Daily Writing

Tuesday, 14 January 2025

“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. Matthew 6:22

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).

“The lamp of the body, it is the eye. Therefore, if your eye, it may be unblurred, your whole body – it will be lustrous” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus finished His thoughts about earthly treasures as opposed to heavenly treasures. He now provides a general precept concerning the issue of moral clarity. He does this by beginning with the words, “The lamp of the body.”

A lamp is something that provides illumination, not the light itself. Some versions, not understanding the analogy, say, “The light of the body.” Unless they are using the word light as a synonym for lamp, the metaphor is faulty. The thing that provides illumination to the body, according to Jesus’ next words, “it is the eye.”

A lamp is used to search out things in the darkness. It is also used to provide illumination to the one who has it. One may have a good lamp that illuminates everything. Or the lamp may provide any amount of light, even to a sliver that illuminates almost nothing.

The eye (the lamp) is what sees the world around us and provides that information (the light) to the mind, where it is processed. From there, the mind and body react to what has been taken in. In Scripture, light is that which is good. It is particularly used as a metaphor for moral goodness. That is then contrasted to darkness, which includes wrong thinking, moral impurity, etc.

When the eye, which is equated to a lamp, focuses on that which is good, there will be a result. The more focused it is, the greater the result. As such, Jesus continues with, “Therefore, if your eye, it may be unblurred.”

The Greek word is haplous. It is found only here and in Luke 11:34 in verses parallel to this account in Matthew. The word means “without folds” and, thus, single. It is the antonym of the Greek diplous, which means double. Literally, it signifies uncompounded or single.

Thus, there is a sense of simplicity in the word. There is nothing complicated or obscured. Therefore, the word unblurred gives a sense in regard to the eye as well as a state of morality. In such a state, meaning having a lamp that is unblurred, “your whole body – it will be lustrous.”

The word is phóteinos. It is that which is brilliant, meaning shining. In this case, the adjective lustrous gets the sense. It signifies reflecting light evenly and efficiently without glitter or sparkle. As such, it is not blurred light, but even and shining. The things one focuses on are what provide light to the body through the lamp, the eye.

If one focuses on that which is morally impure, meaning that which is darkened, that is what the body will respond to. The eye will take that in and then provide blurred illumination to the body. If one focuses on what is good, meaning that which is single and without impurity, the eye will sense that and send light to the body, thus it will be lustrous.

Life application: Jesus just got done speaking about earthly treasures as opposed to heavenly treasures. There is no reason to assume He has completely left that thought. Rather, He is saying that if we focus on earthly treasures, we will not be providing ourselves with moral purity.

Our thoughts will be corrupted, and we will have no light to pursue that which is heavenly or to be lustrous in ourselves. The saying, “You are what you eat” gets the point across. Paul says elsewhere, “Do all things without complaining and disputing, ¹⁵ that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:14, 15).

If the things we focus on are morally impure, we will not have the light coming to us to make us lustrous. But Paul says we are to shine as lights in the world. How can we do that while focusing on the world and not on the heavenly? In storing up heavenly treasures, we will then be able to reflect what has come into us in the way of light.

Read your Bible, look at what is good and morally right, consider Jesus, live in faith, etc. These things will lead us to true heavenly treasure and allow us to then shine as lights in the world.

Glorious God, help us to focus on that which is good, honorable, and glorifying of You. May we consider Jesus and His perfection and then strive to emulate Him. He walked among the wicked, and His eyes saw their deeds, but He remained pure and holy. Help us to be this way as well when we interact with this fallen world. In turn, we can then shine as lights to those who so desperately need it. Amen.

Monday, 13 January 2025

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21

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).

“For where your treasure, it is, there also your heart, it will be” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus spoke of amassing treasures in heaven, noting that earthly treasures can be stolen or eaten up. With that remembered, He next says, “For where your treasure, it is, there also your heart, it will be.”

This is a link right back to the book of Joshua and the story Achan. He was fixated on earthly treasure, and that is where his heart was. It cost him everything –

“And Achan answered Joshua and said, ‘Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and this is what I have done: ²¹ When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. And there they are, hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, with the silver under it.’
²² So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver under it. ²³ And they took them from the midst of the tent, brought them to Joshua and to all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the Lord. ²⁴ Then Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the garment, the wedge of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and all that he had, and they brought them to the Valley of Achor. ²⁵ And Joshua said, ‘Why have you troubled us? The Lord will trouble you this day.’ So all Israel stoned him with stones; and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones.
²⁶ Then they raised over him a great heap of stones, still there to this day. So the Lord turned from the fierceness of His anger. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Achor to this day.” Joshua 7: 20-26

On the other hand David had great wealth, but it did not possess him. Instead, he was a man of faith, and his heart was set on the Lord. The few times he is noted as having failed the Lord, it also notes that his heart was contrite, and he mourned over his blunders. David’s treasure, above all else, was the Lord, and that is where his heart also was –

“Furthermore King David said to all the assembly: ‘My son Solomon, whom alone God has chosen, is young and inexperienced; and the work is great, because the temple is not for man but for the Lord God. ² Now for the house of my God I have prepared with all my might: gold for things to be made of gold, silver for things of silver, bronze for things of bronze, iron for things of iron, wood for things of wood, onyx stones, stones to be set, glistening stones of various colors, all kinds of precious stones, and marble slabs in abundance. ³ Moreover, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, my own special treasure of gold and silver: ⁴ three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses; ⁵ the gold for things of gold and the silver for things of silver, and for all kinds of work to be done by the hands of craftsmen. Who then is willing to consecrate himself this day to the Lord?’” 1 Chronicles 29:1-5

Life application: There is nothing wrong with possessing wealth or protecting that wealth for the future. In fact, Proverbs says –

“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.” Proverbs 13:22

One cannot save up for his children’s children if he doesn’t possess wealth to some degree. The point of the Bible’s words concerning this matter is essentially, “Are you master over wealth, or is your wealth master over you.”

Be wise concerning earning and saving, but also let your heart be directed to the Lord above all else.

Heavenly Father, help us to be responsible with the blessings You have bestowed upon us. If we squander what we have, it shows that our priorities were not directed toward You in the first place. Instead, we carelessly handled Your blessing upon us. At the same time, may we never let our possessions possess us. May You always be our hearts’ desire. Amen.

Sunday, 12 January 2025

but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:20

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).

“And you, amass – yourselves – treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor an eating – it evaporates, and where stealers – they tunnel not, nor they steal” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus noted that His disciples shouldn’t amass for themselves treasures upon the earth. Now, He explains where amassing treasures is appropriate, beginning with, “And you, amass – yourselves – treasures in heaven.”

In the previous verse, Jesus said to not amass treasures “upon the earth.” Now He says to amass them “in heaven.” The realms are different, and the way to amass them in each of those places also differs.

Regardless of what dispensation a person lives, the only way to accomplish what Jesus says is through faith. Nothing earthly can be taken to heaven. Nothing done on earth meets the bar of heavenly rewards unless it is done in faith.

This is the primary lesson of Hebrews 11 where people from various dispensations are all rewarded for their faith. The actions were merely an outcropping of faith. It is faith, and faith alone, that bridges the span between the earthly and the heavenly realms in this regard.

To understand this, think of some prominent person who gives away a great deal for various charities, maybe Bill Gates. He has donated an extraordinary amount to AIDs research, for example.

His charitable foundation has totaled grant payments of $77.6 billion dollars. And yet, he is not a man of faith. As such, he has not amassed a single treasure in heaven. And more, if he doesn’t come to Jesus before he dies, he will be chucked into the same Lake of Fire where Adolph Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, and all of the other “bad” people of the earth will go. There is no buying one’s way into God’s favor.

However, when deeds are done in faith, rewards are stored up for that person in heaven “where neither moth nor an eating – it evaporates, and where thieves – they tunnel not, nor they steal.”

In these words, Jesus has restated the same words as the previous verse but changed them according to the situation. The two verses, side by side, show the contrast –

You amass, not – yourselves – treasures upon the earth, where moth and an eating – it evaporates, and where stealers – they tunnel, and they steal.

And you, amass – yourselves – treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor an eating – it evaporates, and where stealers – they tunnel not, nor they steal.

These words of Jesus, though spoken under the law to His disciples, carry the same truth as those in the church today. Paul explains when and how these “treasures” will be received as rewards by those in the church in 1 Corinthians 3 and 2 Corinthians 5.

Those who live by faith and act in faith are saving up rewards that will be handed out at the Bema seat of Christ. Nothing done in faith will lose its reward.

Life application: As noted above, Hebrews 11 explains how something earthly becomes a source of reward in heaven. The precept is explained and then repeated time and again –

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ² For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
³ By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Hebrews 11:1-3

This is then followed by line after line of examples of faith: By faith Abel / By faith Enoch / By faith Noah / By faith Abraham / By faith Sarah / By faith Abraham (again) / By faith Isaac / By faith Jacob / By faith Joseph / etc.

But what does Paul say in Romans and Galatians? He demonstrates that law and faith are mutually exclusive –

“For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. ¹⁴ For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, ¹⁵ because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.” Romans 4:13-15

“What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; ³¹ but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. ³² Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.” Romans 9:30-32

“…knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” Galatians 2:16

“But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for ‘the just shall live by faith.’ ¹² Yet the law is not of faith, but ‘the man who does them shall live by them.’” Galatians 3:11, 12

If you are attempting to merit God’s favor through law observance, you have set aside grace. You will receive no rewards, no treasures in heaven, for your conduct. Because you are not living by faith, even if you were once saved by faith, you should expect no rewards at all for your faithless life as you arrogantly set aside the grace of God found in Jesus Christ. Live by faith, put away your deeds of the law, and start amassing treasures that are truly heavenly.

Heavenly Father, how dull we are to assume that we can outdo Jesus through law observance. He has done it all! He has fulfilled the law! In Him, we are imputed His righteousness. Why would we look for another righteousness that is not of faith? How dull we are. Help us to not be so dull. Amen.

Saturday, 11 January 2025

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; Matthew 6:19

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).

“You amass, not – yourselves – treasures upon the earth, where moth and an eating – it evaporates, and where stealers – they tunnel, and they steal” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus explained what was correct concerning proper fasting. He finished that thought with the idea of being rewarded by the Father. Now, He builds on that, beginning with, “You amass, not – yourselves – treasures upon the earth.”

The rewards from the Father are where the true treasures lie. What we amass here is earthly and, thus, temporary and fleeting. In this clause, He introduces a word into the New Testament, the verb thésaurizó, to store up, treasure up, save up, etc. A single English word that carries these ideas is amass.

This verb stems from the noun thésauros which was first used in Matthew 2:11 and which is used again here, translated as “treasures.” One can see the etymological connection of both words to our modern word thesaurus. Of this verb, the Strong’s Lexicon says –

“In the ancient Greco-Roman world, wealth was often measured by one’s ability to accumulate and store goods, such as grain, precious metals, and other valuables. The concept of storing treasures was not only a practical concern but also a reflection of one’s status and security. In the Jewish context, treasure could also refer to spiritual wealth, such as wisdom and righteousness, which were seen as more enduring than material wealth.”

Nothing has changed in this regard. People amass wealth in various ways as if it is a means to an end. But there is no useful end when such things cannot be taken beyond the day of one’s death. Jesus is telling His disciples not to treasure up such treasure upon the earth. One of the problems with such wealth is that such is “where moth and an eating – it evaporates.”

Two more new words are found here. The first is sés, moth. It is believed to come from the Hebrew word meaning moth, sas, which is found only in Isaiah 51:8. The second new word is brósis, a word almost always translated as “rust,” but that is an explanatory paraphrase. This word is derived from the verb bibróskó, to eat. Thus, it signifies the food one eats. The noun form would be “eating” as in “That durian fruit is a delicious eating.”

Jesus is telling the disciples that moth and an eating will cause the wealth to evaporate. It is the same word, aphanizó, that was used in verse 6:16 to describe the pall-like faces of those who fast for everyone to see. Jesus finishes the words of this verse, saying, “and where stealers – they tunnel, and they steal.”

Again, three new words are found in this single clause. The first is kleptés, a stealer or thief. Next comes the word diorussó, to dig through or break through. Of this word, Strong’s Lexicon says –

“In the ancient Near East, homes were often constructed with mud-brick walls, which could be relatively easily breached by thieves. The act of ‘digging through’ a wall was a common method for burglars to enter a house and steal valuables. This cultural context highlights the vulnerability of earthly treasures and the need for vigilance.”

As such, a single English word that properly conveys the intent is the verb form of “tunnel.” When one tunnels through a wall, he gains access to the treasures inside. And that leads to the third new word, the verb kleptó, to steal. It is the basis of the noun kleptés, a stealer, that was just used.  One can see the etymological root of klepto, kleptomaniac, and other associated words that we use today.

Jesus is explaining to His disciples the futility of storing up things that can be stolen away through the physical corruption of the items or the moral corruption of others who are bent on taking such for themselves.

Life application: Jesus has told His disciples that they should not store up wealth for themselves. And yet, elsewhere, Paul says –

“Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. ¹⁸ Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, ¹⁹ storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” 1 Timothy 6:17-19

Paul does not say they cannot have wealth, but not to be haughty or trust in their wealth. This sounds like a contradiction to Jesus’ words about not storing up wealth. But the context says it is not. Jesus is not commanding us to not have wealth.

He is instructing on what is of value. He will do this throughout the synoptic gospels, speaking to those under the law about what should be the priorities of life. When He dies in fulfillment of the law, the age of Grace will come through the New Covenant. The things that are impossible for man under the law are set aside.

The man who is not under law but under grace should have the proper priorities to act responsibly, understanding that he was saved by grace and that this world is a temporary steppingstone to the true riches that lie ahead. The resurrection of Jesus Christ assures us of this.

O God, we are grateful for every blessing You bless us with in this life. Some of us may have great wealth, but help us to remember that such things are not where our hope lies. It is all temporary and fleeting. Our true hope lies in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which reminds us that we, too, will be brought to You through His work on our behalf. Help us to always live with this in mind. Amen.

Friday, 10 January 2025

so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Matthew 6:18

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).

“That not you may appear to men fasting, but to your Father, the ‘in the secret,’ and your Father, the ‘seeing in the secret,’ He will reward you in the manifest” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus noted that when one fasts, he should anoint his head and wash his face. This is so “that not you may appear to men fasting.”

The point of fasting is for afflicting oneself or denying oneself for one of various reasons, but other than for health issues, it is usually centered on a spiritual matter. Thus, to have others know that you are fasting defeats the purpose of fasting. It becomes a self-centered “look at my piety” type of thing.

Therefore, to make oneself appear normal or even joyous then hides the fact that one is fasting, while at the same time, it keeps the people around that person upbeat. There is no reward to be gained from them or their knowing. However, God knows the intent of the heart. And so, when one is fasting it may not be known to others, “but to your Father, the ‘in the secret,’” it will be known.

Such things, because they are based on something that is important to the person in the presence of God, will not be unknown to Him. He is the One who reads the hearts and minds of man, as the Bible notes several times. Therefore, because He sees what is done in secret, Jesus next says, “and your Father, the ‘seeing in the secret,’ He will reward you in the manifest.”

As the fasting referred to here is for a spiritual matter, the one fasting can be assured that the petition that was set forth is noticed by God. It will be responded to accordingly. Saying it will be rewarded in the manifest, meaning openly, doesn’t have to mean in front of others or in a way that is recognized as such at this time.

Rather, if fasting is for humbling oneself because of sin, the person can be sure that the sin has been dealt with by God, and the pardon will be granted. Thus, at the judgment, there will not be sin imputed for the wrongdoing.

Something along these lines would fully satisfy the thought of having the purpose of fasting being rewarded openly. This appears to be exactly what was on the mind of David in Psalm 32 –

“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
² Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit.
³ When I kept silent, my bones grew old
Through my groaning all the day long.
⁴ For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah
⁵ I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I have not hidden.
I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’
And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
⁶ For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You
In a time when You may be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters
They shall not come near him.
⁷ You are my hiding place;
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah” Psalm 32:1-7

A person under the law, by the very nature of the law, is imputed sin. And yet, David is stating that there is the non-imputation of sin in his case. That must have come about through a contrite heart. One can assume that David may have even fasted along with his contrition. This is the type of thing Jesus is saying now.

There was nothing open and external for others to see, and yet the non-imputation of sin is something that is open and evident to David. Further, it will be seen as such at the final judgment.

Life application: It is common for people to want to be seen and noticed. It is why many strive to be actors, politicians, etc. But people want to be noticed even beyond that. And so, we will identify ourselves by the famous people we have met. It can become a comparison party at times. “I once met the president of Uruguay.” “How cool for you. I met the Prime Minister of the UK! I got a photo with him!” “That’s great for both of you. I got to have dinner with the President of the United States!”

It is as if our level of importance is elevated by the important people we have met. And yet, without Jesus, we have no true and lasting importance at all. Nobody being cast into the Lake of Fire is going to brag about having met the Pope. If we want our true level of importance brought forth, we can say, “Yes, that’s great for all of you, but I met the King of the Universe – Jesus.”

What we did “in the secret” by believing in Jesus in our hearts is the thing that will be truly rewarded “in the manifest.” As this is so, and we know it is true, the other things we do in secret will also be rewarded openly. Let us not seek after vainglory, but rather, let us have hearts that are always geared toward pleasing the Lord.

How wonderful it is, O God, to have the knowledge that we are saved through the shed blood of Christ Jesus our Lord. We didn’t see Jesus die, but we believed the word that we heard. Help us to live by that same faith now as we continue our walk toward glory. Amen.