Bible Study on Matthew 9, verses 18 to 26, thy faith hath made thee whole

 

Matthew 9:18 ¶  While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. 19  And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples. 20  And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: 21  For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. 22  But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. 23  And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, 24  He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. 25  But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. 26  And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.

 

The comparable passage in Luke makes it clear that the little girl is dead and not just in a coma as her spirit is said to return to her. It is important to note that it is not the power of prayer or the power of our faith but the power of the one we pray to and have faith in that is vitally important in these circumstances.

 

First, let’s remember Abraham’s faith. He was told to offer his son as a sacrifice, the son of promise from God.

 

Genesis 22:1 ¶  And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. 2  And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

 

Hebrews tells us why Abraham was willing to obey such a command which seemed to counter the promise made to him by God earlier in Genesis.

 

Hebrews 11:17  By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18  Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19  Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

 

And Genesis itself tells us of Abraham’s confidence in God.

 

Genesis 22:8  And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

 

The ruler, as well, has the faith of Abraham in believing that Christ could raise his daughter from the dead. The woman with the issue of blood believes that just by touching Christ’s clothing she can be healed. This is the essence of faith, trusting that God can do what you need, and even just being in His presence is sufficient. What it would have been like to shake Christ’s hand or have Him pat you on the back when He walked the earth in flesh.

 

This incident added to His fame.

Bible Study on Genesis 39, verses 13 to 23, Joseph cast into prison

 

Genesis 39:13 ¶  And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth, 14  That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice: 15  And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out. 16  And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home. 17  And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me: 18  And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.

Genesis 39:19 ¶  And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled. 20  And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison. 21  But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22  And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. 23  The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.

Potiphar’s wife tells the men of the house, servants most likely, that Joseph tried to rape her. She made the accusation worse by implying that Joseph, a Hebrew, did it because he mocked the Egyptians, had contempt for them. She turns the assault she committed into an act of racism on Joseph’s part. Now, what was bad, is even worse, and represents something of the ethnic tensions found in Egyptian society of that time. You might have a foreign ruler, the Hyksos, whose people were hated by the Egyptians, and an angry and seething class of Egyptian officials, as I explained earlier. Joseph, being a Hebrew, is of the same general culture as the Hyksos rulers, but a slave. If this isn’t the time of the Shepherd-kings it doesn’t matter because, in any event, Joseph is perceived as attacking the Egyptians by attacking an Egyptian’s wife in this accusation.

Of course, Potiphar is furious. His wicked wife controls the narrative. The fact that he did not kill Joseph or have him killed can lead us to two possibilities. One, either Potiphar spared Joseph because of his relationship with him as a faithful steward or he was held back from killing a slave by law or custom. We know Joseph was a slave rather than our modern-day definition of a servant because he was sold. He could have been beaten under some systems and killed under others but we aren’t sure what Egyptian law at this time allowed or what Potiphar was thinking other than he was angry.

But this is how God is going to put Joseph in front of the king of Egypt. As man acts in his own ways God will turn them to His own purposes, man’s intentions notwithstanding. He is placed in a special prison or part of the prison where the Pharaoh’s prisoners were bound, giving evidence of Potiphar’s high rank. God shows Joseph mercy again and lets his character shine through, though, and God permits him to rise to the top and as what we today call a Trustee in prison parlance, Joseph was in charge of everything once again, and totally trusted. His character and integrity fall right into God’s plan for Joseph’s people and God will use him mightily.

God will use you even if you are wicked and carnal but the outcome for you personally will be much different. God has permitted even the most wicked to rise to the top but always keep in mind that it is His purpose that is the dominating factor in such things, in His ministry of reconciling man to Himself.

Daniel 4:17  This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

Luke 4:5  And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6  And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.

Pray that you get a Joseph at the top of your country or company rather than what we usually get.

Bible Study on Matthew 9, verses 14 to 17, new wine into old bottles

 

Matthew 9:14 ¶  Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? 15  And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. 16  No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. 17  Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

 

Before we look at the parable Jesus relates it is important to understand that at the time the King James Bible was translated a bottle did not have to be just glass, as it is today, but any container that carried a liquid, such as a leather bag. This can be confirmed by going to Lexicons of Early Modern English online and doing a search by which you will find Thomas Cooper’s 1578 Thesaurus Linguae Romanae et Britannicae and Thomas Thomas’ 1587 Dictionarium Linguae Latinae et Anglicanae and several other sources that refer to a bottle as simply a vessel of some sort with glass bottle being used for that specific container material.

 

 In the following a bottle can be rent or torn so common sense tells you these wily Canaanites were not just carrying around shards of broken glass.

 

Joshua 9:4  They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;

 

The question presented of why the Pharisees, with their long list of traditions, fast a lot and Jesus’ disciples do not was an important note about the dead religion the Pharisees followed. Christ was present and so His followers were joyful. He is the bridegroom and they will celebrate now but He will be taken from them.

 

One way of looking at this parable is that the joy of those who receive Christ cannot be contained in the old and decayed vessels of dead religion. Each of us comes to Christ with a lot of baggage; sins we have committed, and sins committed against us, and this baggage often hampers our walk with Christ even after we are saved by the sins that so easily beset us. We are raised in a culture that, even if conservative and acknowledging of Christ, often carries with it false doctrine and incorrect assumptions about what God wants. Our walk with Christ, our very understanding and interpretation of Scripture is colored by those things. We see the Bible through a lense formed by our own personality, preferences, bigotry, prejudices, and opinions, and, yes, experiences. In order to see Christ clearly we must put our faith in new bottle, without cracks and tears and fissures, coming to the Bible without the weight and the chains of our false beliefs, expectations, and assumptions.

 

For instance, many Christians will tell you that God would never do anything that would hurt you, so if you are hurt or sick or harmed in any way it must be the work of the Devil opposing God.

 

But, the book of Job teaches us that the Devil can do nothing to us which God does not permit. And see;

 

Job 2:10  But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

 

And Jeremiah will write;

 

Lamentations 3:38  Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?

 

We bring the false doctrine that we cannot receive anything hurtful at the hand of God and our faith and understanding is colored by that in opposition to the Bible. Old skins, rotten and torn, keep us from holding the doctrine of new wine.

Bible Study on Genesis 39, verses 7 to 12, the wife of Potiphar

 

Genesis 39:7 ¶  And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. 8  But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; 9  There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? 10  And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her. 11  And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within. 12  And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

Potiphar’s wife wants to have sex with Joseph. We use different euphemisms in our language for sin such as this. We say she wants to have an affair with him, or she wants to seduce him or some other such drivel to make wickedness seem sophisticated. As he is in an inferior position socially and powerless this is all about lust, a type of attempted rape. It used to be more common than it is now in our culture until sexual harassment laws, although much abused, worked to prevent even the taint of it. But, in our history, for instance, under the racial slavery that existed before the Civil War, no slave had any power to resist the advances of their master or mistress except to flee as Joseph will. It is a barbarous and uncivilized condition that exists still in some countries today, usually afflicting women, where they have no choice but to submit to the humiliation and physical danger or flee to an uncertain fate.

Joseph tells Potiphar’s wife that everything Potiphar has except for her has been put into his hands to care for and he is not about to violate the trust he has been given. The woman continually pressed upon Joseph her desire to do wrong with him daily and we might question why he didn’t tell Potiphar this but then it is likely she would have called him a liar and his situation would have been no better. Finally, she could stand his resistance no further and at a time when he went into the house to work and there were no witnesses, she grabbed his clothing and demanded that he have sex with her. Joseph ran, leaving that clothing in her hand she held it so forcefully in her lust.

His business is not the idiom in English that some use when referencing going to the bathroom. Here it is defined in the Bible as the work that one does.

Nehemiah 13:30  Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;

Proverbs 22:29  Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

The word wotteth is a form of wot, to know.

Genesis 21:26  And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.

Exodus 32:23  For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

Joseph displays a high level of character in holding the trust he has been given in honor. Most men, if the lady of the house wasn’t hideous looking, would have succumbed to her desires and used her favors as a means to gain advantage. Joseph shows himself worthy of the trust he has been given.

Bible Study on Matthew 9, verses 9 to 13, Matthew is chosen

 

Matthew 9:9 ¶  And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. 10  And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. 11  And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? 12  But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. 13  But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

 

Matthew, a hated tax collector in the Jewish social order, is chosen. In fact, many tax collectors and people of questionable repute sit down with Jesus and His disciples. He welcomes all which disturbs the Pharisees greatly. Their social order, like ours used to be, was very exclusionary.

 

Jesus’ argument here is inspiring. “Why do I associate with people that you think merit your disgust? Because with regard to sin, like a physical sickness, it is the sick that need the doctor. So, if you are healthy you apparently don’t need me.” He teaches two lessons here. The first suggests that the Pharisees are sicker than they realize. The second is that mercy is of a higher value to God than ritual worship.

 

God delights in mercy.

 

Micah 7:18  Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

 

And God gives more importance to mercy on our part than to judgment.

 

James 2:13  For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

 

What Christ did in coming to earth, living as one of us, dying as one of us, paying the penalty for our sins, and rising from the dead was mercy to the uttermost if you take the context of eternity and keep that in your mind.

Bible Study on Genesis 39, verse 1 and 6, And Joseph was brought down to Egypt

 

Genesis 39:1 ¶  And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither. 2  And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3  And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. 4  And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. 5  And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. 6  And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.

Joseph was bought as a slave. This is a very unhappy circumstance for Joseph but God can make any difficult circumstance be positive.

Proverbs 16:7  When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

God is going to use Joseph to save his people and Egypt to provide the conditions for the Hebrews’ propagation and increase in preparation for them to return to the land He has promised them in force.

Potiphar, Joseph’s human master, realized the administrative smarts and honesty of Joseph and placed him over the running of his house. Because of his association with Joseph he, too, prospered. This is a positive lesson for us. If you want good things to happen to you associate with good people. Young people can often make friends with the bad because they find them interesting or exciting while older people often make friends with the bad because they see some financial or social gain from it.

Amos 3:3  Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

2Corinthians 6:14  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Most of the time it is likely that you will be better off if you associate with a good, strong, and moral person as an employee or an employer, someone humbly devoted to God.

It is important to note here that Potiphar trusted Joseph completely to the point where Potiphar himself didn’t know what he had. It was all in Joseph’s hands. Joseph was, in essence, what we would call today a butler, although the term has changed meaning somewhat over time as we will see shortly. A butler in ancient and medieval times oversaw the valuable wine possessions of the rich household, from the Old French word for bottle-bearer. The steward in the Bible of the New Testament was more like the butler we know today or a combination of a great household’s butler and land agent, a manager.

Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured. Goodly is built strong and tall and well favoured is filled out well and handsome as it meant beautiful in other contexts. You can cross-reference both in the Bible to see that it is applied that way.

Genesis 29:17  Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. (Don’t forget and as a joiner of synonyms as we’ve studied before.)

Genesis 41:2  And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow…4  And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke.

Leviticus 23:40a  And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees…

1Samuel 9:2  And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.

Joseph was quite a looker and very attractive, most likely preoccupied with his work, too preoccupied to pay attention to looks and stares.

Bible Study on Matthew 9, verses 1 to 8, a man sick of the palsy

 

Matthew 9:1 ¶  And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. 2  And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. 3  And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. 4  And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? 5  For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? 6  But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. 7  And he arose, and departed to his house. 8  But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

 

He has come back to Capernaum where he was staying and was before He went to the Gergesenes. The faith of these friends of this palsied man is remarkable and Christ forgives him of his sins and heals him. Notice the similarity in Luke’s and Mark’s account with this scene. See Luke 5:17-26 and Mark 2:1-12.

 

Luke 5:17 ¶  And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. 18  And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. 19  And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. 20  And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. 21  And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? 22  But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? 23  Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? 24  But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto

thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. 25  And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. 26  And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

 

Mark 2:1 ¶  And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. 2  And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. 3  And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 4  And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. 5  When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. 6  But

there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 7  Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? 8  And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? 9  Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? 10  But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) 11  I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. 12  And immediately

he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

 

If you want to try to imagine this in your setting I think of those who love you praying and praying for you, speaking to God directly on your behalf. I had a mother-in-law who prayed diligently for me and for my family and I believe part of what changed my heart was God’s response to those prayers. Mrs. Mock lowered me through the roof tiles, in a manner of speaking.

 

Notice the people in glorifying God still were not expressing an understanding of who Jesus was, God in the flesh, walking among them.

Bible Study on Genesis 38, verses 24 to 30, bound upon his hand a scarlet thread

 

Genesis 38:24 ¶  And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt. 25  When she was brought forth, she sent to her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff. 26  And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more. 27  And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb. 28  And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first. 29  And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez. 30  And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.

Tamar is three months pregnant with Judah’s child. An accusation has been made to Judah that she had done wrong and Judah, who had denied her his youngest son in spite of his promise, wants “justice” to be done and she is to be killed. Clearly, in this culture, as in most on earth, the cards are not dealt in the same manner to men and women. Judah’s use of a harlot is no big deal but Tamar’s supposed indiscretion is worthy of death.

But Tamar has a surprise for Judah. She brings out the items that he had given her, supposing her to be a harlot, as surety against her payment. It is then that Judah is slapped with the truth of his own egregious behavior. Judah admits about Tamar;

…She hath been more righteous than I…

Judah was not angry at Tamar’s deception but acknowledged that he had been in error in not giving her his son as he had promised. One can only wonder at how many women in this culture paid the price for a powerful man’s behavior. Although Tamar was not raped it is nothing today for a woman in certain Muslim regions who has been raped even to be executed herself by the village for the crime committed against her. The fact that the writer, Moses, was led by the Holy Spirit to include that Judah did not use Tamar again in like manner shows that the possibility of her becoming a plaything or concubine for him was a possibility in this culture.

Travail refers to the process of giving birth in verse 27. For confirmation see;

Jeremiah 4:31  For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewaileth herself, that spreadeth her hands, saying, Woe is me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers.

Pharez, spelled Phares in the New Testament, was not the one that was expected to come out first, to be the first born, but he was. He is in the genealogical line of Christ, not Zarah.

Matthew 1:3  And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;

Luke 3:33  Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Phares, which was the son of Juda,

Zarah stuck his arm out first and a scarlet thread was tied to it, but it was Pharez who actually came out. There are many sermons to be made about this birth and many things can be said about it. For our purposes, in fleshing out the narrative of God’s ministry of reconciliation of mankind to Himself, the old saying goes, “Man proposes, but God disposes.” Christ did not come in the manner the Jews would prefer, as a noble ruler, perhaps a Pharisee, holding court in king’s palaces with the Gentiles coming to Him for His wisdom and approval. He came from a poor background, the physical son of common parents, not aristocrats. What man chooses, indeed, what he holds in high regard, God regards with contempt.

Luke 16:15  And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

Zarah was chosen by Tamar’s mid-wife but Phares was chosen by God to play the part he played in Christ’s lineage without having any will to choose anything himself.

Notice how God’s ministry of reconciliation starts and works through one man or woman at a time. It is only in the very end that Christ comes to take the kingdoms of the world. Right now, they are under Satan’s, the god of this world, control (2Corinthians 4:4) and His own people rejected Him.

John 1:10  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

Mark 12:10  And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:

Tamar says, in surprise, this breach be upon thee which gives us the meaning of his name and points out that Christ did not come to unite mankind but to divide them, the sheep from the goats; those who would trust God and follow Him and those who would worship themselves and the god of this world through their own hearts.

Matthew 10:34  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

Luke 12:51  Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: 52  For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. 53  The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

So, now, in Christ’s lineage we have a man who is the product of a sexual liaison between a woman and her father-in-law. Not very appropriate from our perspective but clearly showing that the human side of Christ’s lineage contains imperfect people, sinners like He came to save.

A scarlet thread will also come into play in Joshua, chapter 2, for a much different reason.

The Holy Spirit, through Moses, now takes us back to the narrative about Joseph’s experiences in Egypt.

Bible Study on Matthew 8, verses 28 to 34, there met him two possessed with devils

 

Matthew 8:28 ¶  And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. 29  And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? 30  And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. 31  So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. 32  And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. 33  And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils. 34  And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.

 

In this chapter Christ’s authority over disease and natural occurrences like storms is made apparent. Here He will show His power over the spirit world. Matthew reports that there were two men possessed of devils. Matthew has not been chosen yet so he had to rely on the testimony of those who were there under the Holy Spirit’s inspiration. Mark gives a variant spelling of Gadarenes with Strong’s saying they are the same and John Gill saying they are different towns near each other and Mark only mentions one possessed person but Mark, supposedly John Mark, is also writing based on testimony of others. Only one possessed man is focused on in Mark’s account in chapter 5 of his gospel. The difference is completely irrelevant. I’ve seen many historical accounts that focus on one or a few when many more were participants. If you have ever seen Band of Brothers on HBO you certainly didn’t believe that they were the only soldiers in the U.S. Army during WW2, did you? John Mark was writing, according to tradition and the testimony of early church fathers, from sermons and writings of Peter. I’ve discussed that previously and will again in my study on Mark’s gospel.

 

Possessed people having a fascination with tombs and graveyards is nothing out of the ordinary for us as we have a cult of death in this country that associates everything from satanic rites in graveyards and horror movies to abortion to a mass-die off of the human race to “save the planet” as being good things. Gill wrote that the Jews had many myths about how the deads’ spirits hovered near their bodies for a period of time resulting in some people trying to speak to them like the witch of Endor in 1Samuel 28. He also noted that these tombs were large enough that you could find shelter in them.

 

The violent aspect of possessed people is attested to in other places;

 

Mark 5:3  Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: 4  Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. 5  And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.

 

Acts 19:14  And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

15  And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

16  And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

 

The devils acknowledge that Jesus is the Son, uppercase S, of God, or God in the flesh, and has authority over them. What they plead with Jesus to do, understanding that He will do something, is very interesting.

 

We know that swine are forbidden as food for the Jews. Pork was a big part of the Roman soldier’s diet and there were probably many Gentiles in this area who may have owned the swine. Let’s suppose for now that it was Jews who owned and cared for these swine, whether their intent was on selling to the Romans or not. Jews throughout history have been keen and, indeed, have made a lot of money pandering to the desires of the Gentile. From banking in the Middle Ages to something as unseemly today as peddling pornography they have had a tremendous influence in satisfying the desires of the Gentile populations around them. It would not be impossible to imagine Jews herding swine they could not eat to make money off of the Gentile occupiers.

 

Here in the first recorded instance of “hogicide” or “deviled ham” as Dr. Ruckman jokingly noted. Here is a characteristic of devil possession in animals. They will destroy themselves. This small fortune for the owners is lost and as a matter of good business practice the owners ask Jesus to leave.

 

This is a very easy to understand situation. Can you imagine a revival you were instrumental in causing in a bar and how the owners would want you to leave and stop damaging their livelihood as their clients left? Some commentators say it was out of fear for a greater judgment coming on them. Whatever the reason, this situation caused quite a stir and much evangelism was accomplished as the city knew about Christ’s power over the spirit world.

 

A Psalm for Sunday, Psalm 68, part 2, verses 7 to 14, the earth shook

 

Psalm 68:7 ¶  O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah: 8  The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel. 9  Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary. 10  Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor. 11  The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it. 12  Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil. 13  Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold. 14  When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.

 

God led the Israelites out of Egypt.

 

Exodus 13:20  And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. 21  And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: 22  He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

 

Mount Sinai was a place of a tremendous appearance by God to the Israelites.

 

Exodus 19:18  And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

 

God blessed the Promised Land for them.

 

Deuteronomy 11:14  That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.

 

He blessed this congregation of ex-slaves, His people.

 

Deuteronomy 32:13  He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock; 14  Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape.

 

The Lord gave the word, His written word to Moses, and many, many Israelites kept it through generations. One known group even had rules about copying that if they made a mistake on a piece of parchment or a scroll the entire page must be destroyed and they would have to start over. But the Lord also gave the word of His gospel and millions of Christians have paid it forward in countless manuscripts and books. But back to the Israelites they drove out the Canaanites from the land that God had promised them. Kings were terrified and many fell by the sword.

 

Numbers 31:8  And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword. 9  And the children of Israel took all the women of Midian captives, and their little ones, and took the spoil of all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods.

 

We can also think of this as the spoils taken from Satan for God by the Christian witness, as some commentators attest. Though the Israelites lives had been bitter in their slavery God lifted them up and made them beautiful in His eyes.

 

Exodus 1:14  And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.

 

So, the Christian is clothed in Christ’s righteousness.

 

Romans 3:25  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Revelation 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

 

Finally, there is a reference to a snow-covered mountain or hill called Salmon where God caused kings to flee. This is information we might not be given elsewhere and is incidental to David’s praise and plea. John Gill referred to Revelation and the destruction of the kings of the earth.

 

David’s praise of God continues.