Author: Charlie Garrett

A lot of bull.

Saturday, 7 October 2023

And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. Acts 20:36

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, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

The words are more literally rendered, “And having said these things, having bowed his knees, he prayed with them all” (CG).

In the previous verse, Paul reminded those with him as to why he worked providing for himself and others, quoting the Lord about it being more blessed to give than receive. With that, his words of encouragement and admonishment are done. Therefore, it next says, “And having said these things.”

It is Luke’s way of noting that the words of Paul are complete and that a new action or direction is forthcoming. For Paul, the next logical thing to do is to commit those he loved to the Lord. And so, it next says, “having bowed his knees.”

A bowed or even prostrate position indicates humility, be it before God or man. Once bowed, and it is assumed that the others bowed with him, it next says, “he prayed with them all.” The words of the prayer are left out of the narrative. They were spoken for the moment, were private, and were obviously not intended as a prayer to be used repetitively in the future.

Paul felt it was right to close in prayer. Likewise, when our heart is full, we should simply let our prayers come out in a manner appropriate to the situation.

Life application: Prayer is mentioned throughout the Bible. There are many types of prayer as well, such as supplication, praise, petition, vindication, triumph, imprecation, etc. Each has its own place. One of the things about prayer is that there is no set manner in which it is to be accomplished, but they are to be made.

It is not uncommon for people to pray for extended periods of time and to begin to question whether their prayers are even heard. Someone may say, “I prayed for my neighbor’s cancer for three years, and he died anyway. What is the point if the prayer isn’t heard.”

If the person who is praying is a believer, the prayers are heard. Jesus is our Mediator to bring them before God. It is God’s right to respond according to His wisdom. If He answered every prayer brought before Him in the way we wanted, there would be chaos. We are to have faith that God has received our prayers and that He will bring about the best end for all things presented before him.

Paul says to pray without ceasing. Lift up your burdens, joys, cares, etc., to the throne of God. Have faith that He is working according to a plan we cannot even imagine, and it will come to the best end for His people. Pray!

Heavenly Father, we know that because of Jesus, we have a right to come before You in prayer, boldly asking for those things that are upon our hearts. But we also know that what we want may not be the best avenue or result in the best outcome. So, Lord God, we commit our prayers to You and thank You that You are handling each with a wisdom that we cannot even comprehend. How great You are, O God. Amen.

Truck pulling non-truck truck.

Friday, 6 October 2023

“I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35

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, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

Paul just noted that his hands had provided for his necessities as well as for those with him. He now explains why he has done this, saying, “I have shown you in every way.”

The verb Paul uses is seen for the last of six times, hupodeiknumi. It signifies showing by tracing out, or by example. Luke, citing Jesus, uses it in Luke 6:47 –

“Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: ⁴⁸ He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. ⁴⁹ But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.” Luke 6:47-49

Jesus made the statement and then followed up with an example of what He meant. This is the sense of Paul’s words. He demonstrated by the example of his own actions, having endeavored by his conduct – and not only his spoken or written words – to set forth an example for others. With that, he continues, saying, “by laboring like this, that you must support the weak.”

Rather than an adjective, weak, he uses a present participle, “support those being weak [or ailing].” The word signifies diseased, sick, impotent, etc. Paul also uses both its adjective and verb form in the sense of moral weakness as well –

“However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak [adj.], is defiled. ⁸ But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.
⁹ But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak [adj.]. ¹⁰ For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak [adj.] be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? ¹¹ And because of your knowledge shall the weak [vb.] brother perish, for whom Christ died? ¹² But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak [vb.] conscience, you sin against Christ. ¹³ Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.” 1 Corinthians 8:7-13

Those Paul refers to are ailing in their consciences. This is ultimately derived from a lack of knowledge, but it is the state of weakness that is being focused on. Therefore, like one who is physically weak, a person who is struggling with his conscience is to be assisted.

The cause of the weakness, how to cure it, is up to the one who is weak to seek a cure. A person with the flu should go to the doctor and then get rest. A person with poor doctrine should get to Bible class and then apply it to his walk.

Again, as stated before, Paul has endeavored by his conduct, and not only his spoken or written words, to set forth an example for others. The purpose of his actions was for the support of the weak, meaning those who were incapable of taking care of themselves – most especially through bodily infirmity, which is how the word is generally used. Next, Paul introduces the basis for such conduct, beginning with, “And remember the words of the Lord Jesus.”

He will cite the words of the Lord to justify both his conduct and how his example should then be followed by those who have seen him. Jesus made a statement that was obviously well-known, maybe having been occasionally repeated by Paul. This can be inferred because he is asking these men to recall them now. Thus, Paul continues, “that He said.”

Rather, the words are emphatic, “that He Himself said.” Paul is directly attributing the thought he will speak to the Lord Jesus, which is, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

The thought forms the only recorded saying of the Lord of this kind. Other words attributed to the Lord are those he quoted or that were repeated, but these words are not recorded elsewhere. Thus, they are known as an agraphon (not written). It refers to a saying attributed to Jesus, but which is not recorded in the gospels.

There is a blessing in giving that cannot be experienced or attained otherwise. Jesus set the example for us to consider. He possessed all things and yet He took on human flesh and dwelt among us. He gave of Himself to those who were ailing, both physically and spiritually. He did this, even to the point of death, so that our healing could be permanent before God. Paul cites the words of the Lord because they carry the substance of what Christ did for him and indeed for all.

Life application: The words of this verse cannot be used to justify wealth redistribution to those who sit around on their otherwise fully capable hands. They are not even implied in what is said. The ailing refers to those who are incapable of tending to their own needs at a particular time.

If one is lying in bed with a fever, he needs to be tended to until he is better. When one has a weak conscience, he needs to be accommodated until his conscience is firmed up. However, when the fever is gone, it is time to get out of bed and get back into the game. When one has been shown what is proper concerning sound doctrine, it is time he applies it to his life, no longer burdening those who have instructed him.

This can be applied to salvation as well. Jesus came to heal the ailing. He accomplished His work, and that healing is available. Now, we are expected to accept His cure and be healed. For those who are simply slackers, Paul’s words of 2 Thessalonians 3:10 apply –

“For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.”

It is inexcusable to pander to those who are unwilling to apply proper doctrine to their lives. It is also inexcusable to fund those who are unwilling to get up and work with the abilities granted to them by God.

For those who refuse to come to Jesus, for those who fail to progress in their walk, or for those who refuse to feed themselves, Paul continues his thoughts to those in Thessalonica. They are words being spoken to believers about their walk, but they are words that carry the same truth in any such situation –

“And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. ¹⁵ Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.” 2 Thessalonians 3:14, 15

Pandering to those who are able solves nothing. It merely enables them to continue in their unhealthy state. Refuse this attitude to shame them. This is not a cold and uncaring approach. Rather, it is exactly the opposite. Harm to people’s basic humanness is the inevitable result of such indulging.

Lord God, help us to be helpers! May we be willing to assist those who are unable to tend to themselves. But give us discernment to know when we are merely accommodating others who do not need such attention. Give us wisdom in this so that we will properly handle our relationships with those truly in need. Amen.

Entering Thurston County, Washington. Going over the Nisqually River.

Thursday, 5 October 2023

“Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. Acts 20:34

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, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

The words are out of their original order and should read, “And you yourselves know that to my needs, and to those being with me, these hands ministered” (CG).

Paul just noted that he had coveted no one’s silver, gold, or apparel. He now goes further, beginning with, “And you yourselves know that to my needs.”

He is stating, right in front of those that he lived and served with, that his own needs were met in a particular way that will be noted in a minute. In starting with a statement about his own needs, he is ensuring that what will follow in his statement did not interfere with his needs, nor were his needs met in some other way than how he will indicate. Next, he says, “and to those being with me.”

Paul uses a present participle to indicate the ongoing nature of what he is referring to. Thus, it would be inclusive of even the present time while speaking to these men. He is, in fact, doing for them what he will next state, even at the present time. It is these words concerning the needs of those with him that explain why he started with his own needs. Both to his needs and to those who were there with him, he says, “these hands ministered.”

It could have been that Paul came to Ephesus and ministered to others but let others tend to his needs. This is how most churches are set up today. The pastor does his thing while the church tends to the pastor. Paul excluded himself from such a notion, noting first and foremost that he had tended to his own needs, but he had not done so at the expense of others.

Anytime that someone was in need, as evidenced by the present tense, he was there ministering to that person. If his words weren’t true, Paul could neither have said it to the Ephesians nor could Luke have recorded it for them to read. It would have been shown false as soon as it was published.

And the fact that Paul was counseling them and encouraging them at this time meant that he was still ministering to them. He could have just sent a letter from Jerusalem, but he purposely stopped at Miletus to minister one last time to his beloved disciples.

Life application: Paul’s words concerning his work show the truth of his faith in the gospel he preached. Nobody in their right mind would conduct themselves in this way unless he was convinced that the message he was relaying was the truth.

Instead, he would have accepted the gold, silver, and clothes offered to him and lived like Creflo Dollar. For a succinct statement of one’s labors, the words of Paul show special devotion to the work set before him. This is not unlike Jacob –

“Then Jacob was angry and rebuked Laban, and Jacob answered and said to Laban: ‘What is my trespass? What is my sin, that you have so hotly pursued me? ³⁷ Although you have searched all my things, what part of your household things have you found? Set it here before my brethren and your brethren, that they may judge between us both! ³⁸ These twenty years I have been with you; your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried their young, and I have not eaten the rams of your flock. ³⁹ That which was torn by beasts I did not bring to you; I bore the loss of it. You required it from my hand, whether stolen by day or stolen by night. ⁴⁰ There I was! In the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night, and my sleep departed from my eyes. ⁴¹ Thus I have been in your house twenty years; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times. ⁴² Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night.’” Genesis 31:36-42

Jacob served for his wives and his flocks. Paul served for the bride of Christ and the flock of His church. Both of them did so tirelessly. Labor, when rightly placed in the hours of one’s life, is a blessing. Solomon reflected on that and wrote these words to consider –

“What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? ¹⁰ I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. ¹¹ He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
¹² I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, ¹³ and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.” Ecclesiastes 3:9-13

Be sure to conduct your labors honorably and with a sense of enjoyment. They take up the majority of the time of your existence, so find satisfaction in them because they are the gift of God to you.

Lord God, we all have chores and responsibilities. Help us to do them to Your glory. May our attitudes toward our work and those we work for be positive and pleasing in Your sight. Thank You for the labor of our hands, O God. Amen.

A mall or something. Can’t remember. Washington State.

Wednesday, 4 October 2023

“I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. Acts 20:33

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, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

The order of the words is reversed in the translation – “Silver or gold or clothing of none I coveted” (CG).

Paul just commended those with him to God and the word of His grace. He also spoke of the inheritance among those who have been sanctified. The words he now will speak seem somewhat disconnected from that, but they are not. Rather, he is going to use his state among them to confirm the truth that what he just said is living in him. Rather than focusing on the things of this world, he was doing exactly what he just commended to them. Taken together, this can be seen –

“And now, brethren, I commend you to God and the word of His grace, being able to build and to give the inheritance among all those having been sanctified. Silver or gold or clothing of none I coveted.”

He will continue this thought in the verses to come. But the point is that it would be outrageous to commend someone to God and the word of His grace if he wasn’t living in exactly that manner. Understanding this, the verse itself appeals to three particular items, “Silver or gold or clothing.”

Smith’s translation seems right by placing a comma after gold – “Silver or gold, or clothing.” In other words, Paul begins with the metals that are commonly used for wealth accumulation, starting with the lesser and going to the more desired. He then mentions one of the highly desired commodities that can be bought with silver or gold. Thus, the idea would be, “Silver or gold, or even clothing.” As such, clothing reflects the wealth status of a person.

The words demonstrate the cultural value of garments at that time, something that has not changed in the past two millennia. The outward adornment of clothing is still something that reflects the status and wealth of a person. Of these things, Paul next says, “of none I coveted.”

He was unconcerned with getting rich, nor did he envy those who were rich. His focus was on God and the word of His grace. Those things, and not silver or gold or even clothing, were able “to build and to give the inheritance.”

Therefore, his words of the previous verse are being validated by his own personal conduct before them. The same general intent of Paul’s words is reflected later in his first letter to Timothy –

“Now godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. ⁸ And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. ⁹ But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 1 Timothy 6:6-10

Life application: Although the reason for Samuel’s words is a bit different, his words to Israel in 1 Samuel are similar to those of Paul in Acts –

“Now Samuel said to all Israel: ‘Indeed I have heeded your voice in all that you said to me, and have made a king over you. ² And now here is the king, walking before you; and I am old and grayheaded, and look, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my childhood to this day. ³ Here I am. Witness against me before the Lord and before His anointed: Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I received any bribe with which to blind my eyes? I will restore it to you.’” 1 Samuel 12:1-3

Samuel was confirming his integrity before Israel to demonstrate that it was not his actions that led to the people’s call for a king. Rather, the Lord had supplied them with a faithful judge, but the people wanted a king to rule them instead of the Lord. In Paul’s case, he is commending the people to live a God-focused life, trusting in His word rather than looking for security or status in earthly things.

Both Samuel and Paul were using their lives as examples of how people should conduct themselves and in whom they should place their trust. And their words were not just, “Do as I say but not as I do.” Rather, they were, “Trust in God as you see I have been doing.” This is what we should look for in our leaders, both political and spiritual.

Don’t get caught up in fancy people who merely impress with externals. Rather focus on what the true intent of those you encounter is. When those you surround yourself with are honest, sincere people, you will find yourself blessed for it.

Heavenly Father, it is very easy for us to get distracted by the things of this world. We are earthly beings that have needs and desires that must be met. But help us to, first and foremost, keep our eyes and hearts focused on You. In this, we will then be able to rightly fulfill our needs and desires. May our lives always be committed to You. Help us in this, O God. Amen.

Mt Rainier. Washington.

Tuesday, 3 October 2023

“So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Acts 20:32

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, with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

A few small adjustments will bring the words closer to the Greek text, “And now, brethren, I commend you to God and the word of His grace, being able to build and to give the inheritance among all those having been sanctified” (CG).

Paul just reminded the elders of Ephesus that he did not cease to constantly warn everyone for three years, even with tears. Now, to bolster them in how to stay on the right path, he begins his next words with, “And now, brethren, I commend you to God.”

Paul, calling these men “brethren” for emphasis and a sense of true fraternity, begins his summary thoughts to their ears. He has spoken frankly about the hazards that lay ahead of them in hopes that they would pay heed. He does this by commending them to God. It is something he says about himself in his second letter to Timothy –

“For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” 2 Timothy 1:12

As for these men of Ephesus, Paul would no longer be their instructor or counselor in the things of God and so they would have to rely on the same Source he relied on continuously, meaning God. And further, he continues by saying, “and the word of His grace.”

It is doubtful that he is thinking of Christ in the way John later writes, meaning the Word of God. Rather, he is rather speaking in the sense of what James 1 says, where James repeatedly brings up the word, meaning Scripture –

“Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
¹⁹So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; ²⁰ for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
²¹ Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
²² But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; ²⁴ for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. ²⁵ But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”

James is essentially committing his reader to the word of God’s grace. Likewise, this is what Paul is telling the elders of Ephesus, imploring them to cling to the word. It is the word that, according to Hebrews 4:12, is “living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

This word was, at this time, limited to the Old Testament and any verbal or written communications that existed concerning the Lord as the fulfillment of them. Together, they were sufficient to meet the specifics of the second half of Paul’s words in this verse which begin with, “being able to build and to give the inheritance.”

The idea of building is used by Paul several times, mostly in his first letter to the Corinthians. The word “edify” carries the same connotation and once meant exactly that: to build. Of this word, Albert Barnes says –

“The word used here is properly applied to a house which is raised and completed by slow degrees, and by toil. It here means to establish, make firm, or permanent, and hence, to instruct, to establish in doctrine and in hope. The idea is, that the Word of God was able to confirm and establish them, amidst the dangers to which they would be exposed.”

This process of building is specifically said by Paul to be for the inheritance. That is another thought carefully described by Paul in his epistles, especially his letter to the Ephesians, the very group who is represented before him now. He refers to the “guarantee of our inheritance” in Ephesians 1:14, the “riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” in Ephesians 1:18, and the “inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God” in Ephesians 5:5.

Understanding this, Paul’s words finish with this thought concerning the inheritance. It is “among all those having been sanctified.” The verb is a participle in the perfect tense. Through faith in Christ Jesus, the sanctification of the believer is immediate, and it is complete.

This doesn’t mean that the believer is now perfected. Rather, it means that in God’s view, what Christ did to sanctify us is complete and perfect. Nothing is lacking. Jesus’ perfect life and atoning death have allowed us to be fully consecrated to God, once and for all time. Nothing further needs to be accomplished for us to be allowed into the presence of the infinitely holy and pure Creator.

Sanctification is also implied in his words, but not the ongoing sanctification of our Christian walk. Rather, he is speaking of the position we are in because of the work of Christ – sanctified by Him as holy and acceptable to God.

Life application: Paul’s words to those of Ephesus are a descriptive account of what he conveyed to them. However, what he said is to be taken as a truthful and accurate state of how things are. It is as if his words are an epistle spoken forth to them. When he commits them to God and the word of His grace, he intends for them to trust God wholeheartedly and not waffle in their convictions concerning their state before Him.

It means that the word of God is sufficient for believers to trust in regard to their walk before God. It is where our knowledge of Him and what He has done for humanity is recorded. There is nothing lacking for those who are considering a relationship with Him, and like those already counted as believers, their hope will not be futile. Rather, they will also be sanctified and set for eternal glory by trusting in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

How sad it is that people fail to accept that God’s provided sanctification is complete and now belongs to them forever! There is no hint in Scripture of the false doctrine of “loss of salvation.” What God has done in Christ is fully sufficient to sanctify His people once and for all time.

We are to accept this and hold fast to it. Otherwise, we will be like so many whose hope is marred by their personal failures, as if their failings can somehow override the full, final, finished, and forever work of God in Christ. Don’t be like that. Instead, be confident that His grace is sufficient to cover all our sins and failings.

Heavenly Father, Your word says that the work of Jesus Christ is sufficient to carry us through this life and into Your presence. We will fail You, but in Christ, we will never be separated from You again. We accept this and give our eternal thanks to You. Hallelujah to Jesus Christ, who has made this possible! Amen.