Matthew 27 – The Final Hours: Trial, Execution and Burial – Bible Students Intro

Today we come to a chapter which should shed light to those who keep saying Jesus is God. God, namely, can not die, Him being an Eternal Spirit to Whom man can do nothing. Because there is no human being stronger than God or able to kill God, people should be aware the man they are claiming to be God is either a fraud or is really the one whom he is saying himself and who his disciples said he was.

Today there are still too many people who do not want to believe that Jesus is the sent one from God, a son of man and a son of God. They keep insisting that Jesus would be God, ignoring the Words God spoke Himself, declaring the man standing in the river Jordan to be His beloved son. In Matthew’s third chapter we can read:

16 And when Jesus was immersed, he went up straightaway out of the water. And lo, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and coming upon him.
17 And lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 3:17 ACV)

But the majority of people who call themselves Christian do not want to accept Jesus being the son of God and say he is “god the son” or “godson” (something totally different). Them saying Jesus is God forget that Jesus himself said he was the sent one from God, who could not do anything without his heavenly Father, the Only One True God Who is One. They forget by not honouring the son for who he is and for what he has done, they do not honour the Father Who has sent Jesus Christ.

19 Jesus therefore answered and said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of himself, except what he sees the Father doing. For whatever he may do, the Son also does these things in like manner.
20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows him all things that he himself does. And he will show him works greater than these, so that ye may marvel.
21 For as the Father raises up the dead and makes alive, so also the Son makes alive whom he will.
22 For neither does the Father judge any man, but he has given all judgment to the Son,
23 so that all would honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. The man not honoring the Son, does not honor the Father who sent him. (John 5:19-23 ACV)

The Lord Jesus Christ acted in what he did as a great public representative person, and his dying upon the piece of wood was the act of giving himself as a ransom for all sinners.

The Devil has not stopped planning to steal kill and to destroy people. He has not stopped doing that since the Garden of Eden 7,000 years ago. In our day he has set a trap and has surrounded the camp of the Lord as well as infiltrated it’s borders with double agents and sleeper cells. {That old ancient hatred is surfacing against the people of God}

That devil wants many to believe that there is either no God, or that Jesus would be God. That way the adversary of God pulls people away from the Only One True God of Israel, Who is a God above all gods. Jehovah God Himself proclaimed that He is One, though Trinitarians do not want to accept that and continue to say there is a three-godhead or Trinity.

4 Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah.
5 And thou shall love Jehovah thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. (Dueteronomy 6:4-5 ACV)

Several of them even claim that God would have a birth and also was killed and do not see that there is spoken about two seats in heaven, one on which Jesus sits and another on which God sits.

As in the days of Christ there is a similar hatred against the lovers of God who accepted Jesus as their master. Jesus already warned his followers and said:

13 Enter ye in by the narrow gate, because wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many are they who enter through it.
14 How narrow is the gate, and restricted the way, that leads to life, and few are those who find it.
15 But beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are predatory wolves.
16 From their fruits ye will know them. Do they gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? (Matthew 7:13-16 ACV)

All the time Jesus, who was chosen and appointed by God, when he preached he made it clear he came to declare his heavenly Father, the Good News, to heal people and to fulfil the scriptures and to tell people that the year, when Jehovah will help them, has come.

18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to sent forth in deliverance those who have been broken,
19 to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. (Luke 4:18-19 ACV)

Now we come to the period that all the chief priests and the leaders of the people made a plan against Jesus. One of the disciples of Jesus, Judas had helped them to take Jesus, but when he saw they had judged Jesus and were going to kill him, he was sorry for what he had done, so he brought the thirty pieces of silver money back to the chief priests and leaders.

In this chapter of Matthew, we once more find one of the ancient sayings coming true. What Jeremiah the prophet said long ago, then came true at that time. He said,

‘They took thirty pieces of silver money. That is what the people of Israel said he was worth. ‘

“And they took the thirty silver pieces, the price of him who was valued, whom they valued from the sons of Israel,
10 and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me. ” (Matthew 27:9-10 ACV)

When Jesus stood before the ruler, he was asked by him if he was the King of the Jews.

11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned him, saying, Are thou the king of the Jews? And Jesus said to him, Thou say. (Matthew 27:11 ACV)

Pilate knew that the chief priests did not like Jesus. He knew that was why they had brought Jesus to him. His wife also saw nothing wrong in this man and asked her husband, when he was sitting in the court to judge the case, not to do anything malicious to him.

19 And while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him, saying, There is nothing for thee and that righteous man. For I suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. (Matthew 27:19-20 ACV)

Pilate asked the people what wrong thing Jesus had done. But the agitated people were pushed to ask for his death. So he washed his hands in water in front of the people as a sign of him wanting to be innocent.

22 Pilate says to them, What then shall I do to Jesus who is called Christ? They all say to him, He should be crucified.
23 And the governor said, For what evil has he done? But they cried out even more, saying, He should be crucified.
24 And when Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather an uproar was developing, after taking water, he washed his hands in front of the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man. See ye to it.
25 And having answered, all the people said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
26 Then he released Barabbas to them, and having scourged Jesus he delivered him so that he would be crucified. (Matthew 27:22-26 ACV)

Man can do God nothing, but Jesus is a man of flesh and blood who could be beaten and scorned. The soldiers took Jesus to a room where they took off his clothes, and they put a red gown on him. They also made a big ring of thorns like a crown and put it on his head. They knew Jesus was often called the “King of the Jews”, and therefore they gave him the symbols of a king, mocking with him.

27 Then the soldiers of the governor, having taken Jesus into the Praetorium, gathered the whole band to him.
28 And having stripped him, they put a scarlet robe on him.
29 And having woven a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand. And having knelt down before him, they ridiculed him, saying, Hail, king of the Jews!
30 And having spat upon him, they took the reed and were striking him on his head.
31 And after they ridiculed him, they took the robe off of him, and put his clothes on him, and led him away in order to crucify. (Matthew 27:27-31 ACV)

Jesus as a real man had to feel all the pain, but at the same time, he had to trust God, that everything would come all right. Those who think Jesus is God forget that God is an invisible All-knowing Spirit Being, but Jesus did not know everything. Jesus even did not know when he would return or when the Last Days would be, or who would be seated next to him in his kingdom.

36 But about that day and hour no man knows, not even the agents of the heavens, except my Father only.
37 And as the days of Noah, so also will be the coming of the Son of man. (Matthew 24:36-37 ACV)

Can you imagine what must have gone on in the heart of Jesus when he came near Golgotha, that means, ‘The place of a head bone’, “the place of a skull”.  On that hill not so far from the city, he was nailed to a piece of wood and got put the complaint against him above his head.

35 And when they crucified him, they divided his garments, casting a lot.
36 And as they sat, they keep watch over him there.
37 And they set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. (Matthew 27:35-37 ACV)

At that time several people also had to laugh with the fact that Jesus would be God’s Son. Then too they thought he could do the same things as God could do. But nothing is so. Only what God allowed His son to do could happen. And now was the moment there that a man proved to God that man can be truthful and obedient to God. Because Jesus had done all the time what God wanted and not what he wanted. Naturally, in case Jesus would have been God, then Jesus would never have had any problem with doing God’s Will, because then it would also have been his will. But Jesus is not God and as such he could have chosen to do something else then what God wanted. Though Jesus asked that God His Will would be done and not his will.

40 And when he came at the place, he said to them, Pray ye not to enter into temptation.
41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw. And he knelt down and prayed,
42 saying, Father, if thou want, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless not my will, but thine be done.
43 And an agent from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him.
44 And having become in agony he prayed more intensely, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling down to the ground. (Luke 22:40-44 ACV)

Like there are many today making fun of Jesus, in his time the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders also made fun of him and did not want to believe in him.

39 And those who passed by reviled him, shaking their heads,
40 and saying, Thou who destroy the temple, and build it in three days, save thyself. If thou are the Son of God, come down from the cross.
41 And likewise also the chief priests, ridiculing with the scholars, and elders, and Pharisees, said,
42 He saved others, he cannot save himself. If he is the king of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in him.
43 He trusted in God, let him rescue him now, if he wants him, for he said, I am the Son of God.
44 And also the robbers who were crucified with him reviled him the same way. (Matthew 27:39-42 ACV)

Jesus trusted in God and never claimed to be God, but by others, it was made clear he was “God’s Son.”

About three o’clock in the afternoon, Jesus called out loud not to himself (in case he would have been God) but called to his heavenly Father.

46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a great voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? That is, My God, my God, why have thou forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46 ACV)

It is not that the God of Jesus would have left him alone. Jesus might really have felt that God would have abandoned him. For him, the hour was near that he felt his life was coming to an end. He knew very well that it is only God Who can not die, and that for him, like any other human being, life has a beginning and an end. Now he saw the end of his life in front of his eyes.

Jesus called out loud again to his heavenly Father, his God. Then he died.

At that time the thick cloth that hung in the temple was torn into two pieces and the earth shook and big rocks broke.
The Roman captain and some of his soldiers who were guarding Jesus on the stake, when they saw the earth shake and the other things happen, were very much afraid and came to understand the particular special place this man had.

50 And Jesus, having cried out again in a great voice, yielded up his spirit.
51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom, and the earth quaked, and the rocks split,
52 and the sepulchers were opened, and many bodies of the sanctified who have been asleep arose.
53 And having come forth out of the sepulchers after his resurrection they entered into the holy city and appeared to many.
54 Now the centurion, and those with him watching over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake, and the things that happened, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. (Matthew 27:50-54 ACV)

They came convinced that this man hanging there was God’s Son.

There were also many women watching from far away. They had come with Jesus from Galilee and had helped him. Among these women were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

In the evening came, Joseph from the town of Arimathea, a rich man who also believed in Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate said that it should be given to him.
Joseph took the body and wrapped a clean linen cloth around it and put the body in his own new grave which had been cut in a rock. He rolled a very big stone to close the grave. Then he went away.

The next day was the Sabbath day. The chief priests and Pharisees who were afraid something might happen with the body of Jesus, went to Pilate together to ask him to have guards in front of the grave.
They remembered what Jesus had said when he was still living.

his sepulchre is sealed and watched
62 Now on the morrow, which is after the Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees came together to Pilate, 63 saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said while he was still alive, After three days I am raised. 64 Command therefore to secure the tomb until the third day, lest his disciples having come by night steal him away, and say to the people, He was raised from the dead. And the last error will be worse than the first.
65 Pilate said to them, Ye have security. Go, make it as secure as ye know how. 66 And having gone, they made the tomb secure, with the security having sealed the stone. (Matthew 27:62-65 ACV)

The soldiers stayed to guard Jesus grave, to make sure it would stay shut and nobody could run away with the corpse.

In the next chapter Mattew reveals another important part to believe for the ones who call themselves Christian. (We shall see it later, after having looked at the different parts of Chapter 27).

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Preceding

Matthew 9:27-31 – What others are saying about the blind men recognising the son of David

Matthew 17:22-23 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Grief and Jesus’ Prediction of His Death

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

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

Left in the dark or being in the dark seeing light

Calvin commenting at Matthew 25:31: The Son of man shall come in his glory

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #10 Matthew 26:40-47 – Two More Prayers for the Cup to Pass

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #11 Matthew 26:48-56 – Betrayal by Judas and Arrest of Jesus

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #14 Matthew 26:69-75 – Peter’s Denial

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Additional reading

1. Truth, doubt or blindness
2. Thought for Wednesday Believe in the one God has sent
3. A god who gave his people commandments and laws he knew they never could keep to it
4. Not About The Name Of The Godhead Of Jesus
5. For those who believe Jesus is God
6. Do you believe in One god
7. Fully God Or Only A Part Of God?
8. For Getting to know Jesus
9. Jesus begotten Son of God #6 Anointed Son of God, Adam and Abraham
10. Jesus begotten Son of God #12 Son of God
11. Jesus begotten Son of God #13 Pre-existence excluding virginal birth of the Only One Transposed
12. Jesus begotten Son of God #15 Son of God Originating in Mary
13. Jesus begotten Son of God #16 Prophet to be heard
14. Jesus begotten Son of God #17 Adam, Eve, Mary and Christianity’s central figure
15. Jesus begotten Son of God #19 Compromising fact
16. Jesus begotten Son of God #20 Before and After
17. Who do you say Jesus is
18. Believing what Jesus says
19. Recognising Jehovah’s sovereignty
20. The meek one riding on an ass
21. The New Covenant Victim and Mediator
22. The New Covenant Intercessor
23. Three basic commands
24. Responsibility bigger than those who talk about worldly matters
25. Yeshua a man with a special personality
26. Sayings of Jesus, what to believe and being or not of the devil
27. Omniscient God opposite a not knowing Jesus
28. A voice cries out: context
29. Days of Nisan, Pesach, Pasach, Pascha and Easter
30. Getting out of the dark corners of this world
31. How do trinitarians equate divine nature
32. Today’s thought “nonsense surrounding the many gods” (July 28)
33. Blindness in the Christian world
34. Americans their stars, pretension, God, Allah and end of times signs #1 Abrahamic religions
35. That everyone may honour the Son and sent one from God
36. After darkness a moment of life renewal
37. If we, in our prosperity, neglect religious instruction and authority

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Related articles

1. Seeing Clearly – Br. James Koester
2. Running and pausing with Jesus – Br. Todd Blackham
3. It’s a privilege
4. What Does It Mean to be a True Christian?
5. Being A Cultural Christian Is Not Enough
6. Being Christian
7. Effective Christianity
8. Progressive Christianity
9. They Will Know We Are Christians By…What?
10. The History of the Development of the Trinity Doctrine
11. That old ancient hatred is surfacing against the people of God
12. Anticipation!
13. Tuesday Tea-ology, 12/01/20
14. Advent Devotional for 2 December 2020 – John 1v1 part 2 – The Word was God
15. Advent devotional for 14 December 2020 – John 1v14 – The Word became flesh
16. “The God who is Father, Son, and Spirit” by Scott Swain
17. 5 Reasons to Treasure the Trinity
18. God’s Birth Announcement
19. Behold the Son
20. Beloved son
21. Why is Jesus called the “Son of God” in the Bible?
22. Immanuel – God with us
23. Matthew 2 – More Oddities. Already Fulfilled Prophecies?
24. Jesus as a Child
25. Thy Glory My Chief End
26. Christ – The Highest Authority
27. Matthew 27: The Death of Jesus. The Triptych Enigma.
28. Is this He?
29. The Righteous
30. Ponder These Things
31. I Love You
32. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:
33. Verse Of The Day – Matthew 27:37
34. Behold the King
35. Behold Your King!
36. Christ the King
37. Governor Of The Jews
38. K is for King of the Jews
39. Hail, King of the Jews!
40. King Of The Jews
41. Only “king of the Jews” … found in the New testament of the Holy Bible (KJV)
42. The King of the Jews
43. The King of the Jews (Devotionary)
44. King of the Jews (Tim Farley)
45. Jesus, King of the Jews
46. Mark 15:12
47. Mark 15:26
48. My King
49. Who Is Your King?
50. The Way Of The Cross
51. March 21 – Jesus Through the Pages Day 25
52. Mark 15:25-26. Is Jesus Your King?
53. He Cannot Save Himself
54. You are Invited
55. Throwback Thursday: The Invisible God and A Place Further Than the Universe
56. on God the Son… Jesus the image of the Father
57. The Invincible Invisible
58. Walking With The Invisible God
59. God’s Invisible Things
60. An Invisible Faith
61. Seeing The Unseeable
62. The Visible Invisible God
63. Facing the Unseen

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)

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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)

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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

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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

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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)

God’s Face shining on His servant

In the past God His Face could shine on His servant David. Several years later it also could shine on God His other servant, Jesus.

That servant had only a very short time a public life. But in that short time he became a very special public figure spoken off by many. First when he was baptised by his cousin in the river Jordan, he was declared to be the “son of God” by a voice out of heaven. When he toured through the land of Israel he spoke a lot about his Father Whose Words and Deeds he came to declare. The unfolding of his word could give light to many. Whilst he taught several listened very carefully, though others tried to find in those words enough to speak against him, even to consider him to be a danger for the community, better to be killed.

In Psalm 118 we can read about a day Jehovah had made. Now when Jesus enters Jerusalem it is again a special day Jehovah had made, having people praising Jesus as their king. Though perhaps they really did not know the essence of his kingship. But it should be a sign for us to recognise Jesus as the King sent by God.

Many times Jesus had called unto his God, the God of Israel Who is an Unseen Spirit God. He had talked about that mysterious God and told people how they had to build up a relationship with that Divine Creator. Jesus had also told people to be thankful to their God. Like the Davidic king before him he asked to give thanks unto Jehovah; for He is good and for His lovingkindness endures for ever.

Jehovah has always been on the side of Jesus, but most people did not and still do not see that. For Jesus it was clear that Jehovah God was also for him among those who helped him and therefore he could look with satisfaction on those who hated him.

The day of his triumphal entrance in Jerusalem Jesus could hear the sound of joyful shouting and salvation and could see all those happy faces with a lot of expectations. We should come to see that the right hand of Jehovah God is exalted and that He made this only begotten son higher than angels (though at first he was lower than them).

“The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;” (Ps 118:22 NIV)

Soon after this triumphal entrance this king would be rejected not being recognised as the chief corner stone of a Body of faithful ones to God.

That day, many were blind and did not really saw who this sent one from God was and why he would be so important. Today there are still billions of people not willing to see that Jesus is the sent one from God who is the way to God and who brings salvation for many. They like the people in Jerusalem might have made him also their king and even their god, this in disrespect for the God of Christ, Who is a Singular Eternal Being Who wants to be worshipped and recognised as the Only One True God.

Jesus spoke in a special way with a marvellous knowledge of the Scriptures. He gave many signs, wonders and miracles, and let people know it was not him who was doing that, but his heavenly Father Who is greater than him and without Him he could do nothing.

“Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” (Joh 5:19 NIV)

“”You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.” (Joh 14:28 NIV)

God set Jesus apart, but not many seem to get that. He fulfilled all the prophecies yet many did esteem him not. Their honour for him was to please their own worldly feelings. They never would think to let go of the worldly traditions and wordly festivals. They prefer like the people then, to take Jesus as their idol, their god, instead of accepting him as the sent one from God and as the respectful faithful servant of God.

Many today are still not fully understanding, like there, at the time of Jesus, they also would sing with the crowd

“The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna {A Hebrew expression meaning “Save!” which became an exclamation of praise; also in verse 15 } to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” {Psalm 118:26 } “Hosanna {A Hebrew expression meaning “Save!” which became an exclamation of praise; also in verse 15 } in the highest!”” (Mt 21:9 NIV)

That day the sun was shining on Jesus and he radiated the light of the Most High, but not many saw that he is the one who has come in the name of Jehovah.

Let us recognise that Jesus is that promised one, the sent one from God who deserves all honour for being the faithful servant of God.

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Preceding

Demanding signs or denying yourself

Nazarene Commentary Matthew 4:12-17 – Galilee Saw A Great Light

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

Matthew 9:27-31 – What others are saying about the blind men recognising the son of David

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

Matthew 9:35-38 – Looking at Jesus our shepherd

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!

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Additional reading

1. Entrance of a king to question our position #1 Coming in the Name of the Lord
2. Entrance of a king to question our position #2 Who do we want to see and to be

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Further related reading

1. Tenth week of ordinary-time (cycle I)- Tuesday-responsorial-psalm- (psalm 118)
2. Today –The Day the Lord Has Made +This is the Day the Lord has Made
3. Give Thanks to the LORD (Psalm 118)
4. Faithless and faithful
5. Third week of Easter-monday responsorial-psalm (Psalm 118)
6. Cheering to Jeering to Cheering Psalm 118
7. Spiritual Journey: Transformation
8. The Heavenly Architect

Matthew 15:29-31 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Jesus Cures

Matthew 15:29-31 – Jesus Cures

MT15:29 From there Jesus went overland to the shores[1] of the Sea of Galilee. He climbed a mountain and was sitting there. MT15:30 Now many crowds approached him with their lame, maim, blind, mute, and many others. They cast them before the feet of Jesus and he cured them all. MT15:31 And the crowd was awestruck[2] seeing the mute speaking, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. They glorified the God of Israel.[3]

*

[1] Overland to the shores: Another fifty mile walk inland.

[2] Awestruck: Or, KJV: wondered; TCNT: astonished; NEB: amazement.

[3] They glorified the God of Israel: Compare Matthew 9:33 and Revelation 11:13. Jesus is not attracting attention to himself but to his God. The crowd does not glorify Jesus, but rather his Father.

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Preceding

Matthew 15:1-20 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Tradition and the Heart

Matthew 15:21-28 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Giving Bread to Puppies

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Related

1. Miracle worker
2. Bible Study Notes on Matthew 15:29-39 – 20180119
3. Healed by the Faith of the Son of God
4. Miracles: One from heaven
5. Who Needs Your Kindness Today?
6. Come To Jesus 101

As Christ’s slaves doing the Will of God in gratitude

When we seem to receive everything why are we not much more showing gratitude to that One Who provides?

Not many people today are seeing that it is the Great God Who gives us everything we need for life. Not much seems to have changed by the years. Like we can find godliness in His Book of books, though it may be a Best-seller, not many people are following all the advice which is given in it.

In that ancient writing we are given words which should be precious and should be burned in the hearts of many.

Our hearts should be be comforted (+) and all that say they love Jesus should be harmoniously joined together in love (+). We that call ourselves Christians should be true followers of Christ Jesus, accepting that what he, Jeshua, Jesus from Nazareth says, but also should accept what his heavenly Father, the God of Jesus, says, Who is also the God of Abraham. In our faith in Jesus accepting him to be the son of God, and not making him a god son, we may have all the riches that result from the full assurance of our understanding, in order to gain an accurate knowledge of the sacred secret of God, namely, Christ.(+)

It is true that for many it still may not be clear and that even a lot of Christians do not believe a man could keep to God’s commandments. Though all that call themselves Christians should know that carefully concealed in this Nazarene man, Jesus, are all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge. (+)

The apostle Paul said this already some two thousand years ago so that no one may delude the first nor the later Christians with persuasive arguments. Having accepted Christ Jesus the Lord, we should go on walking in union with him, being rooted and built up in him (+) and being stabilized in the faith, (+ ) just as you were taught, and overflowing with thanksgiving. (+)

It is in Jesus that all the fullness of the divine quality dwells bodily. (+) and by means of him we have acquired a fullness and can receive so many more blessings already in this life. Though we should know that our baptism is not a stop in our way to search. We continuously have to go on seeking the things above, where the Christ is seated at the right hand of God. (+) Though there may be many things to get our minds from Scripture and to distract us from the real Truth, we have to keep your minds fixed on the things above, (+) the more important things than worldly gain.

We see that the majority of this world is most interested to enlarge their gain and to provide themselves with a name so that others can look up to them. But we should not be bounded to this earth and to the gains of the earth. not on the things on the earth.

Black and white student clasping hands – Unity – Photo Frerieke

Several Christians do see in the union of Christ a proof for their three headed god, but forget that God as well as Jesus do ask us to become in the same union. Our life has should not be one of being on our own but be one of being in union with Christ like Jesus was and is in union with God. Being united with Jesus like he is united with God, does not make us Jesus nor will it make us God, but it will give us divine force of being stronger than the world.  When the Christ, our life, is made manifest, then we also will be made manifest with Jesus in glory.

3 If, however, You were raised up+ with the Christ, go on seeking the things above,+ where the Christ is seated at the right hand of God.+2 Keep Your minds fixed on the things above,+ not on the things upon the earth.+3 For You died,+ and Your life+ has been hidden with the Christ in union+ with God. 4 When the Christ, our life,+ is made manifest, then You also will be made manifest+ with him in glory.+ (Colossians 3: 1-4)

The apostle Paul in his letter to the Colossians, highlights the superiority and supremacy of Christ in the first two chapters. Then, he teaches the believers how to live in Christ. He sums up a lot of things we do have to do. though in certain faith groups the believers do think we do not have to do anything any more because we are saved, Paul assures them they are mistaken and confirms what James said that faith without works is dead, and we should be alive in Christ doing the works of Christ.

12 Accordingly, as God’s chosen ones,+ holy and loved, clothe yourselves with the tender affections of compassion,+ kindness, lowliness of mind,*+ mildness,+ and long-suffering.+ 13 Continue putting up with one another and forgiving one another freely+ if anyone has a cause for complaint+ against another. Even as Jehovah* freely forgave You,+ so do You also. 14 But, besides all these things, [clothe yourselves with] love,+ for it is a perfect bond+ of union.*

15 Also, let the peace+ of the Christ* control in Your hearts,+ for You were, in fact, called to it in one* body.+ And show yourselves thankful. 16 Let the word of the Christ* reside in You richly in all wisdom.+ Keep on teaching+ and admonishing one another with psalms,+ praises to God,* spiritual songs+ with graciousness, singing in Your hearts to Jehovah.*+17 And whatever it is that You do in word or in work,+ do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,+ thanking+ God the Father through him. (Colossians 3: 12-17)

We should have the words of Christ dwell in us richly. We should accept what Jesus tells about himself and about his heavenly Father and should not fabricate other ideas to confirm with the worldly thinking of the many gods and idols. We should honour the words of Christ and be willing to accept what he tells about his Father and what the Father tells about him.

Not keeping to human traditions and not adhering to human doctrines we should follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and whatever we do, in word or deed, we have to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. With these words of Christ we should let others know those words and show them the way Jesus showed to his disciples. By the servant of the heavenly Father we are liberated from the chains of this world. As we were slaves of the world enjoying all the temptations we now should know better and look further than our nose and look for a better future. Though we should know that we can not do differently than living in this world at the moment, we should make the best out of it, but by keeping to God’s commandments, doing Jesus and doing God His Will, like Jesus did not his will but the Will of God.

Being a good Christian we should, like Jesus asked, give the Caesar what the Caesar wants, being obedient in everything to those who are your human fleshly masters, (+) not only when they are watching, just to please men, but with sincerity of heart, with fear of Jehovah. We as Christ’s slaves should be doing the will of God whole-souled, loving Jehovah our Only One God with our whole heart and with our whole soul (*) and with our whole strength and with our whole mind. (Ephesians 6:5, 6)

* 23 Whatever you are doing, work at it whole-souled* as for Jehovah,*+ and not for men, 24 for you know that it is from Jehovah* you will receive the inheritance as a reward.+ Slave for the Master, Christ. 25 Certainly the one who does wrong will be repaid for the wrong he has done,+ and there is no partiality.+ (Colossians 3: 23-25)

At all moments we should be thankful for what Jesus has done for mankind and praise God in His sanctuary, in the firmament of His power, showing our gratitude for Him willing to accept the ransom Jesus offered Him.

To praise God we can use the many Psalms God has provide us by his servant King David. God His other servant, Jeshjua, Jesus Christ showed us the way to his Father in heaven. Jesus also prayed to this God of Abraham in Whom he had put his faith and in Whom we also should put our faith. Jesus was fully penetrated by the Words of God and we should come one with God like Jesus is one with God.

21 so that they may all be one,+ just as you, Father, are in union with me and I am in union with you,+ that they also may be in union with us, so that the world may believe that you sent me. (John 17:21)

Everything what Jesus has done, was in accordance not to Jesus his will but along the lines and wishes of his heavenly Father, The Only One True God Who is One. For Jesus the Words of his Father sounded like music in his ears. All the words God said, should also resound as music in our ears.

As James Faris in Christian Living writes:

God has given us the whole Scriptures for our aid. But, God created the human heart to respond in special ways to his word set to music. In song, the word of God penetrates the soul. In song, we experience union with Christ. In the throes of life – the crisis moments – it is words set to music that first come to mind. In those moments, we can’t always run to the desktop, but we should have the smartphone of soul embedded in our hearts.

Apple used to use that catchy phrase “there’s an app for that.” Need to send flowers to mom? there’s an app for that. Need to know the name of the constellation of stars in the sky overhead? There’s an app for that. Need supper? There’s an app for that.

Well, whatever your circumstance of life, there’s a Psalm for that:

• Contemplating origins? Think Psalm 33.
• Considering the consummation of the age? Think Psalm 149.
• Rising from bed? Think Psalm 5.
• Going to bed? Think Psalm 4.
• Awake at night? Think Psalm 63.
• Ready to eat? Think Psalm 145.
• Thirsty? Think Psalm 42.
• Going to work? Think Psalm 104.
• Celebrating the Lord’s Day? Think Psalm 122.
• Checking your genealogy? Think Psalm 16.
• Your beginning? Think Psalm 139.
• Your birth? Think Psalm 71.
• Celebrating a birthday? Think Psalm 104.
• Enjoying childhood? Think Psalm 34.
• Need motivation to study well? Think Psalm 111.
• Gazing at the stars? Think Psalm 19.
• Maturing as a youth? Think Psalm 119.
• Ready to pop the question? Think Psalm 45.
• Bringing children into the world? Think Psalm 128.
• Questions about parenting? Think Psalm 103.
• Playing with your grandchildren? Think Psalm 71.
• Harvest time here? Think Psalm 65.
• Seasons changing around you? Think Psalm 147.
• Traveling? Think Psalm 121.
• On the water? Think Psalm 107.
• Remembering history? Think Psalm 78.
• Talking with your financial planner? Think Psalm 49.
• Tempted by the world? Think Psalm 73.
• Disappointed by life? Think Psalm 77.
• Weeping over your sins? Think Psalm 51.
• Engaged in evangelism? Think Psalm 96.
• Overcome by fear? Think Psalm 91.
• Angered by the wickedness of men? Think Psalm 94.
• Disappointed by civic elections? Think Psalm 2.
• Rejoicing in the incarnation? Think Psalm 113.
• Prone to worry? Think Psalm 130.
• Growing old? Think Psalm 92.
• Butchering or preparing meat? Think Psalm 8.
• Going to war? Think Psalm 18.
• In the process of dying? Think Psalm 6.
• Mourning the death of a loved one? Think Psalm 116.
• Anticipating eternity? Think Psalm 73.

Of course, you can add other life experiences to the list. Why is the Psalter the smartphone of the soul? Rowland Prothero notes:

“The Book of Psalms contains the whole music of the heart of man, swept by the hand of his Maker. In it are gathered the lyrical burst of his tenderness, the moan of his penance, the pathos of his sorrow, the triumph of his victory, the despair of his defeat, the firmness of his confidence, the rapture of his assured hope. In it is presented the anatomy of all parts of the human soul. In it, as Heine says, are collected ‘sunrise and sunset, birth and death, promise and fulfillment – the whole drama of humanity.’”

Thus, we carry the Psalms in our mental pockets daily. Our minds race here to check for truths, to hear from God, and see our decisions and emotions governed when we cannot access the rest of Scripture. This has been my experience of life…from birthdays, to emergency room visits, to maternity wards, to the graveside, and beyond.

Smartphones are great, but they only go so far. They may reveal where you are in a building, but they cannot reveal what is in your building. They may map the stars in the sky, but they cannot unite you to the maker of the stars. They may point you to bread on earth, but they cannot feed you bread from heaven. The Psalms do all of these things and more. Phone programs fail, contracts expire, and phones are dropped in toilets. The Psalms hidden in the heart will never fail you. They will cause the peace of Christ to rule in your heart. They will order your life. But the Psalms only function this way in the hearts of those who own them. {The Psalter: Smartphone of the Soul (revisited)}

We shall praise God for His creation and all the wonder-works He did but also to show our thankfulness for accepting the ransom offer Jesus brought for us all. We shall bring praise to God because He has verified His promise to bless all those who wait upon Him in faith and sincerity. Even we do know that we or those who come behind us shall have to face an other terrible war, we can see the signs of the end coming near.

Bringing praise to God let us step in the footsteps of Jesus Christ and let us share our blessings with others by taking to as many
as possible who are truth hungry the “sincere milk of the Word,” and the “meat in due season” from His storehouse.

Praise God from whom all bless is honour to his beloved Son!

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Preceding articles:

Be vigilant with a view to prayers

Psalm 150 Praise Jah, You people!

Psalm 150 Praise Jah! Praise God

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Related articles

• Culture Change by the Apostle Paul (bpardekooper.wordpress.com)
  The Apostle Paul was a dynamic leader as a founder of Christianity and the church of Jesus Christ. As a Jew, Paul was keenly aware of the culture of the Jewish people and their customs, but recognized growth was necessary for his people to follow Jesus the Christ. Paul’s central message throughout his ministry focused on a simple concept: to become like Jesus Christ and live a life in accordance with his teachings and example. (I Co. 11:1, Ep. 5:1, 4:22-24, Ga. 3.27, Ro. 8:29) In establishing Christianity, Paul was on a journey to change the culture of the Jewish people to embrace a new reality given to them by Jesus.
• A New Past, Present and Future in Jesus (revolutionarypaideia.com)
  We enter into this blood-bought Grace Covenant with Jesus when we receive the Salvation He has made available to everyone.
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  Jesus expects for you to no longer live a life where you’re sin-conscious: “For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins” (Hebrews 10:2). When you’re constantly worried about sin threatening your position of righteousness in Christ Jesus, this sin-consciousness causes you to receive bondage and fear—this bondage and fear is not a part of your reborn spirit in Christ Jesus,
• Real Truth Will Set You Free (mylordmyfriend.com)
  Teaching that takes away from Christ teachings or demotes Christ Jesus from His central place place with The Father, is dangerous to the Christian message.
• Hugh’s News & Views (Preaching Jesus) (fellowshiproom.org)
  Jesus was always available to those who were in need and that He is still accessible today [Hebrews 4:15-16]).
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  Jesus instructed the apostles to teach those they baptized “to observe all things whatever I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20). The early church “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42). If I likewise instruct people to observe all that Christ commanded and to continue faithfully in the doctrine of Christ’s apostles, am I not, in reality, preaching Jesus?
• 2015 Fasting Devotion, Day Twenty-One (stacylynnallen.com)
  In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever.
• Attitude is Everything (faithandfootsteps.wordpress.com)
  We carry around with us the knowledge of this great gospel of Jesus Christ, so we should respond to life’s circumstances as he would.  Sounds pretty hard to do considering that Jesus responded perfectly to all that life threw at him.
• Accidental Discipleship (defendingcontending.com)
  It’s what the flesh wants and it’s a shortcut that will lead to disappointment or destruction. Knowing Jesus is the correct goal. In Him we are complete (Colossians 2:10). Whatever change is truly needed in our lives will be wrought by the Spirit of God if we abandon our plans for self-justification and pursue Christ. Not improvement, not change for the better, not relief from our pain; just Jesus.
• Sunday, 22 February 2015 : First Sunday of Lent, Feast of the Chair of St. Peter the Apostle (Second Reading) (petercanisiusmichaeldavidkang.com)
  baptism is not a matter of physical cleansing but of asking God to reconcile us through the resurrection of Christ Jesus.