Scripture: Matthew 26: 61-63

⁶¹ and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” ⁶² Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” ⁶³ But Jesus remained silent.

Scripture Commentary: But Jesus remained silent.

In these verses the high priests questions Jesus. “Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” (verse 63) This person is educated in the Old Testament. He knew what Jesus had done up to this point in his life: healing the sick, giving the blind sight and the lame the ability to walk, and raising the dead. But Jesus remained silent. Despite this, they were yet still in denial regarding Jesus Christ as Messiah.

Are you like the high priests? Are you in denial?

Do you go about your life thinking that everything is about you and that you have control over everything? Like Peter, do you deny Jesus?

Jesus finally declares that He is the Son of God. He knew he was placing himself in harm’s way. Also, He knew this had to be done to save us from a life of no hope and total sin with no way out. Jesus was calm, courageous and determined to do what God, His Father, had sent him here to do. He led us to God, the Father.

Jesus knew the beginning and end of his mission here on earth. At this point, you know the beginning of your life but do you know the ending?

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Matthew 26

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Matthew:

What Favor Do You Ask of Jesus?

When We Refuse To Forgive

Scripture: Psalm 3: 1-3

Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! ² Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.”^{[b] 3} But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.

Scripture Commentary: No weapon formed against you can prosper with God.

David is not on his throne. He is running from his son Absalom who rose up against him with an army of 10,000 soldiers. These enemies were trying to kill him. David’s army of seasoned fighters would probably have defeated Absalom’s forces but David did what we all are to do: Give it to God.

When we have problems, we tend to try to solve them by ourselves.

David didn’t do this. Instead, he depended on God’s mercy to handle the situation. Then, after he gave it to God, David went to sleep. When you give something to God, you are not to handle it anymore. If you pick up the situation again, essentially you are saying to God that it’s too much for him and you will handle things.

David reminds us that God is in control. When you seek God, He will provide for you. When you seek God, he will turn your sleepless nights into peacefully slept nights.

Prayer brings peace and full assurance that God has control of anything and everything.

Talk to God; do not count sheep. God is all powerful; He is the creator of everything and the true answer of all. Seek God first and you will be on your way to peaceful days and nights. When you serve God, then you are free from the vices of the world.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Psalm 3

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Psalms:

God the Creator

Place Your Confidence in God Who Can Do All Things

Scripture: John 15: 20-21

²⁰ Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’^[b] If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. ²¹ They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. 

Scripture Commentary:

Jesus gave His life out of His love for us. The world rejected Him. He was spit on, beaten, whipped and nailed to the cross. Jesus tells us that if they persecuted Him, they will persecute His people too.

Jesus came into the world with love and forgiveness and was punished by people who only wanted to continue their lifestyle.

Are we any different than our forefathers?

Jesus gave His life for us out of love. In turn, we reject Him when we do not help or love one another. We must choose to follow Jesus or not. Without Jesus, we deny ourselves the life He offers.

We are the vine; Jesus is the trunk.

We either bear fruit for Jesus or we are an unproductive twig to be broken and burned. Be not of this world; live as Jesus teaches. The world will hate Christians because its agenda is different.

Jesus prunes us to produce godly fruit.

As a branch of Jesus’s tree, we are to love and live to spread the gospel. Christ is the vine; God is the gardener who works on us to make us fruitful.

Are you fruitful for Jesus or are you barren?

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

John 15

Read Other Commentary from the Book of John

Believe on the Name of Jesus

Wilt Thou Be Made Whole?

Scripture: Job 21: 13-14, 32

They spend their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace.^{[a] 14} Yet they say to God, ‘Leave us alone! We have no desire to know your ways. ³² They are carried to the grave, and watch is kept over their tombs.

Scripture Commentary:

Each of Job’s friends spends time giving their opinion of why God is punishing Job. Eliphaz tells Job that his view of God is not of the greatness that it should be. Eliphaz asks Job why he has a small, narrow view of God.

We know from reading Job that it is not God who is hurting Job. God gave Satan permission to do this. When we see someone going through hard times, we should not assume that they are being punished. We are not to be judge and jury, only God has that title.

Eliphaz gives a summary of repentance but he did not know what God was doing in Job’s life. He is correct when he says we must ask for God’s forgiveness when we sin, but this did not apply to Job. Sometimes things happen and we do not know why but our faith in God will bring us through, if not on this side of life, then on the other side if we believe.

Don’t question God. Thank and praise His name.

Who are you without God to guide you in the way to go? Without God, life is nothing but an empty shell with no purpose.

Don’t ask God to depart from you. If He does, then Satan becomes your companion. Because God gave His Son Jesus Christ for your sin, you can be forgiven if you repent and go to God.

Praise God!

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Job 21

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Job:

Would You Curse God?

Don’t Despise God’s Discipline