Superior Word Daily Devotional On the Book of Matthew

[PrisonerOfHope]

Daily Bible Verse, Matthew 1:20

Saturday, July 27th, 2024


But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1:20




“And him, having pondered these, behold a messenger of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, you should not fear to receive Mary your wife, for that having been begotten in her – from Holy Spirit is’” (CG).



Joseph was considering putting Mary away secretly. Because of this, Matthew now writes, “And him, having pondered these.”



Joseph was considering how he could protect Mary despite her seemingly obvious transgression. She was pregnant, and he was not the father despite her being betrothed to him. The timing, location, and circumstances of how to divorce her probably weighed heavily on his mind. But while he was considering these, it next says, “behold a messenger of the Lord.”



There is no article before “Lord” in the Greek. However, in the English it would be cumbersome to leave it off because there is one God who is the Lord. Therefore, the article is rightly supplied in italics. The Lord sent a messenger to reveal what had transpired. This messenger “appeared to him in a dream.”



The Lord appears in various ways to His people. In the case of Joseph, he may have been pondering letting Mary go while tossing and turning on his bed. In order to soothe his troubled mind, the Lord appeared in his dream.



This word, onar, dream, is found only six times, and all six uses are by Matthew. It refers only to a sleep dream. In this dream, the messenger appeared, “saying, ‘Joseph, son of David.’”



The words clearly identify Joseph as a son of David. He is being instructed on why things have transpired as they have. In other words, Mary was selected to be the mother of Jesus because she was the betrothed of Joseph. It is his relationship to King David that precipitated the events that transpired.



If this same Mary was betrothed to a descendant of King Saul of the tribe of Benjamin, she would not have been selected to bear Jesus. However, in order to establish the male line of ancestry leading back to David for the rights of inheritance, his betrothed wife was selected to be the human receptacle through whom would come the Messiah. Therefore, the angel continues, “you should not fear to receive Mary your wife.”



Some translations say something like, “to take Mary as your wife.” This is incorrect. She is already betrothed to him and is considered his wife, even if the marriage is not yet consummated. He is not to fear to receive her, meaning to complete the union, because she is his wife. This is obvious because he was planning on divorcing her, something one can only do with a wife.



Joseph will not sin in having a woman who has conceived in the manner she has. He should not feel as if she was unfaithful to him or forced by someone else. Rather, God Himself was directing the events that took place. The messenger explicitly reveals that with the words, “for that having been begotten in her – from Holy Spirit is.”



Again, no article precedes “Holy Spirit.” The construction in the Greek bears emphasis. Joseph is being given the absolute assurance that Mary’s pregnancy is of God. Rather than being from that which is unholy, it is a birth that is Most Holy. Such are the magnificent workings of God in Christ.



Life application: The Roman Catholic Church, in particular, has an obsession with Mary. This is so extreme in some circles that Jesus isn’t even a secondary thought in their religious lives. Mary is elevated to the highest point of their idolatrous beliefs.



Entire websites are constructed to exalt her and to detail the basis of worship to her. And yet, as this verse in Matthew reveals, it is because of Joseph that Mary was chosen to be the mother of the Lord Jesus. It is Joseph’s genealogy which directed the choice to be made. Mary was blessed to have been betrothed to a son of David.



From there, she was blessed to be selected by God to be the human instrument by which Jesus would come into the world. Even if Mary descends from David in her own genealogy, it was through Joseph that the right to the throne was established.



The focus, therefore, is to be on Jesus, not Joseph or Mary. These were participants in God’s unfolding plans, but they are in no way to be considered as the objects of adoration, much less idolatrous adoration. No hint of this is to be found in Scripture. All eyes on Jesus!



“Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, 9 for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” 2 Timothy 2:8-10



Lord God, to You alone, we owe all of our praise and thanks for what You have done. In the coming of Christ Jesus, we can now behold You in His face. Glory to You in the Highest, O God. Amen.

[PrisonerOfHope]

Daily Bible Verse, Matthew 1:21

Sunday, July 28th, 2024




“And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21


“And she will bring forth a son, and you will call His name JESUS. For He will save His people from their sins” (CG).



Joseph was just told that Mary had conceived by the Holy Spirit. The messenger continues, saying, “And she will bring forth a Son.”



The words not only demonstrate the presence of God in the process, but more, they also reveal the directive hand of God. The Child will not merely be opening Mary’s womb, but the Lord is directing what type of child will be born, a Son. Understanding that, it next says, “and you will call His name JESUS.”



The words of this verse are similar to what was said to Mary –



“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.” Luke 1:31



Mary was told this, and even if she then told it to Joseph, it is still right that the messenger would repeat it to him now. His words confirm the words of Mary, or they establish the matter for Joseph if she had not yet told him. Either way, he is informed what will come to pass concerning the Child, and he is told what the Child’s name will be.



This is not a unique event in Scripture. The names of Isaac and Ishmael were given before they were born. Josiah’s name was prophesied before he was born. Also, the name of Cyrus, King of Persia, was stated in a prophecy before he was born. In the New Testament, John the Baptist had his name designated before he was born.



Though the name of Samson was not given before he was born, details concerning him were described. Such events as this show that God is in control of the redemptive narrative, and He intervenes at key points to continue having history unfold according to a set plan.



The name Jesus in Hebrew is Yeshua. It is a shortened form of Yehoshua, Joshua. Whereas Yehoshua means The Lord is Salvation, Yeshua means Salvation, or He Will Save, coming from the verb yasha, to deliver or save. Joshua anticipated the coming of Christ through his name.



In the coming of Christ, the type is fulfilled: the Lord, Yehovah, is Salvation. Therefore, the messenger provides the reason for the selection of the name, saying, “For He will save His people from their sins.”



Thus, as happens so often in Scripture, a pun is formed, “You shall call His name Salvation, for He will save His people from their sins.”



The implication of the messenger’s word is that Christ has a group of people that will be saved. It is also implied that some will not be saved because they are “not His people.” What is also explicit is that people have sin from which they must be saved. Without this process, they remain in a state of condemnation. Jesus has come to correct this in His people.



Life application: It is not uncommon for people to argue over the name of Jesus. Some argue that His name is originally a different Hebrew name than Yeshua, deriving their opinion from one Old Testament passage or another. However, it is most commonly accepted that His name is either Yehoshua or Yeshua.



As He is the Lord, Yehovah, in human flesh, it makes less sense to call him The Lord is Salvation (Yehoshua). Rather, He is the Lord who is Salvation (Yeshua). However, fighting over this is not necessary.



Another way people argue over Jesus’ name is to insist that we should use the Hebrew name only because that is His “real” name. As Jesus isn’t the way a Hebrew would speak, it seems somehow bad to them that we would say “Jesus.”



This dismisses the fact that the vast majority of people don’t pronounce any other biblical name as it actually is. Some translated names are so far from the Hebrew that when the Hebrew is heard, we don’t even know who is being referred to. To say we must pronounce Jesus’ Hebrew name would necessitate that we do so with all biblical names. It is unreasonable to hold to this view.



Languages were developed by God. They continue to change as time passes. As they do, we accommodate to the general use of names within a language. The name Yeshua is transliterated into the Greek as Iésous (ee ay soos). If God wanted us to say Yeshua today, He wouldn’t have had the New Testament given to us in Greek.



From Iésous, the English language developed through the Germanic languages. Iésous eventually became Jesus (Yesous). Germans don’t have the hard J, but pronounce the J like a Y, (think of Johannes Kepler). The name then moved to the English people as Jesus with a hard J. Within English, this same name is actually pronounced quite differently depending on where you are. If you go to a southern church in the U.S., it sounds like Jayzuz. And so forth.



There are YT videos that give the name of Jesus in many languages throughout the world. Different people groups will pronounce the name differently. But in the end, our Jesus is the Christ of the nations as well as the Messiah of Israel. However you pronounce His name, do it with respect. He is our Lord. He is our JESUS.



Lord God, we stand in awe of what You have done. You have come to us in the Person of Jesus our Savior. May You be eternally praised for Your goodness to the sons of Adam for redeeming us unto Yourself. All hail the name of Jesus. Amen.

[PrisonerOfHope]

Daily Bible Verse, Matthew 1:22

Monday, July 29th, 2024


So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: Matthew 1:22


“And this all has come to pass that may be fulfilled that having been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying…” (CG).



In the previous verse, the messenger noted to Joseph that the Child’s name was to be Jesus because He would save His people from their sins. Now, the narrative continues, saying, “And this all has come to pass that may be fulfilled that having been spoken by the Lord.”



Matthew will now cite an Old Testament prophecy. It is one that was uttered by the Lord, Yehovah, to King Ahaz in Isaiah 7. The words of prophecy, as recorded by Matthew, are said to be fulfilled (has come to pass) in the coming of Christ Jesus. And yet, it was a prophecy given to Ahaz about a matter that would be fulfilled at his time.



As such, it is a prophecy with a dual significance. This is not a stretch by Matthew, looking to shove the coming of Christ Jesus into an obscure and already fulfilled verse. Rather, it is a prophecy that was understood all along to be messianic in nature.



That is evidenced in the words of the coming verse. That we can know this was anticipated to refer to the Messiah will be explained then. For now, Matthew continues by saying that the prophecy was spoken by the Lord “through the prophet, saying…”



The Lord spoke to Israel, but He did so indirectly through Isaiah. The words that lead to the prophecy say –



“Moreover the Lord spoke again to Ahaz, saying, 11 ‘Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above.’

12 But Ahaz said, ‘I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord!’

13 Then he said, ‘Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also?’” Isaiah 7:10-13



The Lord first spoke to Ahaz directly. The words are in the second person, singular. When Ahaz punted and refused to ask for a sign, the Lord, through Isaiah, responded to the “house of David.” Though Ahaz was the king, the address by Isaiah is made in the second person plural.



The meaning is that not only will there be an immediate fulfillment of his words to Ahaz, but the words are intended to extend to the House of David in a more relevant way. This is only implied, but the implication was understood to be there, nonetheless.



Life application: When reading the Bible, there are themes that may repeat, even if it seems that what was prophesied was already fulfilled in the past. For example, the prophets speak of the fall of Babylon in the Old Testament, something that actually occurred in the past.



Babylon came against Israel according to prophecy. The Babylonians destroyed the land and took the people captive to Babylon. Eventually, Babylon was destroyed according to the prophecies stated in the Old Testament.



One could wipe his hands and say, “Wah-lah, that’s the end of that.” However, the New Testament also refers to the destruction of Babylon, even citing the Old Testament. For example –



“‘And look, here comes a chariot of men with a pair of horsemen!’

Then he answered and said,

‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen!

And all the carved images of her gods

He has broken to the ground.’” Isaiah 21:9



“And another angel followed, saying, ‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.’” Revelation 14:8



The Lord is repeating themes and historical events to show that there is a system by which things are accomplished. Nothing is random or haphazard. The Lord works out events in a physical realm while also repeating these things in the spiritual realm.



A way that this occurs is through typology. To understand this more fully, you can go to the sermons from the Superior Word and see where typology from one story directs the flow of events in future accounts. The Lord explains this through Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes –



“That which has been is what will be,

That which is done is what will be done,

And there is nothing new under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1:9



Things will repeat so that when they occur, we can know that the directive hand of the Lord has brought them to pass.



Lord God, help us to see the wonderful things that You have laid out in Your word, even things that are still hidden and waiting to be uncovered. May we look for Your guiding hand in the unfolding of history by looking back to what has been. In doing this, we can know that You are directing us and all events according to a wise and detailed plan. All is well because You have it all under control. Amen.

[PrisonerOfHope]

Daily Bible Verse, Matthew 1:23

Tuesday, July 30th, 2024


“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Matthew 1:23


“‘Behold, the virgin will have in womb, and will bring forth a Son, and they will call His name Emmanouél,’ which is being translated, ‘With Us: The God’” (CG).



In the previous verse, Matthew noted that the things that were conveyed by the messenger to Joseph were done in order that a prophecy of the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled. Now, Matthew cites that prophecy so that we can understand what is being referred to. And so, he writes –



“‘Behold, the virgin will have in womb, and will bring forth a Son, and they will call His name Emmanouél,’ which is being translated, ‘With Us: The God.’”



It is a literal translation of the name and the title. In a case like this, the article before “God” does not need to be included as it is understood that there is one God. Further, the prophecy from Isaiah doesn’t include any article. However, because of the words of Isaiah to the House of David, the One true God, Yehovah, was understood to be who he was referring to. He said –



“Then he said, ‘Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also?’” Isaiah 7:13



Isaiah had just cited the words of the Lord (Yehovah) in verse 7:10. Therefore, the inclusion of the article from the Greek is not inappropriate. Yehovah is the One and only true God. This is why Isaiah said, “weary my God.” A point is being made about the nature of the One to come. After saying his words to the house of David, Isaiah continues with his words of prophecy –



“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”



The name Immanuel comes from im, with, and el, God. The form of the word Immanu, having a pronominal suffix, indicates a plural marker. Thus, it means With Us, God. Matthew gives a direct transliteration from the Greek – Emmanouél.



In the words of Isaiah, he uses the term almah, translated as “virgin.” That signifies a young woman. Using this word generally signifies a virgin, such as in the account of Rebekah in Genesis 24, but it does not necessarily mean it is so. It is the feminine form of elem, a young man. Because of this, Jewish rabbis and scholars dismiss that this is a future prophecy of the coming of Christ Jesus.



However, this flies in the face of Jewish history, which always understood it to refer to a virgin who would bear a child. This is confirmed by the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the Septuagint, which predates the coming of Christ by about two hundred and fifty years –



ἰδοὺ ἡ παρθένος ἐν γαστρὶ ἕξει, καὶ τέξεται υἱόν, καὶ καλέσεις τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ᾿Εμμανουήλ (LXX).



Idou hē parthenos en gastri hexei kai texetai huion kai kaleseis to onoma autou Emmanouēl.



In their translation, the rabbis used the word παρθένος, parthenos, a virgin. It is this translation that Matthew refers to for his words. His citation is almost a letter for letter translation of Isaiah 7:14.



His use of parthenos was to clear up any ambiguity in what was being conveyed. Even if a pregnant young woman in Isaiah’s time was used as a reference to the fulfillment of the immediate prophecy given by the Lord, the rabbis clearly understood that a greater fulfillment of the prophecy (this time requiring a virgin) was ahead in the coming of the Messiah.



As human biology demands that virgins cannot have a child on their own, then there must be something coming that defied the understanding of those who anticipated their Messiah. Only in the pronouncement to Mary in Luke 1 can the concept of a virgin bearing a child without the seed of a man be understood –



“And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.’” Luke 1:35



As Mary will be the mother of the Child, and because she is a human, the Child will be a human male. As God is the Father of the Child, the Child will be The God. Thus, the pronouncement of the prophet of the words of the Lord finds its ultimate fulfillment in the coming of the Messiah – Immanuel: God With Us.



Because Isaiah referred to his God, Yehovah, then the words of Matthew are fulfilled – Meth’ hēmōn ho Theos: With us: The God. Though the Hebrew word elohim can mean God, god, gods, or even spirits or people, the term ha’elohim, the God, is only used when referring to the true God. Jesus Christ is very God of very God. He is the Incarnation of Yehovah in human flesh.



Life application: Despite two thousand years of Jewish attempts to deny the incarnation of God in Christ, this is exactly what their own Scriptures speak of from beginning to end. If you encounter a Jewish rabbi or scholar who adamantly denies that Jesus is the Lord, you have your work cut out for you. But if you know what you are talking about, you can easily defend the truth of Scripture.



Others, such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, deny that Jesus is God. In this, they proclaim another (a false) Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:4), and thus they proclaim a false gospel (Galatians 1:6-9). Therefore, they stand accursed before God.



Be sure to speak about what you know to be true. And be firm in your convictions. God has come to dwell among us! All hail the name of our Lord, our Savior, and our God – JESUS!



Lord God, may we continue to pursue a right understanding of who Jesus is all our days. We proclaim Jesus is Lord! Our God is among us, having come in human flesh. Praise You, O God, for what You have done for us. Hallelujah and Amen.

[PrisonerOfHope]

Daily Bible Verse, Matthew 1:24

Wednesday, July 31st, 2024




Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, Matthew 1:24


“And Joseph, having thoroughly aroused from the sleep, did as the messenger of the Lord commanded him, and received his wife” (CG).



The previous verse finished the explanation of the words of the messenger that Joseph received as he dreamed. With these things complete, Matthew now records, “And Joseph, having thoroughly aroused from the sleep…”



There is a slight difference in texts here. Some use the word diegeiró, to arouse completely. Others use the word egeiró, to arouse. The difference is the prefix dia, or through, which intensifies the word egeiró.



Further, the Greek has an article before the word “sleep.” It wasn’t just a regular sleep but a personal sleep that included a formal visit from the messenger of the Lord. As such, it seems likely that Joseph wasn’t just aroused but fully aroused from the sleep in order to take the next action recorded by Matthew. He “did as the messenger of the Lord commanded him.”



In the words of the angel, Joseph was told to take Mary as his wife and to name the child Jesus. Implied, although not specifically recorded, was that he was not to consummate the marriage until after the birth of Jesus. That will be seen in the next verse. For now, it records, “and received his wife.”



Joseph had thought to put away Mary secretly for what he supposed she had done. Now, he rather openly confirms the marriage, ensuring that those who are close to Mary would not inappropriately judge her for being pregnant before the marriage was formalized.



The message of the dream was sufficient for Joseph to know for certain that the hand of the Lord was involved in what was taking place. Therefore, he obediently complied with all that he was instructed to do.



Life application: Since the time of Christ’s incarnation, other women have made similar claims concerning being pregnant without male involvement. No such claims are to be accepted. At one point in human history, God directly intervened in the human experience by uniting with His creatures in the Person of Jesus.



Today, women can be artificially inseminated, but this still means that a man is involved in the process. The generation of human life is not possible without this, except in the case of Jesus.



What God has done in Christ is the single most important aspect of human existence. From the conception and birth of Jesus to His crucifixion and resurrection, nothing in all of history even comes close to this. Without Jesus, we are fallen and separate from God, condemned by the sin we have inherited.



However, in the coming of Christ, the line of sin is cut. We can now have full restoration with God through simple faith in what He has done. If Mary’s child was not born of God, there would be no hope for humanity. To deny the virgin birth is a point of heresy that cannot be overcome by those who hear and accept it.



Either Christ Jesus is God, or we stand condemned. When Paul says in Romans 10:13, “For ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved,’” he is not saying, “Lord” meaning “Master.” He is telling us that Jesus Christ is the Lord, Yehovah, of the Old Testament. Thus, to not call on Jesus as the incarnate Lord God means you will not be saved.



Calling on a created savior is idolatry. It is placing a part of the creation as the means of salvation, but we are told that “salvation is of the Lord (Yehovah)” (Jonah 2:9) and that Yehovah is Israel’s Savior (Isaiah 43:3 & 45:15). Be confident in your understanding of who Jesus is. He is the Lord God, our Savior.



Glorious Almighty God, thank You for what You have done to bring us back to Yourself. It is incredible, and yet it is certain: You have come in the Person of Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, honor, and power to You alone. Thank You, O God, for Jesus. Amen.

[PrisonerOfHope]

Daily Bible Verse, Matthew 1:25

Thursday, August 1st, 2024




and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus. Matthew 1:25



“And he knew her not until that she brought forth the Son, her Firstborn. And he called His name JESUS” (CG).



In the previous verse, it said that after his visitation by the messenger, he thoroughly aroused from his sleep and did as the angel commanded him, taking to him his wife. Now, Matthew continues the narrative, saying, “And he knew her not.”



This is a biblical euphemism, meaning that he did not have intercourse with her. The first of many times this is mentioned in Scripture is in Genesis 4 –



“Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, ‘I have acquired a man from the Lord.’” Genesis 4:1



Joseph refrained from consummating his marriage to Mary until a certain point. However, at some point after that time, they would have come together as husband and wife. That is seen in the next words, “until that.”



The Greek says heós hu, until that. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon says of this concerning the word heós, “with the genitive of the neuter relative pronoun οὗ [hou] or ὅτου [hotou] it gets the force of a conjunction, until, till (the time when).” In other words, up until a certain point, Joseph did not know his wife intimately. However, that certainly changed after the time “she brought forth the Son.”



The birth of Jesus was untainted by any hint of sexual intercourse between Joseph and Mary. She was a virgin, and her virginity remained until the birth of her Son, “her Firstborn.”



The words are a standard designation. They do not imply she had other children. It simply calls out that this Child, regardless of whether He had siblings or not, was the Firstborn of Mary. As He is also God’s only begotten, Jesus is also the Firstborn of God –



“For to which of the angels did He ever say:

‘You are My Son,

Today I have begotten You’?

And again:

‘I will be to Him a Father,

And He shall be to Me a Son’?

6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says:

‘Let all the angels of God worship Him.’” Hebrews 1:5-6



Of this, the words of Exodus 4:22 should be reviewed –



“Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Israel is My son, My firstborn.”’”



Israel, the nation, is said to be the Firstborn of the Lord. This means through adoption. God selected them to carry out His purposes, leading to the coming of the Messiah. However, Jesus is the Firstborn in the sense of being begotten.



A couple who could not have their own children might adopt a child who becomes their firstborn. However, later that condition could change, and they beget a child through the life-generative process. This is the difference between the two.



Next, and in accordance with the words of the messenger, Matthew notes, “And he called His name JESUS.”



It is Joseph who named the Child in accordance with the divine instructions. Mary was also told that His name was to be Jesus, but the text records that Joseph is the one who is credited with following through with what he was instructed. Mary, though the human mother of Jesus, is seen to otherwise portray a minor role in the events that take place in the gospel records.



Life application: Although the biblical record does not speak of any future intimacy between Joseph and Mary, the way that Matthew writes of Joseph’s keeping separate from Mary until a certain point is a strong indication that their refraining from intercourse was only temporary. For example, this is recorded in Genesis 38 –



“So Judah acknowledged them and said, ‘She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.’ And he never knew her again.” Genesis 38:26



When something is set and final in this manner, the Bible generally says so to highlight the matter. Not only is there no such statement concerning Joseph and Mary, but exactly the opposite is the case. This is contrary to the aberrant teaching of Roman Catholicism, which dogmatically states that Mary was a perpetual virgin.



There is no biblical support for this. The teaching was only decided upon in the year 553, hundreds of years after anyone could have known whether this was the case or not. In other words, it was a decision based on vapor and nothing else.



But why would the church want to make this claim? It is the same reason for innumerable decisions in the Roman Catholic Church: to direct people’s attention away from Jesus. Contrary to Scripture alone, the RCC holds to the Bible plus the authority of the church. Contrary to Christ alone, the RCC holds to the mediation of Christ plus the intercessory ability of Mary, the Pope, etc. Contrary to faith alone, the RCC holds to faith plus works in the process of justification. Contrary to grace alone, the RCC teaches merit apart from the grace of God. Contrary to the glory of God alone, the RCC uses exalted titles for the dead (such as Mary) and the living (the living pope at any given time), etc.



There is nothing acceptable about the doctrines of the RCC. Everything taught is tainted with the machinations of man. Whether Joseph and Mary came together or not after the birth of Jesus is not specifically addressed in Scripture because it has no bearing on where our eyes should be directed, which is to Jesus. Let us not get caught up in strange teachings that misdirect us from this key doctrine.



Lord God, may we be faithful to hold to Scripture alone for our doctrine concerning You and the theology that we pursue. Keep us from those who would misdirect us and confuse us in our walk. Thank You for Your word which is sufficient to instruct us. And thank You for Jesus who is the central figure presented in Your word. Amen.

[PrisonerOfHope]

Daily Bible Verse, Matthew 2:1

Friday, August 2nd, 2024




Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, Matthew 2:


“And Jesus, having been born in Bethlehem Judea, in days Herod the king: Behold, magicians from sunrisings – they came unto Jerusalem” (CG).



Chapter 1 ended with the note that Joseph refrained from having physical relations with his wife, Mary, until she had brought forth Jesus. Now, the narrative continues in Chapter 2, beginning with, “And Jesus, having been born in Bethlehem Judea.”



The words are stated to confirm the prophecy of the Lord through Micah –



“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,

Yet out of you shall come forth to Me

The One to be Ruler in Israel,

Whose goings forth are from of old,

From everlasting.” Micah 5:2



Matthew will deal with this prophecy in a few verses, but this confirms another prophecy that had to be fulfilled concerning Israel’s true Messiah. Next, it says, “in days Herod the king.” He is known as Herod the Great. Of him, Albert Barnes says –



“Judea, where our Saviour was born, was a province of the Roman Empire. It was taken about 63 years before his birth by Pompey, and placed under tribute. Herod received his appointment from the Romans, and had reigned at the time of the birth of Jesus for 34 years. Though he was permitted to be called king, yet he was, in all respects, dependent on the Roman emperor. He was commonly called ‘Herod the Great’ because he had distinguished himself in the wars with Antigonus and his other enemies, and because he had evinced great talents in governing and defending his country, in repairing the temple, and in building and ornamenting the cities of his kingdom. He was, however, as much distinguished for his cruelty and his crimes as he was for his greatness.”



It was at this time that Matthew next records, “Behold, magicians.” The Greek word is magos, a magician, astrologer, wizard, etc. HELPS Word Studies says of them, “one of a sacred caste, originally Median, who seem to have conformed to the Persian religion while retaining some of their old beliefs.”



Various opinions have been given concerning who exactly these magicians were and where they came from. What is possibly the case is that they were from the area of Iran. It is to the east of Israel, and it is where the great empire that replaced the Babylonians was. Daniel and others were exiled to Babylon. However, Babylon was destroyed by the Medes and Persians. This is detailed in Daniel 5, which ends with –



“That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain. 31 And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.” Daniel 5:30, 31



When Babylon was destroyed, the new empire would have received all of the ancient writings of the Chaldeans. They also acquired their wise men, such as Daniel. This body of knowledge would have been incorporated into their empire, and it is possible that this included all of the Jewish prophetic writings.



It appears from Isaiah 44 that they possessed the book of Isaiah. If so, it may be that they had copies of all of the writings. The coming verses will show that there was an awareness of the book of Daniel and Numbers. Thus, it seems that all of the Jewish writings were maintained in the archives of this eastern empire.



Therefore, the ancient prophecy of a coming Messiah would be known to these magicians. The word magos is likely connected to the Aramaic name of the Rabmag [Great Mag] found in Jeremiah 39.



This would confirm that these people once were a part of the Chaldeans and were assimilated into the empire of the Medes and Persians. Because of their libraries and training, these men were alerted to the ancient prophecies of the Hebrew Scriptures. Of them, Matthew next notes that they were “from sunrisings.”



Most translations say, “from the east.” However, the word is anatolé, a rising of light. In this case, it signifies the rising of the sun. Further, it is plural. Thus, these magicians are “from sunrisings,” and thus east of Israel. Whoever they were and wherever they were from, it next notes that “they came unto Jerusalem.”



These men had traveled from outside of the land of Israel. They had a specific knowledge from prophecy concerning the coming of Christ, and they came to behold what they were certain of. As Jerusalem is the seat of government, they first came there to proclaim what they knew and to ask for further details. This will be seen as the verses continue.



Life application: One interpretation of who these men were that has arisen is that these Magi were Jewish Rabbis who had remained a part of the exile. This has become a point of boasting among Jewish believers in recent times, but it hardly seems likely.



These Magi will ask about the King of the Jews, not specifically the Messiah. It is unlikely Jews would ask about a king first and foremost. Likewise, they will ask where the King would be born. However, a Jewish rabbi would know where to look for such information, as is evidenced by the verses ahead.



But most notably, if these were Jews, the text would have said so. The problem with this type of analysis is the same as with much else that is ascribed to the Jewish people today. Since the return of Israel to the land and with the modern messianic movement, everything Jewish has become fashionable.



Many deceitful people have arisen because of this, profiting off of their heritage. Many of them do not hold to the grace of God in Christ, but to their traditions and to law observance, in part or in whole. What has been sound theology, and a proper interpretation of Scripture for millennia, has been upended by such unsound teaching. The Judaizers that Paul warned of have come back like an overflowing flood.



Be sure to not get caught up in the hype of genealogy, culture, or tradition. Hold fast to the word of God as it has been revealed. And that revelation is one of God’s grace being bestowed upon undeserved sinners, not man’s effort to reconcile himself through an obsolete law that only God in Christ could (and did) fulfill.



To return to what is fulfilled is to say to God, “I know you did Your best, but I will take it from here.” What a slap in the face of God, who has done it all for us. Let us never mar the grace of God in Christ. Jesus alone is to be our hope, and He alone is our place of refuge.



Lord God, may we hold fast to the grace of God in Christ, never trusting in our own merit. We have no standing before You without Jesus. Help us to recognize this and to exalt You for what You alone have done for us in the coming of our Lord. All hail the glorious and exalted name of JESUS! Amen.

[PrisonerOfHope]

Daily Bible Verse, Matthew 2:2

Saturday, August 3rd, 2024


saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” Matthew 2:2


“saying, ‘Where is He having been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the sunrising, and we came to worship Him’” (CG).



In the previous verse, the magicians had come from the sunrisings to Jerusalem. Now, Matthew continues with the words, “saying, ‘Where is He?’”



The words of the magicians are in the form of a question, but they are also just as much an assertion. By stating, “Where is He,” they are proclaiming that they are certain that the person they are looking for exists. This is understood. The question isn’t, “Has He come?” but rather, “Where is He?” Understanding this, they continue with, “having been born?”



Again, it is an assertion. They do not ask, “Where is the King who has been coronated?” Nor do they ask, “Where is the King who has been appointed by Rome?” Instead, the question is about a birth. Therefore, something prompted them to accept that a divinely appointed birth had taken place for one who was to be “King of the Jews.”



The answer is to be found in Daniel 9:24-27 where a timeline of prophetic events was to take place –



“Seventy weeks are determined

For your people and for your holy city,

To finish the transgression,

To make an end of sins,

To make reconciliation for iniquity,

To bring in everlasting righteousness,

To seal up vision and prophecy,

And to anoint the Most Holy.

25 “Know therefore and understand,

That from the going forth of the command

To restore and build Jerusalem

Until Messiah the Prince,

There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks;

The street shall be built again, and the wall,

Even in troublesome times.

26 “And after the sixty-two weeks

Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself;

And the people of the prince who is to come

Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.

The end of it shall be with a flood,

And till the end of the war desolations are determined.

27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;

But in the middle of the week

He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.

And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,

Even until the consummation, which is determined,

Is poured out on the desolate.”



The words of Daniel may be confusing without understanding the greater context of the Bible, but they clearly and precisely state when the Messiah would come, what would happen to Him, and what would happen afterward. For example, it is understood from the words that the sanctuary, meaning the temple in Jerusalem, would be destroyed.



Of this expectation of the coming Messiah, Albert Barnes writes –



“This personage, they supposed would be a temporal prince, and they were expecting that he would deliver them from Roman bondage. It was natural that this expectation should spread into other countries. Many Jews at that time lived in Egypt, in Rome, and in Greece; many, also, had gone to Eastern countries, and in every place they carried their sacred writings, and diffused the expectation that some remarkable person was about to appear. Suetonius, a Roman historian, speaking of this rumor. says: ‘An ancient and settled persuasion prevailed throughout the East that the Fates had decreed some one to proceed from Judea who should attain universal empire.’ Tacitus, another Roman historian, says: ‘Many were persuaded that it was contained in the ancient books of their priests, that at that very time the East should prevail, and that some one should proceed from Judea and possess the dominion.’ Josephus also, and Philo, two Jewish historians, make mention of the same expectation. The fact that such a person was expected is clearly attested. Under this expectation these wise men came to do him homage, and inquired anxiously where he was born?”



The reason for paying homage to Him is next explained by them, “For we saw His star.” This “star” is referred to in the Book of Numbers –



“I see Him, but not now;

I behold Him, but not near;

A Star shall come out of Jacob;

A Scepter shall rise out of Israel,

And batter the brow of Moab,

And destroy all the sons of tumult.

18 “And Edom shall be a possession;

Seir also, his enemies, shall be a possession,

While Israel does valiantly.

19 Out of Jacob One shall have dominion,

And destroy the remains of the city.” Numbers 24:17-19



The Jews, attempting to hide the fact that Jesus fit the biblical narrative, hid a significant period of time in the chronology of the Old Testament. By doing this, they then made the assertion that another person, Simon bar Kokhba, was the anticipated Messiah. His name means “Simon son of a Star.” They claimed he was the fulfillment of the Numbers prophecy.



However, he came after the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. Thus, he could not be the Messiah as indicated in the Daniel timeline. As for the Numbers prophecy, it was understood that One would arise and subdue the surrounding nations. But in the greater context of Scripture, much more was understood about this coming One.



As for seeing His star, the word can mean literally seeing, as in a visible star, or it can mean to perceive, as in “the magicians perceived the star from a reading of sacred texts.” Thus, it is a seeing with the mind. This explanation of the word may help understand later verses. Or it may be that they have seen a literal event that alerted them to the coming of the Messiah. Understanding that, it next says, “in the sunrising.”



It is the same word used in the previous verse. It indicates “east,” but it means “rising of light.” This does not mean that they saw the star to their east but that they were east of Israel and saw the star rising from there, knowing that the heavenly sign prophesied for Israel had come to pass. Therefore, with this information clearly known by them, it next says, “and we came to worship Him.”



Of these words, Albert Barnes says, “This does not mean that they had come to pay him religious homage, or to adore him. They regarded him as the King of the Jews, but there is no evidence that they supposed that he was divine. They came to honor him as a Prince, or a king, not as God.”



Barnes’ words, though dogmatic, are not necessarily correct. Depending on the knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures, one could clearly determine that this coming One was, in fact, divine. At a minimum, it would be understood He was divinely appointed by God. He had been anticipated since the time of the first man on earth. He was spoken of throughout the historical writings and prophets of the Jews, etc.



Therefore, whether mere obeisance or worship, these magicians had come to bow before this coming King.



As for the star that anticipated the coming of Christ, the number of theories concerning planetary alignments, the position of constellations, particular comets, and so forth go on and on. Everyone who has a theory dogmatically claims his presentation is correct. Those who hear one claim or another will hold fast to the one they find most convincing and dogmatically avow that they are right as to what is being referred to.



In the end, these things are not necessary to determine when Christ came. The years of Herod’s life and the prophecy of Daniel sufficiently tells us by what time Jesus had to be born and by what time He would be crucified. And more, the fact that these magicians saw a divinely appointed star tells us that it was there.



As such, determining the particular star that heralded in the coming of Jesus, whatever it was, is not necessary, even if it is fun to consider.



Life application: As noted, there are many theories about the star in the skies which point to the coming of Jesus. Some say it is a conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter, which took place in May to July and again in September of 7BC. Others say it was the rising of Sirius which occurred on the same day in four subsequent years from 5-2BC. Many other speculations have been set forth as well.



A video that has gotten jillions of social media views and sold innumerable CDs by Rick Larsen makes certain assertions about the star of Bethlehem. He goes on to cite details about the cosmic event at Christ’s cross as well. The problem with his analysis is that after all of his calculations and details, he assertively places Christ’s crucifixion at the time of a particular solar eclipse.



The problem with this is that it is impossible to have a solar eclipse at the time of the Passover. The moon is full at the Passover. Thus, it is on the other side of the earth when the sun is in the sky. With such an obvious error in his presentation, it then calls into question all of his other assertions as well. The house of cards comes crashing down.



It is best to not get caught up in such hype. If the Bible does not provide the particular details concerning things like this, it is because God is not interested in telling us about those things. Rather, He is directing our attention to Jesus, not a star that served a purpose in telling eastern magicians about the coming of Jesus.



Let us not get overly distracted from the biblical text. It is good to research extra-biblical history, which can confirm many aspects of the Bible, but when something is so unreasonably argued over, like the Star of Bethlehem, we have lost focus of the main Subject. Eyes to Jesus. In this, we will do well. The Bible records the facts, and they are sufficient for us to know that Christ has come according to the plan and purposes of God.



Lord God, before Jesus came, we were given the timeline to tell us that He would come at a certain time. As we can rely on Your word, we can also be certain that He is the Messiah. No other person can make the claim because the time for His coming is past. With that, we can read the New Testament and discover what He did and how it has changed all of human history. Thank You, O God, for the coming of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

[PrisonerOfHope]

Daily Bible Verse, Matthew 2:3

Sunday, August 4th, 2024


When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Matthew 2:3


“And Herod the king, having heard, he was agitated, and all Jerusalem with him” (CG).



The previous verse noted that the magicians had seen the star of the King of the Jews in the direction of the sunrising and they had come to worship Him. With that noted, Matthew now records, “And Herod the king.”



Herod was a power-hungry king who feared any challenge, real or imagined, to his reign. Of him, Charles Ellicott writes –



“The old king (the title had been given by the Roman Senate in B.C. 40) was drawing to the close of his long and blood-stained reign. Two years before he had put to death, on a charge of treason, his two sons by Mariamne, his best-loved wife, through sheer jealousy of the favour with which the people looked on them. At the time when this history opens, his eldest son, Antipater, was under condemnation.”



So fearful was he of any challenge to his throne that he had his own sons executed for simply being popular. Understanding his personality, Matthew next records, “having heard, he was agitated.”



Herod certainly questioned how magicians from the East could come looking for the King of the Jews but not be looking for him. He sat on the throne over the Jewish people! Because of this, Matthew notes that he was agitated.



The word is tarassó. HELPS Word Studies says it means to “put in motion (to agitate back-and-forth, shake to-and-fro); (figuratively) to set in motion what needs to remain still (at ease); to ‘trouble’ (‘agitate’), causing inner perplexity (emotional agitation) from getting too stirred up inside (‘upset’).”



One can see Herod standing there beside himself, distraught with the thought of a challenge to his throne. Certainly because of this, it next says, “and all Jerusalem with him.”



The word “all” is used in a comparative sense. An important point in Scripture is that not every “every” means “every,” and not all “all’s” mean “all.” There were certainly people sitting in local cafes that had no idea what was transpiring in the royal hall. There were servants tending to the homes of their masters who would have no idea about the coming of the magicians. In all, probably very few of the people in the city had an inkling about the report.



Rather, in this case, Jerusalem stands for the seat of power. Therefore, it is referring to those who were in the royal court with Herod. They would have certainly been agitated, knowing his proclivity for harming others, and they would be walking on eggshells at the thought of what he might do in this instance.



Life application: Herod was an Idumean by birth, meaning an Edomite. Idumean is simply the Greek form of the word. Of this people group, the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus says that about 129 BC John Hyrcanus –



“…subdued all the Idumeans; and permitted them to stay in that country, if they would circumcise their genitals, and make use of the laws of the Jews; and they were so desirous of living in the country of their forefathers, that they submitted to the use of circumcision, and of the rest of the Jewish ways of living; at which time therefore this befell them, that they were hereafter no other than Jews.” Antiquities, Book 13 Chapter 9 Section 1



What this means is that the Edomites were brought into the nation of Israel, becoming Jews. This is no different than an Arab or a Japanese person today converting to Judaism. They become a part of the Jewish people. Whether their origins are remembered and held against them by other supposedly pure-blooded Jews or not is irrelevant. They are now Jews.



The line of Herod was a part of this conversion, but the racial animosities obviously remained, and despite being a Jew, it is obvious from historical records that he was remembered for his ancestral heritage more than his acceptance into the Jewish culture.



In the Bible, there are references to Edom, Moab, Ammon, etc., that are contained in prophecies that extend even beyond our time. And yet, there is no nation of Edom, Moab, etc. What this means is that the Bible is using the lands, once inhabited by those people groups, as emblematic of the people in those lands today.



Thus, when a future prophecy refers to Philistia, it is speaking of the modern-day Gazans, not Philistines. In referring to Ammon, Edom, or Moab, it is generally speaking of the Arabs who occupy Jordan. In other words, the lands that were originally settled by these people retain those name designations in Scripture.



This is important to understand because the Edomites of the past are now incorporated into the Jews of today. When the Romans exiled the Jews, those Edomites (Idumeans) who had assimilated into the Jewish people were a part of that exile. There are no “Edomites” today in a real sense. The nation does not exist. Instead, only the lands where they were are considered Edom.



Remember this as you read the Bible. There is a baseline for what is presented. That baseline does not change unless the change is recorded in Scripture. But whatever the final designation in Scripture is, that is what is to be considered when analyzing the world today.



Understanding this, the biblical model which refers to Christians is one that is set and unchanging. Jesus came, fulfilled the law, and introduced the New Covenant. Entry into what God is doing now takes place through the baseline that has been set because of Jesus Christ.



Being “Jewish” is no longer what designates a person who is in a right standing with God. Jews may be in a right standing, or they might not be. But the standard that makes it so is by coming to God through Christ Jesus. This is what God is doing in the world. The pattern is set because the Bible is complete.



And for those who have come to Christ, there are no longer any distinctions that should separate us. Herod may have been considered an Edomite even though he was a Jewish convert. However, such designations are no longer to be looked down on as if one group is better than another.



A Japanese, a Kenyan, and a Jew all walked into a church…



When they got there, they were (and remain) on an equal footing before God because of faith in Jesus Christ –



“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatian 3:26-29



Lord God, how grateful we are for what Christ has done for us. We are all one in Him through faith in His completed work. We are granted access to Your heavenly throne where You hear us regardless of who we once were. Thank You for the wonderful blessing of being Your child through simple faith in Him. Hallelujah and Amen.

[PrisonerOfHope]

Daily Bible Verse, Matthew 2:4

Monday, August 5th, 2024


And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. Matthew 2:4


“And having convened all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ is born” (CG).



In the previous verse, it noted that Herod and all in Jerusalem were troubled at the news of the birth of the King of Israel. Matthew next says, “And having convened all the chief priests.”



The chief priests are those who held the office of the high priest. Aaron was the first high priest, and the designation was to last throughout his life. One could expect this to be true with all subsequent high priests unless he was unable to perform his duties due to health, a state of uncleanness, or something similar.



However, it later came about, especially under the rule of the Romans, that the office of high priest became a political tool. High priests were appointed for a period of time. This is seen, for example, in John 11 where it appears to have been an annual appointment –



“And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, ‘You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.’ 51 Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.” John 11:49-52



Some believe the term “chief priests” also extends to the leader of the twenty-four courses of priests originally designated by David in 1 Chronicles 24. There is nothing in Scripture to agree with this, but it is a possibility, nonetheless. At this time, it is generally accepted that these chief priests mostly fell under the class known as Sadducees. Next, Matthew says, “and scribes.”



The Greek word is grammateus. It signifies those learned in Jewish law, teachers, town clerks, and so forth. One can see the etymological root of the word grammar in the name. It answers to the Hebrew word saphar, to count, recount, relate, etc. That is the verbal root of sepher, a book or writing document.



These men would speak of the law, maintain the scrolls and parchments, recopy documents, and so forth. It is believed that many of these were of the class known as the Pharisees. These are next noted as “of the people.”



The Pulpit Commentary says, “In the absence of the article before γραμματεῖς [grammateis: scribes] we must take the words, ‘of the people,’ as belonging to both terms. Both classes, chief priests and scribes, served the people.” As such, the information found in Scripture was available to the people concerning whatever matter they desired to know.



For example, concerning the place where the Messiah would be born, it would have been available to any who wanted to search the matter out. As for Herod, Matthew next says, “he inquired of them where the Christ is born.”



The Greek word Christ is equivalent to the Hebrew Messiah. Both mean Anointed One. He is the One prophesied in the Hebrew Scriptures that would fulfill all of the messianic promises noted in the Law, Prophets, and Writings.



As for the words “is born,” the Greek is present tense. As such, it is a certainty that it was as the magicians had said. The Christ is born and among His people. Herod had called this gathering of priests and learned men together to determine where the birthplace of this “King of the Jews” was. The magicians from the east had talked about it based on a sign, thus it was certain to have come to pass.



Life application: To this day, there are scribes of the word in the sense that they carefully review source texts, look for texts that were previously unknown, determine exact translations or transliterations of words, seek to understand the exact context of what the word is telling us, and so forth.



One might use the term “scholar.” The word was received, compiled, and kept for the people of Israel to refer to. However, that has continued into the church age. The New Testament was received, compiled, and it has been kept by learned men throughout the millennia.



The vast number of source documents including commentaries, archaeological finds of ancient texts, and continuous training in the original languages has secured and protected the word throughout all of this time.



When erroneous translations are made, they can be identified and called out. When non-canonical documents are brought forth as supposed “additions” to Scripture, they can be dismissed for not bearing the proper safeguarding, transmission, and/or illumination of what is clearly inspired.



All in all, we have a sure word in, what is considered by Protestant churches as, the Holy Bible. The Roman Catholic Church, without sufficient reason, added the apocryphal books into their cannon during the Council of Trent in 1546. This was done in an attempt to justify unjustifiable practices being carried out within the church.



These books, though being important historical documents, are not to be considered inspired. The sixty-six books of the Protestant Bible bear the stamp of inspiration in innumerable ways. They reveal the light of God in Christ to His people, and they are given by God to allow us to understand everything necessary to be saved and then to walk faithfully in our salvation.



Let us be grateful to God for His superior word, which is a light and a lamp for our spiritual lives.



Heavenly Father, truly Your word is a great blessing to our souls. We are so thankful to You for those who have received it, compiled it, maintained it, and who also instruct us in it. Because of Your word, we know what You are doing in redemptive history, and we can walk properly before You all our days. Thank You, above all, for Jesus who is so carefully revealed in Your word. Amen.

[PrisonerOfHope]

Daily Bible Verse, Matthew 2:5

Tuesday, August 6th, 2024




So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: Matthew 2:5


“And they said to him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus has it been written through the prophet’” (CG).



In the previous verse, Herod inquired of the chief priests and scribes concerning where the Messiah would be born. With that, Matthew now continues, “And they said to him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea.’”



The name Bethlehem comes from the Hebrew words beith, house, and lekhem, bread. Thus, it means House of Bread. However, it has a secondary meaning which is derived from the Hebrew lakham, to fight or do battle. Thus, it can mean House of War. The connection between the two is that the word lakham figuratively means to consume. Just as man consumes bread, war consumes soldiers engaged in battle.



Judea is derived from Judah, Praise. This is where the term Jew is derived. This same sentiment concerning the birthplace of the Messiah was held by the common people as well. This is evidenced many years later in John 7 –



“Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, ‘Truly this is the Prophet.’ 41 Others said, ‘This is the Christ.’

But some said, ‘Will the Christ come out of Galilee? 42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?’” John 7:40-42



As such, it was commonly understood by the people, whether they knew the source of this information or not, but it seems likely they would have. As for that source, the men before Herod next say, “for thus has it been written.”



The verb is in the perfect tense. As such, the words that were written describe a completed action producing results that were still in effect. It had been written and what the word said remained true. In other words, it reveals the unchanging nature of the word that was given “through the prophet.”



Many translations read “by the prophet.” The word is dia. It signifies through (think of diameter: through a circle). The word “by” can have that connotation, such as “His words were written by a scribe, Jeremiah,” but it can also mean that a person did the writing on his own, “This was thought of, written by, and paid for by Jeremiah.”



In the case of Scripture, it is the word of the Lord written through Jeremiah. Saying “by” could lead one to a wrong impression unless he understood the doctrine of inspiration –



“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16, 17



&



“…knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:20, 21



Life application: One could ask if inspiration means that the word of God is solely derived from Him without any input from the prophet. In some cases, this may be the case when the Lord speaks out exactly what He wants written down.



However, at other times, the personality of an individual shines forth along with the clear understanding that it is the word of God that is being conveyed. Luke’s style in the Gospel of Luke and Acts is quite noticeable. And yet, the structure and patterns clearly reveal a divine inspiration that Luke probably didn’t even know existed.



In fact, many patterns in his writings, some of which fit in harmony with other books of the Bible, have only been found in recent years. New patterns continue to be found as well.



Paul used a scribe, Tertius, to pen the book of Romans (Romans 16:22). Anyone who knew Tertius’ handwriting would say, “This was written by Tertius.” And yet, the letter was dictated by Paul. Anyone who was (or is) familiar with Paul’s thoughts as expressed in his epistles would say, “Paul said these things.” And so, there is harmony between the two, even though the traits of both are evident.



And yet, anyone who is familiar with the Bible will know that it perfectly expresses the thoughts of God. Paul’s words in Romans are consistent with what is seen from Him throughout Scripture. And more, innumerable patterns between the typology presented in the Old Testament and the fulfillment of those types is expressed in Romans, demonstrating that God was completely involved in the process of inspiring Romans.



Likewise, studies have been conducted on the words used by Paul in all of his epistles. For example, rich and certain numerical patterns are to be found within the number of uses of various words, far too many to be by random chance.



Take time to consider the doctrine of inspiration and how it then forms an integral part of what God is presenting through the people He has selected to give us His word. With this divine/human touch, the word of God becomes an intimate love letter to those who will receive it.



Also, as you read it, pray for wisdom in what it is telling you. Ask Him to make you a conduit for the divine inspiration of Scripture by disclosing to you its hidden secrets. If you find a pattern that no one has ever seen there before, it is because God has chosen that particular moment in time to uncover it. And more, He has chosen you to be a part of the unfolding of that pattern in this marvelous tapestry that reveals His goodness to the people of the world.



Glorious Lord God, what a treasure Your word is. It has been read, contemplated, studied, explored, and analyzed for thousands of years. And yet, You are still revealing its hidden mysteries to Your people. How can we not stand in awe of You? And how can we not tremble at Your word as we contemplate what it is telling us? Praises to You, O God, for Your wonderful word. Amen.

[PrisonerOfHope]

Daily Bible Verse, Matthew 2:6

Wednesday, August 7th, 2024


‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;

For out of you shall come a Ruler

Who will shepherd My people Israel.’” Matthew 2:6


‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,

Are not-at-all least in the governors of Judah.

For out of you will come forth – ruling,

Who will shepherd My people Israel’” (CG).



The previous verse noted that the chief priests and scribes told Herod that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem of Judea. The prophet who led them to this conclusion is next cited, beginning with, “And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah.”



The citation is from Micah 5:2. However, the words diverge from the Hebrew and Greek texts, more so from the Greek. However, Matthew is not citing the text, he is citing what the chief priests and scribes said to Herod. They could have simply been citing the verse from memory without even going to a text.



For example, the corresponding words from Micah in the Hebrew text say, “And you, Bethlehem Ephrathah.” The reason Micah says Ephrathah is because there were two places called Bethlehem in the Old Testament, one in Judah and one in Zebulun (Joshua 19:15). Micah noted the distinction between the two.



However, when those before Herod stated where the Messiah would be born, this was unnecessary. They were in Judah, and Bethlehem was right down the road. Therefore, it would make sense to simply say “Judah,” something Herod would have been more familiar with. Next, they continue the quote, saying of Bethlehem, “Are not-at-all least in the governors of Judah.”



This again deviates from the Hebrew a little. It literally says, “Insignificant, to be, in thousands Judah.” The difference between “governors” and “thousands,” however, is not that great. In the Hebrew, the term thousands speaks of a group who are governed by others. In Jethro’s advice to Moses in Exodus 18, he explained what Moses should do. This was accepted and became a standard in Israel –



“Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.” Exodus 18:21



As for the Greek, Matthew uses a word found only here in Scripture, oudamós. It is a single word that signifies “by no means” or “not at all.” There is no comparable single word in English that matches in intent. As such not-at-all will do. Matthew next continues with, “For out of you will come forth – ruling.”



The verb is a present participle of a word signifying “to lead.” As such, “ruling” matches the intent. It also matches the intent of the Hebrew, which is also a verbal participle. The Hebrew says, “From you, to Me, comes out to be – ruling.” The Lord, speaking through Micah, told the people of Israel that one would come from Bethlehem who would be ruling, and “Who will shepherd My people Israel.”



The Hebrew only reads “in Israel.” However, later in Micah 5:4, it then says, “And stood and pastured.” The meaning carries the same intent as what the men said to Herod. Thus, it was understood that this coming One would be both a ruler and a shepherd of His people.



Taken together with other prophecies concerning the coming Messiah, no other person apart from Christ Jesus could fulfill the expected requirements. It was understood by those of Israel that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem. This does not change because the word of God is written and settled.



Therefore, any supposed Messiah must be from Bethlehem. But it has already been seen that He must also be from the house of David, something that can no longer be determined.



And more, He had to come before the destruction of the temple by the Romans as prophesied in Daniel 9, and so forth. Therefore, either Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Hebrew prophecies or there will never be a fulfillment of them, and they are simply false writings that have no basis in reality.



Life application: Of the words of this verse, Cambridge says –



“The LXX. [the Greek Old Testament] is singularly different both in words and construction—a proof of the Hebrew original of this gospel; for the Greek translation of the prophecy is evidently independent of the LXX.”



It is a ridiculous claim. Matthew elsewhere exactingly cites the LXX, almost letter for letter. Moreover, it has been seen that although this citation is somewhat similar to the Hebrew, it is not exact. Further, it skips in thought from Micah 5:2 to Micah 5:4. Thus, it is evident that the scribes were merely telling Herod the substance of what the Hebrew text said, maybe even from memory.



To claim that the original gospel of Matthew was written in Hebrew is to then dismiss clear evidence within the gospel, one which has already been seen, that it was written in Greek. Matthew 1:23 said –



“Behold, the virgin will have in womb, and will bring forth a Son, and they will call His name Emmanouél,” which is being translated, “With Us: The God.”



Matthew would not have said “which being translated” if he had written his gospel in Hebrew. As such, the verse itself would not be inspired by God because it has those additional words – “which is being translated” – that would have been later inserted by some unknown scribe without any justification.



The original New Testament writings were all compiled in Greek. The evidence of this is overwhelming. The reason for this is because God was beginning a new dispensation and taking the world in a new direction while Israel was under punishment for their rejection of Christ. Be careful when reading commentaries. Consider what is being said and don’t just accept what you read.



Glorious God, thank You for the word You have given us. It tells us of Your love for the people of the world, and yet it tells us of the tragedies – self-inflicted wounds – that we incur when we depart from You. Israel has yet to learn this lesson, but they will some glorious day. You have covenanted with them, and You will restore them to be shepherded by our marvelously glorious Lord Jesus. Amen.

[PrisonerOfHope]

Daily Bible Verse, Matthew 2:7

Thursday, August 8th, 2024


Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. Matthew 2:7


“Then Herod, having called the magicians secretly, exacted of them the time of the appearing star” (CG).



In the previous verse, those before Herod cited the words of Micah concerning the birthplace and ruling status of the Messiah. Now, with that information, it next says, “Then Herod, having called the magicians secretly.”



The word is lathra. It is an adverb signifying secretly or privately. It is the same word used in Matthew 1:19 when Joseph thought to put away Mary once he found that she was pregnant. Herod pulled the magicians aside to discern something from them that he wanted to keep from the religious leaders. Having called them secretly, he “exacted of them.”



The word translated as “exacted” is akriboo. It is found only here and in Matthew 2:16. It signifies to learn carefully or inquire with exactness. He was careful to ascertain a particular bit of information that he did not want to become public, which was “the time of the appearing star.”



The verb is a present participle. The star was there. In other words, this wasn’t a star that only appeared in the past, as some translations could be interpreted. It was a star that had appeared and remained in appearance. This will be evident in verse 9. As such, this would dispel several of the “Bethlehem star” theories, which point to an astrological event that took place and then was over.



This lasted long enough for the magicians to see the star, prepare for the journey, travel, seek out the king, and so forth. It appears to be an extended event that took place.



Life application: Ultimately, the Star of Bethlehem is Jesus. That was seen in a previous commentary which cited Numbers 24 –



“I see Him, but not now;

I behold Him, but not near;

A Star shall come out of Jacob;

A Scepter shall rise out of Israel,

And batter the brow of Moab,

And destroy all the sons of tumult.” Numbers 24:17



However, there is also something that directs the magicians to know where to go. This will be seen in verses 9 and 10. Despite this, the magicians needed to ascertain from the chief religious authorities in Jerusalem where the Messiah would be born. If the star guided them all the way, this step would not have been necessary.



Further, as noted above, the star had appeared and continued to appear as indicated in the present participle. Thus, this was not a single, short-term, astronomical event that happened. In the Bible, stars have various connotations, both literal and figurative. Stars can refer to literal stars, people (even bad people, such as in Jude 1:13), messengers (whether human or angelic), and so forth.



The star noted in Matthew is not defined, but it is separate from Jesus. This will become evident in the verses ahead. Suffice it to say that the coming of Jesus was prophesied. The magicians perceived His coming (whether literally or through sacred writings) from their home in the East. Also, the magicians had then traveled to pay homage to the Messiah.



From there, they had to ask where He was to be born. The enigmatic nature of the star calls out for us to know that God is in control of the process, and He alerted these magicians to confirm the words of Scripture and to bring about other events which were necessary to fulfill typology concerning the Messiah and His work.



Therefore, getting overly bogged down in past celestial events that may or may not point to the coming of the Messiah is not something necessary. Matthew has compiled an account of what occurred, it is detailed enough to ensure that we are aware of the coming of the Messiah and that we have our eggs in the right basket.



Beyond that, becoming argumentative over things that are uncertain is unprofitable and divisive. Let us instead focus on what God has done in Christ and rejoice that it leads to our salvation when we put our faith in Him.



O God, we stand in awe of You and what You have done. Your word tells us of the coming of Jesus and of the marvelous work He has accomplished for us. Help us to always consider Him in our daily walk. We are free from condemnation because of our Lord. Praise to You, O God, for Jesus Christ! Amen.

[PrisonerOfHope]

Daily Bible Verse, Matthew 2:8

Friday, August 9th, 2024


And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” Matthew 2:8




“And having sent them to Bethlehem, he said, ‘Having gone, exactingly inquire about the Child. And when you should find, report to me so I also, having come, may worship Him’” (CG).



Herod had just secretly called the wise men to determine from them what time the star had appeared. With that knowledge obtained, it next says, “And having sent them to Bethlehem.”



Without knowing the layout of the land, one has no idea what this means. Are they going on an extended journey? Will they travel a day or five days? Actually, Bethlehem is about 5 miles from Jerusalem. At the time, by using the donkey express, they would be there in a few hours. Once there, Matthew next records, “he said, ‘Having gone, exactingly inquire about the Child.’”



They have full approval to travel within the land for this purpose. Being so close to Jerusalem, it should not be long before their goal is attained. However, just in case locating Him is purposefully difficult, once in the area of Bethlehem, Herod asks them to make a thorough investigation concerning things.



The word used is exetazó. According to HELPS Word Studies, it is derived from “ek, ‘completely out of’ intensifying etazō, ‘examine’) – properly, inquire (examine) thoroughly; ‘to examine closely, inquire carefully (of).’”



A single word that carries such intent would be “exactingly.” Herod wanted every stone unturned to ensure he had all of the information possible concerning this Child who was born King of the Jews. Armed with the information, Herod then says to them, “And when you should find, report to me.”



Asking for such specific details might arouse the suspicion of the visiting magicians that Herod actually had unseemly designs against the Child. However, to make sure nothing untoward was suspected, he continues by saying, “so I also, having come, may worship Him.”



The words would allay the worries of even the most skeptical of men. Unless they knew the character of Herod in advance, there would be little reason to suspect anything after promises of worship were introduced. It appears this ploy worked because it will not be until verse 12 that the hope of his idea is ended.



Life application: It is human nature to trust authority figures. Half of a nation may put their trust in a person who has spent a lifetime lying openly, ingratiating himself at every opportunity, and constantly changing his stand on moral issues without any compunction at all. And yet, when voting time comes around, because they can benefit from such a despicable person, he is once again elected to office, eventually working his way to the top.



People often associate intelligence with those who are extremely wealthy, deciding that they must be smart because they have amassed such great gain. Because of this, they will trust them with their investments.



Others will trust people they are familiar with from a distance, such as those who go to church once a week and see the pastor saying things that edify and build them up. They may know nothing else about the guy, but because what he says in their presence is appealing, they assume he is a morally upright figure.



That has multiplied in today’s world where people see others on TV or the internet and become familiar with their persona. They begin to trust them simply because what they see in short preset appearances gives the impression of a sound, reasonable person.



The magicians from the east were apparently duped in this manner. They saw a man who seemed reasonable, he was the main civil authority in the land, assigned under the authority of the Roman empire, and his words were carefully structured to be convincing concerning his desire to worship Jesus. And yet, his designs for the information he would obtain were hardly for such a purpose.



Each of us needs to be circumspect in how we perceive others. Until we are closely and intimately familiar with those we encounter, we should not be giving them the benefit of the doubt. Seeing a televangelist each Sunday morning, watching him act piously and authoritatively concerning Christianity, and then sending him gobs of money is not sound.



Get to know who you are dealing with. Your time, efforts, and money are a product of who you are, and how you spend them reflects your priorities. So be wise and discerning in what you do and who you trust. Watch out for the Herod’s of this world who may appear to have all the right checkmarks but who are devils inside, filled with evil intent.



Lord God, guide us so that we do not get duped by others. Give us wisdom and discernment to handle our resources properly. May we be willing to test the waters before diving in and finding out that the pool is tainted. We want to be pleasing to You, and so may our lives and efforts be directed to what is honoring You. Help us in this, O God. Amen.

[PrisonerOfHope]

Daily Bible Verse, Matthew 2:9

Saturday, August 10th, 2024


When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. Matthew 2:9


“And they, having heard the king, departed. And behold! The star that they saw in the sunrising, preceded them, until, having arrived, it stood above where the Child was” (CG).



In the previous verse, Herod told the magicians to bring back word concerning the Child so that he, too, could come and worship Him. Now, the narrative continues with, “And they, having heard the king, departed.”



There is no indication at this point that they suspected ill motives of the king. He had told them where to go, allowing them to travel within his domain. His having secretly called them to ask them to search carefully for the Child would make sense because Herod was the king.



Honoring the newborn would necessitate knowing all the details in advance. It would make no sense for Herod to go to Bethlehem with a royal entourage and not know exactly where he was going. Thus, the words he told them would not be at all suspect.



As noted, it is just a short distance from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. Despite this, they would not be familiar with the way. However, Matthew next records, “And behold! The star that they saw in the sunrising, preceded them.”



The “sunrising” means in their land to the east. They had seen the star and gone to Israel, knowing it was a sign of the coming of the Messiah. The word star generally refers to the heavenly objects that we call stars today. However, it is used figuratively elsewhere to speak of leaders. It is also used of an object that falls from heaven to earth in Revelation 8:10.



Thus, a literal interpretation of this being a star as we consider them today is not necessary. And, indeed, it hardly seems that this could be the case with the star the magicians were being led by. To be able to perceive a difference in the angle of a real star or a heavenly alignment between Jerusalem and Bethlehem would not be possible. And more, the next words seem to eliminate such a thought. Matthew next says, “until, having arrived, it stood above where the Child was.”



Matthew’s description of this star indicates that it moved as the travelers moved, and it stopped at a certain point. This type of perceived movement will happen with a heavenly body, such as the moon, but only when the point one is going to is known in advance. From our perspective, it can appear the moon is moving with us until we reach home, and then it stops above our house.



However, if the object is actually moving, guiding, and stopping at a previously unknown location, then it means the object itself is not something in the heavens as we would think of it. Rather, it is something much closer.



Today, we can guide lost people with a drone or a helicopter. The object itself moves, guides, and stops. But to use an actual object in the heavens, like a star or the moon, would mean there would never be a logical stopping point.



The main point of this is to tell us that the men were truly being guided by an object called a star, this star was guiding with purpose, and it stopped with precision. Further, this cannot be referring to the Child as the star, even if He is the Star prophesied in Numbers 24.



Life application: Because of how Matthew describes the star, it seems to defy logic in our normal understanding of things. This star cannot be something like a conjunction of planets. Such a reference, as noted above, is impossible to do what Matthew describes.



Likewise, the darkness over the earth at Jesus’ crucifixion cannot be an eclipse, something impossible at that time of the month. Rather, some other phenomena occurred that caused an extended period (three hours) of darkness.



Some things in Scripture are hard to reconcile in our minds, like a donkey speaking. However, Peter confirms that the event actually occurred (2 Peter 1:16). In the case of the donkey, and apparently in the case of the star that guided the magicians, we need to accept the narrative as it is written, even if we do not have all the answers to logically explain the events.



But this is what pleases God. He has given us His word, and He expects us to accept it as true. From there, we can then work to reconcile what it says. For example, God’s word does not allow for evolution. However, we have been conditioned to believe that is the right explanation for how things have developed.



In coming to God through His word, we are directed to accept that Creation is true and then work to discover how what we see is reconcilable with the creation model. People of faith have done just that, finding evidence of a real flood that covered the entire world. Let us be willing to accept Scripture as it is written and then work to see if we can discover how our worldview can then align with it.



In the end, we will someday be glorified. At that time, the things that are still unanswered will be explained. Until then, be people of faith. In this, God will be pleased with us.



Lord God, thank You for Your wonderful word that is filled with treasures to last us a lifetime, even after it has been searched out by innumerable people before us. It continuously provides us with more wonder and revelation as the years pass. May we accept it as Your word, and then search it out trusting that it is so. Amen.

[PrisonerOfHope]

Daily Bible Verse, Matthew 2:10

Sunday, August 11th, 2024




When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. Matthew 2:10


“And having seen the star, they rejoiced – joy exceedingly great” (CG).



In the previous verse, it noted that the star the magicians had seen in the east went before them until it came and stood over where the Child was. Now, it says, “And having seen the star.”



As previously noted, the description by Matthew does not leave the possibility of the star actually being in the heavens as we would consider of an actual star. There would be no common reference for it to just stop and remain over a single spot if that were the case.



However, this star guided them and then stopped at a particular spot in a way that they were able to know, with all certainty, it was the location where Jesus was. Because of this, it next says, “they rejoiced.”



The words are short and simple and provide a strong emphasis that follows. Despite this, translations fail to reflect the Greek. Most insert the word “with.” Rather, Matthew offsets the thought and describes the joy itself with an adverb and an adjective. It was “joy exceedingly great.”



The emphatic nature of the words gives the sense of a relief and happiness on their part that is at the very edge of our ability to convey to others. Their minds would have been reeling, their hearts would have been pumping, and their knees would have been trembling at the thought of coming before One who had been prophesied hundreds and hundreds of years earlier.



Their state of awe would have been almost overwhelming as they anticipated the moment when their eyes would behold the King of the Jews.



Life application: Although it is impossible to hold onto an emotional high for even a short amount of time, we can – at any time – contemplate our own moment when we will behold Jesus. And we can do it with the assurance that it will come to pass.



The word promises that at some unknown moment, Jesus Christ is going to return and take His people to Himself. It will be so sudden that there will not be time to even realize it is happening. Paul describes the moment as the blink of an eye, something that occurs in 100–150 milliseconds, or 0.1–0.4 seconds. We will be doing our thing here, and then we will be gone.



Until that day, however, we can (and should!) remind ourselves that this will come about. As we rise, we can remember that Jesus is coming. When we get frustrated while in traffic, we can remind ourselves that it is nothing.



When we stand at the bedside of a dying loved one or at the graveside of one who has passed, we can remember the sure and unchanging promise of God that Jesus is coming again to deliver us from this state of existence we now must endure.



God’s word is written, and it will come to pass. We can, at any moment of our life, and even when things seem completely out of control, remind ourselves that Jesus has something better in store for His people. In our hearts we can then rejoice – joy exceedingly great, even while the other emotions pour out and trouble us.



“Why are you cast down, O my soul?

And why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God;

For I shall yet praise Him,

The help of my countenance and my God.” Psalm 42:11



Lord God, even through the most difficult ordeals, through the most trying of experiences, and through the saddest of moments, we can still retain in our heart a joy that cannot be extinguished when we remember and consider Your promise to us. Jesus is coming again, and He will bring us to our new and forever home. May that day be soon. Thank You for this sure promise, O God. Amen.

[PrisonerOfHope]

Daily Bible Verse, Matthew 2:11

Monday, August 12th, 2024


And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:11


“And having come into the house, they found the Child with Mary His mother. And having fallen, they worshipped Him. And having opened their treasures, they offered Him gifts: gold, and frankincense, and myrrh” (CG).



The previous verse noted that when the magicians saw the star that stood over where the Child was, they rejoiced greatly. Now, Matthew records, “And having come into the house.”



Being certain that this is where the Child was, they entered. The star, whatever it actually was, indisputably identified this abode. Once inside, it next says, “they found the Child.”



As with previous verses, it is understood that they were looking for a child, not an adult. Depending on where they got their information, they deduced that the sign indicated His coming. Moreover, depending on what Hebrew texts were available to them, they could have a general idea of the time of the Messiah’s coming. That is laid out in Daniel 9.



There was a prophetic timeline given that revealed a certain number of years must pass before the Messiah would come. That timeframe had come to its fullness, and so it was logical that the sign was telling them about the Messiah’s advent.



As for the word “found,” some texts read “saw.” The KJV et al. divert from their source text and say “saw.” There is no need for this. The word is used both literally and figuratively. The sense is no different than Matthew 26:40 where Jesus “found” the men sleeping while on watch. Likewise, these men who had been searching for the Messiah have found Him. Along with the Child, He was “with Mary His mother.”



It is a tender scene carefully included by Matthew. The Messiah of the world was being tended to by His mother. As for ability, He was in a completely subordinate position to His mother. And yet, it next notes, “And having fallen, they worshipped Him.”



Despite Jesus’ reliance on His mother, it is to Him, not to her, that worship is given. He was sent to fulfill a role prophesied in the Hebrew writings. Through the star, these men were assured this was the Messiah, and so as an act of worship of God, they bowed before His Messiah, thus acknowledging God’s hand in the entire affair. With that completed before God, Matthew next records, “And having opened their treasures.”



The Greek word, first used here, is thésauros. It signifies stored up treasure, “including (treasured) thoughts stored up in the heart and mind” HELPS Word Studies. It is the etymological root of our word thesaurus which is a modern storage of treasured synonyms. In opening their treasure, “they offered Him gifts.”



The Greek word is dóron. It signifies a gift, but it is one which is voluntarily given. The focus is on the gift’s free nature. It is used in Ephesians 2:8 when describing the process of salvation which is by grace through faith. The gifts presented by the magicians are “gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” Their significance is:



1. The Greek is chrusos, being derived from a word signifying to make use of or take advantage of. In other words, it implies profound purchasing power. Gold is considered the finest of the biblical metals. It signifies deity. This is seen in the construction of the Ark of the Covenant. The acacia (shittah) wood pictured Christ’s incorruptible humanity. That was covered in gold, reflecting His deity. It also signifies royalty, something appropriate for the King of the Jews.



2. The Greek is libanos. That is derived from the Hebrew livonah. That, in turn, is derived from lavan, white. One can think of the white smoke of its incense. However, the word lavan is derived from the verb lavan, to be white, a word that is then associated with the Hebrew levenah, a brick, because bricks turn white when fired.



A study of the word in the Old Testament consistently brings one back to the idea of works, meaning human effort. Thus, this is a picture of the works of the Messiah to redeem man from his own futile works that can never satisfy God.



3. The Greek is smurna. One can see the basis for the name of the location Smyrna. It is derived from the Hebrew word for myrrh, mor. That, in turn, comes from marar, bitter. Looking at the uses of myrrh in the Old Testament, the prominent idea is that it symbolizes love, but more especially, love in intimate union, but not necessarily sexual in nature.



The gift expresses the understanding of God’s love for the people of the world which is conveyed in the sending of the Messiah to lead them back to Himself. However, there is also a sense of bitterness in the process. Christ would come and suffer through His earthly existence in order to accomplish God’s purposes.



Life application: The presenting of these gifts, whatever the intent was on behalf of the magicians, is carefully recorded by Matthew, indicating that the Holy Spirit wanted us to research the meaning of them from a biblical perspective. Once such a study is accomplished, we can now see what God wanted us to know.



This is true with every such thing in Scripture. God places real, tangible things into His word that then carry deeper spiritual truths with them. They, in turn, will typologically anticipate other things that will be fulfilled by Christ Jesus, or that will apply to His work on behalf of His people.



The wisdom of God is continually revealed in this manner. He is giving us a map of how to be right with Him and the timing in which things will occur. Likewise, He is giving us a blueprint of how things are structured and ordered within the pages of Scripture.



Reading and contemplating the word of God is how to understand these things. Continue to read and study. And when you come to a commentary, don’t just accept it at face value. Instead, compare what is being said with the rest of Scripture. Too often, unfounded or erroneous conclusions are presented. This can only distract us from what God intends for us to see.



So be diligent and careful as you contemplate God’s precious word.



Lord God Almighty, what an exciting adventure it is to read and consider every detail of Your magnificent word. It is a wonderful testament to Your workings in and through human history, bringing us back to Yourself through the giving of Jesus Christ. Thank You, O God, for Jesus! Amen.

[PrisonerOfHope]

Daily Bible Verse, Matthew 2:12

Tuesday, August 13th, 2024


Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. Matthew 2:12


“And having been admonished in a dream not to return to Herod, through another way, they withdrew into their country” (CG).



The previous verse noted that the magicians had appeared before the Child, worshipped Him, and presented gifts to Him. With that done, they apparently spent the night in the same area. Their charge from Herod in verse 8 was that they were to learn the location of the Child and then return to him with that information. However, Matthew next records, “And having been admonished in a dream.”



Without being certain, it appears to be the same night they appeared before Jesus. After they did, they eventually slept. While sleeping, they were given an admonishment, obviously from God, “not to return to Herod.”



Unlike some other dreams recorded in Scripture, nothing of what was said is conveyed. It thus smacks of a true narrative. They probably arose, returned to the location where Joseph, Mary, and Jesus were, and told them they had been admonished not to return to Herod. That was sufficient for Mary to remember and later tell Matthew this basic information. Due to the divine word, it next records, “through another way, they withdrew into their country.”



As we don’t know what country they came from originally, it is hard to know which way they would now return. They may have even traveled the same route that brought them to Israel in the first place, but they had gone out of their way to visit Jerusalem. Thus, the words “another way” would simply mean “not through Jerusalem.” Whatever the case, Herod was denied the information he desired.



As a useful point for considering commentaries on this verse, various scholars say that the verb translated as “admonished” means to give a response to one who asks. Following the uses of the verb in the New Testament demonstrates that this is not necessarily correct. It may be the case, but it is not the usual meaning. Further, because the verb is passive, it is then claimed that this admonishment is the answer to consultation.



In other words, it is claimed that these men sought God’s counsel, and He then responded to them. There is nothing to suggest this. The Greek middle/passive form simply reveals the subject (in this case, the magicians) as receiving or benefiting from the verb that is being expressed.



They went to bed, fell asleep, and in a dream, they were divinely admonished to not return to Herod. There is no need to go beyond this.



Life application: Many people claim to have divinely inspired dreams or visions. This is not unique to Christianity either. One can go to YouTube and see hundreds and hundreds of such claims lined up for the gullible viewer to waste his time over.



A recent one claimed that a person had a vision of a particular political figure being shot and the bullet just missing his ear, but the noise from the bullet blew out his eardrum. A few months later, the political figure was shot in the ear and his eardrum did not blow out. Despite the obvious inaccuracies (along with others in the video), the person has been proclaimed a prophet.



However, the old saying, “Close only counts in hand grenades and horseshoes,” certainly applies here. The prophecy is inaccurate. God does not provide inaccurate anything. Hence, this person has made a false prophecy. He should be disregarded and rebuked openly for claiming something that was false, not coddled to, and put on a pedestal.



Be wise and discerning. There is no reason for God to speak to us apart from His word today. The believer is told that he lives by faith and not by sight. To have visions and dreams from God would negate this. What we need to do is to read the Bible, contemplate what we have read, and ignore people who make fanciful claims that place the attention on them and not on the Lord.



Lord God, what do we need in our walk with You today? We need to know Your word! That is what You have left for us to know You, to see what You have been doing and are doing, and to see what lies ahead for Your people. Help us to stay focused on Your word and not to be distracted from that noteworthy task. To Your glory, we pray. Amen.

[PrisonerOfHope]

Daily Bible Verse, Matthew 2:13

Wednesday, August 14th, 2024




Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” Matthew 2:13


“And they having withdrawn, behold, a messenger of the Lord – he appears in a dream of Joseph, saying, ‘Having arisen, take the Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt. And you are there until if I should tell you. For Herod is about to seek the Child to destroy Him’” (CG).



In the previous verse, the magicians had been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod. Therefore, they returned home by another route. Now, Matthew continues with, “And they having withdrawn.”



With the departure of the magicians behind them, another dream will now be recorded. As such these dreams did not occur on the same night. Whether this is during an afternoon nap, the next night, or some period of time later isn’t stated. But the time would not be too long. Herod would have deduced rather quickly that the magicians intentionally did not come back. However long it was, the narrative next says, “behold, a messenger of the Lord.”



It is the same three Greek words as in Matthew 1:20 when Joseph was informed concerning the state of Mary and that he should not be afraid to take her as his wife. As before, “he appears in a dream of Joseph.”



The words are most literally translated as, “he appears in dream the Joseph.” The article is unnecessary in the English and the brevity of the Greek necessitates some minor insertions to make sense. The intent is that Joseph had a dream in which he is again being given divine instruction.



When this happened before, the subject was Mary, but the main focus of the words concerned the Child. The same is true concerning the main focus this time as well. Thus, the messenger was “saying, ‘Having arisen, take the Child and His mother.’”



The priority is the Child who is placed first in the divine instruction. He along with Mary are to be taken by Joseph “and flee to Egypt.” The fact that this instruction comes only after the magicians had left shows us that this was not done by their advice, nor did they have any idea about this plan of God to secret Jesus away to Egypt.



Instead, their part in the unfolding drama was completed, and then the next step began. As for the distance they would have to travel, it all depends on where in Egypt they traveled to. There is nothing in Scripture to indicate where they went. Thus, to assume it was Alexandria, where there was a large Jewish settlement, is just speculation. Albert Barnes, however, gives a reasonable commentary on this journey –



“Egypt is situated to the southwest of Judea, and is distant from Bethlehem perhaps about 60 miles. It was at this time a Roman province. There were many Jews there, who had a temple and synagogues, … and Joseph, therefore, would be among his own countrymen, and yet beyond the reach of Herod. The jurisdiction of Herod extended only to the River Sihon, or ‘river of Egypt,’ and, of course, beyond that Joseph was safe from his designs. … It is remarkable that this is the only time in which our Saviour was out of Palestine, and that this was in the land where the children of Israel had suffered so much and so long under the oppression of the Egyptian kings. The very land which was the land of bondage and groaning for the Jews, became now the land of refuge and safety for the new-born King of Judea. God can overturn nations and kingdoms, so that those whom he loves shall be safe anywhere.”



Barnes’ note about this being the only time that Jesus was outside of “Palestine” is incorrect. He also visited the regions of Tyre and Sidon and the Decapolis. However, his thoughts about the ironic safety provided by Egypt are well stated. As for their time in Egypt, the messenger’s words continue, saying, “And you are there until if I should tell you.”



They were to remain until they again received divine instruction. As for the word translated as “if,” it is left out of most translations, and it does not mean that it might never happen. Rather, it is a disjunctive particle “denoting supposition, wish, possibility or uncertainty” (Strong’s).



There was no uncertainty on the part of God, however. Instead, it is a condition placed upon Joseph, whose uncertainty would remain until the time of God’s choosing. Understanding this, the messenger next explains why this trip was necessary, saying, “For Herod is about to seek the Child to destroy Him.’”



Herod, though an Idumean by ancestry, was a Jew. Thus, the irony of a complete contrast to the narrative so far shines through. It is the Gentiles who welcomed the Messiah of Israel, while the leadership of the Jewish people rejected Him. This pattern will continue throughout the biblical narrative, and it continues to this day. It is the very reason that Jesus spoke these words to Israel’s leaders later in Matthew –



“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 38 See! Your house is left to you desolate; 39 for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’” Matthew 23:37-39



Jerusalem represents the seat of power in Israel. Thus, it extends to mean the leaders themselves. Jesus told the nation by speaking to Jerusalem (meaning its leaders) that He will not return until they, as the leaders of the people, acknowledge Him as Yehovah incarnate, as implied in citing the psalm which speaks of Yehovah.



While Israel has gone after two millennia of chasing falsity, the Gentile world has openly embraced Israel’s true Messiah. However, despite being a bit slow on the uptake, Israel today is beginning to embrace their long-rejected King.



Life application: The wisdom of God is seen time and again in the minute details found in Scripture. Egypt was the crucible from which Israel was brought in order to mold them as a people in the desert of Sinai. And yet, it took a return to Egypt by Israel’s Messiah to explain to us other truths concerning redemptive history.



It cannot be truthfully said, even if it is at times claimed, that Jesus was only taken to Egypt because of Herod, but if there was other leadership, they would have accepted their Messiah. This is borne out in the rest of the gospel accounts and Acts. At every turn, the leadership of Israel saw Jesus as a threat, and they continuously rejected Him, meaning they rejected the wisdom of God that had already been prophesied in the word they were the stewards of.



That word continues to reveal Jesus today, and the people of the world, like the people of Israel, continue to reject what it proclaims. It is true that the Gentile world openly embraced Jesus, but the scale of converts, in comparison to the total population, is not overwhelming.



People seem to want anything other than what God offers. And an actual understanding of what the word grace means is almost completely lacking, even in the church. And yet, it is a key point of a right relationship with God. It is not by our efforts that we are saved, and it is not by our efforts that we continue to be saved. God has done the work. We believe and are saved.



But what God has done is then fully sufficient to carry us all the way through to the end. Let us not diminish the significance of the cross. It is all that is needed for our return to glory as God’s people.



Heavenly Father, thank You for the cross of Jesus Christ our Lord. We know that through what He has done, we have complete and eternal restoration with You. May we never presume that it is we who must work to save ourselves or continue to retain our salvation. It is Your gift, and it is all-sufficient. Hallelujah and Amen.

[PrisonerOfHope]

Daily Bible Verse, Matthew 2:14

Thursday, August 15th, 2024


When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, Matthew 2:14


“And having arisen, he took the Child and His mother – night, and he withdrew to Egypt” (CG).



In the previous verse, Joseph had a dream where the Lord’s messenger told him to flee to Egypt and stay there until he was given word, noting that Herod would seek the Child to destroy Him. Now, in compliance with those words, it next records, “And having arisen, he took the Child and His mother.”



The words are like those of the previous verse, where the Child is the main subject of the action. Only after He is mentioned is Mary included. With that stated, it continues with the word “night.” There is no article or preposition before the word. Either Joseph was asleep at night and had the dream, whereupon he got up and started the journey, or he may have had an afternoon nap and immediately determined to leave that night.



Either way, they made their departure at night in order to be kept from any eyes that may otherwise see them, “and he withdrew to Egypt.” The verb is in the singular – “he withdrew.” The focus is on the obedience of Joseph as he acts on behalf of the Child and His mother.



Life application: A couple of points of consideration can be gleaned from these few words. The first is something that was seen in the previous verse as well. Jesus is the focus of the action taken. Mary is included only after that. This is not how such things are usually stated. Rather, the norm would be to say something like, “Ron took Shannon and their son to the movies.” However, that is not the case here.



Even though a very young child at this time, the text places the primary focus on Jesus. How different that is than what occurs in the Roman Catholic Church. They place an inordinate amount of attention on Mary. When someone does wrong and goes to a confessional, it is common to hear that they had to say a certain number of Hail Marys, pleading for her intercession.



This is completely unscriptural. In fact, it violates several verses of Scripture. We are told there is one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. We are also told to fix our eyes on Jesus. Mary is dead. She will remain in her grave until the Lord raises her someday. It is unthinkable that we should pray to the dead for anything.



Another point is that Joseph heard the word, and he immediately complied with what was said. Today, we have the completed word recorded in the pages of the Bible. Are we as willing to comply as Joseph was? The same Lord who spoke to Joseph through His messenger is speaking to us today through His word.



Is it any less important to comply with the Bible? Absolutely not. We are given our directives for right living there. Those things that are required for us to do have been recorded and compiled. However, we cannot comply with the word if we don’t know the word. Let us heed the word of the Lord and put that word into action in our lives!



Heavenly Father, help us to realize the importance of knowing and applying Your word to our lives. It is given as a manual for humanity to be right with You, and so may we treat it as such. Help us to always consider the importance of Your word in the conduct of our lives. Amen.

[PrisonerOfHope]

Daily Bible Verse, Matthew 2:15

Friday, August 16th, 2024




and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” Matthew 2:15


“And he was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled, having been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, ‘Out of Egypt, I called my Son’” (CG).



The previous verse noted that Joseph arose from his sleep and took the Child and His mother and withdrew to Egypt. The narrative now continues with, “And he was there until the death of Herod.”



In these words, is a word found only here in Scripture, teleuté, translated as “death.” It signifies a finishing or an end. In this case. It is the termination of Herod’s life. As for the event itself, there is a problem with the dating that is explained by Albert Barnes –



“Herod died in the thirty-seventh year of his reign. It is not certainly known in what year he began his reign, and hence it is impossible to determine the time that Joseph remained in Egypt. The best chronologers have supposed that he died somewhere between two and four years after the birth of Christ, but at what particular time cannot now be determined. Nor can it be ascertained at what age Jesus was taken into Egypt. It seems probable that he was supposed to be a year old (see Matthew 2:16), and of course the time that he remained in Egypt was not long. Herod died of a most painful and loathsome disease in Jericho.”



Because of the unsurety of the matter, a general timeframe of a few months to a couple of years is the general consensus. As for the time in Egypt and their return to Israel, Matthew next says, “that it might be fulfilled, having been spoken by the Lord through the prophet.”



Matthew is stating that God foresaw the events and spoke of them in advance, using the prophetic word to provide His people with assurance that what came to pass was a part of His unfolding plan.



In other words, the dream that Joseph had, the flight to Egypt, and then the return from Egypt wasn’t something that occurred on the spur of the moment. Rather, it was intended to occur so that God could fulfill His own word concerning certain matters. As for what was spoken through the prophet, He was “saying, ‘Out of Egypt, I called my Son.’”



The words are a general citing of Hosea 11:1 from the Hebrew text –



“When Israel was a child, I loved him,

And out of Egypt I called My son.”



Matthew saw in the verse from Hosea a parallel to what happened to Jesus. None of the surrounding text follows this thought, and yet, it is repeated by Matthew because of the understanding that what happened to Israel as a type is fulfilled in Jesus, who is the Antitype.



Israel went down to Egypt (Genesis 46:3). Israel was called out of Egypt by the Lord (Exodus 3:8). Israel is the Lord’s firstborn son (Exodus 4:22).



Likewise, Jesus went down to Egypt. He was called out of Egypt by the Lord. Jesus is God’s only begotten Son.



The parallels between Israel and Egypt are seemingly innumerable. As one travels through the Old Testament, Israel is given as a type of the coming of Christ Jesus again and again. They are equated to a vine, while Jesus says He is the true vine. They were to be a sort of light to the nations, while Jesus says that He is the Light of the world. The temple was the place where God would dwell among His people. Jesus is the true Temple and dwelling place of God. On and on throughout Scripture, such patterns are seen.



But not all of them are explicitly highlighted in the New Testament. Rather, in citing the words of Hosea as Matthew did in this verse, it is a call for those who read Scripture to look for other such connections as well. Christ Jesus is thus the fulfillment of what Israel anticipated. In understanding this, and in looking for types and pictures from the Old Testament Scriptures, we can gain a fuller understanding of the Person and work of Jesus as detailed in the New.



Life application: One of the things about properly elicited typology from the Old Testament is that it helps settle what is to be considered sound theology in the New. In other words, it is argued in the church whether there is still a role in the world for Israel the nation or has the church replaced them, thus becoming “spiritual Israel.”



In properly understanding types and pictures from the Old Testament (such as Genesis, Joshua, Judges, Esther, etc.) it becomes perfectly clear that Israel the nation has a future role in redemptive history. Are dispensations a valid interpretation to be derived from Scripture or are they later-derived false machinations of incompetent scholars? The answer can be found in the types and pictures of the Old Testament.



Again and again, types are given to help us to understand what is considered proper concerning New Testament theology. The obvious question may be, “Why don’t we just get that from the New Testament?” But the answer is obvious. How many denominations are in agreement on almost any major doctrine? Very few.



This is because of biases, a lack of discernment, a lack of applying proper context, and so forth. Unfortunately, these differences exist, not because God’s word is confused but because we are. In every aspect of theology, there is one correct avenue. Old Testament typology, when rightly considered, will help clarify which avenue is proper.



Lesson: Read your Bible – both testaments. Read it often, meditate on it always, and consider what you are reading. It is a unified whole that has been given to us to know our Creator and what is pleasing to Him. Read your Bible.



Lord God, give us the wisdom and the desire to want to know You more. We have a short span in this life to pursue You and to refine our thinking concerning You. Forever is a really long time, and that is how long we will have to be in Your presence. And so, help us to strive for the eternal now, even while we are living out this temporary, trying existence. Amen.

[PrisonerOfHope]

Daily Bible Verse, Matthew 2:16

Saturday, August 17th, 2024


Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. Matthew 2:16


“Then Herod, having seen that he was mocked by the magicians, was exceedingly enraged and, having sent, he killed all the boys in Bethlehem and in all her borders, from two years and under, according to the time which he exacted from the magicians” (CG).



In the previous verse, Matthew quoted Hosea comparing the movement of Jesus from Egypt to that of Israel at the Exodus. Now, the narrative returns to Herod, beginning with, “Then Herod, having seen that he was mocked by the magicians.”



The word translated as “mocked” is empaizó. It comes from “in” and “play.” Thus, it means to sport someone or mock them. Almost every use is a mocking direct against Jesus. However, in this case, it is the magicians who have mocked Herod through their departing to their own country without providing him the information he requested. Because of this, it next says, he “was exceedingly enraged.”



The word thumoó, enraged, is used only here in the New Testament. It signifies to be full of angry passion. Combined with the word “exceedingly,” one can get the mental image of Herod flipping his lid, seething in rage, and turning bright red in the face. He really blew a gasket over being duped. Thus, it next says, “and, having sent, he killed all the boys in Bethlehem and in all her borders.”



This event has been called “the slaughter of the innocents” for eons. The term “innocent” has various nuances. From a biblical perspective in relation to sin, there are no innocents. We have all inherited Adam’s sin. However, these children had done nothing deserving of death. Therefore, they are innocent in the sense that Herod unjustly had them killed.



As tragic as this is, the number of male children that were this age is estimated to be very low. Bethlehem was not a large city. Even though the extended borders were included, the number still would not have been great. However, the fact that Herod did this stands as a witness to his depravity. If the city were much larger, it is clear that it would not have mattered to him if he killed hundreds or thousands.



The account itself has been called into question because there is no extrabiblical reference to it. However, that is both an argument from silence, and it is not unlikely that it is not mentioned if only a small number of children were killed.



It would have been devastating for the families who lost children, but in the larger picture, it would not have garnered the same attention that it probably would have today with media and the internet. Of those killed, it next says they were “from two years and under.”



Only males and only those up to two years of age were killed. Herod simply wanted any challenge to his authority to be stamped out. It didn’t do him any good, however, because his reign only lasted a short while longer, and as Barnes noted in the previous commentary, “he died of a most painful and loathsome disease in Jericho.”



The word translated as “two years old,” dietés, is also only found here in Scripture. It comes from two words indicating “twice” and “year.” Next, Matthew says that this killing of the children this age was “according to the time which he exacted from the magicians.”



Here is the second and last use of the word translated as “exacted,” akriboo. It was seen in Matthew 2:7. It signifies to learn carefully or inquire with exactness. Herod had carefully ascertained the information from the magicians, and he then used that information to kill these innocents in a desperate act of trying to overturn the prophetic word of God.



Life application: As noted above, the word “innocent” has to be taken in the context of what is being conveyed. Little children and babies are innocent in that they have not committed any intentional wrongdoing. They are in need of care for their very existence as well.



Unfortunately, those who need the most care of all are those targeted by the wicked people of the world, like Herod. Today, the Herods of the world are those who support the killing of unborn children through abortion, who target young minds for perverse agendas, like transgenderism, and who abuse little children through sexual perversion.



In today’s world, each of these vile practices is fully supported by those who hold to liberal values in any given country. The democrat party of the United States is fully behind these things. And with each new piece of legislation they pass, another one is quick to follow that is more depraved than the one before.



There is very little hope that they will change their ways, but individually, each still needs to hear about Jesus. It is our job to share the good news. For those who realize the wickedness they are committing, they normally will become staunch supporters of that which is right.



Therefore, even in your anger at the conduct of those on the left, be sure to at least offer them the gospel and tell them there is hope, even salvation, from the wickedness they are so mired in.



Lord God, may we be willing to share the gospel with everyone, even those who are so at odds with You in many ways. Satanists, pedophiles, murderers, and the liberal left in general all hold to stands that are contrary to what You accept, but we were once contrary to You as well. Help us to remember that we were also saved from eternal condemnation. May we be about sharing the good news with all people. Amen.

[PrisonerOfHope]

Daily Bible Verse, Matthew 2:17

Sunday, August 18th, 2024




Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: Matthew 2:17


“Then it was fulfilled that having been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying” (CG).



The previous verse detailed the massacre of the children of Bethlehem by Herod. As tragic as that was, God knew that it would occur. This is evidenced in the next words, where Matthew records, “Then it was fulfilled.”



Matthew is saying that the event of the killing of these children, which was just recorded in the previous verse, fulfilled a prophecy concerning the slaughter of the children of Bethlehem. The words were then a prophecy from “that having been spoken.”



The verse that Matthew will cite is from Jeremiah 31:15. That passage concerned the removal of the exiles from the land of Israel and into captivity in Babylon. It was recorded and its immediate fulfillment concerned those at that time. The prophecy was “through Jeremiah the prophet, saying.”



Matthew is setting the stage to cite a quote from the prophet, but ultimately it is a word from the Lord through Jeremiah. He was the instrument by which the Lord would speak out the prophecy.



Life application: There are quotes from the Old Testament in the New which make connections that others may not have even considered because they seem so unconnected. And yet, the statement that a particular verse or passage is fulfilled in an event in the New Testament is claimed.



Because of this, it is not uncommon for people to take other verses or passages and try to make some type of prophetic connection to an event in their own day. For example, it says in Isaiah 30 –



“There will be on every high mountain

And on every high hill

Rivers and streams of waters,

In the day of the great slaughter,

When the towers fall.” Isaiah 30:25



In 2001, Islamic terrorists used jet planes to bring down the Twin Towers in New York. Within a very short time, Isaiah 30:25 was being bandied about as a “fulfillment” of the words from Isaiah that pointed to the destruction of the Twin Towers.



This is not a responsible way of handling Scripture. And yet, it happens pretty much every day. Somebody finds something in the Bible that matches an event in their own sphere of existence, and he then claims that the Bible predicted the event. It happened with quite a few verses from the Bible at the time of a recent assassination attempt on a former US president.



But removing a verse out of its intended context is not a healthy way to handle one’s theology. Despite this, people could argue, “Yes, but what Matthew cites in several passages doesn’t really fit with the context of what he is citing.”



The difference is that Matthew was an apostle of Jesus Christ. He was guided by his knowledge of Scripture, his understanding of events at the time of Jesus, and – most importantly – by the Spirit of God who is the ultimate Author of Scripture. What God has determined to be within His word is up to Him.



It is our job to rightly handle what He has now completed and given to us. There are future prophecies that will come to pass that deal with the church, the tribulation period, and so forth. But not everything that happens in our short span of life needs to find some type of prophetic match in Scripture, even if a few of the words seem similar.



A proper thing to do with Scripture is to not manipulate it for personal agendas. Instead, use Scripture to find Jesus and His workings in redemptive history. Read it to find historical information, moral guidance, renourishment of your soul, and so forth.



Just because something sounds exciting or prophetically connected to your life, don’t just run with it. Think it through, check the context, and you will normally find that someone made an unacceptable leap in making the connection.



Having said this, there is an event that lies ahead that will affect you directly. The timing of it is unknown, but it is coming. Take time to read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. If you want to be intimately associated with Bible prophecy, that is a certain passage that will include you if you are a saved believer in Jesus Christ. And it will happen… maybe today.



Lord God Almighty, help us to be reasonable in our interpretation of Scripture. May we not try to force our lives and circumstances into the pages of Your word. Instead, we are passing through time and awaiting the final fulfillment of the prophetic word. It will come about as prophesied. Everything else is just us living out our lives. May that be done according to Your will. Amen.

[PrisonerOfHope]

Daily Bible Verse, Matthew 2:18

Monday, August 19th, 2024




“A voice was heard in Ramah,

Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning,

Rachel weeping for her children,

Refusing to be comforted,

Because they are no more.” Matthew 2:18


“A voice – it was heard in Ramah,

Lamentation, and a wailing, and a mourning – great.

Rachel sobbing – her children.

And she would not be comforted,

For they are not” (CG).



The previous verse introduced the idea of the fulfillment of that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet. Now, Matthew cites that prophecy, beginning with, “A voice – it was heard in Ramah.”



The words of this prophecy come from Jeremiah 31:15, which says –



“Thus said Yehovah,

A voice in Ramah heard

Lamentation, a weeping – bitternesses

Rachel weeping upon her children

Refused to sigh upon her children

For he naught” (CG).



Of the entire verse, the Expositor’s New Testament rightly says, “It was poetry to begin with, and it is poetry here.” The voice is that of Rachel of the third clause. She is being used by Jeremiah as expressive of the woe that had come upon the people of Israel who were being deported to Babylon. The reason for this begins in Genesis 35:19 –



“So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).”



Rached died on the way to Bethlehem. That is then explained in 1 Samuel 10:2 where it notes that Rachel’s tomb is in the territory of Benjamin. This is confirmed by Joshua 18:25 where Ramah is listed in the cities inherited by Benjamin. It is in this location that the captives of Jerusalem were taken before they were deported to Babylon –



“The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him bound in chains among all who were carried away captive from Jerusalem and Judah, who were carried away captive to Babylon.” Jeremiah 40:1



Therefore, the voice is being expressed as being in Ramah which is “Lamentation, and a wailing, and a mourning – great.”



The first word, translated as lamentation, thrénos, is found only here in the New Testament, and it is found only in some manuscripts. It signifies a wailing or a lamentation. Each word used is descriptive of real mourning, one word being added to the next to convey the agony of the situation.



As for the final word “great,” it answers to the Hebrew plural noted above, “bitternesses.” There was a great mourning of the exiles (the children of Israel) as they were readied for their long trek to Babylon. Likewise, Matthew poetically takes the death of the children of Bethlehem in this same fashion. There is the voice of the people raised as one over their slaughter. This is then equated to the wailing of Israel in the land of Rachel (meaning Benjamin, her son), saying, “Rachel sobbing – her children.”



There is no “for” as inserted by translators. Rather, it is left out to highlight the situation. It is as if while she is sobbing, the writer gasps and calls out “her children.” It is a mournful expression. The parallel to the Babylonian exile is seen. Those who leave will not be returning. It is as if they are dead. Rachel mourns the loss of the people. Likewise, these children slaughtered by Herod are mourned over poetically by Rachel, who died “on the way to Ephrath (that is Bethlehem)” (Genesis 35:19).



It is as if Rachel is reaching forward in her place of burial toward Bethlehem, mourning for the loss of those as if they were her own children, “And she would not be comforted.”



The Hebrew uses the word nakham, to sigh. The context determines the exact meaning, but it is as if a person sighs in whatever way is being expressed. One can sigh over regret, one can sigh in a state of being comforted or not being comforted, one can sigh in pity, one can sigh in exasperation or sorrow, etc.



There is a strong, heavy breathing that conveys human emotion. In Rachel’s case, she would not sigh in comfort as if “I have come to accept the situation, and I will move on.” Rather, she would not be comforted because it next says while referring to her children, “For they are not.”



The children were slaughtered by Herod, and they would not return to their mothers. Rachel, emblematic of this situation, is poetically used to describe the matter. It is from Jeremiah’s prophecy that the Lord, through Matthew, makes this woeful connection, noting that it is fulfilled not only in the past, but it carried through to the time of Christ’s coming.



Life application: As noted in the previous commentary, we must be careful when taking verses out of their intended context and applying them to our own situations. The five main rules of biblical interpretation are:



Is this prescriptive (does it prescribe anything)?

Is this descriptive (does it merely describe a matter)?

What is the context?

Be sure of the context!

Don’t stray from the context!!



If a verse merely describes a matter, it means that we are being given information, but it is not instructing us to do something. If it is prescriptive, certain people are being told to do something. But who are those certain people? For example, it says this in Malachi 3:10 –



“‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,

That there may be food in My house,

And try Me now in this,’

Says the Lord of hosts,

‘If I will not open for you the windows of heaven

And pour out for you such blessing

That there will not be room enough to receive it.’”



Is this merely descriptive, or does it prescribe something? The answer is that it prescribes something. What is the context? It is the Lord speaking through the prophet Malachi to the people of Israel under the law of Moses. Are we sure of the context? Does it apply to the church? No. Tithes are never mandated to the church. There is no prescription for this. Therefore, do not apply the words of Malachi to the church.



Malachi 4:10 is for our understanding but not for our conduct. The law was a tutor to lead us to Christ. We are not under the law. The law is done away with in Christ. Therefore, when you hear Malachi 3:10 quoted by a televangelist or your local preacher – wrongly requiring tithes – and have evaluated it with the five basic rules, you can ignore their mishandling of Scripture.



Be wise and discerning. The Lord determined that Jeremiah’s prophecy would be used by Matthew, but we cannot use it ourselves if our own children die. That would be inappropriate. Let us endeavor to always maintain proper context when evaluating Scripture.



P.S. The tithes of Israel were only brought into the storehouse once every three years. The other two years, the people ate their own tithes. But you will never hear a televangelist (or most preachers) tell you that.



Lord God, help us to have a clear and proper understanding of what applies to us in Scripture and what is only there for our knowledge in particular matters, even if it doesn’t apply to us directly. May we stand approved by holding to the proper context of what is being conveyed. Amen.

[PrisonerOfHope]

Daily Bible Verse, Matthew 2:19

Tuesday, August 20th, 2024


Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Matthew 2:19


“And Herod having died, behold, a messenger of the Lord in a dream appears to Joseph in Egypt” (CG).



In the previous verse, Matthew cited Jeremiah 31:15 concerning the prophecy about Rachel mourning for her children. With that now complete, he next records, “And Herod having died.”



Herod’s death was recorded by Flavius Josephus and others in antiquity. The Expositor’s Greek Testament, citing several sources, says –



“Herod died in 750 U. C. in his 70th year, at Jericho, of a horrible loathsome disease, rotten in body as in soul, altogether an unwholesome man.”



As for the timing, it is debated how long this period was, but most agree it was only a few months after the killing of the children in Bethlehem, though some argue as much as six or seven years. Regardless of the exact time spent there, eventually, Matthew next records, “behold, a messenger of the Lord in a dream appears to Joseph in Egypt.”



This is now the third time a messenger of the Lord has appeared to him. This time, however, it is outside of the land of Canaan. This should not be remarkable as the Lord can appear anywhere and at any time, but it demonstrates that the Lord does, in fact, speak to His people outside of Canaan. This is in contradistinction to some claims over the millennia that the Lord does not do so.



The Bible is filled with such instances, and such ridiculous claims should not ever be entertained. As for the departed Herod, Albert Barnes shares the following –



“Herod left three sons, and the kingdom was at his death divided between them. To Archelaus was given Judea, Idumea, and Samaria; to Philip, Batanea and Trachonitis; to Antipas, Galilee and Perea.



“Each of these was also called Herod, and these are the individuals who are so frequently referred to in the New Testament during the ministry of the Saviour and the labors of the apostles.”



Life application: Translation of Scripture involves more than just conveying words or expressions between languages. It takes careful consideration, consistency, and a watchful eye to ensure that each word or phrase is actually translated. Eyes can skip easily over words or phrases, something quite common when similar words are used within a single verse.



As for consistency, when the context is the same, words should be similarly translated. Otherwise, a false sense of what is being conveyed can come about. However, this is not something that is always possible. There are multiple words that can have similar meanings, and there are many possible meanings for some individual words.



Moreover, when there are translation committees that handle individual portions of Scripture, the biases and preferences of each committee will often show through. It may be that one committee may have a book to translate, but individuals within a committee may be responsible for one or two chapters.



This can lead to real inaccuracies slipping through the cracks. For example, the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary says –



“Our translators, somewhat capriciously, render the same expression ‘the angel of the Lord,’ Mt 1:20; 2:13; and ‘an angel of the Lord,’ as here.”



The exact term in Greek is aggelos kyriou, or “angel Lord.” Notice what JFB is referring to in the KJV –



1:20 – the angel of the Lord

2:13 – the angel of the Lord

2:19 – an angel of the Lord



The first two instances insert a presupposition, “the angel of the Lord.” In the Old Testament, that generally is referring to the Lord. In the third instance, an unnamed angel representing the Lord is signified.



The first two have inserted words without italicizing them to indicate they are not in the original and they are clearly wrong. The KJV is famous for this willy-nilly type of inconsistency in both testaments, and so the reader can be led down incorrect paths of thinking about what the text is saying.



Someone could come to the unfounded conclusion that “the angel of the Lord” appears to Joseph only in the land of Canaan, but then He directs one of His subordinates to appear outside of the land. That would be a ridiculous assumption, but this is what happens when faulty translation occurs.



Be sure to not get caught up in reading one translation and assume it is the only God-inspired translation. Be studious and diligent to check things out before making final conclusions about matters of theology.



Lord God, help us to be wise and studious concerning Your word. It is so very precious, and so may You be with us as we read it, contemplate it, and tell other people things that we have learned from it. Above all, thank You for Jesus our Lord who is the One Scripture is pointing us to. Yes, thank You for our precious Savior, Jesus. Amen.