Week of 18 Pentecost - Odd
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Podcast Download: Week of 18 Pentecost - Odd
Sunday 18 Pentecost - Odd
First Posted 09/17/05;
Podcast: Sunday 18 Pentecost - Odd
1 Kings 19:8-21 - Elijah at Mt. Horeb;
Acts 5:34-42 -
Gamaliel’s Advice;
John 11:45-57
- Caiaphas’ Prophecy;
1 Kings Paraphrase:
Elijah had fled for his life from Jezebel,
the idolatrous wife of Ahab, king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
Elijah had traveled forty days and nights from Beersheba in southern Judah to Mount Horeb
(Mt.
Sinai;
where Moses received the Ten Commandments) in the southern
wilderness.
Elijah lodged in a cave in the mountain, and the Lord’s Word came to him, asking Elijah what he was doing there. Elijah replied that he was jealous for the Lord God because the people of Israel had broken their covenant with God and had destroyed the altars and prophets of God. Elijah was the only one remaining loyal to the Lord, and the people were seeking to kill him.
The Lord told Elijah to go and stand upon the
mountain in God’s presence. “The Lord passed by, and a great and
strong wind rent (tore) the mountains, and broke in pieces the
rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and
after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the
earthquake; and after the earthquake, a fire, but the Lord was
not in the fire; and after the fire, a still small voice (1
Kings 11b-12).
When Elijah heard the voice he came to the entrance of the cave, and again the Lord asked what Elijah was doing there. Elijah gave the same answer again, and the Lord told him to return to the wilderness of Damascus (the Syrian Desert).
The Lord told Elijah to anoint Hazael King of Syria, Jehu to replace Ahab as King of Israel, and Elisha to replace Elijah as prophet. Jehu would slay the idolaters of the northern Kingdom of Israel, that had escaped destruction by Hazael, and Elisha would slay the rest; but the Lord would preserve seven thousand people of the northern kingdom who had not worshipped the idol, Baal.
Elijah left Mt.
Horeb and came to
Abel-meholah (on the Brook Cherith, near Tishbe, east of the Jordan River), where Elisha lived, and
found him plowing a field with a yoke of oxen. Elijah put his
mantle on Elisha as he passed. Elisha left his plowing and ran
after Elijah.
Elisha asked permission to kiss his mother and father goodbye, and then Elisha would follow Elijah. Elijah said, “Go back again; for what have I done to you?” Elisha returned to the field and slaughtered the yoke of oxen, made a fire from the wood of the yoke, boiled the meat and distributed it to the people of the village to eat. Then he went after Elijah and became his servant.
Acts Paraphrase:
The Apostles
(“messengers” of the Gospel; the eleven of the original Twelve
disciples, minus Judas, the betrayer; Luke 6:13-16) were
arrested a second time (first: Acts 4) for preaching the Gospel
in the temple in Jerusalem, after the Jewish Court (Sanhedrin)
had previously ordered them not to preach in Jesus’ name. The
members of the court wanted to execute them, but Gamaliel, a
Pharisee, a highly-regarded teacher of the law and member of the
court, recommended, while the Apostles waited outside, that the
court should be careful how they dealt with the Apostles. He
cited two examples of revolutionaries, Theudas and a Galilean
named Judas, who had gained some popular support, but were
killed and their followers were scattered.
Gamaliel advised the court to leave the Apostles alone, because if their movement was not the will of God it would fail, but if it were of God the Jewish leaders would be unable to prevent it and they might be found to be opposing God. The court accepted Gamaliel’s advice. They called for the Apostles to be brought in and ordered them to be beaten and released with orders not to preach in Jesus’ name.
The Apostles “left the presence of the council (Sanhedrin), rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name” of Jesus (Acts 5:41). They continued to preach Jesus as the Christ (Messiah) daily in the temple and at home.
John Paraphrase:
Jesus had just raised Lazarus, the brother of
Mary and Martha of Bethany, from the dead. Many of the people
who had witnessed the resurrection believed in Jesus as the
Christ, but some reported to the Pharisees (a strict, legalistic
division of Judaism who believed in resurrection) what Jesus had
done. The Pharisees convened the Jewish court (Council;
Sanhedrin) to decide what to do about Jesus. The Jewish leaders
were afraid that because Jesus was doing many “signs” (miracles
signifying his authority), everyone would believe in him, and
the Romans would destroy the Jewish temple and their nation.
The high priest, Caiaphas, who presided over
the Council said “You know nothing at all; you do not understand
that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the
people, and that the whole nation should not perish” (John
11:49b-51). This was the prophetic Word of God which he spoke by
the inspiration of God, as the high priest. He predicted Jesus’
death for the nation of Israel and to
unify all the people of God throughout the world. From then on,
the Council made plans to kill Jesus.
Jesus no longer appeared publicly in Judea,
but stayed in a town called Ephraim, about fifteen miles north
of Jerusalem,
near the wilderness. The celebration of Passover was approaching
and many people in the outlying areas went to Jerusalem
beforehand for ritual purification in preparation for the
celebration. As people gathered in the temple there was much
speculation among them whether Jesus would attend the feast. The
religious authorities had ordered that anyone who knew Jesus’
whereabouts was to notify them so they could arrest Jesus.
Commentary:
King Ahab led the northern kingdom to break
their covenant with God and turn to the worship of the idol,
Baal. God’s covenant relationship with Israel was like that of husband
and wife, and Israel’s affair
with idolatry was spiritual adultery. Elijah was faithful to God
and he confronted the sin of Ahab and the people. As a result Jezebel and the people of Israel
sought to kill Elijah.
Elijah was protected and sustained by God in the wilderness as Elijah sought refuge in God’s presence at Mount Horeb. God revealed himself to Elijah and gave him the courage to return and carry on God’s purpose, and Elijah trusted and obeyed God’s Word. There were more faithful followers of the Lord than Elijah realized, and God’s plan would be carried out by people God placed in positions of authority, regardless of their belief or faithfulness to God.
The Apostles were carrying on God’s mission
to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Jewish religious
leaders had broken their covenant with God, and had turned from
obedient trust in the Lord to idolatry of self, wealth, power,
and worldly honor. Jesus was God’s Son and appointed bridegroom,
and Israel,
the people of God were to be his bride.
The Jewish leaders were adulterers jealous of the bridegroom and trying to claim the bride for themselves. The Apostles threatened the Jews’ religion (“their” religion; they had left God out) as Elijah had threatened Jezebel’s, and they sought to kill the Apostles, but the Apostles trusted and obeyed God’s Word. Gamaliel warned the leaders of Judaism that they might find themselves in opposition to God’s will and unable to prevent its fulfillment and that is what happened.
The leaders of Judaism had responded the same
way to Jesus himself. The Sanhedrin had plotted and carried out
the execution of Jesus out of jealousy (Matthew 27:18). They
wanted to be the rulers of God’s people, rather than Jesus,
God’s anointed eternal king. The Jewish leaders were afraid the
Jewish people would believe Jesus to be the Christ, and that the
Romans would destroy the nation and the temple. In having Jesus
crucified they fulfilled God’s plan, rather than hindering it.
They also caused the destruction of the nation and temple, by
the Romans in 70 A.D., which they had feared would be the result
of faith in Jesus.
Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed in 70 A.D. and the people were scattered throughout the world. Israel ceased to exist as a nation until it was reestablished following World War II; the temple has never been rebuilt. The Old Covenant of Law was dependant on the temple sacrificial system. That destruction was caused not by acceptance of Jesus, but by his rejection by Israel. They lost the grace and protection of God. Judaism effectively ended at the crucifixion of Jesus, when the curtain of the temple was torn in two, symbolizing a new and better way into God’s presence through Jesus Christ (Luke 23:45).
God’s plan has always been to create an
eternal kingdom of people who trust and obey him. This life is
our opportunity to seek and come to a personal relationship with
God (Acts 17:26-27) through Jesus Christ, by his indwelling Holy
Spirit; Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for our
forgiveness, restoration to fellowship with God, and salvation
from eternal destruction (Acts 4:12, John 14:6; see God’s Plan
of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).
Jesus has been God’s plan from the beginning of Creation and has been “built into” its very structure (John 1:1-5, 14). We will either accept Jesus as God’s anointed eternal King or we will be in opposition to God’s will. Are we willing to accept Jesus as our Lord or do we want to be the lords of Creation?
In many ways America
(and other “Christian” nations) and the Church today are in
circumstances very similar to Israel and
Judaism at the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry. America
is the “New Israel” and the Church is the “New People of God.”
We’ve allowed idolatry to grow within the Nation and Church.
In many instances our leaders profess to know Christ but run their offices as personal kingdoms. In many instances our leaders, instead of pointing the people toward discipleship and obedience of Jesus, are seeking popularity for themselves. God’s Word is eternally true and is fulfilled over and over as the conditions for its fulfillment are met. The history of God’s dealings with Israel has been recorded in scripture for our instruction (1 Corinthians 10:6-11). If we insist on repeating the mistakes of Israel we will suffer the same consequences.
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke
6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and
obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you received the indwelling
Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you
making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all
that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with
certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13;
Ephesians 1:13-14)?
Monday 18 Pentecost - Odd
First Posted 09/18/05;
Podcast: Monday 18 Pentecost - Odd
1 Kings 21:1-16 - Naboth’s Vineyard;
1 Corinthians 1:1-1 -
The Wisdom of God;
Matthew 4:1-11 -
Jesus’ Temptation;
1 Kings Paraphrase:
Ahab was the king of northern Israel.
His capital was Samaria,
but he had a second residence in Jezreel. A vineyard adjoining
Ahab’s land in Jezreel belonged to Naboth, but Ahab wanted it
for a vegetable garden because of its close proximity to Ahab’s
house. He offered to trade land or buy outright Naboth’s
vineyard, but Naboth refused to sell it for legal and spiritual
reasons. Each tribe and family had been given an inheritance in
the Promised Land which was to remain perpetually with the
heirs.
Ahab was so angry at Naboth’s refusal that
Ahab went to bed and refused to eat. Jezebel, Ahab’s heathen
wife, asked why Ahab was so angry and he told her of Naboth’s
refusal. Jezebel reminded Ahab that he was king of Israel.
She told him to get up and eat, and be cheerful; she would give
Ahab Naboth’s land.
Jezebel wrote letters to the city leaders of
Jezreel and signed and sealed them in Ahab’s name, ordering them
to proclaim a fast to be presided over by Naboth. They were to
get two unscrupulous fellows to falsely accuse Naboth of cursing
God and the king, for which Naboth was to be stoned to death
immediately. The city leaders carried out the instructions, and
Naboth was stoned to death. When Jezebel heard that Naboth was
dead, she told Ahab to take possession of Naboth’s vineyard, and
Ahab did so.
1 Corinthians Paraphrase:
Paul was called to be an apostle (messenger)
of Jesus Christ by God’s will, and was in partnership in the
Gospel with Sosthenes (perhaps the ruler of the synagogue at
Corinth; Acts 18:17), writing to the Church in Corinth, to those
who are sanctified (consecrated and purified by and for the Lord
by the indwelling Holy Spirit) in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace and peace are traditional greetings in
Greek and Hebrew, respectively, but true grace and peace can be
received only from God the Father through Jesus Christ. Paul
constantly thanked God for the grace (unmerited favor; free
gift) which had been given the Corinthians, and all Christians,
in Jesus Christ. Paul prayed that they would grow spiritually in
the knowledge and ability to communicate the Gospel through the
spiritual gifts which accompany and confirm the gift of the
indwelling Holy Spirit of Christ within us.
This is our mission as we await the revealing of Christ’s return on the Day of Judgment. It is the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit of the risen Jesus which sustains us and keeps us blameless in the Day of Judgment. That is God’s call and promise in Jesus Christ and God is utterly faithful.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Paul urges
Christians to be in harmony and agreement in the ministry of the
Gospel. The Corinthian congregation had been experiencing
dissention over the popularity and authority of various teachers
and leaders. All Christians are to be disciples of Jesus and
guided by his Holy Spirit, rather than becoming cult-members of
individual human personalities.
Paul’s call from the Lord was not to be
acclaimed by the world as a great baptizer, healer or even
preacher. Paul’s commission was to preach the full scriptural,
apostolic Gospel of Jesus Christ, and not with eloquence or
(worldly) wisdom, because the power of the cross of Christ
resides in God. The word of the cross seems foolish to worldly
people who are perishing, “but to those who are being saved it
is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). God has promised to
bring to nothing worldly wisdom and human cleverness.
Matthew Paraphrase:
After his baptism by John the Baptizer, Jesus
was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness where he was
tempted by Satan. Jesus fasted forty days and nights, and at the
end of the fast he was hungry.
Satan came to him and suggested that “if” Jesus were the Son of God he should command the stones around him to become loaves of bread. In reply Jesus quoted scripture, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Deuteronomy 8:3).
Then Satan transported Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem and suggested that “if” Jesus were the Son of God he should jump from the pinnacle, because God’s Word promised that the angels would protect him from injury (Psalm 91:11-12). Jesus again quoted scripture: “You shall not tempt the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 6:16).
Satan then took Jesus to the top of a tall mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and offered them to Jesus, if Jesus would worship Satan. Jesus said, “Begone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve'” (Deuteronomy 6:13). Satan departed, and angels came and ministered to Jesus.
Commentary:
Ahab and Jezebel are examples of leaders who
rely on worldly cleverness and use their positions for selfish
and wicked acts. Ahab was not interested in how Jezebel got
results, and he allowed her to appropriate the powers of his
office to do evil. They are examples of leaders who deprived a
citizen of his kingdom, of his God-given rights in the Promised
Land and his spiritual inheritance through their greed and
selfishness. They weren’t satisfied with the wealth and power
they already had as leaders.
The King of Israel was intended by the Lord
to be his representative, reigning in his name over God’s people
on earth, and upholding his subjects’ spiritual as well as civil
interests, but Ahab had turned away from obedient trust in the
Lord to idolatry. As a result, God’s people lost their civil
rights and their spiritual inheritance.
Paul is an example of a spiritual leader of
Christ’s Church. He was fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew
28:19-20), which Jesus gave his disciples after his
resurrection, to make disciples and teach obedience of Jesus’
teachings. He was teaching the congregation under his
supervision to grow spiritually to maturity in the knowledge of
and communication of the Gospel, developing and using the gifts
received through the “anointing” of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
He was making “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciples and
teaching them to make disciples (2 Timothy 2:2).
The Corinthian congregation was experiencing
disunity because of rivalry among leaders and their influence
over the members. Instead of pointing the members toward a
personal relationship and discipleship with Jesus by his
indwelling Holy Spirit, the leaders were creating cults of their
own personality (1 Corinthians 1:11:13).
The “anointing” or “gift” of the indwelling
Holy Spirit accompanies and confirms the “rebirth”
of
a disciple of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is the seal and
guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2
Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
It is the Holy Spirit within disciples who guides and empowers them to accomplish the Lord’s purpose, and the evidence of that guidance and empowerment will be seen in the disciples’ lives. Christ’s mission cannot be accomplished in one’s own human strength and wisdom (Zechariah 4:6). God’s Word declares that worldly wisdom and human cleverness will ultimately count for nothing.
Satan is the ultimate personification of
worldly wisdom and cleverness, and of rulers of this world who
use their power and position for their own purposes in
opposition to God’s will. He can seek to influence and
manipulate us by worldly, human desires, appealing to the lusts
of the eye (covetousness), the lusts of the flesh (hedonism),
and human pride (personal sovereignty; selfishness). He used
these very temptations against Jesus, the Son of God, but Jesus
resisted by using God’s Word to overcome temptation.
Satan knows God’s Word, and he even tried to
use God’s Word against the Son of God, the “Word of God” in
human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus is our example of how to
resist and overcome temptation. We must accept and commit to
serve Jesus as our Lord and then proclaim that, in the face of
temptation (Matthew 4:10b). And we need to know the Bible, so
that the Holy Spirit can call the appropriate Word of God to our
remembrance in situations of temptation. Any average reader can
easily read the Bible from cover to cover in one year, and there
are many 1-year schedules available (see Free Online Bible Study
tools, sidebar, top right, home).
The history of God’s dealing with Israel has been recorded in the
Bible for our instruction (1 Corinthians 10:6), and it should be
a warning to America
and the Church today. In a democracy the majority of the people
get the government they “deserve.” Members of congregations in a
democracy sometimes erroneously think that what they believe is
subject to majority vote, rather than obedience of God’s Word.
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke
6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and
obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you received the indwelling
Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you
making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all
that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with
certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13;
Ephesians 1:13-14)?
Tuesday 18 Pentecost - Odd
First Posted 09/19/05;
Podcast: Tuesday 18 Pentecost - Odd
1 Kings 21:17-29 - Elijah Confronts Ahab;
1 Corinthians 1:20-31
- The Wisdom of God;
Matthew 4:12-17 -
Jesus’ Ministry in Galilee;
1 Kings Paraphrase:
Ahab, King of northern Israel,
had coveted a vineyard of Ahab’s neighbor Naboth’s inheritance
in the Promised Land. Ahab was so unhappy that Naboth would not
sell or trade Ahab for it that Jezebel, Ahab’s heathen wife,
arranged for Naboth’s murder. As Ahab was in Naboth’s vineyard
taking possession of it, the Lord sent Elijah to confront Ahab
for the murder of Naboth. The Lord told Elijah to tell Ahab that
he would die where and in the same manner as Naboth had, with
dogs licking up his blood.
Elijah confronted Ahab and declared that Ahab
had sold himself to do what was evil in God’s judgment, and Ahab
and his dynasty would be destroyed as Jeroboam’s (the first king
of northern Israel) and as Baasha’s (the third king of northern
Israel) had been destroyed, because Ahab had led the people of
the kingdom to sin against God. Jezebel, the heathen wife of
Ahab, would be eaten by dogs within Jezreel (the city of Ahab’s second residence; the capital was
Samaria).
Ahab was the most wicked of the kings of
northern Israel
(1 Kings 16:30; 21:25). He was as wicked as the Amorites who the
Lord had driven from the Promised Land to allow Israel
to possess it.
When Ahab heard the prophecy of Elijah, he
tore his cloths and put on sackcloth (the ritual garb of
repentance) and fasted and mourned. The Lord told Elijah that
because Ahab had repented and mourned for his sin, the Lord
would allow him to live, and would bring judgment on his
descendants instead.
1 Corinthians Paraphrase:
Those who have or teach worldly wisdom are no
better off, from an eternal perspective, than ignorant fools;
both will perish eternally. God, who is all-wise and all-knowing
makes worldly wisdom and knowledge foolish in comparison. God’s
wisdom is confirmed by the fact that he designed Creation so
that it is impossible to know God through wisdom.
God offers salvation to those who trust and obey God’s plan even though it seems foolish to those who have worldly wisdom. “Jews demand signs (miracles which point to divine authority), and Greeks (Gentiles) seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles” (1 Corinthians 1:22-23), but to those who respond to God’s call in faith (obedient trust), both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the wisdom and power of God. “For the folly of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25)
Most responsive to God’s call are those who
are not wise, powerful, wealthy or famous by worldly standards.
God chose the poor, humble and weak to shame those who are rich,
exalted and powerful in this world. God chose what is regarded
as nothing by this world, to bring to nothing worldly things and
values. No human creature has any reason for boasting in God’s
presence. God is the source of true, eternal life in Jesus
Christ, whom God has made our wisdom, our righteousness and
sanctification and redemption. We have no reason to boast in
ourselves; only in what Jesus has done on our behalf.
Matthew Paraphrase:
When Jesus heard that John the Baptizer had
been arrested, Jesus withdrew from Judah to Galilee, and moved
from Nazareth to Capernaum, on the northwestern shore of the Sea
of Galilee in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali (because the
people of Nazareth rejected his teaching and authority; Luke
4:16-31). This was in fulfillment of Isaiah 9:1-2, that those
who have been waiting in the darkness of this sinful world and
in the shadow of physical death have seen the dawn of the light
of righteousness and eternal life in Jesus Christ, the promised
Savior and eternal King. From the time of John the Baptizer’s
arrest, Jesus began to preach a call to repent in order to
receive the kingdom of heaven which was coming at that moment.
Commentary:
The Lord was the intended true King of
Israel. When God’s people insisted in having a human king like
the surrounding nations, God warned them of the disadvantages,
but they insisted and God allowed them to create a monarchy. The
king was intended to rule God’s people in God’s name and in
accordance with God’s Word. As the rulers of Israel turned away from
obedient trust in God’s will and pursued self-interest, wealth,
power and other idolatries, the nation of Israel
began to break up. It divided into two kingdoms.
The northern kingdom drifted farther and farther from God, and refused to hear God’s Word from his prophets, until Samaria was conquered by Shalmeneser of Assyria in 721 B.C.. The people were transported to other lands conquered by Assyria, and other conquered people were brought into northern Israel who mixed with the remnant of the ten northern tribes. The ten northern tribes ceased to exist; the remnant became the Samaritans, of mixed race and religion.
Naboth was a citizen of the northern Kingdom
of Israel,
who lost his civil rights, his physical and spiritual
inheritance, and his opportunity for physical life in the
earthly Promised Land, because of a wicked leader of God’s
people. Ahab had sold his inheritance in God’s kingdom by
disobedience of God’s Word. It was the spiritual condition of
the kingdom of the northern tribes that allowed King Ahab to
arise, and they went along with his idolatry. The King and the
people had become as wicked as the original inhabitants which
God had driven from the land because of their wickedness.
As bad as the situation was, God showed his
mercy and grace to Ahab when Ahab heeded Elijah’s prophecy and
sincerely repented and humbled himself before God. Fortunately
there was time for Ahab to repent. If the whole kingdom had
truly repented they could have avoided their ultimate
condemnation and destruction, but they waited until disaster was
upon them.
The eternal kingdom belongs to the Lord. If
eternal life could be possessed by worldly wisdom, human cunning
or deceit, worldly wealth or power, the same people who are
running this world would be in authority in the eternal kingdom,
and it wouldn’t be Heaven; it would just be eternally more of
this fallen, sinful, unjust world. The standard God has set for
his eternal kingdom is obedient trust in Jesus Christ, not from
fear of punishment but from love in response to God’s love for
us in Jesus.
God is the source of our physical life and
he’s the only source of true, eternal life in Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the wisdom and power of God (1 Corinthians 1:24). God
has made Jesus Christ the source of divine wisdom, through the
gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:15-17; Luke 24:45).
Jesus is the source of true righteousness; not a righteousness of our own by doing good deeds, but the righteousness of God which is only through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:21-22). Jesus is the only source of sanctification (the process of purification and spiritual growth to maturity by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit). Only Jesus gives the gift (“anointing;” “baptism”) of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which he gives only to his disciples, who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17, 21).
Jesus is the only sacrifice acceptable to God for forgiveness of disobedience of God, salvation from eternal death and condemnation, and restoration to fellowship with God. Jesus provides our redemption from bondage to sin and eternal death; he paid the price for our forgiveness and release from the sentence of eternal death (Hebrews 9:12-15; Ephesians 1:7-8, 14).
Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s Word. He is
the personification of God’s Word in human form (John 1:1-3;
14). He is the light of the world and the light of righteousness
and eternal life (John 1:4-5; 8:12).
The Day of Judgment will come suddenly; at a time we don’t
expect. (Mathew 24:44; 25:13).
Now is the Day of Salvation; today is the day to repent and prepare to receive the Kingdom of God in Heaven (2 Corinthians 6:2; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home). Jesus died to pay for our salvation and eternal life. Are we willing to sell or exchange eternal life for worldly wisdom, power, wealth or pleasure; the fleeting pleasures of sin” (Hebrews 11:25)?
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke
6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and
obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you received the indwelling
Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you
making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all
that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with
certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13;
Ephesians 1:13-14)?
Wednesday 18 Pentecost - Odd
First Posted 09/20/05;
Podcast: Wednesday 18 Pentecost - Odd
1 Kings 22:1-28 -
Micaiah Prophesies the Truth;
1 Corinthians 2:1-13
- Spiritual Wisdom;
Matthew 4:18-25 -
Jesus Calls his Disciples;
1 Kings Paraphrase:
The northern Kingdom of Israel had formed an alliance
with Syria
to resist conquest by the Assyrians. Ahab, the king of the
northern kingdom, also arranged for his daughter to marry
Jehoram, the son of Jeoshaphat, king of the southern Kingdom of
Judah,
creating an alliance between the two kingdoms.
After three years of alliance with Syria, Jeoshaphat was visiting Ahab, who asked him to join him in battle against Syria to regain Ramoth-gilead (southeast of the Sea of Galilee) which had earlier come under Syrian domination. Jeoshaphat agreed, but asked that they seek the counsel of God’s Word first.
Ahab gathered the four hundred prophets of Israel and asked them whether Israel and Judah should fight Syria for possession of Ramoth-gilead, and the prophets all told him that the Lord would give them victory. Jeoshaphat asked if there were any other prophets, and Ahab said there was one prophet, named Micaiah, whom he hadn’t consulted because his prophecies were always against Ahab. Jeoshaphat asked Ahab to consult Micaiah.
Micaiah was summoned, and the messenger
advised the prophet to reply favorably as all the other prophets
had, but Micaiah declared that he would speak only the words
that the Lord gave him. In the presence of the kings and the
prophets of Israel,
Micaiah at first answered as the other prophets had, but Ahab
told him to tell the truth. So Micaiah described a vision of Israel
as sheep without a shepherd, scattered on a mountain. The Lord
said that they had no master and that each should go home in
peace (rather than waging war).
Ahab told Jeoshaphat that Micaiah’s answer confirmed Ahab’s opinion that Micaiah always prophesied against Ahab. So Micaiah replied that if Ahab really wanted to hear God’s Word, Micaiah would speak it. Micaiah told Ahab that it was God’s will that Ahab be deceived and thus go into battle against Syria, where Ahab would be killed. God had allowed Ahab’s prophets to be deceived by a lying spirit. Micaiah said it wasn’t he who spoke evil (bad news) against Ahab, but God.
One of the other prophets, Zedekiah was
insulted, and struck Micaiah and
ridiculed him, but Micaiah
prophesied against him that there was a day coming when Zedekiah
would be hiding in fear for his life. King Ahab ordered Micaiah imprisoned on starvation rations
until the King returned, and Micaiah
replied that the people were his witnesses; if Ahab returned
then the Lord had not spoken by Micaiah.
1 Corinthians Paraphrase:
Paul’s preaching was not his attempt to
impress his hearers with great oratory, wisdom or knowledge,
except for the knowledge of Jesus Christ and his crucifixion. The power of Paul’s preaching of the Gospel
was not from any confidence in his own human ability, or any
logical argument, but in demonstration of the presence and power
of the Holy Spirit, so that the faith of believers would not
rely on worldly wisdom, but in the power of God.
“Yet among the (spiritually) mature we do
impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the
rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a
secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the
ages for our glorification” (1 Corinthians 2:6-7). If the rulers
of this world had possessed this divine wisdom, they wouldn’t
have crucified Jesus.
God has prepared a future for his people who trust and obey him, which has never been seen or heard of by humans, and is beyond our ability to imagine, except as revealed to us by the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God (Romans 8:9). As only the spirit of a person knows that person’s deepest inner thoughts and feelings, so the Holy Spirit knows the thoughts of God.
“Born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) Christian disciples like Paul “have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit of God, that we might understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who possess the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:12-13).
Matthew Paraphrase:
Jesus began his public ministry in Galilee. As Jesus walked along the shore
of the Sea of Galilee, he saw
Simon (Peter) and his brother, Andrew, fishing with throw-nets,
and he called them to follow him, saying he would make them
“fishers of men,” and they immediately left their nets and
followed Jesus. Continuing down the shore he saw two other
brothers, James and John. They were in their boat mending nets,
with their father, Zebedee. Jesus called them and they left
their father and the boat and followed Jesus.
Jesus went throughout Galilee teaching in
synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and healing every
illness and disability he encountered. News of his healings
spread throughout Galilee and the surrounding area of the Roman
Province of Syria (which included the Mediterranean coast north
of Caesarea), and people
throughout the region brought the sick, disabled and
demon-possessed to Jesus and he healed them all. Great crowds
followed Jesus, coming from Galilee, and from as far away as
Judea and Jerusalem, and from
the Decapolis and other lands east the Jordan.
Commentary:
Ahab liked “yes men;” prophets who told him
what he wanted to hear instead of God’s truth.
Although he told Micaiah that he wanted to hear the
truth, once he had heard it he disregarded it and did what he
wanted to do anyway. Ahab wanted to coerce God to do Ahab’s
will, rather than submitting to what God wanted Ahab to do. The
hallmark and test of God’s Word (and his prophets) is its
fulfillment; God’s Word is always fulfilled.
God has intended from the beginning of
Creation to create an eternal kingdom of his people who trust
and obey him, and he’s given us free choice. We are all eternal
(John 5:28-29), and this temporal life is our opportunity to
seek and come to personal knowledge of and fellowship with God
(Acts 17:26-27) and to choose where we want to spend eternity.
In order to provide freedom of choice, God had to provide
alternatives, so creation contains not only good but also the
possibility of evil; not only what is true but also the
possibility of what is false. Creation was created “good”
(Genesis 1:4; 31); evil is the result of mankind’s choice.
Worldly wisdom is a “lying spirit.” Those who
rely on worldly wisdom cannot see and accept the wisdom of God
in the crucifixion of Jesus. Attempts to come to knowledge of
God by worldly wisdom and knowledge are impossible.
The gift of the Holy Spirit is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus. Only by the indwelling Holy Spirit, which is received only by disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17), are we able to know and experience God’s wisdom and goodness.
There are plenty of “prophets” today who are
willing to tailor the message so that people don’t have to hear
anything that makes them uncomfortable. There are lots of people
who think they they’re so well-educated, prosperous, and
powerful that they don’t have to listen to unpleasant messages
(2 Timothy 4:3-4). There are lots of people in churches today
who think that the interpretation of scripture should be a
matter of democratic vote.
“All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). “...No prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation” (2 Peter 1:20). Jesus warns that the Day of Judgment will come for everyone: “Do not marvel at this, for the time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his (the Son of man’s; Jesus’) voice and come forth; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment (condemnation; eternal destruction; John 5:28-29).
Jesus calls each one of us to follow him. We must choose to lay down whatever would
keep us from following him and submit to his leading. Only Jesus
can heal us and free us from bondage to the “lying spirits” of
this world.
Are you willing to hear God’s Word in order
to do it? Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are
you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying
Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit
since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making
disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that
Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty
where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians
1:13-14)?
Thursday 18 Pentecost - Odd
First Posted 09/21/05;
Podcast: Thursday 18 Pentecost - Odd
1 Kings 22:29-45 - Ahab’s Death;
1 Corinthians 2:14-3:15
- Unspiritual People;
Matthew 5:1-10
- The Beatitudes;
1 Kings Paraphrase:
Ahab and Jehoshaphat, the kings of the two
kingdoms, Israel
and Judah,
had agreed to fight Syria
to regain Ramoth-gilead (southeast of the Sea
of Galilee). Micaiah was the one prophet of the
northern Kingdom who warned Ahab not to fight the Syrians or
Ahab would die in the battle (1 Kings 22:17-20).
Both kings went to Ramoth-gilead to fight the Syrians. Ahab did not wear his royal robes, but told Jehoshaphat to wear Jehoshaphat’s royal robes. The king of Syria told his thirty two captains of chariots to not engage anyone but Ahab, the king of Israel. Seeing Jehoshaphat in royal robes they thought he must be the king of Israel, but when Jehoshaphat cried out, they realized he wasn’t Ahab so they didn’t pursue him. But “at a venture” (by “chance”) a Syrian archer shot Ahab with an arrow in a gap in his armor. Ahab told his chariot driver to turn away from the battlefield because Ahab was wounded.
Ahab sat in his chariot facing the Syrians
until he died that evening, fulfilling Micaiah’s prophecy. At
sunset the armies disengaged. Ahab’s blood had flowed onto the
floor of the chariot. Ahab was buried in Samaria,
and the chariot was washed out at the pool of Samaria.
Dogs came and licked Ahab’s blood as the prophet Elijah had said
(1 Kings 21:19). Ahab’s son Ahaziah became king of Israel.
Jehoshaphat was king of Judah for
twenty-five years, and he did what was right in God’s judgment,
as had his father Asa. But the people continued to worship and
sacrifice on the high places (instead of the temple in Jerusalem), and he made peace with the
king of Israel.
1 Corinthians Paraphrase:
“The unspiritual (unregenerate; “unreborn;”
John 3:3, 5-8) man does not receive the gifts of the Spirit of
God, for they are folly to him, and he is unable to understand
them because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians
2:14). Spiritual people have spiritual discernment because the
Holy Spirit is the mind of Christ, but spiritual people should
not be judged by unspiritual people. Paul
quoted Isaiah 40:13 to show that humans are not qualified to
teach the Lord anything, and the indwelling Holy Spirit, the
mind of Christ, teaches and guides “born-again” Christians.
The Corinthian Christians demonstrated that
they were not spiritually mature, by their rivalry over the
popularity and authority of their leaders and teachers. They needed to start living according to what
they already knew from Paul’s elementary instruction before they
could go on to more spiritually advanced teachings.
All spiritual leaders and teachers in the
Church are to be servants of the Lord. Like farmers who have a
servant who plants and another who waters, Church leaders have
various roles but work together to produce results under the
guidance and empowerment of God. We carry out our roles, and are
rewarded for our labor, but only God can cause spiritual growth.
Church leaders are merely laborers, but the Church is God’s
garden.
The Church is God’s spiritual building. Paul
was commissioned to lay the spiritual foundation for the
congregation at Corinth.
Others then built upon that foundation. The foundation is the
scriptural, apostolic gospel of Jesus Christ (received from
Jesus, taught by his apostles including Paul, and recorded in
the New Testament). Each person must build upon that foundation.
The workmanship and the quality of materials will be revealed on the Day of Judgment, so we are warned to take care how we build upon the foundation. Our materials and workmanship will be tested by fire. If a person’s work survives the test of fire, he will be rewarded. (Those whose materials and workmanship were shoddy will be ashamed.)
Matthew Paraphrase:
Great crowds of people were coming from all
over Israel
and the surrounding areas to hear Jesus. Jesus would sit on a
hillside and teach his disciples.
He began by saying that those who realize that they are spiritually poor will be blessed, and the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. Those who mourn (now, in this sinful, fallen world), will be comforted, now and eternally. The meek will inherit the earth. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled and satisfied. The merciful will receive mercy. Those who are pure in their hearts (sincere, obedient, and trusting) will see God. Those who live peaceably and work for peace will be called sons of God. Those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake will inherit the kingdom of heaven.
Commentary:
Ahab had sought the Word of God, not to obey
it; but to receive God’s blessing on Ahab’s plan. When he heard
the true Word of God from Micaiah, Ahab thought he could defy it
and avoid the consequences by his worldly wisdom. Ahab thought
he could disguise his true identity, and set up Jehoshaphat to
be killed instead of Ahab. The Syrian archer who released his
arrow “at a whim” was fulfilling God’s Word, completely unaware.
Jehoshaphat was generally a righteous,
obedient and trusting servant of God. Reversion
to worship and sacrifice on the high places represented a
reversion toward pagan practices, a perversion of the
centralized worship at the temple in Jerusalem. Reform was
needed but Jehoshaphat didn’t lead the reform. Jehoshaphat also
made peace with Ahab, the most wicked king of the northern
Kingdom, who had allowed idolatry to grow and thrive in his
kingdom. Jehoshaphat also joined Ahab in a military campaign
which was contrary to God’s Word.
Paul (formerly known as Saul of Tarsus) is
the example of a modern, “post-resurrection,” “born-again”
disciple of Jesus Christ. He had acknowledged and repented of
his spiritual blindness (on the road to Damascus) and had received
the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 9:1-9, 17-19). He
was guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit to be an apostle (a
messenger; of the Gospel of Jesus Christ). Paul built spiritual
foundations of the Church throughout the Roman world.
Paul is an example of the leaders the Church
needs. Paul was fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew
28:19-20) which the risen Jesus, before Jesus ascended into
heaven, had given to his disciples, to be carried out after they
received the indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). He was a “born-again” disciple making
“born-again” disciples. Paul was telling the Corinthian
congregation where and how they needed to grow spiritually. He
was telling the congregation the full Gospel truth that they
needed to hear in order to grow spiritually.
It isn’t the comfortable and satisfied of
this world who seek and find the kingdom of God. We can’t see
the truth of the Gospel until we recognize and repent of our
spiritual blindness. We have to be willing to hear the full
truth even though it makes us uncomfortable, in order to be
healed and comforted. Working for peace does not mean going
along with wickedness and corrupt worldly leaders and people.
Jesus came to offer genuine peace, not what the world calls
peace (John 14:27). Jesus came to offer peace, but he makes a
lot of people angry.
Christian disciples have to be willing to be unpopular, and they must be willing to accept correction from God’s Word. Do we really want to know God’s Word in order to live it, or are we just seeking God’s blessing on our worldly lives? Are we willing to hear the full Gospel or do we just want our ears ‘tickled” with what makes us feel good (2 Timothy 4:3-4)? Will we ignore God’s Word and hope to avoid the consequences, or will we build on it and make it the unshakable foundation of our lives?
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke
6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and
obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you received the indwelling
Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you
making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all
that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with
certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13;
Ephesians 1:13-14)?
Friday 18 Pentecost - Odd
First Posted 09/22/05;
Podcast: Friday 18 Pentecost - Odd
2 Kings 1:2-17 -
Ahaziah’s Death;
1 Corinthians 3:16-23
- God’s Temple;
Matthew 5:11-16 -
The Witness of Disciples;
2 Kings Paraphrase:
Ahaziah, the son of Ahab and Jezebel, became
king of the northern Kingdom of Israel
when Ahab died in battle against Syria. Ahaziah
had an accident in the palace in Samaria, apparently falling
through a lattice which had been intended to prevent such
accidents. He was confined to bed, so he sent messengers to
enquire of Baal-zebub,* the pagan god of Ekron (a town of the
Philistines, about twenty-five miles west of Jerusalem),
whether he would recover from his injuries.
An angel of the Lord told Elijah to go out and meet the messengers as they were leaving, and ask them why they were going to enquire of Baal-zebub; was there no God in Israel for them to ask? Elijah told them to return to Ahaziah and tell him what the Lord had said through Elijah. Elijah declared that because Ahaziah had sought pagan counsel instead of God’s Word, Ahaziah wouldn’t leave the bed and would die there of his injuries.
The messengers returned to Ahaziah and told
him what Elijah had said. The king was surprised that the
messengers returned so soon. The messengers did not know
Elijah’s name, but they described him as wearing a haircloth
garment and a leather belt, and Ahaziah knew it had to be
Elijah.
The king sent a detachment of fifty soldiers
to fetch Elijah, and they found him sitting on a hilltop. They
acknowledged Elijah as a man of God and commanded him to come
down. Elijah replied that if he were a man of God, fire from
heaven would consume the detachment, and immediately they were
struck down by fire from heaven.
The king sent another detachment of fifty, and they were also destroyed by fire from heaven. The king sent a third detachment and the commander of this detachment fell on his knees and prayed for the lives of his men and himself to be spared. The Lord told Elijah to go with this group without fear. Elijah was brought to the king and Elijah told Ahaziah, in person, that because Ahaziah had sought pagan counsel he would die in the bed he was in.
The Word of God spoken by Elijah was
fulfilled. Ahaziah died, and his brother Jehoram became king of
Israel,
since Ahaziah had no son. (Jehoram, son of Ahab, reigned in the
kingdom of Israel about the same time that his
brother-in-law, also named Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat, reigned
in the kingdom
of Judah).
1 Corinthians Paraphrase:
The Church and individual “born-again” (John
3:3, 5-8) Christian disciples are the temple of God by the indwelling
Holy Spirit. God will destroy those who destroy his Church or
his spiritual children. God’s temple is holy (purified and
consecrated to God’s use), and the Church and its members, as
God’s temples, are to be holy (see 1 Peter 1:15-16; Leviticus
11:44-45).
Paul warns not to put faith in worldly wisdom
or education, and to evaluate ourselves honestly, so as not to
be self-deluded. In order receive true divine wisdom we must be
willing to disregard worldly wisdom and education. “For the
wisdom of this world is folly with God” (1 Corinthians 3:19a;
compare 1 Corinthians 1:18-25).
God “catches the wise in their craftiness” (1 Corinthians 3:19b; Job 5:13-14). “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile” (1Corinthians 3:20; Psalm 94:11). We have no reason to boast of human abilities or accomplishments.
The Corinthians were boasting of the authority and popularity of individual leaders and teachers in the Corinthian congregation, and claiming to belong to them. Instead of the members belonging to Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas (Simon Peter), those teachers belonged to the members of the Church. All things belong to Christians because Christians belong to Jesus who has received authority over all things from God (Matthew 28:18).
Matthew Paraphrase:
Jesus told his disciples that we will be
blessed when people revile and persecute us for Jesus’ sake. We
can rejoice and be glad in persecution, knowing that this is
what the world has always done to the prophets of the Lord.
Disciples are to be like salt in this world,
A little salt changes the taste of everything around it, but
salt has to maintain its basic character. If salt lost its
saltiness it would be worthless; it could not do what it was
created and intended to do.
Disciples are to be like light in this world.
A city on a hilltop would be visible by its light at night for a
great distance all around. People don’t light a candle and then
put a bucket over it; they put it on a stand so that it will
provide light to all that surrounds it.
Our light is the light of Christ’s righteousness which is only received through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. Our light is also the light of spiritual understanding, which we receive through Christ’s indwelling Holy Spirit within us (John 14:15-17, 26). Disciples are to live according to Jesus’ teachings and spiritual wisdom so that others may see the light of Christ within us and praise God the Father in heaven.
Commentary:
Ahaziah was the son of King Ahab, the most
wicked of all the kings of the northern kingdom, Israel (1 Kings
16:30), and Ahab’s pagan wife Jezebel, who established
Baal-worship in the northern kingdom. He had hardly been raised
to trust and obey the Lord. His first reaction when things
started to go wrong in his life was to seek worldly, demonic
counsel.
Elijah, the man of God, proclaimed God’s Word and warned Ahaziah that seeking such counsel would destroy him but he wouldn’t listen. Ahaziah thought his power as king could be used to manipulate Elijah to obtain God’s favor; to reverse the prophecy against Ahaziah. But Ahaziah’s power was insignificant compared to the Lord’s power working through Elijah.
The destruction of Ahaziah’s military
detachments is a warning to worldly people that if they persist
in human arrogance against God and God’s children they will be
destroyed. The third detachment was saved because the captain
was willing to recognize the truth and kneel and pray for mercy
and salvation.
God in his wisdom has designed creation so
that humans cannot come to know God by worldly wisdom or
education (1 Corinthians 1:21). Faith (obedient trust) in Jesus
Christ is the only way to come to a personal relationship with
God (John 14:6) through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit
(John 14:15-17, 21, 23). In order to receive divine wisdom we
must be willing to disregard what the world falsely considers
wisdom.
If we trust and obey Jesus, we will receive the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of God (Romans 8:9; note the Trinity), who will teach us everything and help us remember Jesus’ teachings (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). Worldly leaders exalt themselves over others, but the leaders in God’s kingdom are the servants of others (Matthew 20:25-28).
Christians by definition are disciples of
Jesus Christ (Acts11:26d).
Discipleship is not an optional category of “Super-Christian.”
“Christians” who are not experiencing trouble and persecution
for the Gospel of Jesus Christ are doing it wrong! Watch out
when people are praising us (Luke
6:26)!
Disciples are called to be “salt” and “light.” Christians who are not affecting the people and world around them are not fulfilling their commission. Salt stings a cut, but promotes healing. People who do what is right welcome public scrutiny, but those who do what is sinful don’t want their activities spotlighted for others to see. Those who have not seen the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ are walking in spiritual darkness. Only through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit are we able to understand divine wisdom and divine truth.
People are still seeking their spiritual
well-being in all the wrong places, among gods who cannot save
them, and dying rather than turning in repentance to the true
and living Almighty God who can. Those who have experienced a
personal relationship with the Lord are called to be led by the
Spirit of the Lord and to speak his Word even thought it may not
be popular.
Are you seeking divine wisdom and counsel? Is
Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46)? Are you Jesus'
disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus (John
14:21)? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you
first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of
Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands
(Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will
spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
*Baal-zebub means
“lord of the flies;” it is a mocking distortion of Baal-zebul, meaning either “lord of the
divine abode,” or “Baal the prince;” one of the names and
manifestations of the great Baal…Later, ...a synonym for Satan”
–The Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by
Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, pg. 454, 2 Kings
1:2-5 n, Oxford University Press, New York, 1962.
Saturday 18 Pentecost - Odd
First Posted 09/23/05;
Podcast: Saturday 18 Pentecost - Odd
2 Kings 2:1-18 - Elijah’s Ascension;
1 Corinthians 4:1-7
- Servants of Christ;
Matthew 5:17-20
- Christ’s Gospel Versus Moses’ Law;
2 Kings Paraphrase:
It was known throughout the prophetic
community that Elijah, the prophet, was about to be taken up
into heaven by a whirlwind. Elisha had been designated by the
Lord to succeed Elijah. Elijah and Elisha were walking from
Gilgal (near Shiloh, north of Bethel). Elijah had
suggested that Elisha stay in Gilgal since the Lord was
directing Elijah to go on to Bethel, but Elisha vowed to
stay with Elijah until the Lord took Elijah into heaven.
They arrived in Bethel and were met by some
“sons of the prophets” (disciples who were taught by the
prophets). They asked Elisha if he knew that Elijah was to be
taken into heaven that day by the Lord, and Elisha said that he
knew. Elijah again suggested that Elisha stay, in Bethel,
and Elisha again vowed to continue with Elijah until he was
taken up.
They went on to Jericho, and again were met
by sons of the prophets who also asked Elisha if he knew Elijah
would be taken up that day. Again Elijah suggested that he stay,
in Jericho, but Elisha went on
with him to the Jordan River,
and about fifty sons of the prophets went with them. At the Jordan, Elijah took off his
mantle (cloak), rolled it up and struck the water, and the Jordan River parted so that they walked
across on dry land.
When they had crossed the river, Elijah asked
what Elisha would like Elijah to do for him before he ascended,
and Elisha asked for a double measure of Elijah’s “anointing”
(with the Holy Spirit). Elijah told Elisha that he wasn’t sure
he could do that, but if Elisha saw Elijah as he was taken up
his request would be granted.
As they went on, a chariot of fire with fiery horses separated Elijah and Elisha, and Elijah was carried into heaven by a whirlwind. Elisha shouted to Elijah, addressing him as “father,” that he had seen the chariot and its horsemen, and then Elijah disappeared.
Elisha returned to the Jordan, where the sons of the
prophets from Jericho
were still waiting. He took Elijah’s mantle that had been left
behind as Elijah ascended, and rolled it up and struck the Jordan
and it parted as it had for Elijah. The sons of the prophets
acknowledged that Elijah’s anointing of the Spirit rested on
Elisha, accepting Elisha as their leader.
The sons of the prophets suggested that they
search the area for Elijah; he might have been picked up by the
Spirit of the Lord and cast down again. Elisha told them not to
bother searching but they kept insisting until Elisha gave in.
They searched for three days, and returned without finding
Elijah, and Elisha reminded them that he had told them so.
1 Corinthians Paraphrase:
The Apostle Paul taught the Corinthian
Christians that leaders of the Church are to be “servants of
Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God” (1 Corinthians
4:1). Trustworthiness is an essential requirement for stewards.
What the Corinthians thought of Paul, or even what Paul thought
of himself, was not nearly as important as the Lord’s judgment
of Paul.
Further, even Paul did not know everything about himself, but the Lord does. We are cautioned not to make judgments prematurely, before the Day of the Lord, because it is impossible for us to know all the facts. On that Day, the Lord “will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then every (person) will receive his commendation from God.” (1 Corinthians 4:5)
Paul had used Apollos and himself as
examples, so that Christians could learn to live according to
scripture, so that the Church would not be divided by arrogance,
jealousy, or partisanship. If we have been changed by the
Gospel, it is not our own human accomplishment. Whatever we have
received is a gift (from the Lord); why should we expect any
credit for it?
Matthew Paraphrase:
Jesus has come not to abolish the Law of
Moses and the Prophets (Jewish scripture; the Old Testament) but
to fulfill them. Jesus said that until the end of the world
(this present creation) God’s law will stand. Those who
disregard God’s Word and teach others to do so will be least in
the kingdom of heaven; those who keep God’s Word and teach
others to do so will be great in the kingdom of heaven.
Commentary:
The hallmark and test of God’s Word is its
fulfillment (Deuteronomy 18:22);
God’s Word is eternally true and is always fulfilled, as the
conditions for its fulfillment are met. The prophetic community
knew that Elijah would be taken into heaven that day, as Enoch
had (Genesis 5:24), without experiencing physical death.
Elisha was an eyewitness to Elijah’s ascension, and he became the leader of the prophetic community, filled with the same Holy Spirit which had filled Elijah, in fulfillment of God’s Word (1 Kings 19:16; 2 Kings 2:10), witnessed and attested to by the parting of the Jordan River and the testimony and acknowledgment by the fifty sons of the prophets. Just to make sure Elijah had really left earth alive, fifty men spent three days looking for him.
In Elisha’s time the gift of the Holy Spirit
was given only to a few chosen by God.
The sons of the prophets were people who
recognized and acknowledged that the prophets were speaking
God’s Word by the gift of the Holy Spirit, and they were
disciples of the prophets, being taught God’s Word. Jesus’
death, resurrection and ascension into heaven made it possible
for Jesus’ disciples to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,
through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (John 14:15-17,
21, 23-24; 16:7-11).
Paul had received the Holy Spirit following
his radical conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-20). He
is the prototype and example of a modern, “post-resurrection,”
“born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciple and apostle (messenger; of
the Gospel) of Jesus Christ. Paul was fulfilling the Great
Commission that Jesus had given to his disciples, to make
disciples and teach them to obey all Jesus’ teachings (Matthew
28:19-20). Jesus’ teachings are God’s Word (John 14:24). Paul was discipling the Corinthian
Christians, teaching them to live according to scripture
(1Corinthians 4:6 RSV).
Jesus taught his
disciples to trust and obey God’s Word and to teach others to
do so. Jesus is the fulfillment and personification of God’s
Word in human flesh (John 1:1-5, 14). The Church is to be the
modern equivalent of the sons of the prophets. It is to be led
by authentic Spirit-filled leaders who are making disciples of
Jesus Christ, as contrasted with cults of a particular
“preacher” as the Corinthians had been.
Church members are to be disciples seeking God’s Word and the gift of his Holy Spirit to guide and enable them to trust and obey God’s Word. Born-again Christians, have personally experienced the risen and ascended Jesus and testify to that truth.
Too often the
nominal “Church” has failed to make disciples, settling
instead for making “members;” “fair-weather Christians.” The
Church often has not taught its members to wait within the
Church for the gift of the Holy Spirit before going out into
the world as witnesses and evangelists (Luke 24:49; Acts
1:4-5, 8). One cannot be a witness unless one has personally
experienced what one is testifying about.
A church that doesn’t make “born again” disciples won’t have ‘born-again” apostles and leaders. Are congregations seeking spiritual growth or just numerical growth? Are we seeking Bible-based preaching and teaching, or are we settling for entertainment, comfortable facilities and friendly people (2 Timothy 4:3-4)? Are we really seeking God’s will with the commitment of doing it, or are we seeking his blessing on our will and personal agenda.
Is Jesus your Lord (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke
6:46)? Are you Jesus' disciple (John 8:31)? Are you trusting and
obeying Jesus (John 14:21)? Have you received the indwelling
Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you
making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all
that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with
certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13;
Ephesians 1:13-14)?
