A Look of the Expositor Bible at The Ordeal of questions {Matthew 22:15-46 }

II —The Ordeal of questions. {#Mt 22:15-46 }

The open challenge has failed; but more subtle weapons may succeed. The Pharisees have found it of no avail to confront their enemy; but they may still be able to entangle Him. They will at all events try. They will spring upon Him some hard questions, of such a kind that, answering on the spur of the moment, He will be sure to compromise Himself.

1. The first shall be one of those semi-political semi-religious questions on which feeling is running high — the lawfulness or unlawfulness of paying tribute to Caesar. The old Pharisees who had challenged His authority keep in the background, that the sinister purpose of the question may not appear; but they are represented by some of their disciples who, coming fresh upon the scene and addressing Jesus m terms of respect and appreciation, may readily pass for guileless inquirers. They were accompanied by some Herodians, whose divergence of view on the point made it all the more natural that they should join with Pharisees in asking the question; for it might fairly be considered that they had been disputing with one another in regard to it, and had concluded to submit the question to His decision as to one who would be sure to know the truth and fearless to tell it. So together they come with the request:

“Master, we know that Thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest Thou for any man: for Thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest Thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?”

But they cannot impose upon Him:

“Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye Me, ye hypocrites?”

Having thus unmasked them, without a moment’s hesitation He answers them. They had expected a “yes” or a “no”—a “yes” which would have set the people against Him, or better still a “no” which would have put Him at the mercy of the government. But, avoiding Scylla on the one hand, and Charybdis on the other, He makes straight for His goal by asking for a piece of coin and calling attention to Caesar’s stamp upon it. Those who use Caesar’s coin should not refuse to pay Caesar’s tribute; but, while the relation which with their own acquiescence they sustain to the Roman emperor implied corresponding obligations in the sphere it covered, this did not at all interfere with what is due to the King of kings and Lord of lords, in Whose image we all are made, and Whose superscription every one of us bears:

“Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.”

Thus He not only avoids the net they had spread for Him, and gives them the very best answer to their question, but, in doing so, He lays down a great principle of far-reaching application and permanent value respecting the difficult and much-to-be-vexed question as to the relations between Church and State. “O answer full of miracle!” as one had said. No wonder that

“when they had heard these words they marvelled, and left Him, and went their way.”

2. Next come forward certain Sadducees. That the Pharisees had an understanding with them also seems likely from what is said both in ver. 15, which seems a general introduction to the series of questions, and in ver. 34, from which it would appear that they were somewhere out of sight, waiting to hear the result of this new attack. Though the alliance seems a strange one, it is not the first time that common hostility to the Christ of God has drawn together the two great rival parties. {see #Mt 16:1 } If we are right in supposing them to be in combination now, it is a remarkable illustration of the deep hostility of the Pharisees that they should not only combine with the Sadducees against Him, as they had done before, but that they should look with complacency on their using against Him a weapon which threatened one of their own doctrines. For the object of the attack was to cast ridicule on the doctrine of the resurrection, which assuredly the Pharisees did not deny.

The difficulty they raise is of the same kind as those which are painfully familiar in these days, when men of coarse minds and fleshly imaginations show by their crude objections their incapacity even to think on spiritual themes. The case they supposed was one they knew He could not find fault with so far as this world was concerned, for everything was done in accordance with the letter of the law of Moses, the inference being that whatever confusion there was in it must belong to what they would call His figment of the resurrection:

“In the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.”

It is worthy of note that our Lord’s-answer is much less stern than in the former case. These men were not hypocrites. They were scornful, perhaps flippant; but they were not intentionally dishonest. The difficulty they felt was due to the coarseness of their minds, but it was a real difficulty to them. Our Lord accordingly gives them a kindly answer, not denouncing them, but calmly showing them where they are wrong:

“Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.”

Ye know not the power of God, or ye would not suppose that the life to come, would be a mere repetition of the life that now is, with all its fleshly conditions the same as now. That there is continuity of life is of course implied in the very idea of resurrection, but true life resides not in the flesh, but in the spirit, and therefore the continuity will be a spiritual continuity; and the power of God will effect such changes on the body itself that it will rise out of its fleshly condition into a state of being like that of the angels of God. The thought is the same as that which was afterwards expanded by the apostle Paul in such passages as #Ro 8:5-11, 1Co 15:35-54.

Ye know not the Scriptures, or you would find in the writings of Moses from which you quote, and to which you attach supreme importance, evidence enough of the great doctrine you deny.

“Have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?”

Here, again, Jesus not only answers the Sadducees, but puts the great and all-important doctrine of the life to come and the resurrection of the body on its deepest foundation. There are those who have expressed astonishment that He did not quote from some of the later prophets, where He could have found passages much clearer and more to the point: but not only was it desirable that, as they had based their question on Moses, He should give His answer from the same source; but in doing so He has put the great truth on a permanent and universal basis; for the argument rests not on the authority of Moses, nor, as some have supposed, upon the present tense “I am,” but on the relation between God and His people. The thought is that such a relation between mortal man and the eternal God as is implied in the declaration

“I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”

is itself a guarantee of immortality. Not for the spirit only, for it is not as spirits merely, but as men that we are taken into relation to the living God; and that relation, being of God, must share His immortality:

“God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

The thought is put in a very striking way in a well-known passage in the Epistle to the Hebrews:

“But now they the patriarchs desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city.”

Our Lord’s answer suggests the best way of assuring ourselves of this glorious hope. Let God be real to us, and life and immortality will be real too. If we would escape the doubts of old Sadducee and new Agnostic, we must be much with God, and strengthen more and more the ties which bind us to Him.

3. The next attempt of the Pharisees is on an entirely new line. They have found that they cannot impose upon Him by sending pretended inquirers to question Him. But they have managed to lay their hands on a real inquirer now — one of themselves, a student of the law, who is exercised on a question much discussed, arid to which very different answers are given; they will suggest to him to carry his question to Jesus and see what He will say to it. That this was the real state of the case appears from the fuller account in St. Mark’s Gospel. When, then, St. Matthew speaks of him as asking Jesus a question, “tempting Him,” we are not to impute the same sinister motives as actuated those who sent him. He also was in a certain sense tempting Jesus — i.e., putting Him to the test, but with no sinister motive, with a real desire to find out the truth, and probably also to find out if this Jesus was one who could really help an inquirer after truth. In this spirit, then, he asks the question,

“Which is the great commandment in the law?”

The answer our Lord immediately gives is now so familiar that it is difficult to realise how great a thing it was to give it for the first time. True, He takes it from the Scriptures; but think what command of the Scriptures is involved in this prompt reply. The passages quoted lie far apart — the one in the sixth chapter of Deuteronomy, the other in the nineteenth of Leviticus in quite an obscure corner; and nowhere are they spoken of as the first and second commandments, nor indeed were they regarded as commandments in the usually understood sense of the word. When we consider all this we recognise what from one point of view might be called a miracle of genius, and from another a flash of inspiration, in the instantaneous selection of these two passages, and bringing them together so as to furnish a summary of the law and the prophets beyond all praise which the veriest unbeliever, if only he have a mind to appreciate that which is excellent, must recognise as worthy of being written in letters of light. That one short answer to a sudden question—asked indeed by a true man, but really sprung upon Him by His enemies who were watching for His halting—is of more value in morals than all the writings of all the ethical philosophers, from Socrates to Herbert Spencer.

It is now time to question the questioners. The opportunity is most favourable. They are gathered together to hear what He will say to their last attempt to entangle Him. Once more He has not only met the difficulty, but has done so in such a way as to make the truth on the subject in dispute shine with the very light of heaven. There could not, then, be a better opportunity of turning their thoughts in a direction which might lead them, if possible in spite of themselves, into the light of God.

The question Jesus asks (vv. 41-45) is undoubtedly a puzzling one for them; but it is no mere Scripture conundrum. The difficulty in which it lands them is one which, if only they would honestly face it, would be the means of removing the veil from their eyes, and leading them, ere it is too late, to welcome the Son of David come in the name of the Lord to save them. They fully accepted the psalm to which He referred as a psalm of David concerning the. Messiah. If, then, they would honestly read that psalm they would see that the Messiah when He comes must be, not a mere earthly monarch, as David was, but a heavenly monarch, one who should sit on the throne of God and bring into subjection the enemies of the kingdom of heaven. If only they would take their ideas of the Christ from the Scriptures which were their boast, they could not fail to see Him standing now before them. For we must remember that they had not only the words He spoke to guide them. They had before them the Messiah Himself, with the light of heaven in His eye, with the love of God in His face; and had they had any love for the light, they would have recognised Him then — they would have seen in Him, whom they had often heard of as David’s Son, the Lord of David, and therefore the Lord of the Temple, and the heavenly King of Israel. But they love the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds are evil: therefore their hearts remain unchanged, the eyes of their spirit unopened; they are only abashed and silenced:

“No man was able to answer Him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask Him any more questions.”

+

Preceding

Matthew 22:1-6 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Parable of Invitation to a Marriage

Matthew 22:7-10 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Invitations after City’s Destruction

Matthew 22:11-13 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: King’s Inspection and Marriage Garments

Matthew 22:14 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Many Invited – Few Chosen

Matthew 22:15-22 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Caesar’s Things and God’s Things

Matthew 22:23-28 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Sadducees Question on the Resurrection

Matthew 22:29-33 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Resurrection Proof from Moses

Matthew 22:34-40 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Which Is the Greatest Commandment

Matthew 22:41-46 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Jesus Asks a Trump Question

Additional readings to Matthew 22:41-46

A Look of the Expositor Bible at The Marriage Feast {Matthew 22:1-14 }

Matthew 22:29-33 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Resurrection Proof from Moses

Matthew 22:29-33 – Resurrection Proof from Moses

|| Mark 12:24-27; Luke 20:34-40

MT22:29 Now Jesus answered them: “Not knowing the Scriptures[1] or the dynamism[2] of The God, you are mistaken. MT22:30 For in the resurrection men do not marry[3] nor are women given in marriage[4] but they are like the angels in heaven.[5] MT22:31But concerning the subject of the resurrection of the dead did you never read what The God said to you: MT22:32 ‘I am The God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob’?[6] [Exodus 3:16] He is not The God of the dead but of those alive.”[7] MT22:33 Upon hearing this the crowds were astounded at his teaching.

*

[1] Not knowing the Scriptures: A powerful thing to say to Jewish scholars. It is proof what the others had said earlier in verse 16.

[2] Dynamism: The Greek is DYNAMIN as is generally translated “power.”

[3] Men do not marry: “Men” are inferred by the phrase and context.

[4] Women given in marriage: “Women” are inferred by the phrase and context.

[5] They are like the angels in heaven: That is celibate spirits. Compare Galatians 3:28.

[6] I am The God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob: The quote is from Exodus 3:6 (Compare Exodus 6:3). There are far better verses Jesus could quote to prove the resurrection in the Scriptures. However, the Sadducees only accepted the first five books of Moses. So this is an adept rabbinical move on the part of the Nazarene to find the resurrection in such a vague phrase.

[7] But of those alive: Or, Luke 20:38 adds, “… for they are all living to him.” The dead are unconscious in sleep and reside within the memory of God (Job 14:12-14). From this standpoint dead Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob sleep within the Mind of God.

+

Preceding

Matthew 22:1-6 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Parable of Invitation to a Marriage

Matthew 22:7-10 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Invitations after City’s Destruction

Matthew 22:11-13 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: King’s Inspection and Marriage Garments

Matthew 22:14 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Many Invited – Few Chosen

Matthew 22:15-22 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Caesar’s Things and God’s Things

Matthew 22:23-28 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Sadducees Question on the Resurrection

++

Additional reading

1. Death

+++

Related articles

1. Matthew 22 Verse by Verse
2. Restoration, Resurrection, and Reconciliation
3. Resurrection of the Dead, Part I
4. Resurrection of the Dead, Part II
5. Resurrection of the Dead, Part III
6. The Investigative Judgment
7. Katelyn’s Question #5
8. Where is king David? [935d]
9. Resurrection and Afterlife in the Old Testament
10. The Hope of the Resurrection

Matthew 21:10-11 Who Is This? – a Question still posed today #2

 

 

“10 And when He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the multitudes were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.”” (Mt 21:10-11 NAS)

“These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him.” (Joh 12:16 NAS)

“And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?”” (Lu 5:21 NAS)

“And those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?”” (Lu 7:49 NAS)

“And Herod said, “I myself had John beheaded; but who is this man about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see Him.” (Lu 9:9 NAS)

“and they spoke, saying to Him, “Tell us by what authority You are doing these things, or who is the one who gave You this authority?”” (Lu 20:2 NAS)

“The Jews therefore answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, seeing that You do these things?”” (Joh 2:18 NAS)

“And he said, “Who art Thou, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,” (Ac 9:5 NAS)

“13  Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He began asking His disciples, saying, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”” (Mt 16:13-14 NAS)

“15  “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him. 16 “This is according to all that you asked of the LORD your God in Horeb on the day of the assembly, saying, ’Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, let me not see this great fire anymore, lest I die.’ 17 “And the LORD said to me, ’They have spoken well. 18 ’I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 19 ’And it shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him.” (De 18:15-19 NAS)

“And fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited His people!”” (Lu 7:16 NAS)

“Some of the multitude therefore, when they heard these words, were saying, “This certainly is the Prophet.”” (Joh 7:40 NAS)

“They *said therefore to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him, since He opened your eyes?” And he said, “He is a prophet.”” (Joh 9:17 NAS)

“22 “Moses said, ’THE LORD GOD SHALL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN; TO HIM YOU SHALL GIVE HEED in everything He says to you. 23 ’And it shall be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’” (Ac 3:22-23 NAS)

“”This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, ’GOD SHALL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN.’” (Ac 7:37 NAS)

“and came and resided in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”” (Mt 2:23 NAS)

“45 Philip *found Nathanael and *said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 And Nathanael *said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip *said to him, “Come and see.”” (Joh 1:45-46 NAS)

“When therefore the people saw the sign which He had performed, they said, “This is of a truth the Prophet who is to come into the world.”” (Joh 6:14 NAS)

*

 

 

In the 16th chapter of Matthew’s gospel the writer told about the time when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi and there he asked his disciples, saying,

“Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

In our previous postings you could see that there where different opinions about this Nazarene master teacher.

“Some say John the Baptizer, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”” (Mt 16:13-14 WEB)

In the ancient Hebrew Scriptures was already told that Jehovah as the God of gods would raise up to the people a prophet from the midst of them to whom they had to listen to. It was God Who would raise them up a prophet from among their brothers, and would put His words in his mouth. People remembered what Moses had said to the fathers, that the Most High  God was going to raise up a prophet for the like Moses. When Jesus walked around and taught, he said to the people that he was not just saying his words, but the words his heavenly Father had demanded to bring to the world. He did like it was written

and he shall speak to them all that I shall command him. 19 It shall happen, that whoever will not listen to my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.” (De 18:15-19 WEB)

Jesus told the people he came to declare the heavenly Father and show His Works. At several occasions people could see the wonderful things he could do. Also when they heard him speaking they became convinced that

“This is truly the prophet.”” (Joh 7:40 WEB)

Remembering the warnings from Moses that people had to listen to that coming prophet in all things whatever he was going to say to them, they got afraid because it was fore-said that

It will be, that every soul that will not listen to that prophet will be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ {#De 18:15,18-19 } (Ac 3:22-23 WEB)

So

“Fear took hold of all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited his people!”” (Lu 7:16 WEB)

When Jesus had opened the eyes of a blind man he also had claimed to have seen a prophet. (John 9:17) They knew that speaker and miracle-worker came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets:

“He will be called a Nazarene.”” (Mt 2:23 WEB)

Remember also how Philip found Nathanael, and said to him,

“We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, wrote: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” (Joh 1:45 WEB)

The many signs which Jesus did made people also to say that this man truly had to be the prophet who comes into the world according to the Scriptures. (John 6:14). The actions and remarks that Jesus gave were not well received by the Pharisees and the scribes who began to reason, saying,

“Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?”” (Lu 5:21 WEB)

like others who also questioned

“Who is this who even forgives sins?”” (Lu 7:49 WEB)

Today we also find many who say Jesus has to be God because he forgave sins. They do not understand that Jesus was given authority by God to do that and to act and speak in His name. Jesus also asked his followers to forgive those who would have done some wrong to them. For those who say only God can forgive faults or sins, they either say parents can not forgive their children’s wrong doings and priests can not forgive sins (though in several churches people go into the confession box?!?). Jesus told those around him that he did not do those things from himself but that it was God Who gave him this authority.

In Matthew 21:1–23:39 we find the Messiah who asserts also his authority over Jerusalem. Jesus’ authority over Jerusalem is namely revealed in his triumphal entry (21:1–11), actions in the temple (21:12–17), cursing the fig tree (21:18–22), debates with religious leaders (21:23–22:46), and woes pronounced on the teachers of the law and the Pharisees (23:1–39).

As Jesus enters Jerusalem, the city of the Great King (Psalm 48:1–2), he is acclaimed as the Messiah; but he enters humbly, riding on a donkey (Matthew 21:1–11). He never claimed to be a god (= a high person) and most of all never claimed to be God (the Most High God of Abraham Who he took to be also his God and his heavenly Father). For Jesus it was clear he had to follow the orders of his heavenly Father, the God of Israel,being authorised by Him, Jesus could become the sovereign orchestrator of these events we see unfolding in the city which has to become the capital of the Kingdom.

Coming nearer to a close of the public life of Jesus, with all what happened and being described by Jesus disciple Matthew, we should come to see a full “Portrait of Jesus”. Jesus being the one who is declared by the heavenly Father, the Only One True God, to be His son. He is the true Messiah, Immanuel (one close to God or bringing God with us), son of man but also son of God, King of Israel, and Lord or Master of the church (the Body of Christ). (Matthew 1:1, 23; 2:2; 14:33; 16:16; 18:20; 21:5–9). As God planned it all Jesus made his entrance in “his city” whilst he was being praised and recognised as the “son of David“.

9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting,

“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Elohim! Hosanna in the highest!”

Some people doubt that the people over-there would have recognised Jesus as the prophet Moses spoke about. Though they gave the impression to see in Jesus a man being sent by, or coming in the Name of the Most High Elohim.

After all the previous things said about Jesus by his disciple Matthew do you came to see who Jesus really is?

Do you come to believe what God Himself said about that man in the river Jordan and on Mount Hermon? That Jesus is His only begotten beloved son. Or do you still think Jesus is God, Who must have come to the earth to do if he was tempted (because God can not be tempted) and to pretend His death (because as an eternal or immortal Spirit Being God can not die)?

How do you react to Jesus’ authority? Do you believe his words? Or do you prefer to follow the words of the people of this world, who for example do not take him as the son of God but worship him as god the son? Or are you merely a detached observer amazed at some aspect of him, not knowing exactly what to think of him?
Do you reject his authority and plead with him in some way to be gone and let you live life on your terms and without his interruption? Or do you think he is the one who you need to plead or pray at?

Do you recognize Jesus’ authority as the sent one from God, or do you oppose him?

Or are you like the disciples, who lived some part of their life with Jesus and came to accept him for what he really is? Or are you like the Pharisees and do not accept the Source of Jesus authority? Do you think Jesus himself is God and then also the Source of his authority, or do you accept that Jesus is a son of man and the son of God, having received authority from that God to whom Jesus also prayed?

You should know, in Christianity, there are lots of people who trust God and believe that He has given the world a son of man for bringing salvation. Those believers in God echo also the words of Peter.

“13  Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He began asking His disciples, saying, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” 15 He *said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it. 19 “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ.” (Mt 16:13-20 NAS)

Also there at that occasion it was the Holy Pneuma Who revealed it to this man, to recognise Jesus as “the Christ and the son of the Living God”. We should believe that saying. We should accept that Jesus is the Christ or Messiah, the Son of the living God. This given “son” came not to be a hero or for liberating the Jews from the Romans. He wanted to fulfil God’s Plan an by offering himself wanted to save his people and deliver them. Offering himself as a Lamb for God, he was impaled and put in a grave. After having died as a sacrifice for sins, he was taken out of the dead by his heavenly Father. Jesus’ resurrection on the third day authenticated who he was and his life, death, and resurrection give hope to all who recognize him and trust in his name. Those who take Jesus as God, still have no proof that man can step out of death. But we as believers in the son of God may live by that precious hope of salvation and resurrection, because the man of flesh and blood, Jesus Christ really stood up from the dead.

Those believing in Jesus shall be able to find peace in their hearts and be at ease.

“”Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Mt 11:28 NAS)

Our heart should not be troubled when we believe in Jehovah God and in His sent one Jeshua or Jesus Christ, the Messiah. When you read the bible regularly and take the words like they are written (forgetting all those false human doctrines) you might know that Jesus is the one who you also may trust. By his and his Father’s Words you shall be able to hear the word of truth, the gospel of your saving health; in whom also after you believed, you shall be sealed with that Holy Spirit of the promise.

“1  “Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for 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 to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (Joh 14:1-3 NAS)

“In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation  — having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,” (Eph 1:13 NAS)

+

Preceding

More than just a man with authority of speaking

Authority from the One God to one mediator between God and men

Matthew 7:13-23 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The True Disciple #5 Matthew 7:28-29 – The Crowd’s Reaction

Matthew 9:1-8 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Messiah Forgives Sins and Heals Paralytic

Matthew 9:32-34 – How others look at the blind, speechless and demoniac being healed

Matthew 13 – Parables on Kingdom mysteries

Matthew 17:1-9 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Transfiguration Vision

Matthew 21:1-3 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Sent Ahead for a Donkey

Matthew 21:4-5 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Your King Is Coming upon a Donkey

Matthew 21:6-9 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Blessed the One Coming in God’s Name!

Matthew 21:10-11 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Who Is This?

Matthew 21:10-11 Who Is This? – a Question still posed today #1

God’s Face shining on His servant

Multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David

10 Nisan An entrance for a king

Vox populi anything but Vox Dei

Demanding signs or denying yourself

++

Additional reading

1. Truth, doubt or blindness
2. Torah hanging on two commandments and focussing on a Mashiach
3. The true light in recorded words
4. The 1st Adam in the Hebrew Scriptures #5 Temptation, assault and curse
5. The 1st Adam in the Hebrew Scriptures #7 Promise and solution
6. The 1st Adam in the Hebrew Scriptures #8 Looking for the 2nd Adam
7. Which man is mentioned most often in the Bible? Jesus, Moses, Abraham or David?
8. A rebellious movement founded on a fake?
9. Fog, brass and light for the eyes
10. Blindness in the Christian world
11. Who do you say Jesus is
12. The sent one from God
13. Jesus, A way given to find the right way to God
14. The stone of essential truth
15. Knowledge of Christ and fear for God
16. A birthday passed nearly unnoticed
17. In a few days time it will be 2020 years ago that the Messiah was born
18. 2020 years ago, the road was opened
19. 2020 years since
20. To turn the world into a “vessel” receptive of God
21. The saviour Jesus his human side
22. Sayings of Jesus, what to believe and being or not of the devil
23. The Right One to follow and to worship
24. For those who believe Jesus is God
25. The habitual misreading of John 1 and the ‘Word being God’ #1
26. The habitual misreading of John 1 and the ‘Word being God’ #2
27. Americans really thinking the Messiah Christ had an English name
28. Americans their stars, pretension, God, Allah and end of times signs #2 War on God’s Plan, Name and title
29. That everyone may honour the Son and sent one from God
30. Thought for Wednesday Believe in the one God has sent
31. Jesus Messiah
32. Jesus begotten Son of God #10 Coming down spirit or flesh seed of Eve
33. Jesus begotten Son of God #14 Beloved Preminent Son and Mediator originating in Mary
34. Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #14 Prayer #12 The other name
35. Concerning Christ #1 A god or the God, a son of man and son of God
36. Concerning Christ #2 Divine source, connection and divine human being
37. Entrance of a king to question our position #1 Coming in the Name of the Lord
38. Entrance of a king to question our position #2 Who do we want to see and to be
39. Infinite payment of sin by the son of God
40. Believing what Jesus says
41. The Call of Christ
42. Following a Person or a Belief
43. Getting out of the dark corners of this world
44. Purification and perfection
45. Proof of the resurrection of Christ
46. The resurrected Lord
47. From nothingness to a growing group of followers of Jeshua 5 What’s in a name
48. Not being saved by faith in Christ alone
49. Memorizing wonderfully 42 Equality with God & doing nothing of himself
50. Memorizing wonderfully 44 Showing the works from his Father
51. Memorizing wonderfully 46 Believe in the sent one from God, who is the Way to God
52. Memorizing wonderfully 49 John 17:1-11 The sent one from God and eternal life
53. Memorizing wonderfully 52 Acts 7:56: the Son of man standing on the right hand of God
54. Memorizing wonderfully 70: Philippians 2:6 Who, being in the form of God
55. Doubting and going astray
56. Background of Faith
57. Today’s thought “The eyes of man are never satisfied” (April 17)
58. Trinitarians making their proof for existence of God look ridiculous #7

+++

Further reading

1. A Brief introduction to the Gospel of Matthew
2. Mt 21.1-11 Jesus comes to Jerusalem as king
3. Luke – Chapter 20
4. By what authority?
5. Amazed by Authority
6. Mt 21.23-27 The authority of Jesus questioned
7. “The authority of Jesus” by Thomas Schreiner
8. Jesus’ authority on earth (Matthew 9:2-8)
9. Do you recognize the king’s authority? (Matthew 9:32-34)
10. How does Jesus become king? (Matthew 13:53-58)
11. Just a word
12. Question of Jesus’ Authority
13. Words of Life ~ Author(ity)
14. That Was Stupid 9-30-18
15. A King & a Kingdom
16. Rethinking the great commission
17. Your Sins Are Forgiven
18. Gospel Movie Clip (4) – Is the Pardoning of Our Sins Really a Ticket to the Kingdom of Heaven?
19. Who Is Jesus? (by Shaped by the word)
20. Who is Jesus? (by Facts are best)

Hardships for choosing to follow the real Christ

In this world where most people want to keep to traditions and want to prefer to follow human doctrines instead of Biblical doctrines, the one wanting to believe what God says about Jesus often feels how difficult it is to follow in line with God’s Words.

Many of us have had to endure hardships because we chose to follow Jesus. For many who came to the Truth it took several years before they dared to take the steps in the right direction. Some do know the Biblical Truth and do follow the real Jesus, Jeshua the Nazarene teacher who is also called the son of man and son of God, but do not want to tell it to others. As such, for example, we had a friend who did not believe in the Trinity but kept working as a pastor in a trinitarian preaching company. He told us he could not say openly he did not believe any more in the Trinity because than he would loose his job as minister and would have no income any-more. That is often a very difficult factor, certainly for priests and ministers.

But also lay people have it difficult to make the right choice. Some of them have had to lose friends and family relationships, and on many occasions even had to endure verbal attacks. There are people all over the world who are being put in prison and literally risking their life to follow Jesus.

So the big question for most people is,

“Why?”

Yes

Why do we choose to risk it all to follow this person who we believe rose from the dead? What do we get out of it?

When they were fishermen Jesus had asked those simple men to follow him, what they did.  At that time they gave up their profession and their income. The thought of sacrifice very naturally suggests as its correlative that of compensation; so it is not at all to be wondered at that, before this conversation ended, Peter, the impulsive disciple, so much given to think aloud, should blurt out the honest question:

“Behold, we have forsaken all and followed Thee; what shall we have therefore?”

Peter asked Jesus what they would get, and that is perhaps the question which would be on most lips when wondering to follow Jesus or any other person. Certainly (for today) when it is all about a person who lived so many centuries ago and who seemed to have caused so many problems. Peter could not but remember that while the Master had insisted on his disciples denying self to follow him, he had spoken no less clearly of their finding life through losing it, and of their being rewarded according to their deeds. {see Matthew 16:24-27 } A more cautious man would have hesitated before he spoke; but it was no worse to speak it than to think it: and then, it was an honest and fair question; accordingly our Lord gives it a frank and generous answer, taking care, however, before leaving the subject, to add a supplementary caution, fitted to correct what was doubtful or wrong in the spirit it showed.

People should know that everybody is free to choose what or whom to follow. God has given man the free choice. His sent ones, the many prophets often asked people to follow their sayings. Every time they left the choice to the people themselves, never forcing them into doing something what they would not want to do of free choice. The same for the Nazarene master teacher. He never pushed people to come to listen to what he had to say. He never pushed people to come to see what he did. When he walked around in the area people came from their own to see and hear this special man. Not everybody could make up his mind about that special figure and many doubted his position or wondered who he really was and what he came to do.

The word recalls what is said in the book of Genesis as to

“the generation of the heaven and of the earth.”

Nobody can escape to this system and shall have to make the choice to be part of this world or to be part of God’s World. That is what it makes so difficult, man can not live in both worlds. Man can not keep to the human traditions with the many heathen festivals and at the same time claim he worships God. The Divine Creator demands complete submission to the Divine values and norms. One cannot eat from the two walls. God requires an honest surrender to Him. He also has given His son to bring salvation to the world and expects that the world shall come to recognise His only begotten son.

Coming closer to the end-times more adversaries of Gdo shall try to get people away from the Only One True God. They shall do their utmost best to confuse people and to make them to worship an other god than the God of Israel, Who is an Unseen Spirit.

People who come to see Who God is and who His son is and want to follow that son, with the knowledge that this son of God the way to god is, may find it difficult to persevere because the majority is against such an idea that a man would be able to do God’s Will and to offer himself for the sins of others. When you believe that you should be not ashamed and should not go hiding, but should dare to tell about your faith, that you believe that son of man is the son of God who gave his life as a ransom for the sins of many. The belief in the son of God should make you stronger than those who do not believe in that man of flesh and blood who gave his life, was killed, put in a grave but was also taken out of the dead by his heavenly Father. That resurrection of a man is for us the ultimate proof that a human being can stand up from the death. In case Jesus would be God, we naturally would not have any proof at all for the resurrection of man.

That resurrection may give us something to fight for. People may bully us, hurt us and even could kill us, but we do know there is much more behind the ‘curtain of this life’.

No matter what you have had to endure or give up to follow Jesus, the reward in the end is so much greater than what you ever would be able to gather here on earth. We should not be afraid to face those who are against us because we do not want to go for that false teaching of a three-headed god. We should believe in what the Bible tells us and should not be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies and by those who want to push us in the world of human doctrines. You should know such people may harm you in this life but there shall be nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Therefore are not afraid for such human beings who ignore the Words of God and Who, as a God Who tells no lies, declared Jesus to be His only begotten son. Save your fear for that God of Israel Who is a Spirit and not a man of flesh and blood who could be killed. That God of Abraham is an eternal Spirit Being, Who holds your entire life — body and soul — in His hands.

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Mt 10:28 NIV)

Our reward for following Jesus is that we shall be able to find the way to God. Jesus is the right way to go. By listening to his words and by doing what he requires from us we shall be able to grow in his teachings and shall find enough strength to continue on the right path.

We may be sure there shall come a moment that the Son of man shall come to sit on the throne of his glory and at the end of times no one shall be able to escape his judgement. therefore let us not worry but look for Jehovah and do what God wants and not so much what the people want from us.

“Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger.” (Zep 2:3 NIV)

When doing what God wants and step in the footsteps of His only begotten son, then we shall be able to go on the right path to the small gate leading to immortal, perfect life where there shall be no more sickness or sorrow any more. Following Jesus worshipping his God we shall come to see the heavenly gates and shall come to see that those who do not believe the Biblical Truth like us may also find death, but shall not be able like us to see their loved ones again who have died.

“”For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, {Or his only begotten Son } that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NIV)

“3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

“Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”” (Re 21:3-4 NIV)

“13  Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord for ever.” (1Th 4:13-17 NIV)

What more could we possibly ask for?

Jesus has promised us everything we can dream of if we choose to suffer now, just like he did. So be encouraged today that you have a tremendous, indescribable reward waiting for you when our king returns!

+

Preceding

Matthew 6:1-34 – The Nazarene’s Commentary on Leviticus 19:18 Continued 5 Matthew 6: 24-34: e) Anxiety and neighbor love

Matthew 19:1-2 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: From Galilee to Judah

Matthew 19:3-9 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Grounds for Divorce

Matthew 19:3-9 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Grounds for Divorce – additional verses

Matthew 19:10-12 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Celibacy

Matthew 19:13-15 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Kingdom Belongs to Child-lik

Matthew 19:16-24 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Difficulty of Rich Entering the Kingdom

Matthew 19:25-26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Who Can be Saved

Matthew 19:27-29 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: We Have Left Everything for You!

Matthew 19:30 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: First Last – Last First

Matthew 19 Concerning the saved ones and those able to enter the Kingdom

Back from gone #4 Your inner feelings and actions

People with a different mindset than Christ Jesus

The spirit of a sound mind does not mean just going by what we or others think or feel is reasonable or expedient. In our world were there is still some freedom of speech we can hear lots of different opinions and we can see that certain groups would love to have the majority of people thinking and  handling as they. They are often those who prefer to listen only to their own heart and to take care of their selfish “I” first. they are not so much concerned about others, but see them more as people standing in the way. Certainly now with those refugees, people with an other culture not known to them, which makes them afraid of such people.

They prefer to lean upon their own understanding and are not so much interested in what Jehovah wants. Many of them even do not really believe in Him. Even when there may be many who proclaim to be a Christian, we should see that first of all their faith is not so much in Christ nor in God, and secondly they often do not live according to the teachings of Christ Jesus nor to the Laws of God.

Our own mind and a sound mind

Jesus did not his own will. Likewise we also should try to do the will of the Same One as Jesus did. As the son of man and the son of God, Jesus very well knew the Scriptures, taught from them, and followed the guidance given in them. He told the people around him that he could not do anything without his heavenly Father, Who is greater than him. (John 14:27-31; John 5:17-27) For Jesus it was clear Who was the One with a truly sound mind. when he was in difficulties he (Jeshua/Jesus Christ)turned to his heavenly Father (Jehovah God) and trusted in Him (Jehovah). Jesus also told those around him not to worship him but to worship his heavenly Father and to pray to this God of Abraham, Who is also the God of the Jews and the God of the Muslims.  Normally we all should have the same God of gods to trust and to worship and when facing difficulties or having to make some decision, we should need to turn to Him (Jehovah God). Allah, the Elohim Hashem Jehovah God as the Most High Adonai gave the world His Word. All who love God should go and look into that Word, the Bible, to see what God’s view is. Then we should base our decision on it. That is using the spirit of a sound mind.

God knowing the heart

Let us always remember that

 9 The heart is more treacherous* than anything else and is desperate.*+ Who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9.)

and that it is God Who knows the inside out of man.

10 I, Jehovah, am searching the heart,+ Examining the innermost thoughts,* To give to each one according to his ways, According to the fruitage of his works.+(Jeremiah 17:10 .)

3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,+  But Jehovah is the examiner of hearts.+ (Proverbs 17:3

2 All of a man’s ways seem right to him,+ But Jehovah examines the hearts.*+ (Proverbs 21:2 )

The God of Abraham, Who is also the God of Jesus knows the Heart of Jesus and our heart – Heart of Jesus (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We can not hide anything from God. Therefore we should be very careful how we want to be seen by others and that we show them how we are really feeling and thinking. Too many people are afraid of what others would say. Not many are daring to say what they really think and how they really feel.

The way how we think about those coming to live in our regions is for God important. How we are willing to treat them is for God important. Our attitude towards this whole situation is important for God. In these circumstances it shall be that we show our true nature. Nothing shall stay hidden before God.

12 If you say, “But we did not know about this,” Does not the One who examines hearts* discern it?+ Yes, the One who watches you* will know And will repay each man according to his activity.+ (Proverbs 24:12)

Living and doing works according to your faith

Learning to make wise decisions and to carry them out does not come easily. When there is put pressure on you by others with a political agenda it can even become more difficult to stay on the right track.

Recall that the apostle Paul described mature people as

“those who through use have their perceptive powers trained to distinguish both right and wrong.”

The words “through use” and “trained” both imply making continuous and repeated effort, and that is what new ones need to do. (Read Hebrews 5:13, 14.)

We also should remember that we are bounded to living in this system of things were the way man sees it, mostly it shall not be the way God sees it, because mere man sees what appears to the eyes, but Jehovah sees into the heart.(1 Samuel 16:6, 7; 1 Kings 8:39; Proverbs 24:12; Acts 1:24)

We should know the God of our ancestors and serve Him with a complete * heart + and with a delightful * soul,* for Jehovah searches through all hearts and He has foreseen a purpose for us, going to establish the righteous. there may be many Christians who think they have to do no works any more once baptised, but they shall be surprised. When they do not live according to God’s Law they shall miss the opportunity to enter the Kingdom of God. Yes we are able to miss the boat. (1 Chronicles 28:9; Psalm 7:9; Jeremiah 17:10)

If you prefer to live according to the flesh and keep doing works of the flesh you may be sure there can arise more problems when you have to appear in front of Jesus when he comes back than the problems you will have to face know.

More problems coming into this world

The last few decades we have seen an increase of difficulties on different levels. the bible speaks about that increase which we should consider signs for a coming time where more people shall get against each other and religions shall fight against other religions.

We also shall come to see that not so many Christians are as tolerant as they should be. Being a Christian in certain regions could perhaps not always so easy but also not so difficult to get you uncomfortable. But we are told that it will change. It might well be that Jews, Christians but also Muslims shall come to face very difficult times where they shall be demanded to choose for a certain faith or for a certain action. The false teachers shall try to bring people to other thoughts and having them walk in line with those in power. Believers in God might face the most difficulties, because they could be brought to doubting their faith. For non-believers there shall be no god to look at or to blame.

The media are eager to focus on the many problems and people are easily falling in their trap. Focusing on our worries will not extend our life by even a fraction of a second, let alone improve it. Besides, things often do not turn out as we feared. One scholar put it this way:

“Worry about the future is wasted effort, and the future of reality is seldom as bad as the future of our fears.”

The fact that some countries for decades have been fighting terrorism in its many forms with only limited success gives credence to many fears. Today, people are afraid and terrified for those refugees and for fundamentalist ideas which are preached everywhere and for some Muslim youngsters who tell the world with joy that they are willing to fight for the good cause of their faith. At the same time people wonder how we are going to cope with all those people coming to live in our regions, needing a roof above their head and needing to be fed.

What is troubling most people is the uncertainty of life itself! Sudden death by accident or disaster may seem to lurk around every corner, ready to put an end to everything we hold dear. Such fear and anxiety, plus numerous personal conflicts and disappointments, have made our times precisely what the apostle Paul described:

“Know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, . . . having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness.” (2 Timothy 3:1-3.)

Critical times to come

Getting into times were there shall not only be more natural disasters, man shall be creating other disasters which make it very difficult for many people. There shall be so many ideas sounding in the world, so many calling the other a false one, that people shall get muddled and shall have many doubts, giving them the impression that they nowhere to go.

The God Who demands a perfect righteousness and wants that His Word shall be respected and that His creatures shall live according to His Law has had lots of patience with mankind, but to everything comes an end. He also warned man to get to know and see the signs of the coming change and the coming end.

The God Who is sovereign over all the universe, exists simultaneously everywhere all of the time, has unlimited power, wisdom, and knowledge, is not One Who wants His people fighting against other creatures. He is a perfectly loving, just, and merciful God. He has given everybody the opportunity to find ways to have a good life and to find a better life in the time to come. But before the sublime marvellous time for man, he shall be tested a last time in a big battle which shall not be so far away when we look at the given signs.

It is getting time that people shall come to see that the fruits of terrorism have not been freedom and happiness but, instead, death, misery, and ruin. This bad fruitage has filled the 20th century and is starting to overwhelm the 21st. Many would say that rather than the solution, terrorism is one of the problems. The injustice and hatred that lead to terrorism are not God His fault. Wise King Solomon once declared:

“The true God made mankind upright, but they themselves have sought out many plans.” (Ecclesiastes 7:29)

Human badness and demonic influence, not incompetence on the part of God, lie at the root of terrorism. (Ephesians 6:11, 12.)

God has the power to halt violent bloodshed. In Noah’s time “the earth became filled with violence.” (Genesis 6:11) God’s judgement was sudden and complete:

“[God] did not hold back from punishing an ancient world . . . when he brought a deluge upon a world of ungodly people.” (2 Peter 2:5.)

The Bible states a lesson we should learn from the Flood of Noah’s day:

“Jehovah knows how to deliver people of godly devotion out of trial, but to reserve unrighteous people for the day of judgement to be cut off.” (2 Peter 2:9)

God can distinguish between those who sincerely want a better life and those who make life miserable for others. He has set the latter apart for the “destruction of the ungodly men.” But for those desiring peace, he is preparing a new earth in which righteousness is to dwell. (2 Peter 3:7, 13.) Therefore let us be attentional and not fall in the trap those around us are putting in front of us and would love to see the world reacting aggressively against the refugees and against the Muslims.

Wordslounge

+

Preceding articles

Back from gone #1 Aim of ungodly people

Back from gone #2 Aim of godly people

Back from gone #3 Giving worries to God and believing in His promises

++

Additional reading

1. Profitable disasters
2. Good and bad things in this world
3. A risk taking society
4. Securing risks
5. Facing disaster fatigue
6. Dealing with worries in our lives
7. Reacting to Disasters
8. Signs of the Last Days
9. May we have doubts
10. Give your worries to God
11. Is God behind all suffering here on earth
12. God has not destined us for wrath
13. Is God behind all suffering here on earth
14. I Can’t Believe That … (2) God would allow children to suffer
15. Bad things no punishment from God
16. Some one or something to fear #6 Faith in the Most High
17. Seeing or not seeing and willingness to find God
18. Looking at three “I am” s
19. He who knows himself, is kind to others
20. Your struggles develop your strengths
21. National Natural Disaster and Bible Prophecy
22. We are ourselves responsible
23. If your difficulties are longstanding, try kneeling
24. Even in tough times remembering the blessings
25. In Defense of the truth
26. A Living Faith #4 Effort
27. Truth, doubt or blindness
28. Remember there’s a light in the next day
29. Creator and Blogger God 9 A Blog of a Book 3 Blog about Prophecy
30. God’s Plan, Purpose and teachings
31. Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #15 Exposition before the Creator
32. Signs of the Last Days
33. Preaching to an unbelieving world
34. I Only hope we find GOD again before it is too late !

+++

Further reading

1. How the Migrant Crisis is Tearing Europe Apart
2. Atheist Alliance International Struggle With Stats
3. Terrorism is not an ethnic trait – it’s a malady wrought by social, religious extremism
4. Rinos and Cinos
5. IFB Churches and Women
6. Fundamentalists and the “Stupid Sumbitch”
7. A House Divided: How Hatred Aimed At Any Group, Is an Assault On Us All
8. Stop Your Doing is Not the Gospel
9. When you feel like you are in a tough situation
10. I love the smell of rejection in the morning
11. Love without reservation
12. He is Faithful and Just
13. Learn To Enjoy The Journey Of Life
14. Napping my heart
15. Badness
16. Hidden scars
17. More than meets the eye
18. Repentance
19. Growing a more useful mindset than fear.
20. Why Don’t Moderate Muslims Denounce Terrorism?
21. Why do Christians Insist on Fighting?
22. “I” Speaks On To Me (3/4)
23. The Silence (3/5)
24. Bad Like Me
25. broken words for sale
26. What to say?
27. God, Help Me Not to Hate Those Who Hate
28. Trump: “‘Oh freedom of speech, freedom of speech.’ These are foolish people.”
29. The Frozen-Chosen Church?
30. The Price of Forgiveness?
31. Das Spiel mit der Angst
32. La Horca Moderna

Related articles

• Loving the Sinner
• A Perfect Inheritance
• Spiritual Growth
• “By the Power Invested in Me”
• Your Word for This Day: “God is a Giver!”
• Running Strong
• Exciting New Offertory Giving
• We stand together proudly
• Jesus Christ is not REAL to most Christians
• Jesus Christ: The Word of God