Matthew (Written)

Sea grapes. The red ones are ready for a’snakin’

Friday, 1 November 2024

Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, Matthew 4:21

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).

“And having advanced thence, He saw others, two brothers – James, the ‘of Zebedee,’ and John, his brother – in the boat with Zebedee their father, repairing their nets. And He called them” (CG).

In the previous verse, Simon and Andrew were said to have left their nets and followed Jesus. Now, it next says, “And having advanced thence.”

The meaning is from where Simon and Andrew were but still along the shore of the sea. The word ekeithen is used. It is an adverb meaning “from there.” A single English word, also an adverb, that gives the sense is the word thence. Continuing along, it says, “He saw others, two brothers.”

Jesus started with the brothers Peter and Andrew and now He directs His attention to another set of brothers. They are “James, the ‘of Zebedee,’ and John, his brother.”

Quite often in the Bible, the state of belonging to or possession is implied. In this case, most translations add in the words “son of,” such as “James the son of Zebedee.” Some translations avoid that by saying, “James of Zebedee.” That is acceptable, but the Greek reads, “James the Zebedee.” The state of belonging is found in the article itself. Thus, saying, “James the ‘of Zebedee’” conveys the full intent.

The name James (Greek: Iakóbos) comes from the Greek of the Hebrew name Jacob (Greek: Iakób, Hebrew: Yaaqov). That is derived from the word aqev, the heel. The reason for the name is based on the birth of Jacob in Genesis 25 where he grabbed the heel of his brother during birth. This name has a few different meanings which are based on the idiom “takes hold by the heel.”

The idea is that in , someone by the heel, you will trip him up. But there is also the idea of a deceiver, one who supplants, or one who follows closely behind. All of these fit the life and circumstances of Jacob. But grabbing the heel, or “following after,” gives the right sense. His name was, and remains to this day, a popular name for Jews and Christians.

The name Zebedee comes from the Hebrew name Zebadiah (Hebrew: Zebadyah). That is derived from zabad, to bestow, and Yah, a shortened form of the name of the Lord, Yehovah. Thus, it means Gift of Yah or Given of Yah.

The name John (Greek: Ióannés) is from the Hebrew name Yochanan. That is derived from Yah and khanan, to show favor or grace. Thus, the name means Yah is Gracious, Yah Has Been Gracious, or something similar. With the names explained, it next says they were “in the boat with Zebedee their father.”

It appears that Peter and Andrew were casting from the shore, but it is possible they were on a pier or even a boat as well. The narrative didn’t specify other than to say they were casting a net into the sea. These two are on a boat with their father. But instead of casting, it says they were “preparing their nets.”

The Greek word katartizó is used. It means to prepare. This could include repairing, mending, or simply getting them ready to be used. The idea is bringing something into its proper condition. Before fishing, nets have to be properly arranged. After fishing, they need to be reorganized so that they are not all tangled up.

At times, nets need to be mended or more fully repaired. It isn’t stated what the case is here. They could have been on their way out to go fishing, just finishing up their fishing, or repairing the nets after having fished. No matter which, the next words indicate that dad will probably have to finish up without them because Matthew records, “And He called them.”

Like Peter and Andrew, Jesus came upon the men while they were engaged in their activities. The calling at this time is purposeful – “You are in the middle of something important to you. Rather than waiting till you are done, I am calling to you now. What is your priority?”

Life application: Every person who has believed in Jesus has a calling. This doesn’t have to be something big like dropping everything and heading to Thailand, but it is a calling, nonetheless. When you first believed in Jesus, you probably didn’t know much beyond a few sentences conveyed to you about what He had done for you.

You accepted that premise and the Bible says that in your act of faith, He saved you. Your calling, then, is to get to know your Savior. If someone calls a woman to be his wife through an arranged marriage, the wife now has the responsibility to know her husband, what he expects, what he likes and doesn’t like, and so forth.

The same is true with new employment, joining the military, etc. When you enter boot camp, it is to know and learn what you have committed to. The Christian’s boot camp includes the technical manual for his work in his new assignment. This is the Bible. The Christian’s new Husband has expectations of His bride. He has things that please Him and things that don’t please Him.

How can you be an effective bride if you don’t attempt to learn how to please the Lord? How can you be an effective soldier if you don’t know the training manual for soldiering? Both of these metaphors are used concerning Christian life. And yet, how great a percent of Christians hardly bother with these things at all.

Rather than a secondary focus in our lives, it should be the main focus. Everything else we do should be relegated to a lesser state of importance as we learn obedience to the Lord. Are you doing this? If not, then why not? Get on it! Start today! Be the Christian that you have been called to be!

Lord God, help us to be faithful followers of the Lord Jesus who saved us from our sins. May we diligently study the word that tells us of our responsibilities as believers. May this be the primary focus of our lives all our days. Yes, Lord, may it be so to Your glory. Amen.

Native Florida Orchid.

Thursday, 31 October 2024

They immediately left their nets and followed Him. Matthew 4:20

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 immediately, having left the nets, they followed Him” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus told Simon, called Peter, and Andrew to follow Him, and He would make them fishers of men. With that called out, it next says, “And immediately.”

There is no sense of hesitation. When Jesus was baptized, it said that He immediately went up from the water. One act followed directly after the next. That is how it is here. From the parallel account, it is understood that they already knew Jesus was the Messiah, having come with Him to the region of the Galilee.

While there, they went back to work in order to continue their profession. In responding to this call, however, a break from that has taken place. This should not be pressed too far as they will continue to fish even after the resurrection, as noted in John 21. However, upon receiving this call, it next says, “having left the nets.”

Again, though sermons and scholarly writings indicate that they simply walked away from the nets, leaving behind their livelihood, that must be inserted into the narrative. Were they with others who they left the nests with? Did they roll them up and put them in the boat for later use? Or did they just drop the nets and walk away? Our minds will make up what we want the narrative to say regardless of whatever really happened.

The word translated as nets is diktuon. This is the first use of it in Scripture and it is completely different than the word used in verse 4:18. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon says it is the generic term for any type of net, including fishing. Whatever they did with them, they left them, and “they followed Him.”

Smart move on their part. Nothing in the narrative is forced. Nothing says that they were regenerated in order to follow. Jesus called them and they responded in faith that He was their Messiah. This is recorded in John 1 –

“Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. ³⁶ And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, ‘Behold the Lamb of God!’
³⁷ The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. ³⁸ Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, ‘What do you seek?’
They said to Him, ‘Rabbi’ (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), ‘where are You staying?’
³⁹ He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).
⁴⁰ One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. ⁴¹ He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated, the Christ). ⁴² And he brought him to Jesus.
Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, ‘You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas’ (which is translated, A Stone).” John 1:35-42

Life application: You may have sat in a church and heard a sermon on this passage. Think of what you heard. The pastor probably said how amazing it was that these two got a call from someone, they were stunned at His offer, and they simply walked away from their nets and started a new life, abandoning everything in the process.

You may have inserted your own thoughts into the narrative as well, such as the color of the water, the size of the Sea of Galilee (if you had never seen it), the color of the sky, and so forth. You may have even made a mental image of Jesus and the two apostles. Of this verse, John Gill says –

“That is, as soon as he had called them, they left their worldly employment, and followed him; they gave up themselves to his service, and became his disciples; they not only left their “nets”, but their fishing boats, and fishing trade, and all that belonged to it, even all their substance; and also their relations, friends, and acquaintance, see Matthew 19:27 which shows what a mighty power went along with the words and call of Christ; and what a ready, cheerful, and voluntary subjection this produces, wherever it takes place.”

Obviously, based on the commentary above, his words are not actually supportable from what the rest of the gospels continue to show. But this is how Gill perceived things.

People often get in a tizzy over movies about the Bible, especially movies about Jesus. They will spend all of their time cutting apart the movie as if it is supposed to be some type of exacting presentation of Scripture, and any deviation from it is heretical.

But you have just been thinking of the color of the sky and what Jesus looks like to you while reading my comments. With that type of logic, either my words were leading you into heresy, or your thoughts have led you into it (terrifying, for sure!). That is unreasonable.

People who have watched and loved The Ten Commandments with Charlton Heston may refuse to watch The Passion of the Christ or a series like The Chosen. Why? Probably because one is a Hollywood blockbuster that was never intended to be anything but a drama about the life of Moses, while the others are held to some inordinately high standard for… for what reason?

Innumerable people love The Greatest Story Ever Told, and yet Max Von Sydow (Jesus) was an atheist or agnostic (he wasn’t sure). Curiously, he also played the devil in Needful Things. But what do those things have to do with the content of The Greatest Story Ever Told? Lots of people watched that, and probably many of them malign other more biblically accurate movies or series.

As for actors, it is common for people to ridicule The Passion of the Christ because some of the actors are sinners (hmm….), but they don’t mind watching The Ten Commandments with Yul Brynner as one of the actors. But it is generally accepted that he was bisexual. In Ben Hur, another great movie, the lady who played Esther, the female star, Haya Harareet, was a twice-divorced Ashkenazi Jew. Throw up your arms! She didn’t even believe in Jesus.

The movie won 11 Academy Awards and is loved by Christians everywhere, and yet it has almost nothing to do with Scripture, and nobody cares about the actors’ personal lives. The attack by Christians over well-made Christian movies is totally hypocritical.

And more to the point, the same people who tear apart Christian movies are almost 100% guaranteed to watch any given Hollywood movie or TV show. Which is going to be more edifying?

Don’t let people rob your joy over presentations of Scripture that may not be minutely precise. If that is what you are looking for, you probably should not think while reading the Bible, lest your mind insert something that actually didn’t happen in whatever story you are reading.

A town in Germany, Oberammergau, has held a Passion play every decade since 1634. It is performed on the world’s largest open-air stage. One can be assured that the play is directed by sinners, played by sinners, and does not exactingly follow Scripture, and yet it has been a cherished part of their history for almost four hundred years.

Instead of tearing apart those who are trying to make a difference in films and videos in regard to their efforts to exalt the Lord, be someone who is willing to simply enjoy these treasures for what they are. Fill your life with Jesus in whatever way is edifying and which exalts Him.

Lord God, thank You for plays, films, and reenactments of our Lord Jesus. They help us to keep our mind on what is good, even if they are not word for word in accord with Your word. They are there to make a difference, and for many of us, they truly do. But, Lord, help us always to put Your word above all else when it comes to our understanding of You and what You expect for us. Amen.

orchids….

Wednesday, 30 October 2024

Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19

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

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

“And He says to them, ‘You come – after Me! And I will make you fishers of men’” (CG).

In the previous verse, it noted Jesus walking by the Sea of the Galilee when He came upon Simon, called Peter, and Andrew his brother. They were casting their net. It then noted that they were fishers. Now, it says, “And He says to them, ‘You come – after Me!’”

The word deute is an exclamatory word meaning come. Although we can’t know the inflection of Jesus’ voice, it was probably something excited and yet directive. Thus “You come – after Me!” is probably close. Of this expression, the Pulpit Commentary says, “There is no thought of continuous following from place to place…, but of immediate detachment from the present sphere of their interest and of attachment to Jesus as their leader.”

He called out to them first with the directive to come and then an explanatory word that they were to be His followers. His choice had been made, and they were now given the opportunity to respond to the call. With that called out, Jesus then continued with a fuller explanation of His intent for them. “And I will make you fishers of men.”

There they were, casting their net into the sea hoping to catch fish. But Jesus now has a greater role to offer them. The idea of fishers of men is not first found here in Scripture. Rather, it goes back to the book of Jeremiah where the Lord judges Israel for its iniquity and then promises restoration. Included in that restoration are the Gentile nations –

“‘Behold, I will send for many fishermen,’ says the Lord, ‘and they shall fish them; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks. ¹⁷ For My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from My face, nor is their iniquity hidden from My eyes. ¹⁸ And first I will repay double for their iniquity and their sin, because they have defiled My land; they have filled My inheritance with the carcasses of their detestable and abominable idols.’
¹⁹ O Lord, my strength and my fortress,
My refuge in the day of affliction,
The Gentiles shall come to You
From the ends of the earth and say,
‘Surely our fathers have inherited lies,
Worthlessness and unprofitable things.’
²⁰ Will a man make gods for himself,
Which are not gods?
²¹ ‘Therefore behold, I will this once cause them to know,
I will cause them to know
My hand and My might;
And they shall know that My name is the Lord.’” Jeremiah 16:16-21

Even in the Old Testament, the idea of Gentiles coming to the Lord is expressly stated from time to time. God has a plan, and His purposes for the people of the world have been worked out slowly and methodically. With the advent of the Messiah, that salvific process suddenly went into overdrive.

As noted in the previous commentary, in that verse, many translations say “fishermen.” The problem with that is now found in this verse. The same word just used is used again. Therefore, to be consistent in translation, it would then say in this verse, “And I will make you fishermen of men.”

The redundancy is obvious. And so, a change is made in those versions from “fishermen” to simply “fishers.” To be consistent in translation, simply saying “fishers” in both verses is preferable.

Life application: Jesus used the fishers of men terminology as a metaphor for what these men would be doing. Here we have several things coming together to form a picture of something new – men in an occupation, a net, the sea, fish in the sea, hopes for a harvest of fish, etc. Of course, the main Subject is Jesus, the one directing the scene through His words.

Here we have the words “Come – after Me!” Jesus makes the directive call for a change in what they are doing, even if what they will be doing is mirrored in what they have been doing. He calls men of an occupation to continue in that profession but in an entirely new way. They will remain fishers but with a new type of catch.

The net is the means of catching the fish. The new means is the gospel. The men are going from being members of the Galilean sphere of fishers to members of a body (today we call it the church). In other words, the men comprise the church, not a building or an organizational structure built on making money and doing things with that money.

The sea is emblematic of the chaotic world of humanity. That is seen many times in Scripture. The fish in the sea are those who are caught out of the world by the means of the gospel (the net) through the church (the men) whose intent and purpose it is to find the lost and bring them to salvation (the hopes of the harvest of fish).

This short verse in the early chapter of Matthew, although dealing with Israel under the law at this time, is a picture of a greater process that the Lord will be accomplishing through those He has selected. The harvest will be from Israel under the law at first, but it will eventually extend around the entire world. Jeremiah’s prophecy gives hints of this, even from a point in time when it was wholly unknown to the world.

As you read the Bible, look at what is going on in the story or narrative that you are reading and think about what is being said. Then look for parallels of these things elsewhere. Eventually, pictures of the magnificent work of God in Christ become fully developed. Nothing in Scripture is superfluous. Everything has intent, meaning, and purpose.

So, take your time and consider what you are reading. Treasure awaits!

Lord God, what an exciting thing to read Your word and to see how Your plan for the redemption of mankind is detailed there in so many ways. It is glorious to consider what You have been doing and what continues to be done, even until this day. May we respond to the call of the gospel and then to the call to continue furthering this good news as a part of Your redemptive outreach to the world. Amen.

Christmas Cactus.

Tuesday, 29 October 2024

And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.  Matthew 4:18

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).

“And Jesus, walking beside the Sea of the Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea – for they were fishers” (CG).

In the previous verse, it noted that Jesus began to preach, telling the people to reconsider because the kingdom of the heavens was at hand. With that noted, it next says, “And Jesus.”

The name of Jesus is not included in all of the ancient texts. Some believe it was inadvertently dropped out while others argue it was inadvertently added in or that it was inserted for clarity. As the subject has not changed, it is understood either way. Next, it says He was “walking beside the Sea of the Galilee.”

As noted before, the Galilee is a somewhat circular region. This sea is within that region. Thus, the use of the article before “Galilee” is appropriate. If there were a large body of water like this in the area of the Grand Canyon, we would call it “the sea of the Grand Canyon.”

Jesus was in the area conducting His ministry when “He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and Andrew his brother.”

The name Simon equates to the Hebrew name Shimon. That comes from shama, to hear. Thus, it means something like Hearing or He Who Hears. Peter comes from petros, a small stone. Thus, the name means Stone or Rock. The name Andrew comes from the Greek word aner, a man, and thus it means something like Manly, Courageous, or Brave.

Although they are introduced into the narrative now, and it appears that the calling that lies ahead is almost sudden and out of the blue, this is hardly the case. By comparing the narrative found in John’s gospel, these two are already well known to Jesus.

They were with John the Baptist in the area of Bethabara (John 1:28), John had proclaimed Jesus as the Lamb of God (John 1:29), one of John’s disciples was Andrew (John 1:40), and they had come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah. When Andrew introduced Simon to Jesus, Jesus then named Simon Cephas which is Peter, the Rock (John 1:42).

From there, they went together to Cana in Galilee (John 2:1). This fills in some of the background information that the synoptic gospels skip over. Therefore, the abruptness of this account is actually smoothed out when the fuller picture is seen. As for Matthew’s words, it says that these two were “casting a net into the sea.”

Here is a word found only this once in Scripture in some manuscripts, or it is found one more time (Mark 1:16) in other manuscripts, amphiblestron. It is derived from amphoteroi, both, and ballo, to cast. Vincent’s Word Studies provides an explanation –

“…the casting-net, which, being cast over the shoulder, spreads into a circle (ἀμφὶ [amphi – both sides and thus “all around”]). The word is sometimes used by classical Greek writers to denote a garment which encompasses the wearer. In Matthew 4:20, the word net again occurs, but representing a different Greek word (δίκτυον [diktuon]) which is the general name for all kinds of nets, whether for taking fish or fowl. Still another word occurs at Matthew 13:47, σαγήνη [sagene], the draw-net.”

These two were out tending to work when Jesus decided to formally call them into a new profession, one which would change the course of their lives and, indeed, the entire world as well as the entirety of human history. As for the reason they were casting this net, Matthew next says, “for they were fishers.”

Many translations say “fishermen.” This is technically correct because the word is in the masculine, speaking of the men. But for precision in translation, saying “fishers” avoids a problem that then appears in the next verse.

The word is halieus, coming from hals, salt. Thus, it would be used like the modern descriptor of a sailor, such as, “He is an old salt.” The meaning is that he has been a sailor for a long time. Even though the Sea of the Galilee is not a salt sea, the thought carries over to any in such a profession.

Life application: It is good to be well-versed in all four gospels before coming to conclusions about various events that take place. As noted in a previous commentary, having all of what is said in the four gospels lined up chronologically really helps to see what is going on.

From there, the life and ministry of Jesus and those with Him seem less abrupt. There is nothing like a rushed or forced narrative actually going on. However, each writer is providing information relevant to his purpose for writing. By giving information in a completely different style than the synoptic gospels, John’s gospel changes the entire focus of what is being said and who it is being directed to.

Jesus, in the Synoptics, is being focused on as the Messiah of Israel who would come and fulfill the law. His words are directed to Israel under the law, even if some of what He says is in anticipation of the future, either for the church or for Israel in the millennium.

John, on the other hand, is addressing matters that speak of Jesus in a completely different way. Jesus is presented as the Christ of all people who is completing His mission in order to bring in a new spiritual realm for all people to join in. The words carry truths that are not limited to the Messiah’s interactions with Israel nearly as much as the Synoptics.

Pay attention to these things and your theology on Christ and His life will be more properly directed to what is actually being conveyed.

O God, Your word is a treasure and a delight. We are so thankful that You can take men who fish and turn them into men who will use that ability in a spiritual way to accomplish great things. As this is so, we know that You can use us just as we are to do similar great things. Use us according to Your wisdom, and may we be willing to follow wherever You lead. Amen.

Flowers from the Tree of Sarasota, the Gold Tree.

Friday, 27 September 2024

From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17

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).

“From then, Jesus, He began to proclaim and to say, ‘Reconsider! For it has neared – the kingdom of the heavens’” (CG).

The previous verse completed the citation from Isaiah concerning the coming Messiah who would appear in the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali. With that citation complete, it next says, “From then, Jesus, He began to proclaim and to say.”

The baptism of Jesus has been noted, His temptation in the desert area was explained, and then the imprisonment of John was noted, which was immediately followed by the note that Jesus departed to the Galilee, thus fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy. Matthew’s account of the ministry in the area of Galilee now officially begins with this verse.

The narrative clearly and unambiguously shows that Jesus is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s messianic prophecy, just as was the prophecy concerning John from Isaiah that he would be the forerunner of the Messiah.

The logical step-by-step nature of how Matthew is presenting the unfolding of Israel’s history in relation to the coming of the Messiah is carefully laid out for us to see. With Jesus as the Messiah on full display, His message is next given in the words, “Reconsider! For it has neared – the kingdom of the heavens.”

It is a letter-for-letter repeat of John’s message in Matthew 3:2 –

3:1, 2 – And in those days, comes John the Baptist, proclaiming in the desolate of Judea, ² and saying, “Reconsider! For it has neared – the kingdom of the heavens” (CG).

4:17 – From then, Jesus, He began to proclaim and to say, “Reconsider! For it has neared – the kingdom of the heavens” (CG).

Jesus is, at this time, noted as being like a herald. He is proclaiming a message of reconsideration to the people of Israel. As they were the Lord’s people, this must mean reconsidering their relationship with Him. This is unlike the later reconsideration when the gospel is preached to the Gentiles.

The Gentiles did not have a relationship with the Lord as noted, for example, in Ephesians 2:12 where Paul notes that they stand “without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”

As such, the reconsideration of the Gentiles which Paul mentions in (for example) Acts 17:30, concerns their idea about who God is, not so much their relationship with Him. Once they are presented with the gospel, they reconsider who God is and what He is like, turning to Him through faith in the Messiah.

Jesus, at this time, is proclaiming reconsideration to Israel who is still under the law. He is telling them that the kingdom of the heavens is at hand. John’s proclamation was to prepare Israel for the coming of the Messiah who would establish this kingdom. Jesus’ proclamation is that He is the One who would establish it.

Life application: There is a false teaching concerning the establishment of Christ’s coming that says Jesus came to renew the Mosaic Covenant. Thus, rather than translating verses like Jeremiah 31:31 and Hebrews 8:8, 13 as “new,” these false teachers say “renewed.” This is what is taught, for example, in the Hebrew Roots movement.

The word, in both Hebrew and Greek, means “new.” The word “renewed” is not a possible translation, nor can it even be inferred. There is a complete divide between the Law of Moses and the Covenant of Grace which comes through Jesus’ finished work.

This is because Jesus’ finished work… well, it finished something. What did it finish? It finished the task He was assigned, which was to be born under the law, live out the law without sinning, and then end the law because the law stands against us. It is not our friend but our enemy in the sense that it only condemns us. Without Jesus, the law can never bring about salvation. That is why Paul wrote this –

“For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, ¹⁵ having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and that He might reconcile them both [Jew and Gentile] to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.” Ephesians 2:14-16

Jesus “abolished” the “law of commandments and ordinances.” It is speaking of the Law of Moses. It stood opposed to those who were under it. For those who believe in the completed work of the Messiah, salvation is realized. For those who claim that Jesus came to “renew” the Law of Moses, they have believed a false gospel and there will be no salvation.

Man simply cannot give up on himself. It is the sin of pride that says, “I am my own Savior.” These prideful men may make Jesus be a part of the process, but never all of it. This type of thinking ultimately comes back to self. Give up on self! If you are a part of this heretical sect, come to Jesus today. Be saved through His full, final, finished, and forever work. Come to the cross and lay yourself and your burdens down.

Glorious God, forgive us for always trying to make everything about ourselves. Even in salvation, we greedily claim a portion of the process, as if we have somehow merited grace. But grace cannot be earned. Help us to get this right. May we forever hail Jesus who alone has done it all. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.