QT 4/29/2022 Matt 26:26-29, Maranatha

Matthew 26:26–29 (ESV) — 26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

 

NOTE: Jesus applies a new understanding to the Passover meal. This was clearly the Passover. In the third part of the meal, the middle matzoh which was hidden (buried) in the first part of the meal and already broken (dead), is brought forth (risen), and divided among the disciples. This is our communion meal, and like the Passover is a reminder, but of Jesus' body broken for our sins. The Passover reminds the Israelites that God passed over their firstborn. In the communion, God provides his firstborn for our sins. The third cup (the cups separate the four parts or sections of the Passover) is the communion cup and reminds us of his blood that was shed to remove our sins and wash away our guilt. Jesus says that he will not celebrate the Passover/Communion meal again, until the day when he drinks it in the new kingdom. I wonder if that is the wedding feast which occurs after the tribulation period and Jesus' return to Earth to establish the 1000 year physical rule of the millennial kingdom. That day is approaching and I am so excited about life renewed as God always intended it to be.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I yearn for the God's kingdom, or do I try to create my kingdom on earth?

 

PRAYER: Father, I do forward to that day when the pains of this life pass away and life is completely fulfilling and meaningful. Come Lord Jesus, come. Maranatha!

QT 4/28/2022 Matt 26:20-25, Do our actions betray Jesus?

Matthew 26:20–25 (ESV) — 20 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. 21 And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” 23 He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 25 Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”

 

NOTE: Did Judas ask the question because he did not see himself as a traitor or because he did not think Jesus knew? Clearly there is a lot of discussion and quiet whispers. Everyone dips the matzoh into one of the sauces or their fingers into the ceremonial bowl of water, so the statement is only meant to say that it is one of us, those closest to Jesus. His comment to Judas is not understood in the group and there may have been some noise around the eating area so as to hide Jesus' quizzical reply (translated, "you said it, not I"). It is possible Judas did not see himself as a traitor but as someone trying to speed up the revolution from Rome. If so, then Jesus' seeming lack of interest in the Rome problem may have grated on him. It is also possible he was totally motivated by greed. He had free will. He did not have to choose the action -- someone would have chosen the action. His use of the term Rabbi versus others' use of Lord also indicates a lack of belief. Clearly, annihilation-ism is not supported by these verses since his action would not have any consequences to tie to his state before birth. He chose poorly. He did not believe the truth, but he did hang around the group.

 

PONDER:

1. How many people in our churches just hang around the group, but deep down don't really believe everything in the bible?
2. How many make a pretense of faith, but are more interested in the world and things of the world?

 

PRAYER: Father, show us our heart. Reveal to us our real motives. Lord, are we truly living for you or do our lives betray your mission?

QT 4/27/2022 Matt 26:17-19, What will be our epitaph?

Matthew 26:17–19 (ESV) — 17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 18 He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’ ” 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.

 

NOTE: This is the only place in scripture when Jesus uses the term disciples, that he does not apply conditions to what it means to be a disciple. The word was very common and the Pharisees, John the Baptist, and others had disciples. They were simply followers. But when Jesus uses the term, it never means just a follower. Here are a few examples:

 

Luke 14:27 (ESV) — “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”

Luke 14:33 (ESV) — “So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”

John 15:8 (ESV) — “By this my father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”

John 8:31 (ESV) — So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “if you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, …

John 13:34-35 (ESV) — 34 “A new commandment i give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

 

So this passage in Matthew 26, which occurs at the end of his life, is unique because Jesus uses the term disciple without any additional caveats. In essence, the twelve are now Jesus' disciples. And "his" disciples are going to share the Passover meal with them.

 

What a neat thought -- for Jesus to call me "his disciple." The similar thought is found in the earlier story in Matthew:

 

Matthew 25:21 (ESV) — 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

 

That is our desire -- for Jesus to call us "his disciple" and for him to tell us "well done" at the end of our life.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I really Jesus' disciple or just a follower?
2. Will Jesus say "well done" to me at the end of my life? Did I live for him or for myself?

 

PRAYER: Father, forgive us for our selfish way of life. We want to live for you. We want to honor you. We want to hear "well done" at the end of our life and to be known as your disciple. Empower us and strengthen us to do what is right.

QT 4/26/2022 Matt 26:14-16, Putting Jesus first

Matthew 26:14–16 (ESV) — 14 Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.

 

NOTE: The thirty pieces of silver probably represent 120 days of earnings. On a $75 thousand salary, that would be $25 thousand to betray a man. We are not given the motive for his betrayal, although the money would seem to be part of his reasoning. Later, in guilt, he would throw the money down at the feet of the religious leaders, blood money as it will be called. It was not put back in the offerings, but used to buy a field where Judas committed suicide. It's possible Judas was expecting a different type of Messiah and was becoming disenchanted with Jesus. Maybe he was trying to force Jesus' hand, since at least one person tried to fight with a sword before Jesus stopped him. We don't know, but we do know it was prophesied. Jesus was betrayed by a friend, someone in his inner circle. And so he experienced a very peculiar human emotion, the betrayal by a person close to him. Those events hurt greatly.

 

PONDER:

1. What do we sell ourselves for, that is, where do we compromise our values for our personal gain, thereby betraying our Lord?

 

PRAYER: Father, forgive us for our salvation. Protect us from the lure of the world and things. May we truly make you the first love of our life.

QT 4/25/2022 Matt 26:6-13, Recognizing what we are designed for

Matthew 26:6–13 (ESV) — 6 Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. 8 And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9 For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.” 10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”

 

NOTE: The Greek word for beautiful is kalos. It occurs 54 times in the New Testament and is most often translated as good. But the primary definition of the word is beautiful, excellent, eminent, surpassing, precious, commendable.  I like the word choice of beautiful here in this passage. For the men are only concerned about the costs and what could have been done with such a large sum of money. But the woman, as Jesus says, has done a beautiful thing. Only the God-man Jesus could perfectly see through the differences between a man and a woman. Yes, both sexes can appreciate beauty. But for the woman, it is part of her nature. She appreciates the softer unseen things of life so much better. The men are too external and physical. Does it have value? Can you do something with it? What is its purpose? Those things are important but so are the more subtle things of life. Jesus' death will be a beautiful thing for us. And this woman added beauty to the story of Jesus dying for the sins of all mankind. Thank you, whoever you were, for bringing beauty into the story of my salvation.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I appreciate the beauty the woman added to the story?
2. Is Jesus' death really beautiful to me?

 

PRAYER: Father, though the world dismisses the differences in the sexes, I want to thank you for how you designed us. May we find our fulfillment in discovering how and why you created us as we are.

QT 4/21/2022 Matt 25:41-46, Doing good for the right reason

Matthew 25:41–46 (ESV) — 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

 

NOTE: Clearly we see that the goats are not believers. And we see that Hell was not originally created for people but rather for the devil and his angels. Men have a choice. They are not predetermined to Hell, but can choose to believe or they can choose to live outside of God's rule and live for themselves. They have no one to blame but themselves. It is not the works that save them, but the life change that occurs when a person believes. We want to focus on the specific acts, but the misses the point. Helping the poor does not save a person. Believing in Jesus such that your life is transformed and begins to serve the poor -- that is the reality of your salvation, your service.

 

PONDER:

1. Is my focus on God or on good works? If the focus is on God, good works will naturally flow.

 

PRAYER: Father, help me to see the opportunities to serve and love others. Thank you for those I do and can serve, but thank you most of all for salvation and for removing the blindness from my eyes.

QT 4/20/2022 Matt 25:35-40, Good works from within, not from outside

Matthew 25:35–40 (ESV) — 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

 

NOTE: The righteous are caught off guard by Jesus' statement. They do not remember specifically doing the things Jesus celebrates of them. The righteous did good works out of the good in their heart and a result of the Holy Spirit's work to change them. Their outward works was not the focus, but it came out of a relationship with Jesus (the real focus). In the another passage (Matt 7:21-23), these others will claim to have done these things -- the "works" their focus -- but they missed out on what was truly important, knowing Jesus. Works matter, but only in so much as they show a changed life. When the Spirit gets a hold of our heart we are changed and we begin to think about how our life affects those around us. That is a true spirit filled life. Good works become part of them, not a means to an end.

 

PONDER:

1. Do good works and the desire to do good come from within? Or is it something I force myself to do because I want to be seen by others?

 

PRAYER: Father, continue to change and transform us in our relationship with the savior to be men and women who naturally live a life of love and goodness to others.

QT 4/19/2022 Matt 25:31-34, Are we sheep or goats?

Matthew 25:31–34 (ESV) — 31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

 

NOTE: I believe these next passages are essentially literal. They are not parables but they do have obvious metaphors (i.e., the sheep and the goats). This is the judgment that occurs with Christ' return and is mentioned at the start of Rev 20:4. Apparently, others will judge the world too.

 

Revelation 20:4 (ESV) — 4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

 

Apparently from a distance, it is hard to separate sheep from goats. So, it will also be during judgment. God knows our hearts. He will separate the religious from those who truly know him as the next 12 verses make very clear. For the sheep, this is the time of reward for faithful service. Our works do not and cannot save us, but our works are rewarded. For those placed on Jesus' left -- the religious, the atheist, the agnostics, all those who did not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ -- "these will go away into eternal punishment (vs 46)."

 

PONDER:

1. Do I truly know Jesus? When the word is rich and you cannot get enough of it, you know that Jesus is in your heart.

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray we would be serious about our walk with you. If it doesn't impact us every day of our life, then something is wrong.

QT 4/18/2022 Matt 24:24-30, Blind and dying

Matthew 25:24–30 (ESV) — 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

 

NOTE: The weeping and gnashing of teeth is a clear reference to Hell. This servant's lack of interest in doing something with what was given to him indicates his true spiritual condition. He is the classic religious person who attends church, serves in a simple function, says a short prayer once in a while, but never opens his bible. He is religious. He is not a Christian, and he will spend eternity in Hell until he makes his Master his true Lord. He lives for himself and only puts on a show for others. He is a fool. He is a member of the Laodicean church--wretched, spiritually poor, blind, pitiful, and naked--all characteristics of people who are not saved, but think they are and think they need nothing.

 

Revelation 3:17–18 (ESV) — 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

 

PONDER:

1. How many in our church do not really know our savior?
2. How many are going to hell in a pew?

 

PRAYER: Father, help us to live so differently that people cannot help but notice that we are different because of Jesus Christ. We don't want to be religious people, we want to be disciples!

QT 4/15/2022 Matt 25:19-23, Investing in the Kingdom

Matthew 25:19–23 (ESV) — 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

 

NOTE: God is interested in seeing us use what he has given us for greater good. And this is not about a tenth or a tithe--this is our whole life, everything that God has given us. We won't be measured by tithes, but by the impact of our lives. Our reward will be measured on those standards, not our giving program. Craig Blomberg says it well in his commentary:

 

Those who have been good stewards of all the time, material resources, and abilities God has given them (and not just with a tenth of these) can expect commendation, happiness, and eternal life from God. (Blomberg, C. (1992). Matthew (Vol. 22, p. 373). Broadman & Holman Publishers.)

 

Our eternal life is secured by our faith. But eternity itself is rewarded by our obedience now.

 

Mark 10:29–30 (ESV) — 29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.

 

God has given us much -- talents, skills, spiritual gifts, position, opportunities, education, acquisitions, ministries-- not so that we could keep 90 percent and give him a tenth.

 

Luke 16:10–12 (ESV) — 10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?

 

We are called to use what God has entrusted to us for the kingdom. As the passage today shows, each of us are given varying amounts. The lesson from this passage is that it doesn't matter if were given a lot or a little, what matters is -- did we invest it for the kingdom?

 

PONDER:

1. Are we investing ourselves, our lives in the kingdom?
2. Or, are we living for ourselves and throwing God the crumbs (ten percent), thinking to keep him happy?

 

PRAYER: Father, we are all so selfish. I confess that I look to my needs first. You have given me a lot. I need to be faithful with it. I need to use it to advance the kingdom. I need to honor you with my whole self, not a part.

QT 4/14/2022 Matt 25:14-18, We are different but all required to invest lives

Matthew 25:14–18 (ESV) — 14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.

 

NOTE: In the previous parable of the bridesmaids, the emphasis was on prudence (planning for multiple eventualities to include a long wait) and preparation (having enough oil). In this parable, the point seems to be service. Each servant was given different sums of money, and each was to "invest," that is make something of the money the Master had given. Two of the servants doubled the investment, but one servant took a no-risk approach (he buried the money). If we consider the money to be gifts, capabilities, and ministries that God has given us, the lesson is that God want us to use what he has given. A no risk approach (burying our gifts), as we will see in the next few verses is contrary to God's plan for our lives. We are all different. We all have different abilities. We don't have to match someone else. But we do need to be faithful to God in the skills he has given us for ministry. We must be faithful.

 

PONDER:

1. What skills has God given to me?
2. How am I using my skills for the kingdom?

 

PRAYER: Father, reveal to us the talents, skills, gifts, and resources that you have given to us. May we each be faithful to use them, not to sit on them. May we each take risks to serve you and the kingdom.

QT 4/13/2022 Matt 25:7-13, Knowing versus pretending

 

Matthew 25:7–13 (ESV) — 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

 

NOTE: This statement "Truly, I say to you, I do not know you" occurs in another passage where the individuals claim to have done all these good works in Jesus' name, and his reply is the same. This is the key point of Christianity. It is a relationship, not a religion. It is not what you do that saves you but who you know. And the only person who can save is Jesus, as he says:

 

John 14:6 (ESV) — 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

 

The danger in much of Christianity is that there are too many birds in the tree branches.

 

Matthew 13:31–32 (ESV) — 31 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

 

The problem is that the birds (depicted in the previous parable) are not helpful nor are they believers.
 

Matthew 13:3–4, 19 (ESV) — 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. … 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.

 

Our churches are full of people who truly do not believe the gospel. They do not believe the bible is the complete authoritative word of God, and they are busy snatching up the seeds so that people cannot know the truth and have a relationship with Jesus.

 

PONDER:

1. What will Jesus say to me? Do I truly know him or am I just religious? Do I love him enough to meet with him every day and allow him to shape my life for his service?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for revealing truth to those that know you. Thank you for how you speak to me through your word. Thank you for the Holy Spirit and how it shows me truth in your word.

QT 4/12/2022 Matt 25:1-6, Preparing for the long haul

Matthew 25:1–6 (ESV) — 1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’

 

NOTE: This is a parable and is not to be read literally. The foolishness of five of the bridesmaid is that they were not prepared for a long wait for the bridegroom. In Jewish culture, the bridegroom fetches the bride when the father says it is time -- when the house is completed. Five assumed the groom would come quickly, five were prepared for a long wait, but also went out to meet him. I believe Jesus' coming is soon, but I also believe that it could take longer. I must be prudent. I must prepare for retirement. I must take care of my family and other responsibilities God has given me. I don't want to be a burden on them or on society. Jesus could come tomorrow and all that I have gathered won't matter, but if he does not come as soon as I hope, I am prepared to continue in ministry until he comes.

 

PONDER:

1. Have I prepared for retirement?
2. Even more importantly, have I prepared to minister in my retirement?
3. Or will I be a burden to the church and my family because I lived for my pleasure during life and did not save for retirement?

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray we would be prudent as believers to prepare for any day that you might come. I pray we would be ministering to others even in our retirement days. I know this requires self-control to say no to our fleshly desires in order to save for the future. Give us strength to make the right decisions.

QT 4/11/2022 Matt 24:45-51, Fooling ourselves into thinking we are saved

Matthew 24:45–51 (ESV) — 45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

NOTE: We cannot save ourselves by works. That is abundantly clear in other passages. This passage refers to the rewards a believer (who is saved by faith in Christ) receives for how they lived their life on earth. Now, to my mind, a saved person who gives his life completely to service in the kingdom, recognizes how much his salvation was worth. The individual who is saved but continues to live a life for himself, does not realize how much his salvation cost the savior. But in this passage, God makes it clear that there is a reward for those who serve faithfully. Additionally, a person who is "saved" but does not live like it may be fooling themselves with religiosity. If they are saved, there is little reward. But, they may not realize that they are not truly saved by faith. They said all the right words. They had an emotional experience. But the Holy Spirit never entered their life and changed it (because they never truly believed), and so on that day when Jesus returns or judges, they are judged as an unbeliever or unsaved person despite their belief (mistaken) that they were saved. Which is why -- salvation should never be about "fire insurance."

 

PONDER:

1. Am I truly saved or just religious?
2. Am I going through the motions of church-ianity, or have I truly made Christ my Lord?

 

PRAYER: Father, open the eyes of the religious to see real truth. Help them to know whether they have fooled themselves or whether they are truly your children, before it is too late.

QT 4/8/2022 Matt 24:40-44, Making the most of the days

Matthew 24:40–44 (ESV) — 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

 

NOTE: It is not clear if the "taking away" is the rapture or judgment. In one sense it does not matter. There are two primary points. One, while we may know the general season of Christ's return by the signs, we will not know the exact time of his coming. The people of Noah's time had one-hundred years to watch Noah build a boat, but no one knew when the flood would come until it started raining and even then did not know until the flood waters started to rise. The second point is that we are to be ready. How is one to be ready? For the unbeliever, they need to repent, return to God, and believe in his death, burial, and resurrection because of their sin. For the believer, it is to act according to our new birthright by taking the gospel to our friends, neighbors, and co-workers.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I know Jesus? Believe before it is too late.
2. Do I know Jesus and truly live for Jesus? Live in obedience now lest we miss out on the rewards of faithful service.

 

PRAYER: Father, I may not understand the future or the meaning of the prophecies, but I do know that I must trust you for the time and I need to be about your business during the time I have left. Give me wisdom and grace to use my life wisely for your kingdom's sake.

QT 4/7/2022 Matt 24:36-39, Be bold with your witness

Matthew 24:36–39 (ESV) — 36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

 

NOTE: I think we tend to go to an extreme on this passage suggesting we cannot know anything about the day of the Lord. In context, Jesus has just said "when you see these things …" suggesting that there are clear signs the end of time is near. The idiom "day and hour" means time, but I am not sure if we can extend the "prediction fallacy argument" to say that one cannot predict the end times to a generation or decade. No, the whole point of Matt 24 is that they are clear signs regarding the various upcoming events. But even with the signs, two things are notable. One, people will not know exactly when it will happen, especially the rapture since the tribulation period begins with the signing of the peace treaty between the antichrist and Israel and not with the rapture. Second, people will be caught off guard, in other words, the world will not be spiritually discerning. They will be living life, in opposition to God, just as they were in the days of Noah -- suggesting that true spirituality will be at an extreme low point in history. People will hold to some form of religion but will be completely unaware of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus' words "I do not know you" from the parable of the wedding feast ring true here.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I ready for the end of days? Do I have a true personal relationship with Jesus or am I just religious?

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray that we would be seeking you with all of our hearts in these end days. We don't know when you will come, but we know the signs are pointing to your coming soon. Help us to be more bold and confident with our witness.

QT 4/6/2022 Matt 24:32-35, Major on the majors, minor on the minors

Matthew 24:32–35 (ESV) — 32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

 

NOTE: The simplest way to view this is as Jesus said it -- all these things (what Jesus just said) must come to pass before Jesus' second coming occurs (except verses 30-31 because they are the second coming and part of the aftermath). The difficulty is the word "generation" and the potential use of imagery with the "fig tree" as Israel (occurred in Matt 23:19-21). The "generation" could simply be the last group to see all the signs, or it could be the "generation" of Israel that begins to see these signs. Israel did not exist until 1948, and if a generation is 100 years as seen in Gen 15:16 (400 years of slavery for 4 generations), then the combination of the truths would suggest sometime before another 26 years (2048). But Israel has had temporary control of the land before and one could argue that they still do not control Jerusalem. In which case, is the city still "trampled by Gentiles" and not under Israel's control? The capital was only recently recognized as Jerusalem. The answer to all of these questions is that we do not know. So what do we know? We know how we should live and we know what is acceptable behavior and we know that God's want us to grow in our relationship with him. If we know these things, then those are things we should be focused on.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I growing in my relationship with God? Do I meet him in his word and prayer every morning?

 

PRAYER: Father, help not to worry about the things that I have no control over. Help me to focus on the things I know and the things that I can do (with your strength). Help me to be a faithful and good witness of your Son to a dying world. A world which desperately needs truth before it destroys itself in angst.

QT 4/4/2022 Matt 24:31, Preparing for the kingdom

Matthew 24:31 (ESV) — 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

 

NOTE: At the end of the tribulation period, God will gather together two groups of believers (elect) to participate in the marriage supper of the lamb. The marriage supper is for Christ and the church (Jews and Gentiles who believed during the church age which ended with the rapture). The two groups invited are Old Testament saints (believers in God before the church), and Tribulation saints (believers in God who came to faith after the rapture and during the tribulation period). There will be some still alive at the end of the tribulation on earth, but most tribulations saints will have died (note: all the OT saints will be in heaven). These three groups: OT saints, Church age saints, and tribulation saints will gather and be together as one. They will celebrate the marriage of the Church to the Son, and they will begin the establishment of the millennial rule of Christ on earth. It will be an interesting time. The bible talks of rewards for faithful service (not for salvation) and the reestablishment of life on earth will be the place where our service will have consequence. I don't know what my role will be, but I know I must live in a manner worthy of the king. I will leave it up to him how I serve.

 

PONDER:

1. I we preparing ourselves for service in the future kingdom by doing his work now?

 

PRAYER: Father, help me to live in such a way as to bring glory to your name. I must do what is right, no matter what others think. I must obey cheerfully. I will trust that there is nothing I have given up that will not be multiplied 100 times in the age to come.

QT 4/1/2022 Matt 24:23-30, The return of Christ will be very clear

Matthew 24:23–30 (ESV) — 23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. 29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

 

NOTE: Jesus now answers the second question concerning signs of the end of time. Jesus' coming will not be secret. He will not be hidden until his manifestation. It will not be invisible. One, it will occur near the end of the tribulation with many supernatural signs such that all the earth will know and all the earth will mourn. Two, those who are left will unmistakably see Christ returning on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. The clouds of heaven is a common illustration of God's Army, his angels, although the literal interpretation clouds is easy to imagine as well. Looking at Revelation, it will be his Army of Angels and us -- believers who were raptured prior to the tribulation -- who will return to stop the world's Armies from completing the destruction of the Jews. At that time, at least after some cleanup, we will have the marriage supper of the lamb, and the setting up of Jesus' 1000-year rule on earth -- the millennial kingdom.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I doing all I can to make people aware of the coming tribulation judgment? They may not believe, but when it happens, they will know, and it may help them come to salvation before it is too late.

 

PRAYER: Father, help me to communicate the truth of the gospel to all those who would listen. Help me to find creative ways of sharing. Help me to be bold. Help me to love others in such a way that it causes them to ask me of my faith.