What are you claiming in your Ministry?

In the follow-up of an earlier work titled “The Calling to Christian Ministry is not an Occupation,” there arose a need to expand more upon and go deeper into contrasting current trends and tradition to what the examples or inferences for this important work are, drawn from the pages of Scripture. There is a popular teaching among Evangelical Christians that all you have to do to accept Jesus and receive forgiveness of sins is to recite “The Sinner’s Prayer.” This religiously sincere fast-food entrée to “salvation” is quicker than a marriage annulment in ‘Vegas,’ but is this really what the man of God should teach?

Isaiah 59: 1-2
Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened that it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear you.

John 9: 31
Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshipper of Him and does His will, He hears him.

How many Churches today and their teachers promote the theology of all you have to do is just “believe and confess Jesus as Lord?” Even if someone did confess Jesus as the Son of God and believe the same, that doesn’t mean the person is saved. Demons/unclean spirits confessed that Jesus was the Son of God or the Holy One of God (Matthew 8: 29a; Mark 1: 24b, 34; Luke 4: 34) and James 2: 19b says: “Even the demons believe- and tremble; yet, no one in their right mind would accept that these beings met the prerequisites for salvation.

Another teaching is called the ‘Prosperity Gospel/Prosperity and adding to that, believers were introduced to “prayer cloths” and anointing with “Holy [‘olive’??] Oil;” to receive divine blessings for material things such as cars, houses, money, jobs, etc. The Word of God says:

Jesus says in Matthew 6: 31: “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life. What you will eat; nor about your body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.”

I Timothy 6: 9-10
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money [not necessarily ‘riches/wealth’ per se] is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the ‘Faith’ in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows [‘regrets’].

Hebrews 13: 5a
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have.

I Timothy 6: 6-8
Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out; and having food and clothing [‘shelter’/other basic ‘necessities’??], with these we shall be content.

Perhaps one of the most pervasive, easily misunderstood, and over used teaching of all is “Tithing.” Many preachers will readily quote Malachi 3: 8-11, but they conveniently forget the all important context [V. 4; Judah and Jerusalem]. Since a few astute clergy are aware of this, a lot of them will use the New Testament to authenticate this faith practice, such as in the Corinthian letters. I will cover this matter in very great detail in the following:

I Corinthians 16: 1-3, 5, 8
Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the Churches [assemblies] of Galatia, so you must do also (Cp. II Corinthians 9: 7??): On the “first day” of the week [NOTE: makes sense because of Sabbath Day worship and also this was not a ‘Tithe’ or offering] let each one of you (1) lay something aside, (2) storing up as he may prosper, that there be (3) no collections when I come. And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your “gift” to Jerusalem. Now I will come to you when I pass through Macedonia (for I am passing through Macedonia). But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost (Cp. Acts 18: 21; 19: 21a, 22b; 20: 1-2??)

NOTE: The Apostle Paul brought the Word of the Lord to the Galatians during his First Missionary trip to Asia Minor. These assemblies were in Pisidian Antioch (Cp. Acts 13: 14); Iconium (Cp. Acts 14: 1); Lystra & Derbe (Acts 14: 6-7, 20); Perga [in Pamphylia] (Cp. Acts 14: 25). Also, this contribution is mentioned here and II Corinthians 8 thru 10, but keep in mind the word “gift;” which is something that is voluntary, non-compulsory, and unconditional; if it were not, it would be a command about ‘tithing.’

Not only that, but the impetus for this event was based upon the dire prophesy of Agabus in Acts 11: 27-30; which Paul and Barnabas sent relief to the elders at the Church [assembly] and temple in Jerusalem the first time. This famine must have been quite severe to have the plea for this outreach to extend so far outside of Judea, of which the Apostle Paul was glad to make the proclamation before Felix the Governor of Caesarea in Acts 24: 17, where he says: “Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation.” Also, not to be overlooked, the Corinthians believers were composed of synagogue attendees [Jews] and perhaps God-fearing Gentile proselytes, too.

II Corinthians 8: 1-5
Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the Churches [assemblies] in Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints (Cp. Acts 11: 27-29; 24: 17).
And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.

NOTE: The “Macedonian” Churches [assemblies] include: Philippi (Cp. Acts 16: 12); Thessalonica (Cp. Acts 17: 1); Berea (Cp. Acts 17: 10).

8: 8-14
I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. For you know the grace of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. And in this I give my advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and desired a year ago (Cp. I Corinthians 16: 1-5); but now you must complete the act of doing it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there must be a completion out of what you have. For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have. For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack- that there may be equality.

9: 1-2, 4-5
Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous (necessary, expedient) for me to write to you; for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia [namely, the Corinthians] was ready a year ago; and that your zeal has stirred up the majority. Lest if some Macedonians come with me [like Gaius and Aristarchus; Cp. Acts 19: 26b] and find you unprepared, we (not to mention) should be ashamed of this confident boasting. Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised (pledged) that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation.

NOTE: It would seem that the appearance of brethren from the Apostle Paul beforehand is some type of psychological coercion, intimidation, or compulsion; even if his concern was just encouragement and a reminder to not procrastinate and finish what you start. It could be a way for Paul to save “face” and not be embarrassed for all his bragging.

9: 6-8, 11-15
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have abundance for every good work. While you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgiving to God, while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

NOTE: Here in a nutshell is what the traditional Christian offering or collection pertains to. Most of the time, only a few select verses in the Corinthian letters are used, accompanied by wonderfully uplifting songs or stern admonitions from the pulpit or altar, but rarely has anyone read the entire narrative in context.

So, what does the New Testament teach regarding supporting the Gospel or those who minister in the Word of God?

I Corinthians 9: 7-15a, 17a-18
Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink the milk of the flock? Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the Law ["Torah"] say the same also? For it is written in the Law ["Torah"] of Moses, “You shall not muzzle the ox while it treads out the grain (Cp. Deuteronomy 25: 4).” Is it oxen that God is concerned about? Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so for me. For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.

II Corinthians 11: 7-9
Did I commit sin humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge? I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you. And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one; for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself.

NOTE: This is a far cry from those members of the clergy and Church leadership today who use the Scriptures to psychologically coerce the believers into 'tithing' or put a "guilt trip" and fear of condemnation on the flock if they do not participate in this offering. Are they like those in Micah 3: 11a, which reads, Her priests teach for pay and her prophets’ divine for money?

There is one other reference in the New Testament on this matter of support [financial??], and that pertains to the office of a "special" class of Elder, as in I Timothy 5: 17-18, which says: Let the Elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor [just what is this?], especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain (Cp. Deuteronomy 25: 4)," and, "The laborer is worthy of his wages." Matthew 10: 10b, which says: “For a worker is worthy of his food.” So, just as those who preach the gospel of God have the right to be supported, the Elder who among his other responsibilities, proclaims the Gospel and teaches [instructs in doctrine] is to receive the material things they need just as the Apostles, ministers, evangelists, and missionaries who spread the "Good News." (Cp. I Timothy 3: 1-7; Titus 1: 5-9)

What is the responsibility of the believer? Among the other things which bear fruit, which pertaining to benevolence, hospitality or supporting preaching the Word, are:

SCRIPTURE:
Romans 12: 13
Distributing to the needs of the saints.

Galatians 6: 6
Let him who is taught in the Word share in all good things with him who teaches.

What is the responsibility of the preacher, teacher or minister of the Lord, and what does this involve?

SCRIPTURE:
Matthew 28: 18-20; Mark 16: 15-16; Luke 24: 47

And what is the Gospel [Evangelion- “Good News”]?

SCRIPTURE:
Acts 10: 36-43; I Corinthians 15: 1-4

Notice the first time in Scripture that ‘Evangelist’ is used. In II Timothy 4: 5b, Paul says: Do the work of an Evangelist, fulfill your ministry. And pertaining to spiritual gifts for the work of ministry and to edify the body of believers, Ephesians 4: 11, states: And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. Looking at the background of Philip for guidance, it seems that an Evangelist is someone who goes from place to place spreading the Word of God; much like a Missionary does.

Today, those many among the clergy want a stationary or home Church where they are get paid a generous, above-average livable wage, have office-hours for relationship or marital counseling sessions, give motivational talks and seminars, do song rehearsal, practicing for the next sermon or teaching Bible classes; instead of taking a Sabbatical from all of this and go out in the field and preach the Gospel to the lost; trusting in God to provide for their needs (Cp. Acts 20: 34-35a; II Corinthians 11: 7).

The clergy (Preacher, Evangelist, Pastor, Bishop, Priest or Elder) does not have to be involved in the daily activities of the Church, as evidenced in Acts 6: 3-4: Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of (1) good reputation, full of (2) the Holy Spirit and (3) wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and ministry of the Word. The Apostle Paul’s charge to Timothy is recorded in II Timothy 4: 2: Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season [even if it’s not politically-correct and quite unpopular]. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching [doctrine].

And lastly, Luke 17: 10: “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, “We are unworthy servants. We have done what was our duty to do.”


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
August 30, 2009
pbks@hotmail.com

Does God accept your worship?

There is doubtless unanimous agreement among believers in the Christian Church about the importance of assembling together to worship our Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. The services of devotion with fervent prayers, songs of thanksgiving and praises, as well as hearing the Word of God taught to us seem to permeate the very core of our being. The Holy Spirit bearing witness with our ‘spirit’ confirms and authenticates our spiritual adoption as children of God, but does even this heavenly gift substitute for our giving to God in everything we do the kind of worship that He regards as pleasing to Him? It isn’t enough just to be religious and sincere but the bigger question is whether the sacrifice that is being offered to the Creator is of “Faith.” Some examples and additional commentary in the following are offered for consideration.

Genesis 4: 3-5a
And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. And Abel also brought the firstborn of the flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected (accepted) Abel and his offering, but He did not respect (accept) Cain and his offering.

NOTE: Many Sunday school teachers, preachers, Bible scholars or theologians have tried to explain why God accepted Abel’s offering and not Cain’s. Some have surmised that it was because of the type of offering that the LORD rejected, and while that might be partly true, but the narrative in GENESIS does not say; so what was the reason? There are 3 references that might give a clue, which are found in Hebrews 11: 4; Jude 11; I John 3: 12. In a nutshell then, it wasn’t the type of offering that God rejected so much as it was Cain’s character; which is borne out not only in I John 3: 2 but way back in Genesis 4: 7, where the LORD says, “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should [must??] rule over it.” This is all the more interesting because the LORD does not mention anything about ‘sin’ pertaining to Adam and Eve’s conduct.

The Old Testament is replete with examples of individuals as well as the Children of Israel offering sacrifices to the LORD God as a sweet aroma, starting as far back as Noah in Genesis 8: 20-21a, but are there instances where God rejected this or any other display of worship, too? Well, one person comes to mind is Saul, the first King of Israel as someone who bears looking at for a starting point. Besides details of the beginning incident which ultimately leads to his down fall in I Samuel 13: 1, 8-14a, King Saul takes it upon himself to build an altar to the LORD in I Samuel 14: 35; this is even after the prophet Samuel told him that God has rejected him being King. The point to notice is this, first, continuing in verse 37, where it says, “So Saul asked counsel of God. . . But He (God) did not answer him that day.” In I Samuel 28: 6, again it reads, “And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams, or by the Urim or by the prophets. So, what does this have to do with someone worshipping God and being heard by Him, everything!

Isaiah 59: 1-2
Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened that it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear you.

NOTE: Although sin is readily obvious as well as the usual rendering of iniquity as wickedness, but according to WEBSTER’S Dictionary, “Iniquity” has another meaning: 1 fr. iniquus – uneven, [like the balances of a scale]. I: gross injustice.

John 9: 31
Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshipper of Him and does His will, He hears him.

NOTE: This Scripture really gets to the heart of the matter because it not only mentions the all-important ‘worship,’ but includes the person performing God’s will. Let’s just see how this works in reality.

Matthew 15: 8-9
These people draw near to Me with their (1) mouth, And honor Me with their (2) lips, But their (3) heart is far from Me. And in vain do they worship Me, Teaching for doctrines the commandments of men (Cp. Isaiah 29: 13).

NOTE: In Matthew 22: 34-38, the Pharisees asked Jesus what was the great commandment in the Law [“Torah”], and the first aspect within man was to love God with one’s heart; now why mention this area first? Why is the “Heart” important? According to Easton’s Bible Dictionary, The heart is the "home of the personal life," and hence a man is designated, according to his heart. The heart is the centre not only of spiritual activity, but of all the operations of human life. Hardness of heart evidences itself by light views of sin; partial acknowledgment and confession of it; pride and conceit; ingratitude; unconcern about the word and ordinances of God; inattention to divine providences; stifling convictions of conscience; shunning reproof; presumption, and general ignorance of divine things.

There are numerous passages in the Bible that mentions God trying or searching the ‘heart” (Cp. II Chronicles 28: 9b; I Samuel 16: 7b; I Kings 8: 39b; Jeremiah 17: 10a; 20: 12a; Revelation 2: 23), and Jeremiah 17: 9 states, “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can ‘know’ it?” The thing is, a person can be deceived, fooled or self-deluded and not even ‘know’ it. As a result, perhaps the psalmist had this thought in mind in Psalms 78: 36-37, which reads: Nevertheless they flattered Him with their mouth, And they lied to Him with their tongue [perhaps thinking they were doing the ‘truth’??]; For their “heart” was not steadfast with Him, Nor were they faithful in His covenant.

Are there examples where God was not pleased and rejected the sacrifices of worshippers who offered these things up to Him; As former Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin would say, you betcha!

Isaiah 1: 13-15
Bring no more futile sacrifices; incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies- I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of hearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. . .

Ezekiel 20: 39
“As for you, O house of Israel, “Thus says the LORD GOD: “Go, serve every one of your idols- and hereafter- if you will not obey Me; but profane My holy name [and assembly??] no more with your gifts and your idols.”

Profane 1: to treat (something sacred) with abuse, irreverence [treat lightly or set aside the seriousness of], disrespect or contempt.

NOTE: Basically, what God is saying to the Children of Israel in contemporary modern vernacular, “Don’t waste My time, as well as yours with faking it or pretentiousness!”

There are those in the body of Christ who habitually come late to the appointed place and time set aside to honor the King of the Universe; they start visiting and socializing with friends and acquaintances during this sacred time; they become distracted and loose their focus and concentration [daydreaming; “spiritually gone fishing”], still others are pacing back and forth [presumably taking bathroom breaks], or some parents are publicly trying to discipline unruly children, not to mention interruptions of another sort, even some shenanigans from the pulpit, too. It is almost as though some Christians subconsciously think they are doing God a favor by just showing up. The saints need to be reminded of Matthew 18: 20, where Jesus says, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I AM there in the midst of them.” In the book of REVELATION, the Lord Jesus Christ says to the Seven Churches of Asia Minor (Turkey), “I Know Your Works” (Cp. 2: 2 – 3: 15); which includes individuals as well as the collective assembly.

Also, there is the very good passage that seems to mirror the current attitudes among some of the believers today in Ezekiel 33: 30-32, which reads: “As for you, son of man, the children of your people are talking about you beside the walls and in the door of the houses; and they speak to one another, everyone saying to his brother, ‘Please come and hear what the Word is that comes from the LORD.’ “So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their ‘hearts’ pursue their own gain. ‘Indeed you are to them a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument, for they hear your words but do not do them.

Additionally, when was the last time anyone made a connection between contrition, repentance and restoration; leading sinners to the Lord as in Psalms 51: 10-13?
Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to you.

Matthew 7: 21
“Not everyone who says to Me,’ Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”

John 14: 15
“If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

John 15: 10, 14
“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.”

Lastly, to sum it all up:
II Corinthians 13: 5a
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the ‘Faith.’ Test yourselves.

Hebrews 13: 15-16
Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with sacrifices God is well pleased.

I Peter 2: 5
You also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5: 1-2
Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma.

Romans 12: 1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice to God, which is your reasonable [‘spiritual’??] service.

Of course, the opposite of this is found in the following:

Titus 1: 16
They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being reprobates, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.

Matthew 7: 19-20, 22-23
“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire; Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your Name, cast out demons in Your Name, and done many wonders in Your Name?’ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness [“iniquity”]!’

NOTE: In conclusion, it behooves every believer to be like it says in Psalms 26: 1-2:
Vindicate me, O LORD, For I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the LORD, I shall not slip [sin or be in error??]. Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; Try my mind and my heart.


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
August 24, 2009
pbks@hotmail.com

Textual Criticism and Exegesis of the Gospel of Matthew

Many of us are familiar with the miracles, sermons, parables, and prophetical utterances, but what about a simple narrative study and comparison of a few selected citations which might cause you to ask a few questions; thereby doing some follow-up research.

1: 1
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham.

NOTE: Who would be the most interested in a genealogical introduction?

Matthew 1: 12-16
And after the deportation to Babylon, to Jeconiah was born Shealtiel; and to Shealtiel, Zerubbabel; and to Zerubbabel was born Abiud; and to Abiud, Eliakim; and to Eliakim, Azor; and to Azor was born Zadok; and to Zadok, Achim; and to Achim, Eliud; and to Eliud was born Eleazar; and to Eleazar, Matthan; and to Matthan, Jacob; and to Jacob was born Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom was born Jesus, who is called the “Christ.”

COMMENTARY:

"JECONIAH"
I Chronicles 3: 16-20
And the sons of Jehoiakim [“Eliakim”] were Jeconiah his son, and the sons of Jeconiah, the prisoner [during the “Babylonian captivity”], were Shealtiel his son, and Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah. And the sons of Pedadiah [“Shealtiel”; Matthew 1: 12??] were Zerubbabel and Shimei. And the sons of Zerubbabel were Meshullam, and Hananiah, and Shemolith was their sister; and Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushabhesed, five (??)[by “Shimei”, verse 19??].

Matthew’s account has some significant inconsistencies which have been previously noted, but in addition to those listed above, there are others: Abiud, Azor, Achim, Matthan, Jacob son of Mattan, and Joseph son of Jacob are not mentioned in any genealogical record or Scriptural reference; except here in this account.

"ELIAKIM"
There are 2 Eliakim’s; one is a son of Hilkiah (Cp. II Kings 18: 18) and the other Eliakim is the king of Judah, whose name was changed to “Jehoiakim” by Necho king of Egypt (Cp. II Chronicles 36: 4).

"ZADOK"
As for Zadok, it is a little difficult to pinpoint his ancestry because it is so varied. He is the son of Ahitub (Cp. I Chronicles 6: 6-9, 11-15; Ezra 7: 1-5), the son of Meraioth (Cp. Ezra 9: 11), the son of Baana (Cp. Nehemiah 3: 4, 6), and the son of Immer (Cp. Nehemiah 3: 29)

"ELEAZAR"
Eleazar is interesting because according to I Chronicles 6: 4, he begat Phinehas, but I Chronicles 23: 22a; 24: 28 states that he died having no sons but only daughters. Ezra 7: 5 and I Chronicles 9: 20 mentions that Phinehas is the son of Eleazar. He is also mentioned as the son of Dodo the Ahohite in I Chronicles 11: 12, and as the son of Mahli (Cp. I Chronicles 23: 21; 24: 28).

"MATTAN"
Mattan is mentioned as a priest of Baal who was killed during the purge of Jehoiada (Cp. II Chronicles 23: 17; II Kings 11: 18) or the father of Shepthatiah (Cp. Jeremiah 38: 1).

NOTE: Presumably this Mattan is Matthan??

"JOSEPH"
Joseph is the son of Bani (I Chronicles 25: 2; Ezra 10: 42) or the son of Shebaniah (Cp. Nehemiah 12: 14).

1: 18-23
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And you shall bring forth a Son and call His name “JESUS” and He shall save His people from their sins. So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, bear a Son, and they shall call His name “IMMANUEL,” meaning, ‘GOD WITH US.’ (Cp. Isaiah 7: 14 )

NOTE: Read Isaiah 7: 1 through 8: 10; esp. 10-11, 14-15; 8: 8b, 10b??). Also, this prophesy doesn't mention the name "JESUS." Also, why didn't Mary tell Joseph that she was carrying the Holy Seed inside of her?

2: 1-2, 7
Wise men [“Magi, Astrologers’] from the East inquired of Herod the King after following His “Star” about the birth of One King of the Jews.

NOTE: Was it a brilliant star in the heavens, the Planet Jupiter, a unique constellation configuration, cosmic phenomenon, or truly an inexplicable ‘supernatural’ event?

2: 4-5
And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the "Christ" was to be born. And they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: Micah 5: 2.

NOTE: Curiously, Matthew doesn't include the part in Micah that mentions "Whose goings forth are from of old, from Everlasting," and in Matthew 6b, "Who will shepherd My people Israel" is found in II Samuel 5: 2??

2: 11
Gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Cp. Isaiah 60: 6).

2: 13-15
Take the Child and depart to Egypt (Cp. Hosea 11: 1).

2: 20
Those [Herod the Great??] who sought the Child’s life are dead.
NOTE: The King probably died around 4 BCE, according to ‘Wikipedia.’

2: 22
Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod [The Great], and Joseph and his family were warned in a dream by God and turned aside into the regions of Galilee.

NOTE: according to "Wikipedia," Herod Philip I ruled Judea, Samaria, and Edom; but in Luke 3: 1 it states that Philip was tetrarch of Iturea and the region of Trachonitis (around Syria).

2: 23
He came and dwelt in Nazareth that it might be fulfilled as spoken by the Prophets, “HE SHALL BE CALLED A NAZARENE.”

NOTE: This prophetical utterance is not found in Scripture.

3: 1
John the Baptizer came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

3: 3
This is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: Isaiah 40: 3

3: 7-8
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! (Cp. 12: 34; 23: 33) Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance."

3: 10, 12
And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

3: 13
Jesus came from Galilee to be baptized by John.

3: 16-17
When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well leased."

NOTE: The Scriptures do not say if anyone else heard the voice but Jesus, and as far as seeing the Spirit of God descend as a dove, outside of Jesus, John the Baptizer was the only other person who could (Cp. John 1: 31-32). This is not all that surprising, considering the account in Luke 1: 15, 26-41.

4: 12-16, 17
Jesus heard that John was put in prison and departed back to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth He came and dwelt in Capernaum, by the Sea [of Galilee/Tiberius] in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali (Cp. Isaiah 9: 1-2; 42: 7). From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

NOTE: Jesus continued what John the Baptizer started (Cp. 3: 1)

4: 24
Then His fame went throughout all of Syria.
NOTE: Why not throughout Judea, Samaria, or Galilee?

5: 17-19
I did not come to destroy [‘loosen’] the law [“Torah”] and Prophets but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth shall pass away, one Yodh [smallest letter] or one small stroke will by no means pass from the Law ["Torah"] till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

NOTE: Loosen might convey a better sense of the verse than destroy. Now what are those commandments?

5: 21
You have heard that it was said to those of old, "You shall not Murder" (Cp. Exodus 20: 13; Deuteronomy 5: 17).

5: 22b
And whoever says to his brother, Raca ('I spit on you')! shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, You fool ('you coward')! shall be in danger of hell fire ("gehenna").

5: 27-28
You have heard that it was said to those of old, "You shall not commit Adultery" (Cp. Exodus 20: 14; Deuteronomy 5: 18). But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

5: 29-30
And if your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than your whole body be cast into hell ("gehenna"). And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than your whole body be cast into hell ("gehenna").

NOTE: Why did Jesus mention a "right" body part instead of just one in particular; and was He advocating maiming oneself? For the idea behind "HELL" look at II Kings 23: 10; Isaiah 30: 33; Jeremiah 7: 31-33.

5: 31
Furthermore it has been said, "Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce. "But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality [unfaithfulness] causes her to commit adultery (??); and whoever marries a woman who is divorced [for marital infidelity??] commits adultery (Cp. Romans 7: 2-3??).

NOTE: Under the Law of Moses a divorced woman could remarry another man but the only prohibition was that she could not return back to be a wife to her former husband because it was deemed a 'defilement' (Cp. Deuteronomy 24: 1-2); Jesus goes beyond that in His teaching, too?? Also, under the Old Testament, when a man had sexual relations with a married woman, both of them are to be put to death (Leviticus 20: 10)

5: 33
Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord (Cp. Exodus 20: 16; Leviticus 19: 12b; Deuteronomy 23: 23a).

5: 38
You have heard that it was said of old, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth (Cp. Exodus 21: 12-27; Leviticus 24: 17-21; Deuteronomy 19: 21).

5: 43
You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.

NOTE: Deuteronomy 23: 7 says, You shall not abhor an Edomite, and Leviticus 19: 18 says, Love thy neighbor as thyself.

8: 11-12
And I say to you that many will come from the east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

NOTE: Jesus did not include the north and south, the ends of the earth, or refer to the nations [Gentiles]. It seems rather here that the kingdom of heaven is a geopolitical government rather than the heavenly one.

8: 16b-17
And He cast out the spirits with a word, and He healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: "He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses." (Cp. Isaiah 53: 4a)

10: 5-7
Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

10: 23
You will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

11: 2-3
And when John in prison had heard of the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?"

NOTE: Is it not strange that although John the Baptizer heard of the things Jesus did, still his understanding of the prophesied "Messiah" or 'Anointed One' and what He would do to usher in the expected kingdom of heaven was at odds with what was actually being done. If indeed, John the Baptizer was an Essene from the Qumran community that produced the Dead Sea Scrolls, then the role of Messiyah bringing about the Apocalyptic battle between the "Sons of Light" and the "Sons of Darkness" would have left him a little puzzled, indeed.

11: 4-5
Jesus answered and said to them, "Go tell John the things which you hear and see. The blind see and the lame walk (Cp. Isaiah 35: 5a, 6a); the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear (Cp. Isaiah 35: 5b), the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

NOTE: Isaiah's prophesy mentions about the tongue of the dumb singing ["loosened"], but nothing about the dead being raised and the poor having the gospel preached to them, or the poor mentioned at all.

11: 10
For this is he of whom it is written: Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You (Malachi 3: 1)

NOTE: The rest of Malachi 3: 1 reads: And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming, says the Lord of Hosts [YHVH Sabaoth].

11: 12
The kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force (Cp. Luke 16: 16??). The Law and the Prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.

NOTE: It seems as though the people looked on this as a real political, social, religious and civil governmental entity as opposed to a spiritual one.

11: 13-14
For all the Prophets and the Law [‘Torah’] prophesied until John [the Baptizer]. And if you are willing to receive it, he is the Elijah to come (Cp. Luke 1: 17??).

NOTE: See Luke 16: 16 and Malachi 4: 5-6a

11: 18
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, "He has a demon."

NOTE: This is curious because nowhere in the Gospel record does it mention about John the Baptizer was accused of having a demon, but rather Jesus was labeled in that manner.

12: 16-21
Jesus warned the multitude not to make Him known; thereby fulfilling Isaiah 42: 1-4.

12: 23-24
The multitudes asked if this was the Son of David but the Pharisees accused Him of casting out demons by Beelzebub, ruler of the demons.

NOTE: If this entity is over the demonic hordes then where does Satan fit in all of this?

12: 27
By whom do your sons cast them (demons) out?

NOTE: Does Jesus’ statement mean that the Jews practiced exorcism and where in the Law [Torah] are the instructions in this rite mentioned? There is of course the incident mentioned in Acts 19: 13-19.

12: 46-50
While He was talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. Then one said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You." But He answered and said to the one who told Him, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, "Here are My mothers and My brothers!”For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother."

NOTE: It doesn't appear that the social family bonding was all that strong.

13: 10, 13
Speaking to the multitudes in Parables (Cp. Isaiah 6: 9-10).

13: 34-35
All these things Jesus spoke to the multitudes in Parables [The Sower, Wheat and Tares, Mustard Seed, Leaven]. . . that it might be fulfilled by the prophet, saying. . . See Psalms 78: 2.

13: 45-52
Jesus instructs the disciples on the parables of The Hidden Treasure; The Pearl of Great Price; The Dragnet, and in verse 51, Jesus asked them if they understood all these things, to which they replied, “Yes Lord.”

13: 54a, 55-56
And when He had come into His own city, He taught them in their synagogue. Is this not the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses [Joseph], Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?

NOTE: It would be quite interesting to know more about His siblings and mother Mary.

14: 1-2
Herod the Tetrarch heard the report about Jesus whom he thought was John the Baptizer whom he beheaded had risen from the dead (Cp. Luke 3: 1).

14: 25, 33
Jesus was walking on the Sea [of Galilee/Tiberius] and came into the boat. Those in the boat worshipped Him saying, “You are the Son of God.”

NOTE: Jesus did not tell them to keep this quiet (??).

15: 1-4, 7
Scribes and Pharisees came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked Him why His disciples transgress the “tradition” of the elders; to which He replied, “Why do you transgress the commandment of God by your ‘traditions’?” {Scribes, Pharisees, Hypocrites!}

16: 1, 3-4
The Pharisees and Sadducees came and testing Jesus, asked Him to show them a ‘sign’ from heaven. The only sign will be like that of Noah (Cp. 12: 38-42). {Pharisees, Sadducees, Hypocrites!}

16: 13-17
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" So the said, "Some say John [The Baptizer], some Elijah, and others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ ["Anointed"], the Son of the Living God." Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

NOTE: Did the people as well as the disciples believe that Jesus was one of the Prophets who died centuries ago, and God has miraculously brought back to life? Even Herod the tetrarch thought that Jesus was John the Baptizer risen from the dead (Cp. Matthew 14: 1-2), so is this belief in the doctrine of Reincarnation or the Transmigration of Souls?

16: 19
The keys to the kingdom of heaven and binding on earth and heaven and loosing on earth and in heaven.

NOTE: Keys seem to denote authority to open up (allow; loosen) and restrict (prevent; bind). With this thought in mind, consider Isaiah 8: 16, which says, “Bind up the Testimony. Seal the Law [‘Torah”??] among My disciples,“ along with Matthew 5: 17: I did not come to destroy [‘loosen’] the Law [“Torah”] and Prophets but to fulfill.

16: 20
Jesus commanded that His disciples should not tell anyone that He was the “Christ”.

NOTE: What about Matthew 14: 30??

17: 1-4
Jesus, Peter, James, and John go up on the Mountain of Transfiguration where Moses and Elijah appeared and talked to Jesus.

NOTE: Elijah is only the second person in the Scriptures to have not seen death but taken directly to heaven. The first was Enoch (Cp. Genesis 5: 22, 24) and Elijah (II Kings 2: 1, 11-12a).

17: 5
A voice spoke from the cloud that overshadowed them, saying, “This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

NOTE: Almost word-for-word with Matthew 3: 17.

17: 9
Jesus told them not to tell the “vision” until the Son of Man is risen from the dead; why?

17: 10-12a, 13
And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come?" Jesus answered and said to them, "Indeed, Elijah is coming [first] and will restore all things? ”But I say to you that Elijah has come already (Cp. 11: 14), and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptizer (Cp. Malachi 4: 5-6a; Luke 1: 17).

NOTE: How is it that John the Baptizer was the Elijah who was to come and would have the power to restore 'all' things??

18: 8-9
"If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. "And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell ("gehenna") fire.

NOTE: Essentially word-for-word as Matthew 5: 29-30.

18: 10
Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.

NOTE: According to Jesus, children do indeed have "Guardian Angels."

18: 18-20
Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you lose on earth will be loosed in heaven (Cp. 16: 19b). Again I say to you that if "two" of you agree on earth concerning 'anything' they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.

19: 28
Assuredly, I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

NOTE: Not judging the nations or the world, but just the Twelve tribes of Israel??

20: 20
Then the mother of Zebedee’s son’s came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something of Him.

NOTE: It would seem that these sons were not yet men, and most likely teenagers to have their mother intercede for them.

21: 1-2, 4-5
Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olivet, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you will say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them. All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “TELL THE DAUGHTER OF ZION, BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU, LOWLY, AND SITTING ON A DONKEY, A COLT, THE FOAL OF A DONKEY.” (Cp. Zechariah 9: 9)

NOTE: There are two Bethany’s; one is around the Mount of Olivet near Jerusalem, and is called Bethphage. The other one is the Bethany Beyond the Jordan, called Bethabara, opposite the one in Judea.

21: 9-11
Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying, “HOSANNA TO THE SON OF DAVID! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD! Hosanna in the highest!” (Cp. Psalms 118: 26a) And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved [stirred up with excitement, anticipation, confusion, anxiety, etc.??], saying, “Who is this?” So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.

NOTE: The Old Testament doesn’t say anything about the “Prophet” coming from Galilee (Cp. Deuteronomy 18: 15, 18a; John 7: 40, 52; Matthew 2: 4-5)

21: 12-13
Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold [practiced extortion and usury] in the temple precincts; He overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those who sold doves, as it is written, “MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER, ‘BUT YOU HAVE MADE IT A DEN OF
THIEVES.'

NOTE: This combines both prophesies of Isaiah 56: 7b and Jeremiah 7: 11.

21: 17
Then He left them and went out of the city [Jerusalem] to Bethany [Bethphage??], and He lodged there.

21: 21-22
So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea, it will be done. “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

22: 29-30
Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.”

NOTE: This refutes the teaching of some who believe in conjugal rights and family planning in the hereafter.

23: 1-3,
Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and His disciples, saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. “Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say and do not do.”

NOTE: Although the Scribes and Pharisees wielded religious authority among the people as the inheritors of the Mosaic Law [“Torah”] to teach the people in place of the former Levites and Priests {??}, still, didn’t Jesus say in Matthew 15: 6 that they [Pharisees] set aside the commandment of God [contained in the “Torah” of Moses] by their [oral] traditions?

23: 13-34 "Jesus pronounces woes"

NOTE: The most serious and profound denunciation of any group or person in the New Testament Gospels; and perhaps in the entire Bible.

23: 35b
Zechariah the son of Berechiah, who you murdered between the temple and the altar.

NOTE: This incident is recorded in II Chronicles 24: 20-22, but it is Zechariah son of Jehoiada. The only other mention of a name close to that of “Berachiah” is, Zechariah son of Benaiah in II Chronicles 20: 14.

24: 1-3, 6b, 22, 24, 31, 33-34
Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” Now as He sat on the Mount of Olivet, the disciples came to Him privately saying, “Tell us, (1) when will these things be and (2) what will be the sign of Your coming and (3) the end of the age?” For all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved, but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. For false Christ’s and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near; at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away until all these things take place.

COMMENTARY: The first thing is to read the entire chapter, keeping in mind the ‘context,’ which is predicated upon the three questions the disciples wanted Jesus to answer. Jesus mentioned “these things” as events which the disciples would seemingly be alive to see [‘the end is not yet; when you see all these things; this generation will by no means pass away until. . .’]. Also, curiously, Jesus says His angels will gather the “Elect” from the four corners of heaven instead of the four corners of the Earth, or even gathering them from every nation under heaven. Lastly, the ‘Elect’ is usually thought of as being the Christian Church, and while some aspect of that may be true, but in this particular instance, Jesus may have more nationalistic interests. God’s Elect would appear to be “Israel” foremost (Cp. Isaiah 45: 4; 65: 22; Romans 11: 7, 28; I Peter 1: 1-2; II John 1: 1, 13??; Revelation 7: 4-8 & 14: 1-5??)

25: 31-46
The Son of Man will judge the Nations (Cp. Revelation 7: 9-10; 14: 6-7; “Gentiles”)

26: 17-18, 20
Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” And He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, “The Teacher says, ‘My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.”‘“ When evening had come, He sat down with the twelve.

NOTE: Nothing is mentioned in the other Gospel narratives about Jesus saying, “My time is at hand.” MARK and LUKE mention about a guest room where Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples (Cp. Mark 14: 12-17; Luke 22: 7-13). John’s Gospel shows Jesus instituting the ordinance of “Foot-washing,” probably as an example of humility and demonstration of Love; as opposed to The Lord’s Supper (“Eucharist”) as mentioned in the others, including the Apostle Paul’s instructions in I Corinthians 11: 17-34. Also, JOHN’S narrative is the only one to record a very lengthy discourse by Jesus (chapters 13 through 18)to the disciples before leaving for the Brook of Kidron near the Mount of Olivet, where He was finally arrested and sent to His execution (“Crucifixion”).

27: 32-44 “The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ”

NOTE: It is puzzling that Jesus could have been have been publicly executed between 12PM and 3PM by the hated Romans without the people rioting and committing insurrection because according to Matthew 21: 9, 11, 45-46, Jesus was highly esteemed by the people as a prophet.

28: 16-17
Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them (Cp. Matthew 28: 10; Mark 16: 7). When they saw Him, they worshipped Him; but some doubted.

Note: It is curious why this narrative mentions some disciples were doubtful; was it such a shock and they were so traumatized as this event was beyond belief, and they just could not rationally accept the impossible feat of seeing Jesus having been raised from the dead? Mark 16: 12-14 seems to be a record of what is mentioned in Luke 24: 13-38. Also, in Luke 24: 34, it mentions about the Lord appearing to Simon [Peter], but verse 12 doesn’t mention any such thing. The narrative of JOHN is the only book to mention about Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene alone (Cp. John 20: 11-18).


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
July 29, 2009
pbks@hotmail.com

A sneak peek on the Day of Judgment

Most of us like to see the trailer ir coming attractions of a new and exciting Blockbuster movie or get a sneak preview; just as a tease to whet our appetite for the anticipation of such enjoyment that we are too anxious in wanting to wait for, and be totally surprised as well as blown away by the experience. Needless to say, waiting for the “Second Coming” of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the glory to be revealed is the greatest hope in the entire history of human existence. The thing is, will all of those who are believers and offer wonderfully heartfelt praises, reverential devotion and worship to God be welcomed into the eternal kingdom of God the Father? To be ‘politically-correct’ in Christendom is to accept every House of Worship, Sanctuary, Congregation, Temple, Assembly, Church, Kingdom Hall, Cathedral, and Edifice where God’s Word is proclaimed, parishioners gather together, and the Gospel is taught as true, genuine, and authentic, but is this necessarily the case? It isn’t just enough to believe in the Lord, receive remission of sins, and then attend some Christian Church services to worship God because how do you know it is the ‘right’ one or are they all the same? A few Scriptural references and COMMENTARY are offered for consideration.

II Corinthians 13: 5a
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the “Faith.” Test yourselves.

NOTE: The followers of Jesus have been forewarned about false teachers and prophets from the Gospels to the last book of the Christian Bible in Revelations.

II Corinthians 11: 13-15
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

NOTE: Satan is the greatest counterfeiter in Creation and those who try to imitate his works by counterfeiting US Currency by duplicating the markings/engravings, special paper, and ink used on the printing presses at the US Treasury Department, can’t even come close to the Devil and his ministers “Counterfeit Christianity.”

Matthew 15: 8-9
These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain do they worship Me, Teaching for doctrines the commandments of men (Cp. Isaiah 29: 13).

NOTE: There are many wonderfully moving songs of praise, uplifting testimonials, stirring sermons, and worship services lasting upwards of three hours, but does that necessarily mean that it is pleasing to God. I Samuel 15: 22a, says, “Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.” Not only that, but in Matthew 22: 34-40, when Jesus was asked about the great commandment in the Law [“Torah”], He DID NOT SAY anything about paying “lip service” in homage and praise [IN WORSHIP] to God but rather the very ‘first’ element was “heart;” as in love God with all your heart, mind, and soul. . ., and the very thing that seven chapters earlier and in Isaiah’s prophesy that was far from God; leading to “vain worship” by teaching [and by extension] accepting/believing the COMMANDMENTS OF MEN.

Why is the “Heart” important? According to Easton’s Bible Dictionary, The heart is the "home of the personal life," and hence a man is designated, according to his heart. The heart is the centre not only of spiritual activity, but of all the operations of human life. Hardness of heart evidences itself by light views of sin; partial acknowledgment and confession of it; pride and conceit; ingratitude; unconcern about the word and ordinances of God; inattention to divine providences; stifling convictions of conscience; shunning reproof; presumption, and general ignorance of divine things.

Matthew 13: 24-30, 41-43
Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like [the Son of Man] who sowed [the sons of the kingdom] in [His world]; “but while men slept, [the devil] came and sowed [the sons of the wicked one] among the [wheat] and went his way. “But when [the grain] had sprouted and produced a crop, then [the sons of the wicked one] also appeared. “So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow [the sons of the kingdom] in [the world]? How then does it have [the sons of the wicked one]?’ “He said to them, ‘[The devil] has done this.’ The servants said to Him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ “But He said, ‘No, lest while you gather up [the sons of the wicked one] you also uproot [the sons of the kingdom] with them. “Let them both grow together until [the end of the age], and at the time of [the end of the age] I will say to [the angels], “First gather together [the sons of the wicked one] and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather [the wheat] into My barn. “The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He, who has ears to hear, let him hear!

NOTE: This is Jesus’ interpretation of the Parable (Matthew 13: 36-42), so all I did was substitute His answers.

Matthew 7: 21-23
“Not everyone who says unto Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your Name, cast out demons in Your Name, and done many wonders in Your Name?’ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Matthew 7: 19-20
“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire; Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”

Titus 1: 16
They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being reprobates, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.
And lastly, what are the kinds of works that believing Christians should be doing that evidences the love of God in their lives and that bear fruit. SEE BELOW:

Matthew 25: 31-46
“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. “And all the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. “And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ‘for (1) I was hungry and you gave Me food; (2) I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; (3) I was a stranger and you took Me in; (4) ‘I was naked and you clothed Me; (5) I was in prison and you came to me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you (1) hungry and fed You, or (2) thirsty and gave You drink? ‘When did we see You a (3) stranger and take You in, or (4) naked and clothe You? ‘Or when did we see You (6) sick, or in prison, and came to You?’ “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: ‘for (1) I was hungry and you gave Me no food; (2) I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; (3) ‘I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, (4) naked and you did not clothe Me.’ “Then they will also answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You (1) hungry or (2) thirsty or a (3) stranger or (4) naked or (6) sick or in (5) prison, and did not minister unto You?’ “Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to You, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
August 9, 2009
pbks@hotmail.com

What are the Commandments that Christians are supposed to keep?

There are those today who believe that Christians are required to keep the law of Moses, including dietary requirements and observance of the Sabbath; to which the Apostle Paul would say in Colossians 2: 16, Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days. So, the million dollar question which may very well have eternal repercussions is whether believers are required to live according to the teachings of the Law ["Torah"], and if not, since we are led by the Spirit of God, what "Law" measures up to being classified as the commandments of God? The following exhaustive study and commentary is offered for consideration.

5: 17-19
I did not come to destroy [‘loosen’] the law [“Torah”] and Prophets but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth shall pass away, one Yodh [smallest letter] or one small stroke will by no means pass from the Law ["Torah"] till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

NOTE: Loosen might convey a better sense of the verse than destroy. Now what are those commandments?

5: 21
You have heard that it was said to those of old, "You shall not Murder" (Cp. Exodus 20: 13; Leviticus 19: 16b; Deuteronomy 5: 17).

5: 27
You have heard that it was said to those of old, "You shall not commit Adultery" (Cp. Exodus 20: 14; Deuteronomy 5: 18).

5: 31
Furthermore it has been said, "Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce. "But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality [unfaithfulness] causes her to commit adultery (??); and whoever marries a woman who is divorced [for marital infidelity/unfaithfulness??] commits adultery.

NOTE: Under the Law of Moses a divorced woman could remarry another man but the only prohibition was that she could not return back to be a wife to her former husband because it was deemed a 'defilement' (Cp. Deuteronomy 24: 1-2); Jesus goes beyond that in His teaching, too?? Also, under the Old Testament, when a man had sexual relations with a married woman, both of them are to be put to death (Leviticus 20: 10)

5: 33
Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord (Cp. Exodus 20: 16; Leviticus 19: 12b; Deuteronomy 23: 23a).

5: 38
You have heard that it was said of old, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth (Cp. Exodus 21: 12-27; Leviticus 24: 17-21; Deuteronomy 19: 21).

5: 43
You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.

NOTE: Deuteronomy 23: 7 says, You shall not abhor an Edomite, and Leviticus 19: 18 says, Love thy neighbor as thyself. There is nothing else in the written Law that uses such a phrase.

19: 17-19
So He said to him, “Why call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.’ And he said to Him, “Which ones? Jesus said, “(6) You shall not Murder; (7) You shall not commit Adultery; (8) You shall not Steal; (9) You shall not bear False Witness; (5) Honor your Father and your Mother and You shall love your Neighbor as yourself (Cp. Mark 10: 17-20; Luke 18: 18-21)

NOTE: See Exodus 20: 1-17; Leviticus 19: 1-18; Deuteronomy 5: 6-22; Leviticus 19: 18b).

22: 35-40
Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law [‘Torah’]?” Jesus said to him, You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind (Cp. Deuteronomy 6: 5 which uses ‘strength’ instead of ‘mind’).’ “This is the first and great commandment. “And the second is like it. ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these ‘two commandments’ hang all the Law [“Torah”] and Prophets.

NOTE: This seems to encapsulate the very concept of “Love,” which according to Exodus 20: 6b, means to keep God’s commandments and Leviticus 19: 18b, which says: “but you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Mark 12: 28-31
Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, seeing that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the foremost commandment?” Jesus answered him, “the foremost of the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is One (Cp. Deuteronomy 6: 4). And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with your entire mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. “And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.

NOTE: Matthew 22: 37 doesn’t include “strength” and Deuteronomy 30: 6d only uses “heart” and “soul.”

Luke 1: 6
And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

NOTE: The Apostle Paul said that in his former life, he attained the same righteousness of the Law and blameless; according to Philippians 3: 4-6.

John 14: 15, 21
If ye love Me, keep My commandments. He that hath My commandments, and keeps
them, he it is that loves Me; and he that loves Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.

John 15: 10
If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My
Father’s commandments, and abide in His love.

NOTE: And what are the commandments of God that one must keep?

Romans 3: 19-23, 28-31
Now we know that whatever the Law ["Torah"] says, it says to them that are under the Law ["Torah"], that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the Law ["Torah"] no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the Law ["Torah] is the knowledge of 'sin.' But now the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by "faith" apart from the deeds of the Law ["Torah"]. Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, since there is One God who will justify the circumcised "by" faith and the uncircumcised "through" faith. Do we make void ['nullify'] the Law ["Torah"] through "faith"? Certainly not! On the contrary we establish (uphold, confirm) the Law ["Torah"].

4: 3, 5-6, 15
For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was accounted ["imputed"] to him as righteousness (Cp. 4: 17-25; Hebrews 5: 17-19). Because the Law ["Torah"] brings wrath; for where there is no Law ["Torah"] there is no transgression (Cp. 5: 13b; 7: 8b).

NOTE: The word "imputed" occurs 7 times in this chapter.

5: 15-18, 20
For the free gift is not like the offense ["trespass"]. For if by the one man's offense ["trespass"] many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one that sinned. For the judgment which came from the one offense ["trespass"] resulted in condemnation ('judgment'), but the free gift which came from many offenses ["trespasses"] resulted in justification (Cp. 3: 23-26). For if by one man's offense ["trespass"] death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. Therefore, as through one man's offense ["trespass"] judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men resulting in justification of life. Moreover the Law ["Torah"] entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.

6: 1-2, 14-15
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who have died to sin live any longer in it? For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under Law ["Torah"] (Cp. 3: 19) but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under Law ["Torah"] but under grace? Certainly not!

7: 4, 6-7, 12
Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the Law ["Torah"] through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another; to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God, But now we have been delivered from the Law ["Torah"] having died to what we were held by, so that we shoulde serve in the "newness" of the 'Spirit' and not in the "oldness" of the letter. What shall we say then? Is the Law ["Torah"] sin? Certainly not! I would not have known sin except through the Law ["Torah"]. For I would not have known covetousness unless the Law ["Torah"] had said, "You shall not Covet (Cp. Exodus 20: 17; Deuteronomy 5: 21)." Therefore, the Law ["Torah"] is holy, and the commandment holy, just, and good. (Cp. Psalms 19: 7a)

7: 14, 22-25a
For we know that the Law ["Torah"] is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For I delight in the Law ["Torah"] of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the Law ["Torah"] of sin which is in my members. O wretchhed man that I am! ho will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God; through Christ Jesus our Lord!

NOTE: Psalms 19: 7a and James 1: 25a says that the Law ["Torah"] is perfect.

8: 1-2, 9b, 14, 16
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the Law ["Torah"] of sin and death. For what the Law ["Torah"] could not do in that it was weak [in a manner of speaking] through the flesh [human nature??], God did by sending His Son in the "likeness" of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the Law ["Torah"] might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the Sons of God. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.

10: 4
For Christ is the end of the Law ["Torah"] for righteousness to everyone who believes.

NOTE: This does not mean "end" as in abolishing the Law ["Torah"], but rather Jesus gives it completion and meaning. It was through His substitutionary blood sacrifice on the Cross that not only satisfied the penalty for "sin" but also the giving of the Holy Spirit is what empowers believers to live up to the holy requirement of the Law ["Torah"]. Remember Jesus' words in Matthew 5: 17: "I did not come to destroy [‘loosen’] the law [“Torah”] and Prophets but to fulfill."

13: 8-10
Owe no one anything except to love one another (Cp. John 13: 34; 15: 12, 17) has fulfilled the Law ["Torah"]. For the commandments, "You shall not commit Adultery," "You shall not Murder," "You shall not Steal," "You shall not bear False Witness," "You shall not Covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore Love is the fulfillment of the Law ["Torah"].

NOTE: These commandments {#'s 6-10} deal with one's duty toward their neighbor (Cp. Exodus 20: 1-17; Leviticus 19: 1-18b; Deuteronomy 5: 6-22)
and is the essence of what the Law ["Torah"] is all about; according to Jesus (Cp. Matthew 22: 35-40; Mark 12: 28-31).

I Corinthians 5: 8
Therefore let us keep the 'Feast,' not with the old leaven, not with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

NOTE: The Apostle Paul is using the illustration of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Cp. Exodus 12: 15) to this Church at Corinth which was started from within the Jewish synagogue (Cp. Acts 18: 1-17) to shame them for not disciplining a sexually immoral brother. One wonders in retrospect if they ever celebrated this feast?

7: 19
Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.

NOTE: Now just what are these commandments; perhaps the ones mentioned in Romans 13: 8-10?

II Corinthians 3: 5-9, 11-13
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills but the Spirit gives life. But if the ministry of death, written and engraven on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance (Cp. Exodus 34: 1-4, 29-35), which glory was passing away, how will the ministry of the Spirit be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious. Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech; unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away.

NOTE: There are several things to take note of here, and the obvious is the mistaken conclusion that the Old Testament Law is null and void because this would contradict the Apostle Paul's earlier teachings. If the the Law ["Torah"] was obsolete the wording would not be "is passing away," as opposed to "has passed away;" and what is referred to by "the end of what was passing away" can best be explained by Matthew 5: 17-18, where Jesus says, "I did not come to destroy [‘loosen’] the law [“Torah”] and Prophets but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth shall pass away, one Yodh [smallest letter] or one small stroke will by no means pass from the Law ["Torah"] till all is fulfilled and Romans 10: 4: For Christ is the 'end' of the Law ["Torah"] for righteousness to every one that believeth. Also, see NOTE at Romans 10: 4.

Again, it would be helpful to reread Romans 8: 1-2, 9b, 14, 16. Now, As far as the term "passing away," considering that the Lord was expected to return during the lifetime of Jesus' disciples, I Corinthians 7: 31b and I John 2: 17a mention about the world passing away, which would usher in that blessed hope of the revelation of the sons of God ("immortality") and manifestation of the kingdom of heaven.

Galatians 3: 10-14
For as many as are of the works of the Law ["Torah"] are under the curse, for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things that are written in the book of the Law ["Torah"], to do them." (Cp. Deuteronomy 27: 26) But that no one is justified by the Law ["Torah"] in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith." (Cp. Habakkuk 2: 4)

COMMENTARY: Is the Apostle Paul consistent here?
Romans 2: 13 (For not the hearers of the Law ["Torah"] are just before God, but the doers of the Law ["Torah"] shall be justified.

Yet the Law ["Torah"] is not of faith, but the man who does them shall live by them (Cp. Leviticus 18: 5). Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law ["Torah"] , having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree;" Cp. Deuteronomy 21: 22-23), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith (Cp. Galatians 3: 2)

3: 19, 21-25
What purpose does the Law ["Torah"] serve? it was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made (v. 16); and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. Is the Law ["Torah"] then against the promises of God? certainly not! For if there had been a Law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the Law ["Torah"]. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise of faith Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the Law ["Torah"], kept from the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore, the Law ["Torah"] was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

NOTE: So what is the Apostle Paul really talking about here? First, reread Romans 6: 14b-15, and then in Romans 7: 1, 4-6, it states: Or do you not know, brethren (for I speak to those that know the Law ["Torah"]), that the Law ["Torah"] has dominion over a man as long as he lives? Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the Law ["Torah"] through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another; to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the Law ["Torah"] were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. But now we have been delivered from the Law ["Torah"], having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.

To live "under" the Law ["Torah"] is condemnation and judgment because it teaches what is "sinful" behavior; but if one is led by the Spirit of God one does not or rather cannot [continue] to 'sin' (Cp. I John 3: 9). And what is this "Faith" that is being talked about? See Ezekiel 11: 18-19; 36: 24-27; Jeremiah 31: 31-34; Hebrews 8: 10; 10: 16-17 which is the inner 'Torah' of the heart which is made alive by the Holy Spirit.

5: 13-14, 18
For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the Law ["Torah"] is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall Love your neighbor as yourself." (Cp. Leviticus 19: 18b) But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under [condemnation of] the Law ["Torah"].

6: 1-2
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise: "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth." (Cp. Exodus 20: 12; Leviticus 19: 3a; Deuteronomy 5: 16)

One of the very first controversies facing the Church was recorded in Acts 15: 1-31 and since the Apostle Paul was involved in it, he wrote on the matter in Galatians 2: 1-10; but his account was quite a bit different from the other source in Acts. What it centered on was whether Gentiles should be circumcised according to the custom of Moses in order to be saved (Cp. Acts 1: 1). These unnamed men came down from Judea to Antioch in Syria trying to bind this requirement on the Gentile believers. After some heated arguments between these teachers and the Church leaders in Antioch, a delegation including Paul and Barnabas was sent to Jerusalem in Judea to settle the matter. The Apostles and Elders along with the whole Church met [in the Temple??] along with the brethren from Antioch to decide on this matter. Some of the sect of Pharisees [who observe the "Oral Torah" or 'tradition of the elders'] wanted to not only require circumcision but command keeping the Law ["Torah"] of Moses. The Apostle Peter had an interesting testimony before the assembly as he recounted the Gentiles who received God's salvation through his bringing the Gospel to them (Cp. Acts 10: 1-48).

He goes on to say in Acts 15: 10, "Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a 'yoke' on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear." Perhaps this is echoed by the Apostle Paul in Galatians 5: 1-6. James [the Lord's brother] as leader of the Church ends the debate by deciding to impose on the Gentiles who are turning to the Lord, the following: to abstain from things polluted with idols; from sexual immorality; from things strangled, and from blood. This saying pleased the apostles, elders, and the whole Church (Cp. Acts 15: 19-22). Perhaps not much value was placed upon the uncircumcised to keep the Law ["Torah"], which the Lord God gave to Israel because these basic reuirements are referred to as part of the "Noahian Covenant" for its blood prohibition (Cp. Genesis 9: 4)and for its simplicity in comparison to the more rigorous requirements contained in all the statutes and ordinances of the Law ["Torah"].

The Apostle Paul went throughout Europe and Asia Minor originally carrying these mandates but word had come to the attention of the Mother Church in Jerusalem and its leader James, in particular, that Paul was teachng that Jews aren't required to keep the Law ["Torah"]; according to Acts 21: 18-24, James wanted Paul to take a vow and prove that he was a faithful Jew, walking orderly in keeping the Law ["Torah"]. Since that time, in all the Epistles written by the Apostle Paul and during his missionary activity present with some regularity, various commandments found in the Law ["Torah']; so why continue to mention these commandments if the Law of Moses is abolished?


Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
August 4, 2009
pbks@hotmail.com