Matthew (Written)

Saturday, 31 May 2025

“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. Matthew 10:24

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “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).

“A disciple, he is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his lord” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus noted that His disciples will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. Now, He will make a point about the treatment they will receive, building upon what He has said in the previous verses, saying, “A disciple, he is not above the teacher.”

This is why one is a teacher and the other is a disciple. The disciple is inferior to the teacher in the subject in which he is being taught. This is to be taken as an axiom. Someone may be more proficient than others in one area while being less so in another.

Therefore, the teacher in one case may be a disciple in another. In the case of Jesus, however, He will always be in the place of instruction. Along with this, He continues with, “nor a servant above his lord.”

This, too, is to be taken as an axiom. There are those who are in exalted positions, and there are those who are below them. This may be based on any of the innumerable reasons, but when someone is lord over another, the other is in a subservient position and will remain at the disposal of the Lord.

In the case of Jesus, it is this way for all of humanity. He alone is God incarnate and the sinless Son of God. The reason for His words will be further explained in the verses ahead, but what He says here is restated in other ways several times by Him –

“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.” Luke 6:40

“Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.” John 13:16

“Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.” John 15:20

Life application: In schools in America today, there is little discipline, almost no respect for teachers or others in positions of authority, and the schools have become a breeding ground for societal degradation. This has been planned and executed by communist ideology that hates faith in Jesus Christ and the Christian nature of the nation.

The same is true with other once-Christian societies. There are various ways in which those in power are working to destroy the Christian heritage of those nations in order to remove the supposed bonds of faith in Christ as a principal tenet of national morality.

Because this is true, for those who espouse Christ and the values He established in His word, it can be expected that those who hate this way of life will grow increasingly vociferous against Christians and Christian ideology. This will continue to the point where it is acceptable to harm Christians without any negative repercussions from the government.

This was certainly the case during the Biden administration, where the government itself became a weaponized tool against Christian colleges, Christian teachings, and Christian churches.

The pendulum has swung back in the opposite direction under President Trump, and he is establishing groups to secure religious freedom as well as bring to account those who previously persecuted Christians in the government. They are being weeded out, and some will hopefully be going to jail for their illegal conduct.

This is good news, but it is something that is one election away from going back in the other direction. Therefore, Christians must always be ready to speak up for their faith and to work against the forces of evil that are out there.

Be informed of what is going on. A real battle is being waged, a spiritual battle. Unless you make yourself aware of it, you will not be able to do anything about it. Jesus’ words ring just as true today as they did two thousand years ago.

Glorious God, thank You for the hope we possess concerning a new world where righteousness rules forever and ever. Whatever You have in store for Your people, we know it will be glorious. Someday, all wickedness will be removed, and there will be joy everlasting. How we long for that day! Amen.

Friday, 30 May 2025

When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. Matthew 10:23

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “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 when they should pursue you in this city, you flee to the other. Amen! I say to you no, not you should have completed the cities of Israel until if He should come, the Son of Man” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus noted to His apostles that they would be hated by all for His name’s sake, but that he who endured to the end would be saved. Continuing with His words to them, He next says, “And when they should pursue you in this city, you flee to the other.”

This is something seen in Acts, such as –

“Now Saul was consenting to his death.
At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.” Acts 8:1

As noted in the previous commentary, however, these words are not limited to the period of these men going forth at this time. The words extend to the time after Jesus’ death, as seen in Acts 8:1 and elsewhere, and even through the time of the tribulation noted in the previous commentary.

At this time, there is a certain amount of freedom for messianic believers in Christ in Israel, even if they are persecuted by some. The government and the law allow them to practice their faith, and they receive the same legal protections as others.

However, it is certain that during the tribulation period, persecution of faithful believers will intensify. This seems obvious based on the killing of the two witnesses in Jerusalem, as well as Jesus’ words in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21.

Taken together, these passages reveal persecution leading up to the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, and then during the tribulation period after the church age. Understanding this, Jesus continues with, “Amen! I say to you no, not you should have completed the cities of Israel until if He should come, the Son of Man.”

The words have caused a lot of speculation and turmoil over the centuries. It is obvious to scholars that the words extend beyond the immediate time of evangelization before Jesus’ crucifixion, but how could that be the case if Israel was destroyed in AD 70? Because of the seeming contradiction, varying opinions have flown off the pens of scholars for eons.

For example, one view is that stated by Albert Barnes, saying, “By ‘the coming of the Son of Man,’ that is, of ‘Christ,’ is probably meant the destruction of Jerusalem.” In other words, Jesus wasn’t speaking of a literal coming, but a spiritual coming in wrath and judgment upon Israel for rejecting Him.

This is convenient, and it has been espoused by preterists ever since. They believe that the book of Revelation is describing the judgment upon Israel in AD 70. To justify this, they move the dating of the book of Revelation forward in an attempt to claim that it was prophesied and written before the event.

However, the standard and accepted dating of Revelation is that it was written after the destruction of the temple and the exile of the people. The answer is that Jesus is speaking of both prior to the destruction of the temple and the exile of the people, as well as the time after the church age during the tribulation.

A new temple will be built, the law will be re-established, and Israel will suffer judgment right up until they acknowledge Jesus as their long-rejected Messiah.

Life application: Of this verse, Cambridge both rightly and incorrectly states –

“Such words indicate that these ‘instructions’ have a far wider range than the immediate mission of the Apostles. They are prophetic, bringing both warning and consolation to all ages of the Church.”

They are right that the instructions of Jesus range beyond the immediate mission of the apostles. They are prophetic of the future as well. However, they do not have anything to do with “all ages of the Church.” The words “not you should have completed the cities of Israel” exclude this thought.

First, the land of Israel was no longer called the land of Israel after the dispersion of the Jews. The Romans purposefully renamed it Palestine to disassociate the land from the people. The land was then ruled by others for two millennia. It was a part of the Ottoman Empire and eventually fell under the British mandate by the League of Nations in 1920.

In 1948, Israel was reborn as a nation. Everything has been leading to this time when the people would again be in the land, both known as Israel. With this now the case, the words of Jesus can once again continue to be fulfilled.

Nobody was going through the cities of Israel for the past two thousand years telling about Jesus because there was no nation of Israel for that to occur. The words of Jesus have meaning, and they cannot be ignored without coming to faulty conclusions about what is being said.

Glorious God, help our minds to be molded by Your word so that when we read it, we will be willing to accept it at face value, even if we don’t fully understand what You are telling us. May we not make illogical connections that cannot rightly explain what we are being told. Help us in this Lord as we read, study, and contemplate Your word. Amen.

Thursday, 29 May 2025

And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. Matthew 10:22

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “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 being hated, you will be by all through My name. And the ‘having endured to the end,’ he – he will be saved” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus noted the divisions that will arise within the family because of faith in Him. Having said that, He next says, “And being hated, you will be by all through My name.”

Remembering that Jesus is speaking to His apostles about matters pertaining to Israel under the law, Jesus’ word can be rightly understood. They were being sent forth to preach to the people of Israel concerning the kingdom. Jesus had not yet been crucified and resurrected. At this time, they had no idea that it was a part of His work.

He is telling them about what to expect as they go forth. Even if the substance of this work continues on after the completion of His ministry, He is explaining to them what they can expect concerning treatment from Israel, which has not received the message concerning Him.

Those Jews who proclaim the name of Jesus to Israel can expect evil treatment from their Jewish brethren and families. Having said that, He continues with emphatic words, “And the ‘having endured to the end,’ he – he will be saved.”

Here, the preposition hupomenó, to endure, is introduced. It is derived from hupo, under, beneath, from, by, etc., and menó, to remain. Thus, it gives the sense of remaining under, as a load, trial, etc. For example, the word is used concerning love in 1 Corinthians 13:7. It refers to Jesus enduring the cross in Hebrews 12.

The meaning is that there is a burden placed upon the individual that will not abate until the end. However, if that person endures till the end, he will be saved. But the question then is, “Saved from what?” The answer is the burden he is placed under.

The same exact words, letter for letter, are used by Jesus in Matthew 24, a passage that clearly and unambiguously refers to the end times when Israel is facing the tribulation period. In that passage, Jesus continues to speak to the Jews about their witness to the nation of Israel. Of that period, Jesus says –

“And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. ²¹ For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. ²² And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.” Matthew 24:20-22

The salvation, then, is not referring to being saved and going to heaven. It is referring to being saved through the tribulation and entering the millennium, the whole point of Jesus coming in Israel’s eyes. They had the words of the prophets, and they knew a promised earthly kingdom with Messiah as their Head was coming.

Thus, the intent of Jesus’ words, both there and here, is, “He who endures the tribulation, he, he will be saved for the time of the promised kingdom.” Jesus words, as they often do, focus on Israel regardless of time. It is as if there is a mountain range being viewed. Some mountains are close and some are far away. They are one range, but the focus has to be adjusted to understand the entire view.

Life application: Concerning the idea of being saved in this passage, some Christian commentators don’t even discuss it. Others equate it to the life of the Christian believer entering the kingdom of Christ. From there, verses from Romans, 2 Thessalonians, 2 Timothy, Revelation 3, etc., are cited to justify the notion that Christians need to endure to the end in order to be saved. In other words, our endurance after being saved is up to us. If we do endure, we will be saved. If we don’t, we will lose our salvation.

The problem with that is manyfold, but in short, this is Jesus speaking to the Jews of Israel about their affairs within the land of Israel and concerning issues that will affect them. Second, if this were speaking of believers in the church after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, it would mean that we are not saved by grace through faith but through our deeds.

If a person can lose his salvation at any point after being saved, then the salvation was never of grace through faith. It was always conditional on what that person would do. That limits the scope of the cross in a person’s life to a single moment in time, where faith in what He has done supposedly saves us. From there, the rest of our lives in Christ is conditional on what we do.

The cross loses its meaning and its effectiveness in salvation through such a doctrine. The sealing of the Spirit as a guarantee means nothing because it is not a guarantee at all. What was given to us as a right to claim upon that Day is removed through the first faithless act we commit after being saved. This is not the salvation the Bible speaks of when a person comes to Christ.

He is saved apart from works, and we remain eternally secure in that salvation, regardless of what works we later accomplish.

Be sure not to mix dispensations when analyzing Scripture. What is said to us in Christ is not the same as what is said to those under the law. Christ fulfilled the law. In His fulfillment, it is annulled. However, Israel as a nation rejected that, and they remain bound to the law until the nation collectively receives Him. Until then, each Jew, just like each Gentile, must decide for Christ or reject what Christ has done.

Lord God, we know that Jesus died for our sins. May we remain confident in our salvation because we have been saved once and for all time through His marvelous work. We may question why You would save us, but may we never question that we are saved when we trust in Jesus. He has done it all! Thank You for Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Wednesday, 28 May 2025

“Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. Matthew 10:21

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “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 brother, he will deliver brother to death, and father, child. And children, they will over-stand up upon parents, and they will kill them” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus told the apostles that when they spoke before the governors and kings, the Spirit of their Father would be the One speaking. He now continues, saying, “And brother, he will deliver brother to death.”

Many older translations add in definite articles not found in the Greek, saying, “The brother shall deliver the brother.” The omission of the articles, however, is to show that this is a general event that should be expected from any family at any time. It is reminiscent of the treatment Abel received from his brother Cain. In a similar manner, it next says, “and father, child.”

Again, older translations include a definite article without textual support. This is a general statement that these two closest of bonds, that of a brother to a brother and that of a father to his child, are ignored at the thought of the other proclaiming the good news about Jesus. Next, Jesus continues with, “And children, they will over-stand up upon parents.”

Here is a new and rare word found only here and in Mark 13:12, epanistémi. It is a word full of action, coming from epi, upon, on, over, etc., and anistémi, to rise up or stand up. Thus, it means to over-stand up. The word is then followed again with the word epi, upon.

The sense is that of a parent coming in and saying, “I have discovered that Jesus is the Messiah!” With that, the children stand up and in their standing, they come over upon their parents. The figurative “rise against” gives the sense of the action. When this occurs, Jesus says, “and they will kill them.”

There is another new verb here thanatoó, to put to death, being derived from thanatos, the state of death, either literally or spiritually. In this case, the action refers to the literal killing of the parent because of their proclamation.

The change from the singular of the previous words about the brother and the father to the plural in this clause is intended to show the level of animosity toward a person, no matter how many children he has. It is as if the parents were trees that only bore bad fruit because of the inhospitable nature of the environment in which they exist.

There is expected to be a hatred of the Name and remembrance of Jesus, and it will be so vile to the nation that the children will be willing to kill their own parents who have determined to follow Him.

Life application: Reading commentaries on these words as well as the surrounding verses, it is common for scholars to apply what is said to the history of Christianity among the nations, such as between Catholics and Protestants, or other such situations. Examples are provided of ill-treatment in the various lands where Christianity has been introduced.

Although it is true that these things have happened, this is not the context of the words. Jesus is speaking to Jewish apostles. The same basic instructions that are given to them are also given to the seventy disciples Jesus sends out in Luke 10. The words coming in this same paragraph will clearly identify those being referred to as Israel in the land of Israel.

The words may even be considered to apply in a limited sense to Israel in our current times. The same people are in the same land again, and though there are no more apostles, there are disciples of Jesus who have heard the words and converted to being followers of Christ. Whether this is referring to current times or not may be debatable, but the words are not spoken about persecution among the nations by Gentiles.

Such instructions, admonitions, and warnings are found in the epistles which are directed to the Gentile-led church, and that is where we can go to align the persecutions we face to what the Bible proclaims. It is inappropriate to use Jesus’ words here in Matthew and apply them to our persecutions, simply because the context does not justify it.

Pay attention to the context. By taking Jesus’ words from this chapter and applying them to our current time, contradictions will arise between the words of the epistles and what Paul says. Therefore, there will be errors in one’s theology and doctrine. Verse 10:32 is a perfect example of this.

If you want to know where much of the bad doctrine in the church comes from, you will find it in a misapplication of the gospels and a misunderstanding of the intent of the Book of Acts. Keep things in their proper intended light, and you will be sound and sure in your walk with the Lord.

Lord God, there is a lot of conflict in doctrine between believers. Help Your people to consider why this is so. Then give us the determination to correct our deficiencies in analyzing Your word while correcting our thinking on what it says. Help each person willing to check to resolve their doctrinal conflicts so that they will be mature, rightly directed people. Amen.

Tuesday, 27 May 2025

for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. Matthew 10:20

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at the “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 you, you are not those speaking, but the Spirit of your Father, the ‘speaking in you’” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus assured the apostles that when they were delivered up, they shouldn’t worry about what they were to say. Instead, words would be given to them. He now states, “For you, you are not those speaking.”

One can see the emphatic nature of the words. Jesus avows that the apostles would be speaking, but it would not be they who were the source of the words. His words being plural (those speaking) indicates that the words, regardless of whether it is two or three of them testifying, would be guided. This is seen, for example, in Acts 4 –

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. ¹⁴ And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. ¹⁵ But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, ¹⁶ saying, ‘What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. ¹⁷ But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.’
¹⁸ So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ But Peter and John answered and said to them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. ²⁰ For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.’” Acts 4:13-20

Their state as uneducated and untrained men was noted by those interrogating them, but their boldness and the words they uttered were obviously marks of those who were proficient in oration. This is what Jesus promised them, further noting that it wasn’t them, “but the Spirit of your Father.”

The Holy Spirit is given numerous designations in Scripture. At various times, He is called the Spirit, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of your Father, the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of truth, the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of holiness, the Spirit of adoption, the Helper, and so forth.

In this case, Jesus is speaking prior to the giving of the Spirit as promised by Him as a permanent sealing. Therefore, He uses the term Spirit of the Father to indicate that even before His work was complete, the Father, meaning the Spirit who issues from the Father, would speak through them. He is the Spirit, the “speaking in you.”

Exactly how this works is a point of speculation. In the account of David’s time being prepared to assume the kingship, this is recorded –

“Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the captains, and he said:
‘We are yours, O David;
We are on your side, O son of Jesse!
Peace, peace to you,
And peace to your helpers!
For your God helps you.’
So David received them, and made them captains of the troop.” 1 Chronicles 12:18

There, the Hebrew literally reads that the Spirit clothed Amasai. It was as if he were enveloped in the Spirit. Whatever way the apostles would receive the ability to speak what the Spirit intended, Jesus assured them it would be the case.

Life application: In the previous commentary, the scholars at Cambridge seemed to take the conservative view of the matter concerning preparation for sermons and addresses to Christian congregations, dismissing the notion that the Spirit will just fill them with words so that they can speak. Despite that, in their evaluation of this verse, they say –

“The Christian ‘apologist’ shall not stand alone. The same Spirit instructs him which inspires the universal Church.”

It appears that they hold to a rather strange view of the work of the Spirit. He is not there to write sermons for you, but He is there when you need to give an apologetic defense for the faith. As noted in the previous commentary, however, Peter tells his readers that they must be prepared to give such an apologetic argument.

This is born out constantly when Christians with divergent views on doctrine and theology debate. It can be assumed that both sides are saved believers, and yet when giving a reason for how they perceive doctrine, they espouse contradictory concepts, one side being at polar opposite of the other.

The Spirit is not confused, and He is not going to give a defense through both sides when they conflict with what is correct. Rather, the Spirit has inspired the writers of the Bible, the word has been compiled and canonized, and it is our duty and responsibility to read it, interpret it properly, and then teach it accordingly.

There is no substitute for this process, and there is no injection of the Spirit without prayer and contemplation. In other words, if you are unsure of a doctrine, you should pray and ask the Lord to reveal to you the correct understanding of it. Then, you need to start studying, put aside your presuppositions, and determine from the word that is already given what the Lord is telling us.

If you want to see an incorrect way of expressing theology, walk into Charismatic and Pentecostal churches and watch the adherents stand in the congregation, making stuff up out of their heads and proclaiming it for all to hear. They may have never read the Bible once in their lives, but because they claim they are “Spirit-filled,” they act as if they have all of the wisdom of God in their “prophetic utterances.”

This is a sloppy and unhealthy way of handling one’s relationship with the Lord. Stand approved! Read and study the word that has already been given to instruct us concerning the things of the Lord.

Lord God, please be with us as we study Your word. Guide us into right, sound, and wholesome doctrine by which we will be pleasing to You. Yes, Lord God, help us in this most important endeavor. Amen.