In regards to Thanksgiving, some historians believe that the pilgrims were actually celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles. The idea of inviting guests, showing hospitality, is very very important in Jewish culture. The pilgrims invited American Indians. The pilgrims were Bible adherents and inclined to keep the prescribed feasts of the LORD.
Again we find the use of conjunctive adverb in this verse:"After this manner therefore pray ye:" Here the emphasis is on faith. It is whosoever comes to God without exception it is enjoined. "or he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."(He.11:6) Having laid down the holiness of God, Jesus tells,"for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him."(6:8). Therefore faith is the foundation on which the heart of a believer serves him for a tabernacle. His faith and that of the risen Christ who is in the right hand of God being one, addresses thus, "Our Father which art in heaven" Our denotes the unity of purpose between the Petitioner and the Intercessor. Jesus promised us,"And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son./If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it."( John 14:13-14)
v.9 "Hallowed be thy name."
"And in his temple doth every one speak of his glory."(Ps.29:9b) Compare this with the Pharisee in the Parable. "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican./ I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess." ( Luke 18:11-12) He was seeking his own glory at His cost.
v.10 "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." As mentioned in an earliest post it refers to his abiding life and seeking the state That God may be all in all. "And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all."(1 Co.15:28)
v.11 "Give us this day our daily bread."
The term 'agape' fits here since 'this day' refer the blessings of heaven before the worlds began, no matter whatever circumstance we are in the 'now'. Elijah by Kerith brook.
December 25 is a pagan date and a tradition of man. Jesus was probably born in the fall. Shepherds and sheep would not be in the field freezing in December.
"Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him./After this manner therefore pray ye."
'Therefore' is a conjunctive adverb, used to connect prayer with the manner the heathen are wont to pray. Their much speaking however holds no faith which is covered up more mumbo-jumbo of their device. They have to be seen doing their tasks in full sight of the public so they are staking their claim to be 'holier-than thou'. Jesus warns,"Be not ye therefore like unto them.
Abiding life is not playing to the crowd. What you are God knows, as God the Husbandman knows what he has planted. " every good tree bringeth forth good fruit"(7:17). Abiding life is to hold a position as being so many branches to Jesus Christ the good vine.
We may view it as pictorial representation of Psalm 91:1. Under the shadow of God's protective care we abide nourished by the goodness of the true vine.
God knows our needs and He who did not spare His own Son for our sakes shall he not give everything pertaining to life and godliness? "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."( John 15:5)
It is in this context we set the Lord's Prayer on well grounded principles. Principle of Similitude sets the heaven in terms of the earth. God a Spirit and our fruits of the Spirit. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,/Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. " (Gal.5:22-23) Abiding in Christ we are living the Law which is what we mean by " Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."(6:10)
Our daily bread is from the same table as in heaven. "It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.:(15:26). Compare "Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?"(7:9-11)
I am so very thankful this morning. Thankful to the Lord most of all. Jesus is the greatest friend anyone could possibly have. This holiday will be spent with family, and some will come from afar. Yet, I'm moved in my heart knowing that so many will be alone this holiday. So many will no doubt spend this holiday behind bars, or sick in a hospital. Troubled souls will no doubt be wondering aimlessly without anywhere to go. It occurs to me that those in these types of conditions will not have anything to be thankful for. My prayer is that Jesus would find them this holiday. That his love would be poured out over the many who are suffering. Let's remember those less fortunate in our prayers this holiday. Not only in our prayers, but if we can somehow reach out, and be an encouragement, or a blessing somehow. Let us who are strong strengthen our fellow man who is downtrodden. I'm thankful for all of you, and for this opportunity to be able to express my heart, and hopefully I'm an encouragement to you. May the love of Jesus meet you where you're at today. May you experience Jesus in a whole new way. It's all about him anyway. I give thanks for the KING JAMES BIBLE, and this wonderful website. I'm sure anyone of you can go through a list of things that your thankful for, but I am thankful today. Thankfulness is the key that unlocks the gates to the courts of our precious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I praise him today, and I magnify him. May your holiday be filled with blessings, spiritual blessings and may your walk with God be made firm as we go onward. That's the only way to go isn't it? Onward to greater things in God. Do you love the things of God? Let us love Jesus more, and more. May our fellowship be blessed, and may the light of the love of God rest in each and everyone of you. I can always use more of God's love. I'm thankful for His love that he has shown to me. What a friend we have in Jesus.
"And thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly."
Isaiah gives us an infallible proof why our questions on His ways especially when we are faced with such gruesome violence and loss of innocent civilians including infants daily, are out of place. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord./ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Is.55:8-9). What is happening in Gaza or elsewhere are not hidden from his sight. The Spirit has given an insight into his ways in the manner God sent Moses to fight the Amalekites. Before that God gave a clue to His ways when He gave the nation water out of a rock. "Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel." (Ex.17:5). Moses and company first had to fix in their mind where he stood in their crisis. He stood upon the rock in Horeb.
When the Amalekites attacked them Moses was to stand upon the same rock, with his staff in hand. As the verse from Ps.91 states he stood under the shadow of his wings, the only place for a Christian to stand in relation to his Maker. He sees all our needs and trials even as Moses stood. He is our Jehovah nissi, banner of victory. So have we comes thus far. "A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee."(Ps.9s.91:8)
He has his ways and only way we can profit from is to to trust him totally. Amalekites would have never known but the word of God assures us. Jesus giving his 'Sermon on the Mount' is consistent with Zion from where our salvation comes. So help us God, Amen.
I thank the LORD for saving me from my sins and giving eternal life with HIM. I pray that I will be faithful in my daily prayers, reading of HIS Word, and witnessing unto others.
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! GOD to shine HIS glorious face on you and your family. GOD bless Jerusalem and their need to call and recognize the LORD JESUS CHRIST as their Messiah.
"The angel of the LORD encampeth around about them that fear HIM, and delivereth them. Psalm 34:7
" For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:/But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
Superscription refers to this well known psalm,"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."(Ps.91:1) We show mercy to one who is in need of help and we are to do it secretly. "And thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly." This is what the word of God has promised. He dwells in secret place which as the writer to the Hebrews says,"And upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. It is the heavenly place that we dwell when our lives are hid in Christ. (Col.3:1-3) We abide in 'the secret place of the most High as well as we are upheld by the word of his power. So doctrine of God warns you how you should worship him. In Spirit and in truth when we abide under the shadow of the Almighty. In 5:23-24 Jesus tells us, "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;/ Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. " You shall be measured by the same measure with which you judge your neighbor. Are you offended because the false shepherds have locked under the LGBTQ label and warned from pulpit to shun him, don't. The enemies of Christ offer 'Abomination of desolations' on behalf of their masters to which liberty of the Spirit warns,' first cleanse your heart of it and then offer thy gift. God knows hypocrisy from far off. God called you to be a good neighbor and no to be the judge.
The Spirit uses shadow as power to heal as the shadow of Apostle Peter healed people.(Ac.5:15) How well do we abide under the shadow of his wings?
"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid./ Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house./ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
This is set as a light of Zion out of which the law shall go forth. "Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined./Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.
."(Ps.50:1-6) In this context every believer is to set the light on the candle-stand, which as the vision of Zechariah tell is a single stem, all gold with two olive trees on left and right(4:2). Without abiding in Christ, or seeing through his light, which is true one is setting it under a bushel or under his bed.
Heart of man is a tabernacle, so when we speak of our position in relation to Christ our Redeemer Lord on a sure ground because his right arm "brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him". He is the one who shall fight our battles for us. He is the full armor of God to which the Isaiah passage refers.(Is.59:16). The above mentioned quote over Zion is set between from the rising of the sun unto the sunset, a day. This is the day decreed for the Son.(Ps.2:7-8). The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.In v.6 we have the certainty that God shall judge. "Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice./And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself.
"But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." It is thus we make sense of the will from both worlds of the Father-Son relationship.
Hello Jesse , I'm sorry , I didn't realise that there are rules ? I'm not familiar with chat room etiquette , I didn't know about 'threads' . If I'm not directly replying to some one then I just post on ' new comment ' , is that wrong ? Am I not allowed to just post a random comment as I'm reading this site and feel inclined to say something ? Most of the time when I am just commenting I have no intention of starting a 'thread' or even getting a reply . Sorry about my lack of knowledge regarding chat room etiquette , I just post as I feel . Is that wrong of me ?
The Samaritan was the good neighbor because he stood in the place of Jesus Christ. The same 'arm' that bought salvation is qualified as the right arm. It is thus God in sending his Son to the world would determine how goats shall be separated from the sheep. In short either we are one with him or at odds with him."When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:/And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:/And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left." (25:31-33)
We do in the place of the Son that does not require any beating of the drum as hypocrites do so they want praises of men for what was their duty to do in the first place. Our mercy and our prayers are done in closet and between God and man. It is how we abide in Christ and do as though Christ in us did. This explains v.3, "Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth."
4That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
"Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward."
Alms giving in a manner of speaking is noticing one who is created in the selfsame image. Mercy acknowledges another irrespective of their circumstances, and serve in whatever capacity as a brother to another or as a father to one in need of consolation. Is it not wonderful for man that he for once settled on an universal symbol to converse. A pittance to a widow in need salves the conscience of man but when the widow in question puts two mites in the collection drew the breath of Jesus away."but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had,"He observed. ( Luke 21:1-4) Rich are those who out of abundance toss much more without counting. There is not mercy per se but an irksome task to get over with. It is similar to the Levite in the Parable of the Good Samaritan who "came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side." ( Luke 10:32). The Samaritan who was not obliged according to the social mores or custom of the day to help but he did for no other reason that Jesus was an intercessor. As Isaiah said, "And wondered thatthere wasno intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him."(Is.59:16). The Samaritan was the good neighbor because he stood the place of Jesus Christ. The same 'arm' that bought salvation is qualified as the right arm. It is thus God in sending his Son to the world would determine how goats shall be separated from the sheep. In short either we are one with him or at odds with him.
Recapping this chapter it sounds as though the Spirit is presenting the Mission Statement of the Kingdom of God. The Evangelist sets for the occasion, a high mountain which represents Zion founded in heaven. Spiritually facets of the holiness of God shall be revealed in the manner his Son made manifest. Historically his humility as revealed many saints of old and their excellence is a commentary on Israel as His chosen people failed to do. It is already revealed in the lives of patriarchs who out of envy and evil sold Joseph as the nation dealt with Jesus who was the Word made flesh. They would have killed him but for the intervention of the scapegrace Reuben. "Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him." The word 'pit' connects with the death and resurrection of Jesus."Ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged. "(Is.51:1;Ge.37:22) Joseph made manifest the passage in vv.44-47
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;/ That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust./For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?/And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?" The Spirit sets events and persons within direct context of the Son. Joseph is another example. Even the terms as 'pit' and 'similitude' are meant to connect.
Love of God is much more than tit for tat. Walking the extra mile covering the distance tells as much about deeper experience in making His love your own. Christian Living is not be seen of the world for their praise but walk by faith and not by sight.
" Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black." Sermon on the Mount is a compilation of the holiness of God that has been made manifest by holy men of Old. We mentioned the name of Moses who had beheld after the similitude of the Lord, signifying the Son. In the key text we can trace the terrible domestic tragedy of Jephthah. The Spirit of Christ made him a mighty man of valor as he made Moses the meekest of all men. All their exploits and their excellence are but examples of the holiness of God and its source must be traced to the Son, who is the visible image of God, the Father. Jephthah erred in missing the connection. "Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD" This saying of Jeremiah came from the Lord. (Je.17:5). How Jephthah missed or Rueben defiled his father's bed have one thing in common. They do not put themselves in place of the Son. How are we to view our own ministry? "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do."( Luke 17:10) We are running the ministry on the slipstream of the Spirit of Christ and the sovereignty of the word sent forth by God.
Where Reuben failed Joseph gained control over his flesh at the house of Potiphar. He won it 'for my sake.' He suffered as Jesus would suffer in the generation of adulterous and the wicked. So far we have understood the doctrine of God is same as that of the Son since he perfected is Will. "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him."( John 7:16-18) Either we rely on our own flesh or do it as though Christ in us did
"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy./ But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;/ That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven"
'That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven'
Is a clear proof that anyone who wants to be born of the Spirit must choose. Either you let your will ride you or let it run under the Spirit of grace as Jesus chose to do. "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."(2 Co.8:9).Without it your dying to the world and sin, baptism by water is merely a rite, meaningless to all intent and purpose. You see the manner heresies in churches, have been spread around and controversies are stoked by those who stand to benefit from it. Instead of letting the Prince of life work with whose lifestyles are an anathema, do you think you shall change them by traducing them from pulpit or working with politicians? Pro-life movement is for the dead to while away their time. For children who worship 'our Father in heaven' it is to work with our faith, which in the hands of Jesus like five loaves and two fish shall go a long way. This establishes our sonship. All glory to God our Father.
Of what profit when we have ceased from self-glory being born again to make causes of the ungodly? We are dead to vain strivings of the world that shall never go away. They are enemies of Christ. They shall curse us but the grace of the Son shall cushion us from them as ever we have Isaiah's words, "the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." His grace works best when we have ceased from works. 'I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live.'(Gal.2:20) This switchover bring rest to our souls.
Here's my message sent to Marcelo Gleiser,Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Dartmouth College.I told him: I enjoyed your profound conceptions within the scientific field, and also how you relate in a comprehensive way to other knowledge linked to faith and beliefs about the creation of the Universe, and the existence or not of GOD.
You said it is difficult to define a scientific explanation related to the existence of life on other planets.I said:In fact,when we talk about life in the essence of the word,we talk about the existence of a diversity of beings,i.e. plants and animals according to their species,and above all,more particularly,the existence of human being.
I confess that I was amazed by your answer saying that "there is no human being on other planets, it is an unknown field, there is no way to demonstrate and prove it". Well, you said planet Earth has its history,a history that in my opinion no other place of the Universe has this privilege. I was amazed by your answer,your fantastic conception,because I have long had this conviction of the non-existence of human being on other planets.But in truth,it is not just the human being,but all species of living beings,whether plants and animals of the most diverse species on Earth,especially those that have blood in the veins(the soul)of the body.
I said:But why is this my unshakable conviction?Because in truth GOD created the Universe,whose galaxies have hundreds of billions of stars as you said.In fact,it even has a "black hole" with an inexplicable reason for its existence,but after everything created GOD sat on the GLOBE of Earth-Isaias 40:21-22.This is the true and only reason for life to exist,life in abundance on planet Earth,and man is the most privileged of everything and everyone,having, body, soul, and spirit from which comes his ability to reason, perceive, define, understand and translate everything into words. It is the function of the spirit in man that no other animal has, except man.
"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."
Heart is a spiritual space and much more so for those who understand God as a Spirit rules over it as well. "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."(6:21). Pure in heart is not a state of being but will of man under a state of grace. As Paul would say,"I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need."(Ph.4:12) In short he chose to abide in him who died for our sakes. Stephen chose rather to die than be silent when called upon to speak up. He was under the yoke of his salvation. Truth made the elders of the Sanhedrin and Stephen respond differently. They questioned Stephen, "Are these things so? and when he answered they were wroth!" When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth"(7:1:54-56) Stephen could not done otherwise. He was pure heart so it was totally sanctified to give glory to God."But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,/ And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God."
"Follow me" Jesus said and his life was an example. So all who have followed his words would have shared the same agony and the ecstasy as St Stephen in some measure. So we have a Club for the Pure of heart, and rules of admission are simple."forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto ... the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."(Ph.3:12-14)
" Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake./ Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.(vv.11-12)
Matt.5:49 "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."
God's ways are higher than of man. Yet Holiness of God is made manifest in absolute impartiality. Sinful man is as much in his care as His creation. Love a facet of his divine nature loved the world that He sent his word through his prophets and in these last days spoken unto us through his Son."Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly."(Ps.138:6a) and made himself the least. "Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the Lord's servant?"(Is.42:19). Humility of Jesus made him self contained in a manner of speaking.He did no sin; neither did he know it. When he was asked to be a arbiter his answer was very forthright, "Who made me a judge or divider over you?"( Luke 12:14) He was among them as His suffering servant and not as their king. Such perfection brooked no excuses or long winded precedents to justify his actions. His saying," But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil,"(v.37) was his own manner of validating the holiness of his Father. "Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:"(1 Pe.2:23) He was blind so his eye of faith was ever fixed on his Father. So was he deaf that his ear was open to His will. 'Lo I have come to do thy will' he would have remain committed so his path to glory opened way beyond Golgotha.
Jesus set an example with his life. He taught us to take up their cross. But what do the Christian world say,"No Jesus only taught to follow his words." Literally Satan has in one fell swoop made away with seed sown in their hearts. Without Jesus setting an example, without the captain of their salvation what Christian Living amounts to? We see the warning 'the abomination of desolation in 23:15-16 taking shape in our time
"Blessedness of man is established by the divine Will and it freely given in his Son to the saints chosen before the foundation of the world. It is open for those who have no confidence in their flesh but nevertheless would learn of the Son who was also in human likeness." (Select)
Blessedness which Jesus spoke to the multitudes was in the will of the(Is.63 Father. Jesus in his human likeness addressed it in terms of the body God has prepared for him.(Ps.40:8). This being the case the hard sayings which he spoke cannot be understood without the two qualities of holiness he presented to the world. He was the word become flesh. So it is impossible to interpret it in any other manner than grace and truth that came by Jesus. Does anyone think being blind prevents one from imagining evil or lust for another. Force of nature inflame the body entire and only grace and truth in heart of man can help his case.
"And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell." (v.29)
Isaiah speaks of salvation in terms of "And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him."(Is.59:16;63:5) His right hand denotes his Son. It is thus this Psalm refers to it."His right hand and holy arm have gained Him the victory."(Ps.98:1)
Lust of the eye or flesh can only be handled by grace. St Paul's own case can help us understand it. "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me./Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, .... for when I am weak, then am I strong."(2 Co.12:7-10)
" Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." (v.17)
Blessedness of man is established by the divine Will and it freely given in his Son to the saints chosen before the foundation of the world. It is open for those who have confidence in their flesh but nevertheless would learn of the Son who was also in human likeness. 'For my sake' the heroes of faith learned to be meek.(He.11)
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth."(v.5)
Meekness of Moses for an example which we came across, and is set in the Scriptures 'for my sake." His faith was already set so he would dismiss great many things for the sake of the Son who declared "I am lowly and meek" "Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward./ By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible."(He.11:26-27) His eye of faith kept him all through.
Isaiah spoke some 600 years earlier, "I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting./ For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed./He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me?"(Is.50:6-8) Jesus set an example and what he suffered was according to the Scriptures. "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake."
The Spirit instructs us in righteousness which was the portion for the Son in order overcome evil with love. "But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also."(5:39)
St Mathew's sense of reconciling the grand vision of kingdom of heaven in terms of the heart; of eternity in the now and holiness of God in the man become flesh is fit with the backdrop chosen for the beginning of the ministry of Jesus Christ. The high mountain chosen for this inaugural address is Zion laid before the worlds began. (Is.28:16) The eternal word forever settled in heaven and Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever shall only be complet when it descends from heaven as New Jerusalem. So the doctrine presented by the Son of man shall remain as it is as long as the day decreed for the Son shall remain.
We shall take each verse by verse, Parables of Jesus are flesh given to it so its eternal verity shall be recalled under every clime and generation men with renewed force. For example Jesus said," Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee throws light into the nature of poor in spirit and holiness of God is not above in rewarding them. While the Pharisee justified himself even his knowledge of the Law began smelling foul for he was shredding the sanctity of His presence in the temple."And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner./ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."( Luke 18:9-14)
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. The Life of Job is a lesson and we read thus,"So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning."( Job 42:12). Similarly so many saints who were blessed because tribulations became stepping stones for glory.
"And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:/ And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying"
The Evangelist Matthews introduces the doctrine of God, which has been made manifest by manifold ways by the holy men of old. His approach to the Son has been set as Matt.1:1 indicates. Generation Jesus Christ takes up the theme of man 'in our own image' narrowing down generations of the heaven and of the earth to his creation. "And God blessed them." These generations are further clarified to occur within the day which by a decree is put under the authority of the Son. So the Sermon on the Mount consists blessings of the Father in his Son.
For an example " Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake." (v.11) the struggle a natural man faces because of his flesh and of his spirit. This dichotomy in our interaction with our generation becomes much more pronounced and unsettling. There may be persecutions formed from the ungodly and Jesus puts his finger on the cause, "for my sake". Each generation has had and Abel the righteous one paid with his life. Such strife is bound to occur because the law of sin is enmity towards the Law of Spirit. ("So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin."
"For my sake"
God blessed man who is created in his own image sets a key principle of Similitude. Thus man either represents the Son or he is against him. This representation explains the fall of man. " For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Ro.5:17) God blessed Moses so his eye of faith saw this representation. "Now the man Moses was very meek," Or rather he made himself like Christ. "And the similitude of theLordshall he behold."(Nu.12:8)
Eye of faith is in lockstep with God because of the soul of man is his true and faithful witness, "For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step." Faith is one and it explains the heart as a spiritual space with which God is knowable. "He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works."(Ps.33:15; Job 34:21)
God is set in terms of light which explains this eye of faith in terms of the body. "The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light./ But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!"
Satan tempted Jesus because he did not understand the holiness of God and of faith which is one. Answering the tempter was to no avail. So he rebuked him,"Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."(4:10)
God sent forth his word which has been preparing the ground so holy men of old did not speak their own piece but what the Spirit set before their eye of faith, "Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow."(1 Pe.1:11) By the same token when Jesus called out his disciples straightaway laid aside what they were engaged in and followed him.
St Paul in his zeal persecuted the church and witnessed the beatific expression of the first martyr and his death. His conversion on his way to Damascus was foreknown. The light of the knowledge of the glory of God opened his eye of faith. He may never known other than the Law of Moses and related works. What he read with his new vision is the face of Christ the fulfillment of Law. The blessed whose delight in the law of the Lord shall have no difficulty is translating the old to the new.
vv.18-25
Jesus calling of his disciples were not happenstance but the light of the knowledge lending a hand to their faith.They instantly followed him as Evangelist Matthew did. In this connection here is a verse,"And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." (John1:51) This direct reference to the dream of Jacob is what the eye of faith revealing the word of God " which ye now see and hear." Simon Peter at Joppa saw it; so did Cornelius the centurion. (Ac.10:1)
Whe God commanded through Moses he said Love of God must be with whole heart."And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might./And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:"(De.6:5-8) This has to be a sign upon thine hand, empower your hands so faith is followed with works. So how do we see in thy light? (Ps.36:9)
"And they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes" so we knowing the times are bad shall conduct with circumspect and with lowliness of mind.
"From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Heart is a spiritual space where knowledge of the holy serves as understanding which must learn to distinguish between the real and the worthless. In the Parable of the Rich Fool what he could store up was his riches. Jesus warns they are seen so temporal and very deceptive. Blessed as Psalm1 teaches is the one who by close reading of the word of God shall know how to apply it to his profit."That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful./But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." Even our time we read of the simple foolish enough to step out with hammer with zip ties to root out 'undesirable' elements at the Capitol believing in every balderdash he read in the internet. The perpetrators of the hoax move on while fools are caught and put away possibly for life. In such times we are to be extra vigilant while Satan like a roaring lion are abroad freely sowing damage." Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"(Is.5:20) People perish where there is no vision. How can they when foolish shepherds have been sending them under their hand to facilitate the ungodly politicians without let up? They preach faith but their works are as those who call evil good?
"The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints."(Ep.1:18)
Jesus refers to eye as single. "The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light."(6:22)
"Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness."( Luke 11:35)
"Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;/ And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim."
Light is knowledge that darkness cannot understand. So we learn from this verse,"Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father."( John 6:65) God is a Spirit and the truth in the inwards of man is to be known by his spirit. It is like a candle so no man may say it is beyond him. No he fools himself to deny God's grace. He sent his word and it is heard which darkness dismisses it as nothing. For man to benefit from it needs the Son whom he sent. "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."(2 Co.4:6). At the birth of Jesus circumstanced forced his father to settle down in Nazareth and now events forced the Son of man to leave for Galilee. It is thus as long as we are in the flesh, darkness shall conspire to change our circumstances but truth helps us learn of the holiness of God and what does it tell us? "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."(He.13:5) God let his Son be tempted of the devil but we read that, "And, behold, angels came and ministered unto him." It is thus with every child of God, "that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God."(Ac.14:22) On our part we are called to continue in faith for his word of grace is sufficient to build up our lives in the sure foundation. "God knows who are his."
Life of Jesus was disrupted but helps the light of the knowledge of the glory of God spread 'Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.'(v.15)
God makes angels spirits. Satan whose credo "I will" challenged the holiness of God, With this in mind the tempter asking Jesus "If thou be" challenged the eternal nature. His advent in human likeness was bound up in fulfilling the will of his Father so the challenges he asked was basically faith against doubt. Law of Spirit against the Law of sin. Satan sins from the beginning so the appetites of the flesh loomed large in his eyes. Besides before him stood the Son of man vulnerable after fasting 40 days and forty nights. Jesus who was the Word become flesh would not go against his holiness. In the Father-Son relationship the sovereign hold of the word was the arbiter.
This episode tells his adversary well knew his scripture but without faith it was zero . Knowledge of the holy is understanding. How the serpent mouthed Satan's position with regards to the knowledge of good and evil is a case in point. "And ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil" without truth was blind. We hear in our times," Justification makes the works unnecessary which is a travesty of Luther's position. It has been thus the eternal word of God has been debased into heresies without living it.
God provided all needful things for life and godliness. So man who dares to change the stone into bread was questioning His holiness. In the second challenge Satan would give man 'a bold initiative' by "If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down". Jesus rebutted him from his position of faith. Thirdly "if thou wilt fall down and worship me". Satan would never have understood the key to salvation so his last challenge addressing sentient nature of man shows the egregious folly in relying on the senses which only appealed him. "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.... and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie,he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it"( John 8:44)
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil./And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.(vv.1-2)
'Then' refers to the descent of the Spirit in the form of a dove in the preceding passage.(3:16) Lucan gospel informs us that Jesus was tempted for forty days of the devil.. St Matthew lays emphasis on the manner the tempter would try to trip him up. Mark merely mentions it as matter-of-factly as a anecdote. "And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness./And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him".( Mark 1:12-13). John left it out altogether. Before we go on with his ministry we present the four gospels relate to one another inextricably as the Logos aspect of the Son of man is bound with God which was with the Word. The "Word was God" ( John 1:1)
The Spirit uses 40 days to indicate the sovereignty of the Word as the Son of man handled. Four refers to cardinal directions and whether east or west south or north the Word of God stood on a firm foundation."Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his."(2 Ti.2:19) In the case of Jesus in his humanity needed preparation so he was led by the Spirit during 40 days (4x10). Before he began his ministry the same number of days as well as he was seen for 40 days by his disciples in his risen body. In short the number lays down it as a tag and applies to anyone who is taken into service. The life of Moses is tagged likewise."And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments." (Ex.34:28) Before Moses could serve the nation the number serves as a diploma of having been found adequate to serve. It is thus the Spirit led Jesus into wilderness.
John the Baptist was anointed from birth for his ministry. Meeting Jesus by the river Jordan was no mere coincidence any more than Simeon coming to the temple to meet infant Jesus. " And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ./ And he came by the Spirit into the temple. "( Luke 2:25-27). It is thus the eternal word forever settled in heaven has administered the upkeep of the kingdom of God.
By the same token the voice in the wilderness administering baptism by water was to meet the body in which it pleased the Father that his fulness should dwell. Moses Elijah and John are all associates with Christ the Head. Transfiguration of Jesus at the holy mount was a preview of the glory that was to be made manifest. So the River Jordan is a symbol for the river of time, holding them all as having labored to declare the eternal word of God.
After his transfiguration he reveals its significance of restoration 'of all things' by which what Jesus signified is that "that God may be all in all."(1 Co.15:28). "Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist." The glorious body of Jesus awaited his death and resurrection for which the river symbolized life eternal. As forerunner of the Son Elijah parted the river and the glory was "behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven."(2 Ki.2:11) It foreshadows the Ascension of Jesus Christ. "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight."(Ac.1:9) Such events occurring in the Bible narrative is to instruct us we are all associates chosen before the worlds began and Moses, Elijah and John are many members of the same body. From the fulness of the head which is Christ we are preserved. "Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."
Again we find the use of conjunctive adverb in this verse:"After this manner therefore pray ye:" Here the emphasis is on faith. It is whosoever comes to God without exception it is enjoined. "or he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."(He.11:6) Having laid down the holiness of God, Jesus tells,"for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him."(6:8). Therefore faith is the foundation on which the heart of a believer serves him for a tabernacle. His faith and that of the risen Christ who is in the right hand of God being one, addresses thus, "Our Father which art in heaven" Our denotes the unity of purpose between the Petitioner and the Intercessor. Jesus promised us,"And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son./If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it."( John 14:13-14)
v.9 "Hallowed be thy name."
"And in his temple doth every one speak of his glory."(Ps.29:9b) Compare this with the Pharisee in the Parable. "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican./ I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess." ( Luke 18:11-12) He was seeking his own glory at His cost.
v.10 "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." As mentioned in an earliest post it refers to his abiding life and seeking the state That God may be all in all. "And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all."(1 Co.15:28)
v.11 "Give us this day our daily bread."
The term 'agape' fits here since 'this day' refer the blessings of heaven before the worlds began, no matter whatever circumstance we are in the 'now'. Elijah by Kerith brook.
Jesus fulfilled the mosaic laws. That's why temple sacrifices are not needed. He fulfilled the mosaic laws once and for all.
"Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him./After this manner therefore pray ye."
'Therefore' is a conjunctive adverb, used to connect prayer with the manner the heathen are wont to pray. Their much speaking however holds no faith which is covered up more mumbo-jumbo of their device. They have to be seen doing their tasks in full sight of the public so they are staking their claim to be 'holier-than thou'. Jesus warns,"Be not ye therefore like unto them.
Abiding life is not playing to the crowd. What you are God knows, as God the Husbandman knows what he has planted. " every good tree bringeth forth good fruit"(7:17). Abiding life is to hold a position as being so many branches to Jesus Christ the good vine.
We may view it as pictorial representation of Psalm 91:1. Under the shadow of God's protective care we abide nourished by the goodness of the true vine.
God knows our needs and He who did not spare His own Son for our sakes shall he not give everything pertaining to life and godliness? "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."( John 15:5)
It is in this context we set the Lord's Prayer on well grounded principles. Principle of Similitude sets the heaven in terms of the earth. God a Spirit and our fruits of the Spirit. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,/Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. " (Gal.5:22-23) Abiding in Christ we are living the Law which is what we mean by " Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."(6:10)
Our daily bread is from the same table as in heaven. "It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.:(15:26). Compare "Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?"(7:9-11)
I am so very thankful this morning. Thankful to the Lord most of all. Jesus is the greatest friend anyone could possibly have. This holiday will be spent with family, and some will come from afar. Yet, I'm moved in my heart knowing that so many will be alone this holiday. So many will no doubt spend this holiday behind bars, or sick in a hospital. Troubled souls will no doubt be wondering aimlessly without anywhere to go. It occurs to me that those in these types of conditions will not have anything to be thankful for. My prayer is that Jesus would find them this holiday. That his love would be poured out over the many who are suffering. Let's remember those less fortunate in our prayers this holiday. Not only in our prayers, but if we can somehow reach out, and be an encouragement, or a blessing somehow. Let us who are strong strengthen our fellow man who is downtrodden. I'm thankful for all of you, and for this opportunity to be able to express my heart, and hopefully I'm an encouragement to you. May the love of Jesus meet you where you're at today. May you experience Jesus in a whole new way. It's all about him anyway. I give thanks for the KING JAMES BIBLE, and this wonderful website. I'm sure anyone of you can go through a list of things that your thankful for, but I am thankful today. Thankfulness is the key that unlocks the gates to the courts of our precious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I praise him today, and I magnify him. May your holiday be filled with blessings, spiritual blessings and may your walk with God be made firm as we go onward. That's the only way to go isn't it? Onward to greater things in God. Do you love the things of God? Let us love Jesus more, and more. May our fellowship be blessed, and may the light of the love of God rest in each and everyone of you. I can always use more of God's love. I'm thankful for His love that he has shown to me. What a friend we have in Jesus.
"And thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly."
Isaiah gives us an infallible proof why our questions on His ways especially when we are faced with such gruesome violence and loss of innocent civilians including infants daily, are out of place. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord./ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Is.55:8-9). What is happening in Gaza or elsewhere are not hidden from his sight. The Spirit has given an insight into his ways in the manner God sent Moses to fight the Amalekites. Before that God gave a clue to His ways when He gave the nation water out of a rock. "Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel." (Ex.17:5). Moses and company first had to fix in their mind where he stood in their crisis. He stood upon the rock in Horeb.
When the Amalekites attacked them Moses was to stand upon the same rock, with his staff in hand. As the verse from Ps.91 states he stood under the shadow of his wings, the only place for a Christian to stand in relation to his Maker. He sees all our needs and trials even as Moses stood. He is our Jehovah nissi, banner of victory. So have we comes thus far. "A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee."(Ps.9s.91:8)
He has his ways and only way we can profit from is to to trust him totally. Amalekites would have never known but the word of God assures us. Jesus giving his 'Sermon on the Mount' is consistent with Zion from where our salvation comes. So help us God, Amen.
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! GOD to shine HIS glorious face on you and your family. GOD bless Jerusalem and their need to call and recognize the LORD JESUS CHRIST as their Messiah.
"The angel of the LORD encampeth around about them that fear HIM, and delivereth them. Psalm 34:7
November 20, 2023
" For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:/But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
Superscription refers to this well known psalm,"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."(Ps.91:1) We show mercy to one who is in need of help and we are to do it secretly. "And thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly." This is what the word of God has promised. He dwells in secret place which as the writer to the Hebrews says,"And upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. It is the heavenly place that we dwell when our lives are hid in Christ. (Col.3:1-3) We abide in 'the secret place of the most High as well as we are upheld by the word of his power. So doctrine of God warns you how you should worship him. In Spirit and in truth when we abide under the shadow of the Almighty. In 5:23-24 Jesus tells us, "Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;/ Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. " You shall be measured by the same measure with which you judge your neighbor. Are you offended because the false shepherds have locked under the LGBTQ label and warned from pulpit to shun him, don't. The enemies of Christ offer 'Abomination of desolations' on behalf of their masters to which liberty of the Spirit warns,' first cleanse your heart of it and then offer thy gift. God knows hypocrisy from far off. God called you to be a good neighbor and no to be the judge.
The Spirit uses shadow as power to heal as the shadow of Apostle Peter healed people.(Ac.5:15) How well do we abide under the shadow of his wings?
"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid./ Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house./ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
This is set as a light of Zion out of which the law shall go forth. "Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined./Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.
."(Ps.50:1-6) In this context every believer is to set the light on the candle-stand, which as the vision of Zechariah tell is a single stem, all gold with two olive trees on left and right(4:2). Without abiding in Christ, or seeing through his light, which is true one is setting it under a bushel or under his bed.
Heart of man is a tabernacle, so when we speak of our position in relation to Christ our Redeemer Lord on a sure ground because his right arm "brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him". He is the one who shall fight our battles for us. He is the full armor of God to which the Isaiah passage refers.(Is.59:16). The above mentioned quote over Zion is set between from the rising of the sun unto the sunset, a day. This is the day decreed for the Son.(Ps.2:7-8). The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.In v.6 we have the certainty that God shall judge. "Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice./And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself.
"But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." It is thus we make sense of the will from both worlds of the Father-Son relationship.
The Samaritan was the good neighbor because he stood in the place of Jesus Christ. The same 'arm' that bought salvation is qualified as the right arm. It is thus God in sending his Son to the world would determine how goats shall be separated from the sheep. In short either we are one with him or at odds with him."When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:/And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:/And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left." (25:31-33)
We do in the place of the Son that does not require any beating of the drum as hypocrites do so they want praises of men for what was their duty to do in the first place. Our mercy and our prayers are done in closet and between God and man. It is how we abide in Christ and do as though Christ in us did. This explains v.3, "Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth."
4That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
"Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward."
Alms giving in a manner of speaking is noticing one who is created in the selfsame image. Mercy acknowledges another irrespective of their circumstances, and serve in whatever capacity as a brother to another or as a father to one in need of consolation. Is it not wonderful for man that he for once settled on an universal symbol to converse. A pittance to a widow in need salves the conscience of man but when the widow in question puts two mites in the collection drew the breath of Jesus away."but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had,"He observed. ( Luke 21:1-4) Rich are those who out of abundance toss much more without counting. There is not mercy per se but an irksome task to get over with. It is similar to the Levite in the Parable of the Good Samaritan who "came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side." ( Luke 10:32). The Samaritan who was not obliged according to the social mores or custom of the day to help but he did for no other reason that Jesus was an intercessor. As Isaiah said, "And wondered thatthere wasno intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him."(Is.59:16). The Samaritan was the good neighbor because he stood the place of Jesus Christ. The same 'arm' that bought salvation is qualified as the right arm. It is thus God in sending his Son to the world would determine how goats shall be separated from the sheep. In short either we are one with him or at odds with him.
Recapping this chapter it sounds as though the Spirit is presenting the Mission Statement of the Kingdom of God. The Evangelist sets for the occasion, a high mountain which represents Zion founded in heaven. Spiritually facets of the holiness of God shall be revealed in the manner his Son made manifest. Historically his humility as revealed many saints of old and their excellence is a commentary on Israel as His chosen people failed to do. It is already revealed in the lives of patriarchs who out of envy and evil sold Joseph as the nation dealt with Jesus who was the Word made flesh. They would have killed him but for the intervention of the scapegrace Reuben. "Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him." The word 'pit' connects with the death and resurrection of Jesus."Ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged. "(Is.51:1;Ge.37:22) Joseph made manifest the passage in vv.44-47
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;/ That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust./For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?/And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?" The Spirit sets events and persons within direct context of the Son. Joseph is another example. Even the terms as 'pit' and 'similitude' are meant to connect.
Love of God is much more than tit for tat. Walking the extra mile covering the distance tells as much about deeper experience in making His love your own. Christian Living is not be seen of the world for their praise but walk by faith and not by sight.
" Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black." Sermon on the Mount is a compilation of the holiness of God that has been made manifest by holy men of Old. We mentioned the name of Moses who had beheld after the similitude of the Lord, signifying the Son. In the key text we can trace the terrible domestic tragedy of Jephthah. The Spirit of Christ made him a mighty man of valor as he made Moses the meekest of all men. All their exploits and their excellence are but examples of the holiness of God and its source must be traced to the Son, who is the visible image of God, the Father. Jephthah erred in missing the connection. "Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD" This saying of Jeremiah came from the Lord. (Je.17:5). How Jephthah missed or Rueben defiled his father's bed have one thing in common. They do not put themselves in place of the Son. How are we to view our own ministry? "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do."( Luke 17:10) We are running the ministry on the slipstream of the Spirit of Christ and the sovereignty of the word sent forth by God.
Where Reuben failed Joseph gained control over his flesh at the house of Potiphar. He won it 'for my sake.' He suffered as Jesus would suffer in the generation of adulterous and the wicked. So far we have understood the doctrine of God is same as that of the Son since he perfected is Will. "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him."( John 7:16-18) Either we rely on our own flesh or do it as though Christ in us did
"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy./ But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;/ That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven"
'That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven'
Is a clear proof that anyone who wants to be born of the Spirit must choose. Either you let your will ride you or let it run under the Spirit of grace as Jesus chose to do. "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."(2 Co.8:9).Without it your dying to the world and sin, baptism by water is merely a rite, meaningless to all intent and purpose. You see the manner heresies in churches, have been spread around and controversies are stoked by those who stand to benefit from it. Instead of letting the Prince of life work with whose lifestyles are an anathema, do you think you shall change them by traducing them from pulpit or working with politicians? Pro-life movement is for the dead to while away their time. For children who worship 'our Father in heaven' it is to work with our faith, which in the hands of Jesus like five loaves and two fish shall go a long way. This establishes our sonship. All glory to God our Father.
Of what profit when we have ceased from self-glory being born again to make causes of the ungodly? We are dead to vain strivings of the world that shall never go away. They are enemies of Christ. They shall curse us but the grace of the Son shall cushion us from them as ever we have Isaiah's words, "the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." His grace works best when we have ceased from works. 'I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live.'(Gal.2:20) This switchover bring rest to our souls.
You said it is difficult to define a scientific explanation related to the existence of life on other planets.I said:In fact,when we talk about life in the essence of the word,we talk about the existence of a diversity of beings,i.e. plants and animals according to their species,and above all,more particularly,the existence of human being.
I confess that I was amazed by your answer saying that "there is no human being on other planets, it is an unknown field, there is no way to demonstrate and prove it". Well, you said planet Earth has its history,a history that in my opinion no other place of the Universe has this privilege. I was amazed by your answer,your fantastic conception,because I have long had this conviction of the non-existence of human being on other planets.But in truth,it is not just the human being,but all species of living beings,whether plants and animals of the most diverse species on Earth,especially those that have blood in the veins(the soul)of the body.
I said:But why is this my unshakable conviction?Because in truth GOD created the Universe,whose galaxies have hundreds of billions of stars as you said.In fact,it even has a "black hole" with an inexplicable reason for its existence,but after everything created GOD sat on the GLOBE of Earth-Isaias 40:21-22.This is the true and only reason for life to exist,life in abundance on planet Earth,and man is the most privileged of everything and everyone,having, body, soul, and spirit from which comes his ability to reason, perceive, define, understand and translate everything into words. It is the function of the spirit in man that no other animal has, except man.
"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."
Heart is a spiritual space and much more so for those who understand God as a Spirit rules over it as well. "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."(6:21). Pure in heart is not a state of being but will of man under a state of grace. As Paul would say,"I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need."(Ph.4:12) In short he chose to abide in him who died for our sakes. Stephen chose rather to die than be silent when called upon to speak up. He was under the yoke of his salvation. Truth made the elders of the Sanhedrin and Stephen respond differently. They questioned Stephen, "Are these things so? and when he answered they were wroth!" When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth"(7:1:54-56) Stephen could not done otherwise. He was pure heart so it was totally sanctified to give glory to God."But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,/ And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God."
"Follow me" Jesus said and his life was an example. So all who have followed his words would have shared the same agony and the ecstasy as St Stephen in some measure. So we have a Club for the Pure of heart, and rules of admission are simple."forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto ... the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."(Ph.3:12-14)
" Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake./ Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.(vv.11-12)
God's ways are higher than of man. Yet Holiness of God is made manifest in absolute impartiality. Sinful man is as much in his care as His creation. Love a facet of his divine nature loved the world that He sent his word through his prophets and in these last days spoken unto us through his Son."Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly."(Ps.138:6a) and made himself the least. "Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the Lord's servant?"(Is.42:19). Humility of Jesus made him self contained in a manner of speaking.He did no sin; neither did he know it. When he was asked to be a arbiter his answer was very forthright, "Who made me a judge or divider over you?"( Luke 12:14) He was among them as His suffering servant and not as their king. Such perfection brooked no excuses or long winded precedents to justify his actions. His saying," But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil,"(v.37) was his own manner of validating the holiness of his Father. "Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:"(1 Pe.2:23) He was blind so his eye of faith was ever fixed on his Father. So was he deaf that his ear was open to His will. 'Lo I have come to do thy will' he would have remain committed so his path to glory opened way beyond Golgotha.
Jesus set an example with his life. He taught us to take up their cross. But what do the Christian world say,"No Jesus only taught to follow his words." Literally Satan has in one fell swoop made away with seed sown in their hearts. Without Jesus setting an example, without the captain of their salvation what Christian Living amounts to? We see the warning 'the abomination of desolation in 23:15-16 taking shape in our time
"Right eye"
"Blessedness of man is established by the divine Will and it freely given in his Son to the saints chosen before the foundation of the world. It is open for those who have no confidence in their flesh but nevertheless would learn of the Son who was also in human likeness." (Select)
Blessedness which Jesus spoke to the multitudes was in the will of the(Is.63 Father. Jesus in his human likeness addressed it in terms of the body God has prepared for him.(Ps.40:8). This being the case the hard sayings which he spoke cannot be understood without the two qualities of holiness he presented to the world. He was the word become flesh. So it is impossible to interpret it in any other manner than grace and truth that came by Jesus. Does anyone think being blind prevents one from imagining evil or lust for another. Force of nature inflame the body entire and only grace and truth in heart of man can help his case.
"And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell." (v.29)
Isaiah speaks of salvation in terms of "And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him."(Is.59:16;63:5) His right hand denotes his Son. It is thus this Psalm refers to it."His right hand and holy arm have gained Him the victory."(Ps.98:1)
Lust of the eye or flesh can only be handled by grace. St Paul's own case can help us understand it. "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me./Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, .... for when I am weak, then am I strong."(2 Co.12:7-10)
" Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." (v.17)
Blessedness of man is established by the divine Will and it freely given in his Son to the saints chosen before the foundation of the world. It is open for those who have confidence in their flesh but nevertheless would learn of the Son who was also in human likeness. 'For my sake' the heroes of faith learned to be meek.(He.11)
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth."(v.5)
Meekness of Moses for an example which we came across, and is set in the Scriptures 'for my sake." His faith was already set so he would dismiss great many things for the sake of the Son who declared "I am lowly and meek" "Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward./ By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible."(He.11:26-27) His eye of faith kept him all through.
Isaiah spoke some 600 years earlier, "I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting./ For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed./He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me?"(Is.50:6-8) Jesus set an example and what he suffered was according to the Scriptures. "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake."
The Spirit instructs us in righteousness which was the portion for the Son in order overcome evil with love. "But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also."(5:39)
St Mathew's sense of reconciling the grand vision of kingdom of heaven in terms of the heart; of eternity in the now and holiness of God in the man become flesh is fit with the backdrop chosen for the beginning of the ministry of Jesus Christ. The high mountain chosen for this inaugural address is Zion laid before the worlds began. (Is.28:16) The eternal word forever settled in heaven and Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever shall only be complet when it descends from heaven as New Jerusalem. So the doctrine presented by the Son of man shall remain as it is as long as the day decreed for the Son shall remain.
We shall take each verse by verse, Parables of Jesus are flesh given to it so its eternal verity shall be recalled under every clime and generation men with renewed force. For example Jesus said," Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee throws light into the nature of poor in spirit and holiness of God is not above in rewarding them. While the Pharisee justified himself even his knowledge of the Law began smelling foul for he was shredding the sanctity of His presence in the temple."And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner./ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."( Luke 18:9-14)
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. The Life of Job is a lesson and we read thus,"So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning."( Job 42:12). Similarly so many saints who were blessed because tribulations became stepping stones for glory.
"And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:/ And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying"
The Evangelist Matthews introduces the doctrine of God, which has been made manifest by manifold ways by the holy men of old. His approach to the Son has been set as Matt.1:1 indicates. Generation Jesus Christ takes up the theme of man 'in our own image' narrowing down generations of the heaven and of the earth to his creation. "And God blessed them." These generations are further clarified to occur within the day which by a decree is put under the authority of the Son. So the Sermon on the Mount consists blessings of the Father in his Son.
For an example " Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake." (v.11) the struggle a natural man faces because of his flesh and of his spirit. This dichotomy in our interaction with our generation becomes much more pronounced and unsettling. There may be persecutions formed from the ungodly and Jesus puts his finger on the cause, "for my sake". Each generation has had and Abel the righteous one paid with his life. Such strife is bound to occur because the law of sin is enmity towards the Law of Spirit. ("So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin."
"For my sake"
God blessed man who is created in his own image sets a key principle of Similitude. Thus man either represents the Son or he is against him. This representation explains the fall of man. " For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Ro.5:17) God blessed Moses so his eye of faith saw this representation. "Now the man Moses was very meek," Or rather he made himself like Christ. "And the similitude of theLordshall he behold."(Nu.12:8)
Eye of faith is in lockstep with God because of the soul of man is his true and faithful witness, "For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step." Faith is one and it explains the heart as a spiritual space with which God is knowable. "He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works."(Ps.33:15; Job 34:21)
God is set in terms of light which explains this eye of faith in terms of the body. "The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light./ But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!"
Satan tempted Jesus because he did not understand the holiness of God and of faith which is one. Answering the tempter was to no avail. So he rebuked him,"Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."(4:10)
God sent forth his word which has been preparing the ground so holy men of old did not speak their own piece but what the Spirit set before their eye of faith, "Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow."(1 Pe.1:11) By the same token when Jesus called out his disciples straightaway laid aside what they were engaged in and followed him.
St Paul in his zeal persecuted the church and witnessed the beatific expression of the first martyr and his death. His conversion on his way to Damascus was foreknown. The light of the knowledge of the glory of God opened his eye of faith. He may never known other than the Law of Moses and related works. What he read with his new vision is the face of Christ the fulfillment of Law. The blessed whose delight in the law of the Lord shall have no difficulty is translating the old to the new.
vv.18-25
Jesus calling of his disciples were not happenstance but the light of the knowledge lending a hand to their faith.They instantly followed him as Evangelist Matthew did. In this connection here is a verse,"And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." (John1:51) This direct reference to the dream of Jacob is what the eye of faith revealing the word of God " which ye now see and hear." Simon Peter at Joppa saw it; so did Cornelius the centurion. (Ac.10:1)
Whe God commanded through Moses he said Love of God must be with whole heart."And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might./And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:"(De.6:5-8) This has to be a sign upon thine hand, empower your hands so faith is followed with works. So how do we see in thy light? (Ps.36:9)
"And they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes" so we knowing the times are bad shall conduct with circumspect and with lowliness of mind.
"From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Heart is a spiritual space where knowledge of the holy serves as understanding which must learn to distinguish between the real and the worthless. In the Parable of the Rich Fool what he could store up was his riches. Jesus warns they are seen so temporal and very deceptive. Blessed as Psalm1 teaches is the one who by close reading of the word of God shall know how to apply it to his profit."That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful./But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." Even our time we read of the simple foolish enough to step out with hammer with zip ties to root out 'undesirable' elements at the Capitol believing in every balderdash he read in the internet. The perpetrators of the hoax move on while fools are caught and put away possibly for life. In such times we are to be extra vigilant while Satan like a roaring lion are abroad freely sowing damage." Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"(Is.5:20) People perish where there is no vision. How can they when foolish shepherds have been sending them under their hand to facilitate the ungodly politicians without let up? They preach faith but their works are as those who call evil good?
"The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints."(Ep.1:18)
Jesus refers to eye as single. "The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light."(6:22)
"Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness."( Luke 11:35)
"Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;/ And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim."
Light is knowledge that darkness cannot understand. So we learn from this verse,"Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father."( John 6:65) God is a Spirit and the truth in the inwards of man is to be known by his spirit. It is like a candle so no man may say it is beyond him. No he fools himself to deny God's grace. He sent his word and it is heard which darkness dismisses it as nothing. For man to benefit from it needs the Son whom he sent. "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."(2 Co.4:6). At the birth of Jesus circumstanced forced his father to settle down in Nazareth and now events forced the Son of man to leave for Galilee. It is thus as long as we are in the flesh, darkness shall conspire to change our circumstances but truth helps us learn of the holiness of God and what does it tell us? "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."(He.13:5) God let his Son be tempted of the devil but we read that, "And, behold, angels came and ministered unto him." It is thus with every child of God, "that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God."(Ac.14:22) On our part we are called to continue in faith for his word of grace is sufficient to build up our lives in the sure foundation. "God knows who are his."
Life of Jesus was disrupted but helps the light of the knowledge of the glory of God spread 'Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.'(v.15)
God makes angels spirits. Satan whose credo "I will" challenged the holiness of God, With this in mind the tempter asking Jesus "If thou be" challenged the eternal nature. His advent in human likeness was bound up in fulfilling the will of his Father so the challenges he asked was basically faith against doubt. Law of Spirit against the Law of sin. Satan sins from the beginning so the appetites of the flesh loomed large in his eyes. Besides before him stood the Son of man vulnerable after fasting 40 days and forty nights. Jesus who was the Word become flesh would not go against his holiness. In the Father-Son relationship the sovereign hold of the word was the arbiter.
This episode tells his adversary well knew his scripture but without faith it was zero . Knowledge of the holy is understanding. How the serpent mouthed Satan's position with regards to the knowledge of good and evil is a case in point. "And ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil" without truth was blind. We hear in our times," Justification makes the works unnecessary which is a travesty of Luther's position. It has been thus the eternal word of God has been debased into heresies without living it.
God provided all needful things for life and godliness. So man who dares to change the stone into bread was questioning His holiness. In the second challenge Satan would give man 'a bold initiative' by "If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down". Jesus rebutted him from his position of faith. Thirdly "if thou wilt fall down and worship me". Satan would never have understood the key to salvation so his last challenge addressing sentient nature of man shows the egregious folly in relying on the senses which only appealed him. "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.... and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie,he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it"( John 8:44)
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil./And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.(vv.1-2)
'Then' refers to the descent of the Spirit in the form of a dove in the preceding passage.(3:16) Lucan gospel informs us that Jesus was tempted for forty days of the devil.. St Matthew lays emphasis on the manner the tempter would try to trip him up. Mark merely mentions it as matter-of-factly as a anecdote. "And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness./And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him".( Mark 1:12-13). John left it out altogether. Before we go on with his ministry we present the four gospels relate to one another inextricably as the Logos aspect of the Son of man is bound with God which was with the Word. The "Word was God" ( John 1:1)
The Spirit uses 40 days to indicate the sovereignty of the Word as the Son of man handled. Four refers to cardinal directions and whether east or west south or north the Word of God stood on a firm foundation."Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his."(2 Ti.2:19) In the case of Jesus in his humanity needed preparation so he was led by the Spirit during 40 days (4x10). Before he began his ministry the same number of days as well as he was seen for 40 days by his disciples in his risen body. In short the number lays down it as a tag and applies to anyone who is taken into service. The life of Moses is tagged likewise."And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments." (Ex.34:28) Before Moses could serve the nation the number serves as a diploma of having been found adequate to serve. It is thus the Spirit led Jesus into wilderness.
John the Baptist was anointed from birth for his ministry. Meeting Jesus by the river Jordan was no mere coincidence any more than Simeon coming to the temple to meet infant Jesus. " And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ./ And he came by the Spirit into the temple. "( Luke 2:25-27). It is thus the eternal word forever settled in heaven has administered the upkeep of the kingdom of God.
By the same token the voice in the wilderness administering baptism by water was to meet the body in which it pleased the Father that his fulness should dwell. Moses Elijah and John are all associates with Christ the Head. Transfiguration of Jesus at the holy mount was a preview of the glory that was to be made manifest. So the River Jordan is a symbol for the river of time, holding them all as having labored to declare the eternal word of God.
After his transfiguration he reveals its significance of restoration 'of all things' by which what Jesus signified is that "that God may be all in all."(1 Co.15:28). "Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist." The glorious body of Jesus awaited his death and resurrection for which the river symbolized life eternal. As forerunner of the Son Elijah parted the river and the glory was "behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven."(2 Ki.2:11) It foreshadows the Ascension of Jesus Christ. "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight."(Ac.1:9) Such events occurring in the Bible narrative is to instruct us we are all associates chosen before the worlds began and Moses, Elijah and John are many members of the same body. From the fulness of the head which is Christ we are preserved. "Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."