Archives for January 2014

So my honesty will answer for me later, when you come to look into my wages with you. Every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats and black among the lambs, if found with me, shall be counted stolen.” Genesis 30:33 (ESV)

Jacob’s integrity in his work and dealings with Laban were based on his trust and faith in God. If we trust in the Lord to take care of us there is no need for us to be dishonest or come up with our own schemes

But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. Matthew 22:29 (ESV)

This is great, Jesus in rebuking the Sadducees makes clear to us that we should both know the correct context of scripture and experientially know the power and person of God

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Matthew 22:37 (ESV)

God is uppermost in his own affections, this is the ultimate purpose of our lives, to Love God with everything, using the energy he has provided to serve, honour and glorify him.

If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” Matthew 22:45 (ESV)

Jesus points the leaders back to the old testament to make it clear that the Messiah is more than just a descendant of David but is the Lord God himself, The Son of the Living God.

But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Matthew 23:8–12 (ESV)

Jesus doesn’t want us to live like the Pharisees who saw themselves as better than the “normal” believers in Israel. This is how we should live in the God’s kingdom, we should be humble and serve well. We are all brothers and are all equal under Christ and should not have priests like Roman Catholicism.

You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? Matthew 23:33 (ESV)

Jesus boldly confronts, sin, falsehood and hypocrisy and tells them that (without repentance) there is no escape from hell. We can learn for Jesus boldness and unmixed speech.

Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask this. Ecclesiastes 7:10 (ESV)

This is why we should not get sidetracked with relative moralism by looking back at older days and saying things like “what has happened to society?” etc. The fact is evil has always been in the world since the fall and the enemy would like us to be nostalgic.

Instead we should state the truth regardless of how today is different from yesterday, without appealing to relativism in any of its subtle forms.

And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Genesis 28:13–14 (ESV)

God affirms his promise concerning the land and the people to Jacob just like he had done to Isaac and Abraham. The vision of the ladder also points forward to Jesus who is the only way to God.

Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Genesis 28:15 (ESV)

God doesn’t just see the future, he actively brings his will to pass. This truth should fill us with hope and faith in him.

And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing. Genesis 29:35 (ESV)

God blessed Leah with four sons at this point, when each was born she hoped her relationship with Jacob would improve but with this forth son her focus is no longer on her reluctant husband but on the Lord and she praises God for remembering and blessing her despite man’s hate / indifference.

And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. Matthew 21:30 (ESV)

Agreeing with God verbally and mentally means nothing if we do not obey him

Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. Matthew 21:43 (ESV)

Jesus is dealing with the religious leaders in Israel at this point who have failed to produce fruit for God. This spells the end of the Jewish leaders role in mediating God’s authority as his priests, this now became the responsibility of every believer in Christ both Jew and Gentile. We must seek to have fruitful lives that bring God pleasure.

Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ Matthew 22:9 (ESV)

The call to salvation is to all, we should tell everyone

For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14 (ESV)

Many are invited, but like in the parable many refuse to come while others try to come on their own terms and do not truly submit to God and his kingdom proving themselves to be false converts and are rejected like the man in the parable. Those who remain at the wedding are the chosen.

It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. Ecclesiastes 7:2 (ESV)

One day each of us will die. We should not stick our heads in the sand as if it will never happen… it will. So we should take note and live our lives in light of that reality, we should leave a good name behind us.

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. Ecclesiastes 7:4 (ESV)

The wise are conscious of coming death, while the foolish think only of temporal pleasures. The wisdom of acknowledging death will teach us to number our day, use our time wisely and avoid sin.

Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!” Genesis 27:29 (ESV)

This is why being Anti Jewish is foolish, it is self destructive. This is like the promise God had made to Abraham

“See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.” Matthew 20:18–19 (ESV)

Jesus was very aware of what would happen to him, none of it came as a surprise God knows everything, past, present and future… nothing surprises him or is outside his control. Jesus suffering, death and resurrection was not a tragedy, it was God’s great victory.

It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:26–28 (ESV)

To lead like Jesus in God’s kingdom we should joyfully serve God and others from a sincere heart

And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. Matthew 21:14 (ESV)

Once Jesus had cleared the temple of the traders (reminds me of today’s prosperity gospel etc), then true ministry could take place.

And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Matthew 21:22 (ESV)

What an awesome promise, Lord help us to not be swallowed up by pragmatism and our own schemes to get things done, please help us to ask in prayer and keep on asking in faith until we receive in accordance with your good will

All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied. Ecclesiastes 6:7 (ESV)

We will only find satisfaction in Jesus if our appetite is pointed towards him

I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, Genesis 26:4 (ESV)

The primary reason the land of Israel belongs to the Jewish people is because God said so

and they made life bitter for Isaac and Rebekah. Genesis 26:35 (ESV)

If our children walk in compromise it will cause distress to our souls, we should pray that they follow the Lord with a whole heart

but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:14 (ESV)

Like Pastor prayed in church yesterday we should seek to bring Children to Jesus and not allow ourselves to be a hindrance to them seeing Jesus and coming to him because of indifference or compromise.

And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” Matthew 19:17 (ESV)

The man asked Jesus what good deed he needed to do to be saved, Jesus answers by correcting his understanding of “good” and then brings in the law to bring conviction of sin. This is the foundation of “The Way of the Master”

When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Matthew 19:22 (ESV)

Jesus challenges the man on the 1st and 2nd commandment, exposing his idolatry towards his material wealth, this idol was too dear to him for him to let it go.

Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. Matthew 19:28–29 (ESV)

The 12 apostle have a unique position as witnesses of Jesus, judges of Israel and writers of the new testament

But many who are first will be last, and the last first. Matthew 19:30 (ESV)

I found this comment helpful…“Those who approach God in childlike trust (vv. 13–15) will be received and advanced in the kingdom beyond those who, from the world’s perspective, enjoy prominence now.”

Carson, D. A. (1984). Matthew. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke (Vol. 8, p. 426). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them … Matthew 20:8–12 (ESV)

In God’s kingdom we are all in need of and are recipents of Gods grace

And Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. Genesis 25:21 (ESV)

We see two really good things here, firstly the faith and dependance on God displayed by Isaac and secondly his love, spiritual covering and care for his wife as a godly husband.

Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. Genesis 25:33–34 (ESV)

The lesson here is that we should not despise and sell as it were our inheritance and rewards in Christ to satisfy the cravings of our flesh.

Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. Genesis 25:34 (ESV)

God’s choice of Jacob over Esau was in God’s preordained plan but was also in line with the desires of the two brothers, one seeking the birthright while the other did not value it. There is no injustice in God’s plans, He is wise beyond our comprehension.

Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:4 (ESV)

Genuine humility in both attitude and service is the pathway to greatness in God’s kingdom. We should all want to be great in Gods eyes (humble, faithful servants).

And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. Matthew 18:8 (ESV)

contrary to the teaching of Jehovah Witnesses and authors like Rob Bell, Jesus clearly taught that hell is eternal.

And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire. Matthew 18:9 (ESV)

Jesus’ point here is not that we should mutilate our bodies but uses the picture to help us understand the extent to which we need to resist sin, kill the desire of the flesh, and pursue holiness. Like John Owen said “be killing sin, or sin be killing you”

So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. Matthew 18:14 (ESV)

God will not sit passively and allow those he has lovingly elected and who believe in him to go astray permanently and perish. This is why God restores those who belong to him. We should be grateful for Gods care, concern and faithful protection and patience with us his little ones.

So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.” Matthew 18:35 (ESV)

We do not earn God’s favour by showing mercy and granting forgiveness however if we do not show mercy and forgivenesses then we can not receive it and show evidence that we are either going astray or were never truly converted. We should pursue this “command” to show mercy can forgiveness every day.

This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind? Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger. Ecclesiastes 5:16–17 (ESV)

We should seek to leave a legacy for our children in this life but most importantly we should build true treasure in heaven

For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart. Ecclesiastes 5:20 (ESV)

Thankfully we now know that the things of this world are not our entire lot, there is also eternal life in heaven. We should enjoy with hearts filled with gratefulness and joy all that God has given us in this life. We should find great pleasure in God, he should be our most precious treasure and we should have a richer sense of his blessings all around us and glorify him for it all.