Humble Righteous versus Braggart Sinners

Matthew 25:37-39 - Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

NOTE: Notice the humility of the righteous. They don't even realize all the good they have worked. Contrast with the bold, brash bragging of the lost, who keep score of their deeds and point to their works as qualification for heaven (Matthew 7:22).

Matthew 7:22 - Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

NOTE: So anxious to inflate themselves, they stand before Jesus, Who truly did many wonderful works, and call their own works both "many" and "wonderful."

VM

Nit-Pickers and God-Fearing Men-Followers

NOTE: God promises judgment on nit-pickers; notice the damage they can cause to the righteous by their fault-finding, scorning and making mountains out of mole hills:

Isaiah 29:20-21: For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off: That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought.

NOTE: It is possible to think you fear God but actually follow men and vain tradition. Notice that keeping manmade rules can be mistaken for the fear of God:

Isaiah 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men.

Be Not Many Masters

James 3:1 - My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

"Masters" = teachers, specifically teachers of the word of God in the church, such as pastors, preachers.  Important cross refs for the Greek word: I Corinthians 12:28-29; Ephesians 4:11; I Timothy 2:7; II Timothy 1:11.

A man must not go into the pulpit ministry unless he is absolutely convinced that God has chosen him out for it, I Corinthians 9:16.  Spurgeon would tell his ministry students that if they could be satisfied being anything other than a preacher, then leave right now and go do that thing, for the glory of God.

VM

If A Man Say, I Have Faith

James 2:14 - What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

"For a man to have faith, and to say he has faith, are two different things; the apostle does not say, If a man have faith without works, for that is not a supposable case; the drift of this place of scripture is plainly to show that an opinion, or speculation, or assent, without works, is not faith; but the case is put thus, If a man say he hath faith, etc. Men may boast of that to others, and be conceited of that in themselves, of which they are really destitute." - Matthew Henry's Commentary

Ruth chapter 1 notes

Ruth 1:1a - Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land.

In the days when "every man did that which was right in his own eyes," Judges 17:6 and Judges 21:25. Why wouldn't there be a famine, according to the blessings and curses of Deuteronomy 28?

A FAMINE IN THE LAND (Sermon Outline)
Ruth 1:1-5
I. A NATIONAL SIN (v. 1a)
A. The Time of the Book of Ruth
B. The Character of the Time
C. God’s Judgment on the Nation
D. A Warning for America
E. What can you do?
II. A PERSONAL SIN (vv. 1b-5)
A. The Nature of the Sin
1. A look at Elimelech
2. What was Elimelech supposed to do? (Deuteronomy 1:8, II Chronicles 7:14, etc)
3. Why did Elimelech disobey?
a) "The grass is always greener..."
b) Living for the moment.
c) Walking by sight and not by faith.
4. A Warning for Christians
B. The Results of the Sin
1. God’s Personal Judgment
2. Negative Influence on Others
3. Negative Effect on Others
4. Loss of Legacy & Heritage

THREE ON THE ROAD (Sermon Outline)
Ruth 1:6-22
NAOMI: A GRAND RETURN
A Reception (v. 6)
A Recognition (vv. 13, 20, 21)
A Reunion (vv. 19-20)
ORPAH: A GOOD RUN
A Good Start (v. 7)
A Brief Endurance (vv. 8-10)
A Failure of Faith (vv. 11-14)
A Return to the Former Life (v. 15)
RUTH: A GENUINE REGENERATION
A Cleaving (v. 14)
A Leaving (vv. 15-16)
A New Life (vv. 16-17)
-Accepting a New God
-Joining a New People
-Making a Lifelong Commitment
A Testimony (v. 18)

Judges chapter 20 note

Note at Judges chapter 20: Compare Hosea 10:9-10.

Abiding in Christ - Notes in John ch. 15

John 15:4 - Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

Steps in Abiding - v. 10, keep His commandments; I John 2:6, walk as He walked; I John 2:10, love the brethren; I John 2:15-17, love not the world; I John 2:24, continue in the word.

John 15:5 - I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Proof of Abiding - v. 5, bringing forth fruit.

John 15:7 - If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Blessings of Abiding - v. 7, answered prayer; I John 2:28, confidence at His coming.

John 15:27 - And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

Requirements for apostleship: John 15:27; Acts 1:21-22; Acts 22:14-15; Acts 26:16; I Corinthians 9:1.

VM

The Way, Truth, Life: John chapter 14 Notes

The Rapture in John 14:3 - And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

RECEIVE = Greek PARALAMBANO, "to take to one's self" as the ancient bridegroom carried off his bride home like a captured trophy. Compare same verb Matthew 4:5; Matthew 17:1. Here in the middle deponent voice, same as "active" voice. I Thessalonians 4:17 is the passive part, ours, to "be caught up with Him."

John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

JESUS IS "THE WAY": Psalm 25:8; Psalm 139:24; Proverbs 6:23; Proverbs 10:17; Proverbs 15:24; Isaiah 40:3 and its N.T. quotes; Jeremiah 21:8; Matthew 7:12-14; John 10:9; Acts 16:17; Acts 24:14; Hebrews 9:8; Hebrews 10:19-20.

"THE WAY" OF TRUTH, PEACE, RIGHTEOUSNESS, ETC: Psalm 1:6; Proverbs 2:20; Proverbs 8:20; Proverbs 12:28; Proverbs 15:10; Proverbs 16:31: Proverbs 22:6; Isaiah 35:8; Isaiah 48:17; Isaiah 59:8; Jeremiah 21:8; Matthew 21:32; Luke 1:79; Romans 3:12; Romans 3:17; II Peter 2:2; II Peter 2:21.

VERSUS "THE WAY" OF THE WICKED, FOOL, FORSAKING, ETC: Psalm 1:1; Psalm 1:6; Proverbs 12:5; Proverbs 13:15; Proverbs 14:12; Proverbs 15:9-10; Proverbs 15:19; Proverbs 16:2; Proverbs 16:25; Proverbs 16:29; Proverbs 22:5; Proverbs 22:24-25; Jeremiah 21:8; Matthew 7:13-14; Romans 3:12; Romans 3:17; II Peter 2:2; II Peter 2:15; II Peter 2:21; Jude 1:11.

"THE WAY" OF GOD, LORD: Psalm 18:21; Psalm 18:30; Psalm 27:11; Proverbs 10:29.

JESUS IS "THE TRUTH": John 1:14; John 1:17; John 8:32; John 15:1; John 18:37; Romans 15:8; II Corinthians 1:19-20; Ephesians 4:21; Colossians 2:9; I John 5:20; Revelation 1:5; Revelation 3:7,14; Revelation 19:11.

"THE TRUTH" IS GOD, HOLY SPIRIT, OTHER: Numbers 23:19; I Samuel 15:29; John 4:23-24; John 15:26; John 16:13; Ephesians 5:9; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:17-18; I John 4:6; I John 5:6.

JESUS IS "THE LIFE": John 1:4; John 3:15-16; John 3:36; John 5:21; John 5:26; John 6:33; John 6:51; John 6:57; John 6:63; John 6:68; John 10:10; John 11:25; John 14:19; John 17:3; Acts 3:15; Acts 5:20; Romans 6:23; Colossians 3:4; Galatians 2:20; II Timothy 1:1; I John 1:1-2; I John 5:12.

John 14:26 - But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Important cross refs: John 2:22; John 12:16; John 16:13; I Corinthians 2:13; I John 2:20; I John 2:27.

VM

Cross Refs in 81st Psalm

Psalm 81:2 - Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.

Psalm = a psalm to be sung.

Psaltery = a stringed instrument for melody.

Harp = a stringed instrument for spiritual songs, such as the songs to drive away the evil spirit from Saul, I Samuel 16:23.

All the elements here of Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5:19: psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, singing, with emphasis on melody.

Psalm 81:12 - So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.

Compare Romans 1:24, 26; II Thessalonians 2:11-12.

VM

Jephthah Did Not Sacrifice Daughter

Notes on keeping straight the Ammonites, Amorites and Moabites in Judges 11:

Ammonites and Moabites are descendants of Lot (Genesis 19:36-38) and often confederate together.

Amorites had invaded into Ammonite and Moabite land and conquered it before the Exodus of Israel. Israel then conquered the Amorites when their kings fought against them after the Exodus (Numbers chapter 21). So the Ammonite king is wrong in Judges 11:13 and Jephthah corrects his history in Judges 11:14-23.

Judges 11:26 - Clue as to the timing of this chapter, about 300 years after the conquering of Canaan by Joshua.

Jephthah did NOT sacrifice his daughter's life:

Jephthah's vow, Judges 11:31 - "Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD's, [or] I will offer it up for a burnt offering.

Notice KJV translator margin, "OR I will offer it up" instead of "AND I will offer it up." Whatever or whoever first came forth would be the LORD's. If an animal lawful to sacrifice, then it would be sacrificed. If a person, he or she would be consecrated to the LORD.

Jephthah's daughter was therefore consecrated to the LORD, that she would not marry. So she bewailed her virginity, not her impending death, Judges 11:37-38. Not being able to bear children was a major source of disappointment for a Jewish girl, in a society where children were so prized and every woman wanted to be the one through whom the Messiah came forth. And this a disappointment to Jephthah, for his line would end with her, his only child, so his grief in Judges 11:35.

This fact of the vow confirmed - not that he offered her up, but explained that "she knew no man", Judges 11:39. She was probably set apart from society to live alone under her father's care. And the daughters of Israel went yearly to visit with her, Judges 11:39-40 (note KJV marginal translation, "to talk with her" a more clear translation).

Jepthah is named in the Faith Hall of Fame in Hebrews 11:32. This man would not be a hero of faith if he had actually bargained with God with the life of his daughter. His vow is more like the vow of faith of Hannah, I Samuel 1:11, which God honored.

VM

Psalms chapters 78, 79, 80 Notes

Note at Psalm 78:1-8 - God's Plan: Pass it On! Either (1) Multi-generational faithfulness; or (2) Break the cycle of unfaithfulness for the next generations ("Change your family tree.")

Psalm 79:9 - Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name....

Note: God's help and forgiveness are always for His own glory. So Psalm 79:10; Psalm 79:13; Psalm 23:3; Psalm 115:1; Isaiah 43:21; Isaiah 48:9; Jeremiah 14:7, 21; Ephesians 1:6;

Appropriate heading for Psalm 80: "Prayer for the nation."

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

Notes in John chapter 9

John 9:28 - Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples.

Note here and at John 5:45 - Any true disciple of Moses will become one of Jesus Christ!

John 9:34 - They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

"Born in sins," compare verse 2, "Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?"

John 9:37 - And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.

Note: Jesus subtly points out to the formerly blind man that he can now SEE the Son of God.

VM

Introduction to Judges

Notes on the Introduction to Judges

The Book of Judges spans the gap from the conquering of Canaan by Joshua until the nation becomes a monarchy ruled by a king in I Samuel. Paul says in Acts 13:20 that the period lasted "about the space of four hundred and fifty years." You cannot determine the timing of events by simply adding up the length of the time the judges ruled, because some of them appear to be local judges in different places; not ruling the entire nation at one time. Some may have even been simultaneous with others, ruling in different areas. Other events in Judges are not given in the text in a chronological order but in a logical fashion. For example, Judges 17:1, "And there was a man..." does not fix the time of this event or this judge.

Chapters 1 and 2 recount some of the events of Joshua, expanding on some in more detail.

Then Judges 2:10-23 outlines and summarizes the entire book. The book shows Israel following a cycle pattern of: (1) national sin and falling away; (2) judgment from God in the form of enemies ruling over the people; (3) repentance on the part of the people; (4) God delivering the people through the hand of a "judge"; (5) that generation dies off and the nation repeats the cycle in the next generation. Judges has been given the theme, "Defeat and Deliverance."

Another summary of the period of the Judges is in Judges 21:25 (repeated often in the book): "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes."

VM

The Seven "I AM" Statements of Jesus

In John's Gospel we find three courses of seven: seven miracles, seven "I AM" statements of Jesus and seven discourses. Having just noted the ultimate "I AM" statement (this note), as the ultimate sum of the seven, it would be helpful to mark the seven, perhaps at the title page of John's Gospel or perhaps through the text.

"I am the bread of life" - John 6:35.

"I am the light of the world" - John 8:12.

"I am the door" (literally, "the gate") - John 10:9.

"I am the Good Shepherd" - John 10:11.

"I am the resurrection and the life" - John 11:25-26.

"I am the way, the truth, and the life" - John 14:6.

"I am the vine" - John 15:5.

"I AM" - John 8:58. This is the ultimate sum of the seven "I am" statements above. Only the "I AM" Jehovah God Almighty could claim all these.

VM

Notes in John chapter 8

Regarding the woman taken in adultery, John 8:1-11: The critical Greek text removes this passage and modern Bible versions cast doubt on it. However, it is authentic, as this event is in direct answer to the end of chapter 7. Nicodemus gave a challenge to the Pharisees: "Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?" in John 7:51. In response to this challenge, the plan was hatched to attempt to get Jesus to speak against the Law - so that Nicodemus and others could "hear him, and know what he doeth." Where was the man with whom the woman was caught? It was likely one of the men who brought her to Jesus. This was a conspiracy to entrap Jesus so that even Nicodemus and others would be against Him if they heard Him speak against the Law. See also Scofield's note on this as well.

John 8:8 - And again he stopped down and wrote on the ground.

"One of the most convicting sermons ever preached was not spoken, but scrawled in the dust, unrecorded for us." - VM

John 8:11 - "...Go and sin no more."

Note here and also at John 5:14 - 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 8:44 - Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

"Your father the devil"; Satan as spiritual father: Matthew 13:38; Acts 13:10; I John 3:8-12.

"He was a murderer from the beginning" - Satan as murderer, "from the beginning" - Genesis 3:1-7, the temptation to the Fall, the result of which was death. See I Peter 5:8.

"He...abode not in the truth" - clear evidence that Satan was at one time "in the truth" as a holy angel. See II Peter 2:4; Jude 6. Satan's background and fall described: Isaiah 14; Ezekiel 28.

When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own - Genesis 3:4-5; II Chronicles 18:20-22; Acts 5:3; II Corinthians 11:3; II Corinthians 11:13-15; II Thessalonians 2:9-11; Revelation 12:9-10; Revelation 20:10; Revelation 22:15.

John 8:56 - Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

Notice, "Your father Abraham", not "My father" or "Our father." Should have sounded odd to the Jews speaking to another Jew. Jesus is in the middle of explaining Who He really is.

Cross refs to John 8:56: Genesis 2:18; Galatians 3:7-9; Hebrews 11:13; I Peter 1:10-12. Compare Luke 10:24.

John 8:58 - Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

"I AM" - a clear claim to be Jehovah God, the "I AM" of Exodus 3:14. Hence the Jews' desire to stone Him.

Jesus had used "I AM" several times already in the chapter, not as clear in the KJV because of the italicized words. Remove italics from John 8:24, John 8:28. We see (1) The deity of Christ is only denied by those who will "die in their sins," John 8:24; and (2) The death and resurrection of Christ will prove His claims to who He is, John 8:28.

Jesus uses the "I AM" name again with miraculous power, toppling over backwards the men coming to arrest Him: John 18:4-6 (remove the italics again).

VM

But As for Me and My House

Note in Joshua 24 - Quotation marks written into the text may help delimit between what God says through Joshua and what Joshua personally says. Thus saith the Lord begins in verse 2 and ends at verse 13. Joshua speaks personally in verse 14 and following.

"Other side of the flood" - the flood being a reference to the large Euphrates river, not Noah's flood. Abraham's idolatrous family background was east of the Euphrates in Ur of the Chaldees. Or "the flood" could mean the Jordan river, called so in Psalm 66:6. Most likely Euphrates here.

Joshua 24:15 - Long verse often paraphrased/shortened into one or two clauses for dramatic effect: (1) "Choose you this day whom ye will serve." (2) "But as for me and my house we will serve the LORD." Interesting that the entire verse is rarely quoted. Most people today would be insulted!

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

Dan - The Conquering Tribe

Joshua 19:47 - And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them: therefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father.

This conquest explained in detail in Judges chapter 18. Leshem is called Laish there. See for example Judges 18:29.

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