Author: Charlie Garrett

Matthew 12:45

Charlie Garrett Daily Writing, Matthew (Written)

Monday, 1 September 2025

Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.” Matthew 12:45

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).

“Then it traverses, and it takes with itself seven other spirits, itself eviler, and having entered, it dwells there. And the last of that man, it becomes worse than the first. Thus it will be also – this evil generation” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus spoke of the unclean spirit returning to the house it departed and finding it holidaying, swept and arranged. He continues now with, “Then it traverses, and it takes with itself seven other spirits.”

The spirit, realizing it had a good thing going, and seeing that there is plenty of new room available for even more uncleanness, goes out seeking friends to join in with possessing the man once again.

The number seven, hepta, is introduced here.

The number seven is the number of spiritual perfection. In this case, even though the spirits are unclean, there is a fullness implied in using the number. It stresses the potency and the immensely malignant nature of the event. This is stressed by the words, “itself eviler.”

There is an amalgamation of evil that will exude from this newly infested person. This is certain because even one unclean spirit will manifest itself in evil. With seven more, Jesus says, “and having entered, it dwells there.”

The verb translated as “it dwells” is singular. Despite being many, they align as one in purpose. It is similar to the account of the demon Legion in Mark 5 and Luke 8:30, where the verbs are singular when referring to many demons. With such a force now inhabiting this restored home, Jesus says, “And the last of that man, it becomes worse than the first.”

This is the certain result of the matter. The man had an evil situation in his life. He had it supposedly taken care of, and yet, he wound up being worse off than at the first because he failed to obtain a complete correction to his state. Jesus next clearly states the subject to which He is referring, saying, “Thus it will be also – this evil generation.”

In verse 12:39, the scribes and Pharisees asked for a sign. Jesus next called them “evil and adulteress,” explaining that it would not be given a sign except that of the prophet Jonah. Had He given them a sign, they would have exclaimed like the people did concerning Simon the Sorcerer in Acts 8 –

“But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, 10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, ‘This man is the great power of God.’” Acts 8:9, 10

The people didn’t actually care about Simon. They just wanted to be amused by his tricks. If someone came along, like David Copperfield, they would have left Simon and gone after David. They were looking for a quick cure to their insatiable desire to be delighted with surprise.

Jesus knew this was their heart attitude, and so He refused to give them a sign, telling them instead that their sign would come from Scripture itself. He told them why in John –

“For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” John 5:46, 47

The sign would be wowed over until someone came and did something new and exciting. Without accepting the word, which was the basis of life and conduct for Israel, they would never truly accept and believe Jesus.

Life application: This set of verses contains a truth that extends beyond just the immediate context of the parable. What Jesus says will prove true in a great number of situations. Take an alcoholic, for example.

A person who has an alcohol addiction can be equated to a person with an unclean spirit, and indeed it is so. He knows he has a problem and strives to overcome it. Eventually, he prevails. The demon of addiction departs. Relieved, the man sweeps out his house, arranges it nicely, and says, “Self, you done well.”

However, he never takes the time to fill this empty house with Jesus. Eventually, when some trial, temptation, or situation arises where he finds himself in a weakened state, he succumbs to drinking again.

However, it is normally the case that the reacquired addiction will manifest itself in worse ways than before. He may take up drugs, get lost in pornography, etc. Eventually, he is bound to lose his home, job, and family. In the end, he is in a much worse state than he ever imagined because He failed to heed his wife’s advice to come to church and seek the Lord.

This parable is an excellent one to use when talking to someone about the addiction he is facing. Cheer him on! Tell him to persevere! Offer to be there and assist in any way you can. But be sure to tell him that his void needs to be filled with his Creator’s love found in Christ. Without that, things will not go well.

Personal note: I have spent a lot of time dealing with people whose lives were fraught with addiction. Having told many of them what to do when they get clean, far too many of them failed to do so. Most eventually went back to their old addiction, with more problems heaped on their lives. Several have died, leaving loved ones behind. Be careful to ensure you and those you minister to are filled with Jesus.

Heavenly Father, help us to have our priorities right in life. There are many things we can do that may distract us from healthy living. We can get addicted to the internet as quickly as we get addicted to drugs. Help us to instead focus on Jesus and have a proper balance in all other things. Yes, help us in this, O God. Amen.

 

1 Samuel 6:1-12 (The Return of the Ark, Part I)

Charlie Garrett 1 Samuel (Written), Recent Sermons (Written)

Artwork by Douglas Kallerson

1 Samuel 6:1-12
The Return of the Ark, Part I

(Typed 9 June 2025) What is the most important part of your life? What is it that captivates your thoughts and your motivations more than anything else? For some people, it is baseball or other sports. Others may have an addiction that consumes them. Some find their greatest joy to be the Lord.

I hope the latter is the case for each of you, but only you can set the Lord as your chief joy. And even if He is, how easy it is for us to get distracted from Him!

Other things constantly pull at us, which then divert our attention from Him. Among those diversions, problems at work, financial struggles, difficulties with friends or family, and so forth can steal our joy and deprive us of motivation, interfering with our relationship with Him.

There is also something else that can hinder our walk with Him, even if our hearts are totally set on Him…

Text Verse: “Unto You I lift up my eyes,
O You who dwell in the heavens.” Psalm 123:1

Walking with the Lord means that our life is in tune with Him. I have met many people who are head-over-heels in love with Jesus. They cannot get enough of Him, and they direct their lives and energy toward Him.

Most of us have probably seen or met people like that. But what happens if our lives and the energy that we direct towards Him are inappropriately aligned with what He expects of us?

The only way to avoid that is to know what His word says. Anyone who really wants to exert himself to please the Lord should know what is pleasing to Him.

In the sermon today, the Philistines have a problem. A recommendation is made to solve it, and a plan is enacted. But there is a lingering question as to whether it will work out and resolve their situation.

By observing a couple of milk cows, they will get their answer. But it is the cows that are really the highlight of what is being said. They have inner impulses working to redirect them, urging them to veer from the path, turn around, and so forth.

And yet, they keep pressing forward because the call upon them is stronger than anything else. Despite being cows, we can learn from them. Let us do so.

It’s all to be found in His superior word. And so, let us turn to that precious word once again, and… May God speak to us through His word today, and may His glorious name ever be praised.

I. He Gleaned Himself in Them (verses 1-6)

Now the ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines seven months.

vayehi aron Yehovah bisedeh phelishtim shivah khodashim – “And it was, Ark Yehovah, in field Philistines seven months.” The term “field” was used in Ruth 1:2 when referring to Moab. It is a term often used with reference to a foreign country, not where the narrator is. This shows that Canaan is the place from which the author is writing. He is including us in the narrative as he writes. In typology, the field represents the world in general.

The timeframe reveals that the plagues didn’t just occur overnight. Rather, they came into effect and increased when the ark came to a particular location. It took a full seven months to confirm that the presence of the ark, based upon its movements to the various cities, caused the plagues.

Seven is the number of spiritual perfection, completeness, and divine completion. It represents the Holy Spirit’s work, the culmination of God’s plans, and it is a sign of divine worship and obedience.

2 And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners,

vayiqreu phelishtim lakohanim velaqosemim – “And they called, Philistines, to the priests and to ‘the divinings.’” In this clause, “the Philistines” refers to the leaders (the axles) of the Philistines mentioned in verse 4. The formal national decision to return the ark has been made, but they next consult the religious and spiritual leaders for advice.

The word for priest, kohen, is the same as that used to indicate the priests of Israel. They are the mediators in religious services. The other group is designated by a verb, qasem. That is derived from a primitive root signifying to distribute.

The verb being a plural participle means they are “the divinings.”

As such, they will determine a matter by lot, casting certain objects, consulting the entrails of animals, or some other way.

Their job was to determine the will of their gods, acting as interpreters of matters of the spiritual realm, etc. The decision to send the ark back to Israel has been made, but the Philistines want to ensure that it is sent in a manner agreed upon by these religious and spiritual men. Thus, the Philistines have come to them…

2 (con’t) saying, “What shall we do with the ark of the Lord?

Rather: lemor mah naaseh laaron Yehovah – “to say, ‘What we will do to Ark Yehovah?’” In the previous chapter, each time the Philistines referred to the ark, they called it Ark God Israel. They now use the term Ark Yehovah, acknowledging His name.

It appears that they have gained a respect for the Lord from the events that have taken place. He is Yehovah, and they acknowledge Him as such.

Also, they are not asking what to do with the ark as in “shall we keep it or return it?” Rather, they are asking what they shall do to it when they return it. As noted above, the decision to return it has been made, and so…

2 (con’t) Tell us how we should send it to its place.”

hodiunu bameh neshalekhenu limeqomo – “You must cause to know, us, in what we will send it to its place.” The words “in what” signify “how” or “in what manner.” The ark has caused both plague and death. They want that to cease by removing the ark from them. Therefore, they seek what spiritual manner of appeasement will take the hand of the Lord off of them.

Before Israel was defeated in battle, they brought the ark to the battlefield, as if it, regardless of the Lord’s presence, were the key to their success. On the other hand, the Philistines see that even if the ark is removed from them, the Lord can still afflict them…

3 So they said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty;

vayomeru im meshalekhim eth aron elohe Yisrael al teshalekhu otho reqam – “And they said, ‘If sending Ark God Israel, not you will send it emptily.’” The adverb reqam, emptily, does not mean “empty inside the ark.” The tablets were inside it, not having been removed by the Philistines. This is certain because they are referred to in 1 Kings –

“Nothing was in the ark except the two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.” 1 Kings 8:9

In this verse, “emptily” means “without an offering to accompany it in a demonstration of contrition.” This is something that cultures and people in general understand. Even if we can determine that God is self-sufficient, it is still understood that there are obligations for us to acknowledge Him.

Because they have done wrong, they need to do acts of contrition, acknowledging their personal offense. They also need to acknowledge that all blessings ultimately come from Him. This is the purpose of the innumerable religious systems that have been set up in the cultures and societies of the world.

Though certainly being unknown to them, the precept was mandated by the Lord in the law. It is a precept stated twice in Exodus and once in Deuteronomy –

“Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed [reqam: emptily]. 17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you.” Deuteronomy 16:16, 17

The reasons for this being a point of law included ensuring the people fulfilled the obligation, that the offerings were appropriate to the holiness of the Lord, etc.

Without the law, the people’s conduct would be arbitrary, just as is the case with all nations. Such offerings would be unsuited to the expectations and nature of the true God. They would also fail to be suitable typological representations of Christ.

As for the Philistine’s acknowledgement of wrongdoing…

3 (con’t) but by all means return it to Him with a trespass offering.

ki hashev tashivu lo asham – “For returning, you must cause to return to Him – guilt.” This means that they are acknowledging their guilt. The offering takes the place of that guilt. Therefore, they are returning their state of guilt via that offering.

The word asham is used to describe the trespass offerings so carefully detailed in Leviticus. For example, “This is the ram of guilt. By sacrificing it to the Lord, the state of guilt is removed.” The Philistines understand they bear guilt. How to remove it is what is in question. Once it has been removed…

3 (con’t) Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why His hand is not removed from you.”

az terapheu venoda lakhem lamah lo thasur yado mikem – “Then you will be cured, and it was known to you why not it will turn aside, His hand, from you.” The imperfect verb tells us that the affliction is ongoing at this time. Once the ark is returned along with the guilt, the hand of Yehovah would be lifted from them. From there, the understanding that the plagues and death were because of their guilt would become apparent.

4 Then they said, “What is the trespass offering which we shall return to Him?”

vayomeru mah ha’asham asher nashiv lo – “And they said, ‘What the guilt which we will cause to return to Him?’” The NKJV’s “trespass offering” is correct in describing what will be sent, but that offering is only representative of their state of guilt. It is this state that they refer to.

4 (con’t) They answered, “Five golden tumors and five golden rats, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines.

vayomeru mispar sarne phelishtim khamishah aphele zahav va’khamishah akhbere zahav – “And they said, ‘Number axles Philistines, five buboes – gold, and five mice – gold.” The five leaders stand in place of the five cities with their people. They represent all the Philistines and the land that had been afflicted.

Five is the number of grace.

4 (con’t) For the same plague was on all of you and on your lords.

Rather: ki magephah akhath lekulam u-lesarnekhem – “For stroke one to all them and to your axles.’” The change in pronoun from them to your is a way of saying, “The plague came upon everyone, including you.” The axles stand as representative of the people. They were not exempt from being affected. Because of this…

5 Therefore you shall make images of your tumors and images of your rats that ravage the land,

vaasithem tsalme aphelekhem vetsalme akhberekhem hamashkithim eth ha’arets – “And you made images your buboes, and images your mice the ‘causing to ruin the land.’” This is the first mention of the mice in the text. Of this plague, Cambridge says –

“Aristotle, in his History of Animals (VI. 37) says, ‘In many places mice are wont to appear in the fields in such unspeakable numbers, that scarce anything is left of the whole crop. So rapidly do they consume the corn, that in some cases small farmers have observed their crops ripe and ready for the sickle on one day, and coming the next with the reapers, have found them entirely devoured.’” Cambridge

As noted previously, I suggest that the affliction on the people is a result of these mice, carrying plague with them and causing the buboes. The two logically stand together. Scholars are united in the reason for their recommendation. For example –

“It was a general custom in the nations of antiquity to offer to the deity, to whom sickness or recovery from sickness was ascribed, likenesses of the diseased parts; so, too, those who had escaped from shipwreck would offer pictures, or perhaps their garments, to Neptune, or, as some tell us, to Isis. (See, for instance, Horace, Carm. i. 5.) Slaves and gladiators would present their arms to Hercules; captives would dedicate their chains to some deity. This practice has found favour in more modern times. In the fifth century Christians—Theodoret tells us—would often offer in their churches gold or silver hands and feet, or eyes, as a thank-offering for cures effected in reply to prayer. Similar votive offerings are still made in Roman Catholic countries.” Charles Ellicott

In other words, Yehovah afflicted them through rats and buboes. Thus, that is the sign of guilt upon them. As such, replicating these things is an acknowledgment of that which is to be returned to Him. That is explained in the next words…

5 (con’t) and you shall give glory to the God of Israel;

unethatem lelohe Yisrael kavod – “And you gave to God Israel glory.” By sending the images, they acknowledge the One who sent the plagues. It is also an acknowledgment of their guilt that brought about His judgment. It is also an affirmation that He can end the plagues if He accepts their guilt.

5 (con’t) perhaps He will lighten His hand from you, from your gods, and from your land.

ulay yaqel eth yado mealekhem u-meal elohekhem u-meal artsekhem – “if not He will cause to lighten His hand from upon you, and from upon your gods, and from upon your land.” It has already been acknowledged that the five leaders are representative of the people. Therefore, the “upon you” is referring to them and their people collectively.

The weight “upon your gods” was seen when Dagon was toppled and broken. The other gods, though not mentioned, may have been similarly afflicted.

The weight “upon your land” signifies the destruction of crops, something only implied but intended. Further, verse 13 will note that the people of Beth Shemesh were reaping wheat. As such, it is the time when the rats would find plenty of available food.

As this occurred over a seventy-day period, the destruction may have also involved some of the earlier barley harvest. Things would be grim, and the warning is that it could become more so…

6 Why then do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts?

Rather: velamah thekhabedu eth levavkhem kaasher kibedu mitsrayim u-pharoh eth libam – “And why you will enweigh your heart according to which they enweighed, Egypt and Pharaoh, their heart?” This speaks of self-glorification instead of glorifying God. The meaning is clear. The memory of Israel’s exodus remained in the collective mind of the Philistines.

The singular, “their heart,” speaks of Egypt collectively, represented by Pharaoh. He had made his heart heavy, glorifying himself instead of Yehovah. His decision was deemed as national rebellion against the Lord.

This warning to the five leaders is exactly what was prophesied in the first Song of Moses, as noted in Exodus 15 –

“The people will hear and be afraid;
Sorrow will take hold of the inhabitants of Philistia.” Exodus 15:14

If they continued in their rebellion, they would suffer greater afflictions, just as Egypt did. Understanding this, they continue with…

6 (con’t) When He did mighty things among them, did they not let the people go, that they might depart?

halo kaasher hithalel bahem vayshalekhum vayelekhu – “Not according to which He gleaned Himself in them and they sent them, and they walked.” The verb alal, to effect thoroughly, is used. As such, it signifies to glean.

When crops are harvested, there may be leftover stalks or fallen grain. However, when gleaners go through the field, they thoroughly gather any remnant of the harvest. The sense is given in the words of Pharaoh’s servants as the judgments of the Lord came upon them –

“Then Pharaoh’s servants said to him, ‘How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God. Do you not yet know that Egypt is destroyed?’” Exodus 10:7

In the gleaning of Egypt, Pharaoh finally relented and let the people go. The same word was used by the Lord in this same context in Exodus 10 –

“And to purpose: you will tell in ears your son and son your son which I gleaned [alal] Myself in Egypt, and My signs which I put in them, and you will know for I Yehovah.” Exodus 10:2 (CG)

The Philistines also heard and remembered what came upon Israel, just as Israel did. The warning is that the same will continue for them if they don’t act accordingly.

Notice how these priests and diviners rightly associate the people with the Lord and are rightly associating the Ark of the Lord, representative of the Lord, with the people. They are intimately connected in thought. Thus, the ark must be returned…

Head straight on the road to glory
Do not divert at any cost
Pay heed to the gospel story
So that your life isn’t turned and tossed

Keep on the highway, do not divert
And to the left or right, do not look
Onto the supposed shortcuts, do not skirt
Pay attention to the words in His book

Jesus! Keep your eyes on Jesus!
Don’t let anything hold you back
He is the treasure God has set before us
Eyes on Him, and stay on track

II. Walking and Lowing (Verses 7-12)

7 Now therefore, make a new cart,

veatah kekhu vaasu agalah khadashah ekhat – “And now, you must take and you must make cart new, one.” With the word “take” preceding “make,” it seems the words are confused. One doesn’t make a new cart out of an old cart. The words mean that they are to take a new cart, one never used before, and make it ready.

The agalah, cart, is from the same root as agol, circular or round, as is egel, a calf. The idea is that which revolves coming back to itself in a full turn, and thus a wheeled cart. The reason a calf comes from that root is because it will frisk around, dancing and twirling.

This will be a new rolling, a new cart.

One is the number of unity. Bullinger says –

“As a cardinal number it denotes unity; as an ordinal it denotes primacy. Unity being indivisible, and not made up of other numbers, is therefore independent of all others, and is the source of all others. So with the Deity. The great First Cause is independent of all. All stand in need of Him, and He needs no assistance from any. ‘One’ excludes all difference, for there is no second with which it can either harmonise or conflict.”

Along with that…

7 (con’t) take two milk cows which have never been yoked,

There are three gender discords in this verse. The first is in this clause: ushete pharoth aloth asher lo alah alehem ol – “and two cows, milking, which not it ascended upon them [masc. pl.] yoke.” The parah, cow, comes from par, a bull. That, in turn, comes from parar, to disannul, break, cause to cease, etc.

These are cows, not heifers, as some translations state. Before a female cow has her first calf, she is referred to as a heifer. Once she gives birth to a calf, she is then officially designated as a cow. In this case, these are milking cows, meaning that they have given birth.

These cows were never to have had a yoke raised upon them. The word is ol, yoke, coming from the same word alal, to affect thoroughly, used in the previous verse.

The idea of a yoke on an animal is subjection. On a person, it conveys the idea of degradation. It would be unbefitting for the purpose of returning the ark if these cows had previously been placed under a yoke.

Two is the number of division or difference. The difference is usually one of enmity or being contrary in nature. Despite this, the number two confirms a whole. There is night and day. They are contrary in nature, and yet they confirm the whole of a day.

There is the Old Covenant and the New. They are at enmity, law versus grace, but they confirm the totality of Israel’s interactions with God.

Of these two cows…

7 (con’t) and hitch the cows to the cart;

vaasartem eth haparoth baagalah – “And you yoked the cows in the cart.” The word asar signifies to yoke or hitch. They had never been yoked before, but now they will be. After that…

7 (con’t) and take their calves home, away from them.

vahashevothem benehem meakharehem habayethah – “and you caused to return their sons [masc. pl.]  from after them [masc. pl.]  the house-ward.” The sons (calves) of the cows were to be separated from them. Thus, it is a test.

The cows would never leave their little ones unless they were externally affected. Likewise, they would never leave their home area and go unguided to another place unless they were externally affected.

8 Then take the ark of the Lord and set it on the cart;

Rather: u-leqakhtem eth aron Yehovah unethatem otho el ha’agalah – “And you took Ark Yehovah and you gave it unto the cart.” It is an interesting expression, but it signifies that the cart is taking possession of the Ark, hence “you will give.”

8 (con’t) and put the articles of gold which you are returning to Him as a trespass offering in a chest by its side.

v’eth kele ha’zahav asher hashevotem lo asham tasimu vaargaz mitsido – “And articles the gold which you caused to return to Him, guilt, you will put in the pannier from its side.” The articles of gold are those described in verse 4, the buboes and the mice. They are to be inserted into an argaz, a pannier.

A pannier is a hanging basket, like those on the sides of bikes or motorcycles. These are especially important for carrying Bibles. People who bring bags to the store for carrying their groceries carry grocery panniers. A great dual-use idea would be to fill your grocery pannier with tracts, leaving them in interesting locations in the store while doing your shopping. Be inventive and evangelical in your next shopping trip!

This word, argaz, is a word found only three times in the Bible, all in this account. It is derived from ragaz, to quiver (with any violent emotion, especially anger or fear). The idea is that the pannier is hanging on the side of the cart. Thus, it will quiver or vibrate as the cart rattles along. After inserting the articles…

8 (con’t) Then send it away, and let it go.

veshilakhtem otho v’halakh – “And you sent it and it walked.” Once the things were readied, the cart was to be sent off, maybe with a “Hiyah!” and a push like John Wayne might do. Once set free to walk…

9 And watch: if it goes up the road to its own territory, to Beth Shemesh, then He has done us this great evil.

u-reithem im derekh gevulo yaaleh beith shemesh hu asah lanu eth haraah hagedolah hazoth – “And you saw: If road its boundary it will ascend – Beit Shemesh – He! He did to us the evil, the whopping, the this.”

The ark, not merely the cart, is the focus. If it ascends on the border road and heads into Israel to Beth Shemesh, House of the Sun, it will be a sign that the evils that came upon the Philistines were because of the Lord. On the other hand…

9 (con’t) But if not, then we shall know that it is not His hand that struck us—it happened to us by chance.”

veim lo veyadanu ki lo yado nageah banu miqreh hu hayah lanu – “And if not, and we knew, for not His hand it touched in us. Mishap, it, it became to us.”

If the ark remains, that would be a sign to them that the Lord hadn’t struck them. This is their logical conclusion because if it were Him, the afflictions had the intended purpose of getting them to send the ark back.

The word used to describe the matter if it wasn’t the Lord’s doing is miqreh. It is a noun signifying something met with or a happening. In this case, because it was negative, it was a mishap.

With their directives set forth…

10 Then the men did so; they took two milk cows and hitched them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home.

There are two more gender discords: vayaasu ha’anashim ken vayiqehu shete pharoth aloth vayaasrum baagalah ve’eth benehem kalu vabayith – “And they did, the men, thus. And they took two cows, milking, and they yoked them [masc. pl.] in the cart. And their sons [masc. pl.] they restrained in the house.”

Just as directed, the men, meaning the five leaders, followed through. Because the cows were separated from their young, there would be lowing from both groups.

There are several reasons why cows low: communicating, hunger, mating calls, stress and distress, warning of danger, and contentment. In this case, stress and distress are a natural result of a cow being separated from her calf.

11 And they set the ark of the Lord on the cart, and the chest with the gold rats and the images of their tumors.

vayasimu eth aron Yehovah ha’agalah veeth ha’argaz veeth akhbere ha’zahav veeth tsalme tekhorehem – “And they set Ark Yehovah unto the cart, and the pannier, and the mice, the gold, and images their boils.” This time, it says they set the ark on the cart. They included with it the pannier and its golden contents.

The word tekhor, boil, is seen for the first of two times. It is from an unused root signifying to burn. Thus, it is a burning inflammation, a boil. With everything prepared…

12 Then the cows headed straight for the road to Beth Shemesh,

vayisharnah haparoth baderekh al derekh beith shemesh – “And they straightened, the cows, in the road upon road Beth Shemesh.” The verb yashar signifies to be straight or even. In this case, it signifies that they headed directly on the road without veering, heading straight for Beth Shemesh…

12 (con’t) and went along the highway,

bimsilah akhath – “in highway one.” The word mesilah, highway, is derived from salal, to mound up. Thus, it is an elevated road, meaning a highway. In this case, the cows got on that one highway and continued on it without being diverted onto any other adjoining road. And more, they were…

12 (con’t) lowing as they went,

halekhu halokh vegao – “They walked, walking and lowing.” The word gaah, to bellow, and thus, to low, is seen only here and in Job 6:5. The inference is that they were lowing because they were separated from their young. Despite this, the force that impelled them was stronger than the innate urge to return to their young.

To enhance the thought, the same thought from before is stated differently…

12 (con’t) and did not turn aside to the right hand or the left.

velo saru yamin u-shemol – “and not they veered right and left.” It was eyes forward and no diverting for these cows. They were set on a firm, straight course. As they went, they were carefully being watched to see how things would turn out…

*12 (fin) And the lords of the Philistines went after them to the border of Beth Shemesh.

There is another gender discord: vesarne phelishtim holekhim akharehem ad gevul beith shamesh – “And axles, Philistines, walking after them [masc. pl.] until boundary Beith Shemesh.” The five leaders of the Philistines personally verified the event, following the cows until they reached the boundary of Beth Shemesh.

They followed so as not to distract the cows. Once the cows got to the border, it was sufficient evidence to know it was not by mishap but by divine direction.

The words of verse 12 concerning these cows speak of an internal pull that was too strong to overcome. If only we were like them in regard to our relationship with the Lord, things sure would go better for us in our daily lives.

Their calves were behind them, but the pull of the Lord was stronger than the motherly instinct that they were created with. Man has all kinds of natural instincts in him as well. There are urges and desires that we often find overwhelming, and some of them are not healthy.

However, our desire to please the Lord can become our greatest impetus for walking in this life if we allow Him to guide us. In such a case, the first thing we need to do is to remember the simple words of Hebrews 12:1, “Eyeballing unto the ‘faith Pioneer and Completer,’ Jesus” (CG).

He is the main goal and desire that we should set before us at all times. That initially comes with our faith in the gospel. It is what has changed innumerable lives in human history. The worst of offenders have come to the foot of the cross and been cleansed.

From there, many set their goal and pursue Jesus with all the zeal they can muster. There is nothing wrong, and everything right, about this. To complement that goal, though, there should be more than the desire to please Him, but to know Him personally.

It is unreasonable to have a best friend or wife that you don’t know anything about. Rather, such people in our lives are those we get to know personally and intimately in various ways. This is where the Bible comes in.

If we are going to carefully eyeball Jesus while ignoring the distractions that surround us, we need to know what those distractions are and how to avoid them. We will also want to actively pursue what is pleasing to Him.

It would likewise be unreasonable for us to seek to annoy our best friend or wife. But without knowing what annoys them, we might do that, even if unintentionally.

God gave us the word so that we can avoid causing harm to our relationship with Him. Even if we have the best intentions, we may someday find out that the things we do in our walk now have caused just that to happen.

When we read and rightly apply the word to our lives, this can be avoided. It is my heart’s desire that you would faithfully pick up this word, read it, contemplate what you read, study it diligently, and all the while keep your heart geared toward Jesus.

It is possible to get so caught up in doctrine that we can lose our first love. So watch that as well. Jesus! Let your greatest love and desire remain Jesus, the Subject of this word.

For now, let’s be encouraged by the words of Paul in our closing verse. And next week, we will hopefully come to a resolution as to what this chapter is telling us. Stay tuned for that.

Closing Verse: “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13, 14

Next Week: 1 Samuel 6:13-21 It’s like the Harlem Globetrotters without Meadowlark. It just won’t do… (The Return of the Ark, Part II) (12th 1 Samuel sermon)

The Lord has you exactly where He wants you. He has a good plan and purpose for you. He is the One who abases the haughty and exalts the humble. He regards the lowly, and the proud He knows from afar. So yield yourself to Him, trust Him, and believe His word. In this, He will do great things for you and through you.

1 Samuel 6:1-12 (CG)

6 And it was, Ark Yehovah, in field Philistines seven months. 2 And they called, Philistines, to the priests and to ‘the divinings,’ to say, “What we will do to Ark Yehovah? You must cause to know, us, in what we will send it to its place.”

3 And they said, “If sending Ark God Israel, not you will send it emptily. For returning, you must cause to return to Him – guilt. Then you will be cured, and it was known to you why not it will turn aside, His hand, from you.”

4 And they said, “What the guilt which we will cause to return to Him?”

And they said, “Number axles Philistines, five buboes – gold, and five mice – gold. For stroke one to all them and to your axles. 5 And you made images your buboes and images your mice the ‘causing to ruin the land.’ And you gave to God Israel glory, if not He will cause to lighten His hand from upon you, and from upon your gods, and from upon your land. 6 And why you will enweigh your heart according to which they enweighed, Egypt and Pharaoh, their heart? Not according to which He gleaned Himself in them, and they sent them, and they walked. 7 And now, you must take and you must make cart new, one, and two cows, milking, which not it ascended upon them yoke. And you yoked the cows in the cart, and you caused to return their sons from after them the house-ward. 8 And you took Ark Yehovah and you gave it unto the cart. And articles the gold which you caused to return to Him, guilt, you will put in the pannier from its side. And you sent it and it walked. 9 And you saw: If road its boundary will ascend – Beit Shemesh – He! He did to us the evil, the whopping, the this. And if not, and we knew, for not His hand it touched in us. Mishap, it, it became to us.”

10 And they did, the men, thus. And they took two cows, milking, and they yoked them in the cart. And their sons they restrained in the house. 11 And they set Ark Yehovah unto the cart, and the pannier, and the mice, the gold, and images their boils. 12 And they straightened, the cows, in the road upon road Beth Shemesh in thoroughfare one. They walked, walking and lowing, and not they veered right and left. And axles, Philistines, walking after them until boundary Beith Shemesh.

 

1 Samuel 6:1-12 (NKJV)

Now the ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines seven months. 2 And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, “What shall we do with the ark of the Lord? Tell us how we should send it to its place.”

3 So they said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty; but by all means return it to Him with a trespass offering. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why His hand is not removed from you.”

4 Then they said, “What is the trespass offering which we shall return to Him?”

They answered, “Five golden tumors and five golden rats, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines. For the same plague was on all of you and on your lords. 5 Therefore you shall make images of your tumors and images of your rats that ravage the land, and you shall give glory to the God of Israel; perhaps He will lighten His hand from you, from your gods, and from your land. 6 Why then do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He did mighty things among them, did they not let the people go, that they might depart? 7 Now therefore, make a new cart, take two milk cows which have never been yoked, and hitch the cows to the cart; and take their calves home, away from them. 8 Then take the ark of the Lord and set it on the cart; and put the articles of gold which you are returning to Him as a trespass offering in a chest by its side. Then send it away, and let it go. 9 And watch: if it goes up the road to its own territory, to Beth Shemesh, then He has done us this great evil. But if not, then we shall know that it is not His hand that struck us—it happened to us by chance.”

10 Then the men did so; they took two milk cows and hitched them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home. 11 And they set the ark of the Lord on the cart, and the chest with the gold rats and the images of their tumors. 12 Then the cows headed straight for the road to Beth Shemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and did not turn aside to the right hand or the left. And the lords of the Philistines went after them to the border of Beth Shemesh.

 

Matthew 12:44

Charlie Garrett Daily Writing, Matthew (Written)

Sunday, 31 August 2025

Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Matthew 12:44

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).

“Then it says, ‘I will return to my house whence I departed.’ And having come, it finds ‘holidaying,’ having been swept and having been arranged” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus spoke of an unclean spirit departing a man and traversing through waterless spots seeking rest. However, he didn’t find it. Therefore, Jesus continues, saying, “Then it says, ‘I will return to my house whence I departed.

Not having found a place to rest, the spirit remembers that he had it pretty good in his last spot. He was able to dwell in him, keep him satisfied with little to no effort, and he didn’t have to worry about being overworked. The person was satisfied with the shallower things in life. Therefore, “And having come, it finds ‘holidaying.’”

It is a new word, scholazó, to take a holiday or be at leisure. As such, it can, by implication, mean to devote oneself wholly to, as in 1 Corinthians 7:5. It is derived from scholé, school. One can think of a pursuit a person devotes himself to.

In taking a holiday, there is a state of being unoccupied. This can be positive or negative. In the case of this person, there is an empty house “having been swept and having been arranged.”

Both thoughts are based on new words. The first is saroó, to brush off or sweep. The second is kosmeó, to put in order or decorate. That is derived from kosmos, an orderly arrangement and which is often translated as world because the world is an orderly arrangement.

The substance of Jesus’ words so far is that this person had an unclean spirit. This spirit left the man for whatever reason. With the spirit gone, the man swept out his house and made it orderly and left it empty, as if it were on holiday. The unclean spirit decides he had it pretty good where he was, and so he goes back to see if there is space available. What do you suppose will be the result?

Life application: Jesus is making an example for the Jews who requested a sign to consider. His words are instructive, and they ask His hearers to think about what they hear and take action to ensure that what He says is then applied to their lives.

The words of this parable apply to an almost unlimited number of situations, any of which will turn out well if what Jesus says is applied to one’s life. However, because He is the Creator who fashioned man, if His words are not heeded, it is a good bet that things will not go well.

When someone comes to you for biblical advice, give them advice from the Bible. Don’t tell them, “I think…” It doesn’t matter what we think. Tell them, “The Bible says…” But don’t be disheartened if, after telling them, they don’t take the advice.

The Bible presents us with the state of man. It is a fallen state that says, “You cannot fix yourself.” God offers to fix us, and, in fact, He has already provided the remedy. But people hear what the Bible proclaims and decide that they would rather pursue their own path, thus rejecting the blueprint set forth by the Creator.

In such a situation, don’t be upset. Keep being the sound believer you were and keep being a proper example to those around you. Maybe, just maybe, when things don’t work out for them the first time, they may be back to ask your advice again. If so, there is a chance they will listen.

Be an example of faithful Christian living, and be willing to share about the goodness of God that is found in Jesus Christ. For those who are willing to listen, their house will be filled with many good things.

Heavenly Father, help us to be ready and willing to share the good news of Jesus with others, and to also share with them what the Bible recommends when their lives are not going so well. May we faithfully proclaim Your word so that others can find relief and proper direction in their walk of life. Amen.

 

Matthew 12:43

Charlie Garrett Daily Writing, Matthew (Written)

Saturday, 30 August 2025

“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Matthew 12:43

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 when the unclean spirit, it departs from the man, it traverses through waterless spots seeking rest, and it finds not” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus spoke of the coming of the queen of the South rising up in judgment and condemning those of Israel in that generation, noting that One greater than Solomon was there. With that complete, a new thought begins with, “And when the unclean spirit, it departs from the man.”

There are various ideas about the interpretation of the words of this parable. However, a few clues help direct the analysis. In verse 12:38, the scribes and Pharisees had asked for a sign. Jesus’ response noted that a generation, evil and adulteress, sought a sign. A second clue is that in verse 12:45, He will say that it will also be as “this evil generation.”

Therefore, the words apply to those He is speaking to, referring to their inherent evil. Therefore, “the man” is referring to them. He has an unclean spirit. If Jesus were to give a sign to them, oh boy! They would see it and accept the sign as some type of sure proof that He was their Messiah, as if they were free of their evil state.

While they are basking in this condition, Jesus says of the unclean spirit that “it traverses through waterless spots.”

In these few words are three newly introduced words. The first is dierchomai. It is derived from dia, through, and erchomai, to come or go. Thus, it refers to passing through an area. A single word that suits would be traverse.

Next is anudros, it is from hudor water (think of hydrate), which is prefixed by the negative particle a. Thus, it signifies “no water,” or “waterless.” The third is topos, a spot or location. One can immediately see the etymological ancestor of topology, topographic, etc. This unclean spirit is out in arid places “seeking rest.”

The obvious meaning is that it had a home in the man. It then left the man and went searching for a new place to settle down. However, men don’t frequent arid places unless they have a purpose for being there. A man with a purpose is not a suitable place for an unclean spirit because the man is focused on his business.

But such an unclean spirit needs a person who is not clearly focused. He needs someone whose ears are easily tickled and who is swayed by goofy videos on YouTube that have nothing to do with proper theology. Instead, he wants sensationalism, just like those speaking to Jesus wanted a sign to excite their minds and stimulate their otherwise dull lives. This unclean spirit has looked for a suitable place, “and it finds not.”

There are either no bodies at all in the arid places, or those who are there have brought their own water and are satisfied with their pursuits, being actively employed in a life activity that would make them unsuitable to infest. Such was the case with John the Baptist –

“In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!’ 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:
‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make His paths straight.”’
4 Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.” Matthew 3:1-6

Life application: As noted above, unclean spirits revel in those who are not grounded in life’s proper pursuits and activities. When humanity gets out of focus with what has been instilled in it by the Creator, unclean spirits find easy targets to infest and inflict them.

This is why larger cities inevitably fill with people who appear absolutely immoral and even demonic. In large cities, people migrate away from hard work and industry and turn towards social programs, easy access to easy lifestyles, attraction to sensationalism, etc.

There is an increasing hunger for things that replace the idea of a Creator God who holds man accountable for their actions. It is why cities normally shift towards left-leaning ideology. For example, abortion becomes common because lovers multiply. Because of this, consequences for affairs only get in the way of more affairs.

People gravitate towards what is fascinating, miraculous, etc. A magician can set up on the corner of a busy avenue and impress the people with tricks that are unexplainable to the masses. People think they possess special powers and abilities.

The newest Nephilim video on YouTube will score a million view, but the sound preacher who carefully explains biblical doctrines may get no views at all. Jesus refused to give a sign because He would have been appealing to the masses’ desire for that which is sensational.

Stay away from this type of thinking. Focus on what is right, sound, and proper. Just because something sounds exceptional does not mean it is. The magician’s tricks are always explainable. When they are revealed, people say, “Duh! I see now.” And then, they go looking for another magician to tease their senses.

Lord God, help us to think clearly and logically as we view the world around us. Help us to not get caught up in sensationalism and hype, but to pursue a path of hard work, careful and circumspect conduct, and – above all – a close and personal walk with You. Amen.

 

Matthew 12:42

Charlie Garrett Daily Writing, Matthew (Written)

Friday, 29 August 2025

The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here. Matthew 12:42

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 for Part I) (Click here to listen to part II) (Click here to listen to part III), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen for Part I) (Click here to listen to Part II) (Click here to listen to part III).

“Queen, south, she will arise in the judgment with this generation and she will sentence it, for she came from the extremities of the land to hear Solomon’s wisdom. And you behold! Solomon’s greater is here” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus referred to the account of Jonah’s preaching and how Nineveh repented at it. He then noted that a greater than Jonah was there with them. He now reiterates this general thought, beginning with, “Queen, south.”

The queen of the south is identified in 1 Kings 10:1 –

“Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions.”

This woman came to discover if the reports of Solomon’s wisdom were true. She was, in essence, a woman in search of discovery greater than silver or gold. Rather, she was looking for wisdom and truth concerning the human condition in relation to their Creator. As such, it says, “concerning the name of the Lord.”

One can see her mind asking, “Is Israel’s God the true God?” It reflects the search of those in humanity who truly want to know if the knowledge of the Most High can be ascertained or not. As it says several times in various ways in Scripture –

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10

Sheba is probably in the area of Saudi Arabia today. This can be discerned from Isaiah 60:6, which refers to other known areas in that general location. This woman traveled from this location specifically to obtain wisdom. It can be deduced from Jesus’ words that she found it because it says that “she will arise in the judgment with this generation and she will sentence it.”

It is the same thought as in the previous verse concerning the men of Nineveh. Whereas the men of Nineveh would rise in judgment against those of Israel whom Jesus came to reveal Himself to because they reconsidered at the proclamation of Jonah, this queen would do so, “for she came from the extremities of the land to hear Solomon’s wisdom.”

A new word, peras, an extremity, is used. It is from an obsolete derivative of peiro, to pierce. Like the proverbial Starship Enterprise, one can think of a trek piercing the unknown, even until the end of the trek.

This woman came from an area lying at the extremity of Israel’s knowledge of the inhabited world to simply hear Solomon’s wisdom in relation to the Lord God of Israel. Understanding this, Jesus finishes with, “And you behold! Solomon’s greater is here.”

What is it that Jesus has done, both with the previous verse and this one? He has made an implicit claim to deity. Jesus first spoke of the “proclamation of Jonah” and then that “Jonah’s greater” was there. Here, He refers to “Solomon’s wisdom” and then says that “Solomon’s greater” was there.

Jonah’s proclamation was the proclamation of the Lord. Jesus is actually not referring to Jonah the man, but his position as the Lord’s prophet. As it is said in Jonah 1:1, “Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah.” Of Solomon’s wisdom, it says, “behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you” (1 Kings 3:12).

Jesus claims a proclamation greater than that of Jonah. But Jonah’s proclamation was that of the Lord, albeit indirectly. Jesus claims a wisdom greater than Solomon’s, but it was the Lord who gave Solomon that wisdom. The meaning is that Jesus claims to be the Source of wisdom itself. He is the Lord God.

The men of Nineveh discerned this. The queen of the south discerned this. However, the men of Israel, representative of that generation, were unable to do so. Thus, those who received and accepted the word and wisdom of the Lord from Nineveh and the south would be there at the judgment of Israel, condemning them for their total lack of discernment.

The very people of the Lord, and who possessed the oracles of God, were to be cast into outer darkness (Matthew 22:13) for failing to see who Jesus is.

Note: As promised in a previous commentary, after this commentary, the timeline of Jesus’ Passion will be provided. Keep it handy, as it is something people around the world continue to misunderstand to this day.

Life application: In both the previous verse and this one, there is no article before the subject. It simply says, “Men, Nineveh” and “Queen, south.” Saying it this way provides emphasis to His statements. But why would Jesus refer to them this way? The answer lies in who His audience is.

Jesus is speaking to the scribes and Pharisees of Israel. They have the law. They are the religious elite of the “chosen people.” By making His declarations, He is essentially saying, “The Gentiles immediately and completely perceived what you are unable to discern.”

To this day, the people of Israel have the exact same information that the Gentile peoples of the world possess in order to discover if Jesus is God or not. They, however, have rejected that information and refuse to acknowledge their Lord.

They are determined to shun Him, rebuild a temple for worship that rejects Him, and attempt to find justification through their own merits by observing a law that only pointed to Him, awaiting His fulfillment of it.

The book of Hebrews clearly and unambiguously tells what the penalty for such a crime against Him is –

“For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?” Hebrews 10:26-29

Pray for Israel. They need Jesus.

Lord God, You have patiently waited for Israel to turn to You for salvation. Many have begun to do so in recent years, but the nation is still fighting against Your truth. We pray that the good news will spread greatly before the rapture comes, and Israel must endure the trial that lies ahead. Amen.

TIMELINE OF JESUS’ WEEK OF PASSION

Misconceptions –

1) Sign of Jonah / Three days and three nights. Matthew 12:40 –

a: The sign of Jonah is not the Lord’s time in the belly of the great fish. It is the message He preached and which will be rejected. Jonah cried out, “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be destroyed.” As is consistent in the Bible, it was a warning, a day for a year. Israel would be destroyed in 40 years.

With a cursory look at Jesus’ words in Matthew, the sign seems to be His death and resurrection. But Luke leaves out both the time frame and the entire account of the fish. When he does this, he clears up the context – that the sign of Jonah is his preaching, and what that preaching stated… that destruction was decreed in 40 days. The preaching to the Ninevites was the sign.

When Israel disobeyed in the wilderness, they were given a day for a year punishment for every day that the spies were gone. It was 40 days, and thus 40 years of punishment. In Ezekiel chapter 4, he was told to lie on his right side for 40 days, signifying a day for a year of punishment for Judah. He was told to do the same for his left side, but for 390 days. It was a day for a year for the house of Israel. Together, they form the prophetic basis for the return of Israel in 1948.

Forty years after Jesus’ words, for a day, Israel was destroyed and carried away into exile. The Romans came in and did what Nineveh was spared of. God’s judgment fell heavily upon them for failing to repent, receive their long-awaited Messiah, and conform to the will of God, which is found in the finished work of Jesus Christ.

b: “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Matthew 12:40

This is an idiomatic expression. It does not mean literally three days and three nights. This is a misunderstanding of the phrase as it relates to Biblical time. It’s important to note that this verse is from Matthew and is directed to the Jewish people, Jesus as King.

Hebrew idioms would have been understood and not needed any clarification or verbal amending. To the audience, Matthew was writing that any part of a day is considered to be inclusive of the whole day. It’s no different from the terminology we use today. If I arrive in Florida on a plane at 11:30 pm on 11 April, during a later conversation, I would still say I was in Florida on that day.

The biblical pattern of “evening and morning” being a day goes back to the first chapter of the Bible and includes an entire day, regardless of what part of a day one is referring to. If you want to understand the term day and night as an idiomatic expression, simply type “day and night” into your Bible search engine and see how many times, throughout the Bible, the term is used in this way. It goes on and on. Jeremiah does a great job of using it in this way. Study!

The same verse, as recorded in Luke, says, “And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say,

“This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. 30 For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation. 31 The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.”  Luke 11:29-32

As you can see, Jesus explicitly states that the sign is the preaching of Jonah. In this instance, Luke was not writing only to Jewish people, but predominantly to non-Jewish people – Jesus as the Son of Man. Therefore, the terminology is amended to avoid confusion. This occurs many times in the gospels, and therefore, the addressees (or the background of the writers themselves) need to be identified to understand proper terminology.

The same phrase is given in Esther 4:16 –

“Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”

This is then explained in Esther 5:1 –

“Now it happened on the third day (b’yom ha’shelishi) that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, across from the king’s house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house.”

As you can see, what she said in verse 4:16 is explained as an idiomatic expression in verse 5:1. This same phrase is exactly repeated in the NT 13 times – “On the third day,” not “After the third day.”

2) High Sabbath. John 19:31 –

“Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.”

The second issue to be resolved is that some scholars claim that John “appears” to place the crucifixion on a different date than the other writers. Because of this, an attempt was made to insert a second type of Passover meal, or a second Sabbath, into the Bible. This supposedly helps the Bible out of an apparent problem.

However, no such meal, or Sabbath, is identified in the Bible at any time. Nor is it necessary to make something erroneous like this up. The Bible identifies the timing of the entire Passion Week, dispelling the problem. The terminology for “Preparation Day” used in all four gospel accounts absolutely clears this up and will be noted as we go on.

The terminology “high Sabbath” is pointing to the fact that the Sabbath (there is only one Sabbath, Saturday) coincided with the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a “holy convocation” according to Exodus 12:16 and Leviticus 23:7. There are only six times in the Bible that something is called a Shabbath Shabaton, or “Sabbath of complete rest.” Four of them speak of the Seventh Day Sabbath, one concerns the Day of Atonement, and the last speaks of the seventh-year Sabbath rest for the land.

Thus, there is no second Sabbath. A holy convocation is not a Sabbath. On a Sabbath, meals could not be prepared. However, Exodus 12:16 says –

“On the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you. No manner of work shall be done on them; but that which everyone must eat—that only may be prepared by you.”

3) Four days. Exodus 12:3 –

“Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household.’”

This requirement has nothing to do with the Passover at Jesus’ time. Nothing in Scripture can be used to justify what is commonly taught, saying that the Passover lamb was selected each year to test it for defects. The opposite is true. The lamb was selected because it had no defects. Thus, this has nothing to do with Palm Sunday and the subsequent days leading up to Passover. Rather, this animal was selected early to ensure that every household had a lamb before the plague of darkness that fell on Egypt. It is never mandated again. People bought their lambs in Jerusalem from keepers of the flock who had already inspected them. Further, they did it within a day of the Passover.

There are four things that occurred at the first Passover that are not required in the annual celebration found in Leviticus 23 –

  1. The eating of the lamb in their houses was dispersed through Goshen.
  2. Taking the lamb on the tenth day.
  3. The striking of its blood on the doorposts and lintels of their houses. And,
  4. Eating it in haste.

The four-day requirement never occurred again. There is no biblical support for it. People have picked and chosen selected verses, without following through on the study, to come to an incorrect conclusion on this.

Chronology of the Events –

1) The easiest way to identify the day of Passover from the gospels is by reviewing the term “Preparation Day.” It is in all four gospels, and it exactingly identifies the day of the Passover –

Matthew 27:62 – “The next day, the one after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate.” This was the day after the crucifixion. Matthew says it is the day “after Preparation Day.” After this is recorded the day after the Sabbath (Matt 28:1, the first day of the week).

Mark 15:42 – “It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached…” This is the day of the crucifixion. Mark says, “It was Preparation Day.” Mark 14 ends on the night of Christ’s time in the Garden of Gethsemane. Mark 15:1 then identifies that it is “immediately, in the morning,” meaning Preparation Day.

Luke 23:54 – “It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.” This is the day of the crucifixion. Luke says, “It was Preparation Day.” Luke 23:56 then says that they rested on the Sabbath, and then He was raised on the day after the Sabbath, Sunday, the Lord’s Day, the first day of the week (Luke 24:1).

John 19:14 – “Now it was Preparation Day of the Passover.” This is the day of the crucifixion. John says, “It was Preparation Day.”

This definitively, and without any chance of coming to any other conclusion, identifies the day as Friday, followed by the Saturday Sabbath. As sad as it is that this is denied by many, it is what the Bible actually teaches.. The four gospels are harmonious in this, and it is… irrefutable. However, the rest of the Passion week identifies this as well.

And so, let’s break all this down. Here’s what you need to know:

Paul plainly states that the Feast of Firstfruits is a picture of the resurrection:

“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”  1 Corinthians 15:20

The feast of Firstfruits was a Sunday according to Leviticus 23:15 – “From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks.” Note: the Sabbath referred to here is a Saturday. We don’t need to go any further there to know this is correct and that Christ rose on a Sunday.

Here is the math from the gospel accounts. It’s all there in black and white and very easy to look up –

**“Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.”  John 12:1 This would have been a Sabbath day (Saturday).

**“The next day, the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem.”  John 12:12 This would have been 5 days before the Passover, meaning Sunday (Palm Sunday), as the Passover would have started Thursday night at sundown and run until Friday night at sundown (remember biblical days start at sundown).

The account couldn’t be clearer that the next day after the Passover was a Sabbath. This is indicated several times. As I said, some people have attempted to use the terminology in John (it was a “high day” or a “special Sabbath”) to indicate that it could have been a day other than a Saturday. All special Sabbaths are specified in Leviticus and don’t necessarily fall on Saturdays. However, the term “Sabbath” as used in the other gospel accounts indicates a Saturday. There is nothing to support, anywhere in Scripture, that there were two Sabbaths in a row on this particular week. Further, the special Sabbaths in Leviticus do not apply here. As I said, one is the Day of Atonement, which occurs in the seventh month. The other is a Sabbath for the land every seventh year. Neither applies.

In fact, such an analysis does an injustice to the reading of the text. Therefore, the special Sabbath occurred on a regular Sabbath day (Saturday). As I said earlier, it was a great (high) Sabbath because it coincided with the holy convocation, which is the first day of Unleavened Bread.

From this, we can give the entire week’s schedule (refer to the cited verses in your own Bible to familiarize yourself with what’s being said) –

Sabbath 6 before // John 12:1 – …six days before the Passover.  Bethany/Lazarus.

Sunday 5 before // John 12:12 & Mark 11:10 – The next day…  Palm Sunday/Riding the donkey.

Monday 4 before // Mark 11:12 Now on the next day… Jesus cursed the fig tree.

Tuesday 3 before // Mark 11:20 Now in the morning… The withered fig is identified.

Wednesday 2 before // The gospels are silent on what occurred on this day.

Thursday 1 before – Passover starts at Sundown //Mark 14:1 After two days it was the Passover… (this is the first timing mentioned since Mark 11:20, which was Tuesday).

–

Note:  Pay special attention to the fact that in the following accounts, Mark is using Jewish time (sunset to sunset and John is using Roman time – from midnight) –

Mark 14:12 – “Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread when they killed the Passover Lamb.”  Here, Mark, like Luke, unites the Passover with the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

John 13:1 – “Now before the Feast of the Passover…”

Both Mark and John are speaking of the same day – The meal, washing of feet, Gethsemane, etc.

***Christ was crucified during this same 24-hour period, but it was obviously after the final night at Gethsemane and then the illegal trial.  Mark is speaking of this event from sundown, John is speaking of it in Roman time (this is obvious because they use different terminology for the same meal where Judas left to betray the Lord… can’t miss this point and get it right).

6 days before – Saturday

5 days before – Sunday

4 days before – Monday

3 days before – Tuesday

2 days before – Wednesday

1 day before – Thursday

The Day – Friday

The problem with people believing that John was speaking of a different day (as mentioned above) is that they miss the fact that the terminology for the day is different based on the author. To clear up any misunderstanding here, one needs only to compare the uses of the term “Preparation Day.” Once one does this, there are no discrepancies in the accounts. Go back and review what I said about that earlier. The timeline is set, it is irrefutable, and it is the only biblical option. Anything else inserts unbiblical information into the record.

Based on the biblical evidence,

1) There is no discrepancy between any of the accounts.

2) Jesus was crucified on a Friday.

3) Jesus rose on a Sunday.

Again, the Bible says 13 times that He was raised “on” the third day.  This is mentioned by Jesus Himself as well as the apostles. Therefore, it must have been Friday that Christ was crucified.

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Finally, please don’t believe (as some have claimed) that Christ rode the donkey into Jerusalem on a Saturday instead of a Sunday. This would have been the Sabbath. If He did, He would have violated the law –

“Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates, that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you.”  Deuteronomy 5:12-14

There is no need to make the assertion that it was a Saturday unless you simply wanted to finagle the dating. There is also no biblical provision for an exemption to the commandment prohibiting working a donkey.