Tag: New Testament

What Favor Do You Ask of Jesus?

Scripture: Matthew 20: 20-22

Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, brought them to Jesus and respectfully asked a favor. “What is your request?” he asked. She replied, “In your Kingdom, will you let my two sons sit on two thrones next to yours?” But Jesus told her, “You don’t know what you are asking!” Then he turned to James and John and asked them, “Are you able to drink from the terrible cup I am about to drink from?” “Yes,” they replied, “we are able!”

Scripture Commentary:

The mother of James and John asked Jesus for a favor. She wanted Him to give her sons special positions in His kingdom. Parents naturally want to see their children promoted and honored, but this desire is dangerous if it causes them to lose sight of God’s specific will for their children.

James, John, and their mother failed to grasp Jesus’ previous teachings on rewards and eternal life. They failed to understand the suffering they must face before living in the glory of God’s kingdom.

We play religious games, expecting God to give us something in return. When you pray, are you looking for gifts in return? Jesus teaches us that the greatest person in God’s kingdom is the servant.

What is your answer when Jesus asks, “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” The “cup” was the suffering and crucifixion that Christ faced. Jesus tells us He is under the authority of the Father, who alone makes the decisions about heaven. Authority is given not for self importance, ambition or respect, but for useful service to God and His creation.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Matthew Chapter 20

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Matthew:

Jesus, When Did I Deny You?

Jesus Fulfilled the Prophecy as King

Don’t Be “Certain People”; Be Extraordinary!

Scripture: Jude 1: 4

For certain people have crept in unnoticed [just as if they were sneaking in by a side door]. They are ungodly persons whose condemnation was predicted long ago, for they distort the grace of our God into decadence and immoral freedom [viewing it as an opportunity to do whatever they want], and deny and disown our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Scripture Commentary:

The Bible is inspired by God and should never be twisted or manipulated. There are certain people who avoid studying The Bible because they think theology is dry and boring. Some people refuse to learn correct doctrine and are susceptible to false teaching. They aren’t fully grounded in God’s truth.

We must understand the basic doctrines of our faith so that we can recognize false doctrines. We need to always be on guard against wrong teaching that would undermine our faith.

In the first century and today we have people teaching that Christians could do whatever they like without fear of God’s punishment. They have a light view of God’s holiness and His justice.

Are you a Christian that minimizes the sinfulness of sin, believing that what you do has little to do with your faith?

Or do you believe how you act will show your faith? Those who truly have faith will show it by their deep respect for God and their sincere desire to live according to the principles in His Word. The truth of The Bible must not be compromised because it gives the real facts about Jesus Christ and salvation.

Jude emphasizes the important relationship between correct doctrine and true faith. Beware of those who claim to have all the answers and know not what they speak!

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Jude Chapter 1

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Jude:

Have Mercy on Those Who Doubt

Idols Can’t See, Nor Hear, Nor Walk; Worship the Living God

Don’t Walk in Darkness, Live in God’s Light

Scripture: 1 John 1: 4-8

4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Scripture Commentary:

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the light to our lives if we let Him dwell in us. If we walk in darkness and do not let God in, we then are living in Satan’s darkness.

If we let our lives – our sinful way of living – into the light of Jesus, we can see who we have become. In doing this, we can let God in and He can forgive and heal us and save us from our sinful ways. His compassion for us lets us enjoy and fellowship with Him.

God wants to fellowship with us.

This is why He sent His Son to die for our sins. When we come to Christ, He forgives all the sins we have committed or will ever commit. We don’t need to confess the sins of the past all over again. We don’t need to fear that God will reject us if we don’t keep our slate perfectly clean.

No one is perfect. All are weak. But we are to try. Our relationship with Christ is secure. We are to pray for His strength to defeat temptation the next time we face it.

We can’t love God and court sin at the same time!

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

1 John Chapter 1

Read Other Commentary from the First Epistle of John:

Love Comes From God Because God Is Love

God Is Light, in Him Is No Darkness

You Have God’s Mercy and Love

Scripture: 1 Peter 2: 9-10

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a [special] people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people [at all], but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Scripture Commentary:

You were lost but because of God’s love for you, you have His mercy. If you think about what your life was like before Jesus, you know now that you have His mercy.

Before Christ, you based your self-concept on your accomplishments.

But now your relationship with Christ is far more important than your job, success, wealth, or knowledge. God has chosen you as His very own. You have been called to spread His gospel. You are given the responsibility of bringing others to Him.

We are united with Jesus Christ as members of His body. We are joined in His priestly work of reconciling God and man.

Remember that your value comes from being one of God’s children.

Your value does not come from what you can achieve for yourself. You have worth because of what God does, not because of what you do.

To love Jesus Christ is to serve Him. Serve Him with all your heart, body, soul and love that you have.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

1 Peter Chapter 2

Read Other Commentary from 1 Peter:

Faith Has Greater Worth Than Gold

Jesus Didn’t Avoid the Call, He Suffered for Us All

God Saved My Life

Scripture: 1 Peter 4: 2-4

2 so that he can no longer spend the rest of his natural life living for human appetites and desires, but [lives] for the will and purpose of God. 3 For the time already past is [more than] enough for doing what the [unsaved] Gentiles like to do—[b]living [unrestrained as you have done] in a course of [shameless] sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and wanton idolatries. 4 In [connection with] all this, they [the unbelievers] are resentful and surprised that you do not [think like them, value their values and] run [hand in hand] with them into the same excesses of dissipation and immoral freedom, and they criticize and abuse and ridicule you and make fun of your values.

Scripture Commentary:

Thank you, Lord, for savings me from myself! When I think of my life before I became saved, and the Christian lifestyle I live today, I thank Our Lord Jesus Christ.

If it wasn’t for Jesus, where would my life be?

Satan lost his power over me – and you – when we turned to God. Our focus is now on God.

When some of us turned to Christ, we experienced contempt from some of our so-called friends. We were scorned for refusing to participate in certain activities. They saw the change in us and didn’t understand the new person we became.

Bring people to Christ so they will know the love He has for them.

Don’t judge them. Show them the way to Christ. Bring people to Christ so they will know the love He has for them. They are lost and Satan has a hold on them as He once did on us.

With you and me and the help of Our Lord Jesus Christ, we can help break this lifestyle they are living and bring them into the light. Don’t keep the joy that you received to yourself.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

1 Peter Chapter 4

Read Other Commentary from 1 Peter:

Jesus Is the Lamb of God Without Blemish

Christ’s Life Is an Example of How to Live

We Will Always Face Trials

Scripture: James 1: 2-8

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Scripture Commentary:

We can’t really know the depth of our character until we see how we react when we face trials. It’s easy to be kind to others when everything is going well, but can we still be kind when others are treating us unfairly?

God wants to make us mature and complete, not keep us from all pain. Instead of complaining about our struggles, we should see them as opportunities for growth. Thank God for promising to be with us in rough times.

Trials will come. Place the problems in God’s capable hands.

We need to ask God to help us solve our problems or to give us strength to endure them. We need to place the problems in His hands, and then be patient.

Believe in Him. God doesn’t leave us alone with our problems; He stays close to help us grow. To “believe and not doubt” means not only believing in the existence of God, but also believing in His loving care.

God does not grant every thoughtless or selfish request. Remember that!

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

James Chapter 1

Read Other Commentary from the Book of James:

To Know the Gospel is Different from Living It

The Power of the Tongue

God’s Kingdom Cannot Be Shaken

Scripture: Hebrews 12: 27-29

27 Now this [expression], “Yet once more,” indicates the removal and final transformation of all those things which can be shaken—that is, of that which has been created—so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, and offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship with reverence and awe; 29 for our God is [indeed] a consuming fire.

Scripture Commentary:

Eventually the world will crumble and only God’s kingdom will stand. Those who follow Christ are part of this kingdom which cannot be shaken. They will withstand the shaking, sifting, and burning.

No matter what happens on earth, our future is built on a solid foundation.

When we feel unsure about the future, all we have to do is believe in Our Lord Jesus Christ. In John 14: 2, Jesus tells us, ” In My Father’s house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you.” No matter what happens here, our future is built on a solid foundation that cannot be destroyed.

Don’t put your confidence in what will be destroyed.

Instead, build your life on Christ and His unshakable kingdom. Do not let sin block your vision of God. Renounce sin and accept Him into your life.

When your earthly life ends, are you going to Jesus’s kingdom or Satan’s hell? You have only two choices. After Jesus came, God welcomed us, through Christ, into His presence. Accept His invitation.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

Hebrews Chapter 12

John Chapter 14

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Hebews:

Faith is the Substance of Things Hoped For

What is the Evidence of Your Faith?

Be Constantly Striving Against Sin

Scripture: Hebrews 12: 4-8

You have not yet struggled to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; 5 and you have [c]forgotten the divine word of encouragement which is addressed to you as sons,

“My son, do not make light of the discipline of the Lord, And do not lose heart and give up when you are corrected by Him; 6 For the Lord disciplines and corrects those whom He loves, And He punishes every son whom He receives and welcomes [to His heart].”

7 You must submit to [correction for the purpose of] discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons; for [d]what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 Now if you are exempt from correction and without discipline, in which all [of God’s children] share, then you are illegitimate children and not sons [at all].

Scripture Commentary:

God is not only a disciplining parent but also a demanding coach who pushes us to our limits and requires our lives to be disciplined. Although we are constantly striving and may not feel strong enough to push on to victory, we will be able to accomplish it as we follow Christ. Draw on His strength! Then we can use our growing strength to help those around us who are weak and struggling.

We may respond to discipline in several ways:

  • We can accept it with resignation
  • If we think we don’t deserve it, we can accept it with self-pity
  • We can be angry and resentful toward God
  • Or, we can accept it gratefully, as the appropriate response we owe to a loving Father.

Do you love and obey your Father or are you not listening?

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Hebrews Chapter 12

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Hebrews:

Faith is the Substance of Things Hoped For

Jesus Is the Perfect Forever Sacrifice For Our Sins

Wait Patiently for God’s Promise

Scripture: Hebrews 6: 13-15

When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”[d] 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.

Scripture Commentary:

Abraham waited patiently 25 years from the time God promised him a son until it came to pass. Because our trials and temptations are often so intense, they seem to last an eternity. Both the Bible and the testimony of mature Christians encourage us to wait for God to act in His timing even when our needs seem too great to wait any longer.

God’s promises are unchanging and trustworthy. That’s because God is unchanging and trustworthy. God took an oath on His own name when he promised Abraham a son. God embodies all truth; therefore, He cannot lie.

God is truth.

And because He is truth, you can be secure in His promises. You don’t need to wonder if He will change His plans.

Are you true to your promises to God? Our hope is secure and immovable when anchored in God. To the true seeker who comes to God in belief, God gives an unconditional promise of acceptance.

When you ask God with openness, honesty and sincerity to save you from your sins, He will do it. This truth should give you encouragement, assurance, and confidence.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Hebrews Chapter 6

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Hebrews:

Jesus Freed Us

You Cannot Please God Without Faith

Stand on the Assurance of God

Scripture: Hebrews 11: 1-3

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

Scripture Commentary:

We read about people who had the assurance of God. How is our faith? Is it like Abel who offered God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain? Note that it wasn’t about the gift itself … it was about Abel’s heart which was true.

Enoch’s faith was so that God did not let him see death. On faith, Abraham left his home to go to a strange land, taking Isaac and Jacob because God told him to do so. Sara believed God when He said she would have a child although she was old.

By faith Abraham offered up Isaac to God as a sacrifice. God gave Abraham a nation instead. And then there’s Moses who took God’s people out of Egypt, passing through the Red Sea to safety.

God’s people had confidence that the walls of Jericho would fall. And the harlot, Ra-had was saved for doing what God told her to do.

There are so many more people we can point to who stood on the assurance of God.

Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephunneh , David, Samuel, and the prophets. They did what God told them although they did not see God. What faith!

Take courage from these people. They lived and died without seeing the fruit of their faith on earth and yet they continued to believe. Serve the Lord, Jesus Christ. Our best and greatest rewards await in heaven!

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Hebrews Chapter 11

Read Other Commentary from Hebrews Chapter 11:

You Must Believe That He Is

Faith Is the Confidence In What We Hope For