“Paradise” is one of those Bible words that feels instantly comforting—until you slow down and ask, What exactly does it mean? Paradise in the New Testament appears only three times, and when you line those passages up, they raise a question many believers have wondered about: Where was Jesus between His death and resurrection? Table of contentsWhere “paradise” appears in the New TestamentParadise in 2 Corinthians 12:3 and the three heavens Paul describesParadise in Revelation 2:7 and the tree of lifeParadise in Luke 23:43 and the thief on the crossWhy this gets complicatedSheol and HadesTwo possibilities for Luke 23:43Possibility 1: Paradise refers to heaven (Jesus went spiritually, later bodily)Possibility 2: Paradise refers to the place of comfort within HadesBelievers were removed from Hades at Jesus’ ascensionWhen unbelievers leave HadesClosing encouragement Where “paradise” appears in the New Testament The word paradise occurs only three times in the New Testament: Luke 23:43 “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” 2 Corinthians 12:3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows Revelation 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’ If those were the only details we had, we might assume “paradise” always means “heaven.” In fact, that’s exactly what the first two passages strongly suggest. Paradise in 2 Corinthians 12:3 and the three heavens Paul describes In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul describes a man (very likely speaking of himself) who was “caught up to the third heaven,” and then immediately says he was “caught up into paradise,” connecting the third heaven and paradise. In Scripture, “heaven” can be described in different ways: The first heaven: the atmosphere/sky (where clouds and rain are) The second heaven: outer space (sun, moon, stars) The third heaven: the place where God dwells So in 2 Corinthians 12, paradise is presented as up, above—where God dwells. Paradise in Revelation 2:7 and the tree of life The second occurrence is in Revelation 2:7, where Jesus promises the overcomer will eat from “the tree of life…in the paradise of God.” That matters because Revelation later places the tree of life in the eternal state—the new heavens and new earth (Revelation 22:1–2). So again, paradise is tied to God’s presence and eternal life. Paradise in Luke 23:43 and the thief on the cross The third occurrence is Luke 23:43 when Jesus addresses the repentant criminal. Based on 2 Corinthians and Revelation, it sounds like Jesus is saying, “Today you’ll be with Me in heaven.” But Jesus did not ascend to heaven until His ascension. Why this gets complicated After the resurrection, Mary Magdalene recognizes Jesus and reaches toward Him. Jesus says: John 20:17 — “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father…” In other words, after rising from the dead, Jesus could still say, “I have not yet ascended.” So how do we reconcile that with “today you will be with Me in paradise”? Another important statement from Jesus: Matthew 12:40 — “So will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Jesus was in Hades, not heaven, between His death and resurrection. Sheol and Hades A crucial foundation is understanding the biblical terms: Sheol is the Hebrew term. Hades is the Greek term. In this discussion, they refer to the same reality (the realm of the dead). Scripture depicts both righteous and unrighteous going to Sheol/Hades, because it is described as a temporary abode of the dead rather than the final destination of eternal reward or punishment Two possibilities for Luke 23:43 There are two main interpretive options for what Jesus meant... Possibility 1: Paradise refers to heaven (Jesus went spiritually, later bodily) In this view, “paradise” in Luke 23:43 still means heaven (consistent with 2 Corinthians and Revelation). Jesus’ body would remain in the tomb, but His spirit would go to the Father. A verse supporting this view: Luke 23:46 — “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” Under this interpretation, Luke 23:43, 2 Corinthians 12, and Revelation 2 all use “paradise” in the same way. Possibility 2: Paradise refers to the place of comfort within Hades Hades included two compartments in the New Testament era—one of comfort (associated with Abraham’s bosom) and one of torment—and the place of comfort could be called “paradise.” The weakness is that this makes “paradise” mean something different in Luke than in 2 Corinthians and Revelation Believers were removed from Hades at Jesus’ ascension What changed after Jesus’ work was completed: Ephesians 4:8 — “When He ascended on high He led a host of captives…” When Jesus ascended, He brought with Him those who had been “captive” in the place of comfort—unable to enter heaven before Christ’s atoning work was finished. Ephesians 4:9 says He also “descended into the lower regions, the earth,” understood here as a descent into Hades. Old Testament believers could not be in heaven prior to Christ: Hebrews 10:4 — animal sacrifices could not take away sin Matthew 27:51 — the veil tearing pictured access opened through Christ In short, before Christ, there was separation; in the New Covenant, there is reconciliation. When unbelievers leave Hades Hades is temporary. Revelation 20 describes the Great White Throne judgment where death and Hades give up the dead, and the final judgment follows. This matters because it reminds us that questions like “Where is paradise?” aren’t just theological puzzles. They are meant to press us toward the most important question: Am I reconciled to God through Jesus Christ? Closing encouragement “Paradise” is not ultimately about winning an argument over terms. It is about God keeping His promises: Christ truly saves, death truly will be defeated, and eternal life with God is real. If you belong to Christ, your hope isn’t wishful thinking—it’s anchored in a risen Savior, and it ends where Revelation places the tree of life: in the paradise of God.

The account of the two thieves on the cross is one of the clearest pictures in Scripture of how identical circumstances can produce opposite responses to Jesus. Side-by-side, they saw the same Savior, heard the same words, endured the same suffering, and faced the same urgency—yet one hardened his heart while the other repented and believed. Their final moments preach a timeless message: what ultimately separates people is not their situation, but their response to Christ. https://youtu.be/6MqIINxLMqA Table of contentsLesson 1: Jesus’ parables teach that identical circumstances can produce opposite responsesThe parable of the two buildersThe parable of the sowerThe parable of the two sonsThe parable of the ten virginsThe parable of the talents (and minas)The wedding feast, the two debtors, and moreLesson 2: The two criminals are a living illustration of Jesus’ parablesLesson 3: Each person is responsible for their response to ChristHe believes in life after deathHe believes Jesus has a kingdom beyond deathHe believes salvation is mercy, not meritHe believes Jesus will receive himJesus’ response: assurance, immediacy, and fellowshipCertaintyImmediacyPersonal fellowshipThe gospel in living colorThe “deathbed conversion” question—and Matthew 20Lesson 4: God’s grace to others can expose envy in our heartsDon’t presume on tomorrowConclusion Lesson 1: Jesus’ parables teach that identical circumstances can produce opposite responses Jesus regularly taught in a way that removes that excuse. He often described people who shared identical circumstances—and yet experienced opposite outcomes. Once you notice this pattern, you start seeing it everywhere in Jesus’ teaching. The parable of the two builders Both men heard the same teaching: “Everyone who hears these words of mine…” (Matthew 7:24) “Everyone who hears these words of mine…” (Matthew 7:26) Both men built a house. Both faced the same storm: “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house…” (Matthew 7:25) “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house…” (Matthew 7:27) Same teaching. Same project. Same storm. Completely different results. The parable of the sower There is one Sower. The seed is good. The seed is distributed broadly. Same Sower. Same seed. Same method. Yet radically different responses. The parable of the two sons Same father. Same command: “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.” (Matthew 21:28) Completely different responses. The parable of the ten virgins Same wedding. Same role. Same expectation: wait for the bridegroom. But two very different endings. The parable of the talents (and minas) Same master. Same stewardship principle. Same assignment: be faithful with what you’ve been entrusted. But again: different responses—and different outcomes. The wedding feast, the two debtors, and more Same King. Same invitation. Same mercy. Same opportunity. Yet not everyone responds the same. And if we’ll allow Jesus’ parables to do their work, they press us toward a sobering conclusion: the decisive issue is not the sameness of circumstances, but the posture of the heart. That prepares us for what happens at the cross. Lesson 2: The two criminals are a living illustration of Jesus’ parables In recent sermons, we’ve been noticing living illustrations in Scripture: Barabbas as a living illustration of substitutionary atonement (Jesus takes the punishment another deserved). Simon of Cyrene is a living illustration of cross-bearing discipleship (he literally picks up the cross and follows). Now we come to another living illustration—one of the clearest in all the Gospels. The two criminals crucified next to Jesus face nearly identical circumstances, yet they respond in opposite ways. Here’s how similar their situations are: Same guilt and sentence: both are criminals being executed by Rome—publicly shamed and justly condemned. Same suffering and helplessness: neither can come down, fix their life, or perform works to “make up for it.” Same proximity to Jesus: both are close enough to see Him, hear Him, and observe His restraint and mercy. Same evidence: they watch the same mocking crowd, the same religious scorn, the same soldiers, the same injustice. Same limited time: there is no future. No long discipleship process. Eternity is immediate. Same social pressure: the whole atmosphere pushes them toward scoffing and unbelief. Same claims about Christ: they hear “He is the Christ,” and they see the inscription, “King of the Jews.” Same setting. Same opportunity. Same Savior. But two radically different responses. Lesson 3: Each person is responsible for their response to Christ Luke records the first man’s response: “One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, ‘Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!’” (Luke 23:39) His response is hardened unbelief: He blends in with the mockers. He shows no fear of God. He makes no confession of sin. He wants to use Jesus for relief from consequences—not rescue from sin. Then Luke shows us the other criminal: “But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.’” (Luke 23:40–41) In that statement, the second criminal does multiple commendable things: He rebukes blasphemy because he is offended for Christ. He demonstrates the fear of God. He confesses guilt and acknowledges deserved judgment. He proclaims Jesus’ innocence—even while everyone else is mocking Him. And then we arrive at one of the simplest—and most effective—prayers in the Bible: “And he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’” (Luke 23:42) So much is packed into this one sentence. He believes in life after death That might sound obvious to modern ears, but it wasn’t universal in Jesus’ day. The Sadducees—prominent religious leaders—denied the resurrection. He believes Jesus has a kingdom beyond death He says, “Your kingdom.” At the moment when Jesus appears weakest—bleeding, mocked, dying—this man believes Christ will reign. He believes salvation is mercy, not merit He doesn’t bargain. He doesn’t promise to “try harder.” He doesn’t talk about making up for his sins. He simply casts himself on Jesus. He believes Jesus will receive him He asks because he believes Jesus is gracious. One man suffers and uses it as an excuse to curse Christ. The other man suffers and allows it to produce repentance and faith. Same cross-shaped suffering. Different heart posture. And the two criminals become representative of every person who has ever lived: we will respond to Jesus with hardened unbelief—or repentant faith. Jesus’ response: assurance, immediacy, and fellowship Now look at how Jesus answers him: “And he said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.’” (Luke 23:43) Several details matter. Certainty Jesus begins with emphasis: “Truly, I say to you…” This is Jesus underlining: This is sure. Immediacy “Today…” No delay. No purgatory. No working off sin. Personal fellowship “You will be with me…” This is what makes heaven heaven: being with Jesus. Philippians 1:23 — “My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.” John 14:3 — “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” Revelation 21:3 — “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” The gospel in living color This is Romans 10:13 made visible: Romans 10:13 — “For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” The thief called. He was saved. And Jesus’ promise harmonizes perfectly with His other words: John 6:37 — “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” He came to Christ. Christ did not cast him out. The “deathbed conversion” question—and Matthew 20 When I became a Christian, I was raised in a works-based religion, and I had a nagging question: “What about people who live wickedly and then believe right before they die? Do they get to go to heaven like everyone else?” That question is common—especially among critics of Christianity. And the thief on the cross is the clearest biblical example: saved at the end of life, with no time left to prove anything, fix anything, or repay anything. Interestingly, Jesus also tells a parable that addresses our instinctive complaint about “fairness”: the parable of the laborers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1–16). Some labor all day. Others work one hour. Yet the master pays them the same. The early workers complain—not because they were cheated, but because the master was generous. Jesus’ point is not that rewards are identical (Scripture teaches differing rewards), but that salvation is entirely grace—unearned favor. That parable exposes what can be hiding in our hearts: Lesson 4: God’s grace to others can expose envy in our hearts The vineyard workers weren’t angry about what they received. They received exactly what they agreed to receive. They were angry about what someone else received. In other words, grace offended their pride. As one commentary notes, Jesus describes this as an “evil eye”—a jealous, envious spirit that resents goodness shown to others. It’s the same issue in the older brother in the parable of the prodigal son: “But he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat,

In 1996, during the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, security guard Richard Jewell spotted a suspicious backpack beneath a stadium bench. He immediately began evacuating the area, rightly suspecting it was a bomb, and because of his quick actions, lives were saved when the device exploded. For a brief window of time, he was hailed a hero. But almost overnight, everything changed. The media needed a villain, the FBI needed a suspect, and despite a lack of evidence, Richard Jewell became the target. His name was slandered, his life scrutinized, and though eventually proven innocent, the damage could never be undone. Why begin here? Because Jewell’s story exposes something unsettling about the human heart: When sin dominates, truth becomes expendable — and the innocent can be condemned if it suits someone’s agenda. If this can happen in modern America—with due process, lawyers, cameras, and judges—how much more easily could it happen in ancient Israel? And that is exactly what unfolds in Luke 23:1–5, where Jesus Christ endures the greatest miscarriage of justice in history. Table of contentsThe Road to Pilate: A Chain of Unjust TrialsThe Leaders Change Their Accusations (Luke 23:2)Lesson One: Trust in God Produces Composure in TrialsApplicationLesson Two: The Innocent One Suffered for the GuiltyLesson Three: Jesus Isn’t on Trial — We AreConclusion https://youtu.be/8Q4gF_iWcX4 The Road to Pilate: A Chain of Unjust Trials Jesus had already endured three Jewish trials—illegal, contradictory, and fueled by hatred rather than truth. The Sanhedrin wanted to condemn Him for blasphemy, but they lacked the authority to execute Him. Rome alone could issue a death sentence. So the religious leaders marched Jesus to Pilate (Luke 23:1), shifting Him from a religious courtroom to a political one. Luke emphasizes that “the whole company of them” went together — Pharisees, Sadducees, elders, scribes — groups who could agree on almost nothing except this: They wanted Jesus dead. Hatred unites people who otherwise disagree. Even today, individuals who cannot get along suddenly find common ground when they share a common enemy. The Leaders Change Their Accusations (Luke 23:2) Instead of accusing Jesus of blasphemy — the charge they used in His Jewish trials — they bring three political accusations to Pilate: “He misleads our nation.” “He forbids us to pay taxes to Caesar.” “He claims to be Christ, a king.” Why this shift? Because Pilate doesn’t care about Jewish theology. He does care about threats to Caesar. They mix a little truth (Jesus is the Christ) with lies (that He opposed taxes or stirred rebellion). This is how deception works most effectively — truth twisted into a weapon. Pilate ignores the first two accusations and asks the only political question that matters: “Are You the King of the Jews?” (Luke 23:3) Jesus answers with sovereign calm: “You have said so.” Lesson One: Trust in God Produces Composure in Trials During gas chamber training in the military, you’re handed your gas mask, shown how to fit it securely, and then you stand in a long line leading to a small brick building filled with CS gas, which is super-strong tear gas. While waiting, you see other soldiers leaving the back of the building without masks, coughing, choking, and struggling to see. When you first step inside, you feel the gas burning exposed parts of your body, like the back of your neck and wrists, but you can breathe normally. Everyone knows what’s coming—that they'll have to take off their gas masks—and everyone believes the same lie: “I will just hold my breath as long as I can so I don’t breathe in much of the gas.” When it’s your turn, you stand in front of the soldier who instructs you to remove your mask. You take a deep breath, remove the mask, and then the gas begins burning your eyes and entering your mouth and nostrils. You try to hold your breath, but the soldier asks questions, and as you answer, you inhale the gas, triggering coughing and more inhalation, which leads to even more coughing. Once the soldier is convinced you’ve inhaled enough gas, you are allowed to leave out the back of the building. This training is very effective and meant to teach one important lesson: you can trust your equipment. If you're in battle and a cloud of poisonous gas surrounds you, you’ll be able to breathe without fear. Without this training, facing gas in the chaos of battle might cause you to panic—and perhaps die. A similar thing happens with firefighters. They can walk into the chaos of a burning building and remain composed, not because danger is absent, but because they trust their equipment. Likewise, Jesus walks into the furnace of injustice with supernatural calm. Though beaten, mocked, blindfolded, and falsely accused, He answers with measured confidence. Why? “He continued entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly.” — 1 Peter 2:23 Jesus didn’t panic. He didn’t retaliate. He didn’t defend Himself. Because He trusted the Father — and that trust produced peace even as the darkness closed in. Application When we are falsely accused, we do not need to panic. When we are mistreated, we don’t need to retaliate. When the flames rise around us, trust in the Father enables composure. What’s in the cup comes out when it’s shaken. Trials reveal our trust in God more than anything else. Lesson Two: The Innocent One Suffered for the Guilty Pilate examines Jesus and declares: “I find no guilt in this man.” — Luke 23:4 But this is only the first of several declarations of Christ’s innocence: Pilate again: “I did not find this man guilty.” (23:14) Herod: “Nothing deserving death has been done by Him.” (23:15) Pilate a third time: “I have found in Him no guilt.” (23:22) The repentant thief: “This man has done nothing wrong.” (23:41) The centurion: “Certainly this man was innocent!” (23:47) God is making something unmistakably clear: Jesus is perfectly innocent — the only One qualified to die for the guilty. If He had sin of His own, He could not take ours. Only a spotless Lamb can bear the sins of the world. Christ’s innocence is not a footnote — it is the foundation of the Gospel. Lesson Three: Jesus Isn’t on Trial — We Are A man in Paris hosted a friend from the countryside. Wanting to show his friend the city’s splendor, he took him to the Louvre to see some of the world’s greatest art, then to a symphony hall to hear a professional orchestra. At the end of the day, the friend shrugged and told his host he didn’t care much for either the paintings or the music. His host quietly replied, “They’re not on trial—you are. The world has already judged the brilliance of that art and that music. By rejecting them, you haven’t judged them; you’ve only condemned yourself.” This is the reality of Jesus’ trials. Pilate, the religious leaders, and the crowds think they are evaluating Jesus.But in reality… Their verdict does not define Him. It exposes them. The same is true for us. Jesus will not stand before us in final judgment. We will stand before Him. Our response to Christ reveals our hearts and determines our eternity. Conclusion Jesus stood before Pilate as the spotless, innocent Savior — falsely accused, unjustly tried, and yet perfectly composed because He entrusted Himself to the Father. He suffered not for His own sins, but for ours. So the question remains: What will we do with Jesus? Our eternity hangs on that answer.

At the triumphal entry Jesus's "disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice" (Luke 19:37). The Pharisees said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples” (Luke 19:40). Jesus responded, "I tell you, if these were silent, even the rocks will cry out." This was the only time Jesus permitted a public demonstration on his behalf. On this day there would be no silencing the welcoming of the Son of David, Israel’s king. https://youtu.be/OXYG89Hzyuc Table of contentsEven the Rocks Will Cry Out, Because Jesus Was Following a Divine TimelineThere Was a Time to Be SilentThere Was a Time "Even Rocks Will Cry Out"There Was a Time to DieJesus Repeatedly Said, “My Hour Has Not Yet Come”Jesus Finally Said His Hour Had ComeThe Triumphal Entry Ensured Jesus Would Die on TimeGod Has a Course for Our Lives When I was in Army ROTC at Florida Tech, there was an ITT (individual tactical training) course. You’ve probably seen courses like this in movies that depict basic training, or if you’ve been in the military, you’ve probably been on courses like this multiple times. Unlike other obstacle courses, which teams typically go through together to build teamwork – think of soldiers helping each other over walls – ITT courses are performed individually. Hence, the word individual is used in the acronym. ITT courses include numerous obstacles that involve running, climbing, swinging, balancing, high crawling, low crawling, jumping, dropping, and sometimes swimming. You move from one obstacle to the next as quickly as possible with soldiers yelling that you are moving too slowly and need to pick it up…regardless of how fast you are going. The entire course is laid out for you. You don’t get to decide whether to go left or right. You can’t skip any obstacles or do them out of order. You move from one to the next in the order laid out for you. Even the Rocks Will Cry Out, Because Jesus Was Following a Divine Timeline A you read the gospels, you might notice that Jesus’ ministry seemed like this. He moved from one event (or obstacle) to the next in the order laid out for him by God the Father. Listen to Jesus describe his ministry this way: John 5:30 “I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me." John 6:38 “I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me." Matthew 26:39 “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Jesus was describing the course that was before him. At least once he even described his earthly ministry as a course: Luke 13:32 “Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course.” Jesus didn’t get to decide whether to go left or right. He didn’t get to skip obstacles or do them out of order. He moved from one obstacle to the next. There Was a Time to Be Silent Let me show you some examples from Jesus’s life. In Mark 1:40-42 Jesus cleanses a leper. Then: Mark 1:43 And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” 45 But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter. It is surprising that Jesus told this man not to tell anyone about the miracle. Why would he do that? One reason is it wasn’t time for the people to recognize Jesus was the Messiah. That might sound odd, but he was following the divine timeline set by His Father. Another reason is large amounts of publicity would hinder Jesus’s mission and divert public attention from his message to his miracles. He wanted to continue teaching ministry in an uninhibited way. He needed to be able to move around easily. If people knew about his miracles, he would be swarmed by so many people he would be unable to enter towns where he could preach. This is exactly what happened because this man disobeyed him. Unfortunately, the man did the exact opposite of what Jesus asked: he talked to everyone but the priests. You can see the problems it caused. Before Jesus cleansed the man he was able to minister in the town. But after the man told everyone, Jesus was forced “out in desolate places” where there were fewer people for him to reach. You could ask, why did Jesus perform miracles if it was going to hinder his ministry? First, because he loved people and he wanted to help them. But more importantly, they served as signs that he was the Messiah. Beginning at Mark 5:21 Jesus raises Jairus’s daughter from the dead. Then he said to feed her, but not tell anyone: Mark 5:43 And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat. In Mark 7:31 Jesus healed the def man. Then: Mark 7:36 And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. Jesus healed the blind man, but not in the middle of the village because of the commotion it would cause. Jesus entered the village, and then brought the blind man out of the village to heal him: Mark 8:22 And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?”…26 And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.” Jesus told him not to return to the village, because more than likely everyone knew the blind man, and when they learned Jesus healed him, Jesus would be mobbed by the crowds: Luke 9:18 Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” 20 Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” Lots of people were getting this wrong. Seems like people thought Jesus was everyone except the Christ: John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the other prophets raised from the dead. But Peter got it right. This is one of those times he opened his mouth and hit a home run. Of course, Jesus is going to say, “Great, now go tell everyone the truth. Straighten them out because they have no idea who I am.” Nope: Luke 9:21 And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” Jesus told them not to tell anyone he was the Christ! Something similar happened right after the Transfiguration: Matthew 17:9 Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” Jesus told them not to tell anyone about seeing Jesus in his glory, for the same reason he said not to tell everyone he’s the Christ. He knew it would cause problems. Most people, including even the disciples, didn’t know what Jesus was going to do as the Messiah. They thought he would be a conquering king who would sit on a throne. The transfiguration would further this view. They didn’t know he was a suffering Servant who would hang on a cross. If they didn’t understand Jesus’s first coming, they couldn’t talk to people about Jesus, because it would increase the confusion about who he was…they would almost be unintentional false teachers! Imagine if they said, “We saw the Coming King transfigured. He’ll be on the throne of David any day now!” How confused would people feel when he was crucified instead? So, Jesus says, “Be quiet for now. After my resurrection, when it’s clear I would die, then you can preach about me!” There Was a Time "Even Rocks Will Cry Out" At the triumphal entry the religious leaders completely resented the outpouring of praise: Luke 19:38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” When we read the word “disciples” we typically think of the 12 disciples. But it is important to know that disciple means student or follower, which is why we also read that John the Baptist and the Pharisees had disciples. When the Pharisees said this they weren’t referring to only the 12 disciples. They were referring to all the people who were recognizing Jesus as the King coming in the name of the Lord. There are two possible reasons the Pharisees told Jesus to silence the crowd versus trying to silence the crowd themselves. One possibility is Jesus was so popular the Pharisees didn’t dare trying to silence the crowd themselves. The other possibility is they knew they could not silence the crowd, because it was too large and enthusiastic. So they went directly to Jesus and told him to silence them. After Jesus fed the 5,000 he became incredibly popular. So popular that: John 6:15 Perceiving that they were about to…take [Jesus] by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself. Jesus came to become king. That’s what he wanted. Why would he not let them make him king? He was following the timeline. This wasn’t his coronation. But the triumphal entry was, so: Luke 19:40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” This was the one and only time that Jesus permitted a public demonstration on his behalf. This is the exact opposite of every situation we read about earlier. Instead of hiding, escaping, or silencing there is no hiding or escaping,

Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem is one of the unique accounts that's found in all four gospels (Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-10, Luke 19:28-40, and John 12:12-19). The account fulfills the prophecy in Zachariah 9:9 and reveals Jesus's Messiahship and Kingship. Table of contentsThe Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem Fulfilled ProphecyA Surprising ProphecyA Full Understanding of the Triumphal EntryWhy Did Jesus Send the Disciples to Get the Donkey for Him?The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem Reveals Jesus’s MessiahshipThe Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem Reveals Jesus’s KingshipWhy a Donkey "On Which No One Has Ever Sat"?We Should Be Willing to Give Up Whatever the Lord NeedsThe Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem Reveals Jesus’s OmniscienceJesus Came to Bring Peace Between God and ManFootnotes https://youtu.be/k5xubljPTVc Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem is found in all four gospels: Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-10, Luke 19:28-40, and John 12:12-19. George IV’s coronation as king of the United Kingdom took place at Westminster Abbey in London on July 19, 1821. George’s extravagant tastes and lifestyle greatly influence the ceremony. It ended up costing 238,000 pounds, which would be 21,000,000 pounds today, or converted to dollars, almost $26,000,000. You heard that correctly: King George IV’s coronation would cost almost $26,000,000 today. The money went toward renovations and furnishings for Westminster Abbey, costumes and uniforms, jewels and plate armor, and a coronation feast for all 4,656 guests. It proved to be the most lavish and expensive of any British monarch. It was over twenty times more expensive than the previous coronation. Unlike King George’s coronation, the coronation of the King of Kings, Jesus Christ, involved no cost whatsoever. The coronation, like the rest of Jesus’s earthly life and ministry, was characterized by modesty: born in a manger in Bethlehem, parented by two poor people in Joseph and Mary, raised in Nazareth, and baptized in the Jordan. All of these speak of Jesus’s humility. There is nothing impressive about Bethlehem, Joseph, Mary, Nazareth, or the Jordan. The only reason we know about them is because they are associated with Jesus. But if I had to choose one earthly event that pictured Jesus’s humility better than others, second only to the cross, it would be the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The traditional calendar for events has this taking place on the Sunday before resurrection Sunday. In other words, this is five days before the crucifixion. Typically, we call this Palm Sunday, which is the beginning of Holy week or Passion week, or the last week of Jesus’s earthly life leading up to the crucifixion. The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem Fulfilled Prophecy Let's begin by looking at the prophecy of the triumphal entry: Zechariah 9:9a Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; Because Zion is another name for Jerusalem, saying daughter of Zion and daughter of Jerusalem are both ways of referring to Jerusalem’s inhabitants, the Jews. They are told to show great exuberance, and rejoice greatly and shout aloud, because their king is coming. A coronation is a time of celebration, but the Jews have even more reason to celebrate, because listen to the way their king is described: Zechariah 9:9b righteous and having salvation is he, They should celebrate because of who Jesus is (righteous or just), and what he brings (salvation). Many kings throughout history have been selfish. Instead of serving people, they used people for personal gain. When Israel rejected God as king, and asked for an earthly, human king, God could have justly given them what they wanted and let them suffer for it. But first, he graciously warned them what it would be like to have their earthly king. Listen to the repetition of the word take: 1 Samuel 8:11 [Samuel] said, “The king who will reign over you will take your sons…13 He will take your daughters…14 He will take the best of your fields…15 He will take the tenth of your grain…16 He will take…the best of your young men and your donkeys. 17 He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves.” If you would expect anyone to have a good king, it would be Israel. But God said their kings would be unjust takers. But when Zechariah prophesied about Jesus, he would be the ideal ruler. He would be just and give people the greatest gift: salvation or eternal life. A Surprising Prophecy Now the prophecy becomes completely shocking and contrary to anything anyone would have imagined for such a king: Zechariah 9:9c humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. These words don’t reconcile with the previous part of the verse. You would expect to read, “Behold, your king is coming to you, great, mighty, and powerful, riding on a magnificent horse.” Instead, we read this. Though the triumphal entry was a joyful celebration, anyone watching would wonder what was so triumphal about it. The king himself would not look like some great victor. He would look like a humble servant. A Full Understanding of the Triumphal Entry Many of the triumphal entry’s important details can’t be found using just one gospel. If we use just Luke’s gospel, it looks like this is the order of events leading up to the triumphal entry: Jesus heals blind Bartimaeus Jesus visits Zacchaeus Jesus preaches the parable of the Minas Then Jesus makes his triumphal entry But John’s gospel records an important event that took place before the triumphal entry, and that’s when he raised Lazarus. It’s important to know this happened. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:38-44), it did two things related to the triumphal entry. First, it caused the religious leaders to start plotting Jesus’s death: John 11:53 So from that day on they made plans to put him to death. Imagine that: Jesus raised someone from the dead and the religious leaders wanted to murder him. It gets even worse: John 12:9 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus. This is the second thing raising Lazarus did: it drew a large crowd. This is why there were so many people at the triumphal entry. Imagine how much raising someone from the dead would excite the masses. Unbelievably, now they want to murder Lazarus too. This is one of the other details that’s not in Luke. Why Did Jesus Send the Disciples to Get the Donkey for Him? Understand the immense opposition against Jesus, because in Luke, Jesus obtains the donkey in a quiet, almost secretive way. Instead of getting the donkey himself, he sends disciples ahead to get it and bring it back to him. Why? The hostility toward Jesus.103 The religious wanted to murder him. More than likely Jesus had the disciples get the donkey – versus getting it himself – to protect the owners. If the religious leaders knew the owners helped Jesus, they would be in serious trouble. John 12:12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” We get to see some things that are not in Luke’s gospel. First, the people gathered palm branches. This is why the triumphal entry came to be known as Palm Sunday. Luke doesn’t mention the palm branches. Second, notice the people were saying, “Hosanna.” Luke is the only gospel that doesn’t record the people saying, “Hosanna.” The word hosanna only occurs six times in the Gospels and only at Jesus’s triumphal entry. Hosanna is often thought of as a declaration of praise, like hallelujah. But hosanna is actually a plea for salvation. It means, “Save us.” The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem Reveals Jesus’s Messiahship Psalm 118 is a distinctly messianic Psalm, and it is probably most well-known because of verse 22: Psalm 118:22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 23 This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. We recognize these verses because they are quoted numerous times in the New Testament regarding Jesus’s rejection: six times that I could find.104 That probably makes them some of the most quoted verses in the New Testament. Psalm 118:25 Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success! The word “hosanna” is drawn from the words “save us” in this verse. The Hebrew words yasha, meaning “deliver” or “save,” and anna, meaning “beg,” or “beseech,” combine to form the word “hosanna.” So, literally, hosanna means “I beg you to save!” or “Please deliver us!” Psalm 118:26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We bless you from the house of the Lord. This is what the people were loosely quoting at the triumphal entry. In Matthew, Mark, and John the people said, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,” as the verse says. But in Luke it says, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.” Luke emphasizes Jesus’s kingship. The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem Reveals Jesus’s Kingship John 12:14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, 15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!” John and Matthew quote Zechariah 9:9 to show the triumphal entry fulfills this verse. This is when Israel received their king. Verse 14 says Jesus “found a young donkey,

Romans 11:22 says, "Behold the kindness and severity of God." We see the kindness and severity of God to two faithful servants and one wicked and lazy servant. Read or listen to this material from Your Finances God’s Way to see the relationship to money. https://youtu.be/qOcVaIPKFYU We see the kindness and severity of God (Romans 11:22) to two faithful servants and one wicked and lazy servant. Table of ContentsThe Master’s Kindness To The Faithful ServantsBringing God JoyExperiencing God’s JoyThe Master’s Severity to the Unfaithful ServantPeople Can Be Wicked Because of What They Don’t DoThe Master Expects SomethingAre We Saved by Works?Faithful Versus Unfaithful ServantsUse or Possibly Lose What God’s Given YouBelievers and Unbelievers Experience the Kindness and Severity of GodFootnotes Before I became a Christian, I believed in God. I wasn’t an atheist, but I hadn’t heard the gospel, repented of my sins, and put my faith in Jesus Christ. At that time, if you had asked me about God, I would’ve told you how good, gracious, loving, and kind He is. But I would not have told you how severe, holy, just, and righteous He is. When we describe God with some of His attributes but leave out others, we create a false god, or idol. Instead, we must do what Romans 11:22 commands and “note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you.” We see the kindness and severity of God on full display in the parable of the talents as He deals with the three servants. Let’s consider the first two servants, who were recipients of God’s kindness, and then the third servant, who was a recipient of His severity. The Master’s Kindness To The Faithful Servants Because the first two servants had been “faithful over a few things,” it would make sense for the master to make them rulers over a few things. Instead, he said he would “make [them] ruler over many things.” God is gracious. We will receive more from Him than we’ve done for Him. It should encourage us that the master was pleased with the servants even though they had been “faithful [only] over a few things.” If we thought we had to be faithful over many things to please the Lord, we might feel like failures. Instead, God is pleased with faithfulness over only a few things if that’s all He’s given us. In addition, the “few things” needn’t be big. In Matthew 10:42, Jesus said, “Whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” Talk about being faithful over little! What’s littler than giving someone a cup of water? With God, even the smallest acts will be rewarded. When the master said, “I will make you ruler over many things,” he promoted those men. They went from being servants to rulers. The reward for serving the Lord is greater service in the future. Bringing God Joy I’m sure that when we have marriages that reflect Christ and the church when we raise children in fear and admonition of the Lord, and when children obey their parents, it brings God joy. However, there’s one thing in Scripture that seems to bring God more joy than anything else: people being saved. In Luke 15 are three well-known parables about salvation, and joy is the theme of each. In the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin, Jesus said, When he has found [the lost sheep], he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!” I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance…When she has found [the lost coin], she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!” Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents (verses 5-7, 9-10). There’s joy in heaven not just over the salvation of hundreds or thousands but “over one sinner.” And though the joy is in heaven, it’s “in the presence of the angels.” Who is in the presence of the angels? God! This is His joy. The parable of the prodigal son takes a different approach. Instead of using the words joy or rejoicing, it shows the Father’s joy at the lost son’s repentance: The father said to his servants, “Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” And they began to be merry. Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing (verses 22-25). This is great joy! We should keep in mind how our salvation makes the Lord feel. If ever we start to feel like we’re just one of many Christians and, therefore, insignificant to the Lord, we should turn to Luke 15 and read these parables. Experiencing God’s Joy Not only does our salvation bring the Master joy, but we also get to share this joy with Him. In the parable of the talents, we might expect the master to say to the first and second servants, “Enter into heaven,” or “Enter into the joy of heaven,” but they were invited to “enter into the joy of your lord” (Matthew 25:21 and 23). He invited the faithful servants to share in his joy with him. His joy is part of their reward, and God’s joy will be part of our reward. The Bible mentions five crowns that are available to us as rewards: the imperishable crown (1 Corinthians 9:24-25), the crown of rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2:19), the crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8), the crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4), and the crown of life (Revelation 2:10). In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus repeatedly talked about rewards; the word occurs nine times between Matthew 5:11 and 7:17.109 As a pastor, one of the more common questions I’ve been asked is, “What do these rewards look like?” The parable of the talents reveals that at least part of our reward is sharing in the Lord’s joy with Him. The Master’s Severity to the Unfaithful Servant In the same way the first two servants reveal the master’s goodness, the third reveals his severity. We might not like to think about God’s severity. Some people even criticize it, saying something like, “What kind of God would…?” and then they list things they believe make God look bad: “…keep people out of heaven,” “…send people to hell,” “…punish them.” The answer is, “The kind of God you should fear and serve!” Few places in Scripture demonstrate the need to do so more than the master’s dealing with the third servant. The master was on a hot streak with the first two servants, but with the third servant, we see the truth of Proverbs 20:6: “Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, but who can find a faithful man?” This verse makes two points: First, it is easy to talk about being faithful. Second, it is hard to find faithful people. The Great White Throne Judgment that unbelievers will face is a sentencing more than a trial, but if an unbeliever could defend himself, imagine if he said something like, “I didn’t serve You because I knew You were a God who judges people.” This is an absurd defense because if he knew God judged people, then he had more reason to obey. But this is close to the excuse given by the third servant: He who had received the one talent came and said, “Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.” But his lord answered and said to him, “You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest” (Matthew 25:24-29). The master put a hole in the servant’s logic. If he knew the master was “a hard man,” he should’ve taken his stewardship more seriously. The servant’s words backfired and sealed his fate. While the master’s joy was evident with the previous two servants, the third servant witnessed the opposite: indignation. Why? Part of the reason is contained in the words “you knew.” The servant knew the master was severe but was unfaithful anyway. The servant made two strong accusations. First, he said the master was cruel and expected more from his servants than he should: He was “a hard man.” Second, he said the master took what didn’t belong to him, reaping where he hadn’t sown and gathering where he hadn’t scattered. In response, the master repeated the words that were true of him (“I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed”) but left out the words that weren’t true—“a hard man.” Up to this point, the master’s behavior showed him to be gracious and fair. He had given the servants the amounts they could handle and rewarded their efforts. But he did expect a return on his investment, and the application for us is that God gives us money and expects us to be faithful stewards who produce a return on His investment, which means using it for His glory. We have the same expectations when we invest our own money. Imagine giving money to an investment manager. You hope that you will receive more than you gave him. It would be ridiculous if the investment manager said, “You’re such a difficult investor; I didn’t invest your money for you. Here—take back what you gave me.” You would be frustrated and might even say something like the master said: “You could have at least invested it in a savings account so that I would receive some interest!” People Can Be Wicked Because of What They Don’t Do

In the parable of the minas, the servants have been “entrusted with the gospel” (1 Thessalonians 2:4). To be faithful stewards, we must preach the gospel so that the minas multiply. The servants are told they will be “over cities” (Luke 19:17, 19), which means ruling with Christ during the Millennium. Read on to learn insights from the parable of the minas! https://youtu.be/UHIBdts_Lg8 In the parable of the minas (Luke 19) the servants were “entrusted with the gospel” (1 Thessalonians 2:4). We must preach to be faithful. Listen to this expository sermon for insights from the parable of the minas! Table of contentsThe Parable of the Minas and the Parable of the Talents Are not the SameBackground to the Parable of the MinasWe Have Been Entrusted with the Gospel (Represented by the Mina)Faithfulness with the GospelGod Judges Our Faithfulness Versus Our SinThe Parable of the Minas Is About the Spread of the GospelThe Multiplication of Minas (Spread of the Gospel) in the Early ChurchFaithfulness with the Gospel Is Rewarded with Greater ResponsibilityThe Parable of the Minas Looks to the MillenniumThe Prophetic TimelineWho Are We Ruling Over During the Millennium?Why Are We Entrusted with the Gospel? All Christians are but God’s stewards. Everything we have is on loan from the Lord, entrusted to us for a while to use in serving him. John MacArthur, 1 Corinthians, Moody, 1984, p. 108. The Parable of the Minas and the Parable of the Talents Are not the Same The parable of the minas is one of the premier parables on stewardships. It is similar to the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30, but they are not the same. Here are the main differences. The parable of the talents was preached on the Mount of Olives after Jesus already reached Jerusalem, but the parable of the minas was preached on the way to Jerusalem. The parable of the talents deals with three servants, but the parable of the minas deals with 10 servants and some number of enemies. In the parable of the talents, the three servants receive five talents, two talents, and one talent. But in the parable of the mina,s the 10 servants receive one mina each. Talents and minas are different amounts: A talent was about 20 years’ wages. A mina was about three months’ wages. In the parable of the talents, the two faithful servants doubled their investments, but in the parable of the minas, one servant reports earning tenfold, and the other servant reports earning fivefold. In the parable of the talents, the faithful servants receive the same reward, which was hearing, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” But in the parable of the minas the faithful servants are put in charge of cities corresponding to the investment they returned. Be encouraged that even if you’ve heard teaching on the parable of the talents, this parable is different and hopefully you will learn some new truths. Background to the Parable of the Minas In Luke 18:31-34 Jesus foretold his death a third time. Luke 18:34 says, "But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said." Jesus spelled out how he would die, but they didn’t understand. Jesus is about to enter Jerusalem. But because they don’t believe he is going to be killed, they think he is going to set up the kingdom! He is the Messiah, the Son of David, who will sit on David’s throne. Passover is only a few days away, which intensifies the anticipation of Jesus’s kingdom. It was always an emotionally charged time for the Jews because it reminded them of their deliverance from slavery in Egypt and made them even more upset about their bondage to Rome. During Passover the Jews looked forward to the Messiah delivering them from Rome like Moses delivered the Hebrews from Egypt. And this is the context for the parable of the minas: Luke 19:11 As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. 12 He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. 13 Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ Jesus preached the parable of the minas to dispel the belief that he would be setting up his physical kingdom soon. The nobleman is Jesus, and the far country is heaven. This is Jesus’s way of saying, “I not setting up my kingdom on the earth right now. I must ascend to heaven and I will set up my kingdom when I return.” Jesus preached the parable of the minas because wants his all his disciples, including us, remaining faithful between his ascension and return. The servants were supposed to use the minas, or money, to do business. When the master returned they were supposed to give back to him more than they had received. We Have Been Entrusted with the Gospel (Represented by the Mina) In the parable of the talents, the talents represent the gifts and abilities God has given us. The servants received different amounts because we have different gifts and abilities. But in the parable of the minas, each servant receives the same amount, one mina, because the mina represents the gospel, which we have all received in equal measure. Numerous commentaries made this point: Matthew Henry wrote: “The principal difference [from the parable of the talents] is that the [mina is] the gift of the gospel, which is the same to all who hear it; but [with] the talents…God gives different capacities.” With that mina each of these servants must do business. That is the point of the parable. Those who have heard the gospel must proclaim it! William Hendrickson, New Testament commentary: Luke, page 860. Joseph Benson wrote the 10 servants and the mina given to them represent: “The apostles and first preachers of the gospel, to whom Jesus gave endowments fitting them for their work, and from whom he expected a due improvement of those endowments in the propagation of the gospel [and] all who did or should hereafter profess to receive his gospel, and to be his disciples and servants.” It is fitting for the minas to represent the gospel, because the New Testament says the gospel is something we have been entrusted with, like a stewardship: 1 Thessalonians 2:4 We have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. 1 Timothy 1:11 The gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. Maybe you have never thought of the gospel as one of our most important stewardships, but I would encourage you to do so. If someone asked you about the most important stewardships in your life: Maybe you would say, “I have children. I have to be faithful to them.” I’d say, “Amen!” Or maybe you would say, “I’m married. This is one of my most important stewardships. I must be faithful to my spouse.” I’d say, “Amen!” Or maybe you would say, “God has given me time and money. These are two of the most important stewardships in my life, so I must be careful how I spend them.” I’d say, “Amen.” The parable of the minas should encourage us to see the gospel as one of our most important stewardships as well. Faithfulness with the Gospel 1 Corinthians 4:1 [We should be regarded] as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, IT IS REQUIRED OF STEWARDS THAT THEY BE FOUND FAITHFUL.  “The mysteries of God” refers to the gospel. We’re stewards of the gospel, and faithfulness is required. This means spreading the gospel with others so that your mina multiplies. Perhaps there’s someone you’ve felt burdened to share the Gospel with. Maybe it’s a coworker, neighbor, fellow student, or family member. And maybe you’ve been procrastinating! You’re like the servant in Luke 19:20 who said, “Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief. It’s nice and safe for you, Lord.” If you’ve been putting off preaching the gospel, you could be bordering on unfaithfulness. Maybe you have been telling yourself, “I’m waiting for just the right moment.” But deep dow,n you know this is just an excuse. I hope this parable encourages you, as it encourages me, not to put off preaching the gospel any longer. Make a commitment to preach to that person, or those people, God has put on your heart. God Judges Our Faithfulness Versus Our Sin Luke 19:15 When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business. The master is going to return and expect all his servants to give an account of what we have done with the mina, or gospel, that has been entrusted to us. This introduces one of the more common questions I receive as a pastor: “Will Christians be judged?” Yes and no. Our sins are not judged because they were judged and paid for at the cross. But our faithfulness as stewards will be judged. This occurs at the Judgment Seat of Christ: Romans 14:10 We will all stand before the judgment seat of [Christ]. Paul’s use of the word “we” shows he’s talking about himself and other believers. 2 Corinthians 5:10 We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. We will give an account of our stewardship, and if we’ve been faithful, we will be rewarded. The fact that the “evil” we have done is mentioned leads me to believe the sins we committed will result in loss of rewards. If you say, “I won’t be punished for my sins,” that’s true. But it’s also true that when we sin we forfeit eternal rewards. This is what Paul meant when he wrote: 1 Corinthians 3:15 If anyone’s work is burned,

Sometimes people wonder, “Is restitution needed for salvation? I committed all these sins before becoming a Christian. Do I need to do anything about them now?” If there’s one place in Scripture that could cause us to think restitution is needed for salvation, it is the account with Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10. Let’s look at it in detail to see what it does and doesn’t teach about restitution for salvation. https://youtu.be/eRRpAwAEV68 Sometimes people wonder, “Is restitution needed for salvation?" Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10 is one place that could cause us to think this. Table of contentsZacchaeus's ExampleUnderstanding Tax CollectorsFirst, Zacchaeus Was Curious Versus IndifferentSecond, Zacchaeus Responded Well to ConvictionThird, Zacchaeus Didn't Let His Height Hold Him BackFourth, Zacchaeus Didn't Let His Pride Hold Him BackFifth, Zacchaeus Sought JesusWhen Jesus Calls You by NamePeople Aren't Always Happy When Others Come to ChristZacchaeus Was the Opposite of the Rich Young RulerThree Reasons Restitution Is Not Needed for SalvationReason One: Restitution Is not Needed for Salvation Because Zacchaeus’s behavior is descriptive versus prescriptiveReason Two: Restitution Is not Needed for Salvation Because There Are Too Many Sins to CountReason Three: Restitution Is not Needed for Salvation Because We Are Saved by Grace Through FaithZacchaeus Is an Example of Repentance Producing FruitWhen "The Buzzsaw" Asked for ForgivenessGod Might Convict Us to Make RestitutionJesus Sought Zacchaeus FirstDon't Put Off the Gospel InvitationFootnotes Zacchaeus's Example Here’s part of an email I received from someone I don’t know… Scott,As I reflect on my past and my many sins, I am more aware of how wretched and worthless I am. I am also convicted of sins I wonder if I need to undo? For example, when I was 16 and I worked at Ross I stole clothes. I am pretty sure I don’t own any of the clothes now, nor do I know the amount or worth of what I took. However, will I go to hell if I don’t find a way to pay back what I stole? There are so many other things I could list. I feel like my past is like Humpty Dumpty, and I can’t fix it. Someone else sent me a message about a certificate he received after cheating on the exam. He didn’t know how to handle this. He wondered if he should stop using the certificate or go back and try to be recertified. But he didn’t know if he could do this because he was already certified. I think messages like these capture something people commonly wonder: "Is restitution needed for salvation? I committed all these sins before becoming a Christian. Do I need to do anything about them now?" If there’s one place in Scripture that could cause us to think restitution is needed for salvation, it is the account with Zacchaeus. Let’s look at it in detail to see what it does and doesn’t teach. Understanding Tax Collectors Luke 19:1 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. In the previous verses Jesus healed blind Bartimaeus as he approached Jericho. Now he entered the city. Because we're reading about a tax collector, let me briefly explain them. Eight times in the synoptic Gospels it says, “tax collectors and sinners,” instead of “murderers and sinners,” or “adulterers and sinners.” Why is it written as though being a tax collector is the worst sin imaginable? Because to the Jews, it pretty much was! The Romans severely taxed the Jews, and the Jews who collected taxes for Rome were considered traitors to their people. Tax collectors were wealthy, and it was a wealth made off the backs of their already oppressed brethren. Tax collectors had to collect a certain amount and anything they collected over that amount they were able to keep for themselves. Because they worked for Rome they had Rome’s support, which prevented Jews from resisting them. The only thing worse than a tax collector is a chief tax collector…which Zacchaeus was! Luke 19:3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. Zacchaeus’s name means pure, which is ironic because tax collectors were anything but pure. But when we reach the end of this account, we will see Zacchaeus became pure through Christ. There are commendable things about him that we can learn from: First, Zacchaeus Was Curious Versus Indifferent John Calvin wrote, “Curiosity and simplicity are a sort of preparation for faith.” I would rather deal with the staunchest atheist, Mormon, or Buddhist, than an indifferent person. Indifferent people simply don’t care. There’s nothing to work with. Zacchaeus cared enough to try to find out about Jesus. Second, Zacchaeus Responded Well to Conviction I believe Zacchaeus was dealing with conviction because of the way he had been living. This causes some people to try to hide from the Lord. Think about Adam and Eve after they sinned: "They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and [they] hid themselves" (Genesis 3:8). Zacchaeus had been terrible. He could have acted like Adam and Eve and tried to hide, but he made every effort to see Jesus. Third, Zacchaeus Didn't Let His Height Hold Him Back Third, seeing Jesus in such a large crowd would have been difficult for anyone, and especially Zacchaeus, but he didn’t let that stop him. You might wonder why Zacchaeus didn’t want to remain in the crowd? As a small man, he could have been trampled. Tax collectors were despised and he probably feared being found in the crowd where he could be beaten up, or worse, stabbed. Fourth, Zacchaeus Didn't Let His Pride Hold Him Back In the parable of the prodigal son, the father ran toward his son when he saw him coming. It was unusual in the Middle East for men to run, especially wealthy, honorable men. Instead, people ran to them. But here we see a grown man running ahead of the crowd just to catch a glimpse of Jesus. And the unusual behavior doesn’t stop there, because the only thing more unimaginable than a wealthy, honorable man running is a wealthy, honorable man climbing a tree. But Zacchaeus did just that. He could have easily convinced himself that running and climbing up a tree was beneath him, but he didn’t let that stop him. Zacchaeus is a great example of someone who sought Jesus and would not let anything stand in his way. Fifth, Zacchaeus Sought Jesus Several verses encourage us to be like Zacchaeus and seek the Lord. Here are a few: Proverbs 8:17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. Isaiah 55:6 Seek the Lord while he may be found. Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Amos 5:4 The Lord [said]: “Seek me and live.”112 We should consider whether anything is holding us back from seeking Jesus. For Zacchaeus, it could have been his guilt, the crowd, or his height. What obstacles might we need to overcome? Could it be an ungodly relationship that we need to break off? Could it be a hobby that in and of itself isn’t sinful, but it takes too much of our time. Could it be a job that we have turned into an idol? Could it be our dignity or pride? Maybe we care too much what others think. Maybe we need to humble ourselves like Zacchaeus was willing to humble himself. When Jesus Calls You by Name Luke 19:5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” Jesus held up thousands of people while he personally addressed Zacchaeus. I don’t know who would’ve been more shocked: the crowds or Zacchaeus. Jesus could have said, “Hey, short little hated tax collector that’s up in a tree. Come down. You look silly up there.” Everyone would’ve known who Jesus was addressing, but he chose to use his name. There is something personal and considerate about using people’s names. It’s much different than, “Hey” or “Hi” or “What’s up?” We like to be addressed by our names. It makes us feel valued and important. Before I started teaching elementary school, I spent some time as a supervisor at a large distribution center for Target. I could tell everyone loved the previous president of the distribution center. There were hundreds of employees, and many of them said that he could walk around the center, and he knew everyone’s names. During large meetings, with hundreds of people present, he could always call on everyone by name. In Zacchaeus’s case, as a hated tax collector, he probably hadn’t heard his name spoken in an affectionate way in a long time. The way his name was typically used was in a derogatory manner. But now, in front of all these people, Jesus called out to him and invited himself to his house for dinner. It would have been an amazing honor, perhaps like the president calling out to you while passing through crowds. And this is the only example in the Gospels of Jesus inviting himself to someone’s home. Also, notice Jesus said, “stay at your house.” This wasn’t just eating with Zacchaeus. This was staying with him. Jesus pursued friendship and association with someone everyone hated. People Aren't Always Happy When Others Come to Christ Luke 19:6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” Zacchaeus didn’t say, “I’m horrible. You don’t want to be with me. I’m too much of a sinner.” Instead, he was thrilled at the opportunity. Maybe you’ve done some horrible things, but Jesus still wants a relationship with you. These are the religious leaders and you can imagine their disdain when they said this. When certain people come to Christ,

Paul said, "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands" (1 Thessalonians 4:11). Read this material from Being Content God’s Way to learn to be content with a quiet life and mind your own business! Table of contentsContent Leading a Quiet LifeMost of Us Will Be a Thaddeus or a BaruchThe Premier Example of Leading a Quiet Life Content Leading a Quiet Life Paul said, “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life” (1 Thessalonians 4:11). Instead of “seeking great things” (Jeremiah 45:5) and “despising days of small things” (Zechariah 4:10), we should “aspire to lead [quiet lives].” The world tempts us to crave fame, attention, and recognition. Can you imagine anything less attractive in society’s eyes than a quiet life? What God wants from us is the opposite of what the world promotes. It pleases God if we lead simple, humble lives of obedience, often filled with small, ordinary routines. The days are far from glamorous. While this might sound discouraging, it should be encouraging because it frees us from striving to become big, noticed, and heard. First Corinthians 10:31 says, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Why did Paul mention eating and drinking? Because there aren’t many “[smaller] things” than these! What could be simpler or more routine? Colossians 3:17 says, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Whatever we do, no matter how small or insignificant, can be done for God’s glory and pleasure! Most of Us Will Be a Thaddeus or a Baruch The judges were important, but could most Christians tell you what they did? They could probably discuss Samson and Gideon, maybe Ehud and Othniel, but would they even remember the names of Tola, Jair, Elon, or Abdon? Consider the kings. People could tell you about David and Solomon, maybe Hezekiah and Josiah, but would they remember anything about Amaziah and Jotham? Consider the prophets. Most people know Samuel, Elijah, and Jeremiah, but do they know anything about Amos and Obadiah? Consider the apostles. Second only to Jesus, they are the most important men in the New Testament. Ephesians 2:20 says the church is “built on the foundation of the apostles,” and Revelation 21:14 says, “The wall of the [New Jerusalem] had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles.” Could these men sound more important? Yet most people could not name half of them. Besides Peter, James, John, Judas, and Thomas (only because of the account of his doubting), what do we know about the other apostles? If you ask people which apostle they most identify with, they will probably tell you, Peter. He was known for opening his mouth when he should have been quiet, and we have the same problem. The other reason we can relate to Peter is that so little is written about the rest of the apostles that we can’t identify with them! Judas, the son of James, is also known as Thaddaeus, which distinguishes him from Judas Iscariot. He’s mentioned in the lists of the disciples (Matthew 10:3, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:16, and Acts 1:13), and John 14:22 records, “Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, ‘Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?’” He’s on the list of the disciples, and he asks Jesus one question. That’s all that’s recorded about him. How famous are apostles, judges, kings, and prophets if people hardly know anything about them? The point is that even the people in Scripture we think were extraordinary were ordinary. This should encourage us because if we are going to “live quiet lives” filled with “small things,” we are going to be more like Thaddaeus, Tola, Jair, Jotham, and Amos than Peter, Gideon, David, and Elijah. The Premier Example of Leading a Quiet Life If it isn’t God’s will to have, accomplish, or experience something, we must give up what we want and choose to be content with what God wants. God wanted Baruch to be content with His will for his life, with who He had called him to be, and what He had called him to do. So, let me ask: Are you content with God’s will for your life, who He has called you to be, and what He has called you to do? We must prayerfully pursue God’s will. Not our will or someone else’s will. Jesus demonstrated this throughout his earthly life: “I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me” (John 5:30; see also John 6:38 and Matthew 26:39). Jesus also modeled leading a quiet life and being faithful in small things. If we strip away the miraculous and supernatural, we see His life was characterized by modesty, humility, and simplicity. There was a lack of extravagance and glamor. Why did the Jews reject Jesus? They thought the Messiah would deliver them from their oppression like Moses delivered Israel from Egypt. He would be a great military leader like David—the Messiah was “the Son of David”—and give Israel victories over the Romans like David gave Israel victories over the Philistines. He would be a great king and restore the nation to the Golden Age as they experienced under Solomon. Instead, they had a Man walking around on dirt roads with “nowhere to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20). Jesus could not have looked less like a rich, glamorous king, and most of the time, He could not have lived a simpler, quieter life. Moses, Jonathan, and John the Baptist’s examples in humbling themselves are challenging, but they pale compared to Jesus’s: [Jesus] being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:6-8). Jesus could have lived like a king and experienced the best the world offers, but He was content to obey His Father and live a simple, modest life. In John 4:34, He said, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.” His “food,” or very existence, was a life of unassuming submission. This should be our food, too, as we find purpose in doing God the Father’s will.

The account of Jesus healing blind Bartimaeus is found in Matthew 20:29-34, Luke 18:35-43, and Mark 10:46-52. Unbelievers are as spiritually poor and blind as Bartimaeus was physically poor and blind. When they cry out for mercy, he gives them spiritual sight. Like blind Bartimaeus they move from darkness to light, become Jesus’s follower, and glorify him. Table of contentsMeet Blind BartimaeusHow Much Did People Want to See Jesus?Jesus’s Miracles Were Signs Illustrating Spiritual TruthsMuch of What Jesus Did Physically Pictures What He Wants to Do for Us SpirituallyDon't Miss the "Sign" with BartimaeusLike Blind Bartimaeus, Unbelievers Are BlindLike Blind Bartimaeus, Unbelievers Are PoorContrast the Paralytic's Friends with Bartimaeus's CrowdWhy Was Blind Bartimaeus So Persistent?Like Blind Bartimaeus, Unbelievers Must Cry Out for MercyJesus Healed Blind Bartimaeus Physically and SpirituallyMoving from Unbeliever to BelieverLike Bartimaeus, Believers Move from Darkness to LightLike Bartimaeus, Believers Become Jesus’s FollowersLike Bartimaeus, Believers Glorify GodLike Bartimaeus, Believers Lead Others to Glorify GodSalvation Requires Faith, but not Persistence https://youtu.be/nqmndvjYzmk Unbelievers are as spiritually poor and blind as blind Bartimaeus the beggar (Matthew 20:29-34, Luke 18:35-43, and Mark 10:46-52). Spiritual blindness is an inability to understand spiritual truths: As it is difficult to convey an idea of color to the blind, so it is difficult to describe to [the spiritually blind] the [spiritual truths understood by those] whose eyes have been opened by the Spirit…[Think] of a man who sees, but has no sense of beauty…such is the case of a natural man…on whose ear the sound of the Gospel falls without awakening music in his soul. James Buchanan, Office and Work, 1842. In this account a man who serves as a picture of all who are spiritually blind, but then given spiritual sight. Meet Blind Bartimaeus Luke 18:35 As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. In the parallel account in Mark 10:46 we learn the blind beggar’s name is Bartimaeus. In narratives you should do more than simply read the verses. You will get much more out of your Bible reading when you picture what the verses describe. If you are a parent, when you read the Bible with your children, describe the accounts for them, or ask them to describe the accounts to you. In this account we can appreciate it much more if we picture what we are reading. As we move through the verses, I will do my best to help us understand what this looked like, because I believe it would have been very dramatic to witness. In Jesus’s day, blindness was a common affliction that had no cure. Because blind people could not work, they had to make their living as beggars. Bartimaeus spent his days sitting by the side of the road begging for money from people who passed by. It is hard to imagine a more miserable existence. Perhaps only a leper's life could rival Bartimaeus’s depressing life. If he was fortunate enough to receive money, he would make his way into Jericho and struggle to buy food. This was a good day. On a bad day, he would spend the night hungry. Thinking about Bartimaeus’s life, one of the words that comes to mind is boring. I cannot think of many things more boring than spending days sitting on the side of the road begging. One of the only things that could make the boredom worse would be blindness, because then you can’t even see anything of any interest while the hours pass by. But on this day Bartimaeus noticed the excitement: Luke 18:36 And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” Bartimaeus had no idea what was happening. He asked those around him, hoping they would be kind enough to answer. Because as we will see in a moment, the crowd was very inconsiderate. He would not have expected the answer he received. This would have been an exciting moment for anyone, and we know that because so many people had gathered for the occasion. But for blind Bartimaeus, a man whose life was characterized by boredom and monotony, this likely would have been the most exciting moment of his life. How Much Did People Want to See Jesus? Just so you can picture this scene better, consider what happened right after this when Jesus entered Jericho: Luke 19:1 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature.  Huge crowds were following Jesus and people, like Zacchaeus, wanted nothing more than to be able to see him. As Jesus approached Jericho numerous others gathered on the sides of the road. Jesus’s Miracles Were Signs Illustrating Spiritual Truths We must pause the account with blind Bartimaeus for a moment to make sure we view it correctly: John 6:1 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw THE SIGNS that he was doing on the sick. Notice Jesus's miracles Jesus were called “signs.” In the following verses Jesus feeds the 5,000: John 6:14 When the people saw THE SIGN that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” Again, the miraculous feeding of the 5,000 was called a sign. Jesus didn’t perform miracles for the sake of performing miracles. He performed miracles because they served as signs. If you read about Jesus’s miracles and don’t understand that they serve as signs, then you will misunderstand them, or at least misunderstand the sign. Jesus’s miracles are called signs, because signs provide information to help us get to the right place: You’re driving down the road and signs help you reach the right destination. You’re walking through the airport and signs help you find the correct gate. You’re in the grocery store and signs help you find the right I’ll aisle. Unless you’re like me and regardless of how many signs they put up in the store you still must call your wife to ask where to find things. Similarly, Jesus’s miracles are called signs because they help people get to the right place. And the right place is: understanding a spiritual truth. Every one of Jesus’s physical miracles was intended to serve as a sign that illustrated a spiritual truth. Much of What Jesus Did Physically Pictures What He Wants to Do for Us Spiritually When Jesus healed deafness, it pictures how he wants to heal spiritual deafness so we can understand spiritual truths. When Jesus calmed the storm it pictures the peace he wants to give us when he calms the storms that rage in our hearts: Philippians 4:7 the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. When Jesus healed the paralytic, it pictures how he wants to heal our spiritual lameness so we can, as Romans 6:4 says, "walk in newness of life." When Jesus cleansed physical leprosy, it pictures how he wants to cleanse our spiritual leprosy, or sin. If the charismatic movement could just understand this one truth it would dramatically change the way they live. Instead of believing what Jesus wants to do for us is primarily physical, they would understand his miracles serve as signs of what he wants to do for us spiritually. And in this chapter, there’s a perfect picture of people misunderstanding the sign because they looked at it physically instead of spiritually: John 6:26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, NOT BECAUSE YOU SAW SIGNS, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. This sounds strange. Jesus told them they didn’t see the sign. Why would he say that? Of course they saw the sign. That’s why they were following him. They wanted more food. Jesus meant that they saw the sign physically, but not spiritually. The NLT reads: John 6:26 “You want to be with me because I fed you, not because you UNDERSTOOD the miraculous signs.” They didn’t understand the sign, or in other words, they didn’t understand what the miracle, or sign, was pointing to: Jesus wanting to feed them spiritually. So he spelled it out for them: John 6:35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. In other words, “I am the food you should be hungering for…not another miracle that doesn’t last.” But they never understood the sign, which is why they ended up abandoning Jesus: John 6:66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. Don't Miss the "Sign" with Bartimaeus Let me be clear about why I took this detour to John 6. We are reading about one of Jesus’s miracles in Luke 18:35-43 that serves as a sign. I want to make sure we are not like the people in John 6 who misunderstood the sign because they only looked at it physically. We would be as spiritually blind as Bartimaeus was physically blind if we did that. So, let’s make sure we understand this account spiritually. Like Blind Bartimaeus, Unbelievers Are Blind Unbelievers are as spiritually blind as Bartimaeus was physically blind. Consider these verses that describe unbelievers who see physically but are blind spiritually: Jeremiah 5:21 Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who HAVE EYES, BUT SEE NOT. Ezekiel 12:2 Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who HAVE EYES TO SEE, BUT SEE NOT. Parables are like miracles in that they illustrate spiritual truths: Physical miracles illustrate spiritual truths Parables are physical stories that illustrate spiritual truths

Matthew 19:26 and Luke 18:27 loosely state that, "With God all things are possible." This verse and some others (such as Isaiah 54:17 and Philippians 4:13) sound wonderful, but are they true the way people quote them? Table of contents“You Keep Using That Verse. I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means.”Does Isaiah 54:17 Teach That No Weapon Formed against You Shall Prosper?Does Philippians 4:13 Teach That You Can Do Anything?What's Wrong with Misinterpreting Scripture?Do Matthew 19:26 and Luke 18:27 Teach that With God All Things Are Possible?Two Applications from Jesus's Statement about Rich People Entering the Kingdom of GodWith God It Is Possible for Man to Be Saved by Divine Grace"But What about All We Have Sacrificed?"Jesus Wants Us Looking Forward to RewardsJesus Didn't Rebuke Peter for Wanting RewardsWhat Rewards Do We Receive in This Life?Jesus’s Sacrifice Puts Our Sacrifices in PerspectiveThe Incredible Victory...the Disciples Didn't UnderstandTwo Possible Reasons Jesus's Death Was Hidden from the DisciplesThe Main Things Are the Plain ThingsFootnotes https://youtu.be/hu-SVNg_vUQ Matthew 19:26 and Luke 18:27 loosely state that, "With God all things are possible." This verse sounds wonderful, but is this what they mean? Throughout The Princess Bride, Sicilian boss Vizzini repeatedly describes events as “inconceivable.” When Westley, also known as The Man in Black, also known as The Dread Pirate Roberts is climbing a rope, Vizzini cuts the rope to kill Westley. But of course, because Westley is the hero of the movie, he clings to the cliff. Vizzini says, “Inconceivable!” The honorable swordsman, Inigo Montoya, says, “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” This statement comes to mind when I hear people take verses out of context. “You Keep Using That Verse. I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means.” Let me give you a few examples with some of the most misquoted verses… Does Isaiah 54:17 Teach That No Weapon Formed against You Shall Prosper? On January 12, 2013, during the NFL divisional playoffs, the number 4 ranked Baltimore Ravens, who were 10-6, played on the road against the number 1 ranked Denver Broncos, who were 13-3. The Broncos defeated the Ravens earlier in the season and they were heavily favored to win this game too. The game went into double overtime before the Ravens upset the Broncos in what came to be known as “The Mile-High Miracle.” After the game, a very emotional Ray Lewis, the Ravens Hall-of-Fame linebacker, was interviewed. He said, "No weapon formed against us shall prosper. No weapon. No weapon. No weapon. God is amazing. And when you believe in Him...Man believes in the possible but God believes in the impossible." Here’s what Ray Lewis was trying to quote… Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord. This is one of the best sounding verses in the Bible. Who doesn’t want to believe every weapon and accusation against them will fail? But the context is God destroying Israel’s enemies in the future. Ray Lewis made his team, the Baltimore Ravens, into the nation of Israel, and the team they were playing, the Denver Broncos, into Israel’s enemies. Perhaps every weapon fashioned against the Baltimore Ravens referred to the Broncos’ Pro Bowlers: quarterback Peyton Manning, offensive tackle Ryan Clady, cornerback Champ Bailey, and linebacker Von Miller. And maybe every tongue that rose against the Baltimore Ravens referred to the Denver Broncos’ coaching staff? Although Ray meant well, when he quoted this verse, instead of God vindicating Israel against their enemies so that his promises to his covenant people were maintained, Ray told the nationally televised audience that God wanted to give the Ravens victory over the Broncos. Does Philippians 4:13 Teach That You Can Do Anything? I don’t think Isaiah 54:17 is the most popular verse among athletes. That honor goes to: Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Well-meaning athletes have been interviewed throughout the centuries after winning a big game and, like Ray Lewis, they are excited, they want to give God credit, and so they love to quote this verse. When all star running back, Adrian Peterson, tore his ACL, he said, "This is a blessing in disguise. I'll come back stronger and better than I was before…[say it with me!] I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 is incredibly popular. You can find it on posters and other inspirational art, keychains, rings, buttons, t-shirts, stickers, postcards, bracelets, and handbags. Philippians 4:13 is so popular, because, like Isaiah 54:17, it sounds wonderful. You will be able to do anything you’ve ever wanted to do. To many this verse is a blank check for whatever you want in life. It is a slogan of personal empowerment, a declaration of self-achievement, ambition, and accomplishment. It is a motivating motto for prosperity, advancement, and success. Was Paul Winning or Losing When He Wrote Philippians 4:13? If Paul meant Philippians 4:13 the way it is commonly quoted – that God helps you win at everything – how would you picture Paul when he wrote it? He was victorious, conquering the world, and his life could not be better. Many people would probably be surprised to know he was a prisoner. From an earthly perspective it didn’t look like he was winning. It looked like he was losing. The verse is about contentment. Paul meant that Christ would strengthen him to be able to handle any trial or situation he experienced. Tim Tebow's Interpretation of Philippians 4:13 I will use another athlete who explained the verse well. During an interview, Kurt Warner asked Tim Tebow for his favorite Bible verse. Tim replied that it was Philippians 4:13 and then he defined it this way, “I’d say the biggest thing with Philippians 4:13 is so many people, pastors included, believe the verse means, ‘I can do a lot of things.’ What I believe it really means, in context, is I can do all things, meaning I can handle all things. Whatever position God’s put me in. Maybe it’s poverty, maybe it’s a sickness, my kid’s sick, God’s going to give me the strength to handle that. So, I think it’s more talking about handling adversity than handling praise or accomplishing much. It’s talking about, ‘I can do all things,’ meaning all negative things: I can handle them all because of Christ.” Tim had a tremendous college career. He was the first sophomore to win the most prestigious college award, the Heisman Trophy, and he was an important part of two national championship teams. If anyone could have misinterpreted Philippians 4:13 it was Tim, but he provided a good explanation of the verse. What's Wrong with Misinterpreting Scripture? I know I sound critical of people misusing verses. You might be saying, “These athletes, such as Ray Lewis and Adrian Peterson, are simply trying to glorify God. How can you give them a hard time?” I get it, but whenever people misinterpret Scripture, even if they do so well-meaningly, it is problematic. People listening are left with nagging questions, such as: "Was God really that concerned with who won that game?" "Did the winning team pray more than the losing team?" "Did the losing team have less faith, or have more heathens or atheists than the winning team, so God didn’t favor them?" Picture a young man watching his favorite athlete on television, and he thinks, “This is wonderful. I can also do all things through Christ who strengthens me! If I have enough faith, I will win at everything in life!” Then he loses and wonders: "Did I not have as much faith as that athlete on television?" "Was God pleased with him, but he is displeased with me?" "Was God unable to give me the strength I needed?" Imagine something considerably more serious than a football game is at stake, such as a young man lying in a hospital bed dying of a disease. He asks to have Philippians 4:13 put on the wall over his bed. Someone walks in the room, sees it, misunderstands it, and says, “Wow, you have a lot of faith. That’s great. You know Christ is going to heal you." The young man understands the verse, so he replies, “I don’t know. What I do know is Christ will give me the strength I need for any outcome.” Like Daniel’s friends when they were threatened with the fiery furnace: Daniel 3:17 Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace…18 But if [he does] not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” Do Matthew 19:26 and Luke 18:27 Teach that With God All Things Are Possible? People love to loosely quote Matthew 19:26 and Luke 18:27 and say, “With God all things are possible.” I get why people say this. Not only does it sound really good, this verse makes God himself sound good. The other two misquoted versus, Isaiah 54:17 and Philippians 4:13, are about us, but this verse is about God. It exalts him. Who wouldn’t want to say this? But are the verses really saying, "With God all things are possible"? No, they are not. The verses sound like they are saying God helps people do anything, but: It is impossible for God to help people sin. It is impossible for God to help people do anything against his will. So, what are Matthew 19:26 and Luke 18:27 saying? To correctly understand the verses, like we must do with every verse, we must look at the context. The verses flow from Jesus speaking to the rich young ruler who wanted to go to heaven. He was convinced he was righteous, so Jesus tried to help him see his sinfulness by exposing his covetousness:

The account of Jesus and the rich young ruler is sobering (Luke 18:18-23 and Mark 10:17-27). The rich young ruler looks zealous, humble, and sincerely interested in spiritual matters. But he was willing to walk away from Jesus because earthly wealth meant more to him than heavenly wealth. Read, listen, or watch this material from Your Finances God’s Way to learn more. https://youtu.be/a3DW9WFj3S8 The account of Jesus and the rich young ruler is sobering (Luke 18:18-23 and Mark 10:17-27). He walked away because of his earthly wealth. Table of contentsWhy Didn't Jesus Preach the Gospel to the Rich Young Ruler?Not Courtroom LawyersWe Would Be Justified by the Law If We Kept It PerfectlyWe Must Be Justified by Faith Because We Can’t Keep the Law PerfectlyThe Rich Young Ruler Is the Opposite of Little ChildrenFollowing Jesus Requires RepentanceDo We Need to Sell All that We Have and Give It to the Poor?Giving Up Earthly Treasure for Heavenly TreasureJesus Loved the Rich Young RulerJesus Isn’t Chasing Us DownRiches Choked Jesus Out of the Rich Young Ruler's Life The problem with greed is not so much seen in our possessions, but rather what is possessing our hearts. Sermon, Greed’s Graveyard, Luke 12:13-21, June 16, 2019. Randy Smith. Read on to see how the rich young ruler's possessions possessed his heart. Luke 18:18 And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” The parallel account in Mark 10:17 says, "As [Jesus] was setting out on his journey, [the rich young ruler] RAN UP and KNELT BEFORE HIM." The rich young ruler sounds: zealous: he ran up to Jesus. humble: he knelt before him. respectful: he called him Good Teacher and seems to think highly of him sincerely interested in spiritual matters: he asked one of the most important questions we can ask: What must I do to inherit eternal life?" He believes in God and he wants to go to heaven. Jesus responded... Luke 18:19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. Jesus isn’t saying he isn’t good, and he isn’t saying he isn’t God. Instead, He’s saying there’s only One who is good and that’s God. If the rich young ruler calls Jesus good, he must also recognize he is God. Or another way to say it is, if the rich young ruler doesn’t recognize that Jesus is God, he shouldn’t be calling him good. Luke 18:20a You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, The seventh commandment. Luke 18:20b Do not murder, The sixth commandment. Luke 18:20c Do not steal, The eighth commandment. Luke 18:20d Do not bear false witness, The ninth commandment. Luke 18:20e Honor your father and mother.’” The fifth commandment. Apparently, when you’re Jesus, you can put the commandments in whatever order you want! Why Didn't Jesus Preach the Gospel to the Rich Young Ruler? If you weren’t familiar with this account, or in other words, if you didn’t already know how Jesus answered the rich young ruler’s question about inheriting eternal life, what would you expect Jesus to say? What would you say if someone asked you about inheriting eternal life? "Repent and believe!" Our minds can go to Paul and Silas receiving this question from the Philippian jailer… Acts 16:30 [the Philippian jailer] said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 [Paul and Silas] said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” So, why did Jesus respond this way? Was he describing another way to be saved? I’m not trying to sound irreverent, but did he forget the gospel? And believe it or not, this isn’t even the only place Jesus responded this way! This account has similarities with the lawyer who tested Jesus. Luke 10:25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” The similarity between the lawyer and the rich young ruler is they both asked the same good question: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” The difference is they had completely different motives: The rich young ruler asked to learn. The lawyer asked to put [Jesus] to the test. He wanted to trap him and make him look bad. Not Courtroom Lawyers When you read about lawyers, don’t think of courtrooms. Instead, think of the way lawyers in our day study the law for a living, and the lawyers in Jesus’s day studied the Mosaic Law for a living. Even priests and Levites didn’t know the law as well as them because they spent so much of their time performing sacrifices and serving in the temple. The NIV and amplified Bibles say "expert in the law" versus lawyer. In the NKJV and NASB there’s a footnote that says lawyer could also be translated as "expert in the law." If anyone who could contend with Jesus in a debate, it would be a lawyer. But Jesus responded as brilliantly and effortlessly as every other time: Luke 10:26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus told the rich young ruler and the lawyer to obey the 10 Commandments. Obey these two commands means obeying the 10 Commandments because they hang from these two. If you love God perfectly, you’ll obey commands one through four: You won’t have other gods. You won’t make idols. You won’t take God’s name in vain. You’ll keep the Sabbath rest…which we keep through resting in Christ’s finished work. If you love your neighbor perfectly, you’ll obey commands 5 through 10: You’ll honor your father and mother. You won’t murder. You won’t commit adultery. You won’t steal. You won’t give false testimony against your neighbor. You won’t covet. We Would Be Justified by the Law If We Kept It Perfectly But we know we can’t inherit eternal life by obeying the Law, or keeping the Ten Commandments, so we would expect Jesus to tell the lawyer that he can’t keep these commands to be saved. Instead, he responded the same way he responded to the rich young ruler: Luke 10:28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” Why did Jesus respond to these two men this way? He was simply answering their question! Much of his answer is contained in the word DO: Luke 10:25 The lawyer asked, “Teacher, what SHALL I DO to inherit eternal life?” Luke 18:18 The Rich Young Ruler asked, “What MUST I DO to inherit eternal life?” They thought they were saved by DOING, so Jesus told them what to DO: keep the law perfectly. If they would’ve asked “HOW can I inherit eternal life?” versus “What MUST I DO to inherit eternal life?” maybe Jesus would’ve answered differently. Maybe you’re uncomfortable with Jesus’s response because it seems like he misled them. But he didn’t. He told them one of the two ways to be saved. If you can keep the law perfectly you can be saved. And the law itself testified to this. When the rich young ruler and the lawyer responded to Jesus they quoted the law. It is less obvious, but when Jesus responded to them, he also quoted the law. He said, “Do this and you will live,” and the words, “You will live,” were frequently attached to Old Testament verses associated with obeying God’s commands: Deuteronomy 4:1 O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, THAT YOU MAY LIVE. Nehemiah 9:29 If a person [obeys your commandments], HE SHALL LIVE BY THEM. Ezekiel 18:9 [Whoever] walks in my statutes, and keeps My rules by acting faithfully he is righteous; HE SHALL SURELY LIVE. Because of this, it was well-known that if people obeyed God’s law perfectly, they would live, or inherit eternal life, so that’s how Jesus responded. But what’s the problem? We Must Be Justified by Faith Because We Can’t Keep the Law Perfectly The point of the law is to show us our sinfulness: Romans 3:20 By works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. This helps us understand what Jesus was doing with the lawyer and the rich young ruler. He was getting them to quote the law so they would see their sinfulness and need to be saved. Because none of us can do keep the law perfectly, God graciously provided a way for us to be justified, or declared righteous, by faith apart from the law: Romans 3:21 The righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law…22 The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe…28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. But with the lawyer we read: Luke 10:29 But he, DESIRING TO JUSTIFY HIMSELF, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” As sad as this response is, I love the way it is worded because it reveals the alternative to being justified, or declared righteous, by faith. We attempt to justify ourselves, or declare our righteousness, which is what the lawyer tried to do. I think the lawyer knew he couldn’t keep the law perfectly, but instead of submitting to Christ, he tried to lower the bar and make it more manageable by limiting who his neighbor might be. The rich young ruler also did not recognize his sinfulness and need to be saved: Luke 18:21 And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” In a truly remarkable demonstration of pride, the rich young ruler claimed to have kept all the commandments…since he was a child. He believes the world’s most common lie: “I’m a good person.” Ask people why they will go to heaven and many of them will tell you they follow the 10 Commandments, just like the rich young ruler. The Rich Young Ruler Is the Opposite of Little Children The location of the account with the rich young ruler is significant. It is in all three synoptic Gospels (Matthew 19:16-26, Mark 10:17-27,

In Luke 11:49, Jesus called Himself “The wisdom of God.” Paul wrote, “Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God…Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God…in [Christ] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (1 Corinthians 1:24, 30, Colossians 2:3). Read or listen to this chapter from the Work and Rest God’s Way Family Guide to learn why Jesus is the wisdom of God. Table of contentsJesus Is Wisdom IncarnateJesus Is Wiser Than SolomonJesus Is Wiser than the TeachersJesus is the Wisdom of the Book of ProverbsQuestionsFootnotes Saying our children need the gospel is saying they need Christ. Work and Rest God’s Way and the accompanying Family Guide are meant to help you point your children toward Christ by giving them wisdom. Giving your children biblical wisdom is giving them Jesus because Jesus is the wisdom of God. Consider these verses: 1 Corinthians 1:24—To those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:30—You are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Colossians 2:3—In [Jesus] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Luke 11:49—Therefore the wisdom of God (referring to Jesus) said, "I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute." Notice, it doesn’t say some of the treasures of wisdom are hidden in Jesus. It says all the treasures of wisdom are hidden in Him. Jesus Is Wisdom Incarnate When God became a Man in the Person of Jesus Christ, it was as though wisdom itself became a man; wisdom was incarnated. John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This refers to Jesus, and then John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” The Greek word for word is logos, which captures the Greek idea of divine reason or the mind of God. When the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, the wisdom of God became flesh and dwelt among us. Since the wisdom of God became flesh in the Person of Jesus Christ, we see wisdom manifested in Jesus’ life. Jesus Is Wiser Than Solomon It’s easier to appreciate Jesus’ wisdom if it’s contrasted with the wisdom of others. There were wise men in the Old Testament, such as Joseph and Daniel, but it doesn’t mean much to say Jesus was wiser than they were because they were not considered the wisest men in the Old Testament. That title belongs to Solomon, a man whose very name is associated with wisdom as much as Job’s name is associated with suffering. God told him, “I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you” (1 Kings 3:12). There had never been anyone as wise as Solomon, and there would never be anyone as wise as Solomon. “Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt” (1 Kings 4:30). Solomon went on to write most of Proverbs, which is the book of wisdom. When you’re the human author of the Book of Wisdom, you’re wise, but Jesus said: “The queen of the South will rise up in judgment against this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here” (Matthew 12:42). If God told Solomon “nor shall any like you arise after you,” how can Jesus say He’s greater than Solomon? Jesus is in a class by Himself. While Solomon was wise, Jesus is wisdom. Jesus Is Wiser than the Teachers Jesus’ wisdom manifested itself at a young age. There’s almost nothing recorded about His early life. Following His birth, we only have one story about Him when He was in the temple with the teachers (Luke 2:41-51). This account is about—of all things—His wisdom. Two verses serve as bookends: Luke 2:40—The Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom. Luke 2:52—Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. In between these verses is the only account in the Bible from His childhood. Part of it reads: After three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers (Luke 2:46-47). When Jesus was twelve-years-old, He was engaged in a theological dialogue with the teachers of the Law. These men, the wise men of the day, were amazed by what Jesus said. They recognized His wisdom. As Jesus grew, His wisdom continued to be manifested through His teaching: “They were astonished at His teaching…He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, ‘Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him?’” (Mark 1:22, 6:2). Jesus’ wisdom was also manifested through His life. Seeing Jesus’ life is seeing wisdom on display. Jesus’ actions were wisdom lived out. Jesus is the Wisdom of the Book of Proverbs The Book of Proverbs is written as a father speaking to his son: “My son, hear the instruction of your father” (Proverbs 1:8).124 We also repeatedly read, “A wise son makes a glad father” (Proverbs 10:1, 15:20, and 29:3). Jesus was the perfectly Wise Son who makes His Father glad. Think of Jesus’ baptism: “A voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’” (Matthew 3:17). Since Proverbs is the book of wisdom, and Jesus is the source of all wisdom, teaching our children the Book of Proverbs is teaching them about Jesus. For our children to know the wisdom of proverbs is for them to know Jesus. The fourth paragraph of Chapter 3 of Work and Rest God’s Way, reads:  In John 8:23, Jesus said, “I am from above.” James 3:17 says, “The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” Jesus is the embodiment of the wisdom from above, and only in looking to Him in the Proverbs can the sluggard’s life be remedied. Work and Rest God’s Way draws heavily on the Book of Proverbs and, in doing so, points readers to Christ. Colossians 2:6-7 says, “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.” This is a good prayer for our children. As they receive Christ Jesus the Lord, they should walk in Him, referring to having a relationship with Him. They should be rooted and built up in Him, which is to say they should have roots that go down deep and produce growth in Him. As parents, our responsibility is to teach our children, so they’re established in the faith, having a firm foundation for the future. Children have the responsibility to remember that teaching, abounding in it with thanksgiving for Christ and what He’s done. Questions Look up wisdom in a dictionary and write it below. If you also have a Bible dictionary, look it up there and record it as well. Explain what it means to you that all the treasures of wisdom are hidden in Jesus. Describe a time God allowed you to act in wisdom. Describe a time you forsook wisdom. How has God used your children to demonstrate wisdom to you? If you don’t have children, can you think of a time when God used a child? If you are a child or teen, can you think of a time someone younger than you had wisdom about something? Find three verses from the book of Proverbs about wisdom that especially stuck out to you and write them down. How can you help grow and cultivate deep roots in your child to have a relationship with Jesus? How would you explain to your child what having a relationship with Jesus means? What additional things can you do so your children will be established in the faith? Footnotes

When Jesus was on trial before the religious leaders as the innocent Son of God, they rejected, abused, and condemned Him. Luke highlights both the depth of human depravity and the innocence of Christ, the One who endured injustice to bring sinners to God. https://youtu.be/pNbDTkUHUSA Table of contentsJesus on Trial: The Larger Context of His Six TrialsThe First Jewish Trial — Before Annas (John 18:12–24)The Second Jewish Trial — Before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin (Matthew 26:57–68; Mark 14:53–65)Jesus on Trial Before the Temple Guards (Luke 22:63–65)Continuous and Increasing AbuseBlindfolded and TauntedAccusing God of BlasphemyJesus on Trial Before the Sanhedrin (Luke 22:66–71)A Verdict Already DecidedJesus Declares His Heavenly AuthorityLesson One: Human Depravity Revealed When Jesus Is on Trial1. Depravity in Their Violence2. Depravity in Their Willful Unbelief3. Depravity in Their Rejection of Jesus’s Authority4. Depravity in Their Eagerness to CondemnLesson Two: Jesus Submitted to Abuse to Save UsLesson Three: Jesus on Trial and the Logic of the TrilemmaUnderstanding LogicC.S. Lewis and the “Liar, Lunatic, or Lord” ArgumentNo Neutrality When Jesus Is on TrialConclusion: Responding to Jesus on Trial1. The Depravity of the Religious Leaders2. The Submission of Christ When people hear the phrase “Jesus on Trial,” they often think of the Roman governor Pilate. But before Jesus ever stood before Pilate, He endured a series of corrupt Jewish trials that revealed both the depths of human depravity and the beauty of the gospel. In Luke 22:63-71 we see the sinless Son of God—who fulfilled every prophecy, healed the sick, opened blind eyes, raised the dead, cast out demons, fed multitudes, and brought the kingdom of God near—mocked, blindfolded, beaten, and condemned by the very religious leaders who claimed to long for the Messiah. These verses expose the frightening callousness of the human heart when it resists the truth. But even more, they reveal the heart of the gospel: Christ willingly enduring abuse so guilty sinners can receive mercy. My prayer is that as we study Jesus on trial before the Jewish leaders, we won’t just understand what happened—we’ll deepen our love for the Innocent Son of God who suffered silently in our place. Jesus on Trial: The Larger Context of His Six Trials To appreciate what’s happening in Luke 22, it helps to see the full picture. Think of Jesus’s arrest in Gethsemane and His crucifixion as bookends. Between them, Jesus endured six trials: Three Jewish trials before Annas, Caiaphas, and the Sanhedrin Three Roman trials before Pilate, Herod, then Pilate again These proceedings were filled with illegal procedures, false witnesses, political pressure, and profound injustice. The First Jewish Trial — Before Annas (John 18:12–24) Jesus was first taken to Annas, the former high priest who still held significant influence. There were no formal charges. Annas interrogated Jesus, hoping to trap Him. Jesus called out the illegality of questioning Him without witnesses, and one of the officers struck Him. The Second Jewish Trial — Before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin (Matthew 26:57–68; Mark 14:53–65) Next, Jesus was sent to Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin. This trial took place at night, which made it illegal according to Jewish law. Jesus was charged with blasphemy. False witnesses contradicted each other. They couldn’t condemn Jesus until He clearly affirmed that He was the Messiah. The high priest tore his robes and declared Jesus guilty. Peter’s denials took place in the courtyard outside. Luke 22:63–71 picks up with the abuse during this nighttime trial and then moves into the formal daytime trial that “legitimized,” in their minds, the verdict they already wanted. Jesus on Trial Before the Temple Guards (Luke 22:63–65) Luke 22:63 – “Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him.” We might expect brutal treatment from pagan Roman soldiers, but Jesus wasn’t with the Romans yet. These were Jewish temple guards—men who served in the temple, not criminals from the streets. The very people entrusted with maintaining holiness in God’s house abused the Holy One of God. Continuous and Increasing Abuse The Greek word for “beat” indicates continuous action. This wasn’t one blow; it was repeated, ongoing violence. Jesus was struck, slapped, spat upon, and insulted again and again. In doing so, they fulfilled multiple prophecies of the Innocent Sufferer: Isaiah 50:6 – “I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.” Isaiah 53:3 – “He was despised and rejected by men.” Psalm 22:7–8 – “All who see me mock me…” Blindfolded and Taunted Luke 22:64 – “They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, ‘Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?’” Blindfolding Jesus intensified the cruelty—He could not brace for the blows. Their mockery implied, “If You’re really a prophet, prove it.” It echoes the wilderness temptations: “If You are who You claim to be…” Ironically, the One who was blindfolded saw everything, while those with uncovered eyes were utterly blind to who He was. Accusing God of Blasphemy Luke 22:65 – “They said many other things against him, blaspheming him.” Here is the tragic reversal at the heart of Jesus on trial:God in the flesh is accused of blaspheming God. Jesus on Trial Before the Sanhedrin (Luke 22:66–71) Jewish law prohibited trials at night, so the council reconvened at daybreak to give an appearance of legality. Luke 22:66 – “When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes…” This was the Sanhedrin, Israel’s ruling council of seventy-one men—chief priests (mostly Sadducees), elders, and scribes (mostly Pharisees). They disagreed about many theological issues, but they were united in their hatred of Jesus. A Verdict Already Decided Luke 22:67 – “If you are the Christ, tell us.” Compare this with: Luke 22:2 – “The chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people.” They weren’t sincerely seeking truth; they were seeking grounds to justify the death sentence they already wanted. Jesus exposed their unbelief: Luke 22:67–68 – “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer.” Their problem was not lack of information; it was hardened hearts. Jesus Declares His Heavenly Authority Despite their unbelief, Jesus clearly revealed His identity: Luke 22:69 – “But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” This is one of the most important Christological statements in the New Testament. It combines two major Old Testament Messianic passages: Daniel 7:13–14 – The Son of ManThe “Son of Man” receives everlasting dominion, authority, and glory from the Ancient of Days. Psalm 110:1 – The Lord at God’s Right Hand“Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” This is the most quoted Old Testament verse in the New Testament. By using these texts together, Jesus is effectively saying: “I am the Son of Man of Daniel 7, the One you are rejecting and abusing. I am the Lord of Psalm 110 who will sit in the position of divine authority, ruling the universe after defeating My enemies.” To any reasonable person, this should have been terrifying. But the leaders were not reasonable—they were hardened. Luke 22:70–71 – “So they all said, ‘Are you the Son of God, then?’ And he said to them, ‘You say that I am.’ Then they said, ‘What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.’” They finally had what they wanted: words they could use to charge Jesus with blasphemy. Under Jewish law, blasphemy was punishable by death. But since Rome controlled executions, they now needed to involve Pilate. The Roman phase of Jesus on trial would soon begin. Lesson One: Human Depravity Revealed When Jesus Is on Trial Scripture describes the human heart this way: Ecclesiastes 9:3 – “The hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live…” In this passage, the cruelty shown to Jesus vividly displays human depravity in at least four ways. 1. Depravity in Their Violence Their cruelty was deliberate and enjoyed.No restraint. No fear of God. They struck and mocked Christ for their own pleasure. 2. Depravity in Their Willful Unbelief They asked, “If You are the Christ, tell us,” but Jesus said, “If I tell you, you will not believe.” Their problem wasn’t confusion; it was refusal. They pretended to seek truth, but truth threatened their power, exposed their sin, and demanded repentance. The sinful heart hates truth when truth requires humility. 3. Depravity in Their Rejection of Jesus’s Authority Jesus said, “From now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” He claimed to be Messiah, Judge, and King—and they responded with rage. The natural heart does not want a sovereign Christ; it wants a manageable Jesus instead of the real One. 4. Depravity in Their Eagerness to Condemn “Why do we need any more testimony?” basically means, “We don’t want more evidence; we just want Him dead.” Before formal charges were presented, the guards were already beating and blaspheming Him. This was not justice—it was hatred dressed up as religion. Lesson Two: Jesus Submitted to Abuse to Save Us If we think about extreme wickedness, we might think of Hitler and Nazi Germany. Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who opposed both, is often quoted as saying: “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil… Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” In general, that’s true. But in this scene of Jesus on trial, Christ chose a very different path. With few exceptions,

All three synoptic Gospels record one of the most beloved accounts: Jesus blessed little children (Matthew 19:13-15, Mark 10:13-16, Luke 18:15-17). Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." Learn why Jesus said the kingdom of God belongs to infants and those like them. Table of contentsJesus Said, “Let the Little Children Come to Me,” Because the Kingdom of God Belongs to ThemTwo Points About Jesus Blessing the ChildrenWhy Would the Kingdom of God Belong to Infants?Jesus Said, “Let the Little Children Come to Me,” Because They Exemplify Salvation Apart from WorksWhat Have Infants Done to Be Saved?Jesus Said, “Let the Little Children Come to Me,” Because the Kingdom of God Belongs to People Like ThemTwo Reasons Humility Is Needed to Enter the Kingdom"Receiving" the Kingdom of God Like ChildrenThe Kingdom of God Probably Also Belongs to the Mentally HandicappedWhen We Were Told We Were Having a Down Syndrome ChildFirst, God Is Sovereign over DisabilitiesSecond, Disabilities Are not the Results of Parents' SinsThird, God Wants to Use Disabilities for His Glory https://youtu.be/M-oi3bLugF4 In Luke 18:15-17 Jesus said the kingdom of God belongs to infants. I preached four earlier sermons explaining why the kingdom of God belongs to infants: Are Children Innocent? The Biblical Age of Accountability Sin Is Not Imputed Where There Is No Law Do Babies Go to Heaven When They Die? If you are reading this post, listening to the sermon, or watching the sermon, and you have questions, they were probably answered in these sermons. All three synoptic Gospels record the beloved account of Jesus blessing little children (Matthew 19:13-15, Mark 10:13-16, Luke 18:15-17). We will be focusing on Luke's version: Luke 18:15 Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.  Jewish parents commonly sought out prominent rabbis, which Jesus was, to bless their infants. Not only did the disciples try to stop the parents from bringing their children, they rebuked them. It looks like the disciples rebuked the parents, but then Jesus rebuked the disciples. This is not one of the shining moments for the disciples. If you ever wonder if God can use you, think of some of some of the things the disciples did, and you will be encouraged he can. When I look at the behavior of the disciples at times, I’m encouraged that God can use me. In the parallel account Mark 10:14 says, "When Jesus saw [what the disciples did], HE WAS INDIGNANT." Based on what Jesus said, he seemed to be indignant because the disciples were destroying a spiritual truth he was trying to communicate. Infants were supposed to be able to come to Jesus physically, because it pictures infants being able to come to him spiritually, not just in this life but in the next. Preventing infants from being brought to Jesus could communicate they don’t have access to him. Jesus Said, “Let the Little Children Come to Me,” Because the Kingdom of God Belongs to Them Jesus made it clear infants have access to him with the words, “To such belongs the kingdom of God.” The words "to such" are incredibly important. In the NIV, NASB, and Amplified, it says, "such as these." These words show Jesus wasn’t only saying the kingdom belongs to the infants brought to him. The kingdom also belongs to EVERY infant. I’m not alone in interpreting this as a guarantee of babies’ salvation. When preaching on this passage John MacArthur said: I am convinced that the Scripture is absolutely clear that when babies die and children die before reaching the point of personal accountability, they go to heaven. And I have collected all that material in a book. I have a copy of John's book, Safe in the Arms of God, which I referenced during these sermons. If you desire to understand infant salvation deeper than what I have taught, I highly recommend this book. [This] passage gives Kingdom citizenship to both children and those who are like children. [They] have not yet any understanding to desire His blessing but when they are presented to Him, He gently and kindly receives them and dedicates them to the Father by a solemn act of blessing. It would be cruel to exclude that age from the grace of redemption. It is an irreligious audacity to drive from Christ’s fold those whom He held in His arms and shut the door on them as strangers when He did not wish to forbid them. John Calvin (2013). “Commentary on Matthew”, p.388, Ravenio Books. I rejoice to know that the souls of all infants, as soon as they die, speed their way to Paradise. Think what a multitude there is of them! C. H. Spurgeon’s Autobiography, Vol. 1, ch. XVI, “A Defence of Calvinism,” Passmore and Alabaster, 1897, p. 175. Two Points About Jesus Blessing the Children Mark 10:16 [Jesus] took [children] in his arms AND BLESSED THEM, laying his hands on them. The parallel account in Mark’s gospel adds that Jesus blessed them. First, Jesus only blessed the saved, which makes sense. How blessed could people really be if they went to hell? How bad it would it look if Jesus blessed people and then they didn’t go to heaven? Second, Jesus blessed these babies, and if paedobaptism, or infant baptism, was biblical, we would also expect him to command the parents to have them baptized. But he didn’t. Why Would the Kingdom of God Belong to Infants? What is so commendable about infants that they get to receive the greatest possible gift? First, infants can be very loving. Typically, they are happy to be held, hugged, kissed, sometimes doing these things even at very young ages. Second, infants are forgiving. Even if infants are angry because they didn’t get what they wanted, they don’t hold grudges. When you return to an infant a little while later they are not upset with you about whatever it is they didn’t get. They do not keep a record of wrongs or harbor bitterness. Third, infants are very trusting, and trust is synonymous with faith. Infants are so trusting that as they get older we must teach them to be LESS trusting. We say things like, “Don’t talk to strangers. You can’t trust everyone.” Fourth, infants have sincere motives. When they smile, laugh, or giggle, it is completely genuine. They do it for no other reason than the joy they are experiencing. They don’t worry about how they appear to others. They don’t try to impress, which leads to the fifth thing about them... Fifth, infants lack pride: Ephesians 2:8 By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is NOT YOUR OWN DOING; it is the gift of God, 9 NOT A RESULT OF WORKS, so that no one may boast. Our salvation is not our own doing and not a result of our works. As we get older we can start to become proud and believe we contributed something to our salvation. But infants don’t have this problem. Jesus Said, “Let the Little Children Come to Me,” Because They Exemplify Salvation Apart from Works Considering there is no effort or merit on our parts to be saved, infants exemplify this incredibly well. They are the best example of the gospel’s recipients demonstrating divine grace and unconditional election. When I use the term unconditional election, I’m not even using it in a Calvinist versus Arminian way. I am using it in the most generic way possible to describe people being elected independently of anything they have done or could do. There's no better example than babies. They have done nothing to be elected, yet they are. They have done nothing to deserve the kingdom of heaven, yet it belongs to them. Luke 18:9 He also told this parable TO SOME WHO TRUSTED IN THEMSELVES THAT THEY WERE RIGHTEOUS, and treated others with contempt: Jesus preached this parable to the religious leaders. Because they believed the kingdom of God belonged to those who were good enough, the idea that infants could be saved was detestable to them. When Jesus held these infants and said the kingdom belonged to them, it flew in the face of the religious leaders’ teaching that the kingdom of God belonged to those who did enough. What Have Infants Done to Be Saved? Some people struggle with infant salvation, because they don't think infants have done enough. But if we understand the gospel, what have any of us done to be saved? Nothing. We haven’t done more to be saved than infants. Or another way to say it is, infants haven’t done less than us to be saved. Matthew 5:3 Blessed are THE POOR IN SPIRIT, for THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. In Luke 18 Jesus said the kingdom of God belongs to children. Here he says the kingdom of God belongs to the poor in spirit. The poor in spirit know they have nothing with which they could earn their salvation. They don’t trust in their own righteousness. So, it is fitting that the kingdom of God belongs to infants. They don’t think they are spiritually rich. We must get older to become proud and believe we deserve to go to heaven. A true Christian is poor in spirit, and MORE LIKE A LITTLE CHILD, and more disposed to a universal lowliness of behavior. Jonathan Edwards, Treatise Concerning the Religious Affections, Yale edition, 339. Jesus Said, “Let the Little Children Come to Me,” Because the Kingdom of God Belongs to People Like Them After making the point that the kingdom of God belongs to children and those like them, Jesus presents the other side: The kingdom of God does NOT belong to people who are not like children: Luke 18:17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” If we are not like infants, we don’t even get to enter the kingdom. The Kingdom of God so clearly belongs to infants,

People ask, "Do babies go to heaven when they die?" This applies to people who have lost babies, but all believers should be able to answer this question to be equipped to minister to others. In 2 Samuel 12:23, when David lost his child, he said, "I will go to him, but he will not return to me." There are Bible verses about unborn babies going to heaven. Read on, watch, or listen if you want to know, "Do unborn babies go to heaven?" Table of contentsThere Are Babies Who Were Going to Go to HeavenDavid Was Going to Go to Heaven as a BabyThe Prophet Jeremiah Was Going to Go to Heaven as a BabyJohn the Baptist Was Going to Go to Heaven as a BabyDavid's Child of Adultery Was Going to Go to Heaven as a BabyDavid Knew His Baby Would Be in HeavenFour Reasons It Is Wrong to Think David Was Only Saying He Would Die tooFirst, David Wouldn't Simply Acknowledge His DeathSecond, David Knew He Was Going to HeavenThird, David Comforted Himself with His WordsFourth, David Responded Differently to Absalom's DeathDavid Never Said He Would Go to AbsalomDavid Wanted to Die in Absalom's PlaceBabies Can Go to Heaven Without Exercising Personal FaithStriving to Understand How Babies Go to Heaven Without Saving FaithWayne Grudem Supports Babies Going to Heaven without Saving FaithGotquestions.org Supports Babies Going to Heaven without Saving FaithJohn Calvin Supports Babies Going to Heaven without Saving FaithGod Can Save Those Unable to BelieveJesus’s Sacrifice Is Sufficient for All to Be SavedUnderstanding a Wonderful but Confusing TruthThose Who Can Exercise Saving Faith Must Do So https://youtu.be/6TwBoxL7Epk People ask, "Do babies go to heaven when they die?" In 2 Samuel 12:23, King David said, "I will go to him, but he will not return to me." There Are Babies Who Were Going to Go to Heaven This post answers the question, "Do babies go to heaven when they die?" by building off the previous posts: Are Children Innocent? The Biblical Age of Accountability Sin Is Not Imputed Where There Is No Law Because babies are innocent, they haven’t reached the age of accountability, and sin is not imputed to them, we see examples of saved babies in the Bible. Don’t focus on the fact that there are few saved babies in the Bible. Instead, focus on the fact that there ARE saved babies in the Bible. If there was only one saved baby in the Bible, that would be significant, because it demonstrates that a baby can be saved. David Was Going to Go to Heaven as a Baby Psalm 22:10 On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother's womb you have been my God. David didn’t say he knew God or had faith in God, as those are impossibilities for babies. But he did make two points. First, he said he was cast on God from his birth. This sounds like he was saved when he was born. Then he backed up even further and said God had been his God when was in the womb. To say God is someone’s God is Old Testament salvific language. David said he was saved before he was born. The Prophet Jeremiah Was Going to Go to Heaven as a Baby Jeremiah 1:5 [God said,] “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” God said two things to Jeremiah and the second doesn’t necessarily mean he was saved. God said he "consecrated," or some translations say "sanctified" (KJV and NKJV), which means "set apart." That’s how it’s translated in the NIV. This can simply mean that God set Jeremiah apart as a prophet as it said right after that. But at the beginning of the verse God said he knew Jeremiah. Again, this is Old Testament salvation language. This language is carried forward in the New Testament. Speaking to believers Paul said: Galatians 4:9 Now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, When people are unbelievers, on the day of judgment Jesus will say to them: Matthew 7:23 “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.” Also, God said he knew Jeremiah BEFORE forming him in the womb. This is foreknowledge, which we also see in the New Testament: Ephesians 1:4 [God] chose us in [Christ] BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, that we should be holy and blameless before him. Or… 1 Peter 1:2 Those who are elect…2 according to THE FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD the Father, The idea is just like God foreknew and chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, he foreknew and chose Jeremiah unto salvation before he was even in the womb. John the Baptist Was Going to Go to Heaven as a Baby Luke 1:15 [The angel Gabriel said, “John] will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and HE WILL BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, EVEN FROM HIS MOTHER'S WOMB. If you’re filled with the Holy Spirit, you’re saved, and John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit before he was born: We might say that John the Baptist was ‘born again’ before he was born! Wayne A. Grudem, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, page 500. We are not saved by works, but works are evidence of salvation, and we are given evidence of John’s salvation: Luke 1:41 When Elizabeth [John’s mother] heard the greeting of Mary, the baby [referring to John] leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Salvation always produces fruit, and John’s leaping was evidence of his regeneration. David's Child of Adultery Was Going to Go to Heaven as a Baby More people cling to this account when they have lost a child to be encouraged they will see their child again, than any other in Scripture. David committed adultery with Bathsheba and tried to hide his sin by murdering her husband, Uriah. Bathsheba became pregnant and God told David the child would die: 2 Samuel 12:16 David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. 17 And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. 18 On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm.” When the child was alive David fasted and spent all day and night on the ground praying. His servants were thinking: “If David was that upset about the possibility of the child dying, he might really do something drastic if he finds out the child is dead.” It doesn’t mean David was suicidal, but his servants thought he might be! But when David received the news: 2 Samuel 12:19 But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.” 20 Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate. A child’s death might be the most painful experience for anyone to go through. I remember when my brother died, my assistant principal said it’s a parent’s worst nightmare to have to bury a child. That’s what David had to do, but interestingly if I had to use one word to describe David it wouldn’t be anguished, suffering, or afflicted. Instead, it would be the word peace. David looks like he is at peace. He did the opposite of what his servants expected. Instead of doing himself harm he cleaned himself up, ceased fasting, and had something to eat. 2 Samuel 12:20 even says David worshipped. This confused the servants… 2 Samuel 12:21 Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” 22 He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ 23 But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? "I will go to him, but he will not return to me.” David Knew His Baby Would Be in Heaven Look at the certainty with which David spoke: "I will go to him." He didn’t encourage himself with these words as though they were a possibility. To him they were a certainty. Four Reasons It Is Wrong to Think David Was Only Saying He Would Die too Instead of thinking David would go to be with the child in heaven, some people think David meant, “I shall go to the grave, like he went to the grave” or, "I will join the child in death." There are four reasons that this argument is wrong, and I want to go through them so we can be confident if we are ever in David’s place and lose a child, or we must counsel someone who has lost a child. This way we will be equipped to do so. First, David Wouldn't Simply Acknowledge His Death It doesn’t make sense that David only meant that he would die someday, like his son. There’s no reason for him to say something so blatantly obvious. Of course, he’s going to die someday too. Second, David Knew He Was Going to Heaven One of the main reasons some people think David was only saying he would join his son in the grave is the next life was veiled or shadowy in the Old Testament. People commonly said they were going to the grave or Sheol, without saying that they were going to heaven or hell. But few people in the Old Testament, if any, had as much revelation as David. He understood that for him the next life meant going to heaven: Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I SHALL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOREVER. David knew death wasn’t simply going to the grave. For him, it was going to heaven,

One of the reasons babies go to heaven is sin is not imputed to them. Romans 5:13 says, "Sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not imputed where there is no law." The law brings sin, and sin brings death. If there is no law, there should be no sin. There was no law between Adam and Moses, but people still died because of original sin: "Death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam" (Romans 5:14). Babies die in the womb because of original sin. Table of contentsBabies Have Not Disqualified ThemselvesBabies Are Not "Without Excuse""These People Will Not Inherit the Kingdom of God"We Have Committed the Listed SinsBabies Have Not Committed the Listed SinsBabies Would Not Know Why They Were in HellWhat About Original Sin?Sin Nature Is Different than SinningSin Is Not Imputed to BabiesSin Is Imputed When People Have Knowledge of SinSin is NOT Imputed When People Lack Knowledge of SinSin Is Not Imputed Where There Is No LawSin Is Not Imputed Where There Is No LawDid God Really Not Impute People's Sin Where There Is no Law?There Should Have Been No DeathBabies Die Because of Original SinThree Ways Adam Is a Type of JesusFootnotes https://youtu.be/d41QGwfEtXQ One of the reasons babies go to heaven is sin is not imputed to them. Romans 5:13 says, "Sin is not counted where there is no law." Babies Have Not Disqualified Themselves By disqualifying, I mean disqualifying from heaven. Babies haven’t committed sins that disqualify them from heaven, such as those in Romans 1:20-21. We will start at Romans 1:18 for context. Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron’s Way of the Master's strategy involves helping people recognize their sinfulness, so they see their need for the Gospel. Paul takes this approach in Romans. He explains the Gospel in Romans 3 and 4, but before that he shows us our need for the gospel by convincing us of our sinfulness: Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. This helps us understand what the gospel does: it delivers us from the wrath of God. The end of the verse says people "suppress the truth." People can only suppress truth that is known to them. If they were ignorant of the truth, they would not be able to suppress it. The truth they suppress is that that there is a Creator. They deny that God exists. Romans 1:19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. The truth that God exists "is plain" or obvious. It is not difficult or complicated to believe that God exists. Instead, it is difficult or complicated to believe that God does NOT exist. God plainly revealed his existence through creation: Romans 1:20a For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. "Have been clearly perceived" is similar to "is plain to them" (verse 19). Creation makes the evidence for God overwhelming: The painting is evidence there is a painter. The building is evidence there is a builder. The invention is evidence there is an inventor. Similarly, creation is evidence there is a Creator. Because of the greatness and majesty of creation, it is evidence that the Creator is great and majestic. The verse identifies two things we can learn about God from his creation: he has "eternal power and [a] divine nature," because only a being with these qualities could create a universe like ours. Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. The universe gives God’s glory. Creation is the display case for his beauty and attributes. When Isaiah received his famous vision of the throne room of God immediately before his commissioning, he described what the angels were saying: Isaiah 6:3 One [Angel] called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; THE WHOLE EARTH IS FULL OF HIS GLORY!” The angels recognize that creation itself reveals God’s glory and they worship him for it. Babies Are Not "Without Excuse" Because the evidence for God is so strong, when people deny it, they [have no] excuse: Romans 1:20b So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. The verse says "they knew God" because creation revealed it to them. There are no atheists. The problem is not that man does NOT know God. The problem is that man does know God, but as verse 18 says, he "[suppresses] that truth." He pushes it down and tries to deny it. Man does this because he does not want to give God two things in verse 21 that he deserves. First, he because of God’s greatness he deserves to be honored, or worshiped. Second, because of what God has done for us, he deserves to be [given] thanks. It is unbelievable that people are not thankful to God. He has given us life, families, children, a beautiful world to live in, and most importantly, a Son who will take the punishment we deserve. Ingratitude is one of our worst sins. When man rejects God, he becomes futile in [his] thinking. He believes absurd things like we came from fish and apes and/or the universe created itself through an explosion. This is futile, or [foolish], thinking: Romans 1:22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, I recently watched Evolution Versus God. One of the common themes with many individuals who were interviewed who claim to be atheists is they also "[claim] to be wise." But in the process, they revealed their [foolishness]. In Romans 1:20-21 man is condemned if he doesn’t recognize creation has a Creator, honor or worship God, and give him thanks. But it’s hard to argue that babies could do these things, especially while they’re still in the womb! Babies don’t move around in the amniotic fluid thinking, “Wow this is amazing. Somehow I was created and that Creator must be amazing!” "These People Will Not Inherit the Kingdom of God" Numerous places in Scripture reveal people don’t inherit the Kingdom of God because of sins they commit. For example, this verse describes people in hell:127 Revelation 21:8 The cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death. Similarly: 1 Corinthians 6:9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. We Have Committed the Listed Sins Just like the people in 1 Corinthians do not inherit the Kingdom of God because of the sins they committed, these people find themselves in the lake of fire because of the sins they committed. This is pretty concerning considering all of us, if we are honest, recognize we have committed many of these sins. We are the people described in these verses. That means if we don’t repent and stop being these people then we also will not inherit the kingdom of God. We also will find ourselves in the lake of fire. That’s why 1 Corinthians 6:11 goes on to say: 1 Corinthians 6:11 And SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. Through repentance and faith in Christ, we stopped being these people. We were born again. As the verse says, we were washed, sanctified, and justified. We have become new creations: 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. Babies Have Not Committed the Listed Sins The verses in 1 Corinthians 6 and Revelation 21 are not just saying these people DID these things. They are saying these people ARE these things. God sends people to hell not just for committing these sins, but for being these sinners. But I can’t imagine anyone arguing that a baby IS one of these sinners. When babies scream and keep us up all night, we might be tempted to look at them and say they are lots of things, such as difficult, trying, exhausting, wearying, draining, and fatiguing. But nobody ever looks at babies and says they are fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, drunkards, sorcerers, extortioners, or revilers. In other words, babies haven’t committed sins disqualifying them from inheriting the kingdom of God. And these verses complement Jesus’s words well. These verses are about people who will NOT inherit the kingdom of God. But Jesus said babies WILL inherit the kingdom of God: Luke 18:16 “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.” The kingdom of God belongs to babies and those like them. Babies Would Not Know Why They Were in Hell If an infant went to hell for no other reason than original sin…it would know suffering but it would have no understanding of the reason for its suffering…the whole meaning and significance of its suffering would be to [the baby] a conscious mystery…Such an infant would know it was in hell, but it would not be able to explain why it was there. R.A. Webb, The Theology of Infant Salvation, p. 42. R.A. Webb’s point is because an infant hasn’t consciously engaged in sin, there would be no understanding of having disobeyed God; therefore, there would be no understanding of God’s judgment and why it’s in hell. What About Original Sin? R.A. Webb mentioned original sin,

Is work a blessing or a curse? Genesis 3:19 says, "By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground.” Life is very different because of the fall. Read or listen to this chapter from Work and Rest God's Way to see why work is still a blessing. Table of contentsWork Is a Blessing Because God WorksGod’s Work Brings Him GloryOur Work Should Bring God GloryWork Is a Blessing Versus a CurseGod Put Adam to Work in the Garden Before the FallOur Work Can Be Satisfying and FulfillingThe Fall Can Make Work Feel Like a CurseOur Workplaces Don't Feel Like EdenThe Immorality of Laziness Most of us probably feel like we could have a good argument with ourselves about whether work is a blessing or a curse. Bob Black, an American anarchist and author, wrote in his essay, The Abolition of Work: No one should ever work. Work is the source of nearly all the misery in the world. Almost any evil you’d care to name comes from working or from living in a world designed for work. In order to stop suffering, we have to stop working. Bob Black, The Abolition of Work and Other Essays (Port Townsend: Loompanics Unlimited, 1986). Not only does Black think work is curse, he thinks it’s the cause of all suffering. How do we determine whether this author is correct in his assessment? How do we know if work is a blessing or a curse? We look to the Bible because it is the authority. The question is not, “What does Bob, or me, or you, or anyone else think?” The question is, “What does the Bible teach?” Work Is a Blessing Because God Works Morality (or goodness) is defined by God: For the Lord is good. Psalm 100:5; see also 1 Chronicles 16:34, Psalm 25:8, 34:8, 86:5, 135:3, and 145:7. Good is what God does, and what God does is good. Just as listening and speaking are moral, so is work. The Bible opens with God working: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Then: And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. Genesis 2:2–3 The words “His work” occur three times in two verses. God is the first worker, revealing work is good and moral! God’s Work Brings Him Glory Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows the work of His hands.” God’s work is creative, purposeful, thorough, and it benefits us: “For You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands” (Psalm 92:4). Jesus said, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working” (John 5:17). Isaiah 6 showcases the wonderful vision of God sitting on His throne, high and lifted up, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Angels fly around Him, and Isaiah 6:3 says, “One cried to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!’” Creation is the display case for God’s work. Romans 1:20 says, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” The greatness of creation reveals the greatness of the Creator. God reveals Himself to the world by His creation because work reveals something about the worker. Work speaks of character, motivation, and skills. God’s work is of the highest quality because it is an expression of who He is. Our Work Should Bring God Glory We should work because we want to be like God. Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” We are made in the image of God with some of His attributes. We work because we are His image-bearers! Ephesians 5:1 commands us to “be imitators of God.” To work is to be like God because it reflects what He does. In Isaiah 43:7, God said, “Everyone…I have created for My glory,” which is why in 1 Corinthians 10:31 Paul said, “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Giving glory to God means representing Him well; therefore, what we do should give others an exalted view of God. Since God’s work is of the highest quality, ours should be of the highest quality. We strive for excellence because our work says something about the God we represent. Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Why do we work as though our labor brings God glory? Because it does! People look on, see what we do, and when it is done well, it gives glory to God. Colossians 3:23 says, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” Why do we work as though we’re laboring for Christ? Because we are! Ephesians 6:7 says that we work “with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.” Even when performing jobs that might seem menial or insignificant, we should do our best because we’re doing them for the Lord. Our work ethic is one of our greatest testimonies. We must view our occupations as ministries, and our workplaces as mission fields, whether we’re in an office building, school, or our home. Our work is done God’s way when it’s done for His glory! Work Is a Blessing Versus a Curse We might have expected Jesus to spend all His time in the temple worshiping, praying, discussing Scripture, and doing other things that seem spiritual. Instead, He labored as a carpenter with His earthly father, Joseph, before beginning His public ministry (Mark 6:3). The Son of God Himself worked, and so did other great men in Scripture. Paul was as a tentmaker (Acts 18:1–3). Luke was a physician (Colossians 4:14). God called people to serve Him when they were working. Moses was caring for sheep (Exodus 3:1). Joshua was Moses’ servant before he became his successor (Exodus 33:11). Gideon was threshing wheat (Judges 6:11). David was caring for his father’s sheep (1 Samuel 16:11). Jesus called four men to serve as His disciples while they were fishing (Luke 5:1–11). For others, their professions aren’t listed, but they worked so hard for God’s kingdom that Paul named them in his letters! For example, Tabitha “was full of good works and charitable deeds” (Acts 9:36). Euodia, Syntyche, and Clement were praised because they “labored with (Paul)” (Philippians 4:2–3). Epaphroditus worked so hard he nearly died (Philippians 2:30). Tryphena, Tryphosa, and Persis were commended for their effort for the Lord (Romans 16:12). God Put Adam to Work in the Garden Before the Fall God created us to work. Genesis 2:15 says, “Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.” God gave Adam the job of dressing and guarding the garden. What does this original mandate mean? To “tend” means to foster growth and to improve. To “keep” means to preserve from failure or decline. Genesis 1:31 says, “Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So, the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” God gave Adam work to do on the sixth day, which means it is also “very good.” The timing is important: sin hadn’t been introduced. Since this is prior to The Fall, it demonstrates work is not part of the curse. Instead, it is part of God’s perfect creation. “Tending and keeping” Eden was designed to be a pleasant experience for Adam. He was meant to find his job fulfilling, purposeful, and rewarding. God created man to enjoy work so that He could enjoy watching him, just as parents enjoy watching their children do something positive and productive. Our Work Can Be Satisfying and Fulfilling Just as God observed His work and was satisfied with it, we can have the same experience. Few things are more fulfilling than accomplishing a lengthy task or finishing a difficult job. Animals are motivated by instinct and physical need, but we have higher motivations than simply surviving. We crave meaning, significance, and purpose. We want reasons to get up in the morning. Our jobs give us these reasons and helps fulfill our desires. We should embrace the work God has given us, and express gratitude to Him because it allows us to: Provide for ourselves and our families Experience satisfaction and fulfillment Develop character and endurance Make discoveries about God’s creation Advance the kingdom through our talents Work is an important part of life. Remembering the above truths allows us to view work as a blessing. Then we can labor joyfully and without complaint, finding pleasure and giving thanks. Second only to Jesus, Solomon was the wisest man to ever live. In Ecclesiastes 2:24, he said, “Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God.” Solomon makes the same point four other times, in Ecclesiastes 3:12, 5:18, 8:15, and 9:7. God does not use highlighting, italics, underlining, or bold for emphasis, but He does repeat Himself when He wants to make sure we don’t miss something. He wants us to know that along with eating and drinking (or the simple things in life), “nothing is better” for us than that “(our) soul enjoy” our work. The Fall Can Make Work Feel Like a Curse Unfortunately, over the centuries, work has developed a negative reputation. We often view it as something that we are forced to perform that is difficult or unpleasant. How did something positive become viewed negatively? If we take our minds back to The Fall, God pronounced several judgments. To man He said: Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life.

Children are innocent until they reach the biblical age of accountability. Isaiah 7:15-16 twice states that until a certain age a baby will not know, "how to refuse the evil and choose the good." Similarly, Deuteronomy 1:39 says, "little ones...have no knowledge of good or evil." This post will allow you to read, watch, or listen if you want to learn about the age of accountability in the bible. Table of contentsAdam and Eve Knew It Was Wrong to Be Naked Because of Their ConsciencesJews Are Guilty Because of the LawGentiles Are Guilty Because of Their ConsciencesBabies "Have No Knowledge of Good or Evil" Until They Reach the Biblical Age of Accountability The Famous Sign to AhazThe Child Is Named Jesus or Immanuel?Babies Can't "Refuse Evil and Choose Good" Until They Reach the Biblical Age of AccountabilitySo, What Is the Biblical Age of Accountability?Two Other Thoughts About the Biblical Age of Accountability...Babies "Cannot Discern Between Their Right and Their Left" Until They Reach the Biblical Age of AccountabilityBabies Are IgnorantFoolishness Versus IgnoranceGod Is Merciful to the Ignorant (Such as Babies)Examples of God's Mercy to the IgnorantJesus's Mercy to the Ignorant Crucifying HimGod's Mercy to the Ignorant Jews Who Crucified JesusGod's Mercy to Paul Because of His IgnoranceGod's Mercy to Babies Who Haven't Reached the Biblical Age of AccountabilityGod Is Less Merciful to the KnowledgeableBabies Are Innocent, But We Are NotFootnotes https://youtu.be/xM4W5BO1VGM Until babies reach the biblical age of accountability they can't, "refuse evil and choose good" (Isaiah 7:15-16 and Deuteronomy 1:39). Before Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they could not choose between good and evil. The evidence of this: Genesis 2:25 The man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. They had so little knowledge of good and evil they didn’t know there was something wrong with being naked. They ate and then: Genesis 3:7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and THEY KNEW THAT THEY WERE NAKED. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. This marked the end of the Dispensation of Innocence, and the beginning of the Dispensation of Conscience. Adam and Eve Knew It Was Wrong to Be Naked Because of Their Consciences Romans 2:12-14 discusses two groups of people: the Gentiles and Jews. They both think they are innocent for different reasons: The Jews think they are innocent because they have the law. They thought having the law made them good. The Gentiles think they’re innocent because they didn’t receive the law. They think they are not accountable because they didn’t know better! Paul wants to convince both groups they are sinners, so they see their need for the Savior: Romans 2:12a For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, These are Gentiles and they’ll perish because they’re sinners. Paul elaborates on this in verses 14 and 15. Jews Are Guilty Because of the Law Romans 2:12b and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. These are Jews who have the law, and they’ll be judged because it’s not enough to have the Mosaic law. The Jews had to obey it. This might seem obvious to us, but it wasn’t obvious to them. Having the law actually made them MORE accountable before God because it gave them the knowledge of good and evil, but they still chose evil. When the Jews received the Mosaic law, it was like Adam and Eve eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Then they had knowledge of good and evil. Gentiles Are Guilty Because of Their Consciences The Gentiles didn’t have the law telling them right from wrong, but they did have something else: Romans 2:14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. Gentiles do not have the Mosaic law, but they still obey parts of it. People who have never heard the Ten Commandments or read the Bible still recognize certain things, such as lying, stealing, and murder, are wrong. These people can choose between good and evil. They have this knowledge passed on to them from Adam and Eve. Notice it says "they are a law to themselves." Their conscience serves as a law for them. Romans 2:15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while THEIR CONSCIENCE ALSO BEARS WITNESS, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them. These are the two things our consciences do: Accuse us when we choose evil. Excuse us when we choose good. When Gentiles disobey their conscience, which serves as a law telling them not to do things, they are as guilty as Jews breaking the Mosaic law. Babies don’t have either: the Mosaic law or a conscience to tell them right from wrong. Babies "Have No Knowledge of Good or Evil" Until They Reach the Biblical Age of Accountability  In Numbers 14 the nation of Israel rebelled when the 12 spies come back with a report that the enemies in the land were too great for them. God told the people they would not get to enter the land because of their unbelief, but he added something interesting: Numbers 14:31 But your little ones, who you said would become a prey, I will bring in, and they shall know the land that you have rejected. If these little ones were as guilty as their parents, why weren’t they judged? Why did they get to enter the land? We aren’t told in Numbers, but when Moses recounted Israel’s history to the nation in Deuteronomy, right before they entered the land, God revealed why the infants were able to enter: Deuteronomy 1:39 And as for your little ones, who you said would become a prey, and your children, who TODAY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD OR EVIL, they shall go in there. And to them I will give it, and they shall possess it. They were able to avoid the judgment their parents experienced, because they couldn't choose between good and evil. Notice the way it’s worded: it says TODAY they have no knowledge of good and evil. It won’t always be that way. At some point they’ll have that knowledge. The Famous Sign to Ahaz Ahaz is the king of Judah and he’s terrified of being attacked by two kings, Rezin and Pekah. God gives Ahaz a sign that within a few years both kings will be dead, so he has nothing to worry about. The sign that God gives Ahaz is one of the most famous in Scripture: Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Even though the word "you" is singular, it can be used plurally, like if someone said to a group of people, “I am talking to all of you,” which is the case here. In other words, the prophecy isn't just for Ahaz. We know how the prophecy is for others: There was a virgin, Mary, who gave birth to a Son, Jesus. But this verse says his name would be Immanuel, so how do we explain that? Listen to Isaiah 7:14 quoted in the New Testament… Matthew 1:21 [Mary] will bear a son, and you SHALL CALL HIS NAME JESUS.”…22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet [Isaiah]: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL” (which means, God with us).  The Child Is Named Jesus or Immanuel? These verses state his name would be Jesus and Immanuel. We know his name was Jesus, but how do we explain the Immanuel title? Immanuel means God with Us. Jesus didn’t fulfill this by being given this name. He fulfilled this by literally being God with Us. Isaiah said, the Lord Himself will give YOU a sign, referring to Ahaz. Ahaz lived about 700 years before Jesus was born, so how could Jesus’s birth be a sign to Ahaz, who was long dead when Jesus was born? Prophecy often has a future, complete fulfillment, and a near, partial fulfillment. The future, complete fulfillment is Jesus, the true and greater Son born of a Virgin. The near, partial fulfillment took place in Ahaz’s day. There would have been a young woman who was, at the time of this prophecy, a virgin. She would get married, cease being a virgin, have a child, and name that child, Immanuel. To be clear, there was nothing miraculous about this child's birth, other than God predicted it. David Guzik wrote, "Many commentators think this was fulfilled when a young woman in the royal household shortly married, conceived a son, and unknowingly named him Immanuel.” When Ahaz saw this child named Immanuel, he would think of Isiah’s words and be convinced God would deliver Judah. That’s how the child would serve as a sign. Babies Can't "Refuse Evil and Choose Good" Until They Reach the Biblical Age of Accountability Regarding the child: Isaiah 7:15 He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. The child can’t choose between good and evil UNTIL He can eat curds and honey, or solid food. What age would a child have to be to eat curds and honey? Whatever age that is, it seems infants can’t choose good and evil before that. The point is made even clearer in the next verse: Isaiah 7:16 For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted. Before this child is old enough to "refuse evil and choose good," the 2 kings Ahaz feared, Pekah and Rezin, would be killed. Clearly, until a child is a certain age it is unable to do two things: refuse evil and choose good. When children can refuse evil and choose good they: Become like Adam and Eve when they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil Develop consciences. Are no longer innocent. Have reached the biblical age of accountability, So,

We repeatedly see Jesus Christ in the book of Job. Read or listen to this chapter from Enduring Trials God’s Way to see Job as a type of Christ. Table of contentsJesus Christ in the Book of Job as MediatorJob Looked Forward to His Mediator by FaithWhat Can We Learn from Job?Jesus Christ in the Book of Job as AdvocateJesus Christ in the Book of Job as RedeemerThe Typology of Jesus Christ in the Book of JobFirst, Job as a Type of Christ in His Sacrifice and IntercessionSecond, Job as a Type of Christ in that God Accepted HimThird, Job as a Type of Christ in His Rejection and ExaltationFourth, Job as a Type of Christ as an Innocent, Righteous SuffererFifth, Job as a Type of Christ in Saving His Friends Job longed for Someone during his trials, and his words provide some of the greatest revelation of the Messiah in the Old Testament. Although Job did not have the revelation of Jesus that we have, he still looked forward to Him in faith. Centuries later, Jesus would reveal Himself to be the reality and substance of Job’s words. Jesus Christ in the Book of Job as Mediator Job longed for a Person to stand between him and God: Job asked: “Truly I know it is so, but how can a man be righteous before God?” Job 9:1-2 This is the most important question people can ask, because it determines where we spend eternity. Job answered his question and explained why “a man [cannot] be righteous before God": If one wished to contend with Him, he could not answer Him one time out of a thousand. God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered? Job 9:3-4 Nobody can stand before God and respond to His questions. Job learned this the hard way when he was finally given his audience. At the end of the chapter, Job explained the problem and necessary solution: For He is not a man, as I am, that I may answer Him, and that we should go to court together. Nor is there any mediator between us, who may lay his hand on us both. Job 9:32-33 He needed a Mediator to stand between God and him. First Timothy 2:5 says, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” The words “lay his hand on us both” refer to bringing people together, which is how it is translated in some Bibles. Job was looking for Someone to reconcile him to God, and 2 Corinthians 5:18 says, “God has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ.” Let Him (the Mediator) take His (God’s) rod away from me, And do not let dread of Him terrify me. Job 9:34 A rod administers punishment, and Job wanted the Mediator to take away the judgment he deserved. But if God took it from him, He would have to administer the punishment to Someone else. Sins can't go unpunished or God wouldn’t be just. Job expected his Mediator to receive his punishment. Isaiah 53:5 says Jesus “was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities.” Then I would speak and not fear Him, but it is not so with me. Job 9:35 Job could approach God confidently if the Mediator did what he described, but he knew that had not been done for him. Jesus has done this for us though: “We have boldness and access [to God] with confidence through faith in [Jesus]” (Ephesians 3:12). After the Mediator took God's rod away from Job, he would no longer "fear God." But the words “it is not so with me” mean he knew it wasn’t within his power to accomplish this. Job longed for the Mediator during his trials, and He is available to us when we suffer. Jesus allows us to “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). Job Looked Forward to His Mediator by Faith Job couldn’t see his Mediator. He didn’t know who He was, but he could look forward to Him in faith. This is Old Testament salvation, and it’s just like New Testament salvation: justification by faith. Consider the ways Job is described: “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil” (Job 1:1; see also Job 1:8 and 2:3). As far as earthly righteousness goes, nobody could do better than Job. But God says, "There is none who does good, no, not one" (Psalm 14:2-3, 53:2-3, quoted in Romans 3:10; see also Ecclesiastes 7:20, 1 Kings 8:46, 2 Chronicles 6:36, and Psalm 143:2). Job was arguably the greatest man in the Old Testament, but he wasn’t righteous enough in God’s eyes. What Can We Learn from Job? Job teaches there’s no righteousness man can attain that's “good enough.” The religious leaders were the picture of self-imposed righteousness, but Jesus said: Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven Matthew 5:20 If Job and the religious leaders couldn't attain a righteousness that’s acceptable to God, nobody can. Our hope comes from the righteousness that’s freely available by grace through faith in our Mediator: The righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. Romans 3:21-22 Jesus Christ in the Book of Job as Advocate He longed for an Advocate to plead his case: “Surely even now my witness is in heaven, and my evidence is on high.” Job 16:19 A witness (or advocate) speaks on behalf of someone else, and that is what Job wanted. He knew there was Someone to testify on his behalf, and he even knew this Person was “in heaven…on high.” “My friends scorn me; my eyes pour out tears to God. Oh, that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleads for his neighbor!” Job 16:20–21 Job lost everything. Even his “friends” became his accusers. It would not be too much to say that he was the loneliest man in the world. In the face of so much desertion and criticism, he wanted someone on his side. He knew there was an Advocate to defend him the way “a man pleads for his neighbor.” When Job knew he did not have anyone else, he knew he had this Person. Even if we feel as though we have lost everything, we “have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). When we suffer, He “is even at the right hand of God, [making] intercession for us” (Romans 8:34). If we feel as though we do not have anyone or anything else, we still have Jesus. Jesus Christ in the Book of Job as Redeemer He longed for Someone to deliver him out of his suffering: For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth. And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! Job 19:25–27 Job knew his Redeemer was alive and He would stand on the earth at the end of time. Satan “struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head” (Job 2:7). Job said, “My flesh is caked with worms and dust, my skin is cracked and breaks out afresh” (Job 7:5). His flesh was in terrible shape, but he knew after it was “destroyed,” he would “see God in [his] flesh.” How could Job see God in his flesh if his flesh was destroyed? He expected to receive a new body: Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible (earthly bodies) must put on incorruption (glorified bodies), and this mortal (earthly bodies) must put on immortality (glorified bodies). 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 Job said he would see his Redeemer with “[his own] eyes,” and he knew this meant “[seeing] God” Himself. Jesus, the Redeemer, is God: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Following the Incarnation, Jesus said, “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30). Our flesh will be destroyed, but we too will receive new bodies and see God for ourselves. Despite Job’s suffering, these thoughts were still enough to cause “[his] heart [to] yearn within [him].” He was overwhelmed as he looked forward in faith to being redeemed. Our joy should be even greater considering we have been redeemed: Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 1 Peter 1:18-19 Even during the worst trials, the redemptive work of Christ should cause our “hearts to yearn within [us]” for Him. The Typology of Jesus Christ in the Book of Job After Job suffered, he served as one of the clearest shadows and types of Christ the Old Testament. He longed for his Mediator, Advocate, and Redeemer throughout his trials, and then he became a picture of the Person, Jesus Christ, to his friends in five ways. First, Job as a Type of Christ in His Sacrifice and Intercession Job 42:7–8 records: And so it was, after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.” Job 42:7-8 God said His "wrath was aroused against his friends." How could God's wrath be turned away? This was hundreds of years before the Mosaic law instituted the sacrificial system,

Do you wonder, "Are children innocent?" There are many bible verses about children's innocence, such as Jeremiah 2:34 Jeremiah 19:4, 2 Kings 21:6, and Psalm 106:38. Children are innocent until they reach the biblical age of accountability. Table of contentsEven Babies Wouldn't Go to Hell as BabiesThe Dispensation of InnocenceAdam and Eve's Lack of ShameHow Shame Is CreatedAdam and Eve Had to "Trust and Obey"Adam and Eve’s Innocence Was LostThe Connection to Children Being Innocent...Jeremiah 2:33 and 19:4 Teach Children Are InnocentGod Is not Too SeverePsalm 106:38 Teaches Children Are InnocentSecond Kings 21:6 Teaches Children Are InnocentFirst Kings 14:10 Teaches God Is Pleased with ChildrenEzekiel 16:20 Teaches Children Belong to GodJob Thought Children Escape SufferingChildren Are Made HolyOur Older Children Are Not InnocentFootnotes https://youtu.be/b9X-WfijBGU Do you wonder, "Are children innocent?" There are many bible verses about children's innocence, such as Jeremiah 2:34 Jeremiah 19:4, 2 Kings 21:6, and Psalm 106:38. Many people’s beliefs about babies going to heaven come more from wishful thinking or sentimentality than Scripture. We all want to believe babies go to heaven. We would probably all say that it seems right for babies to go to heaven. But the question is NOT, "Do we think babies go to heaven?" or "Does it seem right that babies go to heaven?" The question is, “Does the bible TEACH that babies go to heaven?” Even though I want to believe that babies go to heaven, and it seems right to me that babies to go to heaven, that is not why I believe that babies go to heaven. I believe this because that’s what the Bible teaches. If you have experienced a miscarriage, I don’t want you wondering what happened to your child and whether you will see that child again. I also don’t want you saying things like, "I believe my baby is in heaven because that’s what so many people have told me,” or “I think my baby is in heaven because the alternative is too terrible to imagine.” I want you saying, “I know my baby is in heaven because that’s what the Bible teaches.” If you read this as a young person, you face the very real possibility of experiencing a miscarriage, or miscarriages, yourself. But even if, by God’s grace you never have to know the loss of a baby, you are going to meet people who have lost a baby. Few things cause people as much heartache. I want you equipped to minister to people experiencing that trial. I want you to be able to comfort these people, not with clichés and platitudes, but with a biblical defense for their baby’s salvation. When those parents say something like, “How do I know I will see my child again?” I want you to be able to share Scripture with them. Even Babies Wouldn't Go to Hell as Babies Everyone, believers and unbelievers alike, receive resurrection bodies. Nobody spends eternity in their earthly body. Here are a few verses making the point that our earthly bodies are much different than our resurrection bodies: 1 Corinthians 15:42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown (referring to our earthly bodies) is perishable; what is raised (referring to our resurrection bodies) is imperishable. 43 It (referring to our earthly bodies) is sown in dishonor; it (referring to our resurrection bodies) is raised in glory. It (referring to our earthly bodies) is sown in weakness; it (referring to our resurrection bodies) is raised in power. 44 It (referring to our earthly bodies) is sown a natural body; it (referring to our resurrection bodies) is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body (referring to our earthly bodies), there is also a spiritual body (referring to our resurrection bodies). We can tell there are considerable differences between our earthly bodies and resurrection bodies. From what I have learned, most scholars don’t believe that our resurrection bodies will be the same age as our earthly bodies. This means that if a 90yo Christian woman dies, she doesn’t spend eternity looking like a 90 year old. If people thought they would spend eternity at the age they died, they might not want to live as long. So, for lack of a better way to say it, what age will we look like for eternity? Many scholars believe we will be the age Adam and Eve were when they were created. We don’t know exactly what age that was, but we know they were old enough to work and reproduce. If I had to guess, I would say twenties or thirties. If a baby dies, the baby doesn’t spend eternity looking a few months old. Or if we back up even further, if a woman miscarried early in the pregnancy, the baby would not spend eternity in that undeveloped condition. Instead, that baby would receive a resurrected body and look like a mature, developed adult. We hate the thought of babies going to hell, but a baby would not go to hell like we imagine. 133 Instead, that baby would become an adult for eternity. So, again, the point is we can’t hold on to sentimental, philosophical thoughts about babies going to heaven simply because we don’t want to think of them going to hell…because babies don’t truly go to hell anyway. Let’s make sure we’re holding to Scripture’s teaching. The Dispensation of Innocence Adam and Eve were created during what’s commonly called the Dispensation of Innocence. We say that Adam and Eve were innocent because they hadn’t sinned yet, but it’s also true they were innocent because they couldn’t choose between good and evil yet. And God wanted to preserve Adam and Eve’s innocence: Genesis 2:16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” As long as Adam and Eve didn’t eat from this tree, they would not have the knowledge of good and evil. And think about what that means: as long as Adam and Eve didn’t eat from the tree, they wouldn’t have to choose between the two. Their innocence would be preserved.134 Adam and Eve's Lack of Shame Adam and Eve were innocent. They didn’t have knowledge of good and evil: Genesis 2:25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. They had so little knowledge of good and evil they didn’t know there was anything wrong with being naked. This is interesting to read, because many verses in Scripture reveal this is the OPPOSITE of how they should have felt. The verse says they were not ashamed, but many verses associate nakedness WITH shame:135 Micah 1:11 Pass on your way…IN NAKEDNESS AND SHAME. Nahum 3:5 Behold, I am against you, declares the Lord of hosts, and will lift up your skirts over your face; and I will make nations look at YOUR NAKEDNESS AND KINGDOMS AT YOUR SHAME. Revelation 3:18 I counsel you to buy from me…white garments so that you may clothe yourself and THE SHAME OF YOUR NAKEDNESS may not be seen. Something making this even more interesting is these are prophecies of judgment against ungodly people. Yet even ungodly people, who were not accustomed with experiencing shame, experienced shame when naked. So it is surprising that Adam and Eve did not.136 How Shame Is Created Shame is created by knowledge of doing something wrong. Imagine you enter the home of people who always take their shoes off, but you don’t know that, so you enter with your shoes on and start walking around. You don’t feel ashamed, but when the owner of the house says, “We always take off our shoes” you feel ashamed, because now you know you were doing something wrong. Or imagine you started eating, but then someone says, “Okay, let’s pray for the meal”? You weren’t ashamed, but now you are…so you try to hide the large amount of food in your mouth. I have been speeding before, not feeling any shame, but then one of my kids points out that I’m speeding and I feel ashamed. We feel shame when we realize we did something wrong, but until we have the knowledge we did something wrong we don’t feel any shame. Adam and Eve Had to "Trust and Obey" Most of what God commands us not to do, we know is evil, so we know we shouldn’t do it. For example, God tells us not to commit murder, adultery, or theft. Because we have knowledge of good and evil, we don’t wonder if these are behaviors are evil or not But because Adam and Eve didn’t have knowledge of good and evil, when God said not to eat from the tree, they had to obey God in faith that it was wrong to eat from the tree. Think of the famous hymn, Trust and Obey. They had to trust and obey because they couldn’t tell that eating was wrong. Satan came and undermined their trust in God, which is the same thing he attempts to do with us: Genesis 3:5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Satan was telling the truth, because he deceives people by mixing truth with lies. That’s why Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons will always be greater threats to Christians than Buddhists or Hindus. They have so much truth mixed into their false religions. And when Adam and Eve ate, they experienced the truth Satan said to them: Genesis 3:6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and THEY KNEW THAT THEY WERE NAKED. AND THEY SEWED FIG LEAVES TOGETHER AND MADE THEMSELVES LOINCLOTHS. Adam and Eve’s Innocence Was Lost Just like Satan said, their eyes were opened, they developed knowledge of good and evil, and they knew that it was wrong to be naked. The NLT says, "They suddenly felt SHAME at their nakedness." So, they clothed themselves: Genesis 3:11 He said, “Who told you that you were naked?

The tax collector prayed, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner," and went home justified, or declared righteous (Luke 18:13). How do we explain this when he didn't offer any sacrifices? He offered what God wanted: "the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart" (Psalm 51:16-17). https://youtu.be/BCLWCeepQhc The tax collector prayed, "God, be merciful to me a sinner" and went home justified, or declared righteous (Luke 18:13 and Psalm 51:16-17). Table of contentsThree Things to Observe about the Tax CollectorWhy Did the Tax Collector Beat His Breast?The Most Significant Difference Between the Pharisee and Tax CollectorGod's Grace to the Humble (or Those Who Pray, "God, Be Merciful to Me a Sinner")Justification Is Receiving Forgiveness and RighteousnessIf We Were Only ForgivenWhy Was Jesus Baptized?“God, Be Merciful to Me, a Sinner!” Embodies the Beatitudes“God, Be Merciful to Me, a Sinner!” Requests PropitiationPropitiation Is Turning Away WrathPropitiation with AchanPropitiation with the GibeonitesPropitiation with the PhilistinesPropitiation in the New Testament“God, Be Merciful to Me, a Sinner!” Receives JustificationWhere are the Sacrifices?God Didn’t Want Physical Sacrifices as Much as Spiritual OnesThree Reasons God Wouldn't Want Animal Sacrifices...After Commanding Them"God, Be Merciful to Me a Sinner" Is the Sacrifice God WantsHow Did This Parable Sound to Pharisees? What About to Tax Collectors?Footnotes Last post discussed the Pharisee in the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector. Now we will discuss the tax collector. Eight times in the synoptic Gospels it says "tax collectors and sinners," instead of murderers and sinners, or adulterers and sinners. Why is it written this way, as though being a tax collector is the worst sin imaginable? Because to the Jew, it pretty much was! The Romans severely taxed the Jews, and the tax collectors who collected the taxes for Rome were Jews. The Jews hated the Romans and the Jewish tax collectors who worked for them were traitors to their own people. Tax collectors were wealthy and it was a wealth made off the backs of their already oppressed Jewish brethren. Tax collectors had to collect a certain amount and anything they collected over that amount they were able to keep for themselves. They had Rome’s support, which prevented Jews from resisting them. Tax collectors were notoriously dishonest. When they came to be baptized by John they said, “Teacher, what shall we do?” [John] said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” (Luke 3:12-13). John said to stop stealing because that was their major sin. Three Things to Observe about the Tax Collector Luke 18:13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ There is so much to learn about the tax collector just from this verse. I don’t want to miss anything so we will break it up one part at a time. First, it says he was standing far off. Let me ask you a trick question that reveals the tax collector’s brokenness: Did he want to approach God? You want to say he did because "[he] went up to the temple to pray" (Luke 18:10), but you also want to say no, because he was standing far off. You can see the struggle: he wanted to have a relationship with God, but he also felt too sinful to approach God. Second, it doesn’t say the tax collector DID NOT lift up his eyes to heaven. It says he WOULD NOT even lift up his eyes to heaven. He was so aware of his sin that he felt unworthy to even look up to heaven where God dwells. Third, he hit himself. More than likely he did this because he was angry about his sin, and he knows he is the source of it. He wasn’t blaming anyone or anything other than himself. He hit his heart, because that's where sin comes from: Matthew 15:18 What comes out of the mouth proceeds FROM THE HEART, and this defiles a person. 19 For OUT OF THE HEART come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. All this comes out of the heart! Why Did the Tax Collector Beat His Breast? The only other place in Scripture we see people beat their breast is at the cross just after Jesus died: Luke 23:46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last...Luke 23:48 And ALL THE CROWDS THAT HAD ASSEMBLED FOR THIS SPECTACLE, WHEN THEY SAW WHAT HAD TAKEN PLACE, RETURNED HOME BEATING THEIR BREASTS. We want Scripture to interpret Scripture, which means when we see something in Scripture and want to know what it means, we look elsewhere in Scripture where we see the same thing. If we consider why they were beating their breasts it helps us understand why the tax collector did the same. John MacArthur said: “There has never been a more horrific event than the cross. Therefore there could never be a place [of] more profound anguish…and men and women who were there to see that reacted in this dramatic way. So here is [the tax collector] doing a gesture that demonstrates [the same] extreme anguish.” The tax collector demonstrated the extreme anguish over his sin that people experienced over Jesus’s death. It would not be too much to say that nobody in Scripture is shown to experience as much grief over sin as this tax collector. The Most Significant Difference Between the Pharisee and Tax Collector The Pharisee and tax collector couldn’t be further opposites: The Pharisee is the most righteous, respected man Jesus could portray. The tax collector is the most sinful, hated man Jesus could portray. The differences continue with their actions: Even though we aren’t told where the Pharisee stood, the mention of the tax collector standing afar off, implies the Pharisee was near the front. Similarly, it doesn’t say the Pharisee raised his eyes to heaven, but because it points out the tax collector would not even lift his eyes to heaven, we can assume the Pharisee probably did. The Pharisee was aware of those around him, such as the tax collector, to compare himself with them. But the tax collector wasn’t comparing himself to anyone. He probably thought he was worse than those around him. But the most significant difference is: Luke 18:14a I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. Can’t get a bigger difference than that! One is going to heaven and one is going to hell. Luke 18:14b For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, This is the Pharisee and everyone like him who prays, “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.” The phrase exalts himself is synonymous with trusted in themselves that they were righteous in Luke 18:9. Luke 18:14c but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” This is the tax collector and everyone like him…who prays, “God, be merciful to me a sinner.”148 Can’t get a bigger difference than this! One is going to heaven and one is going to hell. This is the Pharisee and everyone like him who prays, “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.” God's Grace to the Humble (or Those Who Pray, "God, Be Merciful to Me a Sinner") When God wants to make sure we don’t miss something, he repeats it. This verse communicates one of the most repeated truths in Scripture: Proverbs 3:34 To the humble he gives favor. James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5 God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. We know justified means declared righteous. Justification is the act by which God declares sinners righteous by their faith in Christ: Romans 3:28 A man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. Romans 5:1 Having been justified by faith Galatians 2:16 A person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Christ. The great paradox in Scripture is: People who justify themselves – like the Pharisee – and declare their righteousness will not be declared righteous. People who pray, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” – like the tax collector – and declare their unrighteousness will be justified or declared righteous. Justification Is Receiving Forgiveness and Righteousness When I first read this parable early in my Christian life, I didn’t like the way it was worded. I didn’t know why it said the tax collector was justified instead of forgiven. If he was such a terrible sinner, wouldn’t it make sense to say he was forgiven, because that’s what he needed? I was confused because I didn’t know that justification is greater than forgiveness. Even after I had been a Christian the situation didn’t improve. People would say, "Justification means just as if I had never sinned.” I know this sounds good, but this is only half of what justification does because we receive both forgiveness AND righteousness at conversion. It’s known as double-imputation: Our sins are imputed to Christ’s account. We are completely forgiven. His righteousness is imputed to our account. We are perfectly righteous. It’s the most unfair, but also the most beautiful transaction in history. If We Were Only Forgiven If Jesus forgave our sins, but didn’t give us His righteousness, we would be forgiven and innocent, but that isn’t the same as righteous. To be righteous, we have to do righteous things. The clearest example of this in Scripture is with Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve were innocent when they were created, because they hadn’t done anything wrong. But they weren’t righteous, because they also hadn’t done anything right. Sometimes people mistakenly say Adam and Eve were perfect when they were created.

The Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector reveals how righteousness is and is not attained. The Pharisee in Luke 18:9-12 shows that righteousness is not attained by works. The tax collector shows that righteousness is attained by grace through faith. Table of contentsOur Works Can’t Make Us Righteous Before GodEven Job Was Not Righteous EnoughEven the Pharisees Were not Righteous EnoughThe Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector Teaches How Righteousness Is and Is not Attained“I’m a Good Person” Is the World’s Most Common LieWe Need the Law to Reveal Our SinfulnessThe Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector Teaches Pride Leads Us to Look Down on OthersThe Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector Teaches Pride Comes from Thinking About What We Don’t DoThe Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector Teaches Pride Comes from Thinking About What We DoWe Can Do the Right Things the Wrong WayOnly One Person Was Righteous EnoughPaul Said, "I Count It All as Loss" https://youtu.be/DnAtVJhcnxw The Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector reveals how righteousness is and is not attained. The Pharisee in Luke 18:9-12 shows that righteousness is not attained by works. The tax collector shows that righteousness is attained by grace through faith. Job asked the most important question: Job 9:2 (NKJV) How can a man be righteous before God? The question comes up again later in the book… Job 25:4 (NKJV) How then can man be righteous before God? This is the most important question we can ask because it determines where we spend eternity. There can’t be a more important question than this one. This is the question that every religion asks. This sounds good at first, because it means religions are asking the most important question. But the problem is, every religion outside of Christianity gets the answer wrong. Every religion believes we are righteous, or right before God by being good, or by works. But the Gospel is that we are righteous, or right before God by grace through faith. Our Works Can’t Make Us Righteous Before God Job continued wrestling with being righteous before God: Job 9:15 (NKJV) Though I were righteous, I could not answer Him; I would beg mercy of my Judge. Job said he couldn’t even be righteous enough to ANSWER God. Instead, he would have to beg for mercy. Job 9:20 (NKJV) Though I were righteous, my own mouth would condemn me; though I were blameless, it would prove me perverse. Job said even if he was righteous, his mouth, or his words would still condemn [him] and show him to be perverse. Even Job Was Not Righteous Enough It is interesting that Job, of all people, recognized he couldn’t be righteous before God, because if there is anyone who looked righteous before God, it is him. Consider how God himself described Job to Satan: Job 1:8 The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that THERE IS NONE LIKE HIM ON THE EARTH, A BLAMELESS AND UPRIGHT MAN, WHO FEARS GOD AND TURNS AWAY FROM EVIL?” Can you imagine a better description of someone, from God himself? Satan told God that Job only feared God because of how much God blessed him, so God let Satan remove almost every blessing Job had, and then again: Job 2:3 The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that THERE IS NONE LIKE HIM ON THE EARTH, A BLAMELESS AND UPRIGHT MAN, WHO FEARS GOD AND TURNS AWAY FROM EVIL? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.” Job was so righteous, even Satan himself couldn’t turn him from God! Yet he still couldn’t be considered righteous before God. Even the Pharisees Were not Righteous Enough Consider what Jesus said to the people in his day who thought they could be righteous enough: Matthew 5:20 I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. The religious leaders were the picture of righteousness attained by human effort. Everyone knew it was impossible to be more righteous than them. When Jesus said this people would’ve said, “There is no way we can, not just match, but EXCEED the righteousness of these men.” At this point it should be obvious we can’t be righteous in our own effort, but is there a sacrifice we could bring that would allow us to be righteous before God? Is there an offering we could bring that would allow us to be in God’s presence? The prophet Micah asked this: Micah 6:6 “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” In other words, "Will this allow me to come before God? With this unimaginable number of animal sacrifices? Or tons of oil? What about the most extreme sacrifice: human sacrifice?" Micah asked about human sacrifice, not because he thought it would please God, but rhetorically to demonstrate that even THIS would not allow us to be righteous before God. Sadly, this is the approach many cultures have taken throughout history in their attempts to be righteous before God. Wonderfully God doesn’t expect this of us, but it looks to him being willing to sacrifice his "Firstborn for [our] transgression and sin." In the Old Testament we read: Psalm 143:2 No one living is righteous before [God]. We know Job’s friends were off, but they weren’t completely off. Eliphaz was right when he argued that we can’t be righteous: Job 15:14 What is man, that he can be pure? Or he who is born of a woman, that he can be righteous? In the New Testament: Romans 3:10 There is no one righteous; no not one. The Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector Teaches How Righteousness Is and Is not Attained The Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector demonstrates the danger of self-righteousness better than any other narrative in Scripture. By the time Jesus preaches this parable he is far into his earthly ministry. But he is still dealing with people who trust their self-righteousness, so he preaches this parable to show how righteousness is and is not attained. Luke 18:9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: Although Jesus didn’t mention the Pharisees in this verse, he has them in mind. But the parable applies to anyone who does what the verse says: "[trust] in themselves that they [are] righteous." And every person is born believing the lie that we are right, or righteous before God by being good. “I’m a Good Person” Is the World’s Most Common Lie Consider these verses: Proverbs 16:2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes We are self-righteous. We think our ways, or actions, are pure! Proverbs 30:12 There are those who are clean in their own eyes but are not washed of their filth. How bad is this: we are so self-righteous we think we are clean in our eyes, but we are not washed of our filth. Think of the Laodiceans: Revelation 3:17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. This is not a physical description, but a spiritual one. The Laodiceans were so self-righteous they thought they were great when they were terrible. It is like the apostate northern kingdom of Israel. God sent the prophet Hosea to rebuke them at one of the spiritually lowest points in their history, yet they were saying about themselves: Hosea 12:8 [Israel] said, “Ah, but I am rich; I have found wealth for myself; in all my labors THEY CANNOT FIND IN ME INIQUITY OR SIN.” They were so self-righteous, God was about to wipe them out with the Assyrians, but they thought there was no iniquity in them. God judges us, not just for our sin, but even for the self-righteous that leads us to say we are without sin: Jeremiah 2:35 You say, ‘I am innocent; surely [God’s] anger has turned from me.’ Behold, I will bring you to judgment FOR SAYING, ‘I HAVE NOT SINNED.’ God said he would judge them for being so self-righteous that they would say they were innocent and without sin. Why would God be so upset when we deny our sinfulness? Because he said we are sinners, so we are calling him a liar: 1 John 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us…10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. Declaring we are righteous is also declaring God is a liar. We Need the Law to Reveal Our Sinfulness Because we’re deceived about our righteousness, we need something to show us we are sinners. God has graciously provided the Law. Despite what most of the world thinks, the purpose of the Ten Commandments, or the purpose of God’s Law, is not to show us how to be righteous. The purpose is to show us we’re not righteous: Romans 3:20 By works of the law no human being will be justified (or declared righteous) in [God’s] sight, since THROUGH THE LAW COMES KNOWLEDGE OF SIN. The Law gives us knowledge of our sin as we see how incapable we are at keeping it. Romans 5:20 The law came in to INCREASE THE TRESPASS. This doesn’t mean God gave the Law so we would sin more. This means God gave the Law so our sins would be increased TO US. Romans 7:7 If it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” The Law revealed Paul’s covetousness to him. The Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector Teaches Pride Leads Us to Look Down on Others In Luke 18:9 Jesus said those who trust in themselves are "treat others with contempt.

Christ in the house of Martha and Mary reveals devotion is more important than service. Read or listen to this chapter from Work and Rest God’s Way to learn why Jesus didn't rebuke Martha in John 12:1-8, even though He rebuked her when serving earlier. Table of contentsChrist in the House of Martha and MaryMary and Martha Reveal Devotion Is More Important than ServiceMary and Martha Reveal Sitting at Jesus’ Feet Is a ChoiceMary Chose the BetterMartha Later Avoided the Rebuke from JesusJesus Didn’t Rebuke Martha Because She Didn’t Have Something Better to ChooseJesus Didn’t Rebuke Martha Because She Served with the Right Heart Christ in the House of Martha and Mary The average foot contains six hundred sweat glands per square centimeter, which is hundreds more than the armpits. Our feet secrete salt, glucose, vitamins, and amino acids that provide the perfect diet for bacteria to thrive. In appreciation for the food, bacteria leave us with fatty acids that produce the common foot odor. Given our anatomy, no matter how clean we are, foot odor is almost unavoidable. Feet might smell bad in our day, but we can be sure they smelled even worse in Jesus’ day. While most of us don’t like the idea of being too close to people’s feet, Mary didn’t let it hold her back. Luke 10:38–42 records: Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” The village is Bethany, which was about two miles east of Jerusalem on the slope of the Mount of Olives. Mary and Martha were sisters, and their brother was Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead. More than likely, all three of them lived together in this house. Mary shows up three times in Scripture, and each time she’s at Jesus’ feet (See also John 11:32 and John 12:3). When Jesus arrived, the sisters responded differently: Mary sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to His teaching, and Martha was “distracted with much serving.” While it’s easy to condemn Martha, let’s put ourselves in her place. She has Jesus—the Christ, the Lord, the Son of God—for dinner. She “welcomed Him into her house” and wanted everything to be perfect. She’s busy with all the food preparations and formalities that we would expect. All the while, her sister, Mary, seemed to be relaxing! Would you be frustrated if you were Martha? Mary lived under the same roof. She should have felt equally responsible for making sure things went well, but she seemed to be doing nothing more than sitting idly at Jesus’ feet. How do we explain Martha being rebuked, and Mary being commended? Making it more striking, Martha was serving Jesus! It would be one thing if she were serving someone else, but she was serving the Lord! Mary and Martha Reveal Devotion Is More Important than Service Unfortunately, people contrast Mary and Martha and teach that Christians must make a choice: be a worshiper like Mary or a servant like Martha. They think it’s “either/or” when it’s actually both: we should be worshipers and servants. What do we hope to hear when we stand before the Lord? “Well done good and faithful person who sat at Jesus’ feet” or “Well done good and faithful person who prayed and read the Bible every day.” No. We hope to hear, “Well done good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21, 23). This account is not minimizing service. Instead, it is elevating devotion. “Martha was distracted with much serving,” but distracted from whom, or from what? From Jesus and His teaching! She was so busy with excessive preparations for Jesus; she ended up neglecting Him. She brought Him into her home but then didn’t give Him the attention He deserves. Warren Wiersbe said, “What we do with Jesus is more important than what we do for Him.”160 God is more interested in our spiritual relationship with Him than He is in our physical service for Him: “For I desire mercy (relationship) and not sacrifice (service), and the knowledge of God (relationship) more than burnt offerings (service)” (Hosea 6:6). We know what it looked like two thousand years ago for Mary to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to His teaching, but what does it look like for us today? Committing time each day to praying and reading God’s Word Meditating on Jesus’ words and listening to Him with an open heart and mind Imitating Mary’s example and making our devotional time a priority over other things, even good things, such as serving Learning from Martha’s example and removing things that distract us from focusing on the Lord We must make every effort to sit at Jesus’ feet and enjoy Him, rather than miss Him like Martha did because she was fussing over the details. Martha focused on the physical, but Mary focused on the spiritual. The food and dishes are temporary, but Jesus is eternal. Mary and Martha Reveal Sitting at Jesus’ Feet Is a Choice We misunderstand Mary and Martha if we think they’re two people simply living out their different personalities. We say, “Martha is a servant, so she served, and Mary is a worshiper, so she worshiped.” The problem is this gives the impression Mary’s not a servant, but Martha said, “My sister has left me to serve alone.” Mary had been serving too; she didn’t sit at Jesus’ feet because she was lazy. Jesus said, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Jesus rebuked Martha and then commended Mary, but what did Mary actually do that deserved a commendation? It looks like she did nothing! She was a silent example to her sister. She modeled what to do by not doing anything. Sometimes silence can be a great example (or rebuke) to others. The account is set up in such a way that Mary and Martha’s situations are identical. They live in the same house. Jesus came into the house that belonged to them both. They were both serving. They both faced the same choice: keep serving or sit at Jesus’ feet. Jesus said Mary “[chose] that good part,” and that’s why He commended her. Mary could’ve been doing other things, but she chose to sit at Jesus’ feet. Mary worshiped, not because she was naturally a worshiper and acted according to her personality, but because that’s what she chose. Mary Chose the Better In the NKJV Jesus said, “Mary has chosen the good part,” but the NIV says she “has chosen what is better.” Often the Christian life consists of choosing, not just between good and evil, but between good and better. Martha didn’t choose something bad or spiritually neutral. She chose something that is good—serving! But at this moment, sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to Him was better than serving Him. Service is good, but devotion is better. Our lives are busy. We have jobs, homes, children, responsibilities, schoolwork, and chores that pull on our time and energy. We also only have twenty-four hours in each day, and we must choose how we’re going to spend those hours and what we’re going to prioritize. When people choose to spend time at Jesus’ feet, it’s not because they have more time available, or because their lives are easier or less hectic. Instead, it’s because they made sitting at Jesus’ feet a priority. Conversely, when people don’t spend time at Jesus’ feet, it’s not because they don’t have time, or because their lives are harder and busier. Instead, it’s because they had other priorities. Sometimes, people don’t sit at Jesus’ feet and then say, “I didn’t have the time.” Typically, this is a lie because they were able to find time for other things they wanted to do. We make time for the things that are most important to us. Mary had all the competitions for her time and energy that Martha had, but she chose to put Jesus first. She made everything else—even serving—second. At least occasionally, we all have resembled Martha more than Mary. We rush around doing “what needs to be done” while missing the glimpses of Jesus all around us. As difficult as it is and as contrary to our culture as it is, we must intentionally try to slow down and model Mary. Martha Later Avoided the Rebuke from Jesus Considering what happened in Luke 10, something interesting took place less than one year later in John 12:1–8: Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.” This is the day before Jesus’ Triumphal Entry and less than one week before His crucifixion. Martha prepared a meal for Jesus, the Twelve, her brother, and her sister. That’s fifteen people! They ate while reclining at the table with their feet extended away. This allowed Mary to perform the act that symbolized her devotion to her Savior.

Shimei is one of the most overlooked—but most instructive—figures in the Old Testament. His story appears briefly in 2 Samuel 16–19, and Shime's false repentance reveals one of Scripture’s most sobering truths: confession is not the same as repentance. When King David fled Jerusalem during Absalom’s rebellion, Shimei came out cursing, throwing stones, kicking up dust, and accusing David of every evil under the sun. He called David a “man of blood” and a “worthless man.” His words were harsh, hateful, and rooted in decades of bitterness toward the house of David. But after Absalom died and David returned to the throne, everything changed. Suddenly, Shimei fell on his face, declared “I have sinned,” and begged for mercy. He said all the right words—but for all the wrong reasons. In 2 Samuel 16–19, we see: why Shimei misjudged David how bitterness grows like a root and destroys the heart the danger of making accusations without hearing the whole truth the difference between confession and true repentance why God calls us to sincere, wholehearted repentance Shimei’s life is a warning many believers need today. His story teaches us that hurt people hurt people, that bitterness blinds us to the truth, and that confession without repentance leaves the heart unchanged. Most importantly, it points us toward the hope found in Jesus Christ, who offers forgiveness and transformation to all who truly repent. https://youtu.be/Ug8KYnqMGnA Table of contentsThe Context For Shime’s False RepentanceSuffering Tempts Us To Mistreat OthersBitterness Can Cause Us to Misjudge PeopleShimei’s False AccusationsFollow Scripture When Forming ConclusionsBitterness Can Grow for DecadesFear Can Produce Confessions That Lack True RepentanceShimei’s False Repentance Is a Sobering Warning When I taught elementary school, I would receive my class roster a few weeks before the new school year. I always asked the teachers from the grade below for insights into the students and to learn about them. Only once do I remember feeling anxious about a particular student being on my list—and it happened during my very first year of teaching. A fourth-grade teacher looked over my roster and said, “Uh oh. You have Victoria.” He didn’t mean she was a troublemaker. He meant she was the kind of girl who posed a threat to male teachers. I was in my early twenties, single, and determined to keep her as far away from me as possible. I always assigned seats—separating talkative students and placing those who struggled near the front. I put Victoria in the back corner of the room by herself, not even in a row with other students. At the end of each day, I offered my students one of the “three H’s”: a handshake, a high-five, or a hug. Most students who start the year choosing handshakes and high-fives end up wanting hugs by the end of the year. But I doubt I ever even let Victoria touch my hand. I told my friends how concerned I was about having her in my class. One of them visited my classroom and naturally wanted to see “the dangerous girl.” I pointed to the back corner and said, “That’s her.” My friend looked and said, “That’s her? She looks fine.” I probably replied, “That’s how they all seem.” Fast-forward about five or six months. I ran into the same teacher who warned me about Victoria, but he asked, “How’s it going with Amy?”I said, “Fine. Why?”He replied, “Because I warned you about her.”I said, “I thought you warned me about Victoria.”He said, “No, Victoria’s a sweetheart. What about Amy?”I said, “I have her right in the front. She’s been fine.” Even now, the memory saddens me. I completely misjudged Victoria—and when we misjudge someone, we usually end up treating them poorly too. I share that because it’s precisely what happened with a man named Shimei. He completely misjudged David, and as a result, treated him terribly. The Context For Shime’s False Repentance David experienced many low points in his life, but I believe the passage we’re about to study records one of the lowest. David has lost the throne—bad enough on its own—but the one who seized it was his own wicked son, Absalom. Much of the nation David loved and served turned against him and aligned with Absalom, including the elders of the land and David’s close friend and advisor, Ahithophel. David was forced to flee Jerusalem to escape Absalom’s attempt to murder him. He had fled from Jerusalem before becoming king because of Saul, and now he fled again after becoming king—but this time from his own son. It’s hard to imagine many moments in David’s life that could rival the grief he was experiencing. And just when it seemed things couldn’t get worse, David encountered Shimei: 2 Samuel 16:5 When King David came to Bahurim (which is a town just outside Jerusalem), there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera, and as he came he cursed continually. 6 And he threw stones at David (as if cursing wasn’t enough) and at all the servants of King David, and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. I’m not sure how many hands Shimei had, but it seems he had about 20 to throw that many rocks: he threw them at David, the people with David, and even David’s mighty men. If there’s anyone in the Old Testament you don’t throw stones at, it’s them, but that’s how angry Shimei was. 2 Samuel 16:7 And Shimei said as he cursed, “Get out, get out (he means get out of this area where Shimei lived), you man of blood, you worthless man! 8 The Lord has avenged on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, your evil is on you, for you are a man of blood.” The Hebrew word for worthless man is bᵊlîyaʿal, which was so foul a title that it became a name for the devil in the New Testament (2 Corinthians 6:15). So Shimei isn’t holding anything back. He calls David a devil because he wants to be as offensive as possible. Shimei is so upset because he’s “a man of the family of the house of Saul.” Suffering Tempts Us To Mistreat Others There were strong tribal loyalties: people from the tribe of Benjamin wanted someone from their tribe on the throne. The only thing stronger than tribal loyalties was household loyalties. Shimei wasn’t just from the tribe of Benjamin; he was part of Saul’s family. We don’t know his exact relationship to Saul, but it is probably something like a cousin. Shimei used to be part of the royal family when Saul was king. Now he’s part of a disgraced family, and he thinks it’s all David’s fault. When I read about Shimei, it reminds me of the saying, “Hurt people hurt people.” James 1 is about trials: James 1:20 The anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Trials can make us angry, which leads us to mistreat others. James 4:1 What causes quarrels and fights among you?...2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. When we don’t get what we want, we get angry, and it causes quarrels and fights. That’s what’s going on with Shimei. We have this funny story in our family about Johnny when he was young. Katie and I were sitting on a bench watching our children play in a park. Johnny fell off a swing, quickly sprang up, and angrily looked at the people around him. Although nobody had done anything to him, he was hurting, so he was looking for someone to hurt. When Katie and I were going over the sermon, she said, “I stub my toe and I’m looking around to see which kids aren’t working.” I appreciate my wife’s humility in sharing this, because I have definitely seen her act like this, and I’m glad she recognizes it. But we can all be like this: “I’m mad and I want someone to blame. I’m suffering and I want someone to suffer with me.” A Woman Who Slandered Me When Her Life Was Falling Apart A few years ago, a woman on the other side of the country—someone I had never met—wrote a review of one of my books on her website and then shared it on social media. Another woman who disliked me saw the review, contacted the reviewer, and began criticizing me on Facebook Messenger. I know this because the reviewer reached out to me and sent screenshots of the conversation. When I looked at the screenshots, they included the woman’s name and profile photo so that I could find her on Facebook. But I still didn’t recognize her. I showed the profile to Katie, who said she knew her. Months later, I was at an event up north and noticed a woman who I thought might be the same person. I discreetly took a couple of pictures to send to Katie and asked, “Is this her?” Katie replied, “Yes, that’s her.” At the end of the event, as the crowd was leaving—maybe a hundred people around me—I turned and she happened to be right beside me. I said hello, and she responded using my name, which caught me off guard. We began talking, and to my surprise, she was very friendly. Since tact isn’t always my strongest quality, I asked, “Have I done something to offend you?” She shared that she was offended at me because someone had talked negatively about me to her. Then it got interesting, and sad: She had several children and began crying as she described how difficult her marriage was and the struggles they were having at home. Before speaking to her, I was frustrated with her, but as she talked, I felt really bad for her. I’m not excusing gossip, slander, or mistreatment. But suffering often tempts people to mistreat others. And when we are mistreated, it may have more to do with that person’s pain than anything we’ve done. In other words, suffering tempts people to mistreat others, and we don’t always need to take it so personally. Bitterness Can Cause Us to Misjudge People Because his accusations are so wildly inaccurate, some commentators assume he must have been irrational to believe them.

What is spiritual rest? Hebrews 3 (quoting Psalm 95) discusses a rest for the people of God in the spiritual promised land. Are you looking for a sermon on spiritual rest? Try reading or listening to this chapter from Work and Rest God’s Way for a better understanding! Table of contentsThe Promised Land and Spiritual RestRebellion with the Twelve SpiesUrgently Enter the RestUnbelief Is a Heart IssueMoving from the Physical Rest to the Spiritual RestAn Important WarningThe Need for FaithThe Gospel in the Old TestamentGod Preached the Gospel to AbrahamGod Preached the Gospel to Adam and EveCombining the Gospel with FaithA Continual RestA Spiritual Rest That Is Still AvailableGod’s Spiritual Rest Is Not about a Physical LocationFootnotes John Eliot was a Puritan missionary to the American Indians, pastor of the First Church in Roxbury, and founder of the Roxbury Latin School in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He fulfilled his pastoral duties, including preaching biweekly into his eighties, while ministering to the Indians. He took up court cases for their property rights, pleaded for clemency for them, fought against them being sold into slavery, sought to secure lands and streams for their use, and established schools for them. He labored to consolidate Indians so they could enjoy a Christian society, and at one point, there were fourteen towns of “Praying Indians.” Eliot learned their tongue so he could translate sermon transcripts, the Bible, and twenty other books into their language.166 Eliot was busier than most of us can imagine. He seemed as though he lived the lives of many men. Why do many of God’s most faithful servants work the hardest, and yet are rested and at peace? The answer is there’s a rest that’s not physical. The most important rest is spiritual, and they experience it. Conversely, why do some of the laziest people, who do the least, seem overwhelmed and filled with anxiety? They experience physical rest, but they lack spiritual rest. The Promised Land and Spiritual Rest The clearest passage explaining spiritual rest is Hebrews 3:7–4:11. Rest is the theme of the verses as the word occurs twelve times. The author of Hebrews also references the Old Testament extensively in these verses. Unfortunately, sometimes people read the Old Testament and think, “What does this have to do with me? How can I learn from people who lived so long ago and whose lives are so different from mine?” These are unfortunate questions because the New Testament states the Old Testament provides us with examples and instruction: “For whatever things were written [in the Old Testament] were written for our learning” (Romans 15:4). “Now all these things happened to [the Israelites] as examples, and they were written for our admonition” (1 Corinthians 10:11). Often, the Old Testament provides a backdrop for New Testament instruction. One such example takes place as the author of Hebrews reveals that the Promised Land is a type and shadow of the spiritual rest God offers His people. Rebellion with the Twelve Spies We must be familiar with Israel’s rebellion on the border of the Promised Land. In Numbers 13 and 14, the twelve spies returned after spending forty days examining the land. They shared their report with the nation, that while the land was as wonderful as God said, it was also filled with enemies. Ten of the spies said Israel couldn’t defeat the enemies, but Joshua and Caleb said God would give them victory. Tragically, the people believed the ten spies, so they didn’t believe God; therefore, God said the nation couldn’t enter. They would’ve received the land the next day, which means what was about to be a wonderful blessing for them, ended up being a moment of historic discipline. Israel was forced to wander in the wilderness for forty years—one year for each day the spies were in the land (Numbers 14:34). The generation of unbelief would die, but their children, whom they accused God of trying to murder, would enter the land (Numbers 14:3 cf. Numbers 14:31). The author of Hebrews has this rebellion in view as he presents the Promised Land as a picture of spiritual rest. We will consider this passage piece by piece throughout this chapter. Urgently Enter the Rest Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice” (Hebrews 3:7). Psalm 95 records the rebellion as God saw it, and the author of Hebrews quotes Psalm 95:7–11 in Hebrews 3:7–11. Although Psalm 95 was written by David as a wonderful affirmation of the inspiration of Scripture, it is attributed to the Holy Spirit. David was the human author, but the Holy Spirit is the true and greater Author of all of God’s Word. To convey urgency, this is the first of four times the author uses the word “Today” (also in Hebrews 3:13, 15, and 4:7). Don’t put off entering God’s rest! Live as though you might not have the same opportunity tomorrow. The Israelites serve as a warning to us. They were to enter the Promised Land, but they rebelled and were told they couldn’t enter (Numbers 14:1-4). They attempted to enter but were chased out by the Canaanites (Numbers 14:39-45). Unbelief Is a Heart Issue Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion (or at Meribah, which means, “tempting or testing”), in the day of trial (or at Massah, which means, “contention or quarreling”) in the wilderness, where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, and saw My works forty years. Therefore I was angry with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways’ (Hebrews 3:8–10). This is the first of three times the warning, “Do not harden your hearts” occurs (also in Hebrews 3:15 and 4:7). The author holds them responsible for their unbelief because belief and unbelief are not independent of people’s will. This is the first of four times the heart is mentioned because belief and unbelief are heart issues: “For with the heart one believes” (Romans 10:10; see Hebrews 3:10, 3:12, and 3:15). Hence, “They always go astray in their heart.” “Tested” and “tried” describe Israel’s behavior in the wilderness, and it is always related to their unbelief. They didn’t believe God would deliver them from the Egyptian army: “When Pharaoh drew near, [Israel] said to Moses, ‘Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt?’” (Exodus 14:10–11). They didn’t believe God would provide water for them: “[Israel] complained against Moses, saying, ‘What shall we drink?’” (Exodus 15:24) and “[Israel] contended with Moses, ‘Give us water, that we may drink’” (Exodus 17:2). They didn’t believe God would provide food for them: “Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness [saying], ‘Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger’” (Exodus 16:2–3). They didn’t believe God appointed Moses as their leader: “[Israel] said, ‘Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?’” (Numbers 12:2). When God is “tested and [tried]” by our unbelief, there is a point that His longsuffering comes to an end. We don’t know when that will be, but Israel learned it was when they believed the ten spies instead of God. Moving from the Physical Rest to the Spiritual Rest So I swore in My wrath, “They shall not enter My rest” (Hebrews 3:11). We would expect God to swear Israel could not enter the land, but He said they could not enter “My rest” (also in Hebrews 4:3). The Old Testament described the Promised Land as a place of rest: “Until the Lord has given rest to your brethren as to you, and they also possess the land which the Lord your God is giving them beyond the Jordan” (Deuteronomy 3:20; see also Deuteronomy 12:9–10, Joshua 21:44, and 22:4). This is the first time the author of Hebrews uses the word “rest,” looking beyond the physical rest in the Old Testament to the spiritual rest in the New Testament. Since the Promised Land prefigured a spiritual reality, it was always about more than a physical piece of land. John MacArthur said, “The application of this picture is to an individual’s spiritual rest in the Lord, which has precedent in the Old Testament.”167 We see the precedent in verses offering God’s people rest: “Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you” (Psalm 116:7). “To whom He said, ‘This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest,’ and, ‘This is the refreshing’; yet they would not hear” (Isaiah 28:12). An Important Warning Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:12–13). Israel “[departed] so far from [God]” they accused Him of murder: “Why has the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims?” (Numbers 14:3; see also Exodus 14:11–12 and 16:3). The author wants to prevent his readers from doing the same; therefore, he says, “Beware,” which is a word of warning, followed by “lest there be in any of you,” to make it personal. He exhorts each of us to “exhort one another.” The Greek word for “exhort” is parakaleo, related to our word “parallel,” because exhorting means coming alongside someone else. The phrase “deceitfulness of sin,” reminds us sin lies. We need brothers and sisters in Christ who exhort us with the truth. Christians outside of fellowship open themselves up to many dangers, including deception. The Need for Faith Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest,

What is Sabbath rest in Hebrews 4? What does the bible say about rest in the finished work of the cross? How is rest described in Hebrews 4:1-13? Read or listen to this chapter from Work and Rest God’s Way for answers. Table of contentsEntering the Sabbath RestWhat Does the Bible Say About Rest in the Finished Work of the Cross?Work Hard to Rest?Are You in the Wilderness, or Have you Entered the Sabbath Rest?Joshua Is a Type of JesusEgypt Is a Type of the WorldMoses Is a Type of the LawDelivered from Egypt, but Dying in the WildernessFollowing the True and Greater Moses and Joshua Into the Sabbath Rest Entering the Sabbath Rest For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his (Hebrews 4:8–10). A right is a freedom given to people and protected by a government’s laws. For example, American citizens have the right to express themselves, worship as they wish, and vote in elections for public officials. A privilege is an opportunity or advantage given to people who meet certain conditions. For example, driving is a privilege for people who have reached an age, passed a test, and agreed to obey the rules of the road. The author of Hebrews wrote to his readers about a privilege they could be given, and that’s entering “a Sabbath rest.” The condition they had to meet is contained in the words “for the people of God.” If the readers became God’s people, they could experience His rest. Since Gentiles were coming into the church, the Hebrew readers felt as though they were losing their status. The author of Hebrews explains that the only way they could remain the “people of God” was not by descending from Abraham, but by believing: Unbelieving Jews would lose their privileged status even if they were in the Promised Land and even if they observed the Sabbath. Believing Gentiles became the people of God even if they weren’t in the Promised Land and even if they didn’t observe the Sabbath. The words, “there remains” reveal the rest is available now, as opposed to only being available in the future when we get to heaven. The Greek word for “rest” in the previous verses is katapausis, but the word for “Sabbath rest” in Hebrews 4:9 is sabbatismos, and this is the only place it occurs in Scripture. The words “there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God” are similar to Hebrews 4:1 “Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest,” but whereas the Promised Land was in view earlier, now the Sabbath is in view. Just as the Promised Land prefigured God’s rest, so too does the Sabbath. The point the author of Hebrews is making is spiritual rather than physical; he is not primarily referring to physically resting from work. Instead, he is referring to spiritually resting from working for salvation. The Sabbath rest also looks back to creation when “[God] rested from His works.” He rested on the seventh day because His work was finished, and we can rest because the work for our salvation is finished. Just as God didn’t resume working again on the eighth day, we don’t resume working for our salvation on a later day. We enter God’s rest by trusting what Jesus has already and fully accomplished on our behalf. Notice it doesn’t say those who have entered will cease from their works. It says they “[have already] ceased from [their] works as God did from His.” We don’t enter the rest and then cease working for salvation. We have entered the rest because we have ceased working for salvation. What Does the Bible Say About Rest in the Finished Work of the Cross? The priests might have been the hardest workers in the Old Testament. Jesus said, “On the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless” (Matthew 12:5). They didn’t even get to rest on the Sabbath! The tabernacle and temple had many furnishings, but none for resting because the priests’ work was never done: Every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God (Hebrews 10:11–12). Priests had to continually offer sacrifices because none of them could “take away sins.” This meant they did not experience permanent rest. In contrast, Jesus is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). As our High Priest, He “sat down” because His work was done. Jesus rested, and He offers that rest to us: Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30). Jesus offers rest to “all who labor and are heavy laden,” which is how anyone must feel trying to keep the Mosaic Law to be saved. Peter said it is “a yoke on the neck [that] neither our fathers nor we were able to bear” (Acts 15:10) and Paul said it is a “yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1). But Jesus said His yoke is “easy,” and His “burden is light.” We can rest in the salvation Jesus provides. We don’t have to wonder if we’ve done enough because it’s not about what we do. It’s about what Jesus has done. It’s not based on our work, but on Christ’s work on our behalf. It’s not about our unrighteousness. It’s about Jesus’ righteousness imputed to our account. I rest because Jesus, my Advocate, sat down at the right hand of His Father in glory. Work Hard to Rest? Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience (Hebrews 4:11). By repeating the word “today” five times in the previous verses, the focus was on the urgency of entering (in Hebrews 3:7, 3:13, 3:15, and twice in 4:7). Now the words “let us therefore be diligent” focus on the effort needed to enter. The word “us” shows the author included himself. He knew he needed to do everything he told his readers to do! Everyone—even the authors of Scripture—must be diligent to enter God’s rest! This brings us full circle. We’ve spoken of the importance of diligence regarding the physical, and now we see the importance of diligence regarding the spiritual. There is a paradox. We enter by believing, but belief doesn’t require effort. It seems inconsistent to say we must work hard (be diligent) while also saying we must rest. How can this be resolved? John 6:28–29 records: They said to [Jesus], “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” When we think of work, we don’t think of believing. We think of doing something. Jesus used the word “work” ironically. The people were convinced they should work to earn God’s favor. Jesus said they must abandon confidence in their efforts and trust wholly in Him and the work He would do. Their “work” is to believe that their work will never save them; only Christ’s finished work can do so. That is what true saving faith is, not a thing we do that prompts God to be gracious to us. Faith is the God-given gift, the instrument by which we lay hold of Christ and all his merits. The Greek word for work is ergon, and it means, “to undertake or become occupied with an enterprise.” As Christians, our enterprise is believing and being occupied with Jesus. It is our belief that pleases God. As the author of Hebrews later says, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is” (Hebrews 11:6). Believing is the work God wants, and when we believe, we can spiritually rest, because we need no longer work. The Promised Land and the Sabbath foreshadowed our spiritual rest in Christ. To appreciate this beautiful truth, we must understand one of the purposes of the Old Testament. Are You in the Wilderness, or Have you Entered the Sabbath Rest? The Old Testament typology found in Joshua, Egypt, and Moses is crucial to understand. Then we can examine ourselves and see where we are in our spiritual journeys. Joshua Is a Type of Jesus In Hebrews 4:8, the author said, “For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day.” Joshua and Jesus have the same name, but Jesus is Greek, and Joshua is Hebrew. They both mean, “Jehovah is salvation”: Joshua led God’s people in the Old Testament into the physical rest (Promised Land). Jesus leads God’s people in the New Testament into the spiritual rest. Jesus is better than Joshua because He leads people into the better rest. Egypt Is a Type of the World Joseph invited his brothers and their families into Egypt; seventy people total (Exodus 1:5). They “were fruitful and increased abundantly…and the land was filled with them” (Exodus 1:7). Exodus 12:37 says Moses delivered six hundred thousand men from Egypt, which means there were probably around two-to-three million people total. Egypt served as a womb for Israel to grow from seventy people to millions of people. Israel’s journey parallels ours: Israel was born in Egypt like we’re born into the world. Israel was delivered from Egypt like we’re delivered from the world. Israel struggled with wanting to return to Egypt (Exodus 14:11-12, 16:3, 17:3, Numbers 14:3, 20:5), like we struggle with wanting to return to the world. Israel turned to Egypt for help instead of turning to God (2 Kings 18:21, Isaiah 36:6, Ezekiel 17:15) as we turn to the world for help instead of turning to God. God brought Israel out of Egypt into the Promised Land, like He brings us out of the world into His rest. Moses Is a Type of the Law The Law was given to Moses, which is why it’s known as “The Law of Moses” and “The Mosaic Law.

Luke 10:38-42 contains the account of Mary and Martha. We see Martha serving and Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus. Read or listen to this chapter from Work and Rest God’s Way to learn when it helps us to sit at Jesus's feet. Table of contentsWhen We Must Sit at Jesus’ FeetScripture Sanctifies but Service Might NotThe Problems with Being Overwhelmed1. Sitting at the Feet of Jesus Helps When We Are Filled with Self-Pity2. Sitting at the Feet of Jesus Helps When We Are Easily Annoyed3. Sitting at the Feet of Jesus Helps When We Are Frustrated with the Lord4. Sitting at the Feet of Jesus Helps When We Are Anxious5. Sitting at the Feet of Jesus Helps When We Are Worried About OthersA Supernatural Solution When We Must Sit at Jesus’ Feet Mary’s posture at Jesus’ feet stands in stark contrast to churches that neglect the one thing needed. Willow Creek has been one of America’s most influential churches. They had elaborate programs and activities, and the measure of success was the number of people served. So they thought. However, they then conducted a thorough, multi-year study of their ministry and found that their programs and activities didn’t produce spiritual growth. Bill Hybels was the senior pastor at the time, and to his credit, he was open about their findings: Some of the stuff that we have put millions of dollars into thinking it would really help our people grow and develop spiritually, when the data actually came back, it wasn’t helping people that much. Other things that we didn’t put that much money into and didn’t put much staff against is stuff our people are crying out for. We made a mistake. What we should have done when people crossed the line of faith and become Christians, we should have started telling people and teaching people that they have to take responsibility to become self-feeders. We should have gotten people, taught people, how to read their Bible between service, how to do the spiritual practices much more aggressively on their own. They found that keeping people busy had not produced sanctification. The church of Sardis exemplifies this. In Jesus’ letter to the church, He said, “These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: ‘I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead” (Revelation 3:1). They had “a name” or reputation that they were “alive,” which means they were known as the happening church. The people were busy, but Jesus said they were dead. How can a church be alive and dead? They were alive (and busy) physically, but dead spiritually. It’s an unbelievably sad irony that the church everyone thought was thriving was filled with unregenerate people. Scripture Sanctifies but Service Might Not Jesus told the Twelve to make disciples by “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20). Disciples need to receive Jesus’ teaching, and Mary received His teaching directly from Him, at His feet! Willow Creek incorrectly thought programs produce spiritual growth. The word of Christ alone produces spiritual growth: “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17). “[Christ] might sanctify and cleanse [the church] with the washing of water by the word” (Ephesians 5:26). “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). The Word equips us to live out the Christian life: All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16–17). Ephesians 4:12 says church leaders are supposed to “[equip] the saints for the work of the ministry,” and if saints are equipped by God’s Word, then church leaders need to feed their flocks the word. God’s Word gives us faith: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). Faith comes from the Word because we can’t have faith in a God we don’t know, and we know God through His Word; through sitting at the feet of Jesus. Considering where the account of this episode with Mary and Martha appears is instructive. Luke 10:1–24 records the sending of the Seventy, which is about the preaching of the gospel. Luke 10:25–37 records the Good Samaritan, which is about serving one’s neighbor. Mary and Martha follow in Luke 10:38–41, revealing that before we can do either of the aforementioned—preach the gospel or serve—we must first spend time with Jesus. Why? He alone fuels our ministry. Physical effort can never accomplish what must be done in the Spirit. We can’t rise above our relationships with the Lord. Jesus Himself said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). When we try to serve the Lord, but we haven’t sat at His feet, it can be damaging. Few things are as harmful as people trying to serve Jesus when they haven’t spent time with Him. Consider Martha’s example. Time at Jesus’ feet is what she needed more than anything else. We tend to think service benefits us, but Martha, Willow Creek, and Sardis show us that’s not always the case! In Martha’s case, her Christless service revealed her resentful, proud, and crabby heart. The Problems with Being Overwhelmed The Greek word for “distracted” is perispao, and it means “over-occupied” or “too busy.” Martha was overwhelmed. You can picture her turning from one task to the next, fussing over all the details: ensuring the table is set, the food is served at the right time, and everyone is comfortable. Ironically, her fussing probably made people uncomfortable. She was driven by circumstances and pulled in too many directions. Not only did she take on more than she could handle, but she also took on tasks the Lord didn’t even want. She was making elaborate preparations, ostensibly for the Lord, but they were not the one thing needed. This is fitting for us because we live in a fast-paced culture. There’s no end to the number of things we can do or distractions that can pull us in. If we’re not careful, we find ourselves overwhelmed. We become like Martha taking on things Jesus might not want us doing, or that might pale in comparison to what He would rather we do. My wife, Katie, has a wise perspective here, and I appreciate her humility in sharing this: I have a tendency to put too much on my plate. I remember doing this in college when I worked three jobs and went to school full-time. When I married Scott, he witnessed this firsthand. I was often overwhelmed, so he encouraged me to focus on the tasks the Lord put in front of me—homeschooling our children and keeping the home. Even though I hate boundaries I know they are instruments of peace for me. I want to encourage any Marthas reading this to seek your husband's counsel before signing up for something. We certainly don't want our families suffering because we are too busy. The account of Mary and Martha follows the Good Samaritan, one of the most convicting accounts in Scripture regarding serving. Then we reach Martha and learn an important lesson—service must be done the right way. Galatians 5:22 lists peace as a fruit of the Spirit. Since Martha didn’t have peace, we may rightly conclude that she was serving in the flesh, not in the Spirit. One problem with being overwhelmed is it often introduces sins into our lives. When we’re stressed, or when we’ve taken on more than we can handle, we’re faced with many temptations. This happened to Martha, and she gave in. The feet of Jesus was the one place in all the world she should’ve been. By looking at her example we can see when we must sit at Jesus’ feet. 1. Sitting at the Feet of Jesus Helps When We Are Filled with Self-Pity Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?” She thought she was being neglected and overlooked, so she felt sorry for herself. She thought nobody cared about her and all that she had to do. The same thing can happen with us. We feel like we’re the only ones working, we must do everything ourselves, and nobody cares about us. When we find ourselves filled with self-pity, we must examine our hearts and see whether we’re serving with the right attitude. A good test is whether we have joy. If we don’t, what is the solution? The solution is not to quit working. Having a pity party isn’t an excuse to avoid serving. We don’t put off a bad attitude by putting on laziness. The solution is to take steps to have a better attitude, and that means spending time at Jesus’ feet until we can serve Him and others joyfully. 2. Sitting at the Feet of Jesus Helps When We Are Easily Annoyed Martha said, “My sister has left me to serve alone.” You can imagine her giving Mary dirty looks, stomping around, sighing, huffing and puffing, maybe even slamming dishes, hoping someone notices. She became more and more upset until she finally did something we wouldn’t believe if it wasn’t recorded—she interrupted Jesus while He was teaching! We should believe she did this, though, because we do the same thing when we are not fixing our eyes on Jesus and sitting at His feet. We interrupt Him with our complaining spirit, arguments, and disobedience when He’s teaching us hard lessons. Martha wasn’t upset about serving. For people like her, service itself will rarely be the point of annoyance. Instead, service is their element; it’s what they enjoy. The annoyance will come from others who don’t pitch in. This can happen to us, too. We feel like we’re the only ones serving, which leads us to be annoyed with those around us. When we’re impatient, agitated, resentful, rude, bossy, controlling, or insensitive in our service, these are signs we need to sit at Jesus’ feet. Sometimes a husband comes home from working hard all day,

Trials and suffering are part of this life. Read or listen to the Introduction of Enduring Trials God’s Way if you want to learn the Bible verses on suffering and trials. Table of contentsPat and Kathy Mundy's Trials and SufferingTheir Concern for...Us?Why Should You Trust Me?Some of Our Trials and Suffering My wife, Katie, and I grew up together in northern California. We lost touch after high school and then reconnected almost ten years later. At the time, Katie was living in our hometown of McArthur, California, but I was seven hours south in Lemoore, California. Some wonderful friends of mine, Pat and Kathy Mundy, graciously invited Katie to live with them so we could be near each other, even though they did not know her yet. The four of us became close. They performed our pre-marital counseling and made the trip north for our wedding. Seven years ago, Katie and I moved from Lemoore to Woodland, Washington. Although the distance changed our relationship with Pat and Kathy, we remained friends. Pat and Kathy Mundy's Trials and Suffering A few years ago, Pat retired from the police department, and he and Kathy looked forward to investing in their grandkids, traveling, and serving in the church. Then everything changed. Kathy got sick, and a hospital visit revealed an aggressive form of cancer. The “golden years” have been filled with trials and suffering: doctor appointments and multiple rounds of chemotherapy. Nothing slowed the disease, and in a last attempt, they moved to Seattle for an experimental treatment. A few weeks ago, on their way north, they surprised us and stopped by our house to visit. Their Concern for...Us? I felt privileged to see them at this time in their lives. As soon as we got them sitting in our living room, I wanted to hear everything they felt comfortable sharing about their trial, but the first thing they said was, “How is your dad’s Alzheimer’s?” Despite what they were experiencing, they “[esteemed] others better than [themselves]” (Philippians 2:3). Throughout the conversation, they gave little indication they were experiencing such difficult trials and suffering. As we talked, they discussed their blessings far more than they discussed any amount of suffering. Repeatedly, they shared how good God was being to them. Reflecting on that conversation, I have asked myself: “Why did they not question (or criticize) God? How could they be so thankful during such a difficult trial? Why did they respond this way when their circumstances would devastate many other people? Could I respond this way if I experienced something similar?” Only time can provide an answer to the last question. The other questions I hope to answer in the following chapters. Why Should You Trust Me? Is there any reason you should trust my answers? No, and I am not asking you to do so. This book is not a collection of my thoughts about trials. Rather, I am inviting you to trust the Bible. Enduring Trials God’s Way came from several sermons I preached, and I labored over each one for twenty to thirty hours per week. God knows what is necessary for people to find joy in suffering, and I hope to present the recipe for that in the following chapters. As a pastor, I watch firsthand as people suffer through trials. Woodland Christian Church maintains a prayer list, and it seems as soon as we can remove one request, another is added. We have prayed about medical issues, job losses, deaths of family members, and the examples could go on. Some of Our Trials and Suffering My family has not been immune to trials and suffering. There are all the difficulties associated with ministry. This past year: my sister-in-law, who lives with her family next door to us, experienced two massive heart attacks. Katie and I experienced our third miscarriage. My dad, John LaPierre, who lived with my mom up the street from us, went through radiation and chemotherapy (and that is besides his Alzheimer’s). Not long after, my mom called me terrified, begging me to rush to their house. Dad was unconscious on the floor and not breathing. I delivered CPR until the paramedics arrived, but they were unable to revive him. Trials and suffering are inevitable on this side of heaven as we will see as we begin chapter 1. My prayer has been that I can give you the encouragement from God’s Word that He wants you to have when you experience them!

The Parable of the Persistent Widow and the Unjust Judge in Luke 18:1-8 is commonly misunderstood. The wrong interpretation is, “Be persistent in prayer until God gives you what you want.” The correct interpretation is if an unjust judge can be persuaded to give justice to a woman he has no regard for, then how much more will God, who is just, give justice to his elect whom he loves. Table of contentsAlways Praying Without Losing Heart“Ought Always to Pray” Involves a Disposition Toward GodWe Can “Lose Heart” When Praying Because It Is Hard WorkWhat the Parable of the Persistent Widow and the Unjust Judge TeachesThe Judge with no Regard for JusticeThe Persistent Widow Who Wants JusticeParables Don't Give all the DetailsGod's View of WidowsThe Widow Only Had Her PersistenceThe Point of the Parable of the Persistent Widow and the Unjust JudgeThe Widow Represents Us…to an ExtentThe Incorrect Interpretation of the Parable of the Persistent Widow and the Unjust JudgeThe Correct Interpretation of the Parable of the Persistent Widow and the Unjust JudgeWhen Will God Provide this Justice?There Have Always Been "Widows" Wanting JusticeDo We Have Faith Like the Widow?The Parable of the Persistent Widow Makes Us Wonder, "Why the Delay?"Footnotes https://youtu.be/rmSjtzzEvHE The Parable of the Persistent Widow and the Unjust Judge in Luke 18:1-8 teaches God, who is just, give justice to his elect, whom he loves. The chapter breaks in Scripture are helpful, but they were added by man. One of the dangers with them is they can cause us to think, “This is a new chapter, so it must not be related to the previous chapter.” But it’s the opposite with The Parable of the Persistent Widow and the Unjust Judge. We need to keep the previous chapter in mind to interpret the parable correctly. Everything Jesus taught in Luke 18:1-8 flows from his teaching at the end of Luke 17 on his Second Coming. The second half of Luke 18:8 says, "when the Son of Man comes." This is the context. The parable is related to Jesus’s Second Coming. Robert Stein wrote, “The parable serves as a concluding illustration to Luke 17:22-37 [about Jesus’s Second Coming].”181 John MacArthur’s sermon on The Parable of the Persistent Widow and the Unjust Judge is titled, “Persistent Prayer for the Lord’s Return.” Always Praying Without Losing Heart Jesus knew that as his disciples waited for his return, they could become discouraged, lose heart, and begin to doubt, so... Luke 18:1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. It’s a theme in Scripture that we ought always to pray: Romans 12:12 says, "be constant in prayer" Ephesians 6:18 says, "praying at all times" Colossians 4:2 says, "continue steadfastly in prayer" 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, "pray without ceasing" When I was Catholic, there was only one way to pray: kneeling with your eyes closed, head bowed, and hands folded. I remember one time when someone wanted to pray with me and I thought we couldn’t pray, because we couldn’t kneel. When I became a Christian I learned that we didn’t have to pray this way, but I read verses like this one that we ought always to pray, and I was confused. I thought, “How could I pray all the time? I won’t have time for anything else, such as eating, working, or even sleeping, because I can’t pray while I sleep.” To be honest, if you’re like me, and you have trouble sleeping, you pray because you know it will help you fall back to sleep. “Ought Always to Pray” Involves a Disposition Toward God We are not expected to – literally – pray all the time. There’s a place for concentrated prayer times, but praying all the time refers to a receptive disposition toward God. Let me give you an example that I believe illustrates this. When we lived in California, one of my good friends, Pat Mundy, was a cop. One time I was with him, and he noticed someone he said, “didn’t look right.” I asked him why he noticed this person, and he said, “As a cop you’re always looking around at people and situations, seeing if things seem off. Even though I am off duty, I can never really be off duty.” This is the same for Christians. Even when we are, “Off duty,” which is to say not praying, we are never really “off duty,” in the sense that we haven’t flipped off a switch and started ignoring God. We are not out of communion with him. Instead, have a receptive disposition toward God. We are still sensitive to him and what he wants from us. We are always ready to seek him in whatever situation we face. in 1 Samuel 3:4-9 God repeatedly called out to Samuel, but Samuel thought it was Eli. Samuel kept going to Eli, but Eli told Samuel it was not him and he should go back to bed. On the third time Eli recognized God was calling to Samuel, which he shared with the boy, and then told him how to respond if it happened again: 1 Samuel 3:10 The Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “SPEAK, FOR YOUR SERVANT HEARS.” We don’t hear from God audibly like Samuel did, but we hear from him through his Word. Even when we are not praying, we should have a disposition that says, “Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.” We are going about our daily lives, doing the things God wants us to do. We are at our jobs, going to school, spending time with family, talking with friends, having a meal, and we are always receptive to God and sensitive to his will for our lives. We Can “Lose Heart” When Praying Because It Is Hard Work In Luke 18:1 Jesus also mentioned one of the most common temptations when praying: "[losing] heart." We know that one of the main reasons we give up doing anything is because it is difficult. We lose heart, which means we become discouraged, which is how it is translated in some Bibles, such as the NASB. And it is very easy to lose heart when praying because prayer is difficult. Every time we pray, it is a spiritual battle. Romans 15:30 I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me IN YOUR PRAYERS TO GOD ON MY BEHALF, The Greek word for strive is agōnizomai, which is related to the English word agony. It means, “To enter a contest: contend in the gymnastic games; fight.” Paul asked his readers to join him in doing something difficult. Even agonizing. We might expect him to ask them to strive together with him in giving financially until it hurts, resisting temptation, or in being persecuted for Christ. Instead, he asked them to agonize, of all things, in prayer for him. Colossians 4:12 Epaphras…a servant of Christ Jesus…ALWAYS STRUGGLING ON YOUR BEHALF IN HIS PRAYERS, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. Paul praised Epaphras because he was always struggling in his prayers. Again, the word for struggling is agōnizomai. My dad taught us numerous prayers when I was growing up Catholic. I recited them all of them, especially before bed. Reciting prayers is NOT hard work. It does not involve striving or agonizing. If there is anything hard about it, it is the boringness. I could zip through all my prayers without ever thinking about what I was saying. I could say an entire rosary with my mind elsewhere. I became a Christian and read Jesus’s words: Matthew 6:7 When you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. I had to completely change the way I prayed. Instead of reciting prayers, or as Jesus warned against [heaping] up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, I had to concentrate on what I was saying. And it was hard work to concentrate. My prayers frequently sounded like: “Father, please help me serve you well…oh wait, when I get home I need to respond to that email…Lord, can you help me become more like Christ…should I train chest or back today?…God, will you please help me teach my students well…That reminds me I still need to mow the lawn. I hate doing that, because of my allergies.” Praying was and still is hard work for me. It is easy to lose heart and give up. We wonder, "“Will my prayers accomplish anything? Am I wasting my time? “How long do I have to keep praying for this? Should I keep praying for this?”182 What the Parable of the Persistent Widow and the Unjust Judge Teaches So, Jesus preached The Parable of the Persistent Widow and the Unjust Judge to encourage his disciples, including us, to be persistent and not give up in our prayer lives. The Judge with no Regard for Justice Luke 18:2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. This judge is evil and corrupt. He does not represent God! To say he neither feared God nor respected man is to say he disobeyed the two greatest commandments: Mark 12:29 Jesus [said], “The most important [commandment is…] 30 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” If he had no regard for God or man he also had no regard for justice: If he had no regard for man, but he had regard for God, he would still have a regard for justice to please God. If he had no regard for God, but he had regard for his fellow man, he would have regard for justice for man’s sake. We know atheists crave justice when they feel an injustice has taken place. But if you have a man with no regard for God or man, he will have no regard for justice, which is the case with this judge. The Persistent Widow Who Wants Justice There happens to be a widow in the city who craves justice, which this sets up the confrontation: Luke 18:3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.

How does God prepare us for service? Philippians 1:6 says, "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Read or listen to this chapter from my book, A Father Offers His Son, to learn about God's preparation process for Abraham, David, and us! Table of contentsGod's Preparation Process for AbrahamGod Prepared Abraham through Their RelationshipGod Prepared Abraham through Previous TestsThe Family TestThe Walk by Faith TestThe Famine TestThe Fear of Man TestThe Generosity TestThe Compassion TestThe Giving TestThe Spiritual Leader TestThe Circumcision TestThe Integrity TestThe Ishmael TestGod's Preparation Process for DavidGod's Preparation Process for UsThe Danger of Forgetting God’s Past FaithfulnessWe Can Be Confident God Is Preparing Us (Philippians 1:6) How does God prepare us for service? Philippians 1:6 says, "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." God has preparation process for us to complete us. God's Preparation Process for Abraham We doubt that we could be like him if given a a test of such magnitude. But God prepared Abraham for the test in Genesis 22, and it should be an encouragement that He also prepares us for the trials and tests we face, such as the Coronavirus. God Prepared Abraham through Their Relationship By the time Genesis 22 takes place, Abraham had a deep history with God. Abraham had been through many experiences with God, and as a result, he knew Him. When Abraham interceded for Sodom, he talked God down from fifty righteous people to ten righteous people (Genesis 18:32). The exchange looked like a conversation between friends, which is fitting since three times in Scripture Abraham is called God’s friend (2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23). At points, Abraham worried about pushing God too far, but the longer they talked, the more Abraham learned about God’s patience and graciousness. Experiences in relationships can allow trust to build. Abraham had been through so much with God that he trusted Him, even when He asked him to sacrifice his son. When Abraham first met God back in Genesis 12, could he have passed the same test he passed in Genesis 22? Did Abraham have the faith in Genesis 12 to do what he did in Genesis 22? I doubt it. God prepared Abraham for Genesis 22 in the previous ten chapters. Abraham needed great faith to sacrifice Isaac, and God built that faith in Abraham through their relationship. For example, Abraham believed God would raise Isaac from the dead, and God convinced Abraham He could raise Isaac from the dead by bringing two other bodies back to life—his and Sarah’s. Abraham knew he and Sarah could no longer have children. Their bodies were “dead,” but: And not being weak in faith, (Abraham) did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. Romans 4:19-21 Abraham believed God could raise Isaac from the dead. Why? He experienced God supernaturally raise his and Sarah’s “dead” bodies in their old age so they could have Isaac. God Prepared Abraham through Previous Tests God also prepared Abraham for the test of Genesis 22 through the tests He gave him in the previous chapters. The Family Test Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house.” Genesis 12:1a This is the “Family Test” that involved leaving his relatives behind. Abraham failed by bringing his nephew, Lot. The Walk by Faith Test Now the Lord had said to Abram: “[Go] to a land that I will show you.” Genesis 12:1b At the same time, Abraham faced the “Walk by Faith Test” since God told him to go to a land he had never seen. The Famine Test Then Abraham faced the “Famine Test": Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land. Genesis 12:10 Abraham failed this test when he left the land and went to Egypt. The Fear of Man Test Then he also failed the “Fear of Man Test” when he told Sarah to say she was his sister to protect himself: “Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you." Genesis 12:13 The Generosity Test In Genesis 13, Abraham passed the “Generosity Test.” His herdsmen began fighting with Lot’s herdsmen, and Abraham gave Lot the best choice of land for his animals: So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.” Genesis 13:8-9 The Compassion Test In Genesis 14, Abraham passed the “Compassion Test” when he risked his life to rescue his nephew Lot from the five kings who captured him: Now when Abram heard that (Lot) was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan… So he brought back all the goods, and (Lot) and his goods. Genesis 14;14, 16 The Giving Test Then Abraham passed the “Giving Test” when he would not keep the wealth he acquired from the battle against Sodom: Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.” But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’” Genesis 14:21-23 The Spiritual Leader Test Abraham failed the “Spiritual Leader Test” when he submitted to Sarah and had a child with Hagar: Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai. Genesis 16:1-2 The Circumcision Test Abraham passed the “Circumcision Test” when God gave him the sign of the covenant, and he had the males with him obey: So Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house and all who were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very same day, as God had said to him. Genesis 17:23 The Integrity Test Abraham failed the “Integrity Test” when he lied about Sarah being his sister: Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.” Genesis 20:2 He put his wife in danger, and she ended up in a pagan king’s harem. The Ishmael Test Finally, Abraham passed the “Ishmael Test” that most clearly prepared him for Genesis 22. God commanded him to give up a different son. This test is overshadowed by the account with Isaac, but it was still very difficult for Abraham: Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing. Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac.” And the matter was very displeasing in Abraham’s sight because of his son. But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba. Genesis 21:9–14 Abraham’s “displeasure” is mentioned twice, but he still passed the test. Before God ever asked Abraham to offer up Isaac, He first asked him to “offer up” Ishmael. Did Abraham have any idea God would soon after say, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and offer him as a burnt offering”? No, but God prepared him for that difficult test through the previous tests. Proverbs 24:27 God's Preparation Process for David Abraham was far from the only person in the Old Testament God tested. David faced a great test when he went before Goliath. Although it would be terrifying, David did not seem the least bit afraid: Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17:45–47 Why was David so confident he could defeat Goliath? He provided the answer before he stepped on the battlefield. When Saul discouraged David from fighting Goliath, David responded with such a convincing argument that Saul permitted him: David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock,

In Luke 17:33-37 Jesus taught "one will be taken and the other left." People are “left” to enter the kingdom. Other people are “taken” in judgment to the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 19:11-21). This resembles the way the wicked people in Noah’s day were "taken" by the flood. Table of contentsGive Up This Life to Receive Eternal LifeLot’s Wife Sought to Preserve Her Life but Lost ItNoah and Lot Lost Their Lives to Keep ThemHow Does "Losing Our Life" Relate to the Second Coming?Why Is Luke 17:36 Missing?The Prophetic TimelinePeople Are “Taken” to the Battle of ArmageddonPeople Are “Left” to Enter the KingdomThe Birds (Visibility) and Corpses (Judgment) of the Battle of ArmageddonJesus's Two ComingsThe Sword Out of Jesus's Mouth Defeats the Enemies at the Battle of ArmageddonThe Battle of Armageddon Will Be Like a WinepressJesus's Names in Revelation 19The Battle of Armageddon Is an Execution Versus a BattleEternal Torment in Hell Versus AnnihilationOne Will Be Taken and the Other Left to Separate the Saved and Lost https://youtu.be/AqSbMD94btA In Luke 17:33-37 Jesus taught "one will be taken and the other left." People are “left” to enter the kingdom. Other people are “taken” in judgment to the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 19:11-21). This resembles the way the wicked people in Noah’s day were "taken" by the flood. Give Up This Life to Receive Eternal Life A paradox is a statement that seems contradictory, inconsistent, untrue, or even absurd, but is still true. There are several paradoxes in Scripture: Matthew 23:11 says, "Whoever wants to be greatest, should be everyone’s servant." Mark 9:35 says, "Anyone who wants to be first, must be the very last." 2 Corinthians 6:10 says, "As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything." If you’re sorrowful you’re not rejoicing, if you’re poor you don’t make others rich, and if you have nothing, you don’t possess everything. 2 Corinthians 12:10 and 13:9 say, "When we are weak we are strong." When you’re weak you’re not strong. James 1:2 says, "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials. Joy is the last thing you experience in trials." Luke 17:33 says, "Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it." This is one of the most well-known paradoxes in the Bible. The paradoxical nature is immediately noticeable: You can’t preserve your life and lose it. Preserving your life means you did NOT lose it. You can’t lose your life and keep it. Losing your life means you did NOT keep it. It’s easier to understand this paradox if the verse is broken in half. When Jesus says, "Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it," He’s referring to people who live for this life and pursue what the world offers. These people will not find eternal life. Then when Jesus says, "but whoever loses his life will keep it," He’s referring to people who give up their earthly lives for Him. If we do this, we will find eternal life. It’s like Paul said in Philippians 1:21 that "to live is Christ." We surrender to Him, inviting Him to use us in whatever ways He deems best. It’s the language of Romans 12:1: "Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." We are no longer living for ourselves. We’re living for the Lord. Jim Elliot famously said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” Lot’s Wife Sought to Preserve Her Life but Lost It Luke 17:33 flows perfectly from the previous verses, because they contain three examples of what Luke 17:33 describes. Lot’s wife looked back to her true home, Sodom, which she valued more than the next life that God had for her. She is a perfect example of someone who sought to preserve her life but lost it. Noah and Lot Lost Their Lives to Keep Them On the other hand, Noah and Lot preserved their lives by being willing to lose them: Noah was willing to let go of his life in the pre-flood world and get on the ark, and he preserved his life in the process. Lot was willing to abandon his life in Sodom, and he preserved his life in the process. It is a question of what we desire: If we desire to preserve our lives in this world, then we will lose our lives. But if we are willing to lose our lives for Jesus’s sake we will keep them. How Does "Losing Our Life" Relate to the Second Coming? The context is the Second Coming, so how does this all relate? If we long for Jesus’s return we desire to see this life, as we know it, come to an end so that we can begin the next life in His kingdom. In this way we preserve our lives. But people who love this life don’t want to see Jesus return, because they don’t want this life to end. They want to hold onto this life, and in the process they will lose their lives, as the following verses reveal... Luke 17:34 I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. 35 There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.” 36 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left Why Is Luke 17:36 Missing? Luke 17:36 is only in some Bibles: The KJV contains verse 36 without a footnote The NKJV has a footnote that says, "The NU omits verse 36." The NU (Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament) is the manuscript used for modern translations, such as the ESV, NIV, or NASB. The modern translations, such as the ESV, NIV, or NASB, because they use the NU, say something like, “The oldest manuscripts don’t include it verse 36,” or the “Most reliable manuscripts omit verse 36.” It goes outside the scope of this post to go into detail about why the modern translations are missing some verses. Here’s the good news: Whether your Bible does or doesn’t contain Luke 17:36 doesn’t change anything, because it is just another example of what the previous two verses are discussing: one will be taken and the other left. The Prophetic Timeline Let me briefly explain the future order of events so the following verses make sense. In the First Coming Jesus spiritually established His kingdom on the earth. At Jesus’s Second Coming He will physically establish His kingdom on the earth, and here are the order of events leading up to that and immediately after it: The Rapture of the Church The Seven Year Tribulation The Second Coming of Christ The Battle of Armageddon The Millennial Kingdom (the physical kingdom established on the earth) People Are “Taken” to the Battle of Armageddon This is where it gets a little confusing: Luke 17:33-36 describes one will be taken and the other left, which sounds like the rapture. But the context is the Second Coming of Christ (Luke 17:24), which is seven years after the Rapture. When you think of the people taken away to the Battle of Armageddon to be judged, think of the way the wicked people in Noah’s day were taken away by the flood. Consider the parallel account: "As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man…39 and they were unaware until the flood came and SWEPT THEM ALL AWAY, so will be the coming of the Son of Man" (Matthew 24:37, 39). It says very clearly that the way the people were taken away by the flood looks like the way people are taken away at that Second Coming. People Are “Left” to Enter the Kingdom The people who are left, are left to enter the millennial kingdom that Jesus physically establishes on the earth. Think of these people being left to enjoy a new beginning the way: Noah and his family was left to enjoy a new beginning after the whole population of the earth was taken in the flood. Lot and his family were left to enjoy a new beginning after the people in Sodom were destroyed by the fire and brimstone. Consider the way it’s worded in the Amplified Bible: Luke 17:34 I tell you, on that night [when Messiah comes again] there will be two [sleeping] in one bed; the one (the non-believer) will be taken [away in judgment] and the other (the believer) will be left. 35 There will be two women grinding [at the mill] together; the one (the non-believer) will be taken [away in judgment] and the other (the believer) will be left. The Amplified clarifies that the unbelievers are taken, and the believers are left, and there are two important footnotes: The first footnote: “This is not the sudden catching up (or rapture) of believers as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 when Christ returns in the air (not to earth), and gathers believers to be with Him.” This is one of the main differences between the Rapture and the Second Coming: At the rapture, Jesus meets the church in the air without setting foot on the earth. At the Second Coming, Jesus returns to the earth. The second footnote: “The believers are left and will be with Christ on the earth during the Millennium.” The Birds (Visibility) and Corpses (Judgment) of the Battle of Armageddon Luke 17:37 And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.” They mean, "Where are the people who are judged taken to?" Some Bibles say eagles instead of vultures, because the Greek word can be translated either way, but it’s more appropriate to think of vultures because they are the birds that gather or circle above corpses. It might seem strange, or even graphic, to associate Jesus's Second Coming with vultures and dead bodies, but when you study it out, it makes perfect sense. Consider what God said to Job when He questioned him: Job 39:27 Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes his nest on high? 28 On the rock he dwells and makes his home, on the rocky crag and stronghold. 29 From there he spies out the prey; his eyes behold it from far away. 30 His young ones suck up blood,

Proverbs 13:4 says, "The soul of the diligent is swiftly supplied." The Bible verses about working diligently should encourage and challenge everyone. Read or listen to this chapter from Work and Rest God’s Way to learn about diligence in the Bible. Table of contentsThe Importance of DiligenceApply the Principle of Putting Off and Putting OnRemember, Stopping Is Only the First StepPut on Working DiligentlyProverbs Are Generalities, but not GuaranteesWorking Diligently Produces WealthWorking Diligently Leads to PromotionsMy Example from Army ROTCJoseph's ExampleDavid's ExampleJesus's ExampleWorking Diligently Means Finishing What You BeginWorking Diligently Produces SatisfactionA Diligent HeartSpiritual DiligenceFootnotes The Importance of Diligence Maybe you’re reading this book because you want to be more diligent, repent of laziness, find joy in work, learn to rest, or all of the above. Changing is hard. As a pastor, I’ve heard many people say, “I’m going to stop this” or “I’m going to start that.” I’ve said the same myself. Only 64 percent of New Year’s resolutions last longer than the first month, and only 46 percent last longer than six months. We often begin well, but within a short period of time, we find ourselves resuming what we committed to stopping or stopping what we committed to starting. How can we change…for good? Apply the Principle of Putting Off and Putting On The single greatest reason we fail to change, at least regarding sin, is we “put off” without “putting on.” When we hear the word “repent,” unfortunately we often think only of stopping, but we must also think of starting. If there’s a sin we want to repent of, we must replace it with a corresponding behavior. John the Baptist is a man whose message can be summarized in the word “repent.” He said, “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:8 and Luke 3:8). We don’t typically associate repentance (stopping) with bearing fruit (starting), but we should. The apostle Paul also knew how to preach repentance. In Acts 26:20 he said, “Repent, turn to God (stopping), and do works befitting repentance (starting).” This is known as putting off and putting on, or severing and replacing, and it’s explained in Ephesians 4: Verse 25 says, “Put away lying.” This is what we put off, followed by: “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor.” This is what we put on. We can’t simply stop lying. We must also make a conscious effort to start telling the truth; ensure what we say is accurate. Verse 28 says, “Let him who stole steal no longer.” This is what we put off, followed by: “Rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.” We can’t simply stop stealing. We must replace theft with hard work and generosity. Since this is a book about work’s blessings, it’s worth noticing that it serves as a remedy for theft! Verse 29 says, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth.” This is what we put off, followed by: “But what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” We can’t simply stop saying unwholesome things. We must intentionally speak words that edify and encourage. Verse 31 sums it up: “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.” Put off all this, and then put on verse 32: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Paul makes the same point in Colossians 3: Verse 8 says, “Now you are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.” Verses 12 and 13 say, “Put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, bearing with one another, and forgiving one another.” When we repent of the sins in verse 8, we’ll produce the fruit in verse 12. The actions are presented in opposing pairs. If there’s a sin that you need to repent of, but it is not mentioned in these verses, determine the opposite of that sin. More than likely that is what you need to put on. Remember, Stopping Is Only the First Step The second step is starting the accompanying behavior that fills the vacuum that was created. In the parable of the unclean spirit, Jesus described the danger of taking the first step (putting off) without taking the second (putting on). Matthew 12:43–45 records: When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then [the unclean spirit] says, “I will return to my house from which I came.” And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. At first, things seem good because the unclean spirit (sin) is removed from the man’s life. Unfortunately, he didn’t fill the void, and as a result, his life (the house), remained empty. The man ended up worse off than when the unclean spirit left. This reveals the unfortunate human tendency for reform to be temporary. Psychologists, prisons, and juvenile centers testify to this. People will be sorry, stop for a little while, but soon find themselves doing the same thing again. Why? They fail to produce the necessary fruit. In counseling, people who thought they repented will say “I stopped this. Why do I keep struggling?” My reply is, “You stopped, but what did you start? You put off, but what did you put on?” Let me give you some practical examples: You stopped going to bars, but what did you start doing? You stopped yelling at your kids, but what did you start saying to them? You stopped watching things you should not, but did you start reading your Bible more? You stopped coveting, but did you start giving? When there’s sin in your life, make sure your prayers are twofold. First, ask the Lord, “What do you want me to repent of and put off?” Then, “What accompanying fruit do you want me to produce and put on?” Put on Working Diligently The practice of putting off and putting on should be applied to multiple areas of the Christian life, including work and rest. Everyone struggles with laziness to some extent. If we’re going to put it off, what should we put on? Diligence! Whether we’re lazy physically, mentally, or spiritually, we need diligence! We put off whatever form of laziness we struggle with and commit to being diligent. The Prodigal Son is a good example. His first request was, “Father, give me” (Luke 15:12). When he repented and returned home, his second request was, “Make me like one of your hired servants” (Luke 15:19). He put off the lazy, entitled attitude that got him into trouble, and he put on the humble, diligent attitude of a servant. Back in Hebrews 6:11–12, the author said, “Show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become lazy.” If they were going to persevere, they needed to put off laziness and put on diligence. What is diligence? According to Dictionary.com, diligence is “constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken; persistent exertion of body or mind.” Diligent people get the job done. They don’t quit until they have completed the job. The Bible uses the word “diligence” in several ways, and just as sluggard is always used negatively, diligence is always used positively. Although the words “put off” and “put on” are not used in the book of Proverbs, there are repeated demonstrations of this principle by the discussion of these pairs: Wisdom versus foolishness Patience versus hastiness Pride versus humility Truth versus deceit Obedience versus disobedience Righteousness versus unrighteousness Proverbs encourages putting off laziness and putting on diligence by frequently coupling them together. Proverbs Are Generalities, but not Guarantees The book of Proverbs contains life principles that are generally true, but they’re not guarantees. This must be understood before digging into the verses because of the health and wealth preachers who distort the gospel. They misuse proverbs to teach that God wants people to become rich, be promoted, and never lose a job, but the following verses don’t make these promises. Instead, they commend hard work and condemn laziness. They encourage the diligent and warn the slothful. Working Diligently Produces Wealth He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. He who gathers in summer is a wise son; he who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame (Proverbs 10:4–5). There’s a clear cause-and-effect relationship between diligence and its rewards, and laziness and its heartbreaking consequences. It pays, literally, to be diligent; they reap wealth as their reward. The lazy have only themselves to blame, and they reap the consequences of their actions: poverty. A “slack handed person” slacks off at work, or slacks off in looking for work. When people don’t have a job, their full-time job is looking for work. Warren Wiersbe said: “A new college graduate was asked if he was looking for work. He thought for a minute and then replied, ‘No, but I would like to have a job.’ That seems to be the attitude of too many people today.”199 Just as laziness and diligence are contrasted, so are work (gathers in summer) and sleep. Just as ants store food for the winter ahead, so do the diligent prepare for the future: “He who tills his land will have plenty of bread” (Proverbs 12:11 and 28:19). This is repeated to make the point that work allows people to eat. Diligence is manifested in the foresight to store up food in the summer rather than sleep through the harvest. Just as lazy people sleep while the ant works, they also sleep while the diligent work. Why mention sons? Diligent children bless their parents. Conversely,

When we hear the word lazy, we almost always think physically, but what about spiritually (Hebrews 12:4)? Read or listen to this chapter from Work and Rest God’s Way to see how to avoid spiritual laziness. Table of contentsThe Dangers of Spiritual LazinessA Field (or Life) Overgrown with Thorns and WeedsDon’t Rest on Previous Labor to Avoid Spiritual LazinessLaziness Toward Spiritual DisciplinesLaziness Toward Temptation and SinMental LazinessBe Encouraged by Christ's Second Coming to Avoid Spiritual LazinessFootnotes When we hear the word “lazy,” we might immediately think of an unemployed forty year old living in his parents’ basement, or people on welfare who are capable of working. They’re physically lazy, but what about spiritual laziness? We aren’t sleeping in bed all day or standing on street corners asking for money, but are there other ways we’re lazy, such as spiritually? The Dangers of Spiritual Laziness The following verses begin with another strong criticism of physical laziness, but they introduce a spiritual application that we’re wise to consider: I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; and there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down. When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction: a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest; so shall your poverty come like a prowler, and your need like an armed man (Proverbs 24:30–34). The end of these verses is repeated from Proverbs 6:10–11. God wants to make sure we don’t miss two points. First, there’s a strong association between sleep and laziness. Second, unexpected disaster awaits the lazy. The words “saw…considered…looked” reveal that the father studied the field owned by the lazy man who lacks sense (devoid of understanding), just as he earlier instructed his son to study the ant. Wise people learn by observation, and just as we can learn from good examples (the ant), we can also learn from bad examples (the lazy man). The lazy man’s neglect is evident by the shambles and overgrown weeds infesting his property. The dilapidated state leaves the owner without profit. The owner is responsible for the ruin of his own field, depicting the way lazy people ruin whatever they encounter. Proverbs 18:9 says, “He who is slothful in his work is a brother to (or is like) him who is a great destroyer.” What exactly do lazy people destroy, or waste, besides fields they own? Two things: the talents God has given them and the time of people investing in them. Lazy people do such a bad job “working” that whatever they do will have to be thrown out or done again. They’re more work than help. A sluggard is painful as an employee; no boss wants an inefficient sluggard who won’t get the job done. Proverbs 10:26 says, “As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the lazy man to those who send him.” Vinegar in our mouths and smoke in our eyes isn’t deadly, but it is annoying, just like a lazy employee. A Field (or Life) Overgrown with Thorns and Weeds Thorns appear in the sluggard’s life like they appear in his field. In both cases, he’s too lazy to remove them: “The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns” (Proverbs 15:19). A field representing a person’s life is a common metaphor in Scripture. Jesus told the parable of the sower with the different soils (fields) representing different people (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23). Regarding the ways God used Paul and Apollos in people’s lives, Paul said, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field” (1 Corinthians 3:6, 9). When God described the work His Word does in people’s lives, He said: For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth (Isaiah 55:10–11). The rain and snow represent the Word, and the ground (field) that produces represents people’s lives: For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned (Hebrews 6:7–8). These verses tie together Isaiah 55:10–11 and the lazy man’s field in Proverbs 24: The rain in Hebrews 6:7 that brings forth “herbs” parallels the rain of Isaiah 55:10 that “[makes] it bring forth and bud.” The field in Hebrews 6:8 that “bears thorns and briers, is rejected and burned” parallels the lazy man’s field (and life) in Proverbs 24:30–34 that is “overgrown with thorns [and] covered with nettles.” Just as fields are revealed by what they produce, so are we revealed by what we produce. Jesus said, “Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore, by their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:17–20). Don’t Rest on Previous Labor to Avoid Spiritual Laziness The author of Hebrews spoke strongly to his readers about being rejected and cursed. Then he followed that up with encouragement for those who were saved: But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister (Hebrews 6:9–10). The author is more optimistic about his readers—he expects “better things [from them]”—than those “whose end is to be burned” (Hebrews 6:8). They have worked, and he expected them to continue working. Their labor was love for the saints, and this served as evidence of, or “[accompanied their] salvation.” He said God would remember their works, and this can be one of the greatest reasons to be faithful. When we’re tempted to be lazy, thinking about the rewards that await us provides the motivation we need to keep going. Even though the author expected his readers to continue working, he didn’t want them resting on their previous efforts: And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become lazy, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises (Hebrews 6:11–12). The words “imitate those [of] faith” reveal he’s speaking spiritually, versus physically. He’s not warning about physical laziness. He’s warning against spiritual laziness. Many of these Hebrews probably worked extremely hard physically, but did they put forth that same effort spiritually in their relationships with the Lord? Similarly, the author may be revealing the laziness we’re guiltiest of—spiritual instead of physical. Laziness Toward Spiritual Disciplines During Sunday school, when I taught on this topic, a man became convicted and raised his hand. He humbly shared that he had worked hard his whole life, and right when I began to think he was being prideful, he said, “But I regret how lazy I’ve been when it came to the spiritual disciplines.” We work hard all day and feel exhausted when evening rolls around. When we look back on how we spent our time and energy, how much was invested in our relationships with the Lord? We slack off, not at our workplace, but regarding spiritual disciplines. Prayer, church attendance, Bible study, Scripture memorization, and Christian fellowship don’t receive the attention they should. Neglecting the spiritual is neglecting the Lord. He isn’t the priority He should be in our lives. Neglecting the spiritual also implies there isn’t spiritual work to do. But there’s always more to be done. Paul said we should be “always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). God wouldn’t use the word “always” unless there’s always something spiritually profitable for us. There are unbelievers who need to hear the gospel. Jesus said, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Luke 10:2). We can labor, pray for those who labor, or pray God sends out people who labor. There are believers who need prayer and encouragement. Paul said, “Comfort each other and edify one another” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Who might God have us reach out to through a phone call, email, or text message with something as simple as, “I just wanted to see how you’re doing. Is there any way I can pray for you?” Jesus said, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4). Our time to serve the Lord on this side of heaven is limited; therefore, we must take full advantage of it. Ecclesiastes 9:10 says, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.” We must serve the Lord to the best of our ability as long as He allows. Anyone who wants to avoid spiritual laziness can easily find an answer to the question, “What can I do right now for God?” Since Jesus redeemed us, everything—including our time—belongs to Him. Laziness Toward Temptation and Sin Hebrews 12:4 says, “You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.” Opposing sin is described as “[resisting] and striving.” These are military terms indicating considerable effort. There is no room for laziness in this conflict. The author of Hebrews told his readers they hadn’t experienced persecution that cost them their lives. Since they were called to that,

Are you looking for a Christian finance workbook based on biblical principles? Read or listen to the Introduction to the Your Finances God’s Way Workbook to see why it stands out among finance workbooks. Table of contentsKeeping God’s Word In Your HeartBeing A Doer Versus Only A ReaderFinancial Storms Will ComeThe Importance Of ObedienceResponse Determines OutcomeWisdom and Foolishness RevealedThe Benefit Of Writing On LearningUsing This WorkbookFootnotes Finances are one of our most essential stewardships. If for no other reason, we should want to manage them well. I want to acknowledge and commend your commitment. You've not only read Your Finances God’s Way but also invested in this accompanying workbook. This shows your dedication and willingness to learn how to handle money in ways that please God and bring Him glory. Keeping God’s Word In Your Heart As a pastor, I’ve spent numerous hours counseling people. This experience has familiarized me with the most common problems people face. I have seen them struggle and find solutions in God’s Word, which provides wisdom for every area of life, including finances. When I ask you to trust God’s Word, I do so because I have seen it work in my life and the lives of people I’ve counseled. This workbook is designed to encourage practical application and bring real change (because that’s what applying scriptural truth does—it brings about change). For this to happen, we must keep God’s Word in our hearts, as it repeatedly reminds us: “These words that I command you today shall be on your heart” (Deuteronomy 6:6). “The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip” (Psalm 37:31). “I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart” (Psalm 40:8). “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11). “Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart” (Job 22:22). Your Finances God’s Way is not the Word of God, but it's a guide filled with the Word of God. I've written this workbook to help you apply the teachings from the book and keep God’s Word in your heart. As Jesus said, “The good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart” (Luke 8:15). Being A Doer Versus Only A Reader From years of weightlifting, I’ve had lower back issues. I’ll go to the physical therapist and learn the stretches and exercises I’m supposed to do at home, but I rarely do them. My wonderful wife, Katie, repeatedly says, “Why do you go to those appointments if you’re not going to do what you’re told?” I don’t have a good answer. My actions indicate that I wrongly believe simply going to the appointments helps me, but I’m deceiving myself. We make the same mistake when we read scriptural truth but fail to apply it to our lives. James 1:22 says, “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” This verse reveals a common mistake I make with the physical therapist, and many of us make it with God’s Word: We learn it without applying it to our lives. We do this with our finances when we believe we have done enough simply by learning what the Bible teaches about money, reading Christian finance books, and attending Christian conferences or Bible studies on money. But as believers, our responsibility goes much further than simply obtaining information. We must also apply it, or none of the knowledge we gain will be of any benefit. We do not learn God’s Word only to acquire knowledge. We learn it to apply it and better serve the Lord. Jesus said, “My mother and My brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it…If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them” (Luke 8:21; John 13:17). He also taught an entire parable making this point: Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it (Matthew 7:24-27). I want to begin our journey through the Your Finances God’s Way Workbook with a look at this parable for two reasons: Jesus brought the Sermon on the Mount to a close with this teaching. He wanted to make sure His listeners put into practice what they heard. I pray that this workbook will help you put into practice what you have read in the accompanying book. This teaching shows that there is only one proper foundation for any area of our lives, including our finances: Jesus Christ. By using this workbook, you are off to a great start, being not just a hearer (or reader) but a doer (or obey-er). Financial Storms Will Come Why is it so important to have a strong foundation? Jesus revealed the need this way: “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew” (Matthew 7:25). You have probably seen on the news—or perhaps personally experienced—what can happen to a house under the onslaught of a powerful storm, hurricane, tornado, or tsunami. Jesus was not teaching that the weather would be unpleasant or chilly and we might need an umbrella or coat to protect ourselves. Instead, He spoke of the inevitable trials we all experience (see John 16:33; Acts 14:22; 1 Thessalonians 3:3; James 1:2; 1 Peter 4:12). The words “beat on that house” in Matthew 7:25 are analogous to the struggles that wear on us. Financially speaking, this could be a job loss, bills that pile up, a stock market crash, or a car accident. Not only are many of these storms financial, but statistics show financial storms are the most common we face. Since the American Psychological Association began its survey in 2007, “Stress in America: Paying with Our Health,” each year, it has found that money is people’s most common cause of stress. A survey conducted by Northwestern Mutual had similar findings: Money is the primary source of stress for 44 percent of people, followed by 25 percent who said personal relationships and 18 percent who cited work. In the same way physical storms can knock down a house, financial storms can make us feel like we will collapse. However, with faith and the teachings in this workbook, we can find the strength to weather these storms. How many people have said, “I can’t pay this anymore…I don’t know how we are going to make ends meet…I will lose my mind if we get one more bill”? Let’s note what Jesus was not teaching in this parable: Obeying Him keeps us from experiencing storms. Sometimes, we think that if we are “good Christians,” God will prevent trials, including financial ones, from coming our way. This is prosperity theology, also known as health-and-wealth doctrine, and is false. Note that Jesus said the storms were beating on a house that was built on the solid foundation of His teaching. If obeying Jesus’s teaching does not enable us to avoid the financial storms of life, then what is the benefit of obedience? Jesus promised that obedience allows us to survive the storms: “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock” (Matthew 7:25). Obeying Jesus’s teachings will not help us avoid financial storms, but it will help us survive them. Perhaps you have witnessed people experiencing financial difficulty and thought, "How can they handle that?" I don’t know what I would do if that were me! The great encouragement is that if you obey Jesus’s teachings, you can be assured that you, too, will be able to withstand them. The Importance Of Obedience If we are not building on Christ—which is to say we are not obeying the commands in Scripture—then we should not have much confidence that we will survive the financial storms of life. Jesus made this clear when He said, “The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it” (Matthew 7:27). Jesus’s words are strong, but was He being harsh? Just the opposite! He was loving. He wanted to convince us to build our lives on the Word of God. The Sermon on the Mount is filled with incredible teachings for every believer. Still, those who familiarize themselves with its teachings without obeying are no better off than those with no familiarity with the teaching. Your Finances God’s Way is a book filled with the Bible’s counsel on money, but if you do not obey what Scripture says, you will be no better off than those who never read the book in the first place. Christ is the firm foundation we need to manage our finances well, but that requires us to do and not merely read. Response Determines Outcome The accounts of the wise and the foolish builders are almost identical: They both seem to be talented builders. There was nothing to indicate any difference in their houses; they both achieved the goal of building strong, sturdy houses. They faced the same storms; verses 25 and 27 say, "The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house.” The two widely differing results are shocking: “it did not fall” versus “it fell. And great was its fall.” The builders had nearly identical circumstances but completely different outcomes. The only noteworthy difference was the foundation under each house. Similarly, the size of our paychecks or the amounts in our checking, savings, and retirement accounts are not of greatest importance. Instead, it is the foundation we are building on. Wisdom and Foolishness Revealed In Your Finances God’s Way, I wrote:

King Saul’s life in 1 Samuel 22–26 reveals how unrepentant sin can destroy the mind and heart. Saul’s jealousy of David grew into paranoia, self-pity, and ultimately madness. Yet David, who walked closely with God, displayed peace and wisdom. Learn that true wisdom—and true mental and spiritual stability—come only from walking with God. https://youtu.be/lWwGBiHE5nA Table of contentsSin Can Cause Mental IllnessSaul's Violent OutburstsSaul’s ParanoiaSaul’s First Mental BreakdownMy Friend’s Bipolar DisorderSaul’s Bipolar Disorder or Unrepentance?The Wisdom From Walking with GodSaul’s Change of Heart?Saul’s Second Mental BreakdownOutward Sorrow Is not Evidence of RepentanceJimmy Swaggart’s Outward SorrowNoah’s And David’s RepentanceGain Wisdom from walking with God The first mission trip I went on was with my previous church, Grace Baptist. We traveled with World Impact to Los Angeles, primarily for a work trip to assist them with repairs to one of their buildings. However, we also conducted some evangelism in Central City East, which is more commonly referred to as Skid Row. It contains one of the largest populations of homeless people in the United States. You can see that many of the homeless people are mentally ill. Now, let me be clear: I believe some of these individuals are mentally ill through no fault of their own. Their mental illness is no more their fault than other illnesses or diseases are anyone's fault. However, just as some illnesses and diseases are caused by sin, mental illness can also result from sin. Sin Can Cause Mental Illness Saul is one of the most vivid portrayals of mental illness in Scripture. We can watch his mental decline throughout 1 Samuel. Saul's Violent Outbursts I believe his sickness began with his insane jealousy of David: 1 Samuel 18:7 The women sang…“Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” 8 Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?” 9 And Saul eyed David from that day on. Soon after this, there are three recorded instances of Saul trying to pin David to the wall with his spear. When Saul started to believe his son, Jonathan, was with David, he also began trying to kill him. These violent outbursts show him unraveling mentally. Saul’s Paranoia David knew he was no longer safe in Jerusalem, so he fled and began hiding in the Judean wilderness. Saul went after him: 1 Samuel 22:6 Now Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men who were with him. Saul was sitting at Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on the height with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him. Saul is sitting under a tree in the shade while all his servants are standing around him. When Saul has his spear in his hand, you try to fade into the background and hope he doesn’t notice you. Now Saul begins scolding his men: 1 Samuel 22:7 And Saul said to his servants who stood about him, “Hear now, people of Benjamin; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, will he make you all commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, Saul is from the tribe of Benjamin, and David is from the tribe of Judah; therefore, Saul appeals to their tribal loyalties to persuade them to support him instead of David. But, knowing that’s not enough, he also tries to bribe them, letting them know that since he’s king, he’s the one who can give them land and promotions: “David is a fugitive. He’s in exile. He can’t give you anything. He has nothing to offer. Don’t support him. But I can give you whatever you want, so you should support me.” He’s like a corrupt politician 1 Samuel 22:8 that all of you have conspired against me? No one discloses to me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse (referring to David; Saul won’t even use his name). None of you is sorry for me or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant (referring to David) against me, to lie in wait, as at this day.” Notice the repetition of the words' me' and 'my,' and picture Saul saying this in a whiny voice. It must have been miserable serving Saul. This has to be the worst pity party in all of Scripture. It’s almost hard to imagine a grown man talking this way, say nothing about the king of Israel. He even said, “None of you is sorry for me.” He really thinks he’s the victim, even though he’s trying to murder David. Paranoia is one of the other hallmarks of mental illness, and Saul thinks everyone is against him: first, David, his most loyal general, then his son, Jonathan, whom he suspected of turning David against him, and now he thinks all of his men are conspiring against him. And it gets even worse. Much worse. The rest of this chapter is one of the darkest in the Old Testament. Saul becomes convinced that a town of priests is against him, so he has all of them murdered. Saul’s First Mental Breakdown There were up to 3,500 caves and underground chambers in the Judean wilderness, and David and his men were hiding in them. You would think there’s almost no chance of Saul being able to find David, but in a dramatic example of God’s providence, Saul had to go to the bathroom, and he chose the cave where David and his men were hiding. Before Saul went to the bathroom, he took off his robe, set it on the ground, and David was able to cut off a corner of it without Saul knowing. Then, when they left the cave, David called out to Saul, told him he could have killed him, showed him the corner of the robe as evidence, and, wanting to convince Saul that he meant him no harm, he humbly compared himself to a dead dog and a flea that Saul didn’t need to worry about: 1 Samuel 24:16 As soon as David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. Picture what this looked like: Saul has been trying to kill David. Now he’s crying in front of all of his men and calling David his son. My Friend’s Bipolar Disorder I have a good friend, and if it wasn’t for him, I might doubt that bipolar disorder is a real mental illness, suspecting that it is just one more worldly explanation to excuse people’s poor behavior. But I still remember the first time my friend called me about 15 years ago during one of his manic episodes. He was a completely different, unrecognizable, and unreasonable person. Over the years, there have been more phone calls, sometimes when he’s manic and other times when he’s depressed. During these episodes, he swings back and forth between mania and depression, sometimes over the course of days or even hours. He will call me and be the happiest person in the world, only to call the next day and be so depressed that he says he wants his life to end. Saul’s Bipolar Disorder or Unrepentance? Now, let’s connect this to Saul: he’s unbalanced and losing his mind, and if he were alive today and visited a psychiatrist, I don’t think it would take long before he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He would be told he had some hormone imbalance, a thyroid disorder, neurotransmitter issues, nutritional deficiencies, an overactive or underactive gland, or maybe some environmental issue like mold in the palace, or trauma from his past that caused his illness. But here’s the truth: While these issues might contribute to other people’s illnesses, Saul didn’t have any of these problems. His problem was unrepentance. He was a proud man who often felt sorry for himself, repeatedly played the victim, and wouldn’t turn from his sins when confronted, and it drove him crazy. 1 Samuel 14:35 Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first altar that he built to the Lord. I read this and think, “Are you kidding me? This was the first altar Saul had ever built!” How could he grow up in Israel, become a man with a family, and have never built an altar? But it reveals how little of a relationship he had with God. When Saul didn’t slaughter all of the Amalekites, Samuel confronted him, and Saul kept referring to God as “Your God.” Saul never had a relationship with the Lord. The Wisdom From Walking with God There is a wisdom that comes from walking with God, and Saul didn’t have it. Proverbs is the book of wisdom, and this is one of the main themes. There are many verses I could share with you, but here are just two… Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom Wisdom begins with a relationship with the Lord. So, people who don’t know the Lord lack wisdom. They look foolish and confused. Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. When we walk with the Lord, we are guided along straight paths in life. On the other hand, those who don’t walk with the Lord will lack straight paths and may face instability at best, or chaos at worst. It is one of God’s graces when we’re able to meet people who have walked with the Lord for a long time. Their lives are not absent from trials, but they are still characterized by peace and harmony. The other side of this is that if wisdom and peace come from knowing and walking with the Lord, then those who reject God, like Saul did for years, often lack these qualities. Their lives are frequently marked by turmoil and confusion, just like Saul’s. Saul’s Change of Heart? Speaking of Saul’s confused life, look at his response, and notice it sounds like an incredible change of heart: 1 Samuel 24:17 He said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil. 18 And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the Lord put me into your hands.

Jesus told us to remember Lot’s wife (Luke 17:32). Genesis 19:26 says she became a pillar of salt. What should we learn about her? https://youtu.be/cMyNs7ppUWQ Jesus told us to remember Lot’s wife (Luke 17:32). Genesis 19:26 says she became a pillar of salt. What should we learn about her? Table of contentsThe Two People in Scripture to RememberWhy It's Surprising We're Told to Remember Lot's WifeDon't Look Back!Lot’s Wife Shows the Lord Knows How to Rescue the Godly and Punish the UnrighteousLot’s Wife Disregarded God’s GraceThe Grace Lot's Wife ReceivedLot’s Wife Disobeyed Divine CommandsLot’s Wife Loved the WorldWhy Lot's Wife Wanted to Remain in SodomSodom Is a Type or Shadow of the WorldLot’s Wife Was Close to SalvationWhat Should We Remember About Lot's Wife?Examine Yourself The Two People in Scripture to Remember There are only two people in Scripture we are told to remember. One is Jesus Himself: Luke 22:19 He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” The other person is, surprisingly, Lot’s wife. If you told me there was a person in Scripture to remember, besides Jesus, I would guess someone like Abraham, David, or Daniel for two reasons: Their godliness - I could imagine Jesus telling us to remember one of these men, because of how godly they were and how much there is to learn from them. Their content - I could imagine Jesus telling us to remember one of these men, because of how much is written about them in Scripture. Why It's Surprising We're Told to Remember Lot's Wife Lot’s wife wouldn’t even make the list for the opposite of these two reasons: Her ungodliness The lack of content about her Aside from this verse, there is only one other verse in Scripture about her, and it’s a famous one… Genesis 19:26 But Lot's wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. Jesus tells us to remember Lot’s wife, but we know almost nothing about her: We don’t know when she was born We don’t know where she was born We don’t know who she was born to; we don’t know her parents We don’t even know her name Something making this even more interesting is the verse about her is in Genesis, which is the book of origins. There are more genealogies in Genesis than any other book in Scripture. Genesis has six genealogies, while Numbers is in second place with only two. Yet in the book that is all about people’s backgrounds, there is nothing about Lot’s wife. So why did Jesus tell us to remember a woman whom we know almost nothing about? Let's back up to the previous verse for content: Luke 17:31 On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. This sounds strange, because we don’t spend time on roofs, but in Jesus’s day roofs were flat and people would spend time on them. There were stairways on the outside of the house leading up to the roofs. Think of the paralytic and how the four men carried him up to the roof. They would have done so using external stairs. Don't Look Back! The context is the the Second Coming in Luke 17:22-30. Jesus is destroying His enemies and establishing His Kingdom on the earth. This isn’t the time to turn back because the danger will be so great. People shouldn’t be looking back longingly at their possessions. Doing so would show: a focus on the earthly versus the heavenly that this life is more important than the next life So, this is a warning to people who are obsessed with the physical instead of the spiritual cling to their earthly lives despite all that heaven offers are tempted to confuse the enjoyments of the world with the eternal life that could await them When Jesus returns, true believers will not be concerned about what is in the house. They will be concerned with what is in heaven. The end of the verse says "not [to] turn back." Then Jesus provides the premier example of looking back and suffering as a result: Luke 17:32 Remember Lot's wife. Let's consider what we can learn from her example... Lot’s Wife Shows the Lord Knows How to Rescue the Godly and Punish the Unrighteous 2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; Sodom and Gomorrah are supposed to serve as "an example." God sent an unmistakable message to all future generations, including us, that wickedness results in judgment. But I don't think people have learned from this example. 2 Peter 2:7 and if he rescued RIGHTEOUS Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked 8 (for as that RIGHTEOUS man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his RIGHTEOUS soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); Three times in two verses, Lot is called righteous. Keep this in mind. Because of Lot’s behavior, we would probably think he is not righteous, but this is not about his behavior. This is about his spiritual standing. We are justified, or declared righteous by grace through faith, and Lot had faith. 2 Peter 2:9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, This is Peter's point in the verses. God can rescue the godly from trials: That would be Noah and his family That would be Lot and his family And God can keep the unrighteous under punishment: That would be those drowned by the flood That would be the inhabitants of Sodom destroyed by the fire and sulfur Lot's wife looked like she made it out of Sodom, but she didn’t. She died with the people of Sodom because that’s where her heart was. She was as much a citizen of Sodom as every person who died in the destruction. It looked like Lot’s wife, an unrighteous person, was escaping God’s judgment. But God was able to keep even her under judgment as the verse says. Lot’s Wife Disregarded God’s Grace Lot was Abraham’s nephew, but because Abraham took Lot with him, Lot was more like Abraham’s adopted son: Genesis 12:5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, There’s no mention of Lot having a wife. Lot was unmarried when he left with Abraham. Genesis 13:1 So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negeb. Again, no mention of Lot having a wife. Genesis 13:5 And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, 6 so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together, First, there’s mention of Lot and everything he had, but again no mention of a wife. Second, Lot was very wealthy. That’s why he had to separate from Abraham: they had so many animals that they couldn’t share the same land. This is when Lot headed to Sodom: Genesis 13:12 Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now Lot reached Sodom, but again no mention of a wife. We know Lot didn’t have a wife before moving to Sodom, and we know he had a wife after moving into Sodom, so it’s likely Lot’s wife was from Sodom. Additionally, God does not slight godly women in Scripture, and in Genesis the wives’ names are frequently given. Think of Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Leah. The fact that Lot’s wife isn’t named, or even mentioned except to describe her destruction, says something about her character. God thought nothing of describing her, her background, or how Lot married her, which are things God did with other women. Sodom was defeated in battle. The people were captured, including Lot, and Abraham saved him: Genesis 14:16 Then [Abraham] brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and THE WOMEN AND THE PEOPLE. More than likely Lot’s wife, and perhaps daughters, were part of this group of women. The Grace Lot's Wife Received When Abraham rescued Lot, she was one of the recipients of that deliverance. A grace of God When Lot entertained angels, she was the hostess. This should have been a powerful witness to her. Another grace of God. When the perverted men of the city were trying to knock down Lot’s door, she witnessed the miraculous deliverance when the angels blinded the men and saved Lot and his family, including her. Another grace of God. When the angels dramatically delivered Lot and his family from Sodom, she was delivered as well. Another grace of God. Finally, Lot was a flawed man, but three times he was called righteous. She was married to a righteous man, which made her the beneficiary of Lot’s righteousness and faith: 1 Corinthians 7:14 The unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. This doesn’t mean Lot’s wife was saved by being married to Lot, but holy means set apart. She was set apart for a special spiritual work because she was married to a believer. More than likely, she heard Lot pray, and heard stories about Lot’s uncle, Abraham, and the God of Abraham, and the way Abraham was called out of his country and brought Lot with him. If Lot was greatly distressed and tormented by Sodom’s wickedness,

In Luke 17:22-30 lightning is a metaphor for the Second Coming of Christ. Just as lightning is visible, quick, and unexpected, Jesus's Second Coming will be too. In Acts 1:11 the angels said Jesus would return from heaven the same way that He ascended to heaven: bodily and physically for all to see. Table of contentsFirst, Like Lightning, the Second Coming of Christ Will Be VisiblePreterism Is the Belief That the Future Is in the PastPartial PreterismFull Preterism Is HereticalSecond, Like Lightning, the Second Coming of Christ Will Be QuickSuffering and Then GloryJesus's Second Coming Is Associated with Two Familiar Accounts of JudgmentFirst, the Days of NoahSecond, the Days of LotThird, Like Lightning, the Second Coming of Christ Will Be UnexpectedJesus’s First Coming Was for Salvation and His Second Coming is for JudgmentIf We Don't Want to Be Taken by SurpriseFootnotes https://youtu.be/-nMUXR7tfLs In Luke 17:22-30 lightning is a metaphor for the Second Coming of Christ. Acts 1:11 teaches Jesus will return from heaven like He ascended. Contrast allows things to stand out. For example, when the moon is out during the day, we can’t see it very well, because it is close to the color of the sky. But we can see the moon very well at night, because its white and gray color stands out so sharply against the black night sky. Similarly, lightning stands out incredibly well against the night sky, because of its bright white color against the black background. Jesus chose lightning as a metaphor for His Second Coming: Luke 17:22 And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them. 24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. Jesus was going to be gone from the disciples and they were going to long to see Him. But he said they would not be able to, because they would not be alive when He returned. Maranatha was the common greeting among Christians in the early church. It is an Aramaic word that means “the Lord is coming” or “come, O Lord.” The desire the disciples would have to see Christ is the same desire we should have. Many New Testament verses encourage us as believers to have this desire. Here are a few: 1 Corinthians 1:7 As you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Thessalonians 1:10 Wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead. Titus 2:13 Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ Jude 20 Waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. There were going to be people claiming that Jesus had returned, and he did not want His disciples misled into thinking that He had returned in some secret or mysterious way that was concealed from the world. Because, the truth is, there will be no mistaking when Jesus has returned. There are three reasons it is very fitting to compare Jesus’s Second Coming with lightning. First, Like Lightning, the Second Coming of Christ Will Be Visible The disciples would not need to believe people who said, “Look, there!” or “Look, here!” because the Second Coming will be as visible as lightning that lights up the whole sky. In the Amplified Bible, Luke 17:24 reads, "For just like the lightning, when it flashes out of one part of the sky, gives light to the other part of the sky, so [visible] will the Son of Man be in His day." There will be no mistaking when Jesus returns. It will be universally visible. Acts 1:6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” Despite everything Jesus had taught, there were two things the disciples did not understand that led to their question in Acts 1:6: They didn’t understand that Jesus would leave them. Jesus spiritually established His Kingdom in His First Coming, and He was going to physically establish His kingdom at His Second Coming. But the disciples thought He was going to physically establish His kingdom now. But one thing the disciples were not confused about was that there would be a physical kingdom established on the earth: This mirrored what Christ taught and what the Old Testament predicted. Otherwise, [Jesus] would have corrected them about such a crucial aspect of His teaching. John MacArthur, The MacArthur Bible Commentary, page 1432. Jesus told the disciples they didn’t need to worry about the timing of His Second Coming. Instead, they needed to worry about remaining faithful until that time (Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit would come upon them and empower them to be His witnesses worldwide. This is still the mission today as we preach the gospel and send missionaries all over the globe. The cloud that received Jesus is the glory cloud, or Shekinah, that represented God’s presence receiving His Son into heaven. This is the cloud that went with the Israelites in the wilderness (Exodus 13:20–22). This is the same cloud God spoke to Moses from (Exodus 33). To make it simple, the words a cloud took [Jesus] out of their sight means God the Father. More than likely, the two men in Acts 1:10 were angels. It seems like they had to show up, because the disciples would have stood here staring into heaven until Jesus returned. The angels clearly said Jesus would return from heaven the same way that He went to heaven (Acts 1:11). He ascended to heaven bodily and physically, so He is going to return from heaven bodily and physically for all to see. Preterism Is the Belief That the Future Is in the Past Preterism is based on the Latin preter, which means “past” It is the eschatological or prophetic view that the end times were fulfilled in 70 A.D. when Rome attacked Jerusalem. One important distinction is there are two groups. Partial Preterism Partial preterism is the belief that most of the book of Revelation and the Olivet Discourse, such as the Rapture, Tribulation, Antichrist, and mark of the beast, were already fulfilled. But they still look forward to the Second Coming of Christ to physically establish His kingdom on the earth. R. C. Sproul, Kenneth L. Gentry, Gary DeMar, and Hank Hanegraaff (the Bible Answer Man) are well-known partial preterists. The Orthodox Presbyterians (OPC) and the Presbyterian Church of America (PCA) are partial preterists in terms of denominations. Full Preterism Is Heretical Full preterism is the belief that ALL future events, such as Jesus’s Second Coming, the resurrection of the dead, and the final judgment, are in the past. In the case of the final judgment, they believe it is still is in the process of being fulfilled. Many full preterists believe that we are living in a form of the new heavens and new earth of Revelation 21 and 22. Even though partial preterists and full preterists would seem to be close together eschatologically, because they are both preterists, there is actually a world of difference between the two. There is so much difference that partial preterists are within the realm of Orthodox Christianity, but because full preterists deny a future Second Coming of Christ and future resurrection of the dead, they are outside the realm of Orthodox Christianity. In other words, full preterists are heretics. I couldn’t find any recognizable, respected full preterists or full preterist denominations. Second, Like Lightning, the Second Coming of Christ Will Be Quick Revelation 1:1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John The "things that must soon take place" refer to the events described in the following chapters. Preterists cling to these words and date the writing of the book of Revelation earlier than 70AD, so that they can say the events describe what occurred in 70 A.D. There is strong evidence to support the book of Revelation being written in the last decade of the first century around 95 AD, near the end of Emperor Domitian’s reign (81-96), and well after Rome attacked Jerusalem. In other words, Revelation couldn’t describe events in 70AD. The word for "soon" is tachos, and it means, “quickness, speed.” It is related to our word tachometer: Acts 12:7 An angel…struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly (tachos).” And the chains fell off his hands. Acts 22:18 “Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly (tachos).” There is another Greek word used to refer to something happening in the near future: Revelation 1:3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for THE TIME IS NEAR. The Greek word for "near" is engys. Revelation 1:1 is not referring to WHEN Jesus will return (soon after John wrote this). It is referring to HOW Jesus will return (quickly). The NKJV has an asterisk that says soon can also be translated as “quickly” or “swiftly,” and the HCSB says what must QUICKLY take place. Revelation 3:11 I am coming soon (tachos).

Manna and money share similarities. The Israelites were to each take “one omer” (Exodus 16:16), which is a tithe: “An omer is one-tenth of an ephah” (Exodus 16:36). Manna is fitting illustration of money in that it did many of the things for Israel that money does for us. Read or listen to this material from Your Finances God’s Way to learn what manna and money have to do with each other. Table of contentsWhat Is the Relationship Between Manna and Money?Manna and Money Provide and TestManna and Money Require Avoiding Greediness and WastefulnessLearning to SaveEnforced DifferentlyThe True and Greater Bread from HeavenFootnotes As we come to the end of our wonderful journey, how can we tie together the many concepts we have discussed up this point, such as stewardship, giving, and saving? Paul might have done that for us when he talked about money in 2 Corinthians 8:15: “As it is written, ‘He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.’” This is a quote from Exodus 16:18 about the manna the Israelites collected each morning during their time in the wilderness. What Is the Relationship Between Manna and Money? What do manna and money have to do with each other? Quite a bit, actually! The Israelites were to each take “one omer” (Exodus 16:16), which is a tithe: “An omer is one-tenth of an ephah” (Exodus 16:36). The term translated “one-tenth” is the Hebrew word also translated “tithe.” Manna serves as a fascinating and fitting illustration of money in that it did many of the things for Israel that money does for us. And what Israel was and wasn’t supposed to do with manna resembles what we are and aren’t supposed to do with money. Manna and Money Provide and Test Exodus 16:4 records that “the Lord said to Moses, ‘Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not.’” God sent the manna to provide for the Israelites and test them, just like God uses money to provide for us and test us. Manna and Money Require Avoiding Greediness and Wastefulness The Israelites needed manna like we need money, but they had to avoid being greedy like we must avoid being greedy. The people accused God of “[bringing them] into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger” (Exodus 16:2). This helps us understand how difficult it was for the people of Israel to take only what they needed. Not surprisingly some didn’t listen and couldn’t eat all of what they collected. Verses 19-20 record what happened: Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over till the morning.” But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them. They were supposed to avoid wasting the manna, like we’re supposed to avoid wasting money. If they kept too much for themselves, versus leaving it for others, there were problems. Similarly, if we keep too much money for ourselves, versus giving it to others, there are problems for us too. The manna began to decay and stink, and, figuratively speaking, money we shouldn’t have begins to decay and stink. Learning to Save Exodus 16:22-24 tells us what would happen when the Israelites handled the manna correctly: On the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers each. And when all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, he said to them, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord; bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over lay aside to be kept till the morning.’” So they laid it aside till the morning, as Moses commanded them, and it did not stink, and there were no worms in it. The manna taught the Israelites to save: They gathered twice as much on the sixth day so they wouldn’t have to gather any on the Sabbath. If they handled the manna the right way, striking the balance between saving and hoarding, they had what they needed and there were no problems (“it did not stink, and there were no worms in it”). Similarly, if we handle money the right way, striking the balance between saving and hoarding, we will have what we need and there won’t be any problems. Enforced Differently We see one important difference between manna and money as we contrast the Old and New Covenants: Under the Old Covenant, equality was miraculously enforced in the wilderness. Everyone had the same amount (one omer) regardless of how much they gathered. Under the New Covenant, people are cared for in the church not because it is enforced but because God burdens His people to give willingly, sacrificially, and generously. The True and Greater Bread from Heaven God told Israel to “gather a certain quota every day,” and Moses said, “This is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat” (Exodus 16:4, 15). Every day God gave them bread, looking forward to when Jesus would teach us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). Each day they trusted God to provide, and each day we trust God to provide. But if we really want to appreciate the manna, we must look beyond the physical to the spiritual. Jesus said, “[The people of Israel] ate the manna in the wilderness, and they are dead…I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world” (John 6:49, 51). The manna was wonderful, but all it did was give people more years of earthly life. In light of eternity, this is a drop in the bucket. Jesus is the true and greater bread from heaven. He provides eternal life and satisfies better than anything physical, be it food or wealth. David Platt said, When we truly come to Christ, our thirst is quenched by the fountain of life and our hunger is filled with the bread of heaven. We discover that Jesus is the supreme source of satisfaction, and we want nothing apart from Him. We realize that He is better than all the pleasures, pursuits, and possessions of this world combined. As we trust in Christ, He transforms our tastes in such a way that we begin to love the things of God that we once hated, and we begin to hate the things of this world that we once loved.232 Footnotes

Psalm 37:21 says, "The wicked borrows but does not pay back." Do you want to know how to pay off debt? Read or listen to this material from Your Finances God’s Way to learn the best strategies for paying off debt. Table of contentsStrategies to Avoid a MortgageFirst, Consider a RentalSecond, Live ModestlyThird, Purchase a Starter HomeTwo Pieces of Advice if You Decide to Purchase a MortgageFirst, Understand "Qualifying"Second, Choose a 15-Year Versus a 30-Year MortgageThe Best Strategies for Paying Off DebtSacrifice to Pay Off DebtLive Below Your Income to Pay Off DebtBuy Used to Pay Off DebtStay Home to Pay Off DebtFirst, Build RelationshipsSecond, Avoid ConflictThird, Invest in Your HomeFirst, Avoid LavishnessSecond, Avoid Unnecessary ExpensesThird, Avoid “Going Big”Fourth, Avoid Expensive HobbiesEnjoy Cheap or FreeKeep the End in MindContinue GivingPut Extra Money Toward DebtWhat About When You're Out of Debt?Possibly Missing Out on God's BestFootnotes When couples in the church I pastor give birth to a child, I try to bring them a meal, meet the baby, see if they need anything, and pray with them. When Robert and Katy Cunningham had their fifth son, I went to see not only them and their new baby, but also their new living situation. They (seven people, including five energetic young boys) had moved into a broken-down motorhome that was sitting on the property where Robert was building their house. They went to great lengths to observe Psalm 37:21. When I returned home, I told my wife two things. First, I shared how proud I was of Robert and Katy for their commitment to being debt-free and all the sacrifice that was involved in sticking with that conviction. Second, I said, “We don’t have very much to complain about!” Not long ago, Robert finished the construction. They were able to move out of the motorhome and into their new house debt-free. Maybe you have said, “People can’t buy a home with cash.” I have heard this argument many times, and Robert and Katy’s testimony (as well as many others) reveals it is not true. I have watched young and old people alike, inside and outside my church, purchase homes without mortgages. Here are three points of advice to help you do the same. Strategies to Avoid a Mortgage The biggest debt most people have is a mortgage. Here are three strategies to possibly avoid one! First, Consider a Rental Many people argue that it’s better to buy a house because if you rent, you’re throwing money away. The idea is the money would be better off put toward the cost of your house. This appears to be true until you consider how much of a mortgage payment goes toward the interest versus the principal. The money going toward the interest isn’t going toward the price of the house any more than rent goes toward the price of the house. If you want your money to go toward the price of the house, save up the money and buy your house with cash. Second, Live Modestly We have friends who lived in a basement until they could buy their first home with cash. Some other friends lived in a two-bedroom rental with seven children. Did these situations involve sacrifice and living modestly? Definitely. But how good do you think these people feel now as they live in their homes with no debt? Third, Purchase a Starter Home When I talk about buying a home with cash, it might be more accurate to say homes. Who says you need to live in your dream home in your twenties or thirties? A better approach is to purchase a smaller starter home with cash and save up for your next home. Then sell your starter home, which is hopefully worth more than when you bought it, and use that money, along with the money you’ve saved up, to purchase your next home. As your family and income grow, so does your home. Two Pieces of Advice if You Decide to Purchase a Mortgage If, for whatever reason, you still decide to go ahead with a mortgage, let me offer you two points of advice. First, Understand "Qualifying" Real estate agents and loan officers want you to sign for the most amount of money. This has left people with much larger mortgages than they can afford simply because they were told they “qualified.” They were locked into high payments that paralyzed them for decades, leaving them unable to save, be generous, or prepare for emergencies. A much wiser approach is a smaller mortgage that can be paid off faster and easier. Second, Choose a 15-Year Versus a 30-Year Mortgage There are many benefits to a 15-year versus a 30-year mortgage: lower interest rates less interest over the life of the loan quicker equity built into the property less likelihood of being upside down if the housing market crashes The only downside to a 15-year mortgage is larger monthly payments, but most people would be surprised to learn they’re not that much larger. For example: The monthly payment on a 30-year, $300,000 mortgage with a 4 percent APR is $1,432, for a total repayment of $515,609 ($215,609 in interest). The monthly payment on a 15-year, $300,000 mortgage with a 4 percent APR is $2,219, for a total repayment of $399,431 (interest $99,431). The difference is $787 per month, but the interest is more than cut in half: $99,431 versus $215,609, which saves you $116,178. The Best Strategies for Paying Off Debt Psalm 37:21 says, "The wicked borrows but does not pay back." What if you are already in debt, whether from a mortgage, credit cards, school loans, automobile loans, or all the above? You need strategies that help eliminate the debt you have. Sacrifice to Pay Off Debt Remember, every cent counts. All the money we avoid spending puts us that much closer to being debt-free. This requires being frugal and intentional with purchases. We must often say no to things we want. The most popular and effective approaches to finances can’t prevent us from having to go without certain enjoyments. While formulas and budgeting techniques can be helpful, there’s no substitute for sacrifice. Instead of being one strategy, think of this as the umbrella over all the strategies because each of them requires sacrifice. If we expect to eliminate debt, we must live in a way that others might consider extreme. Our society is so indulgent that if we live “normally,” we will never be debt-free. Live Below Your Income to Pay Off Debt The worst approach you can take with your money is spending it as though you make more than you do—living off $7,000 per month when you make $6,000. This will increase your debt month by month. The reasonable approach is spending at your income level—living off $6,000 when you make $6,000. But if you make $6,000 dollars per month, is the solution to live as though you make that amount? No. This will have you living paycheck to paycheck, spending all the money you make. You won’t increase your debt, but you also won’t eliminate any debt. The best approach is spending as though you make less than you do—living off $4,000 when you make $6,000. This will allow you to pay off almost $100,000 in four years (4 years x 12 months x $2,000 per month). Buy Used to Pay Off Debt As a ministry family, we’ve had lots of clothes and other items given to us. When all our bases weren’t covered, we were able to find what we needed at yard sales and thrift and consignment stores. When you need “new” stuff, you can spend a fraction of the price buying used. Stay Home to Pay Off Debt If you asked those who are closest to us, many people would say, “Scott and Katie never go anywhere!” Traveling is expensive. Eat, play, and laugh at home. You’ll save on gas, lodging, and put less wear and tear on your vehicles. There are three keys to success with this strategy. First, Build Relationships When your children feel connected to you and each other, they will be more interested in staying at home because this is where they can be with those who are closest to them. Limit screen time: If “family time” involves a television or computer, kids are more likely to feel closer to the electronic device than their family members. Look for ways to connect: Can Friday evenings become “game night” or “make your own pizza night”? We purposefully end each day in the living room with everyone relaxing, visiting, and mellowing out before evening prayer and bedtime. Second, Avoid Conflict It is especially important for parents to have a healthy marriage because they set the example and tone in the home. The love and peace, or contention and strife, between husband and wife trickles down to the children. Children want to be in a home filled with harmony, but they will want to move away from one filled with quarreling. Third, Invest in Your Home Doesn’t this conflict with our goal of saving money? Yes, but sometimes we need to spend money to save money. By staying home you’ll save money, and you’ll be more inclined to stay home if you have invested in it. Use some of the money you saved from not traveling and invest in your home to make it a place you and your family enjoy. Four Things to Avoid to Pay Off Debt First, Avoid Lavishness Even when you invest in your home (or making any purchases, for that matter), you should avoid extravagance. You can be nice, tidy, spacious, comfy, and modest. When eliminating debt, settle for simplicity. If you purchase new furniture, make sure it’s because you need new furniture. Buying new furniture simply because you’re bored with your current set is a waste of money and reveals a discontent heart. We still have much of the same furniture from when we got married. Proverbs 13:7 says, “There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; and one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.” Some people appear wealthy through their expensive homes, vehicles, and vacations, but if they’re buried in debt, they “[make themselves] rich, yet have nothing.

In Matthew 12:29, Jesus said people were seeing Him "bind the strong man," referring to Satan. This showed Jesus is stronger than Satan, and able to deliver people from his kingdom. Learn how Satan obtained a kingdom (Hebrews 2:5-9). Table of contentsThe Book of Hebrews Is About Jesus Being BetterJesus Became Better than the Angels?God Gave Man AuthorityMan Forfeited His Authority to Satan at the FallSatan Offered Jesus His AuthorityThe Antichrist Accepts Satan's OfferSatan Is not Ruling and Reigning in HellSatan is the Ruler Over this WorldHow the World's Kingdoms Look to Man Versus GodWe See Jesus Bind the Strong Man When His Kingdom Destroys the World's KingdomsThe Gospels Record the Kingdom of God "Crashing" into Satan’s KingdomJesus Our Kinsman RedeemerJesus Binds the Strong ManJesus Could Bind the Strong Man Because He Is StrongerJesus Binds the Strong Man to Deliver People into His Kingdom https://youtu.be/vqnWvpobMc4 Jesus Will Bind the Strong Man (Hebrews 2:5-9 and Matthew 12:29) The Bible could be thought of as The Tale of Two Kingdoms: the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan. We see Jesus "bind the strong man" (Satan) throughout His earthly ministry when His Kingdom defeated Satan's kingdom. An obvious question might be, how did Satan get a kingdom? It was not when he was kicked out of heaven with one third of the angels. If he received a kingdom at that time, it would seem like he was rewarded for his rebellion. Instead, another event took place that gave Satan a kingdom, and I think the clearest passage helping us understand it is found in Hebrews 2. Because we are jumping into Hebrews, let me briefly explain this wonderful book. The Book of Hebrews Is About Jesus Being Better If we put ourselves in the place of Jewish Christians, consider how difficult it was for them to let go of all they knew to embrace Christianity: all the temple worship, sacrifices, and holy days. Christianity wasn’t an improved Judaism. It replaced Judaism. Think of the parable of the new and old wineskins: Luke 5:36 No one tears a piece from a new garment (referring to the New Covenant) and puts it on an old garment (referring to the Old Covenant). If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine (referring to the New Covenant) into old wineskins (referring to the Old Covenant – you don’t force the New Covenant into the Old Covenant). If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. The Old and New Covenants can’t be combined or they’ll both be ruined. But this is exactly what Jewish Christians were trying to do! Luke 5:38 New wine (referring to the New Covenant) must be put into fresh wineskins. 39 And no one after drinking old wine (referring to the Old Covenant). desires new, for he says, ‘The old is [better].’” This captures the situation with the Jews: they thought the Old Covenant was better because they drank the old wine of the Old Covenant. Hebrews is written to show them how much better Jesus is than everything in the Old Covenant. So, it’s not that the Old Covenant is bad, it’s just that Jesus is better. For example: The Old Testament sacrifices were good, but Jesus’s sacrifice is better. The Sabbath was good, but the rest found in Christ is better. The Levitical priesthood was good, but the Melchizedekian priesthood, which Jesus is part of, is better. Moses was the mediator of the Old Covenant, and he was a good mediator, but Jesus is a better Mediator. Jesus Became Better than the Angels? In the first few verses of Hebrews 1 the author describes how much better Jesus is than the prophets. Then the author describes how much better Jesus is than the angels: (NASB) Hebrews 1:4 having become so much better than the angels, to the extent that He has inherited a more excellent name than they. Saying Jesus became better than the angels makes it seem like He was not BETTER before, which is true: Hebrews 2:7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, Man was made lower than the angels, so when Jesus became a man, he became lower than the angels too. Interestingly, in Hebrews 1 Jesus is better than the angels, but in Hebrews 2 He is lower than the angels. This seems like the opposite of what we would expect from an author who is supposed to be showing how much better Jesus is. Isn’t it almost a liability to argue that Jesus would be a man lower than the angels? What kind of Messiah isn’t even better than the angels? The author didn’t introduce this liability. He knew this dilemma was already in his readers’ minds, so he brings it up to address it. This is one of the most fascinating passages in the entire New Testament, because it reveals why Jesus became lower than the angels. By understanding this we will see how Satan obtained a kingdom of his own, and why Jesus had to bring the kingdom of God from heaven to earth. God Gave Man Authority Hebrews 2:5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. This means authority in the coming age is not given to angels, but to man. Think back to the creation account, and God giving man authority: Genesis 1:26 God said, “Let…man…have dominion OVER the fish of the sea and OVER the birds of the heavens and OVER the livestock and OVER all the earth and OVER every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”…28 God said, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion OVER the fish of the sea and OVER the birds of the heavens and OVER every living thing that moves on the earth.”.” You can’t miss the repetition of the word "over" describing man’s authority over all of creation.241 At this point we might wonder something like, “Who is man that God would give him so much authority? What is so special about man that God would put him over all creation?” The author of Hebrews anticipated his readers thinking this: Hebrews 2:6 It has been testified somewhere, “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? This is a quote from Psalm 8:4-6. The author says, "It has been testified somewhere," instead of quoting the chapter and verse, because the chapter divisions didn’t come until 1227 and the verses until 1551. Man Forfeited His Authority to Satan at the Fall Instead of getting an answer to the questions in verse 6 we get a description of the situation: Hebrews 2:7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, 8 putting everything in subjection under his feet.” Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. We have been made lower than the angels, which we talked about earlier. We were put over everything, but that’s the case now, or "at present." When Adam and Eve submitted to the devil in the garden, they represented all mankind and gave Satan the authority that had been given to them. Whatever we submit ourselves to becomes our master and we become its slaves: Romans 6:16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? When Adam and Eve chose to obey Satan, they became his slaves and forfeited the authority God gave them. 2 Peter 2:19 Whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. Adam and Eve were overcome by Satan and enslaved by him. John 8:34 Everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. We became slaves to sin, and we gave up the authority given to us. Satan Offered Jesus His Authority In Satan’s second temptation in the wilderness, he offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world, because they belonged to him: Luke 4:5 And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 6 and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for IT HAS BEEN DELIVERED TO ME, and I give it to whom I will. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Satan said "it," referring to "all this authority," had been delivered to him, and it was delivered to him at the fall. Jesus didn’t dispute Satan’s claim to have this authority, because it’s true. Satan wants to give his authority to someone who will worship and serve him: “I give it to whom I will” (Luke 4:6). Jesus rejected the offer, but Satan will find someone to give the authority to, and that’s the antichrist. The Antichrist Accepts Satan's Offer Revelation 13 is the antichrist chapter and look at the repetition of the words give, gave, or granted referring to Satan giving his authority to the antichrist: Revelation 13:2 The dragon (referring to Satan) GAVE [the beast] (referring to the antichrist) his power, his throne, and great authority…4 So they worshiped the dragon who GAVE authority to the beast…5 [The beast] was GIVEN a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was GIVEN authority…7 It was GRANTED to [the beast] to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was GIVEN him…14 he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was GRANTED to do in the sight of the beast…15 [The beast] was GRANTED power to give breath to the image of the beast. One of the reasons we see wicked people – such as Nero, Hitler, and Stalin – with authority is because Satan can give people authority. 1 John 2:18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now MANY ANTICHRISTS HAVE COME. There have been many lowercase antichrists throughout history – such as Nero, Hitler, and Stalin – who accepted the authority Satan gave them,

Do you want to develop a biblical stewardship of money? I've got the book (and workbook) for you! Read or listen to the introduction to Your Finances God’s Way to learn about financial stewardship in the Bible. Table of ContentsGoing Into Full-Time Ministry without Being Paid MuchSome Credibility and EncouragementLiving on a Single-Income with Modest SalariesWhen People Don’t Have a Biblical Stewardship of MoneyThe Devastating Nature of Financial Problems“Are You Going to Help Me Become Rich?”How Wealthy Are Americans?What About the Cost of Living in the United States?Biblical Stewardship of Money Requires WisdomWisdom’s Greater ValueThe Approach to a Biblical Stewardship of MoneyA Committed Heart Is Needed for Biblical Stewardship of MoneyThe Your Finances God’s Way WorkbookOur Relationship With Money Reflects Our Relationship With Christ I was driving home feeling discouraged. I don’t think it would be too much to say this was one of the lowest points of my life. I had to tell my wife, Katie, who was pregnant with our first child, that I had just been laid off. With the loss of my job as an elementary school teacher also came the loss of our medical insurance. About two years earlier, I learned of a teaching position available on a local naval base that would give me credit for my military service. This resulted in a considerable raise, but the one drawback was losing my secure, tenured position at the district where I taught. The Great Recession hit, and schools began cutting new teachers. So even though I’d been teaching for almost ten years, I was included in the terminations. I knew it would be challenging to find a position anywhere because every district faced the same financial crunch. You might be thinking, So, a book about finances God’s way. Did you feel that God would somehow provide you with a job? I did! Years earlier, I became a Christian in my early twenties during my first year of teaching elementary school. Soon after, my passion for ministry increased. So you can probably imagine my excitement when a local church, Grace Baptist in Lemoore, California, sought a part-time youth pastor. I applied, they hired me, and my elementary school schedule—which granted me summers and holidays off—worked wonderfully with my church position. Going Into Full-Time Ministry without Being Paid Much After losing the teaching position on the naval base, I was still a part-time youth pastor, but the pay wasn’t enough to support my family. I told my senior pastor I would have to look for a teaching position elsewhere, which would likely mean no longer serving as their youth pastor. Grace Baptist’s leadership team stepped out in faith and hired me full-time. I knew this was a tremendous financial strain on the church, but I gratefully accepted the job because I felt called to ministry and trusted God to provide. Within a few months, as I transitioned to full-time youth pastor, my income dropped by nearly two-thirds. My medical insurance and retirement were gone as well. I had to support my growing family on a fraction of my earlier salary. Believe it or not, we didn’t feel the financial pinch. We had already been living frugally, so we didn’t have to make any lifestyle changes. The significant difference was that we couldn’t put as much extra money toward our mortgage. This book is the genesis of how we, regardless of our financial situation, can use what God has provided even when we have less to spend because of commitments, payments, a crisis, or job change. I’ll give you Tip One right now: Live off less money than you make, and you’ll be prepared if you ever really must live off less money than you make! In the pages ahead, I’ll share more tips to put in your financial planning pocket. But first, I’d like to share why God’s way of finances matters so much to me and why I want it to count for you, too. Some Credibility and Encouragement There are many finance books already available, so why another one? What makes this one different? Is there any reason you should trust what I have to say? Most importantly, I’m not asking you to trust me but God. This book is not a collection of my opinions about money, but God’s words revealed in Scripture. You’ll see in the following chapters that I do my best to unpack the Bible’s critical money-related verses. God is the One “who gives you power to get wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:18), and He “makes poor and makes rich” (1 Samuel 2:7). That means God knows what you should and shouldn’t do with your finances, and He has provided you with the needed instructions in His Word. I desire to present these instructions in a clear, engaging, and biblical manner. I’ve taught extensively on money to the church I serve. The most common type of counseling I provide is for marriages, with many sessions focusing on finances. The time I’ve spent with people in counseling—couples and individuals—has made me familiar with the most common problems in marriage, many of which relate to finances. I have seen people struggle, and the time I’ve spent studying the Bible has equipped me to help them find solutions. I’ve been blessed to watch the truths of God’s Word resolve their problems, restore their relationships, and strengthen their financial situations. Your Finances God’s Way is the culmination of hundreds of hours of Bible study and counseling. I wrote this book because I am passionate about this area of Scripture and life. As a pastor and counselor, I have witnessed the blessings of obeying God and the negative consequences of disobedience. I have experienced these blessings and consequences firsthand as a husband and father. As of 2025, our oldest child of eleven, Rhea Grace, is 17. Perhaps God will bless us with more. We have always been a single-income family. I was a schoolteacher when Katie and I married, and then I became a full-time youth pastor. In 2010, I moved from that role to become the senior pastor at Woodland Christian Church in Woodland, Washington. Living on a Single-Income with Modest Salaries We have never lived off anything more than modest salaries, but God still enabled us to pay off all our debt, including our mortgage. In some months, we put a few hundred dollars toward debt; in others, we allocated a few thousand. When Katie inherited $10,000, we didn’t think twice about putting it toward the mortgage, and every tax return went toward it—the year I worked part-time as a youth pastor and full-time as an elementary schoolteacher was the year we made the most money. More than half of each paycheck went toward the mortgage. I share my story for three reasons. First, I want to give you confidence in the biblical principles presented in this book. Second, I don’t want you to wonder, Has Scott “walked the talk,” or is he a hypocrite? When discussing debt, I want you to know we have none. When I talk about paying off a mortgage, I want you to know that’s what we’ve done. Third, I don’t want you to think, That’s easy for you to say, Scott; you’ve probably made more than I make. Whether you make much money or a little, you’re in the prime of your career or just starting, or you already have a family or are looking to start one, these principles work because they’re rooted in God’s Word. In the following chapters, I’ll talk more about how my family handles finances without causing us to feel like we are going without, and how a biblical stewardship of money brings freedom, not lack. For now, I’ll share that our financial situation reminds me of what Jesus did with the fish and loaves (Matthew 14:13-21) and what Elisha did with the widow’s oil (2 Kings 4:1-7). Not much was available in both accounts—a few fish, loaves, and vessels—but God stretched the resources dramatically. He can do the same with our money if we seek to honor Him. The opposite is also true: If we do not honor the Lord with our finances, He can keep considerable wealth from stretching very far. As God says, “Those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed” (1 Samuel 2:30). When People Don’t Have a Biblical Stewardship of Money I was at the gym years ago, and a man approached me about his financial problems. Although we hardly knew each other, he was experiencing so much anxiety that he felt compelled to talk to someone, and I happened to be the one. When he walked away, I could tell he was as stressed as when we started talking. Who knows how long he kept feeling that way, but I hope he sought help, because financial problems don’t go away on their own. That he would speak with someone he hardly knew reveals how heavily financial burdens can weigh on us. Aside from health issues and rebellious children, few things cause as much anxiety as finances. When people lie awake at night agonizing over something, it’s often related to money: Why did I buy that? We should’ve started saving earlier. What are we going to do about this bill? Even secular research reveals the prevalence of financial worry. According to a study released by the American Psychological Association, almost three out of four Americans experience anxiety from finances part of the time, and nearly one out of four Americans experience extreme financial anxiety. In a poll conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health, more than half of the people who experienced a great deal of stress in the last month identified financial problems as a factor. If statistics are any indication, you’re probably in the first category and maybe even in the second. The Devastating Nature of Financial Problems Financial problems are devastating because they negatively affect other areas of our lives, such as our marriages, friends, jobs, and churches. Sixty-one percent of couples admit that financial discussions turn into arguments. Money problems are the number one cause of divorce in America. When people are in danger of losing their jobs, homes, cars, savings,

In Luke 17:20-21 Jesus said, "The Kingdom of God is in your midst." Jesus said this because He was on the earth and people could see Him, hear Him, and touch Him. He had the kingdom with Him. To be near Jesus was to be near the kingdom. Table of contentsThe Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven Are the SameJesus's Purpose During His Earthly MinistryThe Changing Message of the Unchanging GospelThey Preached the Kingdom of God in the GospelsThey Preached the Coming Messiah in the Old TestamentThey Preached Christ Crucified in the ChurchJesus Spiritually Established the Kingdom of God at His First ComingWhy Look and Pray for the Kingdom of God When It Already Came?Jesus Will Physically Establish the Kingdom of God at His Second ComingNobody Is Born into the Kingdom of GodFootnotes https://youtu.be/W5PC5vvR-g8 In Luke 17:20-21 Jesus said, "The Kingdom of God is in your midst" because He was on the earth and to be near Him was to be near the Kingdom. The Kingdom of God is one of the most important topics in Scripture. This is the Kingdom Jesus rules over. Every Kingdom has a king, and this is the Kingdom where Jesus is King: 2 Peter 1:11 There will be richly provided for you an entrance into THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. Jesus brought His Kingdom Him in His first coming when He came from heaven to earth. Every believer is part of this Kingdom, because it’s the Kingdom for people who have Jesus as their King. Matthew 3:2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” John the Baptist paved the way for the Messiah. He said the kingdom of God is "at hand" because He knew Jesus was bringing the kingdom of God with Him. The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven Are the Same Kingdom of Heaven is the same as the Kingdom of God. The title Kingdom of Heaven only occurs in Matthew’s Gospel because it’s the Jewish Gospel and the Jews were sensitive to the word “God” being used. To avoid offending his Jewish readers, Matthew says Kingdom of Heaven.244 John told people what to do to prepare for the kingdom: repent. We enter the Kingdom by repentance and faith in King Jesus. That was and still is how to enter the kingdom. Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The ESV and NKJV read "at hand," but they have footnotes that they could also read "has come near," which is how it reads in the NIV. "Has come near" is preferrable for two reasons: It is past tense: the kingdom HAS COME, which it had, because Jesus brought it with Him. The Kingdom was NEAR is also fitting because Jesus was on the earth and people could see Him, hear Him, and even touch Him. He had the kingdom with Him. To be near Jesus was to be near the kingdom. Jesus's Purpose During His Earthly Ministry The phrase Kingdom of God occurs 54 times in the gospels, and 32 of those times are in Luke. Luke is THEE Gospel that gives the most attention to the Kingdom of God. Luke 4:43 is the first time the phrase Kingdom of God occurs, and it’s very fitting: Luke 4:42 the people sought [Jesus] and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them 43 but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” People were trying to keep Jesus from leaving, but He told them he had to go so he could preach the kingdom. He went so far as to say this was his purpose. We see Him fulfill this purpose throughout His earthly ministry. A few examples: Luke 8:1 Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and BRINGING THE GOOD NEWS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD. And the twelve were with him, Jesus goes through the cities and villages preaching the kingdom of God, and then He commissions the twelve to do the same: Luke 9:1 And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he SENT THEM OUT TO PROCLAIM THE KINGDOM OF GOD and to heal. The word proclaim contains kingdom imagery, because it describes a herald coming and making an announcement for the King. The Twelve Apostles would: announce that the King – or Messiah – had arrived tell people about the acts – the miracles and teachings – of the King escribe the King’s Kingdom tell people what the kingdom was like tell people how to enter the Kingdom Jesus, the King, attracted huge crowds, and He preached the kingdom to them: Luke 9:11 When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing. Jesus sent out the seventy and told them: Luke 10:9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ Jesus told the seventy if people rejected the Kingdom, they should move on but first let them know, “The kingdom of God was brought to you, but you blew it.” There are many other verses, but you get the idea that the Kingdom of God was being preached during Jesus’s earthly ministry. The Changing Message of the Unchanging Gospel For now, compare Luke 9:2 and 6: Luke 9:2 and he SENT THEM OUT TO PROCLAIM THE KINGDOM OF GOD and to heal. Luke 9:6 And they departed and went through the villages, PREACHING THE GOSPEL and healing everywhere. Luke 9:2 says they proclaimed the kingdom of God and Luke 9:6 says they preached the gospel because these are the same. They Preached the Kingdom of God in the Gospels We say Jesus died for our sins when preaching the gospel. If we heard a gospel presentation that didn’t mention Jesus’s death, we would probably say it’s not a gospel presentation. The nagging question is, “How did they preach the gospel before Jesus died?” This can even lead to terrible conclusions like, “Maybe there was no gospel before Jesus died.” But Luke 9:6 says they preached the gospel even though Jesus hadn’t died yet. The solution is that the revelation people had throughout history has been different at different times; therefore, the presentation – or preaching – of the Gospel has been different at different times. BUT the Gospel itself – or the way man is saved – has always been the same: by grace through faith. In Luke 9:6 it might look odd to say they preached the gospel because there is no mention of Jesus’ death, burial, or resurrection, but it hadn’t happened yet so thy couldn’t preach it. Instead, they preached what they could at the time, which was: God become a Man in the Person of Jesus Christ, came from heaven to earth, and brought His kingdom with Him. This was the primary message in the Gospels. Jesus began much of his teaching with, "The kingdom of God is like…" We might think it would make more sense if He said, “Salvation is like…” or “The gospel is like…” but becoming part of the Kingdom of God was being saved or believing the gospel. They Preached the Coming Messiah in the Old Testament Now I know the next question you’re asking… “Okay, then what did they preach in the Old Testament before the Messiah came with the kingdom of God?” Great question! They preached that the Messiah would come. And this brings us to the next part of lesson one… In the Old Testament people were saved by believing God would send a Messiah, like we are saved by believing God did send the Messiah. People looked forward in faith to the Messiah coming, like we look backward in faith believing the Messiah has come. Let me give you two verses that support this… Galatians 3:8 God…PREACHED THE GOSPEL…to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” This shows the gospel preached in the Old Testament. We are told it was preached to Abraham. This is the prophecy that the Messiah would be one of Abraham’s descendants. That’s how "all the nations [would] be blessed in, or through, Abraham. Abraham believed this prophecy that the Messiah would come, and was saved: Genesis 15:6 [Abraham] believed the Lord, and [the Lord] counted it to [Abraham] as righteousness. This is justification: Abraham believed and was justified, or declared righteous, by his faith. (NKJV) Hebrews 4:2 The gospel was preached to us as well as to [the Israelites in the wilderness]. The gospel was preached to the Israelites in the wilderness just like it was preached to us, church age believers. We aren’t told what exactly this Gospel presentation looked like, but there was some way for the Israelites to look forward in faith to Jesus so they could be saved. I think they saw Christ – or looked forward to Him in faith – through the amazing types and shadows of Christ they were exposed to in the wilderness: They saw Christ through the Bronze Serpent: John 3:14 “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” They saw Christ through the manna: John 6:32-33 “Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, My Father gives you the true bread from heaven (referring to Himself). For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 1 Corinthians 10:4 says Jesus was the rock in the wilderness that provided Israel with water, so they definitely saw Christ through the Rock. When Israel saw these types and shadows, they were seeing Christ, albeit in a veiled – or shadowy – way. They Preached Christ Crucified in the Church This is why there is such a dramatic change between the preaching in the Gospels and Acts. Preaching the Kingdom of God is the theme of the Gospels, so when the Book of Acts begins, we would expect to continue reading about the Kingdom of God being preached. But instead,

In 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 Paul hypothetically discussed "for if Christ is not raised." Read, listen, or watch to learn what it means for believers if Christ was not raised, and what it means for unbelievers that Christ was raised. Table of contentsWe All Have DoubtsWhat Makes People Heretics?What It Means for BelieversFor If Christ Is Not Raised a Believer’s Preaching is WorthlessFor If Christ Is Not Raised New Testament Authors Are LiarsFor If Christ Is Not Raised a Believer’s Faith Is WorthlessFor If Christ Is Not Raised a Believer’s Sins Are UnforgivenFor If Christ Is Not Raised the Dead Cease ExistingFor If Christ Is Not Raised a Believer Should Be PitiedWhat It Means for UnbelieversBecause Christ Was Raised an Unbeliever’s Works Are WorthlessBecause Christ Was Raised New Testament Authors Are WatchmenBecause Christ Was Raised an Unbeliever’s Sins Are UnforgivenBecause Christ Was Raised the Dead Live Eternally in Hell or HeavenBecause Christ Was Raised an Unbeliever Should Be Most Pitied https://youtu.be/r3v2SV_Bm1c "For if Christ is not raised" is a hypothetical situation in 1 Corinthians 15:12-19. Learn what it means for believers and unbelievers. We All Have Doubts Having doubts is common. Sometimes we have doubts about insignificant things like our orders at restaurants or the clothes we put on. Other times we have doubts about more significant things: "Should I have taken this job, moved here, made this purchase, or married this person?" You should not have this last doubt, because as soon as you’re married your spouse became the right person. The Corinthians were having doubts about, of all things, the resurrection! 1 Corinthians 15:12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? Paul makes a logical point: “If you believe Christ was raised from the dead, you should believe Christians, or those in Christ, will be raised from the dead as well.” Why Gentiles and Jews Doubted Christ's Resurrection Gentiles doubted the resurrection, because of their pagan philosophies and religions. When Paul was at Athens he preached about the resurrection, and Acts 17:32 says, "When they heard [Paul preach the] resurrection of the dead, SOME MOCKED." They mocked because they thought everything physical was bad, and couldn’t believe God would raise physical bodies from the dead. John MacArthur said the idea was “repulsive and disgusting” to them. The Jews struggled with resurrection because of the Sadducees., who didn’t believe in anything supernatural. Acts 4:1-2 says, "As [Peter and John] were speaking to the people…the Sadducees [were] greatly annoyed because [Peter and John] were…proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead." The Sadducees were prominent Jewish religious leaders, more than likely they influenced the Jews not to believe in the resurrection. What Makes People Heretics? If they doubted Christ’s resurrection, they wouldn’t be believers, because there are certain non-negotiables in the Christian life, and Christ’s resurrection is one of them. People who deny Christ’s resurrection are heretics. The Corinthians had many problems, as the previous 14 chapters reveal, but they weren’t heretics. One fourth of professing Christians don't believe in the resurrectionfrom, which means one fourth of professing Christians are heretics. Unfortunately, most of the articles said, “one fourth OF CHRISTIANS don’t believe in the resurrection.” This language is terrible, because it implies people can be Christians AND NOT believe in the resurrection. So, it’s worth noticing I said “one fourth of PROFESSING Christians” deny the resurrection. This one fourth must not be familiar with these verses, because Paul explains the terrible problems associated with doubting the resurrection. He plays a game with the Corinthians: “Let’s pretend Christ was not raised.” What It Means for Believers For If Christ Is Not Raised a Believer’s Preaching is Worthless 1 Corinthians 15:13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.  Paul is working backward. If there’s no resurrection, then Jesus hasn’t been raised from the dead. If Christians can’t be resurrected, then Christ couldn’t have been raised. The Greek word for vain is kenos, which means “empty.” It’s related to the word for "emptied Himself" in Philippians 2:7, where we get the doctrine of the kenosis, that at the Incarnation Christ emptied Himself. We’ll talk more about our faith being vain after verse 17, when Paul says the same thing. If Christ wasn’t raised, then preaching vain or empty. Every Gospel presentation, sermon, Sunday school teaching, Bible study, funeral message promising people their loved ones were in heaven and they would see them again, were vain. They were empty without the resurrection. And it’s not just preaching that's in vain... For If Christ Is Not Raised New Testament Authors Are Liars 1 Corinthians 15:15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.  I preach Christ’s resurrection, but if Christ wasn’t resurrected, I’m not a liar. I’m deceived, and I’m deceiving others. The New Testament authors are the liars because they claimed to be eyewitnesses of the resurrected Christ, when He wasn’t resurrected: 1 Corinthians 15:4 that he (this is Jesus) was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas (or Peter), then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep (they died). 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me...11 Whether then it was I or they (referring to the witnesses of Christ’s resurrection he just mentioned), so we preach and so you believed. Paul listed several people who said they saw Christ after His resurrection. But if Christ wasn’t resurrected, they were lying. They would also be some of the worst deceivers who ever lived. Think of the thousands of martyrs who went to their deaths and the countless others who sacrificed so much living for Christ, because they believed with these men. Regarding the twelve apostles lying, Charles Colson said: I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Every one was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison. They would not have endured that if it weren't true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world-and they couldn't keep a lie for three weeks. You're telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible. If you’re deceiving people, when you’re about to be tortured or killed, that’s when you throw up your hands and admit you were lying. For If Christ Is Not Raised a Believer’s Faith Is Worthless 1 Corinthians 15:16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17a And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile... Verse 16 sounds familiar because Paul said the same thing back in verse 13. He repeated it because it’s that important to consider what they’re saying: if people aren’t resurrected, then Christ couldn’t have been resurrected. Verse 17 also sounds familiar because Paul said this back in verse 14. He wants us to understand how worthless our faith is without Christ’s resurrection. Years ago, a woman was cutting my hair and I saw a Chinese symbol on her arm. I asked her what it meant, and she said, “Faith.” I was immediately curious because I thought she might be a Christian. When I said, “Faith in what?” it seemed to catch her off guard. It took her a moment to come up with an answer, but finally she said, “Just faith. Believing. Faith in yourself.” Her answer captures a common belief that simply having faith is good. The problem with this thinking is faith is only as good as the object we put our faith in. The Importance of the Object of Our Faith For example, when you drive, you demonstrate significant faith. You get into a vehicle that contains gallons of flammable gasoline. You start the vehicle and have faith that it won’t blow up even though parts of it became very hot and had sparks. If you aren’t driving, you have faith in the driver that he or she will get you safely to the destination. You also have faith in other drivers on the road. You head toward traffic in the opposing lane and believe that they won’t drift over even a few feet and crash into you head on. Fail Army is a collection of videos of an army of people failing. They climb something but end up falling, drive something but end up crashing, or carry something but they end up dropping it. These people had misplaced faith in their ability to do certain things. It doesn’t matter how much faith you have, if you put that faith in the wrong thing, you fail. If we put our faith in Christ, but He was not raised, our faith is misplaced. It is worthless. Christ didn’t do what we thought He did. We put our faith in the most significant event that’s ever happened, but it never happened. For If Christ Is Not Raised a Believer’s Sins Are Unforgiven 1 Corinthians 15:17b and you are still in your sins.  Jesus’s death made Him like everyone else, but His resurrection set Him apart. Maybe you are saying, “But what about other people who were raised from the dead, such as Lazarus? Weren’t they like Jesus?” There’s a difference between being raised from the dead and resurrected. Lazarus, and others, were raised from the dead,

The parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30 is about faithful stewardship. Read or listen to this material from Your Finances God’s Way to learn what the parable of the talents teaches us about managing money. Table of ContentsEncouraged By the Parable of the TalentsGod Judges Christians’ Stewardships Versus Their SinsFirst, God Gives What We Can HandleSecond, God Judges Our Proportion Versus Our PortionThird, God Does Not Compare Us with OthersThe First Danger of Comparing: DiscouragementThe Second Danger of Comparing: PrideThe Same Reward for Going to Battle and Guarding the SuppliesAre You the 400, 200, First Servant, or Second Servant?Footnotes Everything belongs to God. Deuteronomy 10:14 says, “Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the earth with all that is in it.” God said, “Every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine” (Psalm 50:10-11). Psalm 89:11 says, “The heavens are Yours; the earth also is Yours; the world and all its fullness, You have founded them.” First Corinthians 10:26 quotes Psalm 24:1: “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” Of course, God’s possessions include all the wealth throughout history. This means your money isn’t your money! It’s God’s money. In Haggai 2:8, God said, “The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine.” David wanted to build a house (or temple) for God. When he was told he couldn’t, he did everything he could to help his son Solomon make this happen, only stopping short of doing the building himself. David collected the materials, including the silver and gold. After the people gave even more than was needed, David prayed in 1 Chronicles 29:14, 16: Who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, and of Your hand we have given You…O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name is from Your hand, and is all Your own. David understood they were giving back to God what He had given them. John 3:27 says, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.” Our entire perspective of money changes when we understand that all wealth belongs to God. We come to view our finances correctly as one big stewardship. If we understand money is a stewardship, we will be wiser with the money God has given us. We will be less likely to waste it because we understand it is God’s money versus our own. We will even find it easier to be generous and give it away because we know it is God’s money versus our own. Encouraged By the Parable of the Talents The apostle Paul said, “It is required in stewards that one be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2). If you’ve ever put someone in charge of something that belongs to you, you know the one thing you value more than anything else is faithfulness. The parable of the talents gives us the encouragement we need to be faithful. A talent was the largest denomination of money in the Greco-Roman world, estimated to be worth as much as 6,000 denarii. Because a denarius was one day’s wage, this was approximately 20 years’ work. Although the talents in the parable can represent any stewardships in our lives— time, marriage, children, abilities, possessions, positions in life—because Jesus chose a unit of money, the parable of the talents particularly applies to the stewardship of finances. John MacArthur said parable of the talents “illustrates the tragedy of wasted opportunity.”250 Second only to time, there aren’t many things we waste more than money. This parable should inspire us to act otherwise and be faithful stewards: The kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, “Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.” His lord said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.” He also who had received two talents came and said, “Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.” His lord said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matthew 25:14-23). The “man” or “lord” in the parable of the talents is Jesus, and the trip “to a far country” is His return to heaven. So far, “a long time” has been 2,000 years. The master expects the servants to carry on the work he started; therefore, he gives them talents. The servants are professing believers. I must say “professing” because the third servant is unsaved. The words “delivered his goods to them” reveal this pictures a stewardship—God entrusts us with His goods that He expects us to use for His service. When the master returned from his journey, he wanted to know what the servants did with the talents he had given them. The first man said, “Lord, you delivered to me,” showing that he understood the talents were entrusted to him rather than earned by him. God Judges Christians’ Stewardships Versus Their Sins The master returns and judges the servants, introducing one of the more common questions I receive as a pastor: Will Christians be judged? Yes and no. No, our sins are not judged because they were paid for at the cross. If you’re in Christ, you will never stand before the Great White Throne, which is the terrifying judgment at which unbelievers will learn they will pay for their sins by spending eternity in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). But even though we won’t find ourselves before the Great White Throne, we will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ to give an account of our stewardship: “Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God ” (Romans 14:10). “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Corinthians 5:10). Paul uses the word “we” to show he’s talking about himself and other believers. The “evil” we have done is mentioned because even though we won’t be punished for our sins, they can result in loss of rewards: “If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved” (1 Corinthians 3:15). To put it simply, at the end of our lives, our sins will not be judged, but our stewardships will. If we’ve been faithful, we will be rewarded. Keeping this in mind encourages us to be faithful stewards of our finances. Returning to the parable of the talents, we might expect God to give each person the same amount because He distributes the talents. Instead, one received five, another two, and the third only one. Likewise, each of us receives a different amount of money. This might seem unfair, but there are three ways God creates equity. First, God Gives What We Can Handle The first way God creates equity is evident in the words “according to his ability.” The Lord “[knows] all people and [needs] no one to bear witness about man [to Him]” (John 2:24-25). He knows how much to give each person. God does not overestimate or underestimate our abilities: The man with much ability was given five talents. The man with average ability was given two talents. The man with minimal ability was given one talent. If the man with minimal ability had been given five talents, he would’ve been overwhelmed by the responsibility. Conversely, if the man with much ability had been given only one talent, his potential would’ve been wasted. Instead, God gives everyone exactly what he or she should have because He knows what we can (and can’t) handle. This is both encouraging and challenging. It’s encouraging that God does not give us more wealth than we can faithfully steward. It is challenging because if we are unfaithful, we can’t make the excuse that we would have done better if we had received a different amount. If nobody receives more than they can handle, this begs some questions: Why do people use the wealth God has given them in ungodly ways? Why do people act like the third servant and squander what God has given them? When people are poor stewards, does that mean God was unwise in the amounts He gave them? Not at all. We are free moral agents who choose to be faithful or unfaithful. This is the main point of the parable of the talents. When we are bad stewards, it does not reflect God’s wisdom in distribution. Instead, it is a reflection of our unfaithfulness. When we squander what the Lord has entrusted, the blame rests squarely on us. The third servant demonstrated this when he tried to blame God for his results and was rebuked. Second, God Judges Our Proportion Versus Our Portion The second way God is equitable is shown in the second servant’s reward. He heard the exact words as the first servant: “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matthew 25:23; cf. 25:21).

James 1:4 says, "Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." Read or listen to this chapter from Enduring Trials God's Way to learn how to let trials make you better versus bitter. Table of contentsWe Must Choose to "Let" Patience Have Its Perfect WorkLet Patience Have Its Perfect Work to Avoid Becoming BitterBitterness Is the Temptation During TrialsDavid Was Made Better by TrialsDavid Trusted God's SovereigntyAsa Became Bitter by TrialsDiscussion Questions I would love to be able to say, “Trials always produce patience, and patience makes you perfect and complete, lacking nothing,” but sometimes it would be more accurate to say, “Trials produce bitterness.” God wants to use trials for our good, but it's tempting to become bitter. When people are suffering, there is greater potential for them to question, criticize—or worst of all—turn from God. Perhaps you can think of people experiencing a trial and they said something like, “How could God let this happen to me? I do not deserve it! I wish I could give Him a piece of my mind!” If we're honest, we can probably think of times trials did not produce patience or maturity in us. Instead of making us better, they made us bitter. We Must Choose to "Let" Patience Have Its Perfect Work The wording of James 1:3-4 is odd. If we never read the verses before we would probably expect them to say, “…the testing of your faith produces patience, which makes you perfect…” Instead, there are instructive words: “let patience have its perfect work.” The Greek word for let is echō, and it's a verb because James is commanding us to do something. We must “let” trials “work.” Echō means, “To have, hold, own, possess, lay hold of.” Here are two places it's used: Matthew 3:13–14—“Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, ‘I need (echō) to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?’” Acts 2:44–45—“Now all who believed were together, and had (echō) all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had (echō) need.” Of the 712 times echō occurs in the New Testament, 613 times it is translated as “have,” because it is not simply about accepting trials in our lives. We must take ownership of them. Instead of resisting trials, we must embrace them. This is how we “let” God use them for our benefit. The alternative is to fight against trials, which hinders the “perfect work” they can accomplish. Before doctors administer a shot, they say, “Relax. Try to remain as calm as possible. This will hurt, but it will be worse if you resist.” The doctor is telling you to accept what is about to happen because failing to do so will only make an already painful situation even worse. It is the same with trials. We cannot avoid them. They hurt, and we make them worse when we resist. Instead, we must accept them, trusting God wants to use them for our good and His glory. This is how we "count it all joy" and “let” trials make us better. Let Patience Have Its Perfect Work to Avoid Becoming Bitter Trials and temptations are not the same. Trials are tests from God, and He uses them for our benefit. Temptations, on the other hand, come from our flesh: Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. James 1:13-14 As much as God uses trials to bring out the best in us, Satan uses temptations to bring out the worst in us: Every person in the world will encounter various trials throughout life. Satan seeks to defeat you by tempting you to trust your own wisdom, to live according to your self-centered feelings, and to gratify the desires of your flesh. In contrast, God’s will is for you to be an overwhelming conqueror in all of these tests for His honor and glory. Broger, James. Self-Confrontation Manual, Lesson 8, p. 3, Used by Permission of the Biblical Counseling Foundation. Although trials and temptations are different for each person, bitterness is one common temptation everyone faces. There are many sins in Scripture, but there is no root of lying, stealing, or adultery. Why does Hebrews 12:15 discuss a “root of bitterness?” Roots grow and become difficult to remove, which is also the case with bitterness. Roots can be destructive, ruining sidewalks and the foundations of buildings. Similarly, bitterness can be destructive, ruining relationships in families, workplaces, and churches. When people experience trials, especially particularly difficult ones such as a disease or the loss of a child, they might feel betrayed by God. Bitterness can come on quickly, “springing up” as the author of Hebrews warned. Bitterness Is the Temptation During Trials Revelation 3:10 calls the Tribulation “the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” Everyone falls into one of two categories when the trials test them. One group gets better: “Seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven” (Revelation 11:13b). Another group gets bitter: The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun...men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God...they did not repent and give Him glory. Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl [and there was] darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent. Great hail from heaven fell upon men…Men blasphemed God because of the...hail. Revelation 16:8–11, 21 Both groups experience the same trials, but they produce two different responses. One group is drawn to God. They “let” trials have their perfect work, and it makes them better. The other group blasphemes God. They reject the trials, and it makes them bitter. A Christian friend’s home burned down. His wife and children were okay, but most of their possessions and memories were lost. He and his family have served the Lord faithfully for years. Some people in his situation would criticize God, wondering why He let something like this happen to them: “We do not deserve this! What about everything we have done for You!” The first time I spoke to my friend after the fire I told him how sorry I was, and his response was, “Scott, it is just stuff.” Not a hint of bitterness. This is the response we need. David Was Made Better by Trials One of the lowest points in David’s life occurred when his son, Absalom, stole the throne from him: Now a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.” So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, “Arise, and let us flee, or we shall not escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword.” 2 Samuel 15:13–14 This had to be excruciating news for David to receive. It was one thing for Absalom to steal the throne, but it was another thing entirely to learn that the Israelites rejected him to embrace his evil son. As a result, David was forced to flee the capital. When things seemed like they could not get worse, Shimei showed up: Now when King David came to Bahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei the son of Gera, coming from there. He came out, cursing continuously as he came. And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David. And all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. Also Shimei said thus when he cursed: “Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue! The Lord has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the Lord has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man!” 2 Samuel 16:5–8 Since Shimei was related to Saul, he hated David for being king instead of one of Saul’s sons. Either he did not know God rejected Saul or he ignored that fact. He also blamed David for Saul’s death and the deaths of those in Saul’s family, even though David spared Saul’s life on multiple occasions and prevented his men from harming him. David’s kindness was shown again when his nephew, Abishai, sought to murder Shimei: [Abishai said,] “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!”[David replied], “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because the LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ Who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’ See how my son who came from my own body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the LORD has ordered him. It may be that the Lord will look on my affliction, and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing this day.” 2 Samuel 16:9–12 David Trusted God's Sovereignty Twice David attributed Shimei’s actions to God. There is no indication that God told Shimei to curse David, but it still serves as a powerful example of David’s confidence in God’s sovereignty. David determined to accept this trial as though it was from God, and there is not a hint of bitterness. David showed further restraint toward Shimei despite his continued mistreatment: “And as David and his men went along the road, Shimei went along the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, threw stones at him and kicked up dust. Now the king and all the people who were with him became weary; so they refreshed themselves there” (2 Samuel 16:13–14). How much patience did it take to walk along while Shimei behaved this way?

There’s something uniquely difficult about physical suffering. Pain, weakness, and aging can leave us discouraged. Satan understood this well. After taking everything from Job—his possessions and children—he still believed he hadn’t touched the area that mattered most. “Stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face” (Job 2:4-5). And yet, Job didn’t curse God. The apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 that while “our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” This is behind an eternal perspective on suffering: even as our bodies grow weaker, our faith grows stronger. https://youtu.be/YSep0tx71cc Table of contentsWe Don’t Lose Heart Because Our Spirit Is StrengthenedThe Two Ways We Grow SpirituallyTake Advantage of Meetings with Senior Saints Finishing WellWe Don’t Lose Heart Because Every Trial Is Only A “Light Momentary Affliction” In Light Of EternityWe Don’t Lose Heart Because Of Our Heavenly BlessingsWe Don’t Lose Heart If We Look Forward To Our Heavenly HomeLot and Abraham: Two Men Looking for CitiesWe Don’t Lose Heart Because We’ll Be Raised With ChristLosses Throughout Our Lives, but Always Having Our Bodies, Right?We Don’t Lose Heart If We Praise God During TrialsThe Eternal Perspective on Suffering Suffering takes many forms: mental, emotional, spiritual, but few trials compare to the slow decline of our bodies. Think about everything Satan did to Job. First, he took all his possessions—the oxen, donkeys, sheep, camels, and servants. In the second attack, Satan took Job's sons and daughters. If you weren’t familiar with Job, what would you expect to be the most likely reason for Job to curse God? I would guess it would be the loss of his children. But after Job lost all his children and still hadn’t cursed God, Satan turned to Job’s health. Consider what he said to God: Job 2:4 Satan [said to] the Lord, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. 5 But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.” Satan believed that if he could afflict Job’s body, he would curse God. Satan knows how difficult it is when we suffer physically. I think that’s why Paul says what he says: 2 Corinthians 4:16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. The ESV refers to the "outer self," but other translations use terms such as "outward man" or "outer person." It’s referring to our physical bodies, which are “wasting away.” The NKJV says they are "perishing," and the NASB describes them as "decaying." All of these capture how we feel as we age and our bodies break down. When we endure physical suffering, or when our bodies begin to waste away, it is tempting, as the verse states, to lose heart. There are many kinds of suffering, but there is something unique about physical suffering and watching our bodies decline. We realize that each day, we worsen and move closer to our death. It can be discouraging to think, “I’m not getting any better. I feel worse today than I did yesterday. Everything is breaking down. Tomorrow I might feel worse than I do today.” This is why the verse mentions losing heart. But, ironically, says the opposite of what we would expect: “We do not lose heart.” So, why don’t we lose heart even as our physical bodies are wasting away? Here are six reasons! We Don’t Lose Heart Because Our Spirit Is Strengthened In verse 16, notice the beautiful contrast Paul makes: while “our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” We don’t like that our physical bodies age and break down, but while they do, our spirits are renewed or strengthened day by day. It’s like Paul says: “What does it matter if our body wastes away as long as our spirit gets stronger?” The Two Ways We Grow Spiritually Why does our spirit grow while our body deteriorates? The wasting away of our bodies is a trial, and trials are one of the two primary ways that we grow spiritually. I wish that we grew from being blessed, but while blessings are wonderful, there’s nothing in Scripture to say they help us grow. Instead, we grow from God’s Word: John 17:17 Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them (or grow them) in the truth; your word is truth.” Ephesians 5:26 states that Christ sanctifies and cleanses His bride, the church, through the washing of water with the word. And the other way we grow is from trials: James 1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. And few trials are tougher than watching our bodies waste away. But while the outward is fading, the inward is being strengthened and renewed. I have seen this happen many times over the years. Beautiful saints approach graduation, and we might expect them to struggle with their faith and perhaps question God. However, it seems their faith actually grows stronger as their bodies weaken. Take Advantage of Meetings with Senior Saints Finishing Well There are meetings that people would never miss. If they received an invitation from the President or the Queen of England, they would move heaven and earth to attend. But I would say that when you have the chance to meet with a senior saint nearing the end of their life, that is a meeting you should never miss. In fact, I don’t think it’s too much to say that you probably will never have any meetings in your life that offer you as much as these do, or that you will remember as vividly. I don’t know how many meetings I’ve had over the last 15 years here. I did the math yesterday, and if it’s five meetings per week, which is quite conservative, that’s 4000 meetings. I can’t remember 99% of those meetings, but I bet I can remember every sacred meeting I’ve had with saints approaching the finish line. When Katie and I returned from visiting Charlie and Peggy yesterday, we walked in, and one of the kids asked, “How was it?” Katie replied, “I’ll never forget it." That captures how you feel when you have the privilege of being with senior saints as they near the end of their race. We Don’t Lose Heart Because Every Trial Is Only A “Light Momentary Affliction” In Light Of Eternity 2 Corinthians 4:17 For (or because) this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. Katie and I really like Brian Regan. He has a joke about doctors. He says they can be very rude. They walk in and ask the first question, “What seems to be the problem?” as if there is nothing wrong, just as it seems to you. The question dismisses your suffering. This joke comes to mind when I read this verse. Paul says we are experiencing a “light momentary affliction.” It’s not that bad; no big deal. Could you imagine encouraging someone with this? “Hey, I know you’re going through this trial, and it seems terrible and maybe even excruciating, but I want to let you know it is only a light, momentary affliction.” If we were teaching people to counsel others, we would tell them not to say this. But it’s not some insensitive, oblivious, ignorant counselor saying it. It’s God saying it through Paul! So you say, “Well, maybe this is only about trials that are light and momentary versus ones that are terribly painful and difficult?” No, this is about trials that are terrible, painful, and difficult: 2 Corinthians 4:8 We are afflicted in every way (suffering every way you can imagine), but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for jesus' sake (living on the verge of death), so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us (so close to death they say it is at work in them), but life in you. Paul uses the word "we" because he’s also talking about his traveling companions. Being with Paul meant suffering greatly. So, how could Paul say they were experiencing light, momentary afflictions? He had an eternal perspective. It wasn’t so much about how he viewed his suffering as it was about how he saw his future. Let me say that again: It wasn’t so much about how he viewed his suffering but how he saw his future. He knew that someday all his suffering would end, and he would enjoy eternity, and this belief helped him see every trial as a light, momentary affliction. And he wants us to adopt this eternal perspective as well. Notice the repetition of the word "eternal": 2 Corinthians 4:17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. Without an eternal, heavenly perspective, all we see is an earthly, temporary one, so we view only the trials that are present. This makes every trial feel heavy and difficult, rather than light and fleeting. However, with an eternal perspective, even the worst trials become light and temporary afflictions. That may sound hard to believe, especially when you're in the middle of a tough trial, but it’s true. And if there’s one specific trial that can give us an eternal outlook, it's the wasting away of our bodies. We are constantly reminded of our own mortality and the fleeting nature of time.

In Luke 17:11-19 Jesus cleansed ten lepers of their physical leprosy. Only one of them returned and ended up being cleansed of his spiritual leprosy. https://youtu.be/13bpSzKhUjk In Luke 17:11-19 Jesus cleansed ten lepers of physical leprosy. One of them returned and ended up being cleansed of his spiritual leprosy. Table of contentsUnderstanding LeprosyLeprosy's Physical EffectsLeprosy's Spiritual EffectsLeprosy's Mental EffectsLeprosy's Emotional EffectsWhy Lepers (Sadly) Weren't PitiedWho Might Lepers Approach?Cleansed Leprosy in the Old TestamentMiriam's CleansingNaaman's CleansingThe Ritual for Cleansed Lepers in Leviticus 14Cleansing Physical Leprosy Identified the Messiah’s ComingGreater than Moses and ElishaJesus Noticed the Ten Lepers Thanklessness and ThankfulnessLook Past the Ten Lepers' Physical Leprosy to Their Spiritual LeprosyLeprosy Is a Picture of SinA Beautiful Picture of Cleansing Spiritual LeprosyJesus Wants to Cleanse Our Spiritual LeprosyThe Greatest Cleansing Any of the Ten Lepers Received Leprosy and its variants are mentioned 68 times in the Bible. The number of references alone makes it worth understanding. Regarding the account of the ten lepers in Luke 11:17-19, understanding leprosy helps us better understand: The lepers’ desperation when they came to Jesus How dramatic and wonderful it was for Jesus to heal them How thankful they should have been when Jesus healed them Understanding Leprosy Leprosy's Physical Effects Leprosy began as small, red spots on the skin. Before long the spots grew and turned white, with a shiny or scaly appearance. Then the spots would become dirty sores and ulcers because of the poor blood supply. The sores and ulcers would spread until they covered the body. Lepers would lose feeling in affected areas, and without pain as a warning system they’d experience other injuries: They might twist an ankle but continue walking, worsening the tearing of the ligaments. If they were cooking with a fire, they wouldn’t know if they got too close and burn themselves. Because they were forced to live away from civilization in unsanitary environments, they might not notice – and I’m not kidding – if rodents were chewing on them while they slept. The body would start to fall apart: Hair would fall out. Fingernails and toenails would become loose and fall off. The joints of fingers and toes would rot until the fingers and toes themselves fell off. Gums would shrink until teeth fell out. The disease would affect the larynx, producing a grating quality in the leper’s voice. The skin around the eyes and ears would begin to bunch, with deep furrows between the swellings, so the face started to look like that of a lion. Leprosy would eat away at the victim’s face until their nose, palate, and even their eyes would rot away. Since lepers had parts of their bodies rotting, they put off a terrible odor, and these are only the physical consequences. There were spiritual, mental, and emotional consequences as well. Leprosy's Spiritual Effects Spiritually, because lepers were unclean, they were removed from the religious life of the nation. Say goodbye to ever being able to corporately worship the Lord again. Leprosy's Mental Effects Mentally, leprosy was terrible because there was no cure. Lepers had to live with the reality that their condition would only get worse. As terrible as this week was, the next week would be even worse and the week after that even worse. Leprosy's Emotional Effects Emotionally, leprosy was terrible because it meant the end of human relationships. Unless you want to risk your spouse, parents, children, siblings, or friends contracting leprosy you stay away from them. All suffering is helped by the love and support of family and friends, but lepers couldn’t even experience that. Imagine for a moment, you can never kiss your spouse again, hug your children or parents again. Because lepers were like living dead people who could have no more relationships with others, there would be funerals for them while they were alive.256 Lepers became complete outcasts, shunned by the rest of society. The only relationships they had were with other lepers, but even this was painful, because the relationships served as constant reminders of the fate that awaited them: they had to watch other lepers rot away knowing the same would happen to them. Why Lepers (Sadly) Weren't Pitied You could read this and think, “Everyone must have felt terrible for lepers." No, and let me explain why: Luke 13:1 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." Jesus was told Pilate murdered some Jews. If you were told this, how would you respond? Wouldn’t you say something like, "This is terrible. I’m so sorry to hear this. What a horrible tragedy." Jesus knew the people were thinking the Galileans who were murdered were worse sinners than everyone else. So, He says, "Instead of worrying about the Galileans’ sins, they should be worried about their own sins and repent." Apparently, there was a tower that fell and tragically killed eighteen people. Again, Jesus knew the thinking of the day would be that the people who were crushed by the tower must’ve been worse sinners than everyone else, so again He called everyone to repent. Think about the man born blind: As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him (John 9:1-3). For this man to be born blind, someone must have sinned, whether him or his parents. Jesus said his blindness was not the result of anyone’s sin. The point is, if the thinking of the day is people’s suffering is caused by their sin, people would think lepers must have been terrible sinners. So, no, people did not have pity on lepers. Who Might Lepers Approach? If lepers ever approached anyone, it was viewed as a selfish act, because they were risking infecting others. But interestingly, lepers did seem comfortable approaching one Person: Luke 17:11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. They wanted to be healed, but Jesus had entered a village. They knew they couldn’t follow, so they stood at a distance. If nobody else had mercy on them, they thought Jesus would. And He did. Notice Jesus didn’t cleanse the lepers immediately, which I'm sure they wanted. They obeyed Jesus, headed to the priests, and were cleansed as they went. When the lepers showed themselves to the priests, they would be pronounced clean and then they could be restored to the religious and social life of the nation. Cleansed Leprosy in the Old Testament There were only two instances in the Old Testament of leprosy being cleansed. Miriam's Cleansing The first instance is when Moses’s brother, Aaron, and sister, Miriam, attacked Moses's leadership. God gave Miriam leprosy, but Moses interceded for her. Numbers 12:15 says, "So Miriam was shut outside the camp seven days, and the people did not set out on the march till Miriam was brought in again." It never says Miriam was cleansed, but the fact that she was brought back into the camp means she must’ve been cleansed. But there’s no record of the ritual being performed. Naaman's Cleansing The other instance is with Naaman in 2 Kings 5. It looks like he headed back to Syria after he was cleansed. It’s highly unlikely that the commander of the Syrian Army, Israel’s enemies, would’ve walked into the temple in Jerusalem and expected the Jewish priests to perform the ritual for him. Plus, he wouldn’t have even known about the ritual unless Elisha told him to have it done, and there’s no record of that. The Ritual for Cleansed Lepers in Leviticus 14 Leviticus 14 describes a ritual the priests were supposed to perform after lepers had been cleansed. But this wasn’t a ritual TO cleanse lepers. This was a ritual performed AFTER lepers were cleansed. But because leprosy was incurable, Miriam and Naaman are the only recorded instances of leprosy being cleansed, and there’s no record of the ritual ever being performed, Leviticus 14 must have been one of the most untouched chapters in the Old Testament. But eight times in Leviticus 14:4-19 it says, "him who is to be cleansed." God clearly expected people to be cleansed of leprosy, otherwise why have a ritual to be performed when lepers were cleansed? But because leprosy was incurable why have a ritual for something that can’t happen? Cleansing Physical Leprosy Identified the Messiah’s Coming When John the Baptist was in prison, it would have been discouraging, but he could be greatly encouraged by the prophecies about the Messiah setting captives free: Isaiah 42:7 says, "[The Messiah will] bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness." Psalm 146:7 says, "The Lord sets the prisoners free." Not long ago,

Hebrews 13:5 says, "Avoid covetousness and be content with what you have, for He has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" This verse instructs us to put off covetousness and put on contentment. We do so, not physically, but spiritually by focusing on Christ's promise to always be with us. Read this material from Being Content God’s Way, or watch the accompanying sermon, to learn how to avoid covetousness and be content with what you have. Table of contentsRepentance Involves Stopping and StartingPut On the Opposite of What You Put OffBe Content with What You Have by Putting Off CovetousnessBe Content with What You Have Versus Pursuing WealthDiscontentment and Covetousness Caused by Social MediaDiscontentment and Covetousness Caused by Endless AdsContentment Is a Spiritual IssueYour Relationship with Christ Allows You to Be Content with What You HaveApplying Hebrews 13:5 https://youtu.be/oLxvCPELgD4 Hebrews 13:5 says, "Avoid covetousness and be content with what you have." We're told to put off covetousness and put on contentment. The single greatest reason we fail in our repentance is that we “put off” without “putting on.” If we want to stop a certain behavior, there’s a corresponding behavior we must also start. John the Baptist is a man whose message can be summarized in the word “repent.” He said, “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:8 and Luke 3:8). These words tell us something about repentance that we don’t often consider. When we repent of something, we must also produce corresponding fruit. This can be a dramatic revelation for many, because when they think of repentance, they think only of stopping. If that’s been the case with you, then from now on, remember that’s only the first step. The second step is starting the accompanying behavior. The Apostle Paul also knew how to preach repentance, and he said, “Repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance” (Acts 26:20b). Like John, he said repentance would bear fruit, or be accompanied by “works.” Repentance Involves Stopping and Starting Paul explained this most clearly in Ephesians 4. Verse 25 says, “Put away lying.” This is what we put off, followed by: “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor.” This is what we put on. It is not enough to simply stop lying. We must also make a conscious effort to start telling the truth and ensure what we say is accurate. Verse 28 says, “Let him who stole steal no longer.” This is what we put off, followed by: “Rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.” We can’t simply stop stealing. We must replace theft with hard work and generosity. I want to give this example more attention, because it relates so closely to covetousness, contentment, and giving. Why do most people labor, especially those struggling with covetousness? To have more for themselves. They do the opposite of what Paul commands. They don’t labor to “have something to share with [others] in need.” They labor according to their greed. This is characteristic of our consumer-driven society. We constantly seek to raise our standard of living. But if we want victory over covetousness we should raise our capacity to give. One way we can tell whether we struggle with covetousness is by asking, “Who am I working for? Who is the recipient of all my stuff? Luke James 4:3 says, do you want more money “to spend it on your own passions?” Verse 29 says, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth.” This is what we put off, followed by: “But what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” We can’t simply stop saying unwholesome things. We must intentionally speak words that edify and encourage. Verse 31 sums it up: “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.” Put off all this, and then put on verse 32: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Paul makes the same point in Colossians 3: Verse 8 says, “Now you are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.” Verse 12 says, “Put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, bearing with one another, and forgiving one another.” If we repent of the sins in verse 8, we will produce the fruit in verse 12. Put On the Opposite of What You Put Off You probably noticed the verses contain opposing pairs. This is important to keep in mind because the list of sins in Ephesians 4 is not exhaustive. If there’s a sin in your life that’s not mentioned, think of the opposite. More than likely that’s the fruit you must produce. If you put off without putting on then a vacuum is created. In the Parable of the Unclean Spirit, Jesus described the danger when it’s not filled. Matthew 12:43–45 records: When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then [the unclean spirit] says, “I will return to my house from which I came.” And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. At first things seem good, because the unclean spirit (sin) is removed from the man’s life. Unfortunately, a void remains, and the house (life) remained “empty.” The man ended up worse off than when the unclean spirit left. This pictures the unfortunate human tendency for us to reform only temporarily. Psychologists, prisons, and juvenile centers testify to this. People will be sorry, change for a little while, but soon find themselves doing the same thing again. Why? They put off without putting on. They fail to produce the necessary fruit. As a pastor, I’ve heard many people say, “I stopped this. Why do I keep struggling?” My reply is, “You stopped, but what did you start? You put off, but what did you put on?” To be practical: You stopped going to bars, but what did you start doing? You stopped yelling at your kids, but what did you start saying to them? You stopped watching things you shouldn’t, but did you start reading your Bible more? You stopped coveting, but did you start giving? When there’s sin in your life, make sure your prayers are two-fold. Ask the Lord: “What do you want me to repent of and put off?” “What accompanying fruit do you want me to produce and put on?” Be Content with What You Have by Putting Off Covetousness The practice of putting off and putting on should be applied to multiple areas of the Christian life, including contentment. The following chapters apply this approach. We will discuss covetousness, what it is and how to put it off. Then we will discuss contentment, what it is and how to put it on. This will dramatically increase the likelihood that we will be “content God’s way.” We tend to think the verses about covetousness only apply to the rich, not knowing we are the rich! Measured by the living standards of the rest of the world, and especially those throughout history, Americans are the wealthiest people who have ever lived. We enjoy staggering material prosperity. How much richer are we? Consider the following statistics. Disposable income is the amount of money households have for spending and saving after income taxes have been accounted for. Visualizing Countries with the Highest Household Wealth reveals: Russia’s disposable income is less than $17,000. France's disposable income is $60,000. The United Kingdom’s disposable income is $83,000. Canada’s disposable income is $86,000. The nation in second place is Switzerland with $128,000. The United States is first place with a disposable income of $176,00, which is almost 40% more than the nation in second place. There are 7.5 billion people in the world. China is the world’s most populous nation with 1.4 billion people, which is 18.6%. It has 10.5% of the world’s wealth. The United States has 327 million people, which is a little more than 4% of the world’s population, but we have 41.6% of the world’s wealth. In the US, the poverty threshold for a family of five is $30,500, which means if a family of five makes less than this, they’re considered living in poverty. The official poverty rate in the United States is 12.3%, 39.7 million people. The average global income for a family of five is about $10,500, which means people in poverty in the US still make about three times more than the average for the rest of the world. Even our “poor” people are still three times wealthier than the average person in the rest of the world. Things are more expensive for us in the United States, but even after adjusting for cost-of-living differences, a typical American still earns an income that is ten times higher than the income received by the average person in the rest of the world. In the United States an annual income of $32,400 doesn’t seem very high, but it’s a salary that puts people among the top 1% of earners in the world. In 2011 the Occupy Movement took place with many people protesting income distribution. Their slogan was, “We are the 99%,” referring to the concentration of wealth among the top 1% compared to the other 99 percent of the population. Ironically if the protestors made at least $32,400 then they weren’t in the 99%. They were in the 1%. Be Content with What You Have Versus Pursuing Wealth Since Americans are so rich, you’d expect us to be the happiest—or most content—nation, not just in the world but in all of history. No people who have ever lived should have an easier time being content than Americans because of our wealth. Although, this is far from the case. A 2019 study published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology concluded that since the late 2000s,

On Sunday mornings, we are working our way verse by verse through the Gospel of Luke, and we now arrive at Luke 17:7, where Jesus teaches what is commonly called The Parable of the Unprofitable Servant. These verses confront one of the most subtle dangers in the Christian life: spiritual pride that grows out of faithful service. Illustration: Why Movement Matters Over the years, I’ve learned an important lesson through repeated injuries: healing requires movement. In high school, I pole vaulted competitively. One year, eager to begin practice, I skipped warming up and immediately tore my hamstring. My instinct was to rest it completely. Each time it felt better, I tried running again—only to feel the pain return. That season, I jumped two feet lower than the year before. Later, someone explained that light movement increases blood flow, and blood brings healing. Years later, during college, I severely separated my shoulder playing tackle football—with no pads. The orthopedic surgeon explained that my injury was worse because the tendons tore off the bone, where there is little blood. Again, the absence of blood meant slower healing. Then, in 2020, I experienced debilitating sciatic pain. I stayed in bed, thinking rest would heal me. Instead, I worsened. Every doctor I listened to said the same thing: complete inactivity makes things worse. Slowly getting up and walking—painful at first—was the beginning of recovery. Whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually, God has designed us to be active. Stagnation weakens us. Movement strengthens us. https://youtu.be/qsYtrLd5NWE In Luke 17:7-10 Jesus preached The Parable of the Unprofitable Servant. Our response should always be, “We are unworthy servants.” Table of contentsServing God… and the Danger That Comes With ItThe Parable Explained (Luke 17:7–9)Lesson One (Part One): We Always Have More Work to DoLesson One (Part Two): We Prefer the Master to OurselvesLesson One (Part Three): We Have Never Gone Above and BeyondThe Stunning Reversal: The Master Who ServesConclusion: Grateful, Indebted Servants Serving God… and the Danger That Comes With It At this point, you might expect Jesus to emphasize the importance of serving. And serving is important. But in Luke 17:7–10, Jesus addresses something else: the danger that faithful service brings with it. That danger is pride. Even when serving the Lord, our flesh tempts us to think: “God must be impressed with me.” “Surely I’ve gone above and beyond.” “After all I’ve done, doesn’t He owe me something?” There is little uglier than spiritual pride, because it quietly denies God’s ongoing grace—not saving grace, but sanctifying grace. We forget that everything we do for Christ is empowered by Him. The Parable Explained (Luke 17:7–9) Jesus asks whether a master would invite his servant—after a long day of plowing or shepherding—to recline at the table. The expected answer is no. Instead, the servant prepares the master’s meal, serves him, and only afterward eats himself. This imagery was not shocking to Jesus’ audience. The servant was not a volunteer. He was doing what was commanded. Jesus’ point is not about earthly employment, but our relationship with Him. Lesson One (Part One): We Always Have More Work to Do Faithful servants do not decide for themselves when the work is finished. Until Christ returns, there is always more obedience, more faithfulness, more service to render. Lesson One (Part Two): We Prefer the Master to Ourselves Notice the order in Luke 17:8: “Prepare supper for me” “Serve me” “Afterward you will eat and drink” The Christian life is not centered on what we want, but on what Christ wants. Lesson One (Part Three): We Have Never Gone Above and Beyond Jesus concludes: “So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” (Luke 17:10) Like children calling out, “Watch this!”, we can be tempted to think our obedience is impressive. But even our best service never exceeds our duty—especially when we remember what Christ has done for us. Charles Spurgeon captured it well: “Our service put beside Christ’s is like one single grain of dust in comparison with the mighty orb of the sun.” The Stunning Reversal: The Master Who Serves Here is the shock of the gospel. Though Luke 17 emphasizes duty in this life, Luke 12 reveals what Christ will do in the next life. Jesus promises that when He returns, He will seat His faithful servants at the table and serve them (Luke 12:37). This is not contradiction—it is completion. It echoes John 13, when Jesus girded Himself and washed the disciples’ feet. The Master served His servants then, and He will do so again. Conclusion: Grateful, Indebted Servants Jesus does not call us to false humility that says, “I am useless.” He calls us to true humility that remembers how infinitely more Christ has done for us than we could ever do for Him. When we see that clearly, we gladly say, “We are unprofitable servants,” and we serve Him with joyful, grateful hearts—until the day He tells us to sit down, rest, and be served by Him.