BibleTrekToday.com

Year: 2015

  • Trapping Jesus!

    Scripture reading for January 30th:  Matthew 22

    Towards the end, the Pharisees and Sadducees were trying to trap Jesus so that they could charge Him with religious error and do away with Him once and for all.  They were jealous of His authority and the crowds of people that followed Him.  One such effort was recorded by Matthew. “Teacher,” they said, “we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.  You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are.  Tell us then, what is your opinion?  Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”  (Matthew 22:16-17)

    Jesus was immediately aware of their evil intent.  He called them what they were–hypocrites!  He then asked them to show Him a coin of that day and asked whose inscription was on the coin.  They answered that it was Caesar’s.  “Then He said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.””  (Matthew 22:21)

    There are those today that argue that Christians should refuse to pay taxes because of the evil things that are done with the money by the government.  Others argue that the tithe is an Old Testament law that doesn’t need to be obeyed because we are under grace.  Jesus would not be trapped.  The human mind reasons to find loopholes for selfish reasons and takes the Word of God out of context.  Jesus spoke truth in a simple manner!  Taxes are due to Caesar!  He and His own disciples paid them! (Matthew 17:27)  The tithe is owed to God because of who He is:  Lord of heaven and earth!  Let’s be sure we are not seeking to “trap” God by twisting His own holy Word!

  • Jesus turned the tables!

    Scripture reading for January 29th:  Matthew 21

    “Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying ad selling there.  He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.  “It is written,” He said to them, “My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.’!””  (Matthew 21:12-13)

    At the beginning of His last Passover week, Jesus entered Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey and was hailed by the crowds as the ‘Son of David,’ the revered king of Israel.  The city was stirred with messianic hope and speculation.  Jesus entered the temple and caused a bigger stir!  He overturned the tables of the money-changers and cleaned house!  John recorded that this had also happened earlier in His ministry and then he used a whip of cord to drive them out!  (John 2:15)  This marketing of sacrifices was a money-making opportunity for the religious leaders of the day.  But Jesus viewed it as hindering the people, Jew and Gentile, from coming to God for His help and blessing.

    The religious leaders later asked Jesus where He got His authority to drive out the money-changers.  Jesus turned the tables in a different way with a question.  “Jesus replied, I will also ask you one question.  If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these thing.  John’s baptism–where did it come from?  Was it from heaven, or from men?”  (Matthew 21:24)  They refused to answer because however they answered they were exposed!  Truth must be willingly embraced or it results in hardened hearts!  The religious leaders looked for a way to arrest Him!  Are we embracing Jesus’ authority over our bodies as His temple?  (1st Corinthians 6:19-20)

  • Fair pay?

    Scripture reading for January 28th:  Matthew 20

    “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard.  He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.”  (Matthew 20:1-2)  Jesus taught his followers through this parable that each person who comes under the Lord’s authority and agrees to salvation and kingdom work does so voluntarily.  The denarius was a fair daily wage for a laborer of that day.

    During the twelve hour work day, the landowner hired workers at the third, sixth, ninth and eleventh hours.  “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going to the first.’  (Matthew 20:8)  The workers were all given a denarius for their day’s work!  This upset those who had worked all day and they grumbled against the landowner.  They thought he should have given them more for a whole day’s work!  “But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you.  Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius?’  (Matthew 20:13)

    God ultimately pays everyone well, no matter how long or short our time of service.  We all get more than we deserve because of the generosity of the One who owns it all!  “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children for My sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”  (Matthew 19:28-29)

  • Covenant Marriage!

    Scripture reading for January 27th:  Matthew 19

    “Some Pharisees came to Him to test Him.  They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”  (Matthew 19:3) Divorce was easy in the time of Jesus.  If a Jewish man found disfavor with his wife for almost any reason, he could write her a certificate of divorce and send her away.  The religious leaders went to test Jesus to see if He agreed with them.

    “Haven’t you read,” He replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?  So they are no longer two, but one.  Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”  (Matthew 19:4-6)  Jesus pointed these preachers back to God’s original design.  They were made ‘male and female’.   There was purpose in the physical design to enable them to come together in a unique and pleasurable way.  Marriage was to be between a man and a woman made one flesh for life and procreation!

    Jesus went on to say that Moses only permitted divorce because of hard hearts.  God’s plan was for marriage to be for life.  Jesus stated that the only exception to staying married was adultery.  If a person divorced for any reason other than adultery and married another person, they were committing adultery. (Matthew 19:9)

    Many in our culture and the church today have divorced their mates for many reasons and married others.  There is a great need to repent of the sin of adultery and covenant breaking.  This sin affects the children in cruel ways that opens the door for offense and separation from God. Covenant marriage is the foundation of the church.

  • “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

    Scripture reading for January 26th:  Matthew 18

    “At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”  (Matthew 18:1)  Jesus responded to that  inquiry by calling a child to stand in their midst.  “And He said, “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”  (Matthew 18:3-4) Jesus went on to warn the disciples about causing one of these little ones to go astray.  “But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”  (Matthew 19:6)

    Jesus taught his disciples that the answer to becoming great involved humility like a child in the followers of Jesus.  This humility would be expressed in their care and treatment of “little ones” in the faith, new believers in Jesus!   They must welcome them, forgive them, search them out when they go astray, and work on keeping right relationships!  Being forgiven has responsibility that comes with it!

    Jesus concluded His answer with a story about a king that settled an account with a servant that owed him an amount of money far beyond his capacity to repay.  The king forgave the man the debt.  This man found a man that owed him a small amount of money and when he couldn’t pay, had him thrown into prison.  When the king heard about it, he put that man in jail and threw away the key!  “This is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”  Matthew 18:35

     

  • The Father Speaks!

    Scripture reading for January 23rd:  Matthew 17

    Jesus wanted to be sure that His key leadership among the disciples had ample revelation of who He really was.  He took Peter, James and John to a high mountain.  “There He was transfigured before them.  His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.”  (Matthew 17:2-3)  This experience had to make a deep impression on these ordinary men!  Jesus was changed so that He radiated a bright light from His face and clothes.  His true nature was on display!

    Then, two figures from Israel’s past emerged and were recognized by Peter.  Moses was the great “law-giver” and leader raised up by God to lead them out of slavery and bondage in Egypt.  Elijah was the great prophet who confronted idolatry and sin and called God’s people back to the worship of the one true God.  They met with Jesus to talk about the mission that God had for His Son. Peter began to make a suggestion to Jesus. “While he (Peter) was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My Son, whom I love:  with Him I am well pleased.  Listen to Him!”  (Matthew 17:5)

    When the Father spoke from the cloud, the disciples fell face-down on the ground and were filled with fear!  Jesus touched them, encouraging them not to be afraid!  They looked up and no one was there but Jesus!  Peter, years later, recorded his memory of this incident.  “but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.  For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory. . .”  (2nd Peter 1:16-17)  The Father testified:  “This is My Son!”

  • “Who do you say that I am?”

    Scripture reading for January 22nd:  Matthew 16

    “The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested Him by asking Him to show them a sign from heaven.”  (Matthew 16:1)  The religious people of Jesus’ time struggled with the miracles and teaching of Jesus.  They were not satisfied with His teaching from Scripture or His miraculous power.  They had attributed the power to Beelzebub and now wanted more proof that He was from God.  Jesus spoke plainly to them about their ability to discern the weather from looking at the clouds but their failure to believe His miracles!  “A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.  Jesus then left them and went away.”  (Matthew 16:4)

    These leaders had Jesus right in front of them and had seen miracles and heard Him teach with authority.  The only sign that would be given them was the sign of Jonah.  Jesus spoke of this same sign earlier when He explained that, “as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man would be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”  (Matthew 12:40)  He spoke of His death, burial and resurrection as a primary sign of who He was: The Son of Man!

    Later, Jesus asked His disciples:  “Who do you say that I am?”  (Matthew 16:15)  Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16)  Knowing who Jesus really is comes from revelation!  Revelation comes from a humble and teachable heart that seeks truth.   Settle the question in your own heart today!  Quit seeking signs and believe the Word of God!  Jesus rose from the grave and is alive today!

  • Children’s bread for a Gentile!

    Scripture reading for January 21st:  Matthew 15

    What would you and I do if we came to Jesus for help for our kids, and Jesus refused to answer us?  Worse yet, what if He referred to us with a racial slur of the day, calling us “dogs?”  Would we press on with getting down in front of Jesus with a more desperate plea?   Matthew records just such an incident in Jesus’ ministry!

    “Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.  A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to Him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me!  My daughter is suffering terribly from demon possession.”  “Jesus did not answer her a word.”  (Matthew 15:21-23a)  This Canaanite woman was a Gentile and yet recognized Jesus as the “Son of David” and “Lord”.  She appealed to Jesus for mercy.   “The woman came and knelt before Him.  “Lord, help me!” she said.  He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.”  “Yes, Lord,” she said, ” but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”    (Matthew 15:25-27)   Jesus then commended this woman for her great faith!  Her faith brought healing to her daughter immediately!

    Jesus told this woman from outside the family of Abraham, that healing was the ‘children’s bread’!  In other words, God gladly provides what His children need!  He sent Jesus to those children who would have faith in His ability to provide and asked and kept on asking!  This woman was persistent.  She refused to be offended and sought the crumbs under the Master’s table!  Jesus marveled at her “great faith”!  He always honors faith!  Why not press in today and ask Jesus for healing or help!  If you are a child of His by faith, it belongs to you!

  • John the Baptist risen from the dead?

    Scripture reading for January 20th:  Matthew 14

    “At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead!  That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”  (Matthew 14:1-2)   Even the government officials who were not Jews developed opinions about Jesus and His miraculous powers!  Herod had a guilty conscience about killing John the Baptist at the request of his bother’s wife and daughter.  He knew the Jews considered him a prophet.  Now he deduced that John had come back from the dead in the person of Jesus.  Who is this Man?  That question decides life and death, heaven and hell!

    Jesus withdrew upon hearing of John’s death and performed many miracles and fed five thousand men and a larger number of women and children with five loaves of bread and two fishes.  After picking up the left-over’s, Jesus sent the disciples on ahead in a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee.  He went to pray by Himself.  “During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.  When the disciples saw Him walking on the lake, they were terrified.  “It’s a ghost,” they said and cried out in fear.  But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage!  It is I.  Don’t be afraid.”  (Matthew 14:25-27)  Peter even left the boat and walked to Jesus as His bidding before sinking in the waves.   Jesus demonstrated to His disciples another aspect of who He was!  He was not a ghost, but one who had control of the wind and waves!

    Jesus wants to reveal the Truth to all who will receive!  He is more that a resurrected prophet!  He is more than a “holy ghost”!  He is the Son of God and Lord who saves us!

  • Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?

    Scripture reading for January 19th:  Matthew 13

    The Jews of Jesus’ day had a hard time figuring Him out!  He spoke to them with great wisdom and taught with authority.  He confounded the religious scholars of His day and they ended up seeking to kill Him!   He told parables that spoke plainly to those with ears to hear and seeking hearts but were meaningless to those who were proud and judgmental.  (Matthew 13:11-15)

    Parables are stories that relay information at different levels of understanding, depending on the desire of the person to understand truth.  The disciples asked Him to explain why he used them.  “He replied, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.” ”  (Matthew 13:11)   Parables reveal truth to seekers, but hide truth from the hard of heart.  The parable of the sower was all about the sowing of the Word of God and the types of hearts that would not receive or would receive and produce fruit.  Those who received the Word would be like the good soil and produce a harvest!

    He told a number of other parables and then went to His hometown to teach in the synagogue.  The people were amazed.  “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked.  “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?  Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?  Aren’t His sisters with us?  Were did this man get all these things?”  And they took offense at Him.” (Matthew 13:54-56)  Knowing Jesus as He really is requires more than a genealogy and answers to questions!   We must be open to truth about the kingdom of heaven.  Jesus could do no great miracles there because of their unbelief!  Is your heart “good ground?”