Gospel (written)

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.

Thursday, 19 December 2024

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, Matthew 5:44

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 I, I say to you, you love your enemies, bless those cursing you, you do good to those hating you, and you pray for the ‘insulting you’ and ‘pursuing you’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus cited precepts from the law that said, “You shall love your neighbor, and you shall hate your enemy.” As in several previous instances, He will now give a higher perspective. He is not contradicting the law when He does so (but). Rather, He is giving a standard that matches how God deals in such matters (and).

In other words, “If you want to be like your heavenly Father, I say to you this is how you are to be.” The law is God’s set standard for man. It is what He has determined, but even Jesus says that there are accommodations in the law because of man’s inability to be perfect in all ways. For example, the accommodation for divorce is noted in Matthew 5:32. Understanding this, Jesus next says, “And I, I say to you, you love your enemies.”

The law said to wipe out Amalek and other nations found within the borders of Canaan. The people of Israel were to abhor them and their practices. This was a necessary tool of instruction concerning the aberrant ways of these enemies. If they were allowed to live, they would infect Israel with their idolatries and immoralities.

But the higher standard of God is to love one’s enemies. For those who find that hard to accept, they should just go look in the mirror –

“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. ¹⁰ For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. ¹¹ And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” Romans 5:6-11

God loved us even when we were at enmity with Him. This is the higher standard Jesus says exists and which we should emulate. He also says to “bless those cursing you.”

The word is kataraomai, to curse. It is derived from katara, to execrate. It is the pronouncement of a curse or a prayer for evil upon someone. God will eventually bring evil upon those who refuse to turn to Him. However –

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

Mortal man has a set amount of time, after which, his chance to be reconciled to God ends. Until that time, even until his last breath, God is willing to refrain from condemning him. The curse of condemnation only comes when the last breath is complete. Jesus next says, “you do good to those hating you.”

Most people know, or at least are familiar with, someone who has claimed he hated God but who is now a faithful follower of the Lord. God didn’t just snuff him out. Rather, He continued to give him life, breath, and good things. Along with this, Jesus says, “and you pray for the ‘insulting you’ and ‘pursuing you.’”

Likewise, the same type of people may have not only claimed to hate Him, but they may have openly insulted His name, mocked His being, and so forth. And more, such a person may have pursued and persecuted His faithful followers. The Bible elsewhere shows that to persecute those in the church is to persecute Jesus –

“Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest ² and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
³ As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. ⁴ Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’
⁵ And he said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’
Then the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’” Acts 9:1-5

Jesus says that Paul was persecuting Him, even though it was His people who Paul raged against. And God didn’t just snuff out Paul. Rather, He called him and saved him. This is the higher standard that Jesus speaks of.

Of this verse, there are differences in some texts that may be reflected in your Bible, depending on which you read –

*But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. (NASB)
*But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. (NKJV)

Life application: How often do we get so angry at a person, let’s say a politician who has the morals of a sewer rat, and we say something like, “O God, I pray that person comes to an evil end.”

Some of the Psalms carry this attitude. They are known as Psalms of imprecation. A curse is called down on the enemies of God. In such a prayer, it is better that we include the Lord’s will in our words. “O God, this person is contrary to everything Your word stands for. If it is your will to save this person, may it be so. If not, I pray that You then give him what he deserves.”

We don’t know what will happen in that person’s life. If he turns to the Lord, he could become a great and effective mouthpiece for what is good and right. As with all such things, including a petition for the Lord’s will to be done is the right thing. He will do what is perfect, just, and right.

Glorious God, we may despise the wicked around us, but we also need to remember that we were once Your enemies as well. Rather than destroying us, You call us to Yourself through Jesus. Thank You, O God, for Your tender mercies upon us. Help us to remember to pray for this for others as well. Amen.

Wednesday, 18 December 2024

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ Matthew 5:43

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 heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and you shall hate your enemy.’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus spoke of giving to all who ask of you and to not turn away those wanting to borrow. Now, He says, “You heard that it was said.”

Jesus will again cite precepts from the law of Moses. The first clause is very close to a direct quote from the law. However, the second clause is something that is more to be inferred. It may be that rabbinic commentaries went further in their analysis than the law, but what Jesus says can be rightly inferred from various portions of the law. They are not far from what Moses said in some ways. And so, He begins with, “You shall love your neighbor.”

The words are formed from a greater precept found in Leviticus 19:18 –

“You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”

Jesus cites this to His disciples to begin the instruction which follows. Before He gets to that, He next cites the contrary precept saying, “and you shall hate your enemy.”

This precept could be found in the law. For example –

“When the Lord your God brings you into the land which you go to possess, and has cast out many nations before you, the Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than you, ² and when the Lord your God delivers them over to you, you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them. ³ Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son. ⁴ For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods; so the anger of the Lord will be aroused against you and destroy you suddenly. ⁵ But thus you shall deal with them: you shall destroy their altars, and break down their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images, and burn their carved images with fire.” Deuteronomy 7:1-5

Likewise, this was instructed in Exodus 17 –

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.’ ¹⁵ And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner; ¹⁶ for he said, ‘Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.’” Exodus 17:14-16

Moses then repeated the precept in Deuteronomy –

“Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt, ¹⁸ how he met you on the way and attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God. ¹⁹ Therefore it shall be, when the Lord your God has given you rest from your enemies all around, in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance, that you will blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. You shall not forget.” Deuteronomy 25:17-19

As these words are found in the law, Jesus cannot be said to be citing only rabbinic commentaries. Anyone who reads these instructions could only conclude that these particular enemies were to be hated and destroyed.

Life application: A large majority of the commentaries on Jesus’ words in this verse say that He is citing the law in the first clause and only citing rabbinic commentaries in the second. As seen, this is not necessarily correct. If God said to utterly destroy particular people groups, it means that they were not to be associated with. They were to be hated and abhorred.

A problem arises, however, when the term “enemy” is abused. The law notes that when Israel is attacking an “enemy,” if they accept the terms of peace set forth by Israel, they are to be given leniency (see Deuteronomy 20:10-15).

If the rabbis were saying that all “enemies” of Israel were to be hated, it would be contrary to the tenor of Scripture concerning the guidelines for warfare in Deuteronomy 20, as well as other places where enemies become allies.

As such, we need to be attentive to not accept commentaries on Scripture, whether written by Christians or otherwise, without checking to see if what those commentaries say aligns with Scripture. But we cannot actually do that unless we are familiar with Scripture already. Putting your trust in what other people say without checking is not a good way to run your life. How much more when it involves spiritual matters that can affect one’s eternal destiny?

Be sure to read your Bible daily. Take in what it says and store it away as the finest of treasures. When it is time, take it out and enjoy it again as you carefully consider each word.

Heavenly Father, Your word is wonderful. It is without contradiction, but it has to be considered in light of the context You provide in each passage. Help us to maintain the proper context and carefully consider what You are telling us. In this, we will have a more perfect understanding of Your will and intent for us. Thank You, O God. Amen.

Tuesday, 17 December 2024

Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. Matthew 5:42

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 ‘asking of you,’ you give. And the wishing from you to borrow, not you shall turn away” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus said that when one mobilizes you to go with him a mile, to make it two instead. Next, He says, “The ‘asking of you,’ you give.”

The meaning of this is that when a person comes with a request, the one being petitioned should oblige him and give what is asked for. However, such a request has to come with limitations.

The word is aiteó, to ask or even demand. If this involved an unconditional giving of things when people asked, the one being petitioned would run out of things to give in no time. It would also be contrary to verses such as –

“For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; ⁸ nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, ⁹ not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.
¹⁰ For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” 2 Thessalonians 3:7-10

This word is used by Jesus in Matthew 7, saying –

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. ⁹ Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? ¹¹ If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! ¹² Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:7-12

First, if this was true in the ultimate sense, God would simply be here doing whatever we asked of Him. It would also cause an infinite number of impossible dilemmas. For example, two people may ask God for the same wife.

Obviously, God is not going to arbitrarily give everything that is asked for. But Jesus’ words at the end of the verses explain the matter, “for this is the Law and the Prophets.” The people who Jesus is speaking to are under the law. He is setting the law as the parameters for petitions to God and between one another.

If there is a provision of the law that says a person is to act in a certain manner towards another, it is to be complied with. Next, Jesus continues with, “And the wishing from you to borrow.”

The word translated as borrow signifies to loan on interest. This would be a loan that would be repaid with an amount added. Obviously, if a person did not have money to lend, this could not come about. But more, this is only speaking about non-Jews. A point of the law found in Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy says –

“You shall not charge interest to your brother—interest on money or food or anything that is lent out at interest. ²⁰ To a foreigner you may charge interest, but to your brother you shall not charge interest, that the Lord your God may bless you in all to which you set your hand in the land which you are entering to possess.” Deuteronomy 23:19, 20

Jesus says that when such a person comes asking for a loan, “not you shall turn away.” The word apostrephó is used. It is a strong word that “emphasizes the personal element involved with turning away or rejecting” (HELPS Word Studies).

The Jews were to attend to such requests by non-Jews, and they were not to personally reject such petitions (such as in Deuteronomy 14:29, etc.). Again, Jesus is summing up the law and the prophets. These words have no bearing on conduct within the church. Rather, church doctrine is to be obtained from the New Testament epistles.

Life application: When we mix dispensations (meaning taking precepts meant for those under the law and applying them to those in the church), there will always be a contradiction in our theology. This is because those in the church are not under law.

The guidelines for conduct within the church form a new set of instructions that are often at odds with the precepts of the law. This is because Jesus fulfilled the law. In His fulfillment of the law, it is set aside, abolished, obsolete, annulled, etc.

To understand this, imagine the law being like a square. The church could be equated to a circle. Certain laws exist that say square pegs don’t fit in round holes and vice versa. In the fulfillment of the law, there are no more square holes, only round ones. You can beat square pegs over round holes all day long, but you will not obtain a satisfactory outcome.

Instead, you will accomplish nothing but look ridiculous. Now imagine being told, “Anyone who picks up the wrong peg and tries to cram it into a round hole will be displeasing to God.” How inane would a person have to be to keep picking up square pegs?

And yet this is just what some people do. Don’t be a square! Come to Jesus and give up on your futile attempts to shove the law back into your theology. It simply doesn’t work.

Glorious and almighty God, help us to get our dispensations right. When we mix things up that You have already set straight, we only harm ourselves. So, Lord, help us to see what You have done – and are doing – and then guide us on the right path. Yes, Lord, may it be so to Your glory. Amen.