Daily Writing

Monday, 22 December 2025

But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Matthew 15:13

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

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

“And having answered, He said, ‘Every planting that not He planted, My heavenly Father, it will be uprooted” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus’ disciples came to Him, exclaiming that Jesus knew the Pharisees were offended when they heard His saying. In response to that, Matthew records, “And having answered, He said, ‘Every planting that not He planted, My heavenly Father.”

A new word in Scripture is seen, phuteia, a plant, but literally a transplanting. It is found only here in the Bible. Jesus is referring to the religious leaders, equating them with plants. It is probable, He is connecting this to the parables He gave in Chapter 13 –

“Another parable He near-set them, saying, ‘It is likened, the kingdom of the heavens, to a man having sown good seed in his field. ²⁵ And in the ‘sleeps the men,’ he came, his enemy, and he sowed darnel in between the wheat, and he went away.’” Matthew 13:24, 25

The explanation of that parable is found in Matthew 13:37-43. Along with that, there are other such references to be found in the Old Testament, such as in Deuteronomy 29 –

“…so that there may not be among you man or woman or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations, and that there may not be among you a root bearing bitterness or wormwood; ¹⁹ and so it may not happen, when he hears the words of this curse, that he blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall have peace, even though I follow the dictates of my heart’—as though the drunkard could be included with the sober.” Deuteronomy 29:18, 19

“And the Lord uprooted them from their land in anger, in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is this day.” Deuteronomy 29:28

As was recorded at times in the Hebrew Scriptures, something the scribes and Pharisees would have known and understood, and as Jesus relayed to the disciples in Matthew 13, Jesus notes of these apostate leaders, like darnel or a root of bitterness and wormwood, “it will be uprooted.”

Just as a plant can be transplanted by one person, it can be uprooted by another. If the devil has sown into God’s field worthless plants, it is certain that the Lord will have them uprooted and disposed of through judgment and fire.

Life application: The Bible uses simple metaphors to convey deep spiritual truths. The things it mentions are things that were understood by the people in the land. And despite Israel being a land that many people may not be able to fully identify with, such as a desert if someone is raised in a forest, the surrounding explanations are usually sufficient to enlighten people to whatever is being conveyed.

And yet, the spiritual truths that are tucked away in Scripture are so deep and so profound that to this day, people are still discovering new information from this word. Because of this, you will get out of the Bible whatever effort you put into it.

At the same time, some things are only meant to be properly understood or interpreted at specific times. God slowly releases the information, inspiring His people to understand His word according to His wisdom.

This is why new things continue to be found. So don’t be frustrated if something comes out and you think, “Why didn’t I get that!” There is enough in the word of God to satisfy the minds of His people until the consummation of all things comes to pass.

Keep reading, meditating, and studying His word. It is a treasure trove of God’s wisdom in relation to the process of redemption that is going on in the world around us.

Glorious God, what a wonderful word You have given us. Thank You for its insights into so many areas of life. When we pick it up and read it, it always seems relevant to what we need to hear right at that moment. What an amazing and relevant word You have given us! Amen.

Sunday, 21 December 2025

Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” Matthew 15:12

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

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

“Then His disciples, having come near, they said to Him, ‘You have known that the Pharisees, having heard the saying, they stumbled!’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus noted that it isn’t what goes into the mouth that defiles a man. Rather, what comes out of his mouth is what does. Having said that, it next says, “Then His disciples, having come near.”

Jesus spoke to the scribes and Pharisees, probably without the others grouped around them. Room was allowed for Jesus to engage in the conversation without interruption, but still close enough that the disciples could hear and learn.

Once the conversation with them was finished, Jesus called to the crowd, and with an implicit rebuke to these leaders, told the people His words about what defiles a man and what doesn’t. After He said this, the disciples, probably seeing the leaders go off in a huff, came to Jesus to personally address Him. Once with Him, “they said to Him, ‘You have known.’”

This is not a question, as translations imply. The verb is a perfect participle without any form of negation to indicate a question is being proposed. The participle signifies a completed action with a state that continues into the present. More likely, it is an exclamation, “You have known!”

They were completely surprised that Jesus said what He said, knowing it would elicit a negative response. He was aware of what would happen, and He continued in that state, knowing they were miffed. That is explained in their next words, “that the Pharisees, having heard the saying, they stumbled!”

The word translated as stumbled is rightly paraphrased as “offended.” They took offense at Jesus’ rebuke concerning transgressing God’s commandment. They were offended at His continued rebuke of them for being hypocrites by placing tradition above that commandment. They were offended at His citation of Isaiah, which pointed directly at their hypocrisy, even suggesting that Isaiah was referring specifically to them.

And if they heard His words to the crowd, they would have been offended at what He said to them as well. He had taken their tradition and spoken against it to the general public, taunting them with His wisdom that was superior to their poor, self-centered customs.

Life application: Jesus came on a mission. It was to fulfill the Mosaic Covenant and introduce a New Covenant in its place. However, as long as the Old Covenant was in effect, He defended it while still implying that something better was to be found in Him.

There is nothing contradictory in this. The words of the covenant, along with their associated penalties for disobedience, were written down. Obedience was not optional. However, within the Mosaic code, which included the later writings, Jeremiah prophesied a day when God would cut a New Covenant with Israel.

Jeremiah never said, “This is great! Now we are no longer under this covenant, and we are free from the curses and the punishment.” Instead, he acknowledged Israel’s transgressions and accepted that their punishment was just and deserved.

Jesus, likewise, conveyed this same truth to Israel. They would remain bound to the Mosaic code until they came to Him. Knowing they wouldn’t, He prophesied of all the disasters that would come upon them.

If those disasters came upon them, which were according to the Mosaic Covenant, then that means, by default, that they are still, even to this day, bound to that law. Unfortunately, because the Mosaic law is fulfilled by Jesus, it is no longer what God accepts in order to be right with Him.

They will build a temple. The rites and sacrifices associated with it will take place. And not one iota of what they do will be accepted by God. Rather, this will only continue to keep them from any possible right relationship with Him. Until they realize this, forsaking the law by coming to Christ, they will continue to suffer terrible times.

Jesus is the key to understanding all of Scripture and the entire history of the Jewish people. Pray for them as they continue to rebel against Him through their rejection of Jesus. It is right that we do so.

Lord God, we lift up the nation of Israel to You. Along with all the other lost souls in the world, they need Jesus. We pray that many will come to know Him before the rapture. After that day, hard choices will need to be made by them. Open their eyes to the glory of Jesus our Lord, O God. Amen.

Saturday, 20 December 2025

Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” Matthew 15:11

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

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

“Not the ‘entering into the mouth’ it profanes the man, but the ‘proceeding from the mouth,’ this, it profanes the man” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus called for the attention of the crowd to “Hear and understand.” He now explains to them, “Not the ‘entering into the mouth’ it profanes the man.”

This is based on the shocked attitude of the scribes and Pharisees as the chapter opened –

“Then they came to Jesus from Jerusalem, scribes and Pharisees, saying, ² ‘Through what – Your disciples, they sidestep the tradition of the elders? For they wash not their hands when they may eat bread.’” Matthew 15:1, 2

Jesus then went through an explanation of how these same people who had set up traditions were actually violating God’s law. Because of this, their hearts were far from God. What the people ate, regardless of any external washings of hands, pitchers, bowls, etc., was clean.

It was something God had given to man for food to sustain him, and that was its purpose. A man is not rendered unclean by such things. However, He continues, saying, “but the ‘proceeding from the mouth,’ this, it profanes the man.”

He has already explained the meaning of this in His citing of Isaiah. What God finds deplorable are those who disobey Him, or even those who obey Him, but do it with an evil heart. Because the disciples missed the point of Jesus’ words, He will have to explain the intent more fully in verses 18-20 of this chapter.

Life application: Missing the point of what is going on, Charles Ellicott, citing the general tenor of innumerable scholars, pastors, preachers, and teachers, says –

“Now a great broad principle is asserted, which not only cut at the root of Pharisaism, but, in its ultimate tendency. swept away the whole Levitical system of ceremonial purity—the distinction between clean and unclean meats and the like. It went, as the amazement of the disciples showed, far beyond their grasp as yet. Even after the day of Pentecost, Peter still prided himself on the observance of the Law which was thus annulled, and boasted that he had never ‘eaten anything common or unclean (Acts 10:14).’” Charles Ellicott, et. al.

The last thing on this planet that Jesus would have done is to hint that the Levitical law (the Levitical system of ceremonial purity) was done or that it could be ignored or sidestepped. He was born under the law, and He abided by it, fully and completely. To not have done so, or to have taught others to not do so, would have been to fail fulfilling… Anyone? – Yes, the law!

“Cursed is the one who does not confirm all the words of this law by observing them.” Deuteronomy 27:26

More to the point, however, is that Jesus would have been taken out and stoned as a lawbreaker if He were to have promoted ignoring God’s law. What Jesus is telling these people is something they would have understood from the context of their lives under the law. There were certain foods they were allowed to eat and certain foods they were not permitted to eat.

There were also times when foods were rendered impure as well. Jesus is not speaking of these things, nor would the people have thought He was. Jesus was questioned about ceremonial washing. As noted, Mark gives more details, saying –

“Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. ³ For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. ⁴ When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.” Mark 7:2-4

This is what these religious leaders were referring to and what Jesus was likewise referring to. The law deemed eating a camel as unclean. Not a person there would have thought or taught differently. The same is true with pigs, bats, bunny rabbits, and lobsters.

Mixing Peter’s misunderstanding of the fulfillment and ending of the law in Acts 10 (and elsewhere) with what was occurring under the law is a doctrinal error known as “mixing dispensations.” Jesus is speaking to the people of Israel, to whom the law was given. The law had not yet been fulfilled, and it was in full effect upon every person of Israel.

Only after Christ Jesus fulfilled the law did it lose its force, power, and effect over those with faith in Christ Jesus’ fulfillment of it. This is why Israel, to this day, still stands condemned through failure to uphold the law. They bound themselves to it by covenant agreement. They rejected Jesus’ fulfillment of it, and thus, in God’s eyes, they remain under its full penalty for failing to adhere to it.

The main theme of this life application is DO NOT MIX DISPENSATIONS. What belongs to the law remains under the dispensation of the law. What belongs to the grace of God in Christ belongs to the dispensation of grace. Keep the boxes separate, and your doctrine will be simple, sound, and sensationally super.

Lord God Almighty, give us wisdom to rightly apply dispensational understanding to our study of Your word. Without it, we will be contradicting, misunderstanding, and unsatisfying in our understanding of what it is instructing us. May our understanding be sensationally super through a right application of this important doctrine. Amen.

Friday, 19 December 2025

When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: Matthew 15:10

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

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

“And having summoned the crowd, He said to them, ‘You hear and comprehend!’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus finished citing the words of Isaiah, which He had said rightly referred to the scribes and Pharisees. Next, He will begin a new thought, but one which is still connected to His ongoing words against these leaders of Israel. The words begin with, “And having summoned the crowd.”

This would be the crowd gathered in the land of Gennesaret, as noted in verse 14:34. They would have seen the ongoing dispute the scribes and Pharisees had with Jesus. With His words to them complete, He turns to the crowd to instruct them on the matter.

This is particularly important because the scribes and Pharisees would have been considered the cream of the crop in religious circles. The people would have heard them and accepted their word concerning such matters. And yet, Jesus had strongly refuted them, directly quoting Scripture to make His point.

With that complete, He turns to the crowd. One can see the scribes and Pharisees still there while Jesus ignores any further discourse with them. Instead, He addresses the people in what will turn out to be a stinging rebuke of these religious leaders. It will conclude His thoughts about what they presented to Him in verse 15:2. Understanding this, Matthew records, “He said to them, ‘You hear and comprehend!’”

The crowds have been filing away the thoughts of the scribes and Pharisees all their lives. Anytime they needed to know a matter, it would be these men who would be consulted for a definitive answer to their question.

In this case, however, Jesus will address the crowds directly. Saying, “You hear and comprehend,” is like saying, “Pay careful heed. I have an important matter for you to hear and then file away for future reference when these people come to you with their faulty conclusions concerning this matter.”

Life application: In any argument, be it religious, political, mechanical, structural, nuclear, etc., the only thing that matters is what is true. Truth can be defined as “that which corresponds to reality.” If two nuclear scientists disagree on the effects of adding tritium into the fission process when developing a nuclear bomb, there are certain parameters that can be determined by mathematical calculations.

The calculations will determine the truth of the matter. But if one scientist continues to disagree, building a bomb with the disputed amount of tritium and igniting it will resolve the matter. Likewise, if someone says that he wants to build a skyscraper in a certain way, there are calculations to determine if his plans will succeed or fail.

If a point of stress is misidentified or ignored, the entire structure could fail and come tumbling down. When debating religion, it doesn’t matter how someone “feels” about a matter. If what he says contradicts Scripture, it doesn’t matter if he claims the Spirit told him, God spoke to him, he had a dream or a vision, etc. If Scripture is God’s standard in understanding Him, then such claims are irrelevant.

People all over the world, and also for the past two thousand years, have made claims about matters of faith, doctrine, inspiration, etc. And yet, none of them has added a single word to God’s word. It is true that some have claimed such additions, like Ellen G. White of the Seventh Day Adventists and Joseph Smith of the Mormons.

However, their writings, which are supposedly inspired by God, have only caused division, confusion, and apostasy from the truth of Scripture.

Therefore, when talking to someone about matters of doctrine or theology, there must be a basis for any disagreement, meaning a standard by which the matter can be resolved. If someone claims he has had a dream that tells him something and it contradicts Scripture, then either Scripture is wrong, or his dream is false.

If the standard that is set is Scripture, then the dream, by default, must be false. However, if the claim is made that the dream is valid, there is no longer a standard by which the two can dispute the matter. You are now arguing apples and oranges. There is absolutely no point in continuing the discussion.

This is what Jesus faced. He was given a supposed standard. That standard was not in accord with Scripture. As such, He cited Scripture and ended the discussion, instead turning to the crowds to present information based on His conclusion.

Don’t be duped into arguments with people who have no set standard that you can agree upon. You are wasting your time and will inevitably bolster their nutty ideas in their own minds and possibly in the minds of others.

Lord God, Your word instructs us concerning when to engage a dispute and when to step away from one. Give us wisdom to apply this to our own lives as we encounter those who have made claims on matters related to Scripture. Help us to know when to engage and when to disengage from such matters. Amen.

Thursday, 18 December 2025

And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” Matthew 15:9

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

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

“And vainly they revere Me,
Teaching instructions – men’s injunctions.” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus cited the first half of Isaiah 29:13. He now completes citing that verse, beginning with, “And vainly they revere Me.”

Two new words are seen. The first is matén. It gives the sense of an unsuccessful search. Adverbially, it then signifies something done aimlessly, to no purpose or in vain. The second is sebó, to revere.

Jesus, being the Lord who reads the hearts and minds, had seen numerous generations of men come and go, one after the other, paying lip service to Him while their hearts were turned far from Him. In His incarnation, He knew how they worshiped God, and He called them out for it. Their holding tradition above the commandments of God was one of the ways in which this was done.

Further, He continues the citation, saying, “Teaching instructions – men’s injunctions.” Two more new words are seen. The first is didaskalia, instruction. That is derived from the noun, didaskalos, an instructor. That, in turn, is from the verb didaskó, to teach, which is also found in this same clause.

They are “teaching instructions” which are “men’s injunctions.” This includes the next new word, entalma, an injunction or religious precept that focuses “on the result of following the directive to its end” (HELPS Word Studies). In this case, they are derived from men. Thus, the instruction does not have the ultimate goal of glorifying God, but satisfying man in some manner.

Looking at the verses again, we can see the structure.

And vainly they revere Me,
Teaching instructions – men’s injunctions.

The “vainly” corresponds to “men’s injunctions,” while the “revere” is directed to the instructions. In this case, the reverence should have been directed toward God, but the instruction belies the supposed intent, leading to the satisfaction of man, not the glorification of God.

Life application: When you go to church, pay attention to the things done in the church as it is conducted. What is the goal and purpose of what is being done? When songs are sung, are people truly glorifying God through them, or are they “me” centered? If the church wants you to wear a certain type of clothes, is it because God will be glorified, or that some pet peeve of man is being imposed on the people?

Pay attention to the various aspects of the service and see if they match what the Bible instructs or omits as instruction. The psalms are written to glorify God. That is their intent and purpose. The type of clothing expected in church is never addressed. However, a poor man’s clothing is spoken of by James. How such a person with his raggedy clothing is treated is highlighted by him.

Quite often, you’ll find that a church has devolved into a “me” centered group. The things they do have nothing to do with honoring God or being obedient to His precepts. Such things will often have the opposite effect by moving people away from sound worship. Eventually, some will rebel and just stop going to church.

Legalism is an infection in the church. Me-centered worship only increases the neurosis of the congregation because their eyes are always directed at sinful beings whose faults and limitations are not being addressed in a God-centered manner.

If you see something in a church that is following a path that directs people from proper worship, it is right to address it. Asking why things are done as they are is proper. There is no need to be accusing or finger-pointing at such times. But it is right to know why the church does things as they are done. Usually, tradition has stepped in and taken over for a heartfelt worship of the Lord. Getting back to the basics will be a breath of fresh air as proper God-centered worship is encouraged.

Lord God, may our lives be directed to You at all times. Help us not to get stuck in unhealthy ruts in life that keep us from a close and personal walk with You. Instead, may our hearts be open to You at all times, and may our worship and praise of You flow from hearts of gratitude and joy in You. Amen.