Daily Writing

Thursday, 29 May 2025

And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. Matthew 10:22

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 being hated, you will be by all through My name. And the ‘having endured to the end,’ he – he will be saved” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus noted the divisions that will arise within the family because of faith in Him. Having said that, He next says, “And being hated, you will be by all through My name.”

Remembering that Jesus is speaking to His apostles about matters pertaining to Israel under the law, Jesus’ word can be rightly understood. They were being sent forth to preach to the people of Israel concerning the kingdom. Jesus had not yet been crucified and resurrected. At this time, they had no idea that it was a part of His work.

He is telling them about what to expect as they go forth. Even if the substance of this work continues on after the completion of His ministry, He is explaining to them what they can expect concerning treatment from Israel, which has not received the message concerning Him.

Those Jews who proclaim the name of Jesus to Israel can expect evil treatment from their Jewish brethren and families. Having said that, He continues with emphatic words, “And the ‘having endured to the end,’ he – he will be saved.”

Here, the preposition hupomenó, to endure, is introduced. It is derived from hupo, under, beneath, from, by, etc., and menó, to remain. Thus, it gives the sense of remaining under, as a load, trial, etc. For example, the word is used concerning love in 1 Corinthians 13:7. It refers to Jesus enduring the cross in Hebrews 12.

The meaning is that there is a burden placed upon the individual that will not abate until the end. However, if that person endures till the end, he will be saved. But the question then is, “Saved from what?” The answer is the burden he is placed under.

The same exact words, letter for letter, are used by Jesus in Matthew 24, a passage that clearly and unambiguously refers to the end times when Israel is facing the tribulation period. In that passage, Jesus continues to speak to the Jews about their witness to the nation of Israel. Of that period, Jesus says –

“And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. ²¹ For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. ²² And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.” Matthew 24:20-22

The salvation, then, is not referring to being saved and going to heaven. It is referring to being saved through the tribulation and entering the millennium, the whole point of Jesus coming in Israel’s eyes. They had the words of the prophets, and they knew a promised earthly kingdom with Messiah as their Head was coming.

Thus, the intent of Jesus’ words, both there and here, is, “He who endures the tribulation, he, he will be saved for the time of the promised kingdom.” Jesus words, as they often do, focus on Israel regardless of time. It is as if there is a mountain range being viewed. Some mountains are close and some are far away. They are one range, but the focus has to be adjusted to understand the entire view.

Life application: Concerning the idea of being saved in this passage, some Christian commentators don’t even discuss it. Others equate it to the life of the Christian believer entering the kingdom of Christ. From there, verses from Romans, 2 Thessalonians, 2 Timothy, Revelation 3, etc., are cited to justify the notion that Christians need to endure to the end in order to be saved. In other words, our endurance after being saved is up to us. If we do endure, we will be saved. If we don’t, we will lose our salvation.

The problem with that is manyfold, but in short, this is Jesus speaking to the Jews of Israel about their affairs within the land of Israel and concerning issues that will affect them. Second, if this were speaking of believers in the church after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, it would mean that we are not saved by grace through faith but through our deeds.

If a person can lose his salvation at any point after being saved, then the salvation was never of grace through faith. It was always conditional on what that person would do. That limits the scope of the cross in a person’s life to a single moment in time, where faith in what He has done supposedly saves us. From there, the rest of our lives in Christ is conditional on what we do.

The cross loses its meaning and its effectiveness in salvation through such a doctrine. The sealing of the Spirit as a guarantee means nothing because it is not a guarantee at all. What was given to us as a right to claim upon that Day is removed through the first faithless act we commit after being saved. This is not the salvation the Bible speaks of when a person comes to Christ.

He is saved apart from works, and we remain eternally secure in that salvation, regardless of what works we later accomplish.

Be sure not to mix dispensations when analyzing Scripture. What is said to us in Christ is not the same as what is said to those under the law. Christ fulfilled the law. In His fulfillment, it is annulled. However, Israel as a nation rejected that, and they remain bound to the law until the nation collectively receives Him. Until then, each Jew, just like each Gentile, must decide for Christ or reject what Christ has done.

Lord God, we know that Jesus died for our sins. May we remain confident in our salvation because we have been saved once and for all time through His marvelous work. We may question why You would save us, but may we never question that we are saved when we trust in Jesus. He has done it all! Thank You for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Wednesday, 28 May 2025

“Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. Matthew 10:21

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 brother, he will deliver brother to death, and father, child. And children, they will over-stand up upon parents, and they will kill them” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus told the apostles that when they spoke before the governors and kings, the Spirit of their Father would be the One speaking. He now continues, saying, “And brother, he will deliver brother to death.”

Many older translations add in definite articles not found in the Greek, saying, “The brother shall deliver the brother.” The omission of the articles, however, is to show that this is a general event that should be expected from any family at any time. It is reminiscent of the treatment Abel received from his brother Cain. In a similar manner, it next says, “and father, child.”

Again, older translations include a definite article without textual support. This is a general statement that these two closest of bonds, that of a brother to a brother and that of a father to his child, are ignored at the thought of the other proclaiming the good news about Jesus. Next, Jesus continues with, “And children, they will over-stand up upon parents.”

Here is a new and rare word found only here and in Mark 13:12, epanistémi. It is a word full of action, coming from epi, upon, on, over, etc., and anistémi, to rise up or stand up. Thus, it means to over-stand up. The word is then followed again with the word epi, upon.

The sense is that of a parent coming in and saying, “I have discovered that Jesus is the Messiah!” With that, the children stand up and in their standing, they come over upon their parents. The figurative “rise against” gives the sense of the action. When this occurs, Jesus says, “and they will kill them.”

There is another new verb here thanatoó, to put to death, being derived from thanatos, the state of death, either literally or spiritually. In this case, the action refers to the literal killing of the parent because of their proclamation.

The change from the singular of the previous words about the brother and the father to the plural in this clause is intended to show the level of animosity toward a person, no matter how many children he has. It is as if the parents were trees that only bore bad fruit because of the inhospitable nature of the environment in which they exist.

There is expected to be a hatred of the Name and remembrance of Jesus, and it will be so vile to the nation that the children will be willing to kill their own parents who have determined to follow Him.

Life application: Reading commentaries on these words as well as the surrounding verses, it is common for scholars to apply what is said to the history of Christianity among the nations, such as between Catholics and Protestants, or other such situations. Examples are provided of ill-treatment in the various lands where Christianity has been introduced.

Although it is true that these things have happened, this is not the context of the words. Jesus is speaking to Jewish apostles. The same basic instructions that are given to them are also given to the seventy disciples Jesus sends out in Luke 10. The words coming in this same paragraph will clearly identify those being referred to as Israel in the land of Israel.

The words may even be considered to apply in a limited sense to Israel in our current times. The same people are in the same land again, and though there are no more apostles, there are disciples of Jesus who have heard the words and converted to being followers of Christ. Whether this is referring to current times or not may be debatable, but the words are not spoken about persecution among the nations by Gentiles.

Such instructions, admonitions, and warnings are found in the epistles which are directed to the Gentile-led church, and that is where we can go to align the persecutions we face to what the Bible proclaims. It is inappropriate to use Jesus’ words here in Matthew and apply them to our persecutions, simply because the context does not justify it.

Pay attention to the context. By taking Jesus’ words from this chapter and applying them to our current time, contradictions will arise between the words of the epistles and what Paul says. Therefore, there will be errors in one’s theology and doctrine. Verse 10:32 is a perfect example of this.

If you want to know where much of the bad doctrine in the church comes from, you will find it in a misapplication of the gospels and a misunderstanding of the intent of the Book of Acts. Keep things in their proper intended light, and you will be sound and sure in your walk with the Lord.

Lord God, there is a lot of conflict in doctrine between believers. Help Your people to consider why this is so. Then give us the determination to correct our deficiencies in analyzing Your word while correcting our thinking on what it says. Help each person willing to check to resolve their doctrinal conflicts so that they will be mature, rightly directed people. Amen.

Tuesday, 27 May 2025

for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. Matthew 10:20

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).

“For you, you are not those speaking, but the Spirit of your Father, the ‘speaking in you’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus assured the apostles that when they were delivered up, they shouldn’t worry about what they were to say. Instead, words would be given to them. He now states, “For you, you are not those speaking.”

One can see the emphatic nature of the words. Jesus avows that the apostles would be speaking, but it would not be they who were the source of the words. His words being plural (those speaking) indicates that the words, regardless of whether it is two or three of them testifying, would be guided. This is seen, for example, in Acts 4 –

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. ¹⁴ And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. ¹⁵ But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, ¹⁶ saying, ‘What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. ¹⁷ But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.’
¹⁸ So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ But Peter and John answered and said to them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. ²⁰ For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.’” Acts 4:13-20

Their state as uneducated and untrained men was noted by those interrogating them, but their boldness and the words they uttered were obviously marks of those who were proficient in oration. This is what Jesus promised them, further noting that it wasn’t them, “but the Spirit of your Father.”

The Holy Spirit is given numerous designations in Scripture. At various times, He is called the Spirit, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of your Father, the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of truth, the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of holiness, the Spirit of adoption, the Helper, and so forth.

In this case, Jesus is speaking prior to the giving of the Spirit as promised by Him as a permanent sealing. Therefore, He uses the term Spirit of the Father to indicate that even before His work was complete, the Father, meaning the Spirit who issues from the Father, would speak through them. He is the Spirit, the “speaking in you.”

Exactly how this works is a point of speculation. In the account of David’s time being prepared to assume the kingship, this is recorded –

“Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the captains, and he said:
‘We are yours, O David;
We are on your side, O son of Jesse!
Peace, peace to you,
And peace to your helpers!
For your God helps you.’
So David received them, and made them captains of the troop.” 1 Chronicles 12:18

There, the Hebrew literally reads that the Spirit clothed Amasai. It was as if he were enveloped in the Spirit. Whatever way the apostles would receive the ability to speak what the Spirit intended, Jesus assured them it would be the case.

Life application: In the previous commentary, the scholars at Cambridge seemed to take the conservative view of the matter concerning preparation for sermons and addresses to Christian congregations, dismissing the notion that the Spirit will just fill them with words so that they can speak. Despite that, in their evaluation of this verse, they say –

“The Christian ‘apologist’ shall not stand alone. The same Spirit instructs him which inspires the universal Church.”

It appears that they hold to a rather strange view of the work of the Spirit. He is not there to write sermons for you, but He is there when you need to give an apologetic defense for the faith. As noted in the previous commentary, however, Peter tells his readers that they must be prepared to give such an apologetic argument.

This is born out constantly when Christians with divergent views on doctrine and theology debate. It can be assumed that both sides are saved believers, and yet when giving a reason for how they perceive doctrine, they espouse contradictory concepts, one side being at polar opposite of the other.

The Spirit is not confused, and He is not going to give a defense through both sides when they conflict with what is correct. Rather, the Spirit has inspired the writers of the Bible, the word has been compiled and canonized, and it is our duty and responsibility to read it, interpret it properly, and then teach it accordingly.

There is no substitute for this process, and there is no injection of the Spirit without prayer and contemplation. In other words, if you are unsure of a doctrine, you should pray and ask the Lord to reveal to you the correct understanding of it. Then, you need to start studying, put aside your presuppositions, and determine from the word that is already given what the Lord is telling us.

If you want to see an incorrect way of expressing theology, walk into Charismatic and Pentecostal churches and watch the adherents stand in the congregation, making stuff up out of their heads and proclaiming it for all to hear. They may have never read the Bible once in their lives, but because they claim they are “Spirit-filled,” they act as if they have all of the wisdom of God in their “prophetic utterances.”

This is a sloppy and unhealthy way of handling one’s relationship with the Lord. Stand approved! Read and study the word that has already been given to instruct us concerning the things of the Lord.

Lord God, please be with us as we study Your word. Guide us into right, sound, and wholesome doctrine by which we will be pleasing to You. Yes, Lord God, help us in this most important endeavor. Amen.

Monday, 26 May 2025

But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; Matthew 10:19

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).

“And when they should deliver you, not you should be disquieted how or what you should say. It will be given for you in that hour what you should say” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus informed the apostles that they would be brought before officials as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. He now continues with, “And when they should deliver you.”

This is referring to the act of taking these apostles to the forum where the leaders just mentioned sat, be it in a proconsul office or a speech to kings and others, such as occurred with Paul in Acts when he addressed Festus, Agrippa, and others. They would be taken before these men and asked to state their words concerning Jesus. At such a time, Jesus says, “not you should be disquieted how or what you should say.”

Jesus uses the same word, merimnaó, that He used 6 times in Chapter 6 to alleviate the concerns of the disciples, and by extension, the others who attended the Sermon on the Mount concerning various issues. The word gives the sense of being over-anxious.

The apostles, as they went forth, were not to be in such a state because, as Jesus next says, “It will be given for you in that hour what you should say.”

The meaning is that until that point, they may be curious about what they will say as a witness, but that curiosity shouldn’t concern them. Rather at that very hour, when they are brought forward to speak, they will be given words suitable to the situation. The next verse will explain why Jesus says this to them.

Life application: Of the words of this verse, Cambridge says –

“Curiously enough this has been quoted as if it justified want of preparation for sermons or addresses to a Christian congregation.”

The words “curiously enough” indicate that the commentator understood that such a thought is nonsense. And yet, these words of Jesus are cited quite often by people as they claim they will be inspired by the Spirit to speak.

There is nothing to suggest that this is the case, and a proper understanding and application of context will tell the student of the Bible that such is not the case. This is especially to be considered true because a large majority of Christians don’t know the Bible very well. They may not know sound doctrine at all.

If this is so, why would the Spirit of the Father work through people with opposing viewpoints on theology to make their case through leaders today? Rather, we have the Bible. It is our responsibility to learn it and then tell what we know as best we can to those who ask. This is why Peter says –

“And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? ¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. ‘And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.’ ¹⁵ But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; ¹⁶ having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. ¹⁷ For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.” 1 Peter 3:13-17

Peter did not tell his hearers that they would be given words at a particular time concerning what to say. And Peter knew better than most that proper doctrine counts. His epistle came after his rebuke from Paul for not holding to sound doctrine, as is recorded in Galatians 2.

We are given brains to use. If we fail to use them in studying theology, we will not know proper theology. God is not going to bail us out when we stand before others, having failed to do our best to learn what His word says. Jesus’ words are given in a particular context for a particular reason. Let us remember this and keep things in their proper context!

Lord God, it is true that Your word is big and complicated. It requires a lot of time and difficult thinking to get its almost infinite number of nuances. And so, please be with us as we study and prepare ourselves to present our defense for the hope that is in us. Guide our minds now to prepare so that we will be prepared when needed. Amen.

Sunday, 25 May 2025

You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. Matthew 10:18

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 also upon governors and kings, you will be brought because of Me for a testimony to them and the Gentiles” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus told his apostles to beware of men because they would deliver them up to councils and scourge them in their synagogues. Continuing with this thought, He next says, “And also upon governors and kings, you will be brought.”

A new word is introduced here, agó, translated as “brought.” It is a primary verb signifying to lead, bring, drive, etc. In this case, it is future tense with a passive voice, thus “you will be brought.”

In the Bible, the word translated as governors includes positions such as proconsuls, procurators, etc. The title of king is one that is seen at times in the NT, such as Peter’s being arrested under the authority of King Herod in Acts 12.

The words of Jesus here certainly would have applied to these apostles to some extent later in their ministries, but the majority of the interaction with such positions, as recorded in the Bible, was between Paul and such men. This is because Luke especially followed the life of Paul as he traveled among the Gentiles.

In fact, the name Paul was probably one taken on by him after his meeting with Sergius Paulus, as is recorded in Acts 13. After that encounter, he is never called Saul again, except when quoting past events. From that time forward, he was known as Paul. As for the reason for being brought before them, Jesus next says, “because of Me.”

This was their life calling. They were apostles of Jesus, and He was sending them forth bearing His name. It may be that even during this early period, they would appear before such positions, but there is nothing specifically recorded concerning it. Whenever it did happen, however, it was “for a testimony to them and the Gentiles.”

The stating of two different categories, “them and the Gentiles,” seems to indicate that the testimony was for the leaders to hear and then bring a positive influence for the gospel on those under them. As many of these would be Gentile leaders, this is where their influence would rest.

As such, what appears to be the case is that this is referring to something such as the trial of Paul in Acts 25, where Festus, Agrippa, and others held trial. The testimony concerning Jesus was to both Jews and Gentiles there, as it was in other situations Paul found himself in. But Paul, like the other apostles, knew in advance this would be the case –

“Then Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.’
¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. ¹⁶ For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.’” Acts 9:13-16

The words tend to give weight to the thought that while Israel was rejecting the gospel, the Gentiles would begin to be receptive to it.

Life application: The words thus far are intended to show that Israel was given every opportunity to accept Jesus as their Messiah. The testimony to foreign positions of authority and foreigners was actually a part of this. Jesus spoke concerning the sign of Jonah, meaning his preaching.

Jonah said that in forty days, Nineveh was to be destroyed. In the Bible, the often-seen application of such a statement as this is a day for a year. In other words, when Jesus said that the sign of Jonah would be given to them, He was saying that they had forty years to acknowledge Him.

The witness to Gentiles was intended, even from the beginning, to get Israel to see this and turn to Him –

“For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. ²⁶ And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
‘The Deliverer will come out of Zion,
And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
²⁷ For this is My covenant with them,
When I take away their sins.’” Romans 11:25-27

Paul wrote this during that forty-year period, and from other passages in the New Testament, it seems that it was believed that this blindness would quickly be replaced with sight, the kingdom would be ushered in, and Jesus’ return would have taken place.

And yet, we are still waiting for this to take place two thousand years later. Jesus’ plan is being worked out, and His church continues to be built. Israel was destroyed, they were exiled, having rejected Jesus, but they will be spiritually restored to usher in the promised millennial kingdom. Their regathering at this time is for this purpose.

They will go through the purification of the tribulation period along with the rest of the world, but they will be saved through it. God’s promises will never fail. Let us trust in this and be confident that everything promised will come about as prophesied.

Lord God, there are times in the past when we have misunderstood Your word. Maybe that is still the case today. There may be a long haul before the return of Jesus comes about. All we can do is wait patiently and continue to faithfully proclaim Your word until then. However, it is our desire to see Him really soon! May You speed His coming. How we long to see Jesus. Amen.