Bible Study WELCOME TO AN IN DEPTH STUDY OF MATTHEW'S GOSPEL.

[Chopper]

Day 96 Friday 1/16/15 Matthew 11:25-30 He Will Give Us Rest!

Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
11:26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
11:27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
11:29 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.
11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Oh my, these verses have given so many Christians, peace of mind, especially me. When I look deeply into the message that Jesus has for us, I see TRUST all over it! O my friends, Jesus is telling us about the impact of His love for us, and what it is meant to do in our lives.

I think we loose sight of the "rest" that is available for us to experience, when we look at the day that is before us when we get up in the morning. It seems like, as soon as the sleepiness leaves our brain and boom! The activities that are before us usually set a tone for anxiousness.

There is an option for all those who believe in Jesus as our Master Owner. It is found in the following verses:
Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Just look at V.6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. In my opinion, this is what Jesus is referring to when He says in V.28 "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." I think a lot of people look at the word "carnal" and think that it's really bad. The word carnal is simply "flesh" of to be fleshly minded. Hey, when we don't operate or walk in the Spirit, we walk in the flesh, simple as that.

I have liked what it says in Matthew 6:33 & 34, To start, it says "Be not anxious for tomorrow." Remember that I said, when we wake in the morning? Well that's when we either decide to walk in the Spirit or the anxious flesh. Here is the remedy:

6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

TRUST, it's all about trust. can we relax, even when we are faced with a hectic day? Can we determine in our minds early at the start of a day to put our trust in Jesus to work out, or plan our day? I don't mean that we just go about our day with no concern about the activities, what I mean is to force our thinking to trust the Master Owner of the day to oversee each task and not try and figure out by ourselves what to do but to enter each project or task with the mind that Jesus is before us working all things out. Trust in the Lord and do not lean on our own understanding.

It's not an easy thing to do my friends. It starts with prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to take control of the day by surrendering the day to Him. Then, to be conscious thru out the day to walk in the spirit, if you feel your self slipping back to being anxious, stop and ask the Holy Spirit to take over. Each task that gets done, "thank you Holy Spirit." Ok, now to the next task Holy Spirit, lead and I'll follow. Regular conversation with the Holy Spirit is the only way I know of to stay in the Spirit.

 

[Malachi]

Day 96 Friday 1/16/15 Matthew 11:25-30 He Will Give Us Rest!
Oh my, these verses have given so many Christians, peace of mind, especially me. When I look deeply into the message that Jesus has for us, I see TRUST all over it! O my friends, Jesus is telling us about the impact of His love for us, and what it is meant to do in our lives.

Very true Chopper. When one thinks of the millions (billions?) who are striving to attain salvation or nirvana through their own good works, then one can truly appreciate the absolute rest that is offered to the believer by the Lord Jesus Christ . Our souls and spirits can rest perfectly, because Christ has rested from His finished work of redemption. We will never truly know what it cost Him to earn us our rest, but we will worship Him for all eternity because HE IS OUR PEACE (Eph 2:14).

 

[Deborah13]

Very nice, gentlemen.

11:29 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.

What do you think Jesus meant when He said, he was meek and lowly at heart?

 

[Chopper]

Very true Chopper. When one thinks of the millions (billions?) who are striving to attain salvation or nirvana through their own good works, then one can truly appreciate the absolute rest that is offered to the believer by the Lord Jesus Christ . Our souls and spirits can rest perfectly, because Christ has rested from His finished work of redemption. We will never truly know what it cost Him to earn us oWe will never truly know what it cost Him to earn us our resur rest, but we will worship Him for all eternity because HE IS OUR PEACE (Eph 2:14).

It's interesting that you made this statement, "We will never truly know what it cost Him to earn us our rest." There are quite a few times, as I'm praying to my Father, and say, "I present my body a living sacrifice to You, holy and acceptable because of your Son's sacrifice for me." Almost immediately, I dwell on the torture that Jesus went thru for me. O praise the Name of the One who died for me!!

 

[Chopper]

Very nice, gentlemen.



What do you think Jesus meant when He said, he was meek and lowly at heart?

Good question Girl Friend, this is what my mind is drawn to when I see that verse "meek & lowly at heart."
Philippians 2:7 "But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

How about you Deb. You have a soft heart, I'm interested in how you see those two words, meek & lowly at heart?

 

[Malachi]

What do you think Jesus meant when He said, he was meek and lowly at heart?

That word "meek" is probably one of the most difficult words to be translated from the Greek praos (adj) and praotes (noun). It is often taken to mean "weak" but in fact is means a mild, humble, gentle, soothing disposition which is free from self-centeredness and self-assertiveness. The Lord was meek in spirit because all power belongs to Him, but His objective was to show grace and mercy. For us it is a grace -- one of the fruit of the spirit (Gal 5:22,23) -- which is coupled with gentleness.

"Lowly" (Gk tapeinos) means humble. Before God it means a genuine recognition that we are but dust and sinnners saved by grace. Therefore we have no "rights" in His sight, and all we receive from Him (good or bad) is acceptable: "Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, AND FELL DOWN UPON THE GROUND, and worshipped" (Job 1:20). Before men, it means a genuine lack of wanting recognition, admiration, or gratitude. The Lord often told the ones He healed to tell no man. He did not hunger for fame or even for admiration and love from others. His sole objective was to do the Father's will. Lowliness means no expectations from others while showing God's love to them.

 

[Chopper]

That word "meek" is probably one of the most difficult words to be translated from the Greek praos (adj) and praotes (noun). It is often taken to mean "weak" but in fact is means a mild, humble, gentle, soothing disposition which is free from self-centeredness and self-assertiveness. The Lord was meek in spirit because all power belongs to Him, but His objective was to show grace and mercy. For us it is a grace -- one of the fruit of the spirit (Gal 5:22,23) -- which is coupled with gentleness.

"Lowly" (Gk tapeinos) means humble. Before God it means a genuine recognition that we are but dust and sinnners saved by grace. Therefore we have no "rights" in His sight, and all we receive from Him (good or bad) is acceptable: "Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, AND FELL DOWN UPON THE GROUND, and worshipped" (Job 1:20). Before men, it means a genuine lack of wanting recognition, admiration, or gratitude. The Lord often told the ones He healed to tell no man. He did not hunger for fame or even for admiration and love from others. His sole objective was to do the Father's will. Lowliness means no expectations from others while showing God's love to them.

There you go Malachi, hitting home runs all over the place. That was a fine answer to Deb's question. The only problem with it was that IT CONVICTED ME! There is a terrible secret sin of almost all of Jesus' servants. No matter how hard we try, we want people to like us because if they don't, and I've seen a few of those pathetic preachers, no one will come to our church. So, "wanting recognition, admiration" and a few other praises, many preachers won't admit it but it's there.

For me? I had to decide early in my calling, that the only one I wanted praise from was Jesus. But, I'll admit, secretly, my flesh wanted to be wanted. It still is a battle in my heart and mind. It is a terrible war of my heart, and I hate it, I fall so many times.

 

[Deborah13]

Good question Girl Friend, this is what my mind is drawn to when I see that verse "meek & lowly at heart."
Philippians 2:7 "But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

How about you Deb. You have a soft heart, I'm interested in how you see those two words, meek & lowly at heart?

Well, I have an understanding of what the words mean and can apply them as you have to Christ in the scripture in Phil.
Meek, to me more than anything, means to be obedient and lowly is to be humble.
So in this context because He is meek and humble we can trust (rest) in Him?
Is He saying that because He is obedient to the Father and humble before the Father, we can rest in Him?

My definition of meek as being obedient comes from Greek writings where their war horses were described as being "meek." We would say a horse that was well trained or well broke in cowboy lingo. They obey the commands of their rider without hesitation or refusal.

 

[jasonc]

Well, I have an understanding of what the words mean and can apply them as you have to Christ in the scripture in Phil.
Meek, to me more than anything, means to be obedient and lowly is to be humble.
So in this context because He is meek and humble we can trust (rest) in Him?
Is He saying that because He is obedient to the Father and humble before the Father, we can rest in Him?

My definition of meek as being obedient comes from Greek writings where their war horses were described as being "meek." We would say a horse that was well trained or well broke in cowboy lingo. They obey the commands of their rider without hesitation or refusal.

yet do have great strength and aren't weak. moses was a meek man and at climbed a mountain to be slain by the lord at the age of 110. hardly a weak man. the idea of meek in this manner in greek culture is an insult. a slave is to be that way.

 

[jasonc]

Father I pray that I am made to meek and lowly so that I can rest in you.

 

[Deborah13]

yet do have great strength and aren't weak. moses was a meek man and at climbed a mountain to be slain by the lord at the age of 110. hardly a weak man. the idea of meek in this manner in greek culture is an insult. a slave is to be that way.

Exactly. A war horse is strong and not cowardly but perfectly obedient to their master.
I too wish I was always strong, not cowardly, and perfectly obedient to my Lord.

 

[Chopper]

Day 97 Monday 1/19/15 Matthew 12:1-8 The Lord Of The Sabbath.

Matthew 12:1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.
12:2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.
12:3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;
12:4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?
12:5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
12:6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.
12:7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
12:8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

Here we have an interesting discourse between Jesus and the Pharisees. To begin with, I'd like to mention what the Sabbath is. As most of us know, it is a day of rest from our labors. Albert Barnes says "“the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” That is, the Sabbath was intended for the welfare of man; it was designed to promote his happiness, and not to produce misery by harsh, unfeeling requirements. It is not to be so interpreted as to produce suffering by making the necessary supply of wants unlawful. Man was not made for the Sabbath. Man was created first, and then the Sabbath was appointed for his happiness." (from e-Sword)

That statement that the Sabbath was made for man's happiness is crucial for understanding why Jesus let His disciples eat the wheat, yes wheat, I'm told that corn was not produced as yet. It was wheat and they rubbed it together in their hands to separate the chaff.

It seems to me that the pharisees must have followed Jesus many times, and they just happened to be nearby to spy on Jesus trying to find some fault with Him. Jesus kind of embarrasses them by saying, "Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?" In other words "you should have known this." And, "Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him."

12:7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. This is a wonderful statement that says a lot about Who Jesus is and what He came to do. This next statement must have really made an impression on the pharisees, "For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day." I guess this statement was one that the Pharisees saved up for their charges against Jesus at His trial. Jesus was exposing His deity in a big way.

 

[Malachi]

12:8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

Sabbatarians ignore this emphatic statement of Christ. Even too many Christians do not really understand that the Lord was speaking authoritatively and prophetically as to what would become of the sabbath after His resurrection (when He is invariably called "Lord Jesus Christ").

Unger's Bible Dictionary (original) discusses "the Lord's Day" as follows:

This, the first day of the week in the Christian order, commemorates the new creation with Christ Himself as the resurrected Head. It is not a mere changeover from the Sabbath, but a new day marking a new dispensation... This day of grace marks the beginning of the week with a day of privilege, whereas the Sabbath came at the end of a week of labor, an order expected under the law.

When Jesus said that He is "Lord of the sabbath" He meant that the day of worship and rest under the Old Covenant would not continue (Col 2:16,17) because everything in the Old Covenant were types and shadows. The reality is the resurrected Christ and His day is "the Lord's Day" -- the day He was resurrected, the day the new creation of the Church came into existence on Pentecost, and the day on which the apostolic churches gathered together to worship and remember the Lord at the Lord's Supper.

It is important to note that when the Holy Spirit directed the church at Jerusalem to give Gentiles a clear understanding of how the Law of Moses applied to the Church, the sabbath was not included in those commandments which were retained for Christians (Acts 15:1-31). And since there is neither Jew nor Gentile in the Church of God (1 Cor 12:13), Messianic Jews cannot return to the Old Covenant either

 

[jasonc]

Sabbatarians ignore this emphatic statement of Christ. Even too many Christians do not really understand that the Lord was speaking authoritatively and prophetically as to what would become of the sabbath after His resurrection (when He is invariably called "Lord Jesus Christ").

Unger's Bible Dictionary (original) discusses "the Lord's Day" as follows:

When Jesus said that He is "Lord of the sabbath" He meant that the day of worship and rest under the Old Covenant would not continue (Col 2:16,17) because everything in the Old Covenant were types and shadows. The reality is the resurrected Christ and His day is "the Lord's Day" -- the day He was resurrected, the day the new creation of the Church came into existence on Pentecost, and the day on which the apostolic churches gathered together to worship and remember the Lord at the Lord's Supper.

It is important to note that when the Holy Spirit directed the church at Jerusalem to give Gentiles a clear understanding of how the Law of Moses applied to the Church, the sabbath was not included in those commandments which were retained for Christians (Acts 15:1-31). And since there is neither Jew nor Gentile in the Church of God (1 Cor 12:13), Messianic Jews cannot return to the Old Covenant either

it isn't a sin to worship on shabat.im not into it being a mandate but one can do the feasts and the shabat and not loose ones soul. so long as one doesn't believe one is atoned by animal offerings which isn't revelant since no Hebrew today atones that way.

 

[Malachi]

it isn't a sin to worship on shabat.im not into it being a mandate but one can do the feasts and the shabat and not loose ones soul. so long as one doesn't believe one is atoned by animal offerings which isn't revelant since no Hebrew today atones that way.

It would not be a "sin" to worship on the sabbath (provided you also worshipped on the Lord's Day), and the question of losing one's soul for celebrating the OT feasts does not even arise. You are saved by grace and kept by the power of God. However, it is God who says that the Old Covenant has been replaced with the New, therefore there is no need for the "shadows" anymore. We should respect that because God has the absolute right to replace a covenant which was meant to be replaced (Jer 31:31-34). This was addressed to Israel, and is also true for the Church (Heb 8:7-13).

 

[jasonc]

It would not be a "sin" to worship on the sabbath (provided you also worshipped on the Lord's Day), and the question of losing one's soul for celebrating the OT feasts does not even arise. You are saved by grace and kept by the power of God. However, it is God who says that the Old Covenant has been replaced with the New, therefore there is no need for the "shadows" anymore. We should respect that because God has the absolute right to replace a covenant which was meant to be replaced (Jer 31:31-34). This was addressed to Israel, and is also true for the Church (Heb 8:7-13).

uhm most messianics don't. I know persons that are have, but most messianic groups don't met on sunday. to imply that one must meet one sunday is where in the bible?

 

[Deborah13]

Luk 6:1 And it came to pass, on the second-first sabbath, as he is going through the corn fields, that his disciples were plucking the ears, and were eating, rubbing with the hands,

I think, that this additional information from Luke tells us what time of year it was and therefore what type of grain it probably was.
This is how I interpret this...
There are two first sabbaths and this was on the second of the first sabbaths.
The first-first sabbath being the sabbath that was the day before the omar was lifted up as the first-fruits offering. Before then it would have been illegal to eat from the harvest.
The second-first sabbath would have been the following sabbath after the first-fruits offering or the first sabbath after the Days of Unleavened Bread [Passover Week] had ended.

 

[Malachi]

to imply that one must meet one sunday is where in the bible?

That's not the real issue. The real issue is "Is God finished with the Old Covenant and do I believe it because God said it?" Once that is settled, you will see for yourself the importance of the first day of the week (which is also the 8th day).

 

[Chopper]

Luk 6:1 And it came to pass, on the second-first sabbath, as he is going through the corn fields, that his disciples were plucking the ears, and were eating, rubbing with the hands,

I think, that this additional information from Luke tells us what time of year it was and therefore what type of grain it probably was.
This is how I interpret this...
There are two first sabbaths and this was on the second of the first sabbaths.
The first-first sabbath being the sabbath that was the day before the omar was lifted up as the first-fruits offering. Before then it would have been illegal to eat from the harvest.
The second-first sabbath would have been the following sabbath after the first-fruits offering or the first sabbath after the Days of Unleavened Bread [Passover Week] had ended.

I'm not really up on the Jewish system like you are. Sometimes I'm in awe of your knowledge. In my heart I honor you because of your wisdom and knowledge. Thanks for being you!

 

[Deborah13]

I'm not really up on the Jewish system like you are. Sometimes I'm in awe of your knowledge. In my heart I honor you because of your wisdom and knowledge. Thanks for being you!

Thank you, Chopper. I just have more time to read and study these obscure things than most people do. I think, the Lord leads me to the places I find some explanations. It's so interesting how the old meets the new in Christ.