Category: Gospel of the Kingdom

No Wedding Garment! #2

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

“And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless” (Matthew 22:11,12 KJV).

Who is this who has no “wedding garment?”

The Parable of the Wedding Feast (Matthew 22:1-14) is the third parable the Lord spoke to Israel’s unbelieving religious leaders during His final two days alive. See also Matthew 21:28-32 and Matthew 21:33-46. Let us expound this Parable of the Wedding Feast.

Verses 1-3: “And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.” The God of Heaven, Father God, the “king,” seeks to host a wedding and accompanying feast for His Son (Jesus Christ).

Father the King commissions His “servants”—John the Baptist of Matthew chapter 3, the Lord Jesus Himself, the 12 Apostles of Matthew chapter 10, and the 70 preachers of Luke chapter 10—to announce invitations to the Jewish people. Alas, the people summoned during Christ’s earthly ministry were overwhelmingly not interested in attending because of their unbelief. “And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him” (Luke 7:29,30). That is the first call to repentance.

Verses 4-6: “Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.” This is the second call to repentance. In early Acts, the 12 Apostles and the rest of the Little Flock preach as the Holy Spirit empowers them. However, apostate Israel still refuses to believe and continues persecuting these Jewish saints, climaxing in Stephen’s murder in Acts chapter 7….

Spiritual Calligraphy #7

Monday, May 13, 2024

“And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising” (Isaiah 60:3 KJV).

What can today’s Scripture teach us about spiritual calligraphy?

Although the prophetic program anticipated the salvation of Gentiles or the nations through Israel’s rise to kingdom glory (today’s Scripture), God was withholding a secret that He did not reveal until the Apostle Paul’s ministry (beginning in Acts chapter 9).

Read Romans chapter 11: “[11] I say then, Have they [Israel] stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. [12] Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? [13] For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: [14] If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. [15] For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?”

Whereas Israel in prophecy was to be a light to the unbelieving Gentiles, now Gentiles in mystery are to be a light to unbelieving Israel. This was especially true during the Acts transitional period, when Paul’s Gentile converts were advised not to use their liberty under grace in ways that would offend unbelieving Israel. Acts chapter 15: “[19] Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: [20] But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. [21] For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day…. [28] For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; [29] That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.”

Alas, as with unbelieving Israel in time past, so Gentiles in the but now engaged in spiritual cacography….

Spiritual Calligraphy #6

Saturday, May 11, 2024

“And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising” (Isaiah 60:3 KJV).

What can today’s Scripture teach us about spiritual calligraphy?

Though Israel in time past enjoyed many Divine blessings (Romans 9:4,5; cf. Romans 2:17-20 below), the nation as a whole did not take seriously God’s purpose and program for them.

Observe Romans 2:17-24: “[17] Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, [18] And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; [19] And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, [20] An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. [21] Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? [22] Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege [steal idols from temples]? [23] Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? [24] For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.”

Verses 21-24 show how the Jewish people were hypocrites. They bragged to the nations about their (Israeli) status of being God’s people, and how they had the Hebrew Bible… yet they were unwilling to see their own sinful nature as taught in their Hebrew Bible. Israel’s boast was, “We are better than the Gentiles!” Instead of spiritual calligraphy (God’s beautiful words believed by Israel and thus working in Israel to teach the Gentiles), it was spiritual cacography (Greek, “kakos,” as in “evil/sick/diseased;” “grapho,” or “I write”). God’s Hebrew Bible and His Jewish nation entrusted with it were ugly or repulsive to the Gentiles. Verse 24 reveals how Israel in time past repeatedly afforded Gentiles the opportunity to “blaspheme” (speak against) the LORD God. Sadly, watching the Jewish people live in sin, the nations replied: “If that is what it means to be a worshipper of JEHOVAH God, we would rather die in our pagan religions!”

To bring you a special study tomorrow, we will temporarily break away from this devotionals arc….

Spiritual Calligraphy #5

Friday, May 10, 2024

“And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising” (Isaiah 60:3 KJV).

What can today’s Scripture teach us about spiritual calligraphy?

God’s purpose in giving Israel covenants was to bless Gentiles too, as the Apostle Paul argued when citing several Old Testament verses in Romans 15:8-12: “Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written [Psalm 18:49], For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name. And again he saith [Deuteronomy 32:43], Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people. And again [Psalm 117:1], Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people. And again, Esaias saith [Isaiah 11:10], There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.”

The Holy Spirit, through the Apostle Peter, reminded Israel of the covenant God made with their forefathers: “Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities” (Acts 3:24-26).

As per this “the gospel of the circumcision” (Galatians 2:7—Peter’s Gospel), Israel was to believe the Gospel of the Kingdom (Jesus is Christ/Messiah). In Christ’s kingdom, they would teach the Gentiles (today’s Scripture). Alas, the Jewish people overwhelmingly refused to receive Jesus as Christ, whether during Matthew to John or early Acts. God could not reach the Gentiles because His chief nation, Israel, was unbelieving, thus failing to become His earthly people whom He could utilize.

Moreover, Israel had become utterly disgusting in the eyes of the Gentiles. In spite of God’s plan, the nations saw the Jewish people as a hypocritical group no better than the rest of the world….

Not Forsaking the Assembling of Ourselves Together? #9

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25 KJV).

Does today’s Scripture render church attendance obligatory?

Whether John the Baptist’s preaching, or Christ’s preaching, or the 12 Apostles’ preaching, the Gospel of the Kingdom was used to call the Jews to repentance (change in mind). Read about early Acts now, as in Acts 2:38-41: “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”

Focus on the Apostle Peter’s urging, “Save yourselves from this untoward generation” (verse 40). “Untoward” means crooked, perverse, warped. Interestingly, the Greek word is “skolios,” from which we get “scoliosis” (abnormal curvature of the spine). You can also see “crooked” in Philippians 2:15 with respect to the Gentile world. In Acts 2:40, it is Israel who is “untoward” (think of “not toward,” the opposite of “toward”). This “generation” of Israel is evil, unbelieving, Christ-rejecting. Remember, Calvary was only seven weeks prior to Peter’s sermon. The Apostle encourages his Jewish audience to believe his message (Jesus is Christ) and thus deliver (isolate, detach, separate) themselves from their apostate (unbelieving) nation.

The Book of Hebrews was written during latter Acts, with Peter’s words in mind. Situated in its context, and contrary to popular belief and widespread ignorance (!), today’s Scripture in no wise—no way, no manner—describes Gentiles gathering in church buildings on Saturdays, Sundays, Wednesdays, or any other day during the duration of the Dispensation of the Grace of God. To use Hebrews 10:25 as though it were applicable to us is to fail (miserably!) to “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15)….

Not Forsaking the Assembling of Ourselves Together? #8

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25 KJV).

Does today’s Scripture render church attendance obligatory?

Friend, mark it well how God used the Gospel of the Kingdom to call the Jewish people to repentance (a change in mind)—whether it was during John the Baptist’s preaching, through the Lord Jesus Christ’s preaching, or during the 12 Apostles’ preaching.

“In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:1,2). “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand… And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people” (Matthew 4:17,23). “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. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 10:5-7).

However, only some in Israel—a Jewish believing remnant—responded in faith to this preaching of “the kingdom of heaven is at hand [near].” This was the “little flock” of saints, a small portion being extracted from the nation: “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). The majority held fast to, or persisted in, their unbelief. Observe: “And all the people that heard him [John the Baptist], and the publicans [tax collectors], justified God [declared God right, fair, just], being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him” (Luke 7:29,30).

A Jewish group was assembling around sound Bible doctrine by faith, whereas the rest were forsaking (abandoning, neglecting, failing) to do so (see today’s Scripture). This was true in both the Four Gospel Records and the early Acts period….

Not Forsaking the Assembling of Ourselves Together? #7

Monday, April 29, 2024

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25 KJV).

Does today’s Scripture render church attendance obligatory?

In Luke 1:15-17, John the Baptist and his ministry are described using the following words: “For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

As noted above, John the Baptist’s ministry was designed “to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” That is, his preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom—Jesus is Messiah/Christ—would summon a believing remnant from apostate/unbelieving (national) Israel. This believing remnant is known as “the Little Flock” (Luke 12:32) or the Messianic Church (Matthew 16:18): “church” here in Greek being “ekklesia,” or “called-out [group]” (the origin of our word “ecclesiastical”).

Watch repentant Jews come to John the Baptist: “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins” (Matthew 3:1-6).

By believing the Gospel of the Kingdom and submitting to his water baptism, John the Baptist’s converts are separating themselves from their unbelieving nation Israel, the nation upon whom God’s wrath is coming (see Matthew 3:7-12)….

Emulation #3

Friday, November 3, 2023

“If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them” (Romans 11:14 KJV).

What is “emulation?”

The primary role of the Apostle Paul was to preach the Gospel of the Grace of God to the whole world: “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). His secondary purpose was a provoking ministry to Israel during the Acts period (see Romans 11:11-14, the context of today’s Scripture). With national Israel temporarily losing her status before God in Acts chapter 7, lost Jews needed to hear updated information concerning what the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was doing.

Therefore, as Paul traveled around the Roman Empire, he visited synagogues (Jewish places of worship) or preached to any lost Jews to announce the change in program (Acts 9:20-22; 13:5,14-52; 14:1-3; 17:1-4,10-11; 18:4-8,19-21; 19:8-9; 28:17-31). “Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you [Israel]: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles” (Acts 13:46). “And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean; from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles” (Acts 18:6). “Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it” (Acts 28:28).

In speaking these words, Paul was indicting Israel for unbelief, for if they refused to trust his Gospel, then they were just as rebellious as their brethren in the land of Palestine who had rejected the Gospel of the Kingdom under Jesus’ earthly ministry and Peter’s ministry in early Acts. If they were to have a relationship with the God of the Bible, they must approach God the way Gentiles are coming, and this is most unflattering to these Jewish people….

Palsy #7

Friday, October 20, 2023

“And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them” (Matthew 4:24 KJV).

What exactly is “palsy?” Why does the Bible feature it?

Once Christ pronounced the man forgiven of his sins, unbelieving Israel regarded it as blasphemy (speaking against, talking evil about, disrespecting God). “This man blasphemeth” (Matthew 9:3). “Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?” (Mark 2:7). “Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” (Luke 5:21). Such reactions proved they really had no concept of Messiah or His purpose. Consequently, He demonstrated He could forgive sins. Before their very eyes, He restored the paralytic to health—and they could not deny it! As it was stated at His incarnation, “…[T]hou shalt call his name JESUS [‘JEHOVAH-Saviour’]: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:25).

The other paralytic the Lord Jesus healed was the servant of a (Gentile) Roman centurion (Matthew 8:5-13). Here, the Lord showed He had the Gentiles in mind during His earthly ministry. He aimed to convert Israel so that He could then reach those Gentiles through redeemed Israel. Unfortunately, while the Gentiles were willing to accept and believe Messiah, Israel was not!

Regarding the Apostle Peter healing paralytic Aeneas in Acts 9:32-35, this miracle was performed in conjunction with the start of Paul’s ministry earlier in the chapter. Though Paul’s Gentile apostleship is in effect, it will not go on forever. At some point, our mystery program will close so God can continue the prophetic program and raise Israel to kingdom glory (as symbolized with Aeneas). Aeneas had suffered palsy eight years. Eight in Scripture is the number of new beginnings (seven signifying perfection or completion). When Messiah Jesus comes back, Israel’s national spiritual palsy will be cured (Isaiah 59:20–60:3; Zechariah 8:20-23).

“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice [be of good cheer!] for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy” (Isaiah 65:17,18).

Palsy #6

Thursday, October 19, 2023

“And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them” (Matthew 4:24 KJV).

What exactly is “palsy?” Why does the Bible feature it?

Jesus’ healing miracles were intended to validate, authenticate, or substantiate the Gospel of the Kingdom He was preaching: “Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert” (Isaiah 35:4-6). See how this compares to Matthew 11:1-6 and Luke 7:18-23.

In the case of paralytics—such as Matthew 9:6 (cf. Mark 2:10,11; Luke 5:24)—Christ was proving He could restore Israel to spiritual mobility by correcting (forgiving) their sin problem. Though disabled, by His power they would (and will) walk in His statutes under the New Covenant, serving as His earthly people throughout the endless ages to come (Ezekiel 11:19,20; Ezekiel 36:26,27). In Matthew 9:6 (cf. Mark 2:10,11; Luke 5:24), Jesus’ title is “the Son of man,” which not only underscores His humanity but also His earthly authority. He has the right to reign in the Earth for God’s glory (what Adam failed to do in Genesis chapter 3!).

Observe Daniel 7:13,14: “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”

Yet, during His earthly ministry, Israel doubted Jesus really was whom He claimed to be….