Then I will restore your judges as at the first, And your counselors as at the beginning; After that you will be called the city of righteousness, A faithful city. Zion will be redeemed with justice, And her repentant ones with righteousness. But transgressors and sinners will be crushed together, And those who forsake the … Continue reading The Root of Righteousness
Category: Matthew
The Twelve
"Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days-- You would not believe if you were told. Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you." Matthew … Continue reading The Twelve
“Nothing Like This Was Ever Seen in Israel”
Except That, It Could Have, Should Have, and Sometimes Did! "And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived." Matthew 9:18-38 "While He was saying these things to them, behold, there came … Continue reading “Nothing Like This Was Ever Seen in Israel”
Followers, Pharisees, Fellowship and Fasting
"You shall have the same law for the stranger and for one from your own country; for I am the LORD your God" Out with the Old and in With the New Matthew 9:9-17 "And as Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man, called Matthew, sitting in the tax office; and He said … Continue reading Followers, Pharisees, Fellowship and Fasting
Now and Then, Real Rejection
The Seventh Son and The Scouring Scribes Now the sons of Gad lived opposite them in the land of Bashan as far as Salecah. Matthew 8:28-9:8 "And when He had come to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, two men who were demon-possessed met Him as they were coming out of the … Continue reading Now and Then, Real Rejection
What Kind of Man Is This?
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by … Continue reading What Kind of Man Is This?
Strangers in a Strange Land
When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. Matthew 8:1-13 "And … Continue reading Strangers in a Strange Land
Wide Ways, Great Grapes and a Foolish Fall
So I will turn toward you and make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will confirm My covenant with you. And you will eat the old supply and clear out the old because of the new. Matthew 7:13-28 “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that … Continue reading Wide Ways, Great Grapes and a Foolish Fall
The Golden Rule of Rhetorical Reasoning
Matthew 7:1-12 “Do not judge lest you be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your … Continue reading The Golden Rule of Rhetorical Reasoning
Making the Love Connection
Matthew 6:16-34 “And whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance in order to be seen fasting by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face so that … Continue reading Making the Love Connection
Over Correction
He is Lord Over all, Including Correction Matthew 6:1-14 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. “When therefore you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the … Continue reading Over Correction
The Law Plus Perfection
The Sum of Which is Christ Matthew 5:21-48 “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever shall say to … Continue reading The Law Plus Perfection
A Mountainous Monologue
Suddenly, Sinai Specifications Seem Simple Matthew 5:12-20, then 21-26 "You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A … Continue reading A Mountainous Monologue
On the Mountain, The Lord Speaks
And the LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain The Introduction to the Re-telling of the Law, Don't Kid Yourself, This Time It's Even More Difficult to Follow Matthew 4:25-5:22 We will begin in verse 25 of chapter 4 because of the conjunction function. And great multitudes followed Him from … Continue reading On the Mountain, The Lord Speaks
Finding Fishermen
Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. Matthew 4:18-25 "And walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they … Continue reading Finding Fishermen
Increase, Increase, Increase
That is to say, Increasing Matthew 4:12-17 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace "Now when He heard that John had been taken into custody, He withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun … Continue reading Increase, Increase, Increase
What in the Wilderness?
Matthew 4:1-11 "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But … Continue reading What in the Wilderness?
This is My Son
Matthew 3:13-17 "Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it … Continue reading This is My Son
The Preaching Prophet
More than a Prophet Matthew 3:1-12 "Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet, saying, “THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF … Continue reading The Preaching Prophet
Out of Egypt
Matthew 2:13-23 "Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and 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.” And he arose and … Continue reading Out of Egypt
“Born? in Bethlehem; Back to Burn Incense”
Worship or Wandering? Matthew 2:1-12 "Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him.” … Continue reading “Born? in Bethlehem; Back to Burn Incense”
Jesus, son of Joseph
Matthew 1:18-25 "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. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her, desired to put her away secretly. … Continue reading Jesus, son of Joseph
Genesis, Genealogies, and Jesus
Matthew Chapter 1: 1-17 The Gospel of Matthew begins with a beginning. It's a bit dry but fascinating nonetheless. Let's look at the text, then use the CAGED method to see all we can see. For those who are new and those who have forgotten, CAGED is an acronym for, Context, Aspirations, Genre, Exegesis, Divide. … Continue reading Genesis, Genealogies, and Jesus
Russell’s Revelation Recapitulation; A Tale of two Cities
Duly Dividing "There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, in the end, 'Thy will be done.'" - C.S. Lewis The reading of Revelation reveals two groups of people, Those with dirty hands and feet, far from shadows … Continue reading Russell’s Revelation Recapitulation; A Tale of two Cities
The End, Again, Has Ended
Yet It Is Only The Beginning "And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. And on either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its … Continue reading The End, Again, Has Ended
Saved City
See The City Of The Savior Which Has No Sea "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as … Continue reading Saved City
A Millennial Milieu
Revelation 20 "And I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the abyss, and … Continue reading A Millennial Milieu
City of Servants, People of Perishing
"After these things I heard, as it were, a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God; BECAUSE HIS JUDGMENTS ARE TRUE AND RIGHTEOUS; for He has judged the great harlot who was corrupting the earth with her immorality, and HE HAS AVENGED THE … Continue reading City of Servants, People of Perishing
City of Slaughter, People of Purchase
"After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory. And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! And she has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a … Continue reading City of Slaughter, People of Purchase
She Sits on The City
The Harlot, The Beast and The Believers "And one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I shall show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality, and those who … Continue reading She Sits on The City
