Week of 22 Pentecost - Odd
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Podcast Download: Week of 22 Pentecost - Odd
Sunday 22 Pentecost - Odd
First posted 10/15/05;
Podcast: Sunday 22 Pentecost - Odd
Jeremiah 36:1-10 - Jeremiah’s Scroll Read;
Acts 14:8-18 -
Mistaken for “gods;”
Luke 7:36-50 -
Appreciation of Forgiveness;
Jeremiah Paraphrase:
“In the fourth year (605 B.C.) of Jehoiakim,
son of Josiah, king of Judah” (Jeremiah 36:1), the Lord told
Jeremiah to record all of God’s Words to Jeremiah against the two
kingdoms, Israel and Judah, and against the nations (the
Gentiles), from the time the Lord had begun to speak to Jeremiah
in the reign of Josiah (640-609 B.C.). The Lord hoped that
prophecies of catastrophic punishment would cause them to repent
of their sin (disobedience of God’s Word) so that the Lord could
forgive them.
Jeremiah commissioned Baruch to transcribe the
Word of God to Jeremiah on a scroll as Jeremiah dictated it.
Jeremiah also told Baruch to read the scroll of Jeremiah to
everyone assembled on a day of national fasting declared by King
Jehoiakim because of the threat of war from Nebuchadnezzar, king
of Chaldea (Babylon).
Jeremiah had been banned from the temple, and was unable to read
his scroll in the temple himself. Because it was a day of national
fasting, all the leaders of Judah would be
there. Since the purpose for the assembly and fasting was to pray
for God’s help, it was Jeremiah’s hope that when they realized
that God’s condemnation was coming upon them for their
disobedience of God, they would repent and return to obedient
trust in the Lord.
In November 604 B.C. all the people of Jerusalem and the leaders throughout Judah gathered at the temple in Jerusalem
for the fast proclaimed by Jehoiakim, and Baruch read the words of
Jeremiah in their presence.
Acts Summary:
On Paul’s first missionary journey, in Lystra
(in the Roman province
of Galatia; in
present-day Turkey),
Paul encountered a man who had been born crippled and had never
walked. He was listening to Paul speak, and Paul realized that the
man had faith to be healed, so Paul spoke directly to the man,
telling him to stand up on his feet. The man sprang up and walked.
When the crowd saw the miracle, they proclaimed in their language,
“The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men” (Acts
14:11). They called Barnabas Zeus, and Paul, Hermes. The temple of Zeus
was at the entrance of the city, and the priest of Zeus came with
garlands for Paul and Barnabas and oxen, intending to offer a
sacrifice and feast.
When Paul and Barnabas heard what was
happening, they tore their clothes (a ritual of mourning) and
spoke to the crowd, telling the people that Paul and Barnabas were
merely mortals like the people of Lystra. Paul and Barnabas were
bringing good news, so that they could turn from the futile
worship of idols to the worship of the one true and living God,
the creator of everything in heaven and on earth. In the past, God
had allowed the nations of earth to follow their own ways,
although the goodness of creation testified to the existence and
nature of the Creator. Paul and Barnabas were barely able to
restrain the crowd from worshiping them.
Luke Summary:
A Pharisee asked Jesus to be his dinner guest,
and Jesus went to the Pharisee’s house and sat at his table. A
woman of the city, a sinner, heard where Jesus was, and she came,
knelt down and washed Jesus’ feet with her tears, dried them with
her hair, and anointed them with ointment. The Pharisee thought to
himself that if Jesus was a prophet he would have known that the
woman was a sinner, and would not have allowed her to do that.
Jesus knew what the Pharisee was thinking. Jesus addressed the Pharisee, Simon, by name and said he had something to tell him. Simon asked what it was, addressing Jesus as Teacher (Rabbi).
Jesus told him a parable (a fictitious story of common life experience to teach a spiritual truth) of a lender who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii (a denarius was a Roman coin equivalent to a day’s labor), and the other owed fifty denarii. Neither debtor could repay the debt, so the lender forgave them both. Jesus asked Simon which of the debtors would love the lender more. Simon replied that he supposed the debtor with the greatest debt would love the lender more, and Jesus told Simon he had chosen the right answer.
Jesus turned Simon’s attention to the woman.
Simon hadn’t provided Jesus with water to wash his feet, but the
woman had washed and dried his feet with tears and her hair. Simon
hadn’t greeted Jesus with a kiss, but the woman had continually
kissed Jesus’ feet. Simon hadn’t anointed Jesus’ head with oil,
but the woman had anointed Jesus’ feet with ointment. Jesus
declared that all of the woman’s many sins had been forgiven
because she loved greatly, but one who is forgiven little loves
little. Jesus told the woman that her sins were forgiven, her
faith had saved her, and she could go in peace. The other guests
at Simon’s table wondered who Jesus must be, to be forgiving sins.
Commentary:
God’s Word contains both promises and warnings.
Those who trust and obey God’s Word receive the promises. Those
who refuse to trust and obey God receive the punishment God’s
warning was intended to avert.
Judah,
the remnant of the nation of Israel,
had received continual warning from scripture and from God’s
prophets that unless they returned to obedient trust in the Lord Jerusalem and Judah would be conquered and
exiled to Babylon.
In 605 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon (Chaldea) had
defeated Egypt, Judah’s only potential ally, and Nebuchadnezzar
was at Judah’s very door, to deport them to Babylon, when King
Jehoiakim and the people of Judah finally turned to God for help.
The Lord and his prophet, Jeremiah, hoped that
hearing God’s Word at such a time of national crisis would cause
the people to realize that they had not been living according to
God’s Word, and that they would repent and return to the Lord in
obedient trust, so that the Lord could forgive
them. There was still time for them to avoid captivity and exile.
But Judah
wanted God’s help and salvation without being willing to obey God
and live according to his Word.
Paul and Barnabas were sharing the “Good News,”
the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It has been God’s plan from the very
beginning of Creation to establish an eternal kingdom of people
who would voluntarily trust and obey him. This present life is our
opportunity to seek and come to know and have fellowship with God
(Acts 17:26-27), and to learn to live according to God’s Word. God
knew that, given free choice, we would all sin and come short of
God’s righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), and God has
declared that the penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23).
Jesus is God’s one and only provision for our
forgiveness of sin, salvation from eternal death, and restoration
of fellowship with God (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God’s Plan of
Salvation, sidebar, top right, home). Jesus Christ has been “built
into” the structure of this Creation (John 1:1-3). God has been
revealing his eternal plan over the course of time, culminating in
the manifestation, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In the past God allowed people to explore
religion for themselves, although the Creation testifies to the
good and righteous God, our Creator. But now he has revealed
himself and his eternal plan in Jesus Christ. The people of Lystra
thought that their gods had come down to them in human form in
Paul and Barnabas, but their gods were idols, created by human
hands and human imagination.
They could hope that their gods would come to earth in human form and intervene in their behalf and bless their worship, but it was empty hope because there was no true god behind their idols. Jesus is the fulfillment of human hope for God who would come to earth in human form, intervene in our behalf and bless us as we welcome and serve him (Matthew 1:23; John 1:1-3,14).
The people of Lystra were ready to believe that
Paul and Barnabas were gods because they had healed a cripple who
had never walked, but the Jewish leaders and religious authorities
had refused to believe that Jesus was the Messiah and Son of God,
although they had the scriptures and had witnessed greater
miracles than that, done by Jesus, including the resurrection of
the dead. Paul told the people of Lystra that now was the time for
them to stop their futile worship of idols and to turn to the one
and only true and living God. The power to heal the cripple was
the power of God working through Paul and Barnabas by the
indwelling Holy Spirit through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus
Christ.
Simon, the Pharisee, considered himself a
righteous person and an authority in Judaism. He had encountered
the Messiah, the Son of God, and Simon decided that Jesus wasn’t
even a good prophet, since Jesus didn’t seem to know the character
of the woman who was washing his feet. Simon didn’t value
forgiveness because he didn’t think he had done anything needing
forgiveness.
The woman knew she was a sinner and she
believed Jesus could forgive her. She acted in faith and received
what God promised. Her love and gratitude to Jesus demonstrated
that she had been forgiven, but Simon’s response demonstrated that
his sins hadn’t been forgiven.
In a sense, we are all God’s people, because
God is our Creator. God has been warning us in his Word, the
Bible, and by his prophets about the consequences of disobedience
and idolatry. In many ways America
and the Church in America (as well as
other Christian nations and national Churches) are in a very
similar situation to Judah and Judaism at the time of Christ’s
earthly life. God’s condemnation for disobedience of his Word and
idolatry (the love of anything equal to or greater than our love
of God) is at our very doorstep. Are we willing to hear God’s Word
of warning, to repent and return to obedient trust in Jesus Christ
while forgiveness and salvation are still possible?
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple?
Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? 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 22 Pentecost - Odd (Variable)
To be used only if there is a 23 Pentecost Sunday - Otherwise skip to 27 Pentecost.
First posted 10/16/05;
Podcast: Monday 22 Pentecost - Odd
Jeremiah 36:11-26 - King Jehoiakim Burns the Scroll;
1 Corinthians 13: (1-3) 4-13 -
Love;
Matthew 10:5-15 - The
Twelve Apostles;
Jeremiah Paraphrase:
In the reign of Jehoiakim, Micaiah, the son of
the scribe, Gemariah, heard the scroll of Jeremiah, the prophet,
read by Jeremiah’s secretary, Baruch. He went to the king’s
secretary’s chamber in the palace where his father and all the
princes of Judah
were gathered with the royal secretary, Elishama, and Zedekiah
(who would become the last king of Judah, succeeding
Jehoiakim’s son, Jehoiachin). Micaiah told them what he had heard
from Jeremiah’s prophecies.
The princes of Judah sent Jehudi
to invite Baruch to read the scroll of Jeremiah to them. When the
assembly of princes had heard the prophecy of Jeremiah, they were
afraid (of God’s judgment upon the disobedience and idolatry of Judah).
They
asked how Baruch had come to write the scroll, and Baruch told
them that he had written what Jeremiah had dictated.
The royal advisors told Baruch to hide with
Jeremiah (from the retribution Jehoiakim would certainly exact).
The princes hid the scroll of Jeremiah in the royal secretary’s
chamber, but the king commanded that the scroll be brought. Jehudi
read it to King Jehoiakim, surrounded by the princes of Judah.
In the ninth month (Kislev: November/December) the King was in his
winter house, and there was a charcoal brazier for heat. As Jehudi
read three or four columns of the scroll of Jeremiah, King
Jehoiakim cut them off with a penknife and burned them in the
brazier until the entire scroll was burned.
Neither the king nor his advisors who heard the
prophecy were afraid of God’s judgment. Jehoiakim’s maternal
grandfather and others begged Jehoiakim not to burn the prophecy
of Jeremiah, but Jehoiakim would not listen. The king ordered his
son, Jerahmeel, and a priest named Saraiah and others to arrest
Jeremiah and Baruch, but the Lord hid them.
1 Corinthians Summary:
The spiritual gifts are to be used with love
toward others, rather than to magnify ourselves. None of the
spiritual gifts can accomplish their intended purpose for us or
others apart from love. Love is patient and kind, not jealous,
boastful, arrogant, rude, selfish, irritable, or resentful. Love
is forbearing, trusting, hopeful, and longsuffering.
Love never ends. Love is more eternal than the
greatest spiritual gifts, because they are imperfect, having been
given for use in an imperfect world. When the perfect world comes,
the imperfect will pass away. Spiritual development corresponds to
physical growth. When we were children, our thoughts and actions
were childish, but in adulthood we should no longer think or
behave like a child.
Our present understanding is limited in this world, like the dim reflection in an imperfect mirror, but in the perfect world to come we will understand clearly, as seeing face-to-face. The only things which will transcend this temporal creation are faith, hope and love, and love is the most important because it is the foundation for faith and hope.
Matthew Paraphrase:
Jesus called his Twelve original disciples,
Simon Peter, Peter’s brother, Andrew, James and his brother, John,
Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, the tax collector, “little”
James, the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananaean, and
Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed Jesus. Jesus named them
“apostles” (“messengers;” of the gospel; Luke 6:13), and gave them
authority to heal diseases and cast out demons.
Jesus sent them out to proclaim the coming of God’s kingdom and to heal physical and spiritual illness. They were not to go to the Gentiles or Samaritans (yet). Jesus told them not to take any money, extra clothing, or any food with them. They were to preach and heal without pay because they had received the gospel without paying, but they would receive food and lodging in the villages which received them.
They were to stay with those who are worthy
(righteous); they were not to remain among any who were unrighteous, and if any house or town
refused to welcome them and listen to them, the apostles were to
shake off the dust of the town from their feet as a testimony
against the house or town. Jesus warned that those who do not
welcome and listen to his disciples will receive worse punishment
on the Day of Judgment than the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
(Genesis 18:16-19:28).
Commentary:
Jeremiah and Baruch were obedient to and
faithfully proclaimed God’s Word. Some of the people who heard it
heeded the warning; they tried to preserve God’s Word and tried to
influence those in power to heed God’s Word, but the leaders had
no respect for God’s Word and tried to destroy it. The wicked
leaders also tried to destroy the faithful messengers of God’s
Word. Jehoiakim was using his
position as leader of God’s people for his own selfish personal
benefit. Burning the scroll didn’t keep God’s Word from being
fulfilled, and the Lord was able to hide and protect his
messengers from the power of the wicked.
The Lord gives the gifts (abilities;
empowerment) of the Holy Spirit to his disciples who trust and
obey him (John 14:15-17). Christians are to use those gifts of the
Spirit to proclaim God’s Word and to influence the secular world
to hear and obey God’s Word. The spiritual gifts are not to be
used to glorify ourselves and to build our personal “empire;” they
aren’t given to us to be used to manipulate others.
Christians are to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus
Christ out of love for others. Jeremiah, Baruch and the princes of
Judah
proclaimed God’s Word with love for their nation and their people,
hoping to save them from destruction, but their love was not
perceived by the wicked, who responded to God’s Word and their
preaching with hate and evil.
Christian discipleship is a spiritual growth
process. In many instances, people think that their reception as
adult members into the Church is the end of spiritual growth, and
the evidence of spiritual maturity, rather than the beginning of
discipleship and spiritual growth. Paul addressed that problem in
the Corinthian Church (1 Corinthians 3:1-3).
Jesus was demonstrating and teaching
discipleship and the ministry of the Gospel by example. After the
Twelve disciples had spent time with Jesus and been taught by him,
he sent them out to proclaim the Gospel in love, helping to
relieve physical need, and offering spiritual healing. Jesus
warned them that not everyone would welcome them and listen to
their message. All the apostles were commanded to do was to
faithfully proclaim the Gospel. If individuals or communities
refused to welcome them and hear them, they were just to go on to
the next place. Those who reject the Gospel will be accountable
and punished on the Day of Judgment.
Paul is the prototype and example of a modern,
“post-resurrection,” “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciple and
apostle of Jesus Christ, who was carrying on Jesus’ “Great
Commission” to his disciples to make disciples and teach them to
obey all Jesus’ commands (Matthew 28:19-20), after they had been
“born-again” (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). Paul had not known Jesus
before Jesus’ crucifixion resurrection and ascension into heaven,
so his “rebirth” and call to ministry are like our own. Paul
received the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit before he began
his apostleship (Acts 9:17-18).
The Gospel is God’s love in action. Jesus is
God’s love made visible. God loves us and wants us to be saved
from eternal destruction and eternal death; he doesn’t want us to
be condemned (John 3:16-17; See God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar,
top right, home). Many people don’t perceive the Gospel, the Word
of God, as loving, and don’t respond with love toward God or God’s
messengers. For those who receive the announcement of the coming
of God’s heavenly kingdom, it is good news. For those who refuse
to accept it, it is bad news. The choice is up to the hearer.
It’s an imperfect world because God designed it to allow people freedom to believe or reject God’s Word. But this imperfect world will pass away and be replaced by the perfect world of the eternal kingdom of God. There will be no more sin, evil, sickness, sorrow, pain, decay, or death (Revelation 21:4). There won’t be anyone in God’s eternal kingdom who doesn’t love, trust and obey the Lord.
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 22 Pentecost - Odd (Variable)
To be used only if there is a 23 Pentecost Sunday - Otherwise skip to 27 Pentecost.
First posted 11/17/05;
Podcast: Tuesday 22 Pentecost - Odd
Jeremiah 36:27-37:2 -
Jeremiah’s Scroll Rewritten;
1 Corinthians 14:1-12 -
Speaking in Ecstatic Tongues;
Matthew 10:16-23 -
Warning of Coming Persecutions;
Jeremiah Summary:
Jehoiakim, king of Judah
had burned the scroll of Jeremiah as it was being read to him. The
Lord told Jeremiah to write the scroll again with the same words
and more. Jeremiah was to say, concerning Jehoiakim, that since
Jehoiakim had rejected the Lord’s warning of the destruction of Judah by the king of Babylon,
the Lord declared that none of Jehoiakim’s descendants would sit
upon the throne of David, and Jehoiakim’s dead body would be left
exposed to heat and frost.
The Lord swore to punish Jehoiakim, his descendants and all who cooperated with him for their sin (disobedience of God’s Word). The Lord swore to bring on them all the punishment he had warned them of through Jeremiah, which the king and his men had refused to listen to.
Once again Jeremiah dictated and his secretary
transcribed the words on a scroll. Instead of Jehoiakim’s son,
Coniah, Zedekiah, son of Josiah, was made king of Judah, by
Nebuchadrezzar (Nebuchadnezzar), king of Babylon, who had seized
control of Judah, Thus God’s Word, prophesied by Jeremiah, was
fulfilled, since neither Zedekiah nor the people of Judah had
heeded God’s Word.
1 Corinthians Summary:
Paul was discipling the Corinthian Christians.
He taught them to obey the “new” commandment which Jesus gave his
disciples (John 13:34-35). Paul was urging them to seek, identify,
develop and apply the gifts (abilities; empowerment) of the Holy
Spirit. One of the manifestations of the anointing of the Holy
Spirit may be ecstatic language, referred to as “speaking in
tongues” but, unless someone can understand and interpret it, no
one is “built up” by it except perhaps the speaker.
In contrast, prophecy builds up, encourages, and consoles the Church. Paul wants Christians to have ecstatic experiences but he wants them to grow spiritually and to be able to proclaim God’s Word so that the Church is built up, in fulfillment of Christ’s commission to his disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).
Unless the message is intelligible to those who
hear it, it isn’t helpful. Paul makes a comparison to musical
instruments that do not play clear, distinct notes. Even if the
speaking in tongues is an actual language in use somewhere on
earth, it doesn’t benefit people and the Church if none of the
hearers understands it. So Paul urges Christians seeking a
manifestation of the Holy Spirit to seek, develop and use
spiritual gifts which build up the Church.
Matthew Summary:
Jesus warned his apostles (disciples whom he
sent out as messengers of the Gospel) that they would be like
sheep in the midst of wolves. Jesus wanted them not to be gullible
but innocent of evil intent. Jesus warned that his disciples would
be arrested, tried and punished by civil and religious
authorities.
Those trials will be opportunities for the disciples to witness to the authorities. “When they deliver you up, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour; for it is not you who speak but the Spirit of your Father (God; the Holy Spirit), speaking through you” (Matthew 10:19-20).
The Gospel will cause divisions among people,
even close members of families. Christians will be universally
hated by worldly people for the sake of Jesus and his Gospel. But
disciples who endure to the end will be saved. When persecuted in
one town, we are to flee to the next, and we will not run out of
towns to testify and minister to before Christ’s return on the Day
of Judgment.
Commentary:
Jeremiah and Baruch were clearly and faithfully
proclaiming God’s Word to King Jehoiakim and the people of Judah.
The king and the people of Judah could
understand it; they just didn’t want to hear or obey it. God’s
Word is unlike foretelling the future because it contains promises
and warnings. We have a choice which determines what the future
brings, but God’s Word is always fulfilled as conditions for its
fulfillment are met.
Jehoiakim and his supporters refused to hear and obey the warning of God’s Word, but that didn’t prevent God’s Word from being fulfilled. Their rejection of God’s Word brought the fulfillment of the catastrophe which God’s warning had been given to prevent.
Paul was making disciples in the Corinthian
congregation. He was teaching them to seek the anointing of the
indwelling Holy Spirit, to grow spiritually, to learn to know and
obey God’s will, to seek, discover, develop and apply the gifts of
the Holy Spirit. The goal is a congregation of “born-again” (John
3:3, 5-8) disciple/apostles (all spiritually mature disciples are
to be apostles; one cannot be an apostle without being a
born-again disciple first) of Jesus Christ, according to the
pattern and example of Paul.
Speaking in tongues marked the first outpouring
of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13). This
manifestation was not some unintelligible ecstatic spiritual
language. It was a necessary gift so that the disciples could
proclaim the Gospel in the various languages of the world
represented in Jerusalem
by those who witnessed the occasion (Acts 2:5-11). It was God’s
reversal of his confusion of the language of the world at the time
of the Tower
of Babel
(Genesis 11:1-9).
The speaking in tongues which Paul was
addressing is a different manifestation, an ecstatic expression,
which is comparable to other ecstatic expressions like dancing,
rolling, shaking, or lifting hands to the Lord. It displays
spiritual ecstasy, but it is not a sign for believers but for
unbelievers (it doesn’t build up believers, but is a warning and
testimony to unbelievers; 1 Corinthians 14:22).
Ecstatic speaking in tongues can serve as an
illustration of “nominal” Christians who are not disciples, have
not been born again, and are not growing spiritually. They come to
church to be emotionally “moved;” to have an ecstatic experience.
They’re not joining in Jesus’ mission to proclaim God’s Word and
offer forgiveness and salvation to a spiritually lost and dying
world. They’re not willing to be uncomfortable for the sake of the
Gospel.
Jesus warned that in order to be his disciples
we’re going to suffer persecution, because God’s Word is no more
popular in the world now than it was in the day of Jeremiah, even
among some of “God’s people.” We shouldn’t be naïve about the
nature of this world, and we shouldn’t use worldly methods and
motives. Our call is to use the Gospel to heal and build up
instead of trying to manipulate others and gain advantage over
them.
We mustn’t attempt to proclaim the Gospel or accomplish Christ’s mission in our own human knowledge and strength. That is why it is so important to be discipled and born-again, filled with the indwelling Holy Spirit. That is the only way we can be guided and empowered to fulfill Christ’s mission.
The Lord doesn’t want us to rely on our knowledge, preparation and eloquence, but on his inspiration of us by his Spirit. I can personally testify to the truth and faithfulness of his promise to supply what we are to say at the moment it’s needed. We mustn’t become discouraged by rejection and persecution. We do need to be faithful and persistent.
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 22 Pentecost - Odd (Variable)
To be used only if there is a 23 Pentecost Sunday - Otherwise skip to 27 Pentecost.
First posted 10/18/05;
Podcast: Wednesday 22 Pentecost - Odd
Jeremiah 37:3:21 -
Jeremiah’s Arrest;
1 Corinthians 14:13-25 -
Ecstatic Tongues;
Matthew 10:24-33 -
Servant and Master;
Jeremiah Summary:
Zedekiah had been made king of Judah by Nebuchadrezzar
(Nebuchadnezzar; king of Babylon;
the kingdom of Chaldea). Nebuchadrezzar’s armies had
control of Jerusalem, but the army
of Pharaoh Hophra came up from Egypt to relieve
the city, and the Chaldean army withdrew. The Judeans thought that
they would be saved from the Chaldeans
[as had happened in the days of Hezekiah (2 Kings 19:32-37)]. King
Zedekiah sent Zephaniah, a priest, and one of Zedekiah’s men to
Jeremiah, the prophet, asking Jeremiah to pray for God’s help for
Jerusalem.
God told Jeremiah to tell the king that Egypt would withdraw and the
Chaldeans would renew their siege of Jerusalem, and would conquer
and burn it. The Lord warned Jerusalem not to believe that
Jerusalem
could resist and survive the Chaldeans; the city would fall to
them even if only their wounded soldiers were left to attack.
After giving the message to Zedekiah’s
messengers, Jeremiah left Jerusalem to go to his family property
in the territory of Benjamin (see Jeremiah 32:6-15), while the
Chaldean army had withdrawn from the siege of Jerusalem. But the
sentry at the gate in Jerusalem
stopped him and accused Jeremiah of deserting to the Chaldeans.
Jeremiah was arrested although he denied the accusation. Jeremiah
was brought before the officials of Judah, and they
were enraged. They beat Jeremiah and had him imprisoned in a
dungeon
After languishing in the dungeon for many days,
King Zedekiah had Jeremiah brought to him. Zedekiah wanted to know
God’s Word regarding the Chaldean siege. Jeremiah told him that Jerusalem
and Zedekiah would be delivered into the power of Nebuchadrezzar.
Jeremiah also asked Zedekiah to show cause for imprisoning Jeremiah, and suggested that it was the (false) prophets who had told Zedekiah that the Chaldeans would not attack who should be imprisoned. Jeremiah asked Zedekiah to have mercy on Jeremiah and not send him back to the dungeon where Jeremiah was afraid he would die. Zedekiah placed Jeremiah under house arrest in the court of the palace guard and allowed him a minimum ration of food until the supplies had been exhausted by the siege.
1 Corinthians Summary:
Paul had been teaching the Corinthian
congregation on the subject of spiritual gifts and the
manifestation of speaking in tongues (glossolalia) as an
expression of spiritual ecstasy (see entry for yesterday). Paul
urged that those who speak in ecstatic tongues should pray for the
power to interpret the spiritual language in intelligible words.
If the speaker of tongues cannot understand what he is saying, his
spirit may be gratified, but his mind isn’t. It’s great to be
moved to spiritual ecstasy in prayer and worship, but effective
prayer and worship must engage the mind and understanding.
Similarly, speaking in tongues doesn’t benefit
hearers unless someone can interpret what is said. If one praises
or gives thanks to God in an ecstatic tongue, how can hearers say
“Amen” (meaning “so be it;” verbal agreement) if they do not
possess the spiritual gift of interpretation of ecstatic tongues
or if no one interprets it for them. In corporate worship (as a
body; a group), it is better to say a few meaningful words which
the people of the group understand, than thousands of words no one
understands.
Paul urged Christians to be childlike in
innocence of evil, but not to remain spiritually immature. Paul
reminded them of the Old Testament prophecy of Isaiah who declared
that the Lord would speak to unbelievers in strange tongues and
foreign words and yet they will not heed God’s Word (Isaiah
28:11-12). So Paul taught that ecstatic tongues are a sign for
unbelievers rather than for believers, while prophecy builds up
believers rather than unbelievers.
If an entire congregation speaks in ecstatic tongues they’re experiencing spiritual ecstasy, but they’re not fulfilling their commission from the Lord to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the spiritually lost and dying world (Matthew 28:19-20). Visitors of the church, instead of being convicted of their spiritual need, would be convinced that Christians are lunatics.
In contrast, if the members of the congregation seek and develop the gift of prophecy by the indwelling Holy Spirit, they will be able to present the Gospel to unbelievers effectively. Visitors of the congregation will be convicted of their need for repentance and spiritual renewal in Jesus Christ, and will perceive the presence of the Spirit of the Lord within the congregation.
Matthew Summary:
Jesus warned that a disciple is not better than
his teacher, and a servant obeys what his master tells him rather
than the reverse. It is sufficient for a disciple to be like his
teacher, and the servant to be completely dedicated to the
master’s service. If people have accused Jesus of serving
Beelzebul (the lord of demons; Matthew 9:34; 12:24; Mark 3:22) how
can Jesus’ disciples expect to be treated any better (compare John
15:20)?
Jesus told his disciples not to be afraid of
any human. Nothing can be concealed from God, and everything will
eventually become known. Jesus’ disciples are to make known what
they have heard and learned from Jesus without fear of any human
or demon. The only one people should really fear is the Lord God,
who has the power to condemn those who defy and disobey him to
eternal destruction in Hell (Proverbs
9:10).
The worst that human
enemies can do is to put us to physical death. The most
insignificant creatures of earth do not die without God’s
knowledge and will, and God loves us far more than any other
created thing. Everyone who acknowledges Jesus to other people
will be acknowledged by Jesus to God; but everyone who denies
Jesus to people will be denied by Jesus to God.
Commentary:
Zedekiah represents
worldly leaders who have been placed in power by our spiritual
enemy, the present ruler of this world, Satan. Zedekiah wanted
God’s help to preserve his power and kingdom, but without being
obedient to God’s Word and will. Jeremiah was the true prophet
of God who gave Zedekiah the true Word of God, rather than
telling the worldly king what he wanted to hear.
If Zedekiah had been committed to obey God’s Word, Nebuchadnezzar’s conquest could have been avoided, but instead of repenting and committing to obedience of God’s Word, the leaders of Judah imprisoned the messenger. Jeremiah continued to faithfully proclaim God’s Word instead of compromising it to gain better treatment from the king.
Speaking in tongues
is two different manifestations; one is the ability to proclaim
the Gospel in different world languages (Acts 2:4-13) in the
reversal of God’s confusion of language at the Tower
of Babel
(Genesis 11:1-9). The other is a verbal expression of
spiritual ecstasy, comparable to (religious; ritual) dancing,
“holy-rolling,” “shaking,” or lifting upstretched arms in praise
to God.
The ecstatic speaking in tongues can also be
used as an illustration of individuals and congregations who
pursue the gratification of personal spiritual ecstasy, while
neglecting obedience to Christ’s call to discipleship and
evangelism (Matthew 28:19-20). Spiritual ecstasy can be
experienced by worshipers of false gods (1 Corinthians 12:2). Paul
was addressing this problem in the Corinthian
Church (see also entry
for yesterday).
Jesus told his disciples to shout, from the
rooftops, the Gospel, as whispered and revealed to them in the
inner “still, small voice” of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:45; 1 Kings
19:12-13). Christian disciples are not to let fear keep them from
testifying to the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If we want
Jesus to acknowledge us as his disciples on the Day of Judgment,
we must live as his disciples now!
Do we seek God’s Word in order to live
accordingly? Are we seeking to do God’s will or are we seeking to
manipulate God to do our will? Do we accept rebuke and correction
by God’s Word, or do we hate the messenger? Do we really worship
and praise the Lord or do we just want to feel good? If we don’t
come to personal knowledge of and fellowship with Jesus now in
this lifetime, he won’t know us as his disciples on the Day of
Judgment.
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 22 Pentecost - Odd (Variable)
To be used only if there is a 23 Pentecost Sunday - Otherwise skip to 27 Pentecost.
First posted 10/19/05;
Podcast: Thursday 22 Pentecost - Odd
Jeremiah 38:1-13 - Jeremiah Rescued;
1 Corinthians 14:26-33a (33b-36) 37-40
- Peace and Order Within
the Church;
Matthew 10:34-42 -
Finding Life;
Jeremiah Summary:
Jeremiah, the prophet, counseled the people of
Judah
to surrender to the Chaldean army of Nebuchadrezzar
(Nebuchadnezzar). He had prophesied that Jerusalem would be captured
and destroyed, and that surrender to the Chaldeans was the only
way to preserve their lives. This enraged the officials of Judah
who, contrary to Jeremiah’s prophecy, believed that God had
delivered them by the Egyptian army as God had previously
delivered them in the time of Hezekiah (2 Kings 19:32-37). The
officials told Zedekiah, King of Judah, that Jeremiah should be
executed for his treasonous call for surrender which was weakening
Judah’s
will to resist the Chaldeans.
The king told his officials to do what they
thought best, because the king could not go against them. So the
officials had Jeremiah lowered into the cistern of the king’s son,
Malchiah. There was no water in the cistern but there was mire at
the bottom, and Jeremiah partially sank into the mire.
A servant in the king’s house, Ebed-melech, an
Ethiopian eunuch, heard that Jeremiah had been placed in the
cistern, and he went to the king, as he was sitting in the
Benjamin Gate in Jerusalem.
The servant told the king what had been done to Jeremiah, who had
been left to starve to death in the muck in the cistern.
The king told his servant to take three other
men with him and lift Jeremiah out of the well. The servant took
rags and old clothes from the king’s wardrobe to pad and protect
Jeremiah’s arms so that he could be lifted from the cistern by a
rope. When he had been lifted from the cistern he returned to the
courtyard of the guard where he had been under house-arrest.
1 Corinthians Summary:
Paul was correcting problems which had
developed in worship in the Corinthian church. It seemed that
everyone wanted to present their own hymn, lesson, revelation, or
to speak in an ecstatic tongue, and the result was disorder. Paul
said that everything in worship be done for edification: to build
up and strengthen the Lord’s kingdom and his people.
Particularly concerning the manifestation of
ecstatic tongues, Paul insisted that they be limited to two or
three expressions only on the condition that they be interpreted so that the content could be
understood by all, or else such expressions should be done
silently, between the individual and the Lord alone.
Likewise, prophetic utterance and revelation
should be limited to two or three expressions that the rest can
consider and reflect upon. Each individual can contribute a
revelation, provided that it is instructive and encouraging to
all, and done one by one to avoid disruption. Christians are to
remember that prophetic inspiration is under the prophet’s
self-control, and is not disruptive. God’s will is not confusion
but peace.
Anyone who considers himself a prophet or
spiritually mature will recognize and acknowledge that what Paul
has been teaching is the inspired Word of the Lord. Those who
contradict it are not true prophets or spiritually mature.
Christians are urged to seek the gift of prophecy by the
indwelling Holy Spirit. Expressions of ecstatic tongues should not
be forbidden, but not allowed to be disruptive.
Matthew Summary:
Jesus knew that his earthly ministry would
divide people and result in conflict rather than peace among
people. Even the closest relationships between relatives would be
divided over him. Anyone who loves family more than Jesus is
unworthy of Jesus. Anyone who is unwilling to endure suffering to
follow Jesus is unworthy of Jesus. Those who love life in this
world will lose the chance for real, eternal life. It is those who
are willing to lose their earthly lives to serve and please Jesus
who will find real, eternal life.
Those who receive a disciple of Jesus Christ
receive Jesus, and those who receive Jesus receive God the Father.
Those who receive a prophet because they realize that he is a
prophet will receive the same reward as the prophet, and those who
receive a righteous person because the person is righteous, will
receive the same reward. Whoever does the slightest kindness for a
disciple because they recognize that he is a disciple of Jesus
Christ will be rewarded.
Commentary:
The people of Judah
and Jerusalem
loved their worldly lives more than God’s Word. They sought God’s
help against the Chaldeans, without being willing to trust and
obey God’s Word. The Lord had told Jeremiah that Jerusalem
and Judah
would be conquered by the Chaldeans and carried into exile in Babylon
because Judah,
the remnant of Israel,
had not obeyed God’s Word, and had worshiped idols.
Jeremiah declared God’s Word faithfully, but
the people didn’t want to hear it. Jeremiah told them that the way
to survive the Chaldeans was to surrender to them, but the people
of Judah did
not want to lose their worldly lives in Judah and cooperate
with God’s will.
King Zedekiah is an example of worldly leaders
and people who will listen to anyone but the Lord. He went along
with the evil done to Jeremiah by his officials, and then went
along with Jeremiah’s rescue, suggested by one of his most menial
servants, who wasn’t even a Jew, one of God’s “chosen” people.
Jeremiah, on the other hand, faithfully proclaimed God’s Word,
even though he knew it would lead to his persecution (Jeremiah
37:17-21; 38:2-4).
Worship in the Corinthian church was being
disrupted by people who sought personal spiritual ecstasy and
perhaps to seem “more spiritual” than other members, without
regard for the mission and wellbeing of the congregation. They
chose spiritual self-gratification instead of seeking, developing
and applying spiritual gifts like prophecy which they could use to
save spiritually lost and dying people, and to build up God’s
kingdom. Others seem to have been eager to be recognized as
prophets within the congregation, but unwilling to take God’s Word
into the world where they could be persecuted. Both attitudes
indicated spiritual immaturity.
Jesus is the ultimate example of one who loved
God’s will more than his own physical life (Philippians 2:8).
Jesus taught his disciples by word and example to trust and obey
God’s Word and to be willing to endure persecution for it. Jesus
knew he would be hated and killed by the Jews for proclaiming
God’s Word (Matthew 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:17-19; John 14:24).
If we want to receive the promises of God’s
Word we have to follow the teaching and example of Jesus. If we
want what is true and eternal life we must be willing to surrender
our present life in this world. True, eternal life begins now in
this world. As we trust and obey Jesus he gives us the gift of his
indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:15-17), which is the seal and
guarantee that we are in Christ and have eternal life (2
Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). It
is only through the indwelling Holy Spirit that we can have a
personal relationship and fellowship with the Lord (John 14:21,
23).
Any thing or person which we love as much as or more than the Lord is idolatry. Modern examples of idolatry are home, family, success, wealth, power, pleasure, or self. Jesus is God’s only provision for our salvation (Acts 4:12; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home). Jesus is the only way to forgiveness of sin (disobedience of God’s Word) and salvation (from eternal destruction and eternal death); no one can come to God except through Jesus (John 14:6).
If we think we know and love God we will recognize Jesus as God’s Son (John 14:7; 15:23). If Jesus is our Lord, we will love his disciples. Followers of Jesus can expect opposition and persecution. We need to keep focusing on Jesus and his word, and to persevere in spite of opposition. The answer to spiritual confusion is not getting a “second opinion;” it’s getting into God’s Word. Our response to Jesus and his followers reveals our spiritual condition.
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)?
To be used only if there is a 23 Pentecost Sunday - Otherwise skip to 27 Pentecost.
First posted 10/20/05;
Podcast: Friday 22 Pentecost - Odd
Jeremiah 38:14-28 -
Jeremiah and Zedekiah;
1 Corinthians 15:1-11 -
Paul’s Gospel;
Matthew 11:1-6 - Jesus
and John the Baptizer;
Jeremiah Summary:
King Zedekiah, of Judah, summoned Jeremiah, the
prophet, and met him at an entrance to the temple in Jerusalem.
Zedekiah asked Jeremiah privately to answer fully and honestly.
Jeremiah wanted Zedekiah’s assurance that he would not kill
Jeremiah and that he would heed Jeremiah’s answer. Zedekiah swore
not to kill Jeremiah or hand him over to Jeremiah’s enemies.
Jeremiah told the king that if he surrendered to the army of
Nebuchadrezzar (Nebuchadnezzar), king of Babylon
(Chaldea), Zedekiah and his household would live and Jerusalem
would not be destroyed. Otherwise he and his household would die
and the city would be destroyed.
Zedekiah told Jeremiah that he was afraid that Jews who had deserted to the Chaldeans would harm him. Jeremiah assured the king that he would not be given to the Jewish deserters. “Obey now the voice of the Lord in what I say to you and it shall be well with you and your life will be spared” (Jeremiah 38:20). Otherwise, all the women of the king’s house including the king’s wives and also his children would be captured and destroyed and the city would be destroyed by fire. The king’s fate would be like that of Jeremiah when he was in the cistern with his feet in the mud (Jeremiah 38:6, 9; 21-22).
The king promised Jeremiah that he would not
die, on the condition that he not reveal his conversation with the
king. The king told Jeremiah that if he was questioned by the
officials of Judah,
Jeremiah was to tell them that he had met with the king to plead
not to be returned to the dungeon. The officials did question
Jeremiah and he answered as the king had told him, and the answer
satisfied the officials, because his conversation with the king
had not been overheard. Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the
guard until the day Jerusalem
was conquered.
1 Corinthians Summary:
Some in Corinth were denying Jesus’
resurrection from the dead. The Apostle Paul reminded them of the
(apostolic) Gospel that he preached, by which we are saved if we
accept it and hold firmly to it.
Paul had faithfully and accurately transmitted
what he had received. Of foremost importance, Christ died for our
sins in fulfillment of scripture (Isaiah 53:5-12). He was buried
and was raised to life on the third day, as predicted by scripture
(Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:31).
There are more than five hundred eyewitnesses to the risen Jesus, including Peter (Cephas is the Aramaic name meaning “rock” given him by Jesus; Matthew 16:18), the Twelve (eleven remaining) original disciple/apostles, all the (other) apostles (including the seventy; Luke 10:1), James, who was the close relative of Jesus, and last, Paul (on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-9). Most of those eyewitnesses were still living at the time of Paul’s writing.
Paul considered himself the least of the apostles because he had persecuted the Church, but by God’s grace (unmerited favor; a free gift) Paul had been forgiven, restored and given apostleship. God’s grace was not wasted by Paul; he had used the opportunity to serve the Lord and build up the Church. He felt compelled to work harder than others from his appreciation of God’s grace while not claiming credit for his accomplishments, because it was the Holy Spirit working through him who deserved the credit. Through the Holy Spirit Paul preached the Gospel faithfully and accurately, and through the Holy Spirit the Corinthian Christians had believed.
Matthew Summary:
Jesus was traveling from city to city preaching
the Gospel and teaching God’s Word. John the Baptizer had been
imprisoned by Herod (Mark 6:17-20), and sought assurance that
Jesus was the Christ (Messiah; both mean “anointed” in Greek and
Hebrew respectively; i.e. God’s “anointed,” eternal king).
Jesus told John’s disciples to report to John what they had seen and heard Jesus doing (compare Luke 7:21) in comparison to the prophecy of Isaiah regarding the works of the Messiah. Jesus was healing the blind, the lame, the deaf; lepers were cleansed, the dead were raised, he was proclaiming “good news” (the Gospel) to the poor (compare Isaiah 29:18-19; 35:5-6; 61:1). Jesus also declared that those who are not offended by Jesus will be blessed.
Commentary:
King Zedekiah wanted the reassurance of God’s
Word without being obedient to it (Jeremiah 37:2-3). Jeremiah had
repeatedly declared God’s Word honestly and accurately, and had
been mistreated in return (Jeremiah 37:16-19; 38:4-6). Even on the
verge of Jerusalem’s
destruction Zedekiah still had the opportunity to repent and obey
God’s Word and the lives of himself and his people would be saved.
Jeremiah did what the king told him to do regarding the officials
of Judah,
but the king didn’t do what the Lord told him through Jeremiah.
Paul was faithfully and accurately transmitting
the scriptural apostolic Gospel which he had received from the
risen Jesus through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The
Holy Spirit is at work in this world to bring us to faith
(obedient trust) in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In order to be
saved from eternal death, we must receive the Gospel and live in
obedience to God’s Word, holding on to it and transmitting it to
others as we have received it, guided and empowered by the Holy
Spirit within us. Salvation is by God’s grace, through faith
(obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). Jesus is God’s
only provision for our salvation (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God’s
Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).
Paul is the prototype and example of a modern,
“post-resurrection,” “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciple and
apostle of Jesus Christ, as all of us can be. Every authentic
born-again disciple of Jesus Christ is a witness to the
resurrection of Jesus from physical death to eternal life.
John the Baptizer wanted assurance that Jesus
was the promised Messiah, and Jesus told him to compare what Jesus
was doing with God’s Word. Jesus' word is the Word of God (John
14:24). Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment and embodiment of God’s
Word (John 1:1-3, 14). We can come to the certain conviction that
Jesus is the Messiah by the testimony of his disciples in
comparison to God’s Word. Each of us must decide for ourselves who
Jesus is.
Jesus revealed himself by his words and actions
compared with God’s Word. Paul followed Jesus’ example, and his
words and actions were in accordance with God’s Word.
The hallmark and test of a true prophet of God is the fulfillment of prophecy (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). God’s Word is always fulfilled, and because it is eternal, it is fulfilled over and over, as the conditions for its fulfillment are met.
Jeremiah was a true prophet of God whose life
was in accordance with God’s Word. Zedekiah is an example of one
whose words and actions could not be relied upon because he was
not living according to God’s Word. Zedekiah couldn’t decide what
to do because he didn’t trust and obey God’s Word, and no one else
could know what Zedekiah would do because his words didn’t match
his actions.
God’s Word contains both promises and warnings.
We can either claim the promise by obedient trust, or we will
receive the consequences the warnings are intended to help us
avoid. We will either be blessed by
God’s Word or offended, enraged, condemned and eternally destroyed
by 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)?
Saturday 22 Pentecost - Odd (Variable)
To be used only if there is a 23 Pentecost Sunday - Otherwise skip to 27 Pentecost.
First posted 10/21/05;
Podcast: Saturday 22 Pentecost - Odd
Jeremiah 52:1-34 - The Fall of Jerusalem;
1 Corinthians 15:12-29 -
The Resurrection;
Matthew 11:7-15 - John
the Baptizer;
Jeremiah Summary:
Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he was
made a vassal-king of Judah
by Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon
(Chaldea). He reigned for eleven
years in Jerusalem.
He had followed the pattern of disobedience of God’s Word and
idolatry of Jehoiakim, his brother, who had reversed the reforms
of Josiah, their father. Despite the warnings of the prophets and
the example of the fall of the northern Kingdom of Israel, Judah failed to repent and return
to the Lord, so the fall and exile of Judah to Babylon which Jeremiah had
prophesied was fulfilled.
In the ninth year of his reign, Zedekiah
rebelled against Nebuchadrezzar (Nebuchadnezzar), precipitating
the siege of Jerusalem by
Nebuchadrezzar’s army from January 588 to August 587 B.C.* In the
last month of the siege the people of Jerusalem
were starving so they attempted to flee south (toward Egypt)
during the night while the city was surrounded by the Chaldean
army. The Chaldeans pursued them, the soldiers of Judah
were scattered, and Zedekiah was captured.
Zedekiah was taken to Nebuchadrezzar who was at
Riblah (Nebuchadrezzar’s headquarters during the siege; northeast
of Sidon).
Nebuchadrezzar executed Zedekiah’s
sons in Zedekiah’s vision, and then put out Zedekiah’s eyes. The
princes of Judah
were also executed. Zedekiah was taken to Babylon and imprisoned until
he died.
In August 587 B.C. Nebuzaradan,
Nebuchadrezzar’s captain of the guard, and the Chaldean army
entered Jerusalem and burned the
temple, the palace and all the great houses of Jerusalem.
The walls of the city were torn down. He carried off all the
people of Jerusalem to exile in Babylon,
except for some of the poorest people left to be field laborers.
All the equipment of the temple was carried off to Babylon, including the bronze pillars, which were broken into pieces. All of the gold and silver vessels were also carried off. All the bronze, gold, and silver items were valued only for their metal, and the total weight was great beyond calculation.
Saraiah, the chief priest, and Zephaniah, the
second priest, the temple doorkeepers, the commander of the army
of Judah, and his secretary who mustered the army, the seven men
of Zedekiah’s council, and sixty other men found in the city were
taken by Nebuzaradan to Riblah where Nebuchadrezzar had them
executed.
There were three deportations of Judah to Babylon. At the surrender of
Jehoiachin (597 B.C.*), over three thousand Jews were deported.
When Zedekiah’s revolt was suppressed (587 B.C*.) more than eight
hundred Jews were deported. After the assassination of Gedaliah, a
Jew appointed Governor of Judah by Nebuchadrezzar (582 B.C.*),
seven-hundred and forty-five Jews were deported. The total number
of Jews deported was four thousand and six hundred.
Thirty-seven years after Jehoiachin was
imprisoned, Evil-merodach, who had succeeded Nebuchadrezzar as
king of Babylon,
released Jehoiachin from prison and made him a member of the
Babylonian royal court. He ate at the kings table and was given a
regular allowance until his death.
1 Corinthians Summary:
Some in the Corinthian
Church were denying the
resurrection. Paul reminded the Corinthian Christians that the
death and resurrection of Jesus was the most important and
fundamental doctrine of the Church and the Gospel of Jesus Christ
which Paul had preached to them. If Jesus was raised from the dead
how can anyone claim there is no resurrection? If Jesus hasn’t
been raised, the preaching of the Gospel is in vain, faith in him
is futile, and there is no forgiveness of sin. If there is no life
beyond this present world then Christians are pathetic, since
they’ve sacrificed their present life for eternal life.
But Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead,
and his resurrection is like a security deposit guaranteeing the
resurrection of the dead. Death came into the world through Adam’s
sin (Genesis 3:3, 19). Jesus is the “new Adam,” whose death
restores eternal life lost by Adam’s sin. Jesus’ resurrection is
the guarantee of resurrection.
When Jesus returns at the end of this age,
those who are in Christ will be caught up to be with him forever.
At Jesus’ return he will deliver the kingdom to God after
destroying every worldly authority, power and enemy of God. Death
is the final enemy to be destroyed. God has given Jesus authority
and power over all things (compare Matthew 28:18), and all things
will be subject to his will, as Jesus is perfectly subject to God
the Father, so that God will “be everything to every one” (1
Corinthians 15:28; we will be completely subject to God’s will).
Matthew Summary:
Disciples of John the Baptizer had been sent to
Jesus for reassurance that Jesus was the Messiah, and after they
had left, Jesus asked the crowd why they had gone out to John in
the wilderness. John had a strong message and character; not
something fragile and easily shaken like a reed in the wind, and
the people hadn’t gone just to observe nature.
One doesn’t go looking in the wilderness for people wearing fine clothes. John was a prophet and more than that; John was the fulfillment of scripture of a prophet and messenger who would prepare the people for, and announce the coming of the Messiah and the kingdom of God (Matthew 11:10; compare Malachi 3:1).
John is greater than any other person up to
that time, but since the coming of Jesus, the least disciple of
Jesus is greater than John. John is the culmination of the Old
Testament prophets, and the fulfillment of the prophecy of the
“Elijah” to come preceding the Messiah (Malachi 4:5). Jesus urged
his hearers to pay attention to what he was saying.
Commentary:
The fall of Jerusalem
was a truly terrible tragedy which could have been avoided if
Zedekiah had trusted and obeyed God’s Word. On the very verge of
Babylonian conquest, Jeremiah had warned Zedekiah to obey God’s
Word to surrender to the Chaldeans and the lives of himself and
his family would be spared and Jerusalem and the temple would not
be destroyed Jeremiah 38:20).
Jeremiah had prophesied that Judah would be exiled in Babylon
for seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11-12; from 587 to 517 B.C.), after
which the Lord would bring them back to the Promised Land
(Jeremiah 29:10). Seventy years is a virtual life sentence for
those who were adults at the time of the deportation. The people
who returned to Israel after the
exile were not the same individuals who had been deported.
The Lord was able to punish Judah for sin and idolatry, and still bring back a chastened remnant of his people so that his ultimate plan of salvation through Jesus Christ could be fulfilled. The Exile in Babylon is also intended by God as a metaphor and illustration of God’s Judgment against sin (disobedience of God’s Word) and idolatry (loving any person or thing as much as or more than the Lord) and condemnation to eternal “exile” in Hell.
The people who came back from the exile
returned to obedient trust in God for a while, but forgot the
lessons of Babylonian exile and were unready to receive the
Messiah, Jesus. As the result, Jerusalem
and the temple were again destroyed, in 70 A. D. by the Romans, Israel
ceased to exist as a nation, and the Jews were scattered
throughout the world, until they returned following World War II.
The temple, on which the sacrificial system of the Old Covenant of
Law depends, has never been rebuilt.
Jesus’ resurrection is as well documented as
any event in the history of the world. Additionally, any truly
“born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) Christian experiences and testifies
to the resurrection of Jesus Christ and a personal relationship
with him by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, the Spirit of
Christ (Romans 8:9b). 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).
We are all eternal; all will be raised from the
dead (John 5:28-29). We have each been given the personal freedom
to choose whether to trust and obey the Lord or not. The choice we
make determines where we will spend eternity; eternal death in
exile in the “Babylon” of Hell, or eternal life in the “Promised
Land” of God’s eternal kingdom in Heaven (See God’s Plan of
Salvation, sidebar, top right, home).
John the Baptizer was guided and empowered to
proclaim God’s Word and to call people to repentance and obedient
trust in the Lord. He was the last and greatest Old Testament
prophet surpassing Elijah because of the coming Messiah he
announced, but any truly born-again disciple can be guided and
empowered to proclaim God’s Word, call people to repentance and
obedient trust in the Lord, make disciples of Jesus Christ, and
have a personal fellowship with the Lord always by the gift of the
indwelling Holy Spirit.
Paul considered himself the least of the
Apostles, because he had once persecuted the Church (1 Corinthians 15:9). Paul is the
prototype and illustration of the modern, “post-resurrection,”
born-again disciple of Jesus Christ, as we can also be. He had
heard and was applying the words of Jesus Christ. He was
fulfilling the “Great Commission” to make disciples of Jesus
Christ and teach them to trust and obey Jesus (Matthew 28:19-20).
Do you have ears that hear, trust and obey the
Word of God fulfilled and embodied in Jesus Christ (John 14:23-24;
John 1:1-3:14). 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)?
*The Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard
Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, Jeremiah
52:1-34n, p.988-990, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962.
