His Mercy Endures Forever

Posted on May 8, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by NASA on Unsplash

The last time I was in this Psalm, it was in 2016 – and on a Wednesday night – about 10 years ago. I think it’s time we looked at this Psalm again. I was reading it the other day with a friend, and it struck me how great this Psalm is. In fact, the Jews called this “The Great Hallel Psalm”. It is written like a responsive reading. Every single one of the 26 verses ends with:

His MERCY endureth forever

Word Study: The word translated MERCYis the Hebrew ḥeseḏ (pronounced kheh’-sed). It is translated 149 times as “mercy”, but 30 times as “lovingkindness” and 40 times as “kindness”. The New American Standard translates the word as “faithfulness”, and the Legacy Standard as “lovingkindness”. One source notes that ḥeseḏ refers to faithful, enduring love rooted in commitment, not emotion. A loyal devotion expressed through proper action.

The Christian – like ancient Israel – is in a Covenant Relationship with God. God takes His covenant relationship seriously – and expects us to do the same. As we break this Psalm down, I’m going to ask you to do as Israel would have done. In Israel, the Cantor or the ḥazzan (Hebrew, pronounced khah-ZAHN) would sing

or chant the first part of the verse. Then the congregation would TOGETHER say:

His MERCY endureth forever

You Are In A Covenant Relationship
With The True God

(Psalm 136:1-3 KJV) O give thanks unto the LORD; for [He is] good: FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER. [2] O give thanks unto the God of gods: FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER. [3] O give thanks to the Lord of lords: FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER.

The Apostle Paul said:

(1 Corinthians 8:5-6 KJV) For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (AS THERE BE GODS MANY, AND LORDS MANY,) [6] But to us [there is but] one God, the Father, of Whom [are] all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom [are] all things, and we by Him.

There are many gods that this world follows, and all of these gods stem from the fallen angel who would be God, Lucifer. Lucifer, created by God to be an Archangel, a General among the angels, forgot who his Creator was. The Bible says that he stood up against God, saying “I will ascend to Heaven. I will exalt my own throne above the angels of God. I will be just like God Himself!” (Isaiah 14:12-14). He became puffed up with pride, and led a heavenly revolt against God. When Lucifer came to this earth, he entered into the Garden of Eden as “that old serpent, the devil, the deceiver of the world” (Revelation 12:9). A god has to have a follower. Satan enticed Adam to follow him – and the whole world fell into sin.

In the first three verses the Psalmist pleads with God’s people with an “O GIVE THANKS”.

But our God is the True God, and there is no other. He is “the God of gods”. Though Lucifer led the world away from God, God is Lucifer’s God. Pastor C.H. Spurgeon said:

“gods who have a God over them cannot possibly be gods themselves”

God is the Source of all authority and power. “There is NO POWER but OF GOD: the powers that be are ORDAINED OF GOD” (Romans 13:1). Satan believes himself to be god, but he is deluded. Man creates gods of things, and they are deluded. There is but one God, one Lord, and Jehovah is the Lord over all lords, the God over all gods. They have no more power than what God allows them to have. They operate as His pleasure, and are like puppies in a kennel, and He the Master. We who have received Jesus as Lord and Savior are in a Covenant Relationship with the BOSS of everything. Nothing happens without His permission.

You Are In A Covenant Relationship
With The Creator God

(Psalm 136:4-7 KJV) To Him who ALONE doeth great wonders: FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER. [5] To Him that BY WISDOM MADE THE HEAVENS: FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER. [6] To Him that stretched out the earth above the waters: FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER. [7] To Him that made great lights: FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER:

Our God ALONE does great wonders. God did not use evolution or time to create the universe, to create our planet. The evolutionist says that everything just happened over millions or billions of years, that life is an accident. If you believe that everything is an accident, just something that luckily came together, then how can you even believe this is true. If your mind is the result of chaos and accident, then how can your thoughts even be reliable? Yet the Bible says that “God BY WISDOM MADE the Heavens”. The word “MADE” is the Hebrew ʿāśâ (pronounced aw-saw’), which means “to fashion, to shape, to work with, to press or squeeze”. The same word is used in:

(Genesis 1:7 KJV) And God MADE [ʿāśâ] the firmament, and divided the waters which [were] under the firmament from the waters which [were] above the firmament: and it was so.

God ALONE shaped the earth, the land masses. God put the continents where they are by Himself. Then God created trees that would make (ʿāśâ) fruit (Genesis 1:11). God made the animals (Genesis 1:25), giving them the ability to reproduce. God made humanity (Genesis 1:26), and gave us the ability to reproduce. Creation did not just happen. God “stretched out the earth”. God “made the great lights”, the sun and the moon (Genesis 1:16), as God is the Source of Light:

1 John 1:5 God is LIGHT, and in Him is NO DARKNESS AT ALL

(Psalm 136:8-9 KJV) The sun to rule by day: FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER: [9] The moon and stars to rule by night: FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER.

He is “The Father of Lights” (James 1:17). And all these things were not evolved, but made by God, wisely made, from a heart driven by lovingkindness.

You Are In A Covenant Relationship
With The Redeeming God

When God made the heavens and the earth, the earth was WITHOUT FORM and VOID. It was lifeless. Anything or anyone without God’s touch is lifeless and empty. The same is true of His people Israel. When Israel first entered Egypt under the reign of Joseph, God was honored. But in time Israel drifted from God. Drifting from God, Israel lost her status and privilege as the people of God, and became slaves to the Egyptians.

But God did not forget His people.

God told Moses, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people… and have heard their cry… for I know their sorrows.” (Exodus 3:7). When Israel drifted into the world, they lost sight of God. But when His people cried out, God responded and delivered them from slavery.

(Psalm 136:10-15 KJV) To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER: [11] And brought out Israel from among them: FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER: [12] With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER. [13] To him which divided the Red sea into parts: FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER: [14] And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER: [15] But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER.

God loves us even when we mess up. We are His children by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He redeems us from darkness and damnation. We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Oh, how He loves us!

Illustrate: I recently heard the comedian Jeff Foxworthy tell this story. He was witnessing to some men when one said, “The Bible is just a book of rules”. His buddy who was with him picked up the Bible and said, “Really? It’s just a book of rules?” Then he threw the Bible in the trashcan. A big, huge guy named Wayne got up, walked to the trashcan, and pulled the Bible out. He said, “Don’t ever do that again!” Jeff said, “Wayne, if it’s just a book of rules, why does that bother you so much?” Wayne told him, “When my mother died, I inherited 70,000$ from my mother’s insurance policy, along with my mother’s Bible”. Wayne took the money and started a life of addiction, smoking crack cocaine. He lost all his money on drugs. Shortly, in jst a few months, he was homeless and on the street. He started losing his stuff, piece by piece. Then he lost his mother’s Bible. Inside of the Bible was a love letter his mother wrote to him, and he lost it. His mother wrote how Jesus was the answer to all his needs. He lost the backpack that had the Bible in it. He’s on the street for a year and a half, when one day a guy comes by and asks two of the homeless if they wanted a job. Wayne went with him. The man took the two men to a place about 100 miles away, where the man had an old apartment building he was renovating. Wayne started cleaning up, and carrying trash out to the dumpster, and his buddy did the same. Wayne went upstairs to where his buddy was working, and his buddy had a pile of stuff that had not yet been bagged to throw away. Wayne goes over to the pile, starts looking through it, and finds his mother’s Bible. Wayne said, “I collapsed to the floor and started crying”. He said “I figured if God is going to chase me that hard, I would finally quit running”.

You Are In A Covenant Relationship
With The Reigning God

(Psalm 136:16-22 KJV) To him which led his people through the wilderness: FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER. [17] To him which smote great kings: FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER: [18] And slew famous kings: FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER: [19] Sihon king of the Amorites: FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER: [20] And Og the king of Bashan: FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER: [21] And gave their land for an heritage: FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER: [22] [Even] an heritage unto Israel his servant: FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER.

When God led His people from Egypt, to the entrance of the Promised Land, His people rebelled again Him. Joshua and Caleb told Israel:

(Numbers 14:7-9 LSB) … The land which we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. [8] If Yahweh is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us–a land which flows with milk and honey. [9] “But as for you, only DO NOT REBEL AGAINST YAHWEH; and do not fear the people of the land, for THEY ARE OUR BREAD. THEIR PROTECTION HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THEM, and Yahweh is with us; do not fear them.

But Israel would not hear. This is what we need to understand about our Covenant Relationship with God. He is LORD. He is the BOSS. Not us, but HIM. They were to go into the Promised Land because God said so. I heard a preacher say this the other day. I don’t know his name, but I love what he said.

“God’s not interested in you being a better you. He came to do away with you. He is not interested in you achieving your goals and dreams and desires and ambitions. Jesus came to destroy your dreams and goals and desires and ambitions. He came to give you a desire for Him and Him alone. If you trust God, He will give you the desires of your heart. And the desire of your heart will be to know Him in the power of His resurrection, the likeness of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death. … The Word of Faith message and the Prosperity message, which are one and the same, is a doctrine of demons. They are all about manipulating and maneuvering God so you can get what you want. Jesus Christ did not come to this earth so you can be successful. He came so that you can die to you and be alive unto Christ.”

The God Who saved us is the God Who reigns. When Israel refused to go into the Promised Land, God could have killed the entire nation. Instead, He had the wander in the wilderness for forty years. As they wandered, Israel came up against great kings and great warrior nations. “Sihon king of the Amorites” came against Israel. The Bible says,

Deuteronomy 2:33 And THE LORD OUR GOD DELIVERED HIM BEFORE US; and we smote him, and his sons, and all his people.

And “Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land” (Numbers 21:24). Our God’s MERCY ENDURES FOREVER. And as Israel traveled, “Og the king of Bashan” went out against them to battle. God told Israel,

Deuteronomy 3:3 So the Lord our God delivered into our hands Og also, the king of Bashan… and we smote him until none was left to him remaining.

For the 40 years that Israel wandered in the wilderness, they never suffered defeat in battle while they trusted in and obeyed God. God wanted the disobedient generation to die in the wilderness, so that the next generation could go into the Promised Land. Our God’s MERCY ENDURES FOREVER.

Israel would go into the Promised Land, because the God Who redeems us is the God Who reigns. We will do His will. Period.

You Are In A Covenant Relationship
With The Remembering God

(Psalm 136:23-26 KJV) Who remembered us in our low estate: FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER: [24] And hath redeemed us from our enemies: FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER. [25] Who giveth food to all flesh: FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER. [26] O give thanks unto the God of heaven: FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOREVER.

I read this passage, and thought of the thief who died next to Jesus on Calvary. Not the one who mocked Jesus, but the one who said:

(Luke 23:42 LSB) Jesus, REMEMBER ME when You come in Your kingdom!

That thief did not pray that his torment be removed. Nor did he even ask that Jesus allow him into Heaven. The repentant thief just asked our Lord to remember him. And Jesus told him, “Truly I say to you, TODAY YOU SHALL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE” (Luke 23:43). Our God does not forget us when we are in a low place. We may forget Him when we are in a high place, but He doesn’t forget us. That thief was asking what the Psalmist asked:

(Psalm 106:4 LSB) REMEMBER ME, O Yahweh, in [Your] favor toward Your people; Visit me with Your salvation

God will not forget His people. We who have called on Him in the name of Jesus are saved by grace, and kept by His lovingkindness. Our God is faithful. Praise Him, He is faithful to those who love Him.

Let us pray.

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Lazarus And The Rich Man

Posted on May 5, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Lazarus and the Rich Man Jacopo Bassano
(Italian, c. 1510–1592)

In Luke 16:19-31 Jesus tells us a story about two men. One is rich, the other is poor. If this is a parable (some say it is, some say it’s not), then this is the only parable where Jesus uses a person’s name (Lazarus). Regardless as to whether it is a parable or a true story, this text tells us what Jesus believed about life and death.

Physical death is not the end of life, but the entrance into another life. Your next life can be a great life, or a miserable life. The decisions you make in this life will effect what happens in your next chapter!

Let’s read the parable:

(Luke 16:19-23 KJV) There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: [20] And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, [21] And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. [22] And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; [23] And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Everyone Must Die, But Not All Go To Heaven

Who goes to Heaven? Not everybody. We see that clearly in this parable. There are two characters, the rich man and Lazarus. Both die. When Lazarus dies we read, “he was carried by the angels into ABRAHAM’S BOSOM”. Abraham is the father of faith, the one that God made His Covenant with. God asked Abraham to follow Him, and promised:

(Genesis 12:2-3 KJV) And I will MAKE OF THEE A GREAT NATION, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: [3] And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and IN THEE SHALL ALL FAMILIES OF THE EARTH BE BLESSED.

Abraham is the first person that the Bible says

(Genesis 15:6 KJV) And ABRAHAM BELIEVED IN THE LORD; and THE LORD COUNTED IT TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

God imputed or credited righteousness to Abraham because he believed the Lord, and walked with the Lord in faith. Every person who is saved is saved after the pattern of Abraham. God makes a promise. We believe the promise. We walk daily with God according to that promise.

When a believer in Christ dies, that believer goes to the same place father Abraham is. Abraham believed God (Romans 4:3; Galatians 3:6; James 2:23) and God credited him with righteousness. When Abraham left this life, he did not sleep in the grave. Because Abraham believed God, Abraham went to where God is. When a believer dies in this life, our bodies sleep on this earth awaiting the resurrection, but our souls are transported to where God is. Let’s look at some texts:

(2 Corinthians 5:6-8 ESV) So we are always of good courage. We know that WHILE WE ARE AT HOME IN THE BODY we are AWAY FROM THE LORD, [7] for we walk by faith, not by sight. [8] Yes, we are of good courage, and we would RATHER BE AWAY FROM THE BODY AND AT HOME WITH THE LORD.

Now it is certain that Jesus said “I will never leave you, nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). He promised, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Jesus is the “good shepherd” (John 10:11, 14), and He stays with us through this life if we are His. But while you are in this body, you are not in the direct presence of God. Every Christian should feel as Paul did, saying “I would RATHER BE AWAY FROM THE BODY AND AT HOME WITH THE LORD”. Home is where the Lord is. Christian, Heaven is your home. While we who are saved are on this earth, we should, as all God’s children want, produce fruit for the Master. We are to do good, not evil. The Apostle wrote:

(Philippians 1:22-25 ESV) If I am to LIVE IN THE FLESH, that means FRUITFUL LABOR FOR ME. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. [23] I am hard pressed between the two. MY DESIRE IS TO DEPART AND BE WITH CHRIST, for that is far better. [24] But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. [25] Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, FOR YOUR PROGRESS AND JOY IN THE FAITH

While on this earth the Christian should want to follow Jesus, to produce “FRUITFUL LABOR” for the glory of God. Paul wanted to do that. But he also said that he “DESIRED TO DEPART AND BE WITH CHRIST”. To leave this body, and be where father Abraham is. Oh what a joy that will be when we get to Heaven!

When we all get to Heaven,
what a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory

At the Second Coming of Christ, those who have gone on to be with Jesus will return with Him to receive their glorified bodies.

(1 Thessalonians 4:14 ESV) For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, GOD WILL BRING WITH HIM THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP.

When a Christian leaves this life, the Bible calls this “FALLING ASLEEP”. The body sleeps in the dust of the earth (see Daniel 12:2),, but the soul goes to where Abraham’s children gather, where Jesus is. “Do you not know that THOSE WHO HAVE FAITH LIKE ABRAHAM, THE SAME ARE THE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM?” (Galatians 3:7). When that good Christian Stephen was stoned to death, the Bible says “He FELL ASLEEP” (Acts 7:60). In Acts 13:36 we see that King David “FELL ASLEEP and was laid with his fathers and SAW CORRUPTION” (Acts 13:36). The body “sleeps” and decays, returning to the dust that God made it from. But the soul that loves Jesus goes to be with Jesus, with Abraham, with those who love the Lord.

Illustrate: I was at my bank the other day when I got in a conversation with a teller there about Jesus. This dear woman said she was driving with her young daughter in the back seat about a year ago. The little girl was singing, then she said “Mama, I’m not afraid to die.” Startled, she asked her daughter what she meant. The little girl said “I’m not afraid to die, because I’m going to Heaven. Mama, are YOU going to Heaven?” The woman said she examined her life, and realized that no, she wasn’t going to Heaven. She had gotten far away from Jesus, away from His Church. She told me that last year not long after that she was baptized – along with her daughter – and is following the Lord Jesus. She’s going to Heaven. Heaven is the home of those who love Jesus. Jesus said,

John 12:26 … where I AM, THERE shall also My servant be …

Those who are saved are servants of Christ. You may be in a low spot. You may be going through a trial. But if you are saved by faith in Christ, Jesus is with you, and …

Jesus Knows Your Name If You Are His

Luke 16:19-21 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and FARED SUMPTUOUSLY every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And DESIRING TO BE FED with the CRUMBS which FELL FROM THE RICH MAN’S TABLE: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

Does Jesus know your name? The first man mentioned in this story is the rich man. Look at his outfit. He was “clothed in PURPLE and FINE LINEN”. Linen is very durable, stronger than cotton. It stays cool in hot weather, and as it’s fibers are hollow, it helps moisture evaporate quickly. The linen was PURPLE, which was harvested from a tiny snail from the city of Tyre. It’s a very rare color, and very costly. This rich man “FARED SUMPTUOUSLY” every day. He had the best of everything. He had the best home. He had a full belly. He had the finest clothing money could buy. But …

The man didn’t have Jesus. God didn’t know his name. The rich man didn’t know Lazarus’ name. To him, Lazarus was a human dog. He was nothing.

When I hear these people on television and social media gleefully wishing that our President die, I know these people are lost. When I hear women who get on Facebook or TikTok who joyfully report their abortions, or brag about the number of men they have slept with, I know these people are lost. Lost people care nothing for others. Lazarus is a man that God created. Every person has value because of that. No person is garbage. All people are sinners who will one day die. After death, we will be judged by God. That judgment is instantaneous. The Bible says:

Hebrews 9:27-28 And as it is appointed unto men once TO DIE, but AFTER THIS THE JUDGMENT: 28 So CHRIST WAS ONCE OFFERED TO BEAR THE SINS OF MAN

Jesus came to make payment for our sins. God blesses us with life. This rich man had the very best life. What did he do? He worshiped himself. He mistreated Lazarus. The rich man sold his soul, and lost it, to demonic gods. There are people on Facebook and YouTube and TikTok and Instagram selling their souls so they can be known as a “social influencer”. They are exchanging a glorious eternity with God for something diabolical (Matthew 16:26).

But what of Lazarus? It looks like God doesn’t know who he is. God knows who he is. Jesus knows his name. Look at Lazarus’ life. He was laid at the rich man’s gate, “FULL OF SORES”. When I was on mission in Southern Belize, I found out the greatest need of the poor people was not necessarily food, but SOAP. Lack of soap and access to clean water causes so many diseases. Lazarus ate the CRUMBS from the rich man’s table. And the only medical plan Lazarus had was dogs licking his sores.

The rich man had ample opportunity to help poor Lazarus. The Bible says:

Proverbs 19:17 He that hath PITY UPON THE POOR LENDETH UNTO THE LORD; and that which he hath given will THE LORD pay him again.

Those who are Christ’s children should love. We are called to LOVE GOD with all our hearts, and to LOVE OTHERS as we would be loved. To see someone suffering like Lazarus, and yet do nothing to alleviate it, is horrible!

The way you treat people is an outward show of your inward spiritual condition. In Matthew 25:35-46 in the Parable of the Final Judgment, those who are cast into hell are those who did as the rich man. Those who loved others and treated them accordingly were called “blessed by My Father”, and inheritors of the Kingdom of God. But those who hardened their hearts were told to “GO AWAY INTO ETERNAL PUNISHMENT”.

If God knows your name, when you die in this life you go to be with Abraham and the other children of faith.

Luke 16:22-23 And it came to pass, that THE BEGGAR DIED, and was CARRIED BY THE ANGELS INTO ABRAHAM’S BOSOM: the RICH MAN ALSO DIED, and was buried; 23 And IN HELL HE LIFTED UP HIS EYES, being in TORMENTS, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Both men died. The rich man had everything. When he died, he went unaccompanied to hell. He had no one around him, not even the so called “Grim Reaper”. He just died. But Lazarus, oh, how things changed for Lazarus. Lazarus was not welcomed at the table of the rich man. But Lazarus dies, and is carried by angels into Abraham’s bosom. Lazarus is embraced by God. He is cradled. He is comforted. The Bible says:

Proverbs 22:2 The rich and poor meet together: the LORD IS THE MAKER OF THEM ALL

God makes everybody. He made the rich man. He made Lazarus. God makes everybody to walk with Him. Those who walk with God are ultimately rich. Those who admit their brokenness, and give their lives to Jesus, are genuinely rich. We may go through bad moments. We may be in a Lazarus state. Ask yourself, “Why would the God Who loves us so, let us be in a Lazarus state?” The Bible says:

(Romans 8:28 ESV) And we know that for THOSE WHO LOVE GOD ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD, for those who are CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.

If that is true (and I believe it is), why let Lazarus suffer on earth like he did? Because Lazarus laid at the rich man’s gate. Lazarus was a witness to this man. Lazarus was an opportunity for this man to repent, to turn his faith from money and power, to loving God by loving others. God uses us as His children to try and reach others.

The rich man never repented. He never sought God.
God was his money, and pleasure his mistress.

And “IN HELL, HE LIFTED UP HIS EYES, BEING IN TORMENTS”.

Keep Rejecting Jesus, And See What Happens

Oh my friend, there is a hell. Jesus believed in Hell. Our Jesus is no liar, no deceiver. What did Jesus say about Hell?

Matthew 5:29-30 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that THY WHOLE BODY should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that THY WHOLE BODY should be cast into hell.

Our Lord Jesus saw hell as a horrible, torturous place. The final destination of the lost, the lake of fire (Revelation 20:13-14), is called “the second death”. Oh, how horrible that place! “And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they HAVE NO REST DAY NOR NIGHT” (Revelation 14:10-11). It is a place that Jesus said “it is outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Jesus warned that Hell is a place where the fire never stops, and the soul does not die:

(Mark 9:47-48 ESV) And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with TWO EYES TO BE THROWN INTO HELL, [48] ‘where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE and THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.’

Not everybody goes to Heaven. Only those who love Jesus. Only those who cherish God’s creation. How does the rich man respond in the midst of suffering?

Luke 16:24 the rich man … cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and SEND LAZARUS, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

The rich man doesn’t repent. When people leave this life and go to hell, they don’t repent. Their souls are hardened to sin. The rich man doesn’t call out to Jesus. He doesn’t call out to God. He calls out to Abraham, asking Abraham to “SEND LAZARUS, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue”. The rich man’s not sorry for the life he lived. He just wants to use Lazarus once more. Send that dog Lazarus. Let him cool my tongue!

This is the problem of sin. When sin enters a life, if it is not repented of it becomes more persistent, harder to eradicate. Abraham tries to reason with the rich man:

Luke 16:25-26 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but NOW HE IS COMFORTED, and THOU ART TORMENTED. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a GREAT GULF FIXED: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

What you do in THIS life will echo into eternity. There is a gulf between Heaven and Hell. There is no purgatory, no second chance. And if the lost were given a second chance, they wouldn’t take it. They would curse God and demand. The rich man lived a life devoid of God on this earth. Now he will live a life devoid of God in eternity.

But there is a tiny speck of compassion for the rich man. It’s for his family. He says:

Luke 16:27-29 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest SEND LAZARUS TO MY FATHER’S HOUSE: 28 for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, THEY HAVE MOSES AND THE PROPHETS; let them hear them.

There is no second chance after you leave this life. God has given us ample evidence for us to believe in “MOSES AND THE PROPHETS”, a term Jesus used for the Bible. The Bible tells us that “CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS” (1 Corinthians 15:3). The rich man said:

(Luke 16:30-31 KJV) … Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, THEY WILL REPENT. [31] And he said unto him, IF THEY WILL NOT HEAR MOSES AND THE PROPHETS, NEITHER WILL THEY BE PERSUADED, though one rose from the dead.

Moses wrote of Jesus (John 5:46). Abraham saw Jesus and His coming (John 8:56). The Old Testament Prophets foretold the coming of Christ (Luke 24:27; Deuteronomy 18:15; 1 Peter 1:10-11). If you won’t believe the Book, the Bible, you wouldn’t believe a resurrected Lazarus. You must receive Jesus NOW.

2 Corinthians 6:2 NOW is the accepted time. LOOK. TODAY is the day of salvation.

Do you know Him? Have you given your life to Jesus? If you have, you need not fear death. When you die in this life, you’re just going home. But if you have not received Jesus as Lord and Savior, today is the day to give your life to Him.

(John 3:16-18 KJV) 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 him might be saved. [18] He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Oh, please come! Do not delay! If you are Christ’s, love. If you are not, come to His love. In Jesus’ name I ask, amen.

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The Journey Of Faith

Posted on May 5, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Renée Nicole on Unsplash

Turn with me in your Bibles to Luke 15:11-32. Last Wednesday we started studying Jesus’ Parable of Two Sons:

(Luke 15:11 KJV) And JESUS said, A CERTAIN MAN HAD TWO SONS

The younger son goes to his father and demands his inheritance. This son then begins to wander, gets in a bad situation because he has departed from his father, and begins to suffer and starve. I believe the younger son is a picture of a young Christian. And if I were to summarize this whole parable, I believe …

The Parable shows the faithfulness of God as well as the journey of faith that each believer must go through.

Salvation is not a “one and done”. I often hear of places in America where there are “great revivals”. In California’s 7,750 people were baptized in one day at Huntington Beach May 3, 2025. Called “The Largest Water Baptism In U.S. History”, the reporter wrote:

“The first person baptized Saturday was a 71-year-old woman, Joanne, who told organizers she had considered baptism for 40 years but kept procrastinating. “We now baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,” Francey said as the woman entered the ocean. “We pray that you would rise up out of these waters with a new nature and a new life.”

In another place in California called Pirates Cove some 2100 were baptized in one day at the “Third Annual Jesus Revolution Baptism” on August 17, 2025. The article said:

“Harvest Christian Fellowship’s Senior Pastor Greg Laurie reports, “We had an incredible day yesterday at the 3rd Annual Jesus Revolution Baptism. We baptized 2,100 people in a single day! Can you believe that? Add that number to the last two years, and in just three years we’ve baptized 8,600 people!”

That’s really good news. But baptism is not the destination of the Christian walk.

The destination of Christianity is a walk, a changed life, a believer who follows Jesus one step at a time one day at a time. Baptisms are wonderful – but is the person baptized changed from light to darkness? Are these people who live to honor their Father?

If someone is saved by grace, they are made a child of God by the Holy Spirit. From that point on the believer “Walks BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Every Christian must learn to “Walk in the Spirit, not in the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). We must learn to listen to Jesus, to the Father Who loves us, and learn to do as He says. The younger son (and he was a SON) goes to his Father and demands:

(Luke 15:12 KJV) And the younger of them said to [his] father, Father, GIVE ME THE PORTION OF GOODS THAT FALLETH TO ME. And THE FATHER DIVIDED UNTO THEM HIS LIVING.

Someone gives their life to Jesus. “Jesus, I want to be saved. I want to go to Heaven. I want you to heal me. I want you to bless me.” And what does the Father do? “THE FATHER DIVIDED UNTO THEM HIS LIVING”. He gives the blessings. But we have a bad problem. We wander. I got to thinking about those whom God called to salvation.

* Abraham followed God – but lied about his wife (Genesis 12:11-13) and had a child by Hagar.

* Moses strikes the rock rather than speaking to it (Numbers 10:11-12).

* David kills a man and takes his wife (2 Samuel 11:2-4, 12:13). He commands a census of Israel (2 Samuel 24:1-2), following Satan instead of God (1 Chronicles 21:1-2).

* Jonah ran from God (Jonah 1:1-3), refusing to serve Him.

* Peter denied Jesus three times (Matthew 26:69-75). He also played the hypocrite with the Gentile Christians (Galatians 2:11).

* And how many times did Israel disobey God? Yet God never disowned His people!

God never calls perfect people to salvation. He calls broken, imperfect people to His side. He tells us to stay by His side. God sums up the Christian way of life this way:

(1 John 1:7-10 ESV) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. [8] If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [10] If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

The Younger Believer Learned That Genuine Salvation
Is Accompanied With A Close Walk With The Father

I am proud of all these people I hear of getting baptized. I am proud that there is a resurgence among Generation Z, people who want to publicly profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. If you are saved, you are a broken person God saved. And one of the problems we have to deal with in our journey of faith is to understand

The only safe place for a Christian to be is in the Presence of the Father!

The younger son battles with PRIDE, just like we ALL battle with PRIDE. “Give me what I demand, Father, so I can go my own way”. No, it doesn’t work that way. Jesus is BOTH Lord and Savior. God is God, and I am not. But we can’t be told this. We have to learn it the hard way. So we wander from the Father’s presence – and find nothing but misery.

(Luke 15:17-19 KJV) And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my Father’s HAVE BREAD ENOUGH AND TO SPARE, and I PERISH WITH HUNGER! [18] I WILL ARISE AND GO TO MY FATHER, and will say unto him, FATHER, I HAVE SINNED AGAINST HEAVEN, AND BEFORE THEE, [19] And am NO MORE WORTHY TO BE CALLED THY SON: make me as one of thy HIRED SERVANT.

Here’s the beginning of Christian growth. Yes, you should be baptized. But the beginning of Christian growth is when you realize how worthless YOU are, and how good GOD IS. You stop worrying about what other people think, and humble yourself before the Father. This young Christian said “FATHER, I HAVE SINNED AGAINST HEAVEN, AND BEFORE THEE”. He was saying “I have violated the Laws of the Kingdom of God”. But he is also saying, “I have spat on Your love, Father. I’m not worthy – just let me SERVE you!”

Christians, you are saved to serve, not be served. The wandering young son realized this. There is no joy in being waited on. The joy is in serving the Father. When God came to the little virgin called Mary and told her she was going to have the Messiah, hear her words:

(Luke 1:38 NASB20) … Mary said, “Behold, the Lord’s BOND-SERVANT; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Paul loved to use that phrase “BOND-SERVANT” for himself.

(Romans 1:1 NASB20) Paul, a BOND-SERVANT OF CHRIST JESUS, called [as] an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God

and again,

(Galatians 1:10 NASB20) For am I now seeking the favor of people, or of God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I WOULD NOT BE A BOND-SERVANT OF CHRIST.

Where that young wander son’s mind is, where Mary’s mind is, where Paul’s mind is, is where OUR MINDS ought to be. “Lord, I’m not worthy – just let me serve You!”

God became a “BOND-SERVANT” in order to save us. The Scripture says:

(Philippians 2:5-7 NASB20) Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, [6] who, as He [already] existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, [7] but EMPTIED HIMSELF BY TAKING THE FORM OF A BOND-SERVANT, [and] being born in the likeness of men. [8] And being found in appearance as a man, He HUMBLED HIMSELF by becoming obedient to the point of death: DEATH ON A CROSS.

Like the wandering younger son, the Father – in love – will allow us to wander away so we can learn. The young man learned. He turned back to the Father, What did he find? We read:

(Luke 15:21-24 KJV) And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and AM NO LONGER WORTHY TO BE CALLED THY SON. [22] But the Father said to his servants, BRING FORTH THE BEST ROBE, and PUT IT ON HIM; and PUT A RING ON HIS HAND, and SHOES ON HIS FEET: [23] And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill [it]; and LET US EAT, AND BE MERRY: [24] For THIS MY SON WAS DEAD, and is alive again; HE WAS LOST, and IS FOUND. And they began to be merry.

As Christians, when we walk in darkness, we walk alone. God will not walk with us. You cannot be a Christian homosexual, a Christian transgender, a Christian racist, a Christian hater, a Christian murderer, a Christian thief, a Christian slanderer, a Christian womanizer, a Christian liar, a Christian gossip, or a Christian _______. You fill in the blank. The Bible says:

1 John 1:5 God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

When the younger son began to do the wrong things he did, he walked away from the presence of the Father. Now listen – He didn’t cease to be a Son. The Father said, “THIS MY SON WAS DEAD, and is alive again”. The Father never disowned him – but also the Father will not walk with him. Again, “If we say we have FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM and WALK IN DARKNESS, WE LIE, and do NOT THE TRUTH” (1 John 1:6). The Bible says to CHRISTIANS:

(James 4:1-7 NKJV) Where do wars and fights [come] FROM AMONG YOU? Do [they] not [come] from your [desires for] pleasure that war in your members? [2] You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. [3] You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend [it] on your pleasures. [4] Adulterers and adulteresses! DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT FRIENDSHIP WITH THE WORLD IS ENMITY WITH GOD? WHOEVER THEREFORE WANTS TO BE A FRIEND OF THE WORLD MAKES HIMSELF AN ENEMY OF GOD. [5] Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? [6] But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” [7] Therefore SUBMIT TO GOD. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. [8] DRAW NEAR TO GOD and HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU. Cleanse [your] hands, [you] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [you] double-minded.

Those are verses written to – not the lost – but to saved people. When the young wandering son drew near to God – God the Father drew near to him.

What About The Second Son?

We’ve spent a lot of time on the first son, the young son. But what about the elder son? What did he do?

(Luke 15:25-28 KJV) Now HIS ELDER SON WAS IN THE FIELD: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. [26] And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. [27] And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. [28] And HE WAS ANGRY, and WOULD NOT GO IN: therefore CAME HIS FATHER OUT, and ENTREATED {parakaleō} HIM

The older son – the more mature believer – is out in the field working. He stayed with the Father. If you remember, when the younger son went to the Father demanding his inheritance, we read:

(Luke 15:12 KJV) … the younger of them said to [his] father, Father, GIVE ME THE PORTION of goods that falleth [to me]. And HE DIVIDED UNTO THEM HIS LIVING.

The Father gave the inheritance to BOTH the younger son and the elder son. One took his inheritance and went out into the world, far away from the Father. But the other stayed home, but also distanced himself from the Father. Why did he do this? I’ve seen it before.

Preachers preach, and God gives them a following. Then the preacher decides that he’s really that good – and stops doing what he does for the Lord. He’s in the field, blessed of God, but doing it for the head count.

Singers sing, and God gives them a following. Then they begin to forget that their talents, their blessings came to them by the Grace of God. They get a following, a platinum album, and exalt themselves in the worship of their followers.

The elder son, an older Christian, begins to forget that what we do, we do for the glory of God. We become judgmental. We see someone – like the younger son – walk away from the Father. Rather than pray for their return, we make judgments. “Well, they were really never Christians in the first place”. How do YOU know? Can you read the heart? Can you see inside the mind of people. The Apostle Paul wrote:

(1 Corinthians 4:1-5 NKJV) Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. [2] Moreover it is REQUIRED IN STEWARDS THAT ONE BE FOUND FAITHFUL. [3] But with me it is a VERY SMALL THING THAT I SHOULD BE JUDGED BY YOU or by a human court. In fact, I DO NOT EVEN JUDGE MYSELF. [4] For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but HE WHO JUDGES ME IS THE LORD. [5] Therefore JUDGE NOTHING BEFORE THE TIME, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.

When the elder son heard the rejoicing inside, he did not seek out the Father. Instead, he sought out a servant. And when he found that his brother had returned home, he was angry.

How dare they have a party WITHOUT ME? I stayed with Father. I worked the fields. That bum of a brother went off and had a good time. But I SERVED. I’m better than he is. Why does he deserve the fatted calf? Why does he deserve the best robe? Do you see what’s going on here? The elder son has forgotten that he was saved by Grace as well. The elder sons feels that his staying in Church, doing the Law, has made him better than that shiftless brother of his.

Word Study: The Bible says that Father comes out and “ENTREATS HIM”. The word parakaleō means “to call alongside so as to embrace”. When the Father embraces this older son, he says:

(Luke 15:29-30 KJV) {The older son} said to [his] father, Lo, these MANY YEARS DO I SERVE THEE, NEITHER TRANSGRESSED IN AT ANY TIME THY COMMANDMENT: and yet THOU NEVER GAVEST ME A KID, that I might make merry with my friends: [30] But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath DEVOURED THY LIVING WITH HARLOTS, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

The older son is upset. He’s mad at the younger son, and mad at the Father. He wants the fatted calf. He wants the best robe. He even makes up something about his brother. He says, “he DEVOURED THY LIVING WITH HARLOTS”. There’s no indication earlier in the text that he had anything to do with sexual sin. He just wasted his life in the darkness. The Father simply replies:

(Luke 15:31-32 KJV) And {The Father} said unto him, Son, THOU ART EVER WITH ME, and ALL I HAVE IS THINE. [32] It was {correct} that we should make merry, and be glad: for THIS THY BROTHER WAS DEAD, and IS ALIVE AGAIN; and was lost, and is found.

Jesus never finishes this parable. Does the older son repent? Does he go in, and celebrate that the younger believer has learned from his journey of faith? Or does he stay outside. I’d like you to notice two things. God told His elder son “THOU ART EVER WITH ME”. That’s better than a fatted calf. That’s better than the best robe. To be with God. To know that God is with you where ever you are. That’s the gift of salvation. Not that we’re going to Heaven one day. Not that we’re saved from hell. To just know that …

God is our Father Who loves us though we are broken and oft times petty. To know that, because of Jesus, we “ART EVER WITH HIM”.

The mature believer knows, like David, that:

(Psalm 84:10-11 NKJV) For a day in Your courts [is] better than a thousand. I WOULD RATHER BE A DOOR KEEPER IN THE HOUSE OF MY GOD THAN TO DWELL IN THE TENTS OF WICKEDNESS. [11] For the LORD God [is] a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good [thing] will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.

The second thing the Father told him was “ALL I HAVE IS THINE”. We who are saved are joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). God never robs us. His grace is amazing! As we take our journey of faith, let us focus on staying in the presence of the Father. And if we get off base, dearly Beloved, let us repent as fast as we can and get home where we belong.

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The Parable Of Two Sons (1)

Posted on May 2, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Damian Siodłak on Unsplash

Every time I come to a parable of Jesus, I learn more things about Jesus AND MYSELF. Sunday night we studied the most difficult parable Jesus ever gave, the Parable of the Cheating Business Manager (Luke 16:1-13). Tonight we’re going to look at the LONGEST PARABLE Jesus ever told. It is often called The Parable Of The Prodigal (Wandering) Son. It’s found in Luke chapter 15. Please turn there. Read with me:

(Luke 15:11 KJV) And he said, A certain man had TWO SONS:

Most Bibles have in the heading to this parable, “The Parable of the Prodigal Son”. As a result, most Pastors, myself included, have preached this parable as “The Parable of the Prodigal Son” (though no modern person knows what “Prodigal” means. Here’s what I learned when I studied it:

The word “Prodigal” is found in the Bible right next to the word “Purgatory”. It’s just not there.

Jesus introduces this parable by saying, “A certain man had TWO SONS”. And the truth is, neither son is a prize winner. Jesus leaves the parable open to many applications. Where I’ve often seen the parable used (and I’ve preached it this way myself), the characters are:

A “CERTAIN MAN” is God
The “YOUNGER” son is a lost person
The “ELDER SON” (vs 25) is a believer

I have also heard it preached that:

A “CERTAIN MAN” is God
The “YOUNGER” son is the sinner needing Grace
The “ELDER SON” is Israel

It can be preached that way. But there is yet another way this text can be preached. Before I tell you that way, let me explain what the main subject, the main point of the parable is. It is this.

God Is Unbelievably Gracious

Throughout this parable (22 verses, 384 words in the King James) that which shows forth is how gracious and kind God is. And this shouldn’t surprise us. The Bible says:

Exodus 34:6 (ESV) The Lord, the Lord, A GOD MERCIFUL AND GRACIOUS, slow to anger, and ABOUNDING IN STEADFAST LOVE and FAITHFULNESS

God ABOUNDS in STEADY LOVE and FAITHFULNESS. What He promises, He will do. When God calls someone to salvation and that person receives the call and responds in faith, God covers them with His Grace. You cannot find but just a few people in the Scripture that God called to salvation who did not fail God in one way or another. And yet, God did not cast them away. They themselves hurt themselves by their stupid actions. But God is faithful, filled with grace.

Psalm 103:8-13 (ESV) The LORD IS MERCIFUL AND GRACIOUS, slow to anger and ABOUNDING IN STEADFAST LOVE. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He DOES NOT DEAL WITH US ACCORDING TO OUR SINS, nor REPAY US ACCORDING TO OUR INIQUITIES. …

If God were to punish us each time we doubted Him, we would be puddles now. Though not every sin has the same weight (for Jesus spoke of the “greater sin” (John 19:11) and “greater punishment” (Luke 12:47-48)),

Every sin separates us from God.

God told His Old Covenant Israel,

Isaiah 59:2 … your INIQUITIES HAVE SEPARATED YOU FROM YOUR GOD; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that HE WILL NOT HEAR.

Sin does not make God hate His children by faith. But sin separates us from God, taking us to where He cannot commune with us. King David, a child of God, wrote:

Psalm 66:18 If I REGARD (rā’â) iniquity in my heart, the LORD WILL NOT HEAR ME.

Word Study: The word “REGARD” (Hebrew rā’â, Qal Perfect) means “to look at, to observe, to gaze on”. What David is saying is that you know there is sin in your life, but instead of repenting, you dwell on it and in it. You make your peace with it. You get used to it. And doing so takes us far from God.

So I want to go back and talk about the THIRD way to preach this parable. Go back to the beginning. Jesus says:

(Luke 15:11 KJV) And he said, A CERTAIN MAN HAD TWO SONS:

Let’s consider the parable this way. This is NOT a lost and a saved person. These are TWO SONS. They are not just creations of the CERTAIN MAN or God, but they have been born again into the family of God. The Bible teaches us that when we all enter this world, we enter it physically alive but spiritually dead. We have earthly, physical parents. But God is not our FATHER from birth. He is our CREATOR, but we do not know Him. Jesus explained it this way:

“That which is BORN OF THE FLESH IS FLESH, and that which is BORN OF THE SPIRIT IS SPIRIT” (John 3:6).

Everyone is born in the flesh. By our first birth we are flesh. We are born physically alive, but spiritually dead. Jesus told a disciple “Come, follow Me”, and that disciple said “I’ve got to go and bury my father first”. Jesus told him, “Let the DEAD bury the DEAD” (Luke 9:60). Let the spiritually dead be overly concerned about burying physically dead people. Follow Jesus. Period.

Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3, 5 (LSB) Truly, truly, I say to you, UNLESS ONE IS BORN AGAIN HE CANNOT SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD.” … [5] … unless one is BORN OF WATER AND OF THE SPIRIT HE CANNOT ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

You cannot be in proximity to God, nor even understand the most apparent truths of God, unless you are BORN into His family by faith in Christ. The Apostle said …

(Romans 8:7-8 ESV) For the mind that is SET ON THE FLESH is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. [8] Those who are IN THE FLESH CANNOT PLEASE GOD.

(1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV) The NATURAL PERSON DOES NOT ACCEPT THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD, for they are FOLLY to him, and HE IS NOT ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THEM because they are spiritually discerned.

In this parable “A CERTAIN MAN” (who represents God) has TWO SONS. Both are born into the family. Both have inheritances. Let’s not consider this two men without God.

What If This Is This Is TWO SONS In
DIFFERENT STAGES OF FAITH.

What do I mean by “faith”? The word “FAITH” is very common in our world, but people define if differently.

* Some people define faith as wishful thinking. “I have FAITH we’ll win the championship”.
* Others define faith as a set of doctrines. “I follow the Christian FAITH”.
* Yet others define faith as a way to manipulate God so as to get something. They say, “If you BELIEVE hard enough and have ENOUGH FAITH, God will answer your prayer in the way you want”. It’s like putting God in a holy headlock.

Faith as the Bible defines it is none of those things. The Bible defines “faith” this way:

(Hebrews 11:6 LSB) And WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM, for he who DRAWS NEAR to God must BELIEVE THAT HE IS and [that] He is a rewarder of those who SEEK HIM.

Faith is to believe that God is Who He says He is. Faith is to draw NEAR to God. Faith is to desire God, to seek Him because you must have Him. Faith trusts God, and obeys God. The day we are saved, we simply gives ourselves to Jesus as our Savior and Lord. Then as sons of God we follow Him one day at a time, one step at a time.

And here’s the kicker: Christians can and do get away from God. Even Christians in Church get away from God. It happens. The maturity of a Christian is shown in their consistent works for God. The believer loves God. As we follow Him, we grow closer to Him. But sometimes, we make bad decisions. The Christians that grow and mature believe two things:

1. God has a purpose for all the things happening in my life, even things I think are bad. The Bible says:

(Romans 8:28 LSB) And we know that for those who love God ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD, for THOSE WHO ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.

2. I am to praise God and show gratitude to Him even when life is difficult. God loves me, and I will trust His process.

That’s developed faith. That’s mature faith. But young Christians receive blessings from God (the CERTAIN MAN) and wander away. Let’s look at it that way.

(Luke 15:12 KJV) And the YOUNGER of (the Sons) said to [his] father, Father, GIVE ME THE PORTION OF GOODS THAT FALLETH TO ME. And He divided unto them [his] living.

What Jesus is saying here is actually shocking to the audience, and it should be shocking to us. The Young Son is treating his Father as if He were dead already!

Under the Law of Moses the firstborn child received a double portion of the inheritance (Deuteronomy 21:15-17), whereas the other children received a portion. When Abraham neared death “Abraham gave all he had unto Isaac” (Genesis 25:5). But he did this just before dying. We see this throughout the Bible. When

Isaac was dying, he blessed Jacob (Genesis 27)
Jacob was dying, he blessed his sons (Genesis 48-49)
David was dying, he blessed Solomon (1 Kings 1-2)

The inheritance is not normally given until the Father is dying or dead. Though it was not unlawful to transfer property to the children early, it was highly unusual. The only clear place I can find in the Bible where this is done is in this parable. So it’s shocking! It would make the audience gasp!

The young son is the picture of a young believer, someone who has been born again. He is a son. But he treats the Father as if He were dead. In the ancient world, if a child treated the Father in this way, the parents had the right to have the child killed. The Law says that a child who disrespects his parents …

(Deuteronomy 21:19-21 KJV) THEN shall his father and his mother LAY HOLD ON HIM, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; [20] And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This OUR SON IS STUBBORN AND REBELLIOUS, he WILL NOT OBEY OUR VOICE; [he is] a glutton, and a drunkard. [21] And ALL THE MEN OF HIS CITY WILL STONE HIM WITH STONES, THAT HE DIE: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

What does “The CERTAIN MAN” or God do when the young son impudently demands his inheritance? The Scripture declares, “If we are FAITHLESS, GOD REMAINS FAITHFUL – for He cannot deny Himself” (2 Timothy 2:13). Beloved, we have ALL failed God at one time or another. In 30 years of ministry …

I have seen people come to Christ, professing Him as Lord and Savior. Then I have seen them wander away from God, sometimes for years.

Does God kill His children that wander away? No, for “He divided unto them [his] living”. God is merciful and kind. He lets us have our free will.

(Luke 15:13 KJV) And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there WASTED HIS SUBSTANCE with RIOTOUS LIVING (asōtōs zaō).

Word Study: Jesus said that the young son, “wasted his substance with RIOTOUS LIVING”, the Greek asōtōs zaō. The word asōtōs is only used here in the Bible by our Lord. The word means to “be given to reckless waste, extravagance, a lifestyle that is ultimately destructive”. The Bible tells us that God is the Source of LIFE. “God gives everyone LIFE” (Acts 17:25). “The LORD is Your LIFE” (Deuteronomy 30:20). Jesus said in John 14:6, “I AM the way, the truth, and THE LIFE”. When you walk away from God, your LIFE will begin to degrade. God gave you physical life. God gives you spiritual life. Walk away from God, and you cut yourself off from the Source. I can take a rechargeable flashlight and use it to get light. But if I don’t recharge it, get it back to the source, I’ll be in the dark. I can use my cell phone but, if I don’t return it to the Source, in time it will be DEAD and USELESS. This is the lesson that all Christians must understand.

(Luke 15:14 KJV) And when HE HAD SPENT ALL, there arose a mighty FAMINE in that land; and he BEGAN TO BE IN WANT

Who causes famines? Are they just accidents of nature? God told Israel when they walked away from Him:

(Leviticus 26:15, 17, 19-20 LSB) if, instead, YOU REJECT MY STATUTES, and if your soul loathes My judgments so as not to do all My commandments [and] so break My covenant, … [17] ‘And I WILL SET MY FACE AGAINST YOU so that you will be DEFEATED BEFORE YOUR ENEMIES; and those who hate you will have dominion over you, and you will flee when no one is pursuing you. … YOUR LAND WILL NOT GIVE FORTH ITS PRODUCE and the TREES OF THE LAND WILL NOT GIVE FORTH THEIR FRUIT.

The young man lost his resources, then God sent famine into the land. The young man got as low as he could get.

(Luke 15:15-16 KJV) And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and HE SENT HIM INTO HIS FIELDS TO FEED THE SWINE. [16] And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and NO MAN GAVE UNTO HIM.

Christian, if you wander from God, you wander from the Source of your power and of your blessing. A Christian walking with the darkness and not with the light is an abnormality.

I have seen so many who professed Christ as Savior and Lord, but who turned against Him with their lives. And I have buried man from cancers, and diseases without measure, who were once members of Churches but who wandered from holy land into devilish darkness. Were these people saved, but later lost. I believe they were still sons of God, for in Jesus parable this young man was still a ‘SON”. As the pressure mounted, finally we read:

(Luke 15:17-19 KJV) And when HE CAME TO HIMSELF, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! [18] I WILL ARISE AND GO TO MY FATHER, and will say unto him, FATHER, I HAVE SINNED AGAINST HEAVEN, and BEFORE THEE, [19] And am NO MORE WORTHY TO BE CALLED THY SON: make me as one of thy hired servants.

Pride Takes Us Away From God.
Humility & Repentance Brings Us Back.

Sons of God should be walking with God, not with the world.

(Ephesians 5:8-11 LSB) you were FORMERLY DARKNESS, but now YOU ARE LIGHT IN THE LORD; WALK AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT [9] (for the fruit of that light [consists] in all goodness and righteousness and truth), [10] trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. [11] And DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE UNFRUITFUL WORKS OF DARKNESS, but instead even expose them.

Whereas before the young son pridefully demanded his rights and his inheritance, now he humbles himself, begging a servant’s place before his Father. He is unworthy, and knows it. This is the point where God can use you. God can’t use arrogant people. God doesn’t care how educated you are. He wants you in His presence, willing to do as He says. As the young son heads home, his mindset is Father, “am NO MORE WORTHY TO BE CALLED THY SON: make me as one of thy hired servants”. So what happens?

(Luke 15:20-24 KJV) And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. [21] And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. [22] But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put [it] on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on [his] feet: [23] And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill [it]; and let us eat, and be merry: [24] For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

This is not the end of the parable, but this is a good place to stop. The Father takes the repentant son back without question or restriction. We’ll talk about that – and about the other son – in another message. Remember, this is “The Parable of the Two Sons”. Sunday night we’ll look at this parable again, and look at the Elder Son. Until then, God Bless You!

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A Question Of Power

Posted on April 29, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Milen Kolev on Unsplash

Mark 11:27-33 (KJV) And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, THERE COME TO HIM THE CHIEF PRIESTS, and THE SCRIBES, and THE ELDERS, 28 And say unto {Jesus}, BY WHAT AUTHORITY DOEST THOU THESE THINGS? And WHO GAVE THEE THIS AUTHORITY TO DO THESE THINGS? 29 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 The BAPTISM OF JOHN, was [it] from heaven, or of men? Answer me. 31 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? 32 But if we shall say, Of men; THEY FEARED THE PEOPLE: for all [men] counted John, that he was a prophet indeed. 33 And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

A Rebuking Parable To A Foolish Question

When Jesus spoke a parable (Greek parabole), it was always in reaction to something someone said to Him. Parabole means to lay alongside. It taught a spiritual truth by comparing it to a physical story. In His parables, Jesus taught, but at other times rebuked or corrected. We’re going to look at a rebuking parable today.

You need to understand the background. Jesus has ridden into Jerusalem on a donkey. The people celebrate His coming in an event we call Palm Sunday. In a few days Jesus will be crucified on a cross between two thieves. Before His crucifixion Jesus will cast the moneychangers out of the Temple, something that made the scribes and chief priests angry (Mark 11:15-19). Why? Because they were making money off of selling sacrifices to pilgrims during the Feast of the Passover. The next day we see:

Mark 11:27-28 (KJV) And they {Jesus and His Apostles} come again to Jerusalem: and as HE WAS WALKING IN THE TEMPLE, there come to him the CHIEF PRIESTS, and the SCRIBES, and the ELDERS, 28 And say unto him, BY WHAT AUTHORITY DOEST THOU THESE THINGS? And WHO GAVE THEE THIS AUTHORITY to do these things?

They lost their little side business in the Temple. They were selling sacrifices and exchanging money for Jewish coinage at a profit, taking advantage of the Law of God to make money. The “ELDERS” that are mentioned here are the ruling Elders of Israel called “The Sanhedrin”, considered the supreme authority among the Jews. It’s 70 or 71 members included high ranking priests, scribes, and Pharisees. The Sanhedrin was both a religious as well as a legal court, interpreting and enforcing the Law of Moses as they interpreted the Law.

The moneychangers and the sellers in the Court of the Gentiles were authorized by the Sanhedrin. Who gave Jesus authority to chase these moneychangers out? Religion doesn’t care about souls, but about prestige, power, and at heart profit.

Preach: Jesus’ authority was not derived from the Sanhedrin. Jesus didn’t just overthrow tables, He challenged the Sanhedrin’s power. How dare He do what He did? Jesus exposed the Sanhedrin as the self righteous bunch they were. He hurt their prestige. “We are the rulers – not You, Nazarene”. And where it really hurt, Jesus took away their unrighteous profit. Now it’s ON! They are HOT! How DARE You do what You did, you silly Nazarite Rabbi?

Jesus is more than a backwater Rabbi. Jesus is God in the flesh. Jesus applied the title “Son of Man” to Himself, a title for the Messiah. Jesus called Himself “The Son of God”, “making Himself EQUAL WITH GOD” (John 5:18). So what does Jesus do? How does He answer these enraged dupes? It’s genius!

Mark 11:29-30 (KJV) Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 The BAPTISM OF JOHN, was [it] FROM HEAVEN, or OF MEN? answer me.

Who authorized John the Baptist to baptize in the wilderness? Was it something some man authorized, or did it come of God? Did the Sanhedrin approve John and authorize him to baptize? No, because John called them a “brood of vipers” (Matthew 3:7). John told them to “bear fruits worthy of repentance” (Matthew 3:8). They were not friends with John.

It Is A Question Of Authority

Did John come of his own accord and start baptizing, or did he come because God called him to come? It was prophesied that when the Messiah was to come, that He would have a Herald who would go before Him. The Prophet Isaiah foretold:

Isaiah 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD, make straight in the desert a HIGHWAY FOR OUR GOD.

God was coming, and John was like the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY Highway Department. He was authorized to spiritually pave a road that the Messiah would enter into His ministry on.

God through the Prophet Malachi said:

Malachi 3:1 Behold, I WILL SEND MY MESSENGER, and he shall prepare the way before Me

When John came, he told the crowd that “I am not the Messiah”, but “I am the Voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaiah”. Jesus later affirmed that John the Baptist was chosen of God to be His Herald (Matthew 11:10, 14). God chose John to be the Herald of the Messiah. The Angel of God told Zacharias, John’s father that:

Luke 1:13-17 (AP) your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son … and many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God … HE SHALL GO BEFORE MESSIAH … to PREPARE THE PEOPLE FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD …

The leaders of Israel are asked by Jesus, “By Whose authority did JOHN do what he did?” I want you to notice what the leaders of Israel did.

Mark 11:31-32 (KJV) And they REASONED WITH THEMSELVES, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; {Jesus} will say, Why then did ye not believe him? 32 But if we shall say, Of men; they FEARED THE PEOPLE: for all [men] counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.

The leaders of Israel did not turn to the Scripture. They “REASONED WITH THEMSELVES”. These are supposed to be leaders of Israel, but they have detached themselves from the Scripture. They are not living by the Law of Moses. They have taken God off of the throne, and their opinion is now the god they follow.

These people have never examined Jesus in the light of what God has said in His Word. They never saw the ministry of John as God’s fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Neither John nor Jesus suited their agendas. But they dare not deny John lest the people turn on them. And if they don’t deny John, and John affirmed Jesus is the Messiah, then they look like fools.

Jesus Doesn’t Answer Directly, But He
Does Answer With A Parable

Mark 12:1 (KJV) And {Jesus} began to speak UNTO THEM {the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders} by parables. A [certain] man PLANTED A VINEYARD, and SET A HEDGE about [it], and digged [a place for] the WINE FAT {hypolēnion}, and BUILT A TOWER, and let it out to HUSBANDMEN {geōrgos}, and went into a far country.

Word Study: In this parable a “MAN PLANTS A VINEYARD”. The purpose of a vineyard – a place where grapes are raised – is to make wine. This Man plants the vineyard, then “SETS A HEDGE” or a fence around that vineyard to protect it from harm. The Man puts in a wine press, and makes a place for the “WINE FAT” or the vessel that holds the juice of the grapes. It’s like a big vat. The Man also “BUILT A TOWER”, that is, He put a watchtower over the field, high above the crop to look after it. The Man, the Owner of the Vineyard, then contacts “HUSBANDMEN”, what you might call hired farmers or gardeners. It was the job of the farmers to oversee and make sure the vineyard was profitable for the owner.

Now what are all these elements? The Man is a picture of God, and the Vineyard a picture of God’s people. God planted the Vineyard. God loved the Vineyard. God came to Abraham., and told him:

Genesis 12:2-3 (AP) I will MAKE OF YOU A GREAT NATION {Israel} … in you shall ALL THE NATIONS OF THE WORLD WILL BE BLESSED

God asked Abraham to follow Him, to obey Him, and Abraham did. And God blessed Abraham. Over time God raised up Jacob, renamed him Israel, and from Israel came God’s people. God gave Israel great promises. He planted Israel in Egypt, allowed it to grow, then moved Israel toward the Promised Land. God loved His people, His Israel. God set a HEDGE around Israel:

Isaiah 5:1-2, 7 (NKJV) Now let me sing to my Well-beloved A song of my Beloved REGARDING HIS VINEYARD: My Well-beloved has a vineyard On a very fruitful hill. 2 He dug it up and cleared out its stones, And planted it with the choicest vine. He built a tower in its midst, And also made a winepress in it; So He expected [it] to bring forth [good] grapes, But it brought forth wild grapes…. 7 For the VINEYARD OF THE LORD OF HOSTS IS THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL

God put a HEDGE around His people. He gave them the Law and the Prophets. God puts a hedge around those whom He loves (Job 1:10). God gave Israel a place their own – the Promised Land. God built a TOWER for His people by watching over them.

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a STRONG TOWER: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress… my HIGH TOWER…

Psalm 61:3 For Thou {O Lord} hast been a shelter for me, and a STRONG TOWER from the enemy

Preach: Then God called geōrgos, skilled Farmers to oversee the Vineyard. The FARMERS were the leaders God called to His people. The Leaders are the Priests, the Pharisees and Sadducees, the Sanhedrin itself. The Farmers do not own the vineyard. God planted the vineyard. Adam didn’t own the Garden of Eden. He was to farm it, as a sharecropper, to manage it for God. The Farmers were not to make the rules, but were to follow the rules set by the Owner of the Vineyard. You don’t make the rules. The Pastor doesn’t make the rules. The Southern Baptist Convention doesn’t make the rules. I don’t care if you’ve been to Seminary, and have a string of doctorates – no one makes the rules BUT THE OWNER OF THE VINEYARD.

Now we come to the meat of the parable. Jesus continues:

Mark 12:2-5 (KJV) And at the season He {this is God} sent to the HUSBANDMEN {the leaders of Israel} a SERVANT {a Prophet}, that He might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 And they caught {God’s Servant}, and beat him, and sent [him] away empty. 4 And again he sent unto them another SERVANT {another Prophet}; and at him they cast stones, and wounded [him] in the head, and sent [him] away shamefully handled. 5 And again HE {God, the Owner of the Vineyard, of Israel} sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.

The Owner of the Vineyard has the right to the FRUIT of that Vineyard. God told Israel:

Isaiah 5:2 (NKJV) {God} expected {His Vineyard Israel} to bring forth GOOD grapes, But it brought forth WILD grapes.

What did God mean by that? He explains in:

Isaiah 5:7 (NKJV) For the Vineyard of the LORD of hosts [is] the house of Israel, And the men of Judah are His pleasant plant. He looked for JUSTICE, but behold, OPPRESSION; For RIGHTEOUSNESS, but behold, a cry [for help].

The fruit that God expected was JUSTICE. He expected His people to love one another, and to help others find salvation through God. God said to Israel:

Leviticus 19:18 You shall not AVENGE or BEAR ANY GRUDGE … but YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOU LOVE YOURSELF: I am Your LORD

God commands His New Testament Church, (Matthew 7:12) “All things that you want others to DO TO YOU, DO IT TO THEM”. It is in no way loving to sell sacrifices to people trying to get to God. It is OPPRESSIVE, not freeing. God looked for RIGHTEOUSNESS, but found only oppressed people crying out for HELP.

Righteousness doesn’t mean holier than thou. Righteousness means to DO THAT WHICH GOD CONSIDERS RIGHT, regardless as to what others say. The Owner of the Vineyard sets the standard, not the Vineyard nor the Farmers.

When God looks at the Vineyard, the fruit He expects is worship from His people. We are not to chase golden calves. The fruit the Owner expects is OBEDIENCE and REPENTANCE, HUMILITY and TRANSPARENCY. Anything else is a wild grape, unfit for the work of God. The Apostle tells us to avoid the wild grapes, the grapes Whose vine is not Christ. These wild grapes “have a form or show of godliness, but deny the very power of God. Turn away from these people!” (2 Timothy 3:5).

When Sin Is Not Cast Out Of The Vineyard, It Grows

I want you to notice something else that Jesus has in this parable. Notice what happens with the “SERVANTS” or the Prophets that God sent to the Vineyard Israel. When the FIRST Servant was sent, the Farmers/ Overseers of the Vineyard “caught {God’s Servant}, and beat him, and sent [him] away empty”. When the SECOND Servant was sent, “at him they cast stones, and wounded [him] in the head, and sent [him] away shamefully handled”. They didn’t repent of their sin. No, they got stronger in their sin. When the THIRD Servant was sent, “him they killed”. This is what sin does when it is not dealt with – it GROWS.

They BEAT the first
They STONED the second
They KILLED the third

When the Bible tells us “The wages of sin is DEATH” (Romans 6:23), the first sin is a small thing. Think about it. When Cain first sinned, he was ENVIOUS of his brother Abel. God told Cain, (and I paraphrase Genesis 4:7)

“If you DO WELL, YOU WILL BE ACCEPTED. But if you refuse to repent, SIN LIES AT YOUR DOOR like a monster or a trap.”

Cain refused to repent. Envy became HATRED, then HATRED boiled over into MURDER and LYING TO GOD! Oh that Cain had repented! And what of Peter the Apostle. As Jesus was being tried, Peter was asked if he knew Jesus. The first sin was “I don’t know Him”. When challenged, Peter refused to repent. “I tell you, I don’t know this Jesus”. But challenged a third time, Peter SHOUTS with OATHS and CURSES. “Are you all deaf? Can’t you hear me? He is NOTHING to me! Nothing at all! This Jesus – I hate Him!”

and Peter died a little that day.

Sin never stays small. Oh no, don’t you believe it. The Bible tells us in the very first Psalm:

Psalm 1:1 (NKJV) Blessed is the man Who WALKS not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor STANDS in the path of sinners, Nor SITS in the seat of the scornful

When sin starts, it is a WALK. But if you will not repent, it turns to a tarrying. You STAND in sin. Then in time you become comfortable enough in sin to where you SIT and stew in it. This is what happened with the leaders of Israel. They forgot that the Vineyard didn’t belong to them. Then when it came time to provide fruit to the Owner (God), they ran off, hurt, and ultimately killed those whom the Lord of Glory sent. Beloved,

You don’t play with sin. Sin plays with YOU. It drags you down. It robs you of your calling and your peace. It makes you into a monster who justifies wild grapes rather than honorable fruit for the Master.

Sin Ultimately Kills The Son

The Owner of the Vineyard (God) is so wonderfully patient. We read:

Mark 12:6-8 (KJV) Having yet therefore one Son, His Well Beloved, He sent Him also last unto them, saying, THEY WILL REVERENCE MY SON. 7 But those husbandmen {the Farmers, the leaders of Israel} said among themselves, This is the Heir; come, let us kill Him, and the inheritance shall be ours.’ 8 And they took Him, and killed Him, and cast Him out of the vineyard.

When Jesus was baptized of John the Father said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). John the Baptist told the leaders of Israel, “Behold! The Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). The Bible says that “Jesus CAME UNTO HIS OWN, and HIS OWN WOULD NOT RECEIVE HIM” (John 1:11). The Sanhedrin knew by what authority Jesus did what He did. Jesus did not do what He did in the dark. He did not hide nor secret His word away. They knew that this was the Son of the Vineyard Owner. They knew that Jesus was the Son of God. But they said:

This is the Heir; come, let us kill Him, and the INHERITANCE shall be ours

They wanted the POWER and the PRESTIGE and the PROFIT of leading Israel. They wanted to be the BOSS, the OWNER, and not the SHARECROPPERS. Just like Adam, they forgot their place. Or knowing their place, they preferred damnation over obedience.

they took Him, and killed Him, and cast Him out of the vineyard

They saw the miracles He did. They heard from Heaven, but demanded yet another sign. So they killed Him. They had Him nailed to a Cross between two thieves. They mocked Him as He hung bleeding and dying.

Matthew 27:35-43 (KJV) And they crucified Him, and parted His garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted My garments among them, and upon My vesture did they cast lots. 36 And sitting down they watched Him there; 37 And set up over His head His ACCUSATION written, This Is Jesus The King Of The Jews. 38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, 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 {The Farmers of the Vineyard}, 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 He said, I AM THE SON OF GOD.

The Leaders of the Vineyard know Who Jesus is. But they killed Him, hoping to rule the Vineyard, to be gods themselves. This is what sinners do. They hope to rule the Vineyard, to control the Kingdom of God. The Parable ends with:

Mark 12:9 (KJV) What shall therefore the Lord of the vineyard do? He will come and DESTROY THE HUSBANDMEN, and will GIVE THE VINEYARD UNTO OTHERS.

God bent over BACKWARDS with Israel. He sent His Beloved Son Jesus “to the Jew FIRST, and also to the Gentile” (Romans 1:16; 2:9-10). The Kingdom of God on earth was Israel. But The Leaders of Israel thought they owned the Kingdom. Israel thought they could make up their own rules. The Sanhedrin thought they were gods. Jesus warned them:

Matthew 21:43 The KINGDOM OF GOD SHALL BE TAKEN FROM YOU, and GIVEN TO A NATION BRINGING FORTH THE FRUITS THEREOF.

Though many Israelites turned to Jesus and received Him as Lord and Savior, God moved His Kingdom from Israel to the Church. Because the Leaders of Israel rejected the Messiah – the “Builders” – God removed the Kingdom (for now) from Israel. Jesus told them:

Mark 12:10-11 (KJV) And have ye not read this scripture; The STONE which THE BUILDERS REJECTED is become the HEAD of the corner: [11] This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?

God moved His Kingdom from Israel to the Church. Today the Kingdom of God is composed of those who reverence the Son of God, and who bring forth grapes, NOT wild grapes. There are a few things I can say as we close this text today.

1. What God did with Israel, He can do with this CHURCH! This is God’s Vineyard. Jesus said, “I am the VINE, and you are the BRANCHES” (John 15:5). We are to abide in Jesus, in His Word. We are to produce grapes, not wild grapes. If we fail to do so, as the Owner shut Israel down, He can shut us down.

2. What God did with the Rulers, He can do with YOU. God gave you life, and only God can give you eternal life. God made you to walk with Him. He proved this by sending His Son. Will you walk with Him? Or will you, like the Rulers of Israel, kill Jesus so that you can rule your own life? If you do, if you reject Jesus, just know that Jesus is the HEAD of the CORNER. There is no building without Jesus. There is no vineyard, no fruit, no joy without Jesus. James S. Stewart wrote:

“Come, let us kill Him, and the Vineyard will be ours”. No, they killed Him once, and He arose. They could have killed Him a hundred times and a hundred times He has risen. And He is living tonight, and He is here. Of all the strange delusions, the strangest, wildest, insanest, is to think we can get rid of Jesus.

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The Parable Of The Cheating Steward

Posted on April 29, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Fabio Sasso on Unsplash

Tonight we’re going to look at one of the most difficult parables Jesus ever told. We’ll be in Luke 16:1-13. Most Bible texts will have at the head of this section, “The Parable of the Unrighteous Steward”. We read in verse:

(Luke 16:8 KJV) And the lord commended the UNJUST STEWARD, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

Word Study: Jesus called the man the “UNJUST STEWARD”, the Greek

adikia oikonomos, which means “a manager or overseer who does evil or wickedness”. Jesus uses the word adikia four times in the Book of Luke. The first time is in:

(Luke 13:27 KJV) But {The Master of the House} shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from Me, all [ye] workers of INIQUITY (adikia).

Here He refers to those who were told to enter into the narrow gate, but refused to come for whatever reason. They made other things more important than coming when Jesus called to salvation because they did other things and made other things more important than salvation. Their works were not necessarily evil (like robbery, murder, rape, etc), but they made what they wanted more important than answering the call of the Master of the House (Jesus). You see, sin is not just a violation of the Ten Commandments, or doing something evil. Sin is to NOT DO WHAT YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO DO as well.

I would call this parable “The Parable of the CHEATING Overseer”. He knew what his job entailed, but he snuck around and cheated the customer in order to increase his gain. And he got reported!

Let’s get into our parable:

(Luke 16:1-2 KJV) And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain RICH MAN, which had a STEWARD; and the same was ACCUSED unto him that he had WASTED HIS GOODS. [2] And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.

In Jesus’ parable there is a RICH MAN who owns a large company. We don’t know all of the items that this rich man’s business sold, but we do know he invested in oil and wheat. He hired a STEWARD, a man who was to oversee the buying and selling of both oil and wheat. The steward owned nothing, but was responsible to properly manage what had been entrusted to him so the Owner of the company could see the company grow.

Word Study: But there was a problem. Someone contacted the rich man and told him “Your steward is WASTING (diaskorpizō) your goods. The Greek diaskorpizō means “to scatter, as if sowing, to throw into the air”. The purpose of the Business Manager is to MAKE MONEY for the owner of the company. Whatever this man is doing is not making money, but throwing money to the wind. Customers are leaving the company. Sales are dropping. What is this man doing?

We’ll find out in a minute this man was selling oil at a 100% markup, and selling wheat at a 20% markup. He was taking the product, inflating the cost, and pocketing the difference. When people went to buy oil or wheat, they were not buying it from this company because the other companies sold it at a better or lower price. When the owner looked into it, he called the man in and told him “give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward”.

So what does this cheating business manager do? We read:

(Luke 16:3-4 KJV) Then the steward said WITHIN HIMSELF, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. [4] I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.

This man doesn’t go to God, but he is a shrewd man. So he starts to think. In the ancient world, an unskilled laborer could do something like dig ditches, or could beg for alms. When word gets around that this business manager has been dishonest at his company, no one’s going to want to hire him. The one thing he knows is sales. So he takes what he has, and acts so that once his stewardship is gone perhaps “they may receive me into their houses”.

(Luke 16:5-7 KJV) So he called every one of his lord’s debtors [unto him], and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? [6] And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. [7] Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.

Now what the steward is doing is not robbing the rich man. Instead he goes back to those who bought OIL and has them reduce their bill by 50% – the same amount that he inflated the bill by when he sold that oil. And to those he sold WHEAT he has them reduce their bill by 20%. Again, this was the same amount that he inflated the bill by. How did the rich man react to this? We read:

(Luke 16:8 KJV) And the lord COMMENDED {epaineō} the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

Word Study: The owner of the business PRAISED and APPROVED of what this man did. This man did not steal from the owner. He reimbursed the customers what he had taken before. Jesus was not saying the rich man approved theft, for theft is a sin. The business manager is returning his illegally gotten commission back to those he stole it from. Jesus says “the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light”. There’s something we can learn from this cheating business manager.

Use Your Money Wisely, For It Is A Stewardship You Will Be Held Accountable For

Luke 16:9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the MAMMON OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into EVERLASTING HABITATIONS.

The “CHILDREN OF LIGHT” (a title for a Christian – see John 12:36; Ephesians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:5) often fail to understand a principle of salvation. The principle is this.

We are saved by faith in Christ. We are saved by surrendering our lives to Him. Once saved, we become the POSSESSIONS of God. And everything we own, we really don’t own it. We are STEWARDS of all that we have.

(1 Corinthians 6:19-20 KJV) What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and YE ARE NOT YOUR OWN? [20] For ye are BOUGHT WITH A PRICE: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, WHICH ARE GOD’S.

(1 Peter 2:9 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;

(2 Timothy 2:19 KJV) Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The LORD KNOWETH THEM THAT ARE HIS. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

The Christian is the property and Child of God. We are not the owners of anything. God owns our bodies, and our souls. God owns the stuff we think we own. Everything we have is a STEWARDSHIP. It belongs to God, and God has entrusted it to us to use to grow His Kingdom.

Now God doesn’t care that we have nice things. God is not against us as Christians having money. Abraham was rich, and got richer as he followed God. Job was rich, and got richer as he followed the Lord. But when Job lost his riches, he said:

Job 1:21 (ESV) Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

Job realized he was just a steward of all that God gave him. Job’s greatest possession was God Himself, not money or things. It was God. “The LORD MAKES POOR and MAKES RICH; He brings low, and He exalts” (1 Samuel 2:7, ESV). Everything we have belongs to God. And one day we will have to report to God on how we used our stewardship.

Luke 16:9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the MAMMON OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS; that, WHEN YOU FAIL, they may receive you into EVERLASTING HABITATIONS.

What did Jesus mean by “MAMMON OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS”? Pastor R.C. Spoul wrote:

“When Jesus said, “Make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon,” He was not saying to go out and steal money. “Unrighteous mammon” was an idiom used in that day simply to describe worldly goods. Jesus was saying, “Be careful about how you use your worldly goods,” because every one of us has worldly goods and is a steward of those worldly goods. Everything that you and I have comes from God. We do not own it; He does. We are stewards in the kingdom of God. God requires from us not unjust stewardship but just stewardship.”

How we use our money and resources should benefit and not take away from the Kingdom of God.

“WHEN YOU FAIL” – and we will all “FAIL” or leave this life one day, if you were a good steward of what God gave you there will be others in Heaven (everlasting habitations, aiōnios skēnē, the world without beginning or end). How you use your resources should look toward eternity. Think about it. You come into Heaven one day, and someone comes up to you and says “Thank you for leading me to Jesus. I owe my eternity to you!” And you look at that person and say, “I’m sorry, but I don’t remember you”. And that person smiles, and says “Maybe not, but your gift led me to Jesus. Your investment in missions, your contribution to the Gideons, your giving to the poor, where you gave willingly of your substance, God used it to reach me with the Gospel”.

The Cheating Business Manager Learned That Money Is Not That Important. We Need To Learn The Same.

Luke 16:10-12 He that is faithful in that which is LEAST is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11 IF THEREFORE YOU HAVE NOT BEEN FAITHFUL IN THE UNRIGHTEOUS MAMMON, WHO WILL COMMIT TO YOUR TRUST TRUE RICHES? 12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?

The place where many people stumble is with money. Money is just a tool. Money is what Jesus considered the LEAST. Money comes and goes. Jesus warned us:

Matthew 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But LAY UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURE IN HEAVEN, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE YOUR HEART WILL BE ALSO.

A believer should never place too much emphasis on money. The cheating Business Manager realized once he misused his stewardship, that it would be better to have NO BANK ACCOUNT but a PLACE TO GO ONCE HE LEFT HIS CURRENT LIFE. Jesus said “IF THEREFORE YOU HAVE NOT BEEN FAITHFUL IN THE UNRIGHTEOUS MAMMON, WHO WILL COMMIT TO YOUR TRUST TRUE RICHES”. If you do not handle your money in a way that honors the Kingdom of God, then why would you expect reward in Heaven when you stand before Jesus. The Bible tells us that:

(2 Corinthians 5:8-10 KJV) We are confident, [I say], and willing rather to be ABSENT FROM THE BODY, and to be PRESENT WITH THE LORD. [9] Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, WE MAY BE ACCEPTED OF HIM. [10] For WE MUST ALL APPEAR BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST; that every one may RECEIVE THE THINGS DONE IN HIS BODY, according to that he hath done, WHETHER IT BE GOOD OR BAD.

We will stand before the Owner of this Company, the Kingdom of God, one day in glory. We will have to give an account of how we used our stewardship. Those who stored up treasure in Heaven, who did not worship money but used it for the glory of God, will be rewarded.

We will rule and reign with Christ if we were faithful in that which is least, in the unrighteous mammon.

Money is to be your tool, your stewardship, something you manage for the glory of God and the promotion of His Kingdom. Money is NOT to be your master.

Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. YOU CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MAMMON.

The Christian is to serve the Lord Jesus, not money. Money is a stewardship, a tool, but it is not our God. Under the Law of Moses, the believer was to TITHE. Jesus told the Pharisees:

(Matthew 23:23 NKJV) Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you PAY TITHE of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier [matters] of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, WITHOUT LEAVING THE OTHERS UNDONE.

Under the Law, the MINIMUM given to God was 10% of your increase, also called a TITHE. But under GRACE, hear me Christian, EVERYTHING YOU OWN BELONGS TO GOD. Not just 10%. ALL OF IT. The Bible says:

(2 Corinthians 9:7-11 NKJV) [So let] each one GIVE AS HE PURPOSES IN HIS HEART, not GRUDGINGLY or OF NECESSITY; for GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER. [8] And God [is] able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always HAVING ALL SUFFICIENCY IN ALL THINGS, may HAVE AN ABUNDANCE FOR EVERY GOOD WORK. [9] As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” [10] Now may HE WHO SUPPLIES SEED TO THE SOWER, and BREAD FOR FOOD, supply and multiply the seed you have [sown] and increase the fruits of your righteousness, [11] while [you are] ENRICHED IN EVERYTHING FOR ALL LIBERALITY, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.

We do not owe God 10%. We are God’s possession. God owns us. We owe God EVERYTHING. His Kingdom is the business we manage. If we do well, we will be abundantly rewarded at the Judgment Seat of Christ. God told those under the Law of Moses:

(Malachi 3:10-12 NKJV) Bring ALL THE TITHES into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And TRY ME NOW IN THIS,” Says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not OPEN FOR YOU THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN And POUR OUT FOR YOU SUCH BLESSING That [there will] not [be room] enough [to receive it]. [11] “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the LORD of hosts; [12] “And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land,” Says the LORD of hosts.

If God was faithful to those under the Law, will He not be faithful to those under Grace? Yes He will. Let us not, as the lost world does, worship money. Let us worship God, and use all we have as good stewards to promote His Kingdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Be Broken Like Agur

Posted on April 24, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash

Through the first 29 chapters of Proverbs we have studied the sayings of Solomon, though Solomon may not have created all, but he collected them all.

Proverbs 1-22:16 Proverbs of Solomon
Proverbs 22:17-24:34 Proverbs of the “Wise”, collected by Solomon
Proverbs 25-29 Proverbs of Solomon compiled
by King Hezekiah’s wise men

Tonight we’re looking at the writings of an unknown man named Agur.

Agur Was A Broken Man

Proverbs 30:1 The words of Agur [āḡûr (pro. aw-goor’)] the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,

No one knows who these people really are. We are told in:

1 Kings 4:30-32 KJV Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about. 32 And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.

Solomon was the wisest man of his day. But there are others who were wise, “Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol”. My commentary notes that āḡûr (pro. aw-goor’) – his name means “one who gathers or collects” – could have been one of the wise men who lived during Solomon’s reign.

What is interesting about āḡûr (pro. aw-goor’) is that Derek Kidner’s Commentary he notes that both chapters 30 & 31 are from non-Israelites, just like the Book of Job.

When Agur refers to God, he uses the Hebrew אֱלוֹהַּ (‘ĕlôha), rather than Elohim the Triune Name of God. Eloha is singular, and used in the Book of Job (who was from the land of Uz) about 44 times. The Bible tells us that:

2 Peter 1:20-21 (NKJV) … no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for PROPHECY NEVER CAME BY THE WILL OF MAN, but HOLY MEN OF GOD SPOKE[as they were] MOVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Though he might have been a Gentile (perhaps an Arabian from Massa per Derek Kidner), the words he wrote as he was moved by the Holy Spirit. One of the most overriding principles of Christianity is that …

In order to be used of the Holy Spirit, you must be broken. You must be surrendered to God and His leading.

We see the brokenness of Agur in how he speaks of himself. He is possibly a public teacher, as he is addressing “Ithiel and Ucal”. He says of himself:

Proverbs 30:2-3 Surely I am more BRUTISH {baʿar, stupid, like a beast} than any man, and have not the understanding of a man. 3 I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.

This word was used in Proverbs 12:1 to describe someone who could not be taught:

“he that HATETH REPROOF IS BRUTISH”

Agur is saying “like a beast, I am hard to teach”. He makes himself out to be the worst of men that he knows. The Apostle Paul often did this.

1 Timothy 1:15-16 (NKJV) This [is] a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save SINNERS, OF WHOM I AM CHIEF. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.

Paul is saying “When I’ve examined all around me, I am the worst sinner of all times. Yet God used me to lead others to Christ”. When Paul compared himself to the other Apostles, he wrote:

1 Corinthians 15:9-10 (NKJV) For I AM THE LEAST OF THE APOSTLES, who am NOT WORTHY TO BE CALLED AN APOSTLE, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But BY THE GRACE OF GOD I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God [which was] with me.

Paul is not an Apostle because he is better than other Christians. Paul is an Apostle because he is more broken than those around him. He gives glory to God. It is all of grace.

Ephesians 3:8 (NKJV) To me, WHO AM LESS THAN THE LEAST OF ALL THE SAINTS, this GRACE WAS GIVEN, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

Paul not only calls himself to chiefest of sinners, the least of the Apostles, but the most unqualified Christian ever. Here is the principle: The more broken you are, the more God Himself can use you. God is using Agur because he is humble. Not like the Pharisees humble, but genuinely humble, unable to do.

Agur Did Not Doubt The Word of God

Proverbs 30:4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?

The words that Agur uses here are very similar to those of Moses. When Moses gave Israel the Word of God, the commandments that they were to follow, he said:

Deuteronomy 30:11-14 (NKJV) For this commandment which I command you today [is] not [too] mysterious for you, nor [is] it far off. 12 “It [is] not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 13 “Nor [is] it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 14 “But THE WORD IS VERY NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART, that YOU MAY DO IT.

Only God has gone into Heaven and returned. Jesus said:

John 3:13 (NKJV) No one has ascended to heaven BUT HE WHO CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN, [that is], the SON OF MAN WHO IS IN HEAVEN.

Only Jesus had – up to that point in human history – ascended to Heaven, and come down from Heaven. Our God is incomprehensible. He “GATHERS THE WIND IN HIS FISTS”. We can’t touch the wind nor hold the wind. God moves it as if it were a solid. God “BOUNDS THE WATERS IN A GARMENT”. It is God Who tells the sea, “thus far you shall come, AND NO FARTHER, and HERE shall your proud waves be STAYED” (Job 38:11). As Agur wrote, he said “can you tell me God’s Name, and God’s Son’s name?”.

Only God can reveal Who He is. Only God can reveal His Son Jesus as Messiah. The only way we know of God is through His Word, what HE has SAID to us.

Agur knew Who God was not because of his knowledge, but because he brokenly received the Word of God, trusting in it. We cannot know anything of God apart from His Word. We must, like Agur and Paul, become surrendered to God’s Word. Though God is incomprehensible, though God is higher than all our thoughts, “His Word IS VERY NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART, that YOU MAY DO IT”

God never tells us what He wants us to do, and makes it undo-able.

Proverbs 30:5 EVERY WORD OF GOD IS PURE: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him.

The means by which we get closer to God is through the application of His Word. Most of the people who have joined the Church – it has been my experience – will join and come to the Church maybe on Sunday morning, and maybe regularly on Sunday morning. But I would honestly access that most of those who join the modern Church in America spend about 1 hour a week contemplating God, and no more than the 30-45 minute sermon on Sunday morning dwelling on the Word of God.

You cannot grow as Christians that way.

God can take a Saul and turn him into a Paul, and take a brutish man and turn him into an Agur, but only if the person is broken and willing to seek God out through the Scriptures. Many see the Bible as an old, outdated book. God says:

Psalm 12:6 (KJV) The WORDS OF THE LORD [are] PURE WORDS: [as] silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

God brings trials into our lives to break us, to bring us to the state of Agur, where we realize our full dependence on God. “For You, O GOD, have PROVED US, and TRIED US as SILVER is TRIED”. The Word of God is pure. God uses that Word to draw us closer to Him when we are tried.

Psalm 3:3-8 (KJV) But thou, O LORD, [art] a shield for me; my Glory, and the lifter up of mine head. 4 I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and He heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. 5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. 6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set [themselves] against me round about. 7 Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies [upon] the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. 8 SALVATION BELONGETH UNTO THE LORD: THY BLESSING IS UPON THY PEOPLE. Selah.

We cry out to God with our voice in prayer. God speaks His answer to us through His Word in our hearts.

Preach: Because people have rejected the Word of God – but want the Presence of God – many who profess to be Christians are spiritual Schizophrenics. When troubles come they don’t know how to deal with them, because the Word of Christ is not in their hearts. Lloyd J. Ogilvie wrote in his book “The Other Jesus”:

“(The Real Jesus is) not the Jesus we’ve created of our own making and faking – an easy going, good natured Jesus Who’s on call when we want Him to help us deal with our personal agenda. Having only this culturalized, benevolent, but somewhat weak ‘errand boy’ Jesus stunts our spiritual growth. ‘It’s a sniveling, modern invention … for which there’s no warrant in the Gospels”.

When the Living Word came into His Creation, He repeatedly said “it is written”, quoting and emphasizing the written Word of God. If you want to know more of God, you must surrender more of your life to God.

Proverbs 30:6 Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

We are to heed God’s Word, but not add to God’s Word. God warns us:

Deuteronomy 12:32 (ESV) Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. YOU SHALL NOT ADD TO IT OR TAKE FROM IT.

As God finished our Bible, He wrote:

Revelation 22:18-19 (ESV) I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone ADDS TO THEM, God will ADD TO HIM THE PLAGUES described in this book, and if anyone TAKES AWAY FROM THE WORDS of the book of this prophecy, God WILL TAKE AWAY HIS SHARE IN THE TREE OF LIFE and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

It is a serious thing to mishandle the Word of God. But it is a great blessing to learn from it, and to do as God has said.

Agur’s Prayer Was To Know More Of God

Proverbs 30:7-8 Two things have I REQUIRED (šā’al) of thee; deny me them not before I die: 8 REMOVE FAR FROM ME ALL VANITY AND LIES

What Agur does here is very similar to what Solomon did when God called him to be King over Israel. Solomon asked God to:

1 Kings 3:9 “Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil”

Agur prayed and “BEGGED (šā’al)” God for two things. He asked God to remove “FAR FROM ME ALL VANITY AND LIES”. When King David prayed, he asked:

Psalm 27:4 (NKJV) ONE THING I HAVE DESIRED of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD All the days of my life, To BEHOLD THE BEAUTY OF THE LORD, And to INQUIRE IN HIS TEMPLE.

David prayed that the LORD would be the LORD of his home, and that He would be present in his life in a very real way. David wanted to “BEHOLD THE BEAUTY OF THE LORD”, and to “INQUIRE IN HIS TEMPLE”, to be able to speak face to face with God in glory.

Agur asked that God remove all “VANITY” or emptiness from his life, along with all “LIES”. That’s a really good prayer! We all often, when we misstep, tell ourselves lies to justify what we did. LET US BE REAL IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

Proverbs 30:8-9 give me NEITHER POVERTY OR RICHES; feed me with food CONVENIENT (ḥōq, pro. khoke) for me: 9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

Agur asked God to help keep their relationship real, by removing anything that hindered a close relationship with God. And then Agur addressed the dangers of misplaced economy.

As I came to the Church this morning I saw a black, four door, top of the line Jeep pulling a trailer. On that trailer was the most tricked out golf cart I’ve ever seen. Agur would have fallen out! The person driving that Jeep, parading that gold cart on the new trailer, his focus is not a deeper relationship with God. This is the problem we have in America! Our gods are wealth and health. Jesus said:

Matthew 16:24-27 (NKJV) Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

If you want to follow Jesus, to get closer to God, you need to “DENY YOURSELF”. You can’t chase riches and Jesus at the same time. Agur prayed that God would give him just enough so that he could continue to pursue God without distraction. Agur didn’t want to be impoverished, for those whose bellies are gnawing with hunger cannot focus on a good relationship with God. But Agur didn’t want to be rich, because the rich are often focused on being richer rather than getting close to God. Agur said,

feed me with food CONVENIENT (ḥōq, pro. khoke) for me

Word Study: The word rendered “CONVENIENT” is the Hebrew ḥōq, which means “that which is prescribed or for the best of”. Agur said, “Lord, whatever You give me, I will receive it graciously knowing this is what YOU want me to have. I will be satisfied with the lot You have given me. Just let me be closer to You.”

This again is similar to what the Apostle Paul said:

Philippians 4:11-13 (KJV) Not that I speak in respect of want: for I HAVE LEARNED, in WHATSOEVER STATE I AM, THERE WITH TO BE CONTENT. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENETH ME.

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The Bridegroom Comes

Posted on April 22, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Scott Goodwill on Unsplash

Last Sunday night I started preaching on the Parables of Jesus. It is my intention to preach through the parables of our Lord Jesus. If you were not here last Sunday, to recap a parable is a story that illustrates a spiritual principle. About one third of Jesus’ preaching is found in parables.

Word Study: The word “parable” is the Greek parabole, which means “to place or cast alongside”. When Jesus wanted to teach a spiritual principle, He would cast it alongside a physical thing that people were familiar with.

If you were a follower of Christ, the parable REVEALED spiritual truth. But if you were not a follower, and had a heart hardened to God, the parable hid spiritual truth.

You weren’t ready for a parable (see Matthew 13:10-15) until you were willing to submit to and follow Jesus. Jesus always spoke parables in response to things that people were saying and doing around Him. The first two parables deal with old coats and old wineskins.

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

Jesus, Why Aren’t Your Disciples
As Religious As We Are?

This the the Parable of the Bridegroom’s Coming. The “DISCIPLES OF JOHN” were confused, and came asking questions of the Lord. There’s nothing wrong with that. I have heard people say, “You should never question God, or ask Him what is going on”. That’s not true. King David, a man after God’s own heart, questioned God:

Psalm 10:1 (AP) Why do You stand so far away, Oh Lord? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?

Psalm 44:24 (AP) Why do You hide Your face, and forget our affliction and oppression?

The Prophet Jeremiah (12:1) questioned God, saying “Why do the wicked prosper?” Mary, the mother of the humanity of Christ, questioned God (Luke 1:34) “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?”. Even our Lord Jesus questioned God while hanging on the Cross. (Matthew 27:46), “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” The disciples of John heard their leader, John the Baptist, tell them …

John 1:29 Behold, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world

John told his disciples that he was not worthy to tie Jesus shoes (Matthew 3:11). He affirmed that Jesus is “THE Son of God” (John 1:34). His disciples heard this, and believed him. However, the disciples who followed Jesus didn’t seem to fast – that is, to forego food in order to get closer to God. They asked:

Matthew 9:14-17 (KJV) THEN came to him the DISCIPLES OF JOHN, saying, Why do WE and the PHARISEES FAST OFTEN, but THY DISCIPLES FAST NOT?

What caused this questioning? You need to pay attention to the small words of the Bible. Look at the word “THEN”. “THEN came to Him {to Jesus} the DISCIPLES OF JOHN”. Something happened to trigger this. Go up to:

Matthew 9:1-2 (KJV) And {Jesus} entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into His own city {Capernaum}. 2 And, behold, THEY BROUGHT TO HIM A MAN SICK OF THE PALSY, lying on a bed: and Jesus SEEING THEIR FAITH said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; THY SINS BE FORGIVEN THEE.

This offended the scribes and the Pharisees (Luke 5:21) who were there to hear from this man from Nazareth, this Rabbi. They thought “this man blasphemes God” (Matthew 9:3). They thought, “who can forgive sins but God only?” (Mark 2:7). Jesus knew what they thought, for Jesus is God Incarnate (Mark 2:8; Luke 5:22). But Jesus chose His words carefully. He wanted the Scribes and Pharisees to know He is the Messiah, the Only Begotten of God. Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus is the prophesied “SON OF MAN” that the Prophet spoke of:

Daniel 7:13-14 (KJV) I saw in the night visions, and, behold, [one] LIKE THE SON OF MAN came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought Him near before Him. 14 And there WAS GIVEN HIM DOMINION, and GLORY, and A KINGDOM, that ALL PEOPLE, NATIONS, and LANGUAGES, SHOULD SERVE HIM: HIS DOMINION IS AN EVERLASTING DOMINION, which SHALL NOT PASS AWAY, and HIS KINGDOM THAT WHICH SHALL NOT BE DESTROYED.

Jesus is the prophesied SON OF MAN, the Only Begotten of the Father, GOD THE SON. He is not just a backwater rabbi – He is the MESSIAH. So Jesus tells the man, the paralytic “your sins are forgiven you” (Matthew 9:2). This angered the Scribes and Pharisees.

But when Jesus healed this man with but a word, this in itself proved He is the Messiah. If He were not, the man would not have been healed.

Ending His Bible class and proving to anyone who would pay attention that He is the Messiah, Jesus continued onward. Walking from that home in Capernaum our Lord sees a man named Matthew, also called Levi:

Matthew 9:9-10 (KJV) And AS JESUS PASSED FORTH FROM THENCE, he saw a man, named MATTHEW, sitting at the RECEIPT OF CUSTOM (collecting taxes for Rome): and (Jesus) saith unto (Matthew), Follow me. And (Matthew) arose, and followed Him. 10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.

When Matthew (the writer of this Gospel) writes of this, he doesn’t mention whose home they are in when the publicans and sinners came to eat with Jesus. But Luke tells us in his Gospel that, right after Matthew Levi followed Jesus, that he invited Jesus and all his old friends to his own home. We read:

Luke 5:29-32 (ESV) And Levi MADE JESUS A GREAT FEAST AT HIS HOUSE, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others RECLINING AT TABLE WITH THEM. And the Pharisees and their scribes GRUMBLED AT HIS DISCIPLES, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, THOSE WHO ARE WELL HAVE NO NEED OF A PHYSICIAN, BUT THOSE WHO ARE SICK. I HAVE NOT COME TO CALL THE RIGHTEOUS, BUT SINNERS TO REPENTANCE.

The Pharisees – often rebuked by Jesus for their self help religion – didn’t waste time going to the disciples of John the Baptist. Do you know who scares me? Not Christians indwelt by the Holy Spirit. God will correct His people. What scares me is self righteous pretenders to religion like these Pharisees. It is these people that cause Church splits, and hold Christ and His people up to a mockery.

The Pharisees went to the disciples of John and whispered, “Did you know that one of Jesus’ disciples was a tax collector? Did you know that Jesus loves to party with the sinners and publicans? And by the way, Jesus’ disciples DON’T FAST LIKE WE DO!”. So now they are coming to Jesus, a Man that their master told them was the Messiah, saying:

Why do we and the Pharisees FAST OFTEN, but thy disciples FAST NOT?

In America, the only time I hear “FAST” is when someone puts BREAK in front of it (as in BREAKFAST) – or when it’s a part of a series of movies where they are stealing cars. Fasting is when you are afflicting your soul by denying your body food. The only time the Bible commands fasting is on the Day of Atonement:

Leviticus 23:27 … You shall AFFLICT YOUR SOULS … on the DAY OF ATONEMENT

A person “fasts” when they forego food in order to focus on praying to and glorifying God.

When King David was told that God was going to take away Bathsheba’s firstborn child, David “FASTED and wept for the child while it was alive” (2 Samuel 12:21). When King Jehoshaphat heard that the Moabites and the Ammonites were coming to attack Judah,

2 Chronicles 20:3-4 (KJV) Jehoshaphat feared, and SET HIMSELF TO SEEK THE LORD, and PROCLAIMED A FAST throughout all Judah. 4 And Judah gathered themselves together, TO ASK HELP OF THE LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah THEY CAME TO SEEK THE LORD.

The purpose of a “fast” is no to do something religious. It is to seek God’s help in prayer. To seek the presence of God. When the Prophet Daniel did not know what to do,

Daniel 9:3 (KJV) I set my face unto the Lord God, to SEEK BY PRAYER and supplications, with FASTING, and sackcloth, and ashes

John taught his disciples to fast while they were seeking the Messiah. But now the Messiah is here. They do not need to fast anymore.

Fasting was required by the Law of Moses only one day a year, on the day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:29, 31). Fasting was not required other than then. So when John asked his disciples to fast and pray as they waited for the Messiah, this was valid. What the Pharisees were doing was not what God said. They were “holding the tradition of the elders”, not following the Law of God. They were doing it for show. How did Jesus answer them? He said:

Matthew 9:15 (KJV) Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the BRIDECHAMBER {nymphōn} mourn, AS LONG AS THE BRIDEGROOM IS WITH THEM? but the days will come, WHEN THE BRIDEGROOM SHALL BE TAKEN FROM THEM, and THEN SHALL THEY FAST.

Word Study: The word “BRIDECHAMBER” is the Greek nymphōn. This is the place where the marriage ceremony was held. The friends of the bridegroom were supposed to provide and care for this room to insure that it was ready when the wedding took place. Fasting is accompanied by mourning, by sadness, by seeking the Presence of God. The disciples were not in mourning. The Messiah had come, and they were celebrating, not fasting. God had fulfilled His promise from eternity past!

Jesus told them “the days will come, WHEN THE BRIDEGROOM SHALL BE TAKEN FROM THEM”.

John had told his followers, “He that has the BRIDE is the BRIDEGROOM” (John 3:29). The “BRIDE” is the Church, the people of God. God said in

Isaiah 62:5 As the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, SO SHALL THY GOD REJOICE OVER THEE

The Messiah came to fulfill the promises that God made in Eden, in Abraham, and in David. When God came into the world, He came through a virgin. “Mary shall bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS: FOR HE SHALL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS” (Matthew 1:21). But how shall Jesus save His people? Jesus foretells us this in this passage.

Matthew 9:15 … the days will come, WHEN THE BRIDEGROOM SHALL BE TAKEN {apairō} FROM THEM, and THEN SHALL THEY FAST.

There was coming a time when Jesus would be taken from His disciples. The Pharisees, who FASTED TWICE A WEEK (Luke 18:12) though the Law only called for once a year (Leviticus 23:27), would TAKE AWAY the Bridegroom.

These religious but deceived people would take the long awaited Messiah and, rejecting Him, would have Him crucified on the Day of the Feast of the Passover. These religious people relied on the Law of Moses, the animal sacrifices, the feasts and the sabbaths, as a means to work their way into God’s grace.

Why Did The Bridegroom Have To Be Taken Away?

Matthew 9:16-17 (KJV) No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. 17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

Jesus told the disciples of John that there would be a time when “THE BRIDEGROOM SHALL BE TAKEN FROM THEM”. The words “SHALL BE TAKEN” is the Greek apairō, which means “to be SUDDENLY and FORCIBLY carried away”. This is a very interesting word. In Jewish weddings of that day, the Bridegroom would prepare a place, a home for his Bride. When the time came to be married the Bridegroom comes for His Bride and receives her to Himself. Jesus is the Bridegroom, and the Church is His Bride. Jesus used this type of language when He spoke of His people:

John 14:1-3, 6 (KJV) Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU. 3 And IF I GO AND PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU, I WILL COME AGAIN, and RECEIVE YOU UNTO MYSELF; that WHERE I AM, THERE YE MAY BE ALSO. … 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.

Jesus is using words that a Bridegroom would use for His Bride. Jesus was going to have to GO. Had He not GONE, He COULD NOT have prepared a place for His Bride, the Church. No one comes to the Father – nor into the Father’s House – but by Jesus. He is the Messiah. So Jesus had to GO.

But how did He go?

Before Jesus could prepare a place for us, He had to be forcibly and suddenly taken from us. When the Groom came to get the Bride, it was a joyous occasion. The Bride was not forced, but went willingly. Jesus takes the wedding imagery that all Jews were familiar with, and flips it around. Though Jesus willingly laid down His life for us:

John 10:17-18 the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

Jesus Christ laid down His life for His people (John 10:11). Jesus told His disciples that he …

Matthew 16:21 … must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things… and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

And again in Matthew 20:18-19 the Son of man shall be betrayed… they shall condemn him to death, And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him

Jesus had to be taken away from His people. Jesus had to die to make payment for our sins. He would be taken away, suddenly and forcibly, from the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus came to this earth “to GIVE HIS LIFE A RANSOM FOR MANY” (Matthew 20:28). For many years God used the Mosaic Law and the animal sacrifices to provide a temporary covering for sin. But it wasn’t permanent. The Prophet said:

Isaiah 53:5-10 (KJV) But He [was] WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, [he was] BRUISED FOR OUR INIQUITIES: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon Him; and WITH HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD HATH LAID ON HIM THE INIQUITY OF US ALL. 7 He was OPPRESSED, and he was AFFLICTED, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: FOR THE TRANSGRESSION OF MY PEOPLE WAS HE STRICKEN. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither [was any] deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet IT PLEASED THE LORD TO BRUISE HIM; He hath put [Him] to grief: when thou shalt MAKE HIS SOUL AN OFFERING FOR SIN…

Why did Jesus have to die? The Law showed us how broken we were. The Law showed us that we cannot make ourselves better. The Law showed us that we are all at heart so terribly sinful, that we are so corrupt in our first birth, that we need to be born again.

That’s something only God can do, and only through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus our Lord.

Matthew 9:16 (KJV) No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.

You can’t fix an old worn out garment. You can’t take a religious patch and put it on a worn out soul. If you take that which is holy, and try to patch it onto that which is unholy, it will just tear up the old with the new.

Romans 3:20 … by the Law is the KNOWLEDGE OF SIN

The Apostle Paul wrote:

Romans 7:9-12 (LSB) Now I was once alive apart from the Law, but WHEN THE COMMANDMENT CAME, SIN REVIVED AND I DIED; 10 and this commandment, which was to lead to life, was found to lead to death for me. 11 For sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. 12 So, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

The Law of Moses is good, and holy, and righteous. It is like the new patch. When we sew the new patch onto our old, sin stained lives, it tears our souls apart. Paul said:

Romans 7:14 (LSB) For we know that the LAW IS SPIRITUAL, but I AM FLESHLY, having BEEN SOLD INTO BONDAGE UNDER SIN.

What was the purpose of the Law? It was to show us just how ragged we are in God’s eyes. “By the works of the Law SHALL NO FLESH BE JUSTIFIED” (Galatians 2:16). And again, “The Law MADE NOTHING PERFECT” (Hebrews 7:19). What does the Law do? That beautiful fabric of God’s Law?

The Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, Chief Priests, even the Pagans all tried sewing a righteous patch on their unrighteous hearts. The Law cannot save. We must be born again. We must receive the Messiah, surrendering to Him as Lord and Savior.

Galatians 3:23-28 (LSB) 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. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have CLOTHED YOURSELVES WITH CHRIST. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is no male and female, for YOU ARE ALL ONE IN CHRIST JESUS.

Jesus died for your sins and mine. Receiving Him as Lord and Savior, casting your life upon Him, you are not sewing a patch on an old cloth. You are being clothed by God, made a new creature in Christ.

Matthew 9:17 (KJV) Neither do men PUT NEW WINE INTO OLD BOTTLES: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they PUT NEW WINE INTO NEW BOTTLES, and both are preserved.

God cannot put the Holy Spirit into an old bottle. You who have received Jesus as Lord and Savior are born again of the Spirit, and the Holy Spirit indwells you (Romans 8:9, 11; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 Corinthians 3:16). The Holy Spirit actively lives with the Christian, guiding us (John 16:13), strengthening us (Romans 8:13), and assuring us of salvation (Romans 8:16). The Holy Spirit transforms and leads us (Galatians 5:22-23).

Do you know Him? Or are you an old garment that you have tried to patch with the new and good cloth of the Law? Do you know my Jesus? Or are you living life on empty, pretending to be a believer, but nothing more than an old wine bottle?

May God help you to understand the difference while you are able. Amen.

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This Little Light Of Whose?

Posted on April 22, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by Anthony Robinson on Unsplash

The word “PARABLE”, the Greek parabole, means “to lay alongside”. When Jesus used parables He would take a spiritual truth and lay it alongside a physical truth that one was familiar with. Many of the parables that Jesus spoke were full stories, with characters and a narrative. But some of Jesus’ parables were shorter and without a storyline. They used parabolic language – like a mini-parable.

Full parables had a story line. In mini parables,
YOU are the storyline!

That’s what we’re looking at tonight. A mini-parable, or a parabolic saying. This mini-parable comes at the first recorded Sermon Jesus ever preached, the Sermon on the Mount. This is the official beginning of Jesus’ ministry, and Jesus – bringing in a new creation through a new covenant – uses two things that were at the creation of the world. He uses salt and light.

Matthew 5:13-16 (KJV) YE ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 YE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

There are two things the world must have if it is to live. The world MUST have SALT and LIGHT.

God Made Salt. Believers Are To Be Salt.

Matthew 5:13 (KJV) YE ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

There is nothing worst than a purposeless Christian. Sadly, that’s what we see in most churches today. People come to Church like they are coming to a Walmart or a Kroger’s. They come looking to get something out of it. “What can You give me if I become a member here”? If you have that mentality, you will NEVER be blessed as a Christian.

“YE ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH”. Jesus doesn’t say that this is what you should aspire to be, but what you are right now. As salt improves what it is added to, YOU are called to improve where ever God has placed you.

Salt in the shaker does no good. It must get out of the shaker, out of the Church, and into the world to make a difference.

Imagine food without salt. Job said, (6:6) “Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?” (Job 6:6). Life is unsavory without Jesus. It’s just day after day existence, passing the time, seeking something else. Salt only works when it leaves the shaker and is put to practical use. Where ever you are, ask yourself “How can I bring Jesus into the situation I am in right now?” Whether it be work or play, the marketplace or home, how can YOU actively bring Jesus into where you are?

Jesus told us that the Great Commandment is:

Matthew 22:37 (KJV) Thou shalt LOVE THE LORD THY GOD with ALL THY HEART, and WITH ALL THY SOUL, and WITH ALL THY MIND.

You are sick and in the hospital. You can either grumble and fret, murmur and be a general pest. OR YOU CAN BE SALT. You can love God with your ALL. You can glorify God in your suffering. The Apostle said:

1 Peter 4:16-19 (KJV) Yet if [any man suffer] as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but LET HIM GLORIFY GOD ON THIS BEHALF. 17 For the time [is come] that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if [it] first [begin] at us, what shall the end [be] of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19 Wherefore LET THEM THAT SUFFER ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD commit the keeping of their souls [to him] IN WELL DOING, as unto a faithful Creator.

In the midst of suffering, do good anyway. Let others see the love you have for God, and trust in Him no matter what you are going through. Remember that our Lord Jesus suffered terribly. The Bible says:

1 Peter 2:21-23 (LSB) For to this YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED, since CHRIST ALSO SUFFERED FOR YOU, leaving you an example that you should FOLLOW IN HIS STEPS, 22 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.

There is no life without salt. Jesus is salt. He adds flavor where ever He is. We are to do the same for His glory. Salt preserves food. If Christians will be salt, we can help preserve our nation.

Christians are to be salt, NOT sugar. They look the same, but they are not the same. Too many Christians and Churches think they are to be the SUGAR of the earth. Billy Graham talked about this, saying:

“Many churches of all persuasions are hiring research agencies to poll neighborhoods, asking “what kind of church do you prefer”? Then the local churches design themselves to fit the desires of the people.True faith in God that demands SELFLESSNESS is being replaced by a trendy religion that serves the SELFISH.”

For salt to be useful, it must be absorbed. The salt itself is willing to be consumed or expended for the good of someone else. Jesus said,

if the salt have LOST HIS SAVOR, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth GOOD FOR NOTHING, but to be CAST OUT, and to be trodden under foot of men.

How does salt “LOSE HIS SAVOR”. Salt forgets its purpose. Salt stops glorifying and following God, and begins to become addicted to the world. This is what happened with Lot’s wife. As the angels of God led Lot, his wife and two daughters out of Sodom so it might be destroyed, the Bible says:

Genesis 19:24-26 (LSB) Yahweh rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and FIRE FROM YAHWEH OUT OF HEAVEN, 25 and He overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. 26 THEN HIS WIFE, from behind him, LOOKED BACK, and SHE BECAME A PILLAR OF SALT.

Christians are supposed to be IN the world, but not OF the world (John 15:19; 17:14, 16). Jesus warned His disciples:

Luke 17:32-33 (KJV) REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE. 33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

Lot’s wife wanted to save her old lost life. She is a picture of a believer who loves the world more than the love God. The believer looking backward is a hindrance to those around them. I wondered as I studied for this sermon,

Why salt? Why turn Lot’s wife to salt?
Why not rock, or something else?

It goes back to our focal text. Salt that is good for nothing is “CAST OUT, and trodden under foot of men”. In the ancient world, when an army defeated a city, the military commanders often used salt as an offensive weapon. We see this in …

Judges 9:45 (KJV) Abimelech fought against the city {Shechem} all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that [was] therein, and beat down the city, and SOWED IT WITH SALT.

When Shechem refused to surrender, the general totally destroyed it, then SOWED IT WITH SALT. Salt destroys the ability of the land to produce crops. A city sowed with salt was a city that would never be rebuilt, for the soil would be made unfruitful. When God destroyed Sodom, He destroyed the ability of the land to be fruitful by sowing salt there.

Deuteronomy 29:23 (KJV) [And that] the WHOLE LAND THEREOF IS brimstone, and SALT, [and] burning, THAT IT IS NOT SOWN, NOR BEARETH, nor any grass groweth therein, LIKE THE OVERTHROW OF SODOM, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, WHICH THE LORD OVERTHREW IN HIS ANGER, and IN HIS WRATH:

Lot’s wife became part of the destruction of Sodom. She was God casting the believer out, sowing salt to utterly destroy the land. The professing Christian that lives to glorify the Lord preserves the nation, influences others, and is of great value to the Kingdom of God. But the professing Christian who looks back, glorifying sin rather than the Savior, is used by God to enhance the curse of the nation.

A believer walking in the light with Jesus preserves the nation. A believer walking in the darkness is like military grade salt – he adds to the destruction of the nation.

Salt was not meant to be sown on fertile ground. Salt was meant to be a blessing. God even required salt on the offerings taken to the Temple.

Leviticus 2:13 thy meat offering shalt thou SEASON WITH SALT; neither shalt thou {allow} the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: WITH ALL THINE OFFERINGS THOU SHALT OFFER SALT.

Since YOU, dear believer, are to be SALT, and every offering to God required salt, people approached God THROUGH salt. You are the means by which people are influenced to follow the Lord Jesus. You have a choice, dear Christian:

You can be salt, and let the Lord use you to lead others to Him. Or you can look backward like Lot’s wife, and the Lord will use you to help destroy the land by sowing you where He judges.

Mark 9:49-50 (KJV) For every one shall be salted with fire, and EVERY SACRIFICE SHALL BE SALTED WITH SALT. 50 Salt [is] good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? HAVE SALT IN YOURSELVES, and have peace one with another.

Lot’s wife is a picture of the modern, progressive Christian who has decided to ignore the Word of God and blend with the world. This person may or may not be saved. Rather than blessing the community, the Church, and the country, this type of believer is killing the fruitfulness and destroying where they are scattered. They are useful in God’s judgment, but not in the proclamation of the Gospel.

God Made Light. God Made The Christian To Be Light.

Matthew 5:14-16 (KJV) YE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Before God ever created the Sun or the stars, He created LIGHT. God commanded,

Genesis 1:3 (KJV) God said, LET THERE BE LIGHT: and THERE WAS LIGHT.

God created DAY and NIGHT before He ever created the Sun and the Moon. LIGHT was created on the first day:

Genesis 1:4-5 (KJV) God saw the LIGHT, THAT IT WAS GOOD: and God DIVIDED THE LIGHT FROM THE DARKNESS. 5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were THE FIRST DAY.

God made LIGHT, but He didn’t make the darkness. Darkness was there before the creation (Genesis 1:2). God produced LIGHT apart from Sun or Moon (see Genesis 1:14-19). The Sun and Moon were created on the fourth day. Light was on the first.

Jesus ties the Christian to the creation of Light.

Matthew 5:14 (KJV) YE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

Jesus does not say that the Christian is one of the lights of the world. He says that we are THE LIGHT of the world. The Christian is created by God, not by himself.

Ephesians 2:10 we are His workmanship, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS unto good works…”

A Christian does not make himself. We come to Jesus by faith and, surrendering our lives to Him, God changes us.

2 Corinthians 5:17 if any man be in Christ, HE IS A NEW CREATURE: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new

The Christian is not what the world is. We are children of light. The Bible says:

Colossians 1:13-14 (KJV) Who HATH DELIVERED US FROM THE POWER OF DARKNESS, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins:

A Christian is a person who has supernaturally been spiritually reborn into the Kingdom of God. We are “ALL CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT, the CHILDREN OF THE DAY: we are NOT OF THE NIGHT, nor of darkness” (1 Thessalonians 5:5). You are LIGHT. You are not of this world. You are different. Your Source is God and His Word. Those who say that they are Christian, but walk in darkness, are liars. The Apostle said:

1 John 1:6-9 (KJV) If we say that we have fellowship with him, and WALK IN DARKNESS, WE LIE, and DO NOT THE TRUTH: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we CONFESS OUR SINS, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Darkness is unnatural to the Christian. Our normal state is that of LIGHT. We are THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. God has “called us out of darkness, and into His marvelous LIGHT” (1 Peter 2:9). A fish does not breath air. We do not emit darkness and call it natural. It is unnatural.

Darkness cannot create light. Christ created the believer.

Christ created the Church. Christians together are His Church. We focus on Him. We praise Him. We climb the mountain to Him and sit at His feet. Jesus did not say to the multitudes “You are the Light of the world” but those Disciples who sat at His feet. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness comprehends it not. We are His city on His hill and cannot be hid. Let His light shine.

Matthew 5:14-15 (KJV) YE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. A city that is set on an hill CANNOT BE HID. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it GIVETH LIGHT UNTO ALL that are in the house.

The candle does not light itself. It must be lit by an outside Source. The Christian is lit by God. When the Church unifies, it becomes “A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid”. The purpose of the Christian is to let the light of God shine through your life. The purpose of the Church is to let the light of God shine through our collected lives.

The Light should be seen. Jesus said “Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house”. Jesus uses this phrase several times throughout the Scripture. We read:

Mark 4:21-22 (KJV) – And {Jesus} said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick? 22 For THERE IS NOTHING HID, WHICH SHALL NOT BE MANIFESTED; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

A Light kept covered, or placed under a bed or in a drawer is of absolutely no use. The Christian is not to blend with the darkness. We are to shine, to let others see what God’s truth is without compromise. We are non conformists. God is our Light. God’s Word is our Light. The Christian who hears the proclamation of darkness, but does not clearly speak the truth of Light, is not pleasing to God nor fulfilling his purpose.

Romans 12:1-2 (KJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye PRESENT YOUR BODIES A LIVING SACRIFICE, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. 2 And BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD: but be ye TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

We love people, and share the love of God with all who will hear. But we do not make people comfortable with sin, with disobedience to God. I heard with delight of a Christian woman who decided to date a godless and pagan man, something she should not have done. However when this man – like all who are darkness – demanded her sexual favors since they were “dating”, she turned him down. Good for her! Had she done as the darkness asked, she would be complicit in sending this deluded man to hell.

Christians are to live so that the light of God reveals the darkness.

1 John 2:15-17 (KJV) Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. IF ANY MAN LOVE THE WORLD, the LOVE OF THE FATHER IS NOT IN HIM. 16 For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but HE THAT DOETH THE WILL OF GOD ABIDETH FOREVER.

People cannot enter the Kingdom of God if those who are to be LIGHT are darkness instead. “No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth [it] under a bed; but setteth [it] on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.” (Luke 8:16). As God’s Light, we are to be conspicuous. People are watching what we do. Let us be LIGHT.

Luke 11:33-36 (KJV) No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth [it] in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that THEY WHICH COME IN MAY SEE THE LIGHT. 34 The LIGHT OF THE BODY IS THE EYE: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when [thine eye] is evil, thy body also [is] full of darkness. 35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. 36 If thy whole body therefore [be] full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.

How do we continue to shine for Jesus? We focus our eyes on Jesus. We look toward His Word, and commit to doing as He has commanded. We control where we look.

Once We Know The Good, We Are To Do It

Matthew 5:16 (KJV) Let your light so shine before men, that they may SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS, and GLORIFY your Father which is in heaven.

A light is only valuable when it shines. It is our purpose, dear Christian, to shine. We are to shine on both the good and the evil, just as the sun does. C.H. Spurgeon said:

“Good works are works of love, unselfish works, works done for the benefit of others and the glory of God. Deeds of charity, kindness, and brotherly love are good works. As also careful attendance to duty, and all service honestly done; together with all courses which promote the moral and spiritual good of our fellow men”.

A Christian who never does good is like a sun that never shines. It is utterly useless. The Scripture says:

Galatians 6:7-10 (LSB) Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. 10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

Those who profess Christ but never do good for Him will never be blessed. God calls us to “be ready to every good work” (Titus 3:1). Though we are not saved by good works, once we are saved we are called to DO GOOD to all. At the end of the day every Christian should ask themselves:

How did I glorify my God and Savior today? How did I serve the Kingdom of God?

The Gospel cannot be stewarded by whiny, selfish, self serving Christians. Such a Gospel is not attractive. People need to see something different in the Christian. People need to see CHRIST. What do people see when they look at you?

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Fulfilling The Great Commission

Posted on April 14, 2026 by bibleteacherorg

Photo by The Prototype on Unsplash

Proverbs 29:9 If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.

Proverbs 29:10 The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.

Proverbs 29:20 Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

Fulfilling The Great Commission

As Christians, we should love the lost. We should seek opportunities to tell others of Christ, of the glorious Gospel that saved us. Jesus commanded us:

Matthew 28:19-20 (KJV) GO YE 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 all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.

Word Study: The first two words translated “GO YE” is a Greek verb poreuō. The way we generally see it rendered is “GO, and teach”. That is, you should GO into the world with the intent of teaching. Technically the verb is an Aorist Passive Deponent Participle, to which you go “HUH”? But this is important. As a PASSIVE DEPONENT this should be rendered “HAVING GONE {into the world}”. What is Jesus saying? He is saying that where ever we are, where ever we find ourselves as Christ followers, we SHOULD BE LIGHT BEARING.

Matthew 28:19 (Young’s Literal Translation) HAVING GONE, then, disciple all the nations, baptizing them — to the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit …

People ask me, “Pastor, how can I witness of Jesus in this dark world?”. The answer is very simple. Where ever you go, what ever you do, do not focus on how dark the world is. Focus on BEING LIGHT. You are the lantern, the flashlight, of Jesus. Jesus said this:

Matthew 5:14-16 (LSB) YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does [anyone] light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lamp stand, and it GIVES LIGHT TO ALL WHO ARE IN THE HOUSE. 16 LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE MEN in such a way that they may SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Illustrate: How are we LIGHT? We uphold the truths of Scripture. I was recently reading a supposedly Christian magazine called “Common Good”. As I read through the magazine I did not see NOT EVEN ONE SCRIPTURE quoted. There was a lot of opinion, but no light. WE DO NOT POSSESS OUR OWN LIGHT. We were not there in the beginning, saying:

Genesis 1:3 (AP) Yahweh said, “Let there be LIGHT”, and there WAS LIGHT

God is the Source of Light. Not what you think, nor what your Sunday School Literature may suggest.

1 John 1:5 GOD IS LIGHT, and IN HIM is no darkness at all

James 1:17 {God is} THE FATHER OF LIGHTS … with Whom there is no variation or shadow

Psalm 27:1 The LORD is MY LIGHT AND MY SALVATION

God has revealed His Light to us through the Living Word of God (Jesus Christ) and the Written Word of God (the Scripture).

Psalm 119:105 Your Word is a LAMP to my feet and a LIGHT to my path.

Psalm 119:130 The UNFOLDING OF YOUR WORDS GIVES LIGHT; it gives understanding to the simple.

Psalm 43:3 Send out Your LIGHT and Your TRUTH; LET THEM LEAD ME…

As LIGHT we are to do good. Like Jesus, where ever we find ourselves, we are to allow the LIGHT of God – the application of Christ’s Word – to SHINE through us. People should see a difference in the Christ follower.

We Do Good And Speak Truth – But
Do Not Debate Or Argue

Proverbs 29:9 If a WISE man CONTENDETH {šāp̄aṭ} with a FOOLISH man, whether he rage or laugh, THERE IS NO REST {naḥaṯ}.

Who is “THE WISE MAN”? It is the person who both hears and does what the Bible says. Jesus said, “Everyone who HEARS these WORDS OF MINE and DOES THEM will be like a WISE MAN… ” (Matthew 7:24; Luke 6:47-49). Light must be seen. Faith must be displayed. You are no lantern in the darkness if people do not see God’s light in you. “BY THIS WE KNOW we have come to KNOW HIM, IF WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS” (1 John 2:3). A faith that does not shine is a dead lantern, of no use to anyone (James 2:17-26). The “FOOLISH MAN” is the lost person, the person who hears the Word of God but rejects Him.

Psalm 14:1 The FOOL says in his heart, THERE IS NO GOD

1 Corinthians 1:18 The WORD OF THE CROSS is FOOLISHNESS to the perishing

Word Study: Christ calls His people to – where ever they find themselves – to SHINE, to allow the Light of God’s Word SHINE from us. We are not called to CONTEND with the foolish. The word rendered “CONTEND” is the Hebrew šāp̄aṭ, which means “to attempt to govern, to act as law giver or judge over, to pronounce sentence on”. Believers, this does not mean that we should keep quiet about forbidden scriptural behavior! But it does mean that

We are not called to argue or fight with the lost person. We are only to TEACH them what Jesus said, what the Scripture dictates. When you challenge the “FOOLISH” person, whether they EXPLODE or LAUGH at you, “THERE IS NO REST”

Word Study: In the clause “THERE IS NO REST”the word for “REST” is not shalom butnaḥaṯ (pronounced nachath). This is the only place on Proverbs this word is used. The word means “to come down, to descend, to lower oneself”. The same word is used in:

Isaiah 30:15 (KJV) For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and REST {naḥaṯ} shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.

You cannot argue or debate a lost person into Heaven. They must REPENT. They must COME DOWN from the gods they are following. They must admit error in their lives. You as a believer are to shine in the world, and in so shining perhaps attract those whose eyes are opened to the Gospel Light. To argue with or debate the lost person who loves darkness is to waste your time!

The Lost Are Not Good At Heart

Proverbs 29:10 The bloodthirsty HATE the upright: but the just seek his soul.

As we go being light, always understand that the darkness hates the light. How bad does the darkness hate us who are Christians? Very badly. There is no compromise with them. Look at how the religious but lost treated Jesus.

Matthew 12:14 The PHARISEES went out and plotted how they might kill Him.

Mark 3:6 the PHARISEES joined with the HERODIANS how they might destroy Him

The Pharisees were a Biblically conservative sect who saw themselves as both the representatives and the protectors of Judaism. They taught in local Synagogues, and were deeply committed to the Law of Moses. The Herodians were normally not aligned with the Pharisees, but were a political group who supported Herod’s rule over Israel, and cooperated with Roman authority. These two groups were enemies – until Jesus came along.

The Pharisees hated Jesus because He challenged their godless interpretation of the Law. The Herodians hated Jesus because He called people to enter the Kingdom of God, not Rome.

These two groups who were normally at war with one another came together to plot the death and destruction of Jesus. In Matthew 22:15-16 they joined together:

Matthew 22:15-21 (LSB) the PHARISEES went and took counsel together about how they might trap { Jesus} in what He said. 16 And they sent their disciples to Him, ALONG WITH THE HERODIANS, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any. 17 “Therefore, tell us, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a tax to Caesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus, knowing their wickedness, said, “Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites? 19 “Show Me the coin [used] for the tax.” And they brought Him a denarius. 20 And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Therefore, render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.

The upholders of the Law of Moses and the upholders of the Law of Rome got together out of hatred for Jesus. The lost do not love Christ, nor do they love Christ followers. Add to the Pharisees and the Herodians, “the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put Him to death” (Luke 22:2). They despised Jesus, and despise the light giving Christ follower. Yet we are not to hate them.

but the JUST seek his soul.

Those who love the Lord shine for the Lord without fear, knowing that they hate us, but we love them. The Prophets were murdered by evil people (1 Kings 18:4, 13). When Christ was born, Herod murdered the babies of Bethlehem (Matthew 2:16) trying to kill Jesus. Doing right is what we must do, regardless as to the hatred and the accusations. Jesus said:

John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. IN THE WORLD YOU WILL HAVE TRIBULATION. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

There are many who profess Christ as Savior who never experience tribulation. My question would be, are you shining? Are you living for Jesus? Can others see Jesus in you?

We cannot argue or debate people into the Kingdom of God. We are called to SHINE, to focus on living for Jesus no matter where we are or in what state we find ourselves.

Illustrate: There was no greater Christian in the New Testament than Stephen. He was always reaching out and shining among the lost. Stephen was the first Deacon chosen (Acts 6:5) to minister to the widows. But Stephen also shined among the people (Acts 6:8), “doing great wonders and miracles among the people”. God will use you if you surrender to Him.

They murdered Stephen.

Acts 7:59-60 (KJV) And they {a synagogue, a Jewish Church – Acts 6:9} stoned Stephen, calling upon [God], and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, LORD, LAY NOT THIS SIN TO THEIR CHARGE. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

And yet Stephen shined even as he died. “Father, do not lay this sin to their charge”. He wanted their souls saved. The lost want your soul as well – and if they can’t get it, they may kill you! The Prophet Elijah declared to God:

1 Kings 19:10 (LSB) I have been very zealous for Yahweh, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, pulled down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

Act First – Shine – Then Think Before you Speak

Proverbs 29:20 Seest thou a man that is HASTY IN HIS WORDS? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

You need to be careful with what you say around lost people. After God healed Hezekiah, an envoy came to his palace from Babylon. Rather than act cautiously, he assumed these people were friendly. They were not. We read:

2 Kings 20:13-18 (ESV) Hezekiah welcomed {the Babylonian Envoy}, and HE SHOWED THEM ALL HIS TREASURE HOUSE, the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his armory, ALL THAT WAS FOUND IN HIS STORE HOUSES. THERE WAS NOTHING IN HIS HOUSE OR IN ALL HIS REALM that Hezekiah did not show them. 14 Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah, and said to him, “What did these men say? And from where did they come to you?” And Hezekiah said, “They have come from a far country, from Babylon.” 15 He said, “What have they seen in your house?” And Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing in my storehouses that I did not show them.” 16 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD: 17 Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says the LORD. 18 And some of your own sons, who will come from you, whom you will father, shall be taken away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”

We as believers are to try and win the lost to Christ, but we also need to remember that “the HEART IS DECEITFUL ABOVE ALL THINGS and DESPERATELY WICKED” (Jeremiah 17:9). There were numerous times when our Lord Jesus told His disciples:

Matthew 16:20 (LSB) Then {Jesus} warned the disciples that they should TELL NO ONE THAT HE WAS THE CHRIST. (see also Mark 8:30; Luke 9:21)

When Jesus healed a leper, we read:

Matthew 8:4 (LSB) Jesus said to him, “SEE THAT YOU TELL NO ONE; but go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

When Jesus spoke to Moses and Elijah at the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus told His disciples:

Matthew 17:9 (LSB) And as they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “TELL THE VISION TO NO ONE UNTIL THE SON OF MAN HAS RISEN FROM THE DEAD.”

Had the general but lost public realized Jesus was the Messiah, God Incarnate, they would have tried to make Him King by force as they did when He fed the 5000 (John 6:15). But Jesus said, “My time has not yet come” (John 7:6). The lost do not need another king to physically rule them, to sit on an earthly throne. The lost need the King of Kings to sit on the throne of their hearts. The lost need to surrender their presumed godship and self reliance, and turn their lives over to the Lord Jesus. Humans find it too easy to chase after the next fad, the next prophet, the next golden calf. As Jesus said,

Luke 17:21 … THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU

God’s rule begin with the heart. It is not about external religion, but an internal relationship with the God Who is greater than we are. People who do not know God need to see the professor of Christ to actually live for Christ. If we look just like the lost world, how can we appeal to the lost world? If we are as dark as the lost world, what do we offer? The answer is, absolutely nothing.

The world needs a heart ruled not by self, but by the Savior. Those who are lost despise the saved. “Why did Cain murder his brother? Because his own works were evil, and Abel’s works were righteous.” (1 John 3:12-13). The Bridges Commentary notes:

“Darkness cannot endure the light. The condemning light of godliness excites the enmity of the ungodly. They cannot bear the picture. Thus the bloodthirsty Ahab hated his upright prophets, and the Jews the holy Savior”

So what shall we do? We pray. We seek Christ’s face. We shine where we are, reflecting the light of Scripture in what we do. We tell those who will hear of the life changing, glorious Gospel. We do good even to our enemies in hope that they, too, will surrender to Christ for good.

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