Seven Sermons From The Cross: The Word of Salvation

Posted on August 6, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Sebastien Gabriel on Unsplash

Last week we saw Jesus’ first sermon from the Cross, where He prayed for us:

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”

This week we are looking at His second sermon, a message He preached to a dying thief. Jesus told him:

Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise.

There are things that we as humans believe about God and Heaven that are just untrue. We believe that only good people go to Heaven. We believe that “There are good people, and bad people”. We believe that God judges us on a scale, and if our good deeds outweigh our bad deeds, we go to Heaven.

That’s not true.

Our Lord Jesus has said in Matthew 19:17 … there are NONE GOOD, but ONE, THAT IS GOD

The Apostle Paul wrote quoting Psalm 14:1-3 and Psalm 53:1-3:

(Romans 3:10-12 LSB) as it is written, THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; [11] THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; [12] ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME WORTHLESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.

A popular liberal talking point is to “Defund The Police” and “Get rid of prisons”. This is based on the thought that people are generally good. The Bible doesn’t support this myth.

Even the word penitentiary – a word we use for prisons – is a myth. According to the dictionary, “penitentiary comes from the Latin roots paenitentia (repentance) and paenitere (to regret or be sorry), evolving through church terminology into a term for a house of correction.” It was a place where someone was to be sentenced until they repented of their sins. Guess what? It doesn’t work. The Law of man and the Law of God cannot fix the human heart. The Apostle said:

(Romans 3:19-20 LSB) Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are in the Law, so that EVERY MOUTH MAY BE SHUT and ALL THE WORLD MAY BECOME ACCOUNTABLE TO GOD; [20] because BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW NO FLESH WILL BE JUSTIFIED IN HIS SIGHT, for THROUGH THE LAW COMES THE KNOWLEDGE OF SIN.

Preach: The Law points out sin – but it cannot fix it. As we look at this Hill called Calvary today, we see three Crosses. Two of the Crosses are methods of execution, occupied by criminals who violated the Laws of humanity. But the man in the middle is innocent. His Judge Pilate said, “I find NO FAULT in this Man” (Luke 23:4). The Bible tells us that when Pilate found out Jesus was from Galilee:

Luke 23:7 … as soon as {Pilate} knew that {Jesus} belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction {Galilee}, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.

Herod examined Jesus, and mocked Him, but sent Jesus back to Pilate because HE COULD FIND NO LEGAL FAULT in Him. Pilate told Jesus’ accusers:

Luke 23:14-15 … I, having examined Him before you, have FOUND NO FAULT IN THIS MAN touching those things whereof ye accuse Him: 15 No, NOR YET HEROD: for I sent you to him; and, lo, NOTHING WORTHY OF DEATH IS DONE UNTO {Jesus}.

Had Herod found a legal reason to execute Jesus, he would have done so immediately. Herod mocked Jesus, made fun of Jesus, dressed Him in purple robes, but sent Him back to Pilate.

Sin Is A Strange Evil Cancer Among Us

I don’t think I can impress on you, dear listener, how horrible a cancer sin is. Sin starts in one person, and spreads like a disease to others. Judas betrayed Jesus, and this betrayal spread outward to all but one of the Apostles. All abandoned Jesus as He headed toward the Cross. The Pharisees started sinning against Jesus because He called them to repentance. From the Pharisees, the sin of rejecting Christ spread to the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders (Matthew 22:52). Then the religious leadership, bathed in sin, incited the crowd that just a few days before were praising God for Jesus. The Bible tells us:

Luke 23:1 … the whole MULTITUDE {plēthos, great number, huge crowd} OF THEM AROSE, and led him unto Pilate.

What started with a few sinners has grown into a mob. Sin has made a mob. The mob doesn’t care. It doesn’t listen to reason. The mob mentality is “Let’s kill Jesus”. Why? They can’t tell you. Pilate is astonished. Here is an innocent Man the mob wants to kill. The Bible says:

Luke 23:20-24 Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. 21 But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. 22 And he said unto them the THIRD TIME, Why, WHAT EVIL HATH HE DONE? I have FOUND NO CAUSE OF DEATH IN HIM: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go. 23 And THEY WERE INSTANT {epikeimai, imposed themselves, were insistent} WITH LOUD VOICES, requiring that He might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. 24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.

Peter denied Jesus THREE TIMES before the cock crowed, just as our Lord prophesied. But PILATE tried THREE TIMES to stand up for Jesus and justice. He was shouted down.

Then the Bible says “Pilate gave sentence that it should be AS THEY REQUIRED” (vs 24). Sin has twisted the Law of Man. Jesus is not sentenced as the Law of Rome required. He is sentenced as the sin diseased crowd demands. Sin creeps in, and rips apart the Law. Release Barabbas, but execute Jesus!

So the Man on the middle Cross is there unjustly, according to human laws. When the Law was given at Sinai, it was “Tables of stone, written on both their sides … written with the finger of God” (Exodus 31:18; Deuteronomy 9:10). The hands that wrote the Law that Israel has broken this day, those hands are nailed to that center Cross. The Bible foretells us that the Messiah would be “numbered with the Transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12). He is numbered with the Transgressors, but He is not one of them.

All three men are on the Cross because of sin. The “two other, MALEFACTORS {kakourgos, evil doers}, led with {Jesus} to be put to death” were sinners who violated Rome’s Laws. They are going to the Cross because of their sins. These men are called “MALEFACTORS”, literally EVIL DOERS. Pilate didn’t question their executions. But for Jesus Pilate asked, “What EVIL did Jesus DO? What is the fruit of His lawlessness?” Beloved, Jesus is not going to the Cross because of His sins. He is going to the Cross FOR OUR SINS.

It is man’s sin that perverted justice, and nailed an innocent Man to the Tree. It is for the cancer of sin that Jesus is executed that day. BEHOLD, the LAMB OF GOD Who TAKES AWAY THE SIN of the world!

What the Law could not do – and can never do – Jesus accomplished on that middle Cross. The Bible says:

(1 Peter 2:21-25 LSB) For to this you have been called, since CHRIST ALSO SUFFERED FOR YOU … WHO DID NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; [23] who being reviled, was not reviling in return; while suffering, He was uttering no threats, but kept entrusting [Himself] to Him who judges righteously. [24] Who Himself BORE OUR SINS IN HIS BODY ON THE TREE, so that having died to sin, we might live to righteousness; by His WOUNDS YOU WERE HEALED. [25] For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to THE SHEPHERD AND OVERSEER OF YOUR SOULS.

The cure for the disease of sin is the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. His wounds healed us from the slavery of sin. When we receive Him as Lord and Savior, we walk with Him. He is our Shepherd, we are His sheep. The Bible says:

(Galatians 3:10-14 LSB) For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse, for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO DO THEM.” [11] Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident, for “THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” [12] However, the Law is not of faith; rather, “HE WHO DOES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM.” [13] Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us–for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”– [14] in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

The Law sets the standard. But the Law does not correct the heart. The Law does not make one righteous. The testimony of the Bible is that “no one is justified by the Law before God”. Jesus is on that Cross because of sin, but not because of HIS sin, but because of MY sin and YOUR sin. He is bearing the punishment for sin. He is bearing the punishment for sin for those two thieves crucified with Him. He is bearing the punishment for sin for the mocking crowd.

We are all born thieves!

A.W. Pink wrote: “We have to be abased before we can be exalted. We have to be stripped of the filthy rags of our self righteousness before we are ready for the garments of salvation. We have to come to God as beggars, empty handed, before we can receive the gift of eternal life … we have to acknowledge ourselves as thieves before we can have a place in the family of God … The sinner dissipates his strength and wastes his time in the pleasures of sin. He has robbed God.”

You Must Come To The End Of Yourself
Before Coming To Jesus

Why are there TWO MALEFACTORS, two evil doers hanging on either side of Jesus? Because sin loves a crowd. The Apostle warned the Church at Corinth:

1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: ‘BAD COMPANY RUINS GOOD MORALS.’

God warned Israel not to intermarry with unbelievers, for the unbeliever will pull you down to their level. The sinner who loves sin is like leaven or yeast in bread. “A little leaven, leavens the whole lump” (1 Corinthians 5:6). There are two evil doers, and both know one another. They are not strangers, but partners in crime, perhaps friends. One said, “Why don’t we ____”, and the other thought about it and said “Yes! Let’s do that”. Now they are caught, and hanging next to Jesus. When Jesus spoke His first words from the Cross,

Luke 23:34 … Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

Those thieves heard it. As the crowd passes by, the thieves hear how Jesus is attacked. We are told in another Gospel:

Matthew 27:38-43 Then were there TWO THIEVES crucified with {Jesus}, one on the right hand, and another on the left. 39 And they that passed by REVILED HIM, wagging their heads, 40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. IF thou be the Son of God, come down from the Cross. 41 Likewise also the CHIEF PRIESTS MOCKING HIM, WITH THE SCRIBES AND ELDERS, said, 42 He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He be the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the Cross, and WE WILL BELIEVE HIM. 43 He trusted in God; let {God} deliver Him now, if {God} will have Him: for {Jesus} said, I am the Son of God.

The crowd is mocking. They are making fun of Jesus. They revile Him as He prays for their forgiveness. And what of the thieves, the malefactors. The Bible tells us:

Matthew 27:44 The thieves also, which were crucified with Him, CAST THE SAME IN HIS TEETH.

The two friends, two thieves, two evil doers “CAST THE SAME IN HIS TEETH”. They are suffering as badly as Jesus is. Their bodies are nailed to crosses, and they cannot get loose. But their hearts are nailed to sin, to evil. The crowd yelled out:

Mark 15:32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.

We’ll believe if You’ll just get down, Jesus. And what of the thieves on either side of Jesus?

Mark 15:32 … And they that were crucified with {Jesus} reviled Him.

Both thieves joined in with the mob, mocking and spitting on Jesus. But then something miraculous happens. The Holy Spirit moved on their hearts. Here is a mystery. Both of these thieves, these malefactors, are on the Cross because they have violated man’s Law. Both are hardened criminals. The Holy One touches both – but only one responds. One thief says:

Luke 23:39 … If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

But then his friend speaks up. God has been working on his heart. He says:

Luke 23:40 Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

God had been working on his heart. He knew that there was a future life where retribution would be given by God. He tells his companion, “Don’t you fear God? Don’t you know that judgment is coming?” He has just heard Jesus pray “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing”, and the Father responded. He sent the Holy Spirit to “convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment” (John 16:8). This thief came face to face with impending judgment. This thief acknowledged his sin, saying:

Luke 23:41 … And WE INDEED JUSTLY; for we RECEIVE THE DUE REWARD of our deeds:

He admits he is a sinner, that what is happening to him on that Cross is not society’s fault, nor his companion’s fault, but HIS fault. He recognizes he is a transgressor, deserving of death. He goes on to say:

Luke 23:41 … but this Man hath done nothing amiss.

The thief sees Jesus as sinless. And Jesus was and is sinless. Jesus was “in all points TEMPTED LIKE WE ARE, yet WITHOUT SIN” (Hebrews 4:15). After Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus, he declared “I have sinned in that I have betrayed THE INNOCENT BLOOD” (Matthew 27:3-4). The difference between this thief and Judas (who was also a thief – see John 12:4-6) was that Judas was sorry within himself that he had betrayed Jesus. The thief repented before God, and stood apart from the crowd to glorify Jesus.

Beloved, repentance is more than just feeling sorry for what you did. Judas killed himself after feeling sorry for what he did. Repentance acknowledges that you are a sinner worthy of death. Repentance is when you release all other means, and reach out to Jesus in faith.

In His Agony, He Turned Away From The World
And Toward Jesus

The thief turned his heart toward Jesus. Notice his words:

Luke 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, LORD, remember me when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom.

The thief heard Jesus pray “Father, forgive them”. The Holy Spirit caused him to realize that Jesus is the Savior. But more than this, Jesus is LORD. The Bible says:

1 Corinthians 12:3 … NO ONE CAN SAY, “JESUS IS LORD,” EXCEPT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.

The Holy Spirit has opened this man’s spiritual eyes. He realizes that Jesus is Lord. Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, preaching from Joel 2:32:

Acts 2:21 … it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED.

And Paul preached,

Romans 10:12-13 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “EVERYONE WHO CALLS UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”

Jesus is Lord. He is “the Savior of HIS PEOPLE” (Matthew 1:21). Before this moment, the thief’s companion was his Lord. The crowd was his Lord. The thief himself was his Lord. But now he humbles himself. “LORD, remember me”.

Luke 23:42 And he said unto Jesus, LORD, remember me when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom.

Jesus is a King with a Kingdom. On the Cross, the only crown upon Jesus’ head was a crown of thorns. There is a sign above His head that reads,

Luke 23:38 … a superscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, This Is The King Of The Jews.

The thief says, “Lord, when you come into Your Kingdom”. He believed beyond that moment. And he asked Jesus simply, “remember me”. Just think about me, dear Jesus. Pray for me as I stand before the Almighty, and receive the punishment I so richly deserve.

How Our Lord Responded To The Repenting Thief

The Crosses were only a few feet apart, and both Jesus and the unrepentant thief could hear and respond. What would Jesus respond? Would He say, “You have waited too long. You should have come to Me sooner!” Did Jesus do that. No. Jesus said:

(John 6:37 LSB) All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and THE ONE WHO COMES TO ME I WILL NEVER CAST OUT.

As Jesus was being reviled, He did not respond. As He was being cursed, He ignored their curses. But as this thief prays, Jesus hears. The Bible says, “NOW is the acceptable time. NOW is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2). The thief’s spiritual eyes are opened. His hands and feet are nailed to the Cross. He can do no good work. He can go no where to serve God. His body is immobilized in agony and suffering. But his heart goes out to Jesus. His lips confess Jesus as Lord and Savior. Jesus prayed for him when He said, “Father, forgive them”. The Holy Spirit opened the thief’s eyes. And Jesus, seeing his heart, responded:

Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, TODAY SHALT THOU BE WITH ME IN PARADISE.

Jesus will do more than remember him. Before the day ends, the thief will be with Jesus in Paradise. Jesus said,

John 12:26 If any man serve Me, let him follow Me; and WHERE I AM, THERE SHALL ALSO MY SERVANT BE: if any man serve Me, him will my Father honor.

And one of my favorite Scriptures,

John 14:3 if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and RECEIVE YOU TO MYSELF; that WHERE I AM, THERE YE MAY BE ALSO.

This thief would be the first person saved by the Blood of the Cross. He is the first of the New Covenant. Those under the Old Covenant were saved by believing on the Jesus Who was to come. Today we are saved, like this thief, by calling on the name of the Crucified Christ. The thief asked just to be remembered, but Jesus promised he would be with the Messiah in glory.

What happened to the thieves after Jesus died? Since the next day was a High Sabbath, the first day of Unleavened Bread (John 19:31), the Jews went to Pilate and asked that those who were hung on the Cross be killed before the sunset. The soldiers did this by breaking the legs of the crucified. If their legs were broken, they could not push themselves up to exhale – and they would suffocate. The Bible says:

John 19:32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first {thief}, and of the other {thief} which was crucified with Jesus.

The thief that rejected Christ as Lord and Savior suffered the hell of the Cross. Then his kneecaps were smashed with a sledgehammer, and his body dropped. After a few minutes, he died in agony. And like the rich man “in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments” (Luke 16:23). He went from hell on earth, to hell beyond earth. He played with sin until that cancer took his body and his soul. Lord have mercy!

But the thief who received Christ as Lord and Savior suffered the hell of the Cross. Then his kneecaps were smashed with a sledgehammer, and his body dropped. And, like Lazarus the poor believing man “he is comforted” (Luke 16:25). He is with Jesus in Paradise. It was this blessed expectation that caused the Apostle Paul – knowing he would be beheaded in Rome – to say:

Philippians 1:23 {I have} a desire TO DEPART, AND TO BE WITH CHRIST; which is far better …

When a believer leaves this life – even if through the worst of circumstances – we depart to be with Jesus in Paradise. As A.W. Pink wrote:

“The moment a sinner believes, that moment is he “made meet to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light” (Colossians 1:12). “For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified”. (Hebrews 10:14). Our fitness for Christ’s presence , as well as our title, rests solely on His shed blood.”

Do you know Him?

“Three crosses on a lonely hill,
A thief on either side;
And in between the Son of God,
How wide the gulf, how wide!”

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Jesus Commanded That We Love As He Loves

Posted on August 6, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by The Metropolitan Museum of Art on Unsplash

(John 13:34-35 KJV) A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. [35] By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

On Target Or Off Target?

When I was in the Air Force we often had to go out to the gun range to “qualify”. Qualification consisted of 8 hours of instruction on handling a firearm. The first thing you always did was sight in your weapon. You’d aim at the target, fire a test round, then adjust your sights to correct for the drift of the bullet. You learned to breath, how to control yourself so that you could hit the target. If you were off target, you could die in a fight. If you’re off target you can’t win a battle. You’re a casualty!

We live in an off target world!

People stare at their phones rather than talking to one another. I’ve seen a family of five sitting in a restaurant, all ignoring one another while locked onto their phones. Technology is destroying the family, the place where children used to be taught how to live in civilized society.

Medicine – which should be helping and healing people – several years ago started “surgically correcting” children who felt they were born the wrong gender. Children need to be taught and loved, not scarred and mutilated in the name of progress. Several years ago I heard of a man named Thomas Beatie who became pregnant in 2007. Beatie has had THREE children since then. The Guinness Book of world records notes that Thomas Beatie is the first man to give birth in Bend, Oregon (USA) on June 29, 2008. Isn’t that amazing. But as Paul Harvey would say …. “Here’s the rest of the story”. When this individual was born, SHE was born Tracy Lagondino. Tracy underwent chest reconstruction surgery, and was legally recognized by the State of Hawaii as a man, allowing HER birth certificate to be amended. Because “Thomas” wanted to have children, SHE never had her female reproductive system removed. Even with surgery, a female has two X chromosomes, and is scientifically still a female – though the law allowed recognition of this person as a male.

That’s off target!

The world lives in a state of confusion created by sin itself. Someone should have told Tracy Lagondino before being medically altered to Thomas Beatie that men don’t have babies – women do. No one told Tracy/Thomas because the world itself is covered in the darkness of sin. Satan doesn’t want the world to see the truth. We are told in:

(2 Corinthians 4:3-4 ESV) … OUR GOSPEL IS VEILED, it is VEILED TO THOSE WHO ARE PERISHING. [4] In their case the god of this world has BLINDED THE MINDS OF THE UNBELIEVERS, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

The Christian and the Church are a people that have have seen Jesus as Lord and Savior. The Bible says:

(Colossians 1:13-14 ESV) {God} has DELIVERED US FROM THE DOMAIN OF DARKNESS and TRANSFERRED US TO THE KINGDOM OF HIS BELOVED SON, [14] in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

We live in a dark and sin confused world. The world is off target because it is without Christ. Sadly, many churches are off target. Too many churches today think that they are service organizations like the Lion’s Club, the Rotarians, The Kiwanis, or the Masons. Service organizations do good, but many of them compromise with the dark world in order to function. The church is something else.

Though we do good, the Church is “The Kingdom of God’s Beloved Son”. The Church’s job is not to entertain, nor is it a political headquarters. The Church is to be the manifestation of Heaven on earth. The Apostle defines the Church in:

(1 Peter 2:9-10 LSB) But you are A CHOSEN FAMILY, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR [God’s] OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; [10] for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

We are the Family and Kingdom of God. We preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We adhere to “God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Anyone can be saved if that person REPENT and RECEIVE the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior.

Christian, you are saved by the love of God. Once saved, you are commanded to love the same way that God loved you.

People are fond of saying “God is love”. Yes, this is in the Scripture. But this is only part of the quoted text. The whole text is this:

(1 John 4:7-12 LSB) Beloved, let us love one another, for LOVE IS FROM GOD; and EVERYONE WHO LOVES HAS BEEN BORN OF GOD AND KNOWS GOD. [8] The one who DOES NOT LOVE DOES NOT KNOW GOD, because God is love. [9] By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. [10] In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins. [11] Beloved, IF GOD SO LOVED US, WE OUGHT ALSO TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER. [12] No one has beheld God at any time; IF WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER, GOD ABIDES IN US, and His love is perfected in us.

An active love is the proof that God has caused a person to be born again. A person who says “I love God”, and yet shows no love toward their brother or sister IS JUST AS CONFUSED AS TRACY LAGONDINO/ THOMAS BEATIE. This woman tried to make HERSELF into a man – and the dark world applauded that. Science declares that you cannot change someone born with XX chromosomes into XY chromosomes. You are what you are born. No miracle of modern medicine will legitimately change that. No miracle of human law fare will change that. Up is up and down is down . But here’s the thing:

You can be born again! Not medically, but spiritually. Through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ you can be “born again to a living hope” (1 Peter 1:3). You can be “born again, not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible seed – through the LIVING and ENDURING WORD OF GOD” (1 Peter 1:23). If you are born again, Jesus says:

John 13:34 A NEW (kainos) commandment I give UNTO YOU, that ye LOVE ONE ANOTHER

To Whom Did Jesus Give This Commandment?

Word Study: Just before Jesus goes to the Cross, He gives a “NEW commandment”. The word “NEW” is the Greek kainos, which means “something novel, unprecedented or unheard of”. This new commandment is something that was never addressed under the Old Covenant. Under the Old Covenant God told Israel:

(Deuteronomy 6:5 LSB) YOU SHALL LOVE YAHWEH YOUR GOD with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

And God told His people

(Leviticus 19:18 LSB) You shall not take vengeance, and you shall not keep [your anger] against the sons of your people, but YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF; I am Yahweh.

Loving your neighbor didn’t mean just the Israelite, but also the stranger in Israel (Leviticus 19:33-34; Deuteronomy 10:18-19). You were to “LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR (or stranger) AS YOURSELF”. The way YOU wanted to be treated is the way you were to treat others. But then Jesus comes along, and establishes a NEW COVENANT. This was prophesied in …

(Jeremiah 31:31-33 LSB) Behold, days are coming, declares Yahweh, when I will CUT A NEW COVENANT with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, [32] not like the covenant which I cut with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, but I was a husband to them, declares Yahweh. [33] But this is the covenant which I will cut with the house of Israel after those days,” declares Yahweh: “I WILL PUT MY LAW WITHIN THEM, and ON THEIR HEART I WILL WRITE IT; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

The OLD Covenant was written on external sources. It commanded that man – in his own power – do the things that God said to do. And of course, man failed to do it. But the NEW Covenant was written on the heart. God would “PUT MY LAW WITHIN THEM, and ON THEIR HEART I WILL WRITE IT”. Jesus ushered in the New Covenant. At the end of the Feast of the Passover, just before Jesus went to the Cross, the Bible says that

(Luke 22:20 LSB) {Jesus} took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is THE NEW COVENANT IN MY BLOOD.

Jesus gave the NEW Command to those under His NEW Covenant, to those who would be born again by faith in Him.

Jesus did not give this command to those who adhered to the OLD Covenant. The Scribes and Pharisees were people who professed to know the Lord, but only knew tradition and ritual. They were bound to an OLD Covenant. They were more concerned about eating bread with unwashed hands (Mark 7:2-3) than they were with a man suffering a withered hand. The hearts were like stone. We see these people in …

Luke 6:6-11 On another Sabbath, {Jesus} entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and the Pharisees watched {Jesus}, to see whether He would heal on the Sabbath, so that THEY MIGHT FIND REASON TO ACCUSE HIM. But {Jesus} knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, ‘Arise and stand here.’ And he arose and stood there. And Jesus said to them, ‘I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?’ And after looking around at them all he said to him, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ And he did so, and his hand was restored.

The unsaved religious crowd looked like they were the people of God, but they were not. Jesus condemned them, saying …

Mark 7:6-9 … Well hath Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. {7} Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. {8} For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. {9} And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

Those that are under the Old Covenant cannot “love one another, as Jesus loved us”. Religious people can’t do this. Only those who are supernaturally born again can do this.

Who else was Jesus NOT ADDRESSING when He said, “Love one another, as I have loved you”. Jesus was NOT ADDRESSING PRETEND CHRISTIANS. Before our Lord gave this command in verse 34, He addresses the false or pretend Christian in:

(John 13:21, 25-27 KJV) {Jesus} was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that ONE OF YOU SHALL BETRAY ME. … [25] He then lying on Jesus’ breast {this was the Apostle John} saith unto Him, Lord, who is it? [26] Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped [it]. And when He had dipped the sop, HE GAVE IT TO JUDAS ISCARIOT, [the son] of Simon. [27] And after the sop SATAN ENTERED INTO HIM. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

The false Christian looks good on the outside, but is not indwelt of the Spirit of Christ. When a person is born again, God the Holy Spirit comes to that person and changes them. The Spirit of God takes up residence in the soul of the believer, enabling us to “love one another as Jesus loved us”. The Bible tells us that …

(Romans 8:6-9 LSB) For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, [7] because the mind set on the flesh is [at] enmity toward God, for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able [to do so], [8] and those who are in the flesh are not able to please God. [9] However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

Judas Iscariot’s mind was set on the flesh, not the Spirit. Judas was a thief (John 12:4-6), more concerned with his own earthly possessions than he was with being possessed of Christ. The Holy Spirit did not indwell Judas, nor does the Spirit indwell any who have not surrendered their lives to Jesus. So “Satan entered Judas”, possessing him so that he could betray our Lord.

To whom is the command given? Not to the religious. Not to the pretend Christian. But to those who have become as little children before Jesus. Jesus illustrated this in:

Matthew 18:2-4 Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, {3} And said, Verily I say unto you, EXCEPT YOU BE CONVERTED, and BECOME AS LITTLE CHILDREN, YOU SHALL NOT ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. {4} Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Word Study: Who are the saved, the born again? Jesus said “Except you be CONVERTED {strepho}”, turned around, stop following yourself and follow the Good Shepherd”. You must turn from the ways of this world. You must turn from the darkness. You must quit operating along the lines of the selfish, pitiful ways of this current age. You have to turn away from the me above all others mentality and become like little children. Give it to Jesus. Obey Him. Let Him lead you.

The world clings to its evil. The worldly, the Iscariots among us, do not want to turn from the darkness. Jesus said:

John 3:19-20 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and MEN LOVED DARKNESS RATHER THAN LIGHT, because THEIR DEEDS WERE EVIL. {20} For EVERY ONE THAT DOETH EVIL HATETH THE LIGHT, NEITHER COMETH TO THE LIGHT, LEST HIS DEEDS SHOULD BE REPROVED.

The lost want to be saved IN their sins. The born again are saved FROM their sins. The born again walk in light, not darkness.

The Christian who is a Christian indeed is “crucified with Christ”:

Galatians 2:20-21 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but CHRIST LIVETH IN ME: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, WHO LOVED ME AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME. {21} I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

The Christian is saved by Christ to love as Christ loved.

Loving As Jesus Loves Is Not Emotional, But Actual.
It Is What You Do, Not What You Feel.

John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye LOVE ONE ANOTHER; AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, that ye also love one another.

How did Jesus love us? He loved us to the end.

(John 13:1 KJV) Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, HAVING LOVED HIS OWN WHICH WERE IN THE WORLD, HE LOVED THEM UNTO THE END.

When Jesus looked at His disciples, they were “HIS OWN”. Jesus knew they were broken. Jesus knew Peter’s heart. When Jesus went to wash Peter’s feet, he fought the Master:

(John 13:6-9 KJV) Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? [7] Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. [8] Peter saith unto him, THOU SHALT NEVER WASH MY FEET. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with Me. [9] Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also [my] hands and [my] head.

Peter loved Jesus, but he was filled with pride. It was not humility that said to the Lord “THOU SHALT NEVER WASH MY FEET”, but defiance. When Jesus said “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with Me”, Peter replies “well, wash my feet, my head and hands too!”. Peter wants to be the boss of Jesus. He wants to be known as the most excellent disciple – the best of the bunch.

When Jesus later is reclining at the table with the Apostle John leaning against Him (John 13:23), Jesus reveals that one of them will betray Him. Peter once more takes charge:

(John 13:24-25 KJV) SIMON PETER THEREFORE BECKONED TO {JOHN}, that he {John} should ask who it should be of whom {Jesus} spake. [25] He then lying on Jesus’ breast {John} saith unto him, Lord, who is it?

Peter wants to be in charge. Peter is the BOSS! When Jesus reveals that it is Judas who will betray Him, the disciples still didn’t understand, for they were NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT JESUS SAID AND DID. The Bible tells us:

(John 13:26 KJV) Jesus answered, HE IT IS, TO WHOM I SHALL GIVE A SOP, when I have dipped [it]. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave [it] to Judas Iscariot, [the son] of Simon.

Jesus took a piece of unleavened bread and dipped it into the Charoset (Passover Paste made of crushed fruit, wine, and spices). He plainly showed them that Judas was the betrayer. But they were not paying attention, and were confused because the SOP was normally given to someone being honored.

Jesus honored Judas, though Judas would betray Him.

Jesus then told His disciples that He was going to the Cross. He told Peter that he could not follow Him, where He was going. We read:

(John 13:37-38 KJV) Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. [38] Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.

Jesus loved them all to the end. He loved Peter, though Peter would deny Him at His time of greatest need. In fact, Jesus loved them though they all went to sleep in the Garden of Gethsemane, leaving the Lord alone in His agonizing prayers.

Jesus loved them all by lowering Himself, by washing their feet. Let’s finish with these Scriptures:

(John 13:12-17 KJV) So after He had washed their feet, and had taken His garments, and was set down again, He said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? [13] YE CALL ME MASTER AND LORD: and ye say well; for [so] I am. [14] IF I THEN, YOUR LORD AND MASTER, have washed your feet; YE ALSO OUGHT TO WASH ONE ANOTHER’S FEET. [15] For I have given you an example, that YE SHOULD DO AS I HAVE DONE TO YOU. [16] Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. [17] IF YE KNOW THESE THINGS, HAPPY ARE YE IF YE DO THEM.

Jesus is not establishing a new ritual here that the born again are to follow. Servants in the ancient world washed the feet of guests to a meal. But Jesus, the Host of the Last Supper, lowered Himself to serve those who should have been serving Him. This is the love that God calls us to. This is the target of every Church, of every Christian. Jesus said “as I have loved you, that ye also love one another”. Are you aiming at this target?

If you are born again as little children then, dear friend, you must practice the love of God. You cannot do this at home sitting in front of Charles Stanley or Adrian Rogers watching the television. We gather together as believers to love one another. You cannot love one another from afar. You are called to be together, to practice loving one another, to actually help each other by obeying God’s Word:

Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

We gather together to provoke one another to love and good works. Just like we encouraged one another to hit the target in the military, we as believers encourage one another to hit the target of love. We must – for Christ’s sake – fulfill this eleventh commandment, else the midnight hour will come to our land. Love one another so that all men will know you are Christ’s disciples.

Jude 21-23 Keep yourselves in the love of God,… making a difference: {23} And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire;

Posted in Commands Of Jesus, Law Of God, Love One Another, Sermons Preached | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Seven Sermons From The Cross: The Word Of Forgiveness

Posted on July 29, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by The Metropolitan Museum of Art on Unsplash

(Luke 23:33-34 KJV) And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. [34] Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Our Lord Jesus came from Heaven to this earth to bring the Word of God to us. Jesus preached His first sermon to the devil in the wilderness. As Satan tempted Him, Jesus repeatedly replied “It is written” (Matthew 4:4-10). After John the Baptist was imprisoned by Herod, Jesus preached:

(Matthew 4:17 KJV) Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

In Nazareth, Jesus’ hometown, He preached in the Synagogue that He was the Messiah that Israel had been waiting for (Luke 4:16-21). Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) while sitting on a mountainside. When Jesus preached His Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:17-49) He was standing on level ground. Jesus preached in the Temple. He preached in the streets. He preached parables.

Preach: To shut Jesus up, religious hypocrites and crooked politicians had Jesus executed by crucifixion. Crucifixion was a method of public execution reserved for the worst of criminals. Large 7 inch long spikes were driven through the wrists, tearing the median nerve. Spikes were also driven through the feet, impaling the plantar nerves. Before being pinned to the Cross, the criminal was beaten with whips and canes. King David prophesied the horror of what Jesus went through in:

(Psalm 22:6-8 NKJV) But I AM A WORM, AND NO MAN; A reproach of men, and DESPISED BY THE PEOPLE. [7] All those who see Me RIDICULE ME; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, [saying], [8] “HE TRUSTED IN THE LORD, LET HIM RESCUE HIM; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!”

The Prophet Isaiah also declared …

(Isaiah 53:2-3 NKJV) … He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, [There is] NO BEAUTY THAT WE SHOULD DESIRE HIM. [3] He is DESPISED AND REJECTED by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, [our] faces from Him; HE WAS DESPISED, and WE DID NOT ESTEEM HIM.

Preach: Beaten with rods and whips, the Messiah did not even look human. His visage was marred. He was a mass of blood and open wounds. The crucified were stripped naked to further shame them, and the Messiah was no exception. There was a crowd there that day watching the Man in the middle. What they said and did was without pity.

(Luke 23:35-37 KJV) And the PEOPLE STOOD BEHOLDING. And the rulers also with them derided [him], saying, He saved others; LET HIM SAVE HIMSELF, IF HE BE THE CHRIST, the Chosen of God. [36] And the SOLDIERS ALSO MOCKED HIM, coming to Him, and offering Him vinegar, [37] And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

Preach: Those crucified did not die of blood loss. The spikes caused excruciating pain, but effectively sealed the holes they made in His hands and feet. The primary cause of death was usually asphyxiation – by slow suffocation. Hanging by the arms you could inhale, but you could only exhale by pulling yourself up on shredded wrists and spiked feet. When a person became exhausted they could no longer do this – and they would suffocate.

Jesus would preach seven short sermons from His cross. Each sermon would require that Jesus pull Himself upright so He could breath and speak. Hounded throughout His ministry, unjustly accused, and illegally executed – what would Jesus preach from the Cross? Would He call for His enemies to be defeated? Would He ask that the criminals that made Him a criminal be punished? The mockers that stand at the foot of the Cross, will Jesus damn them? His lips move. Is He crying out for mercy for Himself, crying out that pain be removed? That’s what you and I would do. But no, Jesus is doing – as usual – the unexpected.

Jesus PRAYED For His Enemies

In the midst of the mocking, the shame of His nakedness, the spitting, our Lord Jesus prays. He pulls Himself up on the spikes and says:

Luke 23:34 Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

The first Sermon Jesus preached from the Cross shows our Lord in prayer. Jesus’ entire life on this earth was characterized by prayer. When Jesus was baptized …

(Luke 3:21-22 KJV) … Jesus also being baptized, AND PRAYING, the heaven was opened, [22] And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

Jesus prayed! Jesus prayed as He went under the water, and prayed as He came out. Baptized in water, the Holy Spirit likewise covered Him, while the Father praised Him. “YOU ARE MY BELOVED SON – My only Son – and I am WELL PLEASED WITH YOU”. As Jesus ministered and brought healing on earth, He prayed. As Jesus traveled, He prayed. The Bible says:

(Luke 11:1 KJV) And it came to pass, that, as JESUS WAS PRAYING IN A CERTAIN PLACE, when He ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, TEACH US TO PRAY, as John also taught his disciples.

The disciples that followed Jesus are all but gone. The Apostle John is there, with Mary His mother. But all the others have abandoned Him. Peter, who swore he would never abandon Jesus, denied Him three times – wept bitterly – then ran away (Matthew 26:75). What does Jesus do? He prays. He is not bitter. He prays.

Luke 23:34 Father, forgive them…

As they mocked Him, Jesus prayed for them. I have heard people despair of the hard heartedness of sinners. Jesus did not believe anyone was beyond the hope of prayer. Before Jesus went to the Cross, He prayed for us all. Praying for His disciples first, He then prayed:

(John 17:20-21 KJV) Neither pray I for these alone, BUT FOR THEM ALSO WHICH SHALL BELIEVE ON ME THROUGH THEIR WORD; [21] That THEY MAY ALL BE ONE; as thou, Father, [art] in Me, and I in Thee, that THEY ALSO MAY BE ONE IN US: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Though nearly all mocked Jesus and were entertained by His suffering, He prayed for them. Jesus prayed for us all before we ever knew Him.

How do I know that Jesus and Jesus alone is the One and Only Messiah, the Representative of God? Because He prayed from that Cross not for the “good”, but for those who were pure evil. He did not pray for their judgment, but for their forgiveness.

It was prophesied of the Messiah:

(Isaiah 53:12 KJV) He hath poured out His soul unto death: and He was numbered with the transgressors; and He bare the sin of many, and MADE INTERCESSION FOR THE TRANSGRESSORS.

The Messiah would “pour out His soul unto death”. Though they nailed Jesus to the Cross, no man killed Him. Jesus “lay down His life for His sheep” (John 10:15). “Hereby perceive we the love of God, BECAUSE HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US” (1 John 3:16). He poured out His soul. He was numbered with the transgressors. Three died on that Hill called Calvary, but only Jesus was without sin. Jesus died on that Cross to “bare the sin of many”. He died suffering for your sins and mine. And Jesus “MADE INTERCESSION FOR THE TRANSGRESSORS”. He prayed for His enemies. He prays for us yet today when we fail Him. The Scripture says:

(Hebrews 7:25-27 KJV) Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, SEEING HE EVER LIVETH TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR THEM. [26] For such an high priest became us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; [27] Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for THIS HE DID ONCE, WHEN HE OFFERED UP HIMSELF.

This Is The First Time Jesus Asked
The Father To Forgive

Luke 23:34 Father, forgive them…

When Jesus walked this earth, He never prayed that the Father forgive anyone’s sins. Jesus forgave sins. The Bible tells us that when four friends brought a paralyzed man to Jesus for healing, that they could not get to Jesus because the place He was in was packed with people. So they carried their friend to the rooftop, and opening a hole in the roof, lowered their friend down to Jesus. The Bible says:

(Mark 2:5-7 NKJV) When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “SON, YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN YOU.” [6] And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, [7] “Why does this [Man] speak blasphemies like this? WHO CAN FORGIVE SINS BUT GOD ALONE?”

“WHO CAN FORGIVE SINS BUT GOD ALONE?”. When Jesus was invited to Simon the Pharisee’s home a woman known as a sinner came and washed His feet. The Bible says:

(Luke 7:48-50 NKJV) {Jesus} said to her, “YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN.” [49] And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “WHO IS THIS WHO EVEN FORGIVES SINS?” [50] Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

When questioned as to why He Himself could forgive sins, when only God can forgive sins, Jesus said:

(Matthew 9:6 NKJV) … the SON OF MAN {a term for the Messiah} HAS POWER ON EARTH TO FORGIVE SINS”…

At all other times Jesus Himself forgave sins. As Peter would later preach, “JESUS IS THE ONE APPOINTED BY GOD TO BE THE JUDGE of the living and the dead” (Acts 10:42). The Apostle Paul (2 Timothy 4:1) also said the same thing. And Jesus told us:

(John 5:22, 24 NKJV) For THE FATHER JUDGES NO ONE, but has COMMITTED ALL JUDGMENT TO THE SON, … [24] “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

Jesus granted forgiveness while He was on the earth. But now, “lifted UP FROM THE EARTH” (John 12:32), Jesus is on that Cross not as God, but as Perfect Man. He cannot forgive sin while being made sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus intercedes for sinners – but cannot forgive. The Father must forgive.

Jesus lowered Himself from God to Perfect Man to pay for our sins on that horrid Cross. The reason that Jesus gave in asking the Father to forgive was:

Luke 23:34 Father, forgive them; for THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO.

Sin usually brings with it ignorance. When Adam sinned, he had no idea that his action would bring death on all his children. Sin looks like a good idea at the time – but has unintended consequences that lead to death. When they brought Jesus before Pilate to be executed we read:

Luke 23:1 … the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse Him, saying, We found this fellow PERVERTING THE NATION, and FORBIDDING TO GIVE TRIBUTE to Cæsar, saying that HE HIMSELF IS CHRIST A KING.

They thought that by their action they were getting rid of a mere Rabbi from Nazareth. They claimed that Jesus was a Zealot, Someone plotting the overthrow of the nation of Rome. They were purposely blind and ignorant of Who Jesus actually was. The Apostle Paul wrote:

(1 Corinthians 2:7-8 NKJV) But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden [wisdom] which God ordained before the ages for our glory, [8] which NONE OF THE RULERS OF THIS AGE KNEW; for HAD THEY KNOWN, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE CRUCIFIED THE LORD OF GLORY.

Sin had blinded their eyes, and closed their ears. Jesus upset their routine. So their fix was the have this simple Rabbi killed by the state. Problem solved. They had no idea of the enormity of what they were doing. They were killing the very Son of God. They ought to have known Who they were killing. When they heard Jesus preach, the Temple Police said:

(John 7:46 NKJV) “NO MAN EVER SPOKE LIKE THIS MAN!”

When the crowds heard Jesus preach,

(Luke 4:32 NKJV) they were astonished at His teaching, for HIS WORD WAS WITH AUTHORITY.

Everything Jesus said and did was marked by His Lordship. Jesus “CAST OUT DEMONS WITH THE FINGER OF GOD”, proving the He is the King over the Kingdom of God. They saw Jesus’ miracles, and ignoring what He did, demanded a sign. Jesus will give them a sign, the same sign He has given us all. The Bible says:

(Matthew 12:38-40 NKJV) Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, WE WANT TO SEE A SIGN FROM YOU.” [39] But He answered and said to them, “An EVIL AND ADULTEROUS GENERATION SEEKS AFTER A SIGN, and NO SIGN WILL BE GIVEN TO IT EXCEPT THE SIGN OF THE PROPHET JONAH. [40] “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will THE SON OF MAN BE THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE HEART OF THE EARTH.

Preach: As Jesus hung on that Cross, we see the utter horror of the unsaved human heart. Here is a Man Who has done no wrong – but is cast out to die with two criminals. Here is a Man in Whom they could find no sin, but they nailed Him to the tree anyway. Neither Pilate nor Herod found evil in Jesus (Luke 23:13-17). Yet He hangs there struggling to breath anyway. Sin blinds us to the horror of sin. Like the beautiful snake, its bright colors hide the deadly poison within.

We all need the Savior.

We Learn The Truth Of Forgiveness In Jesus’ Sermon

Luke 23:34 THEN said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

Before Jesus was brought to the Cross, He told us:

(Matthew 5:43-45 NKJV) You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ [44] “But I say to you, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and PRAY FOR THOSE WHO SPITEFULLY USE YOU AND PERSECUTE YOU, [45] “that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

The Bible teaches that:

(Galatians 3:22-26 LSB) But the SCRIPTURE HAS SHUT UP EVERYONE UNDER SIN, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE. [23] But before faith came, we were held in custody under the Law, being shut up for the coming faith to be revealed. [24] Therefore the Law has become our tutor unto Christ, SO THAT WE MAY BE JUSTIFIED BY FAITH. [25] But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. [26] For YOU ARE ALL SONS OF GOD THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS.

When Jesus prayed “Father, forgive them”, He did not personally forgive them, but He practiced what He preached. As the Son of God He was gracious to His enemies. He prayed that those who harmed Him be forgiven. Now, here’s a good question:

In Matthew 5:44 Jesus did not ask us to FORGIVE our enemies, but to PRAY for them. Forgiveness does not come without REPENTANCE. Jesus said:

(Luke 17:3-4 LSB) Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and IF HE REPENTS, FORGIVE HIM. [4] “And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I REPENT,’ FORGIVE HIM.”

Pastor A.W. Pink put it this way:

“The one who has wronged me must first repent, that is, judge himself for his wrong and give evidence of his sorrow over it. But suppose the offender does not repent? Then I am not to forgive him. But let there be no misunderstanding of our meaning here. Even though the one who has wronged me does not repent, nevertheless I must not harbor ill feelings toward him. There must be no hatred nor malice treasured in the heart. … Does God ever forgive where there is no repentance? No, for scripture declares, ‘IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, He is FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).”

Were those whom Jesus prayed “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” forgiven? If they repented, yes. If not, absolutely not – and yet Jesus prayed for them anyway.

There is no forgiveness of sin without repentance, without surrendering your life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Atonement for our sins. Hanging on that Cross, the Lamb of God prayed for us all. Salvation and peace with God comes only through Him. Three days and three nights later Jesus will sit down and eat a meal with His disciples. He will tell them (and us):

(Luke 24:44-47 LSB) These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” [45] Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, [46] and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that THE CHRIST WOULD SUFFER AND RISE AGAIN FROM THE DEAD THE THIRD DAY, [47] and that REPENTANCE FOR FORGIVENESS OF SINS would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

When Jesus prayed “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing”, He prayed for their forgiveness – but they were not forgiven unless they repented. Dear friends, have YOUR sins been forgiven? Are you one of the blessed who can say,

(Ephesians 1:7 LSB) In {Jesus} WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, the FORGIVENESS of our transgressions, ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE

Oh, how God loves you and me! We sing this song, and can barely comprehend what Jesus did for us on that Cross.

Oh, how He loves you and me, Oh how He loves you and me.
He gave His life, what more could He give?

Oh, how He loves you; Oh, how He loves me;
Oh, how He loves you and me.

Jesus to Calvary did go, His love for sinners to show.
What He did there brought hope from despair.
Oh, how He loves you; Oh, how He loves me;
Oh, how He loves you and me.

When Samson came to the end of his life – tied to two pillars in a coliseum – he prayed for his enemies. His prayer was:

(Judges 16:28 NKJV) O Lord GOD, REMEMBER ME, I PRAY! Strengthen me, I PRAY, just this once, O God, that I MAY WITH ONE BLOW TAKE VENGEANCE on the Philistines…

He prayed to kill his enemies. And God gave him strength to do so. When the Evangelist Stephen was being stoned to death by the Jews, notice that he prayed for himself first:

(Acts 7:59-60 NKJV) And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on [God] and saying, “LORD JESUS, RECEIVE MY SPIRIT.” [60] Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “LORD, DO NOT CHARGE THEM WITH THIS SIN.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Stephen prayed for himself FIRST, then for his enemies LAST. But when Jesus prayed, He prayed for His enemies first. “We love Him, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Jesus loved us while we were still His enemies. “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). In fact, Jesus loved us even before the world was created (Ephesians 1:4-5). Will you not come to Him this very day? Will you not repent, and cling to Him Who prayed for you on the Cross? Look to the sign that Jesus has given you. Look to the Cross, to the empty Tomb. Run to Him while you can. Give Him your life – TODAY. Amen.

Posted in Luke, Sermons Preached, Seven Sermons | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jesus Commanded New Birth

Posted on July 29, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Marek Piwnicki on Unsplash

The Book of John focuses on Who Jesus is, and who we are not. A few weeks ago we looked at the first command of Jesus, which is to “Repent”:

(Matthew 4:17 KJV) From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, REPENT: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

John the Baptist had just been imprisoned, and Jesus’ ministry was starting. He preached “REPENT”, which means to reject yourself and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. To choose a new god, a god better than the god you have been following. Jesus is the Good Shepherd Who loves His sheep, and lays His life down for His sheep (John 10).

If you’re going to go to Heaven, if you’re going to walk with Jesus, you must be a sheep, not a dog or a pig. Sheep follow the Shepherd. You must be born again.

We’re going to be in chapter 3 of John tonight, but before we go to chapter 3 let’s look at chapter 2. In chapter 2, Jesus is invited to a Wedding Feast in Cana, and they are out of wine. Jesus’ mother asks Jesus to intervene. Jesus has the servants fill six water pots to the brim with water. Each pot held from 102-162 gallons of water. Jesus turned that water into wine (vs 10), the “good wine” that out-shined all wine that had been served up to this point.

Jesus changed common water into exceptional wine. Water can be found anywhere. Wine requires special care and handling of grapes.

Then Jesus went to the Passover, and drove all out of the Temple that were using it as a money making endeavor. The Temple is where you worship God. They were worshiping not God, but money. Jesus ran them out of the House of God. Chapter 2 ends with these words:

John 2:23-25 Now when {Jesus} was in Jerusalem at the Passover, in the feast day, MANY BELIEVED IN HIS NAME, when they saw the miracles which he did. 24 But JESUS DID NOT COMMIT HIMSELF TO THEM, because HE KNEW ALL MEN, 25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for HE KNEW WHAT WAS IN MAN.

People saw Jesus turn water into wine, and “BELIEVED IN HIS NAME”. They saw Jesus chase the moneychangers out of the Temple. They saw the miracles that Jesus did. Oh, they “BELIEVED IN HIS NAME”. Jesus was a miracle worker! He did great things! But notice that:

JESUS DID NOT COMMIT HIMSELF TO THEM, because HE KNEW ALL MEN

Jesus is the “GOOD SHEPHERD Who gives His life for His sheep.” (John 10:11). Jesus is the “GOOD SHEPHERD Who knows His sheep, and is known by His sheep” (John 10:14). The people in Jerusalem “BELIEVED IN HIS NAME”, but NOT UNTO SALVATION.

Jesus looked in their hearts. He knew what was in their hearts. He could not be their Shepherd, because they were not sheep. Oh, they believed He could do the miracles. But they had not surrendered their lives to Him. They were not born again. God spoke through the Prophet:

(Jeremiah 17:9-10 KJV) The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and DESPERATELY WICKED: who can know it? [10] I THE LORD SEARCH THE HEART, [I] try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, [and] according to the fruit of his doings.

People came to Jesus believing He was a miracle man. They followed Him because He could improve the quality of their lives. Yet Jesus was not their Shepherd. He would not commit Himself to them, because their hearts were not changed. YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN. Jesus does not Shepherd the lost. YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN. Your heart must be changed.

The Shepherd Will Only Commit Himself To His Sheep

John 3:1-3 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus BY NIGHT, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art A teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

The Shepherd loves His sheep, and is concerned for His sheep. He loves everyone. But Jesus will not commit Himself to those who are not “born again”. That doesn’t mean that God doesn’t love us all. The Bible says:

1 John 4:19 We love him, because He first loved us.

Jesus will tell Nicodemus later in this chapter:

John 3:14-17 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that THE WORLD THROUGH HI MIGHT BE SAVED.

God loves His world. Jesus loves us, and laid His life down for us. But before Jesus can be our Shepherd, before we can be saved, we must do more than “BELIEVE IN HIS NAME”. A lot of people saw Jesus’ miracles and “BELIEVED IN HIS NAME”, but Jesus would not commit Himself to them. Why? They were NOT born again.

John 3:2 (Nicodemus) came to Jesus BY NIGHT

Nicodemus was curious. He was a Pharisee, and His friends were Pharisees. Nicodemus “BELIEVED IN HIS NAME”. He didn’t believe Jesus was the Christ, the Savior of the world. Nicodemus said what he believed about Jesus:

John 3:2 … we {Pharisees} know that Thou art A TEACHER COME FROM GOD: for no man can DO THESE MIRACLES that thou doest, except GOD BE WITH HIM.

There are a lot of people on the Church rolls today who believe the same things about Jesus. There are people who believe that Jesus is “ A TEACHER COME FROM GOD”. There’s a lot of teachers that God that God sent. He sent Moses, and Elijah, and Elisha. God sent Samuel, and David, and Hosea. Your Bible is filled with teachers sent by God, good men of God who wrote Holy Scripture. Beloved, Jesus is not just another teacher sent by God.

Jesus is THE SON OF MAN, the Christ, the Messiah that Daniel prophesied of. As the SON OF MAN Jesus speaks as God for God.

Jesus told Nicodemus:

John 3:11-13 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, WE speak that WE do know, and testify that WE have seen; and ye receive not OUR witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13 And NO MAN HATH ASCENDED UP TO HEAVEN, but HE THAT CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN, even THE SON OF MAN WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.

As Jesus talks to Nicodemus, He says “WE speak that WE do know, and testify that WE have seen”. Who is the “WE” Jesus is speaking of? It can’t be Nicodemus, for Jesus said “YE RECEIVE NOT OUR WITNESS”. Some have said that Jesus was referring to Himself, and John the Baptist. It can’t be this, because Jesus is talking about things that “WE KNOW, AND WE HAVE SEEN”. Jesus said “NO MAN HATH ASCENDED UP TO HEAVEN, but HE THAT CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN”. John the Baptist has not ascended unto Heaven. So just Who is the WE Jesus speaks of? It is the Triune God. Jesus said, “I am telling you things that WE – Father, Son and Spirit, know … and YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE OUR WITNESS”. Then notice what Jesus says:

NO MAN HATH ASCENDED UP TO HEAVEN, but HE THAT CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN, even THE SON OF MAN WHICH IS IN HEAVEN

John the Baptist has not ascended to Heaven – but Jesus has. Jesus came down from Heaven. And Jesus – AT THIS VERY MOMENT – as Messiah “IS IN HEAVEN” as He speaks to Nicodemus. Jesus is not just A teacher sent from God. Jesus is God Himself. Jesus is the Son of God. The Father addresses Jesus:

(Hebrews 1:5-8 NKJV) For to which of the angels did {God the Father} ever say: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”? And again: “I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son”? [6] But when He again brings the Firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all the angels of God worship Him.” [7] And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire.” [8] But TO THE SON HE SAYS: “Your throne, O God, [is] forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness [is] the scepter of Your kingdom.

Nicodemus has “believed in His name”, but not as God, not as the Son of God, but as A teacher Whom God has sent. He came at night, because he was afraid of what the other Pharisees would say. Nicodemus is religiously lost. He must be born again.

Jesus Commanded Nicodemus To Do Something He Could Not Do. Only God Can Make Us Born Again.

When Jesus told Nicodemus “You MUST be BORN AGAIN”, Nicodemus said “How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?”. He was puzzled. The Bible tells us that:

(1 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV) But the NATURAL MAN DOES NOT RECEIVE THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD, for they are FOOLISHNESS TO HIM; NOR CAN HE KNOW THEM, because THEY ARE SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED.

The “Natural Man” is detached from the Shepherd, but attached to sin, the flesh, the world and Satan. A mere “Teacher” cannot open the eyes of the soul. God must intervene.

A lost person – even if they are religious – cannot understand the things of the Spirit of God. Nicodemus is a “Teacher of Israel” (vs 10). He intellectually understands great teachings of the Bible. But he cannot receive spiritual truth – EVEN FROM JESUS – until he is born again. The Bible tells us:

(Romans 8:7-8 LSB) because THE MIND SET ON THE FLESH IS AT ENMITY TOWARD GOD, for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able [to do so], [8] and those who are in the flesh are not able to please God.

A lost person must be born again. This is something that person cannot do for themselves. They must repent, and lay their lives down to Jesus, believing on Him as both Lord and Savior. They must call on the power of His Name as their Great Shepherd. Jesus told Nicodemus:

John 3:5-7 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be BORN OF WATER AND OF THE SPIRIT, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is BORN OF THE FLESH IS FLESH; and that which is BORN OF THE SPIRIT IS SPIRIT. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN.

New Birth requires that a person believe on the Name of Jesus as Lord and call on the Name of Jesus as Savior. At that point, God the Holy Spirit effects a change in the seeker.

Adrian Rogers said, “Do you know what we have done? We have begun to talk about Christians in categories. We say, ‘Well, he’s a born-again Christian.’ May I tell you very plainly that saying ‘born-again Christian’ is redundant and besides, that’s the only kind there is! It’s like saying female woman or tooth dentist. Jesus said, ‘Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.’”

You are not a Christian unless you are born again. When Jesus spoke of “being born of WATER and of the SPIRIT”, He was not talking about water baptism. Jesus was appealing to Scripture. God promised His people that there was coming a day when …

(Ezekiel 36:25-27 LSB) … I WILL SPRINKLE CLEAN WATER ON YOU, and YOU WILL BE CLEAN; I WILL CLEANSE YOU from all your uncleanness and from all your idols. [26] “Moreover, I WILL GIVE YOU A NEW HEART and PUT A NEW SPIRIT WITHIN YOU; and I WILL REMOVE THE HEART OF STONE from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. [27] “I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to do My judgments.

It is God – not man – that saves the believer. It is God Who washes us, “THROUGH THE WASHING OF REGENERATION AND RENEWING BY THE HOLY SPIRIT” (Titus 3:5). It is God Who “GIVES US A NEW HEART” and “PUTS A NEW SPIRIT WITHIN US”. It is God Who gives us His Spirit, and causes us to walk in His ways.

Though Nicodemus was a “teacher” of the Law, he was spiritually dead. Those who are spiritually dead walk apart from God. Jesus told the Pharisees:

(John 8:37-39, 42-44 LSB) I know that you are Abraham’s seed; yet you are seeking to kill Me, because MY WORD HAS NO PLACE IN YOU. [38] “I speak the things which I have seen with [My] Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from [your] father.” [39] They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you are Abraham’s children, you would do the deeds of Abraham. … [42] Jesus said to them, “IF GOD WERE YOUR FATHER, YOU WOULD LOVE ME, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I HAVE NOT EVEN COME OF MYSELF, but THE FATHER SENT ME. [43] “Why do you not understand what I am saying? [It is] because YOU CANNOT HEAR MY WORD. [44] “YOU ARE OF YOUR FATHER, THE DEVIL, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own [nature], for he is a liar and the father of lies.

The spiritually dead cannot see the spiritual Kingdom of God. Nicodemus was standing next to the King of Kings, but he called Jesus “A teacher”. Humanity is divided into two camps:

those born of the flesh
those born of the Spirit

Jesus said of the Spirit:

John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

The wind moves around us without our intervention. The Holy Spirit also moves. When we REPENT, and call on the name of Jesus as Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit moves into our lives. The Spirit does not improve us morally. The Spirit gives us life. We are given new eyes to see. We are born again.

Before he was born again, Nicodemus came to Jesus “by NIGHT”. Pastor Kyle Idleman wrote:

“At night no one would see him. At night he would avoid awkward questions from the other religious leaders. At night he could spend time with Jesus without anyone knowing. If he could speak with Jesus at night when no one was around, maybe he could begin a relationship with Jesus without having to make any real changes. …. Here is the reality that Nicodemus is about ready to have impressed on him: There is no way to follow Jesus without Him interfering with your life….. Following Jesus always costs something. For Nicodemus it would cost him a powerful position. It would cost him the respect of his co-workers. It would cost him the source of his income and livelihood. It would cost him friendships. It would cost him family relationships.”

Before he was saved, Nicodemus hid his relationship with the Lord Jesus. Jesus said:

(Mark 8:38 LSB) For WHOEVER IS ASHAMED OF ME AND MY WORDS in this adulterous and sinful generation, the SON OF MAN WILL ALSO BE ASHAMED OF HIM when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.

After Nicodemus was saved by faith in Christ, his heart changed. Sheep love the Shepherd. When the Pharisees plotted to kill Jesus, Nicodemus stood up against them:

(John 7:50-51 LSB) Nicodemus … being one of them (a Pharisee), said to them, [51] “Does our Law judge a man unless it first hears from him and knows what he is doing?”

They were not pleased with Nicodemus, and mocked him. But Nicodemus stood with Christ. Later when Jesus was crucified, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus would retrieve His body from the Cross. Then Nicodemus would provide the supplies to prepare Christ’s body for burial (John 19:39). Whereas he was previously ashamed of Jesus, he was not now. The sheep follows the Shepherd. Period. But we do not make ourselves sheep. God makes us sheep, when we REPENT and RECEIVE the Lord Jesus Christ.

(1 Peter 1:3 LSB) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to HIS GREAT MERCY HAS CAUSED US TO BE BORN AGAIN to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Those who are “born again” are changed forever. We will fail, but we will fail upward. As Jesus rose from the grave to live forever in glory, we will one day rise to walk with Him in glory. The sheep belong to the Shepherd, and we belong to Him. We are no more dogs or pigs, but are sheep, HIS sheep, children of God by faith in Christ.

We who are saved are saved by the Word of God, by His faithfulness. We have His guarantee.

Peter betrayed Jesus at the worst moment of our Savior’s life. Paul murdered Christians before he was saved. We are not saved because we are flawless. We are saved because HE is flawless. Our Shepherd is our Lord Jesus. Peter wrote:

(1 Peter 1:22-25 LSB) Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a love of the brothers without hypocrisy, fervently love one another from the heart, [23] for you have been BORN AGAIN NOT OF CORRUPTIBLE SEED, BUT INCORRUPTIBLE, [that is], THROUGH THE LIVING AND ENDURING WORD OF GOD. [24] For, “ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF, [25] BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.” And this is the word which was proclaimed to you as good news.

One day you will stand before Almighty God. Imagine this, if you will. God asks you, “Why should you be allowed into My Heaven?” What is the first word you will say to Him? Will you say “Because I”, and then tell Him all the good things you did? If so, you have a problem. Your response should be – if you are sheep – “Because Jesus Christ is my Shepherd. He died for me. He owns me. I am His, and He is mine. I deserve nothing – but I cling to the Word of Christ’s Gospel”. Amen.

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Flee Idolatry And Cling To God

Posted on July 25, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Logan Armstrong on Unsplash

God Establishes And Stabilizes The Nation,
But Idolatry Destroys Any Nation

When God saved Israel from Egypt, He saved His people from a nation filled with idolatry – with false gods. When God sent Moses to Pharaoh with the message,

Exodus 5:1 Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.

Pharaoh was quick to answer:

(Exodus 5:2 ESV) Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.

Pharaoh believed – along with his people – the HE HIMSELF was god. Egypt worshiped numerous gods and goddesses, animals and leaders. It was idolatry and defiance of the God of the Bible that caused Egypt – at one time a world power – to lose it’s power and influence among the nations.

When God stopped Israel at the base of Mount Sinai, He was going to take this ragged group of people and constitute them as a nation. The Bible tells us that “God reigns over the nations” (Psalm 47:8), and that:

(Daniel 2:21 ESV) God changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;

God established Israel as His nation at Sinai. So in Israel’s constitution God established a series of principles of Law that His people were to follow. We call this foundation “The Ten Commandments”. The very first part of the commandments deal with WHO is God, and HOW God is to be treated.

(Exodus 20:2-7 NKJV) I [am] the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. [3] “You shall have no other gods before Me. [4] “You shall not make for yourself a carved image–any likeness [of anything] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the earth; [5] you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth [generations] of those who hate Me, [6] but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. [7] “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold [him] guiltless who takes His name in vain.

If Israel was to survive as a nation, she needed to follow the God Who saved her. Israel was not to follow any other gods or goddesses. She was to cling to the Word of God, obeying Him in all that they did without question. Israel’s blessing relied on being obedient to God, honoring and upholding His Word.

Idolatry is a tool of Satan. Satan invents false gods to seek the destruction of mankind. When Satan revolted against God, he declared “I will be like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:14). Satan carried this thought into the Garden of Eden in the guise of a serpent. Idolatry always follows this pattern:

1. Question the clearly presented Word of God. “Has God really said that you shall not eat of every tree”? (Genesis 3:1). Once humans decided to debate what God said, the devil next carries us to …

2. Defy the clearly presented Word of God. “God said you will die, but He lies. You will not surely die!” (Genesis 3:4). God just said that. God doesn’t know what He’s talking about. From this point, the devil …

3. Questions the integrity of God Himself. “God knows the day you eat of it, you’ll be just like Him!” (Genesis 3:5). Once Satan deconstructed humanity’s faith in God and His Word, then we progress to ….

4. Elevate human experience and feelings over what God has said. “The tree is good for food, pleasant to the eyes, and can make us wise like gods” (Genesis 3:6).

Then they eat – and sin enters Paradise. Idolatry destroys Paradise. Idolatry destroys a nation. Think about America today.

1. Teens are rising up, taking over areas of our country in riots. Police are being attacked. Why? Because children are not being taught:

Exodus 20:12 Honor your Father and Mother

Children are being raised not to honor authority, but to BE the authority. The Bible says “FATHERS, bring up your children IN THE DISCIPLINE AND INSTRUCTION OF THE LORD” (Ephesians 6:4). But many of the children born today do not have the presence of the father in the home. When the family unit breaks down, the nation breaks down.

2. Cities are demanding that governments “de-fund the police”. Why? Because if children are raised without respect for God, or are told that they themselves are gods, then they have no respect for authority. The Bible says:

(Romans 13:1 NKJV) Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is NO AUTHORITY EXCEPT FROM GOD, and the AUTHORITIES THAT EXIST ARE APPOINTED BY GOD.

3. There is a push to endorse Socialism and Communism as replacements for Capitalism in America. We as Americans are on a pathway to destruction because of idolatry.

An oft quoted text is something that God told Solomon on the day that the Temple was constructed and dedicated to the Lord. God came to King Solomon at night, saying:

(2 Chronicles 7:12-14 NKJV) I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. [13] “When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, [14] “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

What God was saying to Israel under Solomon was “If you sin, I will punish you. I’ll stop the rains. I’ll have the locusts consume the crops. I’ll send sickness into the populace. BUT if you, as My people, REPENT and RETURN to Me, I will forgive you and bless your nation.”

The First And Most Persistent Sin Of Israel

Before Moses could even get off the mountain with the Law that constituted Israel, God’s people began to create idols. We read:

(Exodus 32:1-5 LSB) Then the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain. So the people assembled about Aaron and said to him, “Arise, make us gods who will go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” [2] And Aaron said to them, “Tear off the gold rings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring [them] to me.” [3] Then all the people tore off the gold rings which were in their ears and brought [them] to Aaron. [4] And he took [this] from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made it into a molten calf; and they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.” [5] And Aaron looked and built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow [shall be] a feast to Yahweh.”

The first commands God gave Israel was to avoid idolatry. And yet the first disobedience of Israel was to create an idol. Israel learned idolatry from Egypt. We learn idolatry from the lost world. As Christians, we are supposed to …

(2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV) … WALK BY FAITH, not by sight

An idol is a man created image or thing that visually represents God. But it doesn’t represent God. It represents our idea of Who God is. An idol lowers God to our level. God is not to be lowered, but exalted. The Bible says:

(Hebrews 11:6 KJV) … without faith [it is] impossible to please [Him]: for he that cometh to God must BELIEVE THAT HE IS, and [that] He is a REWARDER of them that DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM.

We are to believe what God has said about Himself in His Word, and to pursue Him. God does not chase us. He is not a good luck charm that we wear about our necks, nor a little statue we put in our pockets. He blesses us when we PURSUE AND GLORIFY HIM.

The same King Solomon that God came to by night (remember this?) and said “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land”, this wise King ailed to heed to Word of God. The Bible says:

(1 Kings 11:1-2 ESV) Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, [2] from the nations concerning which the LORD had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” SOLOMON CLUNG TO THESE IN LOVE.

Solomon let his heart lead him, rather than the Word of God. The Bible says in 1 Kings 11:4, “Solomon’s wives TURNED AWAY HIS HEART AFTER OTHER GODS, and his heart was not wholly true to the LORD his God. This started what I call a “domino effect” of destruction. God told Solomon:

(1 Kings 11:11-13 ESV) .. you have not kept MY COVENANT and MY STATUES that I have commanded you, I WILL SURELY TEAR THE KINGDOM FROM YOU AND WILL GIVE IT TO YOUR SERVANT. [12] Yet for the sake of David your father I will not do it in your days, but I WILL TEAR IT OUT OF THE HAND OF YOUR SON. [13] However, I will not tear away all the kingdom, but I WILL GIVE ONE TRIBE TO YOUR SON, for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem that I have chosen.”

Solomon had a servant – a General named Jeroboam. Because of Solomon’s idolatry, God was going to take the Kingdom from Solomon’s son Rehoboam and give ten tribes to Jeroboam. God sent a Prophet named Ahijah to Jeroboam:

(1 Kings 11:29-37 ESV) And at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the road. Now Ahijah had dressed himself in a new garment, and the two of them were alone in the open country. [30] Then AHIJAH LAID HOLD OF THE NEW GARMENT THAT WAS ON HIM, and TORE IT INTO TWELVE PIECES. [31] And he said to Jeroboam, “TAKE FOR YOURSELF TEN PIECES, for thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I am about to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon and WILL GIVE YOU TEN TRIBES [32] (but he [REHOBOAM] shall have one tribe, for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city that I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel), [33] BECAUSE THEY HAVE FORSAKEN ME AND WORSHIPED Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the Ammonites, and they have NOT WALKED IN MY WAYS, DOING WHAT IS RIGHT IN MY SIGHT and keeping my statutes and my rules, as David his father did. [34] Nevertheless, I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand, but I will make him ruler all the days of his life, for the sake of David my servant whom I chose, who kept my commandments and my statutes. [35] But I will take the kingdom out of his son’s hand [REHOBOAM] and will give it to you, ten tribes. [36] Yet to his son I will give one tribe, that David my servant may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city where I have chosen to put my name. [37] And I will take you, and you shall reign over all that your soul desires, and you shall be king over Israel.

God was going to divide Israel both North and South because of idolatry. It was a “domino effect” that started with Solomon

All of the tribes but Judah and Benjamin followed Jeroboam north, and Judah and Benjamin became known as Judah or Southern Israel. What happened to the Levites?

The Bible says that:

(2 Chronicles 11:13-16 ESV) And THE PRIESTS AND THE LEVITES who were in all Israel presented themselves to {Rehoboam} from all places where they lived. [14] For the Levites left their common lands and their holdings and came to Judah and Jerusalem, because JEROBOAM AND HIS SONS CAST THEM OUT FROM SERVING AS PRIESTS OF THE LORD, [15] and HE APPOINTED HIS OWN PRIESTS for the high places and FOR THE GOAT IDOLS and FOR THE CALVES THAT HE HAD MADE. [16] And those who had set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came after them from all the tribes of Israel to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their fathers.

God took the Kingdom from Solomon because of idolatry, and gave ten tribes to Jeroboam because of idolatry. Did Jeroboam honor God Who gave him the Kingdom? No! Idolatry, like poison in the life blood, spreads where it is allowed.

Jeroboam set up an idolatrous place of worship in Samaria in order to keep the ten tribes from going to Jerusalem to worship. The Bible tells us that:

(1 Kings 12:26-31 ESV) And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now the kingdom will turn back to the house of David. [27] If this people GO UP TO OFFER SACRIFICES IN THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD AT JERUSALEM, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah. [28] So the king took counsel and MADE TWO CALVES OF GOLD. And he said to the people, “You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. [29] And he set ONE IN BETHEL, and the other he put IN DAN. [30] Then this thing became a sin, for the people went as far as Dan to be before one. [31] He also made temples on high places and appointed priests from among all the people, WHO WERE NOT OF THE LEVITES.

Jeroboam did not trust in the power and decree of God, Who had told him that ten tribes would be given him to rule as King. He was afraid to allow the ten tribes to go to Jerusalem to worship, so he set up his own system of idolatry to protect his reign.

Preach: The Ten Tribes that were broken off because of idolatry continued to pursue idols rather that the God of Scripture. Because of this Northern Israel would fall under Assyrian conquest 722 BC, about 136 years before Southern Israel would fall to Babylon (586 BC).

Idolatry Brings About The Wrath Of God, The Destruction Of The Family, And The Loss Of National Morality

The Apostle Paul described the horrors of idolatry in the first chapter of Romans:

Romans 1:18-23 (ESV) For the WRATH OF GOD IS REVEALED FROM HEAVEN against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, THEY DID NOT HONOR HIM AS GOD or GIVE THANS TO HIM, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and EXCHANGED THE GLORY OF THE IMMORTAL GOD FOR IMAGES RESEMBLING resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

You cannot serve God and an idol. You must “turn to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10). When Paul and Barnabas preached Christ crucified, they chastised the Gentiles for idol worship, saying:

Acts 14:15 … we bring you good news, that you should TURN FROM THESE VAIN THINGS TO A LIVING GOD, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.

An idol cannot save. An idol cannot bless, or bring good fortune. God tells His Church, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21). Idolatry is one of the sins we are not only to recognize, but to run from:

(1 Corinthians 10:14 ESV) Therefore, my beloved, FLEE FROM IDOLATRY.

We live in a day of idols. Idolatry has crept into our nation. It is in our schools teaching “wokeness” and biological nonsense. We as God’s people must flee idolatry.

I found an interesting parallel that ties in to Solomon losing the Kingdom to his servant Jeroboam. Jeroboam was the first King over the Northern Tribes of Israel. King Ahab was the seventh King of Northern Israel. Jeroboam established the golden calf worship in Bethel and Dan. But King Ahab went even farther. He openly defied God, and killed the Prophets that God sent into the land.

So God raised up Ahab’s servant Jehu. The Prophet Elisha sent a messenger to Jehu, saying:

2 Kings 9:6-7 I anoint you king over the people of the Lord, over Israel. And YOU SHALL STRIKE DOWN THE HOUSE OF AHAB YOUR MASTER, so that I may avenge on Jezebel THE BLOOD OF MY SERVANTS THE PROPHETS

Jehu did as God asked. He not only destroyed Ahab and his family, but Jehu “destroyed Baal from Israel” (2 Kings 10:28). But Jehu was selective in what idols he destroyed. The Bible says:

(2 Kings 10:29, 31 NKJV) However JEHU DID NOT TURN AWAY FROM THE SINS OF JEROBOAM the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin, [that is], FROM THE GOLDEN CALVES THAT WERE AT BETHEL AND DAN. … [31] But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart; for he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam, who had made Israel sin.

The Ten Northern Tribes of Israel (Reuben, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Ephraim, Manasseh) will eventually be taken into exile by Assyria. These tribes today are called “The Lost Tribes of Israel”. God will one day regather His people, and through 144,000 Hebrew Evangelists bring Israel to a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (see Revelation 7:4-8). Two of the Ten Northern Tribes – Dan and Ephraim – are not mentioned in Revelation 7. I suspect that has to do with unrepentant idolatry.

Flee idolatry. Cling to God. That is the only way to blessing and peace.

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Cast Not Your Pearls Before Swine

Posted on July 15, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Pascal Debrunner on Unsplash

(Matthew 7:1-5 KJV) Judge not, that ye be not judged. [2] For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. [3] And why beholdest thou the mote that is in THY BROTHER’S EYE, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? [4] Or how wilt thou say TO THY BROTHER, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam [is] in thine own eye? [5] Thou HYPOCRITE, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of THY BROTHER’S eye.

(Matthew 7:6 KJV) Give not that which is holy unto the DOGS, neither cast ye your pearls before SWINE, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

The Church Battles The Darkness

The Church of Jesus Christ is in the midst of a battle against darkness, and has been in that battle from the moment Jesus ascended into Heaven. Just as Satan attacked Jesus from the start to the end of His earth ministry (Matthew 4:1-11; Matthew 16:21-23; Mark 3:20-30; Luke 22:53; Revelation 12:10-11), Jesus warned us that we would battle Satan as His Church. Our enemy is not humanity, but the forces of evil and darkness behind humanity. The Bible says:

(Ephesians 6:12-13 NKJV) For WE DO NOT WRESTLE AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, but against PRINCIPALITIES, against POWERS, against the RULERS OF THE DARKNESS of this age, against SPIRITUAL HOSTS OF WICKEDNESS in the heavenly [places]. [13] Therefore TAKE UP THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

The fallen world, under the influence and snare of Satan, is constantly attacking the truths of the Bible and the glorious Gospel of Christ. The Apostle said,

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because YOUR ADVERSARY THE DEVIL, as a roaring lion, walketh about, SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR.

The solution for the Church – the only way we can survive – is to SUBMIT OURSELVES TO GOD while RESISTING SATAN (James 4:7).

Sadly, that’s not what happens in most cases. Instead of demanding that the world listen to Jesus, we as the church have begun to listen to the world. We begin to ask questions like, “How can we get more behinds in the pew”, rather than asking the right question “How can we glorify Jesus and honor our Heavenly Father?”. If we please Jesus, God will make sure the RIGHTEOUS are added to the Church. Look at the early Church testimony. When the Apostles preached:

Acts 2:40 … BE SAVED FROM THIS PERVERSE (skolios, crooked, wicked, surly) GENERATION

They made no apologies when preaching against the wickedness in the world. The early Preachers made no excuses for the darkness to hide in, but demanded that people REPENT – surrender their lives to Jesus so that He could save them. The Bible tells us that:

(Acts 2:41-42, 46-47 NKJV) Then those who GLADLY RECEIVED HIS WORD WERE BAPTIZED; and that day about three thousand souls were added [to them]. [42] And they CONTINUED STEADFASTLY in the apostles’ DOCTRINE and FELLOWSHIP, in the BREAKING OF BREAD, and in PRAYER. … [46] So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, [47] praising God and having favor with all the people. And THE LORD ADDED TO THE CHURCH DAILY THOSE WHO WERE BEING SAVED.

The early Church practiced judgment. It preached the Gospel to all, saying “BE SAVED FROM THIS PERVERSE (skolios, crooked, wicked, surly) GENERATION”. The preaching offended many, so much so that:

Preachers were arrested (Acts 4:1-3)
Religious leaders wanted to kill them (Acts 5:33)
Stephen was murdered for preaching repentance (Acts 7:54-58)
The Church was hated and persecuted (Acts 8:1)
Missionaries were beaten and imprisoned (Acts 13:50)
Whole cities came out to destroy Preachers (Acts 17:5-8)

And yet the Church grew, and prospered. Why? Because Christians were genuine, not apathetic. Christians knew that they were in a battle with Satan and the lost, and so believers took their faith seriously. The early Church had no buildings, but met house to house or in the Temple (at least, until the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD). The early Church was attacked, brutalized, scattered, but it grew because believers were serious about serving the Lord Jesus.

Then Satan had a brainstorm. He thought, “Let’s back off on the persecution, and blend Christianity with politics. Let’s make Christianity acceptable, and the law of the land”. In 313 AD Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity in the Edict of Milan. Though Constantine did not outlaw other religious belief, he made it fashionable to be a Christian. Then in 380 AD Emperor Theodosius I (Theodosius the Great) issued the Edict of Thessalonica, making Nicene Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire. As Pagan religions were banned, those who were pagans and without Christ were encouraged the join with the state Church. Many did so bringing their false, unbiblical beliefs with them. To maintain unity, a series of offices unknown to Scripture were brought into the Church, the chief office being that of “Pope”. It is the “Pope”, not the Lord Jesus Christ, who is said to have supreme legislative, executive, and judicial power for the state Church. Popes brought horrible things into the state Church. To name just a few:

Pope Innocent III (1198-1216) authorized the murder of thousands in southern France

Pope Innocent IV (1243-1254) authorized torture by the Inquisition against suspected heretics or unbelievers

Pope Urban VI (1378-1389) ordered the torture and execution of Pastors who opposed them. He complained when their screams were not loud

The devil crept into the Church when the Church left the Word of God. When God’s people become apathetic or hypocritical, it isn’t long before the Church isn’t the Church at all.

The Devil Is The Master Of Twisting Scripture

The devil is always twisting and quoting scripture, seeking to ensnare the people of God. The text we’re looking at today has been widely quoted by unbelievers, and adopted as twisted by several denominations to the demise of that denomination. The text is:

(Matthew 7:1-2 KJV) Judge not, that ye be not judged. [2] For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

Usually when this is quoted, people say “Jesus said you’re not to judge. The only one that can judge is God, not humans. Based on that, I can do thus and thus REGARDLESS as to what the Bible says, because the Bible is just an old outdated Book anyway”. And Beloved, this is not what the text is about.

Did Jesus Actually Tell Us Not To Judge Others?

As we look at our text, “Judge not, that ye be not judged”, is Jesus actually telling us not to judge the actions of others. For instance, if I see a child molester stalking a six year old, should I say “Judge not, that ye be not judged”, turn my back and walk away? If I see a man knock down a woman and begin to assault her, should I say “Judge not, that ye be not judged”, and mind my own business? Of if someone pulls a knife and attacks someone with the knife, should I not intervene because, after all, “Judge not, that ye be not judged”? I think most reasonable people would say, “No, you should get involved”. The Bible says:

Psalm 82:3-4 (NIV) Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; DELIVER THEM FROM THE HAND OF THE WICKED.

In order to do what God said, you must make judgments. The Prophet Isaiah said, “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the
6 fatherless, plead the widow’s cause”. You must

make judgments. You must be able to weigh good against evil, light against darkness.

I cannot judge that which is unseen, the contents of the human heart. But I can judge external actions as right or wrong based on the teaching of Scripture.

We judge FRUIT, the outward actions of the life. The FRUIT will tell us much about the tree that bears it. I personally cannot distinguish an orange tree from a pear tree or a apple tree by it’s bark or leaves. But once the tree bears fruit, the fruit will tell me the type of tree it is. Jesus told us to “Judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24). Jesus told us:

(Matthew 7:15-18 KJV) BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. [16] YOU SHALL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? [17] Even so EVERY GOOD TREE BRINGETH FORTH GOOD FRUIT; but A CORRUPT TREE BRINGETH FORTH EVIL FRUIT. [18] A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Preach! You may not be able to tell what’s in the heart of the tree – but you can judge the fruit. Does the fruit that which the tree produces bring honor to our heavenly Father? Does the fruit glorify the Lord Jesus by advancing the Gospel? Does the fruit encourage repentance from the flesh, and walking in the power of the Spirit? Can the fruit be seen in the Scripture as a fruit to be desired? Does the fruit magnify Jesus while minimizing me?

Jesus never said we should not judge. The light must judge darkness and light. We are light, and not darkness. So we must judge – not based on our opinion as to right or wrong – but based on what God has endorsed or rejected via the Scripture.

Jesus Was Not Telling Us Not To Judge Others. He Was Telling Us To Judge Ourselves FIRST.

(Matthew 7:1-3 KJV) Judge not, that ye be not judged. [2] For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. [3] And why BEHOLDEST THOU THE MOTE that is in THY BROTHER’S {adelphos} EYE, but CONSIDEREST NOT THE BEAM that is in thine own eye?

The words that you see above were not addressed to the lost, but to the assembled Church. In Matthew chapter 5 verse 1 we read:

Matthew 5:1 (Jesus) went up into a mountain: and WHEN HE WAS SET, HIS DISCIPLES CAME UNTO HIM

Word Study: When you come to the end of Matthew chapter 7 we read “when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine”. From the beginning of Matthew 5 to the end of Matthew 7 we are hearing a sermon Jesus preached to HIS FOLLOWERS. The sermon wasn’t preached to unbelievers, but to believers. It wasn’t to the world at large, but about judging what is in “THY BROTHER’S EYE”. The word rendered “BROTHER” is the Greek adelphos, which means “those of the same family or of the same Kingdom”. The word is used frequently in the New Testament for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ (see Romans 1:13; 7:1; 11:25; 1 Corinthians 1:10; 2:1; 3:1; 2 Corinthians 8:1, and so on).

So this verse has nothing to do with judging a lost or unchurched person. It has to do with making judgment against one another in the Church. Jesus said:

Judge not, that ye be not judged

When you are going to judge yourself, the first thing you need to do is ask yourself “Is what I am judging something the Scripture clearly supports?” Does the Bible say that what this fellow believer is doing is wrong? Or is this just my opinion? God is the One Who determines what is good or evil, not me. God told Israel,

Deuteronomy 6:18 (AP) Do that which is RIGHT AND GOOD IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, and you will be blessed …

Isaiah 33:22 (ESV) the LORD IS OUR JUDGE; the LORD IS OUR LAWGIVER

If I’m making a judgment based on what I think, then I may be judged by God as a false prophet.

For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

If I’m using the Word of God, and repeating what the Father has established as normal for His Kingdom, then I won’t be judged for that. But if I’m making up my rules and expecting others to live by them as if I am God, I will be judged harshly for that.

why BEHOLDEST THOU THE MOTE {karphos} that is in THY BROTHER’S {adelphos} EYE, but CONSIDEREST NOT THE BEAM {dokos} that is in thine own eye?

Word Study: The second thing the Christian should ask themselves is, “Have I examined MY LIFE before revealing this judgment to my brother or sister in Christ?” Jesus uses two words here – karphos and dokos. The word karphos means “a little chaff”. In the ancient world you made your own flour. You did so by tossing the head of the wheat plant into the air. The edible seed would fall back into the bowl, but the inedible chaff would fly up in the air, and sometimes get in your eye. It’s just a tiny thing that floats on the air. It would bother, but not blind. But the other word Jesus uses is dokos, which means “a stick of timber large enough to hold up a roof”. The word is found in the Septuagint in:

Song of Solomon 1:17 (Sept) The BEAMS {dokos} of our house are cedar

It’s not a tiny piece of chaff, but something along the line of a 2×8 construction grade board. If that were in your eye, you would be blinded by it. We are to judge ourselves first. When the Apostle Paul chastised the Church at Corinth he told the Church:

(1 Corinthians 11:31-32 NKJV) For IF WE WOULD JUDGE OURSELVES, WE WOULD NOT BE JUDGED. [32] But when we are judged, WE ARE CHASTENED BY THE LORD, that we may not be condemned with the world.

Christians are children of God, saved by faith in Christ. When we sin, the “wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Sin corrupts. Sin destroys. A brother or a sister who points out sin to another brother or sister has done them a favor. For if you will not repent of sin, GOD WILL CHASTEN YOU, EVEN UNTO DEATH. This is what was happening at Corinth. They had let sin in their midst, and were running around saying without foundation:

“Judge not, that ye be not judged”

And people were dying. Beloved,

We as Christians need to stop treating sin as if it were a pet animal. Sin is a wild beast that, if not bound, will eat you and those you love alive! Judge yourself first. Then help your brother or sister out of the snare of sin.

(Matthew 7:5 KJV) Thou hypocrite, first cast out the BUILDER’S BEAM out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the CHAFF out of thy brother’s eye.

Jesus is not telling us to not judge. He is telling us to make sure we are in union with Him and His Word before we judge a fellow brother or sister. Christians MUST judge – but not based on what we feel or think, but based on what the Bible says.

You Cannot Obey What Jesus Says In The Very Next Verse If You Do Not Judge

Usually a lost person will trot Matthew 7:1-5 out an tell Christians that Jesus said not to judge anyone for any reason. As I’ve shown you, this is a twisting of God’s Word. But the lost have NEVER quoted this verse, because to do so would ruin their fabrication of truth. Jesus said:

(Matthew 7:6 KJV) Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

It is impossible to obey Jesus in this verse if I don’t, as a Christian, make some judgments. Jesus said “Give not that which is holy”. I have to make a judgment as to what is HOLY, that which God has endorsed. I’m not supposed to give the holy “UNTO THE DOGS”. Is Jesus talking about Lassie? No. When the Bible speaks of “DOGS”, it is speaking of those who mock or reject the Kingdom of God, who endorse filthy things that God has rejected, who amplify and persist in what God has said is evil. The Bible says:

(Philippians 3:2 LSB) BEWARE OF THE DOGS! Beware of the EVIL WORKERS! Beware of the mutilation!

Dogs are people who twist the Gospel of salvation, who ignore repentance and reject the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. Unrepentant evil doers are dogs. Dogs of that type will not be in Heaven, but will be locked out because they have rejected the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior.

(Revelation 22:14-15 LSB) Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the authority to the tree of life and may enter by the gates into the city. [15] OUTSIDE ARE THE DOGS and the sorcerers and the sexually immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.

Dogs have no place in the Kingdom of God in Heaven, because dogs reject the Kingdom of Christ on this earth. Jesus said “Do not give what is holy to the DOGS”. Dogs aren’t going to Heaven (human dogs). Don’t share the Kingdom Truths with those who are unsaved. Give them the Gospel, but do not argue Kingdom truths with them. The Bible says:

1 Corinthians 2:14 (KJV) … the natural man RECEIVETH NOT THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD: for they are FOOLISHNESS UNTO HIM: neither can he know them, because THEY ARE SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED.

A spiritual Dog cannot understand the Trinity, nor the inspiration of the Scripture. A spiritual Dog invents 47 genders whereas God only created two. A spiritual Dog mocks the Cross of Christ, the sinlessness of Jesus. A spiritual Dog does not understand Biblical love. A Dog licks itself, and has no shame.

neither cast ye your PEARLS before SWINE

Among the Jews “SWINE” were considered unclean creatures. They were not to be eaten, or even touched (Leviticus 11:7-8). God lifted those restrictions in the Book of Acts (Acts 10:12-16) – but swine, hogs or pigs, are by nature dirty creatures.

God’s people are not to give the precious spiritual truths that He has given us to the lost world. The unsaved will not appreciate those truths, but will only trample them underfoot and mock them.

What is a “pearl” and how is it made? A pearl begins when something irritating and painful enters the life of a oyster. That thing comes into the soft tissue of the sea creature, and it can’t get rid of it. The oyster covers the irritant with calcium carbonate crystals, over and over again. The longer the process takes, the larger the pearl gets. In time, that which was an irritant is converted into something very valuable and desirable.

We don’t give pearls to the lost. We don’t promise them Heaven, nor share the promises that God has given to His people to them. What we share with the lost is the Gospel. The Gospel is not a pearl – but it makes pearls. Jesus talked about the Kingdom of Heaven as “a Pearl of Great Price”.

(Matthew 13:45-46 LSB) Again, the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, [46] and upon FINDING ONE PEARL OF GREAT VALUE, he went and SOLD ALL THAT HE HAD AND BOUGHT IT.

This life is hard. We, like oysters, have irritants and miseries that enter our lives. How do we fix it? We try to do it through human means, through doctors, self help gurus, through psychology. Nothing seems to help. No one but Jesus can help us.

We repent and come to Jesus.

Jesus Christ came into His Creation, and laid down His life for us. The Bible says:

(1 Corinthians 1:18 LSB) For THE WORD OF THE CROSS IS FOOLISHNESS TO THOSE WHO ARE PERISHING, but TO US WHO ARE BEING SAVED, IT IS THE POWER OF GOD.

When people are tried. When they are suffering. When hospitalized. When in depression. When that irritant comes into their lives, and they realize that they are helpless against it, we share the Cross with them. We tell them about Jesus. And, “if God grants repentance that leads to life” (Acts 11:18; 2 Timothy 2:25; Romans 2:4), if that lost person will grab the hand of Jesus,

God will cover the hurt with Grace. He will bring that lost soul into the Family of God. “Of Jesus’ fullness we receive, grace upon grace” (John 1:16). He takes our broken lives, and makes us His workmanship (Ephesians 2:10). Jesus does what the Prophets said He would do:

(Isaiah 61:3 NKJV) To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”

The pearl of great price belongs to those who have given
17 their lives to Jesus. Not to the dogs. Not to the swine

who mock and reject His mercy. But to those who will surrender their lives to Him, blessed be the name of Jesus.

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Our Mission Is God’s Kingdom

Posted on July 15, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Mahamudul Hasan on Unsplash

(Mark 4:26-29 KJV) And HE SAID, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed INTO {epi, on} the ground; [27] And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. [28] For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. [29] But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

(Mark 4:30-34 KJV) And HE SAID, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? [31] [It is] like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: [32] But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it. [33] And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear [it]. [34] But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

Those Who Are Saved Are Called To Be Like Jesus

When Adam was placed in the Garden East of Eden (Genesis 2:8), it was both a person and a place that were without sin. The Bible says that:

(Genesis 1:31 NKJV) Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed [it was] VERY GOOD…

Creation was literally heaven on earth. It was the Kingdom of God. The Bible says “out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that was pleasant to the sight and good for food” (Genesis 2:8-9). When the first Adam sinned and rejected the commandment of God, he brought spiritual death on both himself, his family, and on creation. Paul tells us:

(Romans 5:12 NKJV) … through ONE MAN SIN ENTERED THE WORLD, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because ALL SINNED–

Mankind died spiritually the day Adam sinned, and brought sin on creation itself. Everything went from being “very good” to “cursed”. God told Adam:

(Genesis 3:17-19 NKJV) Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “CURSED IS THE GROUND FOR YOUR SAKE; In toil you shall eat [of] it All the days of your life. [18] Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. [19] In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you [are], And to dust you shall return.”

What should have been Heaven on earth – the Kingdom of God – became the domain of sin and death. Whereas Adam and Eve were to rule the world for God, their fall to Satan gave him rule. The Apostle wrote:

(1 John 5:19 NKJV) We know that we are of God, and THE WHOLE WORLD LIES UNDER THE SWAY OF THE WICKED ONE.

From Adam until the coming of Christ people were:

Bondage to sin (John 8:34; Romans 6:16-20)
Spiritually blinded (1 Corinthians 2:14; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4)
Subject to corruption (Romans 8:20-22)
Fear and Shame (Genesis 3:7-10)
Separated from God (Genesis 3:8-10, 23-24)
A sin nature (Psalm 51:5; Ephesians 2:3; Romans 3:23)
Under condemnation of God (Romans 5:16-18)

The first Adam destroyed the Kingdom of God on the earth. But God was not going to leave it at that. God the Father sent a Second Adam to correct what the first Adam did. The Second Adam is Jesus Christ.

In 1 Corinthians 15:45 the Apostle quotes the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures of

Genesis 2:7 (KJV) the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, AND MAN BECAME A LIVING SOUL

Paul writes (1 Corinthians 15:45-49 KJV) And so it is written, The FIRST MAN ADAM WAS MADE A LIVING SOUL; the LAST ADAM WAS MADE A QUICKENING SPIRIT. [46] Howbeit that [was] not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. [47] The first man [is] of the earth, earthy: the second man [is] the Lord from heaven. [48] As [is] the earthy, such [are] they also that are earthy: and as [is] the heavenly, such [are] they also that are heavenly. [49] And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

The first Adam, the Adam that sinned, is where humanity started. In the first Adam we have physical life, but are born separated from God and spiritually dead. But

The Second Adam, Jesus Christ our Lord, came to quicken us, to give us spiritual life. The Second Adam is the Lord from Heaven. We who believe in Him and who have received Him as Lord and Savior will BEAR THE IMAGE OF THE HEAVENLY.

We who are saved are not to be like the first Adam, listening to the serpent, following the devilish desires. We who are saved are to be like the Second Adam. We are saved to be children of God. We are saved to be sons of God. Last Wednesday night God led us in our studies to:

(1 John 3:2-3 KJV) Beloved, NOW ARE WE THE SONS OF GOD, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, WHEN HE SHALL APPEAR, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM; for we shall see Him as He is. [3] And EVERY MAN THAT HAS THIS HOPE IN {Jesus} PURIFIETH HIMSELF, EVEN AS JESUS IS PURE.

Those who are saved are called to be like Jesus. We are to walk with Jesus daily, just as Adam walked with Jesus daily before he broke the Law of God. We are to walk in love with one another. We read this on Wednesday:

(1 John 3:10-12 KJV) In this the CHILDREN OF GOD ARE MANIFEST, and THE CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL: whosoever DOETH NOT RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NOT OF GOD, NEITHER HE THAT LOVETH NOT HIS BROTHER. [11] For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that WE SHOULD LOVE ONE ANOTHER. [12] Not as Cain, [who] was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

A person says, “I am a Christian”. Fine. Are you DOING RIGHTEOUSNESS. I’m not asking what you’re NOT doing. The Pharisees were big on what they were NOT doing. “Teacher, I DON’T MURDER, I DON’T COMMIT ADULTERY, I DON’T STEAL, I DON’T CURSE GOD”. Well, that’s fine. We see what you’re not doing. But are you DOING RIGHTEOUSNESS? To DO RIGHTEOUSNESS means to DO what God says do. To DO RIGHTEOUSNESS means to LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Are we doing righteousness? Are we following Jesus? Are we acting as sons of God?

Sons of God walk with God: (Romans 8:14 KJV) For as many as are LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, THEY ARE THE SONS OF GOD.

Sons of God shine for God: (Philippians 2:15 KJV) That ye may be blameless and harmless, THE SONS OF GOD, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom YE SHINE AS LIGHTS IN THE WORLD

Sons of God walk in power: (John 1:12 KJV) But as many as received {Jesus}, to them gave He POWER TO BECOME THE SONS OF GOD, [even] to them that believe on His name:

Adam Walked In A Perfect Kingdom And Gave The Kingdom To Satan. Christians Walk With The Second Adam, And Live To Glorify God Our Savior

When Jesus came to this earth, He knew what His mission was. He stayed focused on the mission. He never took His eyes off of what He had to do. Jesus came as the Second Adam to undo what the first Adam did. Jesus came to bring the Kingdom of God to this fallen world.

When I was in the Air Force, we knew what our mission was. We knew who the enemy was, and knew what we were supposed to do to defeat that enemy. Sadly, if you ask most Christians today “What is the mission of the Church?” or “What is YOUR mission?”, very few have a clue. That’s not Jesus’ fault. It is the fault of modern pastoring that focuses on noses and nickles. I don’t see any place where Jesus focused on crowds. He focused on planting the Word of God, sharing the Gospel message. We previously studied the Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1-9). In that Parable Jesus said:

Mark 4:14 (KJV) The sower SOWETH THE WORD

The seed that the sower sows is not the word of man, not the word of Satan, but the Word of God. Specifically it is the Word of God that emphasizes that which Jesus Christ has taught us. The whole point of the Parable of the Sower is that the Word of God is sown indiscriminately as you are going about your day. In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus spoke of four grounds where the seed is sown – four types of hearts:

Mark 4:15 The heart possessed of Satan
Mark 4:16-17 The shallow “serve me” heart
Mark 4:18-19 The unrepentant heart

In each of those hearts, the Gospel does not lasting good. The person who hears the Word, hears it as the first Adam did, and does with it just as the first Adam did. But then you have the repentant, ready to receive heart:

(Mark 4:20 KJV) And these are they which are SOWN ON GOOD GROUND; such as HEAR THE WORD, and RECEIVE IT, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

Those who are repentant, who are broken and ready to hear the Gospel of Jesus, receive the Word. We cannot make anyone receive the Word of God. We cannot coerce Christians. It doesn’t work. God must prepare the heart, but Beloved, we are to sow the seed, to tell others of Jesus, to let them see Jesus in us and in our actions. We are not responsible for growing or cultivating the seed. We merely sow.

(Mark 4:26-29 KJV) And HE SAID, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; [27] And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. [28] For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. [29] But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

Word Study: The Parable of the Sower is followed by the Parable of the Growing Seed. The Parable starts with “HE SAID”. This is the Greek word ἔλεγεν (elegen), which is the imperfect active indicative, 3rd person singular form of λέγω (legō – to say, speak). The imperfect tense denotes continuous or ongoing action. Though translated as “HE SAID”, it is better translated as …

Jesus WENT ON TO SAY

Jesus wasn’t just rattling off these Parables about the Kingdom of God. He was preaching the mission of the Church, of HIS Church. He was telling us what He wants US as believers in Him to do.

Mark 4:26 …And {Jesus} KEPT SAYING, The Kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground

Jesus is following up the Parable of the Four Soils and the Sower with another Parable about a Sower – but this time the focus is on the SEED. The Sower is responsible for scattering the seed. That is his mission. So the Sower scatters the seed, then

(Mark 4:27 KJV) And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, HE KNOWETH NOT HOW.

The Sower does his mission. Then he goes home, and SLEEPS. He’s done his job. He can’t make the seed do anything, and he does not prepare the ground. The Sower trusts the process. When the Church at Corinth found fault with Paul, comparing him to other preachers who they considered better, Paul told them:

(1 Corinthians 3:4-9 LSB) For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not [mere] men? [5] What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? SERVANTS THROUGH WHOM YOU BELIEVED, even as the Lord gave to each one. [6] I planted, Apollos watered, but GOD CAUSES THE GROWTH. [7] So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but GOD WHO CAUSES THE GROWTH. [8] Now HE WHO PLANTS AND HE WHO WATERS ARE ONE, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. [9] For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.

The Sower is to sow the seed, to share Jesus with others. But we need not toss and turn, for there is nothing we can do to make the seed grow. We do what we are to do, then we “SLEEP”. God works while the Sower is inactive. The miracle of life is beyond our power.

Why is one person saved when we share the Gospel, and another is not? Why does the seed grow differently in different people? Jesus said, “The Sower KNOWETH NOT HOW”. Spiritual growth is mysterious. Jesus told Nicodemus:

(John 3:8 LSB) The wind blows where it wishes and you hear its sound, but DO NOT KNOW where it comes from and where it is going; SO IS EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN BORN OF THE SPIRIT.

Billy Graham didn’t save people. God saves people. Billy just told them about Jesus. He stayed true to the Word of God. He trusted the process, and glorified Jesus. Billy stayed on track with his mission. Billy said:

“The Bible is the Word of God. It is not merely a book of history, a book of theology, or a collection of moral precepts. It is God’s message to the human heart. … The Bible is the compass that points us to the Lord Jesus Christ.”

The Sower sows the seed, the Word of God. We share Jesus with those around us. Then we rest. We do not get discouraged.

(2 Thessalonians 3:13 KJV) But ye, brethren, BE NOT WEARY IN WELL DOING.

You cannot tell when the seed will sprout, nor even if it will sprout. But you are to sow.

(Mark 4:28-29 KJV) For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. [29] But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

God imparts life as we share the Word of God. We are to sow. The Gospel is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). The seed of the Gospel is sown, and if the ground is good then there will be new birth, “not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God” (1 Peter 1:23).

We are the sower. God is the Grower. He alone knows the time of harvest. We are to be faithful in sowing, not judging.

One commentary I found noted:

“Human ingenuity, emotional manipulation, man centered techniques, market-driven strategies, legislation, & coercion can’t create new life in the heart of a sinner. Regeneration is only by the Spirit of God (Ephesians 2:1–4; Titus 3:5). Though we’re called to faithfully proclaim the message, we can take no credit when someone responds in repentant faith (1 Corinthians 3:6–7). God’s kingdom work is ultimately His work & He’ll sovereignly bring it to pass. This doesn’t mean the sower abandons his work or is uninterested in what takes place. It means the seed must be allowed its appointed course, as the process of growth advances toward a harvest that’s coming. {We} cannot cause the seed to sprout & grow. We must leave that entirely to the One who created the seed, who knows it thoroughly, & activates it.”

Our Judgment Means Nothing. We Are Just To Be Faithful Sowers.

In the final Parable, the Parable of the Mustard Seed, Jesus tells us to stop making foolish judgments and JUST DO AS GOD SAID. When Adam began to make judgments apart from the Word of God, it wasn’t long before he destroyed Paradise and gave creation over to the Evil One. Sin reigns because Adam chose to judge God’s Word rather than to do it.

(Mark 4:30-32 KJV) And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? [31] [It is] like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is LESS THAN ALL THE SEEDS THAT BE IN THE EARTH: [32] But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.

We often waste time making judgments, rather than just sowing the seed. The smallest seed can make the biggest change. The mustard seed is about the size of a grain of sand, the smallest of seeds that Jesus’ audience of that day knew of. If that seed is planted – small as it is – and it springs up, it will grow into a large, tree like shrub, sometimes 12 feet tall or higher.

Think about Jesus. He wasn’t born in a palace. He was born in a manger. He wasn’t born in Jerusalem. He was born in a tiny town called Nazareth. None of those whom Jesus called as Apostles was highly educated outside of Paul. All of the Apostles were broken, unknown and weak people.

After Jesus’ resurrection, only 120 people gathered in the upper room to pray until Pentecost. That’s a small church. But when those 120 did as Jesus told them to do, went out and shared the seed of the Gospel, they became 3000 souls added to the Church.

When we do what God tells us to do, the Kingdom of God grows. When we do not sow the seed, nothing happens. We sow the seed. We do what we can to glorify our King Jesus. We trust the process, and follow the Lord. We may not seed the harvest in our lifetime, but if we continue to sow the seed, the Kingdom will grow. Pastor R.C. Sproul wrote:

“We don’t know about the results of our lives & words. We have no idea how powerful a simple word can be. God can & does use the faithful living & witness of His Word, though we may never see the effect our words have. That’s the way the kingdom is. We often don’t know what God does with our service. We plant the seed, go to bed, and, while we sleep, God germinates the seed so that life grows & eventually produces a harvest. We need to forget about trying to see the fruit of our service immediately. It doesn’t matter if we ever see it in this life. We’re called to take the light & let it shine, then let God do with it whatever He pleases.”

For the glory of our Lord Jesus. Amen.

Posted in Mark Sermons, Parables of Jesus, Sermons Preached | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jesus Commanded Follow Me

Posted on July 8, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

(John 12:20-26 KJV) And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: [21] The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired Him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. [22] Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. [23] And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. [24] Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. [25] He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. [26] If any man serve Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall also My servant be: if any man serve Me, him will [my] Father honor.

The Great Commission Is About Believers Teaching Christ’s Commandments

Before Jesus ascended into Heaven, following His death, burial, and resurrection, He gave His Church a mission. We call it a “Great Commission”. Found in Matthew chapter 28, Jesus told those who believed in Him:

(Matthew 28:19-20 KJV) GO YE {poreuō} therefore, and TEACH ALL nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE {tēreō} ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU …

Word Study: Most English versions of the Bible translate the word poreuō as “Go”, making it sound like a direct command (as in “You will GO”). Technically, though, the word is best translated “As you go”. Jesus was not making “Go” optional, but was speaking to the Christians based on what we are supposed to be. Jesus said:

(John 4:14 LSB) … whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst–ever; but the WATER THAT I WILL GIVE HIM WILL BECOME IN HIM A WELL OF WATER springing up to eternal life.

And again in (John 7:38-39 LSB) HE WHO BELIEVES IN ME, as the Scripture said, ‘FROM HIS INNERMOST BEING WILL FLOW RIVERS OF LIVING WATER .'” [39] But THIS HE SPOKE OF THE SPIRIT, whom those who believed in Him were going to receive…

The Christian – born again because we have obeyed the first commandment of Christ and have repented – is indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God.

When we obey Jesus’ commandments, the Spirit of God empowers us. The Holy Spirit brings the Bible to our remembrance, teaching us about Jesus (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit empowers us to speak the Gospel to others (Mark 13:11). As we follow Him, power for living follows us.

Word Study: That’s what Jesus said. We are to teach others to “OBSERVE {tēreō} ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU”. The Greek tēreō means “to attend to carefully, to observe meticulously”. One of the commands that Jesus gave us is to follow Him.

Once Saved, The Key To Living Is Following Jesus

If we are to teach others the commands of Christ, we are to first learn the commands of Christ. And one of the commandments that Jesus repeated numerous times was “FOLLOW ME”. In today’s text we read:

(John 12:26 KJV) If any man SERVE Me, LET HIM FOLLOW ME; and WHERE I AM, THERE SHALL ALSO MY SERVANT BE: if any man serve Me, him will [My] Father honor.

1. Everyone serves someone or something. This is a fact of life. You can serve Jesus, or you can serve FEAR. The Christian should not fear. The Bible says,

Romans 8:15 …(AP) You (who are Christians) did not receive the SPIRIT OF SLAVERY TO FEAR, but you have RECEIVED THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION AS SONS, by Whom we cry, ABBA, FATHER!

Jesus came so that we might be freed from the fear of death (Hebrews 2:15). The Bible tells us that …

2 Timothy 1:7 God gave us a Spirit NOT OF FEAR, BUT OF POWER, AND LOVE, AND SELF CONTROL

2. Everyone serves someone or something. This is a fact of life. You can serve Jesus, or you can serve SIN, which leads to destruction. The Bible says:

Romans 6:6, 20-22 (AP) (Christians), our old self was CRUCIFIED WITH JESUS IN ORDER THAT THE BODY OF SIN MIGHT BE BROUGHT TO NOTHING, so that WE WOULD NO LONGER BE ENSLAVED TO SIN … NOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN SET FREE FROM SIN AND HAVE BECOME SERVANTS OF GOD the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life

and again in John 8:34-35 … everyone who practices SIN IS A SERVANT TO SIN … IF THE SON SETS YOU FREE, YOU WILL BE FREE INDEED

3. Everyone serves someone or something. This is a fact of life. You can serve Jesus, or you can serve SATAN, which leads to misery. Jesus told the Pharisees “you are of your Father, THE DEVIL, and you will is to DO YOUR FATHER’S DESIRES” (John 8:44). Those who are saved by following Jesus …

2 Timothy 2:26 … COME TO THEIR SENSES AND ESCAPE THE SNARE OF THE DEVIL, after BEING CAPTURED BY HIM TO DO HIS WILL

When you receive Jesus as Lord and Savior and follow Him, it is His desire to use you to free others from enslavement to lesser, evil and debilitating things. Jesus says …

(Matthew 4:19; Mark 1:17) “FOLLOW ME, and I will make you fishers of men”

Following Jesus is so very important for your spiritual health. Jesus is to be FIRST, not last. Jesus is to be honored before all other commitments.

The Bible tells us that there was one who followed Jesus who had an aging father that he was watching over. He wanted an exemption to following Jesus, saying:

(Matthew 8:21-22 ESV) Lord, LET ME FIRST GO AND BURY MY FATHER. [22] And Jesus said to him, “FOLLOW ME, AND LEAVE THE DEAD TO BURY THEIR OWN DEAD.”

“I’ll follow Jesus once daddy is gone”. That’s what he’s telling the Lord. But Jesus made the statement,

“FOLLOW ME, AND LEAVE THE DEAD TO BURY THEIR OWN DEAD.”

Who are “THE DEAD” that Jesus refers to? It is those who have not been saved by Jesus. It is those who have never been born again. It is those who are, as the Bible describes the unsaved person,

Ephesians 2:1 DEAD in trespasses and in sins

Jesus wasn’t saying this man couldn’t bury his father when the time came. I believe the sense of what Jesus was saying is – if I can carefully examine His word:

“Following Me takes precedent over everything else in your life. Those who are spiritually dead follow other things. But those who are spiritually alive, the Children of God by faith in Me, they put following Me first above all”.

Following the Commandments of God is great. Jesus told the rich young ruler who wanted eternal life:

(Matthew 19:17 NKJV) … if you want to enter into life, KEEP (tēreō) THE COMMANDMENTS .

Word Study: There’s that word tēreō again that we saw in the Great Commission. The Lord wanted the young man to carefully observe the Ten Commandments. When the young man said “I have done these things from my youth. What do I lack?”, Jesus told him:

(Matthew 19:21 NKJV) If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and COME, FOLLOW ME.

Following the Ten Commandments is wonderful. But the Commandment to follow Jesus cannot be neglected. Put away all your golden calves and follow Him.

Sons of God follow THE Son of God. Sheep follow their Shepherd. Jesus told the Pharisees:

(John 10:27–28 NKJV) “MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE, and I know them, and THEY FOLLOW ME. [28] And I GIVE TO THEM ETERNAL LIFE, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

Jesus Christ is the Great Shepherd, the Author and Finisher of salvation. If you believe in Him, you follow Him. You will not follow perfectly, but you want to be near Jesus. In Him you are promised ETERNAL LIFE. Following Jesus is is what sheep do! The reason that we are saved is that Jesus laid down His life for His sheep. As the Good Shepherd He “LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS SHEEP” (John 10:11). Jesus’ death was on purpose, for us. He intentionally died on that Cross, bearing our sins on Himself. The Prophet Isaiah foretold of Christ:

(Isaiah 53:4-6 LSB) Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. [5] But HE WAS PIERCED THROUGH FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, HE WAS CRUSHED FOR OUR INIQUITIES; The chastening for our peace [fell] upon Him, And BY HIS WOUNDS WE ARE HEALED. [6] All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But YAHWEH HAS CAUSED THE INIQUITY OF US ALL TO FALL ON HIM.

Jesus surrendered His life to us. We only benefit when we surrender our lives to Him.

There Is No Spiritual Blessing Without Surrender

John 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a CORN (kokkos, a grain, a seed) of wheat fall into the ground and die, IT ABIDETH ALONE: but IF IT DIE, IT BRINGETH FORTH MUCH FRUIT.

When Jesus spoke, His teachings contained deep spiritual meaning. If a “GRAIN OF WHEAT”, a seed from the head of the plant, refuses to “FALL INTO THE GROUND AND DIE”, then it just remains a seed. It will never bear fruit. Jesus uses the verses that come before this statement and after this statement to apply it.

Before this statement some Greeks came to worship at the Feast of the Passover. When these Greeks came to the disciples, the told Philip:

John 12:21 “Sir, WE WOULD SEE JESUS”

Why did these Greeks want to speak to Jesus? Why were they worshiping at the Feast of the Passover? Philip tells Andrew, and both go to Jesus. Our Lord tells them:

(John 12:23 KJV) … The hour is come, that THE SON OF MAN SHOULD BE GLORIFIED.

Our Lord Jesus Christ humbled Himself. He could have maintained His place in the Trinity. He could have rejected the Cross, and held His place in the Heavens. But Jesus, like a seed of corn, encouraged Iscariot to betray Him. He set what would eventually be His crucifixion and death into motion. The Bible says that:

Hebrews 12:2 Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who FOR THE JOY THAT WAS SET BEFORE HIM ENDURED THE CROSS, DESPISING THE SHAME, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus is glorified because He laid His life down for us. He was “DESPISED AND REJECTED, A MAN OF SORROWS, ACQUAINTED WITH GRIEF” (Isaiah 53:5). Jesus laid His life down for us.

The grain of wheat was cast into the ground.

Nailed to the Cross, His suffering as He hung between earth and sky was recorded by the Psalmist:

(Psalm 22:1-2, 6-8 NKJV) My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? [Why are You so] far from helping Me, [And from] the words of My groaning? [2] O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; And in the night season, and am not silent. … [6] But I [am] a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people. [7] All those who see Me ridicule Me; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, [saying], [8] “He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!”

Every bit of this is prophetic, as to what happened with our Lord Jesus. He could have avoided the Cross. He could have rejected that horrid death. But Jesus did not. He gave His life for us. He made a way where there was no way, to the glory of God Almighty. Jesus would go to the Cross, not just for Israel, but for the whole world. The Greeks sought out Jesus because God was already opening the door to whosoever will.

John 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a CORN (kokkos, a grain, a seed) of wheat fall into the ground and die, IT ABIDETH ALONE: but IF IT DIE, IT BRINGETH FORTH MUCH FRUIT.

Jesus surrendered His life to bring “MANY SONS UNTO GLORY”. He died for you. He died for me. We are told in:

(Hebrews 2:9-11 NKJV) But WE SEE JESUS, who was made a little lower than the angels, FOR THE SUFFERING OF DEATH CROWNED WITH GLORY and honor, that He, by the grace of God, MIGHT TASTE DEATH FOR EVERYONE. [10] For it was fitting for Him, for whom [are] all things and by whom [are] all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. [11] For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified [are] all of one, for which reason HE IS NOT ASHAMED TO CALL THEM BRETHREN,

Jesus Christ died for us. He released Himself as a grain of wheat, being planted in the likeness of death for our salvation.

As Jesus Surrendered His Life For Our Good, We Who Are Saved Surrender Our Lives To Him

(John 12:25 KJV) … He that LOVETH HIS LIFE SHALL LOSE IT; and he that HATETH HIS LIFE IN THIS WORLD SHALL KEEP IT UNTO LIFE ETERNAL.

Jesus did not love His life, but seemingly hated it so that He might bring us to salvation. But if we would be saved, “we must LOSE OUR LIVES”. Not save them, but lose them. Jesus gave everything for us. To be saved, we give everything to Jesus.

You can love your life the way it is – and one day you will lose your life. The life you have will not get you into the Presence of God. You are born into this world spiritually dead. Only God, through your surrender to the Cross of Christ, can make you spiritually alive.

(John 12:44-46 KJV) Jesus cried and said, HE THAT BELIEVETH ON ME, BELIEVETH NOT ON ME, BUT ON HIM THAT SENT ME. [45] And he that seeth Me seeth Him that sent me. [46] I AM COME A LIGHT INTO THE WORLD, that WHOSOEVER BELIETH ON ME SHOULD NOT ABIDE IN DARKNESS.

The lost soul refuses to surrender themselves to Jesus. They cling to their current lives, and will in the end lose the life that God has meant for them. Eternal life. Glorious life. Life with Jesus both now and into eternity.

We would have never had salvation had Jesus clung to His life, and rejected the Cross. And we cannot have salvation if we cling to our godless lives while rejecting the Cross. If you want eternal life – life with Jesus – you must follow Jesus.

As He surrendered His life for you,
You must surrender your life for Him.
As He was shunned and misunderstood for you,
You must be willing to be shunned and misunderstood for Him.
And He died on that Cross and was raised from the dead,
We die on that Cross, allowing God to raise us to new life.

Are you born again? Is Jesus your Shepherd, your Guide? If not, today is the day to receive Him as Lord and Savior.

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God The Trinity

Posted on July 3, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by The New York Public Library on Unsplash

Let’s Start By Discussing The Trinity Of God

According to the Holy Bible, there is only one God, one Creator of all. The God of the Christian is both ONE and THREE. The Apostle wrote:

(1 Corinthians 8:5-6 NKJV) For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), [6] yet for us THERE IS ONE GOD, THE FATHER, OF {preposition ek} WHOM ARE ALL THINGS, and we for Him; and ONE LORD JESUS CHRIST, THROUGH {preposition dia} WHOM ARE ALL THINGS, and THROUGH WHOM WE LIVE.

Word Study: God the Father is the PLANNER and DIRECTOR of the Godhead. The Apostle emphasizes this with the phrase “OF {preposition ek} WHOM ARE ALL THINGS”. The preposition1 ek used with God the Father shows that the Father is the Source, the First Cause of all things. We have life because the Father planned it, and ordered its execution.

Word Study: God the Son is the AGENT or CHANNEL of creation. The Apostle emphasizes this with the phrase “THROUGH {preposition dia} WHOM ARE ALL THINGS”. Though the Father planned and authorized creation, this plan went through Jesus Christ, the Mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5). Jesus is the Mediator of the New Covenant (Hebrews 8:6; 9:15; 12:24), Who intercedes for us with the Father (Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1). The Apostle explained His relationship in the Trinity in the text:

(Colossians 1:16 KJV) For BY {Preposition en} Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created BY {Preposition dia} Him, and FOR {Preposition eis} Him:

A simple way to understand the difference in roles between God the Father and God the Son is that the Father is the PLANNER and SENDER. The Son ACCOMPLISHES the plan FOR GOD’S GLORY.

God the Holy Spirit MOVES on God’s creation. We see the Spirit of God moving across creation in the beginning:

(Genesis 1:1-2 KJV) In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. [2] And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness [was] upon the face of the deep. And THE SPIRIT OF GOD MOVED upon the face of the waters.

In Creation, God the Father is its Source, its Planner. God the Son is the Mediator, the Agent of Creation. The Holy Spirit as the Third Person of the Trinity moves, applies God’s Will, empowers, teaches and comforts those who love Jesus. The Holy Spirit is a PERSON, not a POWER. These are the texts where Jesus taught us of the Holy Spirit:

(John 14:26 ESV) But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom THE FATHER WILL SEND IN MY NAME, He will TEACH YOU all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

It is the Holy Spirit Who comes to and helps the believer in Christ. The Father SENDS the Spirit, as the Father is the SOURCE and PLANNER. The Spirit comes and TEACHES US THE WORD OF CHRIST.

(John 15:26 ESV) But when the Helper comes, WHOM I WILL SEND TO YOU FROM THE FATHER, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.

You cannot receive the Holy Spirit unless Jesus Christ knows who you are. Jesus must request the Father to send the Spirit. If you are not a true believer in Christ Jesus, you will not receive the Holy Spirit.

(John 16:13-14 ESV) When the Spirit of truth comes, He will GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come. [14] HE WILL GLORIFY ME, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

As Jesus Christ is our Mediator, our go between with God the Father, the Holy Spirit is the Mediator through Whom Jesus addresses us. The most abused Member of the Godhead is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is ignored. The Holy Spirit is misunderstood, for many call Him “IT”, like He is a light bulb or electricity. He is not. The Holy Spirit is often mimicked by people.

Do you know how to tell if the Holy Spirit is active? He always glorifies Jesus. He always teaches the truths of God’s Word.

In Acts 5:3-4 Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit, and died because of it. The Apostles told Ananias, “You have lied to GOD”. In Acts 8:29 the Holy Spirit speaks to Philip, telling him to witness to the Ethiopian Eunuch. In Acts 13:2 the Holy Spirit told the Apostles to send Paul and Barnabas out as missionaries. In Acts 16:6-7 the Holy Spirit told Paul and Barnabas to avoid preaching in Asia. In Romans 8:26-27 the Holy Spirit prays for the believer. And in

(Ephesians 4:30 ESV) And do not GRIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

It is the Trinity of God that makes Christianity unique. Both Judaism as well as Islam reject the concept of the Trinity. These faiths teach that God is strictly ONE. Judaism quotes what they call The Shema, recited by Jews twice a day:

(Deuteronomy 6:4-5 ESV) Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD IS ONE. [5] You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

The reason that the Pharisees immediately rejected Jesus as the Christ is because He said:

John 10:30 I and the Father ARE ONE

When He said this, the Pharisees “picked up stones to stone (execute) Him”. When Jesus asked them why they wanted to kill Him, the Pharisees said:

(John 10:33 ESV) … because you, being a man, make yourself God.

The concept of the Trinity is not revealed very much in the Old Testament under the Old Covenant. In the Old Testament (which is the Old Covenant) you see hints of the Trinity. When God went to make humans, we read:

(Genesis 1:26 KJV) … And GOD (ĕlōhîm) said, Let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness: and let them have dominion …

Word Study: The word translated “GOD” is a Common Masculine PLURAL Absolute Noun in the Hebrew, the word ĕlōhîm. The Pharisees explain away this verse by saying:

“God addresses Himself to the angels and says to them, “Let us make man in our image.” It is not that He invites their help, but as a matter of modesty and courtesy, God associates them with the creation of man.”

Sadly, this is supposition, not a clear reading of the text. Elohim said He would make man in “OUR IMAGE, AFTER OUR LIKENESS”. In the very next verse we are told:

(Genesis 1:27 KJV) So God {ĕlōhîm} created man in HIS OWN IMAGE, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.

The Triune God Who spoke of Himself as US in verse 26 says that HE created man in “HIS OWN IMAGE”. We go from plural language to singular language referencing God (ĕlōhîm). It is clear that God is both SINGULAR (Unified) as well as PLURAL (more than One Person).

We see this type of thing at the Tower of Babel. God had commanded mankind to “multiply, and fill the earth” (Genesis 1:22), but sinful man following the Noahic Flood decided to rebel against God and stay in Babel. When they started their rebellion, the Bible tells us

(Genesis 11:6-8 KJV) And the LORD said, Behold, the people [is] one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. [7] Go to, LET US GO DOWN, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. [8] SO THE LORD SCATTERED THEM ABROAD from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

Yahweh – the Godhead – saw what people were doing. So Yahweh intervened, the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, for the sake of mankind.

One of the clearest examples of the Trinity of God is found in Isaiah 48:12-16. In this text God speaks to Israel:

(Isaiah 48:12-13 KJV) Hearken unto Me, O Jacob and Israel, MY CALLED; I AM HE; I AM THE FIRST, I ALSO AM THE LAST. [13] MINE HAND LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH, and MY RIGHT HAND HATH SPANNED THE HEAVENS: [when] I call unto them, they stand up together.

God gives us an indication in this text which Member of the Godhead is speaking. It is clearly God, for He “LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH” and His “RIGHT HAND HATH SPANNED THE HEAVENS”. But is this Father, Son, or Spirit? When God spoke to His people, He said “I AM HE”. Jesus applied this title of God to Himself. Jesus told the Pharisees when He spoke in the Temple Treasury:

(John 8:21, 23-24 KJV) Then said Jesus again unto them, I go My way, and YE SHALL SEEK ME, and SHALL DIE IN YOUR SINS: whither I go, ye cannot come. … [23] And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I AM FROM ABOVE: ye are of this world; I AM NOT OF THIS WORLD. [24] I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for IF YE BELIEVE NOT THAT I AM HE, YE SHALL DIE IN YOUR SINS.

Jesus Christ is the I AM HE speaking to Israel in Isaiah 48:12. The One speaking also says, “I AM THE FIRST, I ALSO AM THE LAST”. Our Lord Jesus used this same phrase for Himself when He told John the Revelator:

(Revelation 1:17-18 ESV) When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying, “FEAR NOT, I AM THE FIRST AND THE LAST, [18] and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

And again in

(Revelation 22:13, 16 ESV) I am the Alpha and the Omega, THE FIRST AND THE LAST, the beginning and the end.” … [16] I, JESUS, have sent My angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.

This is Jesus Christ speaking in Isaiah 48! It is Jesus Who says of His Israel:

(Isaiah 48:15-16 KJV) I, [even] I, have spoken; yea, I have called him (Israel): I have brought him (Israel), and he shall make his way prosperous (Jesus watches over Israel). [16] Come ye near unto Me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there [am] I: and NOW THE LORD GOD, and HIS SPIRIT, HATH SENT ME.

The One speaking in Isaiah is clearly God. The One speaking says that He called and watches over Israel. The One speaking then says that “THE LORD GOD, and HIS SPIRIT, HATH SENT ME”. There are numerous places in the New Testament where Jesus declares that The Father sent Him (John 3:17, John 4:34, John 6:38, and John 8:42). Isaiah 48 gives us a very clear picture of the Trinity of God.

The Trinity Is What Makes Christian Salvation Unique

The Father is the SOURCE, the Son is the AGENT, and the Holy Spirit the one Who MOVES and INSTRUCTS. Bringing this into salvation, the Scripture teaches us that:

The Father PLANNED our salvation.

(Ephesians 1:4-6 ESV) even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love [5] He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, ACCORDING TO THE PURPOSE OF HIS WILL, [6] to the praise of His glorious grace, with which HE HAS BLESSED US IN THE BELOVED.

(2 Timothy 1:8-9 ESV) Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, [9] WHO SAVED US and CALLED US TO A HOLY CALLING, not because of our works but BECAUSE OF HIS OWN PURPOSE AND GRACE, which HE GAVE US IN CHRIST JESUS before the ages began..

The Son AUTHORED our salvation, dying for our sins.

(Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV) Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares [us], and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, [2] LOOKING UNTO JESUS, the AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus as God Incarnate and Perfect Man was able to go to Calvary for us, giving His life for ours. If Jesus were a man like us, He would be a sinner like us (Romans 3:23), and not the “Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29)

The Holy Spirit APPLIES our salvation to us. He causes us to be “born again”(John 3:5). He causes the washing of regeneration (Titus 3:5). He seals and indwells us (Ephesians 1:13).

This is why when the Christian is saved Jesus directed that they be baptized in water:

Matthew 28:19 In the name OF THE FATHER, and OF THE SON, and OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The work of our redemption is carried out by the Triune God. We are told in

Ephesians 2:18 (KJV) For through Him [the Son] we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

A proper understanding of the Trinity helps the Christian to grow in their faith. I have heard preachers pray, saying things like

Jesus our Father, help us …

Jesus did say “If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father” (John 14:9). But Jesus did not mean He was the Father.

Jesus prayed to the Father (John 17; John 11:41-42; Matthew 26:39; Luke 23:34, 46).

Jesus instructed us to pray to the Father (Matthew 6:9).

Jesus was sent by the Father (John 8:42; John 3:17, John 4:34, John 6:38, John 17:3). Though Jesus and the Father are One in nature, they are two Persons.

When Jesus did miracles, He did so through the movement of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:28; Luke 4:14; Acts 10:38). The Holy Spirit led and empowered Jesus to do that which He did while on this earth (Matthew 4:1; Romans 8:11; Luke 4:1).

How does this effect how we live out our Christian lives? First, we are saved by repenting, and believing on the Name of the Lord Jesus. Peter preached:

(Acts 2:38 NKJV) Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the NAME OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS; and you shall RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

We are saved by receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior. We are empowered by relying on the Holy Spirit of God. And when we pray, we pray to the Father.

May God touch your hearts. May the Holy Spirit guide you into understanding the wonderful God we serve. Amen.

1Webster’s states “A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and another word in the sentence, often showing place, time, direction, or manner. Examples include in, on, at, to, from, with, and under.”

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The First Command Of Jesus Is REPENT

Posted on July 3, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Honney Artkongharn on Unsplash

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, REPENT: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Salvation Begins With REPENT

In our text today we’re going to look at Jesus’ first public sermon, His first command to us all. This public proclamation is found not just here, but in

(Mark 1:14-15 KJV) … Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, [15] And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: REPENT ye, and BELIEVE THE GOSPEL.

Illustrative Opening: “REPENT”. You don’t hear this word much in modern preaching. By magic of the Internet I heard the late Pastor John MacArthur tell about a road trip he took one time. As he was driving, he saw a small sign that said “Handmade Quilts for sale, next home on the right”. John said, “My wife loves handmade quilts, so I decided to stop and see if I could buy her one”. Pulling into the driveway, he went up to the house, rang the door bell, and a woman came to the door. He explained he was interested in her handmade quilts. Inviting John in, the woman went in the back and – according to him – “Brought out the ugliest quilt I’ve ever seen”. He said, “The woman began to explain that this quilt was her pride and joy, years in the making. Every significant event in her life she saved a scrap of cloth, and sewed it into this quilt. And she was proud of it. What could I say? It’s like someone showing you an ugly baby. What can you say but, ‘Well, that’s a baby!’”. John told her that he’d like to look at another quilt, that this particular quilt “was the wrong color”. The lady responded, “Why, it’s EVERY color!” But she brought out another quilt, and he did end up buying that one.

But this wasn’t the end of the story. The woman’s husband was sitting nearby while this was going on, and all around him were religious books. Some were Mormon, others Jehovah’s Witnesses, several from Prosperity Preachers, then books from the Unity Network along with Universal Unitarianism and Billy Graham. John looked at the man and said, “You have quite a collection of books there”. The man replied, “Yes, and there’s GOOD IN ALL OF IT”.

This is the lie that modern Americanized Christianity would have us believe, that “There’s GOOD IN ALL OF IT”. Religious people take bits and pieces from here and there, sew them together into a crazy quilt, and then show it off, saying “Isn’t that beautiful?”. No, it’s not. When God looks at the crazy quilt of religion that many of us have sewn together, He isn’t impressed. What God says to us is not as diplomatic as John MacArthur was with this woman. God the Son says:

REPENT: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand
…. BELIEVE the Gospel.

What Does It Mean To “Repent”?

Matthew 4:17 FROM THAT TIME Jesus began to preach, and to say, REPENT

Word Study: The word translated “REPENT” is the Greek (μετανοέω, metanoeō). The word is a verb, and it has two parts, meta and noeō. The word noeō refers to the mind, whereas meta means to move or change. To “REPENT” is to allow yourself to experience a change of your mind’s perceptions and purposes. Our focal text starts out with:

FROM THAT TIME

If we want to understand what repentance is, these three words tell us to look at our context – at the things that happened BEFORE Jesus started preaching repentance. If we look at the context we’ll know what Jesus meant by “REPENT”.

1 REPENT means to LET GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT LEAD YOU.

Matthew 4:1 … Jesus was LED OF THE SPIRIT into the wilderness to be TEMPTED OF THE DEVIL …

Jesus, though God the Son (Hebrews 1:8; Titus 2:13), surrendered to the leading of the Holy Spirit. God followed God. Though Jesus was no sinner (for in Him was no sin (1 Peter 2:22)), He followed the will of God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. This is imperative for us who are sinners, who are not Christ. Every person born into this world outside of Christ are sinners.

Romans 3:23 ALL HAVE SINNED, and FALL SHORT of the glory of God

We are born into this world sinners. We are born into this world blind to God, but focused on ourselves.

(Ecclesiastes 7:20 LSB) Indeed, there is NOT A RIGHTEOUS MAN on earth WHO CONTINUALLY DOES GOOD AND WHO NEVER SINS.

The Apostle quoted and summarized Psalm 14:1-3 and Psalm 53:1-3 when he wrote:

(Romans 3:10-12 LSB) as it is written, “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; [11] THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; [12] ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME WORTHLESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”

We are born into this world fallen creatures, separated from God by our enslavement to sin and self. When Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, our Lord told this holy man:

(John 3:3, 5-7 LSB) … Truly, truly, I say to you, UNLESS ONE IS BORN AGAIN he cannot see the kingdom of God.” … [5] Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, UNLESS ONE IS BORN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. [6] “That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and THAT WHICH IS BORN OF THE SPIRIT IS SPIRIT. [7] “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

Repentance is not something we can do for ourselves. God must open our eyes to our need for the Savior. But once He does so by His Spirit, we REPENT when we surrender to Him, when we give ourselves to Him.

When the Apostles (who were Jewish) saw the Gentiles receiving the Gospel, the Bible says:

(Acts 11:18 LSB) {they} glorified God, saying, “Well then, GOD HAS GRANTED TO THE GENTILES THE REPENTANCE [that leads] to life.

It is “God Who brings His people to REPENTANCE and forgives their sins” (Acts 5:31). The Apostle Paul told his student Timothy that when he was preaching:

(2 Timothy 2:23-26 LSB) But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. [24] And the Lord’s slave must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, [25] with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps GOD MAY GIVE THEM REPENTANCE leading to the full knowledge of the truth, [26] and THEY MAY COME TO THEIR SENSES [and escape] from the snare of the devil, HAVING BEEN HELD CAPTIVE BY HIM to do his will.

God must open the eyes of our hearts. He must awaken us to our need. When He does, we respond to His call and follow Him. This is repentance.

“REPENT” Means To Let God’s Scripture Lead You – Not Your Heart

God’s Word reflects God’s Will for our lives. While Jesus was in the wilderness, the devil repeatedly tempted Him to “follow your heart”.

“Follow your heart” is what the devil told Jesus in the wilderness THEN, and what the devil tells us TODAY.

Jesus was hungry, having been 40 days without food. The devil says:

Matthew 4:3 … If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

Now it’s certain that Jesus could easily have turned stones to bread. Jesus turned water to wine (John 2:1-11). Sure, He could do this. But just because He CAN do it, SHOULD HE do it? When tempted, Jesus went to the Scripture. Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3, saying:

Matthew 4:4 Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Those who have repented follow God’s Word. They refer to the Scripture, and live their lives by it’s teaching. Each time Jesus was tempted by Satan, He responded with “It is written”. The repentant follow God’s Word.

Then the devil appealed to Jesus’ pride. He took Jesus to Jerusalem, and put our Lord on the highest point of the Temple. The devil told Jesus:

(Matthew 4:6 KJV) If thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down: for IT IS WRITTEN, He shall give His angels charge concerning thee: and in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Since Jesus referred to Scripture, Satan referred to Scripture. He quoted Psalm 91:11-12, twisting scripture to try and get Jesus to obey his evil desire. But Jesus refused, saying:

(Matthew 4:7 KJV) Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Those who have repented honor God in their lives. They don’t twist the Scripture so as to gain, but seek the glory of God in all they do. In the end, Satan told Jesus

“All the earth I will give You if You fall down
and worship me” Matthew 4:9

Those who have repented do not worship themselves, nor this world. They seek to worship and glorify God.

REPENT Will Cause You To LIVE YOUR OUTWARD LIFE PLEASING TO GOD

Matthew 4:12 Now when Jesus had heard that JOHN WAS CAST INTO PRISON, he departed into Galilee

Jesus was not the first Preacher of Repentance in the New Testament. The first Preacher of Repentance was John the Baptist. Outside of Jesus, there was no greater Preacher than John. How do I know? Because Jesus said “Among those born of women there has not anyone greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11). It was prophesied by

Isaiah 40:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight (see also Luke 3:4-6)

John the Baptist was the Preacher who paved the way for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Jesus was able to better preach REPENTANCE because John was the FIRST PREACHER of REPENTANCE.

When crowds came out to be baptized by John, he told them was the fruit of repentance is. Repentance brings about an inward change that is shown in outward fruit. Think of a fruit tree.

A PEAR tree inwardly makes PEARS outwardly.
An APPLE tree inwardly makes APPLES outwardly.
A GRAPE VINE inwardly makes GRAPES outwardly
The fruit tree that will not bear fruit is CUT DOWN.

John told the crowds:

(Luke 3:7-9 LSB) So {John} was saying to the crowds who were going out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? [8] “Therefore BEAR FRUIT IN KEEPING WITH REPENTANCE, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. [9] “But indeed the AX IS ALREADY LAID AT THE ROOT OF THE TREES; therefore, EVERY TREE THAT DOES NOT BEAR GOOD FRUIT is cut down and thrown into the fire.

As John preached “REPENT”, the crowd asked “What should WE DO?” John replied:

(Luke 3:11 LSB) The man who has two tunics is to SHARE WITH HIM WHO HAS NONE; and he who has food is to do likewise.

If you have repented, if you are following Jesus, you should not be heartless nor stingy. You will not hoard that which God has given you, but will share with others. Jesus illustrated this with the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats. In Matthew chapter 25 Jesus was explaining the Kingdom of Heaven. Then Jesus explained His return to this earth, when He will rule and reign during the Millennial Kingdom. Jesus said:

(Matthew 25:32-33 KJV) And before Him (Jesus) shall be gathered all nations: and HE SHALL SEPARATE THEM ONE FROM ANOTHER, as a Shepherd divideth [his] sheep from the goats: [33] And HE SHALL SET THE SHEEP ON HIS RIGHT HAND, but THE GOATS ON THE LEFT.

Now, how will Jesus determine the “sheep” from the “goats”? Jesus tells the “sheep”:

(Matthew 25:34-40 KJV) Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: [35] For I was an hungred, and ye gave Me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took Me in: [36] Naked, and ye clothed Me: I was sick, and ye visited Me: I was in prison, and ye came unto Me. [37] Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we Thee an hungred, and fed [Thee]? or thirsty, and gave [Thee] drink? [38] When saw we Thee a stranger, and took [Thee] in? or naked, and clothed [Thee]? [39] Or when saw we Thee sick, or in prison, and came unto Thee? [40] And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, INASMUCH AS YOU HAVE DONE IT UNTO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE MY BRETHREN, YE HAVE DONE IT UNTO ME.

Those who are sheep are loving to those in need. Their outward fruit is beneficial. They are not greedy, but they live as children of God, doing good even to the enemy for Christ’s sake. But then, what of the goats? How does Jesus determine the goats?

The GOATS look like children of God, but the fruit of their life is selfishness. They ignored those in need, and hoarded what they had.

Jesus puts the goats on His left side, and says:

(Matthew 25:41-45 KJV) Then shall {Jesus} say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: [42] For I was an hungred, and ye gave Me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me no drink: [43] I was a stranger, and ye took Me not in: naked, and ye clothed Me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited Me not. [44] Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we Thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto Thee? [45] Then shall he answer them, saying, VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, INASMUCH AS YE DID IT NOT TO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE, YE DID IT NOT TO ME.

Illustrate: Those who are repentant bring forth good fruit, fruit that honors the Lord Jesus Christ. I’ve been reading Henry and Richard Blackaby’s book, Developing A Christ Centered Church. Henry, his wife Marilyn and their son Richard visited what he called “a famous Church in our denomination. It boasted a large congregation that was steeped in history and great preaching. The Church had participated in our mission work in Canada”. Blackaby was invited to speak that day, and wrote:

“Marilyn and Richard found a pew near the front so I could join them when I finished. Suddenly, an older woman approached Marilynn. My wife thought, ‘The people at this Church are so friendly! Here comes someone to welcome us’. Then the woman, noticeably irritated, shared that she had sat in that very spot for twenty eight years! She clearly intended for my wife and son to vacate her pew of choice. … {My wife} smiled warmly at the woman and declared, ‘Well, I can certainly see why you sit here; it has a wonderful view! The woman grumbled and noisily found a seat one pew back. … When the Pastor introduced me … asking Marilyn and Richard to stand … the displaced woman gasped when she realized she tried to expel her Pastor’s guests!”

When Blackaby left that Church, he prayed:

“Lord, it doesn’t matter how large our Church grows or how many mission Churches we start if our people don’t reflect your character!”

When we repent and turn our lives over to the Holy Spirit, He not only saves us, but we become

(Ephesians 2:10 ESV) … His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

We’re not done with John’s definition of “REPENT”. When the:

(Luke 3:12 LSB)… TAX COLLECTORS also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, WHAT SHOULD WE DO?”

Tax collectors were hated by the Jews because they often added additional fees to what they collected, then pocketed the fees. John didn’t tell them to stop being tax collectors. He said:

(Luke 3:13 LSB) Collect NO MORE THAN YOU HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO.

Those who have repented, and belong to the Kingdom of God, are to do their jobs honestly. You should not be stealing from the company. And John told the soldiers who sought baptism:

(Luke 3:14 LSB) Do not take MONEY FROM ANYONE BY FORCE, or EXTORT [anyone], and BE CONTENT with your wages.

If your faith does not show in your secular life, then your faith does not honor God. True repentance surrenders the life to God. True repentance brings about a genuine, God given change that shows in how you live your life.

Jesus Came To Lead Us To Repentance

As Jesus preached:

(Matthew 4:17 KJV) Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

He called sinners to come to Him. Jesus said “I have not come to call the righteous, BUT SINNERS TO REPENTANCE” (Luke 5:32). Pastor John Piper wrote:

“Repenting means experiencing a change of mind so that we can see God as true and beautiful and worthy of all our praise and all our obedience. This change of mind also embraces Jesus in the same way. We know this because Jesus said, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God” (John 8:42). Seeing God with a new mind includes seeing Jesus with a new mind.”

When Jesus began to preach “REPENT”, He did so from Capernaum. This was a fulfillment of

(Isaiah 9:2-4 LSB) The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in the land of the shadow of death, The light will shine on them. [3] You shall multiply the nation, You shall make great their gladness; They will be glad in Your presence As with the gladness of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil. [4] For You shall shatter the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders, The rod of their taskmaster, as at the battle of Midian.

The monster that holds America in its grip today is darkness, it is sin. Sin has enslaved us as a nation. No political party can fix us. We need to hear the Voice of Jesus, Who said “Unless YOU REPENT, you will ALL LIKEWISE PERISH” (Luke 13:5). We are all born broken. We must all be born again. That only comes when we repent, and come to Jesus as Lord and Savior. If we will not repent and follow Jesus, His message is simple:

Woe to you (Matthew 11:21)

Our Lord Jesus suffered on the Cross of Calvary, and on the third day rose from the Grave so that …

Luke 24:47 REPENTANCE and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His Name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem

Repent! He is walking through this room today, just as He walked by the Sea of Galilee. Jesus says “Repent. Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men ” (Matthew 4:19). To repent is to follow Jesus. Will you follow Him today?

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