Matthew (Written)

Tuesday, 19 November 2024

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14

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, you are the world’s light. A city, not it is able to conceal lying atop a hill” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus noted that His disciples were the salt of the earth. Now, He makes another comparison, saying, “You, you are the world’s light.”

Elsewhere in the New Testament, Jesus states that He is the light, such as in John 9:5 –

“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

John says the same thing about Jesus on several occasions in his gospel and epistles. There is no contradiction here. To share the good news of Jesus is to share His light. Upon His departure, those who share it are said to be lights by Paul –

“Do all things without complaining and disputing, ¹⁵ that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” Philippians 2:14, 15

Paul says this elsewhere as well. In Ephesians 5, he specifically says the reason for using this metaphor –

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), ¹⁰ finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. ¹¹ And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” Ephesians 5:8-11

The world is filled with sin. This can be equated to darkness. It casts a spiritual pall over the people of the world. Only in coming to Christ will this change. However, it should be obvious that this is not some type of impartation of light that suddenly changes a person to become a useful light.

One must know what their conversion meant and how to convey that to others. That can only come by knowing the word which gives instruction on such matters. Those following Jesus didn’t suddenly get injected with this light. Rather, that is why they are called disciples. They followed Him, learned from Him, and were corrected by Him.

The charismatic approach to theology is simply not found in Scripture. Hard work is necessary to be a Spirit-filled light in the world. Understanding this, Jesus continues, saying, “A city, not it is able to conceal lying atop a hill.”

The word epanó, atop, is used. It extends beyond the word “on” usually used here. It is derived from epi, on or upon, and anó, up, above, up to the top, etc. The city sits atop the hill, in the most prominent position. Other than a cloudy day, it is not possible for such a city to be hidden. It sits openly for all to see.

Likewise, if one is outspoken in his ministry of conveying Jesus, it cannot be hidden. The light that is effective is one that has sufficient fuel and oxygen to shine brightly. Jesus is telling us, quite clearly, that to be effective in our lives as Christians, we are to be properly discipled in the word, outspoken in our proclamation, and unashamed of conveying the good news to others.

Life application: The words of Jesus here are a clear and unambiguous declaration that to be effective in one’s life as a useful Christian, a person will be properly discipled. Even the disciples that followed Jesus were not like this for much of their time with Him. For example –

“From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.” John 6:66

These people were not willing to stick it out and do the hard work of discovering what Jesus meant. Instead, when things got a little rocky, they just walked away from Him. It is ironic that the verse this happens in is 6:66. They decided that their Messiah was not the Messiah. Also, Peter, even having been with Jesus so long, betrayed Him, denying Him three times. And this, even after he was told he would do so!

Only in the resurrection did he turn back to the Lord. But then! In Galatians 2, he still failed in his stance –

“Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; ¹² for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. ¹³ And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.” Galatians 2:11-13

Believing the gospel is only the very beginning of being a light in the world. The fuel to make that light effective is found in ardently sticking out the tough times and unceasingly searching out the word. If you are unwilling to do these things, you will never be an effective light in this darkened world. Knuckle down! Get to it. Follow Jesus, and be a burning torch as you walk in this sin-filled world.

Lord God, help us to be effective followers of Jesus. The walk can be tiring, filled with sandpits and snares, and one that is fraught with frustration, but with Your Spirit to guide us, we know we can do it. So, Lord, help us each step of our lives to be faithful followers of our true Light, Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Monday, 18 November 2024

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. Matthew 5:13

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, you are the salt of the earth, and if the salt – it may be insipid – in what will it be salted? For nothing it strengthens now. If not, having been cast out – trodden by men.” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus encouraged the disciples, telling them that even in times of persecution, if it is for His sake, they should rejoice. They have a greater reward coming. Now, He begins to describe their state in Him, and what they should do about it, beginning with, “You, you are the salt of the earth.”

Salt has various uses and connotations in Scripture. It enhances flavor, thus making the bland palatable. It prevents decomposition and corruption. It is used as a base of the temple incense when compounding the fragrances (Exodus 30:35). It was the one mandated addition to the sacrifices and offerings at the Tabernacle that had no prescribed measurement. Etc.

Thus, it is a symbol of covenant faithfulness. This is seen, for example, in Numbers 18 –

“All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer to the Lord, I have given to you and your sons and daughters with you as an ordinance forever; it is a covenant of salt forever before the Lord with you and your descendants with you.” Numbers 18:19

As such, the disciples were to reflect the covenant promises in their lives. Jesus was equating them to salt to indicate how they should conduct themselves as they went forth, sharing the good news of the kingdom. Understanding this, He next says, “and if the salt – it may be insipid – in what will it be salted?”

The verb translated as insipid, mórainó, speaks of a person turning to foolishness. The cognate noun móros, speaks of a fool or a stupid person. Today, we would call such a person a moron.

The earth needed the salt of the good news. Without it, there would be no good news! But if the disciples were like useless salt, the earth would not find the hope and restoration it needed. They were to be active and “tasty” as they went forth, preserving the message purely while also maintaining absolute covenant faithfulness by not adding nor subtracting from the word.

This role continues with believers today. We are not to distract ourselves from our role in this manner but are to give hope in a meaningful way to those we encounter. Otherwise, the earth where we are will not be properly salted. That is seen in the words, “For nothing it strengthens now.”

What good is a bump on a log? It is annoying to sit on and will be cut off when the planning process takes place. What good is salt if it has lost its saltiness? It has no value. As such, Jesus says of it, “If not, having been cast out – trodden by men.”

Imagine on the day when we stand before the Lord, and we are questioned about our role in continuing the message of Christ. When asked what value we had, our answer is, “I was like a floor mat that people walked over. Other than that, I didn’t do very much.”

That is essentially what Jesus is saying to His disciples. “If you aren’t willing to get up and fill your role, you are no better than the dirt under the people’s feet to Me.” Considering that man was formed from the dust of the earth, it is a scathing indictment. “You were as much help in spreading the good news as Adam was before I formed him.”

Jesus is using a simple metaphor to convey a wonderful truth about how things should be. Of the terminology here, Vincent’s word studies provides the following story from history –

“Dr. Thompson (“The Land and the Book”) cites the following case: ‘A merchant of Sidon, having farmed of the government the revenue from the importation of salt, brought over a great quantity from the marshes of Cyprus – enough, in fact, to supply the whole province for many years. This he had transferred to the mountains, to cheat the government out of some small percentage of duty. Sixty-five houses were rented and filled with salt. Such houses have merely earthen floors, and the salt next the ground was in a few years entirely spoiled. I saw large quantities of it literally thrown into the road to be trodden under foot of men and beasts. It was ‘good for nothing.’”

Life application: Of what value is your salvation to you? In the world, it appears as if most Christians are asleep to the fact that they were once eternally separated from God because of simply being born.

Instead, we grade ourselves on a bell curve against others. “Well, I wasn’t a drug addict or a prostitute like… like they were!” Yes, but you were just as far from God as they were. In your arrogance, you are failing to be what God wants you to be now. Which is actually worse?

Have salt in your life and be willing to acknowledge the greatness of God, who was willing to do for you what you could never do for yourself. Be one who is willing to make the world a better place by bringing others to a saving knowledge of Jesus. Don’t be foolish and wind up trampled under the feet of the common people as they go about their daily lives, not even noticing that you are there.

Glorious Lord God, You have done for us what we could never have done. You removed our sin and placed us high in the heavenly places with You. This is because of Your goodness and love for the people of the world. Help us to act in a like manner toward those we encounter, never failing to be like salt in their lives. Amen.

Sunday, 17 November 2024

Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:12

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 – rejoice and cavort, for your recompense – great in the heavens, for thus they pursued the prophets before you” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus noted that His disciples were blessed when they were pursued for righteousness, and when all kinds of evil was spoken against them for Jesus’ sake. Now, He continues, saying, “You – rejoice and cavort.”

The word translated as cavort is a new and fun word, agalliaó. The literal meaning is “leap much,” coming from agan, much and hallomai, to gush, leap, or spring up. The single word in English that conveys the same meaning is cavort. Jesus tells his disciples that this should be their attitude when they are pursued for righteousness and defamed for His sake. Next, He says, “for your recompense – great in the heavens.”

The meaning is the future life when people are raised and rewarded according to their lives and actions. Jesus will repay every deed done in faith for His name. Nothing will go unrecompensed, and all accounts will be minutely settled according to the goodness of His grace. Understanding that, He closes the verse with, “for thus they pursued the prophets before you.”

The thought, naturally, that goes through people’s minds is one of comparison. “Billy Graham was such a great man of God. He will receive a great reward for what he did in his life.” So too, the people of Israel would have read the Book of Jeremiah and said, “Just look at all Jeremiah went through! He will receive a great reward at the resurrection.”

This is natural. The prophets of the past were hounded, pursued, and killed for their faithful adherence to the word of the Lord. And so, people would compare themselves and strive to be more like them in their minds and actions. Jesus comforted these disciples in advance, telling them that what was in store for them would likewise be rewarded when they were so hounded.

Life application: What Jesus said was to His disciples under the law and in anticipation of the coming dispensation of grace. However, it follows that the truth stated in His words would apply to anyone in this dispensation as well. Paul speaks of this in 1 Corinthians 3 where he details the rewards and losses that can be expected from the deeds of this life.

He also speaks of rewards several other times. God is carefully watching the things we do, and He will reward us according to our faith. Any deed, no matter how small it is, will receive its reward if it is done in faith. If it is not, no matter how big and grand it is, it will receive no reward.

Live your days for Jesus, be filled with the Spirit, and let your life be in close harmony with God at all times. When the opportunity arises, even in the smallest deed, do it in faith that your act will receive its just reward. It is for sure that you will.

Lord God, may our lives be dedicated to You at all times. Help us to remember to do what is right and to carry through with it, knowing that our labors here will not be in vain. Rather, You are watching, and You will reward according to Your great goodness. Thank You that we know for certain this is true. Amen.

Saturday, 16 November 2024

Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Matthew 5:11

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).

“Blessed are you when they shall defame you, and they shall pursue, and they shall lay forth all evil utterance, falsifying because of Me” (CG).

The previous verse noted those pursued for righteousness’ sake, saying that theirs is the kingdom of the heavens. Jesus’ words continue now with, “Blessed are you when they shall defame you.”

The word oneidizó, to defame, is introduced here. HELP Word Studies says, “properly, to disgrace (insult), reproach; mock (curse); insult, cast blame (create shame) – viewing someone (something) as culpably guilty and therefore deserving punishment.”

The reason for this defaming is not yet given, and so to continue, Jesus next says, “and they shall pursue.”

It is the same word introduced into the New Testament in the last verse and which is often translated as “persecute.” It is as if these people continually chase after you, never allowing you to rest and defaming you with every chance they can in the process. And yet, Jesus continues, saying, “and they shall lay forth all evil utterance.”

Most newer translations, based on a different source text, leave off the word rhéma, “utterance.” For example –

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.” NIV

Either way, the thought is that of being constantly spoken against as evil in various ways. One can think of Paul in the Book of Acts, who was constantly hounded by the Jews who opposed him. They lied and manipulated in order to silence his message. This type of evil speaking actually cost Stephen his life in Acts 7. With that noted, Jesus next explains the context of these persecutions, while expanding on the previous clause, saying, “falsifying because of Me.”

It is another new word, pseudomai, to lie or speak falsely. These are direct attacks against an individual intended to cause harm to him. In fact, such accusations could bring charges and severe penalties depending on the situation.

Peter, in his first epistle, and maybe thinking of these words of Matthew, wrote similar words for his audience as well –

“If you are reproached [oneidizó] for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.” 1 Peter 4:14

Life application: All of these things came upon Jesus, and so it is expected that they would come upon His followers as well. In the Christian Western world, there has been a large bubble of protection over believers as even governments supported the Christian cause.

Most of the dissensions didn’t come from outside but from within, such as the Protestant-Catholic wars and upheavals throughout the years. However, the tide has turned. Christians are now openly targeted by the ungodly, rabid left. They are accused of being the haters and usurpers of what is right.

This will not decrease. The persecution will grow to a fevered pitch if the Lord doesn’t return first. Churches will be targeted, pastors will be arrested for minor charges, and congregants will have their faith tested. It is no longer a question of “if” but of “when and to what degree.”

Folks need to be ready to either stand up for their faith or to walk away and hide cowardly from those who will no longer tolerate lights of righteousness in an ever-darkening world of wickedness.

Glorious God, we can see and read the writing on the wall. It is not unknown, and we don’t need a prophet to explain it to us. Rather, we can look around and clearly see that the world is becoming less tolerant of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. Give us strength and wisdom to stand in this hour and boldly proclaim the word in a world that so desperately needs to hear it. Amen.

Friday, 15 November 2024

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10

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).

“Blessed – those having been pursued for righteousness,
For theirs, it is, the kingdom of the heavens” (CG).

In the previous verse, Jesus noted the blessing of the pacificatory. Now, He continues with, “Blessed – those having been pursued for righteousness.”

The word translated as pursued, diókó, is introduced here. It signifies to put to flight, pursue, and so forth. For example, this is how it is used in Luke 17 –

“Then He said to the disciples, ‘The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. ²³ And they will say to you, “Look here!” or “Look there!” Do not go after them or follow [diókó] them. ²⁴ For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day.’” Luke 17:22-24

When one pursues another, it means he intends harm, embarrassment, etc. Think of the Pharisees pursuing Jesus from town to town to harm His ministry. Thus, it is a type of persecution. In this case, this is the only time the word is used in the perfect tense. The perfect tense signifies an action completed in the past but which has ongoing effects. They had persecuted, and the effects continue unabated.

The idea is that the person is willing to continue to undergo persecution even after his first ordeal. He doesn’t just proclaim righteousness and then quit when tough times come, but he continues on, slugging it out in his pursuit of what is right. Jesus says of this type, “For theirs, it is, the kingdom of the heavens.”

One must consider the context. There is right and there is right. Just because someone pursues a cause that is right in his eyes, women’s rights or the abolition of slavery, for example, doesn’t mean they will inherit the kingdoms of the heavens. Though noble in societies’ eyes, such a pursuit does not merit restoration with God.

If it did, it would mean that salvation was of self-works that came by self-motivation. But this is what liberal churches have taught for eons. Someone fights a noble cause, and his picture is hung up in a church as a hero of the Christian faith. Rather, what Jesus is referring to is someone like Noah or Lot –

“For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; ⁵ and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; ⁶ and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; ⁷ and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked ⁸ (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)— ⁹ then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment.” 2 Peter 2:4-9

These men saw wickedness, knew that it was against the moral code of God, and they strove to set things in a proper way. Both are rewarded for their struggle against ungodliness. The people around them reveled in doing what was contrary to human morality as described in Romans 1. This is what the Lord is referring to. These were people of faith who proclaimed their faith, even when being pursued for it.

Life application: We need to make sure our moral compass is one that is properly aligned with Scripture. At the time this commentary is written, a presidential debate is going on in the United States.

People on the left say it is a noble cause to abort children, even until the moment of birth. They say it is a noble cause to have open borders and to give money to those coming in, while withholding money due to their own citizens. They say it is right and acceptable for society to pay for gender-changing surgeries on young children while denying the parents the right to protest. Are these morally in line with Scripture?

People on the right have made concessions to get more votes on many of these issues, but they are doing their best to keep the nation from devolving into the complete chaos that the other party would bring. The narrative of Genesis 6, which Jesus refers to in His own speeches, is coming.

The job of those who are pursued for righteousness is to vote for the most suitable party and then to work within that party, if elected, to continue to calm the uproar of wickedness from the inside. It is not to sit on one’s hands and say, “My vote doesn’t matter anyway.”

That is an easy copout, but as Billy Graham said, “Bad politicians are elected by good people who don’t vote.” If you are not a part of the solution, you are a part of the problem. All must stand before God and explain why they did not pursue righteousness. It is true this is not an easy battle. Ground may be lost, but it can also be gained again.

Lord God, help us to understand our position in regard to moral issues. If we are not speaking against them, we are implicitly condoning them. May we not be afraid to stand up for what we believe when there is a clear violation of what You have set forth. Give us wisdom and fortitude in these things. Amen.