Proverbs 9:13-18

13 A foolish woman is clamorous;
She is simple, and knows nothing.
14 For she sits at the door of her house,
On a seat by the highest places of the city,
15To call to those who pass by,
Who go straight on their way:
16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”;
And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
17 “Stolen water is sweet,
And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he does not know that the dead are there,
That her guests are in the depths of hell.

Commentary

In the Book of Proverbs we are warned about the seductress, and here we are now warned about another type of women who neither fears God nor regards anyone. She is trouble with a capital T. So hopefully we will take Scriptures warning too heart and not become another victim of her. With that notice that the Bible says that a foolish woman is clamorous, that is boisterous (margin reading). Someone given to making her feelings and demands loudly known. According to the Net Bible the word used here comes close to meaning "riotous." To give you another mental picture of her the word used here is also used metaphorically in Zechariah 9:15 describing one who roars with wine. And so she stands in stark contrast to meek and quiet spirit of a Godly woman (1 Peter 3:4) with her brazen demeanor and outspoken nature, and all coupled too her undignified persona. The Believers Bible Commentary graphically says of her: "The foolish woman is loudmouthed, empty-headed, and brazen faced."

And so the Scripture calls her simple, one who knows nothing of God and less of righteousness. All she knows is how to stir up trouble, or arouse sin within men foolish enough to heed her. For again she regards neither God nor man, and so she knows neither peace, nor quietness in her life, or in her spirit. But instead she is only moved by her clamorous and sensual nature to pursue more of the same. And so when she's not bellowing like a cow in the pastures of sin, or rolling around in the mire like a sow, or brazenly voicing her desires or displeasure's, she perches herself like a hawk waiting to land upon its next prey. As the Scripture says:

14 For she sits at the door of her house,
On a seat by the highest places of the city,
15To call to those who pass by,
Who go straight on their way" vs. 14-15

And so she chooses for herself a strategic location where she can both see and be seen and heard by all those who pass by straight on the way. For she isn't looking for those she has already seduced and slain, for she has no pleasure in that. Instead she is looking for some new victim stupid enough to entertain her invitation to self annihilation. And all presented to him under the guise of endless "ease, delight and pleasure". That is what is meant in verses sixteen and seventeen when she says:

16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”;

And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
17 “Stolen water is sweet,
And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”

Now what is actually being said there by her in the ancient Hebrew in verse seventeen is that sin indulged in secret is more delightful (Specifically illicit sexual intercourse). And so she seduces him through his own sexual desires and sin nature, with the grand illusion that illicit pleasure can be enjoyed with absolute immunity. Now we know that both the Scriptures and life testifies to another reality (Num 32:23; Prov 11:31). For just as sin has it momentary pleasure, so sin always pays its wages, which always ends in ones own death (consider Rom 6:23; James 1:13-15). And so if one dies unrepentant and unbelieving, there will be consequences for eternity (consider 1 Cor 6:9-10, Gal 6:7-8; 1 Peter 4:18). And that is what the Book of Proverbs sets to warns us all about; both here and elsewhere. That living wickedly will ensure one receives repayment, wrath, and judgment from God (consider Prov 3:33-35; 5:21-23; 10:25; 10:27; 11:21; 21:12). While living righteously will ensure ones own life, peace, and safety (consider Prov 10:25; 12:21). For even a casual reading of the Book of Proverbs makes that abundantly clear (consider Prov 10:29; 10:30; 11:31; 14:32; 15:9, 29; 16:4; 21:18; 24:19-20 etc.). Therefore the Lord Jesus Christ warns us all of sin, that there will be eternal consequences for the unrepentant (Matt 5:27-30; Mark 9:42-48) and unbelieving (Rev 21:6-8). And that is something the world always tries to deny, yet can never escape from (Matt 18:7-9). That God is Sovereign and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ will Judge the world in righteousness (Rev 20:11-15) and He will repay the wicked and unbelieving according to their works (Psalm 9:17). And thus the seductress (Prov 2:16-22; 5:1-6; 7:6-27) and or the foolish and clamorous woman, is to be steered well clear of by us all who fear the Lord.

For again she only seduces men through their own sinful desires, and in this she sometimes does so by arousing them through the Law, as verse seventeen indicates. For prohibition never brings liberation from sin (consider Romans 7:8; 1 Cor. 15:56) only regeneration does. And that is why the Lord Jesus Christ says we all must be born-again, whether a brazen harlot, or a fool taken by her, or anyone else. For we all have a sin nature, and we are all susceptible to sin (indeed we are under it's domain), and or deceptions from Satan, until we are born-again by the Spirit of God, by our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ's Person (John 3:16). For only when we come to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ does God by His Spirit change our hearts, and open our eyes to all that is truly evil and wrong in our lives, and in this world, so that we might do what is truly just and right in His sight by His Word and through His Spirit's Power. For human effort to bring about personal and lasting change through religion or anything else always fails, because of the weakness of our sinful flesh (Rom 7:5-6; Heb 7:18-19). For the Law can only expose sin, it cannot correct the root problem; which again is the sin nature within us all, which largely controls us, and progressively leads us astray until we are born-again (i.e. regenerated) by God's Holy Spirit, which again happens the moment we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ's Person (Eph 1:13-14). Therefore the laws purpose is not to make "religious" people, but to reveal sin in us, by showing us God's Character through its morals decrees, and thus define for us what righteousness is, and what sin is. So that we seeing the problem is within us, that is our own sins and powerlessness to keep ourselves from them, will turn to God, so that He might both save us from our sins, as well as deliver us out of them. That is why the Scripture says the Law was given to bring us to Christ (see Gal 3:19-25). Because apart from the Lord Jesus Christ justifying us before God the Father, then empowering us by His Spirit to live Godly lives; for no one can keep the Law of God to be saved by it. For to fail in one point is to be condemned by all of it (James 2:10). Therefore the Law was given to bring us to end of ourselves; of trying to do what only God can do in us and for us; and that is both atone for all our sins by Jesus' Crucifixion death and shed blood for them at Calvary. As well as change our persons whole nature, giving us who believe in Jesus a new heart and new nature (2 Cor 5:17), through His Holy Spirit regenerating us, which again happens the moment we repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ through the Gospel. And so with our faith in Jesus our old sin nature is not eliminated, but it is crucified, just as we are with Christ (Rom 6:6; Gal 2:21) which assures that though we may struggle with sin in this life, we shall overcome sin, Satan and death, all by the power of Jesus Christ's Crucifixion death, and Resurrection from the dead.

If you have never heard, nor received God's Good News, that there is hope for even the worst of sinners, because God's grace is now freely extended to one and to all who in faith repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as testified too in the Scriptures. Then please in all sincerity open your hearts to God and receive what He has done for you by receiving the Lord Jesus Christ into your hearts and lives. For He loves you and wants to save you from your sins and the wrath to come. That is why Jesus willingly was crucified for you, so that God could save you from all your sins and the judgment to come. And in doing so He could make you a new person in Christ (2 Cor 5:17). So that you can live a life filled with the fruits of His Holy Spirit (see Gal 5:22-23) and thus have and experience an abundant and full and rich life, being in union with Christ, and harmony and peace with God. Rather than living a life only ruled by the sinful desires of the flesh (see Gal 5:17-21), which again ends in death (Rom 6:23) and an eternity in hell (Rev 21:6-8) for those who remain dead in their sins and trespasses.

And so what the Law could not do through the weakness of our flesh, Jesus Christ has done by His own Death on the cross and Resurrection from the dead. So that by His first atoning for all our sins He can now impute His Righteousness to us, to give us a righteous standing before God the Father. Then by His Holy Spirit both transform our persons and empower us to live new lives of righteousness and peace and joy in the Spirit (Rom 14:17) as born-again children of God (John 1:12). It's the best thing in the world to experience and have forgiveness of all of ones sins and new and everlasting life. Don't miss it, instead believe and receive Jesus Christ while you can!

Scripture Quotations

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982,

 

Additional Resources Consulted

^[1] MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments (A. Farstad, Ed.) (Pr 9:13). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

 

2 Kings 2:15

Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha." And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him.

Devotional
With Elijah having been carried by the chariot of Israel back to heaven, (see 2 Kings 2:9-12) the spirit of Elijah now rests on the prophet Elisha. Similarly Jesus would later say of John the Baptist that he was the fulfillment of the Scriptures concerning Elijah (Matt 11:13-15; 17:10-13; Mark 9:11-13). For John was prophesied about before his birth that he would go in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17). Thus John the Baptist is the messenger who was to come before the Lord Jesus Christ, to prepare the way before Him (see Mal. 3:1; 4:5; Matt. 3:1-12; 11:7-14; 17:11-13; Mark 1:2-8; Luke 3:1-17; 7:24-27). For Jesus Himself said that John the Baptist is Elijah to come. Yet John the Baptists testimony in John's Gospel to the Pharisees when questioned by them was that he was not Elijah (see John 1:21), nor the Prophet foretold by Moses (see Deut 18:15 18; for your own info Jesus is the Prophet, John 1:45), rather John said he is

"The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

Make straight the way of the Lord" John 1:23

Therefore John the Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elijah to declare the coming of Christ, (whom John said he was not worthy to loose His sandal, John 1:27). Yet he himself said he is neither the Christ nor Elijah, but is the fulfillment of the Scriptures (Isaiah 40:1) concerning the messenger (or voice crying in the wilderness) who was too prepare people for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus John the Baptist is Elijah to come in the sense that John came in the spirit and power of Elijah; as Jesus said of John to prepare the way before Him. For it is clear that John did not want to propagate his own ministry or name in fulfilling the Elijah prophecy, rather he wanted Jesus Christ the Lamb of God sent to take away the sin of the world (see John 1:29-30; 35-36) to be absolutely forefront and foremost in all people's minds. And not have his, nor Elijah's person or name have any bearing on their consciences, as if salvation could come, or would come through them (consider Luke 3:15-17; John 3:30). For John the Baptist (like all the prophets before him) always points people to the Lord Jesus Christ's Person (see John 3:22-36). For that was the purpose of John's ministry, and that is the purpose of all the Scriptures (John 5:39-40), to bring people to faith in Christ (Gal 3:22).
Yet in spite of all that we still we see the terrible error of people looking too another, just as the Pharisees trusted in Moses, so today there are those who look too a Biblical Person, or prophet, instead of looking too the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God. We see this even at Jesus' Crucifixion where some wrongly interpret Jesus' crying out to God the Father (which Jesus did in fulfillment of the Scriptures), as Jesus crying out to Elijah to save Him! (See Matt 27:45-50). Yet we know at Jesus' transfiguration, when both Moses and Elijah appeared there with Jesus, and Peter in moment of rashness and fear said to the Lord let us build three tabernacles, one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah, God the Father from heaven immediately declared: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" (see Matt 17:5; 2 Peter 1:17-18). And so we know that no Biblical prophet or figure is to ever be put on par with Jesus, or worse before Him (either to pray too or worship before). Same with angelic beings (consider Col 2:18-19) as the Apostle John quickly found out when he fell before the angel who appeared to him, "And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." Rev 19:10
Therefore any prophecy or preaching that does not point people to the Lord Jesus Christ as testified to in the Scriptures, (i.e. Son of God/Son of Man) and thus the Christ and Savior of the world who is the sole means of salvation (John 14:6; Acts 4:12), is a lie and is of demonic origins. For there are those today, just as there have been down through the ages, who seek to undermine the the Lord Jesus Christ's Person and or the exclusivity of His Finished Work at Calvary for the salvation of everyone who repents and believes in Him (consider John 19:30; 1 John 2:18-23; 4:1-3; 2 John 7 etc.).

And so though there may be a future ministry where Elijah will come during the tribulation period as some speculate (see Rev 11:3). The only question that matters,  and on which your souls destiny rests upon is, who are you trusting for salvation and living in expectation of? If it is not the Lord Jesus Christ who was crucified for your sins remission, and rose from the dead for your justification before God the Father, than you've missed the mark! Be sure than that your faith is only in the Lord Jesus' Christ's Person and His Finished work on the cross to save you, and not in someone less than Him (John 3:31). For it's your exclusive faith (or trust) in the Lord Jesus Christ that will save you from the wrath to come (Matt 3:7; 1 Thess 1:10).

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. 1982, Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Luke 14:1–6

1 Now it happened, as He went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, that they watched Him closely. 2 And behold, there was a certain man before Him who had dropsy. 3 And Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” 4 But they kept silent. And He took him and healed him, and let him go. 5Then He answered them, saying, “Which of you, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” 6And they could not answer Him regarding these things.

Devotional
Here through the Pharisees hardness of heart we see the folly of the commandments of men. For yes the Sabbath forbid work on it, but the Pharisees in their misguided zeal took a command of God and applied it with a razors edge to situations that it did not apply to, and thus made it into a terrible burden that they commanded and laid on men. And so rather than bringing rest to God's people through observance of the Sabbath, as it was intended to do (see Exodus 23:12; 31:17). They only brought hardship and misery on those God commanded them to shepherd through the law; and this they often did (as the Gospel so readily reveals) to those in need of some real rest from life's burdens and troubles. And that is the peril of serving God through the doctrines, commandments, and traditions of men. Ones heart always becomes hardened towards God and their fellow person.
And so here (as elsewhere in the Gospel, Jesus time and again intentionally heals those who are need of healing on the Sabbath; and this He often does in their direct presence. For Jesus has no intention of hypocritically observing the Sabbath as they were accustomed to doing. As Jesus says they would think nothing of lifting their own ox or donkey out of a pit on the Sabbath if it had fallen into it. Not that they would lift a finger to assist anyone else in need on the Sabbath, or any other day, (see Matt 23:4). But if their own property was in jeopardy on the Sabbath, then they would think nothing of "working" on it to save it. Yet they will find serious fault with Jesus time and again for showing mercy to people in need on the Sabbath. Even going so far as too condemn His actions (and later seeking to destroy His Person) simply because in His doing good to those in real need of rest on the Sabbath, Jesus did so by violating their commandments, not Gods. And so as Jesus says elsewhere we are to beware of the leaven, that is the doctrines, of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy (Luke 12:1). For one can be utterly wicked on the inside, and cruel on the outside, and yet still be utterly self-justifying, as the Pharisees often were, simply because one adheres to the doctrines and commandments of men handed down to them. Now this situation is not unique too them, but sadly exists in our day as well. For wherever a man-made and decreed righteousness is taught and observed, there you will find people living hypocritically and judging hypocritically (John 7:21-24), and not being just, loving, or kind as God commands of us all, as His people (consider Isaiah 1:16-17; Micah 6:8; Hosea 12:6; Zachariah 7:8-10). For as the text reveals the Pharisees in having invited Jesus to eat bread with them on the Sabbath, had an ulterior motive in doing so. For as Luke's Gospel describes the scene they were all watching Jesus closely, for there was also there a man who dropsy. Whether he was there by coincidence or by their doing were are not told. But he was there, and so the Pharisees knowing Jesus' tendencies, were watching Him closely, to see whether or not He would heal this man on the Sabbath. (Now if you don't know what dropsy; also called edema is; it is the swelling of body tissues, usually around the feet, ankles, lower legs, hands, eyes, or lower back area. Though an entire limb or the whole body may be affected as the condition worsens. Particularly worrisome are the stomach or chest area which can turn into a life threatening condition if left untreated (info source; Medline Plus, online). And so Jesus, with no prompting from the Pharisees, readily observes that the mans painful and often debilitating condition. And so Jesus in response to the obvious need in front of Him, asks the lawyers and Pharisees: “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” Not that Jesus needed an answer from them. But that through their hardness of heart He could dramatically reveal to us all that God's compassion for all people is not bound to the observance of man made doctrines or decrees. For it is always right to do good on the Sabbath, or any other day of the week. And so with their silence Jesus takes the man and heals him and lets him go (vs 4). And having done so Jesus now responds to their silence by saying: “Which of you, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” vs. 5 To which they could (or would not) answer Him nothing (vs 6.). And so through their silence we see their cruelty. I mean if ever there is cause to rejoice and thank and praise God it is when someone anyone finds Him, and or mercies from Him. Yet the Pharisees true to their form remained utterly silent in the presence of such compassion, not wanting to give any indication to Jesus that what He had just done, was indeed a good and gracious work of God. Nonetheless their response, or lack thereof is, not what ultimately matters, but ours. How are we going to respond to those real and pressing needs that are placed before us? For religious statutes or observances should never tie our (or anybody else's) hands from doing good, especially when it is within our power to do so. For that is what is clearly being conveyed here by Jesus' Deed and Words. Do good to all, whether on the Sabbath or any other day of the week, for all are our neighbors, and all of the Law is summed up in loving God and ones neighbor as oneself (Matt 22:34-40). Therefore as you have ability to do good to someone, in whatever capacity you have, then by all means do it. For that is at the heart of having faith in God, doing good towards all, but especially those who believe (Gal 6:10). Therefore living a life that is callous and indifferent to another's pain, misery or despair is not living out the gospel. A Christian than has no excuses for turning a blind eye to a legitimate need when it is within our power to do something about it. Just as a Christian has no excuse for delighting in the fall, troubles or miseries of another. For professing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ while doing so is not walking in the footsteps of faith and love that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself walked in and lives and thus commands of us all who are called by His Name to do the same. Therefore let us all live in Christ's love and love as the Apostle John said not just in word and tongue but rather let us love in deed and truth (1 John 3:16-18). For only then do we truly honor God when we show true compassion and mercy to all in need (Prov. 14:31; James 2:13).


Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. 1982, Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Luke 13:22–30

22 And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ 26 then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ 27 But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. 29 They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”

Devotional

Having just given to very brief (but really important) Parables about the Kingdom (the Parable of the Mustard Seed, Luke 13:18-19; and the Parable of the Leaven, Luke 13:20-21). Jesus now in response to a question asking: "are many saved?" declares not a number of how many will be saved. Instead Jesus says and emphasizes to us all: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” And so Jesus tells us all too first and foremost too strive to enter the Kingdom of heaven for the onus is on us all too first and foremost repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ while we can. For He already has made salvation available to us all by His suffering crucifixion death for us all. Yet as He reveals here not all will attain to eternal life by faith in His Person. For as Jesus reveals here though there were many who were following Him, and or were associated with Him, yet many of them, were not yet yielded to Him and trusting in Him as their Lord and Savior. Indeed most of Jesus' followers then could have easily identified themselves with Him as simply "a fellow Jew" just as they were. And thus hold Him in their heart as just another "religious teacher" from amongst them". Indeed there probably were many who were just content to hear Jesus speak Words of Wisdom to them as a gifted rabbi, or as they probably already heard about His exploits, to see Him perform sort of miracle worker with words and power like the prophets of old. And so Jesus knowing that emphasizes that it is absolutely paramount for each individual to strive to enter by the narrow gate while they can. For the Kingdom of God is not a right for anyone. For as Jesus radically declares here, the Jews (Jesus' own countrymen by birth) will not enter the Kingdom simply because they are Jews and Abraham's biological descendents (Vs 28-30). Nor will you and I enter simply because we went to church on Sunday, or grew up in a Christian home, or belong to a certain denomination, or like watching Christian TV programming, or listening to Christian music and concerts, and reading Christian books and such. No, those things have their place, but they can never replace repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ which requires a total surrender to God and a total commitment to Christ. Which first means we trust in Him completely and then seek to obey Him unreservedly; that is what Jesus is warning us all about here. Of only having a faith of association with Him, or with His people, or with things and activities and ideals associated with Him. But not having a faith in, and commitment towards Him personally as our Lord and Savior. And so Jesus describes this perilous situation to us, which can bring a false sense of security to those who leisurely reside in their self-complacent and or self satisfied state.

For that is how chapter thirteen begins with Jesus exposing, then commanding repentance from peoples false sense of security that sees other people's suffering as God's judgment on them, yet does perceive one's own need for repentance! (Luke 13:1-9). And so Jesus warns us here and now of the terrible end of those things, of only associating with Him, yet living like one who does not know Him (vs. 25-27). For as He says, in the end there will people who down through the ages heard Him speak through His Word, yet neglected to believe in Him and put His Words into their lives practice. And so in the end though they lived amongst true Christians or where His Name was named, they will in the end find themselves trying to enter the Kingdom yet only to hear Him say to them: Depart from Me all you workers of iniquity. And so again, Jesus compels us all to "strive to enter by the narrow gate" (also see Matt. 7:13-14). And not be His disciple by mere association with His Person, His people, His or causes. Rather let us all be Jesus' disciple by repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ's Person who was crucified for all our sins remission and raised from the dead for our justification, so that the moment we believe in Him, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit for the Day of redemption (Eph 1:13-14). Therefore let us all put our complete trust in the Lord Jesus Christ's Person and live our lives now in full dependence on Him. And thus let us all wait on Him; while waiting for Him! Serving the Lord Jesus Christ in whatever callings, capacities, and of course Spirit giftedness and empowering He lays on us, with all joy and faith, until His Second Coming or our going home to be with Him! For we who believe are those who as Jesus says "will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”

 

Scripture Quotations

The New King James Version. 1982, Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Matthew 5:3

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
 
Devotional

Notice that the Lord Jesus says blessed are the poor in spirit. Why? Because the poor in spirit know they have nothing to approve themselves before God. And that is the essential attitude that opens the door of God's grace to every repentant and believing sinner, because one's heart is already desperately open too it, and seeking for it. And so throughout the Scriptures we see God interceding and saving and ultimately justifying the repentant nation or individual, not based upon what they are, or what they have done, or not done, but only on His mercies when they seek it from Him. (In regards to this consider David's prayer in Psalm 38, or Jesus' parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32, or clearly in His justifying the repentant sinner who sought the mercies of God, over the self justifying priest who felt no need for it, Luke 18:9-14.) And so when Jesus says it is the poor in spirit to whom the Kingdom of heaven belongs, He is excluding no one who does not exclude themselves. Whereas the proud in spirit no nothing of their own sinfulness, much less their own need for God through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. And so whether consciously or subconsciously they live their lives independent of God, not seeing their own need for God, nor wanting Him to be their God. For if anyone can honestly look at themselves, their own person and conduct throughout their lives and feel satisfied about themselves, then they have not understood the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, nor the Scriptures of God. For the Scriptures do not justify man, the Scriptures only justify God, who justifies everyone who repents and puts their trust in His Son (consider Rom 3:19-28).

And so sadly a person can practice much "religion" throughout their life and yet have very little true relational knowledge of God; as Jesus said of scribes and Pharisees who honored Him with their lips, but their hearts were far from Him (Matt 15:8-9). And so whether Jews or Christians people can have a form of the knowledge of God and yet not have come into a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. For neither church attendance, nor Bible study, nor Christian service makes someone a Christian. Same with "signing off" on a doctrinal treatise. Though these things are good and have their place in the Christian's life, they are not what makes a person a Christian. What makes a person a Christian is being reborn by the Spirit of God. And this only happens when one sees their need for the Lord Jesus Christ and repenting of their sins and or all their own efforts to try save themselves they turn to Him in faith alone, trusting Him alone to save them from all their sins, by what He has done by suffering Crucifixion death to atone for all our sins (John 3:16). That is what makes a person a Christian, and thus opens the door to the Kingdom of heaven to them, when they repent and believe in the Lord Jesus as testified to in the Scriptures; that through His shed blood and death on the cross and His resurrection from dead ,by faith in Him, we receive remission of all our sins and everlasting life. And so by His Spirit He imparts His life (that is new and everlasting life) into everyone of us who believes in Him, who opens their hearts to receive Him as their Lord and Savior. For Jesus Promises to make His home in you the moment you do (John 1:12; Rev. 3:20). For God does not draw near the proud in spirit who think they have no need of repentance. Rather God is always near to the brokenhearted, and saves such who have a contrite spirit (Psalm 34:18). As Jesus said: “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Mark 2:17 Therefore by a simple prayer of faith you can receive the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart and life as your Lord and Savior, and thus become a child of God, just as the Bible Promises: "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name." John 1:12

Therefore if you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and would like to personally receive Him, inviting Him into your heart and life I urge you pray something like this: Dear Lord Jesus I know that I have sinned and that I can neither save myself, nor change myself. Therefore I'm going to trust You to do for me and in me what I can't. Because I believe the Gospel, the Good News of God, that You willingly suffered death on a cross to both save me from my sins and transgressions, but also transform me by the renewing of Your Spirit within me. Therefore I now invite You Jesus Christ into my heart and life to be My Lord and Savior so that You might not only save me from wrath and judgment to come, but also change me here and now for an eternity with You. I pray this in Your Name Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982

Numbers 29:7-11 An Offering without Blemish (republished)

7 ‘On the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall afflict your souls; you shall not do any work. 8 You shall present a burnt offering to the Lord as a sweet aroma: one young bull, one ram, and seven lambs in their first year. Be sure they are without blemish. 9 Their grain offering shall be of fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths for the one ram, 10 and one-tenth for each of the seven lambs; 11 also one kid of the goats as a sin offering, besides the sin offering for atonement, the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.

 

Devotional
God's command here that the sacrificial burnt offerings on the Day of Atonement be without blemish is important for us to understand. Since these foreshadow (or point too) the Lord Jesus Christ's own sinless Person who was and is without blemish, and thus is God's finial and Perfect offering for all sins, for all time. And so this principal of God only accepting a sacrifice that is without blemish runs throughout the Old Covenant, beginning with the first commanded Passover Lamb (Exodus 12:5). Therefore because you and I are not without sin or blemish Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, came to be and do all that we are not. That is is in every aspect be without sin and blemish. And thus only He could be the Sinless sacrifice for the sins of the world (1 Peter 1:9). For it is only by the blood of Christ, that was shed unto death when He was crucified for us, that we have both cleansing and remission of all our sins, the moment we believe in Him (Matt 26:28; Acts 10:43; Heb 9:22). Therefore Jesus Christ came, as He said, not to destroy the Law, but to fulfill it (Matt 5:17-18); that is every aspect of it, for those who trust in Him. From it's sacrificial ordinances and commands, to its priesthood and tabernacle, all things contained within the Law of God are fulfilled in Christ.
And so the Scripture states that all these things that God commanded before of the Israelites (and specifically of the Levitical priesthood) were ordinances that were in affect until the time of reformation (Heb 9:10): For 11 ...Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

The question then is have you received God's Promise of an eternal life by faith in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ? For that is what God requires of everyone, to look to (that is believe on, or trust in) the Lord Jesus Christ crucified for their sins remission and raised from the dead for their justification, so that God having justified us by faith might impart new and everlasting life in us the moment we believe in Jesus (2 Cor 5:17; Eph. 1:13-14). For God having fulfilled all the righteous requirements of the Law through the death and Resurrection of His Son Jesus, now offers His salvation to all who believe in Him (John 3:16). And so the Scripture states: "Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin." Heb 10:18

And so remission of ones sins and eternal life only comes by faith in Jesus, by God's Word and Work thus His Righteousness, not mans (Rom 3:19-28). And so salvation is now freely granted to all, as a gift of God's love for us all, to be received the moment we repent and believe in Jesus. Now if you believe and rightly see yourself as a sinner in need of God's salvation, then please call upon the Name of the Lord as the Bible says we are to do, confessing Jesus Christ as Lord and believing that He was crucified for all your sins and is risen from dead and you will have remission of them and eternal life (Rom 10:9-10, 13). Now this you can do by praying a simple prayer in faith, something like this:

Dear Lord Jesus I confess that I have sinned against God and You. And I now realize that apart from You there is nothing I can do to take away or atone for any of my sins. Therefore I need You, and want You in My life, to be both My Lord and Savior. For I believe that You alone can, and will save me from God's just wrath against me the moment I in faith call upon You. Therefore I now invite You Lord Jesus Christ into my heart and life, to be my Lord and Savior. amen.

If you have prayed that prayer, or something similar. Then this not the end, but is the beginning of your new life In Christ. And so now as a child of God begin each day with some Scripture readings, for that truly is our daily bread that makes for our growth in all aspects of our lives. As well seek fellowship in a Gospel believing and preaching church, for it is there you will find encouragement and support in your new life and faith. As well, and this is important for spiritual growth, get baptized as Jesus Commanded as an indication of your faith in Him and your willingly following Him in discipleship. And so as you now journey homeward always look for opportunities to share your faith and God's love with others; just as you grow up in it. For Spiritual rebirth is not the end of being a disciple of Jesus, it is the beginning. And so spiritual growth comes by God's Spirit as we are led by Him and seek to obey Jesus in all grace and truth, which we do when we love one another. Now if you have any questions or comments feel free to write them in the comment box and I will try to correspond with you. May God bless you richly as you seek to know Him and love Him better.

In Christ's love

Tom

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982,

 

Ecclesiastes 10:8-10

8 He who digs a pit will fall into it,
And whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent.
9 He who quarries stones may be hurt by them,
And he who splits wood may be endangered by it.
10 If the ax is dull,
And one does not sharpen the edge,
Then he must use more strength;
But wisdom brings success.

 

Devotional
The devious waste their energies plotting schemes that ultimately only harm themselves.
The hasty don’t consider the dangers of the work they undertake and rush in, to their own harm.
The simple don’t consider how best to accomplish a task and make it more difficult then it should be.

Consider to dig a pit is to set a trap for someone but Scripture warns against such schemes (Ps. 18:26; Prov. 26:27). To break through a wall is likewise self-defeating, since the serpent waits for the crafty. Quarrying stones or splitting of wood is inherently dangerous work. And if the ax is dull the job is simply more difficult and time consuming. Better to prepare before hand then the work will go more smoothly and safely. Therefore by wisdom a person can avoid the pitfalls that only undermine their own efforts and lives.

Scripture Citations

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982
 

Exodus 5:1-2

1 Afterward Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’ ”2 And Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord,that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.”

Devotional

The Authority of Almighty God, of His Name and of His Word in generations past used to be inherently received. And if not believed, at least acknowledged as having indisputable authority to set moral standards that would govern the affairs of mankind. But now in this morally complacent generation, where it seems nothing is off limits, even when God’s Word is boldly and rightly proclaimed, there are those who just shrug their shoulders and go on with whatever they are doing and pursuing. Some act as if they have heard nothing. While others scoff or laugh at Christ's command to repent and believe in Him, and still others drown or shut it out by whatever means possible anything regarding true knowledge of God. And so there is a generation that is increasingly devoid of any reverence for God, nor regard for His Word. Not even the Lord Jesus Christ’s Words that compel all people to be reconciled to God by faith in His Person, and thus become Jesus' disciple by keeping His Word. And so Pharaoh here is a prototypical unbeliever whose life is lived independent of God, and only governed by his own desires. As he says to Moses: “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.”

And so like Pharoah there are those in every generation who likewise in hardness of heart say, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice". Which is only a very foolish response to God’s Word and the Lord Jesus Christ's Gospel. For though men and women try to shut God and His Words out of their hearts and lives, God still is God. Who is neither restricted, nor hindered, nor harmed by anyone's disobedience or unbelief. And so it is God's Spirit who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8-11). For it is He whom we must all give an account of ourselves too. And so we all have two options before us, too either continue on in sin, rebellion and unbelief, which will reap it's own harvest in it's own time (consider Prov 11:31; 26:10). Or to repent of those things and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ in faith, and be made righteous by Him (2 Cor 5:21). For the Lord Jesus gives some very ominous warnings about sin and enticements to it (Matt 18:7). As well as those who refuse to have Him to rule over them (Luke 19:27). Therefore rather than continuing on in that which will only harm you, why not turn to the Lord Jesus Christ in faith and let Him both forgive you and change you. For that is why Jesus was crucified and shed His blood unto death, not only for the remitting of ever sinners sins, who trusts in His death on the cross, to save them from the coming wrath of God (John 3:16). But also by His Resurrection from the dead, Jesus imparts new and everlasting life by His Spirit into all who believe in Him. Now Jesus Christ's own Resurrection from dead is also evidential proof of a universal resurrection from dead, when He will sit on God's Judgment Seat and will judge all people, from every generation. And so as Jesus says people will rise and come forth either to the resurrection of life, or to the resurrection of condemnation (John 5:24-30). And so for those who believe and receive Him there will be everlasting salvation and Joy. But for those do not believe His Words, there will be a very sorrowful end, as Jesus says, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Scripture Citations

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982

Jeremiah 5:20–25 (NKJV)

Nations and people often suffer all kinds of sorrows, famines and miseries because of their sins and their refusal to repent (consider Psalm 32:10)
20 “Declare this in the house of Jacob And proclaim it in Judah, saying, 21 ‘Hear this now, O foolish people, Without understanding, Who have eyes and see not, And who have ears and hear not: 22 Do you not fear Me?’ says the Lord. ‘Will you not tremble at My presence, Who have placed the sand as the bound of the sea, By a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass beyond it? And though its waves toss to and fro, Yet they cannot prevail; Though they roar, yet they cannot pass over it. 23 But this people has a defiant and rebellious heart; They have revolted and departed. 24 They do not say in their heart, “Let us now fear the Lord our God, Who gives rain, both the former and the latter, in its season. He reserves for us the appointed weeks of the harvest.” 25 Your iniquities have turned these things away, And your sins have withheld good from you.

 

Matthew 8:1-4

1 When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. 2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” 3 Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
 
Devotional

Notice that Jesus after giving the sermon on the mount has a leper approach Him first. Not a scribe, not a Pharisee, not even a teacher of the Law, but a leper; an unclean person; a person with neither religious or societal pretenses. Quite literally a social outcast; viewed as a person at the very bottom of society, and one whom it was unlawful for any God fearing Jew to approach much less touch, and so this man carried more social stigma's then we can possibly fathom. Nonetheless it is this man whose uncleanness that was so readily apparent to everyone around him, yet it will be he who is the first man to approach Jesus, after Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, too ask the King of all Holiness too make him clean. And so one can imagine that the crowds quickly parted from him as he moved towards Jesus, so as not too touch, or be touched by him. Now notice the leper does two things when He reaches Jesus. First is that he worships Him. And so he is first and foremost reverent towards Jesus. Unlike the scribes and Pharisees who were often subtly, and not so subtly, antagonistic towards Jesus' Person. Coming to Him with many loaded questions, to try to expose a fault with Jesus' Person or His "theology", so as too dismiss Him before all the people. Nor does he assume upon Jesus, as if Jesus is somehow bound to do this for him. Instead in a spirit of contriteness and faith the unclean leper first and foremost worships Jesus. And that is always the right move when one comes before God too acknowledge and glorify Jesus' Person as being whom He says He is. For that is what true faith in God does. And having worshiped Jesus, the leper says: “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” in essence he epitomizes the very attitude which justified in His Sermon on the Mount, when He said: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of God." Matt 5:3
And so with the Leper's humble request, Jesus, think of it for a moment, with great multitudes of people looking on reaches out His hand and touches the leper saying: “I am willing; be cleansed.”
And so in that tender moment, Jesus not only heals the leprous man, but quite deliberately demonstrates God's healing hand which has come to touch and heal all of believing humanity! And so in that moment we see all that God In Christ has come to do; to touch and heal the brokenness in us all. Now one can only imagine the compassion in Jesus' eyes as He looked into the lepers starving eyes, who likely had'nt had a close personal connection with anyone in years. And so it is easy to see the leper's mesmerized stare, as Jesus undettered by the crowd's now shocked faces, reaches out and touches him. And so in that moment when Jesus' hand reaches out and touches him, the cursed affliction, and all the social stigma attached with it is gone. For as with the remitting of our sins, and the saving of our souls, so too the leprosy is immediately cleansed (vs.3). And so that imagery and act of God in Christ reaching out to the lowest of men, publicly, and touching him publicly, to cleanse him of his leprosy (or in our cases our sins) should not be lost on any of us. For that is why Jesus came, not to preach and teach and heal in a "corner". As if only in certain places, and in certain contexts, and with certain people it is appropriate to do so. No Jesus came to publicly preach, teach and evangelize everywhere and to everyone, as He deemed it appropriate to do so, so that He might heal and restore us all who believe in Him here and now, to a right and secure place with Himself in the Kingdom of God.

And so as the Gospel so clearly portrays, Jesus is not ashamed of sinners, nor of "unclean" people (consider Acts 10:15), either publicly or privately, before or after He "touches" them. For His concern for all is genuine.
In fact in the Gospel (and in my own experience) what is also readily apparent is that anyone whom Jesus has truly "touched" will not be ashamed of Him (consider Mark 8:36-9:1). For I'll be ashamed of my own sins, and my own less then Christ-like behavior when I fail to live as I should. Same with this world and all it's shameful lusts, pursuits and values, I'll be ashamed of it and all the evil justified within it. But I am not, nor will I be ashamed of My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Neither of His Glorious Person nor His Glorious Words. For He by His Person and by His Word has both justified me, as well Jesus is sanctifying me by His Holy Spirit through it. And so I'm thoroughly honored to belong to Him, and be called by Him, to be His public witness and servant, to both the clean and the "unclean," and so to both the "righteous" and sinner alike.
Now in regards to Jesus' publicly touching the leper to heal him. I imagine only the "religious" folk (then and now) would to get their "noses out of joint", when Jesus deliberately crosses whatever barriers that exist to people's reconciliation with God, both then and now (consider Matt 9:9-13). For being led by the Spirit of God means that there will be times when the "letter of the law" falls short of the surpassing glory of Christ and the liberty He purchased for us all at Calvary (2 Cor. 3:5-6, 17). And so Jesus having healed the leper now has a specific purpose for him to fulfill. As Jesus says to him in verse four: “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
That Jesus says to him “See that you tell no one" is not saying to him to keep his faith a secret. For his healing had happened publicly. And so all who had known and saw him before his healing would've immediately recognized the change in him. Therefore Jesus' not wanting him to tell anyone at that time, was as we see in Marks Gospel account not wanting to be overwhelmed by people because of it. For Jesus had a specific purpose for him to fulfill and that was to be Jesus' witness of having healed him to the priests who were ministering at the Temple in Jerusalem. And so Jesus tells the now healed leper to tell no one what has happened, but go and show himself to them and take the offering that Moses commanded for a leper having been cleansed by God, and present himself to them with it (see Lev 14 for the offerings statutes and requirements). Now in Mark's parallel passage it seems the man in his joy and exuberance, having go out of that location, begins to tell the matter everywhere and to everyone (Mark 1:45). And so as happens, the matter quickly spreads everywhere. And soon Jesus is swamped by so many people so as not to be able to enter the city openly anymore. And so Jesus was outside of it, in deserted places, and still they came too Him from every direction.  

And that is a constant not only in the Gospel but also throughout history, that where Jesus is in presence and at work, there soul hungry people want to be. For there is no other who can heal us, or restore us back to God. And that is what we who have had our fill of this world want most desperately; consciously or unconsciously; the peace and serenity and wholeness of person that no other person or thing can ultimately bring in us. If you have never experienced the life and love of Jesus Christ inside you I urge you today be reconciled to God. "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Cor 5:21

By a simple prayer of faith then, believing that Jesus was crucified to cleanse you of all your sins, and then rose from the dead to bring His life and Spirit within you, you can remission of all your sins and everlasting life. Simply pray something like this: Dear Lord Jesus I know that I am a sinner and that I sinned against You, therefore I need your forgiveness. Therefore I humbly ask that You in all Your grace and goodness come into my soul and life and be my Lord and Savior and make me whole and clean again, I pray this in Your name Lord Jesus, amen.  

 

Scripture Citations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982