Mark 10
Pharisees question Jesus on divorce verse 1- 4
And HE arose from thence
and come into the coasts of Judea by the farther side of Jordan
and the people resort unto HIM again
and as HE was wont- HE taught them again
And the Pharisees came to HIM and asked HIM
Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting HIM
And HE answered and said unto them
What did Moses command you?
And they said
Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement – and to put her away
Jesus responds on divorce verse 5- 9
And Jesus answered and said unto them
For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept
BUT from the beginning of the creation God
made them male and female
FOR this cause shall a man leave his father and mother
and cleave to his wife
and they twain shall be one flesh
SO then they are no more twain – BUT one flesh
What therefore God has joined together – let not man put asunder
Disciples question regarding divorce verse 10- 12
And in the house HIS disciples asked HIM again of the same matter
and HE said to them – Whosoever shall put away his wife
and marry another – commits adultery against her
AND if a woman shall put away her husband
and be married to another – she commits adultery
Disciples try to send children away verse 13
And they brought young children to HIM – that HE should touch them
and HIS disciples rebuked those that brought them
Jesus commits on children verse 14- 16
BUT when Jesus saw it – HE was much displeased – and said unto them
Suffer the little children to come to ME – and forbid them not
FOR of such is the kingdom of God
Verily I say to you
Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child
he shall not enter therein
and HE took them up in HIS arms
put HIS hands upon them – and blessed them
Jesus questioned on eternal life verse 17
And when HE was gone forth into the way – there came one running
and kneeled to HIM – and asked HIM
Good Master – what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
Jesus deals with rich man who wants eternal life verse 18- 25
And Jesus said to him – Why call you ME good?
there is none good but one – that is – God
You know the commandments
Do not commit adultery – kill – steal – bear false witness
Defraud not – Honor your father and mother
And he answered and said unto him
Master – all these have I observed from my youth
THEN Jesus beholding him loved him – and said unto him
One thing you lack – go your way – sell whatsoever you have
and give to the poor – and you shall have treasure in heaven
and come – take up the cross – follow ME
And he was sad at that saying – and went away grieved
FOR he had great possessions
And Jesus looked round about – and said to HIS disciples
How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God?
And the disciples were astonished at HIS words
BUT Jesus answered again – and said to them
Children – how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter
into the kingdom of God
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle
THAN for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God
Disciples ask about their service verse 26- 31
And they were astonished out of measure – saying among themselves
Who then can be saved?
And Jesus looking upon them said
With men it is impossible – BUT not with God
FOR with God all things are possible
Then Peter began to say unto HIM
Lo – we have left all – and have followed YOU
And Jesus answered and said
Verily I say to you – There is no man that has left
house – brethren – sisters – father – mother
wife – children – lands
FOR MY sake – and the gospel’s
BUT he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time
houses – brethren – sisters – mothers – children
lands – with persecutions
and in the world to come eternal life
BUT many that are first shall be last – and the last first
Jesus predicts HIS death verse 32- 34
And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem
and Jesus went before them – and they were amazed
and as they followed – they were afraid
And HE took again the twelve
and began to tell them what things should happen to HIM – saying
BEHOLD – we go up to Jerusalem
and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the
chief priests – scribes
and they shall condemn HIM to death
and shall deliver HIM to the Gentiles
and they shall mock HIM
and shall scourge HIM
and shall spit upon HIM
and shall kill HIM
and the THIRD day HE shall rise again
James & John request special position verse 35- 40
And James and John – the sons of Zebedee- come unto HIM – saying
Master – we would that YOU should do for us whatsoever we shall desire
And HE said unto them
What would you that I should do for you?
They said unto HIM
Grant to us that we may sit – one on YOUR right hand
and the other on YOUR left hand – in YOUR glory
BUT Jesus said to them – You know not what you ask
can you drink of the cup that I drink of?
AND be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
And they said to HIM
We can
And Jesus said unto them
You shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of
and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized
BUT to sit on MY right hand and on MY left hand is
not mine to give
BUT it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared
Other disciples were displeased verse 41
And when the ten heard it
they began to be much displease with James and John
Jesus uses it for a teaching moment verse 42- 45
BUT Jesus called them to HIM – and said to them
You know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles
exercise lordship over them
and their great ones exercise authority on them
BUT so shall it not be among you
BUT whosoever will be great among you – shall be your minister
AND whosoever of you will be the chiefest
shall be servant of all
FOR even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto
BUT to minister
and to give HIS life a ransom for many
Bartimaeus wants healing of blindness verse 46- 50
And they came to Jericho
and as HE went out of Jericho with HIS disciples and a great number of people
blind Bartimaeus – the son of Timaeus – sat by the highway side begging
And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth – he began to cry out – and say
Jesus – YOU Son of David – have mercy on me
and many charge him that he should hold his peace
BUT he cried the more a great deal
YOU Son of David – have mercy on me
And Jesus stood still – and commanded him to be called
and they call the blind man – saying unto him
Be of good comfort – rise – HE calls you
And he – casting away his garment – rose – and came to Jesus
Jesus asks Bartimaeus for his request verse 51- 52
And Jesus answered and said to him
What will you that I should do to you?
The blind man said unto HIM
Lord – that I might receive my sight
And Jesus said to him
Go your way – your faith hath made you whole
And immediately he received his sight – and followed Jesus in the way
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. (4641 “hardness of heart” [sklerokardia] means stubbornness, coldness, completely unyielding, unwillingness to understand, obstinacy, or obduracy)
DEVOTION: The children of Israel were stubborn. The children of Israel were cold in their relationship to each other. The topic under discussion is putting away of a spouse or divorce. Jesus tells the Pharisees that the only reason they had a writing of divorcement was their stubbornness. They were completely unyielding to the truth that marriage should be for a lifetime. There were two school of thought among the Jews. One said that divorce could happen for any reason, including burning a diner. The other limited the reason but still allowed divorce.
Divorce is something that the LORD hates according to Malachi (2:16). Divorce only profits lawyers. Divorce hurts children the most. The parents are being selfish for the most part. Sometimes it is only one spouse. God would like every marriage to last until death. Jesus told the Pharisees that fact. They didn’t care.
Jesus tells them that from the beginning of creation divorce was not even considered. Husbands left their parents and lived with their wife in a one flesh relationship. That is supposed to be true today.
The problem is that Christians are getting just as many divorces as those who don’t claim Christ as their Savior. It is sad. Our world has entered the church through divorce. One of the neat points in this passage is that marriage is between one woman and one man. The two become one flesh. Now because some are divorced – have they committed the unpardonable sin? NO!!! There is only one unpardonable sin – rejection of Jesus Christ. What can a divorced person do in the church? Depending on our interpretation of “husband of one wife.” Depending on the attitude of the person divorced that is a member of our churches should be taken into consideration. A divorced person can do anything in the church that the constitution allows.
In a legalistic church that means they can do nothing or very little. In a church that believes in license, they can do anything. Somewhere in between is where the church should stand. We are dealing with many divorced people in our churches. We are dealing with many children of divorce in our congregations. We have to establish a policy that is Biblical and stick with it. What are we doing with those who are struggling with divorce in our churches? What should we be doing with them?
CHALLENGE: Work with your friends to encourage their marriage to last for a lifetime. The enemy loves to see Christians divorce.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. (3813 “little child” [paidion] means children, little one, one’s own offspring, infant, young child, a more advanced child, or immature Christian)
DEVOTION: We have a baker’s dozen of grandchildren. Each one is unique. Each one is beautiful. Each one is smart. Do I sound prejudice? The answer is yes.
Jesus was training HIS disciples with children. The disciples didn’t seem to think children coming to Jesus were important. They sent them away instead of letting them receive a blessing from the LORD on at least one occasion.
Now the disciples were discussing who was going to be the greatest of them. They were thinking with their human thinking regarding the importance of being the one at the head of the table.
Jesus wanted them to stop thinking the way those who don’t understand the Word of God. What the LORD expects from those who follow HIM is that they will not think about being the greatest but about being a servant. HE wants them to think about ministering to others rather than thinking of getting fame for their service to the LORD.
What is the difference between an adult and a child? TRUST! Infants trust their parents usually. If they say to them jump, they will jump into their arms. If parents tell their children “you can do it” usually they will try.
Jesus wants us to trust HIM to take care of all our needs. HE wants us to realize that HE is giving us the light side of the burden while HE carries the heavy side of any burden HE sends our way.
To enter heaven we have to remember what it was like when we were younger. We have to look at children that are around us to see what their reaction to events looks like. In our case we can look at our grandchildren and see how they express their love toward us and those around them.
CHALLENGE: Trust in the LORD with ALL your heart. Too often adults have a hard heart and that is not what the LORD wants us to have.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 19 You know the commandments, Do not commit adultery. Do not kill. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. Defraud not. Honor your father and mother. (1785 “commandmets” [entole] means precept, order, injunction, a prescribed rule in accordance with which a thing is done, or instruction)
DEVOTION: We have to remember that the purpose of the commandments was to teach people that they were sinners in the eyes of the LORD. The possibility of anyone keeping all the commandments was impossible in the eyes of the LORD.
Jesus when HE preached the Sermon on the Mount redefined the Ten Commandments, so that, people would know that they couldn’t keep them. HE wanted all the people to understand that no matter how hard they tried they couldn’t keep them and deserved hell for eternity.
Well, here comes a rich man to Jesus to ask a question regarding eternal life. Jesus tells him to keep the commandments. His answer was that he had kept them all from his youth. Now we have a problem. If no one can keep the commandments than how could he keep them from his youth? He didn’t keep them but had convinced himself that it was possible to live a perfect life. He was wrong.
So Jesus told him that he only had one more thing to do. He had to sell everything he had and come follow Jesus. Well, this man had a lot of money and didn’t want to give it up. It made him sad. He walked away.
Jesus gives us the same choice. We can think that we are obeying all the commandments but that is not really happening. We need the LORD and HE wants us to be totally committed to HIM.
CHALLENGE: Nothing can stand between us and HIM. Not money. Not people. Not position. Nothing should stand between our love for HIM and our service to HIM.
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: 27 And Jesus looking on them said, With men it is impossible, but not with God for with God all things are possible. (1415 “possible” [dunatos] means able, mighty, could, to bear calamities and trials with fortitude and patience, strong in Christian virtue, having power for something, competent, or able)
DEVOTION: Once we learn that we can’t save ourselves by our actions we realize that we can only be saved or delivered from sin by God alone.
We can correct our actions to the point where people think that we are a perfect example to follow. We can even work on our attitudes which can be hidden at times but still we can’t do either perfectly.
There was only one man who walked this earth that was morally perfect. That was Jesus Christ. HE was sinless. No other human being has ever been perfect. A few men God used as examples for men to look at in the Bible.
Salvation is always based on the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. HE was our substitute. When God looks at those who have made a commitment to Christ, HE sees us through HIS Son alone. HE doesn’t see out good works earning salvation. HE doesn’t see our attitudes winning salvation for us. HE sees HIS Son alone.
Nothing is impossible with God. HE can save the worst sinner in the world. HE can save good moral men. No one can be saved without HIM.
The self-righteous individual isn’t saved or born again he just thinks he is saved. If you meet anyone who thinks they have obeyed all the commandments and lived a life that deserves heaven – they are wrong.
CHALLENGE: Our attitude has to be one of dependence on Christ each day to help us life the life HE wants us to live for HIM.
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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)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Moses verse 3, 4
Precept verse 5
Commandments verse 19
Gospel verse 29
David verse 47, 48
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
God verse 6, 9, 18
Good verse 18
All things are possible verse 27
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Teacher verse 1
Jesus verse 5, 14, 18, 21, 23, 24, 27, 29, 38, 39, 42, 47, 49- 52
Blessed children verse 16
Master verse 17, 20, 35
Love verse 21
Son of man verse 33, 45
Resurrection verse 34
Minister verse 45
Give life verse 45
Ransom for many verse 45
Healing of blind Bartimaeus verse 46- 52
Jesus of Nazareth verse 47
Son of David verse 47, 48
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Creator verse 6
God verse 6, 9, 27
Kingdom of God verse 14, 15, 23- 25
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Lawful to put away wife verse 2
Bill of divorcement verse 4
Leave & Cleave marriage verse 7
Marriage: joined together verse 9
Impossible for man to save verse 27
Gentiles verse 33, 42
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Tempting Jesus verse 2
Put away wife verse 4, 11
Hardness of heart verse 5
Adultery verse 11, 12, 19
Put away husband verse 12
Disciples rebuked parents verse 13
Displeasing Jesus verse 14
Kill verse 19, 34
Steal verse 19
Bear false witness verse 19
Defraud verse 19
Not honor mother and father verse 19
Pride verse 20
Love of possessions verse 21- 25
Afraid verse 32
Condemn Jesus to death verse 33
Mock Jesus verse 34
Scourge Jesus verse 34
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Taught verse 1
Cleave to wife verse 7
Children important verse 14
Become like little children verse 15
Blessed verse 16
Inherit eternal life verse 17
Love of Christ verse 21
Take up cross verse 21
Follow Christ verse 21, 28
Saved verse 26
Salvation through God alone verse 27
Leave relatives verse 29, 30
Resurrection verse 34
Baptism verse 39
Minister verse 43, 45
Servant verse 44
Mercy verse 48
Faith verse 52
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Judaea verse 1
Pharisees verse 2
Moses verse 3, 4
Jerusalem verse 32, 33
Chief priests verse 33
Scribes verse 33
Jericho verse 46
Church (New Testament people of God)
Disciples verse 10, 13, 23, 24, 46
Peter verse 28
Twelve verse 32
James verse 35- 41
John verse 35- 41
Ten verse 41
Last Things (Future Events)
Kingdom of God verse 14, 15, 23- 25
Eternal life verse 17, 30
Treasure in heaven verse 21
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QUOTES regarding passage
51–52 Jesus did not immediately heal the blind beggar. Jesus first asked him a question to stimulate faith (v. 51). Having done that, without any overt action or healing word on Jesus’ part, he sent him away with the words “Go, … your faith has healed you” (v. 52). The cure was immediate. Mark’s statement that the blind man followed Jesus is best taken to mean, as NIV admirably brings out, that the man joined the crowd going up to the feast, not that he necessarily became a follower of Jesus in terms of discipleship.
The close of chapter 10 sets the stage for the climax of the story. The journey to Jerusalem is ended. Jesus is about to enter the Holy City where the last acts of the drama of redemption will take place. His opening the eyes of the blind man stands in sharp contrast to the blindness of the religious leaders he is about to encounter there. (Wessel, W. W. (1984). Mark. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke (Vol. 8, p. 722). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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10:49–52a. Jesus did not ignore Bartimaeus but directed that he be called, a reproof to those (perhaps including the disciples) who were attempting to silence him (cf. v. 14). In Jesus’ determined movement toward Jerusalem He had time to serve someone in need (cf. vv. 43–45).
The crowd encouraged the beggar: Cheer up! (tharsei, “be courageous”; cf. 6:50) On your feet! (lit., “rise”) He’s calling you. This motivated Bartimaeus to toss aside his outer cloak which was spread before him to collect alms, jump up, and come to Jesus.
Jesus’ question was not designed to get information but to encourage Bartimaeus to articulate his need and express his faith. Bartimaeus’ simple response, Rabbi, I want to see, declared his confident trust in Jesus’ ability. “Rabbi” (Rhabbouni) is an emphatic, personal form meaning, “My Lord, my Master” (cf. John 20:16).
Jesus acknowledged his faith: Go … your faith has healed (sesōken, “saved”) you. Faith was the necessary means, not the efficient cause of his healing (cf. comments on Mark 5:34). Bartimaeus’ physical “salvation” (i.e., deliverance from darkness [blindness] to light [sight]) was an outward picture of his spiritual “salvation” (cf. Ps. 91:14–16; Luke 3:4–6).
10:52b. Immediately (euthys, cf. 1:10; contrast 8:22–26) Bartimaeus received his sight and began to follow Jesus along the road (en tē hodō, “on the way”; cf. comments on 1:2). Though he accompanied Jesus to Jerusalem, perhaps to offer a thanksgiving sacrifice in the temple, he also became a “follower” in the sense of a loyal disciple (cf. 8:34). Bartimaeus pictured discipleship clearly. He recognized his inability, trusted Jesus as the One to give him God’s gracious mercy, and when he could “see” clearly he began to follow Jesus. (Grassmick, J. D. (1985). Mark. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 155). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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“What do you want Me to do for you?” seems like a strange question to ask a blind man. (It was the same question He had asked James, John, and Salome, Mark 10:36.) But Jesus wanted to give the man opportunity to express himself and give evidence of his own faith. What did he really believe Jesus could do for him?
When Bartimaeus called Jesus “Lord,” he used the title Rabboni, meaning “my Master.” The only other person in the Gospels who used it was Mary (John 20:16). The beggar had twice called him “Son of David,” a national messianic title, but “Rabboni” was an expression of personal faith.
Matthew tells us that Jesus was moved with compassion and touched their eyes (Matt. 20:34), and immediately they were healed. Out of gratitude to Jesus, the men joined the pilgrim band and started toward Jerusalem, following Jesus. This is the last healing miracle recorded in Mark, and it certainly fits into Mark’s “Servant” theme. We see Jesus Christ, God’s Suffering Servant, on His way to the cross, and yet He stops to serve two blind beggars! What love, what mercy, and what grace! (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 148). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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The opening description of Bartimaeus as a “blind beggar” indicates that he had no social rank or importance. Since he was blind, he had to beg for his basic needs. The crowds’ rejection of his pleas (10:48) showed his lack of status, but this did not matter to Jesus.
Though Bartimaeus was blind, he understood a great deal about Jesus; he called out to him as “Son of David” and asked him to heal him out of his mercy (cf. Psalms of Solomon 17:21). The idea that the Son of David could heal might seem strange, but in Judaism there was a tradition that Solomon, as David’s son, was specially enabled by God to heal (Josephus Antiquities 8.41–47; cf. 4Q521). Jesus never discouraged the use of this title. As Jesus drew near to Jerusalem, his previous hesitation to allow people to name him as the Messiah was lifted (France 2002:424).
Bartimaeus’s healing highlights Jesus’ continued work of compassion and his ability to bring sight to those in darkness. It also dramatizes an example of faith. Unlike the rich man a few scenes earlier who had everything except spiritual insight, the blind man had nothing but saw clearly. He understood that Jesus, as Son of David, could heal, and that he had the power of God to bring renewal of life. Jesus commended the faith by which he spoke up in the midst of a crowd that wanted to silence him. The man was healed; he came to full sight and followed Jesus to Jerusalem. This last healing in Mark exemplifies how Jesus brought sight to those who could not see. This is also the last section of Jesus’ training of the disciples. (Turner, D., & Bock, D. L. (2005). Cornerstone biblical commentary, Vol 11: Matthew and Mark (p. 496). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.)
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Ver. 51. And Jesus answered and said unto him, &c.] Being come to him, and standing before him: what wilt thou that I should do unto thee? What means this vehement cry? what is it thou designest by mercy? is it money thou askest for, to relieve thy wants? or is it that thy sight may be restored? The blind man said unto him, Lord; Rabboni, or, as the Syriac version reads it, Rabbi; thou great master in Israel, and Lord of the whole world, my request to thee, and which thou art able to effect, is, that I might receive my sight; see the note on Matt. 20:33.
Ver. 52. And Jesus said unto him, go thy way, &c.] The Syriac version reads it, חזא, see; receive thy sight, be it unto thee as thou dost desire; and which is the sense of, go thy way; to thine own house, or place of abode; and about thy business; thy request is granted: thy faith hath made thee whole; or saved thee; and which respected not only the power of Christ in restoring his sight, but his faith in Jesus as the Messiah, the son of David: so that by Christ, the object of his faith, he was saved, both in soul and body; and had his spiritual sight, before he had his bodily sight, and both from Christ: and immediately he received his sight; or saw again as well as ever he did, or as other men: and followed Jesus in the way; that is, to Jerusalem. The Vulgate Latin, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, read him, instead of Jesus; but the Syriac and Persic versions read neither. This man was an emblem of the people of God, before, at, and after conversion: before conversion; for, as he was blind, so are they; they are without any spiritual sight and discerning of God, as in Christ, as the God of all grace, as their Covenant-God and Father; and of themselves, being without any true sight of sin, or sense of their state and condition; and of Christ, and of the way of peace, life, and salvation by him, seeing no beauty in him, nor any need they stand in of him; and of the spirit, of his person, grace, and operations, of the things of the spirit, which they know not, because they are spiritually discerned: at conversion; when they receive their sight from Christ, as he did, are made light in the Lord, and become the children of the day; when the eyes of their understandings are enlightened, to see their sad and ruinous state, the pollution of their hearts, the sinfulness of their thoughts, as well as of their actions; the imperfection and insufficiency of their righteousness, to justify them before God; the loveliness of Christ, the fulness of his grace, and righteousness; the suitableness, ability, and willingness of him, as a Saviour; and that salvation by him, is all of free grace; and that eternal glory and happiness, is secured by him, for them. All which light they have, not from themselves, nor from any mere creature, but from Christ; and which they receive as a benefit and favour; they have it as a gift, and in a way of receiving; and that at once, suddenly, and immediately: and after conversion; for, as this man, when he had received his sight from Christ, followed him in the way; so the people of God, being enlightened by Christ, follow him as their leader and commander, as the captain of their salvation, as the shepherd of the flock, as their guide and forerunner, as their pattern and exemplar, and as the light of the world: him they follow and imitate, in the duties of morality, in the way of public instituted worship, and in Gospel ordinances; as baptism, and the Lord’s supper; and to follow him in the way of duty, is safe, honourable, pleasant, comfortable, and profitable; it issues in good here, and in happiness hereafter. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 1, pp. 461–462). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
Prayer is the recognition of our own helplessness and our appropriation of divine energy, which works in and through the self-judged, obedient believer to the glory and praise of God. This too is true fasting – the denial of self and ceasing from all fleshly confidence. (July 4, The Continual Burnt Offering by H.A. Ironside)
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Old Testament WORDS for Today by Warren W. Wiersbe
Apart from the Lord, we may never discover our possibilities or achieve our full potential. The weakness of the clay needs the power and wisdom of God. (p. 144)
The Potter is in charge, and if we yield to him, he will see to it that we accomplish what he has planned for us. (p. 145)
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Paul is called to be a minister and to take the Gospel to the Gentiles.
INSIGHT
Paul calls his ministry the fulfillment of a “mystery.” In the Bible, a mystery is nothing mysterious but something previously unknown. The mystery was that Jews and Gentiles would join together to form a new entity-the church. This mystery was foretold by Jesus, but the details of the doctrine, walk, and destiny of the church were communicated by Paul and his fellow apostles. Now as a new thing-the body of Christ-we are all to allow Christ to live His life through us. (Quiet Walk)
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NO SIN
In him is no sin. 1 John 3:5
There can be no true view of salvation and of the redemption that is possible for us in the Lord Jesus Christ unless we are right about the person. That is why John used such strong and striking language in 1 John 2 when he talked about those people who were leading them astray by denying the person of our Lord. “Those antichrists,” he said in essence, “are liars, and they must be called such because they are robbing us of the whole of our salvation.” If we are wrong about the person, we shall be wrong everywhere.
So as we look at this person we are reminded again in this verse that here is one who has been in this world of ours with all its sin and its shame, but who was without sin. He “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). He remains unique and separate. He alone is the Son of God. He is not just a great moral teacher, nor just a great religious genius. He is not one who has gone a little bit further than all others in this quest for God and for truth. No; He is the Son of God incarnate—“in him is no sin.”
But not only was there no sin in Him and in His birth—He committed no act of sin. He always honored God’s holy law; He obeyed it fully and carried it out perfectly. God gave His law to man. He intended that the law should be carried out, that it should be honored and obeyed. Let me go further and say this: No one can ever be with God and spend eternity with Him unless they have honored the law. God’s law must be kept, and without fulfilling it there is no fellowship with Him and no hope of spending eternity with Him. What God has demanded from man, man has failed to do; but here is One who does it.
A Thought to Ponder: If we are wrong about the person, we shall be wrong everywhere.
(From Children of God, pp. 53-54, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Renewing of the Holy Spirit
“. . . the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” (Titus 3:5)
The Holy Spirit’s eternal impacts on our lives (regeneration and renewal) are brought together in this text in a rather unique way. To begin with, the Greek words are unusual—“regeneration” being used only twice in the New Testament and “renewal” only five times in various forms. They come together only in this passage.
“Regeneration” (paliggenesia) means to “birth again.” The connection to our salvation is well established and does not need much explanation here. “Renewal” (anakainosis) in its variations is a bit more difficult to describe—especially since there is the possible linguistic connection to the “washing” (bath) of regeneration. That is, the section could be translated “the Holy Spirit’s bath of regeneration and renewing”—thus equating the two terms. Most translations, however, treat the terms as separate actions or conditions for which the Holy Spirit is responsible. This fits best with the rest of the biblical data.
Perhaps the most well-known passage focusing on renewal is Romans 12:1-2. In this precious reference, we are commanded to present (yield) our bodies as holy and acceptable living sacrifices, and to refuse to be conformed to the world, but to be transformed (metamorphoo = “permanent change”) by the renewing of our mind. The instrument by which the transformation comes about is the new mind (intellect)—a grace-gift imputed at salvation by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:16; Hebrews 10:16). This renewal takes place in the “inward man” (2 Corinthians 4:16), which “is renewed in knowledge” (Colossians 3:10) according to the image of the Creator. Thus, the renewal comes about intellectually, through the ministrations of the Holy Spirit, as we seek, study, store, and obey the magnificent Word of God.
(HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Modern ecumenism, in conspicuous contrast, lacks any driving commitment to evangelical theology and has, in fact, been wholly unable to reach an agreed definition of evangelism and mission. (p. 80-81)
As evangelicals see it, the irony of this current ecumenical predicament lies in the fact that the conciliar movement, passionately more concerned with changing social structures than with redeeming individuals, shows little disposition to expose its own ecclesiastical structures to judgment. (p. 83)
(Evangelicals At The Brink Of Crisis by Carl F. H. Henry
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Randy writes (NY): Just doing what everyone else is doing. Fixed my blocked posts. I wondered where everybody had been! This is good to know. It’s ridiculous to have 762 friends and only 25 are allowed to see my posts.
I ignored this post earlier because I didn’t think it worked. It WORKS!! I have a whole new news feed. I’m seeing posts from people I haven’t seen in years.
Here’s how to bypass the system FB now has in place that limits posts on your news feed. Their new algorithm chooses the same few people – about 25 – who will read your posts. Therefore, hold your finger down anywhere in this post and “copy” will pop up. Click “copy”. Then go to your page, start a new post, and put your finger anywhere in the blank field. “Paste” will pop up and click “paste”. This will bypass the system.
If you are reading this message, do me a favor and leave me a quick comment…a “hello,” a sticker, whatever you want, so you will appear in my newsfeed‼️It WORKS!! I don’t know how many friends I have. I just want to see all of your posts that I have been missing. Happy Saturday !
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DAILY HOPE
Today’s Scripture
Exodus 39-40
Some individuals, like my mother, have the innate ability to make articles of clothing and create beautiful sweaters and blankets from a ball of string! Especially in the eyes of someone who barely can draw stick figures and make them identifiable, I look forward to seeing the finished work of art.
Day by day the artisans worked to create and produce the patterns given to them by the Lord. Every stitch and fold were carefully placed, every mold was measured and examined for the exact size needed for the project. Aaron and his sons were measured, and the tailors spent time meticulously making the garments for each one. Threads were dyed and gold was beaten into thin sheets and cut into threads to create a magnificent garment fit to be worn before the King of the universe.
Others added the required memorial stones to the ephod to sit on the shoulders of the high priest. The breastplate was made with the precious stones placed in the order and sequence God had instructed. Each article and every piece of clothing was precisely made “as the Lord had commanded Moses.” This phrase is very important as it is repeated eight times in chapter 39. This repetition magnified the importance the Lord placed on the execution of His designed plans.
Meanwhile, the final details for the tabernacle were being accomplished. Both the priestly garments and the tabernacle were precisely designed and assembled, following the God given pattern. An unspoken value that is evidenced through the creation of the garments and the tabernacle is the manifestation of excellence in their work.
Moses and the workers labored mightily to build the tabernacle which was an exact replica of the tabernacle (God’s throne room) in heaven (Hebrews 9:11). This may explain the specific details and instructions given to Moses. The children of Israel were mindful of the Lord’s presence as they watched the cloud descend upon the tabernacle, revealing God’s glory.
Today, God does not call us to be visual based on determining how the Lord’s will is to work in our lives. Instead of looking for a cloud to ascend or descend, we are to look to the written word of God. It is His word that teaches us the Lord’s will for our lives. A walk of faith calls for us to know His word and to prayerfully apply the teachings He has instructed us to accomplish. Paul’s words clearly tell us God’s will for us; “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). How would others rate our rejoicing, praying and giving thanks?
Expectant Hope, Pastor Miller
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