Daily Writing

Monday, 6 July 2026

And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’” Matthew 21:13

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And He says to them, ‘It has been written: “The ‘house, Mine’, ‘house, prayer’ it will be called.” You also, it, you made ‘cave, robbers’.’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus drove out those selling in the temple and overturned the tables of the money changers and those who sold doves. After having done that, Matthew next records, “And He says to them, ‘It has been written.’”

Jesus uses Scripture as the written authority to justify doing what He has done. Even if the leaders of Israel allowed this under their authority, what they allowed could not be justified if it conflicted with what God submitted in His word. It is His word that established them as a people and gave the leaders their authority to lead.

As for what had been written, Jesus loosely cites Isaiah and Jeremiah, saying, “The ‘house, Mine’, ‘house, prayer’ it will be called.”

This is from Isaiah 56:7. A literal translation from the Hebrew says –

“…for My house, ‘house, intercession’ it will be called to all the peoples.”

Jesus’ citation of this shows what the intent of the temple was. It was to be a house of intercession between God and man. And more, it was for all the peoples, meaning people groups that extend beyond the nation of Israel. Instead of presenting the temple to the peoples in this manner, Jesus next says, “You also, it, you made ‘cave, robbers’.”

Two new words are seen here. The first is spélaion, a cavern or cave. One can see the etymological ancestor of our word spelunk, a cave. Instead of a place of order and structure, a cave is an unshapely, dark dwelling where hidden deeds can be carried out.

The second new word is léstés, a robber. It is someone who steals out in the open, typically with violence. The thought is something like a bandit or a marauder. If on the high seas, it would be a pirate. Jesus’ words are cited from Jeremiah 7:11 –

“The ‘cave, tyrants’ it became, the house, the this, which it was called, My name, upon it.”

The Hebrew word parits, tyrant, is from parats, to break out. As such, the word refers to someone like a violent destroyer. The people had taken a good thing and destroyed its intended use. Because of their treatment of the House of God, Jesus was compelled to take action, setting things right before His Father.

Life application: One can see how God jealously protects His dwelling. The tabernacle and then the temple were edifices intended to reflect the glory of who God in Christ would be and what He would do. Each implement was a type and shadow of Jesus, meaning His person and His ministry.

They had profaned that by allowing things not designated by God to interfere with what was ordained by Him. But this is something we can do today as well. God has presented Christ Jesus to the world. The gospels are recorded, and the epistles have been provided to explain Jesus and His ministry.

But anytime we deviate from what is written, even unintentionally, we mar and deface God’s presentation of Christ, just as those of Israel marred and defaced the anticipations of Christ in their treatment of God’s house.

In Ezekiel 9:1-11, God judged and destroyed the people for exactly this irreverent attitude. Take time to read that passage today and think about what our actions deserve when we treat the word in a similar manner.

Do you think God is pleased with legalism? Is He pleased with liberal theology? Will He be forgiving of Joseph Smith’s addition to Scripture in the Book of Mormon or the Seventh Day Adventists’ esteeming of the writings of Ellen G. White? No. He will pour out His anger on those who so manipulate and twist His word for their own demented purposes.

God does not change. Let us not manipulate the sacredness of God’s word, but treat it as holy and sacred.

Lord God, may our treatment of Your word demonstrate a caring and respectful attitude toward its contents at all times. Help us to cherish it, share it properly, and exalt You through our application of it to our lives. Amen.

Sunday, 5 July 2026

Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. Matthew 21:12

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And He entered, the ‘Jesus’, into the ‘temple, the God’, and He ejected all those selling and buying in the temple. And the ‘tables, the coin dealers’ He overturned, and the ‘benches, those selling’ the doves.” (CG)

In the previous verse, the multitudes informed those in the city that it was Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee, whom they were praising. After having entered the city, it next says, “And He entered, the ‘Jesus’, into the ‘temple, the God’.”

Some manuscripts leave off the article before Jesus. They also leave out the words “the God.” The timeline in Mark is different but not irreconcilable. Matthew skips some of what Mark says. Mark places what Jesus will do in the temple on the next day (see Mark 11:11-15).

Matthew is thus making a categorical analysis, while Mark is following a chronological path for his narrative. Understanding this, the accounts do not contradict. The focus is different. Having entered the temple, Matthew continues, saying, “and He ejected all those selling and buying in the temple.”

It is generally accepted that this was in what is known as the Court of the Gentiles. To get a sense of the layout of the temple complex, its size, what went on there, etc., refer to Albert Barnes’ lengthy commentary. In short, the Court of the Gentiles was being used as a place of marketing of animals, currency exchange, etc.

The law prescribed that certain sacrifices be made by those who came for the feast days. These animals had to be spotless, meaning without defect. Rather than bringing their own from a distance, a market was set up where such animals could be purchased.

Likewise, there would be various currencies brought in by the pilgrims. In order to make purchases, however, there would be money exchangers who would trade those units of money for the temple currency known as shekels. This had become a great business where exalted rates for “spotless” approved animals could be made. Also, there would be surcharges for the exchange of money.

Because of this, the priests could make a lot of money from this process. However, this type of business should not have been conducted in the Court of the Gentiles. Any transactions for religious services should have been outside of the temple complex.

For convenience and certainly for control over the process, the priests had taken the area where the nations could come before the Lord, and they had essentially turned it into a Walmart. As such, Matthew next says, “And the ‘tables, the coin-dealers’ He overturned.”

The kollubistes, coin-dealer, is first seen here. It is believed to be akin to kollourion, eye salve, found in Revelation 3:18. These are the money exchangers who possessed the temple shekels and sold them to those with the standard money of those who came.

A second new word is katastrephó, to turn upside down. It is only seen here and in the comparable passage found in Mark 11:15. Jesus, seeing the greed and irreligious nature of what was occurring right in the House of God, took charge and dumped their tables over. Matthew also notes, “and the ‘benches, those selling’ the doves.”

A third new word is now seen, kathedra, a bench. It is derived from kata, down against, and hedraios, to be sedentary, settled, etc. Thus, it is a place where someone plants himself for work, exercising authority (as in Matthew 23:2), etc.

One can see the etymological root of the cathedra, the bishop’s chair, found in Roman Catholicism. That leads to the thought of the cathedral. The irony of calling the Roman Catholic bishop’s seat a cathedra when its three uses in Scripture are noted in a negative light is evident.

Life application: At what point a church passes the line from a place of instruction, worship, and glorification of God to a place like what the temple in Jerusalem had become is debatable.

Everyone wants to think that their way is acceptable, and it is those on the other side of some unseen line who have departed from what is right and proper. But whatever is done in a church setting should be looked at carefully to determine if it is holding fast to the main points of what a church is for.

If the focus is on the music, such as weekly concerts to motivate emotion, that church has become a “me” centered body because people are going for the purpose of being personally motivated.

If the focus is on receiving a blessing based on what one gives, the same is true. The church has become a supposed conduit for people to prosper materially. Such examples are not what church is for. Rather, we are to learn about God, worship Him for the sake of His glory, and fellowship with others, building them up and engaging with them as people who will be spending eternity together in God’s presence.

Take time to evaluate why you are going to church and what you think you are getting out of it. In doing this, you may be able to adjust your priorities so that they more perfectly align with honoring God.

Lord God, help us to focus on You and Your glory in all we do. Forgive us when we make this life about ourselves. We have needs, hopes, and desires, but we should always place them after our devotion to You. This life is temporary. What You have given us in the life to come is eternal. Help us to remember this. Amen.

Saturday, 4 July 2026

So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”  Matthew 21:11

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“The ‘also crowds’, they said, ‘This, He is the prophet, Jesus, the ‘from Nazareth, the Galilee’.’” (CG)

In the previous verse, when Jesus had come into Jerusalem, the people asked who He was. In response, “The ‘also crowds’, they said, ‘This, He is the Prophet, Jesus.’”

This response can be taken in a couple of ways. The first is that they are claiming Jesus is the fulfillment of Moses’ words –

“And the Lord said to me: ‘What they have spoken is good. ¹⁸ I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. ¹⁹ And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him.’” Deuteronomy 18:17-19

This was understood to be a particular prophet who would come in the future, not merely one of a line of prophets. In fact, in John’s gospel, that this is a particular individual is made perfectly clear –

“Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’
²⁰ He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, ‘I am not the Christ.’
²¹ And they asked him, ‘What then? Are you Elijah?’
He said, ‘I am not.’
‘Are you the Prophet?’
And he answered, ‘No.’” John 1:19-21

The other option is that the words “the Prophet” refer to one of the many prophets who had arisen since the time of Moses, such as Samuel, Gad, Daniel, Jeremiah, etc. Thus, the people would be speaking in general terms. Based on His being hailed as the Messiah with the quoting of Psalm 118, the former option seems likely, but it is debatable. Along with being noted as the Prophet, it next says, “the ‘from Nazareth, the Galilee’.”

Jesus (Yeshua) was a common name at the time. To ensure He was identified more fully, the area where He was raised and performed so many miracles is affixed to His identity. The stories of great miracles being performed in the area of the Galilee would have permeated the collective conscience of the people.

Life application: To this day, it is debated who Jesus is. Islam has Him in a list of prophets leading to Muhammad. They deny His deity, and they deny that He was killed or crucified. Instead, they teach that He was raised bodily to heaven, protecting Him from death.

Mormons teach that Jesus was a man who became a god. Liberal churches teach that Jesus was a good teacher, but shy away from anything about Him that is confrontational or causes them to admit that their sinful lives will be judged by Him. They have so watered down the message of Jesus that every perversion imaginable is supposedly considered acceptable to Jesus, calling their vile teaching “loving” and “non-judgmental.”

An overwhelming number of messianic churches, along with groups like the Hebrew Roots Movement, teach that Jesus came to restore and “renew” the Mosaic covenant, thus requiring His people to continue observing the Law of Moses. Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that Jesus was the archangel, Michael. He was crucified for sin and then was raised as a “mighty spirit being.” They deny a literal physical resurrection of the Man who is God incarnate.

These are but a few of the skewed and heretical ideas put forth concerning who Jesus is. But getting the “who” of Jesus right is the most important thing any human can do. So important is this issue that CS Lewis, in his book Mere Christianity, used a “poached egg” analogy, illustrating the absurdity of people’s thoughts concerning Jesus.

He notes that a man claiming to be God while being merely human would be a lunatic or the Devil of hell, not a teacher. He compared the delusion of claiming divinity to the insanity of a man who believes he is a poached egg.

Either Jesus is the Lord God, or He is not. To deny His deity, if He is God, cannot be overcome in the process of salvation. The Lord alone is without sin, and the Lord alone deserves the glory for what He has accomplished. If He is the Lord God, it is our duty and responsibility to honor Him as such.

Be careful to consider who Jesus is. Get this point right, believe that God has done what He has done through Jesus, and be saved. This is important.

Lord God, may we be strong in our convictions concerning Jesus and what He has done for us. And may we stand firmly on the good news when talking to others. There is no other Savior, no other access to heaven’s glory, and no other King of the Universe than the Lord God who has come in the Person of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Friday, 3 July 2026

And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” Matthew 21:10

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And having entered, He, into Jerusalem, it was shaken, all the city, saying, ‘Who is this?’” (CG)

In the previous verse, the multitudes were said to have cried out joyous words, hailing Jesus as the fulfillment of the messianic promises, highlighted with words from Psalm 118. With the procession continuing forward, it next says, “And having entered, He, into Jerusalem.”

The words are carefully stated, emphatically showing that Jesus is the focus of attention. It is He who has entered the holy city. The fact that it is Jerusalem brings a sense of foreboding, however. Jesus has already noted before His disciples that “it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem” (Luke 13:30). He also said this specifically about Himself just a short time before –

“Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, ¹⁸ ‘Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, ¹⁹ and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.’” Matthew 20:17-19

As for the reception in the city, it next says, “it was shaken, all the city.”

It is a new word, seió, to rock to and fro or sideways, and thus to agitate, move, quake, or shake. It is the same word used in Matthew 27 as a literal shaking –

“Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked [seió], and the rocks were split, ⁵² and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; ⁵³ and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.” Matthew 27: 51-53

This is also the same thought that occurred when Naomi and Ruth came to Bethlehem in Ruth 1:19. The word used was hum, to make an uproar or agitate greatly. As for Jesus’ entry, it is to be remembered that this is the time of the Passover. There would be upwards of two or three million people crowding the city. Such a sight would cause an immense agitation as people vied to get a glimpse of what was going on. In seeing Jesus entering as He did, they were “saying, ‘Who is this?’”

As there were people from all over Israel, as well as pilgrims from other countries returning for the feast, those who had never seen or heard of Jesus would have been wondering why such a large group of people was actively shouting out the words expected of honoring the Messiah Himself. Thus, the confusion and turmoil would have been immense.

Life application: The nation of Israel had the entire week to evaluate the matter set before them. Is this Person being conducted into the city really the Messiah or not? Unfortunately, those who made the decisions for the nation were not to be swayed by the masses.

Instead, they actively voiced their opposition to Jesus and His ministry. And this was done despite all the evidence imaginable having been presented over the previous years that He ministered in their presence.

The people of the land saw what He had accomplished and were convinced that He was the One. And yet, in a few days, He would be crucified and rejected by most of the nation. The ability of those in power to sway the masses is exceptionally strong.

As such, we have to be careful to not allow ourselves to be deluded by supposed specialists in any field, be it politics, religion, medicine, etc. But we also need to not be persuaded by those who speak against specialists, either.

In other words, there are “specialists” at refuting every specialist one can imagine. This is why there are believers in a flat Earth. There are people who convincingly sway the minds of people using faulty logic or manipulation of the data to convince us of one conspiracy or another.

In all such things, we should not assume that what we are presented is correct until we have thought the matter through. Is the Earth billions of years old? When Jesus said, “It is finished,” what was He talking about? Question what you hear before agreeing to someone’s possibly nutty idea about the matter. Did Joseph Smith really hear from God that there is another testament of Jesus Christ?

Be wise and discerning, checking things out. Truth is what corresponds to reality. There is a whole world of untruthful information being tossed before us. Jesus really was heralded as the Messiah by the people. If the masses who were stirred had checked things out, they may have ignored their leaders and saved a great deal of woe.

Someday, they will go to their Scriptures, check out what they say, compare them with the events of the world around them, and conclude that they were wrong about Jesus. It is a lesson we should pay heed to in all things.

Lord God, there is a world full of information and disinformation swirling around us. People have agendas that are often contrary to what is good, normal, logical, and right. Give us wisdom to discern the truth, or at least not to accept what is presented without sufficient evidence concerning whatever matters come our way. Help us in this, O God. Amen.

Thursday, 2 July 2026

Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
“Hosanna to the Son of David!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’
Hosanna in the highest!” Matthew 21:9

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen)

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“The ‘also crowds’, those preceding, and those following, they croaked, saying:

‘Hosanna! The ‘Son, David’!
Having been blessed, the ‘coming in Name, Lord!’
Hosanna in the uppermosts!’” (CG)

In the previous verse, it was noted that a great multitude spread their clothes on the road while others cut down branches from the trees, spreading them on the road as well. It next says, “The ‘also crowds’.”

These would be those just described who thronged around Jesus. The scene would have been rather incredible with Jesus in their midst, being highlighted among them. The description of the crowds is seen in the words, “those preceding, and those following.”

Some wanted to lead the way, as if they were a king’s guards, going before him to herald his name and clear out anyone who stood in the way to hinder the progress. Others would follow behind, as if they were a king’s loyal subjects, willing to follow him into battle or in a victory procession. Such a scene is recorded in 1 Samuel –

“Now it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments. ⁷ So the women sang as they danced, and said:
‘Saul has slain his thousands,
And David his ten thousands.’” 1 Samuel 18: 6, 7

Of those who went before and followed after Jesus, it notes that “they croaked.”

The word has been seen before, krazó, to croak as a raven. Thus, it would be a distinct and loud shout from the masses. They were “saying: ‘Hosanna! The ‘Son, David’!”

It is a new word in the New Testament, coming from the Hebrew words yasha, to save, and na, pray, as in “pray tell.” The form of the verb in the Hebrew would be causative imperative with an emphatic paragoge, thus hoshia (you must surely cause to save) na, pray. The importance of this is because it is what is recorded in the 118^th Psalm –

“Oh, pray, Yehovah!
You must (surely) cause to save (hoshia), pray (na)!” Psalm 118a (CG)

The people were aware that the psalm anticipated the coming Messiah. Their calling out “Hosanna” was an acknowledgement that they believed that He is the fulfillment of that expectation. Their words of this acknowledgment continue with, “Having been blessed, the ‘coming in ‘Name, Lord’!”

This is also found in the 118^th Psalm –

“Blessed the ‘coming’ in ‘name, Yehovah’.” Psalm 118:26a (CG)

Matthew’s words in the Greek use a perfect participle, “having been blessed.” That is followed by a present participle “coming.” Thus, it indicates that the people are proclaiming that Jesus was the fulfillment of the anticipated Messiah and that He continues to fulfill that role. His coming is in the name of Yehovah.

There is no doubt about the intent of their proclamation. The people believe Jesus has been appointed by Yehovah to work His salvation in the name of Yehovah. Because of this, they continue, saying, “Hosanna in the uppermosts!”

Another new word is seen, hupsistos, the plural of hupsos, elevation. Thus, it is a superlative normally translated as “highest.” To preserve the plural, the word “uppermosts” gives the most literal sense. This would be comparable to the Hebrew and Aramaic adjectives elyon, uppermost. When referring to God, it is normally translated as Most High.

It should be noted that the words of the people do not mean that they believed Jesus is God. Rather, they believed He was sent by God to fulfill the messianic role and promises contained in Scripture. It is only in the resurrection and the theology surrounding that event (mixed with an understanding of the virgin birth) that the deity of Christ Jesus can be deduced and explained.

Life application: There is no doubt that the masses of Israel thought that Jesus was the anticipated Messiah. However, the rulers, meaning those who spoke for the nation, rejected this. In their rejection of Him, they had Him crucified.

In His crucifixion, the people then believed the lies of the leaders. Many were saved through faith in Jesus after the resurrection, as testified to in Acts. However, the nation as a whole was led astray by the leaders. In their rejection of Him, they were punished according to the curses set forth in the Law of Moses.

A point should be gleaned from this. We should not allow our spiritual understanding of what God is doing to rest in the hands of others. It is true that we have leaders appointed over us for gaining knowledge about the word, and about what God has done and is doing.

But we should not blindly trust anyone. Look at the disaster that has been caused in cults like the Seventh Day Adventists, the Mormons, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, etc. Look at how people follow Roman Catholicism without regard to Scripture.

Our doctrine and theology must be derived from somewhere. Where is it that you should obtain it? The answer is from God. As God has given us the Bible for this purpose, we should be in the Bible, studying it, and checking out what we are told. Israel, the entire nation of them, has been led astray by false leaders for two thousand years.

Many in the church have followed suit, following leaders who have misdirected people away from the truth of God in Christ. Don’t let anyone do this to you. KNOW YOUR BIBLE and check what you are told.

Lord God, help us to be responsible and check out everything we are told. Your word alone is the instruction we need to know You and what You expect. As we are taught from it, give us the wisdom to then verify what we have been instructed. Amen.