Category: New Testament

Innocent Blood Redeems Us

Scripture: Matthew 27: 3-4

When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”

Scripture Commentary:

“I have betrayed innocent blood.” Judas returned to the priests exclaiming that he had sinned.

What is that to us? Rather than help him find forgiveness, the priests said, “That is your problem. Deal with it.”

Who do you go to when you sin?

No man or women of flesh and skin can truly forgive you. Only God can. Without Judas, Jesus would not be crucified. When Jesus picked His disciples, He knew who Judas was and what Judas had to do.

Psalm 41:9 foretells of Judas’ betrayal. It was preordained for him to do this. In Matthew 27: 3 it says that Judas repented and then hung himself. In Luke 23: 43 after the thief on the cross repented, Jesus forgave him and told him he would be with Him in paradise.

We may not want to think of Judas in paradise with Jesus but he repented of his sin in asking God to forgive him. Even at the last second, God forgives.

God forgave Judas; God will forgive you.

If you are reading this, you have time to go to God and pray for forgiveness.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

Matthew Chapter 27

Psalm Chapter 41

Luke Chapter 23

Read Other Commentary from the New Testament:

The Circumcision of Christ Cuts Your Sinful Nature

Husband and Wife: Keep God in Your Marriage

We Know God Is Always With Us

Scripture: Romans 8: 28-29

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 

Scripture Commentary: As believers we know that we aren’t left to our own resources.

Even when we’re lost and do not know the right words to pray, we know that God’s Holy Spirit in us will give us what we need. Just call on Him.

Ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for you in accordance with God’s will.

God works in all things – not just in isolated incidents. This doesn’t mean that all that happens is good. Evil is prevalent in our fallen world but God is able to turn every circumstance around for our good as long as it is in His will.

God is not working to make us happy for our own gratification but to fulfill His purpose. This call to serve is not for everyone; it is meant for those who are called according to His purpose. Those who are called are those the Holy Spirit convinces and enables to receive Christ.

Such people have a new perspective, a new mindset on life. They trust in God, not this world’s treasures. Their security is in Jesus and not the things of this earth.

Are you hearing Jesus’s call?

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Romans Chapter 8

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Romans:

Jesus Set Us Free with His Sacrifice on the Cross

Who Are You to Pass Judgment on Others?

God Told Us Things To Give Us Peace

Scripture: John 16: 33

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Scripture Commentary:

The disciples did not fully understand what Jesus told them, and at the time they had questions. One of the questions was if Jesus went away, what would happen to them?

One answer Jesus had for them, and us today, is not to long for answers to the problems in our life. That’s an unrealistic goal since in this world, we will have trouble. There’s an eternity of problem-free living reserved for us in heaven. Rejoice in that inheritance. No one can take from us.

We can have a personal relationship with God through Christ

Christ’s death on the cross made a personal relationship with God available to each of us. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to guide us on how to live and follow in the path of righteousness.

This time on earth is temporary. Our home in God’s kingdom is permanent. So, what we are going through now is only for a short time. In spite of these inevitable struggles, we are not alone.

The ultimate victory has already been won. We can claim Christ in the most troublesome times.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

John Chapter 16

Read Other Commentary from the Book of John:

God Didn’t Send Jesus to Condemn the World

God So Loved You That He Gave His Son

Jesus, Tell Me to Come to You on the Water

Scripture: Matthew 14: 28-31

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Scripture Commentary:

Peter, of all the disciples, questions Jesus the most, denies Jesus three times and now asks Jesus to call him to walk on the water.

How many times have you called Jesus but didn’t wait to hear His answer?

Peter starts to sink because he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the high waves. His faith wavers when he realizes he was not focusing on Jesus. When we stop focusing on Jesus and turn our attention on the world, we become lost.

Our walk through the situations of everyday living can be like walking on water without Jesus at our side. If we focus on the difficulties around us without Jesus, we will sink.

Peter’s faith faltered, but he reached out to Jesus, the only one who could help. He was afraid but he looked to Jesus. As we go through life, we must remember that Christ is with us. He will never leave us to sink in our walk in life.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Matthew Chapter 14

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Matthew:

Do Not Worry – Give It to God

Store Up Your Treasures in Heaven

Lord, I Will Follow You

Scripture: Luke 9: 57-62

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”58  Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”59 He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”60  Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”61  Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”62  Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Scripture Commentary:

Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brothers casting a net. Jesus told them, “Follow me.” Straightaway they left their nets and followed Him.

And going from there Jesus saw James and John with their father. He told the two brothers, “Follow me.” Immediately they left their father and followed Jesus.

What does Jesus want from us?

He wants total dedication, not halfhearted commitment. We cannot pick and choose from among Jesus’s ideas and follow Him selectively. We have to accept the cross along with the crown; judgment as well as mercy.

We must count the cost and be willing to abandon everything else that has given us security. Luke does not say in chapter 9, verse 59 if James and John’s father has died or if he is dying. In verse 61, Luke does not say if the someone mentioned wanted to say goodbye to family or friends. We see in Matthew 4 that Jesus called to Simon, Andrew, James and John. And they dropped everything and followed Jesus.

Jesus is calling you. Are you going to follow Him?

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Luke Chapter 9

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Luke:

Lord, Remember Me When You Come into Your Kingdom

I Once Was Lost but Now I’m Found

We Have Our Minds Set On Jesus

Scripture: Romans 8: 4-6

...in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

Scripture Commentary:

I’m sure we can all remember the day we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We had our minds set. We felt good because we weren’t controlled by Satan and his sinful nature.

Paul places people in two categories: those who let themselves be controlled by the flesh and those who let themselves be controlled by the spirit. We would all be in the first category if Jesus hadn’t offered us a way out.

When we said yes to Christ, we became His and began to follow Him in mind, body and spirit.

We are “not guilty”!

We are free from Satan’s clutches. Free at last; thank God we are free! O what a feeling.

God has given us freedom through Jesus Christ. His Holy Spirit has given us power to live as God intends. The Holy Spirit is God’s guarantee of eternal life for those who believe in and follow Him.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Romans Chapter 8

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Romans:

There Is No Death in Jesus Christ

Refrain from the Wickedness of a Godless Life

The Purpose of Plagues

Scripture: Revelation 9: 20-21

The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. 21 Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Scripture Commentary:

The people referred to in Revelation were so hardhearted that even plagues did not drive them to God. People don’t usually fall into immorality and evil suddenly. They slip into it a little at a time, then realizing what happened, they are irrevocably mired in their wicked ways.

Any person who allows sin to take root in their life will find themselves in a predicament.

Temptation entertained today becomes sin tomorrow.

Once sin becomes a habit, spiritual death and separation from God occurs. To think you can never become this evil is the first step toward a hard heart. Go to God and confess your sin. Ask for forgiveness.

People want to know what is going to happen in the future instead of doing God’s work today. The future will take care of itself. The Book of Revelation lets us see what God has for those who have serve Him and for those who have serve Lucifer.

Revelation is the book of hope. It promises that evil is not forever. It shows what God has for us.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Revelation Chapter 9

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Revelation:

Let Your Name Be in the Lamb’s Book of Life

God is Alpha and Omega; Beginning and End

Who Do You Say Jesus Is?

Scripture: Matthew 16: 13-15

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Scripture Commentary:

Jesus asked His disciples – and us – “Who do you say I am?” Those who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior do not know who He is. Likewise, those who claim to know Him but live by their own laws don’t know Him.

Peter answered Jesus saying, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” He was acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah. If Jesus were to ask you this question, how would you answer?

Jesus praised Peter for His confession of faith. This is the same Peter who denied Jesus three times; the same Peter who Jesus asked, “Do you love me?” three times. God had a purpose for Peter. It was to plant and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

It’s faith like Peter’s that is the foundation of Jesus Christ’s kingdom. When we don’t know Christ, we make choices as though this life were all we have. In reality , this is just the introduction to eternity.

This is not our permanent home.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

Matthew Chapter 16

John Chapter 21

Read Other Commentary From the New Testament:

When I Want to Do Good, Why Is Evil There With Me?

You Must Believe That He Is

Conceit is the Devil’s Trap

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12: 7-9

Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 

Scripture Commentary: Don’t let conceit make you think it’s all about you.

When we are so conceited that we think we can do anything, we have just stepped into Satan’s trap. The apostle Paul may have been in a place in his ministry where it was going so well that he thought it was all about him. This, too, can happen to you and God will have to pull you back and let you see it is not about you.

Paul doesn’t say what his thorn was but in verses 9 and 10 these words appear: weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and finally, difficulties. Paul’s thorn could have been any one of these things; they cover personal, physical, health and mental issues.

The thorn that he had kept him humble and reminded him of his need for constant contact with God.

Paul’s thorn was for him.

Your thorn is for you and only you. My thorn is for me and only me. Although God did not remove Paul’s thorn, He promised to demonstrate His power through Paul.

Each of us has a thorn to bear and God, in using us to spread His gospel, is a reminder of His love for us.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

2 Corinthians Chapter 12

Read Other Commentary from the Book of 2 Corinthians:

Depend on God in Your Weakness

Do Not Despair; God Is With You

Blessed Is the One Who Trusts God

Scripture: Psalm 84: 12

Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.

Scripture: Jeremiah 17: 7

But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.

Scripture: Matthew 6: 34

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Scripture Commentary:

These three Bible chapters and verses stress that blessed is the one who trusts God only. We have a tendency to do things and leave God out. God does not promise us everything we think is good, but He will not withhold what is permanently good.

He gives us the means to walk along His path, but He lets us choose. When we choose to follow God, He will direct us in the way we should go.

Two kinds of people are contrasted in Jeremiah 17:7: those who trust in self and those who trust in God. The people of Judah trusted in false gods; therefore, they were unfruitful. In contrast, those who trusted in the Lord flourished like trees planted by water.

Planning for tomorrow is time well spent. Worrying about tomorrow is time wasted. It’s difficult to tell the difference. Planning is good but don’t let it interfere with your relationship with God.

As we begin to yield to God, He begins reshaping us into valuable vessels to use.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

Psalm 84

Jeremiah Chapter 17

Matthew Chapter 6

Read Other Commentary On Trusting God:

Trust God Who Can Do All Things

Praise Ye the Lord, Place Your Trust in Him