Nazarene Commentary Matthew 4:5-7 – A Temptation to Test God

Matthew 4:5-7 – A Temptation to Test God

|| Luke 4:9-12

MT4:5 Then the Devil took Jesus along into the Holy City[1] and stationed him on the Temple[2] battlement MT4:6 and the Devil said to him, “If you are a son of The God hurl yourself down, for it has been written [in Psalms],[3] ‘He will give His angels charge regarding you and upon their hands they will lift you so you will never strike your foot[4] upon a stone.’” [Psalm 91:11, 12] MT4:7 Jesus replied to the Devil: “Again it is written,[5] ‘You shall not put YHWH your God to the test.’”[6] [Deuteronomy 6:16]

*

Maquete of the Temple in Jerusalem (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

After being led by the Pneuma to be tempted into the desert [see also (James 1:13,)] Jeshua, the son of God, was taken to  the pinnacle of the temple, to overlook the city of Jerusalem, which has to be the capital of the Kingdom of God. Jesus once again is mislead by the thoughts which promise him that angels on their hands shall bear Jesus up when he jumps from the high wall.

Jesus did not want to test God. He had enough trust in Him and knew everything would happen like God had it in His Plan according His time set. Jesus also did not need a sign to have a proof who he was.  He was well aware that he was a son of David, a son of Abraham and a son of God. He also knew very well that God is the Most Powerful of all beings. He did not have to get a prove of that.  Satan, the adversary of God, also knows it very well that God is the Omniscience, Omnipotent, Absolute Sovereign. Both knew how the Elohim Hashem is the Most High Almighty Who conducts His army of angels like He wants to do it.

Jesus himself had to believe he was a son of God, like we should have to believe that as well likewise that Jesus is the sent one from God and not God Himself.

“”I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” (John 5:24 NIV)

In this world we may find lots of people who want to find out if God really exist or would do this or that for them. We also may find lots of people who have changed their god because when they prayed, asking their god to do a certain thing, when he did not do that, they left him or her. (This happens a lot in South America, where so called Catholics have a pleiade of gods and goddesses.)

In this fragment we do hear again one of the many “ifs” the adversary of God sows in the world.
He brings up to the sent one from God:

1. If thou be the Son of God, turn stones into bread {#Mt 4:3 }
2. If thou be the Son of God, leap from the top of the temple {#Mt 4:6 }

which shall later be repeated

At the Cross, if thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross

1. The cry of the rabble {#Mt 27:40 }
2. The cry of the soldiers {#Lu 23:37 }
3. The cry of the thief {#Lu 23:39 }

Today in Christendom we still find lots of people who still not want to believe Jesus is the son of God, but prefer to make him a god son, hoping that he would do more and better things than his heavenly Father the Only One True God. They keep preferring to believe in some one who could be seen instead of trusting the One no man can see and live.

**

[1] Holy City: Jerusalem. The New Jerusalem is called “the holy city” in the Book of Revelation (Revelation 11:2; 21:2, 10; 22:19).

[2] Temple: The Greek here is HIEROU.

[3] It has been written [in Psalms]: The Devil quotes Scripture. The quotation is Psalm 91:11, 12.

[4] Your foot: Is there a sarcastic allusion to Genesis 3:15?

[5] Written: The quotation is from Deuteronomy 6:16.

[6] Test: Compare 1 Corinthians 10:9.

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Preceding

Nazarene Commentary Matthew 4:1-4 A Wilderness Temptation

Nazarene Commentary Luke 2:25-35 – Simeon’s Blessing and Warning

Jehovah God Maker of the entire universe served by a well-trained army

Next:

Nazarene Commentary Matthew 4:8-11 – A Temptation to Gain World Rule

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

Nazarene Commentary Matthew 4:18-22 – The Calling of the First Disciples

Nazarene Commentary Matthew 4:23-25 – Kingdom Preaching and Healing Draws Crowds

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Additional reading

1. satan or devil
2. First month of the year and predictions
3. Jesus begotten Son of God #6 Anointed Son of God, Adam and Abraham
4. Patriarch Abraham, Muslims, Christians and the son of God
5. A Start for looking at the unseen and the treasure to look forward to
6. Looking at the seen and going for the unseen
7. Song of Praise for the Elohim Set-Apart
8. God’s wrath and sanctification

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Further reading

1. Daniel Fast
2. April 10, 2016
3. Exodus 17:2 Testing The Lord By Grumbling
4. Judges 6:36 | Fleece Moment
5. The Temptation of Jesus
6. January 7 Matthew 4:1-11
7. SMS 145 Matthew 4:4
8. Nothing to Prove
9. Dubious Authority
10. A journey in the Wilderness
11. Miss Jane Pittman and the Temptation of Christ
12. May 20 @ Luke 3-4
13. The temptation of Jesus (Word among us)
14. Temptation of Christ
15. The Temptation’s of Christ Explained
16. Food, Power, and Minions #1
17. Food, Power, and Minions/ Today Woodstock, Tomorrow the World!
18. Food, Power, and Minions #3
19. Mathew 4: Lessons from the temptation of Jesus
20. Are We Testing God?
21. Christians & Depression IV: The Truth
22. Dead Sea Blues
23. Wilderness, Temptation, & Life…
24. Temptation, and Beauty
25. Here’s an honest admisson, maybe you can identify with me
26. Do You Require Proof?
27. Letting go of the fear of the darkness
28. When we mess up: Jesus was tempted in every way we are
29. Wilderness Jesus: Sermon for Lent 1, 2016
30. The Wilderness of Lent: A Sermon for the First Sunday in Lent, 2016
31. Why Jesus is not Like Evel Knievel
32. Trusting in God Alone
33. Lead me into temptation – just one more time!
34. Getting Testy
35. Are We Testing God?
36. Tribulation: Temple or Tabernacle Tent

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Related articles

• Monday, 9 January 2017 : Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (Psalm)
• 6th Sunday of the Year: Choosing the Lord with all our heart
• Scripture Verse Of The Week ‘Psalm 89 Verses 15 & 16’
• Your Word for This Day: “I Will Trust”
• Don’t make a mistake leaving Him out of your life
• 5th Sunday of the Year: Salt & Light
• Evening Meditation 1-8-17
• Oozing Grace and other Heretical Hazards
• God Hates Pride
• So much hatred today…

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Jehovah God Maker of the entire universe served by a well-trained army

You are Jehovah alone; you yourself have made the heavens, even the heaven of the heavens, and all their army, the earth and all that is upon it, the seas and all that is in them; and you are preserving all of them alive; and the army of the heavens are bowing down to you.—Neh. 9:6.

6 “You alone are Jehovah;+ you made the heavens, yes, the heaven of the heavens and all their army, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. And you preserve all of them alive, and the army of the heavens are bowing down to you. 7 You are Jehovah the true God, who chose Aʹbram+ and brought him out of Ur+ of the Chal·deʹans and gave him the name Abraham.+

6 “You are Jehovah alone;+ you yourself have made the heavens,+ [even] the heaven of the heavens, and all their army,+ the earth+ and all that is upon it,+ the seas+ and all that is in them;+ and you are preserving all of them alive; and the army+ of the heavens are bowing down to you. 7 You are Jehovah the [true] God, who chose Aʹbram+ and brought him out of Ur of the Chal·deʹans+ and constituted his name Abraham.+ (Ref.B.)

You alone are Jehovah:

• Exodus 20:3: 3 You must not have any other gods*+ against my face.*
• Deuteronomy 4:35: 35 You—you have been shown, so as to know that Jehovah is the [true] God;+ there is no other besides him.+
• Deuteronomy 4:39: 39 And you well know today, and you must call back to your heart* that Jehovah is the [true] God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.+ There is no other.+

• Deuteronomy 5:7: 7 You must never have any other gods against my face.*+

• Deuteronomy 6:4: 4 “Listen, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah.*+
• Deuteronomy 32:39: 39 SEE now that I—I am he*+ And there are no gods together with me.+ I put to death, and I make alive.*+ I have severely wounded,+ and I—I will heal,+ And there is no one snatching out of my hand.+
• 1 Kings 8:60: 60 to the end that all the peoples of the earth may know+ that Jehovah is the [true] God.+ There is no other.+
• 2 Kings 17:35: 35 when Jehovah concluded a covenant+ with them and commanded them, saying: “YOU must not fear other gods,+ and YOU must not bow down to them nor serve them* nor sacrifice to them.+

• 2 Kings 19:19: 19 And now, O Jehovah our God,+ save us,+ please, out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O Jehovah, are God alone.”+
• Psalm 83:18: 18 That people may know+ that you, whose name is Jehovah,+ You alone are the Most High+ over all the earth.+

• Isaiah 37:16: 16 “O Jehovah of armies, the God of Israel,+ sitting upon the cherubs, you alone are the [true] God of all the kingdoms of the earth.+ You yourself have made the heavens and the earth.+
• Isaiah 42:8: 8 “I am Jehovah. That is my name;+ and to no one else shall I give my own glory,+ neither my praise+ to graven images.+
• Isaiah 43:10: 10 “YOU are my witnesses,”*+ is the utterance of Jehovah, “even my servant* whom I have chosen,+ in order that YOU may know+ and have faith in me,+ and that YOU may understand that I am the same One.+ Before me there was no God* formed,+ and after me there continued to be none.*+
• Isaiah 44:6: 6 “This is what Jehovah has said, the King of Israel+ and the Repurchaser of him,+ Jehovah of armies, ‘I am the first and I am the last,+ and besides me there is no God.*+
• Isaiah 44:8: 8 Do not be in dread, YOU people, and do not become stupefied.+ Have I not from that time on caused you individually to hear and told [it] out?+ And YOU are my witnesses.+ Does there exist a God* besides me?+ No, there is no Rock.*+ I have recognized none.’”
• Isaiah 45:5:5 I am Jehovah, and there is no one else.+ With the exception of me there is no God.+ I shall closely gird you, although you have not known me,
• Jeremiah 25:6: 6 And do not walk after other gods* in order to serve them and to bow down to them, that YOU may not offend me with the work of YOUR hands, and that I may not cause calamity to YOU.’+
• Joel 2:27: 27 And YOU people will have to know that I am in the midst of Israel,+ and that I am Jehovah YOUR God and there is no other.+ And my people will not be ashamed to time indefinite.*
• Zechariah 14:9:9 And Jehovah must become king over all the earth.*+ In that day Jehovah will prove to be one,+ and his name one.+
• Mark 12:29: 29 Jesus answered: “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel, Jehovah* our God is one Jehovah,*+
• 1 Corinthians 8:4: 4 Now concerning the eating+ of foods offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing+ in the world,* and that there is no God but one.+
• 1 Corinthians 8:6:6 there is actually to us one God*+ the Father,+ out of whom all things are, and we for him;+ and there is one Lord,+ Jesus Christ,+ through whom all things are,+ and we through him.

made the heavens and the earth:

• Genesis 1:1: 1 In [the] beginning*+ God*+ created+ the heavens and the earth.+
• Psalm 8:3: 3 When I see your heavens, the works of your fingers,+ The moon and the stars that you have prepared,+
• Psalm 8:6: 6 You make him dominate over the works of your hands;+ Everything you have put under his feet:+
• Psalm 102:25: 25 Long ago you laid the foundations of the earth itself,+ And the heavens are the work of your hands.+
• Psalm 104:5: 5 He has founded the earth upon its established places;+ It will not be made to totter to time indefinite, or forever.+
• Psalm 136:6: 6 To the One laying out* the earth above the waters:+For his loving-kindness is to time indefinite;+
• Psalm 146:6: 6 The Maker of heaven and earth,+Of the sea, and of all that is in them,+ The One keeping trueness to time indefinite,+
• Proverbs 8:29: 29 when he set for the sea his decree that the waters themselves should not pass beyond his order,*+ when he decreed the foundations of the earth,+
• Job 26: 7: 7 He stretches out the northern sky* over empty space,*+Suspending the earth upon nothing;
• Job 38:4:  4 Where did you happen to be when I founded the earth?+ Tell [me], if you do know understanding.
• Job 38:8-11: 8 And who barricaded the sea behind doors+ When it burst out from the womb, 9 When I clothed it with clouds And wrapped* it in thick gloom, 10 When I established my limit for it And put its bars and doors in place,+ 11 And I said, ‘You may come this far, and no farther; Here is where your proud waves will stop’?+
• Psalm 102:25: 25 Long ago you laid the foundations of the earth itself,+ And the heavens are the work of your hands.+
• Psalm 104:2: 2 You are wrapped in light+ as with a garment; You stretch out the heavens like a tent cloth.+
• Isaiah 42:5: 5 This is what the [true] God, Jehovah, has said, the Creator of the heavens+ and the Grand One stretching* them out;+ the One laying out the earth+ and its produce,+ the One giving breath*+ to the people on it,+ and spirit to those walking in it:+
• Isaiah 44: 24: 24 This is what Jehovah says, your Repurchaser,+ Who formed you since you were in the womb: “I am Jehovah, who made everything. I stretched out the heavens by myself,+ And I spread out the earth.+Who was with me?
• Isaiah 48:13: 13 My own hand laid the foundation of the earth,+ And my right hand spread out the heavens.+ When I call to them, they stand up together.
• Hebrews 1:10: 10 And: “You at [the] beginning, O Lord, laid the foundations of the earth itself, and the heavens are [the] works of your hands.+
• Revelation 10:6: 6 and by the One who lives+ forever and ever,+ who created the heaven and the things in it and the earth+ and the things in it and the sea and the things in it,*+ he swore: “There will be no delay*+ any longer;
  Revelation 14:7: 7 saying in a loud voice: “FEAR God+ and give him glory,+ because the hour of the judgment by him has arrived,+ and so worship the One who made+ the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters.”+

and all their army:

• Genesis 2:1: 2 Thus the heavens and the earth and all their army came to their completion.+

• Psalm 148:2: 2 Praise him, all YOU his angels.+ Praise him, all YOU his army.+
• Jeremiah 32:18: 18 the One exercising loving-kindness toward thousands,+ and repaying the error of the fathers into the bosom of their sons after them,+ the [true] God,* the great One,+ the mighty One,*+ Jehovah of armies+ being his name,+

• Matthew 26:53: 53 Or do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father to supply me at this moment more than twelve legions of angels?+

all that is on it:

• Isaiah 45:18: 18 For this is what Jehovah has said, the Creator of the heavens,+ He the [true] God,+ the Former of the earth and the Maker of it,+ He the One who firmly established it,+ who did not create it simply for nothing, who formed it even to be inhabited:+ “I am Jehovah, and there is no one else.+

the seas:

• Genesis 1:10: 10 And God began calling the dry land Earth,+ but the bringing together of the waters he called Seas.+ Further, God saw that [it was] good.+
• Exodus 20:11: 11 For in six days Jehovah made the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything that is in them,+ and he proceeded to rest* on the seventh day.+ That is why Jehovah blessed the sabbath day and proceeded to make it sacred.*+
• Job 38:8: 8 And [who] barricaded the sea with doors,*+ Which began to go forth as when it burst out from the womb;
• Psalm 146:6: 6 The Maker of heaven and earth,+ Of the sea, and of all that is in them,+ The One keeping trueness to time indefinite,+
• Proverbs 8:29: 29 when he set for the sea his decree that the waters themselves should not pass beyond his order,*+ when he decreed the foundations of the earth,+
• Acts 4:24: 24 Upon hearing this they with one accord raised their voices to God+ and said: “Sovereign+ Lord,* you are the One who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things in them,+
• Revelation 10:6: 6 and by the One who lives+ forever and ever,+ who created the heaven and the things in it and the earth+ and the things in it and the sea and the things in it,*+ he swore: “There will be no delay*+ any longer;

and all that is in them:

• Genesis 1: 20-21: 20 Then God said: “Let the waters swarm with living creatures,* and let flying creatures fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.”*+ 21 And God created the great sea creatures* and all living creatures* that move and swarm in the waters according to their kinds and every winged flying creature according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

• Exodus 20:11: 11 For in six days Jehovah made the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything that is in them,+ and he proceeded to rest* on the seventh day.+ That is why Jehovah blessed the sabbath day and proceeded to make it sacred.*+
• Leviticus 11: 10: 10 But anything in the seas and in the rivers that has no fins and scales, among all the swarming creatures and of every other living creature* that is in the waters, it is a loathsome thing for you.

• Psalm 146:6:  6 The Maker of heaven and earth,+ Of the sea, and of all that is in them,+ The One keeping trueness to time indefinite,+

• Acts 4:24: 24 Upon hearing this they with one accord raised their voices to God+ and said: “Sovereign+ Lord,* you are the One who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things in them,+
• Acts 14:15: 15 and saying: “Men, why are YOU doing these things? We also are humans+ having the same infirmities+ as YOU do, and are declaring the good news to YOU, for YOU to turn from these vain+ things to the living God,+ who made the heaven+ and the earth and the sea and all the things in them.
• Revelation 10:6: 6 and by the One who lives+ forever and ever,+ who created the heaven and the things in it and the earth+ and the things in it and the sea and the things in it,*+ he swore: “There will be no delay*+ any longer;
• Revelation 14:7:7 saying in a loud voice: “FEAR God+ and give him glory,+ because the hour of the judgment by him has arrived,+ and so worship the One who made+ the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters.”+

 and the army of the heavens are bowing down to you:

• 1 Kings 22:19: 19 And he went on to say: “Therefore hear the word of Jehovah:+ I certainly see Jehovah sitting upon his throne+ and all the army of the heavens standing by him, to his right and to his left.+

• Psalm 103:21:21 Bless Jehovah, all YOU armies of his,+ You ministers of his, doing his will.*+

• Psalm 148:2: 2 Praise him, all YOU his angels.+ Praise him, all YOU his army.+
• Luke 2: 13-14: 13 Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army,+ praising God and saying: 14 “Glory in the heights above to God, and on earth peace among men of goodwill.”*

*

Yes, Jehovah God created the entire universe, made up of countless galaxies of stars. Equally marvellous, he created everything on our beautiful planet with its amazing ability to sustain an astonishing variety of life—life that keeps reproducing according to its kind. Witnessing all of this were the holy angels of God, who can also be described as “the army of the heavens.” (1 Ki. 22:19; Job 38:4, 7) Moreover, the angels humbly do God’s will by ministering to sinful humans “who are going to inherit salvation.” (Heb. 1:14) What a splendid example the angels set for us as we serve Jehovah unitedly like a well-trained army!—1 Cor. 14:33, 40. w13 10/15 3:9

Sing to Jehovah, Jehovah’s Witnesses’ current hymnal (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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Preceding articles:

Terwyl ons Jehovah eendragtig soos ’n goed opgeleide leër dien

Jehova ebenfalls wie ein gut ausgebildetes „Heer“ demütig und vereint dienen

Jehovah God Maker van het universum gediend door een getraind leger

Servons Jéhovah Dieu, qui créé l’univers entier et ses innombrables galaxies, dans l’unité

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Other articles of interest:

1. God, the Father, the Sole Creator of Heaven and Earth
2. Creator of heaven and earth and everything aroundיהוה
3. Almighty God above all other gods greater than all gods
4. The Almighty Lord God of gods King above all gods
5. Jehovah God Almighty greater than all gods
6. El Shaddai Who appeared unto Abraham
7. God about His name “יהוה“
8. No man see the Almighty God and live
9. How Many Persons Created the Heavens and the Earth?
10. God’s Word Framing universe
11. Coming to the creation of human beings in the image of God
12. Necessity of a revelation of creation 1 Works of God and works of man
13. El-Shaddai God Almighty Who no-one may see and live
14. Al-Fatiha [The Opening/De Opening] Süra 1:1-3 In the name of Allah the Merciful Lord Of The Creation
15. Al-Fatiha [The Opening] Süra 1: 4-7 Merciful Lord of the Creation to show us the right path
16. Fixing our attention
17. Only worship the Creator of all things
18. A race not to swift, nor a battle to the strong
19. The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong
20. Running of good courage, away from the body
21. Displeasure of יהוה , Jehovah the God of gods, and His wrath against all the gentiles their divisions
22. Searching, light, fear and deliverance
23. Focussing on oneness with Jesus like Jesus is one with God
24. Give thanks to יהוה! For He is good, For His kindness is everlasting
25. Psalm 150 Praise Jah, You people!
26. Praise and give thanks to God the Most Highest
27. Praise Jehovah
28. Song of Praise for the Elohim Set-Apart
29. Songs of Moses and the servants of God

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Related articles

• The Name of the Lord is One (Zech. 14:9)
• The Vilification of Nature
• Genesis 14
• Not good enough

El-Shaddai God Almighty Who no-one may see and live

 

 

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1 NIV)

“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; {Hebrew El-Shaddai} walk before me and be blameless.” (Genesis 17:1 NIV)

“2 God also said to Moses, “I am the LORD. 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, {Hebrew El-Shaddai} but by my name the LORD {See note at Exodus 3:15.} I did not make myself known to them. {Or Almighty, and by my name the LORD did I not let myself be known to them?}” (Exodus 6:2-3 NIV)

“”Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” (Exodus 15:11 NIV)

“Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly.”” (Exodus 18:11 NIV)

“But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no-one may see me and live.”” (Exodus 33:20 NIV)

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. {Or The LORD our God is one LORD; or The LORD is our God, the LORD is one; or The LORD is our God, the LORD alone}” (Deuteronomy 6:4 NIV)

“I will proclaim the name of the LORD. Oh, praise the greatness of our God!” (Deuteronomy 32:3 NIV)

“Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendour, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.” (1 Chronicles 29:11 NIV)

“”The temple I am going to build will be great, because our God is greater than all other gods.” (2 Chronicles 2:5 NIV)

“How great is God—beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out.” (Job 36:26 NIV)

“”Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”” (Psalms 46:10 NIV)

“[A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah.] Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain.” (Psalms 48:1 NIV)

“Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, you who have done great things. Who, O God, is like you?” (Psalms 71:19 NIV)

“Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvellous deeds.” (Psalms 72:18 NIV)

“Let them know that you, whose name is the LORD—that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.” (Psalms 83:18 NIV)

“Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord; no deeds can compare with yours.” (Psalms 86:8 NIV)

“For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD? Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings?” (Psalms 89:6 NIV)

“How great are your works, O LORD, how profound your thoughts!” (Psalms 92:5 NIV)

“3 For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods. 4 In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. 5 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. 6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; 7  for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, {Meribah means quarrelling.} as you did that day at Massah {Massah means testing.} in the desert, 9 where your fathers tested and tried me, though they had seen what I did.” (Psalms 95:3-9 NIV)

“For you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.” (Psalms 97:9 NIV)

“He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant for ever—holy and awesome is his name.” (Psalms 111:9 NIV)

“I know that the LORD is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods.” (Psalms 135:5 NIV)

“Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no-one can fathom.” (Psalms 145:3 NIV)

“But the LORD Almighty will be exalted by his justice, and the holy God will show himself holy by his righteousness.” (Isaiah 5:16 NIV)

“And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”” (Isaiah 6:3 NIV)

“The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread,” (Isaiah 8:13 NIV)

“To whom, then, will you compare God? What image will you compare him to?” (Isaiah 40:18 NIV)

“I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no saviour.” (Isaiah 43:11 NIV)

“Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.”” (Isaiah 44:8 NIV)

“For this is what the high and lofty One says—he who lives for ever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.” (Isaiah 57:15 NIV)

“Who should not revere you, O King of the nations? This is your due. Among all the wise men of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no-one like you.” (Jeremiah 10:7 NIV)

“I will accept you as fragrant incense when I bring you out from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will show myself holy among you in the sight of the nations.” (Ezekiel 20:41 NIV)

“I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes.” (Ezekiel 36:23 NIV)

“And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’” (Ezekiel 38:23 NIV)

“The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.”” (Daniel 2:47 NIV)

“And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the survivors whom the LORD calls.” (Joel 2:32 NIV)

“”Then will I purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve him shoulder to shoulder.” (Zephaniah 3:9 NIV)

“”This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,” (Matthew 6:9 NIV)

“”Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No-one is good— except God alone.” (Mark 10:18 NIV)

“for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.” (Luke 1:49 NIV)

“God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth.”” (John 4:24 NIV)

“1  After Jesus said this, he looked towards heaven and prayed: “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:1-3 NIV)

“”I have revealed you {Greek your name; also in verse 26} to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.” (John 17:6 NIV)

“25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”” (John 17:25-26 NIV)

“And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ {Joel 2:28-32}” (Acts 2:21 NIV)

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20 NIV)

“for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” {Joel 2:32}” (Romans 10:13 NIV)

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and {Or riches and the wisdom and the} knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” (Romans 11:33 NIV)

“4  So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.” (1 Corinthians 8:4-6 NIV)

“that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.” (1 Timothy 1:11 NIV)

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,” (1 Timothy 2:5 NIV)

“For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.” (Hebrews 9:24 NIV)

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:16 NIV)

“Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.”” (Revelation 4:8 NIV)

“saying: “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.” (Revelation 11:17 NIV)

“And I heard the altar respond: “Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments.”” (Revelation 16:7 NIV)

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The Aleppo Codex is a medieval manuscript of the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh), associated with Rabbi Aaron Ben Asher. The Masoretic scholars wrote it in the early 10th century, probably in Tiberias, Israel. It is in book form and contains the vowel points and grammar points (nikkudot) that specify the pronunciation of the ancient Hebrew letters to preserve the chanting tradition. It is perhaps the most historically important Hebrew manuscript in existence. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

God die Almagtige ’n Gees Wie geen mens kan sien en nogtans lewe nie

God die Almachtige Geest die geen mens kan zien

Allmächtige Gott denn kein Mensch wird leben, der Dich sieht

Dieu Tout-puissant Qui ont peut pas voir et vivre

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• Rescued
• Ascension Day
• Bible Daily Devotional – 1 Chronicles 29 – It all comes from God
• Today’s Scrip-Bit 11 May 2015 Psalm 46:1
• The Seventh Sunday of Easter – Hopes and wishes for all believers (The Epistles Passage)
• Scripture of the Day, 5/19

Nazarene Commentary Luke 2:25-35 – Simeon’s Blessing and Warning

Luke 2:25-35 – Simeon’s Blessing and Warning

LK2:25 Now look, there was a person in Jerusalem named Simeon. And he was righteous and reverent[1] and was waiting for Israel’s consolation,[2] and holy Pneuma was upon him. LK2:26 For it had been revealed to him by holy inspiration[3] that he would not experience death until he had seen YHWH’s Christ.[4] [Psalm 2:2] LK2:27 So under inspiration[5] he arrived in the temple [courtyard][6] and when the parents of the little boy Jesus brought him – for it was according to custom regarding an infant – LK2:28 and thus Simeon welcomed [the Christ] into his arms.[7] Then he blessed The God and said: LK2:29 “Absolute Sovereign,[8] now You may dismiss[9] Your servant in peace according to Your message. LK2:30 Because my eyes have seen Your salvation [Isaiah 40:5] LK2:31 that You have prepared in the presence of all the people – LK2:32 an apocalyptic illumination[10] to the non-Jews and a glory to Your people Israel.” [Isaiah 46:13] LK2:33 Now [the infant’s] father and mother were amazed at the things Simeon had said. LK2:34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to [the infant’s] mother Mary: “Behold, this One is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed[11] – LK2:35 (and also, Mary, your own soul will be pierced by a sword!) – that the thoughts of many hearts may be exposed.”[12]

 

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[1] Righteous and reverent: Or, just and devout, upright and devout. It means the person was law-abiding and observed Jewish rituals.

[2] Waiting for Israel’s consolation: Or, TCN: lived in constant expectation; TAY: constantly expecting the Messiah to come. [Isaiah 40:1; 49:13; 66:11]

[3] Holy inspiration: Or, divinely revealed. The Greek is KECHREMATISMENON [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #5537, having been instructed. (GRN)]

[4] YHWH’s Christ: Or, the Lord’s Christ, Lord’s Messiah, God’s Anointed. Likely drawn from Psalm 2:2. For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Revelation 11:15.

[5] Under inspiration: Or, by the spirit, inspired by, led by, moved by.

[6] Temple [courtyard]: The Greek is HIERON and always refers to the temple compound and not the Temple proper. Women were not permitted into the inner courts so this was possibly the Court of Women.

[7] Simeon welcomed [the Christ] into his arms: Is it possible this was the priest who circumcised Jesus?

[8] Absolute Sovereign: Or, Sovereign Lord. [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #1203] For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Acts 4:24.

[9] Dismiss: Or, depart, discharge, die in content.

[10] Apocalyptic illumination: Or, KJV: a light to lighten; ASV: a light for revelation; NEB: a light that will be a revelation. Drawn from Isaiah 42:6. The Greek is PHOS EIS APOCALYPSIN.

[11] A sign to be opposed: Or, NEB: a sign which men reject; BAS: a sign against which hard words will be said; GDS: a portent that will be much debated; KNX: a sign which men will refuse to acknowledge; NOR: a controversial figure.

[12] Exposed: Or, revealed, laid bare, brought into the light of day.

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Saint Simeon with the Christ child. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Preceding:

Nazarene Commentary Luke 2:1-7 – A Firstborn’s Birth In Bethlehem

Nazarene Commentary Luke 2:8-14 – Angels and Shepherds in the Night

Nazarene Commentary Luke 2:15-20 – Shepherds Find the Infant Christ

Nazarene Commentary Luke 2:21-24 – Presenting the Baby to God

Next: Nazarene Commentary Luke 2:36-38 – Anna’s Thanks before Those Waiting

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Find also to read:

1. Jesus Messiah
2. Written to recognise the Promised One
3. Proclaiming shalom, bringing good news of good things, announcing salvation
4. Jesus begotten Son of God #3 Messiah or Anointed one
5. The Christ, the anointed of God
6. Anointing of Christ as Prophetic Rehearsal of the Burial rites

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Related articles

• Simeon: An Advent Reflection (knowjesusknowjustice.wordpress.com)
  The first messianic prophesy is in Genesis and was written by Moses. And while there is a great deal of debate on the exact date of the writing of Genesis, let’s just say Genesis is where everything begins. Now consider this. The last prophesy of the Messiah’s coming appears in Malachi. That book was written around 430 BC. The point is this. Literally from beginning to end, the Old Testament speaks of the Messiah’s coming. For millennia, God revealed things about Himself, His plan and His Christ through His inspired Word to a people who were waiting. Generation after generation waited and hoped for the Messiah’s coming, but from the greatest to the least, from the most righteous to the most vile, none would see prophecy’s fulfillment during that time.
• Sermon Redux – Part 4 of The Stars of Christmas – ‘Simeon and Anna’ – Luke 2:21-38 (edraby.wordpress.com)
  If there are two forgotten characters of the Christmas story it is Simeon and Anna.
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  Simeon and Anna bring back the prophetic into the story and call us to be reminded  that God is weaving together a lot of prophecies into fulfillment in Jesus.
  +
  Simeon knows that Herod is not the Messiah nor have many others who have come along and tried to usurp Herod.  Simeon has been told he would not see death until he has seen God’s Christ.We need to understand that when we look a Jesus as an infant.  As Isaiah 52 says, there was nothing physically marking about Jesus to set him apart.  He looked like any other Jewish baby of Palestine.  He did not have a halo about his head.  He was in the temple because his earthly parents have brought him to be dedicated to God an circumcised.  This was a perfectly normal thing for Jewish parents to do if they were in range of Jerusalem to do it.  There was nothing unusual to mark Jesus out.  You might even begin to think that even Jesus parents were beginning to see Jesus as normal in some ways.  They had both received visits from angels, the shepherds had come a mere eight days before when Jesus was born but other than that no one was saying or marking out their son as special.  The one thing that is missing is the prophetic voice of a prophet proclaiming to people who this child is.

  That is where Simeon comes in as well as Anna.  Simeon only sees a poor Jewish couple coming to the temple and it is at this moment that he steps forward and asks to take the child in his arms and then he prophecies over Jesus and his mother.  In so doing he quotes several scriptures but the most direct reference is to Isaiah 52 which he echoes.  In so doing he announces to the world that this child who seems ordinary is actually extraordinary and is God’s chosen one.  Simeon tells anyone who will listen this is the case.

• Relishing the Myth: Simeon the Righteous, the God-Receiver (Repost – 2013) (unsettledchristianity.com)
  Ancient historians tell us that the Egyptian pharaoh Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285-247 B.C.) wished to include texts of Holy Scripture in the famous Library at Alexandria. He invited scholars from Jerusalem, and the Sanhedrin sent their wise men. The Righteous Simeon was one of the seventy scholars who came to Alexandria to translate the Holy Scriptures into Greek. The completed work was called “The Septuagint,” and is the version of the Old Testament used by the Orthodox Church.

  St Simeon was translating a book of the Prophet Isaiah, and read the words: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive in the womb, and shall bring forth a Son” (Is 7:14). He thought that “virgin” was inaccurate, and he wanted to correct the text to read “woman.” At that moment an angel appeared to him and held back his hand saying, “You shall see these words fulfilled. You shall not die until you behold Christ the Lord born of a pure and spotless Virgin.”

  From this day, St Simeon lived in expectation of the Promised Messiah. One day, the righteous Elder received a revelation from the Holy Spirit, and came to the Temple. It was on the very day (the fortieth after the Birth of Christ) when the All-Pure Virgin Mary and St Joseph had come to the Temple in order to perform the ritual prescribed by Jewish Law.

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  It was the Holy Spirit that led Simeon into the Temple at the very moment the baby Jesus was there with his mother and Joseph. The Holy Spirit always leads us to Jesus. As Simeon lifted the baby Messiah up the Spirit prophesied through Simeon’s lips that this babe was more than just another baby – He was the hope of two people groups, He is the Light of the whole Gentile world and Israel’s true Glory!
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  We see that God chose to use two humble individuals to prepare hearts, including Joseph and Mary’s, to the revelation of who Jesus was, and is.  In addition, we see two people who were devoted to God and ready to give total praise to Him!  Is it possible that God blessed Simeon and Anna with the ability to see Jesus as a baby because they blessed Him?While Simeon and Anna saw and knew Christ as a baby…we have the ability to know Him as the Risen Savior.  Are we as willing to praise God as they were?
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  When Rembrandt was younger, he painted Christ shining with a holy glow.  In this final painting, as Rembrandt reaches the end of life, we see the old man, Simeon, is the one who is glowing – the light coming from the inside out reflecting out onto the baby in his arms.
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  Anna is depicted as an aged widow who is constantly in the Temple, worshiping God day and night in fasting and prayer.
  +
  Anna is inspired to offer thanks to God for the child Jesus and to speak about him to others. She recognizes the moment of salvation when it dawns and she seizes this moment. The friendship with God that she has cultivated through many years of prayer and service in the Temple enables her to respond in faith to God’s visitation in Jesus. Biblical figures like Simeon and Anna, as well as contemporary men and women committed to the contemplative life, challenge us to re-evaluate what we esteem as truly important. They invite us to think again about how we measure “productivity.” They remind us that, whatever our particular vocation may be, our lives need to be rooted in God. Most of us have multiple responsibilities and many things to accomplish each day. We cannot live “constantly in the temple” as did Anna.
• Christmas in Context: Waiting for the consolation of Israel… (faithfulstewardship.wordpress.com)
  No doubt there were many in Jerusalem longing for the consolation of Israel. How long would Israel have to suffer occupation?
  +
  Israel was hurting, a shadow of the kingdom it once was. Isaiah also Prophesied that the divided kingdoms that threatened Judah would be laid to waste and then Judah would be handed over to Assyria (Is 7:14-17). There were many who looked to rebellion/insurgency to fight for Israel’s freedom from occupation… perhaps looking for God to follow the redemption of the past when He would raise up a mighty man who would serve as Judge? But Israel rejected God’s Judges, and rejected His rule and asked for a king. There were others who sought political power and favor with Rome to secure for Israel a sense of freedom, to preserve their ways (while historical accounts outside the Bible attest to this, such a mentality is revealed in the Sanhedren in John 11:45-53). Herod took it upon himself to appoint his own High Priest. It was not long before the birth of Jesus that the Temple was defiled and desecrated. All this is simply to say that since the descendents of Jacob had long stopped going to God for their answers (a rebuke against Israel and Judah in Is 8:19-20) they would become a people stumbling in the darkness (leading into Is 9).
  +
  A man and a woman of God were waiting in the Temple Courts to see the redemption of Jerusalem, the consolation of Israel, the Revelation to the Gentiles… the Salvation of Man. I’m sure they both spread the word, as did the shepherds. So what happened? How could this young family have had any peace? Well, if you’ll remember the account in Matthew 2, the Magi came to Jerusalem looking for the one who is born King of the Jews. We don’t know exactly how old Jesus was when the Magi found Him, we just know that they were no longer in the manger; rather, they were now in a house. God sends warning to Joseph to flee to Egypt, and warns the Magi to avoid returning to Herod. So what squashed what would have been the biggest news in Israel? It was not yet Jesus’ time.