Daily Writing

Tuesday, 24 December 2024

“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Matthew 6:1

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 beware of your compassionateness, not to do before men to be seen by them. And if otherwise, no reward you have from your Father, the ‘in the heavens’” (CG).

The previous verse concluded Matthew 5. Matthew 6 begins with Jesus’ continued discourse to His disciples. He now says, “You beware of your compassionateness.”

The word translated as “beware,” prosechó, is introduced here. It gives the sense of setting a course and staying on it, or giving one’s full attention to something. Thus, one is to beware and pay heed. The specific thing Jesus says to heed in this verse is their compassionateness.

The Greek word eleémosuné is used. It is a noun that is exactingly translated as compassionateness, as in alms. Thus, the word alms is how it is often translated. It is a benefaction bestowed upon someone. The word is derived from eleos, signifying compassion, such as pity, mercy, etc.

Some manuscripts, however, instead have the word dikaiosuné, righteousness. Thus, “Beware not to do your righteousness…” Either way, the point is to “not to do before men to be seen by them.”

Jesus is making a point about the conduct of such a display of doing good. If you are going to do a good deed where others will see, it demonstrates that your intent is less in helping the object of the deed, meaning the poor person, but in being viewed by others to become the subject of their praise.

People do this for a variety of reasons, such as being complimented, getting a job promotion or a favorable status among others, getting an appointment to a position (such as in the government), and so forth. If this is the intent, which is expressed by doing the thing in front of others rather than without eyes watching, Jesus says, “And if otherwise, no reward you have from your Father, the ‘in the heavens.’”

If the goal is to gain earthly benefit, then whatever you receive here is all you will get. However, God will give you no reward. What would be the point? You obtained what you desired, which was something other than pleasing Him.

Under the law, there were mandates for caring for others. Some of them were things that, by default, others would see. They occurred during the annual pilgrim feasts and so forth. However, there were things the people were commanded to do that could be done at any time.

If someone was doing them for everyone to see, it meant that he was not necessarily doing them to be pleasing to the Lord who gave the law, but to show off to others about how obedient to the law he was. It demonstrated that the law itself was more important to this person than the One who gave the law.

Life application: Though Jesus is speaking to Israel under the law, this verse essentially carries a moral precept about the heart. Paul says –

’The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith which we preach): ⁹ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:8-10

He refers to belief in the heart. Anyone can say, “I believe in Jesus” with it not being true. Politicians do it all the time. What matters is not what one says openly, but what the heart believes.

God is evaluating the heart of man in Matthew 6:1, just as He is doing throughout Scripture. If the heart is right with Him, then the action that accompanies what one is doing will be acceptable. This is the point of Jesus’ words.

Lord God, may our hearts be right with You. When they are, our actions will be considered appropriate as well. Help us in this, O God, so that we may be perfect in Your sight as we live out our lives in Your presence. Amen.

Monday, 23 December 2024

Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:48

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).

To read the CG translation of Matthew 5 online, click here to listen. Or you can see it on Rumble by clicking here.

“Therefore, you, you shall be complete, just like your Father – the ‘in the heavens’ – He is complete” (CG).

The previous verse conveyed Jesus’ words concerning greeting others. Even the tax collectors greet their brethren. So what reward is there in doing such a thing? The reward comes in greeting those you are not friendly with or maybe even those with whom you have a sense of enmity or loathing.

Based on this and the other principles stated by Him, He now sums up His thoughts saying, “Therefore, you, you shall be complete.”

The word translated as complete, teleios, signifies reaching an end goal by going through necessary stages. HELPS Word Studies says, “[This root (tel-) means ‘reaching the end (aim).’ It is well-illustrated with the old pirate’s telescope, unfolding (extending out) one stage at a time to function at full-strength (capacity effectiveness).]”

As such, it signifies that which is complete. In this case, however, the word “perfect” gives the correct sense of Jesus’ words. This is because of the next words, “just like your Father – the ‘in the heavens’ – He is complete.”

Though not found in all manuscripts, Jesus uses the word hósper, it is derived from hós, meaning like or as, and per, an emphatic particle. Therefore, it means just as, even as, or just like.

Jesus is saying that in order to meet the demands of the law, the standard by which God – who is the One in the heavens – judges man, a person must come to a state of completion, meaning absolute perfection, that is exactly like God. No wonder Paul wrote these words to those in Philippi –

“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. ⁸ Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; ¹⁰ that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, ¹¹ if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:7-11

Paul knew that his righteousness, which was from his efforts under the law of Moses, was wholly insufficient to bring him to the necessary state of completion where he could be exactly like God. Thus, he needed something more, a perfection in and of itself, that could be credited to him. That something is the righteousness of God which is found in Christ Jesus.

Life application: Although it seems in Matthew 5 that Jesus is telling His disciples that they must merit salvation through the law, He is actually telling them exactly the opposite. He is showing them the impossibility of meeting the demands of the law. But He already told them that through Moses –

“You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.” Leviticus 18:5

To live is to not die. The Lord was telling Israel that by keeping the law, they would live. But every person who ever lived under the law (with the exception of Elijah who was translated directly to heaven) died.

This demonstrated to Israel, and it should be a learning tool to us, that the law cannot bring life. We cannot be perfect just like our heavenly Father through law observance. However, Jesus could. He died under the law, but not for His own sins. Rather, He died for the sins of others.

Then, on the third day, He rose again. What does this prove? It proves that He is exactly like His Father who is in the heavens. He bears the perfection of God. As only God can bear the perfection of God under the law, it tells us that Jesus is God come in human flesh.

What was stated in Jonah is proven true in Jesus: Salvation is of the Lord. Jesus is the Lord, Jehovah. This is what Scripture is telling us. Understanding this, Jesus’ words of Matthew 5 are not a call for Israel to work harder under the law, something that will never reconcile them to God. Instead, His word cries out to them that they must trust Him for this.

With the introduction of the New Covenant, Gentiles are included in this process of salvation. Those who were never under the law are granted the same chance of obtaining salvation as those who were under the law.

Jesus! Jesus is the answer. So why would anyone want the burden of the law imposed on them? In Christ Jesus is complete restoration because we are made to be exactly like our Father in the heavens through the imputation of Christ’s righteousness.

Lord God, You demand absolute perfection because the new heavens and new earth will be absolutely perfect. How can we be a part of that? It is through faith in Christ Jesus alone. Thank You that we have merited perfection through Him and not through our own failing attempt at it. Yes, thank You for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sunday, 22 December 2024

And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Matthew 5:47

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

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

“And if you embrace only your brothers, what extra do you do? And do not the taxmen, the ‘himself’ they do?” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus noted the pointless nature of expecting rewards when you love those who love you, noting that even tax collectors do that. Now, He continues that thought, saying, “And if you embrace only your brothers.”

He uses the word aspazomai. Strong’s Lexicon says, “Derived from a (as a particle of union) and a presumed form of spao (to draw); meaning to enfold in the arms, i.e., to greet or embrace.” Although most translations simply say greet, salute, hail, or something similar, the word indicates a hearty welcome where the arms enfold around someone.

Today, we might grab someone, pull him closer, put one arm around him, and then give him a pat on the back. It is a welcome that demonstrates felicity. When greeting a brother like this, Jesus questions them about it, asking, “what extra do you do?”

The obvious answer is, “nothing.” It is what everyone who greets a brother or a friend does. This is so obvious that He next says, “And do not the taxmen, the ‘himself’ they do?”

Some manuscripts use the word ethnikoi, those from non-Jewish ethnicity, rather than telonai, taxmen, as was seen in the previous verse. Either way, the point is made. Jesus uses an example of someone who is considered contemptible by the Jews, demonstrating that this is what everyone does, regardless of culture, social status, etc.

He will next finish the chapter with words that sum up His thoughts on the matter that He has been addressing.

Life application: There are various ways that manuscripts will wind up with differences in them. In the case of Matthew 5:47, what seems likely is that it was a case of dittography. This is where a letter or word is repeated by accident. In the Greek NT Text, the final sentence is almost identical to the final sentence of verse 46 – except for one word, translated as tax collectors by the NKJV:

ἐὰν γὰρ ἀγαπήσητε τοὺς ἀγαπῶντας ὑμᾶς, τίνα μισθὸν ἔχετε; οὐχὶ καὶ οἱ τελῶναι τὸ αὐτὸ ποιοῦσιν;
καὶ ἐὰν ἀσπάσησθε τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ὑμῶν μόνον, τί περισσὸν ποιεῖτε; οὐχὶ καὶ οἱ ἐθνικοὶ τὸ αὐτὸ ποιοῦσιν;

46. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47. And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors [ethnicities] do so?

When translating verse 47, the Greek copyist looked up, his eyes probably glanced at verse 46 by accident, thus writing taxmen a second time instead of pagans or ethnicities. This is obviously speculation, but somehow an error crept into one of the two texts.

To understand why there are various differences in the biblical texts, take time to read up on copyist errors. Along with dittography, some of the errors you will discover are haplography (omitting a repeated letter or word), metathesis (reversing letters or words), homeoteleuton (skipping a section due to similar line endings), and homeoarchy (skipping a section due to similar beginnings of lines).

These and other copyist mistakes frequently crept into texts. Does this mean that the word of God is tainted? Not at all. It is there, but we must spend time and careful consideration to determine why the error occurred and which is the original. Though disputed by various scholars, the original exists.

The Greek New Testament has thousands and thousands of manuscripts. Add in lectionaries, commentaries, and other ancient sources, and the originals can be determined. God has allowed fallen man to handle His word. Because of this, errors in transmission can be expected. But diligence and perseverance will lead to a fuller and closer understanding of what was originally given under inspiration of the Spirit.

Lord God, thank You for those who have carefully recorded Your word over the ages, passing down what You originally gave us so that we can understand what You have done in the giving of Jesus. Help us to diligently search out Your word and faithfully transmit it to those around us so that they, too, can know. Amen.

Saturday, 21 December 2024

For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? Matthew 5:46

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 if you love those loving you, what recompense do you have? And do not also the taxmen, the ‘himself’ they do?” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus spoke of the gracious nature of the Father, having the sun rise on the evil and the good and sending rain upon the just and unjust. Now, to demonstrate why emulating Him is important, He says, “For if you love those loving you, what recompense do you have?”

Though some people are perverse exceptions, it is the most natural thing in the world to love those who love you. If someone is kind to others, they will tend to turn and return the kindness as well. This is how human nature is. In fact, it is such a commonly expected thing that Jesus next says, “And do not also the taxmen, the ‘himself’ they do?”

In these words, Jesus introduces the telónés, taxmen. It signified a collector of taxes. Of these men, HELPS Word Studies says, “The tax-collectors were, as a class, detested not only by the Jews but by other nations also, both on account of their employment and of the harshness, greed, and deception, with which they prosecuted it.” Nothing has changed, even in modern times, in this regard.

Each tax collector, the “himself,” will be like all other tax collectors. In the case of loving others who love them, they will act in the same manner as other people. As such, there is no reward or recompense that would be expected. If this is something even such abhorrent people do, it is something that meets the minimum standards of human interaction.

Jesus, by saying it this way, is demonstrating that tax collectors are generally not like all other people. The very fact that they are singled out by Him shows that He is using them as an example of people who generally are wholly unlike the masses.

And yet, in the particular matter of loving others, they were like everyone else. What Jesus is doing in this example is showing that God looks at humanity in general as we would look at taxmen. We are the outcasts. We are the pariahs. And yet, God loves humanity enough to have sent Jesus to reconcile us to Himself.

To make this point all the more poignant, Jesus selected a tax collector as one of His apostles. Though not yet introduced, Matthew, the author of this book, was not only an outcast human, but he was an outcast among humans. Despite this, God in Christ graciously called him and restored him to an eternally restored right-relationship –

“As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ So he arose and followed Him.
¹⁰ Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. ¹¹ And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, ‘Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’
¹² When Jesus heard that, He said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. ¹³ But go and learn what this means: “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.’” Matthew 9:9-13

Life application: It is easy to read the words of Jesus and to acknowledge that God is great in calling those who do not deserve it. When considering that Jesus called Matthew, something that would have been shocking even to the other disciples, we can see the immensely gracious nature of God in Christ.

But do we then respond by acting in like manner? Are we really willing to engage with people who are completely contrary to what is normal, socially unacceptable, dirty, or otherwise unlovable?

Think about this. We read these words, know what is right, and then fail to follow through with the words as well as the afterthoughts that come into our minds. In the case of demonstrating grace toward others, it takes an active and determined state of mind.

At first, it can even be hard to get our feet in gear and interact with such people, but eventually, it can be done. Musicians play for prisoners, common people help the poor in government housing, and churches gather to feed people that are down and out. These things don’t come naturally. They must be brought forth from a well that is not normally open to the world. But once that well is opened, lives change, and people begin to interact in ways that are pleasing to God.

Be a part of the solution, the one that is stated right here in the words of Jesus. Lives can be changed, and a new direction for lost human souls can come about.

Lord God Almighty, You have given examples of how we should conduct ourselves in our interactions with others. Help us to be obedient to Your precepts when they reflect Your eternal and unchanging nature. May we be willing to emulate You and glorify You in doing so. Amen.

Friday, 20 December 2024

that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:45

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 you may be sons of your Father – the ‘in heavens.’ For He rises His sun upon evil and good, and He rains upon the righteous and unrighteous” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus continued His words concerning the standard He set forth to truly emulate our heavenly Father, such as loving one’s enemies, praying for one’s persecutors, etc. He now notes the reason for this, saying, “that you may be sons of your Father – the ‘in heavens.’”

One who is a son of the Father who is in the heavens is a son of God. This theme goes all the way back to Genesis 6:2 where people are first noted as the “sons of ‘the God.’” There, it is not speaking of angels. It refers to those who are in a right standing with the Lord. The layout of Genesis reveals this, first introducing a topic and then further defining it.

The idea of the sonship of God is brought up innumerable times after that, including the people and nation of Israel and Job who is noted as such in Job 1:6 and 2:1. In the New Testament, Jesus is noted as the begotten Son of God. In Matthew 5:9, it first noted the sons of God as applying to those who are peacemakers.

Now, Jesus reconfirms this sonship for His hearers by noting that, through their conduct, they are truly sons of God. This theme will then continue into the time of the New Covenant where the term is used by Paul where he defines who the sons of God are within the church, such as –

“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁷ For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:26-29

When one emulates his heavenly Father, a sonship results. This sonship, however, is based on what God is doing in the redemptive scenario at any given time. For those of Israel who rejected Jesus, they are not sons of God. Rather, Jesus clearly defines them as sons of the devil in John 8:44.

Until they come to Jesus individually, they are excluded from the good things God is doing. Likewise, as a nation, Israel is out of favor until the time they collectively call out to Him as Lord. As for Jesus’ continued words, He next says, “For He rises His sun upon evil and good.”

The meaning of the words is that God graciously provides the cycle of life to all. He doesn’t just snuff out those who are evil but allows them to continue. At times, this even means to the harm of those who He considers good. Hence, there have been innumerable martyrs in the world since Christ’s coming.

But these things are allowed by God during this time. His purposes are being met, even through such tragedies. God is being good, even to the evil. To emulate Him in this is to then be a son of God. Continuing on, Jesus next says, “and He rains upon the righteous and unrighteous.”

It is another example of the normal cycle of life. God sends the rains upon the earth regardless of whether someone is righteous or unrighteous. And, in fact, God is justified in this. Paul notes such treatment of others in Romans 3 where he refers to the law in relation to those acting unrighteously.

All may not be under the Law of Moses, but all are under the law that Adam violated. His sin is passed on to his seed. And yet, God has allowed them to continue. For those who are of faith, the transgression of Adam is removed. They move to a new Head, who is Christ.

For those who are not of faith, God is justified in His condemnation of them. They have seen His divine attributes displayed in the world around them, and yet they reject Him and continue without emulating Him, excluding them from the sonship that Jesus speaks of in these verses.

Life application: The coming of the New Covenant through Christ’s shed blood is what God is “doing” in the redemptive scenario. The Law of Moses is no longer an acceptable means of finding favor with God.

In fact, pursuing life under the law will only bring God’s wrath upon man. This is because God has sent Jesus. Jesus has lived out the law, fulfilling it through His life under the law. In His death in fulfillment of the law, He introduced the New Covenant. To not come under the New Covenant, then, is to reject what God has done.

Because of this, God’s wrath remains on those who do not come to Jesus. How much more for those who willingly place themselves under the law! Not only do they reject Jesus, but they reject the notion that Jesus’ work has any validity in their lives at all. “Don’t worry God, I know You did Your best in sending Jesus, but I can do better. Watch and be impressed at how marvelously I live my life under the law.”

It is a self-condemning act. Be on guard against such people! They twist and manipulate Scripture to bring you under a yoke of bondage that only leads to condemnation. Rather, come to Jesus and be saved through His work. Simple faith! That is all that God desires of you. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! Our beautiful Jesus has done everything necessary to restore us to our heavenly Father.

Lord God, thank You for Jesus Christ our Lord. Forgive us when we make everything about us. Rather, it is all about Him and His marvelous workings on our behalf. Yes, O God, thank You for Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.