Interpretive Study of Matthew's Gospel - Summary.
Jesus Fulfilled God's Law and Proved that He was / is God's Christ.
Chapter links: 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16; 17; 18; 19; 20; 21; 22; 23; 24; 25; 26; 27; 28; God.
Prior Summary ChaptersChapter 22 Summary : Continuation of the Final Religious Conflict.
Starting in Matthew 21:1; Mark 11:1; Luke 19:28 and John 12:12; and continuing through the end of each chapter, we have the sequence of events which start from when Jesus
entered Jerusalem for the final conflict. During His trip to Jerusalem, Jesus
taught His disciples the difference between 'A fruitful religion versus a show religion'. Now, in this chapter, we see the religious leaders argue that the show religion is right and them plot the death of Jesus
because He insisted that God rejected the show religion. While Jesus
was in Jerusalem, He cleansed the Temple and acted like the Jew's King
, which led to His crucifixion. This was because the Jewish leaders realized that His turning the people to God would reduce their religious, and secular authority and power.
Our chapter starts with Jesus
continuing to teach the common Jews, the chief priests and the Pharisees after He had shut the mouths of the chief priests and Pharisees. In the prior chapter, they picked a doctrinal fight, Jesus
shut their mouths and returned to teaching the common Jews. The chief priests and the Pharisees were still there but had moved to the background to try and figure out how they might entangle him in his talk
(Matthew 22:8).
The teaching by Jesus
, in this chapter, starts with the 'Parable of the Marriage of the King's Son'. It should be obvious that this is teaching us about the marriage supper of the Lamb
(Revelation 19:9). in this parable, a man was there without a marriage garment. While many people object, the true teaching is that some people will be in Heaven but not allowed to attend the marriage supper of the Lamb
. The doctrinal teaching is for saved people to be sure that they not only are saved but are also qualified to attend the marriage supper of the Lamb
.
Next, we read about the religious leaders sending different groups to challenge Jesus
and He shuts the mouths of every group. First there were the Pharisees with the Herodians. Then were the Sadducees. Then were the lawyers. And, after all of them failed to trip Jesus
up, He asked them a question which they could not answer. Thus, he put an end to their trying to challenge Him doctrinally. And, after this chapter, Matthew spends the next three chapters reporting doctrine which Jesus
taught to His disciples. Therefore, all of these chapters are dealing with Doctrine before Matthew gets into the betrayal of Jesus
.
Please see the Gospel Time Sequences for the time sequences of incidents reported in this chapter and for references where other Gospel accounts report the same incidents. Please also see the Prophecy Fulfilled Section of the Significant Gospel Events Study for Bible references to this chapter where prophecy was fulfilled.
Matthew 21:28-22:14; Mark 12:1-12 and Luke 20:8-19 tell us several parables that Jesus
gave after The chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders
challenged His authority in Matthew 21:23-27; Mark 11:27-33 and Luke 20:1-7. This chapter is continuing the doctrine of the prior chapter.
Matthew 22; Mark 12 and Luke 20 all tell us some of the same things. In addition, they probably happened at the same time as the accounts in John 8. Later, at John 8:20; we are told These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple
and the accounts in these other Gospels happened in the Temple and end with Jesus
being by the treasury
. In addition, while the specific accounts differ, all Gospels report the same types of incidents between the religious leaders and Jesus
Matthew 22:1-14 has the 'Parable of the Marriage of the King's Son'. Please see the Table of Parables in the New Testament for links to other similar parables. This parable is different from, but teaches the same doctrine, as the 'Parable of the Great Supper' (Luke 14:16-24).
Matthew 22:15-46; Mark 12:13-37 and Luke 20:20-40 tell us about when The chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders
tried to use others to destroy Jesus
. In the start of that section, within Luke's Gospel account, we read so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor
. Even though the religious leaders had some civil authority, they could not sentence someone to death. But, the governor
could. Therefore, this is when they decided to kill Jesus
.
In Matthew 22:16-33; Mark 12:13-17 and Luke 20:20-26 we read that The Herodians
tried an argument about money and taxes.
In Matthew 22:23-33; Mark 12:18-27 and Luke 20:27-40 we read that The Sadducees
tried an argument about the resurrection.
Matthew 22:23-32; Matthew 24:31; Matthew 25:1-13; Matthew 27:52-53; and in many other places within the New Testament, tell us about the resurrection of the dead. Therefore, these references should be used to comfort the saints about God's repeated promise of our own resurrection.
In Matthew 22:34-40 and Mark 12:28-33 tell us that The scribes
tried an argument about the Mosaic Law. They were also embarrassed.
Matthew 22:41-46; Mark 12:35-37 and Luke 20:41-44 all cover the time when Jesus
asked How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David?
.
In Matthew 22:46; Mark 12:34 and Luke 20:40 tells us And no man after that durst ask him any question
.
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides a chapter outline as:
1-8. the parable of the marriage of the king's son.
9-11. the vocation of the Gentiles.
12-14. the punishment of him that wanted the wedding garment.
15-22. Tribute ought to be paid to Caesar.
23-33. Christ confutes the Sadducees for the resurrection;
34-40. answers the lawyer, which is the first and great commandment;
41-46. and puzzles the Pharisees by a question about the Messias. '.
- C22-S1 : the start of the 'Parable of the Marriage of the King's Son'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds thatJesus
said another parable toThe chief priests and Pharisees
with many general Jews also listening. - The phrase
And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said
means: 'Jesus
added this parable as anotheranswer
to their challenge to His authority'. This sentence starts the 'Parable of the Marriage of the King's Son'. This parable is different from, but teaches the same doctrine, as the 'Parable of the Great Supper' (Luke 14:16-24). - The phrase
The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king
means: 'in this parable, the king represents God the Father'. - The phrase
which made a marriage for his son
means: 'This parable is aboutThe marriage supper of the Lamb
(Revelation 19:9)'. - The phrase
And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding
means: 'This symbolically represents God sending prophets to the Jews and telling them to serve God so that they could go to Heaven andThe marriage supper of the Lamb
'. - The phrase
and they would not come
means: 'Many of the Jews refused to believeThe word of God
and ended up dying lost'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C22-S2 : the invited guests refused to come to the king's marriage feast.
- The phrase
Again, he sent forth other servants, saying
means: 'God the Father sent prophets to the Jews several times with His message'. - The phrase
Tell them which are bidden
means: 'The prophets were told to take God's message to the Jews'. - The word:
behold
means: 'The Jews were told to pay close attention to the message from God'. - The phrase
I have prepared my dinner
means: 'God the Father prepared everything in Heaven for those people who believed His message'. - The phrase
my oxen and my fatlings are killed
means: 'God prepared everything for people to celebrate true spiritual salvation'. - The phrase
and all things are ready
means: 'There is nothing to keep people from being there'. - The phrase
come unto the marriage
means: 'This is an invitation to more than going to Heaven. This invitation is given to the friends ofJesus
who proved their friendship by helping Him to take the Gospel to the people of this world'.
- The phrase
- C22-S3 : Some
made light
of the invitation and othersentreated (The servants) spitefully, and slew them
.- Our sentence starts with the word
But
. The prior sentence told us about the king sending messengers to his guests and old them to come to the marriage feast of his son. Our current sentence is still talking about the invitation while telling us that the guestsmade light of it
. Symbolically, in the parable, the prior sentence told us about God sending prophets to the Jews and old them to come to themarriage supper of the Lamb
. And, symbolically, our current sentence is still talking about the invitation while telling us that the Jewsmade light of it
. In addition, this parable can also be applied to the saved during the 'Church Age' on an individual basis. - The phrase
But they made light of it
means: 'They treatedThe word of God
as something which was optional and not a command'. - The phrase
and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise
means: 'Some felt that their place in this world was more important and others thought that the riches of this world were more important'. - The phrase
And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them
means: 'Many served devils and preached false religions while doing all they could to stop the message from God'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C22-S4 : the king brought justice to the people who rejected his invitation.
- Our sentence starts with the word
But
. Our sentence is still talking about how the people treated the messengers from the king (God) while turning to hoe the king (God) reacted. - The phrase
But when the king heard thereof
means: 'This is when the king, and God, knew absolutely how his messengers were treated'. - The phrase
he was wroth
. The wordwroth
is defined as: 'Very angry; much exasperated'. - The phrase
and he sent forth his armies
means: 'Symbolically, for the Jews, this happened after the Temple was destroyed'. In the lives of saved people today, God uses devils and other people to bring punishment upon the disobedient child of God. (Please see Colossians 3:8 about thechildren of wrath
). - The phrase
and destroyed those murderers
means: 'Destruction sometimes means death but sometimes it means severe loss while remaining alive'. - The phrase
and burned up their city
means: 'Symbolically, this relates to the tome that the Jews had no home country. Likewise, symbolically, it can relate to a child of God being out of church and estranged from family and other ways of having no basis for their life'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C22-S5 : the king recognized reality.
- The phrase
Then saith he to his servants
means: 'The king said this to his servants. Symbolically, it is what God the Father said to the angels about the Jewish nation when He hadJesus
start the 'Church Age'. God the Father will say the same to angels about people who refuse to work in His kingdom, even though they are saved'. - The phrase
The wedding is ready
means: 'Themarriage supper of the Lamb
is ready'. - The phrase
but they which were bidden were not worthy
means: 'God will not allow unworthy people to attend even if they are saved and in Heaven'.
- The phrase
- C22-S6 : the king invited others. Our sentence says:
Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage
. It means: 'The saved are God's servants in this world today. They are commanded to do this with the 'Great Commission'. In addition, the 144,000 virgin male Jews will have this command during thegreat tribulation
'. - C22-S7 : the wedding feast
was furnished with guests
.- The phrase
So those servants went out into the highways
means: 'Symbolically, this represents saved people taking the Gospel everywhere today'. - The phrase
and gathered together all as many as they found
means: 'All people are invited to be saved and to serve'. - The phrase
both bad and good
means: 'God will save anyone who acceptsJesus
as theirLord
and are willing to obey and serve'. - The phrase
and the wedding was furnished with guests
means: 'God determines when there are enough'.
- The phrase
- C22-S8 : the king found a man not properly prepared for the feast. This is the part of the parable which many want to deny and others deliberately pervert. Many 'good, Godly, fundamental, KJV only Baptists'
insisted that it must mean something other than what is literally written in
The word of God
. Such a claim makes them a lying hypocrite when they criticize others for doing the same thing.- The phrase
And when the king came in to see the guests
means: 'This was a practice in the days of the Gospel accounts. It is symbolic of God the Father seeing who is at thewedding feast of the Lamb
'. - The phrase
he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment
means: 'In those days, everyone worea wedding garment
except the bride and groom. No one was allowed to distract from the wedding couple'. - Revelation 19:8 says:
and to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints
. Notice that herwedding garment
isThe righteousness of saints
. Only Romans 3:10 says:As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one
. (That is a reference to Psalms 14:1-3 and Psalms 53:1-3). However, saved people are givenhis righteousness
(Matthew 6:33; Romans 3:25-26) when they obey by true Biblicalfaith
. The saved person who refuses to obey does not receivehis righteousness
. Ad a result, they do not havea wedding garment
and they are not allowed to attend themarriage supper of the lamb
, even though they are saved and in heaven. And, yes, I understand that this disagrees with lots of doctrines about who will be at themarriage supper of the lamb
. However, I have never heard any Biblically based argument and all are religious opinions. - The phrase
And he saith unto him
means: 'God will tell such a person the next phrase and the second next sentence'. - The phrase
Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment?
means: 'God calls himfriend
because he is saved and in Heaven. However, that is not enough to get him into themarriage supper of the lamb
'.
- The phrase
- C22-S9 : the man had no answer for his failure. Our sentence says:
And he was speechless
. Many saved people will be this way when they are judged by God and made aware of all of the rewards which God wanted to give them but could not because they refused to obey and to bring spiritualfruit
to God. - C22-S10 : the king judged the man for his failure.
- I got into a big argument about this phrase. because lots of different people have lots of different opinions about what it means and their opinions have nothing to do with the definitions of the words within the phrase. God does not change (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). Therefore, every word in the Bible has only one definition and no two words have the same definitions. In addition, according to the rule of context, the definition of a phrase, within
The word of God
, must be the combination of the definitions of the words within the phrase with the relationship between the words defining the relationship between the definitions. And, because God does not change, the definition of a phrase, withinThe word of God
, must be the same every place that it is used. Yes, there are different applications of the phrase, but no application defines the phrase. So, the people who claim that this phrase has three different definitions are wrong. Likewise, the people who claim that this phrase has a definition which is totally unrelated to the definitions of the words within it are also wrong. Please see the Message called Outer Darkness about this phrase. This phrase only occurs three times and all are within the Gospel of Matthew. However, The last sentence in chapter 25 speaks about the same thing without using that exact phrase. - The phrase
Then said the king to the servants
means: 'This is symbolic of God telling this to the angels'. - The phrase
Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness
means: 'This is what people insisted can not be in Heaven while the literal words require it to be in Heaven. Something which is not in the same place isoutside
and not in theouter
part of the group. In addition, people insisted that there can be no variableness in the amount of light in Heaven (no relative darkness). Such a claim does not have a Biblical basis and goes against the physical attributes oflight
, which God gave it at creation and never changed those attributes. In addition,light
is used symbolically for knowledge and understanding. This claim says thatThe word of God
lies when it says that God the Father knows things that no one else knows, not even theSon of God
'. - The phrase
there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth
means: 'This phrase is the real reason that people argue thatouter darkness
can not be in Heaven. People want to believe the lie of: 'no tears in heaven' even though God does notwipe away all tears from their eyes
(Revelation 21:4) until after thegreat with throne judgment
, when the only people are the saved in Heaven'. There is much more to that doctrinal argument but it needs to be a separate Study.
- I got into a big argument about this phrase. because lots of different people have lots of different opinions about what it means and their opinions have nothing to do with the definitions of the words within the phrase. God does not change (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). Therefore, every word in the Bible has only one definition and no two words have the same definitions. In addition, according to the rule of context, the definition of a phrase, within
- C22-S11 : the precept that is the basis of this parable. This is another Bible truth that people have fits about because it proves a favorite doctrinal error to be a lie.
- The phrase
For many are called
means: 'Here's why the prior parable is true and tells us how God will give different rewards to different saved people in Heaven'. Many preachers like to claim the lie that only preachers arecalled
. However, many of the Pauline Epistles make it clear that all saved people arecalled
. People need to study thatThe word of God
actually says instead of believing what some preacher says that they like in their natural sinful self and that they never verify. In addition,Jesus
put this sentence as the summary of the prior parable because everyone who is saved iscalled
. However,few are chosen
to attend themarriage supper of the Lamb
. - The phrase
but few are chosen
means: 'Out of all that are available in Haven, only a few are selected to receive this reward'. People hate this precept because they want to believe the lie that 'everyone will receive a mansion right next door to Peter'. I've had people literally (in message but not in words) tell me: 'I said the magic prayer of salvation. I can devote my life to fulfilling the lusts of the flesh andJesus
has no choice. He must forgive all of my sins and give me a mansion right next door to Peter'. I do not exaggerate. And, while people might deny that claim, they can only do so if their own doctrine and way of determining whatThe word of God
says does not allow it. If their doctrine allows personal opinion to have greater authority than what is literally written inThe word of God
, then their doctrine allows the prior claim.
- The phrase
- C22-S12 : the start of the next incident.
- The phrase
Then went the Pharisees
means: 'These were the self-appointed religious experts who claimed that they could do the job which God gave to the priests. They taught religious error instead of the pureword of God
'. - The phrase
and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk
means: 'They thought that they could match wits withJesus
and win'.
- The phrase
- C22-S13 : the challenge from the Herodians.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the details of how the Pharisees tried to accomplish the prior sentence. - The phrase
And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians
means: 'TheHerodians
supported the then current government. They group had differences with the Pharisees, but the two groups agreed to set aside their differences in order to attackJesus
'. - The phrase
saying, Master
means: 'They started out calling Him 'Teacher' with a capitalized word, which means the top level of teacher. They did not accept Him as God in human flesh and were using insincere flattery with the belief that such would sway Him'. - The phrase
we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth
means: 'This is a blatant lie. If they truly believed this then they would not be trying toentangle him in his talk
. The trueway of God
never leads to error. Math and the Scientific method haveThe way of God
as their basis. It would not be possible for Math and true science to always work in all circumstances if their basis,The way of God
, did not always work in all circumstances. Whether they knew and believed this truth, or not, is irrelevant. Their action, in this case, shows that they are insincere and that they believe that they can show that whatJesus
commands men to do does not always work in all circumstances'. - The phrase
neither carest thou for any man
means: 'They recognized thatJesus
did not agree that people who had higher social standing were, necessarily, better people but that He judged each person by their own actions. They acknowledged that He was like John the Baptist who publically condemned the king for his public sin'. - The phrase
for thou regardest not the person of men
means: 'This is why they recognized that the prior phrase was true'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C22-S14 : they ask
Jesus
for His opinion. Our sentence says:Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou?
means: 'Tells us what you think after we gave you this insincere flattery'. - C22-S15 : the trap question. Our sentence says:
Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
means: 'They could only imagine their answers and any answer which they could think of would be a trap which would make some of the Jews mad. However, God is not limited to our thinking and it is foolish to think you can trap God into doing what you want Him to do'. - C22-S16 :
Jesus
calls them on their true intention.- Our sentence starts with the word
But
. The prior sentence told us how these Jews thought they had trappedJesus
while this sentence, and the next few, show otherwise. - The phrase
But Jesus perceived their wickedness
means: 'Jesus
was not fooled by their insincere flattery and understood that they meant the exact opposite of what their words purported to claim'. - The phrase
and said
means: 'What follows is the answer fromJesus
where He calls them on their true intentions'. - The phrase
Why tempt ye me
means: 'This is what they were truly trying to do with their flattery. They were pretending to be His admirers while they intended to stab Him in the back with their words'. - The phrase
ye hypocrites?
means: 'Each and every one of you personally are liars who are pretending to be the exact opposite of what you really are'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C22-S17 :
Jesus
demands an illustrative coin. Our sentence says:Shew me the tribute money.
means: 'Jesus
demanded that they show an example of what they were arguing about'. - C22-S18 : they provided the penny. Our sentence says:
And they brought unto him a penny
. means: 'They gave Him a coin which was issued by the government'. - C22-S19 :
Jesus
asks His question.- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence.Jesus
is adding a thought which they did not consider. Many people complain about taxes but fail to consider what the government provides and that it takes money to provide the services which the government provides. However, that is not the true main consideration.Jesus
makes the main consideration clear in His answer to them and even with His answer written down, most people miss it. People are upset about the percentage of income which taxes take and corrupt governments. However, if the saved trulyrendered unto God the things that are God's
, then their life would be dedicated to the service of God. And, in that case, it would be God's responsibility to provide all that was required for them to live and pay their taxes. The true servants of God don't have to worry about taxes, because those are God's responsibility. No, their responsibility is to serve God. And these people claimed to be servants of God, they were truly servants of their own fleshly lusts. - The phrase
And he saith unto them
means: 'The following, and the second next sentence, is they answer fromJesus
'. - The phrase
Whose is this image and superscription?
means: 'Jesus
made them acknowledge that the money was created by the government'. If they really objected so much to the government, they could have lived off the land like John the Baptist did. However, they wanted the lifestyle provided by the government with out sharing the responsibilities of that lifestyle. That shows a sinful selfish nature.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C22-S20 : they answer the question. Our sentence says:
They say unto him, Caesar's
. That means 'The coin was made by the government. If they wanted to use the things of the government, and participate in what the government provided, they had to share the support of the government'. People who object today can move to the middle of nowhere in Canada or other places in the world. But, they are not willing to live without what governments provide. - C22-S21 :
Jesus
provides the righteous answer.- The phrase
Then saith he unto them
means: 'This is the final answer fromJesus
'. - The phrase
Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's
means: 'Pay your taxes or stop using the things provided by government, which would require moving to an area that no government controls'. - The phrase
and unto God the things that are God's
means: 'This is the most important requirement and what is most neglected, especially by religious people'. Remember that when corrupt government officials demanded tribute money that they were not entitled to,Jesus
had Peter go catch a fish and pay with money that God provided. He did not fight with the government nor did He worry about corrupt government officials. He worried about always doing what God the Father wanted and that is what we are also supposed to worry about. Most people see the physical part of this statement (Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's
) while they ignore the doctrine in the rest of the command (and unto God the things that are God's
). In our next chapter (Matthew 23:23), we read thatJesus
said:Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tiThe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone
. Therefore, we see that they did notrender unto God
the attitudes of the heart (have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith
) that God required.
- The phrase
- C22-S22 : they left in defeat.
- The phrase
When they had heard these words
means: 'This is when they reacted'. - The phrase
they marvelled
means: 'This is how they reacted emotionally'. - The phrase
and left him, and went their way
means: 'This is how they reacted physically'.
- The phrase
- C22-S23 : the Sadducees were next to try to challenge
Jesus
and also proved that they were fools.- The phrase
The same day came to him the Sadducees
means: 'This identifies the next group of fools and when they tried to prove that they were wiser than God in human flesh'. - The phrase
which say that there is no resurrection
means: 'This was their main claim to foolish wrong doctrine'. And, there are lots of people who are just as foolish today. - The phrase
and asked him, Saying, Master
means: 'Like the Pharisees and Herodians, they started out calling Him 'Teacher' with a capitalized word, which means the top level of teacher. They did not accept Him as God in human flesh and were using insincere flattery with the belief that such would sway Him'. - The phrase
Moses said
means: 'Their claim is a reference to Deuteronomy 25:5-10 with references to Genesis 38:8; Genesis 38:11 and Ruth 1:11 '. Please also see the Prophecy Fulfilled Section of the Significant Gospel Events Study for other Bible references to this prophecy. - The phrase
If a man die, having no children
means: 'This is the circumstance which Moses dealt with'. - The phrase
his brother shall marry his wife
means: 'This is the solution which Moses provided'. - The phrase
and raise up seed unto his brother
means: 'This is the result which Moses intended'.
- The phrase
- C22-S24 : they provide their ridiculous scenario.
- The phrase
Now there were with us seven brethren
means: ''. This is their made up circumstance. - The phrase
and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue
means: 'He married, died and produced no child'. - The phrase
left his wife unto his brother
means: 'This is what Moses commanded'.. - The phrase
Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh
means: 'Obviously, the woman was barren'.
- The phrase
- C22-S25 : they end their made up scenerio. Our sentence says:
And last of all the woman died also
. - C22-S26 : they ask what they believe is a trap question. Our sentence says:
Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven?
. - C22-S27 : they provide their reason for believing they had a trap. Our sentence says:
for they all had her
. Notice thatJesus
let them continue their foolishness until they were finished. Therefore, they can not claim that He trapped them or did not let them complete their presentation. - C22-S28 :
Jesus
tells them that their ridiculous scenario is based upon doctrinal error.- The phrase
Jesus answered and said unto them
means: 'Now that they had said their foolishness,Jesus
lets all listeners know that they are being foolish'. - The phrase
Ye do err
means: 'Each and every one of you personally are making an error'. - The phrase
not knowing the scriptures
means: 'Here's the first reason why you make that error'. - The phrase
nor the power of God
means: 'Here's the second reason why you make that error'.
- The phrase
- C22-S29 : the first reason their doctrine is wrong.
- The phrase
For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage
means: 'God made woman to be a companion of man in this life. The marriage vows are 'till death do us part' And Romans 7 makes it clear that this separation is an important basis for a Biblical doctrine'. Yes, there are religious fools, such as Mormons, who claim that vows last past marriage, and other religious fools, such as Muslims who claim that sex lasts into eternity, but both claims arte based upon the lusts of the flesh and neither is Biblical. - The phrase
but are as the angels of God in heaven
means: 'This phrase disproves the doctrinal error which is based upon Genesis 6:2-4 and which claims that angels had sex with women and caused them to birthmighty men which were of old, men of renown
. in this phrase,Jesus
is saying that angels do not participate in sex and neither do people after death'.
- The phrase
- C22-S30 : the second reason their doctrine is wrong.
- Our sentence starts with the word
But
. Where the prior sentence dealt with one part of their doctrinal error, this sentence changes to another part of their doctrinal error. Please see the Detailed Note for links to every place in the Bible where the title ofI am
is applied to God. - The phrase
But as touching the resurrection of the dead
means: 'Where the prior sentence dealt with the error of claiming that people had sex after death, this sentence deals with the claim that there is no resurrection from the dead'. - The phrase
have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying
means: 'WhereJesus
could have used several different arguments, He chose to stick with scripture. Notice that He says:which was spoken unto you by God
. If God did not speak the scriptures then He does not have to keep any of the promises found in scripture. And, as explained in 1Corinthians 15; then all religion is a vain lie and worse than useless'. - The phrase
I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
means: 'This is what God said. And the next sentence explains the significance of this statement'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C22-S31 : the truth which provides the precept showing their doctrinal error. Our sentence says:
God is not the God of the dead, but of the living
. The word:is
as: 'a current verb on ongoing existence'. Therefore, our phrase means: 'God currently is the God of the currently living Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob'. - C22-S32 : the
multitude...were astonished at his doctrine
.- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the reaction ofThe multitude
and reminds us that these fools picked these arguments in public. - The phrase
And when the multitude heard this
means: 'This is when they reacted'. - The phrase
they were astonished at his doctrine
means: 'This is how and why they reacted'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C22-S33 : the lawyers try next.
- Our sentence starts with the word
But
. This sentence continues the subject of religious leaders challengingJesus
while changing to tell about a different group. - The phrase
But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence
means: 'This is when the Pharisees gathered and tried again'. - The phrase
they were gathered together
means: 'They got together and found the one that they thought had the best chance of beatingJesus
'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C22-S34 : they try a question about the Mosaic Law.
- The phrase
Then one of them, which was a lawyer
means: 'The prior group of Pharisees tried with the Herodi and and asked about taxes. Now, a lawyer will try to tripJesus
with a question about spiritual law'. - The phrase
asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master
means: 'This was his attitude when he asked this question. Bytempting him
. he thought to getJesus
to say something wrong. And, as shown earlier in this chapter with the prior questions, he started out callingJesus
Master
('Teacher' with a capitalized word, which means the top level of teacher. He did not acceptJesus
as God in human flesh and were using insincere flattery with the belief that such would sway Him'). - The phrase
which is the great commandment in the law?
means: 'This was his question'. Please see the Section called Jesus and the Ten Commandments in the Significant Gospel Events Study for links to other places in the Bible where we see thatJesus
dealt with them and thegreat commandment
.
- The phrase
- C22-S35 :
Jesus
answers in this sentence and the next few sentences. all must be considered together for contextual reasons.- The phrase
Jesus said unto him
means: 'Jesus
gave this answer to his question. Mark gives us more details about this discussion and the notes for Mark explain why this lawyer could not trapJesus
into saying the wrong thing. in fact, Mark reportswhen Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, thou art not far from the kingdom of God
. The answer from the lawyer emphasized the religious activity while the answer fromJesus
emphasized the personal relationship with God. And, when the lawyer understood that he could not catchJesus
with a technical legal trick, the religious leaders gave up on trying to beatJesus
in arguments of doctrine'. - The phrase
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind
means: 'Please see the Detailed Note for the details of these words and their doctrinal significance'.
- The phrase
- C22-S36 :
Jesus
qualifies His answer. Our sentence says:This is the first and great commandment
. This is a continuation of the answer started in C22-S35. - C22-S37 :
Jesus
adds to His answer. Our sentence says:And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself
. This is a continuation of the answer started in C22-S35. By adding this sentence,Jesus
prevents the lawyer from emplacing religious responsibilities to the point of denying personal responsibilities to other people, especially to other Jews. The religious Jews thought they were better than everyone else and denied their responsibilities to their fellow man and by including this sentence,Jesus
cut off all religious doctrine which supported such doctrinal error. - C22-S38 :
Jesus
specifies the importance of His answers. Our sentence says:On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets
. This is a continuation of the answer started in C22-S35. By including this sentence,Jesus
is making these two sentences the summary for all of the 'Ten Commandments' and all of the Old Testament. And, by doing so,Jesus
cuts off any argument based upon the Old Testament which goes against these commandments because a legal argument can not go against the foundation of the law. - C22-S39 :
Jesus
asks His replying question.- The phrase
While the Pharisees were gathered together
means: 'They were still gathered expecting the lawyer to win the prior attack. And, the religious leaders had attackedJesus
three times. Therefore, He decided to stop any further attacks by proving that they could not answer His question because their additions to the doctrine of the Bible contradicted itself'. - The phrase
Jesus asked them, Saying
means: 'He deliberately asked the gathering of them to shut all of their mouths'. - The phrase
What think ye of Christ?
means: 'They taught manythings about what the Old Testament said about God'sMessiah
/Christ
. His next question points out the error of their doctrine'.
- The phrase
- C22-S40 : A further qualifying question. Our sentence says:
whose son is he?
. This is a simple question which sets them up for His next question. This is what they tried to do to Him three times and He now proves to them that He is better than they are at this type of argument. And, He is giving them notice that from that point into the future, He will destroy their reputation and authority any time they try to attack His authority in the future. - C22-S41 : the answer from the religious leaders. Our sentence says:
They say unto him, the Son of David
means: 'This was the accepted answer and it was correct'. - C22-S42 : the question which proves the error in their doctrine.
- The phrase
He saith unto them
means: 'Jesus
asked this question of the religious leaders'. - The phrase
how then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying
means: 'This proves that king David was a prophet giving prophecy when He wrote this Psalm'. Please also see the Prophecies Section of the Significant Gospel Events Study for other Bible references to this same prophecy. - The phrase
The LORD said unto my Lord
means: 'This is a quote of Psalms 110:1. This quote includes the next two phrases'. - The phrase
Sit thou on my right hand
means: 'This is the position of power. It makesJesus Christ
the second most powerful being anywhere, second only to God the Father'. - The phrase
till I make thine enemies thy footstool?
means: 'God the Father provides the power forJesus Christ
to defeat all devils and armies of Satan and men when He returns to this World'.
- The phrase
- C22-S43 : their doctrine claimed that a
son
could never belord
of his own father.Jesus
asked them:If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?
. The prior quote and this question prove that their doctrine was wrong. And, with this proof,Jesus
showed them that they would never win a doctrinal argument with Him. Thus, they stopped this type of attack on Him. - C22-S44 : the prior question shut the mouths of all of them.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the conclusion of this chapter. - The phrase
And no man was able to answer him a word
means: 'They could not answer Him because His questions proved that they taught doctrinal error while claiming to be the top experts on Bible doctrine'. - The phrase
neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions
means: 'No one challengedJesus
on doctrinal issues any more'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
Chapter 23 Summary: Wrong Religious Judgment Versus Righteous Judgment.
in this chapter, Jesus
starts out by warning the Jews, who were listening to Him, against The scribes and the Pharisees
. He says that they love all of the outward signs of being religious but have no evidence of a God-caused changed life. Their inward person does not match the outward show. That is why He says: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not
.
Next, Jesus
tells them what attitudes to have and how to act in order to show their inward attitudes. From those instructions, Jesus
returns to the Pharisees and says Woe!
to them several times. And, each time He describes their wrong religious attitudes and actions which caused Him to say, as God's messenger, Woe!
. He ends His sayings against them with: Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar
. After that, Jesus
ends the chapter with a prophesy against Jerusalem. Thus, in this chapter, we read about Jesus
pronouncing Woe!
against the religious leaders and prophesying their destruction. And, we read why he gave that judgment so that we could know what not to do. Finally, we also read different attitudes and actions we are to have in order to prove that we truly serve God.
Please see the Gospel Time Sequences for the time sequences of incidents reported in this chapter and for references where other Gospel accounts report the same incidents. Please also see the Prophecy Fulfilled Section of the Significant Gospel Events Study for Bible references to this chapter where prophecy was fulfilled.
In Matthew 23:1-12; Mark 12:38-40 and Luke 20:45-47; Jesus
talks to the general people and tells Beware of the scribes
. After this warning, Matthew's Gospel tells us How Jesus
says Woe!
to the scribes and Pharisees
and finishes up with a warning of judgment to come upon all who ignore His commandment to Beware of the scribes
. This warning takes the entire chapter of Matthew 23.
In Matthew 23:37-39 and Luke 13:34-35 Jesus
prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem because they rejected Him and crucified Him. prophecy Fulfilled Section of the Significant Gospel Events Study Bible references to similar events.
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides a chapter outline as:
1-4. Christ admonishes the people to follow the good doctrine, not the evil examples, of the Scribes and Pharisees.
5-12. His disciples must beware of their ambition.
13-33. He denounces eight woes against their hypocrisy and blindness,
34-39. and prophesies of the destruction of Jerusalem. '.
- C23-S1 :
Jesus
warns the multitude.- The phrase
Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying
means: 'Jesus
said this after He had shut the mouths of the religious leaders four times. These people were witnesses to it. Three times they started a doctrinal fight in public and he shut their mouth each time. Then He challenged them on their doctrine of authority and very quickly proved that their doctrine was wrong. All of that happened because the religious leaders wanted the people to follow them and ignoreJesus
. So new, in this chapter,Jesus
is warning about the judgment of God coming on the religious leaders and all of their followers. He is trying to make sure that the religious leaders never challenge Him on doctrine again. However, they show their true nature by having Him crucified. And, all of the Jews which supported their decision proved to God that they also deserved to go to Hell'. - The phrase
The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat
means: 'Jesus
warns them that these people (scribes and the Pharisees
) love to claim that they are the top authority representing God (sit in Moses' seat
)'. - The phrase
All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do
means: 'Obey their verbal doctrine'. - The phrase
but do not ye after their works
means: 'Don't follow their example'. - The phrase
for they say, and do not
means: 'Here's why. They are hypocrites. Don't follow the example of hypocrites'.
- The phrase
- C23-S2 : this is the evidence that they are hypocrites.
- The phrase
For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne
means: 'They make the service of God hateful'. - The phrase
and lay them on men's shoulders
means: 'They make others do more than God demands'. - The phrase
but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers
means: 'They make no personal effort to obey their own laws'.
- The phrase
- C23-S3 : their acts do not match their mouth.
- Our sentence starts with the word
But
. Where the prior sentence told us what The religious leaders refused to do, this sentence tells us what they did. - The phrase
But all their works they do for to be seen of men
means: 'Everything that they do is a religious show. They are concerned about what men think about them but not with what God thinks about them'. - The phrase
they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments
means: 'They wear obviously religious clothes all the time so that people think they are going to church all of the time. And, when people have only one set of special clothes for going to church, they don't do dirty manual labor while wearing those clothes. Likewise, they want people to know that they are never available to do dirty manual labor like helping someone in need'. - The phrase
And love the uppermost rooms at feasts
means: 'They always want everyone to recognize them as to top person in the local social order every time that they show up'. - The phrase
and the chief seats in the synagogues
means: 'They want the same treatment at church'. - The phrase
And greetings in the markets
means: 'They want everyone to constantly honor them'. - The phrase
and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi
means: 'They want everyone to constantly recognize their position as the top religious teacher'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C23-S4 : Do not claim a title that belongs to God.
- Our sentence starts with the word
But
. Where the prior sentence told us how the false religious leaders acted, this sentence tells us not to act the same way. - The phrase
But be not ye called Rabbi
means: 'Don't seek to be recognized as the top religious teacher'. Let me clarify. We can letChrist
work through us so long as we make it clear that it is not our own ability to find the answers and teach but that it is God working through us. - The phrase
for one is your Master, even Christ
means: 'Christ
is Who teaches us how to live and please God (Master
)'. This is repeated in the second next sentence, making it part of the law of God. - The phrase
and all ye are brethren
means: 'In and of ourselves, we are not significantly better than anyone else. Therefore, our own natural abilities are not capable of producing significant spiritual truths'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C23-S5 : Do not ley a man take God's role in your life.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds instructions on acknowledging the true source of our spiritual life. - The phrase
And call no man your father upon the earth
means: 'This is addressing a spiritualfather
and not the physical. The Roman Catholic doctrine directly violates this commandment because they claim that their priests and their pope are to be called spiritual fathers. No man and no religion produces spiritual life'. - The phrase
for one is your Father, which is in heaven
means: 'Only God produces spiritual life (Father
)'. (Please notice the capitalization, which makes this a title of God.)
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C23-S6 : Do not let a man take the role of
Christ
in your life.- The phrase
Neither be ye called masters
means: 'Don't try to claim that spiritual lessons come from you. All spiritual truths which are taught are really the result of God working through the person doing the teaching'. - The phrase
for one is your Master, even Christ
means: 'Here's why.Christ
is Who teaches us how to live and please God (Master
)'. This is repeating what the second prior sentence said, making it part of the law of God.
- The phrase
- C23-S7 : How to be great in the sight of God. Our sentence starts with the word
But
. Our prior sentences told us to not be full of pride. This sentence is changing direction and telling us how to be best in Heaven. We also seeJesus
say a similar thing in Mark 9:35 and Mark 10:44. Our sentence says:But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant
means: 'We must become the servant of all if we wish to be great in heaven'. - C23-S8 : God will do to us what is opposite to what we do to ourselves. We see the same doctrine, as this sentence says, in Luke 14:11; Luke 18:14 and 1Peter 5:6
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds how God will judge attitudes of pride. - The phrase
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased
means: 'The saved people who make themselves greater and fill themselves with pride will be taken down and embarrassed by God'. - The phrase
and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted
means: 'The saved people who make themselves less and lift up God working through them will be made more important by God'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C23-S9 : the first
Woe!
- Our sentence starts with the word
But
. Our prior sentence said that the saved who humble themselves will be blessed. Now this sentence changes directions and sayswoe
to religious people who filed themselves with pride. - The phrase
Woe unto you
means: 'This is the judgment of God'. - The phrase
scribes and Pharisees
means: 'This is who will receive that judgment of God'. - The phrase
hypocrites!
means: 'This is why they will receive that judgment of God. They claimed to be righteous while they were hidden sinners'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C23-S10 : What the
Pharisees
do spiritually.- The phrase
for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men
means: 'This is whyJesus
saidwoe!
in the prior sentence. They were supposed to take God's gospel to the world. Instead, they preached a false gospel which came from devils'. - The phrase
for ye neither go in yourselves
means: 'They were all lost and going to Hell'. - The phrase
neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in
means: 'They actively fought against people who preached the truth and insisted that people believe their lie so that the people could not be saved'.
- The phrase
- C23-S11 : the second
Woe!
. Our next sentence says whyJesus
said thiswoe!
.- The phrase
But woe unto you
means: 'This is the judgment of God'. - The phrase
scribes and Pharisees
means: 'This is who will receive that judgment of God'. - The phrase
hypocrites!
means: 'This is why they will receive that judgment of God. They claimed to be righteous while they were hidden sinners'.
- The phrase
- C23-S12 : What the
Pharisees
do physically.- The phrase
for ye devour widows' houses
means: 'Each and every one of them personally are so consumed with having the things of this world that they would even take the house of a widow and put her, and her children, out to live in the street'. - The phrase
and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation
means: 'In addition to that action, they put on a religious show to convince other men that they are holy'.
- The phrase
- C23-S13 : the third
Woe!
Our next sentence says whyJesus
said thiswoe!
.- The phrase
Woe unto you
means: 'This is the judgment of God'. - The phrase
scribes and Pharisees
means: 'This is who will receive that judgment of God'. - The phrase
hypocrites!
means: 'This is why they will receive that judgment of God. They claimed to be righteous while they were hidden sinners'.
- The phrase
- C23-S14 : What the
Pharisees
do religiously.- The phrase
for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte
means: 'Each and every one of them personally will go to any length required in order to make someone else a student of their evil religious ways'. An example of this type of attitude is the historical fact that the Spanish soldiers killed all of the young men in a conquered area and raped all of the women until they were pregnant and telling them that they had to raise their children as Roman Catholics. - The phrase
and when he is made
means: 'The next phrase is the end result'. - The phrase
ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves
means: 'Each and every one of them personally make sure that the younger generation become an even more perverted religious fanatic'.
- The phrase
- C23-S15 : the fourth
Woe!
- The phrase
Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say
means: 'Each and every one of them personally claimed to be a religious guide to others while they knew nothing about the spiritual reality and about God'. - The phrase
Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing
means: 'They claimed that it did not matter if someone called on God as their witness because God had no effect upon this world'. - The phrase
but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
means: 'However, if they claimed that the gold in the Temple backed their claim, then he owed the Temple the amount that was claimed to back a debit'. - Thus, they claimed that the gold was more powerful than God Who made the gold.
- The phrase
- C23-S16 : God's judgment of their error.
- The phrase
Ye fools and blind
means: 'Each and every one of them were fools and knew nothing about true value'. - The phrase
for whether is greater, the gold
means: 'They claimed that the gold was greater but gold is part of this physical reality that we shall all leave and that God will eventually destroy'. - The phrase
or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
means: 'The temple was where they worshipped God and received help from God'.
- The phrase
- C23-S17 : their next error in judgment.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds another foolish doctrine from the Pharisees. - The phrase
And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing
means: 'The altar was where they sacrificed to God and received help from God. Therefore, again, they said that the help from God meant nothing'. - The phrase
but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty
means: 'They claimed that the animal sacrificed was more valuable than the help from God, which is why they made the sacrifice in the first place. In other words, they were losing value to sacrifice to God and give true worship to God'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C23-S18 : How to judge righteously.
- The phrase
Ye fools and blind
means: 'Each and every one of them were fools and knew nothing about true value'. - The phrase
for whether is greater
means: 'Choose between the following two items as to which is greater'. - The phrase
The gift
means: 'The easily replaceable thing that is offered to God'. - The phrase
or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
means: 'Or the place where you meet with God and set aside the gift for God's use so that God will bless you'.
- The phrase
- C23-S19 : the right relative value of the altar.
- The phrase
Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar
means: 'This is a reference to the prior two sentences andJesus
is explaining the true spiritual significance. He is telling them how to figure the true spiritual value'. - The phrase
sweareth by it, and by all things thereon
means: 'The Pharisees claimed that the gift was greater than the gift and the altar. They claimed that the altar was only stones and not as valuable as the animal sacrifice. But, from the spiritual perspective, God considered the sacrifice to be part of the altar. Therefore, the altar truly was of greater value. The mistake of the Pharisees was to only look at the physical items and to not consider spiritual value of a sacrifice and of worship to God'.
- The phrase
- C23-S20 : the right relative value of the Temple.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the true way to value the temple. It is a reference back to whatJesus
said in the sentences just before He was talking about thealtar
. - The phrase
And whoso shall swear by the temple
means: 'When someone swears, they are calling upon whatever they swear by to be a witness of the truth of their oath'. - The phrase
sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein
means: 'When the Jews swore by the temple, they were calling upon God, and all worship to God, as a witness to their oath'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C23-S21 : the right relative value of Heaven.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds whatJesus
said aboutswearing by heaven
. - The phrase
And he that shall swear by heaven
means: 'This is what the Jews did even though they did not understand the true significance of it'. Such actions are very foolish. - The phrase
sweareth by the throne of God
means: 'They were calling on the judgment of God, and all of His Heavenly power and angers, to judge and punish any lie made in such an oath'. - The phrase
and by him that sitteth thereon
means: 'They were calling on the person of God, and His character, to bring judgment if their oath was a lie'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C23-S22 : the fifth
Woe!
. Our next two sentences says whyJesus
said thiswoe!
.- The phrase
Woe unto you
means: 'This is the judgment of God'. - The phrase
scribes and Pharisees
means: 'This is who will receive that judgment of God'. - The phrase
hypocrites!
means: 'This is why they will receive that judgment of God. They claimed to be righteous while they were hidden sinners'.
- The phrase
- C23-S23 : Here's why the prior sentence said
woe!
. They valued the smallest physical thing while ignoring matters of character.- The phrase
for ye pay tiThe of mint and anise and cummin
means: 'They counted the number of leaves and the number of seeds they had so that they could tiThe the exact right number'. - The phrase
and have omitted the weightier matters of the law
means: 'They ignored the most important parts of the Law because they were not physical things'. . . . - The phrase
judgment, mercy, and faith
means: 'These were theweightier matters of the law
. They expected God to give these to them but they refused to give the same to other people. They were like the servant in the parable of 'The lost forgiveness' (Matthew 18:23-35)'. - The phrase
these ought ye to have done
means: 'Each and every one of them personally should have done righteousjudgment, mercy, and faith
'. - The phrase
and not to leave the other undone
means: 'and not refused to tiThe and recognize God's provision for them'.
- The phrase
- C23-S24 : they are blind to true value.
- The phrase
Ye blind guides
means: 'Each and every one of them personally were spiritually blind even while they claimed to be guides in spiritual matters. As spiritually blind people, they did not truly understand how the spiritual worked. But they claimed to be spiritualguides
because they had memorized what other spiritually blind religious people claimed'. - The phrase
which strain at a gnat
means: 'This they did in order to claim that they kept the Mosaic Law, about what to eat, to the smallest possible amount'. - The phrase
and swallow a camel
means: 'This phrase, obviously, was an exaggeration of the physical. However,Jesus
said it as a symbolic expression of what they did spiritually. They accepted lies from devils which were such a obvious spiritual lie that it would be like the devil required them toswallow a camel
. And, they accepted these obvious spiritual lies because they were spiritually blind,'.
- The phrase
- C23-S25 : the sixth
Woe!
. Our next two sentences says whyJesus
said thiswoe!
.- The phrase
Woe unto you
means: 'This is the judgment of God'. - The phrase
scribes and Pharisees
means: 'This is who will receive that judgment of God'. - The phrase
hypocrites!
means: 'This is why they will receive that judgment of God. They claimed to be righteous while they were hidden sinners'.
- The phrase
- C23-S26 : Why the prior sentence said
woe
. This is another example of the truth said in C23-S23.- The phrase
for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter
means: 'They literally did this to an excess. Symbolically, this phrase speaks about their apparent religious zeal for appearances in their own personal life'. - The phrase
but within they are full of extortion and excess
means: 'These are obviously attitudes, of the heart, which cause sinful actions'.
- The phrase
- C23-S27 : the right symbolic action.
- The phrase
Thou blind Pharisee
means: 'This is a command to be done on the individual personal level. They were each personally spiritually blind and needed to obey this command in order to ever understand anything spiritual'. - The phrase
cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter
means: 'Clean up your personal attitudes of the heart first'. - The phrase
that the outside of them may be clean also
means: 'When the heart is spiritually clean, it will cause the outward actions to also be clean'.
- The phrase
- C23-S28 : the seventh
Woe!
. Our next two sentences says whyJesus
said thiswoe!
.- The phrase
Woe unto you
means: 'This is the judgment of God'. - The phrase
scribes and Pharisees
means: 'This is who will receive that judgment of God'. - The phrase
hypocrites!
means: 'This is why they will receive that judgment of God. They claimed to be righteous while they were hidden sinners'.
- The phrase
- C23-S29 : How God views them spiritually.
- The phrase
for ye are like unto whited sepulchres
means: 'This is what they looked like spiritually. The rest of this sentence explains why He said this. This is also why the prior sentence saidWoe
'. - The phrase
which indeed appear beautiful outward
means: 'This defines the outward appearance of the illustration byJesus
and also explained their outward appearance'. - The phrase
but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness
means: 'This is what was on the inside of the illustration and what God saw on the inside of those religious men'.
- The phrase
- C23-S30 :
Jesus
clearly explains His illustration so that there is no misunderstanding of His spiritual meaning.- The phrase
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men
means: 'Each and every one of them personally matched His illustration. Yes, their outside looked good'. - The phrase
but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity
means: 'Their personal inside was totally different'. Please see the Detailed Note for the definitions of these words.
- The phrase
- C23-S31 : the eighth
Woe!
. Our next two sentences says whyJesus
said thiswoe!
.- The phrase
Woe unto you
means: 'This is the judgment of God'. - The phrase
scribes and Pharisees
means: 'This is who will receive that judgment of God'. - The phrase
hypocrites!
means: 'This is why they will receive that judgment of God. They claimed to be righteous while they were hidden sinners'.
- The phrase
- C23-S32 : they lie about how they would have acted in the past.
- The phrase
because ye build the tombs of the prophets
means: 'They make a monument out of the tomb of the prophet that they don't have to listen to. The common Jew regarded them as messengers from God. Now that they are no longer around to condemn the religious leaders, they can lie to the general Jew and claim that they also agreed with the prophet so that the common Jew is fooled into thinking that the religious people agreed with the message from God'. - The phrase
and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous
means: 'They decorate these tombs also for the same reason'. - The phrase
And say
means: 'They tell lies because there is no one around to call them on their lies'. - The phrase
If we had been in the days of our fathers
means: 'This is what they claim, but the next few sentences make it clear that they were liars'. And, if there was any doubt, they demanding thatJesus
be crucified, in spite of the common Jew regarding Him as a true prophet. Their future action proves that these claims were lies. - The phrase
we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets
means: 'This is what they claim and this is proven to be a lie by their future actions withJesus
'.
- The phrase
- C23-S33 : they have the same character as the men who
killed the prophets
.- The phrase
Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves
means: 'Here,Jesus
is referencing their prior behavior towards Him. In just the prior chapter, which is part of the same discussion as this chapter, they tried toentangle him in his talk
three times. And, asJesus
knew and had prophesied, they would next try todestroy
Him, which leads to the crucifixion. In just the prior sentence we read that they claimed that they would have acted differently. However, their current behavior matches the behavior of their fathers when their fathers decided to kill the prophets. They were each personallywitnesses unto yourselves
by their actions'. - The phrase
that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets
means: 'A child receives the character of their parents. This phrase is not speaking about the then current religious leaders being physical descendants of the elders but of their having the same character'.
- The phrase
- C23-S34 : they will do the same to
Jesus
. Our sentence says:Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers
. It means: 'Go ahead and crucify your God-given savior and prove that each and every one of you personally are as evil as your fathers'. - C23-S35 : they act like the first helper of Satan.
- The phrase
Ye serpents
means: 'Each and every one of you personally display the character of the serpent when it tempted Eve'. - The phrase
ye generation of vipers
means: 'Each and every one of you personally act like a sneaky poisonous snake' - The phrase
how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
means: 'Their only hope was to change their character to become like God and they already proved that they refused to do that. Therefore, they each earnedThe damnation of hell
'.
- The phrase
- C23-S36 : Prophecy of how they will treat true believers. Luke 11:49-51 is an equivalent sentence but it was said at another time and place. This shows us that
Jesus
taught the same doctrine multiple times.- The phrase
Wherefore, behold
means: 'Pay close attention to the prophecy which is given because of your character'. - The phrase
I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes
. The wordsend
means: 'is used for present tense and future tense'. Therefore, our phrase is telling us whatJesus
will do in the future. In addition, since He starts fromThe blood of righteous Abel
, this prophecy is not limited to the Jews. And, in context,Jesus
has been identifying religious fanatics who murdered God's prophets and who would crucifyJesus
. Therefore, this prophecy is against all religious fanatics who have the same character. - The phrase
and some of them ye shall kill and crucify
means: 'History has told us that this has been done'. - The phrase
and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues
means: 'History has told us that this has been done. Think about the testimony of Paul'. - The phrase
and persecute them from city to city
means: 'Think why Pilgrims and others moved to America'. - The phrase
That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth
means: 'This is the judgment that God will bring upon all such people'. - The phrase
from the blood of righteous Abel
means: 'The murder of Able is recorded in Genesis 4:8 '. - The phrase
unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar
means: 'The murder of Zacharias son of Barachias is recorded in 2Chronicles 24:20-22 '.
- The phrase
- C23-S37 : the men living then would do these things. Our sentence says:
Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation
. Please note thatJesus
did not say only this generation. And, I believe there is historical evidence of this prophecy occurring more than once. - C23-S38 : Why Jerusalem will be punished. They did not have to follow their religious leaders but they did so without verifying the accuracy of the doctrine which they were taught.
- The phrase
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets
means: 'Jerusalem was the religious center for the Jews. The entire city was blamed because they allowed their religious leaders to teach doctrines from devils and obey commandments from devils. Many people blame the leaders and claim that the people have no power. However, the truth is that the leaders can not lead people against what they truly believe. And, we see this truth in the number of times that the religious leaders wanted to act againstJesus
,but they feared the people
'. - The phrase
and stonest them which are sent unto thee
means: 'This is only one way that the people killed the prophets which God sent to them to correct their doctrine before He had to punish them'. - The phrase
how often would I have gathered thy children together
means: 'God wanted to gather the people and teach them truth which would bet them blessings from God'. - The phrase
even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings
means: 'God wanted to protect His people'. - The phrase
and ye would not!
means: 'God gave each of us a free will and will not take it away, not even to keep people out of an eternity in thelake of fire
'.
- The phrase
- C23-S39 : Prophecy of the future of Jerusalem. Our sentence says
Behold, your house is left unto you desolate
. It means: 'God would no longer work through the Jews to take His Gospel to the world. Yes, the Jerusalem Church was the original 'Mother Church'. And, yes, thousands of Jews were saved and they brought the Gospel to the Samaritans and the Gentiles. But the religious leaders complained when Peter did what God told him to do in order to accomplish God's will. In addition, they kept preaching a works salvation claiming that Jews had to be circumcised in order to be saved and had to keep Jewish traditions in order to be right with God. Three times God sent them a message to correct their doctrine. After that, God sent the Roman Army to destroy the Temple so that they could not keep their traditions. And, I believe, that is when God brought a judgment upon them fora sin unto death
(Romans 6:16). God used the church in Antioch to take His Gospel around the world. And, Jerusalem wasleft desolate
because they had no one left to produce spiritual life in the New Testament. Thus, we see this prophecy fulfilled at least two ways'. - C23-S40 : When the prophecy will end.
- The phrase
For I say unto you
means: 'Here's whyJesus
gave the prior prophecy'. - The phrase
Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say
means: 'They would not get a chance at true salvation until they changed their attitude'. - The phrase
Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord
means: 'This must be their attitude individually and as a nation before they can get saved. Without an individual attitude change, they will refuse to listen and will die lost. Also, any surviving Jews will have this attitude whenChrist
returns to this Earth because they will be looking at extinction. And, any Jew who will still refuse to acceptJesus Christ
as theirLord
andKing
will be killed during thegreat tribulation
. That is the only way that God can fulfill the prophecies given'.
- The phrase
Chapter 24 Summary: Prophecy of Future Events.
All of Matthew 24:1-25:30; Matthew 10:17-23; Mark 13; Luke 21:5-36 and Luke 21:8-36 are dealing with prophecies of future events. Please see the notes for each sentence for the details related to these prophecies. Please also see the Prophecies; Prophecy Fulfilled; Promises and other Sections of the Significant Gospel Events Study Bible references to similar events.
Please also see the Doctrinal Study called False things According to the Bible in relationship to the many warnings in our chapter.
While these references all deal with the same general subject, the details vary. No single references has all of the details and each reference has details not found in the other references. Therefore, all need to be studied together in order to understand all that can be understood. In addition, the notes in the related Book Studies provide further details and links to matching references within the Bible. Therefore, they should also be studied for a fuller understanding.
Some of these prophecies apply to the saved of today and some do not. Unfortunately, too many so-called 'prophecy experts' do not make this distinction. Within these chapters Jesus
said: such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet
and these are the beginnings of sorrows
. Many preachers miss the fact that the sentences associated with these phrases are prophecies that apply to today.
Many people fail to realize that true, unfulfilled, Biblical prophecy is actually a promise, from God, about what will happen in the future. Therefore, we can find some promises that can apply to us personally which are within these prophecies.
With that in mind, we need to realize that Satan has lots of ministers who proclaim all kinds of lies about unfulfilled prophecy. For example, there are current events which match where Jesus
said: The end shall not be yet
. However, there are lots of preachers who deliberately lie or who are deceived and claim that the 'Rapture' (The end
) has to happen immediately. Now, with that error acknowledged, we can find some promises that can apply to us personally which are within these prophecies. They are:
- Matthew 24:6; Mark 13:7 and Luke 21:9 tell us:
And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet
. - Matthew 24:9-10; Mark 13:12-13 and Luke 21:12 tell us:
Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved
. History tells us that this prophecy has been fulfilled in Hitler’s Germany and other places and times. Therefore, it can not be only for thegreat tribulation
- Matthew 24:42-51 tells us that God will judge us for if we stay true to our profession of salvation or if we will act like lost and carnal people. Likewise, Mark 13:35-37 and Luke 21:36 say to
watch
. Therefore, we are warned to maintain a good testimony through our death regardless of what circumstances that God lets us endure.
In addition to those divisions, there is also a division based upon time. The three broad categories, of time, are:
- Matthew 24:4-13; Matthew 10:17-23; Mark 13:5-13 and Luke 21:8-19 have prophecies of events before the 'Rapture'.
- Matthew 24:14-31; Mark 13:14-27 and Luke 21:20-28 have prophecies of events that will happen to Jews during the
great tribulation
. - Matthew 24:32; Mark 13:26-37 and Luke 21:29-38 give the 'Parable of the Fig Tree' and the command to
watch
. This is a command for today.
Now, with those references separated, we can deal with the other prophecies within our chapter.
Matthew 24:1-2; Mark 13:1-2 and Luke 21:5-6 also prophesy the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. In addition, Luke 19:41-44 prophesies the destruction of Jerusalem and of the Temple in Jerusalem.
In Matthew 24:3; Mark 13:3-4 and Luke 21:7; we read that the disciples asked Jesus
: Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?
(These sentences also warn us against false christs
. Please see the Doctrinal Study called False things according to the Bible for links to other false things which God warns us against.)
Matthew 10:17-23; Matthew 24:4-13; Mark 13:5-13 and Luke 21:8-19 have prophecies of events before the 'Rapture'.
Matthew 24:4-5; Matthew 24:23-25; Mark 13:5-6 and Luke 21:8 give the same message about false Christs
. In addition, Matthew 24:10-13 warns about people claiming to be saved but living in hate instead of in love.
Matthew 24:6-8; Mark 13:7-8 and Luke 21:9-11 warn about wars and rumours of wars
. We are told that the end shall not be yet
. Therefore, anyone who claims otherwise is a liar and / or deceived and is deceiving others.
Matthew 24:9-13; Mark 13:9-13 and Luke 21:12-19 warn about persecution of the true witnesses
of Christ
by religious and civil authorities. In addition, Matthew 24:20-13 warns about false prophets
and people claiming to be saved but living in hate instead of in love.
Matthew 24:14 and Mark 13:10 says, that The gospel must first be published among all nations
. Matthew tells us that this is the: gospel of the kingdom
. That means that this must happen during the great tribulation
because the gospel of the kingdom
is for Jews and not for the 'Church Age'.
Matthew 24:14-31; Mark 13:14-27 and Luke 21:20-28 have prophecies of events that will happen to Jews during the great tribulation
.
Matthew 24:15-18; Mark 13:14-16 and Luke 21:20-22 warn about The abomination of desolation
(The beast
of Revelation) being in the temple and presenting himself as 'god in human flesh', but in fact will be a devil in human flesh. In addition, the Jews are warned to flee to the mountains. These verses speak about the time known as the great tribulation
.
Matthew 24:15-18; Mark 13:18-20 and Luke 21:20-22 warn the Jews to pray about the circumstances when they have to flee.
Matthew 24:19; Mark 13:17 and Luke 21:23 say: woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
. This warning is not for the 'Church Age'.
As part of the great tribulation
, Luke 21:8; Matthew 24:4-5; Matthew 24:23-25; Mark 13:5-6 and Mark 13:21-22 warn about more false christs. (Please see the Doctrinal Study called False things according to the Bible for links to other false things which God warns us against.)
Matthew 24:25 and Mark 13:23 warn us to personally take ye heed
of true Biblical prophecy.
Matthew 24:29-30; Mark 13:24-25 and Luke 21:24-26 warn about terrible things that will happen just before the return of Christ
.
Matthew 24:27-31; Mark 13:26-27 and Luke 21:27-28 tell about Christ's
return to Earth to rule and reign.
Matthew 24:31; Mark 13:27 and Luke 21:28 tell about Christ
gathering the Jews from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven
.
Matthew 24:32; Mark 13:28-30 and Luke 21:29-32 give the 'Parable of the Barren Fig Tree' and the command to watch
.
Matthew 24:34; Mark 13:30 and Luke 21:32 tell us Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done
.
Matthew 24:35; Mark 13:31 and Luke 21:33 say: Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away
. This is a promise that God will preserve His word and that we can rely upon it not matter what circumstances we find ourselves in. Please see the Promises Section of the Significant Gospel Events Study for Bible references to similar events.
Matthew 24:35-36; Mark 13:31-37 and Luke 21:33-36 give us a final warning and final commandments which are based upon these prophecies and on the precept which started these Bible references.
Matthew 24:37-39 and Luke 17:26-27 tell us that the days of the great tribulation
will be like the days of Noah.
Matthew 24:40-51 give us the command to watch
with illustrations and a parable to teach the application.
In Matthew 24:43-44 and Luke 12:39; we read the 'Parable to Watch for the thief'. It is also found in the Table of Parables in the New Testament.
In Matthew 24:45-51 and Luke 12:42-48; we read the 'Parable of the Wise Steward'. It is also found in the Table of Parables in the New Testament. Please also see the Doctrinal Study called: godly Financial Principals; related to these verses.
HomeThe Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides a chapter outline as:
1-2. Christ foretells the destruction of the temple;
3-28. what and how great calamities shall be before it;
29-35. the signs of his coming to judgment.
36-41. And because that day and hour are unknown,
42-51. we ought to watch like good servants, expecting every moment our Master's coming. '.
- C24-S1 :
Jesus
and His disciples left the religious crowd.- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds a report of a new incident.Jesus
had been dealing with the multitude and the religious leaders in the Temple. Now our chapter tells us thatJesus
and His disciples left the Temple. This chapter, and the next chapter, report prophecies and doctrines whichJesus
gave to His disciples but not to others. Once more, we see that God gives certain blessings to those people who are close to Him which He does not give to others. - The phrase
And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple
means: 'Jesus
left, with His disciples, from the Temple where he had been speaking to the multitude and the religious leaders. The verses in this chapter and the next chapter are told only to His disciples'. - The phrase
and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple
means: 'The disciples were impressed by the buildings and the workmanship required in order to create them'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C24-S2 :
Jesus
responds to what they point out.- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the response fromJesus
. - The phrase
And Jesus said unto them
means: 'Jesus
said this'. - The phrase
See ye not all these things?
. Today we would say: 'Don't you see these things' in order to get people to look closer and consider what they are looking at.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C24-S3 :
Jesus
prophesies their future.- The phrase
verily I say unto you
means: 'This is a prophecy thatJesus
wants them to verify when it happens'. - The phrase
There shall not be left here one stone upon another
means: 'History tells us that this was done by the Roman Army'. - The phrase
that shall not be thrown down
means: 'Reportedly, the Temple was burned, melted the gold and the gold ran between the stones of the Temple. And, the Roman Army threw down all of the stones so that they could get at the melted gold'.
- The phrase
- C24-S4 : the disciples seek more prophecy.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds thatJesus
sat down to teach His disciples. What He taught to just them is in this chapter and the next chapter. - The phrase
And as he sat upon the mount of Olives
means: 'This was whereJesus
sat'. - The phrase
The disciples came unto him privately, saying
means: 'The following was revealed privately and only to the disciples'. - The phrase
Tell us, when shall these things be?
means: 'They were asking for prophecy. Pay attention to what they asked and to the answers given. They askedwhen
and were only given general signs, not an exact measure of time. God reveals manythings. But, God always keeps the exact time and how hidden for unfulfilled promises and unfulfilled prophecies. Therefore, anyone who claims to know the exact time that God will fulfill a prophecy is a liar who received his so-called answer from a devil'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C24-S5 : the disciples specify the prophecy they are most interested in.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds two more questions about future prophecies. - The phrase
and what shall be the sign of thy coming
means: 'This is a very interesting question. They refused to accept His prophecies of His suffering and death. Therefore, they missed the prophecy of His resurrection from the dead because they had to accept His death first. Likewise, this question requires their first accepting that He will go away. I can't say if they accepted that He would go to Heaven. But, in order to ask this question, they had to first accept that He would leave for some significant amount of time'. - The phrase
and of the end of the world?
means: 'Now, this is a question that is easy for them to ask once they accept that this world will end. Too many people believe the religious lie that the world is a gazillion years old and that it will last for another gazillion or more years. According to the only reliable measurement of the physical age of the world, the decay of the magnetic wield of the world, it is less than ten thousand years old. According to the times given in the Bible, it is just over seven thousand years old. People believe the religious lie of Evolution because they want to believe that this world will last forever and that man will find a physical cure for the corruptions of sin called disease and aging. In order to ask this question, they had to accept the fact that this physical world will end some day. And, that means they had to reject the religious lies which are similar to Evolution'. - There are two basic reasons why people want to know the answers to these questions. The first reason is wanting to be full of pride and to be seen by other men as an expert on prophecy.
Jesus
condemned the religious people who were full of pride. The second reason is that people want to live a life of fulfilling the lusts of the flesh and, at the last moment, start serving God. They hope that God will give them credit for spending their life serving Him because that is what they plan on doing when he returns. That is a belief that God is too stupid to know what they really did most of their life. That is a denial that God is recording all of the attitudes and actions of our entire life. None of us know when our death will happen. Therefore,Jesus
taught us to devote our entire life to the service of God and then we don't have to worry about when we will leave this physical world and face the judgment of God.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C24-S6 :
Jesus
starts with a warning against false prophecy.- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds a warning fromJesus
. When it comes to unfulfilled prophecy, this is the first and most important thing to be aware of. The world is full of lying deceivers and prophecy attracts many of them. - The phrase
And Jesus answered and said unto them
means: 'The first answer fromJesus
was a warning'. - The phrase
Take heed that no man deceive you
means: 'This is the warning'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C24-S7 : Here's why the warning is given first.
- The phrase
For many shall come in my name, saying
means: 'There are many lying deceivers who will claim to be from theLord Jesus Christ
, but who actually represent devils and their lies'. - The phrase
I am Christ; and shall deceive many
means: 'Trueantichrists
are in 1John and 2John. And, the doctrine of them is covered in the Study called False things according to the Bible. Too many of God's people believe the lie from those deceivers that theBeast
, of Revelation; is the only Biblicalantichrist
. As a result, God's people ignore the ones who are alive in their time and are deceived by them'.
- The phrase
- C24-S8 :
Jesus
warns against false signs.- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds another warning. Notice the use of the personal pronoun ofye
. We each are deceived or believe truth on a personal basis. - The phrase
And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars
means: 'We all personally hear manythings which are designed to make us afraid or to be, at least, sources of gossip'. - The phrase
see that ye be not troubled
means: 'This is how we are to react'. - The phrase
for all these things must come to pass
means: 'These things happening is not optional. These things are part of God's test for all people'. - The phrase
but the end is not yet
means: 'When COVID first happened, many claimed: 'The 'Rapture' is about to happen!'. I told people 'No!, It'd not' because of this particular prophecy. AsJesus
is warning us, we need to be careful about declaring that some unfulfilled prophecy is about to happen. We need to stay calm and keep serving God because Satan uses these things to get God's people to stop serving and to sit around worrying about what is not about to happen'. (In one of his Epistles, Paul rebuked people who were doing that exact thing.)
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C24-S9 : Here's why many people will believe false prophets and false signs.
- The phrase
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom
means: 'The fighting between government leaders will cause people to believe that the end is about to happen'. Think about how many people worry about World War three and men destroying the world with nuclear bombs. - The phrase
and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places
means: 'Natural disasters will cause other people to believe that some supernatural force is causing the disaster and will destroy the world. Yes, a supernatural force, called God, is causing those things. However, it is not to destroy the world but to cause people to turn towards God in belief'.
- The phrase
- C24-S10 : What the signs truly mean. Our sentence says:
All these are the beginning of sorrows
. ForThe people caught in the disaster, it is a cause ofsorrows
. But, as we already read:but the end is not yet
. Thesesorrows
are for some people but not for the whole world. - C24-S11 : Resulting persecution for Jews and for the true church.
- The phrase
Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted
means: 'This has happened for the Jews and for the true church at different times'. - The phrase
and shall kill you
means: 'This also has happened for the Jews and for the true church at different times'. - The phrase
and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake
means: 'This happened for the Jews about the time of World War Two'. This can still happen in the future. People use religion for an excuse to murder more than just about any other reason.
- The phrase
- C24-S12 : Resulting attitudes.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds other wrong reactions. Persecution and threat of death cause many people to turn against those that they should support. - The phrase
And then shall many be offended
means: 'Abusers always blame the victim for the abuse. They claim that the victim forced them to be abusive. And fearful people support the abuser hoping that their support will protect them from abuse'. - The phrase
and shall betray one another
means: 'Many people will do this when they believe it will deflect attention from themselves'. - The phrase
and shall hate one another
means: 'Many people believe the liars who claim that the people of their own group are the cause of then not having what they want. As a result, they hate the victims instead of calling the liars on their lies'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C24-S13 : Future deception.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds another related prophecy. - The phrase
And many false prophets shall rise
means: 'When people are having a hard time, they look for any way to get out of their own trouble and for any hope of the trouble ending. As a result,false prophets
claim to know the future and people pay them and make excuses when they are proven to be liars. If someone is good at spinning a believable lie, he is supported no matter how much evidence there is that he is a liar'. - The phrase
and shall deceive many
means: 'Many people are fools and believe lies when those lies match what they want to believe in their natural sinful reasoning'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C24-S14 : Effect upon people.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds another related prophecy. - The phrase
And because iniquity shall abound
. The wordiniquity
means: 'ongoing lifestyle sins'. Therefore, our phrase means: 'When many people see that most people seem to be getting away with ongoing lifestyle sins, they become discouraged about living right, especially when they are persecuted for doing so'. - The phrase
The love of many shall wax cold
means: 'With their discouragement, they usually keep up the outward form of religion, but turn their own heart away from their responsibilities in their ongoing personal relationship with God'. (See Revelation 2:4. The people in that church were not lost, they only had let their love get cold.)
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C24-S15 : Requirement to be assured of true salvation.
- Our sentence starts with the word
But
. The prior sentence told us about saved people who turned away from serving God. This sentence tells us about saved people who continue to serve God. Devils have caused people to believe error by having people claim thatendurance
is required for true salvation and that anyone who does notendure unto the end
must be lost. However, that does not match the context. Our context makes this phrase how we have assurance of our salvation. It does not mean that the person who does notendure unto the end
must be lost. It only means that they will not have the assurance of their salvation. - The phrase
But he that shall endure unto the end
means: 'This phrase is providing the contrast to the prior sentence where the saved person had a love ofJesus
whichwaxed cold
'. - The phrase
The same shall be saved
means: 'This is how someone has assurance of true salvation'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C24-S16 : What God will accomplish before the end.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds another related prophecy. - The phrase
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations
. There is a problem interpreting this sentence. Nations come and go. There have been people who went places and brought the Gospel without a record being kept. While lots of people want to argue if, and when, this first phrase has been accomplished, only God knows the truth. - The phrase
and then shall the end come
means: 'At the start of this chapter, they asked about the end ofThe great tribulation
andThe end of the world
. I personally believe that this sentence speaks aboutThe end of the world
. However, it can be argued otherwise'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C24-S17 : the sign for Jews to run and hide.
- The phrase
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation
means: 'This phrase identifies the person which Revelation calls theBeast
but which the trueantichrists
have convinced many people that he is the onlyantichrist
'. - The phrase
spoken of by Daniel the prophet
means: 'This is referencing Daniel 9:23-27 '. - The phrase
stand in the holy place
means: 'This is referencing theholy of holies
in the Temple which still has to be built'. - The phrase
(whoso readeth, let him understand:)
means: 'This requires spiritual understanding. - The phrase
Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains
means: 'This is warning Jews which are alive during thegreat tribulation
'. - The phrase
Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house
means: 'This is another warning to Jews which are alive during thegreat tribulation
'. - The phrase
Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes
means: 'This is another warning to Jews which are alive during thegreat tribulation
'.
- The phrase
- C24-S18 : the danger to Jews who can't run.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds awoe
to women with children which slow them down. There is a saying of: 'nits make flees'. People who are bent upon genocide definitely will kill infants, children and women. - The phrase
And woe unto them that are with child
means: 'Pregnant women have problems running fast'. - The phrase
and to them that give suck in those days!
means: 'Women carrying infants have problems running fast'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C24-S19 : the possible danger of weather to the Jews.
- Our sentence starts with the word
But
. Where the prior sentence warned about children slowing down mothers, this sentence warns about weather slowing down everyone. - The phrase
But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter
means: 'Jesus
already warned to not get coats and, therefore, there is no time to prepare for travel in any bad weather'. - The phrase
neither on the sabbath day
means: 'It will be against the law to travel then'. - The phrase
For then shall be great tribulation
means: 'Here's why the Jews should pray like the first phrases said to do'. The Jews who are caught will be tortured to death with no consideration other than that they are Jews. - The phrase
such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time
means: 'Never before that time has there been as bad of a time for the Jews, including all of the times that people already tried to exterminate the Jews'. - The phrase
no, nor ever shall be
means: 'There will never be a similar time after that'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C24-S20 : the possible danger to everyone.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds why God has to end those days. - The phrase
And except those days should be shortened
means: 'Except God stops the murderous rage that devils will whip people into'. - The phrase
there should no flesh be saved
means: 'Everyone will try to murder everyone else until there is no one left alive'. - The phrase
but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened
means: 'God will end the rage to keep the Jews alive who returned to a true relationship with God'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C24-S21 : What to not believe. This is a warning to all saved against true
antichrists
.- The phrase
Then if any man shall say unto you
means: 'After you understand what is coming (then
), avoid being deceived'. - The phrase
Lo, here is Christ, or there
means: 'If someone tells you that theSon of God
has returned to rule this world'. - The phrase
believe it not
means: 'Enough said'.
- The phrase
- C24-S22 : Here's why the warning of the prior sentence was given.
- The phrase
For there shall arise false Christs.
means: 'These are the trueantichrists
which we are warned against in 1John and 2John '. - The phrase
and false prophets
means: 'The doctrine of them is covered in the Study called False things according to the Bible '. - The phrase
and shall shew great signs and wonders
means: 'They will do true miracles using the power of devils'. Right now devils are restricted in what they can do and will be restricted until God'sHoly Ghost
is removed at the 'Rapture'. However, once He is removed (2Thessalonians 2:7), then there is no restriction on devils doing miracles. - The phrase
insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect
means: 'The only way that people will avoid being deceived is to know the character of God so well that they can tell if a person is representing a devil or the true God'.
- The phrase
- C24-S23 : the warning in prophecy. Our sentence says:
Behold, I have told you before
. It means: 'Pay close attention to the prophecy and don't lose any of the true meaning of the prophecy'. - C24-S24 : What to not believe and where to not go.
- The phrase
Wherefore if they shall say unto you
means: 'These are lies which are to not be believed'. - The phrase
Behold, he is in the desert
means: 'The first lie'. - The phrase
go not forth
means: 'Don't go looking'. - The phrase
behold, he is in the secret chambers
means: 'The second lie'. - The phrase
believe it not
means: 'Enough said'.
- The phrase
- C24-S25 : the coming of
Jesus Christ
will be sudden and unexpected. This sentence, and the next sentence, can be applied to the 'Rapture' or to the 'Second Coming'.- The phrase
For as the lightning cometh out of the east
means: 'It occurs suddenly and with no warning'. - The phrase
and shineth even unto the west
means: 'It can be seen a long ways away'. - The phrase
so shall also the coming of the Son of man be
means: 'This is our example of the 'Rapture' and of the 'Second Coming''.
- The phrase
- C24-S26 : Here's why people will know that the prior sentence is true. Many birds will gather to eat the many carcasses.
- The phrase
For wheresoever the carcase is
means: 'This will happen any place where bodies drop because they have been abandoned by peoples' spirits and souls'. - The phrase
there will the eagles be gathered together
means: 'The birds will clean up the dead bodies'.
- The phrase
- C24-S27 : Conditions just before the return. This sentence matches Revelation 8:12.
- The phrase
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened
means: 'Revelation says that the sun will give up one third of its light'. - The phrase
and the moon shall not give her light
means: 'Revelation says that the moon will give up one third of its light'. - The phrase
and the stars shall fall from heaven
means: 'Revelation says that one third of stars will give up their light'. - The phrase
and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken
means: 'God will prove to all of the lost people that He is the most powerful Being anywhere. The actions of this sentence will prove that God not only controls the Earth but He controls all of creation. It takes more power to reduce the light than it takes to cut it off'. - The phrase
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven
means: 'Revelation 9:1 says that thebottomless pit
will be opened and everyone will see the smoke from it'. - The phrase
and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn
means: 'Revelation 9:3-4 says that out of thebottomless pit
will comelocusts with power, as the scorpions of the earth have power to torment those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads, for five months
'. - Be warned: Revelation 9:6 says:
And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them
. Imagine someone trying to blow their brains out with a gun, losing half of their head, and continuing to live and be tormented. - The phrase
and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory
means: 'This is the 'Second Coming''.
- The phrase
- C24-S28 : All Jews and saved will be in one place. I believe this is just before the return and is speaking of God's people gathering for the return of
Christ
.- The phrase
And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet
means: 'Revelation 8 speaks aboutseven angels which had the seven trumpets
and the sounding of eachtrumpet
brings in another judgment upon the people living on Earth. However, I believe that thistrumpet
is different because it causes a gathering and not a judgment'. - The phrase
and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds
means: 'This is speaking about all who were saved during thegreat tribulation
and are still alive on the Earth'. - The phrase
from one end of heaven to the other
means: 'This is speaking about all who are already in Heaven and who will return withChrist
'.
- The phrase
- C24-S29 : the 'Parable of the Fig Tree'.
- The word
Now
means: 'After you understand what was just written'. John is starting a new subject with this sentence. - The phrase
Now learn a parable of the fig tree
means: 'Like all parables, there are lost and carnal people who claim to be an expert and give the wrong interpretation of this parable'. - The phrase
When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves
means: 'This happens every Spring in many parts of the world with many types of trees'. - The phrase
ye know that summer is nigh
means: 'This is a sign that everyone, who lives in those areas, know personally'. - The phrase
So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things
means: 'In the same manner, when you see the signs given earlier in this chapter'. - The phrase
know that it is near, even at the doors
means: 'The return ofChrist
is near. Notice thatJesus
does not give an exact time, nor date. All prophecies are this way. God never tells us exactly when He will fulfill an unfulfilled prophecy and God never tells us exactly how He will do so. As with this sentence, God reveals much, but not all of the exact details. Therefore, anyone who claims to know all of the exact details or the exact date of an unfulfilled prophecy is a liar'.
- The word
- C24-S30 : the time interval for the fulfillment of prophecy.
- The phrase
Verily I say unto you
means: 'Jesus
has verified these prophecies'. - The phrase
This generation shall not pass
means: 'He is speaking about the generation living on Earth during thegreat tribulation
'. - The phrase
till all these things be fulfilled
means: 'All of the prophecies will happen exactly as God says that they will happen'.
- The phrase
- C24-S31 : the precept that is the basis for belief.
- The phrase
Heaven and earth shall pass away
means: 'The physical Heaven and earth will be replaced with new versions'. - The phrase
but my words shall not pass away
means: 'Theword of God
will last forever'.
- The phrase
- C24-S32 : No one can prophecy
that day and hour
.- Our sentence starts with the word
But
. Where the prior sentences told us what we can know, this sentence tells us what we can not know. - The phrase
But of that day and hour knoweth no man
means: 'We can not know the exactday and hour
. Anyone who claims otherwise is proving that they are a lying minister of Satan'. - The phrase
no, not the angels of heaven
means: 'The angels are always with God. Yet, God the Father has not revealed the exactday and hour
to them'. - The phrase
but my Father only
means: 'Some things are only known by God the Father'. This proves the doctrine, to be a lie, which claims that everyone will know everything when they get to Heaven.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C24-S33 : An analogy.
- Our sentence starts with the word
But
. The prior sentence told us what we can not know while this sentence tells us what we can know. - The phrase
But as the days of Noe were
means: 'Our next sentence gives us the details to explain the summary that this phrase is'. - The phrase
so shall also the coming of the Son of man be
means: 'The details of the next sentence will return to this Earth beforeJesus Christ
returns'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C24-S34 : the signs to look for.
- The phrase
For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking
means: 'Here's why God brought judgment then and why God will bring judgment in the future. Their entire focus in life was the physical pleasures of the flesh (they were eating and drinking
) and completely ignored the spiritual considerations and ignored God. In fact, they mocked Noah and his warnings from God'. - The phrase
marrying and giving in marriage
means: 'In addition to food, they were concerned with the physical pleasures of sex'. - The phrase
until the day that Noe entered into the ark
means: 'This is the day that they stopped mocking Noah and his warnings from God'. - The phrase
And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away
means: 'Even then, they did not believe, nor know, the warnings untilThe flood came
seven days later'. - The phrase
so shall also the coming of the Son of man be
means: 'People will be so concentrated on the physical that they will totally ignore all of the spiritual signs which God will reveal in this physical reality'.
- The phrase
- C24-S35 : God will choose who will go up in the 'Rapture'.
- The phrase
Then shall two be in the field
means: 'Both are together doing the same thing'. - The phrase
The one shall be taken, and the other left
means: 'One will go up in the 'Rapture' and the other left behind'.
- The phrase
- C24-S36 : Another illustration of the choice by God.
- The phrase
Two women shall be grinding at the mill
means: 'Both are together doing the same thing'. - The phrase
The one shall be taken, and the other left
means: 'One will go up in the 'Rapture' and the other left behind'.
- The phrase
- C24-S37 : the command to obey as a result.
- The phrase
Watch therefore
. The Biblical meaning of the wordwatch
means: 'is an active verb and not passive. This is the same action as a soldier has when his camp is surrounded by enemies'. Therefore, our phrase means: 'As a result of what was just written and said byJesus
, be always actively looking for His return and the reason why is in the next phrase'. - The phrase
for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come
means: 'You want Him to find you serving Him and not doing sin'.
- The phrase
- C24-S38 : the warning to pay attention to.
- Our sentence starts with the word
But
. . . . . - The phrase
But know this
means: 'Jesus
uses an illustration to tells us why we need to constantly keep watch. Some things happen suddenly and with no advance notice. Therefore, people not watching will be caught by surprise'. - The phrase
that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come
means: 'Thieves don't give home owners notice that they are coming'. - The phrase
he would have watched
means: 'If there is a guard watching diligently, then there is not the surprise'. - The phrase
and would not have suffered his house to be broken up
means: 'If the home owner had been prepared, he would have prevented loss. Likewise, if the saved are watching diligently then they can avoid an unpleasant surprise'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C24-S39 : the attitude to keep.
- The phrase
Therefore be ye also ready
means: 'This is the conclusion from the prior parable'. - The phrase
for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh
means: 'Expect to be caught by surprise. Therefore, always be ready'.
- The phrase
- C24-S40 : the reward to gain.
- The phrase
Who then is a faithful and wise servant
means: 'These are the requirements to receiving the remainder of this sentence'. - The phrase
whom his lord hath made ruler over his household
means: 'This is referencing 'The Parable of the Pounds' (Luke 19:11-27) and 'The Parable of the Talents' (Matthew 25:14-30)'. - The phrase
to give them meat in due season?
means: 'This will happen in the 1,000 years reign ofChrist
'.
- The phrase
- C24-S41 : the promise to believe.
- The phrase
Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing
means: 'This is the promise for blessings if we are serving God and watching for the return ofJesus
when He actually comes'.
- The phrase
- C24-S42 : Assurance from
Jesus Christ
. Our sentence says:Verily I say unto you, that he shall make him ruler over all his goods
means: 'This is the promise for being made a ruler if we are serving God and watching for the return ofJesus
when He actually comes'. - C24-S43 : the warning to heed.
- Our sentence starts with the word
But
. The prior sentences gave promises of blessings for the saved servant who is doing right. This sentence changes direction and promises curses for the saved servant who is doing wrong. - The phrase
But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart
means: 'This is the judgment given by God to the servant who brought no spiritual profit in 'The Parable of the Pounds' (Luke 19:11-27) and 'The Parable of the Talents' (Matthew 25:14-30)'. - The phrase
My lord delayeth his coming
means: 'This is the foolish basis for many people not working in God's kingdom after they are saved'. - The phrase
And shall begin to smite his fellowservants
means: 'This is the way that saved people begin to act when they no longerfear the Lord
. That doctrinal error follows people becoming liberal in their doctrine because they believe the prior phrase. First the lose fear of losing everlasting rewards then they lose fear of punishment in this physical reality. And, when they are punished, they think that 'God isn't being fair'. - The phrase
and to eat and drink with the drunken
means: 'Next, these backslidden saved people start to live like the lost'. - The phrase
The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him
means: 'They will be caught by surprise when their death, or the 'Rapture', comes'. - The phrase
and in an hour that he is not aware of
means: 'He will ignore signs of coming judgment that God sends'. - The phrase
And shall cut him asunder
means: 'God will end his life early'. - The phrase
and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites
means: 'He will be sent toouter darkness
in Heaven'. - The phrase
there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth
means: 'Please see the Message called Outer Darkness about this phrase'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
Chapter 25 Summary: Continued Prophecy of Future Events.
Our entire chapter is teaching on The kingdom of Heaven
. There is a precept that is stated in other chapters but which is applied here, and which is easily missed and often denied. I can't remember ever hearing it preached on. The precept is found in Matthew 13:12; Mark 4:25 and Luke 8:18 and says: For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.
All everlasting rewards that the saved receive in The kingdom of Heaven
are based upon this precept. And, Satan has people denying this truth. One of the ways that he does this is to teach errors about the interpretation of parables.
Our chapter is composed of parables. Most people know a half truth about parables, which is: 'A parable is An Earthly story with a Heavenly meaning which is designed to lead lost and carnal people into doctrinal error and only reveal the true spiritual meaning to save people who seek the meaning from God'. There is more to the full truth about parables and the half which most people don't know is: 'Jesus
taught in parables so that the lost and carnal would be led into doctrinal error while the saved would have to get the true spiritual meaning from God'. As a result, many of the parables, found in the Bible, have a wrong interpretation taught about them. Therefore, the Bible student needs to be careful about what interpretation he accepts for any given parable found in the Bible.
Please see the Table of Parables in the New Testament for links to all parables found in the New Testament. In addition to those links, there is doctrinal truth about parables which the true Bible student needs to know. That is, in addition to teaching the wrong interpretation of parables, lost and carnal people also teach a wrong way for how to interpret parables. For example, there is a written claim that all parables
are allegories
. However, an parable
can be different from a allegory
.
Please see the note for Galatians 4:24 about the true difference and the Table of Parables in the New Testament for other important considerations about parables.
Returning to the precept mentioned at the start of these notes, it is given in the 'Parable of the Pounds' (Luke 19). That parable is parallel to the 'Parable of the Talents' (Matthew 25) found in this chapter. Both parables teach the same lesson using different words. So, our current chapter has examples of the errors taught about parables. And, the truth is that errors are taught about every parable found in this chapter because Satan doesn't want God's people to know the truth about them. If they know the truth, then God's people will be motivated to serve God while they are in this life. If they believe the errors, they will believe that they will be rewarded while refusing to fulfill God's requirements to receive the reward.
Our chapter starts with the word Then
. It is telling us that our chapter occurs after understanding the spiritual lessons of the prior chapter. The two chapters are one discourse from Jesus
and need to be
considered together. Now, one preacher insisted that the theme of these two chapters was preparation
. (I believe he read that from a commentator because he also, at other times, pushed other doctrinal errors which came from commentators.) the fact is that when you act, you are no longer preparing
. When you receive judgment which is based upon your actions, you are no longer preparing
. The fact is that these two chapters are telling us about judgment
. Yes, there are statements about preparation
, but the actions or lack of actions, are steps beyond preparation
. In addition, judgment
is an additional level beyond that. The commentator used the way of Satan to pervert the message of The word of God
by leaving out part of the truth. Go back and read the prior chapter. You will see warnings about God's judgment based upon people accepting, and acting, of truth; or their not acting right because they believed doctrinal error. Now read through this chapter and you will see actions, or lack thereof, and judgments based upon those actions or failures to act. The face is that this doctrinal error lets people believe that they still have tome to prepare and it allows people to believe that they do not have to act now if they want a good judgment of their life.
There is another danger posed by the errors taught about the precepts of this chapter. 1Corinthians 2:7 says: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory
. Part of that wisdom of God
are the laws of Math which never change and are never wrong. Plus, God does not change (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). Therefore, the laws of Math are always held true in The word of God
. People who claim that there are Math or true Science errors in The word of God
are blaming God's perfect word
for their own errors.
If you remove either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. In The word of God
, the word and
is used for the Mathematical function of addition. Therefore, denying either side of an and
is changing the message of The word of God
. And, people do this with one of the parables in our chapter in order to support the doctrinal error of 'No tears in Heaven'. Our parable tells us that a saved person suffered loss and
was punished. People claim that such a person will suffer loss of rewards but deny that he will also suffer punishment. They do this by using the way of Satan to interpret the Bible and leaving out the truth from The word of God
and leave out the part where we are told that he suffers punishment in addition to suffering loss.
One more point. As already mentioned, God does not change. From early in The word of God
we learn that God rewards obedience and punished disobedience. That doctrinal error requires God's people to believe that God changes before the judgment seat of Christ
(Romans 14:10; 2Corinthians 5:10) so that God will no longer give punishment for disobedience. (That error even denies the truth found in the sentences which tell us about the judgment seat of Christ
.)
The point of all of this is to warn the reader about errors which are taught about the parables found in this chapter. In addition, be warned that people teach wrong ways to interpret parables and teach lies about the character of God in order to support a well loved doctrine from devils. They want to use you to discourage others from serving God while they are in this life.
In those parables the person who did not return a profit to their lord, after their lord told them to work for a profit in His kingdom, lost the single pound
/ talent
that they had. (Obviously, the application of the parables, especially as understood with the context, are warnings to the saved about how we will be judged by our Lord
.) the greatest reward was given to the person who produced the greatest profit for their Lord while the servant who produced no profit lost even the pound
/ talent
that they were originally given. Therefore, those parables should also be considered with what it taught in this chapter in order to fully understand the message of this chapter. Please also see the Doctrinal Study called: godly Financial Principals; related to these verses.
Matthew 25:1-13 gives us the 'Parable of the Ten Virgins'. This parable is warns people to be sure that they have the indwelling Holy Spirit
, before Jesus Christ
comes for them in death or the 'Rapture'. Those people who fail to do this will not be allowed into Heaven. Please also see the Messages called: Ten Virgins.
Matthew 25:14-30 gives us the 'Parable of Talents'. This parable is related to the 'Parable of the Householder', found in Mark 13:34 and to the `The 'Parable of the Ten Pounds' found in Luke 19:11-27. All three promise variable rewards based upon the amount of spiritual profit brought to God's kingdom while we are still in this world. Please also see the Messages called: Loss of Everlasting Rewards and Pounds and Talents for the application of these parables. Please also see the Doctrinal Study called: godly Financial Principals; related to these verses.
Matthew 25:31-46 gives us the 'Sheep and Goat Judgment'. We need to be careful because there is some doctrinal error taught about this judgment.
Matthew 25:41-46 is a well-known Bible reference where Jesus
will tell people, who have a false claim of salvation, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels
. In addition, Luke 13:25-27 is a parable that teaches the same truth. Many do not recognize it as a parable. However, since it is 'An Earthly story with a Heavenly meaning which is designed to lead lost and carnal people into doctrinal error and only reveal the true spiritual meaning to save people who seek the meaning from God', it is, in fact, a parable
. This is the 'Parable of the Rejected Claims'.
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides a chapter outline as:
1-13. the parable of the ten virgins,
14-30. and of the talents.
31-46. Also the description of the last judgment. '.
- C25-S1 : the start of the 'Parable of the Ten Virgins'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
Then
. Please see the note in the Chapter Summary, above, about the importance of this word starting this sentence and this chapter. Please also see the Detailed Notes for the various sentences of this parable for other references to related Messages, Doctrinal Studies and Word Studies. - The phrase
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins
means: 'This is a parable which usesten virgins
to give us a picture (likened
) of a spiritual truth aboutThe kingdom of heaven
'. - The phrase
which took their lamps
means: 'Thelamps
, of that time, held oil to burn and produce light. Theoil
is used symbolically for 'God'sHoly Ghost
'. The phraselamp
is used symbolically for us. Just as thelamps
held theoil
inside of them, during the New Testament the truly saved have God'sHoly Ghost
inside of them'. - The phrase
and went forth to meet the bridegroom
means: 'This phrase represents people going to meetJesus
when they die'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C25-S2 : how the virgins thought.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the judgment of the character of theten virgins
. - The phrase
And five of them were wise
means: 'They received truewisdom
from God'. - The phrase
and five were foolish
means: 'They rejected truewisdom
from God'. - Note: these were
virgins
. They had not sinned sexually. Likewise, many claim to be free from sin, like the people that Paul met in Acts 19. They had repented and been baptizedUnto John's baptism
, but they were not saved because they had not receivedJesus
as their personalLord
and did not have God's indwellingHoly Ghost
. They werefoolish
because they believed what religion told them and did not verify what was truly required according toThe word of God
.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C25-S3 : Why the prior sentence called some virgins wise and some foolish.
- The phrase
They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them
means: 'This foolishness can be understood in the physical world. Having a lamp with no way to use it to produce light is foolish. Carrying it around is wasted effort. Likewise, symbolically, obeying a religion which does not include God's indwellingHoly Spirit
is also w foolish wasted effort'. - The phrase
But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps
means: 'These werewise
because they did what was required by thebridegroom
and what was required to get into Heaven'.
- The phrase
- C25-S4 : how they all acted the same.
- The phrase
While the bridegroom tarried
means: 'This is symbolically speaking about people who are alive and waiting for death to bring them to the judgment ofJesus Christ
'. - The phrase
they all slumbered and slept
means: 'Lost, carnal and most people who claim to be saved are not concentrating on the spiritual causes of events in this life. Most people are looking at physical causes. They are spirituallyasleep
. And, that is the symbolic meaning of this phrase'.
- The phrase
- C25-S5 : the main event finally happened.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the next event in this parable. It is also symbolically representing the next spiritual event of our lives. - The phrase
And at midnight there was a cry made
means: 'I believe this is the basis for the sayings about themidnight hour
'. - The word:
behold
means: 'Pay close attention to the message'. - The phrase
The bridegroom cometh
means: 'This cry has been going on for almost two thousand years. And, because of the delay, most people ignore the message'. - The phrase
go ye out to meet him
means: 'Each and every one of you personally will go out and meetJesus Christ
at death whether you are prepared for that meeting or not. (The 'Rapture' is actually a form because our spirit and soul will leave our corrupt body behind and not take it to Heaven'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C25-S6 : All prepared for the event. Our sentence says:
Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps
. It means: 'Every religious person does whatever they think is a last minute preparation to meet their God, if they have the chance before death'. - C25-S7 : the foolish were not sufficiently prepared.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds a symbolic message of what religious people will want to do when they discover that their religious activities are not sufficient to get them into Heaven. - The phrase
And the foolish said unto the wise
means: 'This is symbolic for the religious people asking the truly saved to give them what they need to get into Heaven. This is dealing with people who believe the lie that they can live for the lusts of the flesh and the lusts of this world and say 'a last minute prayed', as they are dying and still receive 'a mansion right next door to Peter''. - The phrase
Give us of your oil
means: 'This is symbolic for people who believe that if THEY do the right religious act, God has no option but must Give them His indwellingHoly Spirit
'. - The phrase
for our lamps are gone out
means: 'This is symbolic for religious people finally realizing that they do not have God's indwellingHoly Spirit
(oil in their personal lamp
)'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C25-S8 : the wise refused the request of the foolish.
- Our sentence starts with the word
But
. The prior sentence told us about religious people demanding a religious act to get them into Heaven. And, this sentence tells us that their request is not possible. They must receive God's indwellingHoly Spirit
from God (go ye rather to them that sell
). - The phrase
But the wise answered, saying
means: 'This is symbolic for saved people answering the religious lost people'. - The phrase
Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you
means: 'The saved can not give God's indwellingHoly Spirit
. They can be used by God to deliver His message and His salvation. But, all true spiritual works are done by God working through the saved. The saved, themselves, do not do the actual spiritual works no more than a pen can write anything by itself'. - The phrase
but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves
means, symbolically, 'Go the God and receive salvation from Him'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C25-S9 : those who were wise participated in the event.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the consequence of waiting too long to get truly saved. One popular doctrinal error from devils claims: 'You can get saved any time that you want. God is a God of a gazillion chances to get saved'. The truth is that God promises everyone one chance to get saved but after that there is no promise but only God'sgrace
. Genesis 6:3 says:And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years
. Unless God seeks us, we will not get saved (Romans 3:11 says:There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God)
. Since we do not seek Him while we are lost, and If He stops seeking us, we may continue to live but we will die lost. - The phrase
And while they went to buy
means: 'This is symbolic for people who delay their salvation while they seek the lusts of the flesh and the lusts of this world'. - The phrase
The bridegroom came
means: 'This is symbolic of the 'Rapture' or of death'. There is a doctrinal error taught by the "Left Behind" series which claims that people who do not go up in the 'Rapture' can earn their way into Heaven. However, 2Thessalonians 2:10-12 says:And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness
. Such people will not earn their way into Heaven but will believe a lie which assures that they end up in thelake of fire
. - The phrase
and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage
means: 'Everyone who has God's indwellingHoly Spirit
is assured of going to Heaven and nothing can cause them to lose that promise of salvation'. - The phrase
and the door was shut
means: 'People who miss God's true salvation do not get another chance'. The claim of 'an unlimited number of chances to be saved' is a lie from Satan.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C25-S10 : those who were foolish were denied participation.
- The phrase
Afterward came also the other virgins
means: 'This symbolically represents people who trusted in religion until it was too late to be saved'. - The phrase
saying, Lord, Lord, open to us
means: 'I once saw where someone recorded the dying moments of well known atheists and they were crying to avoid Hell, but it was too late'. The same is true for the religious lost.
- The phrase
- C25-S11 : they did not have the right relationship.
- Our sentence starts with the word
But
. Our last sentence told us about lost people seeking salvation when it was too late. And our current sentence tells us that they could not get what they seek. - The phrase
But he answered and said
means: 'This is symbolic of whatJesus
will tell the religious lost'. - The phrase
Verily I say unto you
means: 'Jesus
will have verified this with the books in Heaven'. - The phrase
I know you not
. The wordknow
includes 'an ongoing personal relationship'. Therefore, our phrase means: 'They may have had a religious relationship with the spirit who claimed to beJesus
, but they did not have an ongoing personal relationship with the trueJesus
of the Bible'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C25-S12 : the concluding command.
- The phrase
Watch therefore
means: 'As a result of the spiritual lesson of the prior parable, keep an active watch which matches what a guard soldier must do when camped in enemy territory'. - The phrase
for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh
means: 'Here's why. Since we can not know whenJesus
will come for us personally, and we don't want to be caught doing sin, we must live our life expecting Him to coma at any instant'.
- The phrase
- C25-S13 : the start of the 'Parable of the Ten Talents'. There is a lot of doctrinal error taught based upon this parable. Basically, it teaches that, at the
judgment seat of Christ
, God gives rewards and punishment. Thus, the most egregious doctrinal error is a denial of punishment. In order to support that lie from Satan, people have to act like Satan and leave out C25-S27. Therefore, please pay attention to the full context of this parable. Please also see the Detailed Notes for the various sentences of this parable for other references to related Messages, Doctrinal Studies and Word Studies.- The phrase
For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country
means: 'Symbolically, this parable teaches aboutJesus Christ
returning to Heaven and giving truespiritual gifts
to the saved with instructions to produce truespiritual fruit
with those truespiritual gifts
. Our parable also teaches about the judgment that the saved will receive at thejudgment seat of Christ
based upon how much truespiritual fruit
that they produce'. - Please note, at least one preacher claimed (I believe based upon what he read from a commentator) that this parable had nothing to do with judgment. And, that the theme of this chapter, and all parables in it, only dealt with preparation. Be careful what you accept from commentators. As I explain in the start of the Table of Parables in the New Testament;
Jesus
used parables to lead lost and carnal people into doctrinal error. Therefore, there is published doctrinal error about parables, most especially about this parable. The commentator also teach doctrinal error about how to properly understand a parable. And, as far as anyone has ever shown me, I am the only person in the entire world to identify and explain every parable in the Gospels. In addition, I show that if you use God's way to interpret parables, there are no errors and no conflicts between the true interpretation and anywhere else inThe word of God
. So, upon what basis does any commentator, or any preacher, claim to know more about parables and to correct me. Before God, I testify that every claim which I have heard is based upon ungodly pride. - The phrase
who called his own servants
means: 'This is symbolic of the saved beingcalled
byJesus Christ
'. - The phrase
and delivered unto them his goods
means: 'This is symbolic of the saved being givenspiritual gifts
'.
- The phrase
- C25-S14 : What was distributed to each servant.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds what the man (Jesus Christ
) did for his servants (Thesaved
). The parable tells about His giving thetalents
before He left, because this is a story which is limited to the physical universe. However, since a parable teaches a spiritual truth, the spiritual giving is done when someone gets saved and, supposedly, becomes a servant of God. - The 'Parable of the Pounds' (Luke 19) is parallel to this parable. In our parable we see three servants. In the parable in Luke, we see ten servants. However, in the parable in Luke, seven of the servants are sent to Hell. Thus, just like our current parable, that parable has three servants facing the
judgment seat of Christ
. In our parable we see each servant given a different amount. In the parable in Luke, each servant is given the same amount. In our parable we see each servant is given talents. In the parable in Luke, each servant is given apound
(money). And, I believe that covers most, in not all, of the differences. However, what is the same in both parables is the main lesson. The saved servant who produced a spiritual profit for God received a reward. And, the saved servant who refused to produce a spiritual profit for God received a punishment. And, while that is the main lesson of these parables, Satan has convinced many people to pervert these parables in order to claim that the main spiritual lesson is not taught by these parables. - The phrase
And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one
means: 'He gave different amounts to each servant. Our next phrase explains why'. Some people argue thattalents
andspiritual gifts
are two different things. Other people argue otherwise, that there is not a difference in what they are, only in how people use them. That is not an argument worth getting into. Our third next sentence tells us that thetalent
was money and not what we think of as atalent
today. Therefore, it had a different physical meaning whenJesus
told the parable. However, for our parable, thetalents
symbolically representspiritual gifts
. And, God sometimes give additionalspiritual gifts
to some people after they have spiritually matured, to some extent, and have proven to be faithful with thespiritual gift
which God gave them earlier. Therefore, it is possible for saved people, who are serving God, to end their life with morespiritual gifts
than they started with. And, such people are people who use theirspiritual gifts
to bring God a spiritual profit. - The phrase
to every man according to his several ability
means: 'This is what limits God in giving us spiritual things'. Some people use theirspiritual gifts
in this world the wrong way. They do not producespiritual fruit
with theirspiritual gifts
. Others, get full of pride, like we read in 1Corinthians. When God knows that His child will do one of those things, He limits theirspiritual gifts
. - The phrase
and straightway took his journey
means: 'Symbolically, this representsJesus
returning to Heaven. In addition, symbolically, it representsJesus
giving someone aspiritual gift
at salvation, but then not telling them about it and not telling them how to use it. Instead, He requires the person to spiritually mature and accept instructions from God'sHoly Spirit
'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C25-S15 : the first doubled what he was given.
- The phrase
Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same
means: 'The first servant used what he was given to trade and receive a profit'. - The phrase
and made them other five talents
means: 'His profit was to double what he was given'.
- The phrase
- C25-S16 : the second did the same.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds that the second servant did like the first servant. - The phrase
And likewise he that had received two
means: 'The second servant also used what he was given to trade and receive a profit'. - The phrase
he also gained other two
means: 'His profit was to double what he was given'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C25-S17 : the third wasted his opportunity.
- Our sentence starts with the word
But
. While the prior two sentences tell about servants making a profit, this sentence tells about a servant not making a profit. - The phrase
But he that had received one went and digged in the earth
means: 'This servant did differently than the first two servants. Instead of using his talent to produce a profit for his lord, this servant wasted his opportunity'. - The phrase
and hid his lord's money
means: 'He disobeyed his lord and did not use what he was given for the purpose that he was given it'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C25-S18 : then came the time of reckoning.
- The phrase
After a long time the lord of those servants cometh
means: 'Symbolically, this represents when we die and face judgment at thejudgment seat of Christ
'. - The phrase
and reckoneth with them
means: '2Corinthians 5:10 says:For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad
'. This is where people reject the clear doctrine ofThe word of God
. They deny thatThe word of God
clearly says that saved people in Heaven will receivebad
. And, our parable also tells us this truth.
- The phrase
- C25-S19 : the first servant reported.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the report of the first servant. - The phrase
And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying
means: 'This servant brought his profit when he reported to be judged. He brought proof of what he did and there will be a record in Heaven proving what the saved did with the life that God gives to them'. - The phrase
Lord
means: 'Notice that this word is capitalized. This is only used for God in the Bible. This capitalization makes it clear that this parable is teaching us a spiritual lesson about thejudgment seat of Christ
and how the saved will be judged when they get toThe kingdom of Heaven
. This servant realized who he really worked for'. - The phrase
thou deliveredst unto me five talents
means: 'He first reports whattalents
he was given to work with. Symbolically, this represents people recognizing whatspiritual gifts
they were given to work with and produce a spiritual profit for God'. - The word:
behold
means: 'Pay close attention'. This is here to let us know that God will pay very close attention to everything which we do with our life after He saves us. - The phrase
I have gained beside them five talents more
means: 'Here he reports the profit that he produced. Likewise, all saved will have to report what they did for God after being saved'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C25-S20 : the first servant received his reward. All saved people want this response from
Jesus
. However, most who claim to be saved are not doing what this parable teaches is required in order to receive this reward.- The phrase
His lord said unto him
means: 'This uses a lower-caselord
for the parable. However, the spiritual message is that the saved will be judged by theirlord
, theLord Jesus Christ
'. - The phrase
Well done, thou good and faithful servant
means: 'This is what saved people want to hear. Notice that his personal character is judged (thou good and faithful servant
) based upon his actions. The actions are the evidence of our internal motivations which come from our character'. - The phrase
thou hast been faithful over a few things
means: 'Jesus Christ
will recognize how the saved became like God while living in the flesh'. - The phrase
I will make thee ruler over manythings
means: 'This is first the promised reward for becoming like God'. - The phrase
enter thou into the joy of thy lord
means: 'This is second the promised reward for becoming like God'.
- The phrase
- C25-S21 : the second servant reported.
- The phrase
He also that had received two talents came and said
means: 'This servant acted like the first servant. He brought proof of what he did and there will be a record in Heaven proving what the saved did with the life that God gives to them. By having two good servants as witnesses, we can know that this is part of the law of God and be sure that all saved will receive the same type of judgment'. - The phrase
Lord
means: 'Notice that this word is capitalized. This is only used for God in the Bible. This capitalization makes it clear that this parable is teaching us a spiritual lesson about thejudgment seat of Christ
and how the saved will be judged when they get toThe kingdom of Heaven
. This servant realized who he really worked for'. - The phrase
thou deliveredst unto me two talents
means: 'He first reports whattalents
he was given to work with. Symbolically, this represents people recognizing whatspiritual gifts
they were given to work with and produce a spiritual profit for God'. - The word:
behold
means: 'Pay close attention'. This is here to let us know that God will pay very close attention to everything which we do with our life after He saves us. - The phrase
I have gained two other talents beside them
means: 'Here he reports the profit that he produced. Likewise, all saved will have to report what they did for God after being saved'.
- The phrase
- C25-S22 : the second servant received his reward. All saved people want this response from
Jesus
. However, most who claim to be saved are not doing what this parable teaches is required in order to receive this reward.- The phrase
His lord said unto him
means: 'This uses a lower-caselord
for the parable. However, the spiritual message is that the saved will be judged by theirlord
, theLord Jesus Christ
'. - The phrase
Well done, thou good and faithful servant
means: 'This is what saved people want to hear. Notice that his personal character is judged (thou good and faithful servant
) based upon his actions. The actions are the evidence of our internal motivations which come from our character'. - The phrase
thou hast been faithful over a few things
means: 'Jesus Christ
will recognize how the saved became like God while living in the flesh'. - The phrase
I will make thee ruler over manythings
means: 'This is first the promised reward for becoming like God'. - The phrase
enter thou into the joy of thy lord
means: 'This is second the promised reward for becoming like God'.
- The phrase
- C25-S23 : the third servant reported.
- The phrase
Then he which had received the one talent came and said
means: 'This servant did as The prior two. Every saved person will have to give an account for themselves'. - The phrase
Lord
means: 'Notice that this word is capitalized. This is only used for God in the Bible. This capitalization makes it clear that this parable is teaching us a spiritual lesson about thejudgment seat of Christ
and how the saved will be judged when they get toThe kingdom of Heaven
. This servant also realized who he really worked for'. - The phrase
I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed
means: 'This is a lie about the character ofJesus Christ
. This servant represents those saved people who listen to doctrinal error from lying preachers. John 5:39 says:Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me
. Religious fools study their Bible in order to argue doctrine and are led into errors. True servants ofJesus Christ
study their Bible in order to learn His character. Such are not led into error like this servant was. As we saw with the first two servants, they knew His character and knew that He would reward them. Therefore, they each returned a doubled profit'. - The phrase
And I was afraid
means: 'He claims this but was not afraid enough to avoid disobedience. The truefear of the Lord
is a fear that we will receive the judgment that our parable reports this servant receiving. The truefear of the Lord
will cause us to become profitable servants'. - The phrase
and went and hid thy talent in the earth
means: 'Genesis 2:7 says:And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul
. This phrase, symbolically, means that this saved person took what God gave him to produce a spiritual profit and put it into the things of this world and of the flesh. Reportedly, Elvis Presley had a good testimony of salvation. That was reported by several well known and reliable preachers. He started out singing in church. but he switched to singing for the world and for worldly profit. He, reportedly, became in lots of sins of corruption and lived in constant fear of men. Elvis is an example of this type of saved servant'. - The phrase
lo, there thou hast that is thine
means: 'He expected hisLord
to be satisfied with no profit. In the 'Parable of the Pounds' (Luke 19), those who did not even return the originalpound
were sent to Hell. However, in both parables, the servant who returned what he was originally given lost that and he also received punishment. And, that truth is what devil-motivated saved preachers are desperate to deny. They believe the lie that 'There are no tears in Heaven'. However, the truth is that 'There are no tears in The second Heaven'. God does notwipe away all tears from their eyes
(Revelation 21:4) until after thegreat with throne judgment
, when the only people are the saved in Heaven. The Biblical truth is that there will be saved people in Heaven who are crying their eyes out an average of twice a week for more than 1,000 years. Yes, God does, eventually, give mercy, but not until those saved people learn a lesson which they will never forget'.
- The phrase
- C25-S24 : the third servant was judged.
- The phrase
His lord answered and said unto him
means: ''. . . . - The phrase
Thou wicked and slothful servant
means: 'Again, we see a judgment of his personal character. We are selfish and self centered when we are first born and when we are first saved. In order for this servant to have remained this way, he had to refuse all lessons which were designed to make him mature spiritually. This is the character of someone who was saved but only accepted the outward appearances of being religious while remaining the same inside'. - The phrase
thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed
means: 'This is a wrong characterization of God. God gives us our initialspiritual gifts
, which issowing
. God works with the willing saved to produce spiritual results all of their life and He removes sin (weeds) from their life. That is what is meant bystrawed
. So, this claim is a lie about God's character, but God does not dispute it. Instead, God asks why their belief did not lead them to fear of failure and cause them to produce a profit'. - The phrase
Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers
means: 'I believe this is speaking about supporting missions financially, but that is my own personal belief'. - The phrase
and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury
means: 'The person who claims to be saved and ignores the fact that they will face judgment after physical death is a fool'.
- The phrase
- C25-S25 : the third servant lost everything.
- The phrase
Take therefore the talent from him
means: 'He lost everything. A lot of fools believe they will still get amansion
when they are a spiritual pauper and are only promiseda place
. Bed space in a dorm room for 10,000 fulfills the true promise. In addition, he was not promised to bemade a ruler
like the other to servants were promised. He will not return to rule this world withJesus Christ
. Finally, as explained elsewhere, he will not be allowed to attend themarriage supper of the Lamb
'. - The phrase
and give it unto him which hath ten talents
means: 'In Luke, the servants of God questioned this decision. However, God is rewarding the most profitable servant, as explained in our next sentence'.
- The phrase
- C25-S26 : the precept that is the basis of this parable.
- The phrase
For
means: 'Here's why the decision of the prior sentence was made'.. - The phrase
unto every one that hath shall be given
means: 'The people who produce a true spiritual profit for God will be given more so that they can produce even more for God'. - The phrase
and he shall have abundance
means: 'They will have more than they need so that they can help others to become profitable for God'. - The phrase
but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath
means: 'God is not going to waste anything more on saved people who prove that they will not do what God commands'.
- The phrase
- C25-S27 : the punishment of the third servant.
- I got into a big argument about the phrase within this sentence which is:
outer darkness
. There was an argument because lots of different people have lots of different opinions about what it means and their opinions have nothing to do with the definitions of the words within the phrase. God does not change (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). Therefore, every word in the Bible has only one definition and no two words have the same definitions. In addition, according to the rule of context, the definition of a phrase, withinThe word of God
, must be the combination of the definitions of the words within the phrase with the relationship between the words defining the relationship between the definitions. And, because God does not change, the definition of a phrase, withinThe word of God
, must be the same every place that it is used. Yes, there are different applications of the phrase, but no application defines the phrase. So, the people who claim that this phrase has three different definitions are wrong. Likewise, the people who claim that this phrase has a definition which is totally unrelated to the definitions of the words within it are also wrong. - Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds punishment to the loss already suffered By this servant. And, that is what a lot of people object to because they believed the lie from devils that there is no punishment in Heaven. Not only do they alter the message of this parable, but they also deny the truth about this doctrine which is found in several places withinThe word of God
. That written, this note will only continue with what is in this sentence and parable and the context of this chapter. - The phrase
And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness
has lots of doctrinal errors attached to it.- The word
and
, inThe word of God
, is: 'The Mathematical function of addition. If you remove either side of an addition problem, you change the answer. Likewise, if you ignore, or remove, what is written on either side of anand
, inThe word of God
, you change the message ofThe word of God
'. - Next, our phrase includes the phrase
The unprofitable servant
. People have argued that someone who made a 'Deathbed Profession' never had a chance to serve God and, therefore, could not generate a spiritual profit for God. And, as a result, God could not send people toouter darkness
just because they did not bring God a profit. And, that argument is foolish. First of all, if you truly understand the true doctrine of salvation, you would know that true 'Deathbed Professions' are extremely rare. People who believe in them believe that someone is saved just because they said a proper prayer and not becauseJesus
accepted their request to make Him theirLord
. Second of all, someone who makes a 'Deathbed Profession' does not have time to be aservant
. Therefore, they can not be anunprofitable servant
and this phrase can not apply to them. And, while we could carry on with this foolishness, we will move on. This phrase applies to saved people who had a chance to be a trueservant of God
and refused to do their job. - Next, we have the phrase
outer darkness
. It has caused all kinds of arguments with different preachers insisting that their opinion is more authoritative than what is literally written inThe word of God
. Please see the Message called Outer Darkness about this phrase. This phrase only occurs three times and all are within the Gospel of Matthew.
- The word
- The phrase
there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth
means: 'Most people who object to this phrase also object to earlier phrases in this sentence and rarely get to this phrase before, effectively, calling God a liar because they are sure that God couldn't possibly do what He said that He would do. Such fools need to consider the Jews who refused to believe that God really would punish them the four times they were carried into Babylon'.- One fool claimed that because this happened in Hell, it could not happen anywhere else. Obviously, he ignores the many times that it happens in this life like the time that king Herod murdered all children two years old and younger.
- The more popular opinion is that this phrase can not possibly happen in Heaven. There are lots of places which prove that doctrinal error to be a lie from Satan. That doctrine calls Revelation 21:4 a lie because the only people left are saved p[people in Heaven when
God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes
. - One argument is that people have friends or family members who are 'backslidden'. And, instead of giving those people a warning, they insisted that God couldn't possibly give a thousand years of tears to someone who agreed to serve God when they accepted Him as their personal
Lord
and then refused to fulfill their own agreement while demanding that God still save them. Such fools are ignoring the true doctrine of the Bible and the historical lessons from the Bible
- I got into a big argument about the phrase within this sentence which is:
- C25-S28 : the start of the 'Sheep and Goats
Judgment'. Please also see the Detailed Notes for the various sentences of this parable for other references to related Messages, Doctrinal Studies and Word Studies.
- The phrase
When the Son of man shall come in his glory
means: 'This is commonly called 'The Second Return'. This is when He touches down on the Earth to stat His rule and reign for 1,000 years. The 'Rapture' is not counted as a return because he only flies through the air and does not touch down on the Earth'. - The phrase
and all the holy angels with him
. I can not be positive, at this point, but i believe that He has angels with Him to take care of the devils that have roamed the Earth freely during thegreat tribulation
. They are now bound in Hell or thelake of fire
during the 1,000 years reign ofChrist
. - The phrase
then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory
means: 'I believe this will be in the Temple but can not be positive. It may be elsewhere since thebeast
defiled the Temple which will be standing then'. - The phrase
And before him shall be gathered all nations
means: 'All living people will be judged byJesus Christ
'. - The phrase
and he shall separate them one from another
means: 'There is a simple choice in how He separates people. Did they help His people during thegreat tribulation
or did they not help His people'. - The phrase
as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats
means: 'This is the story which makes this a parable. The true division is spiritual as explained for the prior phrase'. - The phrase
And he shall set the sheep on his right hand
means: 'Theright hand
represents power and blessings'. See further in this parable for whereThe word of God
tells us this truth. - The phrase
but the goats on the left
means: 'Theleft hand
represents cursed and punishment'. See further in this parable for whereThe word of God
tells us this truth.
- The phrase
- C25-S29 : the reward for someans the reason for the reward.
- The phrase
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand
means: 'Jesus
will say this in His role asKing of kings
. This is what He will say to the people who are blessed and why they were selected to be blessed'. - The phrase
Come, ye blessed of my Father
means: 'Each and every one of them personally will be blessed by God the Father'. - The phrase
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world
means: 'They will go into the 1,000 years reign ofChrist
in their current human bodies. These are the people who will create children during the 1,000 years reign ofChrist
'. - The phrase
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat
means: 'This is the first reason why some will be blessed. While not everyone did this, some did and everyone in this group did one of these things'. - The phrase
I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink
means: 'This is the next reason why some will be blessed. While not everyone did this, some did and everyone in this group did one of these things'. - The phrase
I was a stranger, and ye took me in
means: 'This is the next reason why some will be blessed. While not everyone did this, some did and everyone in this group did one of these things'. - The phrase
Naked, and ye clothed me
means: 'This is the next reason why some will be blessed. While not everyone did this, some did and everyone in this group did one of these things'. - The phrase
I was sick, and ye visited me
means: 'This is the next reason why some will be blessed. While not everyone did this, some did and everyone in this group did one of these things'. - The phrase
I was in prison, and ye came unto me
means: 'This is the next reason why some will be blessed. While not everyone did this, some did and everyone in this group did one of these things'.
- The phrase
- C25-S30 : the first question.
- The phrase
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying
means: 'The people that are blessed and allowed to go into the 1,000 years reign will ask the following questions'. - The phrase
Lord
means: 'They will acknowledge Him as God in human flesh'. - The phrase
when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee?
means: 'This question is in response to the first thing that He said they did which ended in their being blessed'.
- The phrase
- C25-S31 : the second question. Our sentence says:
or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
means: 'This question is in response to the next thing that He said they did which ended in their being blessed'. - C25-S32 : the third question. Our sentence says:
When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in?
means: 'This question is in response to the next thing that He said they did which ended in their being blessed'. - C25-S33 : the fourth question. Our sentence says:
or naked, and clothed thee?
means: 'This question is in response to the next thing that He said they did which ended in their being blessed'. - C25-S34 : the fifth question. Our sentence says:
Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
means: 'This question is in response to the next thing that He said they did which ended in their being blessed'. - C25-S35 : the answer.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the answer to all of their questions. - The phrase
And the King shall answer and say unto them
means: 'Jesus
will say this in His role asKing of kings
. This is what He will say why the people are blessed'. - The phrase
Verily I say unto you
means: 'Jesus
will have verified this with the books in Heaven'. - The phrase
Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me
means: 'This is the same doctrine as we read in Matthew 18 '.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C25-S36 : the curse for someans the reason for the curse.
- The phrase
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand
means: 'Jesus
will say this in His role asKing of kings
. This is what He will say to the people who are cursed and why they were selected to be cursed'. - The phrase
Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels
means: 'This may mean thelake of fire
, since it sayseverlasting fire
and Hell is not everlasting. It may also mean: 'Go to Hell' until thegreat white throne
judgment and, after that, go to thelake of fire
. The difference is not worth arguing about, especially since we do not have enough scripture to say definitely based upon scripture'. - The phrase
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat
means: 'This is the first reason why some will be cursed. While not everyone did this, some did and everyone in this group did one of these things'. - The phrase
I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink
means: 'This is the next reason why some will be cursed. While not everyone did this, some did and everyone in this group did one of these things'. - The phrase
I was a stranger, and ye took me not in
means: 'This is the next reason why some will be cursed. While not everyone did this, some did and everyone in this group did one of these things'. - The phrase
naked, and ye clothed me not
means: 'This is the next reason why some will be cursed. While not everyone did this, some did and everyone in this group did one of these things'. - The phrase
sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not
means: 'This is the next reason why some will be cursed. While not everyone did this, some did and everyone in this group did one of these things'.
- The phrase
- C25-S37 : the question about the curse.
- The phrase
Then shall they also answer him, saying
means: 'The people who are cursed will ask the following question'. - The phrase
Lord
means: 'They will acknowledge Him as God in human flesh'. - The phrase
when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
means: 'They will want to know the basis of their being cursed and sent thelake of fire
'.
- The phrase
- C25-S38 : the answer.
- The phrase
Then shall he answer them, saying
means: ''. . . . - The phrase
Verily I say unto you
means: 'Jesus
will have verified this with the books in Heaven'. - The phrase
Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me
means: 'This is the same doctrine as we read in Matthew 18 '.
- The phrase
- C25-S39 : the end result of those who refuse to help God's people.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds a summary of this parable and judgment. - The phrase
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment
means: 'God's final judgments last for ever'. - The phrase
but the righteous into life eternal
means: 'God's final judgments last for ever'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
Chapter 26 Summary: the Last Supper
.
Please see the Section called Sequence of the Betrayal of Jesus in Doctrinal Study called Gospel Time Sequences about these events.
Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22; John 13 and various other Bible references deal with the 'Last Supper' and the betrayal of Jesus. (Jesus
said that He had the 'Last Supper' with the twelve before His crucifixion: his hour was come that he should depart out of this world
). links to Bible references, which are related to this chapter, can be found in the Betrayal of Jesus are in the Gospel Time Sequence Study. In addition, there are several references to these chapters in the Significant Gospel Events Study in Sections like Prophecies; Prophecy Fulfilled and Promises and other Sections of that reference document. Further, this chapter is found in the Study called Miracles in the Gospels. Hopefully, with all of thee Bible references, the reader understands that the events of this chapter are critical to true Bible faith
.
Matthew 26:1-2 and Mark 14:1 say that the Passover was in two (2) days. Luke 22:1 says, that the Passover was nigh
. John 12:1 say that the Passover was in six (6) days. Thus, all of the Gospel accounts are synced by time within a couple of days.
Matthew 26:2 is one of several places where we read that Jesus
prophesied His own betrayal, persecution, death and resurrection. Please see the Prophecy; Prophecy Fulfilled Sections of the Significant Gospel Events Study for links to related Bible references. Please also see the section called Appearances of Jesus Christ After the Resurrection for more references about on resurrection
.
Matthew 26:3-5; Mark 14:1-2; Luke 22:2 and John 11:47-53 tell us that the chief priests and the Pharisees
plotted the death of Jesus
. Matthew 26:3-5; Mark 14:1-2; Luke 22:2 and John 11:47-53 tell us that the chief priests and the Pharisees
plotted the death of Jesus
and they sought
to take Jesus
, but delayed their action until a more convent time. That time came when Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus
, as we are told in Mark 14:10.
Matthew 26:6-13 and Mark 14:3-9; Luke 7:36-50 and John 12:1-11 tell us about the time that Jesus
and His disciples ate a meal at the house of Simon the leper and Mary Magdalene anointed Jesus
for His death.
Matthew 26:1 and Mark 14:9 tell us: Wheresoever this gospel's shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her
. This was well before any of the New Testament was written and what is written in the new Testament is the basis for This gospel (that is) preached
.
Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11 and Luke 22:3-6 report that Judas plots with the chief priests to betray Jesus
. Jesus
also prophesied that this would happen in John 6:70-71. Please see the Prophecy Fulfilled Section, and of the Significant Gospel Events Study, for other Bible references to prophecies fulfilled within the Gospels.
Matthew 26:17-19; Mark 14:12-16 and Luke 22:7-13 report the preparation for the Passover / 'Last Supper' of Jesus
. John does not report the preparation but has far more about the actual 'Last Supper' than any other gospel writer. In addition, the note for Luke 22:7 gives us the symbols of the Lord's Supper found in in Passover.
Matthew 26:18; Mark 14:13-16 and Luke 22:10 all tell us that Jesus
prophesied what the disciples would find when they went to prepare the upper room for the feast of unleavened bread
. The sentence which follow the prophecy tell us that the prophecy was fulfilled exactly as Jesus
said. The indication of the Gospel reports is that this was so common that the disciples expected the prophecy to be fulfilled exactly as Jesus
said.
Matthew 26:20-30; Mark 14:17-46; Luke 22:14-38; John 13:1-14:31 and 1Corinthians 11:23-34 report the 'Last Supper' of Jesus
.
Matthew 26:20; Mark 14:17 and Luke 22:14 all tell us that the 'Last Supper' of Jesus
started just after even
. Please also see the note for Luke 22:7 about the symbols of the Lord's Supper which are found in passover.
Matthew 26:21-25; Mark 14:18-21; Luke 22:21-23 and John 13:21-30 present the prophecy by Jesus
that Judas would betray Him. Please see the Prophecies Section of the
Significant Gospel Events Study for more related Bible references.
Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25 and Luke 22:19-20 present the ceremony that Jesus
created for us to remember Him and His suffering by. This celebration from the 'Last Supper' is commonly called The Lord's Supper
.
Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26; Luke 22:39 and John 18:1 all tell us when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives
.
Matthew 26:31-32; Mark 14:27 and John 16:32 are during the Last Supper
and tell us that Jesus
prophesied His own betrayal, persecution, death and resurrection. Please see the Prophecy; Prophecy Fulfilled Sections of the Significant Gospel Events Study for links to related Bible references. Please also see the section called Appearances of Jesus Christ After the Resurrection for more references about on resurrection
.
Matthew 26:31; Mark 14:27-28 and John 16:32 present the prophecy by Jesus
that all of the disciples would be offended by Him that night. This prophecy was fulfilled in Matthew 26:56; Mark 14:50-52 and John 18:10-11. Mark's account also tells us that Mark started to follow but ran after his robe was grabbed. In addition, Luke 22:54 reports: And Peter followed afar off
. Further, John 18:16 reports: But Peter stood at the door without
. Therefore, since Peter was outside of where Jesus
was taken, we can know that he followed but did not stay with Jesus
.
Matthew 26:32 reports the resurrection of Jesus
. Please see the Prophecy; Prophecy Fulfilled Sections of the Significant Gospel Events Study for links to related Bible references. Please also see the section called Appearances of Jesus Christ After the Resurrection for more references about on resurrection
.
Matthew 26:33-35; Mark 14:29-31; Luke 22:31-34 and John 13:37-38 tell us that Jesus
prophesied Peter's denial. The rest of the disciples also denied that they would scatter.
Matthew 26:34; Mark 14:29-31; Luke 22:31-34; John 13:37-38 and John 16:32 tell us that Jesus
prophesied that Peter would deny knowing Jesus.
Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-53 and John 18:1-13 all tell us that Jesus
went to Gethsemane and report His agony there. (Although Luke 22:39 calls it The mount of Olives
.) the reader can search these accounts for uniquely reported events such as the fact that there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
(Luke 22:43-44).
Matthew 26:36-39; Mark 14:32-35 and Luke 22:39-40 tell us that Jesus
, and the eleven, went to the garden of Gethsemane
. There, Jesus
left most in one place, took Peter, James and John further and left them and went, by Himself, further to pray. At each spot, Jesus
told His disciples to pray that they not enter into temptation.
The prayer of Jesus
is reported in: Matthew 26:39; Matthew 26:42; Matthew 26:44; Mark 14:36 and Luke 22:41-42.
Matthew 26:40-45; Mark 14:37-42 and Luke 22:45-46 tell us about Jesus
finding the disciples asleep three times when they were supposed to be praying. Judas Iscariot came with the mob while Jesus
talked to them the third time.
Matthew 26:46 and Mark 14:42 tell us that Jesus
prophesied the arrival of Judas Iscariot and the mob to arrest Him just before they came and before the other disciples realized that the mob was coming.
Matthew 26:47-50; Mark 14:43-46; Luke 22:47-54 and John 18:2-13 report the betrayal and arrest of Jesus
.
Matthew 26:51-55; Mark 14:47-49; Luke 22:49-53 and John 18:10-11 all tell us about Peter cutting off the servant's ear during the arrest of Jesus
. Those references also tell us about Jesus
healing the man. Some of the details are only told in one of the Gospels. This event is also found in the Table of Miracles within the Gospels.
Matthew 26:56; Mark 14:50-52 and John 18:10-11 all tell that the disciples all scattered. This fulfills the prophecy by Jesus
found in Matthew 26:31 and Mark 14:27. Mark's account also tells us that Mark started to follow but ran after his robe was grabbed. In addition, Luke 22:54 reports: And Peter followed afar off
. Further, John 18:16 reports: But Peter stood at the door without
. Therefore, since Peter was outside of where Jesus
was taken, we can know that he followed but did not stay with Jesus
.
Matthew 26:57-27:2; Mark 14:53-15:1; Luke 22:54-23:1 and John 18:12-28 tell about the trial of Jesus
by Caiaphas and the scribes and elders and the council
.
Matthew 26:57; Mark 14:53; Luke 22:54 and John 18:24-28 all tell us that Jesus
is taken before Caiaphas the high priest.
In Matthew 26:58; Mark 14:54; Luke 22:54 and John 18:15-16 we read that Peter followed at a distance. In addition, John's Gospel also tells us that John followed with Peter and that John was the person who got Peter into the high priest's house.
Matthew 15:19; Matthew 19:18 and Matthew 26:59-60 all warn us against false witnesses
. Please see the Doctrinal Study called False things according to the Bible for links to other false things which God warns us against.
During the trial of Jesus
by Caiaphas and the scribes and elders and the council
, we see them trying to get Jesus
to make a statement which they can use to bring a false charge against Him. John 18:19-23 has questioning which is only recorded in John. This questioning was done either before or after the seeking of false witnesses recorded in Matthew 26:59-63 and Mark 14:55-60.
In Matthew 26:59-61 and Mark 14:55-59 we read about the false witnesses
.
Matthew 12:40; Matthew 26:61; Matthew 27:40; Matthew 27:63; Mark 14:58; Mark 15:29; John 2:19 all tell us that Jesus
would be in the grave three days and three nights
. Please see the Prophecies Fulfilled Section of the Significant Gospel Events Study for more related Bible references.
In Matthew 26:62-63 and Mark 14:60-61 tell us that Jesus
refused to answer anything until they asked Him: Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
.
In Matthew 26:63; Mark 14:62; Luke 22:67-71 all tell us that Jesus
directly answered that He was God's Christ
. Please see the Prophecy Fulfilled Section, and other Sections of the Significant Gospel Events Study, for other references to this truth. John 10:24 also has the same question and answer but it was an earlier time in the ministry of Jesus
. Therefore, they already had this answer but it was not given during an official trial like the later event was during an official trial.
Matthew 26:64 and Mark 14:62 and Luke 22:67-69 and John 14:3 present the prophecy by Jesus
of His return to this Earth. There are several other prophecies in this chapter and they can be found in the Prophecies Section of this Study.
In Matthew 26:65-66; Mark 14:63-64 and Luke 22:71 all tell us that the high priest accused Jesus
of blaspheme because He answered their question honestly. They condemned Him for doing exactly what God's word taught that God's Christ
would do.
Matthew 26:67-68; Mark 14:65 and Luke 22:63-65 report that the high priest's servants and guards abuse Jesus
.
Matthew 26:67-68 and Mark 14:65 tell us that the religious leaders, who were at the trial held by the high priest, began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands
. In addition, these references tell us that the high priest's servants and guards abuse Jesus
. This is a fulfillment of prophecy found in Luke 18:32 and Mark 10:34. Please see the Prophecies and Prophecy Fulfilled Sections in the Significant Gospel Events Study for similar Bible references.
Matthew 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:56-62; John 18:15-18 and John 18:25-27 all tell us that Peter denies knowing Jesus
. Each of the Gospels give us some details about this event which are not in the other Gospels. Piecing these accounts together we see that it was two servant maids and a guard who questioned Peter. The first maid also opened the door for John and Peter. The account from John gives us a unique report about Peter's denial.
Matthew 26:69; Mark 14:66; Luke 22:55 and John 18:18 all tell us that Peter sat at the fire of the servants to the High priest
.
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides a chapter outline as:
1-2. Christ foretells his own death.
3-5. the rulers conspire against him.
6-13. the woman anoints his feet.
14-16. Judas bargains to betray him.
17-25. Christ eats the passover;
26-29. institutes his holy supper;
30-35. foretells the desertion of his disciples, and Peter's denial;
36-46. prays in the garden;
47-56. and being betrayed by a kiss,
57-68. is carried to Caiaphas,
69-75. and denied of Peter. '.
- C26-S1 :
Jesus
, again, prophesies His suffering and death.- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds another prophecy to the prior two chapters of prophecy. - The phrase
And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings
means: 'The following was said as a separate prophecy afterJesus
gave the prior prophecies. Where the prior prophecies were for years ahead and even for end times, this prophecy toll happen within a few days'. - The phrase
he said unto his disciples
means: 'This is whomJesus
gave the prophecy. Every time that any Gospel account reports this prophecy,Jesus
is giving it exclusively to His disciples'. - The phrase
Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover
means: 'Jesus
is trying to make them see the connection between the passover and His death to pay for our sins. He is ourpassover
'. - The phrase
and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified
means: 'The wordand
connects His being crucified to thepassover
and you can not drop either side of the wordand
without changing the message'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C26-S2 : the religious leaders plotted together to fulfill the prophecy.
- The phrase
Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people
means: 'All of the religious leaders got together to plan the murder'. - The phrase
unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas
means: 'They met in the home of the man who was most responsible for representing God'. - The phrase
And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him
means: 'This was the reason for their meeting'.
- The phrase
- C26-S3 : they considered the best time to do it.
- Our sentence starts with the word
But
. The prior sentence told us what the religious leaders wanted to do while this sentence tells us why they could not do it right away. - The phrase
But they said, Not on the feast day
means: 'There were considerations which would cause them trouble. In particular, they could not do what was obviously the devil's work on a holy day celebrating their deliverance from the control of Satan'. - The phrase
lest there be an uproar among the people
means: 'This is how the common Jews would react if the religious leaders obviously served Satan on a holy day'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C26-S4 : the start of the incident where Mary Magdalene anointed
Jesus
for His burial. We get more details on this incident in the other Gospel accounts. Please see the Gospel references, above, for links to those other Gospel accounts.- The phrase
Now when Jesus was in Bethany
means: 'This was where the incident happened'. - The phrase
in the house of Simon the leper
means: 'He, apparently, became a leper after this incident because he could not have close social contacts while he was a leper'. The other Gospel accounts tell us that he was also a Pharisee and he deliberately invitedJesus
, his disciples and Lazarus so that he could very rudely, and very publically, insult all of them. However,Jesus
went knowing that God would use the incident for His glory and would receive the legal evidence against Simon to justify punishing him. My personal guess is that the leprosy was part of that punishment. - The phrase
There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment
means: 'We are told elsewhere that this was Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus'. - The phrase
and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat
means: 'She made a public display of what she was doing'.
- The phrase
- C26-S5 : All of the disciples were offended.
- Our sentence starts with the word
But
. Our prior sentence says that Mary honoredJesus
while this sentence says that all of the disciples were offended instead of joining her in honoringJesus
. Remember that their host was deliberately insultingJesus
and them. Tocounter that insult, God had Mary honor Him. - The phrase
But when his disciples saw it
means: 'Notice that they all reacted this way'. - The phrase
they had indignation, saying
means: 'Notice how they all reacted'. - The phrase
To what purpose is this waste?
means: 'Notice why they all reacted'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C26-S6 : What they thought would have been a better use. Our sentence says:
For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor
. John 12:4-5 tells us that it was actually Judas Iscariot who said this statement. However, since Matthew gives us the legal perspective, all were guilty of reacting withindignation
. - C26-S7 :
Jesus
asked them about their motive.- The phrase
When Jesus understood it
means: 'This is when and whyJesus
reacted'. - The phrase
he said unto them
means: 'Notice the plural word ofthem
.Jesus
said this to all of His disciples'. - The phrase
Why trouble ye the woman?
means: 'Notice the personal pronoun ofye
. They were each and every one of them personally guilty of reacting wrongly'.
- The phrase
- C26-S8 :
Jesus
tells them her motive. Our sentence says:for she hath wrought a good work upon me
. Our sentence starts with the wordfor
, which means: 'Here's whyJesus
spoke up for her'. In addition, the Biblical usage of the wordgood
is: 'In the Bible, only what comes from God is called good. Therefore, the Biblical definition ofgood
does not match what men think it should be'. Therefore, she did a Godly work which they misunderstood because they were looking at it from a physical perspective instead of from a spiritual perspective. - C26-S9 : Why their motive is wrong.
- The phrase
For ye have the poor always with you
means: 'This is a truth that is often ignored and even denied by liberals'. The whole basis of Communism, socialism and other programs to rob productive people, so that they stop being productive or hide their wealth or move away. And then the program says to give to the poor who waste what they are given and refuse lessons on how to not be wasteful and not live beyond what they have. It is part of their sin nature called covetousness and it does not matter how much they are given, they can waste it all and keep on demanding more. In most cases, poverty is due to ignorance coupled with a refusal to learn better ways to live. A simple example is that when the Jews went into thepromised land
, it wasa land flowing with milk and honey
. After the death ofJesus
, when they were driven out and the land was given to Arabs, it was turned into a desert by their lifestyle. After the Jews returned, the land became prosperous again with many crops growing. And, Arabs demand that it be given back to them again so that they can turn it into a desert again because they refuse to give up their lifestyle which is destructive to land. Likewise, many studies of poor people show that they remain poor through multiple generations because they refuse to change their lifestyle. And, that is the basis of the truth whichJesus
said here. - The phrase
but me ye have not always
means: 'This is another prophecy of His death and, later, His return to Heaven. In addition,Jesus
gives another reason for what He said in the next sentence'.
- The phrase
- C26-S10 : Why her motive is better.
- The phrase
For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body
means: ''. . . . - The phrase
she did it for my burial
means: 'This is why she did it. While all of the disciples rejected the prophecy fromJesus
about His death, Mary believed it and acted on it'.
- The phrase
- C26-S11 : the everlasting consequence of her action.
- The phrase
verily I say unto you
means: 'Jesus
verified this prophecy'. - The phrase
Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world
means: 'This will be done repeatedly everywhere and throughout all time. Very few other people have been so honored and at the time that she lived her name was permanently changed to include the town where she had been a whore. Men never forget what you did that was wrong. God never forgets what you did that was right'. - The phrase
there shall also this, that this woman hath done
means: 'What she did to honorJesus
is what God will make sure that men remember and even some of the men who remember this act forget her life of sin'. - The phrase
be told for a memorial of her
means: 'This is whyJesus
decreed that this be done'. We might not receive recognition here, but we can be sure thatJesus
remembers everything that we do for His glory.
- The phrase
- C26-S12 : the reaction by Judas Iscariot.
- The phrase
Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot
means: 'The prior act is what led Judas Iscariot to betrayJesus
. He did not care about the spiritual implications. He only cared about the money. And, he finally realized that he would not get rich, in this world, while servingJesus
. Therefore, he looked for the quickest way to get rich and acted as this sentence says.Jesus
also prophesied that this would happen in John 6:70-71 '. - The phrase
went unto the chief priests, And said unto them
means: 'Judas figured they would give him the most money'. - The phrase
What will ye give me
means: 'Here he is asking for money'. - The phrase
and I will deliver him unto you?
means: 'Here he is promising to betrayJesus
to them'.
- The phrase
- C26-S13 : the covenant of blood. Our sentence says:
And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver
. This fulfills the prophecies of Psalms 41:9 and Zechariah 11:12-13. We are told what eventually happened with thethirty pieces of silver
in Matthew 12:3-9. - C26-S14 : Judas Iscariot looked for the chance to do his part. Our sentence says:
And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him
. John 13:27 reports:And after the sop Satan entered into him. then said Jesus unto him, that thou doest, do quickly
. - C26-S15 : the disciples sought directions from
Jesus
.- The phrase
Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him
means: 'Thefeast of unleavened bread
was dictated by God in Exodus 12:17-20 '. I found another fourteen references to thisfeast
in the Bible. Thisfeast
is attached toJesus
dying to pay for our sins and it, symbolically, represents His getting His people to stop sinning. - The phrase
Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?
means: 'They were going to prepare for the God-ordainedfeast
but did not know that it would also be the ':Last Supper''.
- The phrase
- C26-S16 :
Jesus
sent them to the man who was prepared to serve.- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds . . . - The phrase
And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him
means: 'Obviously,Jesus
knew this man and his willingness to submit to the will of God. He was a disciple even though he did not travel withJesus
. He represents what pastors consider to be reliable and faithful church members'. - The phrase
The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples
means: 'This is the message thatJesus
sent through His disciples'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C26-S17 : the disciples prepared for the
Last Supper
.- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds a summary of the preparation being made. - The phrase
And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them
means: 'They obeyed'. - The phrase
and they made ready the passover
means: 'They completed the preparation'
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C26-S18 : the time that the
Last Supper
started.- The word
Now
means: 'After the preparation was completed. This is the start of Matthew's report of the actual 'Last Supper''. - The phrase
when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve
means: 'This is when the 'Last Supper' happened'. My pastor says that our celebration of theLord's Supper
should also be in the evening to accurately follow the symbolism involved.
- The word
- C26-S19 :
Jesus
prophesies His betrayal.- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the prophecy fromJesus
that He will be betrayed. He has given this prophecy several times before this and every time the disciples rejected it. Please see the Prophecies and the Prophecy Fulfilled Sections of the Significant Gospel Events Study for other Bible references related to this prophecy. - The phrase
And as they did eat, he said
means: 'Jesus
said this during the supper'. - The phrase
verily I say unto you
means: 'Jesus
verified this prophecy'. - The phrase
that one of you shall betray me
means: 'This prophecy was given only hours before it was fulfilled'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C26-S20 : the reaction by the disciples.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the emotional reaction byJesus
. We are not told why. I imagine part of it was for the future judgment of Judas which will result because he was willfully deceived. I imagine part of it was for all of the future suffering of people who will also be deceived and go to Hell in spite of His paying for their sins. And yes, I imagine part of it is for His own future suffering. However, knowing His revealed character, I imagine most of His emotional response was for you and means not for Himself. - The phrase
And they were exceeding sorrowful
means: 'They found this prophecy hard to believe but did not outright reject it like they did the prophecies of His death'. - The phrase
and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord
means: 'All of them asked the same question, which is in the next phrase'. And, while eleven of them used the title ofLord
('God in human flesh'), according to Matthew 26:25; Judas used the title ofMaster
('teacher'). - The phrase
is it I?
means: 'This is what each asked'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C26-S21 :
Jesus
identifies Judas Iscariot indirectly.Jesus
reveals Judas as his betrayer as reported in Matthew 26:21-25; Mark 14:18-20; Luke 22:21; John 13:10; John 13:18-19; John 13:21-31.- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence, and the next two sentences, add the answer fromJesus
the disciples askingis it I?
in response toJesus
saying:Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me
. - The phrase
And he answered and said
means: 'This was the answer fromJesus
'. - The phrase
He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish
means: 'They were all doing this as was common in that culture and time. John 13:26 adds:Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon
. This, apparently, happened after our current sentence but none of the other disciples understood the significance of it'. - The phrase
The same shall betray me
means: 'Here,Jesus
identifies Judas Iscariot indirectly'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C26-S22 : the fulfillment of prophecy with a warning.
- The phrase
The Son of man goeth as it is written of him
means: '{lease see the section called 'Suffering and Death of Jesus' in the Prophecies Section of the Significant Gospel Events Study'. - The phrase
but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed!
means: 'Judas was sent to Hell until he is resurrected to become thebeast
of Revelation; or another is raised with his spirit like John the Baptist fulfilled the prophecies about Elias returning'.
- The phrase
- C26-S23 : the better option for Judas Iscariot. in this sentence,
Jesus
says:it had been good for that man if he had not been born
. Anyone who ends up in thelake of fire
would be better off if they had never been born. And, Judas was warned here before he earned a place in that lake where there is the greatest torture. - C26-S24 : Even Judas asked if he was the betrayer. Our sentence says:
Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I?
. 'Notice that he usesMaster
instead ofLord
like all of the other disciples'. - C26-S25 :
Jesus
firmly answers Yes. Our sentence says:He said unto him, thou hast said
means: 'Jesus
confirmed to Judas that he was the betrayer'. - C26-S26 : the start of the new ceremony.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the start of the memorial ceremony whichJesus
gave to the church. - The phrase
And as they were eating
means: 'This was whenJesus
did this'. - The phrase
Jesus tok bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said
means: 'This is whatJesus
did to create a symbolic ceremony'. - The phrase
Take, eat
means: 'Make this part of your physical body'. Symbolically, letJesus
control how you live in your body. Please see the Doctrinal Study called What Did Jesus Do? for practical instruction from the Gospels on how to live in this world as a true BiblicalChristian
. - The phrase
This is my body
means: 'SinceJesus
was still in His physical body as He said this, this entire ceremony is symbolic'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C26-S27 : the symbolism of blood.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the ceremony of the cup to the ceremony of the bread. - The phrase
And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying
means: 'This is whatJesus
did to create the second part of a symbolic ceremony'. - The phrase
Drink ye all of it
means: 'We are to have all of the symbolic meaning in out life'. - The phrase
For this is my blood of the new testament
. The wordblood
means: 'is the source of life'. The phrasenew testament
means: 'This replaces the religious part of the Old Testament'. Our phrase means: 'The new testament is to give us new spiritual life through our receiving the indwelling Holy Spirit'. - The phrase
which is shed for many for the remission of sins
means: 'We arejustified by faith
, which means that God blots out the record on our ongoing sins as we obey the indwelling Holy Spirit, by faith, and display the new spiritual life which is this part of the new testament'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C26-S28 : the relationship to the
marriage supper of the lamb
.- Our sentence starts with the word
But
. Our prior sentence told us thatJesus
did drink the fruit of the vine while this sentence says that He will not do so again until the specified time. - The phrase
But I say unto you
means: 'Jesus
is making an announcement of what He will do and there will be not exception to this announcement'. - The phrase
I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine
means: 'Men make six forms of corruptfruit of the vine
and argue over which of those six should be used at theLord's Supper
and which kindJesus
turned the water into as the 'Marriage Feast at Canna'. However, our next phrase says that he will drink it in Heaven and none of the corrupt versions made by man will be in Heaven. What is served there will be incorrupt. Therefore, we should use the least corrupt version which we can find'. - The phrase
until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom
means: 'As mentioned, thisfruit of the vine
will not be corrupt because it will be in Heaven. It will be different from the six kinds made by men. And, this is whatJesus
truly turned the water into. He will drink it with the saved at themarriage supper of the Lamb
'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C26-S29 : they moved to the next place and phase of the evening.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the start of the next phase of the evening. - The phrase
And when they had sung an hymn
means: 'They worshipped God to end that phase of the evening and the end the ceremony whichJesus
had initiated'. - The phrase
they went out into the mount of Olives
means: 'They went to the phase of the next phase of their evening'. John's Gospel gives us much doctrine which told them while they were walking toThe mount of Olives
.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C26-S30 : Prophesied fulfillment of scripture.
- The phrase
Then saith Jesus unto them
means: ''. . . . - The phrase
All ye shall be offended because of me this night
means: 'This is another prophecy byJesus
which the disciples all rejected. They refused to believe that He would die and they refused to believe that all of them would flee from Him'. - The phrase
for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad
means: 'This is a quote of Zechariah 13:7 '.
- The phrase
- C26-S31 : Prophecy of action after the resurrection.
- Our sentence starts with the word
But
. The prior sentence was a prophecy of what would happen before the death ofJesus
. This sentence changes time to provide a prophecy of what will happen after His resurrection. - The phrase
But after I am risen again
means: 'This is when this prophecy will take place '. - The phrase
I will go before you into Galilee
means: 'There are indications that He returned to Heaven from there but I can not make it a doctrinal statement'. The physical brothers and sisters ofJesus
did not get saved until after the resurrection. That was probably another reason for His going to Galilee.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C26-S32 : Peter speaks based upon pride.
- The phrase
Peter answered and said unto him
means: 'Many people are encouraged by the reports of Peter messing up because ifJesus
could love and use Peter in spite of these mess-ups, thenJesus
can love and use anyone'. - The phrase
Though all men shall be offended because of thee
means: 'This is foolish bragging that he would be better thanall men
'. - The phrase
yet will I never be offended
means: 'Of course, Peter being proven wrong about this statement is well known'.
- The phrase
- C26-S33 : Prophecy of Peter's denial.
- The phrase
Jesus said unto him
means: 'Jesus
said this to Peter'. - The phrase
Verily I say unto thee
means: 'Jesus
verified this prophecy'. - The phrase
that this night, before the cock crow
means: 'This was the sign given to Peter to remind him of the prophecy'. - The phrase
thou shalt deny me thrice
means: 'This is the prophecy'.
- The phrase
- C26-S34 : Peter's second boasting based upon pride.
- The phrase
Peter said unto him
means: 'Peter said this and our next sentence said that all of the others said the same'. - The phrase
Though I should die with thee
means: 'This means regardless of circumstances'. - The phrase
yet will I not deny thee
means: 'This is an easy thing to claim when you are not facing threat'.
- The phrase
- C26-S35 : the other disciples join Peter in boastful pride. Our sentence says:
Likewise also said all the disciples
means: 'This sentence us usually skipped. People like to talk about Peter messing up while, inside, they believe that would not do the same. This sentence lets us know that most people would do like Peter did'. - C26-S36 :
Jesus
assigns most of the disciples a place to pray.- The phrase
Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane
means: 'This was whereJesus
prayed while the disciples slept'. - The phrase
and saith unto the disciples
means: 'Jesus
told the disciples what to do'. - The phrase
Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder
means: 'This is whatJesus
said to them'.
- The phrase
- C26-S37 :
Jesus
took Peter, James and John to another place.- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds howJesus
revealed more to the inner circle of disciples. - The phrase
And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee
means: 'They were the inner circle of disciples'. - The phrase
and began to be sorrowful and very heavy
means: 'Jesus
revealed to them how He was truly feeling'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C26-S38 :
Jesus
tells them to stay there and pray.- The phrase
Then saith he unto them
means: 'Jesus
said this only to the three of the inner circle'. - The phrase
My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death
means: 'This was howJesus
was feeling because He knew that His torture and death were only hours away. Even though He was God in human flesh, He still had human flesh and human feelings about pain and death'. - The phrase
tarry ye here, and watch with me
. The wordwatch
means: 'stand guard against enemy forces'. They did not understand that the enemy forces were spiritual, being devils, and that their attack would be to make them sleepy. Ephesians 6:11 says:Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil
. It is easy for us to forget that we have the help of God's indwellingHoly Spirit
and they did not. And, it is possible that they did not considerThe wiles of the devil
and His use of sleep to keep them from praying withJesus
.
- The phrase
- C26-S39 :
Jesus
went another place to pray.- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds It is adding whatJesus
did that was different. - The phrase
And he went a little farther
means: 'Jesus
separated Himself in order to pray privately with God the Father'. - The phrase
and fell on his face, and prayed, saying
means: 'This was howJesus
prayed. He took a posture of humbleness and submission'. - The phrase
O my Father
means: 'Jesus
started His prayer recognizing His personal relationship with God the Father. Again, this is not just a prayer to God the Father like most religious people pray. It is deliberately personal in nature'. - The phrase
if it be possible
means: 'Jesus
is asking for a conditional response. I personally believe thatJesus
knew that His request was not possible if God was to save people. But, He prayed this prayer and God'sHoly Spirit
had it reported so that we would know that there was not other possible way for us to be saved. '. - The phrase
let this cup pass from me
means: 'This request is to avoid the future experience. In particular, the wordcup
is used symbolically for the spiritual part of the experience. Many people concentrate on whatJesus
went through physically but don't consider the emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of how He was treated including God the Fatherforsaking
Him and His being dragged into Hell by devils'. - The phrase
nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt
means: 'This is the spiritually mature attitude that God wants all of His people to take'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C26-S40 :
Jesus
returns the first time to find the three sleeping.- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds what happened whenJesus
checked on His closest disciples who were to pray with Him. - The phrase
And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep
means: 'This is whatJesus
did and what He found'. - The phrase
and saith unto Peter
means: 'True Godly leadership makes the leader responsible for what the followers do or do not do. Romans 5:14 tells us that Adam sinned even though Eve ate the forbidden fruit first. Likewise,Jesus
is speaking to Peter here even though all three slept. Peter was the leader and, therefore, responsible'. - The phrase
What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
means: 'Again, this was a command which matches one given to a soldier watch for enemies while in a war zone. in this case, the enemies were spiritual devils and they used sleep as their weapon'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C26-S41 :
Jesus
instructs them again.- The phrase
Watch and pray
means: 'Jesus
again instructs them what to do'. - The phrase
that ye enter not into temptation
means: 'This is a specific command on what they are to pray for'. Earlier in this chapterJesus
warned them that they would sin by abandoning Him. And, they all denied that they personally would do so. And, later in our chapter, Matthew reports that they did exactly as prophesied. And, they missed the help of God because, as our sentences tell us, they fell asleep instead of watching unto prayer for God to help them to not sin. - The phrase
The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak
means: 'Here,Jesus
acknowledges their condition and why they slept'.
- The phrase
- C26-S42 :
Jesus
returns to solitary prayer.- The phrase
He went away again the second time
means: 'This reports the second, of three, times thatJesus
prayed'. - The phrase
and prayed, saying
means: 'Notice that He prayed the same prayer as before but uses different words. This is different from saying some memorized prayer over and over.Jesus
called thatvain repetitions
(Matthew 6:7)'. - The phrase
O my Father, If this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done
means: 'This is what Matthew reportsJesus
praying'.
- The phrase
- C26-S43 :
Jesus
returns the second time to find the three sleeping.- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds whatJesus
found the next time that He checked on them. - The phrase
And he came and found them asleep again
means: 'The other Gospel accounts give us a slightly different report while not causing a conflict. Please compare the various accounts if that level of detail is important to you'. - The phrase
for their eyes were heavy
means: 'Here's why they slept. While people can point the finger, most of us, at some times, succumb to the desires of the flesh which war against what God'sHoly Spirit
wants us to do'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C26-S44 :
Jesus
returns to solitary prayer.- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the report thatJesus
returned to pray a third time. - The phrase
And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time
means: 'This is whatJesus
did'. - The phrase
saying the same words
means: 'This is important to understand. We do not have to use different words every time that we pray to God about a certain thing. We can use the same words or we can used different words, as we see in this Gospel account. The main thing to avoid isvain repetitions
(Matthew 6:7)'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C26-S45 :
Jesus
returns the third time to find the three sleeping.- The phrase
Then cometh he to his disciples
means: 'This is when the next action byJesus
happened'. - The phrase
and saith unto them
means: 'The next phrases are whatJesus
said'. - The phrase
Sleep on now, and take your rest
means: 'It is too late to pray for help'. - The word:
behold
means: 'Pay close attention to the next phrase, which is prophecy'. - The phrase
The hour is at hand
means: 'It is now time forJesus
to be betrayed, tortured and crucified'. - The phrase
and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners
means: 'This is the first thing that will happen within less than a day'.
- The phrase
- C26-S46 :
Jesus
tells them that it is time for the next event of the evening.- The phrase
Rise, let us be going
means: 'Get up and go to meet the mob'. - The word:
behold
means: 'Pay close attention to the next phrase, which is prophecy'. - The phrase
he is at hand that doth betray me
means: 'Judas Iscariot was almost there with his mob from the religious leaders'.
- The phrase
- C26-S47 : Judas Iscariot arrived with the mob.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the arrival of Judas and the mob. - The phrase
And while he yet spake
means: 'This is the timing of the arrival'. - The phrase
lo, Judas, one of the twelve came
means: 'This sentence fulfills the prophecies of Psalms 41:9 and Psalms 55:12-15 '. - The phrase
and with him a great multitude with swords and staves
means: 'These people fell into mob mentality. a wise person avoids becoming part of a mob'. - The phrase
from the chief priests and elders of the people
means: 'This is who sent them. They claimed to represent God but were willing to have their entire nation punished by God and have the people go to Hell so long as they kept their positions in this world. That is the character of Satan and not of God. We are told to use the Bible to learn the character of our God and to not follow anyone who preaches another god or another lord or another Jesus or another Christ'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C26-S48 : the sign to the mob who which identified
Jesus
.- The phrase
Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying
means: 'This was the sign of betrayal that Judas gave them'. - The phrase
Whomsoever I shall kiss
means: 'Several places in the Bible warn us that the most deceitful will kiss while betraying the one they claim to love'. - The phrase
that same is he
means: 'This identifiedJesus
to the mob who might not be thinking straight while caught up into mob mentality. If you can not personally identify the person whom you hate and wish to kill, then your religious zeal is not from God but is from Satan'. - The phrase
hold him fast
means: 'This showed that Judas did not really knowJesus
in spite of all the time that he spent withJesus
. Because of His character, and as we see reported in the Gospel accounts, there was no need tohold him fast
.Jesus
went willingly to do the will of God the Father and die for our sins'.
- The phrase
- C26-S49 : Judas Iscariot gave the sign.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds how Judas acted. It shows his foolishness to arrive leading a mob which was armedwith swords and staves
and pretend that he was arriving in a friendly and loving attitude. - The phrase
And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said
means: 'Judas walked right up to Him still believing that he was foolingJesus
'. - The phrase
Hail, master
means: 'Notice that thismaster
is lower-case while theMaster
that he said while at the 'Last Supper' was upper-case. That proves that Judas was lying then but now is revealing his true feelings'. - The phrase
and kissed him
means: 'This is the sign of ultimate betrayal'. Please see the note for the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, attached to the Detailed Note, for more Bible references to a kiss of betrayal.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C26-S50 :
Jesus
gives Judas a chance to honestly confess his betrayal.- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the response fromJesus
. - The phrase
And Jesus said unto him
means: 'Jesus
ignored the mob and spoke to Judas in a personal manner. Regardless of whom we are with, God still deals with us in a personal manner'. - The phrase
Friend
means: 'Jesus
called Judas this becauseJesus
had always dealt with him as a friend and Judas was still pretending to be a friend toJesus
'. - The phrase
wherefore art thou come?
means: 'Where are you coming fRomans why'.Jesus
knew these answers, and the presence of the mob made it obvious what the answers were, but He gave Judas a chance to answer for himself.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C26-S51 : the mob physically grabbed
Jesus
. Our sentence says:Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him
. - C26-S52 : the servant's ear was cut off.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the violent reaction of Peter. - The phrase
And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus
means: 'Other Gospel accounts identify this as Peter'. - The phrase
stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear
means: 'Apparently, the servant ducked and turned his head when Peter swung to cut his head off and only cut off the ear'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C26-S53 :
Jesus
instructs His disciples to not fight. The other Gospel accounts tell us thatJesus
healed the servant's ear in addition to saying this sentence.- The phrase
Then said Jesus unto him
means: 'Jesus
said this to Peter. This saying proves that the mob did not need the swords and staves which they brought'. - The phrase
Put up again thy sword into his place
means: 'Stop threatening violence'. - The phrase
for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword
means: 'I believe that this applies to people who choose violence as a lifestyle and not to those who only serve mandatory military service'.
- The phrase
- C26-S54 :
Jesus
explains the force He could call if He was willing to do so.- The phrase
Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father
means: 'Jesus
just finished an agonizing time of prayer where He agreed to do the will of God the Father'. - The phrase
and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
means: 'He could have refused to suffer and die for us, but did not'.
- The phrase
- C26-S55 :
Jesus
explains that this is to fulfill scripture.- Our sentence starts with the word
But
. The prior sentence told us whatJesus
could have done while this sentence tells us why He did not do that. Our sentence says:But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
. The 'Suffering and Death of Jesus' Part of Prophecies Section of the Significant Gospel Events Study has links to many Old Testament references which have the prophecies whichJesus
references in this sentence. Further, the Prophecy Fulfilled Section of the Significant Gospel Events Study has links to many other Bible references of prophecies fulfilled by the death, burial and resurrection offJesus
.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C26-S56 :
Jesus
challenges the multitude about their attitude.- The phrase
In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes
means: 'Jesus
had to first calm things down and prevent further violence and get the people to stop shouting and to actually listen before He could ask the question of this sentence'. - The phrase
Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me?
means: 'This question was asked to make them think about what they had prepared to do. The next sentence tells them why they did not have to do their preparation. However, before He could tell them the next sentence, He first had to get them calmed down and actually thinking'.
- The phrase
- C26-S57 :
Jesus
explains why their attitude is not needed.- The phrase
I sat daily with you teaching in the temple
means: 'Jesus
did this, while He still had time. God the Father kept the religious leaders afraid to act until it was the right time, which means that things had to happen on the right day of the Jewish holy days to fulfill prophecy and so that the symbolic message of the holy days were also fulfilled'. - The phrase
and ye laid no hold on me
means: 'They did not act because God was controlling things even if they refused to acknowledge that truth'.
- The phrase
- C26-S58 :
Jesus
explains that this is a fulfillment of scripture.- Our sentence starts with the word
But
. The prior sentence told us that the Jewish religious leaders thought that they were deciding what to do and when while this sentence tells us that God the Father was actually in charge. - The phrase
But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled
. The 'Suffering and Death of Jesus' Part of Prophecies Section of the Significant Gospel Events Study has links to many Old Testament references which have the prophecies whichJesus
references in this sentence. Further, the Prophecy Fulfilled Section of the Significant Gospel Events Study has links to many other Bible references of prophecies fulfilled by the death, burial and resurrection offJesus
.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C26-S59 : All of the disciples fled. Our sentence says:
Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled
. Please see the Detailed Note for links to whereJesus
prophesied this action and links to references which give us more details about this action. - C26-S60 :
Jesus
is taken to Caiaphas.- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the start of the next incident. - The phrase
And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest
means: 'As I understand things, his son-in-law was the officialhigh priest
. Caiaphas had been thehigh priest
. When his time was up, he had his son-in-law appointed as the officialhigh priest
, so that he could remain in power and rule through his son-in-law. Thus, while he was not the officialhigh priest
, He was the actual'. - The phrase
where the scribes and the elders were assembled
means: 'All of the religious leaders went to the true seat of religious and political power'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C26-S61 : Peter followed.
- Our sentence starts with the word
But
. Two sentences prior told us that the disciples all ran away. Now, this sentence tells us that Peter didn't go far and that he followed. - The phrase
But Peter followed him afar off
means: 'This was Peter's first step towards his denial'. Please see SbS-Preacher Missionaries for more on this subject and for how God used Peter to teach us how He trains preachers and missionaries. - The phrase
unto the high priest's palace
means: 'Peter followed where they tookJesus
'. - The phrase
and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end
means: 'This is another step towards Peter's denial'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C26-S62 : the liars could not get their lies into agreement.
- The word
Now
lets us know that Matthew is starting to report the next incident of this chapter. - The phrase
The chief priests, and elders, and all the council
means: 'These were the Jewish religious leaders'. - The phrase
sought false witness against Jesus
means: 'This is what they were looking for'. - The phrase
to put him to death
means: 'This is the result that they sought'. - The phrase
But found none
means: 'This is the result that they found'. - The word
yea
is: 'A stronger version of the word yes. There can be no doubt about the phrase which follows this word'. - The phrase
though many false witnesses came
means: 'They brought in many liars'. - The phrase
yet found they none
means: 'None could provide a credible lie'.
- The word
- C26-S63 : Two misquoted
Jesus
.- The phrase
At the last came two false witnesses, And said
means: 'They were required by the law to bring a judgment against any Jew. As reported in other Gospel accounts, the main problem was that they had trouble getting two liars to tell compatible lies'. - The phrase
This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God
means: 'He actually said:destroy this temple
, meaning that others would destroy His body'. - The phrase
and to build it in three days
means: 'He actually saidI will raise it up
'. - Please see the Detailed Note for more of an explanation and for Bible references to this truth.
- The phrase
- C26-S64 : the high priest was frustrated.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds an attempt by the high priest to makeJesus
say something that they could use against Him. One of the hardest, but wisest, things to do is to keep silent while you hear people telling lies against you. - The phrase
And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing?
. With this, we see the high priest getting frustrated because his plan was not working like he expected it to.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C26-S65 : the high priest tried to get
Jesus
to answer lies. Our sentence says:what is it which these witness against thee?
Our next sentence (C26-S66) says:But Jesus held his peace
. The attempt by the high priest to provokeJesus
into saying something failed. - C26-S67 : the High priest proved that he knew Who
Jesus
truly was.- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds that the high priest legally demanded (I adjure thee
) an answer fromJesus
. - The phrase
And the high priest answered and said unto him
means: 'The high priest responded to the refusal to say anything'. - The phrase
I adjure thee by the living God
means: 'He legally demanded an answer with God, and God's court being called on to witness the answer'. - The phrase
that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ
means: 'This is what He demanded an answer to'. - The phrase
The Son of God
means: 'This is Who he knew that God'sChrist
would be'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C26-S68 :
Jesus
strongly confirms what the high priest asks.- The phrase
Jesus saith unto him
means: 'NowJesus
answered because he made a legal demand for an answer'. - The phrase
Thou hast said
means: 'You personally have said what you know to be true'. The high priest knew of all of the miracles thatJesus
did and he knew thatJesus
displayed more Godly wisdom than any other man and he knew the scriptural references which told him that these were the evidences of God'sChrist
. - Devil motivated liars claim that
Jesus
was not sure if He was God'sChrist
and they make that claim based on a wrong interpretation of the prior phrase. However, the reaction by the high priest, reported in the next sentence, shows that the prior phrase was a figure-of-speech which means exactly what I provided for the prior phrase - The phrase
nevertheless I say unto you
means: 'The next is what he is warned about, no matter what he does because of the true answer fromJesus
'. - The phrase
Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power
means: 'He would seeJesus
sitting on the throne in Heaven when he is judged by God'. - The phrase
and coming in the clouds of heaven
means: 'I am not sure when nor how he would experience this'.
- The phrase
- C26-S69 : the high priest condemns
Jesus
for telling the truth.- The phrase
Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying
means: 'The high priest did this to emphasize how he felt'. - The phrase
He hath spoken blasphemy
means: 'Jesus
did notblaspheme
. The Jewish leaders had added to God's law saying that id anyone admitted that He was God'sChrist
, then that personblasphemed
, even though they knew, from scripture, that God'sChrist
would admit Who He was'. - The phrase
what further need have we of witnesses?
means: 'Here he had the excuse to demand the crucifixion ofJesus
'. . . .
- The phrase
- C26-S70 : the high priest lies. Our sentence says:
behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy
. They heard truth which was notblasphemy
. Liars always accuse truth-tellers of lying. - C26-S71 : the high priest asks for agreement with his lie. Our sentence says:
What think ye?
. - C26-S72 : the others agree with murder. Our sentence says:
They answered and said, He is guilty of death
. - C26-S73 : the first fulfillment of prophecy about the suffering of
Christ
.- The phrase
Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him
means: 'The religious leaders acted in a way which showed that Satan was their true god. Truly saved people are to act like God and not like a devil'. - The phrase
and others smote him with the palms of their hands, Saying
means: 'These actions were done by servants to the religious leaders'. - The phrase
Prophesy unto us, thou Christ
means: 'This is the perverted definition of the wordprophesy
'. Yes, before theword of God
was completed, God let His true prophets tell future events so that people could verify that their message came from God. However, the main message from the true prophet was from the Lord and was, mainly, doctrine, law and judgment. This can be easily verified by reading the scriptural works from prophets. True prophets delivered the equivalent of the single interpretation while others, like preachers of today, delivered the many applications. - The phrase
Who is he that smote thee?
means: 'This is a deliberate insult and they knew that their demand was not how true prophecy worked'.
- The phrase
- C26-S74 : the account returns to Peter. Be careful of people who claim that there are discrepancies between the Gospel accounts of Peter's denials. In one of the other Studies, and in the Doctrinal Study called: Sequence of Gospel Events; I explain how the various accounts fit together without any conflict.
- The phrase
Now Peter sat without in the palace
means: 'Matthew is changing the subject of his report to Peter's denial'. - The phrase
and a damsel came unto him, saying
means: 'This is the first cause of his denial'. - The phrase
Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee
means: 'She identified Peter as being from Galilee'.
- The phrase
- C26-S75 : Peter denies for the first time.
- Our sentence starts with the word
But
. The prior sentence told that Peter was withJesus
while this sentence says that he denied. - The phrase
But he denied before them all, saying
means: 'Peter was sitting with servants of the high priest and denied before all of them'. - The phrase
I know not what thou sayest
means: 'This is what Peter said in denial'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C26-S76 : A second person identifies Peter.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the report of the second denial. - The phrase
And when he was gone out into the porch
means: 'Peter left the group he was sitting with because they suspected the truth. He went to the porch to watch'. - The phrase
another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there
means: 'This maid did not talk directly to Peter but to others so that Peter could hear'. - The phrase
This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth
means: 'She, apparently, saw them together in the days prior'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C26-S77 : Peter denies for the second time.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the report of the next denial by Peter. - The phrase
And again he denied with an oath
means: 'Peter used an oath to try and convince hos listeners that his lie was actually true'. Be careful of people who sweat they tell truth and use an oath to emphasize their statement. - The phrase
I do not know the man
means: 'This is what Peter said'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C26-S78 : A third person identifies Peter.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the report of the third denial. - The phrase
And after a while came unto him they that stood by
means: 'Notice the plural word ofthey
. One spoke for the group but there were several which held this opinion. A true child of God can live a lie for a little while but their true internal nature will come out some time'. - The phrase
and said to Peter
means: 'This is whom they talked to'. - The phrase
Surely thou also art one of them
means: 'This was their accusation'. - The phrase
for thy speech bewrayeth thee
means: 'Here's why they believed their accusation. Accents let people know where someone was raised'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C26-S79 : Peter denies for the third time. Our sentence says:
Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man
. means: 'Peter forgot the prophecy and forgot that God always reveals lies told by His children. They may not be revealed in this life, but if not now then at thejudgment seat of Christ
where we will give an account for every word (Matthew 4:4) that we say. Therefore, the wise child of God always tells the truth regardless of possible consequences in this world. Think about God revealing your sin to everyone and for all time like He did to Peter'. - C26-S80 : Prophecy fulfilled. Our sentence says:
And immediately the cock crew
means: 'This was the sign thatJesus
gave to Peter so that he would know his prideful sin'. - C26-S81 : Peter remembers the prophecy.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds that Peter realized his sin and at least some of the consequences of that sin. - The phrase
And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him
means: 'Peter remembered the prophecy and Who gave it to him'. - The phrase
Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice
means: 'This was the prophecy'. Please see the Prophecies and the Prophecy Fulfilled Sections of the Significant Gospel Events Study for references to where this prophecy was given and for where it is reported as fulfilled.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C26-S82 : Peter reacts. Our sentence says:
And he went out, and wept bitterly
. means: 'This account is reported by God, through all Gospel authors, to give warning to God's children about what will happen to them for more than 1,000 years in Heaven if they live a life of denyingJesus
'.
Chapter 27 Summary: the Trial and Crucifixion.
Please see the Section called Sequence of the Crucifixion of Jesus in Doctrinal Study called Gospel Time Sequences for the time sequences of incidents reported in this chapter and for references where other Gospel accounts report the same incidents. Please also see the Prophecy Fulfilled Section of the Significant Gospel Events Study for Bible references to this chapter where prophecy was fulfilled.
Matthew 27:1-34; Mark 15:1-20; Luke 23:1-26 and John 18:29-19:16 tell us about the trial of Jesus
, done by Pilate and Herod. Jesus
was sent to Pilate for a judgment of death since it was not lawful for the Jews to give a death sentence. There is quite a lot, in all of the Gospels, about this judgment. Some of the details are reported in one account but not in others. This trial fulfills Psalms 2; especially Psalms 2:2. In addition, please see the note for John 18:29 which has historical references related to this trial, which come from the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
In Matthew 27:1-2; Mark 15:1-15; Luke 23:1-7; Luke 23:11-25 and John 18:28 we read that Jesus
was sent to Pilate after His trial by the Jews.
While the above is going on, Matthew 27:3-10 tells us about Judas Iscariot realizing what He did and his interaction with the religious leaders. Then Matthew's account returns to telling us about the trial of Jesus
by Pilate. In Matthew 27:6-10 the religious leaders decided what to do with the blood money
left by Judas Iscariot.
In Matthew 27:11-14; Mark 15:2-5; Luke 23:3 and John 18:33-37; we read about Pilate questioning Jesus
: and the various Gospel accounts tell us different details. The accounts start with Pilate asking Jesus
: Art thou the King of the Jews?
the answer is reported in Matthew 27:11; Mark 15:2; Luke 23:3 and John 18:34. The answer from Jesus
, in every Gospel account, is almost the same words(Thou sayest it
), except that John relates more of the conversation. Supposedly, that phrase (Thou sayest it
) is a figure-of-speech which means: 'This is a truth which has no valid questioning against it'.
Matthew 27:12-14; Mark 15:3-5 and Luke 23:9-10 tell us that Jesus
answered nothing to the accusations which the religious leaders brought against Him when He was tried by the civil authorities.
Matthew 27:15-24; Mark 15:6-14; Luke 23:13-24 and John 18:38-40 tell us that Pilate tried to release Jesus
as part of an annual release of one criminal by the Roman government.
Matthew 27:16-26; Mark 15:7-15; Luke 23:17-25; John 18:40 and Acts 3:14
tell us about We read about the crowd's preference for Barabbas over Jesus
.
(Matthew 27:17; Mark 15:7-8; Luke 23:13-15 and John 19:3) was the first time that Pilate spoke and tried to avoid crucifying Jesus
. The first time is also when Luke reports that Pilate called the Jewish leaders and said that he would beat Jesus
and then release Him. This was when the Jewish religious leaders stirred up the people to demand Barabbas instead (Luke 23:13-16).
In Matthew 27:19 and John 19:13 we see that Pilate sat in the judgment seat. But, only Matthew 27:19 tells us about Pilate's wife warning him: Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered manythings this day in a dream because of him
.
Matthew 27:21-25; Mark 15:12-14; Luke 23:18; John 18:40 and John 19:14-15 tell us that the Jews rejected Jesus
. This was after Pilate declared Jesus
to be innocent.
Matthew 27:21; Mark 15:12; Luke 23:20 and John 19:12; tell us that Pilate, for a second time (spake again to them
), spoke and tried to avoid crucifying Jesus
. This was also when Pilate tried an appeal to the masses to not crucify their Messiah / Christ
, Who would also be their King
.
Then, for The third time
, (Matthew 27:22; Mark 15:12; Luke 23:22 and John 19:14) Pilate tried again. The three times lets us know that Pilate was, symbolically, speaking for God and their three rejections would be used by God when he legally judged them for their rejection of Jesus
as their King
. Thus, we see that Pilate tried more than once and more than one way to keep from crucifying Jesus
. However, Pilate eventually did, and was found guilty by God even though he, symbolically, washed his hands and said I am innocent of the blood of this just person
(Matthew 27:24).
In addition to that interaction, this was when the Jews said: His blood be on us, and on our children
(Matthew 27:25).
Matthew 27:23-25; Mark 15:13-14; Luke 23:21; John 19:6 and John 19:15-16 tell us that the Jewish leaders and the people prove their rejection when they cried crucify him
.
Matthew 27:26; Mark 15:15; Luke 23:24 and John 19:16 tell us that Pilate condemned Jesus
to death. Further, Luke 23:24 reports Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required
. These references give us the reports of the official legal judgment by the Roman Government. This was after Pilate declared Jesus
to be innocent in John 19:4; John 19:6 and Luke 23:4.
Matthew 27:26; Mark 15:15 and John 19:1 tell us that Jesus
was scourged
. Jesus
prophesized that this would happen in Matthew 20:19.
In Matthew 27:27-31; Mark 15:16-19 and John 19:1-5 we read that Pilate let his soldiers abuse Jesus
and then brought Jesus
back before the crowd wearing a crown of thorns and tried to release Him again. But the religious leaders stirred up the crowd to demand crucify Him
.
In Matthew 27:28; Matthew 27:28 and John 19:3-4 we read that they clothed him with purple
/ put on him a scarlet robe
as a mockery of His being King of the Jews
. In addition, Matthew 27:31 and Mark 15:20 tells us that they, later, took it off.
In: Matthew 27:29; Mark 15:17 and John 19:2-3 we read that a crown of thorns
was put on the head of Jesus
.
Matthew 27:31; Mark 15:20-22; Luke 23:26 and John 19:16-24 report that Jesus
was taken to be crucified.
Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21 and Luke 23:26 tell us that the soldiers laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus
.
Matthew 27:33-37; Mark 15:22-24 and Luke 23:34 tells us what the soldiers did at the time that they crucified Jesus
.
Matthew 27:33; Mark 15:22 and John 19:17 report that We are told that Jesus
was crucified at Golgotha
. Luke 23:33 tells us the same thing only uses the name of Calvary
for the same place.
Matthew 27:34; Matthew 27:48; Mark 15:36; Luke 23:36-37; John 19:29-30 tell us that Jesus
was given vinegar to drink while on the cross. Matthew 27:34; and probably, Luke 23:36-37 tell us that it was mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink
. This is assumed to be because gall
dulled the senses and it was offered to Him as an insult. However, when it was offered plain, as in the other references, Jesus
did drink.
Matthew 27:35-50; Mark 15:23-37; Luke 23:32-46 and John 19:17-30 report that Jesus
was on the cross.
Matthew 27:36-37 reports about the soldiers that sitting down they watched him there
. Matthew 27:39-49; Mark 15:29-36 and Luke 23:35-43 report others watching and mocking Jesus
. Please note that some mocking was before the cross, by different groups, and there was also more mocking while Jesus
was on the cross.
Matthew 27:37; Matthew 1:21; Matthew 1:25; Luke 1:31; Luke 2:21 and John 19:19 all use JESUS
, in all capitals. This capitalization directly ties these verses together, and also ties this verse to the name Saviour.
Matthew 27:37; Mark 15:26; Luke 23:38 and John 19:19-20 tell us the superscription that Pilate had put on the cross of Jesus
. John 19:21-22 tells us that The chief priests of the Jews
objected to the truth of the title and wanted it changed to support their lie but Pilate refused to change the superscription.
Matthew 27:38; Mark 15:27; Luke 23:32-33 and John 19:17-18. All report that Jesus
was crucified between two malefactors
.
Matthew 27:39-49; Mark 15:29-36 and Luke 23:35-43 report others watching and mocking Jesus
. However, John 19:25-27 tells us about the loved ones of Jesus
being there and Jesus
talking to them.
Matthew 12:40; Matthew 26:61; Matthew 27:40; Matthew 27:63; Mark 14:58; Mark 15:29; John 2:19 all tell us that Jesus
would be in the grave three days and three nights
. Please see the Prophecies Fulfilled Section of the Significant Gospel Events Study for more related Bible references.
Matthew 27:45; Mark 15:33 and Luke 23:44 tells us that there was darkness over the whole land (from the sixth hour) until the ninth hour
. The fact that this incident is reported in three Gospel accounts makes it very important. In addition, the fact that it was prophesied also makes it important. It was prophesied in: Psalms 105:28; Joel 2:31; Amos 5:18; Amos 8:9 and Habakkuk 3:11. In addition, it is related to one of the plagues on Egypt found in Exodus 10:21-23.
Further, it foreshadows Revelation 6:12 and Revelation 8:12.
Matthew 27:50; Mark 15:37; Luke 23:46 and John 19:30 all tell us that Jesus
literally physically died and that He chose the time of His death. In John 10:15 and John 10:17 Jesus
prophesied that He would lay down my life
. In addition, we also have prophecies in the Old Testament in: Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12; Psalms 22:14; Psalms 22:16-17; Psalms 34:20 and Zechariah 12:10.
Starting in Matthew 27:51; and continuing through the rest of the chapter, we read about the reaction of various people to the death of Jesus
.
we read about the resurrection of the dead in Matthew 22:23-32; Matthew 24:31; Matthew 25:1-13; Matthew 27:51-53 and in many other places within the New Testament. Therefore, these references should be used to comfort the saints about God's repeated promise of our own resurrection.
Matthew 27:51-53 Mark 15:38 and Luke 23:45 tell us that The veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.
In Matthew 27:54; Mark 15:39 and Luke 23:47 tell us that: when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man
.
Matthew 27:54 and Luke 23:48 use different words to tell us that the people: saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, (and) they feared greatly
.
Matthew 27:55-56; Mark 15:40-41; Luke 23:49 and John 19:25 tell us that there were followers of Jesus
at the cross.
Matthew 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56 and John 19:38-42 report that Jesus
was buried.
Joseph of Arimathaea
, is named in all four (4) Gospel accounts in: Matthew 27:57; Mark 15:43; Luke 23:50-51 and John 19:38.
- Matthew 27:57-58; Mark 15:42-43; Luke 23:52 and John 19:38 tell us that Joseph
went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus
. - John 19:39-41 tell us that Joseph and Nicodemus
took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices
and that where they putThe body of Jesus
was in a garden. - Matthew 27:59-60; Mark 15:46; Luke 23:53 and John 19:40-42 tell us about Joseph putting
The body of Jesus
into asepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid
In addition, theyrolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed
. - Matthew 27:61; Mark 15:42-47 and Luke 23:55 report that the women who were at the
sepulchre
.
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides a chapter outline as:
1-2. Christ is delivered bound to Pilate.
3-18. Judas hangs himself.
19. Pilate, admonished of his wife,
20-26. and being urged by the multitude, washes his hands, and looses Barabbas.
27-32. Christ is mocked and crowned with thorns;
33-38. crucified;
39-49. reviled;
50-61. dies, and is buried;
62-66. his sepulchre is sealed and watched. '.
- C27-S1 :
Jesus
was sent to Pilate for crucifixion.- The phrase
When the morning was come
means: 'This is when they took their next step. They could not takeJesus
to the governor before he was up and ready for business. Therefore, they, and their servants, continued to abuseJesus
until morning'. - The phrase
all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death
means: 'This is what they determined to do even though He was innocent. That was so obvious that Matthew 27:18 tells us:For he (Pilate) knew that for envy they (The religious leaders) had delivered him (Jesus)
'. - The phrase
And when they had bound him
means: 'They continued to treatJesus
as a common criminal who would try to get away. They did not understand that they were doing God's will so thatJesus
could die and pay for our sins'. - The phrase
they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor
means: 'They were not allowed to put anyone to death. Only the Roman governor had that authority. God made sure that representatives of all peoples were involved so that no group of people could honestly claim innocence'.
- The phrase
- C27-S2 : Judas Iscariot tried to return the blood price.
- The phrase
Then Judas, which had betrayeth him
means: 'This is who acted in this sentence'. - The phrase
when he saw that he was condemned
means: 'He never really thought through what would be all of the consequences of his action. Most people also fail to truly consider the consequences and are, later, appalled at what they caused to happen'. - The phrase
repented himself
means: 'Now he changed his mind about what he did'. - The phrase
and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying
means: 'He tried to undo what he did'. - The phrase
I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood
means: 'Here he acknowledged what he did. And, the religious leaders were also guilty of the same sin but they did not care. They believed the religious lie which assured them that they would go to Heaven and that God would not punish them for their actions because of the families which they had been born into'.
- The phrase
- C27-S3 : the religious leaders refused to undo the deal. Our sentence says:
And they said, What is that to us?
means: 'They didn't care about the consequence to Judas. They proved that Satan was their spiritual father because they didn't care about someone else going to Hell'. - C27-S4 : the religious leaders told Judas it was his problem. Our sentence says:
see thou to that
means: 'That is your own personal problem. Stop bothering us with it and you take care of your own problem'. - C27-S5 : Judas Iscariot tried to avoid reaping what he had sowed.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds how Judas responded. - The phrase
And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple
means: 'Judas threw away what he had thought was so valuable. Now that it was too late, he realized that he had thrown away what was most valuable. He threw away his personal relationship withJesus
and, at the same time his everlasting salvation. Many people believe that as long as you are alive you can get saved but Judas shows us otherwise. Please see the Message called Judas Iscariot was not saved '. - The phrase
and departed
means: 'Judas left after he realized that the religious leaders wanted nothing more to do with him after they used him to achieve their own sinful goals'. - The phrase
and went and hanged himself
means: 'Judas realized he had no more hope of salvation and no more reason to live'. That is what a life of sin will do to someone. He lived for money. He controlled the money among the disciples. At the end of his life, he literally threw away the money.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C27-S6 : the religious leaders determine what to do with the blood money.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds what the religious leaders did with the money. They thought that the physical money would make them spiritually unclean while their murder ofJesus
had no spiritual effect. And that is the major error of religion. They believe that what is done physically forces spiritual results. However, miracles prove that the spiritual can overcome the limits of physical laws. What is done physically only affects the spiritual when we fulfill the requirements to fulfill a spiritual promise. Then, we do not force the spiritual being to keep their promise and give us a miracle. The keeping of promises is dependent upon the reliability of the spiritual being. - The phrase
And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said
means: 'This was the decision from the religious leaders'. - The phrase
It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury
means: 'They believed that it was unlawful to mix spiritually unclean money with spiritually clean money'. - The phrase
because it is the price of blood
means: 'Please see the note from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, with the Detailed Note for this sentence. It provides a more detailed explanation of the motivations of the religious leaders'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C27-S7 : they bought a field to bury people.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds what they did with the money. - The phrase
And they took counsel
means: 'They asked for advice from others'. - The phrase
and bought with them the potter's field
means: 'This is what they did with the money'. - The phrase
to bury strangers in
means: 'This is their intended use'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C27-S8 : Why the field has its name. Our sentence says:
Wherefore that field was called, the field of blood, unto this day
. - C27-S9 : this fulfilled prophecy.
- The phrase
Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet
means: 'Commentators claim that Matthew was in error by naming Jeremiah and not Zechariah. Please see the Detailed Note for the explanation of why Matthew did not make an error. Matthew emphasized that the people givingreprobate silver
were leading God's people into doctrinal error'. - The phrase
, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value
means: 'This is the price that the religious leaders gave for the life ofJesus
. As explained in the Detailed Note, this amount is not consistent, as the price of a man, throughout the Bible. Therefore, the emphasis which many put on the amount is due to accepting what commentators wriThe without verifying their claims before accepting them'. - The phrase
And gave them for the potter's field
means: 'Afield
was bought in more than one reference of the Old Testament and for more than one reason. In Jeremiah, the field was bought for an inheritance. In Matthew, the field was bought to bury strangers, who were the people that the Jews were supposed to take the Gospel to but the Jews refused. The price of the field was whatJesus
paid to save those strangers'. - The phrase
as the Lord appointed me
means: 'Notice that it isThe Lord
Who determined that the field be bought and that it was done for His spiritual reason'.
- The phrase
- C27-S10 : the governor asks
Jesus
about the accusations made against Him.- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the governor askingJesus
about the accusations made against Him. Notice that the high priest legally demanded (I adjure thee by the living God
) thatJesus
answer if He was God'sChrist
and, therefore,The King of the Jews
. When He answered YES, they rejected the truth and beat and abused Him. Now, they are using the very truth which they rejected to make an accusation against Him to the Roman governor. - The phrase
And Jesus stood before the governor
means: 'The representative of the Roman government, and of all Gentiles before God, had to judgeJesus
'. - The phrase
and the governor asked him, saying
means: 'The governor sought to verify the legal claims made by the Jewish religious leaders'. - The word:
art
is: 'The wordare
with a never ending, ongoing form of existence'. Therefore, our phraseArt thou the King of the Jews?
means: 'Are you the never ending, ongoingKing of the Jews
'. Notice the capitalization in this sentence and phrase. They identifyJesus
with these roles of God even though the governor did not personally believe thatJesus
was / is God in human flesh.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C27-S11 :
Jesus
gave the strongest possible affirmation.- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the answer fromJesus
. - The phrase
And Jesus said unto him
means: 'WhereJesus
refused to answer the religious leaders, He did answer Pilate. (Look at the next sentence.) the difference in His response was due to the difference in the attitude of the person asking the question'. - The phrase
Thou sayest
means: 'This is a figure-of-speech which means: 'This is a truth which is so well known that even you, the governor of a foreign land and culture, know it''. Be careful of commentators. Some give a wrong interpretation of this phrase and claim that this answer shows thatJesus
was not sure if he was or if He was not. However,Jesus
was condemned because He very clearly told the religious that He was. Other religions claim thatJesus
never said the very thing which the religious leaders condemned Him for admitting. Therefore, the world is full of different religious lies and each person is required, by God, to verify what they accept as truth.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C27-S12 :
Jesus
refused to answer other accusations. Our sentence starts with the wordAnd
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the refusal ofJesus
to answer the questions and accusations by the Jewish religious leaders. It is significant that this sentence starts with the wordAnd
, which means that the reader is required to keep it in context with the prior sentence. WhereJesus
refused to answer the religious leaders, in this sentence, He did answer Pilate, in the prior sentence. The difference in His response was due to the difference in the attitude of the person asking the question. Our sentence says:And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing
. - C27-S13 : Pilate asks
Jesus
about His refusal to answer.- The phrase
Then said Pilate unto him
means: 'Pilate said this toJesus
because very few people have enough self control to keep their mouth shut when lies are being told about them. And, this is especially true when the lies are intended to result in death. However,Jesus
knew that they would not listen. Therefore, no matter what He said, it could only make matters worse'. - The phrase
Hearest thou not how manythings they witness against thee?
means: 'This is what the Jewish religious leaders were doing and whichJesus
refused to respond to'.
- The phrase
- C27-S14 :
Jesus
still refuses to answer.- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the response of the governor to the refusal byJesus
to respond to the lies. - The phrase
And he answered him to never a word
means: 'Jesus
refused to say anything'. - The phrase
insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly
means: 'The governor never met anyone with such self control and, given the circumstances and type of accusations whichJesus
ignored, it caused him tomarvel greatly
'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C27-S15 : Circumstances that affected things.
- The phrase
Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner
. This sentence starts with the wordNow
to let us know that Matthew is starting the report of the next incident. Our phrase means: 'This was the custom at that time which Pilate tried to use to do the right thing'. - The phrase
whom they would
means: 'The Jews made the decision, not the governor'.
- The phrase
- C27-S16 : Introduction of Barabbas. Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the information about the prisoner recommended by Pilate. Our sentence says:And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas
. - C27-S17 : Pilate asked the crowd for their preference.
- The phrase
Therefore when they were gathered together
means: 'The Jewish religious leaders had gathered a mob who supported them and who would do their will'. - The phrase
Pilate said unto them
means: 'The governor asked them about their tradition'. - The phrase
Whom will ye that I release unto you?
means: 'He spoke to the common Jews hoping that they would go against the will of the Jewish religious leaders'.
- The phrase
- C27-S18 : Pilate lists their choices. Our sentence says:
Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?
. Notice that Pilate is emphasizing thatJesus
is called Christ
He is trying to get the mob to understand the religious lie which the Jewish religious leaders were using to try and murderJesus
. - C27-S19 : Pilate knew why the religious leaders wanted to murder
Jesus
. Our sentence says:For he knew that for envy they had delivered him
. - C27-S20 : Pilate's wife warned him against making the judgment.
- The phrase
When he was set down on the judgment seat
means: 'Pilate sat there to show that he would render a legal judgment from the Roman government'. - The phrase
his wife sent unto him, saying
means: 'His wife sent him a warning about his judgment'. - The phrase
Have thou nothing to do with that just man
means: 'This is what she warned him to personally not do anything againstJesus
'. - The phrase
for I have suffered manythings this day in a dream because of him
means: 'Here's why. God had used his wife to warn Pilate. He listened but was more afraid of losing his position when the Jewish religious leaders threatened to complain to Caesar. And, according to history, he lost his position anyway and dies in a lot lesser social and political position'.
- The phrase
- C27-S21 : the religious leaders convinced the people to participate in the murder of
Jesus
.- Our sentence starts with the word
But
. Our prior sentences told us what Pilate tried to do while this sentence tells us that the Jewish religious leaders persuaded the people to do something different. - The phrase
But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas
means: 'This is the first thing that they convinced the mob to demand'. - The phrase
and destroy Jesus
means: 'This is the second thing that they convinced the mob to demand'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C27-S22 : Pilate asks again.
- The phrase
The governor answered and said unto them
means: 'Pilate demanded their choice after he limited it to only the two men. He hoped to force the crowd to agree to releaseJesus
'. - The phrase
Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you?
means: 'Here was his question to the mob'.
- The phrase
- C27-S23 : the crowd chose Barabbas. Our sentence says:
They said, Barabbas
. - C27-S24 : Pilate asks them for their judgment of
Jesus which is called Christ
.- The phrase
Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?
means: 'This is the second time that Pilate emphasizes to them thatJesus is called Christ
. He is hoping that they will consider the spiritual consequences of their choice. However, they had been too well trained to look at the physical religious considerations and to ignore the true spiritual considerations'. Notice that Pilate is emphasizing thatJesus
is called Christ
He is trying to get the mob to understand the religious lie which the Jewish religious leaders were using to try and murderJesus
.
- The phrase
- C27-S25 : they demand crucifixion. Our sentence says:
They all say unto him, Let him be crucified
means: 'Notice that all of the people, in that mob, said this. Thus, they each brought God's condemnation upon themselves. In a couple more sentences, they added:His blood be on us, and on our children
. Thus, they also brought God's condemnation upon their children'. - C27-S26 : Pilate asks for justification. He was trying to get them to actually think and not just support the mob mentality. Our sentence says:
And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done?
. - C27-S27 : they refuse justification and increase their demand. Our sentence starts with the word
But
. Our prior sentence told us that Pilate tried to get the people to think while this sentence tells us that they refused and hung onto their mob mentality. This is the danger of being part of a mob. Our sentence says:But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified
. - C27-S28 : Pilate tried to avoid responsibility.
- The phrase
When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing
means: 'He saw how the mob mentality had control of the people'. - The phrase
but that rather a tumult was made
means: 'They were getting ready to riot and that would look bad for him as governor'. - The phrase
he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying
means: 'Pilate tries to ceremoniously separate himself from the guilt of his legal decision'. - The phrase
I am innocent of the blood of this just person
means: 'This is what he claimed but he could not remove responsibility by doing a ceremony'. Lots of people want to be in charge but do not want the responsibilities of decisions which they make. However, when someone accepts a position of leadership, they also accept the responsibilities of that position. - The phrase
see ye to it
means: 'Pilate tried to put all of the blame on the people. And, many people today blame the Jews and try to claim that the Gentiles are innocent. However,The word of God
makes it clear that all of the people in the Earth are guilty'.
- The phrase
- C27-S29 :
All the people
took responsibility upon themselves and their children.- The phrase
Then answered all the people, and said
means: 'They acknowledged their own guilt. Their acknowledgement did not relieve Pilate of his guilt like he hoped it would. When more than one person is involved in a crime, all are guilty of all that is done in the crime. For example, a driver sitting in a car outside of a bank is guilty of murder if another of the criminals kills someone in the bank. Sin is a violation of God's law (1John 3:4). Therefore, all involved are guilty of all that was done toJesus
'. - The phrase
His blood be on us
means: 'The Jews understood thatThe life is in the blood
(Genesis 9:4-5; Leviticus 17:11; Leviticus 17:14; Deuteronomy 12:23; John 1:14; John 6:53-54)'. - The phrase
and on our children
means: 'God warned the Jews thatThe LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation
(Exodus 20:5; Exodus 34:7; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 5:9; Deuteronomy 23:8)'.
- The phrase
- C27-S30 : Pilate released Barabbas and had
Jesus
crucified.- The phrase
Then released he Barabbas unto them
means: 'Pilate gave them their choice, as was the custom'. - The phrase
and when he had scourged Jesus
means: 'Pilate scourgedJesus
, as was prophesied'. - The phrase
he delivered him to be crucified
means: 'This was also prophesied'..
- The phrase
- C27-S31 : the Roman soldiers abused
Jesus
.- The phrase
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall
means: 'They hated the Jews and their assignment there'. - The phrase
and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers
means: 'All were allowed to vent their anger at Jews'
- The phrase
- C27-S32 : the Roman soldiers insulted
Jesus
. Our sentence says:And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe
means: 'They chose this color because He wasKing of the Jews
'. - C27-S33 : the Roman soldiers abused and insulted the messenger from God.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds their insult and injury which they, symbolically, did to all Jews by doing it to theKing of the Jews
. - The phrase
And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head
means: 'Supposedly, the thorns which grow in that area are as sharp and as strong as steel nails. Reportedly, they beat these into His head'. - The phrase
and a reed in his right hand
means: 'This was symbolic of a king's sceptre and authority'. - The phrase
and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying
means: 'In this, they mocked all Jews and all Jewish authority including the authority from God'. Many people still do this today. - The phrase
Hail, King of the Jews!
means: 'This was to scorn God because the Jews refused to rightly represent God'. Likewise, when people claim to be Christian, while living worldly, they cause lost people to mock God andThe word of God
.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C27-S34 : the Roman soldiers fulfilled prophecy with their abuse and insults.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the soldiers expressing their true feelings for the Jews and al things related to the Jews. - The phrase
And they spit upon him
means: 'This is a common form of insult and a way of spreading germs'. - The phrase
and took the reed, and smote him on the head
means: 'This expressed their disdain of all Jewish authority'. In this, they expressed what devils wished they could do to God
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C27-S35 : the Roman soldiers
led him away to crucify him
.- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds that they added the worst injury that they could give to the prior insults. - The phrase
And after that they had mocked him
means: 'This was added after the insults'. - The phrase
they took the robe off from him
means: 'They were not giving up the robe'. - The phrase
and put his own raiment on him
means: 'This was to lead Him to the place of crucifixion'. - The phrase
and led him away to crucify him
means: 'This is what they did next'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C27-S36 : the Roman soldiers compelled Simon to carry the cross.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the fact that the Roman Soldiers compelled another man to carry the cross ofJesus
because He was in such bad physical shape that they were afraid that He might not make it to the place to be crucified. - The phrase
And as they came out
means: 'This was as the Roman soldiers came out of their hall'. - The phrase
they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name
means: 'He, supposedly, was a black man'. Mark 15:21 saysAnd they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross
. Romans 16:13 says that the scribe used by Paul was a son of this man, which indicates that he and his family were saved at a later time. - The phrase
him they compelled to bear his cross
means: 'Manythings which we find to be difficult in this life are used by God for our good'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C27-S37 : they offered a pain duller to
Jesus
.- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds what they did when they arrived at the place where they crucifiedJesus
. - The phrase
And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull
means: 'This was where they crucifiedJesus
'. - The phrase
They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall
. Thegall
was used as a pain killer. - The phrase
and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink
means: 'Jesus
refused it because He paid the full price for our sins'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C27-S38 : they fulfilled further prophecy.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the fact that all prophecy was fulfilled. Some liars claim thatJesus
deliberately did things to fulfill prophecy. In certain Bible references we are told that he did so. However, in other Bible references, such as this sentence, He could no do so. Therefore, the claim which denies that God had to give the prophecy, based uponJesus
fulfilling some of the prophecies, is a lie. - The phrase
And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots
means: 'This is what the Roman soldiers did'. - The phrase
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, they parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots
means: 'The Roman soldiers fulfilled the prophecy of Psalms 22:18. If they had known that they were fulfilling prophecy, they probably would have tried to change something. We can know that God gave the prophecy because He used even lost people to prove that He is the most powerful Being that exists and that all devils and all men combined can not keep Him from fulfilling His promises and His prophecies'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C27-S39 : they put up a sign of His accusation.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds that the lost Roman soldiers became witnesses of what happened. - The phrase
And sitting down they watched him there
means: 'The lost Roman soldiers became witnesses of what happened'. - The phrase
And set up over his head his accusation written
means: 'The accusation of the Jewish religious leaders was written and nailed above His head'. Other Gospel accounts tell is that Pilate had this written in all of the languages used by people in that area and time. They also tell us that the Jewish religious leaders tries to get Pilate to change the sign, but he refused. - The phrase
This IS JESUS the KING of the JEWS
means: 'This was the accusation of the Jewish religious leaders'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C27-S40 :
Jesus
was crucified with criminals.- The phrase
Then were there two thieves crucified with him
means: 'This sentence starts the report about thetwo thieves
'. - The phrase
one on the right hand, and another on the left
means: 'Jesus
was on the middle cross'.
- The phrase
- C27-S41 :
Jesus
was insulted while on the cross.- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds what ignorant people said. They thought they were repeating whatJesus
said but they got it wrong. - The phrase
And they that passed by reviled him
means: 'They added insult to His injury and death. Though most probably didn't realize it, they were motivated to do this by devils'. - The phrase
wagging their heads, And saying
means: 'This is what they did'. - The phrase
Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days
means: 'This is what they said'. - The phrase
save thyself
means: 'They did not realize the spiritual consequences of what they said'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C27-S42 : Further insults given.
- The phrase
If thou be the Son of God
means: 'This is the same claim made by Satan when temptingJesus
. Thus, they proved that they were acting as ministers of Satan'. - The phrase
come down from the cross
means: 'IfJesus
had done that then He would have wasted His entire physical life'.
- The phrase
- C27-S43 : Insults from
The chief priests
.- The phrase
Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said
means: 'These were the Jewish religious leaders'. - The phrase
He saved others; himself he cannot save
means: 'They failed to understand the difference betweencan not
andwill not
'. They also did not understand His prophecies as shown by what people mockingly misquoted Him. They claimed that He said:thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days
. They thought that He was talking about the stone building. He actually said:Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up
, speaking of His body. Therefore, they were in the process of destroying His body and in three days he wouldraise it up
, thereby proving that He couldsave Himself
.
- The phrase
- C27-S44 : Lies from
The chief priests
.- The phrase
If he be the King of Israel
means: 'The chief priests hadJesus
crucified because He admitted that He was God'sChrist
andThe King of Israel
. They did this based upon their additions to God's law, which were illegal. However, it their additions were legal, they were wrong to haveJesus
crucified so long as they had any question about the accuracy of the claim. Therefore, this phrase is another proof that they acted illegally'. - The phrase
let him now come down from the cross
means: 'Jesus
had given them so many miracles, as signs that He was God'sChrist
andThe King of Israel
, that John wrote that all of them could not be reported. They did not need another sign. This is another attempt to makeJesus
do a miracle when they demanded in order to claim that He submitted to them and, thereby, proved that they had greater authority than He had.Jesus
refused this demand in the past and, among other reasons, He refused it at this time also'. - The phrase
and we will believe him
means: 'This is a blatant lie. They refused to believe in the past and proved that they would refuse to believe no matter how many proofs that He provided'. - We have a similar thing going on today in the Philippines and it also went on for years in the U.S. Devil motivated ministers of Satan claimed to be true preachers and claimed that God lied when He said that He would
keep his commandments to a thousand generations
. (That's 20,000 years and this world in only just over 7,000 years old.) these liars come up with many lies aboutThe word of God
and claim that Godly people have to devote their lives to disputing the lies and can not dismiss all of the lies based upon the face that they have proven the devil motivated ministers of Satan to be liars. Satan used those lies to cause the U.S. to stop being the top missionary sending country in the world. In the Gospel times, Satan tried to also use lies to entangleJesus
and keep Him from devoting His life to the service of God the Father. Today, Satan is again using his devil motivated ministers to entangle Pilipino believers in false arguments so that they stop sending out missionaries to take the Gospel to the world.
- The phrase
- C27-S45 : Insult given to God.
- The phrase
He trusted in God
means: 'This statement is true'. - The phrase
let him deliver him now, if he will have him
means: 'Let God the Father takeJesus
off the cross if God will have Him'. Here, they are trying to dictate to God the Father what to do. God the Father letJesus
be put on the cross to die and pay for our sins. However, that is a spiritual reason which these devil motivated ministers of Satan did not understand. The only thing which they considered was the physical perspective. The fact is that God the Father willdeliver him
afterJesus
gets into Hell by restoring His power and authority as God. God is always righteous and, therefore, could not force Himself into Satan's domain. ButJesus
was there righteously after He died and the devils dragged Him to Hell. Once there,Jesus
bound Satan and all devils and robbed Satan. So, God the Father diddeliver him
, but only when it was the right time and the right place. - The phrase
for he said, I am the Son of God
means: 'Here's why they said that God the Father shoulddeliver him
, And, as explained for the prior note, God the Father did do so'.
- The phrase
- C27-S46 : Insult from the criminals.
- The phrase
The thieves also, which were crucified with him
means: 'They were also crucified and, therefore, dying'. - The phrase
cast the same in his teeth
means: 'They said the same thing. However, Luke 23:39-42 tells us that the one repented and changed what he said. And, even on the cross,Jesus
promised him salvation'.
- The phrase
- C27-S47 : A sign from God. Our sentence says:
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour
. This is also reported in Mark 15:33 and Luke 23:44. In addition, It was prophesied in: Psalms 105:28; Isaiah 50:3-4; Joel 2:31; Amos 5:18; Amos 8:9-10 and Habakkuk 3:11. In addition, it is related to one of the plagues on Egypt found in Exodus 10:21-23. Further, it foreshadows Revelation 6:12 and Revelation 8:12. - C27-S48 : One of the eight sayings from the cross in the original language. Our next sentence gives us the interpretation.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds a saying ofJesus
just before He died. - The phrase
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying
means: 'This was very close to when He chose to die'. - The phrase
Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?
means: 'This is what He said'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C27-S49 : the interpreted saying. Our sentence says:
that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
means: 'It is generally accepted that God the Father turned His back onJesus
after He madeJesus
to be sin so that He could pay for all of the sins of the world'. - C27-S50 : the misunderstanding.
- The phrase
Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said
means: 'They thought thatJesus
said something different from what He actually said'. - The phrase
This man calleth for Elias
means: 'This is what they thought he said'.
- The phrase
- C27-S51 : A non-polluted drink.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds what someone did to try and makeJesus
live longer so that they could hear what more He might say. This is what passed for entertainment at that time and place. - The phrase
And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed
means: 'This is what they did. This is different from what the soldiers did as reported in Matthew 27:33-34. They included gall, whichJesus
rejected. This did not include gall'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C27-S52 : Some people watched for a wrong thing.
- The phrase
The rest said, Let be
means: 'Don't interfere'. - The phrase
let us see whether Elias will come to save him
means: 'They waited butJesus
had not said what they thought he said'.
- The phrase
- C27-S53 :
Jesus
chose when to die.- The phrase
Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice
means: 'Matthew does not report this saying'. There is a famous preaching which is doctrinal error called: 'Seven Sayings from the Cross'. If the reader checks, they will see that there are actually eight sayings. However, the preacher believed that seven was 'The number of completion' and believed that the symbolic meaning of numbers is absolute. (The truth is that symbolic meanings are found within the context and can vary from one context to another.) therefore, he claimed to correct the inerrantword of God
. This is why we need to verify all claims aboutThe word of God
before we accept them as God's truth. - The phrase
yielded up the ghost
means: 'Jesus
chose when His soul and spirit abandoned His body. Others in the Bible are reported to do the same even though most people can not choose their instant of death'.
- The phrase
- C27-S54 : Other signs from God.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds many signs from God which confirm the Gospel. - The phrase
And, behold
means: 'Pay close attention to these signs which God gave whenJesus
died'. - The phrase
The veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom
means: 'Supposedly, that veil was so thick that men would have trouble cutting it with a sharp sword. In addition, only God couldrent in twain from the top to the bottom
. It is generally accepted that this was a sign, from God, that, throughJesus
, we could now enter the holy-of-holies'. - The phrase
and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent
means: 'Reportedly, a true large earthquake, which also splits rocks, requires more power than most atomic bombs can produce. Again, this is a sign from God. There is disagreement as to what this sign means exactly'. - The phrase
And the graves were opened
means: 'This is another sign from God which means that the preparation for the next sign had been completed'. - The phrase
and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection
means: 'Be sure that you pay attention to the phraseafter his resurrection
. That means that the graves were open for three days whileJesus
was in Hell defeating all of the devils. This is obviously a sign to the Jews that resurrection was possible and the way for resurrection had been opened'. - The phrase
and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many
means: 'Imagine one of them showing up at a meeting of the Sadducees, who deny resurrection. Imagine someone whose funeral you attended more than a year ago showing up at your house. Imagine being one of the mob who criedcrucify him!
and then having a resurrected saint showing up at your door and explaining exactly whom you insisted had to be crucified'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C27-S55 : Some believed because of the signs from God.
- The phrase
Now when the centurion, and they that were with him.
means: 'This is who'. - The phrase
watching Jesus
means: 'This is what they were doing'. - The phrase
saw the earthquake, and those things that were done
means: 'This is what they saw'. - The phrase
they feared greatly, saying
means: 'This is how they reacted'. - The phrase
Truly this was the Son of God
means: 'This was their conclusion'.
- The phrase
- C27-S56 : the women followers who were at the foot of the cross.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the witnesses among saved women. - The phrase
And many women were there beholding afar off
means: 'They were there as witnesses but stayed out of the way so that violent men would not attack them for some imagined slight'. - The phrase
which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him
means: 'These were the women who provides physical and financial support to the ministry ofJesus
'. - The phrase
Among which was Mary Magdalene
means: 'She was sister to Lazarus and Martha'. - The phrase
and Mary the mother of James and Joses
means: 'This Mary was the mother of the man who became pastor of the church at Antioch'. Please see the Detailed Note for the Bible references which tell us this truth. - The phrase
and the mother of Zebedee's children
means: 'The mother of the apostles: James and John'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C27-S57 : the men who buried
Jesus
.- The phrase
When the even was come
means: 'Sunset, about 6PM'. - The phrase
there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph
means: 'Who he was'. - The phrase
who also himself was Jesus' disciple
means: 'His relationship toJesus
'. - The phrase
He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus
means: 'What he did'.
- The phrase
- C27-S58 : Pilate commanded the release. Our sentence says:
Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered
means: 'Other Gospel accounts give more details. They first verified thatJesus
was actually dead. Then they removed His body from the cross and gave it to the men with Joseph'. - C27-S59 : Joseph put the body of
Jesus
in his own new tomb
.- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds how Joseph took care of the body ofJesus
. - The phrase
And when Joseph had taken the body
means: 'This was when he could act. Because of the late hour and because it was almost time for the sabbath to start, there was a time limit on what could be done'. - The phrase
he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth
means: 'This was the basic covering of a body'. - The phrase
And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock
means: 'This is where he put the body ofJesus
'. - The phrase
and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre
means: 'He protected the body from any vandal'. - The phrase
and departed
means: 'He went home as required by Jewish law for the sabbath'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C27-S60 : the women watched.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the women who watched so that they could return, after the sabbath, to finish preparing the body for burial. - The phrase
And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary
means: 'They were identified earlier in this chapter'. - The phrase
sitting over against the sepulchre
means: 'They watched from a position which was not in the way of the men working'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C27-S61 : the religious leaders remembered the prophecy.
- The phrase
Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation
means: 'This was as soon as they could go without violating sabbath laws'. - The phrase
The chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying
means: 'This is who went and to whom they went'. - The phrase
Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive
means: 'This is how they identifiedJesus
'. - The phrase
After three days I will rise again
means: 'Notice that now they understand whatJesus
truly said. However, before the crucifixion and at their trial, everyone insisted the He spoke of the stone building'.
- The phrase
- C27-S62 : they tried to thwart God from fulfilling prophecy. The religious leaders claim that the disciples will do what they would do to propagate a lie. Satan had them make this claim and then when the truth came out, they claimed that their lie was truth and that the truth was a lie.
- The phrase
Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day
means: 'This was the demand that they made on the Roman government'. - The phrase
lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away
means: 'This is how they would set up the lie'. - The phrase
and say unto the people
means: 'They would broadcast their lie far and wide and loudly'. - The phrase
He is risen from the dead
means: 'This was the proclaimed truth which the religious leaders called a lie'. - The phrase
so the last error shall be worse than the first
means: 'This is what they wanted to happen. They would rather that all of the Jewish people go to hell with them than that they be proven wrong and the Jewish people get truly saved'.
- The phrase
- C27-S63 : Pilate agreed to their request.
- The phrase
Pilate said unto them
means: 'Pilate gave them what they asked for'. - The phrase
Ye have a watch
means: 'He ordered the soldiers to do the job'. - The phrase
go your way
means: 'Pilate told them to leave'. - The phrase
make it as sure as ye can
means: 'Pilate doubted that it would produce the results that they wanted'.
- The phrase
- C27-S64 : the watch
made the sepulchre sure
.- The phrase
So they went, and made the sepulchre sure
means: 'This is what the Jewish religious leaders did'. - The phrase
sealing the stone, and setting a watch
means: 'This is what the Roman soldiers did'.
- The phrase
Chapter 28 Summary: the Resurrection.
Please see the Sections called Sequence of the Resurrection of Jesus;; and Appearances of Jesus Christ After the Resurrection; in Doctrinal Study called Gospel Time Sequences about these events. There are also references to where other Gospel accounts report the same incidents. The main place that this Gospel reports this event is found in Matthew 28:1-10. Please also see the Prophecy Fulfilled Section of the Significant Gospel Events Study for Bible references to this chapter where prophecy was fulfilled. Please also see the note for John 20:2-LJC for Bible references and evidences which show us that the risen Jesus is Lord (God)
.
Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20 and John 21 all tell about the resurrection of Jesus
and the time following, but each bring out different significant details.
Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:9 and John 20:11-17 all report that Jesus
appeared after His resurrection to Mary Magdalene and other women.
Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1-2; Luke 24:1 and John 20:1 all tell us that Several women came to the sepulchre
on the first day of the week
.
Matthew 28:2-4 tells us that there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it...And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men
. These keepers
were the Roman soldiers assigned as a watch
because the Jewish religious leaders requested a watch
on the sepulchre
(Matthew 27:62-66). Jesus
had said that He would rise from the dead and the Jewish religious leaders wanted to assure that there was no fraudulent claim of resurrection. Pilate granted their request. What is important for this sentence is that the watch
were pretending to be dead when these women arrived. Therefore, the watch
did not answer any questions. At some point the watch
left but at no point does it appear that they interacted with any believer.
Matthew 28:2-4 tells us that an angel rolled the stone away from the door to the sepulchre. Mark 16:3-4; Luke 24:2 and John 20:1 tell us that the women found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre
. It would appear that they did not witness the angel rolling away the stone.
Matthew 28:2 tells us that Mary Magdalene runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter and (John) and saith unto them, they have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him
. The entire account of Jesus
dealing with Mary Magdalene is mainly found in the Gospel of John.
After this we have the report in Matthew 28:3-10 which tells us that Peter and John inspected the sepulchre
and then went away again unto their own home
. They, apparently, later returned to the upper room later the same day because they were there when Jesus
appeared there later that same day.
Matthew 28:5; Mark 16:5-7 and Luke 24:3-7 tell us that the women had to enter the sepulchre
and saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment
. This was when the angel gave the message to the women who had come and were left after Mary Magdalene left.
Matthew 28:6-7 tells us the message from the angel to the women.
In Matthew 28:7; Mark 16:6 and Luke 24:6-7 we read that Jesus
rose from the dead. John 20:1-18 does not say it literally but delivers the same message in a less direct manner. Please see the section called: Sequence of the Resurrection of Jesus for many Bible references to this fact. That section also has links to where the other Gospel accounts tell of incidents which Luke does not report.
Matthew 28:8 and Mark 16:8 tells us that the women took the message to the disciples in the upper room. Luke 24:8-11 says: It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
Matthew 28:9-10 tells us that Jesus
met the other women and gave them a similar message as the angel gave to them at the sepulchre
. This appearance was after He dealt with Mary Magdalene. Please see the note for John 20:17 for the explanation of this truth.
Matthew 28:11-15 tells us that the watch
had left and went to the Jewish leaders with the true account of the resurrection. They paid the watch
, and assured their safety, so long as the watch
supported the fraudulent claim that they spread. This appears to happen during the day while the disciples were busy with other things.
Matthew 28:16 tells us: Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them
. After that Matthew doesn't tell us any more events which fit into the sequence but ends his Gospel with his portion of the 'Great Commission'. Their going to Galilee, appears to be several days after the first day of the resurrection of Jesus
. This is, apparently, when John 21 occurs. It also appears that the disciples returned to the upper room and were there when Jesus
returned to Heaven (Acts 1) and when the Holy Ghost was given to them (Acts 2).
Matthew 28:18-19; Mark 16:15-18; Luke 24:45-49 and Acts 1:8 report that Jesus
commissioned the apostles, and us, to do the 'Great Commission'. Please see the message called The Great Commission for more details. Please also see the Message called Basic doctrine of Baptism. In spite of doctrinal error which is taught, baptism
is not required for salvation but does get us protection in this world.
Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18; Luke 24:45-49 and Acts 1:8 tell us that Jesus
commissioned the apostles, and us, to do the 'Great Commission'. Please see the message called The Great Commission for more details.
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides a chapter outline as:
1-8. Christ's resurrection is declared by an angel to the women.
9-10. He himself appears unto them.
11-15. the chief priests give the soldiers money to say that he was stolen out of his sepulchre.
16-17. Christ appears to his disciples,
18-20. and sends them to baptize and teach all nations.
The end. the Hebrew word Schabbath, from which our English word is derived, signifies rest, and is applied to all solemn festivals, equally with that one day of every week devoted to the worship of God; Eze 20:21, "they polluted my sabbaths." three evangelists say, the transaction recorded in this verse, occurred upon the first day of the week, early in the morning, about sunrising, and John says, while it was yet dark. Opse G3796 sabbaton G4521, does not signify "in the evening of sabbath," but "sabbaths." Hence, the great feast having been concluded, the term "end of the sabbaths" denotes the time very clearly. Again, it may be observed that the Jews, speaking of their passover, sometimes speak according to their civil computation, wherein they measured their days from sun-rising to sun-rising. Sometimes according to their sacred computation, which was from sun-set to sun-set. this reconciles Nu 28:18, which seems to make the fourteenth day of the first month, the first day of unleavened bread. Mr 16:1-2; Lu 23:56; 24:1,22; Joh 20:1-10'.
- C28-S1 : the women went to the sepulchre.
- The phrase
In the end of the sabbath
means: 'This was as soon as the sabbath laws allowed them to go to the sepulchre'. - The phrase
as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week
means: 'This was the time of day on Sunday'. - The phrase
came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre
means: 'These are the women reported by Matthew. Mark tells us thatThe other Mary
wasThe mother of James, and Salome
'.
- The phrase
- C28-S2 :
The angel of the Lord...rolled back the stone from the door
.- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the action ofThe angel of the Lord
. - The word:
behold
means: 'Pay close attention to the next phrase, which is prophecy'. - The phrase
there was a great earthquake
means: 'God sent a sign for the resurrection ofLord Jesus Christ
'. - The phrase
for the descended from heaven
means: 'Here's why. God wanted men to see His angeldescend from heaven
and know that God was causing these things'. - The phrase
and came and rolled back the stone from the door
means: 'Theangel of the Lord
did this where the Roman soldiers who kept the watch could see. Our next sentence tells us their reaction to seeing this'. - The phrase
and sat upon it
means: 'Theangel of the Lord
sat there and dared anyone to protest his actions'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C28-S3 : What the angel looked like.
- The phrase
His countenance was like lightning
means: 'The look on his face dared anyone to challenge him'. - The phrase
and his raiment white as snow
means: 'His clothing showed that he came from Heaven'. - The phrase
And for fear of him the keepers did shake
means: 'All of the big bad Roman soldiers were so scared that they were literally shaking with fear'. - The phrase
and became as dead men
means: 'They laid down and pretended to be dead and hoped the angel did not go to them to challenge them to a fight'.
- The phrase
- C28-S4 : the angel told the women that he knew why they were there.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the message from the angel to the women. - The phrase
And the angel answered and said unto the women
means: 'The women asked a question, by look or by word, because our sentence says thatThe angel answered
. And, he gave a different answer to these women than he gave to the lost Roman soldiers. His answer to them was totally different because they were saved and serving God's kingdom. God makes this distinction between people and God's true messengers also make this distinction between people'. - The phrase
Fear not ye
means: 'This was the first message fromJesus
when He suddenly appeared to His disciples and they were afraid. This is also the first message from any true messenger from God who approaches a true child of God who is afraid of the messenger'. - The phrase
for I know that ye seek Jesus
means: 'Next, the angel assured the women that he knew why they were there. He knew that they were there with good intentions and not something wrong'. - The phrase
which was crucified
means: 'The angel also knew why they came to the sepulchre'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C28-S5 : the angel told the women that
Jesus
was risen.- The phrase
He is not here
means: 'They were looking for the body ofJesus
but He was using His resurrected body and had left the sepulchre'. - The phrase
for he is risen
means: 'Please also see the Prophecy Fulfilled Section of the Significant Gospel Events Study for Bible references to this chapter where prophecy was fulfilled'. - The phrase
as he said
means: 'Please see the Prophecies Section of the Significant Gospel Events Study for references to where this prophecy was given'.
- The phrase
- C28-S6 : the angel provided evidence that the women could see. Our sentence says:
Come, see the place where the Lord lay
. - C28-S7 : the angel told the women to report the truth to the other believers.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds what the anger told the women to do. - The phrase
And go quickly
means: 'Don't waste any time'. - The phrase
and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead
means: 'Deliver the message that resurrection from the dead is real and that you have seen the proof of it'. - The phrase
and, behold
means: 'Pay close attention to these signs which God gave whenJesus
died'. - The phrase
he goeth before you into Galilee
means: 'This is where the resurrectedLord Jesus Christ
went. That is where His physical family lived and, aside from Mary, none were saved until after His resurrection'. - The phrase
there shall ye see him
means: 'This is where you will meet the resurrectedLord Jesus Christ
'. - The word
lo
means: 'This word is used to excite particular attention in a hearer to some object of sight, or subject of discourse. Lo, here is Christ. Matt 24. Lo, we turn to the Gentiles. Acts 13'. Therefore, our phraselo, I have told you
means: 'Get excited about the truth of resurrection and go proclaim the message'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C28-S8 : the women obeyed.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the report of their obedience. . . - The phrase
And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy
means: 'They hadfear
at meeting the angel. They hadgreat joy
at receiving the message of resurrection'. - The phrase
and did run to bring his disciples word
means: 'Theyran
because of both emotions. Theyran
to bring his disciples word
'. This is the way that God wants us to treat the Gospel.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C28-S9 :
Jesus
met them as they went to report.- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the message thatJesus
met them on their way and did not wait until they got to Galilee. - The phrase
And as they went to tell his disciples
means: 'This is whenJesus
met them'. Often, God will refuse to meet with His people until after they start to obey Him. - The word:
behold
means: 'Pay close attention to the next phrase, which is the fulfillment of prophecy'. - The phrase
Jesus met them, saying
means: 'Jesus
provided additional proof of the resurrection'. - The phrase
All hail
means: 'This is a greeting meaning be in good health and rejoice'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C28-S10 : the women touched
Jesus
and worshipped Him. Our sentence says:And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him
. - C28-S11 :
Jesus
gave them an additional task.- The phrase
Then said Jesus unto them
means: 'Jesus
gave them instructions'. - The phrase
Be not afraid
means: 'Once more we see that this is the first message'. - The phrase
go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee
means: 'What the disciples are to do'. - The phrase
and there shall they see me
means: 'Why'.
- The phrase
- C28-S12 : the Roman soldiers reported the Jewish religious leaders.
- The phrase
Now when they were going
means: ''. . . . - The word:
behold
means: 'Pay close attention to the next phrase, and the next few sentences, which explain the lie told by the Jewish religious leaders'. - The phrase
some of the watch came into the city
means: 'These were the Roman soldiers who were to watch the sepulchre and make sure that the disciples did not steal the body ofJesus
'. - The phrase
and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done
means: 'They told the truth to the Jewish religious leaders'.
- The phrase
- C28-S13 : the religious leaders bribed the soldiers to lie.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the religious lie that the Jewish religious leaders told the soldiers to say. Remember that the theme of Matthew is: 'Jesus Fulfilled God's Law and Proved that He was / is God's Christ'. The devil motivated religious leaders had to produce a somewhat credible lie in order to deny the truth. - The phrase
And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel
means: 'This sentence tells us the lie that they cam up with as a group'. - The phrase
they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying
means: 'They gave the soldiers enough money that they could desert and live on the money that they were given'. - The phrase
Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept
means: 'Roman soldiers would not have slept while on watch because to do so was a death penalty. However, as our next sentence says, the Jewish religious leaders convinced the Roman soldiers that they would protect the soldiers from the death penalty'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C28-S14 : the religious leaders assured the soldiers of protection.
- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the promise of protection from prosecution. - The phrase
And If this come to the governor's ears
means: 'The governor is who would order them punished for falling asleep while on watch'. - The phrase
we will persuade him, and secure you
means: 'The Jewish religious leaders assured them protection from prosecution. And, since they had forced Pilate to participate in the murder ofJesus
, the soldiers believer they could keep their promise'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C28-S15 : the conclusion of the report on the religious lie. Many Jews continued to believe the lie.
- The phrase
So they took the money, and did as they were taught
means: 'The Roman soldiers went along with the lie'. - The phrase
and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day
means: 'Many Jews continue to believe the lie'.
- The phrase
- C28-S16 : the eleven met
Jesus
in Galilee.- The phrase
Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee
means: 'The disciples went whereJesus
told them to go'. - The phrase
into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them
means: 'They were given a specific place to meetJesus
'.
- The phrase
- C28-S17 : the eleven worshipped
Jesus
,but some doubted
.- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds how the disciples reacted when they metJesus
. - The phrase
And when they saw him
means: 'This was when they reacted'. - The phrase
they worshipped him
means: 'This was their primary reaction'. - The phrase
but some doubted
means: 'This was a secondary reaction of some'. We are not told what they doubted about. I imagine it was primarily their own lack of ability to do the job given to them.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C28-S18 :
Jesus
hasall power...in heaven and in earth
.- Our sentence starts with the word
And
, which means it is adding another thought to what was said in the prior sentence. This sentence adds the message fromJesus
. The first sentence of His message is designed to answer doubts on ability. - The phrase
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying
means: 'This was His final message before returning to Heaven'. - The phrase
All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth
means: 'Notice that he has the power. Unless we do our part to maintain our ongoing personal relationship with Him, we can not do the job given to us. And, when we do maintain that relationship, He works through us but it is Him, and not us, Who is truly doing the spiritual work'.
- Our sentence starts with the word
- C28-S19 : We are to do the 'Great Commission' as a result of
Jesus
havingall power
. Our sentence says:Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world
. Please see the Message called: The Great Commission for the details of this sentence. - C28-S20 : the prior two sentences have the force of God's law and will be used to judge us. The
Amen
'Doubles what was just said and makes it part of God's law which will be used when we are judged by God'.