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20 Pentecost – Sunday

Posted September 28, 2008
Isaiah 5:1-7 -- Song of the Vineyard;
Psalm 80:7-14 -- Prayer for National Restoration;
Philippians 3:12-21 -- Pressing On;
Matthew 21:33-43 -- The Wicked Tenants;

Isaiah:

This is a love song about the vineyard of the Lord's beloved. It was planted with choice plants on a very fertile hill, after he had cultivated the land and removed the stones. He built a watchtower and wine vat in the center. He expected it to yield choice grapes, but it yielded only wild grapes.

Now the Lord asks the people of Jerusalem and Judah to judge the vineyard owner and his vineyard. What more could the owner have done than what he already had done? Why then had the vineyard produced wild grapes?

Now the Lord declares what he will do with his vineyard. He will break down the walls and hedges and allow it to be devoured and trampled by wild animals. He will not prune or hoe it, and will allow briars and thorns to grow up. He will also withhold irrigation.

Hear then the Word of the Lord. Israel is the Lord's vineyard and the people of Judah (the remnant of Israel) are his fine plantings, and he looked for it to produce the fruit of righteousness and justice, but it produced only bloodshed and mourning.

Psalm:

O God of all the inhabitants of heaven and earth, restore us; look with favor upon us so that we may be saved.

Israel is characterized as a vine, which the Lord brought forth from Egypt, and planted in their own land, driving out other nations so that Israel could possess it. The Lord cleared the land and planted Israel, and Israel sent down deep roots and filled the land, so that the mountains and the lofty cedars were in its shade. It spread out to the sea and to the River (the Euphrates; the furthest extent of the borders at the height of Solomon's reign). Why then has the Lord torn down its walls so that its fruit is devoured by all who pass by? The beasts of field and forest feed upon it.

Lord, turn again, look down from heaven and have compassion for this vine.

Philippians:
   
Paul was willing to make any sacrifice necessary to possess the promise of eternal life in heaven with the Lord. Paul didn't presume to have attained that, but he kept pressing forward toward the goal of the upward call of God. Paul pressed on to claim his reward, because Jesus had claimed Paul as his own. So let those who are spiritually mature be likeminded, and if any think otherwise, God will reveal this truth to them also.   But let us be sure to hold on to the truth we have already attained.

Paul urges his brothers and sisters in the faith to follow the example of Paul and the other apostles (messengers; of the Gospel). Many in the world are enemies of the cross of Jesus Christ, and their destiny will be eternal destruction. They serve as their "god" their fleshly appetites. They take pleasure in what is shameful, with their minds focused on earthly things. But Christians are citizens of the eternal heavenly kingdom, as we await our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, who will transform our perishable physical bodies into eternal bodies like his, through the power and authority he possesses over all creation.

Matthew

Jesus taught the crowds who followed him in parables, which are stories of common worldly experiences used to teach spiritual truths. In the Parable of the Vineyard, a landowner planted a vineyard and put a hedge around it, and a watchtower and a winepress in it. Then he rented it to tenants and went to another country. At the harvest season he sent servants to collect his fruit of the harvest, but the tenants beat and stoned the landowner's servants, and killed some of them. The Landowner sent a larger group of servants, but the tenants did the same to them.  Finally he sent his son, thinking that the tenants would surely respect his son, but the tenants recognized the son as the heir, and killed him, so that when the landowner died the vineyard would belong to the tenants. What then will the landowner do to his tenants when he returns? He'll have those tenants executed, and will rent out his vineyard to other tenants who will be willing to give him his fruit at the proper season.

Jesus quoted Psalm 118:22-23, that the stone which was rejected by the builders has become the keystone, by the Lord's will, and it is marvelous to those who love the Lord. Jesus declared that the kingdom would be taken from the Jews and given to a nation (the Gentiles) producing the fruits of it.

Commentary:

Israel is the vineyard of the Lord. The people of Israel were planted in the Promised Land by the Lord, who provided everything they needed to become the fruitful nation they were intended to be. But Israel repeatedly turned away from obedient trust in God’s Word and to idolatry, and God repeatedly withdrew his providence and protection and allowed them to suffer the consequences of their disobedience.

When Israel turned away from the Lord, God warned them through his prophets to repent and return to him, but Israel repeatedly ignored the prophets' warning until it was too late. The Northern Kingdom of Israel, the ten tribes, ignored the prophetic warnings until the day that Samaria, their capital, fell to the Assyrians in 721 B.C. As a result the ten northern tribes effectively ceased to exist, because of the Assyrian practice of subduing conquered nations by transporting their people to other conquered lands and bringing in aliens. The remainder of the northern tribes who were old or weak remained and intermingled with the aliens to become the Samaritans, of mixed race and religion at the time of Jesus.

The Southern Kingdom of Judah was the remnant of Israel. They didn’t learn from the example of the Northern Kingdom. They refused to heed the warnings of the prophets until it was too late to repent and be restored. The result was that Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed by the forces of King Nebuchadnezzar, of  Babylon (Chaldea), in 587 B.C., and the people were carried off into exile in Babylon for seventy years, as the prophet Jeremiah had foretold (Jeremiah 25:12).

A remnant was allowed to return after seventy years, in fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy, but gradually Judah forgot the lesson of the Babylonian exile, and was unprepared for the coming of the long-prophesied and awaited Messiah, Jesus Christ. Because they rejected and crucified their Messiah, the Lord again withdrew his protection and providence from them. Judaism effectively ended at the crucifixion of Jesus (Matthew 27:51) and Jerusalem and the temple were again destroyed, by the Romans, in 70 A.D. The people were scattered throughout the world and Israel ceased to exist until re-established after World War II. The temple, necessary for the Old Covenant of Law, has never been rebuilt.

God preserved a remnant of Israel until the promise of a Messiah, an eternal Savior and King, was fulfilled. Jesus is the last remnant of Israel faithful to God, even unto death on the cross. In a sense Jesus is the “New Abraham” and those who accept him as Lord, who trust and obey him, are the “New Israel.”

In what way is this prophecy a love song? The Lord loves us and doesn’t want anyone to perish (John 3:16-17). It is not loving to allow people we care about to do what is harmful and destructive. Instead of reacting in anger, we would be well-advised to heed the warning.

Psalms are the Word of God and thus prophetic, inspired by the Holy Spirit. This psalm shows the cycle of deliverance, disobedience, punishment, and restoration. When God’s people rebel and turn from obedient trust to idolatry, God removes his providence and protection from them and allows them to experience trouble, in the hope that they will repent and return to the Lord.

Christians are the New Israel, the New People of God. Paul is the prototype and illustration of a “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) Christian disciple and apostle, as all of us can be. Paul had not known Jesus during Jesus’ physical ministry on earth. Paul was spiritually reborn because he accepted the conviction of the Holy Spirit of the risen Jesus (Acts 9:4; Romans 8:9), repented (Acts 9:9), and became obedient to Jesus as his Lord (Acts 9:5a, 6, 8).

Paul trusted in Jesus’ Word, was “discipled” by a “born-again” disciple, Ananias (Acts 9:10-17), and was spiritually “reborn” (Acts 9:18-20). Paul began fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) which Jesus gave to his disciples, including Paul, to be carried out after they had been “reborn” (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4-5, 8).

Christians are, by definition, disciples of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c). Discipleship is a spiritual growth process. New believers must be “discipled” by “born-again” disciples until the believer has been ‘reborn.” Then the Holy Spirit will continue “discipling” the believer unto spiritual maturity. 

Those who are spiritually “reborn” have a foretaste of eternal life in the presence of the Lord. The desire to have that fellowship more completely helps us press on toward that goal.

Christians are no longer citizens of this world, but citizens of God’s eternal kingdom in heaven. We have fellowship now with our Lord, but we look forward to more complete fellowship with him in eternity. We look forward to the transformation of our physical bodies, which are subject to disease and death, for spiritual bodies, that are incorruptible and eternal.

In a sense, this world is the Lord’s vineyard, and all people are God’s vines, whether we acknowledge God or not. God has always intended, from the beginning of creation, to establish an eternal kingdom of people who willingly choose to trust and obey him. This lifetime is our opportunity to seek and find God, our creator (Acts 17:26-27), and to learn to trust and obey him.

In a sense America is the “New Promised Land,” and the Church is the “New Israel,” The “New Jerusalem,” the “New City of God” on earth. In too many ways America and the nominal “Church” are much in the same condition as Israel and Judaism at the first, physical coming of Jesus Christ. We have turned from obedient trust in God’s Word to “modern” idolatries of money, wealth, success, power, pleasure, self, career and family. We refuse to heed the prophetic warnings of God’s Word. Church has become a “religion,” an attempt to manipulate God’s favor; a superstitious ritual, instead of a relationship with God our Creator, and the intention to seek to know and do God’s will.

Jesus is the only way to find, know, trust and obey God (John 14:6). Jesus is the only way to be forgiven our sin (disobedience of God’s Word; Acts 4:12) and restored to fellowship with God which was broken by sin (see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

God has given everything he can to save us from eternal condemnation and destruction. God has given us an eternal Savior, Jesus Christ. All we need to do is accept his forgiveness and salvation as a free gift, by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Jesus Christ is the rock on which to build an eternal foundation. Jesus is the keystone which holds everything in place.

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

20 Pentecost – Monday

Posted September 29, 2008


Psalm 23 -- The Good Shepherd;

This psalm is attributed to David, the great shepherd-king of Israel.

Those who accept the Lord as their shepherd will not want for any good thing. The Lord will provide us with rest and green pastures and calm waters. He will restore our souls. He will lead us in the way of righteousness for the sake of his name.

We need not fear evil, because he will be with us and will lead us safely through the valley of (spiritual) darkness and the shadow of death. We are reassured by the rod and staff of his protection and care.

The Lord will prepare a feast for us in the presence of our enemies; He will honor us and bless us with overflowing goodness and mercy all our days, and we will dwell eternally in his presence in his heavenly house (John 14:2-3).


Commentary:

David was the shepherd boy whom the Lord took from being a shepherd of his earthly father's flocks, and made king of Israel. David was the Lord's "anointed," the Lord's chosen king, and shepherd of his heavenly Father's flock, Israel.

The "anointing," with olive oil, was done by God's priest or prophet by God's Word, as a sign of God's election and choice, and conveyed the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (1 Samuel 16:13). In Old Testament times, before Jesus Christ, the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit was conferred upon only a few individuals, like David, whom God raised up to lead his people.

Jesus came to make it possible for all his disciples to be "anointed" with the indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus is our Great High Priest who anoints us with the  gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit,  (Hebrews 3:1) signifying God's election and appointment of us in Jesus Christ. Only Jesus gives the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). David could be certain that he would dwell eternally in the house (presence; family of the Lord).

David was the greatest of the kings of Israel. God said of him that David had the same heart as God's own, to do all God's will (Acts 13:22; Psalm 89:20; 1 Samuel 13:14). David was chosen by God to be the prototype and illustration of the Messiah, Jesus Christ (Messiah and Christ both mean "anointed," in Hebrew and Greek respectively).

But David wasn't sinless; he wasn't perfectly obedient to God's will, as Jesus was. David sinned grievously, committing adultery with Bathsheba, which led to the murder of her husband, Uriah (2 Samuel 11:2-27). But David repented ( Psalm 51; 2 Samuel 12:1-14), and was restored to righteousness, by God's mercy. The Lord restored David's soul and led him in the way of righteousness again, not because of David's worthiness, but because of the Lord's "name's sake:" his character of goodness and mercy.

The Lord wants to forgive us and restore us, as long as we're trying to be obedient, but we must not presume on his goodness and mercy (Romans 6:1-12) . Deliberate willful sin is not forgiven. David received the consequences of his sin (2 Samuel 12:14-23). When Jesus healed and forgave sin he warned the healed not to sin again, or something worse would befall them (John 5:14; 8:11). Once a person is "reborn" (John 3:3, 5-8), by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, if he turns back to his former state, he cannot be again "reborn" (Hebrews 6:4-6).

David's life was a testimony to the Lord's ability to protect him and lead him safely through spiritual darkness and the shadow of death. The Lord did bless David and honor him in the presence of David's enemies.

Jesus is the ultimate, perfectly sinless and obedient Son of God, who became the one and only sacrifice, once, for all time and all people who are willing to receive it by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ; the only sacrifice acceptable to God  for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 4:12: John 14:6, see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). Jesus is also the "Son of David" (Matthew 1:1-17; 21:9), the fulfillment of God's promise to David of an eternal heir to the throne of David (2 Samuel 7:12-13; Psalm 89:20-29).

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
 

20 Pentecost – Tuesday

Posted September 30, 2008

Isaiah 25:6-9 -- Rejoice in Salvation;

The Lord will prepare, for all people, a feast, on his holy mountain (Zion). It will be a feast of rich food and well-aged wine. On his mountain the Lord will destroy the veil which is over all people and nations. Death will be swallowed up for ever, and he will wipe away the reproach of his people and wipe away all tears. The Lord has declared it.

On that day people will say that the Lord is our God; we have waited for him to save us. We have waited for him; let us rejoice in his salvation!

Commentary:

This prophecy is of the feast that is being prepared and awaits us in heaven. It is the fulfillment of the “New Passover Feast,” Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:17-30), which Jesus initiated on the eve of his crucifixion, and which the Church celebrates in the Eucharist, (Holy Communion). These are a foretaste of the “Marriage Feast of the Lamb,” when the Church, the “Bride of Christ,” is united with him in heaven. Jesus promised his disciples that they would celebrate this feast with him in heaven (Matthew 26:29).

The original Passover Feast was celebrated in Egypt by the Israelites (Exodus 12:1-14). The blood of the sacrificial lamb was applied to the door frame of the houses of the Israelites to mark them, so that the destroying angel would “pass over” them, when the Lord destroyed the first-born of the Egyptians. The death of the first-born was the final plague before Pharaoh allowed Israel to leave Egypt (Exodus 12:29-39).

Jesus is the “Passover Lamb,” the sacrifice whose shed blood saves those who accept the mark of his blood sacrifice on themselves, and his flesh provides the New Passover feast. The Lord’s Supper is the fulfillment of the Passover Feast on earth.

We are all in bondage to sin and death in the “Egypt” of this world (Romans 3:23; 6:23; 1 John 1:8-20) and Satan is the “Pharaoh” who is unwilling to let us go. Jesus is the first-born Son of God whom God sacrificed so that we can be released from Satan’s power and be free to go the “Promised Land” of God’s eternal kingdom in heaven (see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar top right).

Jesus is the new “Moses” who leads us through the “sea” of baptism into him, through the “wilderness” of this lifetime, through the “river” of physical death, and into the eternal “Promised Land.”

There is a veil (sic. "vail)" which lays over the hearts and minds of people (2 Corinthians 3:13-16) to prevent them from understanding the Bible. It is only through Jesus that the veil is removed. The risen Jesus opened the minds of his disciples to understand the scriptures (Luke 24:25-27, 29-32, 44-45).

When Moses had been in God’s presence on Mount Sinai (Mount Horeb), he returned and told the people what God had said. He covered his face with a veil because his face glowed from being in the presence of God, and the people were afraid to go near him (Exodus 34:32-35).

Paul suggests that the veil covered the fading splendor of God on Moses’ face (2 Corinthians 3:13-16). The fading splendor of God on Moses’ face represents the fading splendor of the Old Covenant of Law, of which Moses was the mediator between God and his people, because of the greater splendor of the New Covenant of grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9) which was coming. Jesus is the mediator of the New Covenant, which he established on the night of his Last Supper (Matthew 26:26-28 RSV note “g;” Hebrews 8:6-11, 13; 12:24).

The veil represents the separation of God from his people because of sin. In the temple there was a veil separating the “holy-of-holies” of the presence of God from the people. Only the high priest could enter, only once a year, and carrying the blood of a sacrifice, for the forgiveness of the high priest’s sins and those of the people. At Jesus’ crucifixion, the veil of the temple was supernaturally torn in two, from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51), representing that Jesus has opened a new and better way into God’s presence (Hebrews 10:19-22).

Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross made it possible for us to be cleansed by his blood, so that we can enter into the presence of the Lord, not just once a year, but at any and all times, through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

By the Holy Spirit, God writes his law upon our hearts. The Holy Spirit is the “Counselor,” (John 14:16), the Spirit of Truth (John 14:17), the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Jesus (Romans 8:9). Jesus reveals himself to us through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will teach us all things, and recalls to our minds all that Jesus teaches (John 14:26). Jesus’ death and resurrection made it possible for his disciples to receive the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 16:7).

God’s Word tells us to wait for his salvation. His salvation has come to the world through Jesus’ physical coming, his death and resurrection. Believers are to wait for the salvation of the Lord through the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8). “Born-again (John 3:3, 5-8) Christians, disciples and apostles of Jesus Christ await the Lord’s Second Coming, in great glory and power to take us to the great marriage feast, the ultimate Passover feast in heaven.

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

20 Pentecost – Wednesday

Posted October 1, 2008

Philippians 4:4-13 -- Christian Character;

Always rejoice in the Lord! Be patient and kind to all people. The Lord is near. Don’t worry about anything. In all situations let your requests be known to the Lord by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. “And the peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

Finally, keep your mind focused on what is just, pure, lovely, gracious, excellent, and worthy of praise. Follow and practice the example and teaching of Paul, and the God of peace will be with you.

Commentary:

Paul thanked the Philippian Christians for the concern they had shown Paul (in sending a gift by Epaphroditus to Paul during Paul’s imprisonment for the Gospel). Paul did not complain of want, since he had learned to be content in whatever situation he found himself. Paul could be content whether humbled or exalted; whether having plenty or hunger; whether having abundance or want. Paul had learned that he could handle any situation by the Lord who gives him strength.

The Philippian Congregation, in Macedonia was the first Church founded by Paul in Europe. The occasion of Paul’s writing was to thank them for the gift they had sent by Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25-30). Paul was imprisoned for the Gospel, probably in Rome near the end of his life.

Paul was continuing to “disciple” the Christians at Philippi by this letter. He taught by word and example that when we have a personal relationship with the Lord by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we can be content, whatever our circumstances. We need not be anxious for anything. The Lord is able to supply what we need, the strength to endure, and to continue in faith and fellowship with him.

In every circumstance we should count our blessings and give thanks to the Lord. When we focus on the good things instead of dwelling on the bad, we will have the peace in our souls which is beyond human understanding.

When we trust in the Lord we can be content in any circumstance. “Born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) Christians have personal fellowship with Jesus wherever we are. The indwelling Holy Spirit is our counselor, our comforter, our encourager. We have the certainty that even physical death cannot separate us from our Lord, and is an opportunity to leave the difficulties of this life behind.

In this lifetime we have fellowship with Jesus, but it is only a foretaste, a small sample, of the fellowship we will have with him in heaven. We need not fear separation from our family and loved ones, if they are “saved” by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus and have been spiritually reborn (see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). If that is not the case, we need to pray and work to bring them to salvation.
 
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

20 Pentecost – Thursday

Posted October 2, 2008


Matthew 22:1-10 (11-14) -- Parable of the Marriage Feast;

Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is like a marriage feast. A king gave a marriage feast for his son and sent his son to call the invited guests, but they wouldn’t come. He sent his servants again, saying that the oxen and calves were butchered and everything was ready, but the invited guests laughed, and some went on about their business, while others seized the king’s servants and beat them, killing some.

The king was angry and sent his soldiers to kill the invited guests and burn their village. Then the king had his servants go out into the surrounding area and invite whoever they found to come to the wedding feast. The servants did so, and the hall was filled with guests of all sorts.

When the king came in to meet his guests he noticed one who had no wedding garment, and he asked the person how he had gotten in without the proper attire, but the person was speechless. Then the king had the person bound hand and foot and cast into the outer darkness, where people will mourn and gnash their teeth. So it is, in the kingdom of God; many are invited, but few are chosen.

Commentary:

God is the king and Jesus is his son. Jesus is the “groom” and the Church is the “bride.” In one sense, the Jews were the invited guests, but they refused to come. They treated the servants of the Lord shamefully and killed some, even the son, Jesus. The village is Jerusalem. The Gentiles are the people invited by the king to take the place of the Jews at the wedding feast.

We haven’t done anything to be worthy of being invited to the marriage feast. All we have to do is accept the invitation. The king has provided the wedding garment, the righteousness of Jesus, which we have through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus (Romans 3:21-22; Philippians 3:9).

The wedding garment is the indwelling Holy Spirit, which we receive as we trust and obey Jesus. Only Jesus gives the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). It is possible for one to know with certainty whether one has received the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 19:2).

Jesus said that one must be spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8), in order to see the kingdom of God all around us now, and ultimately enter it in eternity. Any one who hasn’t put on the “wedding garment” will not be allowed into the “marriage feast.”

In one sense we’re all guilty of crucifying Jesus, because we have all sinned (disobeyed God’s Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10) and made his death necessary for our forgiveness and salvation from eternal death, which is the penalty for sin (Romans 6:23; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

The Jews are no more or less guilty that anyone. But consider that God withdrew his protection and providence from them and allowed the Romans to destroy Jerusalem and the temple in 70 A.D. The Jews were scattered throughout the world and Israel ceased to exist as a nation and people until re-established following World War II. The temple, necessary under the Old Covenant of Law, has never been rebuilt. Judaism effectively ended at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ (Matthew 27:51).

The marriage feast in heaven will be the fulfillment of the “New Passover Feast” which Jesus initiated at the Last Supper on the eve of his crucifixion, and which is commemorated by the Church in the Eucharist (Holy Communion; The Lord's supper; Matthew 26:26-28). Jesus promised that he would celebrate it new with his disciples in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 26:29). Jesus is the sacrificial Lamb of Passover, whose blood marks us as God’s people, to be “passed over” by the destroyer, and whose flesh provides the feast and the spiritual sustenance to sustain us as we are freed from sin and death in “Egypt” and head toward the eternal “Promised Land” of God’s kingdom in heaven.

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

20 Pentecost – Friday

Posted October 3, 2008

Isaiah 65:1-2 -- Rebellious People;  
Romans 11:25-32 -- Israel to be Saved;


Isaiah:


God wants to be found, but people do not seek him or ask for him. He’s ready to answer, but people don’t call upon him. God invites people to come to him, but people are rebellious, they follow their own will and do what is not good.


Romans:


Christians must not be conceited, imagining ourselves wise because we have been saved and others are “lost.” God has allowed a hardening to come upon the Jews until the full number of Gentiles are saved, and then all Israel (in general; who are willing) will be saved (see also Romans 11:12 RSV). Paul quotes Isaiah 59:20-21, saying that “the Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob (“Israel,” the patriarch whose name was given to the people and whose sons became the heads of the twelve tribes); and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins” (Romans 11:26-27)

For now they are enemies of the Gospel to our benefit, but they are still beloved of the Lord for their ancestors’ sake. “The gifts and the call of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29). As we were once disobedient but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have become disobedient, that God may have the same mercy on them. “For God has consigned all men to disobedience, that he may have mercy upon all” (Romans 11:32).


Commentary:


The meaning and purpose of life in this world is to seek and find God (Acts 17:26-27). God has always intended, from the very beginning of Creation, to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey his Word. God has designed Creation with the possibility of sin (disobedience of God’s Word), so that we can have the freedom to choose whether to trust and obey his Word or not, and to learn by trial and error that his way is our very best interest.

This world has been designed according to God’s Word, and the Bible is his rule-book and instruction manual. God’s Word declares that all have sinned and fall short of God’s righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), and the penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). God loves us and doesn’t want anyone to perish but to live eternally with him in his heavenly kingdom (Romans 5:8; John 3:16-17).

God has designed a Savior, Jesus Christ, into the very structure of Creation (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus is not an afterthought or “Plan B.” God was not surprised by, or unprepared for our disobedience. Jesus is God’s only provision for the forgiveness of our sins and salvation from eternal death and destruction in hell (Acts 4:12). Jesus is the only way to know divine truth, the only way to find and know God, and the only way to be spiritually “reborn” (John 3:3, 5-8) and have eternal life (John 14:6; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

The Jews are not lost beyond redemption, and the Lord’s call is irrevocable, but they will have to acknowledge and accept Jesus as their Messiah (Matthew 23:37-39). Jews are no more guilty of crucifying Jesus than anyone. We have all sinned and made Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross necessary for our forgiveness and salvation from eternal condemnation.

This lifetime is our only opportunity to be spiritually “reborn” to eternal life. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16). It is possible for one to know with certainty for oneself if one has been “born-again (Acts 19:2).

God is perfectly fair and just. This is his Creation and his rules. There is a Day of Judgment coming when everyone will be accountable to the Lord for what each has done individually in this lifetime. Everyone will be judged impartially, and the standard of judgment is Jesus Christ. Those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will trust and obey Jesus. Those who trust and obey Jesus will receive the “baptism” (gift, anointing) of the indwelling Holy Spirit which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). Those who refuse to allow Jesus to be their Lord and Savior, who won’t or don’t trust and obey Jesus will be condemned to eternal death and destruction in hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

20 Pentecost – Saturday

Posted October 4, 2008

Matthew 21:28-44 -- Parable of the Vineyard;

Jesus taught in parables, stories of common everyday experiences used to convey spiritual truth.

Jesus was in the temple teaching a group of people who included priests and religious authorities. He said, in a parable, that a vineyard owner had two sons. He went to the first and told him to go and work in the vineyard that day. The son told his father he would not, but later he repented and went. The father went to the second son and told him to go and work in the vineyard, and the son told him respectfully that he would, but didn’t go. Jesus asked which of the sons did his father’s will, and the people indicated the son who did as he had been told.

Then Jesus said that tax collectors (despised for collaborating with the Roman occupying government) and sinners would enter the Kingdom of God before the Jews. When John the Baptizer appeared, preaching the way of righteousness, the Jewish authorities did not accept John’s message, but the tax collectors and sinners did, and when the religious leaders saw the tax collectors and sinners respond to John’s message they still didn’t repent and believe him.

Then Jesus told the Parable of the Vineyard. A landowner planted a vineyard. He put a hedge around it and built a winepress and a tower in it. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. At the time of harvest he sent his servants to collect his portion of the harvest, but the tenants abused and beat the servants and stoned and killed some. The landowner sent a larger group of servants, and the tenants treated them the same way. Then the landowner sent his son, thinking that the tenants would surely respect the son, but when the tenants saw the son they realized that he was the heir and they killed him so that when the landowner died the vineyard would be theirs.

So what will the landowner do? The listeners replied that he would brutally execute the tenants and rent the vineyard to other tenants who would give him his fruit in due season. 

Then Jesus quoted Psalm 118:22-23, saying that the stone rejected by the builders has become the keystone by God’s act, and God’s people regard it as wonderful.  Jesus declared that the kingdom of God would be taken away from the Jews and given to nations (the Gentiles) who would produce the fruit of it.

Commentary:

Jesus warns that it is not those who call themselves God’s people, but those who trust and obey God’s Word, who are the true people of God (Matthew 7:21-27). It is not those who call Jesus their Lord who are Christians, but those who are his disciples (students) who trust and obey his teachings (Luke 6:46).

Christians are by definition disciples of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c) who trust and obey Jesus, and have been “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

God has given us his Word in the Bible and in the “living Word,” fulfilled, embodied, and exemplified in Jesus Christ (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus’ word is the Word of God (John 14:10, 24), with the creative force of God’s Word (Matthew 8:26-27; compare Genesis 1:3-4).

God’s Word declares that all have sinned (disobeyed God’s Word) and fall short of God’s righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). The penalty for sin is eternal condemnation, death and destruction in hell. Jesus is God’s only provision for our forgiveness, salvation and restoration to fellowship with God which was broken by sin (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

Jesus has given his disciples the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), to go into the world, after they have been spiritually “reborn” (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8), to make disciples of Jesus Christ, teaching them to obey all that Jesus teaches. We are called to be Jesus’ disciples, to learn to trust and obey Jesus, to seek and receive spiritual “rebirth,” and then to go into the world to carry on the mission of Jesus Christ to the world.

God has always intended, from the beginning of Creation, to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly trust and obey God. God has designed Creation to allow the possibility of sin, so that we can have the freedom to choose whether or not to trust and obey God, and to learn by trial and error that God’s way is our best interest. God does not cause sin. Humans cause sin by disobeying God’s Word.

This world is God’s vineyard and we are tenants. God’s Word is the seed which can produce spiritual fruit and eternal life, if we care for it and allow it to take root and grow to spiritual maturity. This lifetime is our opportunity to seek and find God (Acts 17:26-27), and this is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (John 14:6). This lifetime is our only opportunity to be spiritually reborn to eternal life.

The Bible is the history of God’s dealing with Israel. It has been given for our instruction (1 Corinthians 10:6-11). Jesus’ word was fulfilled concerning the Jews. They killed the Son and heir of God, (but note that they are no more guilty than the rest of us; we have all crucified Jesus because we have all sinned and made his sacrificial death necessary) and the kingdom was taken from them and given to the Gentiles.

Judaism effectively ended at Jesus’ crucifixion. The veil of the temple was supernaturally torn in two from top to bottom, signifying that a new and better way into God’s presence was opened through Jesus Christ. God lifted his providence and protection from Israel. Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed in 70 A.D., and the people of Israel were scattered throughout the world. Israel ceased to exist as a nation until re-established following World War II. The temple, necessary for the Old Covenant of Law, has never been rebuilt.  

There is a Day of Judgment coming when everyone who has ever lived will be accountable for what we have done with God’s Word, and the standard by which we will all be judged is Jesus Christ. Those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior and have trusted and obeyed Jesus will have been “born-again” and will enter eternal life in the kingdom of God in heaven. Those who have refused to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior and have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus will be condemned to eternal death and destruction in hell with all evil. (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?