Category: Christ’s earthly ministry

Judge Not? #3

Monday, August 5, 2013

“Judge not, that ye be not judged” (Matthew 7:1 KJV).

Today’s Scripture, often used against the Bible believer who exposes sin for what it is, is not teaching what it is often assumed to assert.

To understand what Jesus Christ meant we must read the context: “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:1-5).

Our Lord is referring to hypocritical judging. Romans 2:21,22 provide an example: “Thou [Jew, verse 17] therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?” The Jews should have taught the Gentiles the Word of JEHOVAH God. Alas, the Jews were equally guilty of breaking God’s laws as the Gentiles—the Jews acted like the Gentiles who did not even know JEHOVAH!

What Jesus Christ meant in today’s Scripture is that in His kingdom on earth, no hypocritical judging will be tolerated. Whatever standard by which a Jew condemns others’ actions, his own activities will be evaluated by that same standard. For instance, he will come under God’s condemnation if he ridicules a thief, when he himself has been dishonest (a fact he ignores). He emphasizes the sin of one person (the “mote,” or speck), but he has many sins (the “beam,” or log)—in fact, he is guilty of the same sins!

This, however, does not mean we Christians are to remain apathetic—silent—about sin….

The King, the Donkey, and the Horse #5

Sunday, July 28, 2013

“…[T]he sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow” (1 Peter 1:11 KJV).

The King appeared once, and He shall return….

Society is becoming increasingly hostile toward Christianity (Jesus Christ never was popular with mankind anyway!). The Bible abounds with verses that discuss Jesus Christ reigning over this planet. After all, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:11). Creation was to originally glorify its Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ, but a usurper, a trespasser, Satan, desires that worship. Hence, there exists “this present evil world” (Galatians 1:4; cf. 1 John 5:19). If Jesus Christ is to reign over this planet, all individuals who oppose His will must be forcefully evicted first.

In the book of the Revelation, the Holy Spirit through the Apostle John summarizes all of the Old Testament prophecies of Jesus Christ’s return to earth (those not fulfilled at His first coming). He came once—meek and lowly to “suffer” and die for man’s sins (today’s Scripture). Now, He is coming back to righteously judge whoever rejects that sacrifice He made at Calvary, to dispossess the earth from Satan and purify it so as to reign over that creation that was originally made for Him—“the glory that should follow” (today’s Scripture).

Jesus Christ Himself foretold, “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory” (Matthew 25:31). We see a brief glimpse of that “glory” at the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 16:28–17:8; Mark 9:1-8; Luke 9:27-36).

At His Second Coming, Jesus Christ will leave the third heaven, with tens of thousands of mighty angelic soldiers following Him. They will glide over the Middle East, utterly conquering Satan and his troops gathered against believing Israel (Psalm 68:1-35; Psalm 83:1-18; Isaiah 63:1-6; Joel 3:1-16; Zechariah 14:1-5; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Jude 14,15; Revelation 19:11-21; et al.). With the opposition gone, Jesus Christ can dismount His horse and reign over earth….

The King, the Donkey, and the Horse #4

Saturday, July 27, 2013

“…[T]he sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow” (1 Peter 1:11 KJV).

The King appeared once, and He shall return….

When Jesus Christ came to His nation Israel, He had every right to utterly consume them in His wrath. They had ignored Him ever since their early days, nearly 2,000 years before, by worshipping pagan idols. When He was born as a human, they treated Him no better. For three years, He was ridiculed and slandered as being crazy, an imposter, a drunkard, a devil-possessed individual, et cetera.

Ultimately, Israel demanded the Roman government crucify Him, and they did—yea, Jesus experienced the death of a despicable criminal. Christ’s crucifixion was extremely horrific, and although He knew everything that was coming, He never fought against it. Again, the Old Testament prophets spoke of Jesus Christ as being meek and lowly, the attitude He had leading up to His death. These prophets spoke of “the sufferings of Christ” (today’s Scripture). That was His Father’s will, and He came to please His Father! “Abba, Father… nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt” (Mark 14:36; cf. Matthew 26:39; Luke 22:42; John 18:11).

Jesus Christ will one day return to earth. This time, however, He will not be a meek and lowly donkey-rider. In those Bible days, when a king rode a horse into a foreign city or country, he was demonstrating an attitude of war toward that land’s government. Interestingly enough, the Apostle John writes in Revelation 19:11: “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.” This is Jesus Christ’s Second Coming, when He sheds His enemies’ blood and reigns as earth’s Supreme King, fulfilling the “glory” that today’s Scripture, and the Old Testament prophets, foretold….

The King, the Donkey, and the Horse #3

Friday, July 26, 2013

“…[T]he sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow” (1 Peter 1:11 KJV).

The King appeared once, and He shall return….

Five centuries after the prophet Zechariah wrote, Israel’s Messiah-King (Jesus) rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, fulfilling Zechariah 9:9. However, Israel cried out, “We have no king but Caesar!” (John 19:15). Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected the third day, but Israel still refused Him. He went back into heaven as an exile, rejected of His own people. As the book of Acts progresses, we learn that Israel is content in unbelief, refusing to listen to Jesus Christ’s apostles and prophets in early Acts (who urge their brethren to accept Him so that they can avoid His wrath when He returns).

Remember, the prophet Zechariah also wrote: “Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south” (Zechariah 14:1-4).

Jesus Christ came to earth the first time riding on a donkey, a gesture of peace toward Israel. Israel refused Him. After His death, burial, and resurrection, He ascended into heaven, where even today He waits until the time when He is to come back. He will return to earth on a horse, bringing salvation to Israel’s believing remnant, but declaring war on all of His (unbelieving) enemies. The “glory” of today’s Scripture must be fulfilled….

The King, the Donkey, and the Horse #2

Thursday, July 25, 2013

“…[T]he sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow” (1 Peter 1:11 KJV).

The King appeared once, and He shall return….

At about age 30, Jesus Christ began His public ministry in Israel (Luke 3:23). Three years later, near His earthly ministry’s conclusion, He rides on a donkey’s foal, a young colt, into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:28-40; John 12:12-19)—the so-called “Triumphal Entry.” Jerusalem is “the city of the great King” (Matthew 5:35; cf. Psalm 48:2). Thus, Jesus Christ, Israel’s King, is offering Himself to her by coming into her capital city, humbly riding on a donkey, fulfilling Zechariah 9:9.

Interestingly enough, in those Bible days, when a king rode a donkey into a foreign city or country, he was demonstrating an attitude of peace toward that land’s government. He was not interested in war, so he came meek and gently. By riding on the donkey, Jesus Christ is not only fulfilling prophecy, but He is also showing Israel that He desires peace between them: He wants them to turn back to Him by faith (Mark 2:17; Luke 19:9,10; Acts 3:24-26; et cetera)!

Recall when the Samaritans refused to receive Christ as He passed through their city years earlier, Apostles James and John asked Him if He wanted them to command fire to come down from heaven and consume those rebels. Jesus replied, “Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them” (Luke 9:55,56). Our Lord affirmed that He did not come to destroy sinners in His righteous wrath but rather He has come to save them! Remember, He is “having salvation” (Zechariah 9:9)—Jesus wants to save Israel, not destroy her.

This is why Jesus Christ was so willing to die. He could have fought off the Roman soldiers, but He did not. Rather, from His arrest onward to Mount Calvary’s cross to the grave, He was humble and silent, quiet as a sheep being led away to be slaughtered (Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 27:14). He had to fulfill “the sufferings” of today’s Scripture….

The King, the Donkey, and the Horse #1

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

“…[T]he sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow” (1 Peter 1:11 KJV).

The King appeared once, and He shall return….

Circa 500 B.C., the prophet Zechariah wrote: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass” (Zechariah 9:9).

For centuries, Israel knew that her Messiah-King would come to her, and He would be riding upon a donkey; yea, the foal (young one) of a donkey would be His means of presenting Himself to His nation Israel. He would be meek (“lowly”) and He would bring Israel soul salvation (“having salvation”).

Near the end of His three-year ministry, Jesus goes to Jerusalem as He did many times before, but on this occasion, He takes a special mode of transportation. This historical narrative is recorded in Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-10, Luke 19:28-40, and John 12:12-19. Jesus Christ instructs two of His disciples to find the female donkey and her young colt tied in a particular location, and bring them to Him.

Matthew 21:4-11 says, “All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them. And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they sat him [Jesus] thereon. And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.”

Let us see how these Bible passages teach a fascinating truth….

A Wise Theologian

Monday, July 8, 2013

“And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found to fight against God” (Acts 5:38,39 KJV).

No theologian has since spoken wiser words….

In the context of today’s Scripture, we find Israel’s one-year extension almost near its end. For three years, Jesus Christ preached to the nation, and most Jews ignored the gospel of the kingdom that He was their Messiah-King. When they crucified Him, He resurrected and He left earth as a royal exile. Before He returned to heaven, He commissioned His apostles to continue His work on earth: convert Israel. For one year, Israel’s believing remnant, particularly the 12 apostles, offered Israel a renewed opportunity of repentance, to accept Jesus as Messiah-King. This one-year period is documented in Acts chapters 1 through 7, the context of today’s Scripture.

Israel’s apostles are arrested and thrown in prison, but an angel comes and miraculously releases them (Acts 5:17-20). As the apostles begin preaching Jesus Christ again in the Temple, their escape is discovered, and Israel’s religious leaders have them re-captured and brought before the Sanhedrin, a religious-political governing body in Israel (verses 21-28). Once the apostles preached before them, the council members are convicted by God’s Word, and want to kill the apostles (verses 29-33).

Gamaliel, a rabbi (teacher) of the Mosaic Law, a theologian in the council, cautions his colleagues not to carry out any punishment rashly (verses 34-38)—interestingly, Gamaliel is the teacher of who would later become the Apostle Paul (Acts 22:3)! Gamaliel then relates to the council two instances of how man’s plans are ruined (Acts 5:36,37), arguing if the apostles are undertaking a work of human origin, it will dissolve, but if the apostles are doing the work of the God of the Bible, the council had better take heed, for they will be accountable to God Himself for punishing His servants and rejecting His work (today’s Scripture)!

If only more of today’s theologians agreed with and followed Gamaliel’s advice!

Great Faith Among the Gentiles #4

Friday, June 14, 2013

“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” (Matthew 8:10 KJV).

Let us scrutinize the context in order to see some marvelous Bible truths associated with today’s Scripture, especially why Jesus said what He did.

After the centurion sent Jewish elders, and then friends, to Jesus, Jesus comes even closer to his house, and he and Jesus finally meet face-to-face. “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” (Matthew 8:13). “And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick” (Luke 7:10). Jesus healed the servant using words, having never touched him!

Now, let us return to what our Lord Jesus said in today’s Scripture: “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.” Read Luke 7:9, its companion verse: “When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.”

Christ said “I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel” for the benefit of the Jews following Him. He continues, “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. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:11,12).

Our Lord is reminding Israel that, in her earthly kingdom, there will be believing Gentiles—such as this Roman centurion—fellowshipping with resurrected, physical, literal, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, while there will be unbelieving Jews (who were supposed to be God’s people) suffering in hellfire. Jesus Christ was warning Israel that they needed to have faith in who He was, just like the Roman centurion.

Great Faith Among the Gentiles #3

Thursday, June 13, 2013

“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” (Matthew 8:10 KJV).

Let us scrutinize the context in order to see some marvelous Bible truths associated with today’s Scripture, especially why Jesus said what He did.

Once the centurion (commander of 100 Roman soldiers) heard that Christ had entered his town of Capernaum, he sent Jewish elders to ask Him to heal his sick and dying servant; moreover, the elders affirm that this Gentile is worthy of the miracle being granted because he has loved and blessed Israel (Luke 7:1-5). Jesus agrees, and as He approaches the centurion’s home, the centurion sends friends to Jesus, informing Him that he is not worthy to have Jesus enter his home: he admits that he was not worthy enough to even come to Jesus personally (Luke 7:6,7). This is where today’s Scripture picks up the account (again, Matthew omits details that only Luke provides).

When Jesus Christ is even closer to the house, the centurion evidently comes out and repeats to Jesus face-to-face what he had sent his friends to tell Him earlier: “The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it” (Matthew 8:8,9). Today’s Scripture says that our Lord Jesus is amazed at this centurion’s statements—this Gentile has more faith than God’s people, Israel!

The centurion knows that there is power in Jesus Christ’s words. Just as this centurion commands servants to “do this” and “do that,” he knows that Jesus Christ can command the paralysis to depart from his dying servant! He knows Jesus can just speak the word from a distance, and his servant would be healed. Let us finish the narrative now….

Great Faith Among the Gentiles #2

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

“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” (Matthew 8:10 KJV).

Let us scrutinize the context in order to see some marvelous Bible truths associated with today’s Scripture, especially why Jesus said what He did.

Comparing today’s Scripture and its context (Matthew 8:5-13) with their companion passage (Luke 7:1-10) provides greater details. Note Luke 7:3-5: “And when he [the centurion] heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: for he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.”

As soon as the Roman centurion (commander of 100 soldiers) who has a sick and dying servant, hears of Jesus’ entrance into Capernaum, he himself does not approach Jesus. Actually, the centurion knows that he can only access God through Israel, as per the Abrahamic Covenant of Genesis 12:3. He knows that Jesus was sent to the nation Israel and not to Gentiles such as him (Romans 15:8). Thus, he sends some Jewish elders to Jesus on his behalf. Note the centurion loved Israel and he even built the Jews a synagogue. He is one of the few Gentiles who are not saturated with paganism—he recognizes Israel’s God is the true God! (Hence Jesus’ response in today’s Scripture.)

Jesus follows the Jewish elders to the centurion’s house, “And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee…” (Luke 7:6,7a). Note the centurion still knows he is too unworthy to speak with Jesus personally: he sent Jewish elders and then friends instead. It is not until Jesus comes even closer to the house that the centurion shows himself.

Before we get to this, however, let us go back a bit….