Making sure to be ready and to belong to the escaped ones

In Daniel 12:1 is spoken of a time that the archangel Michael, or the great prince who as a grand defender and guardian protects [L stands by] God’s people [10:13, 21], will stand up [arise (Jude 9; Revelation 12:7)]. All people should know that there will be a time of much trouble [distress], the worst time since nations have been on earth, but at that time God’s people will be saved [rescued]. Therefore, Jesus warns to stay alert, to keep watch because nobody knows when Jesus will come (Matthew 24:42).

Followers of Christ should remember what they have received and heard, and obey it, and turn from their sin! For if they don’t wake up, they shall be surprised, because Jesus will come like a thief, and people don’t know at what moment he will come upon them (Revelation 3:3).

We have to give strict attention, be cautious and active in faith, so that when the time arrives we shall not find ourselves not ready to follow in the footsteps of the righteous, who shall be allowed to enter the narrow gate to the Kingdom of God.
Jesus compares that coming day and the required readiness with the owner of a house who also does not know when a thief would come along. Had he known his house was about to be broken into, he would have stayed up all night, vigilantly. He would have kept watch, and he would have thwarted the thief and not let his house be broken into. So we too have to be ready because we know the Son of Man will come, but we can’t know precisely when. He might be coming at an hour we do not expect (Matthew 24:43-44; Luke 12:39; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 3:3; Revelation 16:15).

Jesus asks

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master put in charge of his household to give them food at the proper time?” (Matthew 24:45)

The sent one from God, Jeshua, the son of man and the Kristos (Christ) we can have as our trustworthy servant, the one Whom the Highest Master has put in charge of all the servants of his household. We, who want to serve Jesus, are simple servants, but that does not take away that we do not have to take our responsibility seriously.
When the times of the latter days arrive we should belong to those servants whose master (Jesus Christ) finds them doing their work when Jesus returns on this earth. (Matthew 24:46)

Jesus who always tells the truth, assures us and most solemnly say to his followers that the master will choose that servant to take care [put him in charge] of everything he owns. (Matthew 24:47)

When that servant would not be ready and [L at an hour when he] is not expecting him that is appointed by the Most High, then the master will treat that caught unaware servant like one who did not do his job and consider him a worthless servant. (Matthew 24:50-51)

In those days, after that tribulation, when the earth shall shake, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. [Mark 13:24-25; Isaiah 13:10; 34:4; Ezekiel 32:7; Joel 2:10; 2:31; 3:15; Haggai 2:6,21] Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth (lying dead and buried) will awake and rise up (Daniel 12:2) to see with those, who are still alive at that time, the Son of Man coming in the clouds with tremendous power and glory (Mark 13:26; Daniel 7:13–14).

Then there might be weeping and gnashing of teeth, indicating agony and remorse, but it shall be too late to discuss over distress and anger, because everybody has been warned long before and could have found the Biblical Truth. When the time after the big war has arrived, and Jesus shall be seen as the returned one from God, then it shall be time for the righteous to come out of the world of mammon, showing to the world they do not belong to this world but to God and His people, so that they will not share in the world her sins, and so that they will not receive any of her plagues (Revelation 18:4). All then shall have to know that then the time has arrived when those particular chosen ones who are alive and left behind [or alive and are left] will be gathered [caught; taken; raptured] together with them [the resurrected ones] into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. This is how we, the resurrected and the living, will be with him forever. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

Events seem to be happening at a break-neck speed, so that it is almost impossible to keep up. We have major headlines coming out almost hourly, Russia (the bear), Syria, Iran, Iraq, the Asian and African countries. Many of these have a role in prophecy during the last days.

When believing in God and believing also in Jesus (John 14:1) we do know that in Jehovah, our Father’s house, there are many mansions, which all should be prepared and ready to receive the Master.

Let us, who have obtained salvation through Christ, make sure that when the time is near, right at the door, that we shall be ready. So that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming (1 John 2:28), after having able to stand strong and firm in those troubling or perilous times (2 Timothy 3:1). We have to be prepared and have made ourselves strong enough to go through that time of great trouble and can stand up against those lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God (2 Timothy 3:2-5). As the Messiah loves us, so should we in the world having our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment (1 John 4:17).

Nobody shall be able to escape the judgement-seat of Jesus. It is not that some people shall already be gone to a hell, a purgatory or heaven. For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10)

Let us not lay up for ourselves treasures upon earth, where moths and rust destroy, and burglars break in and steal. Let us not give thieves an opportunity to break through and steal (Matthew 6:19) and remember that whatever we deserve for the good or bad things we have done in our period here on earth, shall come unto us. They that have done good, unto the resurrection of life shall then receive their reward, but those who have done evil to a resurrection of judgment, shall be condemned, find the path unto the resurrection of damnation (2 Corinthians 5:10; John 5:29).

We can only hope that when Jesus returns, we ourselves and many of our friends, shall be counted to those with faith (Luke 18:8) and belonging to the ones whose name is written in God’s book to be saved [L All who are found written in the book; C of life; Ex. 32:32; Ps. 69:28; Da 10:21; Mal 3:16; Luke 10:20; Rev. 20:12.].

 

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Preceding

Matthew 10:11-15 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Searching for the Sheep

Matthew 13:36-43 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Parable of the Zizania in the Field Explained

Matthew 16:24-28 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: A Disciple Must Disown Self

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

Matthew 24 about temples or Houses of God and the end of the age

Matthew 24:1-2 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Desolation, Oppression and the Parousia – The Setting

Matthew 24:3 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Desolation, Oppression and the Parousia – The Apostles’ Question

Matthew 24:4-8 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Answer: Part One – Beware Being Misled

Matthew 24:9-14 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Answer: Part Two – The Acts of the Apostles Foretold

Matthew 24:15-28 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Answer: Sign 1: Encamped Armies. The Sign Great Oppression Is Near

Matthew 24:29-35 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Answer Part Two – Sign 2: The Parousia. A Sign after the Great Oppression

Matthew 24:36-41 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: About That Day and Hour

Matthew 24:42-51 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Stay Awake!

Left in the dark or being in the dark seeing light

Separation of local judgment regarding 70 CE from the global ultimate-coming prophecies of the Second Coming and Final Judgment

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Additional reading

1. You know neither the day nor the hour
2. Only once and with consequences
3. With the gift of Jesus comes an awesome responsibility
4. Sign of the Times and the Last Days #1 The Son of man revealing
5. Signs of the Last Days
6. The days are coming
7. To be prepared and very well oiled
8. Devotees and spotters
9. The chosen ones to fear or not to fear
10. God my fence, my hope for the future
11. Dealings with ruling authorities
12. Rapture Exposed
13. Rapture what does it mean?
14. The Rapture or admittance with Christ
15. Gather together with Jesus Christ
16. Raptured in clouds

Matthew 13 – Parables on Kingdom mysteries

CHAPTER THIRTEEN:
PARABLES ON KINGDOM MYSTERIES

Today we start looking at Jesus presenting some parables to those who were around him. In these times coming closer to the end times we do find lots of people who claim that they do not have to do any works any more because they are saved. For them it is clear that we do not have to do anything any more because (according to them) by the death of Christ all sins are forgiven, so it does not matter any more if we do some sins.

This thirteenth chapter for some Americans  bearing a number that brings misfortune, may bring bad luck in the end of their life, because they did not want to see that they still had to do a lot of work to make sure to go through the small gate of the Kingdom of God.

The followers and disciples of the Nazarene master teacher wondered why this eloquent rabbi so many times told stories which where not always so clear or were in a form of a parable. When the talmidim asked their master why he used stories to teach the people and spoke to them in parables, Jesus answered,

“You have been chosen [L It has been granted/given to you] to know [understand] the secrets [mysteries] about the kingdom of heaven, but others cannot know these secrets [L it has not been given/granted to those others].

With such a remark you may question who might be chosen to get to know those secrets Jesus was talking about. We must know that Jesus was sent by his heavenly Father to bring the Good News of the Kingdom of God. That Only One True God gave the whole world His son. He was not for just a few. But it is up to all people to come to recognise the sent one from God and to accept him as the sent one from God and as the son of God. Depending on what people want to believe and who they want to follow they shall either be able to receive insight and come to understanding, or as Jesus warns those around him, when they prefer to hold fast on human traditions and human teachings instead of Scriptural teachings they will not be able to see clear, because first of all those human dogma‘s make it often very confusing for people or trick them in the wrong teachings. The apostle Matthew tells us in the previous and this chapter that we should open our ears and eyes and come to see the one who God has sent, so that by listening to the words of the master (instead of those of so called theologians) God shall see the heart of each individual and let His calling ripen so that understanding will be given more, and they will have all they need [an abundance]. But those who keep doubting or do not accept that Jesus is the sent one from God shall have more difficulties to understand what is said. Those who close their heart for God and His sent one shall receive not so much understanding. We are even warned it can be worse, namely that even the knowledge or understanding they have will be taken away from them. This is why Jeshua (Jesus Christ) uses stories to teach the people [L speak in parables]: because we might see a lot of people who look, but do not really want to see and to perceive.

Today we do find lots of godless people, but also lots of people who call themselves Christian, but do not adhere the teachings of Jesus Christ, neither do they worship the God of this Nazarene master teacher from the tribe of David. Jeshua, being born in a devout Jewish family (Essene family) worshipped the Only One True God Who is One and not three. He also wanted people around him to come to know that One God of Israel. He too could see that lots of people loved human traditions and preferred to keep to the words of philosophers and people who worked in the temples, but had introduced own findings in their teachings instead of keeping to the Torah.

Those people who liked those in charge of the temple and loved what they wanted to hear instead of loving what the Torah really said are exactly the same as the ones who today hang on the lips of the clergy but do not read the Bible or Word of God. They hear, but they don’t really hear or understand. So we can see how the things Isaiah said in his prophecy were already fulfilled in Christ’s days, but still count for today too.

In these present times we also see lots of people who have taken them their own idols and gods and who are drifting about from one sort idea or hype to an other. They might sometimes listen with half an ear or go from one group to an other to listen and to keep on hearing or listen intently, but they will not understand.

We should listen to Jesus carefully and take care that we shall not become some one he could see around him who was looking but not seeing. Let us make sure that we look intently and have ears for what Jesus as son of God and authorised person of God has to tell us. Let us make sure that we come to hear, see and learn to perceive and comprehend.

We should not mind what others do find about our belief. Believing in only One God shall not be liked by many. Those who follow Jesus as their brother and not as their god shall receive a lot of opposition. Many shall try to thwart those who accept Jesus as the son and do not take him as their god. For the minds [hearts] of these people have become stubborn [dull; calloused; hardened] and we should know that they do not [hardly] hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears. They might really understand in their minds [with their hearts] and come back [turn; return] to Jesus and be healed, because the God of Israel is a God of order and God of clarity, loving His children and prepared to receive them back, when they where gone. But the world shall have to know that good and evil shall become separated. It is totally wrong to think that all people would come into heaven or into the Kingdom of God. Therefore Jesus gives us all those stories or parables so that we shall come to see and understand that we should be working at ourselves and have to be building ourself up in good soil, so that we can grow properly and become fruitful.

In Mark and Luke (Mark 1:21-28; Luke 4:31-37) we learn that people were astonished at Jesus his teaching because his message had authority. We may not forget that this authority came from his heavenly Father, Jehovah God. Those who were given to him to listen to him he told about the Law (Matthew 5:17-20) of which Jesus did not come to abolish this or the Prophets, like those who say we do not need to do works believe. They forget that Jesus came to fulfil those writings and to make clear what we should or should not. In the fifteenth chapter we shall come to hear Jesus talking about purity and hear his warning against false teachings. In chapter 18 comes then the parable of the person who cannot forgive. Luke gives us the parable of the good Samaritan and is not afraid to show how Jesus criticises the religious leaders and tells the story of the rich fool, like we may encounter many (Luke 12:13-21).

Too many people do forget that they have to prepare themselves for the return of Christ (Luke 12:35-48). Too many people do forget what it means to walk on the right path, which is only a narrow road and that all people shall have to make their own choice and should make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because Jesus tells us that many will try to enter and won’t be able. And that is a recurring idea in the teachings of Christ.  (Luke 13:22-30)

It is not because Matthew does not tell about the parable of the lost coin, showing the importance to repent (a work to be done) (Luke 15:8-10) or the lost son (Luke 15:11-32) (to return to the Father) or about the dishonest manager (Luke 16:1-18) that we must not pay attention to the stories and warnings not told by Matthew.

To come to know the secret of the kingdom of God which has been given to the apostles we should learn from all those parables, not forgetting to look for willing to understand and to perceive.

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Preceding

True God giving His Word for getting wisdom

Daily portion of heavenly food

From Bibles and other religious writings and those who witness for Jehovah

Matthew 11– Intro to The Nazarene’s Commentary: Encouragement for John and Reproach for cities

Matthew 12:46-50 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The True Family of Messiah

False teachers and false prophets still around

Christians having the right heart to call others to go to God

Sharing the depth of God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge

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Additional reading

1. Souls and Religions with Nirvana and light
2. Blindness in the Christian world
3. Fog, brass and light for the eyes
4. Science, belief, denial and visibility 2
5. Coming to understanding from sayings written long ago
6. the Bible – God’s guide for life #9 Gospels not only place to find ‘the mind which was in Christ’
7. The Metaphorical language of the Bible
8. Jehovah steep rock and fortress, source of insight
9. Daily Spiritual Food To prepare ourselves for the Kingdom of God
10. Words to inspire and to give wisdom
11. Digging in words, theories and artefacts
12. Hearing words to accept
13. Outflow of foundational relationship based on acceptance of Jesus
14. Atonement And Fellowship 3/8Missional hermeneutics 2/5What is a Christian?
15. Only six of ten commandments of God still important to British Christians
16. Not being saved by faith in Christ alone
17. When having found faith through the study of the Bible we do need to do works of faith
18. Two states of existence before God
19. Sanctification and How To Pursue It
20. Responsibility bigger than those who talk about worldly matters
21. Thought for those who think it is not necessary to do any works any more
22. Today’s thought “Blessed people …” (July 27)
23. Knowing The Truth and Loving The Truth
24. Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience
25. Actions to be a reflection of openness of heart
26. A race not to swift, nor a battle to the strong
27. At the end of your life

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Related reading

1. Jesus Didn’t Tell Parables for the Reason You Think
2. Are You Teaching Your Kids About the Parables of Jesus?
3. Of Sheep and Parables
4. I Dare You: The Parable of the Lost Coin
5. Hidden in Plain Sight
6. Matthew 13: Parables
7. 5 major mistakes while interpreting the Bible
8. It stopped with them Only Listening
9. Deceiving Yourself
10. What Would Jesus Say?
11. Mysticism Needs No Defense
12. Kingdom of God
13. ​ Which one are you?
14. Class: Parables of Jesus, Matthew 13
15. When the Kingdom of God Dominates Your Life
16. Do You Believe in the Divine Conspiracy?
17. The Father Delights to Give Us the Kingdom
18. “And you—what are you saying about me? Who am I?” ~Jesus
19. What Jesus Said
20. “Thou Lovest Righteousness and Hatest Wickedness”
21. what we see often depends on how we look
22. “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.” ~Jesus
23. Unlearning to Learn
24. Fruitful Living
25. The Kingdom of God is like a Farmer Growing Crops
26. Four Prayers Based on the Parable of the Soil-Sower (Matthew 13, Mark 4, Luke 8)
27. “You’ve been given insight into God’s kingdom. You know how it works. Not everybody has this gift, this insight; it hasn’t been given to them.” ~Jesus
28. Matthew 13丨C. H. Spurgeon
29. Matthew 13丨John Calvin
30. When God is Important to Us, We Find Joy
31. Upside Down Kingdom Parables: No Cost Too Great
32. Choose the Giver over the gift.
33. Upside Down Kingdom Parables: Wheat and Weeds (pt. 1)
34. Listen
35. Don’t Be Surprised By Gospel Rejection
36. AW Pink (1886-1952): The Prophetic Parables (p1)
37. Cultivating Your Heart for a Spiritual Harvest
38. God’s Kingdom: the Word
39. Matthew 15: Watch your mouth
40. Understanding Parables
41. Trained By The Rabbi
42. Matthew 25:1-13 ESVThe World as the Field

Nazarene Commentary to Struck Dumb For Disbelief

Luke 1:18-22 – Struck Dumb For Disbelief

LK1:18 Now Zechariah said to the angel: “How can I be sure of this?[1] For I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”[2] LK1:19 Then the angel answered him: “I am Gabriel[3] who stands in the very presence of The God![4] I was sent to speak with you and to bring you this good news. LK1:20 Now, look, you will be unable to speak or say anything until that day when these matters will be fulfilled, because you did not believe my words that will come to completion at the proper time.” LK1:21 Now outside the worshippers waited for Zechariah and began to wonder because he was taking so long in the temple.[5] LK1:22 And when he did come out he was unable to speak to them – and as a result the people realized that he had seen a vision in the temple – because he could only gesture to them though he remained speechless.

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[1] How can I be sure of this: For this question the angel strikes the priest dumb.

[2] For I am an old man and my wife is well along in years: An echo of Abraham and Sarah. The Levitical priestly assistants had to retire at the age of 50 while the Aaronic priesthood could serve throughout their lives.

[3] I am Gabriel: The angel of Daniel 9. His name means “God’s Able One.”

[4] Who stands in the very presence of The God: This may suggest that not all angels serve in God’s Presence.

[5] He was taking so long in the temple: The service with prayers took about thirty minutes.

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Preceding:

The Advent of the saviour to Roman oppression

Nazarene Commentary to A Factual and Logical Statement

Nazarene Commentary to Zechariah and Elizabeth

Nazarene Commentary to An Angel Appearing to a Priest

Next:

Nazarene Commentary to Elizabeth Pregnant

Nazarene Commentary to Gabriel’s Appearance to Mary

Nazarene Commentary to Mary Visits Elizabeth

Nazarene Commentary to Mary Magnifies God

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Duccio angel gabriel (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Related articles

• Mary Did You Know? (devotionsinmotion.wordpress.com)
  Six months after Zechariah and Elizabeth conceived, the angel Gabriel came back to earth and appeared to a young girl named Mary.  She lived in Nazareth and was betrothed to a young man named Joseph.  Gabriel spoke to Mary, saying, “Greetings O favored one, the Lord is with you.”  God’s messenger told Mary not to be afraid.  He immediately launched into the message sent from God.  She was going to conceive and bear God’s only begotten Son.
• Deafening Silence (ubicrux.com)
  Nine months. Can you imagine being unable to speak for nine months? Especially when your whole life’s purpose — in Zechariah’s case, his Temple duties — required you to speak? Why did God eliminate Zechariah’s ability to speak for so long? I think it’s because God understood that Zechariah needed a “time out.” Zechariah seemed like he had everything in order. He was a priest, a righteous man, a good man. But underneath, Zechariah had a certain hardness of heart that even he did not recognize. When his lifelong prayer was finally answered, he did not react with happiness but with incredulity that God answered the prayer in His way, and not in Zechariah’s way.
• Advent Figures: Zechariah (encourageandteach.wordpress.com)
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  And so for us in a culture of disbelief, Zechariah is an apt figure. The modern world has heard and rejected God’s messenger – not an angel but Christ Himself speaking through His Body, the Church. And having rejected faith we now know little about ourselves and our purpose.

• 19th December, Gospel Reading (Luke 1:5-25) (prayers4reparation.wordpress.com)
  Listen! Since you have not believed my words, which will come true at their appointed time, you will be silenced and have no power of speech until this has happened.
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• Celebrate Week 2 (gracenazarene.org)
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• Clean and Clear (gracenazarene.org)
  Remember our definition for envy is resenting God’s goodness in others’ lives, while simply ignoring God’s goodness in our own lives.  Resenting His blessings in others, while ignoring His blessings in our own lives.