More Notes on Reuben's Blessing from Jacob

Genesis 49:3-4 - Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.

My might, and the beginning of my strength: "He was the first-born, the first-fruits of his father's manly strength."  (The Preacher's Complete Homiletic Commentary)

Unstable as water: "The force of a great current of water, when the barriers that restrained it are removed, is irresistible.  Such is the force of corruption in men [without self-restraint]....  Yet nothing is weaker than water in small quantities....  Such is the weakness of men who walk after their own lusts."  (Homiletic Commentary)

Consider unstable waves blown whichever way the wind blows; a fitting illustration of many a man.  Compare Ephesians 4:14 - tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine.  (VM)

Thou shalt not excel: "The double portion was transferred to Joseph, the chieftanship to Judah, and the priesthood to Levi."  (Homiletic Commentary)

He went up to my couch: Jacob turns his face away from Reuben and addresses his other sons in pathetic disdain of Reuben's failure.  Popular lyric: "The Father turns His face away...."  (VM)

While these may appear words of cursing, Genesis 49:28 says these were all words of blessing.  Consider (1) No actual curses come from Jacob.  Rebuke and denouncing sin, but not cursing.  Such is the correction of our Heavenly Father.  By Christ we are delivered from the curse of all our failures - Galatians 3:13, etc.  (2) The son is still a son: our Father may be displeased, but can never disown.  (3) The firm promises are still assured: every true son will continue and still inherit all that is reserved for him - I Peter 1:4.  (4) The blessing is in the mercy shown.  What might have been the terrible pronouncement of the son's fate apart from the Father's grace?  He may not excel as others, but he will not be utterly stamped out.  He may bear the earthly fallout, but he is forgiven the eternal consequence.  Even the earthly aftermath is tempered by our Father's tender love.  (5) There was given first a loving reminder of what could have been - the potential that was missed.  This is not designed to shame the son, but to assure him that his failure was not for lack of his Father's support and benefits.  Our Father is "for us; who can be against us?"  (Romans 8:31).  The Father is cleared of the matter and the failure is but our own.  But also, though the past may not be repaired, there is still potential for the future, which must become the new focus.  Reuben, repenting of verse 4, must turn his attention back to verse 3 and therein move forward.  "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works..."  (Revelation 2:5).  The missed potential is not to become a permanent stumbling stone, or a stifling status quo, but rather a stimulant to step it up!  (VM)

Other notes on Reuben here.

VM

The Necessity of the Minister's Inner Life

Acts 6:4 - But we [the church leadership] will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

"The strength of the minister and his ministry lies in the richness and fullness of his inner life.  Ministerial power is always heart power.  The chief business of the minister is to culture the souls of men.  His greatest influence will always be silent and unseen.  The unconscious overflow of his life will be the most potent influence he wields.  His is primarily a spiritual ministry, and no man can excel in spiritual things without having rich resources on which to draw." - William Anderson Elliott, "D.D.'s for Ministers" p. 12.

Cross-reference this quote at several points in the pastoral epistles, such as I Timothy 4:13-16.

VM

God Refuses to Become a Debtor to Any Man!

Matthew 19:29 - And every one that hath forsaken houses ... or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

PULPIT QUIP: "God refuses to become a debtor to any man!"  (Missionary David H. Hillis)

Application: Giving / Tithing / Missions / Sacrifice / Loss within God's will, etc.

Same note at parallel Gospels, Mark 10:29-30; Luke 18:29-30.  Also at Philippians 4:19 (in context) and at Job chapter 42.

VM

More About Wisdom in James 3:13-18

James 3:13 - Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

"Meekness is the right use of power, and wisdom is the right use of knowledge.  They go together." - W.W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary.

"It is remarkable that the truly wise man is characterized by a calm spirit, a mild and placid demeanour, and by a gentle, though firm, enunciation of his sentiments.  A noisy, boisterous, and stormy declaimer we never select as a safe counsellor.  He may accomplish much in his way by his bold eloquence of manner, but we do not put him in places where we need far-reaching thought, or where we expect the exercise of profound philosophical views." - Albert Barnes, Barnes' Notes on the New Testament.

"Wisdom is not a matter of acquiring truth, but of applying truth." - Walvoord & Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, paraphrased.

James 3:15  - This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

"Earthly, sensual, devilish.  All three of our enemies, the world, the flesh and the devil, conspire in agreement against us with counterfeit wisdom to strife and envy." - VM

"Whatever does not come from God is destined to fail, no matter how successful it may seem at the time." - W.W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary.

Cross references for James 3:13 - Proverbs 26:12, 16; Isaiah 5:21; Romans 12:16.

Cross references for James 3:14-15 - I Corinthians 3:3, 18.

Cross references for James 3:18 - Isaiah 32:17.

See the prior post on James 3:13.

First Pure Then Peaceable

James 3:17 - But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable....

"First pure, then peaceable; if only one is attainable, choose the former." - Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Notice it is FIRST pure, the priority. To maintain peaceable fellowship with others cannot cost your purity. First pure. When purity is at stake, peaceable is not always an option. This is the error of New Evangelicalism or a non-militant "fundamentalism." - VM

Hebrews 10:25 - Not Forsaking the Assembling

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

"Assembling" is unique here and in II Thessalonians 2:1 ("gathering"), where it speaks of the Rapture. So the word picture is clear of which "day" we see "approaching." - VM

The emphasis is not on what you GET from the assembly, but on what you CONTRIBUTE to it. - VM

"The body is not weakened by the absence of the lost. The body is weakened by the forsaking of the saved. It is handicapped." - Pastor Edward R. Mast

"Those forsaking the assembling will soon forsake the God of the assembling. They will stop walking with the Lord; they will lose their love for the brethren; and their compassion for the lost will dry up." - Pastor Edward R. Mast (paraphrased)

Verse 25: Cross ref Malachi 3:16-18

"Love and good works" (v. 23) should be performed while "not forsaking" (v. 25). In other words, don't skip scheduled church services for the purpose of other good works or charity or love. - VM

The preparation for verse 25 is verse 22. - VM

VM

John chapters 10, 11, 12 Notes

John 10:16 - And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Speaking of the Church as a whole, which is largely Gentile. Important cross refs: John 11:51-52; Ephesians 1:10; Ephesians 2:11-22; I Peter 2:10.

John 10:22 - And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.

"Feast of the dedication" = Hanukkah / Festival of Lights. Celebrates the rededication of the temple after the revolt of the Maccabees against Greek rule, 165 B.C.

Note / Quote at John 10:27-28 - "Assurance [of salvation] is only for those who are truly saved, as evidenced by their life of obedience. They follow the One Who's voice they hear. John 10:27 is evidence, John 10:28 is the blessing." - David Cloud. Cross ref Romans 8:13-14.

John 11:47 - Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.

Christ's enemies NEVER denied that He actually performed miracles. They admit it in several places, but still do not believe on Him. Likewise with the Apostles, Acts 4:16.

Note at John 12:39-41 - The vision which Isaiah saw of the glory of God (Isaiah 6:1-10) is said by John to be the glory of Jesus! JESUS IS GOD!

VM

Unbelieving Disciples in John chapter 6

John 6:26 - Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

"They 'believed' on Him not as their Lord and Saviour, but as a wordly messiah to supply their needs and defeat their enemies." - D. Cloud.

These depart, John 6:66.

John 6:66 - From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

This type of disciple is explained in John 2:23-25; John 6:15; John 6:26; I Corinthians 15:2b; I John 2:19.

VM

Search the Scriptures - Notes in John chapter 5

John 5:4 - For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

This verse is removed from the critical Greek text and cast in doubt or missing from modern translations. However, this verse explains the man's statement in John 5:7, "Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me." Without verse 4, this man makes no sense. Verse 4 also explains why these people were waiting around the pool in the first place. This verse is no doubt original and is one of many places where John is explaining Jewish things to his Gentile readers. It was obviously removed because of unbelief in the ministry of angels.

John 5:14 - "...Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee."

Note here and also at John 8:11 - Don't be foold by the Easy Prayerism crowd that "repentance" is not found in John! If they'd take the trouble to read John instead of word-searching it, they would see John 5:14 and John 8:11.

John 5:22 - For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.

Important cross refs: John 5:27; Matthew 11:27; Matthew 28:18; John 3:35; John 17:2; Acts 17:31; II Timothy 4:1.

John 5:23a - "That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father...."

Compare Isaiah 42:8, "My glory will I not give to another." JESUS IS GOD!!!

John 5:23b - "...He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father, which hath sent him."

Cross ref: I John 2:23.

John 5:39 - Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

"Search the scriptures" is indicative, not imperative. In other words, Jesus is saying, "You are in the habit of searching the scriptures to find eternal life. And they testify of Me."

"Jesus is the center, soul, heartbeat and blood of the entire Bible. If He were taken out of the Bible, it would be an empty, meaningless book." - Oliver B. Greene, "John, Volume 1", p. 310.

John 5:40 - And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

"The saddest verse in the Bible!" - VM

John 5:44 - How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

Cross ref: Hebrews 11:6.

John 5:45 - Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.

Note: "Accuseth" is present tense, not future. Moses already accuses them in Deuteronomy 31:25-27.

"Moses, in whom ye trust." Note here and at John 9:28, Any true disciple of Moses will become one of Jesus Christ!

John 5:46 - For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.

To today's typically lost Lutheran / Methodist / Catholic: "Had ye believed Luther / Wesley / Simon Peter, ye would have believed Jesus, for he wrote of Jesus."

"Moses...wrote of me." - Genesis 3:15; Genesis 12:3; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 22:18; Genesis 49:10; Deuteronomy 18:15-18; Luke 24:44; John 1:45; Acts 26:22; etc.

John 5:47 - But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

So how can someone who denies the first portion of Genesis (Creation through Flood) claim to believe in Christ?

VM

The Woman at the Well - Notes

John 4:5 - Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

On this parcel, see note at Genesis 48:22.

John 4:18 - For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband....

Note: "Jesus faced her squarely with the immorality that had controlled her life." - David Cloud. This is the way God deals with people. When evangelizing or discipling, we cannot soft-pedal a person's sin.

John 4:20 - [The Samaritan woman at the well speaking:] Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

"This mountain" is Mt. Gerizim, where Samaritan tradition said Abraham offered Isaac. The blessings of the Law were read from Gerizim; the curses from Mt. Ebal: Deuteronomy 11:29; Joshua 8:30-35. Samaritans had built a temple on Gerizim.

John 4:24 - God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Important cross refs: Deuteronomy 4:15-19; II Corinthians 3:17.

John 4:35 - Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

Don't put off your witness! The field is ready! The time is now!

VM

The Night Before the Cross (from Luke chapter 22)

Luke 22:31-32 - 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 art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Notice the change in pronouns, "you" and "thee." "You" is always plural in KJV, "thee" is singular. Satan desired to sift all the 12, which he did, and one fell out as chaff (Judas). Jesus prayed specifically for Peter, "I have prayed for thee."

See also Job 1, Job 2, regarding Satan's designs on children of God and God's sovereignty over it.

Luke 22:33 - And he [Peter] said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

Note: "Likewise said they all," - Mark 14:31.

"Peter loved the Lord and meant every word but knew not his own weakness." - Ironside on Luke, p. 654. Same note at Matthew and Mark.

See I Corinthians 10:12; Proverbs 16:18.

See full account of Peter's pride, Matthew 26:33-35; Mark 14:29-31.

"Let us be careful not to trust in our own strength, but distrusting ourselves to rely wholly on Him, that we may ever be true to the trust committed to us!" - Ironside, Addresses on Luke, p. 658.

Luke 22:44 - And being in an agony he [Jesus] prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Fulfilling Psalm 22:14.

Luke 22:45 - And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

Notice, Even when exhausted from grief is no time to let our spiritual guard down.

This note also at Matthew 26:41 - "A man's regenerated spirit may have good intentions, but it must control his body." - Liberty Commentary. See Romans 12:1; Romans 6; Romans 7; Galatians 5:17.

Luke 22:49-50 - When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto 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.

Notice, they asked the Lord, but did not wait for an answer!

See Christ's rebuke of Peter (the swordsman) in Matthew 26:52-54.

Notice how quickly we turn from being asleep when we should be alert, to being hyperactive when we should be quiet, passive and forbearing.

Luke 22:51 - And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.

"How busy we keep the Lord putting on ears that we in our mistaken zeal have cut off." - Ironside, Luke, p. 649.

Luke 22:54 - Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off.

Instead of keeping close to the Lord and being plainly identified by all as a follower. Peter's attachment to Jesus would not let him drift completely away, but he followed "afar off." And so the carnal Christian or backslider. Same note at Matthew 26:58.

Luke 22:56 - 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.

Unbelievers can spot a Christian. And this question is on their mind, "Art thou one of them, or one of us?"

Luke 22:65 - And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.

Speaking against Jesus can only be called "blasphemy" if Jesus is God!

VM

Wrestling With the Lord in Prayer

Psalm 30:9 - What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? Shall it declare thy truth?

An example for us of wrestling with the Lord in prayer. Such as Abraham in Genesis 18:25, "Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?" Matthew Henry says, "The best pleas in prayer are those that are taken from God’s honour."

VM

The Night Before the Cross (from Matthew chapter 26)

Matthew 26:33 - Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.

"Likewise also said they all" - Mark 14:31.

"Peter loved the Lord and meant every word but knew not his own weakness." - Ironside on Luke, p. 654.

Cross refs: I Corinthians 10:12; Proverbs 16:18.

Matthew 26:41 - Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

"A man's regenerated spirit may have good intentions, but it must control his body."  - Liberty Commentary.  See Romans 12:1; Romans 6; Romans 7; Galatians 5:17.

Contrast this verse with Matthew 15:8; Isaiah 29:13; Ezekiel 33:31.

Matthew 26:51 - On Peter cutting off an ear, see notes at Luke 22:49 (coming to this blog on April 2).

Matthew 26:58 - "But Peter followed him afar off...."

Instead of keeping close to the Lord and being plainly identified by all as a follower.  Peter's attachment to Jesus would not let him drift completely away, but he followed "afar off."  And so the carnal Christian or backslider.  Same note at Luke 22:54.

Matthew 26:63 - "But Jesus held his peace...."

Important cross ref: Isaiah 53:7.

VM

Notes on Church Discipline from Matthew Chapter 18

Notes at Matthew 18:15-18

Verse 15 - "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee...."

This is a personal offense, not a publicly known sin, for which see I Corinthians 5, or a private sin of which you are aware, for which see Galatians 6.

Verse 15 - "Go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone."

GO AND GO ALONE!  This cannot be stressed enough!  Not wait for him to come to you; not start a telephone campaign to justify yourself; not ask others for advice on what to do; etc.

One other valid and wise option: Let love cover it, I Peter 4:8.

Verse 15 - "If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother."

This the sole aim!  Same in Galatians 6; I Corinthians 5.  Not to make yourself feel better.  Not to put him in his place.  Not to be justified before others.  The aim is restoration.  Any manner of dealing with it that does not have that goal is wrong.

Verse 16 - But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

"A just & sensible O.T. law established for the benefit of the N.T. church."  - quoted, source presently unknown.

"Witnesses" are brought in view of testifying of the meeting at the potential full church hearing later.  For "every word" to be "established" requires no advance talk to the witnesses.  Do not lay out your case to them first.  Proverbs 18:17 - "He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him."

Verse 17 - And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

"Tell it unto the church", not to denominational headquarters, private deacon board meeting, elder tribunal, etc.  Compare I Corinthians 5:4, where power of Christ is present when full church assembled together in His name.

Verse 18 - Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

"Heaven ratifies what the church does on earth in compliance with Christ's law and in the spirit of it."  - B. H. Carroll, in his sermon "Little Christians."

VM

Notes in Matthew Chapter 16

Note at Matthew 16:1-3 - The saying today is, "Red sky at morning, sailor take warning.  Red sky at night, sailor's delight."  Is due to atmospheric pressure.

Matthew 16:4 - See note at Matthew 12:38-40.

Matthew 16:4 - "A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign."

A perfect description of the Corinthian church seeking after the sign gifts; and of the Charismatic confusion of today.

Note at Matthew 16:12 - "Leaven" used here of bad doctrine, as in Galatians 5:9.  "Leaven" used in I Corinthians 5 of bad conduct.  Like "Death in the pot," II Kings 4:38 ff.

Matthew 16:15 - He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

Same question He asks of you and me today.  And He expects the same answer.

Matthew 16:16-17 - And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Important cross ref: I Corinthians 12:3.

"Flesh and blood hath not revealed..."  We can know Him today just as well as those who walked with, saw, handled, heard Him (I John 1).  The Holy Spirit still bears Him the same witness.

Matthew 16:21 - From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

Note, the Kingdom of Heaven was preached from 4:17 till now.  The Gospel of His death, burial and resurrection preached from here on, after the Kingdom was ultimately rejected by Israel.  See note at 4:17.

Matthew 16:28 - Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

Don't let the chapter break divide the context.  This fulfilled in Matthew 17 according to Peter in II Peter 1:16-18.

VM

Notes in Genesis Chapter 38

Genesis 38:2 - And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her.

"And he took her" in marriage, see v. 12.  Married a Canaanite and "it is not surprising that the family which sprang from such an unsuitable connection should be infamous for bold and unblushing wickedness." (Jamieson, Fausset & Brown).

Shuah the name of her father, the "certain Canaanite", not her name, see v. 12.

Genesis 38:8 - And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.

Custom called "Levirate marriage" incorporated into the Law, Deut. 25:5.

Note at Genesis 38:12-18 - Grieving death of wife by finding a harlot.  How sad.

Genesis 38:24 - "...And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt."

The whoremonger condeming the whore: John 8:3-5.  Do as I say, not as I do.  Holding higher standards for others than self:  Matthew 7:1-2; Romans 2:1-4; Romans 2:21-24.

Genesis 38:28 - And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.

She did not expect the other to break through.  This was simply so they could later identify the important firstborn if the twins were identical.  Midwife, knowing it was twins, was already prepared with scarlet thread in hand.

VM

Discovery of Mules

Genesis 36:24 - And these are the children of Zibeon; both Ajah, and Anah: this was that Anah that found the mules in the wilderness, as he fed the asses of Zibeon his father.

Famous for first time discovery of this sterile but useful cross-breed of donkey and horse.  All modern versions translate "found the hot springs in the desert," which would also make Anah famous.  There are hot springs in the area, on eastern shore of the Dead Sea.  All dictionaries say the Hebrew word is of uncertain meaning, either "mules" or "hot springs" possible.  The hot springs are numerous enough to have been likely discovered before Anah; the context places him with donkeys already; the Jews always considered it to be mules that he found, or found out the manner of breeding them.  So mules seems as likely as hot springs, or more so.

Matthew Henry comments: "This Anah was not only industrious in his business, but ingenious too, and successful....  Those that are diligent in their business sometimes find more advantages than they expected."

VM

Notes in Matthew Chapter Nine

Matthew 9:6 - But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

Miracles are always confirmatory signs of the message and the messenger.

Matthew 9:16-17 - No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.  Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

The new dispensation "cannot be fitted into the forms of the old" (Liberty Commentary) or the beauty of BOTH will be lost.  See also Luke 5:39.

Matthew 9:36 - But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

Note: A burden for people's spiritual needs must result in compassion for them.

Matthew 9:37-38 - Don't let the chapter break into chapter ten break up the context.  "Send forth labourers into his harvest" (9:38) is what He began to do in 10:1 and following.  Context more clear in Luke 10.

VM

Notes in the Second Chapter of Matthew

Matthew 2:1-4 - Nothing in the Bible states that these wise men were kings, as the Christmas carol and some traditions give.  Further, it is not necessarily "the three wise men" - there is no mention of their number.  Three is the number of gifts given, Matthew 2:11, not the number of men.  For "all Jerusalem" to be troubled with Herod (verse 3), there must have been very many wise men from the east converging on the city at once, making the people wonder.

Matthew 2:6 - The chief priests and scribes did not completely quote Micah 5:2.  They left out the part indicating that the Messiah is an eternal being.  Even today the Jews are not aware that the Messiah they still look for is to be God in the flesh, as their own scriptures indicate.

Matthew 2:11 - Notice the wise men were "come into the house" not into a stable or cave like the shepherds.  Notice they saw "the young child" not an infant.  This event may have been as much as two years after the birth of Christ, for Herod slew the children under two "according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men" in Matthew 2:16.

Matthew 2:18 - "...Rachel weeping for her children."  Bethlehem belonged to Judah, the son of Leah not Rachel.  But Rachel was buried here, Genesis 35:19.

Matthew 2:23 - "And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene."

There is no such direct statement in any Old Testament prophet, but Matthew is clear that he is not quoting directly from a prophet, for he says "the prophets," not a particular prophet he names.  He is summarizing what the prophets generally said about what the Messiah would be called by men.  We should understand what it means to be called "a Nazarene" - a branch considered worthless.  For example, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth" says Nathanael in John 1:46.  See Jamieson, Fausset & Brown commentary for explanation and Matthew Henry's commentary for beautiful application.  The Messiah is the "Branch" in Isaiah 11:1.  "Branch" in Hebrew is "netzer" from which Nazareth gets its name.  According to the prophets, the Messiah was to be "despised and rejected of men," Isaiah 53.  Thus, "He shall be called a Nazarene."

VM

Sermon Outline for James 1:21-25

James 1:21-25 skeletal sermon outline.  No title yet.  To be preached (Lord willing) on Sunday morning October 9, 2011 at Providence Independent Baptist Church.  Possibly split into two parts, for 10/9 and 10/16.

Message thrust: These verses detail what we are to do about hearing the word of God.  They are instructions for BEFORE, DURING and AFTER hearing the word.  This applies when we come to church, or read the Bible in private devotion, or any time the word of God is received.

BEFORE HEARING THE WORD - v. 21a - Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness.

This is preparation for hearing the word of God.  This is to put is in the right attitude for receiving the word.

Explain and illustrate words and phrases: "lay apart", "filthiness" and "superfluity of naughtiness."

Compare I Peter 2:1-3 for the same ideas - put these things aside in order to be ready for the word of God.

Reword Matthew Henry quote about laying them apart versus simply restraining them.  Give examples or illustrations to show the difference.

DURING HEARING THE WORD - v. 21b - and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Word study: Receive.  Emphasize the necessity of actively participating in taking in the word of God.

By the way, when we speak of the word of God, we are talking about the Bible.  Very brief reminder of inspiration, etc.

The attitude during receiving the word: meekness.  Expand on how such attitude is absolutely necessary.

How the word works in our lives: explanation of "engrafted" and brief illustration to explain the word.

The power of the word: "able" equals Greek "dunamis" / English Dynamite.  If the word has the power to save your soul, then it has the power to continue working in your soul after you are saved.  Expand.

AFTER HEARING THE WORD - vv. 22-25.  But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only....

What to do after you have heard the word.

VM
10/04/2011