Daily Writing

Sunday, 19 October 2025

Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! Matthew 13:43

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).

“Then the righteous, they will irradiate as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. The ‘having ears,’ let him hear!” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus referred to those who will be chucked into the furnace of fire, noting that there will be lamentation and the gnash of the teeth. Now, in contrast to them, He next says, “Then the righteous, they will irradiate.”

It is a word found only here in Scripture, eklampó. It is derived from ek, out of or from, and lampó, to give light or shine (as in a lamp). Thus, it signifies to shine out of. A comparable English word would be irradiate, a word signifying to shine out of or emit rays. One can think of the sun shining out between the clouds as they pass. The words reflect what was promised to Daniel concerning this same time –

“And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,
Some to everlasting life,
Some to shame and everlasting contempt.
³ Those who are wise shall shine
Like the brightness of the firmament,
And those who turn many to righteousness
Like the stars forever and ever.” Daniel 12:2, 3

But more, it reflects the description of Jesus at His transfiguration –

“Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; ² and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. ³ And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.” Matthew 17:1-3

Those comparisons are confirmed in the next words, “as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”

One can see that righteousness equates to light and life, while unrighteousness has a completely negative effect on humans. Therefore, Jesus provides a closing admonition, saying, “The ‘having ears,’ let him hear!”

Those who were in attendance, and all who hear the words since, are to pay heed to what He says. Even if there are events that will differently affect those in the church and those after the tribulation, the effects of righteousness remain unchanged. The key to righteousness, however, is not from law observance or any other sort of personal merit. It comes through faith in Jesus –

“Jesus answered and said, ‘This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. ³¹ Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. ³² And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.’ ³³ This He said, signifying by what death He would die.
³⁴ The people answered Him, ‘We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?’
³⁵ Then Jesus said to them, ‘A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. ³⁶ While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.’ These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.” John 12:30-36

Life application: In John 12, Jesus noted that when He is lifted up, He will draw all to Himself. This means that His salvation is provided to all with no restrictions on the type of person, such as gender, race, culture, previous history of sin, etc. It does not mean that all people will be granted it, however.

One must accept Jesus’ work by faith, believing that God did what His word states. Without faith in the Son, the person who was drawn will not be granted His righteousness. Be sure to tell all about Him. That is the first step in the process.

One cannot be drawn to what he is unaware of. Once the word is heard, the choice must be made. Be sure to understand this process and not assume that God draws people independently of their free will. The idea is preposterous and has no basis in Scripture.

Likewise, the idea of universal salvation has no basis in Scripture. People must believe after hearing the word. There is no other way to be deemed righteous before God.

Lord God, thank You that You have made the gospel available to the people of the world. It is we who turned our backs on You, and yet, You made the first move to reconcile us to Yourself. What You offer is a gift that simply needs to be received. May we be wise and receive what You offer in the giving of Jesus. Amen.

Saturday, 18 October 2025

and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 13:42

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), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

“And they will cast them into the furnace of the fire. There it will be the lamentation and the gnash of the teeth” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus noted that at the end of the age, the Son of Man will send out His messengers to gather all who offend or practice lawlessness. Their fate will not be a happy one. This is seen in His next words, saying, “And they will cast them into the furnace of the fire.”

The kaminos, furnace, is introduced here. It is derived from kaió, to burn or to light (as in a lamp). Thus, it speaks of setting on fire. This then consumes what is lit. The kaminos is a place where this occurs.

Furnaces are places of immense heat, but they are also shut when ignited, making them inescapable, except through where the fumes and venting of heat take place. The idea then is that of total destruction with no chance of escape. As people are being referred to, this speaks of a place of divine judgment. This coming judgment was referred to in Malachi –

“‘For behold, the day is coming,
Burning like an oven,
And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble.
And the day which is coming shall burn them up,’
Says the Lord of hosts,
‘That will leave them neither root nor branch.
² But to you who fear My name
The Sun of Righteousness shall arise
With healing in His wings;
And you shall go out
And grow fat like stall-fed calves.
³ You shall trample the wicked,
For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet
On the day that I do this,’
Says the Lord of hosts.” Malachi 4:1-3

Of this end-of-the-age event, Jesus next says, “There it will be the lamentation and the gnash of the teeth.”

Lamentation is a sign of great mourning. Those who rejected their own chance of salvation through coming to Christ will realize the error of their ways. They will certainly plead for mercy, but none will be provided. Their chance in life was wasted on setting snares and practicing lawlessness.

Gnashing teeth is a sign of immense negative emotion that accompanies the lamentation. One ridiculous commentary found in the Expositor’s Greek-Testament says the word is “held to be inappropriate here, because the gnashing of teeth is caused by cold, not by fire.” Cold causes teeth to chatter, not gnash.

The imagery is that of people receiving the just penalty for the aberrant lives they lived. Like those at the time of Noah’s flood, they were warned by him as he prepared the ark. In the end, only he and his family were saved. An entire world of people was swept away through the judgment of the flood. In the end times, fire will replace flood.

Life application: There are times when a commentary is so ridiculous that it needs to be highlighted and spoken against. Imagine someone so nitpicky that they find fault in God’s word by claiming Jesus’ use of the word translated as gnash to describe the anguished state of these people is inappropriate. But this is what scholars who have no care about the word do.

The word brugmos, to gnash, is derived from bruchó, to grate the teeth. That is used in Acts 7 –

“‘You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. ⁵² Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, ⁵³ who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.’
⁵⁴ When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed [bruchó] at him with their teeth.” Acts 7:51-54

These people weren’t standing in the cold with their teeth chattering. Rather, they were in a heated rage at Stephen because he identified their arrogance and hypocrisy against the Lord by always resisting His will.

Be careful when you read commentaries to not accept what you hear without thinking through what is stated. Far too many supposed scholars have one overarching intent, which is to tear apart the word in an attempt to make themselves look smarter than God, who gave us His word.

Such people are warped and twisted. Think about what you read. There is nothing inappropriate about what God presents to us. What is inappropriate is how we may arrogantly dismiss it or speak against it. For some good advice, if the guy who gave this analysis, Holtz by name, is saved, don’t stand too close to him at the Bema Seat of Christ. It may be a bit fiery there.

Lord God, may we never attempt to diminish the beauty or glory of Your word. Help us to remember that it is given to us to lead us into the knowledge of You and what You have done in the giving of Jesus. There is nothing awry or inappropriate in it. It is a precious and sacred bestowal to the people of the world. Help us to treat it accordingly. Amen.

Friday, 17 October 2025

The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, Matthew 13:41

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

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

“The Son of Man, He will send His messengers and they will gather from His kingdom all the snares and those doing lawlessness” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus noted that just as the darnel is gathered and burned in the fire, so will it be at “the age’s consummation.” Now, to explain the exact meaning of that, He says, “The Son of Man, He will send His messengers.”

The word aggelos, messengers, is used. The word can signify heavenly beings, people appointed for a task, or even a natural event. For example, it can refer to a pastor or a person sent by someone else to carry a message. It can also speak of the wind being sent as a messenger from God.

To translate this as angels immediately instills a bias in the mind that may not be correct. As noted in verse 39, these could be people sent out to do the job of rounding up the bad people. It could also be humans who returned with Jesus in glorified bodies, a possibility based on Revelation 19 –

“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. ¹² His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. ¹³ He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. ¹⁴ And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.” Revelation 19:11-14

This actually seems like a likely explanation of the thought, but it is speculation. Whoever the messengers are, He next says, “and they will gather from His kingdom all the snares.”

The word skandalon, a snare, is introduced. It is specifically a trap-stick, a bent sapling, that provides tension on the trap. It thus speaks of the trap of someone getting caught in his own devices or an unsuspecting person getting trapped in wrongdoing. Such people who have either deceived themselves or who are lulled into deception will be gathered. Along with them, Jesus says, “and those doing lawlessness.”

The word signifies illegality, coming from a, the negative particle, and nomos, law. This word doesn’t speak of the Law of Moses, but of any law that is set forth and which is ignored or willfully disobeyed. In fact, it is contrasted at times to those who are under the law and who violate that law (as all do), as opposed to those who are righteous in Christ.

Such people are the darnel of the field, who will be gathered and chucked into the fire.

Life application: In our world today, laws are set forth by governments. For example, there are laws in the United States and other countries that regulate immigration, what to do with illegals, etc. They are existing laws set forth by the duly elected representatives of the nation.

When a federal law is passed, it applies to all people, councils, counties, states, and those in the federal government. Unless the law is found unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, it stands as the law of the land.

Despite that fact, the immigration laws passed by both chambers of Congress and signed by the president at the time it was enacted have been ignored by those on the left millions of times in recent years, from the president down to the lowest levels of government. Even private citizens have engaged in and profited off of this lawlessness.

When those on the right who are in power over a particular part of the government, be it federal, state, or local, have tried to enforce those laws, states and local governments have ignored the law and the authorized authorities and claimed themselves “sanctuary cities” or “sanctuary states.”

This has caused tension within the land, as there is a state of lawlessness that now exists. It is an untenable situation in any nation that must be corrected. If it is not, then lawlessness will only increase. This has been markedly seen in the United States in the early 2020s. A nation under such lawlessness cannot stand.

This is a communist attempt to undermine the structure and enforcement power of the government. With such chaos in place, it becomes certain that, in due time, the nation will collapse. With such a void, the same type of power struggle that occurred in both Russia and China will take place. Millions will be slaughtered.

This is something occurring in Europe and elsewhere as well, and it explains how the world can easily fall into the chaos prophesied in Revelation. It is this belligerent attitude that must be removed from the world before the millennial reign. This is what Jesus is telling His disciples. There will be no such lawless attitude. Rather, people will understand what is right and accept it.

Imagine a world with no lawlessness! Houses will not need locks, people will not need to carry weapons to defend themselves, and little children will be able to take a bus or train without fear of being abducted or physically abused.

Think of why you feel you must lock your car before going shopping. Think of the wasted time and expense there is in the world around you because of those who attempt to steal what you have rightly earned. These things cannot be a part of what Christ will grant to the world upon His return. Oh, happy day it will be!

Lord God, no wonder You told Your people to pray for Your kingdom to come. When You establish the millennial reign of Christ, it will be a time that humanity cannot truly imagine. Our lives are so overwhelmed with fear that we don’t even realize we exist with it. It is just a state that exists in almost everything we do. Thank You that You will show the world what it is like to live in peace, contentment, and harmony. May that day be soon. Amen.

Thursday, 16 October 2025

Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. Matthew 13:40

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).

“Therefore, just as it is gathered, the darnel, and fire – it consumed, thus it will be in the age’s consummation” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus explained who the enemy is, what the harvest signifies, and who the reapers are from His parable of the darnel. He next says, “Therefore, just as it is gathered, the darnel.”

In the parable, the darnel was gathered first. As noted previously, this cannot be speaking of the end of the church age without severe modification of the typology, something that would make no sense. This is not only true from the idea of keeping the parable comparable to actual events, but also because of who Jesus is speaking to.

Speaking about the church, something not yet understood by the disciples, would be comparable to someone today speaking about the terrible job the next administration is doing in handling the economy. The next administration is years away, and the candidates haven’t even been selected.

Therefore, at the end of the age of Israel’s interaction with the law, meaning the end of the tribulation, the darnel, the sons of the wicked one, will be gathered up first. From there, Jesus says, “and fire – it consumed.”

Before the wonderful millennial reign, the agents of Satan will be identified and eliminated. Like darnel, fire will consume them. Only then will the world be ready to enter into the final dispensation. To sum up this thought, Jesus says, “thus it will be in the age’s consummation.”

The word aión, age, is used. This is not its first instance, but as a reminder, it speaks of various things based on the context. It signifies an era or time span. HELPS Word Studies says it is “characterized by a specific quality (type of existence)”.

In this case, it does not have to mean the end of the church age, even if that is what comes next. The type of existence that Jesus is currently speaking to (and about) is Israel under the law, not yet having received Him. It is the consummation of this age, this type of existence, that is being referred to. Keeping the boxes straight will keep students of the Bible from having actual contradictions in their biblical understanding.

Life application: In this parable, Jesus speaks of fire as the disposition of the darnel. It is rather popular for people to overlook or diminish Jesus’ judgment and the resulting effects of it. Some say, contrary to several passages, that condemnation is not eternal. Rather, people are just snuffed out and done.

Others say that nobody will go to hell. Such notions would mean that the Bible is actually untrue in its statements and depictions. Rather, judgment lies ahead for all humanity. For believers, their judgment for salvation or condemnation was realized in their receiving Jesus’ punishment, meted out to Him vicariously, at the cross of Calvary.

However, even believers have a judgment of fire coming. To understand that, or to refresh yourself, Paul says –

“Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, ¹³ each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. ¹⁴ If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” 1 Corinthians 3:12-15

“Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. ¹¹ Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.” 2 Corinthians 5:9-11

Real judgment lies ahead for each of us. In Christ, it will be a judgment for receiving rewards or for the loss of what we could have received. How will we live our lives in Christ? The choice is up to each of us.

When we fail to live appropriately, we will suffer loss, but praise God! We will be saved. Jesus has paid the full price for our sins. Condemnation no longer hangs over us. This is one of a long list of verses that assure us of eternal salvation. Thank God for His grace. Hallelujah and amen.

Lord God, may we be faithful in our walk with You. We received Jesus’ work, were saved, and at that time we were sealed with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee. May we now reflect that in our daily walk, pressing forward with Jesus as the fixation of our eyes. Amen.

Wednesday, 15 October 2025

The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. Matthew 13:39

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 the enemy, the ‘having sown them,’ he is the Traducer. And harvest – it is the age’s consummation. And harvesters – they are messengers” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus continued the explanation of the parable of the darnel. His continued words of explanation are, “And the enemy, the ‘having sown them,’ he is the traducer.” This is the first time the devil, or traducer, has been mentioned since Chapter 4. Jesus is the Sower. He sows good seed, but along with His efforts, the traducer sows his bad seed.

As the seed grows and matures, there has to be a separation between them. But Jesus, not wanting to harm the progress of His efforts, leaves them until the end. That is seen in His next words, “And harvest – it is the age’s consummation.”

A new word, sunteleia, is seen here. It is derived from suntelo, to complete entirely. Thus, it is an entire completion. Strong’s adds to the meaning, saying, “of a dispensation.” As this is so, something that can be understood from the context, the logical question to ask is, “What dispensation?”

The most common answer by scholars throughout the centuries is, “The church age, of course.” Two points immediately dismiss that. First, Jesus was speaking to His disciples about Israel under the law. Regardless of what their ministry will later be, that is the context. Second, the church age had not yet been introduced. So poignant is this the case that as Jesus was departing to heaven, this exchange is seen –

“And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me; ⁵ for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’ ⁶ Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, ‘Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’ ⁷ And He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. ⁸ But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’” Acts 1:4-8

The disciples were wondering when the kingdom would be ushered in, as if it would be soon. Jesus didn’t tell them there would be no kingdom for Israel. Rather, His plan for them is one that encompasses the duration of the church age. The period of law, for Israel, never ended. They have been under the curses of the law for having rejected Him.

The church age is given to bring salvation to the world through the gospel, but that is not its only intent –

“But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says:
‘I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation,
I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.’” Romans 10:19

“For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, ¹⁴ if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them.” Romans 11:13, 14

Properly understanding the dispensational model addresses the issue that cannot be rightly understood otherwise. So profound is this truth that even those who hold to dispensationalism still mix their theology and take the words of Jesus as referring to the church age. This is incorrect. Understanding this, He next says, “And harvesters – they are messengers.”

There is no article before messengers. What type of messengers is not stated. The vast majority of translations and commentaries say they are angels. Though this is possible, it is not a necessary deduction. For all we know, it is earthly people appointed to decide the matter of who is who at the end of the tribulation.

Either way, this is referring to Jesus’ words found in Matthew 24. In 24:3, the disciples ask about the sunteleia, the end of the age or consummation. Jesus then explains what will take place in verse 24:31. He notes that He will send His messenger to gather the elect. He then gives the details of that through the end of the chapter.

None of what He says refers to the church or the rapture. They are words of the elect being gathered and the others having judgment brought upon them. Only then will the earthly millennial kingdom be ushered in.

Life application: Though not yet complete, there is unexplained wording in Jesus’ parable. There are also unexplained concepts not specifically stated. In other words, and for example, after Jesus’ explanation is complete, nothing will have been said about why He allowed the traducer to sow bad seed.

Jesus died on the cross and defeated sin. Why didn’t He just take care of him and all of the world’s mess at that time? The answer is not so that the church could usher in a state of perfect harmony before Jesus returns.

The answer is found in His covenant promises to Israel. Israel rejected Him. But their rejection does not negate His faithfulness to His words of promise to them. In order for these things to be realized, He began the new dispensation, that of grace.

During this age, the whole world is evangelized, and the eternal kingdom is being added to daily throughout the world. Eventually, His plan will lead back to Israel being the focus of attention. That is beginning now. Though they are not His people (ammi: My people) at this time, according to both the prophets and Paul, they will be at some point.

The world, including Israel, is being prepared for that day. At some point, the rapture will take place. When that occurs, the events of the end time will start to unfold, leading to the fulfillment of His parables and explanations of those times. Get ready! Israel is back in the land. The end of all these things is being prepared.

Lord God, thank You for Your faithfulness to Israel. In seeing how You deal with them, we can know that You will deal the same with us. We are so unfaithful, but You are faithful and true. Help us to realize this and to honor You all the more for Your kind grace directed toward us. Amen.