Psalm 118:1-29 Blessed Hesed
118:1 “Give thanks to Yahweh, for He is good, for His hesed/loyal covenantal love endures forever. 2 Let Israel now say that His hesed/loyal covenantal love endures forever. 3 Let the house of Aaron now say that His hesed/loyal covenantal love endures forever. 4 Now let those who fear Yahweh say that His hesed/loyal covenantal love endures forever.
5 Out of my distress, I called on Yah. Yah answered me and brought me into a spacious place/freedom. 6 Yahweh is on my side. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? 7 Yahweh is on my side among those who help me. Therefore I will look in triumph at those who hate me. 8 It is better to take refuge in Yahweh, than to put confidence in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in Yahweh, than to put confidence in princes. 10 All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of Yahweh, I cut them off. 13 You pushed me back hard, to make me fall, but Yahweh helped me. 14 Yah is my strength and song. He has become my salvation. 15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous. "The right hand of Yahweh does valiantly. 16 The right hand of Yahweh is exalted! The right hand of Yahweh does valiantly!"
17 I will not die, but live, and declare Yah’s works. 18 Yah has punished me severely, but He has not given me over to death. 19 Open to me the gates of righteousness. I will enter into them. I will give thanks to Yah. 20 This is the gate of Yahweh; the righteous will enter into it. 21 I will give thanks to You, for You have answered me, and have become my salvation. 22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner. 23 This is Yahweh’s doing. It is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day that Yahweh has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it! 25 Save us now, we beg You, Yahweh! Yahweh, we beg You, send prosperity now.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of Yahweh! We have blessed you out of the house of Yahweh. 27 Yahweh is God, and He has given us light. Bind the sacrifice with cords, even to the horns of the altar. 28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to You. You are my God, I will exalt You. 29 Oh give thanks to Yahweh, for He is good, for His hesed/loyal covenantal love endures forever."
Observations: 118:1-4 Sandwiched between the shortest and longest chapters of the Bible, this final Hallel HalleluYah Praise Psalm deserves special attention. It opens and closes with giving thanks to Yahweh, for His goodness as shown by His hesed, or loyal covenantal love which endures forever (to those who fear Him, all others need not pray, for this doesn't apply to them).
118:5 This verse summarizes many of the psalms, and hopefully our personal experience.
118:6-16 Since God is the mighty helper and deliverer, it's foolish to put confidence in anyone or anything else. Therefore we should trust Him, and we'll wind up praising Him.
118:17-25 Recalling God's past help, psalmist looks with confidence to the God's future deliverance from the consequences of his present sin. He looks forward to entering into the gates (of the Temple/city) through which only those rightly related to God (righteous) can enter, to praise God for His deliverance. Verse 22 would apply to a leader (David) who had been rejected, but became the head of the building (Davidic Covenant/Dynasty). Jesus applied this verse to himself in Matthew 21:42.
118:26-29 These last verses show up in a lot of contemporary hymns, and probably had their original reference to the high priest coming to offer sacrifices on behalf of the people. The reference to light might be that of the priestly blessing specified in Numbers 6:22-27. The praise concludes where it started, with God's hesed, the basis of all His blessings.
Application: If we are on God's side, He will be on our side, and then, all is good.
Prayer: I praise You God, for Your hesed to me, for Your loyal love, and discipline, and deliverance, and for being the delight of my life. Thanks. Amen.
Proverbs 26:13-16 The Slimy Spiritual Sluggard
Pr 26:13 “The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!" 14 As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed. 15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth. 16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer with reason/discretion.“
Observations: 26:13 We just looked at the sluggard lyin' about lions making false excuses for their lying about. There were no lions in the civilized Jerusalem of Solomon's time, but then self-deceived individuals never were very good with the truth.
26:14 The reason the sluggard never gets anywhere in the spiritual life is because they think that activity is a substitute for performance. Like a door on its hinges, the sluggard moves, but in reality goes nowhere, being attached to his/her bed of escapism. At the end of the day or year, they are right back where they started, and no progress or growth has been realized.
26:15 The sluggard has false starts without accomplishment. Their hand goes in the plate (poor manners), but doesn't make it back to their mouth (unless its something unhealthily sweet). They can get all excited about something new and different, but they haven't developed the self-discipline to make their dreams (nor God's desires) a reality. They are paralyzed by the pursuit of gratifying their passions, so they can't channel their energies toward any noble task that rises above their animal instincts.
26:16 Like the total fool, a sluggard will come up with more reasons and excuses than seven wise people who try to reprove them with true evidence.
Application: If you're not making substantial progress in your spiritual life, it might be time to face the ugly truth that you're being a slimy spiritual sluggard (not pretty, nor profitable).
Prayer: God, may I never be deceived into making any of the mistakes of the sluggard, and may I welcome the reproof of those with Your wisdom, so I can achieve Your objectives for my life. Thanks. Amen.
Matthew 1-4 After 400 years of silence since Malachi, the NT opens with the book that links the two testaments. Matthew demonstrates that Jesus is the promised Messiah, rejected by His people, and shows those who accepted Him how to live in light of that rejection, so they'd be blessed in the coming kingdom (that's the purpose statement of the book, built from the unique material and emphasis of Matthew). Matthew builds his case around five discourses or sermons (chapters 5-7, 10, 13 18, 24-25) which some opine is a reflection of the first five books of Moses. You decide. The first four chapters (this post) start with genealogy (hey, it links with the OT), and include Jesus' birth, spiritual warfare with the devil, and the initial message of John, Jesus and the disciples (they all said the same thing, and if you don't understand it, you'll miss the meaning of the rest of the NT).
With the exception of John's gospel, the books of the NT are written primarily to believers who had accepted the Messiah's claims and teachings, and whose sins were forgiven. Thus their purpose is not evangelistic, but edification (building of believers' faith). John's gospel has a stated twofold purpose (John 20:30-31): that his readers might have life (believe) and have it abundantly (continue to believe), reflecting Jesus comment in John 10:10 (evangelism for the first half of the book; edification in the second).
While many miss the above truth, most people don't realize that the bulk of each gospel describes Jesus' ministry to an audience who also had their sins forgiven (covered or atoned for), by participation in the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) and the Levitical sacrificial system. Just read what God revealed about each sacrifice in Lev 1-7.
Leviticus 4:26b “So the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.”The NT isn't about how to get forgiveness, but how to live righteously (just like God wanted in the OT). To try to make every passage talk about Jesus dying to forgive the sins of unbelievers is to distort the truth just like the perverted priests of the OT did (cf Ezekiel 13:9-11), and deprive God's people of the words of the abundant life. If you've been deceived into the thinking that the truth doesn't apply to you, you will miss the application and blessing God desires.
The first four books are called the Gospels (good news), a combination of narrative and discourse describing the Messiah's life and ministry. They were written as eyewitness accounts shortly after Christ's death approximately ~AD 30 (why would anyone wait decades to write what happened?). There are papyrus fragments of Matthew and Mark dated to before the AD 70 destruction of the temple. See under the 7 Questions in the Sidebar for “Can God Communicate" for an overview of the reliability of Scripture, or this link for more detail.
Each gospel is written to a different audience, and they are not strict chronology but more topical (like most of the Prophets), and are arranged to make a theological point which served the needs of the audience. The first three are referred to as the syn-optic gospels because the see-together similar material. John has a different focus and purpose and correspondingly selected somewhat different material to emphasize.
See Digging Deeper for a detailed timeline of the NT, which has a link so you can download and print it. There is also a link to Ancient Evidence for Jesus from Non-Christian Sources.
Don't miss the new “Build-A-Jesus” section under Digging Deeper; we'll be developing a Biblical portrait of the Revealed Jesus, as we go through the NT.
Matthew 1 Jesus the Messiah Will Save His People as Promised
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this; for after his mother, Mary, was engaged/betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away/divorce secretly. 20 But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She shall bring forth a son. You shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins." 22 Now all this has happened, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, 23 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son. They shall call his name Immanuel"; which is, being interpreted, "God with us." 24 Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself; 25 and didn’t know her sexually until she had brought forth her firstborn son. He named him Jesus."
Observations: 1:1-17 The book opens with the assertion that Jesus is the Messiah (= Hebrew for “Anointed”; which in Greek =”Christ”) and specifies that He is the Son of David, with the right to rule according the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7), which is an unfolding of the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12). The genealogy is abridged, and traces Jesus' legal ancestry through Joseph, His father, giving Him the legal right to rule. Luke traces His physical lineage through Mary all the way back to Adam (demonstrating to a Greek audience that Jesus was the “perfect man”). So, that's why there are two “different” genealogies. We'll briefly look at other genealogical issues when we get to Luke. It's worth noting that Matthew includes Gentile women in the account, indicating that God's concern is for all nations, as promised to Abraham “in you, all the families of the earth will be blessed."
1:18-25 This account is well known, but a few observations are in order. Joseph is called righteous. He didn't want to disgrace Mary by a public divorce. Note that betrothal was considered a bond broken by divorce. When we get to Matthew 19 remember that unfaithfulness during the betrothal period was grounds for divorce. One could infer or reason the necessity for a Virgin Conception (just like Abraham “reckoned a resurrection” from the available facts - Hebrews 11:17-19). If sin came through the seed of man, and the Messiah was to be a spotless lamb that didn't have to die for His own sin, so His death could be applied to the sins of others {Isaiah 53}, then He had to be human, to die in the place of man, and not have a human father to avoid the sin nature inherited from Adam {Romans 5:12}. See comments on Isaiah 7:14, the type, of which Christ is the anti-type. Just like the child in Isaiah's day was an indication that God was with the people, so too Mary's child harbingered God fulfilling His promises to His people. The Greek word for virgin is “parthenos,” the standard word for a woman who had not had sexual relations with a man.
The name Jesus indicates His mission: “to save His people from their sins,” which has a much broader application than dying for them. In future posts we'll discuss (and prove) that the NT authors used the verb “sozo” Strongs #4982 in a variety of senses, the specific meaning is determined by context. In the OT/LXX, the most frequent use was to “deliver” from enemies, a sense used in the NT. The overarching NT meaning is to “reverse the effects of the Fall”, regaining what Adam lost, seen in three aspects:
1) justification – declaration of the forgiveness of sins, and pardon from the death penalty;
2) sanctification – rebuilding towards pre-Fall holiness and a relationship with God;
3) glorification – restoration to pre-Fall glory.
Since this is a major theme of the NT, and majorly misunderstood, we'll revisit it numerous times in context. For those of you who can't wait, take a look at the noun “salvation” in Thayer's Lexicon (Strong's #4991) or nose around on Truthbase.net (1 Peter 1 is a good place to start).
Application: God is not just interested in having Jesus die for our sin, but in fulfilling His promises,
including those of saving us from the effects of sins in our lives, so He can bless us.
including those of saving us from the effects of sins in our lives, so He can bless us.
Prayer: God, You are ever faithful to You promises, may I live righteously so I can experience You dwelling with me throughout each day. Amen.
Matthew 2 Worshiped and Rejected
2:1 "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, 2 "Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him." 3 When King Herod heard it, he was troubled,and all Jerusalem with him. 4 Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ would be born. 5 They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is written through the prophet, 6 ‘You Bethlehem, land of Judah, are in no way least among the princes of Judah: for out of you shall come forth a governor, who shall shepherd my people, Israel.’" 7 Then Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, "Go and search diligently for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him."
9 They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 Being warned in a dream that they shouldn’t return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way.
13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him." 14 He arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called my son."
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out, and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men. 17 Then that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, 18 "A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; she wouldn’t be comforted, because they are no more."
19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, 20 "Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who sought the young child’s life are dead." 21 He arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee, 23 and came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene."
Observations: 2:1-15 Evil king Herod was not a legitimate descendent of David, but an Idumaean/Edomite, put on the throne by the Romans. His response to the news that there was a rival “King of the Jews” prophesied in the Scriptures didn't give him pause for thought, but he plotted the destruction of God's plan. He's also the guy who expanded and refurbished the temple, which just goes to show that a concern about “religion” is no substitute for righteousness. The wise guys, the Magi, were following His star which didn't behave as any known natural phenomena, and was probably a localization of God's glory (like that which guided Israel in the wilderness), or an angel with a really bright candle. The star followers foreshadow the seeking of the Messiah by Gentile nations during His millennial reign. The gifts have meaning, which, while not explained, could point to the Messiah's roles as: King (gold), Priest (frankincense was burned by the high priest), and Sacrifice (myrrh was used for burials).
2:16-23 Herod typifies the hypocritical religious institution, who would oppose the Messiah during His stay on earth. Joseph gets another dream, telling him to go to Egypt, and another to return, similar to how God protected the nation in Genesis and Exodus. Matthew relates this to Hosea 11:1. In Exodus 4:22 God called Israel His firstborn son, out of Egypt. The Messiah, as His son, both in a only begotten and Suzerain-Vassal relationship, was also called out of Egypt. There is no direct prophecy that Jesus would be a Nazarene, but Jesus being called one is in line with what the prophets said. The Nazarenes were a despised people because of their close association with the Romans. The Messiah was said to be despised (Isaiah 53; Psalm 22; Daniel 9:26). Some have suggested a word play on the Hebrew word for Branch, which is similar to Nazareth, but being despised fits Matthew's theology of a rejected Messiah better. Thus these two chapters serve as a fitting prologue to the story of the King of Kings, rejected by the Jewish establishment, but worshiped by the Gentiles.
Application: God protects His servants from opposition that would endanger the fulfillment of His purposes, but doesn't spare them the discomfort of living in an evil world.
Prayer: God, may I be quick to hear and obey like righteous Joseph, and willing to be despised for the fulfillment of Your purposes. Amen.
Matthew 3 Repentance and Authentication
6 They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, "You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bring forth fruit worthy of repentance! 9 Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 "Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t bring forth good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire."
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 But John would have hindered him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?" 15 But Jesus, answering, said to him, "Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness."Then he allowed him. 16 Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming to rest on him. 17 Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
Observations : 3:1-5 John the Baptist is firmly established by all the gospel writers as the voice in the wilderness of Isaiah 40 (see post, really). Isaiah 40 opens the section about the future kingdom which starts with the herald announcing the King.
Matthew usually used the phrase the “kingdom of heaven” (literally that comes from the heavens), where the other writers used the phrase the “kingdom of God” (the kingdom that comes from God) perhaps to follow the Jewish custom to avoid mentioning God's name so they wouldn't take it in vain. In any event, this is the kingdom is that promised in the OT, where the Messiah would come and rule over the righteous nation and bless them as promised. However, in the OT, they had to be blessable to be blessed. If they lived in unrighteousness and injustice, they could only expect God's wrath, not blessing. It didn't matter if they were children of Abraham (who do you think got all that discipline and wrath in the OT?), their sin would be punished.
For a total refutation of the kingdom being "the rule of God in one's heart,” for which there is no Biblical support, see Survey of Rewards on Truthbase.net and comments on Luke 17.
Isaiah 40:10 (about the King coming to reward and pay back) is key to understand in light of John the Baptist's comments about how to repent (especially in Luke 3): Stop living as if this world was all there is and start living as if the King was coming who would reward righteousness. Clean up your act, and make Him welcome.
3:6-12 Repentance is a change of mind that results in a change of actions. Baptism is used of immersing wool in a vat of dye, that can symbolize cleansing or identification (or death to self as in Romans 6). In repentance contexts it's appropriate to see it as symbolic of washing away sins.
John saw the Messiah's coming as an immersion in the Holy Spirit (in fulfillment of the New Covenant (see Jeremiah 31:31, and Joel 2), and immersion in fire (as in Malachi 3). The Messiah would make a distinction between those who were loyal to God, who would be blessed, and those who did their own thing, who would suffer. This theme is seen repeatedly in the OT; there is no indication that it will change in the NT, in fact, we'll see it reinforced repeatedly. Some responded, the entrenched religious establishment, hooked on ritual and tradition, usually didn't.
3:13-17 John's comments about Jesus are authenticated by a miracle (a pattern throughout the NT). Jesus comes to get baptized by John who at first refuses, because he knew Jesus didn't have sins to repent of. Jesus' rejoinder, “to fulfill all righteousness” is a little difficult to pin down. There is no OT command or requirement to be baptized, and Jewish baptism was usually self-immersion. If baptism is viewed as identification, then Jesus was identifying with the repentance movement, or the sins of the people which He would eventually bear. An alternative view is that the people viewed a righteous person as one that would get baptized (similarly to Jesus paying the temple tax). Another option is that Jesus was submitting to the human ritual as emblematic of submitting to the task of taking the people's sins upon Himself. He authenticates John's ministry by participating in it, and Jesus gets authenticated by the Father. In any event, the Father was well pleased with Jesus' actions and bestowed the Holy Spirit upon Him, not just as a token of His favor, but a symbol of the anointing of the Messiah King. Philippians 2 indicates that Jesus emptied Himself of His glory/power in His sojourn on earth, and since the Holy Spirit is the spirit of power and glory, the Father is empowering Him for His work, much the same way as He empowered kings and prophets in the OT, and believers in NT and modern times.
Application: Living righteously in light of the Kingdom of God is best way to live if you want to experience God's pleasure rather than pain.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, forgive me for denying Your promises and commands, and living for myself, as if this world is all there is; show me how to bring forth fruits consistent with my repentance, and live for You. Thanks. Amen.
Matthew 4 Passing the Test of the Temporal
4:1 "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward. 3 The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." 4 But he answered, "It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’"5 Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will put his angels in charge of you.’ and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you don’t dash your foot against a stone.’" 7 Jesus said to him, "Again, it is written, ‘You shall not test the Lord, your God.’"8 Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory. 9 He said to him, "I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me." 10 Then Jesus said to him, "Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’"11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and served him.
12 Now when Jesus heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he came and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, 15 "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, 16 the people who sat in darkness saw a great light, to those who sat in the region and shadow of death, to them light has dawned." 17 From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, "Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."
18 Walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers: Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 He said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men."20 They immediately left their nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them. 22 They immediately left the boat and their father, and followed him.
23 Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people. 24 The report about him went out into all Syria. They brought to him all who were sick, afflicted with various diseases and torments, possessed with demons, epileptics, and paralytics; and he healed them. 25 Great multitudes from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and from beyond the Jordan followed him."
Observations: 4:1-11 Being led by the Spirit into testing by Satan, Jesus successfully endures the test, even in a physically weakened state. Temptation is not sin, embracing it is (James 1:14-15). He was tempted in the same areas that Eve was (see Genesis 3 post), and we are (see 1 John 2:13): Pleasure (bread), Power (security, significance – forcing God to take care of Him), Possessions (kingdoms). God created Adam and Eve (and you and me) with these desires, and they are good (even Jesus had them). In fact, it was God's will for Jesus to eat, and be ministered to by angels (Hebrews 1:14), and rule over all kingdoms. However, Satan's will for our lives is a shortcut. If we do things Satan's way (or our way, which usually are one and the same) rather than God's way, we lose (like Adam and Eve) rather than win (like Jesus).
Hebrews 4:15 "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Notice that Satan knew and twisted Scripture misquoting (Psalm 91:11 leaves out “and guard you in all your ways”) it in an effort to dissuade Jesus from doing the Father's will. Satan's major weapon is deception/lying, but Jesus uses the Sword of the Spirit (the word of God - Ephesians 6) to vanquish the lies. See series: Defense Against the Dark Arts on Truthbase.net for learning how to be successful in spiritual warfare. Unless we can wield the sword of Truth, we'll be skewered by Satan's lies.
4:12-17 Jesus ministered for about a year (John 1-4, see chart under Digging Deeper) until John was imprisoned. Then when the herald had finished his work Matthew records Jesus' ministry in Galilee, in accord with the Messianic prophecies of Isaiah 9:1-2. Jesus preaches the same message as John, repent in light of the coming kingdom (He sends out the apostles with the same message as well).
4:18-25 Jesus calls his disciples from living for the temporal and challenges them to live for the eternal. They immediately make the choice that eternity outweighs the temporal, and follow Him. We'll talk more about discipleship in Mark, the manual of discipleship. Jesus taught in the synagogues, as well as proclaimed the good news (gospel) about the kingdom (note, that there is no mention of the cross in all this). He authenticates the message with miracles. Note too the distinction between sickness and demonic possession. Multitudes followed. What will He say to them? Stay tuned for the Sermon on the Mount in the next post.
Application: The successful follower of Jesus can use Truth to avoid the temporal temptations of Satan to live for the eternal benefits of Christ.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, may I follow You and Your example of submitting to the Father's will, and living for Your fulfillment of my desires, both now and in the world to come. Amen.
Digging Deeper:
The url's are included in case you have trouble with the link. Swartzentrover has a treasure trove of information, some more useful than other links, which would be worth exploring after you finish Revelation.
Super Detailed Timeline
Ancient Evidence for Jesus from Non-Christian Sources http://www.swartzentrover.com/cotor/bible/Bible/NT/Gospel%20&%20Acts/Non-Christian%20Sources01.htm
God in a nutshell: God is working out His plan to bless the world through the seed of Abraham. His kingdom promises are not forgotten, and He calls people to live for them. He authenticates His servants when they deliver His message. He doesn't exempt them from difficulty, but gives grace and glory for service.
Build-A-Jesus : Since so many people talk about “being like Jesus” or being Christlike, without a clue to the “real” Jesus (rather than that of the oral tradition they hear at Christmas and Easter), I thought it would be beneficial to build a balanced, Biblical view of our Awesome Lord (who is nothing like the helpless babe in the manger). I'll just highlight the aspects of Jesus that the chapters we consider emphasize. You more technically oriented might want to start a spreadsheet, listing the traits or characteristic or actions along one axis, and the references along the other. As your understanding of the revealed person of Christ grows, you might need to expand or combine the traits. There is no right answer, but your final portrait should be pretty close to the original subject. (No Impressionists allowed, sorry.)
Want to be like Jesus? Then know how to handle the Truth, resist the temporal temptations of Satan, submit to the Father's will, call others to repentance, and make disciples. A few miracles couldn't hurt either.
Us in a nutshell: We need to repent (change our mind) about living for this world, as if this is all there is (like Herod), and there is no kingdom coming as promised in the OT. We need to get a grip on Truth that won't get away from us when confronted by Satan's lies. We need to view fishing for men as superior to fishing for things that stink after a few days.
Where to Go for More:
Truthbase.net
Matthew 1-4 (complete text)
Matthew 1
1:1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2 Abraham became the father of Isaac. Isaac became the father of Jacob. Jacob became the father of Judah and his brothers. 3 Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron. Hezron became the father of Ram. 4 Ram became the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon. Nahshon became the father of Salmon. 5 Salmon became the father of Boaz by Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed by Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse. 6 Jesse became the father of King David. David became the father of Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah. 7 Solomon became the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam became the father of Abijah. Abijah became the father of Asa. 8 Asa became the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat became the father of Joram. Joram became the father of Uzziah. 9 Uzziah became the father of Jotham. Jotham became the father of Ahaz. Ahaz became the father of Hezekiah. 10 Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh. Manasseh became the father of Amon. Amon became the father of Josiah. 11 Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the exile to Babylon. 12 After the exile to Babylon, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel became the father of Zerubbabel. 13 Zerubbabel became the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim. Eliakim became the father of Azor. 14 Azor became the father of Sadoc. Sadoc became the father of Achim. Achim became the father of Eliud. 15 Eliud became the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan. Matthan became the father of Jacob. 16 Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. 17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the exile to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Babylon to the Christ, fourteen generations.
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this; for after his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly. 20 But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She shall bring forth a son. You shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins." 22 Now all this has happened, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, 23 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son. They shall call his name Immanuel"; which is, being interpreted, "God with us." 24 Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself; 25 and didn’t know her sexually until she had brought forth her firstborn son. He named him Jesus.
Matthew 2
2:1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, 2 "Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him." 3 When King Herod heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ would be born. 5 They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is written through the prophet, 6 ‘You Bethlehem, land of Judah, are in no way least among the princes of Judah: for out of you shall come forth a governor, who shall shepherd my people, Israel.’" 7 Then Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, "Go and search diligently for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him."
9 They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. 11 They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 Being warned in a dream that they shouldn’t return to Herod, they went back to their own country another way.
13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him." 14 He arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called my son."
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out, and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men. 17 Then that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, 18 "A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; she wouldn’t be comforted, because they are no more."
19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, 20 "Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who sought the young child’s life are dead." 21 He arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee, 23 and came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene."
Matthew 3
4:1 In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2 "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!" 3 For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make ready the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight." 4 Now John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him. 6 They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, "You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bring forth fruit worthy of repentance! 9 Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 "Even now the axe lies at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t bring forth good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire."
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 But John would have hindered him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and you come to me?" 15 But Jesus, answering, said to him, "Allow it now, for this is the fitting way for us to fulfil all righteousness."Then he allowed him. 16 Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him. 17 Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
Matthew 4
4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward. 3 The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." 4 But he answered, "It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’"5 Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will put his angels in charge of you.’ and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you don’t dash your foot against a stone.’" 7 Jesus said to him, "Again, it is written, ‘You shall not test the Lord, your God.’"8 Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory. 9 He said to him, "I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me." 10 Then Jesus said to him, "Get behind me,Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’"11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and served him.
12 Now when Jesus heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he came and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, 15 "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, 16 the people who sat in darkness saw a great light, to those who sat in the region and shadow of death, to them light has dawned." 17 From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, "Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."
18 Walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers: Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 He said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men."20 They immediately left their nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them. 22 They immediately left the boat and their father, and followed him.
23 Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people. 24 The report about him went out into all Syria. They brought to him all who were sick, afflicted with various diseases and torments, possessed with demons, epileptics, and paralytics; and he healed them. 25 Great multitudes from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and from beyond the Jordan followed him.
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