Daily Writing

Tuesday, 18 February 2025

And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:23

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

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

“And then, I will assent to them that, ‘Never I knew you! You depart from Me – Those working lawlessness!’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus spoke of those who will call out saying that they had prophesied in His name, cast out demons in His name, and done many wonders in His name. And yet, it will be seen that their conduct was not because of faith in Him. That is realized in His next words which begin with, “And then, I will assent to them.”

The word homologeó is introduced here. It is derived from homou, the same or together, and logos, a word, as in a statement or speech. Thus, the thought is more than just “declare.” It signifies to agree with or speak the same. As such, it means to assent, a word defined as the expression of approval or agreement.

These people have stated their case before the Lord. They have claimed that their actions were based on His name. He, knowing that it was a false pretense, will assent “that, ‘Never I knew you!’”

The word oudepote, never, is introduced here. It is derived from oude, not, and pote, a disjunctive particle signifying once, formerly, ever, etc. Taken together, it signifies “not ever” and thus, never. There is no point at which Jesus knew them. Their works were always unsanctioned by Him.

Therefore, the assent or agreement is that they had, in fact, done these things. He will acknowledge it is so, but their actions, despite being done in His name, were not with His approval. They simply went about saying and doing things without the proper authority for them to be done, meaning that they were not truly His followers. His words are a denial that they are. Because this is so, He next says, “You depart from Me – Those working lawlessness!”

Again, Jesus introduces new words. The first is apochóreó, to depart. It is derived from words signifying away and to make room. A paraphrased thought based on these roots would be “Get away from me and give me space.” But saying depart sufficiently explains the matter.

The next new word is the verb ergazomai. It is derived from ergon, work. Thus, it is the action of working. It is something a person is engaged in to accomplish a task. In this case, Jesus tells them to depart from Him because they are engaged in anomia, lawlessness.

The word is formed from the negative particle a and nomos, law. Hence, it signifies without law, lawlessness. Despite having done the things they did in Jesus’ name, they had no law allowing them to do so. Deeds done in Jesus’ name must be done in faith or they have no true basis of being in His name.

The reason for this is that saying or doing something in the name of someone you don’t believe in is a fool’s business. It is like a professor who teaches the Bible but who doesn’t believe the Bible is what it claims to be.

Life application: Politicians love to invoke the name of Jesus when it is convenient. But few of them will actually stand up and say, “I am a follower of Jesus Christ.” Someday, people will be gathered before the Lord and they will understand that He truly is the Lord of all.

When they are there, many will fall back on their words. Those politicians who invoked Jesus’ name or who arbitrarily used Jesus’ words for their own purposes might call out, “I proclaimed your name in churches all over America while on the campaign trail.” He will say to them words in accord with those of Matthew 7:23.

This will be true of many people in the pulpit as well. Based on his life and actions, this appears to be the case with the current pope. These people invoke Jesus’ name, but their lives and actions have nothing in common with the truth of who Jesus is and what He directs as is recorded in Scripture.

Be sure that when you consider the word, you don’t just do so for external show, but for internal guidance. When you praise Jesus, do it in faith that He hears. Anything, no matter how small it is, when it is done in faith will receive its rewards. Have faith and be at peace with God through His wonderful Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus.

O God, You have given us Jesus to lead us back to Yourself. Help us to fix our eyes on Him and maintain Him as our first love all our days. Thank You for Jesus who returns us to You through His perfection. Yes, thank You for Jesus! Amen.

Monday, 17 February 2025

Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ Matthew 7:22

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

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

“Many, they will say to Me in that ‘the day,’ “Lord, Lord, not the ‘Your name’ we prophesied, and the ‘Your name’ we ejected demons, and the ‘Your name’ we performed many miracles?” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus noted that not everyone who would say to Him, “Lord, Lord,” would enter into the kingdom of the heavens. Now, He continues with, “Many, they will say to Me in that ‘the day.’”

The use of the demonstrative pronoun and a subsequent definite article is not always translated. Most translations just say, “in that day.” However, the two together provide an emphasis that should not always be ignored. In this case, some literal translations include both.

The BLB, for example, says, “in that the day.” The LET goes a little too far towards the hills of Kentucky and says, “in that there day.” In setting the words “the day” off with quotes, the sense is more readily understandable.

There is a specific day that is coming when people will stand before the Lord and be judged. It is at that time that they will say, “Lord, Lord, not the ‘Your name’ we prophesied.”

Again, the literal translation shows a specificity that is lacking in English. Using the word “in” gets the point across, but the statement is an assertion that these people used Jesus’ name when they prophesied. It isn’t just that they prophesied in His name, but that His name was the subject of their proclamation. With that, He continues with, “and the ‘Your name’ we ejected demons.”

Again, the ejection of the demons wasn’t so much in the name of Jesus, as if they had a part in the process. It is the use of the name itself that caused demons to be ejected. As this is so, it signifies that a power rests in His name that extends beyond this realm, even if His deity was not yet understood.

At a minimum, people would be thinking, “God has endowed this person with such spiritual power that even the proclamation of His name has power over the demons.” This is similar to the thought seen 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.” ¹¹ And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time.’” Acts. 8:9-11

These people didn’t claim Simon was God. Rather, they acknowledged him to be the great power of God. This is probably in line with what the people listening to Jesus must have thought about Him concerning His words. Next, Jesus says, “and the ‘Your name’ we performed many miracles?”

Again, the name itself is what carries the weight and authority of the action. The thing is, that in order to use a name to effect a change in another, one would think that there would be a conviction within the person stating the name that it was not only capable of conveying power but also it would be worthy of respect.

Such, however, is not necessarily true –

“Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, ‘We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.’ ¹⁴ Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.
¹⁵ And the evil spirit answered and said, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?’
¹⁶ Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. ¹⁷ This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.” Acts 19:13-17

Not all who proclaim the name of Jesus are sincere, even when they understand the power the name wields.

Life application: In the church today, there are lots of people, heaps of them, who claim to do the miraculous in Jesus’ name. They claim prophetic visions and divine engagements with angels and even the Lord Himself. This has now been going on for over two thousand years.

How many of them do you believe? The Bible is written. What more do you expect from the Lord? Of what purpose is it that people claim to do these things? Paul says that we live by faith, not by sight. If we have sight, faith is excluded. Jesus said as much to Thomas.

Has one supposed prophecy or miracle over the past two thousand years since the Bible was completed added anything of value to the church? Be careful what you believe. If someone is sick, pray to the Lord for healing. If someone needs a job, pray that the Lord will provide it. But don’t go looking for miracle workers.

The true miracle worker is in heaven, and He will work out His miracles in a manner that will meet His purposes. Have faith in that. It is sufficient.

Glorious God Almighty, when we call on the name of Jesus, the greatest miracle of our lives comes about. We are saved by His precious blood. What more could we ever ask for? Thank You for Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Sunday, 16 February 2025

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Matthew 7:21

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

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

“Not all, the ‘saying to Me, “Lord, Lord,”’ he will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of My Father the ‘in heavens’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus, having used the metaphor of trees concerning the character of people, said that people will be known by their fruits. He now continues His words to the people, saying, “Not all, the ‘saying to Me, “Lord, Lord.”’”

This is the first time that the word kurios, meaning, sir, master, or the Lord God is used in Matthew when not specifically referring to the Lord, Yehovah, the God of Israel. However, chronologically, the first instance was when Elizabeth spoke to Mary –

“Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, ⁴⁰ and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴² Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! ⁴³ But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.’” Luke 1:39-45

In her words, Elizabeth notes “the mother of my Lord,” but it is certain she was stating this as an honorific title and not referring to Jesus as Yehovah. In her second use of the word, she was referring to the Lord, Yehovah.

Jesus’ use of kurios, Lord, here is equivalent to adon in Hebrew. Each is a title that is given to indicate master, lord, sir, etc. In hearing His words, the people would not assume that He was referring to Himself as Yehovah incarnate any more than one would assume today that somebody saying “Sir, sir” about himself was making such a claim.

This doesn’t mean Jesus isn’t fully God. He is, but at this point, the people did not know this. He was merely tying His position of authority to that of the Messiah, thus making a claim to that position. That is seen in the next words. Not all who call Him Lord, Lord, “he will enter into the kingdom of the heavens.”

The meaning of “kingdom of the heavens” here is not the same thought as what believers in the church think of today, meaning the heavenly hope of eternal glorified bodies. Rather, it is the messianic hope found in the Old Testament where the shamayim, heavens, is spoken of in relation to a future rule of righteousness. For example –

“He shall call to the heavens from above,
And to the earth, that He may judge His people:
⁵ ‘Gather My saints together to Me,
Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.’
⁶ Let the heavens declare His righteousness,
For God Himself is Judge. Selah” Psalm 50:4-6

Such writings indicated to the nation of Israel, to whom Jesus is currently speaking, that there would be a time when there would be a heavenly rule even while they lived on earth. This was their expectation and anticipation, and it is what they believed the Messiah would come to provide.

Jesus is telling them that not all who claimed Him as the kurios, the Lord, of this rule would enter into that messianic kingdom. Rather, He says, “but the one doing the will of My Father the ‘in heavens.’”

Of this, Bengel incorrectly states, “(… The meaning is, ‘unto Me and My Father;’ and again, ‘My Father’s Will and Mine.’—Κύριε, Lord) Jesus acknowledged that this Divine appellation was due to Him.”

The problem with this is that outside of Mary and anyone she talked to, nobody at this time knew of Jesus’ true nature. Even Mary probably didn’t grasp this. The expectation was that God would send a Messiah, but none knew that the Messiah would be God incarnate.

Bengel and others take their current understanding of theology, and shove it into these events of the past, where it does not yet belong in the minds of the people hearing Jesus’ words.

Jesus does not say “Me and My Father,” nor does He say, “My Father’s Will and Mine.” That thought may be implied in His coming words, but it is no proof to the people of His divinity. Rather, David could have said the same thing, “I am the king, and I am doing the will of my heavenly Father in destroying the enemies of the people of God.”

The idea of God’s Father relationship to Israel was known as far back as Moses, such as in Deuteronomy 32:7. It is repeated all the way through Scripture to Malachi 2:10. Though Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, this is not the context of His words in the minds of the people.

As for what the Father’s will is, that is ultimately summed up in John 6 –

“Then they said to Him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’
²⁹ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.’” John 6:28, 29

To do the will of the Father is to do the works of God. It is to have faith in Jesus, believing in His nature, His completion of the work set before Him, and His all-sufficiency in that work for our lives.

Life application: Today, properly trained students of the Bible believe that Jesus is fully God and fully Man because this is what the Bible teaches. However, we cannot take our understanding of such doctrines, only understood later after Jesus completed His earthly ministry, and apply them to the minds of the people of Israel without doing harm to the narrative.

An example of this is when people take precepts of the Law of Moses and refer to them in the times before the law was introduced, such as in the life of Abraham or Jacob. No dietary restrictions were levied upon them, and yet commentaries will speak of their lives and conduct as if they were obedient to the Law of Moses.

And example of such thinking is found in the account of Noah –

“You shall take with you seven each of every clean animal, a male and his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female; ³ also seven each of birds of the air, male and female, to keep the species alive on the face of all the earth.” Genesis 7:2, 3

Jews and others claim that the words about “clean” animals implies that they had the precepts of the law already given to them. This is incorrect. The idea of a clean animal at the time of Noah had nothing to do with the Law of Moses.

Rather, the animals that were considered clean were those that did not eat dead things. Instead of feeding off of death, like a cat might, they fed off of that which is provided from the ground, like sheep. Shoving the law into pre-law times negates the purpose of the giving of the law!

Keep things in their intended context. In doing so, you will avoid many errors in your thinking and doctrine.

Glorious God, when we come to difficult issues in our time reading the Bible, give us the wisdom to stop and think about why things are detailed as they are. Help us to have clarity of thought in how we approach this precious word so that we do not fall into error. Amen.

Saturday, 15 February 2025

Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Matthew 7:20

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

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

“Hence, from their fruits you will know them” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus spoke about what happens to the tree that doesn’t bear good fruit. Because it doesn’t provide fruit for man, it will be cut down. As was seen, having tied the words into their greater context, this pointed to the law versus grace.

The law is likened to a tree with bad fruit because it cannot provide suitable nourishment for man. It was never intended to do so apart from Christ’s perfect fulfillment of it. But this means that He was already in a state of perfection, not that He was imperfect and attained perfection through the law. Understanding the greater context, Jesus next begins His summary thoughts of this part of His thoughts with, “Hence.”

The word ara, hence, is introduced here. It is an illative particle, meaning that it is given when drawing an inference. It is stated when a conclusion is reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning. Jesus’ conclusion concerning those who are likened to bad trees is that “from their fruits you will know them.”

In the case of false prophets, the main subject of this short line of thought, one will be able to discern a false prophet by the fruit he bears. People don’t need to, nor should they be expected to, judge someone simply because of how he looks when preaching. Nor should a judgment be made merely by his oratory skills. Such externals as those can be completely misleading.

Rather, even though fruit is something external, it is derived from inside. It expresses that inner aspect in a demonstration of one’s true character. This is to be found in the teaching of such a person, as well as a close inspection of the way he lives his life when apart from his time of teaching. These things help identify what a person is really like.

Life application: There are preachers, priests, and teachers who present themselves as if they have great holiness when in church. Catholics, Anglicans, and others wear flowing garments, have big poofy hats, and carry rods with crosses on the top of them. They step carefully and move rigidly showing themselves to be models of piety.

And yet, they may be homosexuals or (as it is common in some churches to ordain women today) lesbians. The disgraceful acts they conduct while away from the church identify their true character. They may even bring their vile teachings into the church while speaking of “inclusion” and “tolerance.” These are code words for the acceptance of perversion and immorality. These are their fruits.

Others may know the Bible well and speak against such things, but they teach law observance rather than the grace of Jesus Christ. They bring people into bondage and a yoke that was removed from Israel on the cross of Calvary. Do not touch! Do not taste! Observe this day to be holy! Their legalism goes on and on. They do not understand grace, they will not permit grace, and they shun those who trust in grace. These are their fruits.

Others may have a carefully constructed message, present it well and demonstrate piety, while reminding people of their theological training and background, and yet they may have lied about the college they attended. They also may have more love of sound doctrine than for the Lord who authored the word that gave the doctrine in the first place.

These may be harder to identify, but eventually, their fruit will be exposed. A good but sad example of this was Ravi Zacharias. He meticulously presented outstanding doctrine, was an exceptional orator, and presented himself as a well-trained and sound theologian. And yet, it was discovered that his life was a lie. He was sexually provligate, and he claimed positions that he never possessed.

Unfortunately, even though many in evangelical circles knew or suspected these things, they did not speak up because of his influence. People’s lives were harmed and surely many were disillusioned and removed themselves from fellowship because of what they heard. These were his fruits, and they were only exposed after his death when it was too late. But the Lord will render His judgment.

Check! Investigate! Don’t be duped by such externals, even if they include incredible doctrine. Unless you can personally evaluate the individual, always be wary concerning your esteem for him. Instead, send your praise and esteem directly to Jesus who deserves all glory!

Lord God, help us to discern what is right or wrong concerning those we come to for instruction. It is so easy to get allured into a comfortable state around authority figures when we should instead be on guard concerning them and their doctrine. Help us in this, Lord. May our direction be set on a good path, not partaking in unwholesome fruit. Amen.

Friday, 14 February 2025

Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Matthew 7:19

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

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

“Every tree not producing good fruit, it is exscinded, and it is cast into fire” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus noted that a good tree cannot bear bad fruit. Likewise, a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Having said that, He continues with, “Every tree not producing good fruit, it is exscinded.”

The words are in accord with what John the Baptist had already said –

“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, ‘Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, ⁹ and do not think to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our father.” For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. ¹⁰ And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.’” Matthew 3:7-10

The clear implication is that the words of Jesus in this chapter subtly point to the Pharisees and Sadducees as false prophets. In that state, they need a completely new nature in order to no longer be set for destruction. If not, they will remain bad trees. As such, each is set to be exscinded, “and it is cast into fire.”

The words here are pointing to truths set forth in the Law of Moses –

“When you besiege a city for a long time, while making war against it to take it, you shall not destroy its trees by wielding an ax against them; if you can eat of them, do not cut them down to use in the siege, for the tree of the field is man’s food. ²⁰ Only the trees which you know are not trees for food you may destroy and cut down, to build siegeworks against the city that makes war with you, until it is subdued.” Deuteronomy 20:19, 20

The point of this precept in Deuteronomy is that when a battle is being fought and there is an extended siege against a strong city, and the trees that are for food, meaning those which bear fruit, are to not be cut down. But this would be inclusive of trees that bear bad fruit, which is what Jesus now refers to.

Trees are equated with people at times. There are those who bear fruit, and there are those who do not. An example of this is found in Psalm 1 –

“He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.” Psalm 1:3

From a New Testament perspective, we can look at the words of Deuteronomy in relation to Paul’s words concerning warfare in 2 Corinthians 10. While Christians are waging war and pulling down strongholds, we shouldn’t destroy the work of those who are bearing fruit.

They are productive even if they are not actively engaged with us in our own battle. As Jesus said succinctly, “For he who is not against us is on our side” (Mark 9:40). Moses’ words concerning trees certainly extend to this spiritual application in our Christian warfare.

As for the words of Deuteronomy 20:20, there is a strong emphasis in them, “Only – tree which you know that not tree for food, it, you may destroy” (CG). The tree, which is not for food, is set in complete contrast to those that are. Of such trees, they may be chopped down and employed in building siegeworks.

Again, the words of Deuteronomy anticipate the words of Jesus in His coming ministry. He, speaking under the law to Israel, provides His words in the gospels concerning the trees that bear bad fruit.

The fact that John brought up Abraham in Matthew 3 (cited above) shows that what is being referred to is righteousness by faith, not through the law. Those who share a false gospel of works-based righteousness, such as the Hebrew Roots movement, can be – as it were – cut down and used in the siege.

In other words, they become the very instruments for defeating the enemy. Using their doctrine as an example of what is useless for man, they are to be cut down – verbally destroyed – in order to provide the proper employment of the gospel to destroy the enemy.

The lesson is that of apologetics, meaning using that which is of no value as an example to argue against in order to defend the faith and then go on the offensive. Having said that, the truth that John and Jesus are both ultimately referring to being cast into hell cannot be dismissed. Those who teach a false message will be cut off from the presence of God.

Life application: Paul was a Pharisee. He was one of the people the words of John, and now Jesus, referred to. And yet, Paul was called out of that darkness into the light of Christ. This shows that despite the nature of the tree, meaning bad fruit, the symbolism is not to be applied permanently to an individual.

In other words, a person with a bad nature and who bears bad fruit can be changed. As such, despite speaking against their false doctrine, we should also be speaking to them personally, imploring them through reason to change and be converted. Even heretics can see the light and change. This is what our presenting proper doctrine should be directed to.

Lord God, help us to always be about the business of learning Your word. Each day of our lives, may we pick it up, read it, and study it, contemplating what You are telling us and molding our minds more and more to align with Your will. May it be so to Your glory. Amen.