Luke 22

Gathering of those who wanted to kill Jesus verse 1- 6

Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh – which is called the Passover

and the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill HIM

for they feared the people

Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot

being of the number of the twelve

And he went his way – and communed with the chief priests and captains

how he might betray HIM unto them

And they were glad – and covenanted to give him money – and he promised

and sought opportunity to betray HIM unto them in the

absence of the multitude

Last Supper: Preparations verse 7- 13

Then came the day of unleavened bread – when the Passover must be killed

and HE sent Peter and John – saying

Go and prepare us the Passover

that we may eat

And they said to HIM

Where will YOU that we prepare?

And HE said unto them

BEHOLD – when you are entered into the city

there shall a man meet you

bearing a pitcher of water

follow him into the house where he enters in

AND you shall say unto the goodman of the house

The Master says to you

Where is the guest chamber

where I shall eat the Passover with MY disciples?

AND he shall show you a large upper room furnished

there make ready

And they went – and found as HE had said to them

and they made ready the Passover

Last Supper: Beginning verse 14- 16

And when the hour was come

HE sat down – and the twelve apostles with HIM

And HE said unto them

With desire I have desired to eat this Passover

with you before I suffer

FOR I say to you – I will not any more eat thereof

until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God

Last Supper: Bread and Cup verse 17- 23

And HE took the cup – and gave thanks – and said

Take this – and divide it among yourselves – FOR I say to you

I will not drink of the fruit of the vine

until the kingdom of God shall come

And HE took bread – and gave thanks – and brake it

and gave unto them – saying

This is MY body which is given for you

this do in remembrance of ME

Likewise also the cup after supper – saying

This cup is the new testament in MY blood

which is shed for you

BUT – behold

the hand of him that betrays ME is with ME on the table

AND truly the Son of man goes – as it was DETERMINED

BUT WOE to that man by whom he is betrayed

And they began to inquire among themselves

which of them it was that should do this thing

Last Supper: Argument of disciples verse 24- 30

And there was also a strife among them

which of them should be accounted the greatest

And HE said unto them

The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them

and they exercise authority upon them are called benefactors

BUT you shall not be so – BUT he that is greatest among you

let him be as the younger

and he that is chief – as he that does serve

FOR whether is greater – he that sits at meat – or he that serves?

is not he that sits at meat? BUT I am among you as he that serves

You are they which have continued with ME in MY temptations

and I appoint unto you a kingdom

as MY Father has appointed unto ME

that you may eat and drink at MY table in MY kingdom

and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel

Last Supper: Jesus predicts denial of Peter verse 31- 34

And the Lord said – Simon – Simon – BEHOLD

Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat

BUT I have prayed for you that your faith fail not

and when you art converted

strengthen your brethren

And he said unto HIM – Lord – I am ready to go with YOU

BOTH into prison and to death

And HE said – I tell you – Peter – the cock shall not crow this day

BEFORE that you shall thrice deny that you know ME

Last Supper: Disciples future service verse 35- 38

And HE said unto them

When I sent you without purse – and scrip – and shoes

lacked you anything?

And they said

Nothing

Then said HE to them – But NOW – he that has a purse – let him take it

and likewise his scrip – and he that has no sword

let him sell his garment – and buy one

FOR I say to you – that this that is written must yet be accomplished in ME

And HE was reckoned among the transgressors

for the things concerning ME have an end

And they said – Lord – BEHOLD – here are two swords

and HE said to them – It is enough

Jesus prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane verse 39- 46

And HE came out – and went – as HE was wont – to the mount of Olives

and HIS disciples also followed HIM

And when HE was at the place – HE said to them

Pray that you enter not into temptation

And HE was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast

and kneeled down and prayed – saying

Father – if YOU be willing – remove this cup from ME

nevertheless – not MY will – BUT YOURS be done

And there appeared an angel unto HIM from heaven – strengthening HIM

and being in an agony HE prayed more earnestly

and HIS sweat was as it were great drops of blood

falling down to the ground

And when HE rose up from prayer – and was come to HIS disciples

HE found them sleeping for sorrow – and said to them

Why sleep you? rise and pray – lest you enter into temptation

Betrayal of Jesus verse 47- 53

And while HE yet spoke – behold a multitude – and he that was called Judas

one of the twelve – went before them

and drew near unto Jesus to kiss HIM

BUT Jesus said to him

Judas – betray you the Son of man with a kiss?

When they which were about HIM saw what would follow

they said to HIM

Lord – shall we smite with the sword?

And one of them smote the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear

and Jesus answered and said – Suffer you thus far

and HE touched his ear and healed him

THEN Jesus said unto the chief priests – and captains of the temple – and the elders

which were come to HIM

Be you come out – as against a thief – with swords and staves?

When I was daily with you in the temple

you stretched forth no hands against ME

BUT this is your hour – and the power of darkness

Peter denies Jesus verse 54- 62

Then took they HIM and led HIM – and brought HIM to the high priest’s house

and Peter followed afar off

And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall

and were sat down together

Peter sat down among them

BUT a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire

and earnestly looked upon him

and said – This man was also with HIM

And he DENIED HIM – saying

Woman – I know HIM not

And after a little while another saw him – and said

You are also of them

And Peter said

Man – I am not

And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed – saying

Of a truth this fellow also was with HIM

FOR he is a Galilean

And Peter said – Man – I know not what you say

and IMMEDIATELY – while he yet spoke – the cock crew

and the Lord turned – and looked upon Peter

And Peter remembered the word of the Lord – how HE had said to him

Before the cock crow – you shall deny ME thrice

And Peter went out and wept bitterly

Guards mistreat Jesus verse 63- 65

And the men that held Jesus mocked HIM – and smote HIM

and when they had blindfolded HIM

they struck HIM on the face – and asked HIM – saying

Prophesy – who is it that smote YOU?

And many other things blasphemously spoke they against HIM

Jesus before the council verse 66- 71

And as soon as it was day

the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes

came together

and led HIM into their council – saying

Are YOU the Christ? tell us

AND HE said to them

If I tell you – you will not believe – and if I also ask you

you will not answer ME – nor let ME go

Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the

power of God

THEN said they all – Are YOU then the Son of God?

And HE said o them – You say that I am

And they said – What need we any further witness?

FOR we ourselves have heard of HIS OWN mouth

COMMENTARY:

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers

: 3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. (1525 “entered” [eiserchomai] means come in, go in, possession of a body, move into, or have part in)

DEVOTION: Satan is walking around seeking those he can devour. He wants to squash the plan of God. It was impossible but he thought he had to try. He knows his time is short.

While Jesus was on the earth he tried to tempt HIM in the three areas that all human being are tempted: lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. He failed.

On that occasion Satan left Jesus for a more convenient time. He had not given up on hurting the plan of God for Jesus or the world. He wanted to have dominance over the people of the world.

Jesus stated in John 6: 70 that Satan entered into one of the twelve disciples. HE stated that HE had chosen this one disciple. HE knew who he was and what he was going to do. HE knew that Judas was more interested in money than in being a servant. HE knew that Judas was a follower because he thought Jesus was going to set up HIS kingdom right away. When that didn’t happen he chose to betray Jesus.

He entered into Judas on a couple of occasions. Once was before Passover when he met with the religious leaders that wanted to see Jesus dead. This is found in our current verse. They were glad to see him come. They agreed on a price and then Judas waited for an opportunity.

The second time was at the celebration of the LORD’S Supper with HIS disciples. In John 13: 2 we find that when the supper had ended the devil entered into the heart of Judas. Then in John 13: 27 where Jesus tells Judas to do what you are going to do quickly.

Judas had his opportunity because he knew they were going to the Garden of Gethsemane. He took those who wanted to kill Jesus to that spot and kissed Jesus to betray HIM.

Today we have some treasurers in Bible believing churches that are taking money from the offerings that are given to the LORD. I had treasurers in my three churches that were faithful in their duty. However, there was a treasurer in the area of my third church that took many thousands of dollars. Everyone needs to watch what control money has over their lives.

CHALLENGE: Even those who are in church on all occasions still might not be true followers of Jesus. We are commanded to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith.

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers

: 22 And truly the Son of man goes as it was determined but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed. (3724 “determined” [horizo] means ordain, to mark out the boundaries or limits, appoint, to be or become definitely decided and delineated in outcome or nature, or designate)

DEVOTION: Before the foundation of the world the Godhead knew that man would fall into sin. Before the foundation of the world the Godhead knew that the beloved Son would come as the Messiah to take away the sins of the world. Before the foundation of the world the Godhead knew who would become believers. God knew all that would happen in the past, present and future before it happened.

We are to understand that Jesus who calls HIMSELF the Son of Man was the Messiah who came and died on the cross for our sins. HE was our substitute. HIS being our substitute was determined to happen at a certain time and in a certain place.

Nothing surprised Jesus. Nothing surprises God the Father. Nothing surprises the Holy Spirit. They all know the plan. Each has their individual responsibility. It sometimes is hard to understand but that is what the Bible teaches.

The disciples didn’t understand all that Jesus taught them. The Holy Spirit helped them understand. We are in the same position. There are many things that we still don’t understand but we have to rely on the Holy Spirit to help us understand that everything that happens to us as believers is for our good.

CHALLENGE: We should be able to say “Not my will but your will be done” to the Father. Have WE said it to HIM lately?

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 31, 32 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou are converted, strengthen thy brethren. (1994 “converted” [epistrepho] means return, change one’s beliefs, turn around, transitively, to turn to the worship of the true God, to bring back to the love and obedience of God, or to return.)

DEVOTION: One thing that Jesus was in relation to his disciples was honest. He told Peter the truth about what was happening in his life. There is an evil reign within this world. This evil reign is under the control of Satan and his demons.

The gospels tell us about demon possession. This demon possession is still happening today. There is a fight going on in our world in the spiritual realm. The evil angels are fighting the good angels. The battle is real.

Jesus was telling Peter that Satan wants to sift him as wheat. Our enemy wanted to get hold of Peter and use him for his work. Jesus tells Peter that HE prayed for him. HIS prayer for Peter was that his faith would not fail. HE told him that he would deny him. He would do the work of Satan. He would not be the witness he thought he was. Peter didn’t believe what Jesus was saying. He told HIM that he would never deny HIM. Jesus said he would do it three times before the cock crowed.

Peter did deny the LORD.

However, Jesus said that when he returned, he was to strengthen the brethren. Jesus knew in advance that Peter would repent. Once repentance had taken place, Peter would return to the LORD and preach the Word with power.

We are sifted as wheat is sifted by the enemy. We have an advocate. Our advocate is Jesus Christ. He is sitting on the right hand of God now. He told Peter he was praying for him. Jesus is in communication with the Father at all times. When Jesus prays for Peter, or us he gets a positive answer.

Our responsibility, after we have gone through a rough time, is to strengthen the brethren. Are we strengthening the brethren with our teaching and life? We are going to be sifted for us to learn to get closer to the Lord. Are we getting closer? Are we blaming God for all our problems? Are we bitter or better? Peter came out of this testing better. So should we!!

Is there any root of bitterness in our life over something that did happen or is happening to us? Have you lost a battle with sin? Claim this promise: Christ is praying for you.

CHALLENGE: Get rid of the bitterness and learn from what you are going through. Then teach others what you have learned.

________________________________________________________

: 53 When I was daily with you in the temple, you stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. (5610 “hour” [hora] means time, season, a certain definite time or season fixed by natural law and returning with the revolving year, moment, or instant.)

DEVOTION: The Bible states that “men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil.” Here we find that this is true. Those who were coming to arrest Jesus were coming at night when HE wasn’t around a large crowd.

The religious leaders paid Judas to betray Jesus. He betrayed him with a kiss. So we find that many times it is a friend that betrays us rather than a stranger. The LORD warns us that people in our own family will be the ones to betray us. Just before the return of the LORD there is going to be more betrayal than ever before for those who are followers of the LORD.

There will be a manhunt for those who are believers. Satan wants to kill them all. He wants to put his mark on all those who will follow him and those who don’t receive the mark will not be able to even buy bread.

Jesus states that the group that came to arrest HIM came in the power of darkness. Satan and his angels work well in the darkness. Many more sins seem to be committed at night. There is a false belief that God doesn’t see what is happening in darkness. They think they are hiding for an omnipotent God. They think they can hide from an omnipresent God. They are lying to themselves. Satan is the father of lies so he is the one who helping or encouraging them to believe the lie.

God sees everything. God wants HIS followers to be the children of light. We are to cause the world to see the Light of the World is Jesus.

CHALLENGE: Don’t be like children of darkness. Jesus is the Light of the Word, spread HIS truth to all you know.

__________________________________________________________________

DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:

BODY

Chastity (Purity in living)

Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)

Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)

Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)

Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)

SOUL

Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)

Frugality (wise use of resources)

Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)

Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)

Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)

SPIRIT

Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)

Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)

Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)

Jesus gives thanks verse 17, 19

Jesus prays for Peter verse 32

Jesus tells disciples to pray verse 40, 46

Jesus communicates with Father verse 42, 44, 45

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)

Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)

Feast of unleavened bread verse 1, 7

Passover verse 1, 7, 8, 11,13, 15

Temple verse 52, 53

_______________________________________________________________________

DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

Fulfilled verse 16

New Testament verse 20

As it was determined verse 22

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

Father verse 29, 42

Will of Father be done verse 42

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)

Master verse 11

Suffer verse 15

Shedding of blood verse 20

Son of man verse 22, 48, 69

Lord verse 31, 33, 38, 49, 61

Reckoned among transgressors verse 37

Jesus verse 47, 48, 51, 52, 63

Christ verse 67

Sit on right hand of God verse 69

Son of God verse 70

God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)

Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)

God verse 16, 18, 69, 70

Kingdom of God verse 16, 18, 29

Determined verse 22

Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)

Satan – devil verse 3, 31

Angel – strengthened Jesus verse 43

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)

Goodman of the house verse 11

Kings of the Gentiles verse 25

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)

Kill Jesus verse 2, 7

Fear verse 2

Betray verse 4, 6, 21, 22, 48

Money verse 4

Strife among disciples verse 24

Exercise authority verse 25

Faith fail verse 32

Deny Christ verse 34, 57

Transgressors verse 37

Yielding to temptation verse 40

Thief verse 52

Power of darkness verse 53

Denial verse 57, 58, 60, 61

Mocked verse 63

Blasphermously verse 65

Not believe verse 67

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

Give thanks verse 17, 19

Lord’s Supper (Remembrance) verse 19

Temptations verse 28, 40, 46

Appoint verse 29

Pray verse 32, 40, 41, 46

Faith verse 32

Converted verse 32

Strengthen brethren verse 32

Not enter temptation verse 40, 46

God’s will verse 42

Healed verse 51

Believe verse 67

Israel (Old Testament people of God)

Chief priests verse 2, 4, 52, 66

Captains of the temple verse 4, 52

Scribes verse 2, 66

Judas Iscariot verse 3, 47

Judging the twelve tribes of Israel verse 30

Mount of Olives verse 39

Servant of high priest verse 50

Elders verse 52, 66

High Priest’s house verse 54

Galilaean verse 59

Church (New Testament people of God)

Twelve (Disciples) verse 3, 11, 39, 45, 47

Peter (Simon) verse 8, 31- 34, 54- 62

John verse 8

Twelve apostles verse 14

Commission of disciples verse 35, 36

Last Things (Future Events)

Kingdom of God shall come verse 18

Kingdom verse 29, 30

Judging twelve tribes of Israel verse 30

___________________________________________________________________

DONATIONS:

Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org. Also, if you can support this ministry through your local church please use that method. Thank you.

_______________________________________________________________

QUOTES regarding passage

22:3 Satan entered. I.e., Judas was possessed by Satan himself. Satan evidently gained direct control over Judas on two occasions—once just before Judas arranged his betrayal with the chief priests, and again during the Last Supper (Jn 13:27), immediately before the betrayal was actually carried out. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Lk 22:3). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)

____________________________________________________________

Luke’s passion narrative begins ominously with a description of Judas’s plot. Only Luke says that “Satan entered Judas” (v. 3). Although Conzelmann’s theory that the period between Jesus’ temptation and this event is free from satanic activity is wrong (cf. Notes), there is certainly a focus on these two times of heightened satanic opposition. Ellis (Gospel of Luke, p. 248) observes, “In the temptation Satan entices; in the passion he threatens.” (Leifeld, W. L. (1984). Luke. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke (Vol. 8, p. 1024). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)

_________________________________________________________________

22:1–6. Luke recorded that the death of Christ occurred at the time of the Passover, the annual celebration of the time lambs had been slain in Egypt, when God spared the Israelites but punished the Egyptians (Ex. 12:1–28). On the relationship of the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Passover, see comments on Luke 22:7 and John 19:14. The religious leaders were afraid of the people (cf. Luke 19:47–48; 20:19), but were still trying to get rid of Jesus. The initiative for the betrayal rested on Judas. Satan entered Judas (cf. John 13:27) and he was willing to betray Jesus for money. Satan’s taking part in Jesus’ death was actually his own downfall, for through dying Jesus conquered Satan and death (Col. 2:15; Heb. 2:14). (Martin, J. A. (1985). Luke. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 258). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

___________________________________________________________

Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles were the three most important feasts on the Jewish calendar (Lev. 23); and all the Jewish men were expected to go to Jerusalem each year to celebrate (Deut. 16:16). The Feast of Passover commemorated the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, and it was a time for both remembering and rejoicing (Ex. 11–12). Thousands of excited pilgrims crowded in and around Jerusalem during that week, causing the Romans to always be nervous about possible uprisings. Passover had strong political overtones, and it was the ideal time for some would-be messiah to attempt to overthrow Rome. This explains why King Herod and Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, were in Jerusalem instead of being at Tiberius and Caesarea respectively. They wanted to help keep the peace. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 264). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

____________________________________________________________

Judas was motivated and energized by Satan (John 13:2, 27), for he never was a true believer in Jesus Christ. His sins had never been cleansed by the Lord (John 13:10–11), and he had never believed and received eternal life (John 6:64–71). Yet none of the other Apostles had the least suspicion that Judas was a traitor. We have every reason to believe that Judas had been given the same authority as the other men and that he had preached the same message and performed the same miracles. It shows how close a person can come to God’s kingdom and still be lost (Matt. 7:21–29).

Why did Judas betray the Lord Jesus? We know that he was a thief (John 12:4–6) and that money played a part in his terrible deed. But thirty pieces of silver was not a large payment for such a great crime, and there had to be something more involved. It is possible that Judas saw in Jesus the salvation of the Jewish nation and, therefore, he followed Him because he hoped to hold an office in the kingdom. Keep in mind that the Twelve often argued over who was the greatest in the kingdom, and Judas, the treasurer, surely participated in those important discussions.

When Judas understood that Jesus would not establish the kingdom but rather would surrender to the authorities, he turned against Him in bitter retaliation. The “leaven” in his life grew quietly and secretly until it produced “malice and wickedness” (1 Cor. 5:6–8). When you cooperate with Satan, you pay dearly, and Judas ended up destroying himself (Matt. 27:3–5). Satan is a liar and a murderer (John 8:44), and he reproduced himself perfectly in Judas. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 264–265). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

___________________________________________________________

Ver. 3. Then entered Satan into Judas, &c.] At the same time that the sanhedrim were sitting, and consulting about the death of Christ, Satan, or the adversary, as the word signifies, the devil, who is the enemy of the Messiah, the woman’s seed, entered into Judas; not corporeally, as he did into those that were possessed by him; but he entered into his heart, as the Ethiopic version renders it; he put it into his heart to betray him, as it is said in John 13:2 he stirred up, and worked upon the corruptions of his heart; suggested evil things to his mind, and baited his temptations agreeable to his malice and covetousness: and this man was surnamed Iscariot; to distinguish him from another apostle of the same name; concerning this his surname, see the notes on Matt. 10:4. and John 13:2. Being of the number of the twelve; apostles, or disciples of Jesus, as the Persic version reads, and which is an aggravation of his sin: now this being two days before the passover, shews, that the sop which Judas took, after which the devil entered into him, John 13:27 could not be the passover sop, but was the sop he ate at the supper in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, so long before it. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 1, p. 703). London: Mathews and Leigh.)

_______________________________________________________

FROM MY READING:

COMPASSION

poem by Anne R. C. Neale

Our lives are very busy each day,

But we must take time to show compassion to others,

Helping others when they need help
Will fill your heart with much joy, help your “sisters and brothers”,

Knowing you are doing what God wants you to do

Makes you feel good inside your heart and soul,

Don’t get so busy and say you just don’t have the time

To help other people, friends, family, and everyone for the all.

Everyone’s schedule is booked solidly which is a shame,

You don’t have time or make time or take time for you,

God wants you to have some pleasure and joy each day,

Your life is so short, so include compassion for others in your busy schedule and pray.

__________________________________________________________________

Old Testament WORD for Today by Warren W. Wiersbe

The name Habakkuk means “to wrestle” or “to embrace,” and in his book, he does both. In the first chapter he wrestles with the Lord because he cannot understand why a holy God would allow the pagan Babylonians to conquer Judah. God said, “I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you” (Hab.1:5). In chapter 2 Habakkuk gets God’s view of the situation, and in chapter 3 he “embraces” the Lord and prays that his work would go on! “Keep your work going” is his prayer. No matter how we serve the Lord, we must never forget that it is God’s work and not ours. (p. 190)

It is God’s work we are doing and he will provide all that we need, including the strength and wisdom required for each day. (p. 191)

___________________________________________________________________

Treasures from the Greek New Testament by Kenneth S. Wuest

The word “visit” is the translation of two closely related verbs which have the following meanings: first, “to look upon or after, to inspect, to examine with the eyes,” second, “to look upon in order to help or benefit, to look after, to have a care for, to provide for.” The word “visit” is possibly the best single word translation of the Greek words, but the English reader can see that it does not adequately translate it. … What a prisoner needed was ministering care like the help which the Philippians sent to Paul by Epaphroditus.(p. 61)

______________________________________________________________

2 Timothy 4

Paul charges Timothy to preach the Word of God and offset the ministry of false teachers.
INSIGHT

We think of Paul as being one of the great spiritual giants of the ages. Because of this, most of us don’t expect to receive the same reward that he will. However, we need to realize that the Lord does not reward talent or results – He rewards motive and faithfulness. At the end of his life, Paul wrote: “There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (v. 8). That means you and me!

(Quiet Walk)

____________________________________________________

HOW WE KNOW GOD

Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us,because he hath given us of his Spirit.
1 John 4:13
How do we have knowledge about God? “Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us.” How? The answer is, “because he hath given us of his Spirit.” So it all comes down to that in the last analysis. How do I know I have received God’s Spirit? How may I know for certain that I have been given and received something of the Holy Spirit of God?
Are you concerned about these things, and have you a desire to have them? Are you concerned about the life of your soul? Are you concerned about knowing God? I assure you that if you are, the Holy Spirit is in you, for people apart from God “mind earthly things” (Philippians 3:19)—carnal, fleshly things. Are you concerned about immortality and the things invisible and eternal? If you are minding these things, that is a proof that the Holy Spirit is in you.
Do you have a sense of sin? Are you aware that there is an evil principle within you? Not simply that you do certain things you should not do and feel annoyed with yourself because of it. No; rather, I mean that you are aware that you have an evil nature, that there is a principle of sin and wrong in your heart, that there is a fountain emitting unworthy, ugly, and foul things, and in a sense you hate yourself. Our Lord said that the man who loves himself is in a very dangerous condition. The apostle Paul was a man who could say about himself, “In me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing….O wretched man that I am!” (Romans 7:18, 24). If you have ever felt yourself a sinner, and if you have hated this thing that gets you down, that is proof that you have received the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Thought to Ponder: If you have ever felt yourself a sinner, that is proof that you have received the gift of the Holy Spirit.

(From The Love of God, pp. 96-98, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

_______________________________________________________________

Clothing
“And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.” (Revelation 1:13)
In the beginning, at the creation of Eve from Adam’s side, “they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed” (Genesis 2:25). There was no need for shame at their lack of clothing for neither had any consciousness of sin or moral guilt. They were truly “one flesh” (v. 24), aware that their physiological differences had been divinely created to bring about God’s purposes for His creation. Any embarrassment would have been quite unnatural.
But soon sin entered; they rejected God’s purposes and plan for their lives. Satan had promised they would acquire wisdom, but what was their first taste of wisdom? “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons” (Genesis 3:7). Their shame must have been multiplied many times over as they heard God pronounce the dreadful curse on all of creation as a result of their sin. And then they had to watch as two of their animal friends (probably sheep) were slain, sacrificed to “make coats of skins” (v. 21) for their covering.
Many years later, another Lamb was slain for sin, stripped of His clothing and hanged on a cruel cross, bearing unthinkable shame. “I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture” (Psalm 22:17-18). Today, having conquered sin and death, He reigns in heaven, “clothed with a garment down to the foot” (text verse). In His death, He arranged for us some day to be “arrayed in fine linen, clean and white” (Revelation 19:8), having “washed [our] robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14).

(JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)

________________________________________________________

Most people know something of the doctrines that they believe but little of the hermeneutics on which they have been built. Principles of interpretation are basic and preferably should be established before attempting to interpret the Word so that the results are not only correct interpretations but a right system of theology growing out of those interpretations. (p. 89)

___________________________________

This means that we bring to our interpretation of Scripture not only a set of interpretive principles (hermeneutics) but also theological presuppositions, as well as personal and cultural predispositions. The process of engaging these three aspects has been called the hermeneutical spiral – we spiral from our predispositions and hermeneutics to the exegesis of Scripture and developing our theology, and then cycle through again, expecting that each cycle will help us grow into a better understanding of God’s Word. (p. 90) (Dispensationalism by Charles C. Ryrie)

___________________________________________________________

Daily Hope

Today’s Scripture Psalm 134

Weekend Scripture: Psalm 135

I believe that we should always worship the Lord! Morning, noon and at night we ought to be ready to exclaim praise to the One who has redeemed us and allowed us access to the Father. Over the years, my favorite service has been the Sunday evening service. I look forward to the opportunity to teach and interact with the people who come. It offers a much more relaxed and informal time; one I enjoy participating in and leading.

The psalmist is concluding the Ascent psalms which began in Psalm 120. This short psalm exalts the workers of the Temple that allow worshippers to enter at night upon arrival in Jerusalem. After traveling from Meshech and Kedar, (Ps. 120:5) the weary traveler is anxious to enter the Temple and worship the Lord. Their praise and blessing are toward the Lord who protected and provided for them on their journey to now lift hands in the sanctuary.

While this little psalm concludes the Ascent psalms, it also acts as a bridge to the remaining psalms that are worship psalms used and sung in the Temple services. We will see that the term “Bless the Lord” and “Praise the Lord” will be a recurring phrase through the remainder of the Psalms. As the travelers’ hearts were prepared to worship in the Temple, the songs of the services resounded in the minds of the worshippers.

Pastors, song leaders, musicians and church leadership put long hours in to give worshippers an avenue to express worship. As Sunday approaches and plans for the service progress, take a moment to pray for those who will be providing the elements to make worship possible. Pray for all the behind-the-scenes people who labor daily in preparation for services. Without this personnel contributing, the services would appear much different and inferior in quality. Like the psalmist, give thanks for those who make worship possible for you as you enter this Sunday!

With an Expectant hope, Pastor Miller

______________________________________________________________________________

We now have a Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.