Bible Study on Matthew 12, verses 1 to 13, mercy on the sabbath day

 

Matthew 12:1 ¶  At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. 2  But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. 3  But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; 4  How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? 5  Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? 6  But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. 7  But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. 8  For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day. 9  And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue: 10  And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. 11  And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? 12  How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. 13  Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.

 

The religious elite has gone from interpreting the law far too loosely, needing Christ’s correction in chapter 5, to here interpreting it too strictly, missing the point. Remember what Paul will write;

 

2Corinthians 3:6  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

 

Mercy and necessity, according to Jesus Christ who was God in the flesh, are acceptable behaviors on the Sabbath Day. While Christians are not under the rule of the Sabbath Day observance there is no crime in our having a meal out on a Sunday unless we were to find that our server was a Christian who was forced to work on that day in which case we have a decision to make.

 

Jesus answers the Pharisees from an event in the life of David.

 

1Samuel 21:1 ¶  Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee? 2  And

David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place. 3  Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present. 4  And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women. 5  And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel. 6  So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.

 

And refers to the command for the priests to offer sacrifices on the Sabbath Day from Numbers.

 

Numbers 28:9 ¶  And on the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and the drink offering thereof: 10  This is the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.

 

Then, in verse 6 there is another declaration of His divinity.

 

For verse 7 note this;

 

Hosea 6:6  For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

 

Micah 6:6 ¶  Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? 7  Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8  He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

 

Verse 8 has Christ use the phrase Son of man. I noted before that Christ used this phrase linking His role as the Messiah to Daniel 7:13.

 

Daniel 7:13  I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

 

Concerning the man with the withered hand Christ made it clear yet again that acts of mercy and necessity were okay on the Sabbath. Christ also makes it clear that while God approves of mercy to beasts so much the more so should we be willing to show mercy to man, made in God’s image. In fact, one characteristic of evil people is their wanton disregard for the welfare of their animals.

 

Proverbs 12:10  A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

 

But the point made here is that this healing of this handicapped man is a good thing to be done on the Sabbath. It is not a violation of God’s standard, only man’s self-righteousness.

Bible Study on Genesis 42, verses 21 to 28, the brothers remember what they did to Joseph

 

Genesis 42:21 ¶  And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us. 22  And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required. 23  And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter. 24  And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes. 25  Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man’s money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way: and thus did he unto them. 26  And they laded their asses with the corn, and departed thence. 27  And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn, he espied his money; for, behold, it was in his sack’s mouth. 28  And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack: and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us?

The brothers’ guilt in regard to Joseph is brought before their minds. They believe that they are in trouble now, forced to pay, for what they did to him. Reuben reminded them that he had pleaded with them to do no harm to Joseph. He views this as cosmic justice for what they did to Joseph. It was acknowledged by preachers such as Jonathan Edwards in his sermon entitled Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God that sin carries with it the burden of justice. We do awful things and awful things come back on us. Heathens understand this in the Hindu concept of Karma and mostly in its popular Western application of getting what you have coming to you. God has His ways of dealing with people, sometimes slowly, and nations, sometimes slowly, in regard to their wickedness and evil treatment of others but God repeatedly warns people;

Genesis 4:10  And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.

Numbers 32:23  But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.

You cannot escape the evil that you do to others. Do you beat-up your wife or children? It will come back to you. Are you cruel to other people or to animals? God sees all that you do. The fact that some people seem to get away with much evil is no guarantee that you can walk in your wickedness with impunity. Bible figures lamented what seemed like a lack of needed judgment at times.

Jeremiah 12:1  Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?

But, judgment does come and God does visit those who act wickedly. The brothers see this situation they are in as just payment for their mistreatment of Joseph.

Joseph hears, of course, what they are saying but since Joseph feigned to be Egyptian he spoke through an interpreter so they didn’t know he spoke their language. We use the word interpreter today for a person who translates languages, for instance, at the UN.

Joseph can’t help but cry but he doesn’t want them to see him. He then bound Simeon and sent the rest of them away filled with food and provisions for the journey home but he also ordered their money to be returned to them.

When they realize that they have their money back they are terrified and ask What is this that God hath done unto us? Clearly, they believe that they are going to be in deep trouble with this Egyptian government official. They have no idea that it is Joseph or what he is up to.

This is important to add to the long list of things that indicate the Bible is telling us that there is no such thing as blind chance, that God works through our reality, through people and events, to accomplish something which we may have no understanding of in our finite minds. Moderns would do well to ask this question when things go awry or seem unexplainable. What is this that God hath done unto us?

Bible Study on Matthew 11, verses 16 to 30, For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light

 

Matthew 11:16 ¶  But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, 17  And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. 18  For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. 19  The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children. 20  Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: 21  Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22  But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. 23  And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24  But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

 

Christ moves from His praise of John the Baptist and the people desperately clamoring to enter the kingdom of Heaven to condemnation of those Jews who would not hear. He compares them to unrepentant cities of the Old Testament. The Jewish cities of His day on earth have a greater testimony given to them than cities of Old Testament and the cities of Old Testament may have responded favorably had they had the presence of Christ and the gospel of the kingdom of heaven presented to them. Tyre and Sidon, two maritime cities, were known by the Jews for their idolatry and wickedness much as seaports are known today. Even Sodom is spoken of favorably in this comparison.

 

See how Christ regards mankind’s rejection of Him, as worthy of destruction as Sodom itself.

 

Matthew 11:25 ¶  At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 26  Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. 27  All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. 28  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

 

For verse 25 see;

 

Isaiah 29:14  Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.

 

Jesus states that God has kept things back from the so-called wise men, the elite of the world. It is to the meek, those who submit to Him and hunger for His understanding, that He reveals the great truths.

 

Christ looks to heaven, honoring God’s sovereignty and the security of the covenant made with man through Christ. Christ looks around Him to mankind as well inviting them to take on the light burden He gives them, to receive eternal life. Here is an non-exclusionary offer to all people to receive Him and be saved. There is nothing complicated or burdensome about it. Only later institutional state-religions and cults will try to create chains out of rays of light.

 

For Christ to reveal Himself to you it must be so that you are willing to receive Him. Many people know of Christ but their hard hearts and stubborn minds prevent them from receiving Him as their Saviour.

Bible Study on Genesis 42, verses 7 to 20, bring your youngest brother to me

 

Genesis 42:7 ¶  And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. 8  And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him. 9  And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come. 10  And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come. 11  We are all one man’s sons; we are true men, thy servants are no spies. 12  And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come. 13  And they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not. 14  And Joseph said unto them, That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye are spies: 15  Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither. 16  Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies. 17  And he put them all together into ward three days. 18  And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God: 19  If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses: 20  But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.

Joseph puts on a good show for his brothers. He probably has spoken to several envoys from suffering lands around him and has his speech set by repeated usage. “Where are you from?” is the first thing he wants to know. There are probably countries that Egypt would be concerned about possibly sending spies in preparation for an attempted invasion to seize Egypt’s supplies. Joseph probably was normally wary. But he knows his brothers. He is successful in keeping them from knowing who he is.

As he speaks roughly to them he remembers the dreams he had where his family all bow to him.

Genesis 37:5 ¶  And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. 6  And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: 7  For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. 8  And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. 9  And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. 10  And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? 11  And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

Joseph realizes the fulfillment of these prophetic dreams. Now, notice the prophetic similarity regarding the Jews and Christ at the end of human history in the following verse.

Revelation 12:1 ¶  And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:

We can see how the Holy Spirit imparting wisdom to Moses to write this account of early history uses a metaphor to describe the tribes of Israel. We can then have a better understanding of prophetic verses in later parts of the Bible.

In this passage there is then an exchange where the brothers declare that they came to buy food but Joseph accuses them of being spies, come to check out the land. The brothers declare their innocence of this. When they admit that they have a brother that was left behind with their father Joseph demands that, to prove who that they are speaking the truth, they bring that brother to him. One of them is to go fetch Benjamin and the rest are to be hostages. He locks them up for three days, again symbolizing the bondage that death represents for God’s people until He releases them. Here, in this passage we see the synonymous comparison between ward and prison.

On the third day Joseph changes his order and demands that only one of them be a hostage and, in his mercy, the rest can take food back to their families. But, the younger brother must be brought to him. There are some interesting prophetic ideas here regarding Israel’s relationship with Christ, the Messiah whom they rejected and demanded that Rome murder. Who does Benjamin represent in this relationship? Whatever we think we must remember that this is regarding the Jews rather than Gentiles.

Joseph wants so badly to see his little brother.

Bible Study on Matthew 11, verses 7 to 15, the greatest man in history before Christ

 

Matthew 11:7 ¶  And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 8  But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9  But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. 10  For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 11  Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12  And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 13  For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14  And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. 15  He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

 

Jesus here reinforces the importance of John the Baptist’s ministry and the value of this Old Testament prophet living in the New Testament. Verse 10 is a reference to;

 

Malachi 3:1 ¶  Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

 

Jesus here states that John the Baptist was Elijah the prophet in type. He comes in the spirit and power of Elijah. This is not about the idea of reincarnation which is false.

 

Hebrews 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

 

Jesus’ declaration that the person that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than the greatest man who ever lived before Christ is very important. As hard as it may be for us to understand those people who lived before Christ did not have near the access to the throne that we do, having the Spirit of God living inside each of us. We have the capacity to do even greater things for Christ, if you can imagine it.

 

John did his part but we can do more. It is astounding to consider.

 

In verse 12 is expressed the urgency with which people are pressing into God’s kingdom as suggested by Matthew Henry and John Gill. Here is a parallel verse.

 

Luke 16:16  The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

 

Modern commentators, without cross-referencing, say that this verse is about violent opposition to the gospel. It is one of those hard sentences to translate from one language to the next they say. The problem with the modern interpretation is that how do you reconcile with the kingdom of heaven being taken? I can understand if they said “being opposed” but how is it taken by force?

 

If you compare Luke 16:16 with this verse it becomes apparent that all of these prostitutes, tax-collectors, these sinners, and the common people who were being healed and changed were clamoring to get into the kingdom of heaven, to experience that fullness of Christ, and they were desperate to do so. Maybe you have a better interpretation.

A Psalm for Sunday, Psalm 68, verses 22 to 31, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea

 

Psalm 68:22 ¶  The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea: 23  That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same. 24  They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary. 25  The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels. 26  Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel. 27  There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali. 28  Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us. 29  Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee. 30  Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war. 31  Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.

 

In verse 22 God is said to repeat His miracle of returning His people from the depths of the Red Sea, if you remember Exodus. He will perform another miracle as when He delivered His people from Og the king of Bashan, in Numbers 21:33-35. Perhaps this is reference to end times events like Revelation 20:13 with the sea giving up its dead or God returning His people to the Promised Land as in Isaiah 43:5-7 even perhaps referring to the translation of the Church or the resurrection of the dead in Christ.

 

For verse 23 see the prophecies found in Isaiah and Revelation.

 

Isaiah 63:1 ¶  Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. 2  Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? 3  I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. 4  For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. 5  And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. 6  And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.

 

Revelation 14:19  And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20  And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

 

Verse 24 can be a prophecy of Christ walking with His disciples in the Temple but in context John Gill reported that the Targum, a spoken translation of the Hebrew Bible also called the Tanakh, said this is the divine majesty leading the Hebrews out of the sea.

 

Then, in verse 25, some commentators likened this to the Apostles, disciples, and Christ’s ministers of the word going before to preach the Gospel with damsels likened to primitive churches while the context is said by many to refer to musicians and singers going before an army. The Targum notes this as Moses and Aaron singing at the Red Sea with damsels and Miriam playing the instruments.

 

For verse 26 this cross-reference stands out.

 

Psalm 107:32  Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

 

Then we have a reference to the tribes of Israel and a plea for God’s strength to be given to them to establish them. The temple that has not been built yet is referred to and then a prophecy of some future time when other nations shall appeal to God and we know from history that Ethiopia was one of the first countries that called itself Christian. In the 4^th century, the 300s AD, King Ezana of the kingdom of Aksum adopted Christianity as the state religion.

 

Much of the latter parts of this passage contains a great deal of symbolism with writers talking about bulls representing heathen countries and calves representing foolish people ruled by the Antichrist. So, it would be easy to get off in the weeds in this complex Psalm and a Bible Study on just this Psalm could go on for many pages.

 

I think in context though we can understand David talking about Israel’s history and future and that prophetically we can see Christ in this as well as the end of all history in Revelation. What are your thoughts about this Psalm so far?

 

Bible Study on Matthew 11, verses 1 to 6, are you the Messiah?

 

Matthew 11:1 ¶  And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. 2  Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3  And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? 4  Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5  The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6  And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

 

Verse 3 reveals a blatant deception in a modern Bible version. I have studiously avoided this kind of controversy as it doesn’t help move the narrative along. However, this is so egregious I just felt I had to comment.

 

3  And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

 

See how this verse is published in the so-called New King James Bible.

 

Matthew 11:3 (NKJV) “and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”

 

There is something odd about this rendering. The New King James Version was published in its entirety in 1982. In the late 1940s a Satanist named Alice Bailey who, of course, is considered a “New Age” writer rather than a Satanist by Satanists who wish to downplay the truth although the Lucis Trust published her works, wrote a booklet entitled The Reappearance of the Christ. Bailey espoused a doctrine of The Coming One, an avatar that would come periodically to teach and enlighten mankind as the Christ simply because the spirit of Christ never left the earth and has always been here in some form. She considered herself a Thesophist which links her to Satanist of the 19^th century, Madame Blavatsky, who in her late 1800s work, The Secret Doctrine, basically said Lucifer and Christ were the same person. This, too, is interesting as the New International Version seems to agree comparing Isaiah 14:12 and Revelation 22:16 in that version.

 

John is in prison and has been for some time. He wants a final assurance from his cousin that Jesus is the Messiah, that there is no other to come. Remember, there were several stories floating around including that there were two Messiahs. Here are my comments from Luke;

 

“John is seeking confirmation that there is no one to come after Jesus. This seems rather odd for us as John the Baptist is the one who announced Jesus first to the people. However, I read in a book entitled A History of Messianic Speculation in Israel from the First through the Seventeenth Centuries by Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver that there was an expectation of two messiahs at times, one; Messiah ben Joseph and, two; Messiah ben David. One is a conqueror and one suffers for the people of Israel and dies fighting the enemies of God and Israel. Jewish tradition also refers to, “The Four Craftsmen.”  Whether these rabbinic teachings of multiple messiahs are later interpolations or not it is clear that John is wondering if all of the prophecies will be fulfilled in one man; Jesus Christ. The Dead Sea Scrolls also speak of something like a war-messiah from the tribe of Ephraim dated to the first century before Christ, a suffering Messiah, and a priestly Messiah figure.”

 

Jesus replies with a “see for yourself” statement. When John acknowledges that the requirements are met for the Messiah he must realize that it is, indeed, Christ. The Holy Spirit gives us;

 

Psalm 146:8  The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:

 

Isaiah 35:5 ¶  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6  Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

 

For verse 6 keep in mind that offended can mean to make to stumble or fall short like a hapless runner who fails to reach the finish line. Many stumble at the word of God due to their wicked hearts and many will stumble and fall because they do not accept Christ.

 

It is a person’s own hard heart that would prevent them from seeing that He is the Messiah, God walking on earth in the flesh, the Redeemer of all mankind. It is your own sinful nature that prevents you from receiving Christ as your Saviour, to be offended in Him.

 

Isaiah 8:13  Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. 14  And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15  And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.

 

1Peter 2:8  And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

Bible Study on Genesis 42, verses 1 to 6, desperate for food in a famine

 

Genesis 42:1 ¶  Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another? 2  And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die. 3  And Joseph’s ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt. 4  But Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him. 5  And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan. 6  And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph’s brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.

Here is an interesting idiomatic expression. “What are you looking at each other for? Get down to Egypt and get some grain!” I remember a boss at a job down in Georgia saying to me when they wanted me to do something right away, “Don’t look at me like a cow looks at a new gate! Get moving.” Or, if you’re more uppity and want to quote Shakespeare you might respond to a blank stare with, “There is a tide,” from Julius Caesar, to stop someone from spinning their wheels, to take action.

Jacob wants his sons to take action so they don’t just sit there and starve to death. All of them except for Jacob’s favorite, his baby boy Benjamin, go down to Egypt to buy grain. Just in case something bad happens Benjamin will be safe. This doesn’t say much for Jacob’s concern for the rest, does it.

Bowing oneself to the earth is one of the postures of reverence and worship.

Sometimes people bow their head to worship God.

Genesis 24:26  And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.

Sometimes to the earth.

Genesis 24:52  And it came to pass, that, when Abraham’s servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.

Even falling down and grabbing the feet of the person worshipped.

Matthew 28:9  And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.

Sometimes they kneeled.

Psalm 95:6  O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

So, it is that there are different postures of acknowledging someone as superior. We Americans are taught to bow to no one as superior so we have a hard time acknowledging God’s power over our lives in a real, tangible way. Americans lack the awe for anything other than something like a fireworks display or a huge bomb going off. Our shallowness of culture does get in the way of our understanding of who God is and of His power over our lives. The weakness of other cultures was that for centuries they acknowledged a king, tsar, or emperor as being God’s agent on earth and were in fear and awe of him but still not seeing, because of the propaganda their government controlled them with, that it was God who controlled every heartbeat and breath and God, not their king, who could save or destroy in an instant. Only God is worthy of our awe and reverence, our worship.

Psalm 33:8  Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

Hebrews 12:28  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

The brothers come to this Egyptian official, mightiest in the land under the Pharaoh himself, to plead for food to buy. They are showing their inferior position and his power over their lives. This is a beautiful image of how we should come to Christ. Let Him lift us up.

James 4:10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

1Peter 5:6  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Bible Study on Matthew 10, verses 16 to 42, Fear not men, but fear God

 

Matthew 10:16 ¶  Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 17  But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 18  And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. 19  But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20  For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. 21  And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. 23  But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. 24  The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. 25  It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? 26  Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. 27  What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. 28  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29  Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31  Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. 32  Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33  But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. 34  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36  And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. 37  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. 40  He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. 41  He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42  And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

 

Jesus uses three types of animals here, focusing on the commonly held mythologies of their characters. The Apostles are going out physically helpless in a world that has many in it who would do them harm, as sheep among wolves.

 

John 16:2  They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

 

But they and we, by extension, are to be wise as the proverbial serpent, thought to be clever, plotting, and careful but harmless as doves. We should not be naïve or unaware of the devices of the enemy and so easily taken advantage of but at the same time we should pose no physical threat to others.

 

They are not to be overawed by rulers and kings but God will give them the words to say when the time comes for them to give a defense of the gospel. See how later Paul himself will be commissioned to preach to kings which he does in the latter part of Acts.

 

Acts 9:15  But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

 

Verse 21 shows that this preaching among the Jews caused division and many families would turn in on themselves giving up their own loved ones to the authorities for upsetting the established order. But Jesus tells the Apostles to stay steady in their mission until it is finished and they shall be protected. His Crucifixion and Resurrection will take place before every city in Israel being visited.

 

Jesus refers to how some have likened Him to the Devil as we would see in Mark 3:22 and later here in Matthew, chapter 12. He states that if He has been likened to the Devil how much more so will His servants receive that condemnation. But don’t worry, guys, be faithful and say what I have told you to say. You are in the Father’s hands. Even the most insignificant creature is in God’s hands and Jesus says that these Apostles are worth more than many of them. Even the very hairs of their head are numbered. Their time on earth is set by God, not by those who hate them.

 

These passages bring up some very important doctrinal points for us to consider. Fear God not man.

 

Isaiah 8:12  Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. 13  Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

 

There are many verses that refer to the importance of fearing God.

 

Job 28:28  And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

 

Psalm 111:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

 

Proverbs 1:7  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

 

Proverbs 9:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

 

Proverbs 15:33  The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

 

Isaiah 11:2  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

 

Isaiah 33:6  And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.

 

It is not just dread but also an overwhelming awe and reverence.

 

Psalm 33:8  Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

 

Hebrews 12:28  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

 

And that even the death of the most seemingly insignificant creature is in God’s control.

 

29  Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

 

Our days on earth are determined by God.

 

Job 7:1  Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?

 

From verses 32 to 39 we see the social disruption and conflict the Apostles faced. They are called to confess Christ before men and women and to face family and society’s rejection for their faith. Their own family was not to be above Christ in their hearts. Theirs was an uphill battle and a very dangerous mission in that world. The world in which they live will hate them because that world, as ours, hates Christ. They must be ready to expect the worst but have faith in God’s protection and blessing on their ministry.

 

Whosoever receives these Apostles receives the one who sent them. Even the smallest act of kindness that is done to one of them will be as if it was done to Christ Himself.