Daily Writing

Sunday, 8 June 2025

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:32

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).

“All, therefore, whoever he will assent in Me before men, I will assent – I also – in him before My Father, the ‘in the heavens.’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus reassured His apostles that they were of more value than many sparrows. He next turns to words which have to be considered in their intended context.

Jesus is still speaking to His apostles (disciples as recorded in Luke 10). He is doing so while they go out into the cities of Israel to proclaim the good news of the kingdom. He has not yet been crucified for the sins of the world. Thus, His words speak solely of the relationship between Israel and Jesus.

Understanding this, He begins the first of two verses which must be considered with those points in mind, saying, “All, therefore, whoever he will assent in Me before men.”

The first thing to understand is that not every “every” means “every” and not every “all” means “all.”

Mark 1:5 says, “Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.” However, Luke 7:30 says, “But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.”

This is not a contradiction. Rather, the word “all” as used by Mark, as is often the case, is given as a general statement concerning who went to be baptized.

Jesus is making a broad statement concerning those who are going forth and those who will hear and attend to their message. Those who hear the message and assent in Him, acknowledging the word, will be in one category. That category is defined by His next words, “I will assent – I also – in him before My Father, the ‘in the heavens.’”

Jesus emphatically declares that He will then confess such a person before His Father. The proposition depends on the free will assertion of the individual hearing the good news. In response to that free will assertion, Jesus Himself will likewise assent concerning that person.

The expression en emoi, in Me, demonstrates a uniting of the confession with the individual. Despite this, these words are spoken prior to the giving of the Spirit, which first occurs in Acts 2 and which is spoken of in the epistles as a guarantee of eternal salvation, such as in Ephesians 1:13, 14.

Therefore, that process of salvation cannot be what Jesus is referring to here. Rather, He is speaking of a general confession of Him and not necessarily the uniting of an individual with the Spirit. That will become clear through analyzing the next verse.

Life application: The words of this verse and the next are constantly quoted by Christians concerning other Christians who then make claims of salvation or condemnation based on what Jesus is saying here. As an example –

“It means to acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ, and our dependence on him for salvation, and our attachment to him, in every proper manner. This profession may be made in uniting with a church, at the communion, in conversation, and in conduct. The Scriptures mean, by a profession of religion, an exhibition of it in every circumstance of the life and before all people. It is not merely in one act that we must do it, but in every act. We must be ashamed neither of the person, the character, the doctrines, nor the requirements of Christ. If we are; if we deny him in these things before people; if we are unwilling to express our attachment to him in every way possible, then it is right that he should ‘disown all connection with us,’ or deny us before God, and he will do it.” Albert Barnes

That is not the gospel. In fact, what Barnes says is in complete contrast to the gospel, which says one is saved by grace through faith and that when one believes, he is sealed with the Holy Spirit for the day of redemption.

If what Barnes (et al) says is true, then it means that salvation is not of Christ but of our own efforts. Mixing the words of Jesus in the dispensation of the law with the words of Paul in the dispensation of grace will inevitably lead to confusion of thought and a contradiction in one’s theology.

Lord God, help us to walk with You all our days, living in a manner that is pleasing to You and in the joy of the salvation which You have given to us. When we fail in this, we know that You will still be with us, but it is we who will suffer the lack of fellowship as we do things our own way. May it not be so! Help us to hold fast to You always. Amen.

Saturday, 7 June 2025

Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:31

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, not you should fear, many sparrows you excel – you!” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus noted that the very hairs of one’s head are numbered. Next, He says to the apostles, “Therefore, not you should fear.” These words take the reader back to verse 28, where Jesus said, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.”

If God so minutely knows the number of hairs on one’s head, and if a person is proclaiming the words of Christ, then that person, who is known in such minute detail, is being carefully considered as he proclaims his message. There will be caring for and tending for that person. Jesus explains this next, saying, “many sparrows you excel – you!”

One can see the emphatic nature of His words. God is aware of the falling of a single sparrow. God is aware of the number of hairs on the head of man. Therefore, God is aware of the threats against those who proclaim His word. If one of them falls to the ground because of the proclamation of His words, it will not have been in vain. God will remember him and raise him according to His promises.

The emphatic nature of the word “you” is telling His apostles that because of their trust in Jesus and their continued proclamation of the gospel, the matter is so. This cannot mean that it is a universal statement applying to all men.

The very people who would oppose them have already been seen to have a fate worse than Sodom and Gomorrah (verse 10:15). Therefore, the words now are not inclusive of those who stand opposed to the gospel, but they would logically include those who received them and accepted their words.

In other words, the state of man is one that is at enmity with God. It is the acceptance of the gospel that changes that state. God would have all come to a saving knowledge of the gospel, changing their default position and bringing them back to Himself. But those who reject the gospel remain separated from Him.

Worse, however, is the fact that they voluntarily did so. When one rejects the higher revelation, their condemnation must therefore be greater.

Understanding this, we see that the words of this verse can only apply to those who belong to God because of the gospel, not humanity in general.

Life application: One of the great problems found in churches with a social gospel is that the focus is on the “love” side of God, without any consideration for His just and righteous character. Without leading someone to Christ, all the feeding ministries on the planet are worthless.

It is pointless to feed someone into hell. It is ridiculous to tend to a marginalized community, taking care of their needs and being close friends with them, if you are not going to share with them the only news that can restore them to God.

However, this is what social gospel ministries do. Those conducting them think they are gaining God’s favor for doing good stuff for others, even if they don’t have a heart for the Lord. Those they minister to will die apart from God without the gospel. In the end, everyone connected to such a “giving” ministry will wind up in hell unless Jesus is in the equation.

It is better to be a person on the side of the street handing out tracts with the saving message of Jesus than it is to be catering to sinners in a feeding ministry without telling them of the consequences of their sin and their need for Jesus to cleanse them.

Keep things in the proper perspective. Any deed done in faith will receive its reward, no matter how small. Any deed not done in faith will receive no reward, no matter how great and expansive it is.

Lord God, may our faith in You and love for You stir in us the desire to share the good news with others. Help us in this, O God. People need Jesus. Without Him, there is no hope. But with Him, there is eternal surety and security. Thank You for Jesus! Amen.

Friday, 6 June 2025

But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Matthew 10:30

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 you! Even the hairs of the head, they are all having been enumerated” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus noted that despite the fact that sparrows are almost of no monetary value to man, not one of them falls to the ground apart from the will of the Father. Now, in emphatic contrast to that, He begins with, “And you!”

In other words, there are the lowly sparrows that the Father is completely aware of in their existence, and then there are the people of the earth who are God’s highest creation. Of them, Jesus next says, “Even the hairs of the head, they are all having been enumerated.”

A new word, arithmeó, to enumerate, number, count, etc., is introduced. One can see the clear etymological ancestor of our modern word arithmetic, that dreaded or beloved discipline of our school days, depending on how our brains are put together in regard to numbers.

Jesus, after His emphatic declaration, thus separating the sparrow from man, notes that the Father is aware of every hair on our head. However, the use of the perfect participle (having been enumerated) is striking. It is not just that He knows at this time, but He knew and continues to know. As such, it is like saying, “When you lose a hair on your head, God is aware of it.”

Something so seemingly trivial is not unknown to God. Jesus’ words tell us that God is minutely knowledgeable about what we might think is unnecessary or impossible to discern.

Life application: Of this, Charles Ellicott steps over the border of propriety and says, “The apparent hyperbole of the figure is but the natural expression of the thought that even the incidents of life that seem most trivial are in very deed working together for good to those that love God.”

It is incorrect that Jesus’ words are hyperbole as if God really isn’t aware of such things. There is nothing in the universe, even the number of atoms or quarks in a red giant star, that God is unaware of. It may seem trivial or hyperbolic to think God would actually count the number of hairs on one’s head, but that is not the point of Jesus’ words.

God doesn’t need to count them. He simply knows the number, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He also knows the definition of a hair, so that when someone is balding, what once was a hair no longer is. Jesus’ words, therefore, speak of the intimacy in which God knows everything about us, but they also convey the surety that everything is completely known to God at all times.

As it says in Isaiah –

“Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand,
Measured heaven with a span
And calculated the dust of the earth in a measure?
Weighed the mountains in scales
And the hills in a balance?” Isaiah 40:12

Concerning the complete understanding and knowledge of man, David says –

“Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.” Psalm 139:6

The words of Scripture, therefore, give us a double-edge to consider. On one side, there is God’s absolute knowledge of us as we fellowship with Him. He knows the moment we first believed, and He sees and records every act of faith we have ever demonstrated. Nothing that is to be rewarded will be left out.

On the other hand, God is intimately aware of our every fault. The things we think, do, or fail to do are all known to Him. Therefore, we should strive to be pleasing to Him at all times. In Christ, we are forgiven – past, present, and future. However, forgiven is not the same thing as losing rewards.

For those not in Christ, the imperfection of their lives sets up the need for eternal judgment by the infinite God. When the world complains against God’s judgment, it is due to a lack of understanding concerning the nature of God. He is not vindictive. Instead, He is perfectly holy, just, and righteous.

Man must be judged. This is the wonder of what God in Christ has done. For those who come to Him, man’s judgment was taken out on Him. Understanding what God has done ensures us, absolutely and entirely, of the doctrine of eternal salvation.

If it were not so, the cross would have been a pointless gesture on the part of God. All would be lost in their continued imperfection. But because of Christ, His righteousness is now imparted to us. Thank God for Jesus Christ, who has made this reconciliation possible for man. Take time to read Psalm 139 and think about the marvel of our Creator!

Lord God, thank You for the glory of Jesus’ cross. We stand in awe of what You have done. Thank You! Thank You for all eternity, Amen, and amen.

Thursday, 5 June 2025

Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. Matthew 10:29

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 are sold two sparrows – assarion? And one from them, not it will fall upon the earth without your Father” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus instructed the apostles not to fear those who can kill the body but not the soul. Instead, they were told to fear Him who is able to destroy both in Gehenna. Now, as words of encouragement to them, He says, “Not are sold two sparrows – assarion?”

The strouthion, sparrow, is first mentioned here. The word is a diminutive that signifies a little bird, but especially the sparrow. Alfred Edersheim supposes that what Jesus is referring to may be the birds used in purification noted in Leviticus 14 –

“Then he shall kill one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water; ⁵¹ and he shall take the cedar wood, the hyssop, the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times. ⁵² And he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird and the running water and the living bird, with the cedar wood, the hyssop, and the scarlet. ⁵³ Then he shall let the living bird loose outside the city in the open field, and make atonement for the house, and it shall be clean.” Leviticus 14:50-53

As for the price, the assarion was a small Roman coin of little value, like our penny today. It was equal to a tenth of a drachma. The point, then, is that two little birds were sold for almost nothing in the markets of Israel. Despite this, Jesus continues, “And one from them, not it will fall upon the earth without your Father.”

Jesus uses the word aneu. It is related to the negative particle a and carries the sense of “without,” as in apart from or without the knowledge of. Little birds of little value in the markets are still known intimately by the Father. Jesus will continue His words so that we understand why He has said this right after the words He just said in the previous verse.

Life application: How often the God of the Bible is considered a hateful ogre by people of the world. They hear words of judgment and condemnation, and they immediately place themselves in opposition to Him, as if He has no right to judge that which offends His perfection.

People accuse God of not caring when a friend, brother, child, or even a dog dies. And yet, it is understood by all that everything dies. Why is God to blame if one person dies before another? Isn’t there a set time for all things?

But when something personally offends our sensibilities or harms our relationships, God is suddenly to blame, and He is castigated as an unfair, unloving, and uncaring Creator. Because of this, people claim that they don’t believe in the God that they have come to hate. How unclear in thought is that!

But the Bible teaches that God created. If He did, it was for a reason. A simple look around at the majesty and beauty of the creation tells us that God cares about what He has done. Every need has a fulfillment, even if it is unattainable at times. Things work logically and harmoniously.

And for the things that are broken, like man lost in sin, the Bible tells us that God is working through a plan to correct these things. God is not incompetent, as many claim. The common question is, “If God is good, why is there evil in the world?” It is as if God must remove evil right now in order to be good. Thank goodness that is not the case! If it was, we would be removed … right now.

Rather, God is using the evil in our world to accomplish a good purpose. As this is true, then the answer to the question is, “God will remove the evil. He just has not done it yet.” This is what the Bible proclaims will come to pass.

As this is so, those who don’t come to God in the manner He has laid out will remain in a state of evil. Now, whose fault is it when they are eternally removed from Him? God has sent His Son into the world to make all things new. In rejecting the Son, the “new things” are, by default, rejected.

Be sure to help people to think clearly. If the world has evil, we are a part of that evil. If evil is to be removed, it must be removed from us, or we must be removed from God. He has given us the choice. Let us think wisely and soberly about our situation before God.

Lord God, how grateful we are to You for having sent Jesus to redeem us from this world of sin and death. We know that these things will continue and that we will suffer heartache and loss until the day You come for us. Help us to work through these trying times, trusting in You and holding fast to Your promises in the meantime. Amen.

Wednesday, 4 June 2025

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28

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 you fear not from those killing the body, and the soul not being able to kill. But more you fear the ‘being able also soul and body to destroy in Gehenna’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus told His apostles, “What I tell you in the darkness, you speak in the light, and what to the ear you hear, proclaim upon the roofs!” He now continues with this line of instruction, beginning with, “And you fear not from those killing the body, and the soul not being able to kill.”

Jesus introduces a new word, apokteinó, to kill outright. Figuratively, it means to destroy or put to death. It is derived from apo, from, and kteinó, to kill. Thus, it is more forceful than the word kill. Despite that, English translations generally say kill, not making a distinction between the words.

The words of Jesus, even without being finished, provide the hope of life beyond this earthly life. Otherwise, if the body died, the soul would die too. As Jesus is the promised One of God, His words then refute the doctrine of the Sadducees, who claimed there is no resurrection (Matthew 22:23, Acts 23:8).

Either this would be the case, or the soul that lived after the body would be forever separated from the body, something the Bible doesn’t teach. As such, their doctrine was completely unscriptural.

Jesus told the apostles to boldly herald His instruction using the idea of proclaiming it from the housetops to make the point poignant. However, His words now are intended for them to understand that there may be consequences for this. Those who hear may be upset to the point that they would come after them and kill them for their words.

Despite this, and even if this were the case, the soul would remain alive, even with the body in a state of death. Understanding this, He next says, “But more you fear the ‘being able also soul and body to destroy in Gehenna.’”

Throughout the church age, these words have been fretted over by mushy scholars who cannot fathom that God would send someone to destruction, failing to realize that the God of the New Testament is the same God of the Old Testament. The coming of Jesus changes nothing in His nature.

Rather, Jesus was sent to save men, but not all men will be saved. The words clearly point to this fact. What would be the point of the apostles going forth to obtain converts if nobody were to face Gehenna? It would mean that those who received their message would be on the same footing as those who rejected it and killed them.

To get around this, these misdirected souls say that the words are speaking not of God but of the devil, as if the devil has the power to destroy those who are not saved by God. This would only move God back one step from the destruction process as He is ultimately in control of all things.

Or it would mean that God is actually not in control of all things and unable to save the souls He sent Jesus into the world to save. It would mean that God’s plan for redeeming humanity was only partially effective.

In Job, Satan was prohibited from taking Job’s life, demonstrating that God is even in control of that part of the equation. In the New Testament, we are implored to stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:11), be sober and vigilant when considering the devil (1 Peter 5:8), and resist the devil (James 4:7).

Hebrews 2:14 says that the devil holds the power of death. This is true. Man fell because of the work of the devil. In that act, sin entered the world and death through sin (Romans 5:12). Life terminating in death is the default state of man. But the devil has no power beyond that.

Rather, the word says in James 4:12 that there is one Lawgiver who is able to save and to destroy. In Revelation 20:10, the devil is cast into the Lake of Fire. Only after that does it say that Death and Hades were cast into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:14) and that anyone not found written in the Book of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:15).

Clearly, Jesus’ words here are referring to God in judgment against unrepentant man (see Revelation 21:8). The devil does not possess this power. Rather, he only holds the power of death over those who are not redeemed. Jesus, having prevailed over death, has secured eternal life and freedom from death for those who are saved through Him.

As such, we are not to fear those who can kill our bodies but not our souls. We are to fear God, who alone has the ability to destroy body and soul. Additionally, the words here, when rightly considered, confirm the doctrine of free will. There are those who will accept the word and those who will reject it. Otherwise, what would be the point of the apostles sharing the word in the first place?

Life application: Although this verse in Matthew doesn’t specifically explain if there is eternal punishment or not, the Bible makes it clear that God doesn’t just throw people into the Lake of Fire where they are incinerated and terminated (the doctrine of annihilationism).

Rather, the Bible explains elsewhere that hell is eternal. This is not intended to “scare people into heaven.” Rather, it is a truth that the Bible proclaims. Focusing too much on hell causes one to miss the wonder of God’s grace found in the giving of His Son for us.

We are not saved to go to heaven, we are saved from our default position, which is condemnation (John 3:18, etc.). Heaven is a result of being saved by God through the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Tell people today about the grace of God that has redirected human souls to the glorious path of life and restoration! Tell people about Jesus!

Lord God, how grateful we are to You for Your wonderful plan of salvation through the giving of Christ Jesus to redeem us to Yourself. We stand in awe of what You have done. Forever and ever we will praise You for the marvel and majesty of Jesus Christ our Lord. Hallelujah and Amen.