Daily Writing

Tuesday, 3 June 2025

“Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. Matthew 10:27

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).

“What I tell you in the darkness, you speak in the light, and what to the ear you hear, proclaim upon the roofs!” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus assured his apostles that there is nothing covered that will not be revealed and nothing hidden that will not be known. Next, He says to them, “What I tell you in the darkness, you speak in the light.”

The word skotia, darkness, is introduced. It can refer to literal darkness or be applied figuratively to spiritual darkness. In that case, it would be a brand of moral obscurity that is missing when a lack of faith obscures the light of God.

Jesus instructs them that the words He speaks in private should not be withheld in public. In Matthew 13, it says –

“All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, ³⁵ that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:
‘I will open My mouth in parables;
I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.’” Matthew 13:34, 35

Later, in Mark 4:34, it notes that when they were alone, He explained these parables to them. When the apostles spoke about what Jesus cryptically passed on to the people, it meant that the people had to be willing to listen to their message. It is not unlike the Bible today.

The word of the Lord came to people. It was then recorded. Now, we must decide to read it, accepting that it is the word of the Lord. Jesus’ instruction to His apostles is telling them that they are a part of the process of transmitting what He has set forth for them to know what God is doing. As such, He continues with a parallel thought, “and what to the ear you hear, proclaim upon the roofs!”

Two more new words are seen here. The first is ous, a primary word signifying the ear. It is the faculty of perception which speaks not just of the physical process of hearing, but also the assimilation of what is heard by processing it and understanding it. This is reflected in the thought, “He who has ears, let him hear.”

One can hear without assimilating, or he can hear and also assimilate and process the information he has heard. The second new word is dóma, a roof. In the Middle East, even to this day, the roof is a flat area, often used for sitting outside, sleeping, and even having parties. It is also a suitable place to make a proclamation, being elevated above others.

Jesus is probably speaking to these men quietly, giving them their instructions to go out into the field. Likewise, they would sit around a house or some other area and discuss things. This was what they would hear in their ear. They were to then take what they heard and make it public, symbolized by proclaiming it from the roofs.

Life application: Jesus is instructing his apostles on the importance of His message. It may or may not be that the apostles actually went up on the housetops to speak. The point isn’t that they or we must do so.

In other words, we use the same type of thought when we say, “Shout it from the mountaintops.” Nobody really expects us to go up on a mountaintop and start shouting whatever message we are told to shout out.

Instead, it is a way of saying that something is to be made public and not held back. The apostles will later speak in open areas. This is recorded throughout Acts. Likewise, we have a message that the world needs to hear. We shouldn’t timidly withhold it, but be willing to proclaim it as if we were on the rooftops.

If the Beatles can do a concert from the rooftops to share music that few listen to anymore today, why can’t we be willing to proclaim the word of God openly and publicly? It is an eternal word from the Creator concerning our damaged relationship with Him and how it can be repaired. Let us not hold back this wonderful message of hope.

Glorious God, help us to be responsible with our time as we interact with others. There is coming a time when we will not see those around us again. People move, get new jobs, and die. Once the separation is permanent, our last chance to tell them about Jesus will be gone. May we speak while there is time. Yes, help motivate us to do so, O God. Amen.

Monday, 2 June 2025

Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Matthew 10:26

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 them. For nothing, it is, having been covered which not it will be revealed, and secret which not it will be known” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus told the apostles that the disciple will be like his teacher and the servant like his lord. Therefore, they could expect that if the house-master is called Beelzebub, much more will they call the household the same. Remembering that, He next says, “Therefore, not you should fear them.”

Saying “therefore” requires knowing the context of what He is talking about, which is His comparison of them to Him. He is the Teacher and Lord, while they are the disciples and servants.

Saying that they should not fear means that He is not fearing, and they should be like Him. He has done nothing wrong to deserve such an accusation, and they, emulating Him, will have not done anything wrong as well. Based on this, he next says, “For nothing, it is, having been covered which not it will be revealed.”

This same general thought is also expressed in Mark 4:22 and Luke 8:17 and 12:2. In this clause, there is a new word, apokaluptó, to reveal uncover, disclose, etc. It is derived from apo (from) and kaluptó, the word translated as covered in this same clause.

The meaning of Jesus’ words is that, despite the accusations against them, even if everyone were to believe them, the truth would be made known that they were serving the Messiah and not Beelzebul. At some point, no matter when it came about, they would be vindicated. Likewise, Jesus continues with, “and secret which not it will be known.”

Due to the nature of the words of both clauses together, as well as the fact that Jesus says them several times elsewhere, it appears that this is a proverbial expression. The repetition of the clauses using different words to convey the same idea forms its own sort of emphasis.

Jesus is reassuring them that a basic truth that others understood would hold true in their case in their relation to Him and their portrayal of His gospel.

Life application: Due to the nature of Jesus’ words being either a proverbial saying or simply an axiom that exists because of the nature of how God deals with things, the words extend beyond the immediate context of it applying to the apostles and disciples during Jesus’ time.

In other words, being a truth that is understood and applicable in all situations, we should have the same attitude that Jesus requests those with Him to have. We should not fear if we are wrongly accused by others concerning our faith in Christ.

Depending on where you live, it may matter more or less. If you are a Christian in Saudi Arabia, you are surrounded by a nation of people who, for the most part, have rejected the message of Christ. Thus, there will be a natural hostility towards the gospel and those who proclaim it.

That may well up at some point in accusations against believers, even to the point of physical harm or death. This is true in any such area. And though it may be less of a concern in some nations, there is a growing hostility even in once-friendly Christian nations against believers.

In such a case, there may actually more of a possibility of harm than with nations that have a supermajority of non-Christians. The Christians may be looked at as a curiosity or as being no threat.

But in countries moving away from Christian values, there are those who want to speed the process and eliminate their perceived foes. Jesus’ words ask us not to fear. Regardless of what transpires with our situation, the truth of our proclamation will someday be revealed. Those who reject it will be the ones who suffer.

What He said to the apostles in Matthew 10:15 about the nature of judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah in relation to the cities of Israel that reject Him will be no less true of those who reject His gospel now. All wrongdoing will be exposed, and all who proclaim the truth will be revealed as such. And judgment upon those who reject the gospel will be forthcoming.

O God, we are grateful to You for Your kind hand of grace upon us. Give us the desire and fortitude to go out and speak of Your goodness to others. May it be that our words will be accepted and acted upon as we share the good news of Jesus. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.

Sunday, 1 June 2025

It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! Matthew 10:25

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

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

“The disciple – sufficient that he should become as his teacher, and the servant as his lord. If they called the house-master Beelzebul, how much more those – his household!” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus noted that a disciple is not above his teacher, nor is a servant above his master. He now continues this thought, saying, “The disciple – sufficient that he should become as his teacher.”

The meaning goes back to the previous verse, indicating that through instruction, a student will increase his knowledge of the subject provided by the teacher to become like him. At the same time, the meaning also goes forward to what will be said in the next sentence within this verse. Jesus continues, saying, “and the servant as his lord.”

In the same manner, the meaning reflects back on the previous verse. Even though a servant remains below his lord, he will be like his lord, emulating his desires, tending to his needs similarly, and so forth. Likewise, the meaning of this clause also extends forward to what Jesus next says, “If they called the house-master Beelzebul.”

Here, the word oikodespotés, house-master, is introduced. It is derived from oikos, a house, home, family, etc., and despotés, a lord, master, prince, etc. Taking the two together, house-master is a direct translation of the word.

As for the word Beelzebul, this is one variant found in texts. Other texts say Beelzebub. Either way, it is also introduced here. If the original is Beelzebub, it is derived from baal, lord or master, and zevuv [zebub], a fly. Thus, it corresponds directly to the god of Ekron, Baal Zebub found in 2 Kings 1. However, Barnes notes –

“The correct reading here, as in Luke 11:15, Luke 11:18-19; Mark 3:22, is supposed to be, not ‘Beelzebub,’ but ‘Beelzebul’ (Griesbach, Hahn, Robinson, Lexicon) an Aramean form of the word meaning the ‘god of dung’ or ‘filth.’ The name, thus altered by the Jews by changing a single letter, was given to Satan to express supreme contempt and aversion.”

Because of the prominent use of Beelzebul in the other synoptic gospels, this is probably correct. Someone familiar with the story in 2 Kings 1 may have thought there was an error when there wasn’t. This is especially the case when considering the Hebrew word zevul [zebul], a residence, found five times in the Old Testament, such as 2 Chronicles 6:2.

Jesus is probably making a pun based on Beelzebul, the prince of demons, while also using the word to indicate house-master –

oikodespotés – house-master
baal-zevul – master of residence

Understanding this, Jesus finishes with, “how much more those – his household!” Another new word is introduced, oikiakos, which signifies a household or domestic, as in one of the family. Jesus is saying that just as a student will become like a teacher and a servant like his lord, those who disdain the master of the house will likewise disdain those of his household. Thus, the pun is more fully understood –

If they called the house-master Beelzebul [prince of demons / house-master],
How much more those – his household!

In other words, “He is their house-master and his household is just like Him. He is like the prince demons, and they are all demons of his house.”

Life application: If the pun stated in the commentary is correct, which seems to clearly be the intent, it is not unusual. There are many such puns to be found in the New Testament because the writings are highly dependent on Jewish thought.

The people would have had a knowledge of the Old Testament Hebrew, and they would have spoken Aramaic as the lingua franca of the land at the time. They also would have understood many closely associated words from other Semitic languages. And more, many would have also understood Greek, being the language of the Empire for the common people.

Today in Israel, there are those who have studied ancient Hebrew, there is the common modern Hebrew, there is a large population of Arabic speakers in the land, English is widely known and spoken, etc. Just as people today will finagle with languages to come up with interesting puns and plays on thoughts, this was the case at the time of Jesus.

Therefore, it is good to consider subtle plays on words that may have arisen from various sources. In doing so, interesting insights into what is being conveyed will certainly arise. Enjoy your time in the word! It is a deep well of treasure and delight.

O God, thank You for the great and beautiful word You have given us. It is filled with treasure because it is filled with Your thoughts and tender care for Your people. You have given us wonderful hints of what is on Your mind through many literary devices. Thank You for such wisdom on display in Your sacred and superior word. Amen.

Saturday, 31 May 2025

“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. Matthew 10:24

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).

“A disciple, he is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his lord” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus noted that His disciples will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. Now, He will make a point about the treatment they will receive, building upon what He has said in the previous verses, saying, “A disciple, he is not above the teacher.”

This is why one is a teacher and the other is a disciple. The disciple is inferior to the teacher in the subject in which he is being taught. This is to be taken as an axiom. Someone may be more proficient than others in one area while being less so in another.

Therefore, the teacher in one case may be a disciple in another. In the case of Jesus, however, He will always be in the place of instruction. Along with this, He continues with, “nor a servant above his lord.”

This, too, is to be taken as an axiom. There are those who are in exalted positions, and there are those who are below them. This may be based on any of the innumerable reasons, but when someone is lord over another, the other is in a subservient position and will remain at the disposal of the Lord.

In the case of Jesus, it is this way for all of humanity. He alone is God incarnate and the sinless Son of God. The reason for His words will be further explained in the verses ahead, but what He says here is restated in other ways several times by Him –

“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.” Luke 6:40

“Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.” John 13:16

“Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.” John 15:20

Life application: In schools in America today, there is little discipline, almost no respect for teachers or others in positions of authority, and the schools have become a breeding ground for societal degradation. This has been planned and executed by communist ideology that hates faith in Jesus Christ and the Christian nature of the nation.

The same is true with other once-Christian societies. There are various ways in which those in power are working to destroy the Christian heritage of those nations in order to remove the supposed bonds of faith in Christ as a principal tenet of national morality.

Because this is true, for those who espouse Christ and the values He established in His word, it can be expected that those who hate this way of life will grow increasingly vociferous against Christians and Christian ideology. This will continue to the point where it is acceptable to harm Christians without any negative repercussions from the government.

This was certainly the case during the Biden administration, where the government itself became a weaponized tool against Christian colleges, Christian teachings, and Christian churches.

The pendulum has swung back in the opposite direction under President Trump, and he is establishing groups to secure religious freedom as well as bring to account those who previously persecuted Christians in the government. They are being weeded out, and some will hopefully be going to jail for their illegal conduct.

This is good news, but it is something that is one election away from going back in the other direction. Therefore, Christians must always be ready to speak up for their faith and to work against the forces of evil that are out there.

Be informed of what is going on. A real battle is being waged, a spiritual battle. Unless you make yourself aware of it, you will not be able to do anything about it. Jesus’ words ring just as true today as they did two thousand years ago.

Glorious God, thank You for the hope we possess concerning a new world where righteousness rules forever and ever. Whatever You have in store for Your people, we know it will be glorious. Someday, all wickedness will be removed, and there will be joy everlasting. How we long for that day! Amen.

Friday, 30 May 2025

When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. Matthew 10:23

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 when they should pursue you in this city, you flee to the other. Amen! I say to you no, not you should have completed the cities of Israel until if He should come, the Son of Man” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus noted to His apostles that they would be hated by all for His name’s sake, but that he who endured to the end would be saved. Continuing with His words to them, He next says, “And when they should pursue you in this city, you flee to the other.”

This is something seen in Acts, such as –

“Now Saul was consenting to his death.
At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.” Acts 8:1

As noted in the previous commentary, however, these words are not limited to the period of these men going forth at this time. The words extend to the time after Jesus’ death, as seen in Acts 8:1 and elsewhere, and even through the time of the tribulation noted in the previous commentary.

At this time, there is a certain amount of freedom for messianic believers in Christ in Israel, even if they are persecuted by some. The government and the law allow them to practice their faith, and they receive the same legal protections as others.

However, it is certain that during the tribulation period, persecution of faithful believers will intensify. This seems obvious based on the killing of the two witnesses in Jerusalem, as well as Jesus’ words in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21.

Taken together, these passages reveal persecution leading up to the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, and then during the tribulation period after the church age. Understanding this, Jesus continues with, “Amen! I say to you no, not you should have completed the cities of Israel until if He should come, the Son of Man.”

The words have caused a lot of speculation and turmoil over the centuries. It is obvious to scholars that the words extend beyond the immediate time of evangelization before Jesus’ crucifixion, but how could that be the case if Israel was destroyed in AD 70? Because of the seeming contradiction, varying opinions have flown off the pens of scholars for eons.

For example, one view is that stated by Albert Barnes, saying, “By ‘the coming of the Son of Man,’ that is, of ‘Christ,’ is probably meant the destruction of Jerusalem.” In other words, Jesus wasn’t speaking of a literal coming, but a spiritual coming in wrath and judgment upon Israel for rejecting Him.

This is convenient, and it has been espoused by preterists ever since. They believe that the book of Revelation is describing the judgment upon Israel in AD 70. To justify this, they move the dating of the book of Revelation forward in an attempt to claim that it was prophesied and written before the event.

However, the standard and accepted dating of Revelation is that it was written after the destruction of the temple and the exile of the people. The answer is that Jesus is speaking of both prior to the destruction of the temple and the exile of the people, as well as the time after the church age during the tribulation.

A new temple will be built, the law will be re-established, and Israel will suffer judgment right up until they acknowledge Jesus as their long-rejected Messiah.

Life application: Of this verse, Cambridge both rightly and incorrectly states –

“Such words indicate that these ‘instructions’ have a far wider range than the immediate mission of the Apostles. They are prophetic, bringing both warning and consolation to all ages of the Church.”

They are right that the instructions of Jesus range beyond the immediate mission of the apostles. They are prophetic of the future as well. However, they do not have anything to do with “all ages of the Church.” The words “not you should have completed the cities of Israel” exclude this thought.

First, the land of Israel was no longer called the land of Israel after the dispersion of the Jews. The Romans purposefully renamed it Palestine to disassociate the land from the people. The land was then ruled by others for two millennia. It was a part of the Ottoman Empire and eventually fell under the British mandate by the League of Nations in 1920.

In 1948, Israel was reborn as a nation. Everything has been leading to this time when the people would again be in the land, both known as Israel. With this now the case, the words of Jesus can once again continue to be fulfilled.

Nobody was going through the cities of Israel for the past two thousand years telling about Jesus because there was no nation of Israel for that to occur. The words of Jesus have meaning, and they cannot be ignored without coming to faulty conclusions about what is being said.

Glorious God, help our minds to be molded by Your word so that when we read it, we will be willing to accept it at face value, even if we don’t fully understand what You are telling us. May we not make illogical connections that cannot rightly explain what we are being told. Help us in this Lord as we read, study, and contemplate Your word. Amen.