Author: Charlie Garrett

Saturday, 24 May 2025

But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. Matthew 10:17

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 you caution from the men. For they will deliver you to the councils, and in their synagogues they will flog you” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus told the apostles that they were being sent out as sheep in the midst of wolves. He now begins to explain who these wolves are, beginning with, “And you caution from the men.” He uses the same word and conveys the same idea as what He said about the false prophets in Matthew 7:15 –

“And you caution from the false prophets who – they come to you in clothes of sheep, and inwardly they are wolves – rapacious.”

Just as the false prophets were there to destroy those who carried the true message of Christ, there would be people resistant to their message in the towns and cities they would visit. Understanding this, He continues with, “For they will deliver you to the councils.”

The word here is the same first seen in Matthew 5:22 sunedrion, a sanhedrin or council. This is plural, and so it is not referring to the main Sanhedrin, but a lower set of councils or courts located in the provinces and probably connected to the synagogues. The word signifies a sitting together. Thus, it is a council of men gathered for a set purpose. He also says, “and in their synagogues.”

The word has also been seen already. It is a designation for a solemn Jewish religious assembly. Strong’s says of this word, “by analogy, a Christian church.” Depending on what he is talking about, this may be incorrect. The word is used in the gospels and Acts, always when referring to a gathering of the Jews. It is only again mentioned in James 2:2 and Revelation 2:9 and 3:9. Each of those instances refers only to a Jewish gathering.

It may be a Christian meeting, but only in the sense of Jewish Christians, such as today’s messianic Jews. It is not a term used in the Bible to describe a gathering of Gentiles. Finally, Jesus says of what will occur there, “they will flog you.”

This is a new word, mastigoó, to flog. It is referring to the law of Moses and what is allowed as punishment for transgressors –

“If there is a dispute between men, and they come to court, that the judges may judge them, and they justify the righteous and condemn the wicked, ² then it shall be, if the wicked man deserves to be beaten, that the judge will cause him to lie down and be beaten in his presence, according to his guilt, with a certain number of blows. ³ Forty blows he may give him and no more, lest he should exceed this and beat him with many blows above these, and your brother be humiliated in your sight.” Deuteronomy 25:1-3

Jesus is warning His apostles that this is what they can expect when proclaiming the good news within the land of Israel at this time. Paul refers to this in his second letter to the Corinthians –

“From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.” 2 Corinthians 11:24

Life application: Notice the common denominator in the words of Jesus, the type of gatherings described, the words of Paul, and the context of “who and what” concerning what is stated. It is all about the apostles’ evangelization of the Jews within the land of Israel at this time. Even if Jesus’ words may extend beyond that, though, in the coming verses, the context here excludes Gentiles entirely.

In other words, these words cannot be later applied to the Gentile-led church or Gentiles in general. They only refer to what will come upon Jesus’ Jewish apostles in their ministry to the people of Israel.

Paying attention to, as well as maintaining, proper context reveals this truth. Therefore, if you hear a sermon or teaching on these verses that are then applied to you personally or the church in general, you will know that the instructor has not properly considered the context.

A sermon or teaching on these verses should be for reference and instruction concerning the apostles’ interaction with their people, Israel. Going beyond that will lead those instructed to a false understanding of what Jesus is instructing.

Lord God, it is true that any believer who is willing to proclaim the truth of Jesus may be persecuted for that proclamation, but help us not to use verses that are not intended for us concerning this to justify that it is so. Instead, help us to rightly divide and consider Your word. Amen.

Friday, 23 May 2025

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Matthew 10:16

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “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).

“You behold! I, I send you as sheep in wolves’ midst. You become, therefore, sagacious as the serpents and simple as the doves” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus told the apostles what it would be like on judgment day for the cities that rejected their message. He now continues His words to them, saying, “You behold! I, I send you as sheep in wolves’ midst.”

The pronoun is emphatic, “I, I send you.” Jesus is personally sending them, knowing in advance what they will face. The emphasis looks back on everything He had already faced, knowing that they too would receive like treatment. Thus, they shouldn’t feel that what they were to experience was unique or unknown to Him.

As for the metaphors, they are self-explanatory to anyone who knows the difference between wolves and sheep. This wording was known to Israel from their writings, such as when the Lord, through Ezekiel, spoke of the leaders of Israel in their treatment of the people –

“Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain.” Ezekiel 22:27

This and other instances from Scripture told them that they should expect ill-treatment. They were like lambs. Their message was harmless and should be taken as inoffensive. And yet, when it was heard, they would face vile accusations, possibly be attacked, and so forth. Because this was expected, He next says, “You become, therefore, sagacious as the serpents.”

From the earliest account of man on earth, the serpent is portrayed as a cunning beast. It is the serpent that caused Adam to fall through his deceptive tongue. Barnes notes that the Egyptians used the serpent in their hieroglyphics as a symbol of wisdom. Thus, this was something understood beyond the borders of Israel as a common theme.

Jesus is telling them to be cunning like serpents, not in a negative way, but in the sense that they should be aware of the attacks that would come against them and respond accordingly in a sagacious manner to the situation at hand. Further, He says, “and simple as the doves.”

The adjective translated as simple, akeraios, is most literally translated as unmixed, being derived from the negative particle a and the verb kerannumi, to mix. Saying unmixed, however, may leave the reader not sure what is being referred to.

However, the word simple is from the Latin word simplus which then carried through old French. It signifies a medicine made from one constituent. Thus, it is unmixed or pure. This meaning continues in intent today.

As for the dove, they are just that, pure, untainted by other constituents that might corrupt them. They simply act as doves regardless of the world around them being fraught with terror or easy manipulation. In other words, they don’t join in the terrorizing, nor do they cunningly try to manipulate their surroundings to obtain what they need.

As such, one can see the beauty of the symbolism of the dove representing the Holy Spirit. He meets His purpose within the Godhead without any form of terror or manipulation. Rather, He inspires, helps, edifies, and leads according to the love and wisdom of God, reassuring and comforting those who are His.

Life application: Today, there are nations that have carried the gospel message for eons. The nation itself has been identified with the Christian faith. There are those who are within such nations who are trying to retain their country within that same context. Therefore, they go out and preach the gospel in the streets, hand out tracts, appeal to the masses concerning what is right, etc.

It is true that some of these people are annoying to the point that nobody wants to listen to them. Some of them stand on street corners and condemn everybody to hell. That is not a very good selling point concerning one’s message, but they do it anyway.

Despite people like that, there are those who truly care about sharing the grace of God in Christ Jesus, they pass on a message that is inoffensive, pure, harmless, and good. And yet, there are wolves out there that literally attack them, steal their Bibles, publicly tear them apart, stomp on them, etc.

Some will come up and shout in the faces of these people as if what they are doing is harmful. And yet, it is the most loving thing they could do. They just want people to know Jesus. Some are converted, making their efforts worthwhile. Some will never be converted and continue to rage against Jesus. They must face the same judgment Jesus spoke of in the last verse. It will be more sufferable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for them on that day.

Despite this, it is right that we present the gospel, even if it receives serious animosity and blowback from those we speak to. Our words will serve their purpose if they are rightly spoken in accord with the words of Scripture. So be bold, cunning, and simple all at the same time. But be sure to speak!

Lord God, help us to be people of powerful pronouncement as we walk in Your presence. May our words convey to others the knowledge we possess concerning the riches and glory of the gospel so that others can be saved. Without us, who will speak? Help us to do so! Amen.

Thursday, 22 May 2025

Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city! Matthew 10:15

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “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).

“Amen! I say to you, it will be sufferable – land Sodom and Gomorrah – on judgment day than that city” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus instructed the apostles to out-swing the dust from their feet of any house or city that rejected their word concerning the coming of the kingdom of heaven. Now, He tells them what that act signifies, beginning with, “Amen! I say to you.”

As has been seen, this forms an emphatic declaration concerning what follows. He is stressing the importance of what follows. In this case, it is the ramifications for rejecting the word they carry, saying, “it will be sufferable.”

It is a new adjective, anektoteros, signifying more endurable, more tolerable, etc. It is derived from the verb anechó, to endure, bear with, tolerate, etc. In this case, a single word that will fit the surrounding thought is sufferable. Next, to describe what is sufferable, He says, “land Sodom and Gomorrah.”

The epitome of what is considered biblical punishment and judgment on sin is found in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. So poignant was this lesson found in their writings that the memory of it is referred to throughout their history.

At times, the cities are referred to as the epitome of wickedness. At times, they are used as the epitome of judgment upon it. In Isaiah 1, both thoughts are referred to at one time –

“Unless the Lord of hosts
Had left to us a very small remnant,
We would have become like Sodom,
We would have been made like Gomorrah.
¹⁰ Hear the word of the Lord,
You rulers of Sodom;
Give ear to the law of our God,
You people of Gomorrah.” Isaiah 1:9, 10

These warnings didn’t end with Jesus’ words, though. They are referred to in 2 Peter and Jude. Finally, in Revelation 11, Jerusalem of the tribulation period is equated to Sodom and Egypt, a stinging and shameful rebuke.

Of these cities and what will be sufferable for them, Jesus says, “on judgment day than that city.” In other words, at the time when judgment is meted out upon the world prior to the lost being cast into the Lake of Fire, Sodom and Gomorrah will receive less punishment than such a city. How could that be?

The reason isn’t the direct, flagrant, and open wickedness of these cities. Rather, it is a matter of revealed light. As Jesus says elsewhere –

“But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.” Luke 12:48

Sodom and Gomorrah were cities filled with perverts and wicked people, but they only had the light of general revelation to direct them, along with the consciences that God gave them. Israel, on the other hand, had God’s special revelation in the form of the law, the writings, and the prophets.

They were given these things to lead them to the coming of the Messiah, Jesus. Upon His arrival and His proclamation that everything they were promised was about to be presented to them, they rejected what these writings proclaimed. In their rejection, there could be no excuse. This is a truth that continues to this day.

Life application: Today, it is popular among Christians to give Israel and the Jewish people a pass for their conduct and their way of life. Condemnation of those around her comes quickly, as it should, but when it comes to pointing out the behavior of Israel, there is often not a peep made.

And yet, it is Israel the people who bear the name of God, who openly hold “pride” parades, condone abortion, promote or tolerate wickedness, etc. Christians should support the nation in their state of return because God has ordained it, while not failing to call out their corruption as well as their rejection of Jesus.

Jews must be evangelized like any other group of people. Those who reject Jesus will be eternally separated from God. What came upon them for the past two thousand years was a self-inflicted wound. Paul explicitly says this when writing to those at Thessalonica –

“For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. ¹⁴ For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, ¹⁵ who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, ¹⁶ forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.” 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16

Be sure to pray for Israel, be willing to call out their flaws, and be sure to have tracts ready to hand out to any Jews you meet, just as you would for any other person.

Heavenly Father, help us to think clearly about how You have presented Your word, including its warnings, to the people of the world. Judgment really is coming, and people must be warned of the consequences for failing to heed the word You have given us. May we be bold in this, O God. Amen.

Wednesday, 21 May 2025

And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Matthew 10:14

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “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 who, if not he should receive you nor he should hear your words, departing the house or that city, you out-swing the dust of your feet!” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus continued his instructions about greeting a house when looking to stay with someone in a city. Concerning someone whose peace is not received, Jesus says, “And who, if not he should receive you nor he should hear your words.”

The word dechomai, to receive, is introduced. HELPS Word Studies says, “to receive in a welcoming (receptive) way. … [The personal element is emphasized … which accounts for it always being in the Greek middle voice. This stresses the high level of self-involvement (interest) involved with the ‘welcoming-receiving.’”

If the peace spoken to the house is not well-received, it symbolically returns to the one who made the greeting. The apostles’ words were heard, their mission was explained, and the one to whom the appeal was made found it unsuitable to the state of their household.

This is essentially what Jesus is speaking of. If this is the case, and their words have been rejected, He next says, “departing the house or that city, you out-swing the dust of your feet!”

The word ektinassó, to out-swing, is first used here. It is derived from ek, out or from, and tinassó, to swing. Thus, it literally signifies to out-swing. Saying “shake off,” as most translations say, is a suitable and understandable translation.

One can imagine them walking out of the house or the city, putting their foot forward, and swinging it back and forth as a symbolic gesture of their displeasure at how things transpired. This is something that is seen by Paul in Acts 13 –

“Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
⁴⁹ And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. ⁵⁰ But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. ⁵¹ But they shook off the dust from their feet against them, and came to Iconium. ⁵² And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 13:48-52

A third new word is also seen in this verse, koniortos, dust. It is derived from koniaó, to whitewash or plaster, and ornumi, to rouse. Thus, one can think of something being pulverized. That leads to the thought of dust, which blows about like something as it is pulverized.

This symbolic gesture is a way of indicating that the very dust of the house or city that they visited was repulsive to them and they wanted to be rid of it, lest they carry a vestige of it with them, reminding them of the dirty treatment they received.

Life application: Concerning the act of shaking off the dust in this verse, the Pulpit Commentary, among other similar commentaries, says –

“Treating it as a heathen place, whose pollution must be shaken off. For the very dust from a heathen land was to be reckoned as polluting, since, as Rashi says on Talm. Bab., ‘Sabb.,’ 15b (cf. Lightfoot, ‘Hor. Hebr.,’ in loc.), ‘It may be doubted, of all the dust of a heathen land, whether it were not from the sepulchre of the dead.’”

Because of this comment from Rashi, Vincent’s Word Studies says –

“The very dust of a heathen country was unclean, and it defiled by contact. It was regarded like a grave, or like the putrescence of death. If a spot of heathen dust had touched an offering, it must at once be burnt. More than that, if by mischance any heathen dust had been brought into Palestine, it did not and could not mingle with that of ‘the land,’ but remained to the end what it had been – unclean, defiled and defiling everything to which it adhered.” The apostles, therefore, were not only to leave the house or city which should refuse to receive them, ‘but it was to be considered and treated as if it were heathen, just as in the similar case mentioned in Matthew 18:17. All contact with such must be avoided, all trace of it shaken off’ (Edersheim, ‘Jewish Social Life in the Days of Christ’).”

There is a problem with this, which is that there is nothing to support the conclusion that this was how Jews felt about the dust of pagan lands. It is illogical and a pointless commentary. First, many Jews lived in the diaspora. Paul was born and raised in Tarsus of Cilicia.

Acts 2 notes that Jews were visiting from all over the empire. Further, Rashi was born in France in 1040 AD, studied in Germany, and then returned to France. Commenting on the filthy nature of pagan lands by someone who was born, raised, and died in them just means that he was an arrogant, close-minded, and racist person who thought he was better than those among whom he lived.

Jesus was making a point about the treatment of the apostles in the land of Israel, not among Gentiles. In Acts 13, Paul was making the same point about Jews in a Gentile nation.

God is not worried about the dust of foreign lands. His concern is about the defiled nature of those who come against the gospel. Be sure not to pass on ridiculous commentaries that are not based on a rational analysis of Scripture or how God deals with humanity.

Rashi, like the Jews in Acts 13, rejected Jesus Christ. Therefore, Rashi, not the dust of the land in which he lived, was defiled and unacceptable to God.

Heavenly Father, the earth is Yours and all its fullness. You are pleased with Your creation, whether in Ome, Japan, or Pueblo Viejo, Ecuador. The things that displease You don’t concern the nature of the lands or the clarity of the water. Rather, You are pleased with those who have received Your Son, Jesus. Upon all others, Your wrath remains. Help us to get the word out so that the world will know the glory of Jesus! Amen.

Tuesday, 20 May 2025

If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. Matthew 10:13

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “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 indeed, if the house, it should be worthy, it came – your peace – upon it. And if not it should be worthy, your peace, it returns to you” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus said, “And entering into the house, you greet it.” He now continues, saying, “And indeed, if the house, it should be worthy.”

The order at first seems off. How can they greet a worthy house that is found later to be unworthy? The meaning is found in the greeting as stated by the Jews mentioned in the previous commentary, Shalom lekha, “Peace to you.”

This was not something that was stated after the household was determined worthy. It is what any person in the Middle East would do upon entering any house, meeting any stranger on the way, or even walking into a restaurant where someone is immediately greeted. It is as common as someone in America coming to a house and saying “Good afternoon.”

For example, in Arabic nations, when greeting another, it is standard to say, As-salamu alaikum, “Peace be upon you.” It is essentially the same thought as the Hebrew just mentioned. In other words, Jesus is telling His disciples to walk into a house with the standard greeting for peace. It is at this time that “if the house, it should be worthy” applies. Only after that, He says, “it came – your peace – upon it.”

Here, the word eiréné, peace, is introduced. It signifies peace both literally and figuratively, such as quietness, rest, restoration, etc. The word is derived from eiró, to join. Thus, one can get the sense that a state of harmony has been enjoined.

The apostles are to send forth their peace, looking for it to be enjoined with the household. However, only after explaining their intent and purpose for being in town would that peace actually be realized or denied. If so, their peace would truly rest upon the house. On the other hand, “And if not it should be worthy, your peace, it returns to you.”

Another new word is seen here, epistrephó, to turn, return, convert, etc. It is derived from epi, upon, and strephó, to turn or return. Thus, it bears much the same meaning as strephó, but it is accentuated.

Jesus’ meaning here is that the standard greeting for peace should always be extended, but it may not always apply. When it is extended and the house is one of peace towards their message, then their peace, meaning a state of harmony with the owners, will exist. However, if the opposite is true, those in the house have set themselves against the gospel, and there will be no peace between them. As such, they are to depart from that house.

Jesus will continue to explain just what this state of lacking harmony means for them in the coming verses.

Life application: The false teaching that Christians must forgive everybody all the time for all offenses against them has been so heavily pushed within the church that Christians face one of two general states in their existence for those who actually care about this particular doctrine.

The first is a group of neurotic people who stand frustrated at the fact that they are constantly abused by others with no foreseeable relief or remedy. Their state of salvation becomes one of works, ever attempting to merit what has already been given to them through accepting Jesus.

In other words, they are told they are saved by grace through faith in Christ. They accept this message and are saved. However, they are also told that if you don’t forgive others, you will not be forgiven. Thus, there are contradictory thoughts tearing at the soul of the poor believer.

The only possible escape is to follow a path of works to continue to be saved, to merit God’s favor, and to retain their salvation. It is an unhealthy, unbalanced, and unbiblical approach to one’s walk with the Lord. It is an impossible dilemma that ruins their joy in Christ.

The second state is a group of people who claim they forgive everyone, are at peace with all people, and are actually better than all other Christians because they are able to do what they know no one can actually do. The resulting arrogance in such people is, at times, astonishing.

The reason they can live in this state, knowing it is not true, is that they don’t actually care about discovering the truth of how to resolve the dilemma. Instead, like anyone who has the upper hand over others, they feel they have the right to other’s respect and adoration. They are the super Christians worthy of other’s emulation. They hold the secret and thus have implicit control over those who are inferior in their walk with the Lord, or so they think.

The words of Jesus in these verses clearly demonstrate that there are times when people are at odds with one another and that no peace exists between the two. There is no forgiveness of the offense against the gospel to be obtained. That will be seen in the next two verses.

It is important for saved believers to know and remember that forgiveness in Scripture is never unconditional. If it were, it would mean the believer has a higher standard to meet than God has set forth in Christ. Jesus’ sacrifice is offered to all. However, it is conditional upon belief in what the cross, burial, and resurrection mean.

Without belief, no person will be saved. Thus, there are conditions for forgiveness, even from God’s position. To teach that all believers must forgive all people all the time without meeting certain standards is completely unbiblical, it is opposed to the gospel message, and it produces insecure or arrogant attitudes that are damaging to a sound walk with the Lord.

Lord God, help us to take all things in their proper context and to apply them appropriately. Taking verses out of the intended context can only damage our doctrine and a proper walk with You. So, keep reminding us to carefully consider and apply Your wonderful word to our lives. Amen.