Daily Writing

Friday, 6 December 2024

“Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ Matthew 5:31

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 it was said that whoever, if he shall dismiss his wife, he gives to her a divorcement” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus spoke of what to do when the right hand causes one to sin. He now turns to an issue all too common in the world and which He will show that God’s standard is one that holds the marriage covenant as something binding. That begins in this verse with the words, “And it was said that whoever, if he shall dismiss his wife.”

The subject of divorce is addressed by Moses in Deuteronomy 24. A portion of that teaching says –

“When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house.” Deuteronomy 24:1, 2

Whether Jesus is citing Deuteronomy directly, or a teaching based on Deuteronomy, He is clarifying the matter as it is regarded in God’s eyes. Moses notes finding “some uncleanness in her.” The words in Hebrew signify a “word of nudity.” Thus, they point to some type of shame that has caused the husband to no longer want her.

If this is the case, then “he gives to her a divorcement.” The noun apostasion is used. It signifies a bill of divorce. A single word to convey the meaning is divorcement, a word first found in a translation of the Bible in the early 1500s to meet the translational need for such a word.

This is what was allowed by the Lord through Moses. However, we will see this stated by Jesus in Mark 10 –

“The Pharisees came and asked Him, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?’ testing Him.
³ And He answered and said to them, ‘What did Moses command you?’
⁴ They said, ‘Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to dismiss her.’
⁵ And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. ⁶ But from the beginning of the creation, God “made them male and female.” ^7 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, ⁸ and the two shall become one flesh”; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. ⁹ Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.’
¹⁰ In the house His disciples also asked Him again about the same matter. ¹¹ So He said to them, ‘Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. ¹² And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.’” Mark 10:2-12

Jesus is not setting aside the law. He is showing that, in this case, the law accommodated the human heart, but that a standard was given prior to the law that was how things were originally intended in the covenant of marriage.

Life application: One can see that marriage was considered a decision uniting two as one. When one commits adultery, the two are no longer one. Likewise, when a divorce is made, it is also taking the one and dividing them again. The standard is that when two are united as one, they are to stay as one.

Although this is Jesus speaking to Israel under the law, the precept predates the law. And more, Paul refers to marriage in 1 Corinthians 7 and clearly states that what Jesus says here is binding.

The reason for this is because these things recorded in the Old Testament are given as types of what God in Christ is also doing –

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, ²⁶ that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. ²⁸ So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. ³⁰ For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. ^31 ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ ³² This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. ³³ Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” Ephesians 5:25-33

God has covenanted in Christ with those who have come to Him through the New Covenant. The church is the body of believers who have been so joined to Him. God will never break the bond that exists because He is faithful. We have the hope of eternal security because of this. Thank God for what He has done.

Lord God, we are not always faithful in our relationships. Our hearts are drawn away, we lose direction, and we act unfaithfully. But we know it is not so with You. You are ever faithful in Your dealings with Your people. Thank You for the reassurance and security we possess because of this. Amen.

Thursday, 5 December 2024

And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. Matthew 5:30

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 if your right hand, it entraps you, it – it hew – and it cast from you. For it conduces you that one of your members, it should perish, and not all your body, it should be cast into Gehenna” (CG).

The previous verse spoke of the right eye entrapping a person. If so, it would be more profitable to pluck it out and cast it away than to be cast into Gehenna. Now, Jesus continues with that same theme, saying, “And if your right hand, it entraps you.”

The right side in Scripture, as it is in society today, is considered the more noble, stronger, and more honorable side. As such, Jesus focuses on the right again, as He did with the previous verse. In particular, the right hand signifies the position of authority and power.

The intent here is going from sight (the right eye) to action (the right hand). The person first is entrapped by what he sees, he contemplates what to do, and then he acts, with his right hand, the instrument of his power, to obtain what he has now fixated on.

The right hand, being the hand that is normally the stronger and more used hand, is one of the chief and most important parts of the body. Despite that, Jesus notes that if it were to entrap you, “it – it hew – and it cast from you.”

Jesus uses the same word, ekkoptó, that John the Baptist used in Matthew 3:10 when he said, “And already also, the ax, toward the root of the trees it lies. Therefore, every tree not producing good fruit, it is hewn, and into fire, it is thrown.” It is a word that signifies complete detachment.

One could think of a person taking a big machete with his left hand, laying his right hand on a table, and then hacking it off. And then, as with the right eye, when the member is separated from the body, it should be cast away as if it were mere rubbish.

Jesus then explains why, using the same words as previously, saying, “For it conduces you that one of your members, it should perish, and not all your body, it should be cast into Gehenna.”

Priorities. What are your priorities? Is remaining in sin in this life better than being separated from God for eternity? Is the delight of the temporary sin better than an eternity in torment? This is the substance of what Jesus is conveying to His hearers.

Life application: The repetition of the same concept while using different, but both important, members of the body is an instructional tool. By saying essentially the same thing twice while merely changing the focus from the eye to the right hand, Jesus is stressing the importance of the matter.

The Bible is filled with such repetitions, in individual words, in sentences, in similar concepts, and even in books of the Bible. For example, there are accounts in Kings and Chronicles that greatly overlap. Add in the prophets, and there are even more instances of overlapping.

Having three synoptic gospels is another example of this. The same is true with how Acts and portions of the epistles weave together into a harmoniously presented record of what took place.

The Bible is sending us the same information, in various ways, to help us learn what is essential for understanding what is going on, as well as what is obviously important to God. Different records of the same account also help us to know that what is conveyed has been reliably recorded.

And yet, when the same accounts have variations in the details, we are being asked to contemplate why the variations are there. For many, the immediate thought is, “See, there are contradictions in the Bible.” That is an easy out and it resolves the need for any serious brain effort at all.

But it is also shallow thinking. Such obvious discrepancies in accounts would show that the authors or compilers of the Bible were incompetent doofs. Rather, the differences are given to highlight different aspects of the same narrative, providing additional information to help us see the intricacies of what God has done in the unfolding plan of redemption.

When you come to such accounts, don’t just say, “These don’t match and so they contradict.” Rather, think about why the differences are there. Rich treasure is waiting to be uncovered. You will be rewarded in your studies according to the effort and contemplation you put into them.

Lord God Almighty, the detail and intricacy of Your word is incredible. People have been reading and studying it for thousands of years, and yet new insights come out of it from day to day. It is a treasure trove of wonder and delight. Thank You, O God for Your precious word. Amen.

Wednesday, 4 December 2024

If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. Matthew 5:29

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 if your eye, the right, it entraps you, it – pluck it – and it cast from you. For it conduces you that one of your members, it should perish, and not all your body, it should be cast into Gehenna” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus indicated that the sin of adultery lay not in the act but in the intent behind the act. Looking at a woman lustfully means that one has already committed adultery. Next, He says, “And if your eye, the right, it entraps you.”

Here is the first use of skandalizó in the New Testament. One can immediately see the etymological root of the word scandalize. The literal meaning is to fall into a trap. As such, it signifies to cause to stumble, give offense, etc. It is where right conduct or thinking is hindered.

Jesus is saying that if one’s right eye causes him to fall into such a trap, “it – pluck it – and it cast from you.” The thought is based on the words of the previous verse. What caused a person to lust after a woman and thus commit adultery? It was seeing her and then mentally dwelling on what was seen.

If the person didn’t see her, he would not have then begun the process of dwelling on her, lusting after her, and then committing the act with her. Jesus says in such a case that the person should pluck the right eye out. He uses another new word, exaireó. It is derived from ek, out, and haireó, to take for oneself, as in choosing. Thus, he is to completely remove it, meaning plucking it out.

The general consensus is that because of the obvious severity of the act, the words are not to be taken literally, although, throughout history, there have been instances of people doing just this. The problem with that, however, is that the act has already taken place. If one is to pluck out his eye because it scandalized him, he has already been scandalized. The sin has been committed and the act of plucking out the eye doesn’t atone for the act of adultery.

As such, and because pretty much everyone would eventually be walking around blind, the words should be taken as a testament to the severity of sin that is found in the heart of man. That is seen in the next words. Jesus says, “For it conduces you that one of your members, it should perish.”

Again, another new word is found here, sumphero. It is a word etymologically connected with our modern word “symphony.” Its roots signify “together with” and “to bring.” Thus, there is a bringing together in a way that results in profit or gain, as would be the case with a symphony bringing about a great and resounding sound for an audience.

As such, the word is often translated as profitable, better, etc. A single word that most closely identifies the meaning is conduce which is an act that leads or tends to a particular and often desirable result. In other words, Jesus is saying that not having a right eye is better than the alternative.

The right eye is identified by the Greek word melos, a bodily organ or a member. It is not the whole but a part of the whole. A missing part is better than a destroyed whole, as is next explained, “and not all your body, it should be cast into Gehenna.”

Jesus is saying that there is a problem that exists, and it is one that must be addressed or it can lead to eternal consequences. Therefore, it is something that must be considered and acted upon.

Life application: Under the law, when a man sinned, such as committing adultery as David did, there had to be restitution made for the sin. The law demanded that adulterers be dealt with through the death penalty, but the law was not always carried out. In David’s case (and Bathsheba who was equally guilty), the penalty for adultery was not executed.

However, David says this in Psalm 51, a psalm about his guilt –

“For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.” Psalm 51:16, 17

David didn’t pluck out his right eye, but the same force that was behind his adultery and murder was also behind the words he expresses in the Psalm. His heart got him in trouble and it is his heart that was penitent for the actions that he took.

He reconsidered his ways, was broken in his being, turning to God for mercy. When someone comes to Jesus through the gospel, what is happening? He is acknowledging that he is a sinner. Christ Jesus can’t die for sins in a person who has never sinned. Thus, the point is that there is a reconsideration of one’s state before God. “I am condemned because of sin in my life. Jesus died for my sins. I accept the payment and believe by faith that it is true.”

This is the good news. Sin is no longer imputed to those who come to Christ. We have all fallen short in our lives and actions, but Jesus can bring us up to the proper standard when we face an infinitely holy Creator, meaning perfection. This is not our own perfection, but His. This is what we need. Call on Jesus and be reconciled to God. Your reconsideration about things will make an eternity of difference.

Lord God, we can see from Jesus’ words to those under the law the severity of our actions before You. Thank You that we are not burdened by such law when we come to Christ. Instead, we are granted His perfect righteousness. How great and wonderful this is. Thank You for the release from sin we have because of Him. Amen.

Tuesday, 3 December 2024

But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:28

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 I, I say to you, that everyone – the ‘seeing a woman to passion upon her’ – already he committed adultery with her in his heart” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus cited the seventh commandment, “Not you shall commit adultery.” Now, He builds upon that thought with a note concerning the state of the heart, even when the physical act has not taken place, saying, “And I, I say to you.”

Almost all translations say, “But I say to you.” A few say, “However, I say to you.” This is unfortunate. Jesus is not making a contrast. The law is given and He is not in any way undermining it. Rather, He is showing what God considers concerning the intent of the words, “Not you shall commit adultery.”

To get this, a father may say to his son, “You are not allowed to drive the car until you’re 16.” However, at 15, the son goes out and sits in the car, starts it, and pretends to drive. When told he was doing wrong, the son may say, “I wasn’t driving the car.” With that, the father says, “And I say to you that what you are doing is violating the intent of my words to you.”

He is not saying that his original directive was somehow defective (but). Rather, he is saying that his intent all along has been that the kid leave his car alone until the time that he would be old enough to fiddle with it, much less drive it (and). Understanding this, Jesus next says, “that everyone – the ‘seeing a woman to passion upon her.’”

The word epithumeó is used. It comes from epi, upon, and thumos, an outburst of passion or wrath. Thumos comes from thuo, to rush, where hard breathing takes place. As such, one can see that the word signifies more than just noting a woman’s beauty, something that occurs in Scripture from time to time.

Rather, it is the type of passionate gaze that leads to lust. In Romans 13:9, it is the word used when citing the Tenth Commandment, “You shall not covet.” In such a state, Jesus says, “already he committed adultery with her in his heart.”

This is actually the standard that God intends with the words, “Not you shall commit adultery.” How can we know this? First, Jesus said it. But the fact that God included the Tenth Commandment in the Decalogue confirms it.

Coveting is something that is only known to the one coveting and by God. The judges of Israel couldn’t hold someone guilty of coveting unless he first confessed that he had done so. They might assume he coveted, but they couldn’t actually get inside his head and prove it. And yet, not coveting is a commandment.

As coveting is inclusive of desires that lead to action, such as stealing, murdering, adultery, etc., the intent is what God is evaluating, not merely the act itself. If a woman is married and a man who is not her husband drools over her in his thoughts and heart, he has harbored the desire that can and could lead to action. Therefore, he is guilty of coveting, and in his coveting, he is guilty of adultery.

Life application: In this verse, there is an implicit claim to deity. Jesus could simply be evaluating what He thought was appropriate, but He doesn’t say, “This is how I interpret these words.” Rather, He said, “And I, I say to you, that everyone – the ‘seeing a woman to passion upon her’ – already he committed adultery with her in his heart.”

He is making an authoritative claim upon the seventh commandment. Were He not God, this would be presumptuous. Someone may even say His words were blasphemous. The charge could be, “Who are you to speak for God?”

But Jesus is qualified to make such an adamant statement about the command because He first gave it to Israel at Mount Sinai. If Israel didn’t understand the intent, that doesn’t change the nature of the violation. An example of this type of thought leading to sin is found right in Scripture –

“Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. ³ So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, ‘Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?’ ⁴ Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house.” 2 Samuel 11:2-4

David didn’t call for someone to send a concubine or one of his wives to come to him. Rather, he looked upon a woman, coveted her, and called for her to be brought to him. The state of his heart directed his actions.

Jesus, who is God, rightly states the intent behind the command for the people to understand the true intent that God set forth in the Decalogue. Be sure to consider the words of Jesus as the authoritative words of God, because they are.

Glorious God, we have been granted the gift of passion, but it can be turned into a curse when we misuse it. Help us to consider Your word, contemplate its significance, and then rightly apply its precepts to our walk before You. Good things can become bad because of our misdirected thinking. So, Lord, help us to think properly and in accord with the word You have given us. Amen.

Monday, 2 December 2024

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ Matthew 5:27

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).

“You heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Not you shall commit adultery’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus spoke to the disciples about not getting out of prison until the last penny had been paid. This is the idea behind the law. When there is law, there is a possible violation of the law. In violating the law, one can then be sentenced and punished according to the standard of the law.

But Jesus has been teaching that the standard of the Law of Moses is actually more stringent than simple external observance. He will begin to highlight that thought again by saying, “You heard that it was said to the ancients.”

As in verse 21, He addresses a teaching that has already been set forth long ago to the people. A teaching was spoken to them and they were to abide by it. It should be noted that some manuscripts do not include the words “to the ancients.”

If it was inserted into the text, it was probably for the sake of conforming to the previous instance in verse 21. If it was dropped out of the text, it was probably because this is a command directly quoted by the Lord to the people. As such, someone may have decided that the words shouldn’t be there because no additional commentary is attached to what is said, as was the case in verse 21. Either way, what was said was, “Not you shall commit adultery.”

This is the seventh commandment as recorded in Exodus 20:14. Despite it being one of the Ten Commandments, it was also a teaching that was passed down by the spiritual leaders of Israel. In fact, it may be that the people didn’t even realize it was a precept of Moses. Rather, it was something taught as binding upon the people as it is in many cultures.

Jesus will provide insight into this teaching that will go far beyond what was either taught or considered.

Life application: In 1631, Robert Barker and Martin Lucas, the royal printers in London, published a reprint of the King James Bible. A copy of that reprint is now worth between $55,000 to $85,000. This is because it has become known as the Wicked Bible. Other names for it are the Adulterous Bible or the Sinners’ Bible.

The reason for the names is based upon a mistake made by the compositors. In the Ten Commandments of Exodus 20:14, it says in the KJV, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” However, whether truly a mistake or an intentional change, the word “not” was left out, “Thou shalt commit adultery.”

Along with that, Wikipedia describes a second error that was found in the print –

“The 1886 Reports of Cases in the Courts of Star Chamber and High Commission (which gives the Bodleian Library manuscript Rawlinson A 128 as its source) lists this as one of the ‘two grossest errors’, among ‘divers other faults’. The other is a misprint appearing in Deuteronomy 5: the word ‘greatness’ appearing as ‘great-asse’ [meaning a donkey], leading to a sentence reading: ‘Behold, the LORD our God hath shewed us his glory and his great-asse’. Gordon Campbell reports that there are no surviving copies of the book that contain the second error (‘great-asse’), but that in three of the surviving copies there is an inkblot where the missing ‘n’ would be, suggesting such a mistake may have been covered up in these copies. He also notes that, at the time of the Wicked Bible’s publication, the word ‘asse’ only had the sense of ‘donkey’.”

Because of the lack of current evidence, some have suggested that the second error was sabotage by other printers on the surviving copies. However, when the court was held, neither of the publishers suggested the possibility of sabotage. Either way, because of the nature of the error, the king had their printing license revoked, and they were fined 300 pounds, an enormous sum at the time, equaling $72,863.42 today.

Considering the penalty for making an error in a printed copy of the Bible levied upon these two, what do you suppose God will do when you purposefully or negligently trifle with His word? Be sure to treat the Bible with the utmost respect it deserves.

Glorious God, Your word is precious and holy. May we never trifle with its sacred contents. Amen.