Daily Writing

Sunday, 16 February 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Saturday, 15 February 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Friday, 14 February 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thursday, 13 February 2025

A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Matthew 7:18

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

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

“Not it is able, a good tree, bad fruit to produce, nor a rotten tree good fruit to produce” (CG).

The previous verse conveyed Jesus’ words concerning how trees bear fruit. Good trees bear good fruit while bad trees bear bad fruit. He now restates the matter for complete clarity on the situation, beginning with, “Not it is able, a good tree, bad fruit to produce.”

It was noted in the commentary on Matthew 7:16 that this thought takes the reader back to Genesis 1 where every tree was created after its own kind. An apple tree bears apples with their seed inside. When the seeds are planted, thorns don’t come up. Rather, another apple tree is the result.

In fact, as Jesus rightly notes, an apple tree (a good tree) cannot produce bad fruit such as mistletoe figs. Rather, they will always produce apples. Likewise, Jesus continues with, “nor a rotten tree good fruit to produce.”

Jesus is restating things in various ways to make sure nothing is misunderstood. Just as a good tree will not produce bad fruit, a rotten tree will not produce good fruit. A sausage tree (a tree with inedible fruit) will never produce good fruit like the durian. It will always produce inedible fruit.

As noted in the previous commentary, Jesus’ words are dealing with type. It is true that an apple tree can have bad fruit on it, such as being eaten by bugs or sprouting on a defective limb. This isn’t what He is referring to. The type of tree produces the type of fruit.

The false prophets are equated to a type of tree. They cannot produce good fruit. The meaning is that what they teach will always be false. It cannot be converted into something that is later acceptable.

Those who follow after false prophets are obtaining bad fruit that will never be palatable for life. Likewise, when a person is teaching properly, his fruit will produce good fruit with seeds that are good, and the richness of more good doctrine for those who pursue it will result.

Life application: The doctrine of the Jehovah’s Witnesses says that Jesus is not God. They claim He is the archangel Michael, a created being. Jesus’ words concerning trees can be applied to the Jehovah’s Witnesses as being a bad tree. They deny the deity of Christ. The resulting fruit from such a tree can never bring life because the fruit is bad.

No matter how many times such doctrine is replanted, a bad tree will always spring up from the seed. It is the tree itself that must be removed in order for the ground to yield something else that will produce good fruit.

This is true with any false teaching from any false prophet. The message will always stand against the truth. Jesus is dealing with types. We need to identify the bad types. No one who goes to obtain fruit from a Hebrew Roots Movement church will ever receive good fruit. The tree itself is bad.

Know which doctrines are wrong. Know which churches teach the wrong doctrines. Stay away from such churches. These things are important. Only a fool would knowingly try to eat a passionflower fruit. But the person who doesn’t know it is bad may do so. Knowing what is bad will keep you from filling yourself with that which can never provide health and life.

Lord God, we are saved by grace and not by any works of our own. There is nothing we can do to merit it. But we are also saved by You through Jesus. As salvation is of the Lord, we know that Jesus is Lord. Such key points of doctrine are set and must be acknowledged as we pursue You. Help us to learn what is right and what is false. Yes, help us in this, O God. Amen.

Wednesday, 12 February 2025

Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. Matthew 7:17

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).

“Thus, every good tree, it produces good fruit. And the rotten tree, it produces evil fruit” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus noted that people will be known by their fruits. He then asked if grapes could come from thorns or thistles from figs. The answer is obviously not. He next says to His disciples, “Thus, every good tree, it produces good fruit.”

To maintain the analogy from the previous verse, this must be referring to type. He just contrasted grapes and thorns as well as thistles and figs. Not all grape vines will produce good grapes, and this is for a variety of reasons. Not all fig trees will have good figs. Examples of these are found elsewhere in Scripture, such as –

“He dug it up and cleared out its stones,
And planted it with the choicest vine.
He built a tower in its midst,
And also made a winepress in it;
So He expected it to bring forth good grapes,
But it brought forth wild grapes.” Isaiah 5:2

“The Lord showed me, and there were two baskets of figs set before the temple of the Lord, after Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and the princes of Judah with the craftsmen and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon. ² One basket had very good figs, like the figs that are first ripe; and the other basket had very bad figs which could not be eaten, they were so bad. ³ Then the Lord said to me, ‘What do you see, Jeremiah?’
And I said, ‘Figs, the good figs, very good; and the bad, very bad, which cannot be eaten, they are so bad.’” Jeremiah 24:1-3

Despite such examples, this is not what Jesus is referring to. He is referring to kinds in general, even if within the same kind there may be plants or trees that produce bad fruit (see the parable in Luke 13:6-9). Oranges will produce good fruit, meaning oranges. Durian trees will produce durian, which is good. Etc.

On the other hand, a thornbush will never produce good fruit nor will a thistle. Their fruit will always be bad. That is seen in his next words, “And the rotten tree, it produces evil fruit.”

The word is sapros. It is variously translated as rotten, useless, corrupt, depraved, etc. It is derived from sepo, to corrupt or rot. And so, it can mean bad fruit on a good type of tree, but that would not fit His previous contrast between types. Rather, the sense can be derived from His parable in Matthew 13 –

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, ⁴⁸ which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. ⁴⁹ So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, ⁵⁰ and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 13:47-50

The good fish are those types that are acceptable for eating. The bad would be those types that are unacceptable to eat. Likewise, false prophets are represented by one type of plant, the bad, such as the thorn or the thistle. Those who teach properly are represented by the other, the grape or the fig.

False prophets, by their very nature, are bad. Nothing they put forth will be good. On the other hand, proper teachers may have some bad fruit if their doctrine isn’t perfect, but their fruit in general will be good.

Life application: False prophets have already been equated to wolves, even if they come in sheep’s clothing. Their nature is that of being wolves. The exterior doesn’t change that which is found inwardly.

The only way for a false prophet to not be a false prophet is to have a complete change in nature. Unlike a tree, this is not impossible. Humans are not trees. However, the nature of a false prophet is to provide false teachings. There will always be bad fruit coming from a false prophet as long as he continues to put forth that which is false.

An initial error is to be found in the false prophet, for example, Joseph Smith who founded Mormonism. But the error could have been stopped from spreading if those who heard him properly identified him as a false prophet. However, they didn’t. Thus, the secondary error lies with the people who fail to identify him and walk away from him.

They had access to the proper manual, meaning the Bible. It was readily available in the US at the time of Joseph Smith. But it was left unattended t by those who heard him and then followed him in his false teachings.

Mormonism is not simply a branch of Christianity (an orange tree, for example) that may have bad oranges on it, meaning a good tree with bad fruit. Rather, Mormonism is a different plant altogether (a thistle, for example) that is corrupt by nature. It can never be a good plant. If a person in Mormonism wants to be a part of what is proper, he must go to the good tree to get its fruit.

Paul explains this in Galatians 1 when referring to Judaizers, the equivalent of today’s Hebrew Roots Movement –

“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, ⁷ which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. ⁸ But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. ⁹ As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:6-9

Paul says, “which is not another.” The doctrine of Mormonism, like that of the Judaizers, is not another display of the good news. It is bad news. The inherent nature itself is corrupt. Be sure to be able to identify both bad inherent nature as well as bad fruit coming from a good tree, meaning wrong doctrine within the overall family of true Christianity. We are all accountable for what we accept. Check out what you are taught!

Lord God, You have saved some of us from Islam, Buddhism, or atheism. But You have also saved some of us from Mormonism, Judaizers, and other religions that at first appear to be a part of the Christian faith. Help us to identify the error of false religion and then speak out against it so that others can also be saved from the false paths they are on. Amen.