Matthew 2:16-18

¹⁶ Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. ¹⁷ Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: ¹⁸ “A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more.”

Commentary
When the wise men failed to return to Herod he realized that he had been deceived by them, and so the Child was not going to be betrayed to him by them. Therefore in a fit of rage Herod now orders the execution of every male child born in Bethlehem and its surrounding districts that were two years old and under, according to the time which he determined from the wise men when they had seen His star. Thus Herod by doing so in a very cold and calculating way sought to destroy any and all possible rivals to himself. Now the number of children put to death by him is not known, but what is known in doing so Herod was unwittingly fulfilling what the prophet Jeremiah foresaw and spoke of when he said; “A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more.” (Jer. 31:15). Now Ramah was located outside of Bethlehem and so it was there where the massacre took place, a location which was also the ancient burial place of Rachel, Jacob’s (i.e. Israel’s) wife, and thus she is seen in Jeremiah’s prophecy mourning and weeping over the loss of their children. This prophecy then being fulfilled by Herod’s heinous act will begin the journeys of the Lord Jesus Christ's Childhood and what will be the long awaited journey for Israel’s restoration to God through their King and Messiah the Lord Jesus Christ, the bulk of which is yet to be fulfilled, and won’t be fulfilled until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in (Rom. 11:25-27).

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

Matthew 2:13-15

¹³ Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” ¹⁴ When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, ¹⁵ and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

Commentary

Vs. 13 With the departure of the wise men, (and provisions now made for Joseph, Mary and the Child) the angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” And so though Joseph and Marry were ignorant of Herod and his plans to destroy the Child, God wasn’t. For God sees all, knows all, and is always one step ahead of His enemies, moving and guiding His people into His Will so that His will is accomplished and fulfilled for them and through them.

Vs. 14-15 ¹⁴ When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, ¹⁵ and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

 Joseph then believing the Word of God spoken to him by the angel of the Lord departs by night with the Child Jesus and His mother and begins what to them must have seemed like a very perilous journey, but to the Lord of heaven and earth, it was just a matter of fulfilling His destiny according to the Word of God. Now how long the Child Jesus was there in Egypt with Joseph and Marry may be speculated on (but is of little relevance) for what is relevant is that God kept them there in His care until the death of Herod. And so it would be from there that Word of God spoken through the prophet Hosea centuries before which declared, “Out of Egypt I called My Son” (see Num 24:8; Hosea 11:1) would be fulfilled. And so like the Israelites whom God brought up in and then delivered out of Egypt, so too would the Lord Jesus Christ have a time in Egypt before God would call Him out of there and into His plans and purposes for Him. And so with Christ’s being born in Bethlehem, and then sent into Egypt (until the death of Herod) before being called out of Egypt, and finally going too and growing up in Nazareth, there is a very direct and purpose filled plan that God was doing in fulfilling His Word regarding His Son, the most important of which was yet to be fulfilled, and so God was not reacting to the circumstances of Mary and Joseph and specifically the Child Jesus that they were facing at any given time, for God new and already foretold all the steps that His Son would take (and have to take) in fulfilling His Word.


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

Matthew 2:1–12

¹ Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, ² saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” ³ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ⁵ So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ⁶ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ” ⁷ Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. ⁸ And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” ⁹ When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. ¹¹ And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹² Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

Commentary

Vs. 1-2 “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, ² saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

Jesus Christ’s birth in Bethlehem of Judea was no accident, but was the fulfillment of God’s prophecy spoken through Micah the prophet (see Matt 2:6 quoting Micah 5:2). While the location of Bethlehem itself is historically significant since Bethlehem was also the birth place of David, God’s chosen king upon which the Lord Jesus Christ’s throne would be established forever. Even the name Bethlehem means: *“house of bread” a house then which would be the birthplace of the Bread of Life! (John 6:35). Now Jesus Christ’s birth takes place during the days of Herod the then “king”; who is also referred to as Herod the great; the cunning and ruthless governor of Judea who by his posturing amongst the Romans who instilled him there as ruler had himself proclaimed “king” of the territory of Judea. Now it was this Herod whose father the Romans also instilled before him to keep the Jews in subjection to them. Now Herod himself was not a Jew by birth, but an Edomite, (or Idumean); and thus he was a descendent of Esau, whose people the Edomites became the enemies of the Jews whom the Lord Himself will destroy forever (Isaiah 63:1-6). And so though Herod was a convert to Judaism, and at times he showed much interest in their religion (consider Mark 6:20), this Herod like his father before him, was no ally of God, nor of His plans and purposes in the earth. But he was first and foremost an ambitious and unscrupulous man, who by his own craft and cunning not only advanced himself to the Romans, but also through the same ruled the Jews whom he did much to placate during his tenure with his building programs and his beautifying and expanding their Temple by which he brought himself into “favor” with the religious leadership of the Jews. That said the Jews as a whole never accepted Herod as their king, and so Herod though ruling Judea as their “king” maintained his position there not through the loyalty of ordinary Jews to himself, but rather only by Rome’s ongoing might and support of himself by which he ruled and crushed any and all dissension and dissenters with an iron fist. Yet in spite of all Herod’s attempts to control and subjugate the Jews, there were always potential rivals and uprisings that were an ever present threat to his tenure and reign. And so when the wise men (magi) having seen Jesus’ star in the east (consider Num. 24:17) follow it into the land of Judea, and they come to Herod to inquire of as to where the King of the Jews had been born so that they could worship Him (vs. 2), Herod must have been shaken to his very core at this news that the true King of the Jews had been born in his territory. 

Vs. 3-6 ³ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ⁵ So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ⁶ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ” 

And so with the magi news of the birth of Christ the King of the Jews (and all of all who believe in Him) both Herod and all Jerusalem were troubled; a seemingly strange parallel to joy of the wise men and shepherds who diligently sought out and rejoiced at the revelation and their discovery of the Christ infant Child until one considers that this is exactly how those of this world will react when Christ returns for the judgment of it, before setting up His everlasting Kingdom (Rev. 1:7). Therefore if Herod and those of Jerusalem were the people of God their response would’ve been like the magi who proclaimed Jesus’ arrival to them. Instead they were only troubled, because their “service” and “religion” was not about living for and in anticipation of God’s Promised Redemption; theirs was only about maintaining the status quo, and thus their own privileged positions within it. Contrast them then with Anna and Simon in Luke 2:25-38.  

Vs. 4-6 ⁴ And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ⁵ So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ⁶ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”

Therefore with the news of the birth of Christ the King, Herod gathers all of the chief priests and scribes together, for these were the authorities in the law of God, (not that they believed the Word of God, but they were the “scholars” of it, consider John 5:39-46). And so having assembled the religious authorities of the Jews, Herod inquires of them where the Christ was to be born. Now Herod’s inquiry of them was not that of a seeker, of someone whose heart and soul God has stirred so that they might in hope seek and find the Lord Jesus Christ for themselves. No Herod’s inquiry of them was purely sinister in nature, so that in finding out the birth place of the Christ he could as we will soon see seek to destroy the Child Christ before He could become a Man, and thus become God’s people’s Ruler and King. Now the spiritual reality of this is seen in (Rev. 12:13-17). For just as there is a physical realm where the battles for men and woman’s souls and lives takes place, there is also an invisible spiritual realm where these realities are also playing out, where all the players are seen as they truly are. Herod then having inquired of them then is informed by them that God’s prophecy declares that Christ’s birth was to take place in Bethlehem (see Micah 5:2) where Joseph and Marry were now staying with the Child Jesus, Marry having given birth to Him there.

Vs. 7-12 ⁷ Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. ⁸ And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” ⁹ When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. ¹¹ And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹² Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

When Herod was informed as to the birth place of the Christ by the chief priests and scribes he sets out a plot to destroy the Christ. Now in order to do this he first secretly calls the wise men to himself; so as not to alert anyone as to his scheme; and so he will further inquire of them when they had seen His Star in the east. And having determined the location and time of the birth of the Christ, Herod under the guise of wanting to also seek and worship Him, now tells the wise men: “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” ^{vs. 9}

The wise men then being ignorant of Herod’s evil intentions set out for Bethlehem. Now as they are travelling the Star which the wise men had originally seen in the east, and thus brought them to Jerusalem, again goes before them. This was no natural phenomenon then; this was the Hand of God guiding them so as to bring them to the birth place of His Son. For they (unknown to themselves) had been chosen by God to be the first ones to honor His Son’s Presence and Arrival here on earth, something which neither Herod nor all of the Satanic powers of darkness working through his own evil will could ever destroy, and keep God from fulfilling His Word and Purposes through His own Son. Thus the Star guided the wise men to the house and stood over it where the infant Christ was now staying in the care of Joseph and Mary. And with their discovery of the Child’s exact location, even before entering the house, the wise men rejoiced with exceedingly great joy, for having traveled many miles in a perilous journey in search of God’s King, they in finding Him rejoice with an exceedingly great joy!, Something which you yourself may also do if you have been on your own life’s journeys and pursuits, and yet unknowingly seeking for what only God can give you that will fully satisfy you! And having found Christ the King, the Savior of the world, they enter the house and find the young Child with Mary His mother, (a poignant scheme indeed God in flesh being nurtured and cared for by His own creation), and having come into Christ’s Presence they fall down and worship Him, and Him alone, presenting their gifts not to Mary, but to the Christ alone, honoring Him alone, as the Scripture states; …“And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” ^{vs. 12} Now in the Believers Bible Commentary there is a wonderful exposition on the gifts they presented and their significance, there it states: “The treasures they brought spoke volumes. Gold is a symbol of deity and glory; it speaks of the shining perfection of His divine Person. Frankincense is an ointment or perfume; it suggests the fragrance of the life of sinless perfection. Myrrh is a bitter herb; it presages the sufferings He would endure in bearing the sins of the world. The bringing of gifts by Gentiles is reminiscent of the language of Isaiah 60:6. Isaiah predicted that Gentiles would come to the Messiah with gifts, but mentioned only gold and frankincense: “… they shall bring gold and incense. And they shall proclaim the praises of the Lord.” Why was myrrh omitted? Because Isaiah was speaking of Christ’s second advent—His coming in power and great glory. There will be no myrrh then because He will not suffer then. But in Matthew the myrrh is included because His first coming is in view. In Matthew we have the sufferings of Christ; in this passage of Isaiah, the glories that shall follow.”

Having then found and honored the Christ greatly, and thus fulfilled God’s purposes for them, God warns them in a dream not to return to Herod, and with that they depart and return to their own country by another way so as not to be found by Herod or any of his agents (vs. 12). And so like the wise men each and every individual will have an opportunity to enter into Christ's legacy, and unlike Herod, be on the right side of history and eternity, which side shall you be on?  

Scripture Quotations

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

Additional Resources Consulted
MacDonald, William. Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. Edited by Arthur Farstad. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995.

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Matthew 1:17

Commentary

In Matthews Gospel there are 42 generations that divide up into three fourteen generation segments, each one then to represent a perfect arrangement, for our God and Father who is the Author of the Holy Scriptures had a very deliberate plan in just how and when He would bring forth His Son into the world. And so from Abraham to David there are listed fourteen generations which cover the establishment of God’s Covenant, Nation, and Christ’s Future Throne. The next fourteen generations then cover Israel as a divided nation, whose kings largely led them into apostasy (consider Ezekiel 43:6-9), and ultimately into their 70 year captivity in Babylon (historically recorded for us in the Books of I and II Kings/Chronicles. Now in spite of this God’s timing and redemption plans for both His people and all of believing humanity was neither subverted nor thwarted. For the Sovereign God of all things in all places and at all times is never taken by surprise by what we do or don’t do. The final phase then tracts the Israelites who came up from Babylon to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple (according to the Word of the Lord; historically recorded for us in the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah), who unknown to them at that time were preparing the way for Christ’s arrival, which as the prophet Daniel also foretold would take place after several nations had first risen and fallen. And so Matthew in this last section of the genealogical record of the birth of Christ brings us to what would have been their present day, and thus to God fulfilling His Word about His Son the Lord Jesus Christ who came into the world according to it. Joseph and Marry then being the last listed as the humble and obscure family chosen by God through whom the Lord Jesus Christ would come into the world (Vs. 16). And so Matthew in the first seventeen verses of his Gospel has recorded for us the principal genealogical lineage that the Lord Jesus Christ chose in becoming a Man, the Son of Man; whose right and privilege as the Heir of all that God has prepared and established for Him to inherit through His own Word has become through His own obedience to the Word of God not only our Savior, Judge and King, but also He is the Lord God Almighty from Everlasting to Everlasting.

Scripture Quotations

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

Matthew 1:1-16

 ¹ The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: ² Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. ³ Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. ⁴ Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. ⁵ Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, ⁶ and Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah. ⁷ Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa. ⁸ Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah. ⁹ Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah. ¹⁰ Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah. ¹¹ Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon. ¹² And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel. ¹³ Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor. ¹⁴ Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud. ¹⁵ Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob. ¹⁶ And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ. ¹⁷ So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.

Commentary

Vs. 1 Now Matthews Gospel opens up with a profound declaration about the Author and Finisher of our salvation: “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham”… And so two things are readily apparent in Matthews Gospel’s opening; first is that the Lord Jesus Christ came to earth as a Man, following a very specific lineage according to the Word of God that said He would do just that. Second is that He was not going to be just any man but the Man whom God had for generations foretold and ordained that through Him He would bring salvation not only to His own chosen people, but also through the Christ He would bring salvation to the ends of the earth. And so Matthew’s Gospel opens with establishing the Lord Jesus Christ’s birth right as the Messiah through the linage of David (as the promised Root or Branch that would descend through David (see Isaiah 11:1, 10, 53:2; Rom 15:12 etc.) so as to reveal to us all that the Lord Jesus Christ has come in fulfillment of God’s Word. Immediately following or linked with that then is the tracing of the Lord Jesus Christ’s descendency from David right back to Abraham, the father of the nation of Israel, and more importantly the father of our Faith, because it was with Abraham that God made the covenant promise of justification by faith in His Person. And so right from the beginning verse one establishes Jesus Christ as the promised “Son” (i.e. descendant) of David in accord with the lineage of Abraham, through whom God’s Salvation and thus His New Covenant and Promises come to be enacted in our own lives the moment we repent and believe in Him.  

Vs. 2-16 ² Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. ³ Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. ⁴ Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. ⁵ Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, ⁶ and Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah. ⁷ Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa. ⁸ Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah. ⁹ Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah. ¹⁰ Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah. ¹¹ Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon. ¹² And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel. ¹³ Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor. ¹⁴ Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud. ¹⁵ Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob. ¹⁶ And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.

Verses two through sixteen then record and establish the exact linage that Jesus Christ followed in becoming a Man, beginning with Abraham and then moving forward from there to David; the two most prominent men in that list; prominent because God through them not only established the means of our salvation, by faith alone, but also it is through David that God established the Throne for His own Son to reign on. And so the point of tracing Jesus’ lineage back to Abraham is that Abraham is the one through whom God made the Covenant Promise with, and thus it is through him that the Covenant Nation was born (see Gen. 17:14). And so it is through the nation of Israel that God has brought forth His own Son, so as to bring forth His Redemption and Salvation and thus His Everlasting Covenant to each and everyone who likewise believes in Him (Gen 15:6). As well then (and of equal importance) through Abraham God’s Promise of eternal salvation by faith alone comes (Rom 4:9-23). And so having true knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ trusting in Him and Him alone is the only way to have God’s salvation. And thus Abraham is rightly called in the Scriptures the father of every believing Jew and Gentile who simply and unconditionally believes in the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 4:16).

Now following Jesus’ linage to David and onto Joseph and Marry is also very significant and critically important, since it was through David that God has established the Lord Jesus Christ’s Kingship and Throne. And so knowing these things, that these two pivotal men in God’s redemption plans for us all who believe in Him, were themselves not the fulfillment of God’s Promises and Prophecies but were the men whom God brought forth and established, so that He could set up His Holy Nation and Throne of His own Son in the fulfillment of time of His Word for us all (holy nation beginnings Exodus 19:6, fulfillment 1 Peter 2:9). Now most of the persons and names listed in Matthew’s genealogical list would have been understood by Matthew and the Jews of his generation, but will be obscure to most of us unless we are avid Bible students. Nonetheless the names listed there do give some real insights into the Scriptures and God’s redemption plans that did not follow a nice clean path, but quite knowingly and deliberately God included in His own Sons mortal genealogy those who were less then blameless in the sight of God, opening then the door for the redemption and salvation of everyone who is likewise less than blameless in the sight of God. 

For the Lord Jesus Christ in following a specific lineage in becoming a Man has not only fulfilled God’s Promises about Himself, but by doing so He has opened the door for the redemption of every believing Jew and Gentile through Himself (John 14:6), something that was not so freely available to one and to all before His own life and then death on the Cross (John 3:16). And so in becoming a Man, Jesus did not follow a “blameless” or “perfect” linage, because no one this side of eternity is sinless in the sight of God. And so though Sinless and Blameless, as both the Son of God and Son of Man, Jesus’ path into humanity took a very direct and certain path through the linage of Abraham and then David that the Word of God foretold that the Christ would come that would make Him to be a descendant of both righteous men and women, and not so righteous men and women, all which becomes readily apparent when one examines the names and persons on that registry. For though Jesus was numbered with transgressors on the Cross, according to and in fulfillment of the Word of God’s prophecies about His doing so for our redemption from sin and death (Isaiah 53). Jesus in choosing that path of ancestry was also quite intentionally and deliberately aligning Himself with all of us who were once far off from God, who were not even of the covenant people of God, and thus who could claim no rights to God’s covenant or God’s promises until the Lord Jesus Christ came in fulfillment of them all, for us all. Something which the Apostle Paul makes abundantly clear when he states in the Book of Ephesians: “Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called ^uthe Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—¹² that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” ^{Eph. 2:11-13}

And that is where Matthews Gospel and every Biblical Gospel written about the Lord Jesus Christ leads us too, to an exclusive faith In the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God who became the Son of Man for our Everlasting Redemption from sin and death, which becomes enacted in our own lives by the Spirit of God the moment we repent and believe in Him. Something that I now urge you to do so that you may have remission of all your sins and new and everlasting the moment you believe and receive the Lord Jesus Christ for yourself. For only in Christ Jesus do you have all of God’s Promises enacted in your own person and life, therefore don’t delay be reconciled to God today!

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

 

Jephthah (Judges 11:1-12:7)

Jephthah was a man of unfortunate life circumstances. Born the son of a harlot he was considered an outsider by the community even though his father Gilead the son of Machir was the founder of the Gileadites and was the grandson of Manasseh. Nonetheless Jephthah’s father instead of covering up his liaison will bring Jephthah into his home and raise him as his own son. Which speaks to his integrity and love for Jephthah. In time Gilead’s wife also bore him sons but Jephthah being the son of a “strange women” never held their favor. And when Gilead dies Jephthah’s brothers along with the community elders unceremoniously disinherit him and drive him away even though Jephthah is the first-born son and rightful heir (Judges 11:2, 7). In other words Jephthah’s genealogy should’ve put him in line to inherit his father’s position as tribal head of the Gileadites. But having no means of appeal Jephthah to save his life flees to the land of Tob. (Now Japheth’s being disinherited and driven away reminds of the Lord Jesus’ parable to Israel’s elders when in it Jesus says to them that they too seek to kill the rightful heir and steal his inheritance for themselves). Now Tob was a land whose name meant bountiful but in reality was a frontier town beyond the eastern boundaries of Gilead before the Syrian Desert. Once there the disenfranchised Jephthah will assemble a “band of raiders” (What the New King James Version calls worthless men); and will go out raiding the surrounding region. Now unlike Abimelech Gideon’s illegitimate son who likewise assembled men to himself and then murdered all but one of Gideon’s legitimate sons in a power grab. Jephthah’s return will not come by his own designs. But by the Sovereign hand of God when in a move of desperation the elders of Gilead because of a looming Ammonite invasion seek out Jephthah whose reputation, as a man of valor had become well known throughout the territory. Ironically then it will be the same elders that drove Jephthah away that will now seek his help in their time of need. On this point the Believers Bible Commentary notes: “In some ways Jephthah reminds us of the Lord Jesus: There was a shadow over his birth and he was rejected by his brethren. When they got into bondage they remembered him and called upon him as their savior; and in agreeing to help the Gileadites, Jephthah agreed to be their savior but insisted on being their lord as well.”^[i]

Thus Jephthah’s initial reply to them when they seek him in the land of Tob, “Did you not hate me, and expel me from my father’s house? Why have you come to me now when you are in distress?” ^{Judges 11:7} Reveals the less then cordial manner in which he was exiled.

Yet Jephthah’s further reply “if you take me home to fight against the Ammonites and the Lord delivers them to me will I be your head?” Reveals that Jephthah believed Gilead was his home and they were his brethren though initially he doubts their sincerity when they seek him out to help them. And it’s easy to see why. It’s hard to trust people who are so unscrupulous. Yet they’re acting no differently towards Jephthah then they acted towards the Lord God of Israel when they first sought Him out in their distress (See Judges 10:10-14).

Nonetheless Jephthah was no saint (nor were the people he will rescue). Jephthah like us all was a sinful man who like us all needed to repent of his own sins and that he will do at Mizpah where with Gilead’s elders and all the people assembled Jephthah will repeat his words before the Lord God of Israel (Judges 11:10-11). Meaning he will enter into a solemn covenant with God, in essence it is there where Jephthah experiences conversion. Now the name Mizpah is also important for it means watchtower, and it implies God’s watching over the affairs of the nation or an individual. Therefore it will be there that Jephthah defines himself as a man of God (not just by the great deliverance that God later works through him on the battlefield, 1 Sam. 12:11) but right there when Jephthah is reconciled back to his brethren and places his and the peoples fate in the Lord’s hand. Therefore it will be God who will lead His beleaguered people on to victory over the encroaching Ammonites. Still that God would anoint with His Spirit a man utterly disqualified according to some people’s interpretations of the Law (Deut. 23:1-3) speaks volumes of God’s redemptive prowess even in the Old Covenant era. Therefore God does not disqualify anyone from Himself based on their lives circumstances. Individuals are often born into circumstances that they cannot change and frequently do things in their lives they cannot undo. That is why we all need a Savior and not merely Law. Jephthah’s story then reminds us all that no one is excluded from the heavenly congregation who likewise repents and puts their faith in God.

Jephthah’s first move then will be to dispatch envoys to the Ammonite king to inquire as to why the aggression. The Ammonite kings response though is short and unapologetic. And with that Jephthah redispatches them to make his case clear and indisputable (Judges 11:14-28), and seeing that God honors Jephthah’s diplomacy efforts and anoints him with the Holy Spirit for battle. With that Jephthah moves his forces decisively towards the Ammonites.

Now Jephthah will make a vow before going into battle that if the Lord will grant him victory over Ammonites he will offer Him whoever comes out of his house first as a burnt offering. Meaning their life would be non-redeemable, and would have to be wholly sacrificed to the Lord. Similarly on the battlefields of life men and women often utter their own solemn promises to the Lord before facing their own battles. What sets Jephthah apart will not be that he avoids this, but that he will keep his word even if it costs him whom he loves most; his only child. In so doing Scripture will record Jephthah’s name amongst the great men of the era: Gideon, Barak, Samson, David and Samuel not for his skill on the battlefield but rather for his faithfulness to God. Jephthah then upon his victorious arrival home and seeing his daughter coming out of his house rejoicing is devastated. Yet it is his daughter who will affirm the solemn oath of her father and encourage him to keep his vow to the Lord. She only requests a few months to mourn her virginity with her friends on the mountains of Gilead, which Jephthah will grant her and upon her return they will mutually fulfill his vow to the Lord. Jephthah’s daughter will not marry and Scripture records that Jephthah himself will have no other children; Jephthah’s name and legacy will be left in the Lord’s care.

Thus in a strange twist of irony two illegitimate children (Jephthah and his daughter) will show themselves faithful to the Lord God of Israel by keeping their word to the Lord amidst a generation that frequently would not. Jephthah then stands for us all as a lesson that anyone regardless of their background or past lives can likewise hold high esteem in the eyes of Lord who measures all people not by their pedigree or by their mistakes rather by their commitment and faith to Him (1 Sam. 12:11; Heb. 11:32-40). 

Scripture Quotations:

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.

Additional Resources Cited

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^[i]MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. 1997, c1995. Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments . Thomas Nelson: Nashville

Genealogies

Throughout the Bible genealogies have been carefully recorded for us. Now some of these pertain to the origins of mankind and the earliest of nations, while later ones pertain to the nation of Israel and it's origins; it's twelve tribes, it's leaders, and it's priesthood, all which always needed to be maintained since only the descendants of Levi could serve in the priesthood, with only the descendants of Aaron, Moses brother, could serve as high priest. And so genealogies are very important in the Word of God for it is through these that we follow aspects of human history and the development of the nations; specifically Israel, the nation God choose for Himself to bring forth His Son into the world; and so through them we see the linage that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ followed in becoming a Man to enter into the humanity for us all. Thus Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23-38 record how the Promised Seed, Savior and Christ, God's only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ came into the world, not exclusively through the descendants of Israel, nor of Aaron, nor of David, but while respecting these lineages, (and descending through them), Jesus Christ specifically became flesh (that is He became a full human being) for us all through the first man Adam, the first man who sinned, and who by doing so brought sin not only into himself, but all of creation. And so it is by Adam that all of humanity dies, (indeed all of creation), for when sin entered the world so did death, and thus through Adam we have our universal alienation from God. For all of us trace our ancestry right back to Adam, the first man, the head of the human race. And so that is our ancestry, whether Jew or Gentile, or any of the sub-divisions, Caucasian, African, Asian, or Aboriginal or however you choose to identify yourself; you and I are all descendants of Adam, and as such you and I are by our being descendants of Adam are born into an alienation from God through sin. And that is the universal condition of us all, alienated from God with no means to restore ourselves back to Him.
Therefore the Lord Jesus Christ in order to restore humanity back to God Himself when He became a Man He did not do so exclusively through the Nation of Israel (though critical for His for His fulfilling God's Word and establishing His Kingdom, and thus His Throne and Priesthood by which He will Rule humanity), He did so through the first man Adam. So that He might take the place of Adam as the Head of the human race, and by suffering Crucifixion death in our place, so that the death penalty having been paid for all our sins and transgressions (from Adam's onward) by Christ's own shed blood, He might now redeem each and everyone one of us from sin and death who believe in Him, and thus by doing so restore us all who believe in Him back to God (John 3:16).
The Book of Romans chapter five (5:12-21) expounds this truth most wonderfully, stating: ¹⁸ Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. ¹⁹ For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Rom. 5:18-19
Therefore when anyone comes to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ they have not only remission of all their sins and transgressions, and new and everlasting life, but we are a new creation in Christ with a new ancestral pedigree that now begins and ends with Christ the firstborn from the dead (Col 1:15-17). For you and I who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are not only brought to Spirit life (i.e. are born-again) the moment we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ Crucified and Raised from the dead, but in being transferred out of the realm of sin and death (thus Satan's domain and realm) we are no longer identified with Adam in the sight of God, but only with Christ. Thus when any Christian wants to understand their own "genealogy" let us all now remember that it all starts and ends with Christ. For in being born again by God's Holy Spirit we are united with Christ in every aspect of His Death and Resurrection Life, and so we not only died to all our sins and transgressions In Christ's death but He is now our only Lord and Saviour, who by His own Righteousness has given us a Justified standing in the sight of God our Father forever. And so it is the Lord Jesus Christ who is the head of us all who believe in Him not Adam. Therefore whatever you once were in the flesh you are not now in Christ, for In Christ old things have passed away, all things have become new (2 Cor. 5:17). Therefore I urge you who believe to live as you now are, and if you have not yet believed and received the Lord Jesus Christ for yourself please to do so now. For In Jesus Christ all the Promises of God are received and realized. Therefore don't delay be reconciled to God today! 

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

Hebrews 13:20-25

²⁰ Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, ²¹ make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. ²² And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words. ²³ Know that our brother Timothy has been set free, with whom I shall see you if he comes shortly. ²⁴ Greet all those who rule over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you. ²⁵ Grace be with you all. Amen.

Commentary

Vs. 20-21 ²⁰ Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, ²¹ make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

In concluding the author now bestows a blessing on us, asking that "the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, ²¹ make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." 
Now there's a lot there so lets look at them individually. First is the declaration that our God is a God of peace (see Rom 15:33; 16:20; 1 Cor. 14:33; Phil. 4:9; 1 Thess. 5:23; 2 Thess. 3:16 etc.) for that is His Nature (Isaiah 9:6), and that is His desire for us all, therefore the Lord Jesus Christ suffered Crucifixion death for us all in order to restore God's peace to us all who believe (Isaiah 53:5). And so from the individual soul to the future Millennial creation, God the Creator, Sustainer, and Savior in the redemption of His creation brings His peace and rest to us all who believe in His Son (consider Isaiah 32:16-19; 45:8; 54:10; Matt. 11:28-30; John 14:27; 16:33; 20:19 etc.). That said, God's peace is not a given, for in a sinful world which by it is own nature and by it's own ways is separated from God (and thus His peace) they are doing much to overthrow their own peace by setting themselves against His Will and His Word (consider Isaiah 45:7; 48:18; 57:20-21; 59:8; antithesis Psalm 37:37; Psalm 119:65; Prov. 3:1-2 etc.). For the days of ignorance that God once overlook are now past for He now commands everyone everywhere to repent and believe in His Son through the Gospel (Acts 17:30-31). Now it is the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead; for it is only by the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ that we who believe in Him are brought to Spirit life and thus are united with Him in His Resurrected Person and life. To say then that the Lord Jesus Christ's Resurrection from the dead is critical to our redemption from sin and death would be an understatement. Therefore belief in the Lord Jesus Christ's Crucifixion death and His Resurrection from the dead is absolutely critical and essential to ones salvation, for if one does not believe both, one will then not be saved (Rom. 10:9-10; 1 Cor. 15; 2 Tim 2:18; 1 Peter 1:3). The Lord Jesus Christ then is the great Shepherd of the sheep who believe in Him (John 10:11, 14-16 etc.). The One who not only laid down His life for us, but by His Resurrected Life, He now unites us and leads us. A true Christian then will not follow another, or listen to the voice of another, for there is only One Shepherd of God's Sheep and we will by no means listen to or follow another (John 10:4-5; 27-28). Therefore it is only through the blood of Christ that we who believe enter into God's everlasting covenant. For unlike the Old Covenant given through Moses that came in after faith had been established as the means of redemption (Gen 15:6) and so it served until the Lord Jesus Christ begin His Ministry preaching the Kingdom of heaven (Luke 17:17), the New Covenant which the Lord Jesus Christ brought into force and effect by His death on the Cross (thus fulfilling the Old Covenant) has no end. There is then no return to the Law for having a justified standing with God (Rom 3:19-28; Gal 2:16, 19-21 etc.). Now lest we forget this prayer is not just a declaration of our Lord as our only Shepherd and how we are in a personal relationship with Him through the New Covenant, but it is also an appeal, that God who began His good work within us (Phil. 1:6); who has equipped and is equipping us with everything that we need to do His Will; likewise make us complete in every good work as we do His Will, just as He works in us (and through us) all that is well pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, to whom be glory forever and ever, amen.

Vs. 22 "And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words." 

Given the vast analogies of types and pictures and foreshadows of Christ that is found in the Law and throughout the Old Testament Scriptures one could go on and on, but out of necessity he has only written what was required to help us transfer out of the Levitical system (and all that it required from those under the Old Covenant) and into the New Covenant and the simplicity of Christ. (gleaned from Believers Bible Commentary)

Vs. 23 "Know that our brother Timothy has been set free, with whom I shall see you if he comes shortly."

This intimate reference to Timothy indicates not just having a personal knowledge of him and his affairs, but just how close knit the early church community was, something that did not change with the dispersion of the early Christians throughout the ancient world.

Vs. 24-25 "Greet all those who rule over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you. ²⁵ Grace be with you all. Amen."

Greeting our leaders, as well as all our brethren (i.e. the saints) is a courtesy that Jesus Himself practiced and commanded, indeed He went far beyond just greeting brethren (that is His friends) but as a manner of life greeted and received one and all (consider Matt 5:47). Therefore practicing hospitality towards one and all is also following Christ. The church congregation then should be the front line of this in showing the love and grace of God. Finally in concluding the greetings of those from Italy are conveyed, before bestowing the grace of God upon us all, amen.

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

Hebrews 13:18-19

¹⁸ Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably. ¹⁹ But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Commentary
In wrapping up the Author of Hebrews begins by requesting prayer, not just for himself, but for those who are with him, who are coworkers with him in the Gospel; which is a critical part of any ministry teams success. Now his interjecting with the statement "for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably," indicates not only were they living honest and honorable lives before God and man in their serving the Lord Jesus Christ; (consider Acts 23:1; 24:15-16; 2 Cor. 1:12; 2 Tim 1:3 etc. antithesis Titus 1:15); but likely in stating as much they must have come under some rather severe or unjust character assaults at some point by their detractors to have to state as much now (gleaned from Believers Bible Commentary). While verse nineteen in urging their prayers so that he may be restored to them the sooner maybe indicating that this epistle may have been written while he was incarcerated for his faith In Christ? (again gleaned from Believers Bible Commentary), but even if not his desire to see them, and be with them, is indicating that they were much than just people he ministered the gospel too, but they were his beloved friends.

Scripture Quotations

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

Additional Resources Consulted
MacDonald, William. Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. Edited by Arthur Farstad. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995.

Hebrews 13:7–17

⁷ Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. ⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. ⁹ Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them. ¹⁰ We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. ¹¹ For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. ¹² Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. ¹³ Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. ¹⁴ For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. ¹⁵ Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. ¹⁶ But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. ¹⁷ Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

Commentary
Vs. 7-8 ⁷ Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. ⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

In giving this exhortation the Word of God is pointing us to follow the example of those leaders who personally exemplify the moral excellence and the leadership qualities and manner of the Lord Jesus Christ, therefore all who do so their faith we are to both consider and follow (consider Phil 3:17-4:1; 2 Thess. 3:6-9; 1 Tim 4:12; 2 Tim 2:19-26; Titus 2:7-8; antithesis 2 Tim 3:1-9; 2 Peter 2:1-3; Jude 3-4 etc.). For Jesus Christ is same yesterday, today, and forever, meaning that whatever God in Christ condemned as sin and unsound behavior in the Old Testament, He still condemns today. Therefore do not be deceived nor conformed to the degenerating values of this world (2 Tim 3:1-9), but rather through the Word of God be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may do and approve of all those things that are excellent and sound that are revealed to us all in it. 

Vs. 9 "Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them."

Now there will always be those false teachers and prophets who will try to sow into the simplicity of Christ (2 Cor. 11:3-4) all sorts of wild ideas. Whether these are born out of Judaism or Ecclesiasticism or have Charismatic origins being promoted under the guise of being Spiritual or imputing knowledge, or as being required of us yet are only mere doctrines and commandments of men not God. For there is no longer any more revelation to come from God (Jude 3), and thus anyone who expounds any extra commands or decrees or so called spiritual knowledge not found in and directly supported by the Scriptures (or worse is only a perversion of Scriptural truth) should be quickly and unequivocally refuted and rejected. For both the individual believer as well as the collective church assembly must never give any ground to such things (and such individuals who expound them) lest they become unwitting partakers with them (consider Rev. 18:4-5). Similarly when individuals or groups of individuals claim to be exemplifying the works of the Holy Spirit if such is not being done in accord with the Scriptural decrees on how such gifts are to be exercised, and or they are not exemplifying the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22-23) in the execution of such things, then again, such things should be rejected as not coming from the Spirit of the Lord. For if one is complacent about these things and towards these things then they are only paving the way for Satan's lying signs and wonders to be sown amongst themselves (Matt. 24:24). Therefore do not stray from the simplicity that is Christ (2 Cor. 11:3-4), for you and I are complete in Jesus Christ lacking nothing, meaning we lack neither so called Spiritual gift or knowledge, for In Christ and Him alone we lack nothing (Col 2:8-10; 16-23). And those who wander away from the simplicity of Christ into the realms of the unknown very often stray from Him forever, therefore don't follow them! 

Vs. 10 "We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat."

If the Jews, and the specifically their priests felt that their sacrificial system was still in tact and superior to what Christ has done then they should consider that what we who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ have from God all that they have no right too. For it is from Christ's altar that we eat, for He Himself has sanctified us all who believe in Him (Heb. 10:14). And so to understand the implications of this in the Old Covenant it was only the priests who could eat the sacrifices made on the altar for sin, anyone else who did so was to be cut off from God's people (see Lev. 6:24-7:10; 17:1-9, vs. 8; Deut. 18:1-8). Therefore if they or anyone else is still holding to the Old Covenant and it's sacrifices as an atonement for sin (whether priest or not) then they cannot partake of Christ's altar where the everlasting atonement for all our sins who believe in Him has been made.  

Vs. 11-12 ¹¹ For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. ¹² Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.

The Word of God now draws an analogy from the Old Covenant sacrifices whose corpses were taken outside of the camp to burned with fire after the blood from them was brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for a sin offering; now camp here refers to the perimeter curtain that surrounded the Tabernacle (Exodus 29:14; Lev. 4:11-12, 8:17, 9:11 etc.), or later the Temple courtyard walls where they were taken outside of the city of Jerusalem to be burned with fire. Now the point is that just as these were taken outside the camp so that their blood could sanctify the people who offered them, so Jesus that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate (vs. 12). 

Vs. 13 "Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach." 

Therefore as the people of God redeemed by the grace of God we should not hesitate to bear the reproach of Christ outside of the confines of the local church. 

Vs. 14 "For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come."

For true believers our home is not here, not in this godless and degenerating world (see Heb. 11:13-16), and thus the Jerusalem that now is, is not the city of God, nor is His temple there, but He will be there in the heavenly Jerusalem where all of us who are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb shall worship and serve Him and abide with Him in unending love and joy forever.

Vs. 15 "Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name." 

For there is nothing more personally gratifying than to sing Christ's praises, to abide in His goodness, and give thanks to His Name, this I know by personal experience and hope that you know that too by recalling to mind what Christ has done for you and me and everyone who believes in Him.

Vs. 16 "But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."

Being Spirit filled by the worship of the Lord we should all be about doing good and sharing with all those in need, first amongst ourselves and then everywhere, for that is the Christians calling card (Gal. 6:10; 1 Tim 6:17-19; James 4:17; 1 Peter 3:10-12).

Vs. 17  "Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you."

Obeying and being submissive to those who rule over us is a command of God; just as it is a command that we be submissive to one another (Eph. 5:21); that said in this broken world where Satan seeks to plant his own amongst us, one must never forsake their God given discernment in doing so; for if any leader abuses, or uses, or would command the flock under his care to either violate God's Word or their own conscience (in regards to non moral things) than such is no shepherd of God (consider Jer. 5:26-31; 23:1-2; Ezekiel 34; 2 Cor. 11:5-32). That said I know there are a lot of godly men living sacrificial lives for the Lord and His people's sake, and such men we should not only obey and be submissive too, but we should also honor such men (1 Tim 5:17-20) for these godly men watch out for our souls as those who must give an account to God, and thus they rule by the fear of God (consider Exodus 18:21-22; Deut. 10:16-19; 16:19-20; 2 Samuel 23:3-4 etc.). Now in ruling, a Godly leader must do so with joy and not with grief, for just as joy is contagious and uplifting and inspiring to others; and thus has very positive ripple effects on others; so is ruling by grief (that is with a heavy heart) which can inadvertently deflate and discourage those who are following Jesus Christ. Therefore if your in a position of leadership and do not have joy in doing so than your probably not in the service of God that He would have you in.

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