piece of pie, I insist. It just can't go to waste!] and cared for.

Dec. 17/07 - Matt. 8:14

And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever.

From this we learn that Peter was a married man. Peter dedicated himself to attended the School of Jesus for three years, although there must have been many "home" times during that period. Obviously, he did not neglect his family because Scripture later indicates that his wife travelled with him in ministry. There was no resentment on her part for his time with Jesus.

It may be that Peter's father-in-law had died before this time since his mother-in-law appears to have been living in his house. Or perhaps she was only moved there so his wife could better care for her. In any case this illustrates the necessity of a family looking after its own to the best of its ability. There would be little need of church welfare or of government welfare [which is illegitimate in any case] if families took seriously their responsibilities.

Dec. 15/07 - Matt. 8:13

And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

The centurion's request was granted. His faith was rewarded. His servant was healed instantly.

Some people have made the mistake of thinking that if they have faith then God must answer their request. First, God MUST do nothing. He is God and cannot be controlled or manipulated by man. Second, faith will draw a response from God, not always the response we were looking for. Since faith is a gift from God [we cannot work it up], He gives us faith for what He wants to do. The problem is that people confuse genuine faith with presumption. Presumption is trying to manipulate God to do what we want. It never works.

Dec. 14/07 - Matt. 8:12

But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Who were the children of kingdom referred to here? Who is going from the Kingdom of Light to the Kingdom of Darkness? The Israelites who trusted in the flesh. The Jews thought they were God's people because of their national heritage [many Christians today hold similar views about the Jews]. Jesus said, "No." Salvation is solely based on trusting in the finished work of Christ on Calvary and coming under His Lordship. National heritage is not enough - and never was.

People today who trust in their national or family heritage, their church attendance, their prayers, their good works or anything other than the Lord Jesus Christ are in the same position. They have the same false confidence that the Jews of Jesus' day had, and they will meet the same end if they are not awaken to the Truth.

Dec. 13/07 - Matt. 8:11

And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

As we see in Covenants, God's plan has always been world-wide. God has a big heart. He never intended to limit His blessing to one small nation. Limiting was necessary for a time as the way for the Messiah was being prepared but it was always a temporary measure. Christians today who love to focus on this one small nation have missed the point.

Dec. 12/07 - Matt. 8:10

When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

This outsider had more faith than any of the people of Israel - including the disciples! Never despise those who are different or may not be our "first" choice. If we are humble we can learn from everyone. We rob our own lives when we exclude them.

Dec. 11/07 - Matt. 8:8-9

The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not wo