Remember the Poor-8

God’s sovereignty is not always easy to comprehend or to see. He works in marvelous ways, even through men and women who may not be truly obeying Him. This is where this story takes us today.

Ruth 3:1  Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you? 

Very interesting question! It would seem that Naomi is setting the stage for something that may seem foreign to Ruth.

3:2  "Now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maids you were? Behold, he winnows barley at the threshing floor tonight. 

Reminding Ruth, who already knows this, that Boaz is a kinsman seems redundant. But, Naomi also knows where Boaz would be tonight. How did she know? Why was this important for her to know?

3:3  "Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 

This is beginning to sound like entrapment or enticement. Man looks on the outside and God on the inside. Yet, Naomi doesn’t seem to be leaving anything to ‘chance’! Also, how did she know this routine?

3:4  "It shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you shall do." 

To our 21st century ears, this sounds strange. Of course, we do not know all the customs and traditions of this period of time in the life of the nation of Israel. But, this is in the dark, sneaking into the thrashing floor, waiting until the eating and drinking is overs, and working your way under the cloak of Boaz. All without anyone seeing you and raising suspicion.

3:5  She said to her, "All that you say I will do." 3:6  So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law had commanded her. 

Ruth didn’t seem to question Naomi. Maybe her customs were similar in Moab. Is this what God wanted her to do? This seems to be Naomi’s way of setting a trap for Boaz. But, nothing is outside of the sovereignty of God.

We will see this more clearly as this story unfolds

More next Saturday.

Remember the Poor-7

We left Ruth gleaning in the fields of Boaz. God orchestrated the events so Ruth would find his fields, which were safe and hopefully bountiful for Ruth. This whole story reveals God’s plan for the poor.

Ruth 2:14  At mealtime Boaz said to her, "Come here, that you may eat of the bread and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar." So she sat beside the reapers; and he served her roasted grain, and she ate and was satisfied and had some left. 

Boaz took special interest in Ruth due to his own kindness and the fact that Naomi was within his extended family.

Ruth 2:15  When she rose to glean, Boaz commanded his servants, saying, "Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not insult her. 2:16  "Also you shall purposely pull out for her some grain from the bundles and leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her." 

Another kindness was his provision and protection. He wanted to make sure Ruth would have enough to provide for both herself and Naomi. He could have just given her wheat, already beat out and ready to use. But, Ruth had to work, just as the Lord commanded.

Ruth 2:17  So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. 2:18  She took it up and went into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She also took it out and gave Naomi what she had left after she was satisfied. 

So after working in the fields all day, she now had to beat out the heads until she just had the wheat. This was a long hard day of work, not a day of waiting for someone to give them all they needed.

Ruth 2:19  Her mother-in-law then said to her, "Where did you glean today and where did you work? May he who took notice of you be blessed." So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, "The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz." 2:20  Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, "May he be blessed of the LORD who has not withdrawn his kindness to the living and to the dead." Again Naomi said to her, "The man is our relative, he is one of our closest relatives." 

Naomi and Ruth both considered it kindness that Boaz allowed her to work all day in his fields. This was the first time Naomi knew what field Ruth had gleaned.

Ruth 2:21  Then Ruth the Moabitess said, "Furthermore, he said to me, 'You should stay close to my servants until they have finished all my harvest.'" 2:22  Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, "It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his maids, so that others do not fall upon you in another field." 2:23  So she stayed close by the maids of Boaz in order to glean until the end of the barley harvest and the wheat harvest. And she lived with her mother-in-law. 

Naomi cautioned Ruth as she knew that not all fields were safe. The fact that Boaz enforced his field hands to be respectful of the maidens, speaks alot about him. So Ruth’s hard work seems to be providing for their immediate needs.They won’t starve, but Ruth has to work.

Our society, government, and churches don’t require this of those who come to them for money. They require nothing of the poor, who never learn the value of work or the reqrds of work. This is not loving.

More next Saturday

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Remember the Poor-6

We left Naomi and Ruth arriving back in Bethlehem just as the barley harvest began. We will be able to see just how our sovereign God works out all the details as He calls Naomi back from Moab.

Ruth 2:1  Now Naomi had a kinsman of her husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. 

Here we find some important background information before Ruth sets out to find food for them. Family and kinsman are very important to the families of Jacob/Israel. This was God’s plan for families and provided a safety net for those upon whom fell hard times. Naomi’s clan included Boaz, a wealthy land owner.

2:2  And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, "Please let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after one in whose sight I may find favor." And she said to her, "Go, my daughter." 2:3  So she departed and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. 

What do widows do to survive? They have to glean fields that are being harvested. The timing is amazing, as the barley harvest had just begun. Ruth and Naomi knew that Ruth would have to go and glean at some field if they were going to survive and eat.

2:4  Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, "May the LORD be with you." And they said to him, "May the LORD bless you." 2:5  Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, "Whose young woman is this?" 2:6  The servant in charge of the reapers replied, "She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the land of Moab. 2:7  "And she said, 'Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.' Thus she came and has remained from the morning until now; she has been sitting in the house for a little while." 

Of all the fields in the area, the Lord directed her to the field of Boaz! Also, the servant in charge knew alot already about Ruth and shared this with Boaz. Notice that Boaz took notice of her as not one of the usual gleaners. He must have been very attentive or Ruth may have been attractive.

2:8  Then Boaz said to Ruth, "Listen carefully, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field; furthermore, do not go on from this one, but stay here with my maids. 

2:9  "Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Indeed, I have commanded the servants not to touch you. When you are thirsty, go to the water jars and drink from what the servants draw." 

We know what kind of woman Ruth was and now are finding out about what kind of man Boaz was. He offered her protection, advice, and comfort. But, he did not offer any charity. That is, she would still have to work the fields. That was God’s plan for both the rich and the poor.

2:10  Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground and said to him, "Why have I found favor in your sight that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?" 

Ruth was very grateful for Boaz noticing her and being kind to her. She knew that she was not an Israelite, but a foreigner. But, even foreigner had rights in Israel.

2:11  Boaz replied to her, "All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know. 2:12  "May the LORD reward your work, and your wages be full from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge." 

Boaz spoke wisely to her and knew alot about her, as she was with one of his extended family. He indicated that he knew that she had done a miraculous thing by staying with Naomi instead of going back to her idolatrous past.

2:13  Then she said, "I have found favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and indeed have spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your maidservants." 

Ruth considered it a great comfort that she would be allowed to work in his field and that Boaz took notice of her and interest in her. All because Ruth knew she had to go out and find a field that was currently being harvest. It just happened that Boaz visited this field the very day Ruth appeared.

Timing details can reveal alot about our sovereign God.

1. Ruth and Naomi had to leave Moab and arrive in Bethlehem just in time for the harvest.

2. Ruth, without knowing, found the field of Boaz.

3. Ruth’s first day was also the very day she was seen by Boaz.

4. Boaz took notice of her and spoke kindly to her.

More next Saturday.

Remember the Poor-5

We left Ruth and Naomi beginning their journey back to Israel. Two widows with no men to provide for them or protect them.

Ruth 1:8  And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go, return each of you to her mother's house. May the LORD deal kindly with you as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 1:9  "May the LORD grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband." Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 1:10  And they said to her, "No, but we will surely return with you to your people." 

For all her faults, Naomi must have been very good to her daughter-in-law. After raising sons, Naomi finally had other women around her.

1:11  But Naomi said, "Return, my daughters. Why should you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 

:12  "Return, my daughters! Go, for I am too old to have a husband. If I said I have hope, if I should even have a husband tonight and also bear sons, 1:13  would you therefore wait until they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters; for it is harder for me than for you, for the hand of the LORD has gone forth against me." 

Naomi pleaded for them to go back to their homes. Even pagan cultures knew that the family had to provide for widows. The problem was that Naomi was basically sending them back to the idols of Moab and an eternity apart for the only true God.

1:14  And they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 1:15  Then she said, "Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law." 1:16  But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. 1:17  "Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the LORD do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me." 

Naomi even initially refused Ruth’s plea to go with her. But, Ruth now had been called out of her idolatry and she would not return to it.

1:18  When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her. 1:19  So they both went until they came to Bethlehem. And when they had come to Bethlehem, all the city was stirred because of them, and the women said, "Is this Naomi?" 

While Naomi had left a long time ago, her extended family with her tribe recognized her. Living within your tribe in Judah created a sense of real community that is lost is today’s world.

1:20  She said to them, "Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 

1:21  "I went out full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has witnessed against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?" 

Many people today also blame the LORD for circumstances directly related to their disobedience. The LORD had warned His chosen people to not go into other lands, to stay in the Promised Land. He also warned them not to marry outside of their tribe. Naomi and Elimelech had violated these clear commands. However, the LORD was now restoring her as He directed her to return.

1:22  So Naomi returned, and with her Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, who returned from the land of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest. 

What do two widows do to survive? The timing of their return reveals alot about the LORD’s sovereign plans and His providing for His people who obey Him.

More next Saturday.

Remember the Poor-4

Has the Bible provided us with any examples of the poor? Yes, it has and it can be found in the story of Ruth. This one historical narrative contains many of the elements of the responsibilities of the poor, the family, and the need of widows. It also reveals that we all need to obey God, even if the grass looks greener in the world around us.

Ruth 1:1  Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons. 1:2  The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife, Naomi; and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. Now they entered the land of Moab and remained there. 

Moab was the son born out of incest by Lot’s daughter, as was Ammon by his other daughter. Moab was an enemy most of the recorded times in the Promised Land. Yet, Elimelech left Israel to move to a pagan country.

1:3  Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left with her two sons. 1:4  They took for themselves Moabite women as wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. And they lived there about ten years. 

Elimelech died in Moab. His sons married women from Moab. All of this was prohibited by God. He had given Israel clear instructions not to marry out of the families of Israel, in fact, sons and daughters were to marry within their clans. That is those from Dan married within Dan.

Deuteronomy 7:1  "When the LORD your God brings you into the land where you are entering to possess it, and clears away many nations before you, the Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and stronger than you, 7:2  and when the LORD your God delivers them before you and you defeat them, then you shall utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them and show no favor to them. 

7:3  "Furthermore, you shall not intermarry with them; you shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor shall you take their daughters for your sons. 7:4  "For they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods; then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you and He will quickly destroy you. 

God is very jealous for His children. There are numerous passages that repeat this warning. You shall not.. is very clear, yet Elimelech violated all of them.

1:5  Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and the woman was bereft of her two children and her husband. 

So, while trying to improve their lives by disobeying God, they made their lives worse. Elimelech was not a godly father and it would seem that he did not raise godly sons. Ignorance of God’s warnings is not an excuse from disobeying them.

Ruth 1:6  Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the land of Moab, for she had heard in the land of Moab that the LORD had visited His people in giving them food. 1:7  So she departed from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 

So Naomi decided to leave Moab, as the food looked better in Israel/Judah. She should have said we need to return to Israel as God had commanded, but it was for her personal well being. We can’t expect to receive blessings from God when we are clearly disobeying God.

More next Saturday.

Remember the Poor-3

Now that we have a preliminary understanding of what Jehovah requires of the poor, we need to understand who are the poor. We must limit our study to U.S. poor as the statistics are easier to find. The government provides much information on the poor, but it is often presented in a manner solely to allow them to manipulate both the poor and everyone else.

How Poor, Really, Are America’s Poor?

 Year after year, the Census Bureau reports that more than 30 million Americans live in poverty.

Yet it is widely acknowledged that the way government measures poverty is deeply flawed. 

Accurate information is essential to crafting effective anti-poverty programs.

The Census Bureau recently announced it wants advice on ways to develop more accurate measurements of poverty—a welcome and much-needed change.  

Year after year, the Census Bureau reports that more than 30 million Americans live in poverty. Yet it is widely acknowledged that the way government measures poverty is deeply flawed. 

The first question is: What does it mean to be poor in the U.S.? 

According to the government’s own data, the average American family or single person, identified as poor by the Census Bureau, lives in an air-conditioned, centrally heated house or apartment that is in good repair and not overcrowded. They have a car or truck. (Indeed, 43% of poor families own two or more cars.) 

The home has at least one widescreen TV connected to cable, satellite, or a streaming service, a computer or tablet with internet connection, and a smartphone. (Some 82% of poor families have one or more smartphones.)

By their own report, the average poor family had enough food to eat throughout the prior year. No family member went hungry for even a single day due to a lack of money for food.  

They have health insurance (either public or private) and were able to get all “necessary medical care and prescription medication” when needed.  

Reality of Poverty vs. Perceptions

None of this matches the public perception of poverty created by the media. Images of dilapidated trailer homes or drug-infested neighborhoods, full of boarded up buildings, are a staple of media poverty reports.  

These conditions are quite real, and we should be concerned about people who do live in them. But they are, fortunately, not the norm for poor Americans. Fewer than 1 in 10 poor people lives in a mobile home, and 9 out of 10 poor families report no vacant or abandoned buildings in their neighborhoods.

Still, subgroups among the poor do experience substantial financial stress and deprivation. About 7% of poor households report missing a rent or mortgage payment in the prior three months; 2% have had utilities cut off due to nonpayment. And 11% report having delayed or failed to get dental or medical care sometime during the year for lack of money.  

But the majority of those defined as poor by the government do not experience material hardship. Of course, their lives are not a stroll down Easy Street; their finances are often uncertain, and they strain to make ends meet. But the average living conditions among the government-defined poor are well removed from “poverty” as the term is ordinarily understood.  

This article was provided by the Heritage Foundation in 2020. As you can see, the poor in the U.S. don’t really match up with the public impression of the poor. Using 30,000,000 for the population of the poor, just 7% or about 2,100,000 actually have to be given some financial assistance to survive. This is not the picture the media and government provide for us. But, why do they inflate the problem? One reason could be that they have a myriad of government agencies, independent agencies and organizations that need the ‘poor’ to continue to operate and prosper.

This is a partial list of what the poor are given in the United States.

·      Welfare

·      Disability

·      Medicaid

·      SNAP

·      NSLIP-national school lunch

·      WIC-special supplemental nutrition for women, infants, and children.

How well has it worked? What were or are its stated objectives? Was it to transform them into responsible citizens or just keep them enslaved in bondage to ignorance, abuse, sin, and a false sense of victim-hood?

Buying support or votes is an evil enterprise. It keeps many enslaved into a dead-end life. It always keeps the carrot just out of reach. It never is really interested in the individual and the future for him or her. It is just another type of enslavement in a system that doesn’t really prepare anyone to do better.

Of course there are many physical and mental problems that need to be taken care of by someone. The government has taken over for the family. The poor have not benefited from this in a meaningful, God honoring way.

What is required from the church? More next Saturday.

Remember the Poor-2

What does God require or the poor, the family, and society at large? More specifically, what does God require of us? We will start with what does He require of the poor.

Leviticus 19:10 'Nor shall you glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the needy and for the stranger. I am the LORD your God.

The landowners were to allow the poor and needy to glean their fields during and after their harvests. They would have to go and pick up what had fallen or missed. Plus, the landowners were to not harvest from the edges of their fields so the poor could work to provide for their families.

Proverbs 28:19 He who tills his land will have plenty of food, But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty.

Far too often, the poor don’t really enjoy or feel the need to work.

Ephesians 4:28 He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.

In this case, stealing seems easier than work, but it is in direct violation of God’s Commandments. Yet, you see mass thefts all around the U.S today. Basically, these gangs just overwhelm and over power the retailers and run of with carloads of goods. They then decry that Walmart should not be allowed to leave their neighborhoods.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.

This important precept is never mentioned in churches or in the public square. If you can’t or won’t work, you will be given all you need to survive with no questions asked. This doesn’t create better fathers, mothers, or children.

1 Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

The family is quickly fading out of relevancy in our world. The world tries to remake and redefine just what constitutes a family today. God’s family is composed of a husband and wife who provide for their children and are ready to help those in their extended family. They would never let their parents starve to death or force them into appealing to government or other agencies for help. Honoring you father and mother includes caring for them as they age.

More next Saturday.

Remember the Poor-1

The poor are a worldwide problem, or so it would seem. There have always been poor and according to the Bible, there will always be poor among us. But, what are we to do? The Bible is quite clear on this, but false teachers and an abundance of ministries and government agencies have twisted this into a massive scheme to raise money. Since the Bible is our only true source of truth, let us study just what God has told us about the poor.

Mark 14:7 "For you always have the poor with you,

and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me (Jesus).

1 Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

1 John 3:17 But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?

In these three short verses we already see some universal truths in regards to the poor. First, Jesus told us that we will always have the poor with us. After nearly 60 years of the ‘Great Society’ and billions or even trillions of dollars, we have not truly improved the lives of the poor or eradicated the poor. Also, in many ways, the poor are worse now than every due to the immorality and destruction of the family created by this ‘Great Society’! We have generational unemployment, single mothers, absence of fathers in the households, and millions of children without a true home and two parents.

Second, which is related is the role of the family, we have to redefine the family to fit our current predicament. With the disintegration of the family in the U.S., everyone now just turns to the Government to support them, as they don’t really have a family to help them.

Third, as these two points are related, most people ignore the poor around them as it is now the sole problem of the government. Personal, individual, and family responsibility is now simply a lost precept of the distant past.

Just coming up with a definition of the poor, which most would agree to, would be a mammoth undertaking. In the U. S. today, the Department of Census regularly tells us that there are 43-46 million people living in poverty. The poverty level is an income line that is constantly being revised upward in the U.S. The problem in the U.S. is that the real meaning of being poor often is replaced with just being poorer. Being poorer, i.e., having fewer material possessions, than your neighbor doesn’t mean you are poor.

In order to truly treat this sensitive subject with the respect it is due, we will start next week with God’s definition of the poor and His expectations of them.

More next Saturday.

The Biblical Mary-Final

We have studied every verse that mentioned Mary, every verse that recorded her words, and every important event in the life of Jesus when Mary was not present. Now we will study the last two events that confirms the role of Mary within the Church of Jesus Christ. First, His miraculous resurrection.

Matthew 28:1  Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. 28:2  And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. 28:3  And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 28:4  The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. 

28:5  The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. 28:6  "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. 28:7  "Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you." 

28:8  And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples.

As this study relates to Mary, we will concentrate on her role and responsibilities in regards to the resurrection.

First, she did not go back to the tomb.

Second, the angel instructed the women to go and tell the disciples, but no mention of telling Mary.

Third, the ran to tell the disciples.

Mark 16:1  When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Him. 16:2  Very early on the first day of the week, they *came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 16:3  They were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?" 

16:4  Looking up, they *saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large. 16:5  Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. 16:6  And he *said to them, "Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him. 

6:7  "But go, tell His disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.'" 16:8  They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. 

In Mark, we find confirmation that Mary was not included. But, we once again read that the women were to tell His disciples and Peter, no one else was mentioned.

Luke 24:8  And they remembered His words, 24:9  and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 24:10  Now they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles. 

24:11  But these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them. 24:12  But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he *saw the linen wrappings only; and he went away to his home, marveling at what had happened. 

Luke brings a few more facts. One, that they told the eleven and the women who were with them. But, Mary was not individually mentioned, if indeed she was there. Secondly, Peter ran to the tomb. In John we will read that John was with him.

John 20:1  Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene *came early to the tomb, while it *was still dark, and *saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. 20:2  So she *ran and *came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and *said to them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him." 

20:3  So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. 20:4  The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; 20:5  and stooping and looking in, he *saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. 20:6  And so Simon Peter also *came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he *saw the linen wrappings lying there, 20:7  and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. 

20:8  So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed. 20:9  For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 20:10  So the disciples went away again to their own homes. 

Here in the gospel of John it is confirmed that both John and Peter ran to the tomb. But, they came away without telling anyone else.

John 20:19  So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and *said to them, "Peace be with you." 

John 20:24  But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 20:25  So the other disciples were saying to him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." 

20:26  After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus *came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you." 20:27  Then He *said to Thomas, "Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing." 

20:28  Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" 20:29  Jesus *said to him, "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed." 

Jesus appeared to the eleven minus Thomas. He then came back eight days later to be with the disciples and this time Thomas was there. No other name was mentioned.

Jesus made two more appearances of note. First, on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24. Second, when some of the disciples went back to fishing and He met them at the beach in John 21.

While more could be said and studied, it would all just reconfirm all we have studied. Mary played a very small role in the adult life of Jesus. The major role was for the disciples. It is very hard to believe just how deceived the members of the Church of Rome are in regards to Mary. Anyone who reads their Bible would quickly discover the lies and deceit.

New study on the poor next Saturday.

The Biblical Mary-6

It is as important as what Mary has said, as well as what is said about Mary in the Bible. It is also important to know when Mary was not mentioned. If she was to have an exalted position, she was not included in some very important events.

Matthew 17:1  Six days later Jesus *took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and *led them up on a high mountain by themselves. 17:2  And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. 17:3  And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 

This transfiguration is also mentioned in Mark 9 and Luke 9. It is a very significant event for a number of reasons. But, Mary was not invited and therefore not present. In fact, her name is not mentioned either. Only Peter, James, and John are invited to this gathering of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah.

Mark 5:37  And He allowed no one to accompany Him, except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 5:38  They *came to the house of the synagogue official; and He *saw a commotion, and people loudly weeping and wailing. 5:39  And entering in, He *said to them, "Why make a commotion and weep? The child has not died, but is asleep." 

5:40  They began laughing at Him. But putting them all out, He *took along the child's father and mother and His own companions, and *entered the room where the child was. 5:41  Taking the child by the hand, He *said to her, "Talitha kum!" (which translated means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!"). 5:42  Immediately the girl got up and began to walk, for she was twelve years old. And immediately they were completely astounded. 

5:43  And He gave them strict orders that no one should know about this, and He said that something should be given her to eat. 

This is the miraculous story of Jairus’ daughter being raised from the dead. Again, only Peter, James, and John were present.

Matthew 26:17  Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?" 26:18  And He said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, 'The Teacher says, "My time is near; I am to keep the Passover at your house with My disciples."'" 

26:19  The disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover. 26:20  Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples. 

This last meal between Jesus and the twelve is recorded in all four gospels. During this meal, Jesus revealed some very marvelous truths, initiated a remembrance of His fast approaching death, and prayed for all of them. Within a few hours, He would be arrested, charged, and brought before Pilate. Mary was not there and not mentioned.

Mark 14:32  They *came to a place named Gethsemane; and He *said to His disciples, "Sit here until I have prayed." 14:33  And He *took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled. 

14:34  And He *said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch." 14:35  And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by. 

14:36  And He was saying, "Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will." 14:37  And He *came and *found them sleeping, and *said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 14:38  "Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." 

14:39  Again He went away and prayed, saying the same words. 14:40  And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him. 14:41  And He *came the third time, and *said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough; the hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 

14:42  "Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!" 

Luke 22:41  And He withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, 22:42  saying, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done." 

22:43  Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. 22:44  And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground. 

All four gospels include Jesus in the garden. Only Peter, James, and John were invited to be with Him. In Luke, we read just how troubled Jesus was about what He would soon endure. The Church of Rome insists that Mary suffered as much as Jesus did, but she was not present at this very trying and troubling hour.

We will study the last event next week, as it deserves all of our attention.

More next Saturday.

The Biblical Mary-5

To what extent did Joseph and Mary truly know the life Jesus would lead once he matured into adulthood? It seems that they did not have complete knowledge and would have to slowly understand Him as He grew up before them. We now start when according to the Law, He was brought to the Temple to be circumcised.

Luek 2:21  And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was then called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. 

2:22  And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 2:23  (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "EVERY firstborn MALE THAT OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE LORD"), 2:24  and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, "A PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS." 

What can we learn from this passage? First, Joseph and Mary followed the Law in bringing Him to the Temple, offering a sacrifice, and having Him circumcised. The days of purification pertain to Mary only. What does the Law actually state?

Leviticus 12:6  'When the days of her purification are completed, for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the doorway of the tent of meeting a one year old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering. 

12:7  'Then he shall offer it before the LORD and make atonement for her, and she shall be cleansed from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, whether a male or a female. 

12:8  'But if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, the one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her, and she will be clean.'" 

It is Mary’s purification. The sacrifice is for a burnt offering and a sin offering. If Mary was indeed sinless, she would not have to offer a sin offering for her own atonement. The two birds signified a household that was poor and couldn’t provide a lamb. Although, He was and is the Lamb of GOD.

2:25  And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 2:26  And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 

Simeon was waiting all his life for this very moment. He lived for it and was to be a gift to him before he died.

2:27  And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 2:28  then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, 2:29  "Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, According to Your word; 2:30  For my eyes have seen Your salvation, 2:31  Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 2:32  A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES, And the glory of Your people Israel." 

GOD revealed to him that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah. He would bring salvation to all who would believe in Him. Interesting, the people of Israel were not the only ones blessed by salvation as the Gentiles would also be offered this great salvation.

2:33  And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. 2:34  And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed— 2:35  and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed." 

Joseph and Mary received this important information together from Simeon. Jesus would divide the nation. Men’s hearts would be revealed to be godly or ungodly.

2:36  And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 2:37  and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. 2:38  At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. 

First, Anna gave thanks, which should be first on our list as well. Secondly, everyone needs redeeming or redemption. That is why Jesus came and only Jesus could offer this redemption. Mary could not.

2:39  When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth.

Being obedient to the Law of the LORD is required of all of us who are truly saved/redeemed. Mary was not exempted from giving thanks, obeying the Law, or letting GOD use her for His glory.

More next Saturday.

The Biblical Mary-4

My prayer is that you may know some who are within the Church of Rome and trapped in their dogmas that contradict scripture. You may be able to use some of this teaching as a way to help them see what they currently are unable to see. Mary had one visit by an angel or a vision. She did not receive any more revelations directly, but God instead communicated through and to Joseph. But, first God warned the Magi.

Matthew 2:11  After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

2:12  And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way. 

The next people to be given a vision/dream from God were these magi from a pagan/foreign land. Perhaps they had heard about a future king from Daniel’s messages that were passed down through the last 500 years. We do not know, but God did not warn them through Mary. In fact, we have no record of them even telling Mary of their dream.

Matthew 2:13  Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord *appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him." 2:14  So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. 2:15  He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON." 

Now Joseph was given a message from God through an angel and a dream. This is a very dire and disturbing message of Herod’s evil plans to kill this baby, Jesus incarnate in the flesh. Joseph did not wait till morning, but left under the cover of darkness. He was long gone before anyone knew they had left. No one seemed to know they were gone or where they had gone. Mary did not receive this message. Why? One reason could be is now she is a married woman under the protection of her husband. Joseph is now the head of Mary and of the household/family. He was the one to lead the family to safety and therefore he was the one to receive this dream.

Matthew 2:19  But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord *appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, 2:20  "Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child's life are dead."  2:21  So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. 

2:22  But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee, 2:23  and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: "He shall be called a Nazarene." 

This second and last dream to Joseph began like the first dream. The angel of the Lord told him to ‘get up’. This is an imperative/command. Joseph obeyed and returned to the land of Judah. But, he was right to fear the son of Herod, so to perhaps unknowingly fulfill prophecy, he went to Nazareth. Again we should note, only Joseph received the last two recorded messages from God. Mary would not and did not receive any other direct contact from God that is recorded.

So Joseph is the head of his family just as every other men in Judah. There was no special revelations on how Mary should be treated, honored, referenced, or consulted. She was to be Joseph’s wife as all other wives. God’s commands to fill the earth would not exempt Mary. To Joseph, Mary would now become his wife as he had originally thought. Mary was not given any exemption from God’s commands either.

Genesis 1:27  God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 1:28  God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth." 

After the flood, this command was repeated to Noah.

Genesis 9:1  And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.

More next Saturday.

The Biblical Mary-3

The Church of Rome has created a Mary that doesn’t appear anywhere in the Bible. She was created by inference not by evidence. I will provide some of their decisions as they gradually created Mary into a goddess.

We first begin to know about the real Mary in the gospel of Luke, when she is visited by the angel Gabriel. It is from this one chapter upon which the Church of Rome bases the majority of its dogma on Mary. Remember, the Church of Rome dogmas on Mary are not based on the clear teaching of Scripture. What do the Church of Rome dogmas on Mary include?

Perpetual virginity

This belief maintains that Mary was not only a virgin when visited by Gabriel, but remained a virgin throughout her entire earthly life. It even goes as far as maintaining that her womb was not damaged, corrupted, or altered by giving birth. This belief finds its origin in the apocryphal book, called the Gospel of James, around 120 AD.

Mother of God

Since Jesus is God the Son, this belief ascribes to Mary the recognition as being the Mother of God. Jesus, as God the Son, has no beginning and no end, as He has always existed. Therefore, as God, He had no mother, but He and the Father are one. This designation was affirmed at the Council of Ephesus 431 AD.

Sinless life

This dogma is based on the precept that since Jesus was sinless, Mary had to be sinless. St. Augustine (354-430) brought this to the forefront, but it wasn’t until the Council of Trent in 1546, that it was formally and finally confirmed by a majority vote.

Co-Redemptrix

While still maintaining the Jesus is the redeemer of all of sinful mankind, the Church of Rome also maintains that Mary shares in the execution of this divine redemption. This shared responsibility states that all must first go through Mary before they can come to Christ. While this false belief began in the 14th century, it could not be officially confirmed until the Second Vatican Council 1962-1965.

Immaculate conception

If Mary was indeed sinless in life, she had to be born sinless or so the Church of Rome maintains. Therefore, this belief in her ‘Christ-like’ birth was formally declared to be dogma by Pope Pius lX on December 8, 1854.

Queen of Heaven

This title is loosely based on the mistaken premise that, since Jesus is King, His mother must be Queen or the Queen Mother. While it had been debated from the 4th century, as well as at the Council of Ephesus in 431 (but never getting enough votes to become a majority opinion), it did not reach the status of dogma until Pope Pius XLL on May 13, 1946.

Co-Mediatrix

As the mediator of graces, reconciling man to God, Mary also received the recognition as co-Mediatrix officially at the Second Vatican Council 1962-1965. This title falsely recognizes her as the treasurer of all graces for all of mankind.

Assumption

The Church of Rome also maintains that Mary was taken up directly into Heaven when she died. She was buried but her tomb is empty, as God took her body directly into Heaven without decay. While maintaining and promoting this belief as beginning with the apostles, which has no Scriptural support, it did not become the official dogma of the Church of Rome until declared by Pope Pius Xll on November 11, 1950.

Mother of the Church

This title is now contained in the official catechism of the Church of Rome. The dogma was officially recognized by Pope Paul Vl at the Second Vatican Council on November 11, 1964.

“Following the 1981 assassination attempt on his life, Pope John Paul ll ordered the installation of a mosaic of Mary, Mother of the Church on a building overlooking St. Peter’s Square, partially as tribute to her intercession in saving his life. In 1987, he repeated this title Mother of the Church in his encyclical Redemptoris Mater and at a general audience on September 17, 1987.” (Wikipedia under Mother of the Church)

It is revealing that the veneration of Mary has grown and increased gradually over 2000 years. Why would Jesus not have affirmed any of this, if it was true? Why was not all this declared in the first century? Could it be that they would have been denounced as heresies and lies by the early church? While the above dogmas are central to the Church of Rome beliefs of Mary, they are not the only ways Mary is venerated or worshiped. The Marian dogmas have spawned feast days, the rosary, prayers, and a plethora of holy sites and shrines.

The truth of Mary is only contained in Scripture, God’s Holy Bible. Any other belief about Mary is an affront to the very nature of God. If Mary is anyone more than the simple surrogate mother of the incarnate Lord, then God would have made it very clear and easily understood. God is not a God of confusion.

More next Saturday

The Biblical Mary-2

We were called out of town for 10 days and are now back home. As stated last time, the Bible doesn’t give us much on Mary, but the Church of Rome has created a cult-following fable of immensity that is the central element of their false worship. We will carefully consider all the times Mary is merely mentioned as being in attendance, all the time she speaks, and every time Jesus addressed her. You will see that she is not Co-Redeemer or Co-Meadatric either.

First, Mary words are actually recorded in just a few verses.

Second, she is mentioned in only 14 verses.

Third, Jesus talks to her or about her in just 3 occasions.

Today, we will study every word that is recorded that Mary spoke.

Lue 1:26  Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 1:27  to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 

1:28  And coming in, he said to her, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." 1:29  But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. 1:30  The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 1:31  "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 1:32  "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 1:33  and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end." 

The angel Gabriel came to Mary to tell her all that would soon be happening to her and its immense importance. All of his message could be confirmed by biblical prophecy.

1:34  Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" 1:35  The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. Luk 1:36  "And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. 1:37  "For nothing will be impossible with God." 

Her first words were to have an understanding how all this was to occur, especailly how was she to have a child?

1:38  And Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. 

Mary now understood all she needed to know and offerred her willingness to be used by GOD.

1:39  Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, 1:40  and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 1:41  When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 1:42  And she cried out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!  1:43  "And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? 1:44  "For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. 1:45  "And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord." 

Elizabeth was able to come to the realization that Mary would bear the Messiah. John, while still in Elizabeth’s womb leaped in worship to this news. Now we can read Mary’s response to all of this.

1:46  And Mary said: "My soul exalts the Lord, 1:47  And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 1:48  "For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave; For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed. 

Her first words speak volumes as she acknowledges herself as a bondslave to GOD, not a co-equal with GOD. She also knows that GOD is her Savior, as all of mankind needs a Savior, Mary included. She was not born sinless and never became sinless. In fact, she was just as sinful as Elizabeth, who would bear a son to herald in the Messiah. She did not elevate herself in any way.

1:49  "For the Mighty One has done great things for me; And holy is His name. 1:50  "AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM. 1:51  "He has done mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. 1:52  "He has brought down rulers from their thrones, And has exalted those who were humble. 1:53  "HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY WITH GOOD THINGS; And sent away the rich empty-handed. 1:54  "He has given help to Israel His servant, In remembrance of His mercy, 1:55  As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and his descendants forever." 

This prayer is wonderful as it truly summarizes GOD as the one who gives blessings and chooses those who will be used by Him. She was not ignorant of the history of the patriarchs and how GOD used them either.

1:56  And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home. 

There is only one more time that Mary speaks and that is some 30 years later at the wedding in Cana.

John 2:1  On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; 2:2  and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 

2:3  When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus *said to Him, "They have no wine." 2:4  And Jesus *said to her, "Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come." 2:5  His mother *said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it." 

Mary addressed Jesus with a simple statement, but an expectation. Jesus addressed her as merely, woman. These all the verses that record words spoken by Mary. Any other references to what someone tells you are from Mary are false. From these few verses, what do you now know about Mary?

More next Saturday.

The Biblcial Mary-1

Many of you know or have friends who are trapped in the deceitfulness of the Church of Rome. Maybe some of you once were also so deceived. This Satanic deception has created a cult of Mary worship that is unbiblical and only supported by hundreds of years of councils and papal declarations. Let us study just what the Bible says about Mary. Mary and Jesus impending birth are first announced in Matthew.

Matthew 1:18  Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 

1:19  And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. 1:20  But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 

In Luke, which we will study later, Mary is already pregnant and an angel appears now to Joseph. He knows the Law and accordingly Mary should now be stoned. But, he decided to just not let this be known and send her away. Their marriage is now over, that is there engagement is now over.

So Jehovah sent an angel/messenger to let him know that this pregnancy is the product of the Holy Spirit and all part of Jehovah’s great plan of redemption.

1:21  "She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." 

Jehovah reminds Joseph of His great promise to King David and that He will be the long awaited Messiah that comes to save people from their sins.

Mat 1:22  Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 

Mat 1:23  "BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US." 

1:24  And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 1:25  but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus. 

Everyone in Israel knew or should have known about this prophecy and looking for the coming of the Messiah. Sadly, few were in fact truly waiting, who we will identify in later studies.

So Joseph obeyed this angelic message and went forward in actually marrying Mary. So far, we have no words from Mary in Matthew’s summary of the birth of Jesus.

More next Saturday.

Correction to last week

Last week I switched two words around, leavened and unleavened bread.

Unleavened in Greek is azumos G740 and found in 79 verses in the gospels. Leavened bread in Greek is artos and found in just 7 verses, which all only pertain to the name of the feast.

Unleavened bread is azumos but it is only found in 7 verses, artos is leavened and is used 79 times in the gospels.

Sorry for any confusion.

Easter Lamb or Passover Lamb-4

There is one last confirmation on the last meal Jesus ate with His disciples. As we studied in Leviticus 23, this Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread began in Egypt. One very important element of this feast is contained in its name, the feast of Unleavened Bread. Unleavened bread refers only to bread made without yeast.

Leviticus 23:5  'In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight is the LORD'S Passover. 23:6  'Then on the fifteenth day of the same month there is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. 

Exodus 12:14  'Now this day will be a memorial to you, and you shall celebrate it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations you are to celebrate it as a permanent ordinance. 

12:15  'Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, but on the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses; for whoever eats anything leavened from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. 

12:16  'On the first day you shall have a holy assembly, and another holy assembly on the seventh day; no work at all shall be done on them, except what must be eaten by every person, that alone may be prepared by you. 

12:17  'You shall also observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt; therefore you shall observe this day throughout your generations as a permanent ordinance. 

12:18  'In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. 

12:19  'Seven days there shall be no leaven found in your houses; for whoever eats what is leavened, that person shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is an alien or a native of the land. 

12:20  'You shall not eat anything leavened; in all your dwellings you shall eat unleavened bread.'" 

Once again we see Jehovah’s commands regarding yeast, bread, and this feast. If leaven/yeast is found in your house during this feast, you will be cut off from the congregation. This seems harsh and hard to truly understand. However, it is clear that you can only eat bread during this time that is made without leaven. Since this is the command of Jehovah, Jesus would never have violated it. Here we come to the rest of this story.

Matthew 26:26  While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." 26:27  And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; 

26:28  for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. 26:29  "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom." 

This supper is mentioned in Luke 22 and Mark 14 as well.

Unleavened in Greek is azumos G740 and found in 79 verses in the gospels. Leavened bread in Greek is artos and found in just 7 verses, which all only pertain to the name of the feast. All the references to Jesus breaking bread are from artos, or leavened bread. Also, all the other gospel mentions of bread are artos.

So what does this mean?

First, Jesus broke artos bread, which clearly confirms that this is not unleavened and therefore not a Passover meal.

Second, this meal was not during the feast, but before the feast. This is the day of preparation.

Third, this suggests that someone inserted the word Passover for the meal, even though it could not have been the Passover.

Knowing that the Church of Rome created Easter to draw people away from observing the true last meal. Easter also created a totally different time for remembrance. The Church of Rome will never let their ‘Lord’s Supper’ fall on a Passover date.

All of this can easily be confirmed by your own research. So Satan wants all worship to be directed to him. Any worship directed from Jehovah, by default goes to him. This would appear to be the reason for this problem in the gospels. Satan deceives the ‘Church’ from the inside not just the outside. This is a monumental deception that has been going on since the early days of the Church of Rome. Because all of the ‘reformers’ were educated, served, and brought up in the dogmas of the Church of Rome, no one challenged this.

Jehovah has reminded us to not worship Him in the same manner as the world worships Satan.

More next Saturday.

Easter Lamb or Passover Lamb-3

How or why is the Gospel of John so different from the other three gospels as it pertains to the last meal Jesus had with His disciples? We now have to come to some understanding of how subsequent translations of the original manuscripts were copied and maintained.

First, there are no originals of any of the books of the Bible. Second, we are told that the oldest available manuscript fragments are from the fourth and fifth centuries. While the dead sea scrolls were older, they only contained the Old Testament and for the most part were only fragments or partials manuscripts. Wikipedia is as good as any source to find this out as it lists many references and an extensive bibliography. Here is a reference on the manuscript history.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_manuscript

Generally, not only are the subsequent copies in a variety of conditions, but also few are truly complete in any one book. While many copies exist, the vast majority of the New Testament copies come from the 4th to the 10th centuries.

So let us consider the Latin Vulgate, also referenced in detail at Wikipedia. Jerome in around 382 A.D. was commissioned by Pope Damasus I to produce one complete translation of the four gospels in Latin. Up to this time, there were many separate copies of a single gospel but none had dates, authors, or histories that could be verified. Jerome took many and cleaned them up enough to produce one readable Latin summation of all four gospels. He generally took the Latin copies and incorporated all the variations into one version.

Fast forward to the times of Wycliffe in 1382, when he translated the Latin Vulgate into English. By this time, Jerome’s work had been updated by others. Since the Church of Rome controlled all of these translations and revisions, we need to be wary of what they may have added or subtracted.

Interesting, that Wycliffe who was educated in Catholic Universities, used the Latin Vulgate as his source document. The later King James Version borrowed heavily from Wycliffe’s Bible. So we need to consider this fact that the Latin Vulgate, commissioned by the pope, found its way into the KJV!

Satan doesn’t need to change every word or doctrine to add to confusion in the Bible. You may have heard or even thought yourself, why are there ‘contradictions’ in the Bible? Creating doubt and confusion are just a few of the schemes of Satan.

So what can we conclude? By adding a few word like Passover meal the whole issue of the last meal Jesus had with His disciples becomes one of confusion. They all cannot be right. Which one do we believe? This then adds confusion among the many denominations and seminaries.

With that being said, I haven’t discovered another topic with these problems within the rest of the New Testament. But, sowing seeds of doubt can be used by Satan to divide the Bride of Christ.

More next Saturday.

Easter Lamb or Passover Lamb-2

We will now look at the gospel of John as it also informs us of the last meal Jesus ate with His disciples. It is less confusing and very revealing. It does not mention any Passover meal.

John 13:1  Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 

This first verse tells a lot. This meal is before the Feast of the Passover, that is it is not yet the first day of Unleavened Bread. Since we remember that Jehovah created His calendar in which each new day begins at sundown. The ‘day’ before the feast begins is a preparation day. Also, it is on this day that the Passover Lamb is slain by late afternoon and roasted so it could be eaten after sundown or on the first day of the feast. This meal is at night. Actually it is the very night Judas betrayed Jesus and He was arrested. This is almost 20+ hours before the Passover lambs would be killed.

13:2  During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, 13:3  Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, 13:4  *got up from supper, and *laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. 13:5  Then He *poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 

John gives us tremendous insight into this last meal. He devotes Chapter 13-18 to help us understand all that Jesus told His disciples. There is wonderful truth in these 6 chapters and you should take some time to read thru them on your own. A few of the many important truths would include;

1. Jesus oneness with the Father John 14:10.

2. The gift of the Holy Spirit 14:17, 26 & 16:7.

3. His leaving but returning 14:19-29 & 16:16.

4. Loving Him 14:21-24 & 15:10

5. Abiding in Him Chapter 15.

6. His high priestly prayer Chapter 17.

7. The garden Chapter 18.

13:21  When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me." 13:22  The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking.

I have included these two verses to remind us just how cunning Satan’s servants can be. Not one of the disciples knew who would betray Jesus. In fact, they looked at each other rather than at Judas. He was so good at deception, that he was not accused by any of them.

19:12  As a result of this Pilate made efforts to release Him, but the Jews cried out saying, "If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar." 19:13  Therefore when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. 

We have now gone from the supper, to the garden, to the false witnesses and trial, to Pilate. This is still the Day of Preparation. The lambs would all be killed by 3 pm and ready to be eaten right after sundown, the first day of Unleavened Bread.

19:14  Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. And he *said to the Jews, "Behold, your King!" 19:15  So they cried out, "Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!" Pilate *said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." 

So in contrast with the first three gospels, which all referred to the Passover meal, John clearly states that all this occurred on the Day of Preparation. This means that they could not have eaten a Passover meal with the real Passover Lamb. So how can we come to understand these contradictions? I will attempt to lay this all out next Saturday as it takes some time to present it. But, as Jude reminds us, Satan enters and destroys the ‘church’ from the inside not from only the outside.

Jude 1:3  Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.  1:4  For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. 

More next Saturday.

Easter Lamb or Passover Lamb-1

This is really where our search for truth leads us. Jesus died as our Passover Lamb. The original Passover was created by Jehovah when leading His people out of Israel. This is the shadow or precursor of our annual celebration of His sacrificial death for our sins. We need to make sure we have the biblical perspective and practice He has provided us.

John 1:29  The next day he *saw Jesus coming to him and *said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 

John 1:34  "I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God." 

The Lamb of God is the Son of God. This Lamb is now on His throne as the glorified Son of God.

Revelation 5:11  Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, 5:12  saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing." 

5:13  And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever." 

5:14  And the four living creatures kept saying, "Amen." And the elders fell down and worshiped. 

He is worthy of our worship, our praise, and our absolute obedience. Now let us look at the third gospel and the meal Jesus ate with His disciples.

Luke22:7  Then came the first day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 22:8  And Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, so that we may eat it." 

22:9  They said to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare it?" 22:10  And He said to them, "When you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house that he enters. 22:11  "And you shall say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, "Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?"' 22:12  "And he will show you a large, furnished upper room; prepare it there." 

22:13  And they left and found everything just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover. 

Again we have almost the exact same story as we studied in Matthew and Mark. Many will say that is to be expected as they are all telling the same exact event. Many times the exact same event is retold in Scripture, but different authors often have different stories that add to the complete story. Jehovah is not a GOD of confusion and would not deceive us, but translations of the Bible have been under the worldly control of the Church of Rome and Satan for over 1600 years. In fact, Satan has not stopped deceiving the ‘church’ and never will until he is thrown into the bottomless pit for eternity.

A few things to contemplate.

First, only Matthew was an apostle of Jesus. Mark and Luke were not apostles, but disciples of apostles.

Second, many ‘theologians’ speculate that Mark wrote his version first and that Matthew and Luke just copied it. This doesn’t sound like divine inspiration.

Third, there are other ‘theologians’ who speculate that a person only identified as ‘Q’ wrote the original version and all three copied it. Again, this doesn’t sound like divine inspiration.

Fourth, as we will study next Saturday, the gospel of John contradicts all three. Since we all believe that Jehovah inspired all the writers in the Bible, something doesn’t make sense, that is if you don’t take into consideration that there have been many years for Satan to inject small changes that create confusion and doubt.

Fifth, this isn’t a gospel or salvation issue, but if you can create a false celebration, a different date, some confusion, and introduce the traditions of the Church of Rome, you can lead people to doubt.

More next Saturday.