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

[smaller]

Thank you my friend for this truthful instruction on fear of God. That has awakened a more urgent search into the depths of my heart for what doesn't like the searchlight of the Holy Spirit. For some reason, certain sins demand to be left alone. I believe that that stubborn sin must be found out and exposed, confessed and repented of. It is then that a holy praise and thanksgiving can be treasured by the Savior of my soul, and Him Glorified.

If it were true, that we could eliminate this fact of scripture by repentance or acting good or confession or contrition or what have you Chopper, I'd agree with your above assessment.

But the reality of the scripture is that this statement of fact doesn't change for any believer. Paul even states this as "a law."

Romans 7:
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

Along about that time, when we realize this, we simultaneously realize that God in Christ is just as firmly against "evil present" with us as He Is For our salvation.

So, no. We don't get rid of that fact, period. And yes, this does cause a very certain fear of God, knowing this fact. We can ignore it of course. And we can easily lie about it. Oops. Or worse yet, we can be hypocrites, claiming it's only the problem of other people but not of ourselves. But you see where that conclusion leads. To lying hypocrisy. The very things Jesus holds particularly in detest.

So, yeah. It's a rather large Catch 22.

"A Catch 22 is a paradoxical situation from which an individual cannot escape because of contradictory rules."

 

[eddif]

Managing catch 22:

Our first stony heart demands death.
Our new heart will be totally changed at the last trump (made ready for heaven).

Our first carnal mind is under the dominion of sin.
Our new mind of Christ understands through the Holy Spirit (and gives glory to God for His bearing our sin).

eddif

 

[Chopper]

Thank you, honored Brother for your instruction on evil is present with me. There have been false prophets claiming that sinless perfection can be attained. If that were true, evil present with me would not exist in my heart. I know that that is not true, according to the Word of God....1John 1:8 "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."

I'm purposing in my heart, thru prayer and meditation, that the Holy Spirit of the most high God, would search my heart as to what God wants changed in my heart towards His will, in changing what is holding me back from true worship of Him thru my personal blindness of what truly honor's His Name.

Just this morning, I believe that the Holy Spirit caused me to reflect on the three Baptist Churches that I was the Pastor. I was thinking on how much of God's Word had changed my thinking since I left the full time ministry to His churches. O, if I only knew then, what I know now!" I was convicted of pride.

Because I knew so little about being a Pastor of one of His Churches, Jesus Himself undertook taking this ignorant servant of His and accomplished great results in all three Churches. Because I didn't give Jesus the honor for being the One who accomplished the wonderful growth and souls saved, I stole His glory by thinking it was because He chose me.

Jesus did choose me. He took this empty vessel, dumb to His accomplishments, and revealed the Truth to what really happened in those three Churches. In revealing, how much further along in wisdom and knowledge that I am now, I saw just how much Jesus did without me. O the sin of pride, I hate it, and so does the God that I serve.

 

[Chopper]

Managing catch 22:

Our first stony heart demands death.
Our new heart will be totally changed at the last trump (made ready for heaven).

Our first carnal mind is under the dominion of sin.
Our new mind of Christ understands through the Holy Spirit (and gives glory to God for His bearing our sin).

eddif

O the wonder of sins forgiven.

 

[smaller]

Thank you, honored Brother for your instruction on evil is present with me. There have been false prophets claiming that sinless perfection can be attained. If that were true, evil present with me would not exist in my heart. I know that that is not true, according to the Word of God....1John 1:8 "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."

I'm purposing in my heart, thru prayer and meditation, that the Holy Spirit of the most high God, would search my heart as to what God wants changed in my heart towards His will, in changing what is holding me back from true worship of Him thru my personal blindness of what truly honor's His Name.

Just this morning, I believe that the Holy Spirit caused me to reflect on the three Baptist Churches that I was the Pastor. I was thinking on how much of God's Word had changed my thinking since I left the full time ministry to His churches. O, if I only knew then, what I know now!" I was convicted of pride.

Because I knew so little about being a Pastor of one of His Churches, Jesus Himself undertook taking this ignorant servant of His and accomplished great results in all three Churches. Because I didn't give Jesus the honor for being the One who accomplished the wonderful growth and souls saved, I stole His glory by thinking it was because He chose me.

Jesus did choose me. He took this empty vessel, dumb to His accomplishments, and revealed the Truth to what really happened in those three Churches. In revealing, how much further along in wisdom and knowledge that I am now, I saw just how much Jesus did without me. O the sin of pride, I hate it, and so does the God that I serve.

And the above my friend is beautiful and very Godly sight, in retrospect. It is always of great value to keep in mind that we are recipients of His Grace and Mercy precisely because of evil present with us. This evil present does put us at a distinct disadvantage. But this disadvantage is a GREAT ADVANTAGE when we understand the POWER of His Mercy. That, overwhelms me.

Since we are not capital P Perfect, God in Christ not only can but does work "all things" for good. And this I believe is true.

And we ourselves, in Truth and in understanding, overcome evil, with GOOD.

I find it very refreshing to stand before my Maker, in truthfulness. Because I do have "needs," wrought by the presence of evil. And even though this "evil present" does not appear to me, openly. I keep it in check by being "honest" which itself is a REWARD of the Spirit to those who are "in Truth." Honesty is of great value:

Isaiah 63:
7 I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.

8 For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.

9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

 

[smaller]

Managing catch 22:

Our first stony heart demands death.
Our new heart will be totally changed at the last trump (made ready for heaven).

Our first carnal mind is under the dominion of sin.
Our new mind of Christ understands through the Holy Spirit (and gives glory to God for His bearing our sin).

eddif

There is a certain paradox at work, yes, actively, with Gods Words.

For example, though we love every Word of God, (I certainly DO!) some will come to understand that evil present resists the Word of God. This is where the paradox comes into play. Gods Light, His Word, is also shed on evil present, forcing it to RESIST God. Because darkness is not a companion of LIGHT. It seeks rather, to hide, to lie, to deceive, to deny Gods Words. I could write pages and pages of observations of the adversaries work from the scriptures, and also from life itself.

The "fear of God" component for me comes from understanding that the LAW of God was made precisely to make sin utterly sinful. This is the working of Gods Laws that go on in the world around us. It also goes on "in the churches" as well, by divisions, disputes, factions, all kinds of anything but loving one another, which is sadly last on the list of priorities.

I understand that sin does take it's 'resisting power' from Gods Words. 1 Cor. 15:56. So, yes, we have good reason to FEAR before our Maker, understanding that there is another working going on.

At the end of this wicked age, I believe God is turning UP the volume on this matter, and that this will result in realizing Romans 3:19, for the whole world.

We can hear the groaning of the masses, even NOW, in seeing our two very wicked leaders running for president. We are seeing, with our own eyes, evil in man set before us. This is a working of God, showing us internal reality, of evil's presence in man. It is a direct result of 1 Cor. 15:56, Romans 7:13, Gal. 5:17. Yes, these are very "present" working Principles of God in Christ. IN the NOW.

 

[dianegcook]

Fear can also mean revere, reverence..
Revere God..

 

[eddif]

There is a certain paradox at work, yes, actively, with Gods Words.

For example, though we love every Word of God, (I certainly DO!) some will come to understand that evil present resists the Word of God. This is where the paradox comes into play. Gods Light, His Word, is also shed on evil present, forcing it to RESIST God. Because darkness is not a companion of LIGHT. It seeks rather, to hide, to lie, to deceive, to deny Gods Words. I could write pages and pages of observations of the adversaries work from the scriptures, and also from life itself.

The "fear of God" component for me comes from understanding that the LAW of God was made precisely to make sin utterly sinful. This is the working of Gods Laws that go on in the world around us. It also goes on "in the churches" as well, by divisions, disputes, factions, all kinds of anything but loving one another, which is sadly last on the list of priorities.

I understand that sin does take it's 'resisting power' from Gods Words. 1 Cor. 15:56. So, yes, we have good reason to FEAR before our Maker, understanding that there is another working going on.

At the end of this wicked age, I believe God is turning UP the volume on this matter, and that this will result in realizing Romans 3:19, for the whole world.

We can hear the groaning of the masses, even NOW, in seeing our two very wicked leaders running for president. We are seeing, with our own eyes, evil in man set before us. This is a working of God, showing us internal reality, of evil's presence in man. It is a direct result of 1 Cor. 15:56, Romans 7:13, Gal. 5:17. Yes, these are very "present" working Principles of God in Christ. IN the NOW.

John 1:14 KJV
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

IPeter 2:24 KJV
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

The law of the stony heart (tablets of stone) may demand death, but the Word / Jesus came as flesh (under the law
And
Under the law he bore our sins in himself on the cross
So
I must believe Jesus / God / Word made flesh took care of righteousness the law could never provide.
Galatians 3:11 KJV
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

Rednecks hunt flesh for the pot.
eddif

 

[eddif]

Hebrews 9:24 KJV
For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

I guess what I believe means little if it is not supported by scripture. I will
try.

The holy of holies is now a reality for us, with our high priest now permanently representing us in heaven. No need yearly to go there.

Revelation 21:22 KJV
And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

IMHO, the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts is the promise of the word being in our mind. David is the precursor / example of our heart (with symbols), but the mind is the mind of Christ and does not need symbols. From Acts on the vision of heaven is a reality. Jesus is interceding for us.

The original heart was desperately
Wicked, but the new heart of the flesh still has changes that await the last trump (that statement may not
be popular).

So as we now have our existance, we are seated in heavenly places in our mind.

Redneck overload
eddif

 

[smaller]

And with that I'll return to Choppers format, the emphasis of study being Matthews witness of Jesus. Matthew 9, shortly after the point of Matthews own calling out to follow Jesus:

13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

 

[Chopper]

Hi folks. I trust that these few days of self examination, with the result of cleansing the temple, our body, where the blessed Holy Spirit resides, has been successful and we have provided the Holy Spirit with a cleaner residence for Him to operate out of.

Lets look at what Jesus did to cleanse the Jerusalem Temple....
1. He "cast out". I feel that casting out reminds me of, Romans 8:12 "Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live."

To mortify (kill) the deeds of the flesh is what this study is all about. The Holy Spirit identifies a sin, we confess that sin, repent, and stop doing it.

2. In the Temple at that time, the "money changers" were deceiving the poorer class of people by charging them more for the exchange of their currency for what was demanded for business in the Temple. The Holy Spirit will convict God's Children when they are involved in dishonest business ventures.

3. In John 2:15 "And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables,"
Notice how serious Jesus was in cleansing the Temple. Dr. John Gill said this about the scourge that Jesus made...."
"This scourge might be made either of thongs cut out of the hides of beasts slain in sacrifice; or of the cords, with which the owners of the cattle had brought them to this place; or with which they had fastened them in it. And it seems to be made, and used, not so much for force and terror, as to intimate, that these persons, the violators of the holy place, deserved the scourge of divine wrath and punishment."

4. Jesus' attempt to cleanse the Temple, was to restore the Temple to it's God given purpose, a house of prayer. This speaks to me of restoration. For the cleansing of our personal temples, repentance would be the same.

5. John 2:17 "And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up."....I have an idea of what this verse is saying. In 1979, while being the Senior Pastor of the South Somerville Baptist Church in Somerville, Maine, my Head Deacon asked me if I would allow a Pastor Friend of his come to the Assembly and show a missionary film called "The Mountain of Light. It was a documentary about the conversion of a Tribe. I'm sorry but my old brain can't recall the name of the Tribe or where they were located.

Anyway, for the first 15 minutes or so, it showed tribal nudity of the women. I couldn't believe it. The Tribe was made up of black women and I had several black families in the Assembly. I immediately went over to the projector and pulled the plug. I said something like, "There is no difference between a black woman and a white woman, and I wouldn't allow a movie showing nude white women, and I'm going to show a nude black woman. With that, I dismissed the people. There were some there who were mad at me. Interesting, the Teenagers thought I did the right thing and became their hero.

Well, I hope this little exercise in holiness cleansing of our temples (body) of the Holy Spirit, was beneficial. I do wonder who, out of our group, actually spent some time searching the heart for things that grieve the Spirit of God....Thank you all.

 

[daninthelionsden]

We are continuing our daily Bible studies with the Gospel of Matthew. We have just completed the Book of Genesis. jasonc, suggested that we study Matthew and then go back into the Old Testament for a study in Exodus. Reba and I would love to have any member of CF.net join us in this in depth study with your comments, questions and just good fellowship. For those who are returning for this study, we will welcome all who decide to study with us. So come for a slow study, no hurry to rush thru this fantastic Gospel.

I realize this study was quite an undertaking, but it was nicely done and I hope you have more of these studies to come. I see netchaplain has a spiritual partner hear to bring good solid biblical teaching here.....another rock.

 

[Chopper]

I realize this study was quite an undertaking, but it was nicely done and I hope you have more of these studies to come. I see netchaplain has a spiritual partner hear to bring good solid biblical teaching here.....another rock.

Yes my new friend. I will be posting a new study on Matthew probably tomorrow. Thank you for your interest.

 

[Chopper]

Saturday November 5th, 2016 Matthew 21:14-17 Out Of The Mouths Of Babes.

Matthew 21:14 "And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them.
21:15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant,
21:16 and they said to him, "Do you hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes; have you never read, "'Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise'?"
21:17 And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there."

To start this study on Matthew 21:14-17, I like what one of Reba's and my favorite theologians is, Matthew Henry. Here is a little statement to start off this study. " There, in the temple, he healed the blind and the lame, Mat_21:14. When he had driven the buyers and sellers out of the temple, he invited the blind and lame into it; for he fills the hungry with good things, but the rich he sends empty away." My remark? Ha Ha. Good for You Jesus, we applaud You!!

This reminds me of some elite churches. They will turn away those who need Jesus the most. I remember a time when I had started a small church in Greenfield, MA. Those attending were about 45 people, They were average working folk, truckers, bikers (motorcycles) city workers, etc. I was repairing a chopper (my favorite) for a Hells Angel enforcer. He and his Lady had come to know Jesus. They wanted to come to the church that I was the Pastor.

We were meeting in a Grange Hall next to a CMA Church. On Sunday morning, they came but went into the CMA Church by mistake. Upon entering, people started to scatter away from these rough tattooed couple and they knew right off that they weren't at all welcome to attend. Bob asked where my Church was and a man said across the street. They gladly came into the Hall and were greeted by many hugs and welcome's. Bob's Lady said, what a difference in churches!! This kinda reminds me of our study. The Temple was for real people of God to worship, not for the money hungry crowd with their noses stuck up and filled with pride.

Back in the Temple we have Jesus healing some blind and lame folk. To me, that's what the Temple of God is for, to meet the needs of hurting people. In the three Baptist Churches that I was privileged to be the Senior Pastor, the motto that I used on our stationary and outside sign was, "A Hospital For Sinners". At one Church, a few of the Elders were upset over the sign. It didn't take long before they wanted me voted out of "their" church. The problem was, so many folk were getting saved and joining the Church, and others who heard of a Church "on fire for the Lord" that they came and joined. All the new folk out voted the prideful Elders and voted them out of the Church.

Apparently, parents of young children entered the Temple area and the children were so excited to see this Healer, they began to pay homage to Jesus by shouting and singing "Hosanna to the Son of David!" and the Scribes and Chief Priests were terrible upset because of all the great admiration that the parents and children were paying to Jesus. The leaders of Israel simply were jealous of all the attention that Jesus was getting instead of them, they wanted the attention, not Jesus.

The KJV says, "they were sore displeased" This is what happened. Matthew 21:16 "and they said to him, "Do you hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes; have you never read, "'Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise'?"

Looks like little kids had more sense than the adult leaders of Israel. Yea Kids, go for it!!

 

[reba]

good to read your words again my friend... Having allowed life take me away from hearing THE WORD it is nice to step into the little church across the street...

 

[eddif]

The disciples were to become more like children of the new birth (born again of the spirit).

They would cry out the praises of Jesus. The books of the NT / NC would be their cry. The Holy Spirit would be in their individual beings, declaring : sin, righteousness, and judgement.

Romans 8:26 KJV
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

The children cried out from the gift of God. They did not cry out out of their theological training or years of experience.

The apostles experienced the power to be witnesses on the day of Pentecost.

A lot different from the OC:
II Chronicles 7:14
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

The religious leaders of the days of Jesus were rich in ego, and saw themselves as the truth.

The kingdom of God was at hand. The external was about to go internal.
Revelation 3:20
.......

The blind, lame, sick:
If Jesus could heal the physical, then he could be trusted to take care of the spiritual needs.

eddif

 

[Chopper]

Thank you good friend eddif. I can always depend on you to post something that the Holy Spirit is saying thru you. I know that because it's the Truth. You said....

The apostles experienced the power to be witnesses on the day of Pentecost.

.... I find it interesting, sadly, that many Christians don't really know what Pentecost was all about. You hit the nail right on the head. It was about, as you said, POWER!!

So many uninformed folk think it's all about the gift of tongues. ugg!! You also said....

The religious leaders of the days of Jesus were rich in ego, and saw themselves as the truth.

.... Boy, that's the truth isn't it? They were so jealous of Jesus getting all the praise, that the only way they thought to reverse that was to kill Him. What ever happened with this Jewish Law, Exodus 20:13 "You shall not murder." Boy, talk about quoting the Law to others, but doing their own thing to please their sinful, dark heart.

Probably the children were hearing what their Parents were saying about Jesus, and excitedly, they were simply singing or shouting the same words. I love that. Little kids were, at that point, more advanced than Israel's leaders.

 

[Chopper]

November 29 2016 Matthew 21:18 - 22

Matthew 21:18 "Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. 19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

20 And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! 21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. 22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."

This portion of Scripture has always caused me to wonder at it's true meaning. After some research on the fig tree, I found that there are different types of fig trees....I had an uncle who had a walnut grove. He was a professional grafter. He invented thru grafting various species. He would graft different branches to produce another type. Several are named after him, Gilbert Smith. My point is, there are various species of fig trees and the one that Jesus saw from a distance was a white fig tree.

A white fig tree only bears fruit every three years. Apparently, this white fig tree had leaves on it signalling it had fruit. When He got up to the tree, He discovered that it had no figs. The tree was on a busy road and passerby's could have eaten all the figs. There was some reason that there were no figs on the tree.

There is a lesson here I'm sure. I'll take a stab at it, and I hope some of my Bible Study pals will post what you folk think the lesson is. As I see it, the barren fig tree is a Christian who professes to believe in Jesus but has no fruit that demonstrates a conversion. And or a local church that is a social gospel, not the whole council of God.

What do you see?

Also, what do you see in vs.21 & 22?

 

[ezrider]

The fig tree was representative of the nation of Israel and the old covenant, the covenant made with Moses. When Jesus came upon the fig tree he found only leaves, but no fruit thereof. When Jesus condemns the fig tree in that it shall not bring forth fruit for ever, he is telling them that the LAW will never bear the fruits of righteousness. Ironically, all Jesus found on the fig tree were leaves, the same thing Adam and Eve used to cover and hide their shame.

There is only one mountain in the world that requires faith to cast it to the side, and that mountain is Mt. Sinai, the mountain of the law and covenant with Moses. We are called forth to Mt. Sion and the heavenly Jerusalem, we are called to walk by FAITH, but for many, the law of Moses stands in their way, and they remain under the shadow cast by Mt. Sinai.

Jesus said the fig would never bear fruit and so condemned it. The Law will never bear the fruits of righteousness, therefore it has been replaced with a new covenant, where the righteousness of God will be revealed through Faith. All it takes is the faith the size of a mustard seed, and you can say to that mountain, be thou removed. To say to the Law of Moses, be thou removed. For the Righteousness of God is revealed FROM faith TO FAITH. As it is written: The Just shall live by FAITH.

 

[ezrider]

Did you know the fig is not a fruit?
A fig is technically a flower.
A flower that is inverted.
A flower that is pollinated by a single wasp.
A wasp that must give up its life in order for the fig to be,
The fig is a flower that blossoms from within,
but to the world as the flower fades,
old wrinkled skin is all we perceive.