Bible, NT-11, Gospel-2, Matt-1: Part 1

Bible, NT-11, Gospel 2, Matthew 1

Part 1

LESSON 11

THE GOSPEL 2

MATTHEW 1

PART 1

By Rev. G. Evan Newmyer

INTRODUCTION TO LESSON 11

Matthew addresses himself to those who just came to the Lord, who are standing in the Doorway, as they are known metaphorically, the seed and root. Mark is the only one of the four who says his account is the “Beginning of the Gospel” (Mark 1:1). Therefore, we must move through Matthew to establish a foundation to know The Beginning Of The Gospel. Matthew encourages us to reach to the higher ground, yet warns us of certain elements which could cause us to stumble on our path. His warning is not for us to look about to see if there is a bad fish or tare near us, but to make the firm decision to continue to Believe in order to become the Good Fish in the Net and the Wheat in the Field.

Luke writes to a teacher, thus he doesn’t concern himself with chronological, or historic events as a historian, rather he is establishing two teaching points. Luke begins his teaching exercise at Luke 10:23 with precept upon precept, rather than chronological time frames, until Luke 18:35. Therefore, we can’t take Luke attempting to find a chronological account of the earthly ministry events, but Luke does add some facts to the birth of Jesus, providing us with some vital information regarding the time from the Cross and Grave to the Resurrection. In essence, Luke addresses the concepts of Deny Yourself, and Pick Up Your Cross, and does so by placing many of the teachings of Jesus into groups regarding those concepts.

John fills in gaps, completing the Gospel for the Full Corn in the Ear. John doesn’t contain the English or the Greek word for faith, but uses the word Believe in one form or another more times than Paul did in all his letters, thus John will give us the incentive to Continually Believe. The word Wilderness doesn’t appear in John, but it speaks on the Wilderness Jesus went through more than the other accounts.

Matthew gives us a reason to believe, Mark gives us a reason to put our faith in Jesus, Luke gives us the purpose for trusting in Jesus, then John tells us the result of our belief in Jesus, all four of the accounts give us The One Gospel.

Matthew is the longest of the Gospel accounts for good reason, thus we divided it into two lessons. We have provided Charts showing the Parables, Miracles and Healings of Jesus. From the Charts we find there are more Parables than healings and miracles, with most of the parables in Matthew, many of which pertain to the kingdom of heaven (the womb to the Kingdom of God).

The name Matthew means, Gift of God, we know The Gift is Grace; however, there is a nature of Mercy one must grasp before they can hold Grace. The Holy Ghost put Matthew first in order to establish our foundation, thus Matthew is long and involved but it’s the Preparation for Victory in the Kingdom of God. Without Matthew we will never grasp Mark, much less Luke or John.

We are using a different format for the study of the Gospel Accounts, we included the verses for easy reference.

LESSON 11

THE GOSPEL 2

MATTHEW 1

We have four accounts forming the Gospel, each gives us something to add to our foundation, yet all four are still the One Gospel of Peace. We don’t have four Gospels according to the minds of men, we have one Gospel, with four scribes who heard from the Holy Ghost. The following chart shows how some parables are seen in more than one account, but it doesn’t mean we can’t gain from the various accounts; each account adds something to the others, thus they relate one to reaching the result.

CHART – THE PARABLES OF JESUS

The Parables found in Matthew, Mark & Luke

Lamp under a basket: Matt-5:14-16, Mark-4:21-22, Luke-8:16-17 & 11:33-36

A wise man builds on the Rock: Matt-7:24-27, Luke-6:47-49

New cloth on Old garment: Matt-9:16, Mark-2:21, Luke-5:36

New Wine in Old wineskins: Matt-9:17, Mark-2:22, Luke-5:37-38

The Sower: Matt-13:2-23, Mark-4:2-20, Luke-8:4-15

The Wheat and Tares: Matt-13:24-30

The mustard seed: Matt-13:31-32, Mark-4:30-32, Luke-13:18-19

The leaven: Matt-13:33, Luke-13:20-21

The hidden treasure: Matt-13:44

The Pearl of Great Price: Matt-13:45-46

The Dragnet:Matt-13:47-50

The lost sheep:Matt-18:12-14, Luke-15:3-7

The unforgiving steward: Matt-18:23-25

The workers in the vineyard: Matt-20:1-16

The two sons: Matt-21:28-32

The wicked vinedressers: Matt-21:33-45, Mark-12:1-12, Luke-20:9-19

The wedding feast: Matt-22:2-14

The fig tree: Matt-24:32-44, Mark-13:28-32, Luke-21:29-33

The Wise and foolish Virgins: Matt-1-13

The talents: Matt-25:14-30

The growing seed: Mark-4:26-29

The absent householder: Mark-13:33-37

The Creditor and debtors: Luke-7:41-43

The good Samaritan: Luke-10:30-37

A friend in need: Luke-11:5-13

The rich fool: Luke-12:16-21

The faithful and the evil servants: Luke-12:35-40

Faithful and wise stewards: Luke-12:42-48

The barren fig tree:Luke-13:6-9

The great supper: Luke-14:16-24

Building a Tower, king making war: Luke-14:25-35

The lost coin: Luke-15:8-10

The lost son: Luke-15:11-32

The unjust steward: Luke-16:1-13

The rich man and Lazarus: Luke-16:19-31

Unprofitable servants: Luke-17:7-10

The persistent widow: Luke-18:1-8

The Pharisee and tax collector: Luke-18:9-14

The Minas (pounds): Luke-19:11-27

Note: There are no parables in John.

CHART – Miracles And Healings of Jesus

Cleansing a leper: Matt-8:2, Mark-1:40, Luke-5:12

Healing Centurion’s servant: Matt-8:5, John-7:1

Healing Peter’s mother-in-law: Matt-8:14, Mark-1:30, Luke-4:38

Healing the sick at evening: Matt-8:16, Mark-1:32, Luke-4:40

Stilling the storm: Matt-8:23, Mark-4:35, Luke-8:22

Demons entering swine: Matt-8:28, Mark-5:1, Luke-8:26

Healing a paralytic: Matt-9:2, Mark-2:3, Luke-5:18

Raising ruler’s daughter: Matt-9:18, Mark-5:22, Luke-8:41

Healing hemorrhaging woman: Matt-9:20, Mark-5:25, Luke-8:43

Healing two blind men: Matt-9:27

Curing demon possessed mute man: Matt-9:32

Healing withered hand: Matt-12:10, Mark-3:1, Luke-6:6

Curing demon possessed, blind and mute man: Matt-12:22, Luke-11:14

Feeding five thousand: Matt-14:15, Mark-6:35, Luke-9:12, John-6:1

Walking on sea: Matt-14:25, Mark-6:48, John-6:19

Healing Gentile woman’s daughter: Matt-15:21, Mark-7:24

Feeding four thousand: Matt-15:32, Mark-8:1

Healing epileptic boy: Matt-17:14, Mark-9:17, Luke-9:38

Tax in fish’s mouth: Matt-17:27

Healing two blind men: Matt-20:30

Withering fig tree: Matt-21:18, Mark-11:12

Casting out unclean spirit: Mark-1:23, Luke-4:33

Healing deaf mute: Mark-7:32

Healing at Bethsaida: Mark-8:22

Escape from Hostile crowd: Luke-4:28

Draught of fish: Luke-5:4

Raising widow’s son at Nain: Luke-7:11

Healing bound over woman: Luke-13:11

Healing man with drossy: Luke-14:1

Cleansing ten lepers: Luke-17:12

Restoring servant’s ear: Luke-22:51

Turning water into wine: John-2:1

Healing Nobleman’s son: John-4:46

Healing infirm at Bethesda: John-5:5

Healing man born blind: John-9:1

Raising of Lazarus: John-11:43

Second draught of fish: John-21:5

Note: The only miracle found in all four gospels is the feeding of the five thousand.

From the above charts we can dispose of any fallacy of the Gospel being four separate accounts based on the opinions and experiences of four men. These four scribes of God give us One Gospel; however, each is directed to an aspect of our growth. Matthew to those who received the Seed and are growing the Root; Mark to those who have reached the Blade; Luke to those who made it to the Full Ear; then John to those who are the Full Corn In The Ear. One can’t force the Full Ear into the Root, or jump from Root to the Full Corn In The Ear. We are saved from the world to enter the Justification (Salvation) Process; thus we have two steps, one is Mercy, the other is Grace.

As we begin there are some truths we must keep in mind, or we will miss some vital information on the greatness of being Born Again. The Spirit and the ability to be Born Again was not granted until Jesus was Resurrected (Jn 7:38-39), thus the disciples before Pentecost were natural, making them limited in their knowledge and position (I Cor 2:9-10 & 2:14). John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Ghost, but the Holy Ghost will not fill us beyond the authority of the position. John didn’t cast out devils, or heal the sick, it was not his calling. On the other hand we find the disciples were not filled with the Holy Ghost, but under the authority (Name) of Jesus they did cast out devils and heal the sick. It doesn’t take away from the Holy Ghost, it merely shows John 7:38-39 explains the Holy Ghost was not yet Given in fullness and neither was the Spirit until Pentecost. It also shows one can operate under the Name of Jesus, yet not be Born Again, or filled with the Holy Ghost. Therefore, we judge the ways, not the acts of a person.

There is also a difference between the Kingdom of heaven and the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of heaven is the womb to the Kingdom of God, no one can neglect the Kingdom of heaven expecting to maintain in the Kingdom of God. Jesus as The Christ has two positions, the Son of man relating to the Kingdom of heaven with the application of God’s Mercy, then the Son of God relating to the Kingdom of God and God’s Grace. There are times when we see people refer to Jesus as “the Christ”, other times where He tells people, even His disciples not to say He is Christ. Why is it? Two positions, the disciples before the Cross could not speak on spiritual matters, since they didn’t understand the Cross and Resurrection, much less the Spirit (Mark 9:32). However, before the Cross the disciples did understand Mercy, thus Jesus will speak on matters of Grace, but operate in Mercy, showing the Greater Works are Works of Grace.

Today we think everyone and their uncle can speak on Spiritual matters, but in Truth the only ones who can lawfully speak on Spiritual matters are those who have the Spirit of Truth. Not only is it a Position, but we find it takes knowledge from heaven to understand the spiritual (I Cor 2:13-16). When someone who is natural speaks of spiritual things, they lack the respect, knowledge and understanding of what they are talking about. Being Born Again is a privilege so great and wonderful it demands respect for the Spirit and the Spiritual matters.

Next we find the disciples were in fact “special”, but knowing it, and bragging on it are different. There are some who think using the “proper name of God”, or holding one day over another, or using a particular phrase during water baptism, or having some secret rite, book or temple proceeding makes them better than the other members of the Body. The danger comes when the rest of us believe those fables and strongholds; Jesus makes us better than we were, but without the Spirit in us, we’re still nothing, regardless of some rite or special book. The disciples were special because they were associated with Jesus, yet during the earthly ministry they didn’t have Christ in them, until they received Power from on High on the Day of Pentecost (Jn 14:16-20 & I Jn 4:1-4).

Matthew’s account was the second written, but the Holy Ghost placed it first in order. Mark begins by saying, “The beginning of the Gospel”, but in so doing he doesn’t limit his account to the Only Gospel. Rather he speaks of a Beginning, which begins when we become a Blade (Born Again). Matthew makes it clear in the Parables of the Sower, as well as the Parable of the Wheat and Tares. We can’t assume the declaration of Justification and the process are one in the same, especially when we see there is a growth we must go through. We are declared completely innocent of all charges against us by the declaration of God, but the Witness is bringing it to pass in us day by day. It’s when the Blade comes forth exposing the Tares, allowing us to recognize what they are.

Matthew addresses Mercy more than Grace, the premise of Mercy is found in the least Commandments, but it doesn’t make them less important, rather it shows they are the least we can do. Therefore, anyone in the Body who has accepted the forgiveness of sin has the ability to walk in Mercy. However, we must be Born Again if we want the Living Waters to flow from us. The one premise dividing the vessels of honor from those of dishonor is mercy, thus the will of the Father is for us to walk in Mercy (Rom 9:21-22).

Matthew is the only one to use the term, “kingdom of heaven”, heaven is a place, God a personage, we are in the kingdom of heaven, but the Kingdom of God is within us. The kingdom of heaven is akin to Mercy, the Kingdom of God akin to Grace. Mercy is foundational element to being in the Body, thus no one is going to be formed into the Church, unless they first belong to the Body. Everyone in the kingdom of heaven has the ability to walk in Mercy, but not all are Born Again. Paul told the Corinthians they had the Spirit, but he also said they were yet carnal and not spiritual (I Cor 3:16 & 3:1). He also said he had to talk to them as “babes”; the Greek word he used for “babes” is Nepios, meaning an infant, or a place just before one is an infant. They had the Spirit, but they were not Born Again, as such they were carnal in their thinking, and unable to understand spiritual matters. Paul told the Romans there are some in the Body who mind the flesh, and some who mind the Spirit (Rom 8:1-8). However, regardless of whether a person in the Body is spiritual or not, or even Born Again they have the ability to apply Mercy. Paul put it this way, “forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you” (Eph 4:32). Jesus will teach on this very subject, telling us how important it is.

There are layers of truth, yet the layers don’t disagree or change basic truths, they simply add one to the other. Mark will refer to some of the same events as Matthew, but Mark uses the phrase Kingdom of God; however, Matthew and Mark are not debating, rather Matthew gives us the Mercy foundation to the Gospel, while Mark talks to the Blades who are Born Again. Luke expands and John will provide us the finishing touches.

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham (1:1).

Hold it, didn’t Jesus come from the Father in heaven? Yes, but Matthew is giving us the “earthly” human position of Jesus as the Son of man coupled with the kingly position from the throne of David. Jesus is the Son of God, the Resurrection declared it so (Rom 1:3-4), but as the Son of man He had specifics, being the Lamb of God as the Sacrifice for one, coming back to Judge the earth another. Jesus took on the form of man, for the purpose of saving mankind, yet He will also judge mankind as the Son of man. Jesus pleased the Father, no question, but who did He die for? The Father? Or you and I? Us of course, thus He gave Himself as the Son of man, but was declared the Son of God by the Resurrection, so we could become sons of God, yet we must also be sons of men.

The two basic positions are established, son of David, giving Jesus a right to the throne, then a son of Abraham, showing He came for the Jews first. Notice, Jesus is not the “son of Moses”, since Jesus is from the tribe of Judah, not the tribe of Levi. If Jesus is our High Priest, why not come from the tribe of Levi? The Book of Hebrews tells us the Priesthood changed with Jesus: the changing of the Priesthood necessitated a change in Laws as well (Heb 7:12). Jesus as our High Priest established a spiritual position, thus a New Law was required for those who fit the Order.

In order to gain a grasp on some of the attitudes Jesus faced we must know the history just before Jesus began His earthly ministry. The Jews went through a mess regarding the priestly and the kingly order. God separated the priestly order from the kingly, and wanted it to stay that way, but it was nonetheless left up to man to keep it so. Anyone who took on both the priestly function and kingly function did so illegally, and obviously without the anointing from God. Nonetheless there were some who did just that, the result was the Roman rule over the land, which resulted in the Romans (heathens) appointing a king in the land (Herod). However, we also find God does have an established order wherein one is both king and priest, but they must be of the Body of Christ, something not possible until Jesus made it so (Rev 1:6 & 5:10).

Matthew clears the issue, the Proceeding Word of God is not only going to correct the error removed the anointing from the priestly position, but establish a New priestly Order within a New kingly Order without fault. Was the Law of Moses faulty? No, but since it was in the hands of natural man, we find the doing of it was faulty (Heb 7:19 et al).

Jesus had to begin as the Son of man to keep all things lawful, but the mind of the Pharisees with their recent history had their minds made up what they wanted, and how they wanted God to provide it, thus they not only missed the Preceding Word, but the exactness of the Scriptures. Without the position of the Son of man Jesus would have no standing to become the “Lamb of God”. Israel being picked by God over all the nations, means the king of Israel is above the kings of the Gentiles. Since Jesus lives forever more, He is truly King of kings, yet when He came the Romans were over the land, and the only king the Jews had was a man appointed by the Romans. The kingship was not for David, it was for Jesus, but it began with David, yet for us understanding the manner in which a king reigns in the Kingdom becomes the issue.

This area also gives us an outline, the entire purpose of creation is for Jesus, yet Jesus as the Son of man was born of a woman as the Law dictates, but was He created? No, He took on the form in the time and timing of God (Ph’l 2:7-8). So then if He was not “created” how could He stand for created man? Ahh, the flesh of man was never “created”, it was formed of the earth to begin with. Each fleshly aspect of man since Adam became a reproduction of the formation of the elements of the earth. Our souls are created and although they enter death because they are housed in the flesh, they don’t cease to exist. Therefore, Jesus delivered us from the hand of the devil, then granted us His Grace in the Spirit to save our souls, not re-create them.

After the great build up about the Gospel, one would think it would start with, “Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God Who came in Power and Authority to take back all man lost”, yet we see so and so begat so and so. Ahh, foundational, this area is proving Jesus is the Son of man, giving us Hope. God didn’t lie, there was a process to saving our souls. Hopefully it won’t take as long as the so and so beget so and so, Amen?

The long list from Abraham has many purposes; the fall took a short time based on one very wrong decision. When we were born we did neither good nor evil, but the flesh had the overall potential to sin. The soul had one element in which to operate, the flesh. Yet the flesh was corrupt, meaning the first time we used the flesh to get what we wanted, and had an awareness of what we were doing, we sinned, then we are sold under sin. Our souls were connected to the flesh, but the flesh relates to death. The soul then became slave to the flesh; although the flesh was weak, we find by the act of sin we accepted the spirit of disobedience, also known as the strongman. The strongman enforced his position with rulers of the darkness who ruled our emotions and soul. Anger, fear or any other emotion based in the flesh, governing how we thought, or acted. The strongman then established strongholds coming against the knowledge of God. However, Jesus provided a means where a Stronger One can enter us, removing the strongman, tearing down the strongholds, establishing us in a true and holy tabernacle unto the Lord God.

The word Trespass means to enter the property of another without permission, or move into a possession of another without unlawful right. Adam’s iniquity was failing to care for “bone of my bone”, which lead him to the trespass of taking the fruit. We also know God didn’t make the fall happen, yet it was in the Plan. God’s plan of redemption went further than redeeming us from the fall; He provided something far greater than Adam possessed before the fall. It’s one thing to gain back what was lost, another to gain much more than anyone lost.

We can also answer the question, “are babies born into sin?”. All of us, including Jesus came into a sinful world, but the Bible tells us when Jacob and Esau were yet babies they did neither good or evil, thus they were in a like position as Adam (Rom 9:11-12). Adam was natural and earthly (I Cor 15:47), yet before the fall he did neither good or evil. There isn’t one word of Adam using faith, or thanking God, really not one word of him praising God. However, he walked with God in the cool of the day, but it doesn’t mean he did either good of evil, even Balaam heard from God. However, the potential for sin was in the Garden before sin took hold, if not why even warn Adam? The second God said, “in that day you shall die”, death became a possibility. The first time we used the self, manipulation, or the flesh to get our own way, we took of the wrong fruit. Our eyes were opened to the self, and the self became our guide. We are all born under the sin nature, meaning we have a much greater potential to sin than we do anything else. It doesn’t mean we kill people, it means sin begins by using the self nature to gain some result to please the flesh. Neither Adam or Eve killed anyone, but their offspring did (Cain), thus death produces the elements of death, Life produces the elements of Life.

When we knowingly use the sin nature, then we become sinners, once it happens we enter the realm of disobedience. Infants and very small babies lack the true ability to reason enough to make the decision to put the sin nature into an action. God had a plan, but it didn’t involve killing innocent children. We as Believers have an added advantage, Paul said, “else were your children unclean, but now they are holy” (I Cor 7:14). This promise separates the child of a believing parent for a special work by God, it should bring us hope in those troubling times regarding our children. Just as the Body of Christ is Holy because of Jesus, we find our children are holy because we believe, not a bad deal all in all.

The genealogy of Jesus shows how much God put into plan; once this genealogy is completed in Jesus, the need for genealogy ceases, thus God had the records destroyed in 70 AD. Let’s face it, we all came from Adam until the flood, then from one of Noah’s sons thereafter, yet if we are Born Again we are of God, not the earth. Tracing some human genealogy doesn’t make any of us any more special than someone else, Jesus makes us special.

This genealogy also spells out a testimony, the Hebrew names all mean something pointing to Jesus. God didn’t wake up one morning and say, “Yea Michael, what do you think? Let’s put My Word in some flesh today, and see what happens”. In order to give us something far greater than the possessions of Adam, it would take something from God greater than the original creation of God. God emptied His Word of deity, then His Word took on the form of man, becoming the Son of man. The Word of God is Jesus (Jn 1:1-8), the Bible contains the Scriptures, thus the Word in us takes those Scriptures then breaths life into them, but the Scriptures are not the only “word”, in fact the Bible defines itself as the Scriptures, and defines Jesus as the Word (Logos) of God. The Scriptures speak of Life, they can’t give it. This shows a combination of elements for us to seek and obtain. The Word (New Man) in us is sharper than any two-edged sword, dividing and bringing clarity to many areas (Heb 4:12 & James 1:21). The only way to have a saved soul is by being Born Again, any other attempt is the blind leading the blind.

No creation can save a creation from the fall of creation, it would take the Creator in the form of a creation. Something only God could do. God is Love and Light, and He so loved the world He gave His Love, Truth, Life and Grace by His only begotten Son. The wording “only begotten” means God isn’t going to do it again, there are no other ways, just the One Way of Christ in us the hope of Glory.

The Name of Jesus contains Authority in and of itself, but it also projects the Ways of God. The metaphor “Name” means Authority, any authority is representative of the position, thus the Name of Jesus is above all names. The name is granted only to those in the Body Christ as our “badge” of Authority, which enables us to ask for and receive the Power from on High.

In the Old Testament we found God referred to by many names, but in the New it’s the Authority of Jesus on earth wherein we find salvation. The “name of God” is not for identification, God doesn’t need to go around saying, “Hi, I’m God, who are you?”; His presence shows who He is. The “name of God” is relative to the authority being used at the time for those people. The names of God are conjoined into the Name of Jesus, it doesn’t negate the Father or Holy Ghost, but it does show the Seasons now pertain to two things, Salvation for the Day, Judgment for the Night. We are never told to baptize people in the “Name of El”, or cast out devils in the “Name of Elohiym”, the combined authority of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost were placed in the Name above all Names, which Name relates to Authority. It’s obvious when Jesus said the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, He was included in the Son part. Simply the only way to reach heaven is through Jesus, whether it’s now by being Born Again, or finding ones name in the Book of Life on the last day.

The Permission is granted by the Father, the Authority in the Son, the Power in the Holy Ghost, one God all in all. False concepts of the Trinity, or denying the Trinity tends to negate the greatness of Jesus. Understanding the Trinity keeps us in our rightful place, while not taking away the deity of the Father, Son or Holy Ghost. When we reach the end of Matthew we will find the phrase, “Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost” referring to One Name, or Authority of God. The same Authority was made inclusive in the Authority (Name) of Jesus, thus Jesus is the One who told us “go”. It didn’t remove the Father from being the Father, but it does show Salvation is found in one Authority, as the One Authority is only found in the Body of Christ. Oneness in its true form is still “the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost”.

The various positions of Jesus help us understand how He could be the Son of man on one hand representing man to God, the Son of God on the other representing God to man, and God the Son maintaining the Kingdom by His Righteousness (Heb 1:8). The Trinity is not one plus one plus one; the God we serve is a God of Power and Might, thus the equation must be one times one, times one, which always equals one. Any of us, or all of us could be placed into the equation, it would still end as One. Jesus has prayed for us to be One, as He is One, how could it be? Ahh, Multiplying in the Spirit, not adding. Paul said it was the self same Spirit, thus we are not added as one individual to another, but we are considered One in Jesus. The evidence is found in the phrase, “ten thousand times ten thousand” (Rev 5:11). Of course some might say, “Well I tell you what I don’t see us as One”, but the Bible says Oneness is by The Faith in the Spirit, not the flesh. The Oneness we hold won’t be Perfect until we join to what makes us Perfect by the salvation of our souls (I Pet 1:9).

Basically we will find the title “Son of man” pertains to Mercy, “Son of God” to the spiritual attributes of Grace (Rom 1:3-40), thus we enter as sons of men in the kingdom of heaven, but we obtain the condition to be a son of God by being Born Again. We come boldly to the Throne of Grace to Obtain Mercy and Find Grace, two elements connected in the phrase “Living Waters”.

Matthew begins with Jesus Christ, the Son of man, thus our first exposure to Jesus is always Mercy. As the Son of man Jesus showed us the Mercy of God, as the Son of God He presented us with Grace. Grace was not presented to mankind until Jesus was glorified by the Resurrection (Jn 7:39), thus Paul says the Resurrection Declared Jesus as the Son of God by the Spirit of Holiness (Rom 1:4). It doesn’t mean Jesus Became the Son of God by the Resurrection, rather it shows a Declaration, which Declaration tells us we become sons of God by the power of the Resurrection by having the same Spirit.

Matthew will establish the Kingly order of Jesus, showing Jesus is the Last King of the Jews. Israel hasn’t had a King or a Prophet since Jesus, Jesus is still alive, thus any king who attempts to take the throne in Israel is a fraud. Anyone who depicts an image as some king over Israel is a false prophet. A king’s position is filled when the king dies, in the world it was simple, kill the king and appoint another. However, for us we find Jesus is alive, thus He is the last and only King over all the kings.

God established a Lawful order and line, Saul was not the first king, David was. Saul was in training to be a king, thus he was a “Sur” or prince. David was the first anointed and appointed king by God, thus any king after him would be a “son of David”. It’s important to keep in mind Matthew is developing the Kingly right; Luke on the other hand will give us the Jewish side of Jesus. Luke uses the term, “as was supposed”, which is a Jewish term viewing the father of the mother of a child. Yet Luke uses the term in two ways; accordingly the way it should be written is, “Jesus the son of Joseph (as was supposed) the son of Heli”. Since the Jew didn’t use the name of the wife the “as was supposed” would take the place of the wife’s name. However, Luke moved the phase between Jesus and Joseph, showing Joseph is also the “as was supposed” father of Jesus (Luke 3:23). In Matthew we find the progression goes from Abraham to Jesus, but in Luke we go the other way, giving us two methods, yet both are correct for their purpose and both are given according to the Law. If one was attempting to determine if they were Jewish they would begin with their mother’s father with the term “as was supposed” taking the place of the name of their mother. Then to the grandfather of the grandmother, and so on. If they wanted to prove they had a right to the kingship, they would begin with David, then follow the kingly line of David. It’s exactly what Matthew is doing, but Luke does not. Luke goes to Nathan another son of David, one who was not a king (Luke 3:31). Matthew says the father of Joseph was “Jacob” (Matt 1:16), then Jacob’s father was Matthan (Matt 1:15): however, Luke shows “Heli” who was the son of Matthat (Luke 3:23-24). Two different lines for two different purposes, one showing Jesus has a right to be king in the only nation where God lawfully allowed a king. The other line showing Jesus is Jewish, giving Him the right to the Promise, yet He is the only one with faith enough to Possess the Promise (Heb 11:39).

Neither Matthew or Luke use the name Israel, rather they both stick to Jacob, the son of Isaac, showing the intent of both was to show the natural family line. Matthew will link the beginning verse with his conclusion in verse 17 giving us Six Sevens leading to the Seventh Seven. Of course the records were all destroyed in 70 AD when a drunken solider of Titus tossed a torch into the Temple. The solider not only caused a fire, but caused all the gold to melt between the stones. In order to get to the gold, they tore the stones apart, and the Temple hasn’t been rebuilt since.

Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren (1:2).

Judas is the Greek word for the Hebrew Judah; Jesus is the Lion from the Tribe of Judah (Rev 5:5). David was also of the tribe of Judah, the name Judas also means Judah; Judas Iscariot was called to be a sheep, but inside Satan still ruled as his lord. Although he said he would follow Jesus, he betrayed the Lord of Glory. The name Iscariot comes from two Hebrew words meaning the City Of The Self, thus Judas Iscariot means “praise to the city of the self”, he lived up to his name, causing his own downfall.

Abraham was first known as Abram (exalted father, or father of many), but God expanded his promise to Abraham (father of a multitude or father of many nations). The promise we have is expandable, we move from life (kingdom of heaven or Mercy) to Life More Abundantly (Kingdom of God or Grace), yet we don’t leave the kingdom of heaven or Mercy behind. When Abraham came into being, Abram ceased to exist, when we change families the promise moves upward, the old man ceases, yet we increase. We begin in Mercy to obtain forgiveness of sins, but forgiveness of our sins is not an eradication of sin, rather forgiveness removes the power and authority of sin. It’s the Blood of Jesus cleaning us from the unrighteousness producing the sin, thus all unrighteousness is sin, and self-righteousness since the Cross is unrighteousness (Rom 10:1-3 & I Jn 1:7-2:2).

Isaac means Laughter, the promise in hand always brings Laughter. In the Book of Revelation, John begins the tribe list with Judah, thus we begin with praise and end with praise, making praise the element opening the door to the kingdom of heaven. Jacob means Supplanter, or to take the place of; whereas Israel means God Prevails, metaphorically it means To rule as God. Israel took the place of Jacob, but the promise continued. Jesus took our place to bring the promise; Jesus came to prevail and rule as God, thus Israel is a symbol of something yet to come. Both Levi and Judah were born to Leah, the first wife of Jacob (Gen 29:34-35). Levi was the elder, the elder still serves the younger. The Law of Moses was governed by the Levities, the Law was regimental, precise and stern; whereas, the Law of the Spirit is based in praise, spontaneous freedom by Liberty. When praise becomes regimental and restricted, it becomes boring, dry and void of zeal.

And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Tamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram (1:3).

Phares is the Greek form of the Hebrew Perez meaning A Breach. Perez was the son of Judah and Tamar (or Thamar), showing the line is from the tribe of Judah. Judah had a twin brother by the name of Zerah (Zara – Gen 38:29-30). Matthew lists both brothers to show the transfer of the kingly position from one brother to another, even if Perez was to die, Zara would take over the family. Therefore, even if Joseph died, Jesus was still established in the kingly line; however, Joseph had to die in order for Jesus to obtain the kingly line without violating the Law. Esrom is the Greek form of the Hebrew Hezron meaning Courtyard. Jesus stood in the courtyard in front of Pilate where He took the place of all His brothers who would believe in Him. Aram is the Greek for the Hebrew Ram, and from Aram came the Arameans (Gen 10:22-23).

And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon (1:4).

Aminadab means My Kinsman Is Noble, Jesus is our Kinsman Redeemer who is always noble. Aminadab was a tribal leader of Judah, Jesus is the Lion from the Tribe of Judah. Aminadab was also the father of Elizabeba, who became Aaron’s wife (Exodus 6:23). Aminadab was the father of Nahshon (Naasson) who was the tribal leader of Judah during the wilderness wanderings (Numb 2:3). Naasson is the Greek for the Hebrew Nahshon meaning Enchanter, he was the first to offer a sacrifice for the dedication of the altar (Numb 7:12). Jesus is the first to give a Sacrifice in heaven in the very presence of the Father.

And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse (1:5).

We know Ruth was not a Jew, yet since Matthew is pointing to the kingly order it wouldn’t matter. Adding how Ruth was before the kingly line was established, but she would still be in consideration for the Jewish aspect, which we know means ones mother had to be Jewish for one to be Jewish. In our study of Ruth we found she was married to the son of Naomi, and Naomi was a Jew. Ruth’s husband died, and Ruth made a decision to leave her past and join to Naomi, as her daughter. Naomi accepted Ruth as her daughter, and called her so (Ruth 2:2). This enjoined Ruth to the family order of Naomi by adoption, in so doing Ruth was treated as Jewish, making her offspring Jewish.

Salmon was the father of Boaz (Ruth 4:20-21), Boaz (Greek Booz) would be a symbol of the forth coming kinsman redeemer. His great grand-father was Aminadab (My kinsman is noble), Jesus came as our Kinsman, the Nobel One. Salmon means Clothed, Boaz means Strength; when we place our faith in Jesus we are promised to be clothed in a White Robe by the Strength of the Spirit. Ruth means Beloved and from the various meanings we find the Husband brings us the Strength to be the Wife as the Beloved. Matthew also mentions Rahab (the Hebrew for Rachab), Rahab was the mother of Boaz, by Salmon. Rahab means Proud, but she was the one who humbled herself before the spies and was saved when the wall of Jericho fell. She was accepted by the Jews as being Jewish, making her offspring Jewish. Obed means Servant, he would become the grandfather of David the king (Ruth 4:17, 4:21 & I Chron 2:12).

And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias (1:6).

Now we know about Ruth, but Urias wasn’t a Jew in any sense of the word, so how does Bathsheba fit? Doesn’t matter if she was a Jew or not, her place in this is limited to Solomon and the kingly line. Luke will go into the Jewish aspect tracing the line back to Nathan the eldest son of David, not Solomon. Two completely different lines, really the “bloodline” of Bathsheba means little in the order of the kingly line, since the kingly line is based on the male, not the female. The Jewish is based on the female, not the male. Perhaps it’s why Paul said there is no male or female in Jesus.

We know Joseph had nothing to do with the conception of Jesus, but he did take Jesus as his own, thus granting Jesus the line to the throne of David. Complex? Maybe, yet God had it well in hand. Also we find Matthew using women, something the genealogy of the Jew would not allow, but something God most certainly does.

Jesse means The Lord Is, or Jehovah Is, he was a resident of Bethlehem, the location where Jesus was born. Since David was also born there it became known as the “city of David”. There are three cities of David, Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Zion. The “city of David” depends on which point in David’s life one is talking about. If the Birth, then it’s Bethlehem, if king then it’s Jerusalem or Zion, all three were called the “city of David”. As for us, we find New Jerusalem is the place where Jesus rules, but He gave us heavenly Zion as the Rock upon which Jesus builds the Church (New Jerusalem).

David means Commander, David is one of those names remaining the same in either Greek or Hebrew, telling us Jesus is the same whether one is a Jew or Gentile.

Matthew didn’t list Solomon’s mother, Bathsheba, but shows Solomon’s mother as the “wife of Urias”. Bathsheba means Daughter Of The Oath, Urias (Uriah) means God Is My Light. The Oath was brought to the Daughter of Judah by the Light of the Word (Jesus).

And Solomon begat Roboam and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; (1:7).

Roboam is Greek for the Hebrew Rehoboam meaning Increase Of The Nation: Roboam became the first king of Judah after the monarchy split. Abia is Greek for the Hebrew Adijah meaning Jehovah Is My Father. Abia trusted in the Lord and successfully routed the Israelite attackers, then he captured Bethel, Jeshana, and Ephron (II Chron 13). Jesus is our Warrior, our Comforter, Our Salvation, Our Peace, Our Armor, Our Lord, Our Savior, He is I Am, regardless of the event as He works all things together for the purpose of our Salvation.

And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; (1:8).

Asa means Created, he succeeded his father as king of Judah doing “what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God” (II Chron 14:2). The New Man is a creation (or formation, same Greek word) of God to bring us into the Character of Christ to do what is good and right in the eyes of the Lord our God. Our souls are a creation, God doesn’t recreate our souls or anything else. If God recreated something, it means He made an error the first time, thus He gives us the Spirit to bring the New Birth to make us a New Creature in Christ as we are formed into the Image of His Son by the saving of our souls (Rom 8:29).

Creations are changed, not re-created, God doesn’t make mistakes. The forming process is called the saving of our soul, or being Justified in the Name by the Spirit (I Cor 6:11). Our souls were not in bottles in heaven, or on some distance planet, or in some frog or cow many years ago, they were created when the reproduction of the flesh stimulated physical life as a joined egg and seed, just as God formed Adam flesh, then breathed into Adam and Adam became a living soul. The New Birth is not the same as being converted, nor is it instant with repentance, if it’s the case, all these people were converted and Born Again without the Cross, or the Spirit; thereby making the Cross a vain and moot act, hardly the case at all. Whoever is born of the flesh is flesh, yet flesh can receive Mercy and the Abrahamic Covenant, yet Mercy doesn’t gain us the Spirit, or make us spiritual. The Corinthians show one can have the Spirit, yet not be spiritual, thus we are flesh (physical), have a soul (natural and earthly), but God gave us the New Birth to become Spirit. The justification by the Spirit moves us to a spiritual area, and the Holy Ghost teaches spiritual matters to spiritual people.

Asa became the only man in the Bible to turn to doctors before turning to the Lord, and he died within two years of his decision. It’s not whether one goes to a doctor or not, rather it’s the obedience by hearing the Lord first. If Asa would have sought God first, the result would have been different. Perhaps God would have sent him to a doctor, if so, fine it was still by obedience.

Josaphat is Greek for the Hebrew Jehoshaphat meaning God Has Judged (past tense). When Asa rejected God, and sought man for his salvation (healing) he was judged. Josaphat succeeded his father as king of Judah, and brought many back to the Lord, the God of their fathers (II Chron 19:4). God didn’t hold the sins of the father against the son. It’s clear David was not the only king in the genealogy of Jesus, but David was the only one picked and anointed of God. All the others followed David by birth; therefore, Jesus is the product of the prophecy, not a product of the flesh. The right to the kingly line was through the genealogy, but the title Son of David was by prophecy; the kingly line ended by the Anointing of the Anointed One as The King of all the kings. This type and shadow shows us we are kings by Birthright, Jesus is King of kings by being chosen from the foundation of the world in the Bosom of the Father.

Joram is Greek for the Hebrew Jehoram meaning Jehovah Is Exalted, yet Jehoram murdered all his brothers to gain their lands. He was married to Athaliah, the daughter of king Ahab, and Ahab was married to Jezebel. Jezebel means Without cohabitation; therefore, she is a type and shadow of false self-appointed prophets and teachers who lack the Prince of Peace in their hearts. Instead of Joram exalting Jehovah, he exalted his self and questioned God.

All this brings up a point, there are “family curses”, but there are things happening in family lines which have nothing to do with family curses. Here is an example, Jezebel was not a “good lady”; she is listed in the Book of Revelation as an example of the self-appointed by her calling herself a prophetess (Rev 2:20). Joram was not exactly a pillar in the Synagogue either, yet their evil didn’t pass from generation to generation. Knowing whether it was a family curse or The Curse doesn’t matter, knowing all curses are nailed to the Cross does. We simply have to claim the Cross, not the Curse.

And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; (1:9).

Ozias is Greek for the Hebrew Uzziah meaning Jehovah Is Strong; although Jehovah was not exalted by Joram, it doesn’t mean Jehovah wasn’t exalted. God is always exalted, whether man exalts Him or not isn’t going to diminish the fact God is exalted. Uzziah was the king who contracted leprosy as a direct result of his idol worship. Jotham is Greek for the Hebrew Joatham meaning God Is Upright, he followed his father Uzziah as king of Judah. Jotham’s mother was Jerusha, who was the daughter of Zadok the co-priest with Abiathar. Abiathar is mentioned in Mark 2:26 as the priest during the time of David. We already know about Abiathar escaping from the sin of Doeg (I Sam 21:6-7). Achaz is the Greek for the Hebrew Ahaz meaning He Grasped or Jehovah Has Grasped. Ahaz was also the king of Judah; Hebrew historians report how Ahaz sacrificed his own son, worshipped idols and caused the people to worship idols. Again one could think Ahaz was cursed by the family curse, considering his family line, but not so. The natural mind of man is prone to follow curse thinking, Ahaz is another example of God allowing something to prove a point, the heart of man is wicked above all things, who can know it?

And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; (1:10).

Ezekias is Greek for the Hebrew Hezekiah meaning God Strengthens, or the Strength of God. After we enter Salvation then we receive the Strength of God to maintain the Kingdom to secure us as the Power of His Christ (Rev 12:10).

Isaiah was the prophet in the land at the same time Hezekiah was the king of Judah. Hezekiah was known as a great king, showing the king who hears the prophet in the land can’t help but be great. When Hezekiah took over Judah, Assyria had already taken most of the land. Hezekiah spent a number of years strengthening the kingdoms (II Chron 32:5-6); by taking down all the places of idol worship (II Kings 18:22). Listening to the prophet, and taking down the places of idols always brings us into a place where the Great King waits.

Manasses is Greek for the Hebrew Manasseh, this Manasseh is not the son of Joseph, but one named after Manasseh the son of Joseph. Manasseh means Forgetting as in forgetting sins, which connects his name to Grace. Mercy forgives sins, Grace forgets sin. The meaning of Remission goes further than simply forgiving; it’s wonderful to have our sins forgiven, but the Grace of God looks at us as if we never knew sin, in fact He places us in a position where the concept of Sin is unknown. There is no sin in heaven, thus sin is an “earthly” matter. Our sins are forgiven on earth, but remitted from heaven. Innocent means One has nothing to place against them, whether it be past, present or future. Which is the meaning of Justified, thus the Blood of Jesus is cleaning us from all unrighteousness, and the washing (scrubbing) of the Water (Mercy) by the Word (Rhema) is bringing us into the Declaration.

Manasseh’s name is a symbol of the forgiveness of sin yet to come, but Manasseh the man forgot God’s desires, and set up many heathen cults, rebuilt the pagan altars, becoming an example of what happens when one receives forgiveness of sins, but forgets the call is to be cleaned of all unrighteousness to reach the remission of sin.

Amon means Trustworthy, he was also a king of Judah, but he was murdered in his palace by his servants (II Kings 21:19-26). Jesus was crucified in His palace by Jehovah’s servants but it was still marvelous in the eyes of God, for it opened our chance to meet Jesus, face to face.

The reign of Amon was more evil than his father Manasseh, again this may or may not have to do with something carried from father to son, but the son still had the choice to do good, or evil, but he picked evil. There are times when we use the curse as an excuse for a behavior needing to be removed by the application of Mercy and Grace. We need a New Nature to couple with the New Birth to make us a New Creature in Christ.

Amon’s son was Josias (or the Hebrew Josiah), who took over the throne at the age of eight, he becomes the proof evil need not carry on from father to son. Josiah means Jehovah Heals, in the eighteenth year of his reign the high priest Hilkiah found a book of the Law (which law had been lost for years). He then showed it to Shaphan the scribe, then Shaphan took the found book to the king (II Kings 22:3-9). Sweeping reforms followed the discovery of the Law, as Josiah established worship toward the One true God. He destroyed the idol shrines in Samaria (II Kings 23:19), and in Galilee (II Chron 34:6). As a result of the reforms, Jehovah healed their land. God heals His children when the idols fall, whether those idols are made of stone, or contained in our minds.

And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon (1:11).

Jechonias is the Greek for the Hebrew Jehoahaz meaning Jehovah Is Grasped. Jehoahaz was the son of king Josiah, his mother was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah. This is not Jeremiah the prophet, rather this Jeremiah is from the area of Libnah, whereas Jeremiah the prophet was born in the village of Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. Neco the Pharaoh had Jehoahaz summoned to Riblah, there Jehoahaz was placed in chains and taken to Egypt. Jehoahaz’s half brother Eliakim took over the throne of Judah. Eliakim’s name was changed to Jehoiakim by Neco the Pharaoh (II Chron 36:4). Jechonias is Greek for the Hebrew Jehoiachin meaning God Appointed, God appointed the captivity to expose the error in the children. Those in captivity who continued to believe in God, received the Reward and were spared in the end. This also shows how the throne changed from brother to brother, yet the brother was only a half brother, thus Jesus could obtain the kingly line from Joseph, although Joseph was not the true father of Jesus.

And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; and Zorobabel begat Abiud, and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim beget Azor; (1:12-13).

Salathiel is Greek for the Hebrew Shealthiel meaning Asked Of God, the Babylonian name for Shealthiel is Pedaiah meaning Saved By God. The children were put into captivity by God, and later saved by God; therefore, He never left them nor did He forsake them. Shealthiel would lead the people out of Babylon, and Jesus as the Son of man leads us out of Babylon. Zorobabel is Greek for the Hebrew Zerubbabel meaning Seed Of Babylon, or Shoot of Babylon. Approximately 42,000 Jews gathered together to leave Babylon, and Zerubbabel was the one who heard, “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord” (Zech 4:6). When we are lead from Babylon (world) it’s not by our will power, or our might, but by the Holy Ghost drawing us to the cross.

Eliakim means God Of Raising, the time was coming for the Son of man to be raised from the dead, bringing the promise of the Spirit for those who make the decision to believe and follow Jesus (Rom 8:11).

And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; (1:14).

Azor means Helpful, Sadoc is Greek for the Hebrew Zadoc, but this person is not to be confused with Zadoc the priest. Zadoc the high priest lived much earlier, and prior to the captivity. Zadoc means Just, the word Just means Found Innocent, pointing to “the just shall live by His faith”. Achim is the Greek form of the Hebrew Jokim meaning Jehovah Will Come. From the day of the fall until Jesus the time was near at hand, with Jesus the time became in hand. These signs were being presented to those who were diligently seeking and preparing their hearts unto repentance.

And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; (1:15).

Eliud means God Of Majesty, Eleazar means God Is A Helper, and Matthan means A Present. This Matthan is not the Matthan who was the priest of the idol Baal, who was killed in front of the altars of Baal (II Kings 11:18 & II Chron 23:17). God through His majesty was going to bring the Helper as a Gift. The writer of Hebrews says, “Let your conversation be without covetousness”, the preparation was at hand, but the means to come boldly to the throne would not be available until the Lord was Raised, and our Helper (Spirit) sent. Then we can say, “The Lord is my helper and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Heb 13:5-6).

And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, Who is called Christ (1:16).

Joseph is given as the husband of Mary, but not the father of Jesus, for obvious reasons. Matthew adds to the kingly position of Jesus by saying, “who is called Christ” giving us the introduction to the Body of Christ, as all things of Christ came from Christ.

So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations (1:17).

There are 3 Fourteen’s, or 6 Sevens, it took 2 Sevens to establish the promise from Abraham to David, it took 2 more Sevens to reach the captivity, then 2 more Sevens to the coming of the Messiah. Interesting how there are no Sevens between Adam and Abraham. In all this we find one seven of the seven sevens missing, which means there was one seven yet to come. Where is it? There is the concept of the Hidden Generation, but in verse 16 we find two elements showing it’s not hidden. If one counts the Generations from the carrying away into Babylon unto Jesus they find thirteen, but if they include the Body of Christ they find fourteen, this doesn’t take away from Jesus, it adds to Him. Jesus is The Christ, He is not Jesus Mr. Christ; thus the 14th Generation as it’s called is the Body of Christ, which came from Christ so we could become Christ-Like.

This also shows it took time to reach the conclusion, giving us Process, thus to be Born Again is a Process; however, being saved from the world by Mercy is instant; it’s our path of justification by Grace taking faith and patience. It takes time to clean the field, it takes time to bring the Seed to the Blade. Matthew begins by telling us to have patience and faith unto the Birth; there are areas of Completeness to take place.

Jesus didn’t break the womb of Mary as a thirty year old man, nor did He leave the baptism of John and go directly to the cross. What makes us think we are greater than the Master? The Gospel accounts display how the Midst of the Week (last seven of Daniel) completed the last Seven, except for the One Hour of Temptation which has two halves, we are in the first, then there is silence in heaven during the second half (Rev 8:1 & 15:8). Our Season is the Day, the next Season is the Night when no man can work.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost (1:18).

The phrase, “before they came together” refers to the culmination of the marriage by a sexual relationship, after they are presented to the families as married by God. The Jews espoused a man and woman to be husband and wife, then the two would live together for one year prior to the marriage; however, this living together also called for complete physical abstinence. If there was any physical contact, both parties would be guilty of adultery. This time element was the time of acquaintance, it equates to the Body of Christ, reflecting to our time on earth is the Espousal Time to become acquainted with Jesus. We are called the Body of Christ on earth, but the Bride in heaven.

The wicked commit adultery by holding to the spirit of man, they want God, but they want their forbidden lovers as well. They also commit fornication by rejecting the vows of the Espousal time. Adultery is an act committed by someone who is married, fornication is committed by someone who is not married. This would seem confusing in light of the words of Jesus regarding divorce, but it does make sense. To the Jew the marriage was consummated by a physical act, much like Jacob and Leah, but to God it’s the Vows making the difference (Matt 19:9). The two shall be one is the purpose of marriage, if either, or both reject the purpose of the vows, or reject the vows, they have considered their self absent of the vows, thus the violation would fit the realm of fornication. The Wicked commit adultery if they claim the marriage, but carry on an affair with the spirit of man; they commit fornication if they reject the Vows they made when they entered the Body, and carry on an affair with the spirit of the world.

The birth of Jesus is a type and shadow, evidenced in the New Birth. Was Jesus Born Again? He didn’t have to be, He is the one who made it possible. This is the first time we find the title Holy Ghost in the layout of the Gospel accounts. However, we also know John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Ghost, we will see Mary was as well, so were they Born Again? No, our study discipline cannot ignore verses, the Holy Ghost was not given in that capacity until Jesus was glorified by the Resurrection (Jn 7:38-39). The Holy Ghost was the force behind the men of Old writing the words regarding the Spirit of Christ, but it doesn’t mean the men of Old were Born Again. The Holy Ghost will fill us for a purpose of the calling and authority granted. John the Baptist had a three prong ministry, to prepare the Way (not open it or make it); to baptize people in water for repentance under his name, saying the people should believe, and to wash and present the Sacrificial Lamb of God Who will take away the sins of the world (both Jew and Gentile). John was privy to information based on his position, and the Holy Ghost filled him for the functions of his calling, but only for those functions. The Holy Ghost will not fill us beyond the capacity of the calling, thus John did not raise the dead, cast out devils, or heal the sick.

Mary was filled with the Holy Ghost for the purpose of her position, yet we don’t read where she cast out devils. She was one woman who believed, the Holy Ghost overshadowed her to make the impossible, possible. Mary believed God, yet she was picked from among women. Mary didn’t elevate herself, and she was not “the mother of God”, she was the mother of the “Son of man”. The Word is Jesus, the Son of God, but the flesh He obtained from Mary pertains to the Son of man. Later Mary would visit her cousin Elizabeth (the mother of John the Baptist), when Elizabeth sees Mary she says, “blessed is she who believed..” (Luke 1:41-45). Elizabeth felt John the Baptist leap in her womb, but even with the sign, she didn’t say, “Blessed is the mother of God”. Mary was one woman who believed; we can’t take away from her, yet we can’t add to her either. Whenever we elevate someone or something higher than God has, we have made an idol. The anointing is vital, but if we elevate the anointing higher than God has, we have made an idol out of something Godly and precious: not real smart. Paul called this error exalting things and people above measure, or above the limit God has placed on a person or thing.

Mary had a man promised to be her husband, yet she knew if she was found with child she could lose everything, including her life, However, she believed by holding to the word given her, remaining a maid servant unto the Lord. Gabriel told Mary she was Highly Favored, but the Greek word used is Charis, better known to us as Grace. Mary was found in Favor, she wasn’t granted heavenly Grace, rather she would be the vehicle used of God to bring forth Jesus Who is Grace. In order for Jesus to stand for man, He had to make entry by the womb of a human woman, as the Law dictates. What Law? The Law God established when He pronounced everything after its own kind. If God needed saving, then Jesus would appear as the Son of God without Mary, but God wasn’t in trouble, we were.

Mary is told the Thing in her is a Holy Thing, by the use of the neuter, we find God prophetically saw the Body of Christ as neither male or female, neither Jew or Gentile, but One in Christ, purposed to be a Holy Thing by the Holy Ghost. The flesh of Jesus was a reproduction of Mary, but the Blood, Life, Nature and Love were products of the Heart of the Father, thus Jesus came from the Bosom of the Father as the true Help Meet, the Word made (not created) Flesh to represent mankind. Only God could put this together, and only God could finish it. God looks to the purposed result to determine the goodness, but He begins with His holiness to reach the conclusion (Luke 1:35). God doesn’t look at us and decide to use the corruption in us to make incorruption, rather the New Birth gives us a New means to reach the New purpose, thus the New Man is after God’s True Holiness. Attempting to reach the goal by the flesh ends in Self-Eros, rather than Agape.

Mary was a nobody, she didn’t ask to be born into the line leading to Jesus, she didn’t do some great work in the temple, she simply believed, and God was looking for a woman who would believe. God wasn’t looking for a woman who kept each point of the Law, or one who could prophesy, or one who had a reputation in the community as being “holy”. Mary didn’t go about doing deeds presuming she would be the mother of Jesus and there is no Scripture saying she prayed to become the mother of Jesus. Mary wasn’t the only female in the genealogy back to Nathan, thus it was not only her belief, but the time and timing of God. It was time, Mary believed, and it all came together in the Plan. Did God know it? Sure, from the foundation of the world. Did Mary? No, it’s the truth found in predestination, God knows, we don’t.

Mary believed the words of the angel, but she had to discount her ability. Her belief removed her self-doubts, thus her desire was to be used of God, rather than use God to reach her desire. Mary didn’t say, “oh yes, I’m so blessed, I have the Christ, and I am the greatest mother in all the world, oh I just can’t believe how powerful my faith is, oh I must be the holiest female of all time”, rather she said, “My soul does magnify the Lord, and my spirit (heart, nature or attitude) has rejoiced in God my Savior, for He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden, for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed, for He is mighty has done to me great things, and holy is His name, and His mercy is on them who fear Him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, He has put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He has filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he has sent empty away. He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy; as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever” (Luke 1:46-55). This is a statement of praise giving God the Glory; Mary knew the birth would be something to be known from generation to generation, but she also knew it wasn’t for her sake alone. Mary used the term “spirit”, in this sense it shows the nature or attitude of the heart displayed outwardly. We love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, but we don’t see the term, “love the Lord with your spirit”.

However, we find another view of the same matter, which shows the Holy Ghost speaking through Mary regarding the Salvation in Jesus. She begins with her soul giving praise (magnify) to the Lord (Luke 1:46), then she says “my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior” (Luke 1:47). This statement reflects the Trinity in prophecy, as the Holy Ghost (Salvation), Father (God or Otheos), and Savior (Son), connecting to “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased”. It’s after Mary makes this statement she goes into all the benefits of the Lord toward Israel. Elizabeth made statements only God would know, then Mary followed suit. Therefore, her attitude was influenced by the prophetic message through the Holy Ghost, thus the Holy Ghost allowed them to prophesy about the Lord.

Our attitude is not Born Again, we are, God doesn’t take our lost, inept, corrupt heart and make it holy, rather He gives us His holiness and righteousness to form our soul into the image of His Son, which Image is Christ. “Create in me a new heart oh God”, and He does, we call it the New Birth (Ezek 36:26).

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily (1:19).

This verse can be taken one of two ways, first one could say in order to protect both Mary and himself from public ridicule, he made a choice to dissolve the relationship based on what he saw. The other is clearer, since protecting himself would merely entail having her stoned to death, thus we find Joseph loved Mary, and wanted to protect her from being stoned by the religious leaders, or mocked by the community. Joseph operated from Mercy and Love, we don’t need to be Born Again to show Mercy. However, we must be Born Again for the Mercy to become Living (Living Waters – Jn 7:39). The mental persecution and affliction came, yet Joseph was about to make a decision based on his love, not based on Godly knowledge. He lacked something, awareness, or knowledge from above, when the awareness comes, so does his obedience.

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph you son of David, fear not to take unto you Mary your wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost (1:20).

Like Mary, when an angel showed up to explain the matter, confirming what Mary said, the mind of Joseph changed. Joseph was a just man, he was thinking of Mary’s feelings, but he also wanted to do what was right in God’s eyes. This man had the factual evidence of his espoused wife being with child, yet he knew without any doubt, he couldn’t be the father. Think about this for one second, God said from the beginning it would take one man and one woman to produce offspring, yet Mary says, “by the Holy Ghost”. Not only was it a complete change in doctrine, but it sounded more Whacko than anything else. Belief entails trusting God, Joseph wanted to believe, but the facts were not helping matters. What he needed was Truth, not facts.

At first, Joseph’s love and respect for Mary gave him the power to forgive, but he wasn’t willing to marry her; however, Joseph had ears to hear, when the heavenly news came to confirm what Mary said, he accepted the proceeding word without question. He desired to believe, thus he accepted the premise of the matter being a work of God, regardless of what it looked like. Joseph could have perceived the awareness was based on something he ate, or perhaps the devil was attempting to trick him into some evil situation, but Joseph believed the words of the angel, and adjusted his thinking to the words, regardless of the factual evidence.

According to Joseph’s reasoning this event was anything but good, his espoused wife was with child, the evidence would open him to public ridicule; perhaps a stoning from the religious leaders, yet the angel said, “Fear not”. He was faced with a choice, he made it in conjunction with the words of the angel. Belief is a matter of choice, we make the choice to believe, or not to.

This angel is Gabriel, Michael is the warrior angel for the Jews, we have Gabriel the angel of messages. Michael and Gabriel represent the two angels over the Mercy Seat, as representative of the two seasons. Gabriel appeared to Daniel telling him about the Gentile Dispensation, and he appeared to Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, telling him his prayers were answered. He also told Zacharias how John the Baptist would be great among the people. In Zacharias’ case it was an answer to prayer, and he should have rejoiced at the news, rather than question it. Why pray if you don’t think you can gain the answer? Gabriel then appeared to Mary, and told her about Jesus, in her case it was not an answer to prayer, and her questioning was in order (Luke 1:11-38 & Dan 9:21-27). Mary wondered how it would be done, Zacharias questioned if it could be done, two different things. Michael didn’t appear to Mary, Zacharias or Joseph, rather he is one of the chief princes assigned to the Jews (Daniel’s people), in this case the promise was all ready pointing to Jew an Gentile.

Basically dreams are warnings from God, here Joseph was warned to remain with Mary, and complete his vow to Mary; he also had his confirmation showing him Mary had not violated her vow. This event was strange at best, who has ever heard of such a thing? What could Joseph base this experience on? Some tape perhaps? Some experience of another? Scripture? Ahh, but wait, even Scripture applied to this lonely carpenter would take some type of believing. How about Abraham? Nope, Abraham and Sarah were the parents in union for Isaac. The man had Scripture, Isaiah 7:14 tells the Lord Himself shall give a sign, Behold a virgin shall conceive. However, he basically had one thing, the proceeding Word, yet it was enough for him to believe. The dream gave Joseph the thin thread of belief he needed to enter faith, yet it was also a warning regarding his vow to Mary. If he put Mary away, it would be based on a false concept of her unfaithfulness, when in fact she was very faithful. It would make him unjust, rather than her.

The word Conceived could also be translated as Begotten, thus we can add to our genealogy “and the Father begat Jesus by the power of the Holy Ghost”.

The conception of the flesh of Jesus was prophecy coming to pass as God told Eve “the seed of the woman”, the woman doesn’t have a seed, she has the egg. The Seed is found in the genealogy of Mary, not in the reproductive procedure. Jesus is the Son of David (Son of man) Who took on the form of man, but His soul was not a recreation, nor created when the Holy Ghost overshadowed Mary, the physical forming took place as the Word of God took on flesh and became Jesus; therefore, Jesus could stand in a flesh which was merely thirty years old and say, “Before Abraham was I Am”.

And she shall bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins (1:21).

The name Jesus means Jehovah’s Salvation or Salvation Is In Jehovah. Jesus came to save His people, and God picked Israel out of all the nations in the world (Amos 3:2). Although Jesus knew He would be rejected by the nation appointed by God, He nonetheless presented the promise as if they would receive it. Jesus operated in the ministry of Reconciliation, not imputing the sins of the people on the people, but He won’t make their decision for them, nor would He believe for them. Like the Father, Jesus operated from anticipation of being received, but He didn’t ignore reality.

Matthew shows the birth of Jesus was not by chance, not some mystic performance, and surely not based on Jesus being born as a natural child showing some personal greatness by the flesh to qualify Him for the position. The plan for the Cross was already complete in the Heart of God from the foundation of the world, thus Jesus came from the Bosom of the Father. God took His Word (Truth, Grace, Love and Faith) from His bosom, and placed it in the womb of a woman who believed, then God’s Word in His Love became flesh for us as all Truth and Grace (Jn 1:1-18). Jesus went to the Cross as determined, felt pain, felt remorse, faced temptation as any of us, but He never fell to the temptation, nor did He ever tempt anyone to do evil (Heb 4:15).

God didn’t fall, man did, but it would take God in the flesh to save man. A drowning man can’t save another drowning man, we needed someone who was already on sure ground, who had the power over the waters, not merely one who could swim out to us. The Faith of Jesus is proven, thus the New Man points our faith in the footsteps of the Faith of Jesus. The two prerequisites are to deny the self and pick up our cross, two points of death to the old, in order to reach the New.

God didn’t fall, man did, but it would take God in the flesh to save man. A drowning man can’t save another drowning man, we needed someone who was already on sure ground, and had the power to walk on the water, not merely swim out to us. The Faith of Jesus is proven, thus our faith follows the New Man, who follows Jesus. The two prerequisites are to deny the self, and pick up our cross, two points of death to the old, in order to reach the New.

At first salvation was a promise presented specifically to the Jews, but it also entailed receiving the ability to make it effective for the people through God’s Mercy. The Procedure is the same for us, we accept the Mercy of the Father, before we can gain the Resurrection power of the Son. No one prior to Jesus presented the kingdom of heaven, much less the Kingdom of God, thus John came preaching the kingdom was at hand, rather than in hand.

Mary made a decision, although God knew her decision from the foundation of the world, she didn’t. Joseph could have reasoned the best thing to do was to obtain an abortion, after all Mary was unwed and would probably end up a single mother; however, there is more to a birth than flesh and blood. God knew which decision Joseph would make, but Joseph didn’t; God knows which path we will take, we don’t, thus faith entails trusting in God who does know. It’s not God’s salvation at stake: the day comes when we know the salvation we are playing with is our own, then we get serious about this.

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us (1:22-23).

This is quoted from Isaiah 7:14; the prophet gave the Word and God confirmed it. If the people in Isaiah’s time would have stuck to the premise, “it must come to pass or you’re a false prophet”, Isaiah would have been in big trouble. There are some who point to Isaiah and proclaim the word “virgin” in the Hebrew could also mean an unmarried female; however, here in Matthew the error is put asunder by the use of the Greek word Parthenos meaning a maiden, or a female who has never engaged in sexual activity, or better a “virgin”. In this case the Greek defined the Hebrew, removing doubt.

These people knew the prophecy must come to pass, but the timing was known to God Alone. Mary had no control over Isaiah, Isaiah had no control over Mary. Mary wasn’t attempting to bring the prophecy to pass, she was merely the tool to bring it to pass. Prophecy is confirmed by prophecy, when prophecy comes to pass we know it was God. Self-based, or self-induced prophecy will not confirm itself, rather the false prophet must attempt to make it come to pass, which in and of itself proves the prophecy false.

We can become paranoid over some “false prophet” coming into our midst, and miss the prophet of God at our doorstep. Far too many people are hung up on detecting false prophecy, false prophecy will expose itself. If someone is able to bring the prophecy to pass by their will power, it’s not of God, thus we know there are yet many prophecies yet to be fulfilled, they will prove themselves in the time and timing of God.

There are some prophecies with a specific time to be completed, here in Matthew we find one. There will not be another “birth of Jesus Christ”, nor another virgin giving birth, nor another “seed of the woman”, one time for all time. Just as there will not be another time for Jesus to “write their names in the ground”, it was a one time event, a fulfillment of prophecy. Jesus didn’t tell the Pharisees, “Hey look guys, we got this real weird prophecy in Jeremiah, if we don’t do something about this rejection of Living Water, people will say he was a false prophet, so here is what we will do”. No, the meeting was held in John 7:45-51 without Jesus being present, suggesting, or presenting some plan. The next day in John 8 the plan to “accuse Jesus by the Law” went into effect by the religious leaders, at the same time as they were putting together their plan they were also rejecting the Living Water. The question presented by the religious leaders in John 8:5 left no answer, it was almost a “perfect trap”. Here stood this woman caught in the very act of adultery, what did Moses say to do with her? Stone her? What say you Jesus? If Jesus would have answered, “whatever the Law says”, then they would have retorted with, “Oh, really what is this Mercy You preach?”. If Jesus would have said, “grant her mercy”, then they would have their evidence, “He speaks against the Law”. Answer it Yes or No, it didn’t matter the completed result would have been, “does our law judge any man, before it hear him” (Jn 7:51). The only way to answer the question was by prophecy, thus Jesus wrote in the dirt, yet Jesus didn’t make the prophecy come to pass, but it nonetheless came to pass.

We will hear how a manuscript doesn’t have some verse, or verses, but then we hear of others that do. The “woman caught in the very act of adultery”, or the “Pericope de Adultera” is a perfect example. There are several Papyrus and Manuscripts, in fact, there are nearly 75 Latin alone, plus hundreds of bits and pieces showing the event did take place. The Sinaiticus, Alexanderinus or Vaticanus are among the most well known, but there are also the Byzanitine, Syrian and others. Although two of the early manuscripts don’t list the Pericope de Adultera in John, interestingly enough we find one important family of manuscripts placing it after Luke 21:38. Let us approach the dilemma with the thought of the Holy Ghost being the Author and man the scribe.

If we get stuck on the concept of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter, James or Jude as “authors”, or wrote what they desired, rather than being scribes moved by the Holy Ghost, then we bring about our own dilemma. Not only would we be trusting in the hand of man, rather than the Mind of the Lord, but we would be limiting the true Author. This in turn causes us to use the words of men we presume are scholars to judge the Bible, rather than use the Bible to judge the scholars. We know Paul didn’t pen all his letters, so when we read, “I Tertius, who write this epistle”, (Rom 16:22) does it mean Paul had nothing to do with writing Romans? No, we know from the first chapter of Romans the narrator was Paul, the scribe was Tertius. However, who was Paul’s Narrator? The Holy Ghost, therefore Paul could say, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God” (II Tim 3:16). If the Holy Ghost used one scribe, He could use another. We are also warned not to limit God; history tells us there were many oral teachings and Godly traditions not written down until the 3^rd and 4^th Centuries. Paul himself said “and we who are alive and remain shall be caught up….”, showing many felt the Rapture was at any second. John said there were many things not written in his time regarding Jesus, so what is the test? The Holy Ghost, the very Author who Interprets the Scriptures.

Why didn’t the Holy Ghost make these guys write the perfect text to begin with as He did with the Old Testament? Or at least preserve a perfect text? Choice, Faith and belief, the premises of the New Testament. We can search out a manuscript to excuse our unbelief, or have ears to hear the Holy Ghost Interpret text. However, the Holy Ghost did give us some “testing procedures”. When viewing manuscripts there are two methods, the internal evidence (the manuscript itself) and the external (other documents, the verses surrounding the questionable text, and the context). If we limit the Holy Ghost in either case, we could be stealing the very hope we seek. The Holy Ghost could be telling our Spirit, “it’s the truth”, but we formed a stronghold because someone said, “it isn’t in two of the very early manuscripts”, thus we miss the blessing. When in fact we also find the same sayings were well known among the disciples, as well as the disciples of the disciples.

Think about the woman caught in the very act of adultery, and how her sin was forgiven because she ran to Jesus. The evidence has been used by the Holy Ghost in ministering to others over the years, thus by the Holy Ghost ministering from the verses we find He gives them authenticity.

It doesn’t excuse false evidence, or faulty writings, if they lack a Holy Ghost witness, or if some writing is opposed to known Scripture, it’s different. We’re not talking about those areas, but take two examples, the last verses in Mark and the Pericope. Not withstanding Jeremiah’s prophecy, and how the events of the Pericope fit perfect with the time of the prophecy, there is still the Mercy of Jesus extended to a person who was used by the religious rulers in their nefarious plan. Also the most obvious, these same religious leaders not only failed to give this woman mercy in any degree, but were willing to misuse a person just so they could gain their “evidence”. The warning alone is worth the verses to keep us from condemning someone Jesus has forgiven, or find ourselves using people just to trap someone else in a fault. The Letter still kills, the Spirit gives Life.

The last verses in Mark show us the disciples had trouble believing, but nonetheless they were told to Go. Even if they didn’t believe, someone will hear who is seeking to believe, the signs follow those who believe. Jesus also said if we are baptized (In the Body), and we continue to Believe, we shall be saved. It’s an anchor to our souls, if we just hold to our belief, build it by making the decision to believe, then the result will be the salvation of our souls. The warning was enough to cause the disciples to believe, and signs did follow (Mark 16:16-20). At times it’s the “signs” offending some, for them it’s better to find some reason not to believe, then find out why the signs aren’t following them.

Nonetheless, we know we can’t force prophecy to come to pass, neither can we force a vision to come to pass. God gives us a vision, and as hard as we try to bring it to pass, we fail time and again. After we stop attempting to bring it to pass, and just “let God”, then the day will come when it does come to pass, then we know it’s of God establishing our belief further.

When God told Isaiah about the virgin birth, God was looking at it. God wasn’t guessing at the outcome, rather He was telling the prophet something God saw as a Were, while it was yet future tense (a not) to the prophet. The same is true with Jeremiah, when Jeremiah was speaking about the Lord writing in the dirt, the Father was watching Jesus do it. Prophecy is never a guess at the future, it’s God watching something happen in the future, then telling His prophets about the very event.

Matthew’s account does give us a mystery in these verses, prior in verse 21 we found the child’s name is to be “JESUS”, but here in verse 23 we find the title “Emmanuel”, again in the verses to follow we will find the child’s name is to be “JESUS”. So what is the mystery? Positional authority, as Jesus the Christ we find Jesus as the Son of man, Son of God and God the Son, which takes in all areas, whether heaven or earth. With the title Emmanuel we find God is among His people, which points to the earth alone. Emmanuel doesn’t mean God’s people with Him, there is a difference. The question then becomes, Will they know God is among them? If they have seen Jesus, they have seen the Father, but will they know it?

Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him and took unto him his wife: and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn Son: and he called His name JESUS (1:24-25).

Joseph not only honored God, but he honored his wife as well. Joseph wasn’t told to refrain or hold himself from his wife, rather he respected the gift in his wife, and respected the gift of his wife, thus Joseph is a symbol of one acting on respect for God, Mary is a symbol of belief in God beyond the limits of man, and it takes both to enter faith.

The term Firstborn, rather than Only-born indicates Jesus was not the only child of Mary, but in order to separate the thought to make Mary a mother of many, we must understand the Jewish family order. Whether Mary had other children or not isn’t the issue, whether she was a virgin when Jesus was born is. James the less was a half-brother of Jesus, John shows Jesus had many brothers, Mark shows Jesus had brothers and sisters, but in the Jewish culture we find if Joseph died Mary would be taken into the house of Joseph’s brother. It doesn’t mean Mary would have sexual relations with Joseph’s brother, but it does mean Mary would become a substitute mother, assisting the wife of Joseph’s brother in raising the children. This explains why Mary was at the Cross with her sister Mary. It’s seems strange for two sisters to have the same first name, unless they were related by marriage. Mark will open this area and explain the relationship as he shows Jesus would be considered the brother, yet it doesn’t mean Mary gave birth to other children (Matt 13:55, 27:56, Mark 6:3, 15:40, Jn 7:3, Gal 1:19 & Jude 1).

Luke describes the birth of Jesus in greater detail than Matthew, but without Matthew one gets lost in how many were present at the birth of Jesus. Looking at history we find Caesar Augustus had a thought to raise taxes, but his thought produced a method which may be strange at best. God not only saw the thought from the foundation of the world, but allowed it to develop into an action to accomplish the will of God, but Caesar didn’t sit around and say, “this is from God brothers”, rather his intent was earthly and self-based. God didn’t manipulate Caesar, rather God allowed the thought to become an action, then God worked it into the Plan, even though Caesar wasn’t in God’s perfect will.

Caesar decided the best way to tax the people was to force them to return to the city of their birthright; forcing Joseph to travel to Bethlehem with a wife who was due at any day (Luke 2:3-5). No one in their right mind would take a vacation under those circumstances, but God allowed events to take place in a manner removing either Mary or Joseph from causing the prophecy to come to pass. Rather God allowed the civil heathen authority to produce the means; thereby, removing the possibility of someone saying, “Mary and Joseph read the Scriptures and caused it to happen”. Does this mean God removed choice from Joseph? Not at all, Joseph could have said he wasn’t going, but God knew the heart of Joseph was to obey.

Caesar was a heathen, he could care less if the prophecy came to pass, his goal was gaining tax money. God saw all this, then reported what He saw to His prophets, the prophets spoke as they were moved, when the timing came the prophecies proved themselves. Neither Mary or Joseph said, “let’s go to Bethlehem as the Scriptures say”. Prophecy will prove itself, it doesn’t need our help.

Mary and Joseph knew the child would be special, but how special was still a mystery. When God gives us a vision of a ministry, we don’t know how special it can be, but we do know it takes faith to enter the vision. So, what would it be if we attempted to make the vision come to pass? A lack of faith? Sure, faith still comes by hearing, but the voice must be God, not the self. The old man will speak, then say, “faith comes by hearing, you just heard, do something”, and off we go to build another self-based yellow brick Ishmael.

When Joseph arrived at Bethlehem the inns were full, Joseph had the money for an inn, or he never would have sought a room, but even his money couldn’t buy a room. God had another plan, “if” Joseph would have arrived several days prior the entire plan would have gone astray; however, before Adam was formed God saw Joseph seeking a room when there was none. Joseph did find a stable; there are times when a stable is better than nothing. To Joseph this didn’t seem good, after all his wife was going to give birth to this very special child, yet all these heartless people won’t even give him a room. How could a Good God allow this special child to be placed in these terrible events? How could a Good God place these special people in such an adverse circumstance? Our concept of good is often much different from God’s, we tend to consider it “good” when our flesh is at ease, or our souls are appeased. Amen?

Near Bethlehem were some shepherds tending their sheep, but these were not ordinary shepherds. Accordingly the time was near October or November, this coupled with the location gives us the type of shepherds. The only shepherds who would be tending (guarding) sheep at night would be the shepherds who watched over the sacrificial lambs used at the temple. The angel didn’t run around looking for any shepherds, he sought out shepherds who stood watch day and night over the temple lambs.

The angel came to the shepherds and said, “Fear Not”, the phrase can also read, “I’m not of fear”, in either case it was to dispel fear so faith could reign. The angel continued with, “Behold! I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people” (Luke 2:9-10). This wasn’t simply joy or good joy, it was Great Joy. This doesn’t mean Joy in the world, it means Joy to those in the world who want out of the world.

The angel didn’t say, “To your people”, rather he included the Gentiles by saying, “all people”. These shepherds heard an angel say something strange, why All people? Must be the devil, God would never do this to us. No, like Joseph they heard, received and gained.

After the birth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph traveled to Jerusalem to have Jesus circumcised on the eighth day according to the Law of Moses and the Abrahamic Covenant (Luke 2:21-27). Jesus as the Son of man was Jewish, as the Word He was neither Jewish or Gentile, thus when we receive the Word in us we are no longer Jew or Gentile.

Mary also gave her sacrifice of two turtledoves for herself according to the Law of Moses (Luke 2:24). Some think her sacrifice was based on Joseph being poor, but they were neither poor or rich. Mary sacrificed for her issue of blood according to the Law of Moses, thus the Law dictated the use of two turtledoves. The sacrifice had nothing to do with being poor or rich, rather it had to do with the requirements of the Law.

While at the temple a man by the name of Simeon knew he would see the Christ before he died, when he looked on Jesus he knew God granted his desire. Simeon prophesied how a Light was given for the Gentiles and to the people of Israel (Luke 2:29-32). Mary knew the child was special, but this Simeon spoke about the Gentiles, yet the Jews were the chosen people! The shepherds were one witness representing the flock in the fields as “all people”, here is a second witness pointing directly at the Gentiles and all the people of Israel. Then a woman by the name of Anna, a prophetess who had been fasting as well as being in deep prayer becomes a third witness (Luke 2:36-37). She spoke about Jesus and how the redemption would be narrowed down to those who “look” for the redemption (Luke 2:38). First it was all the lost sheep, then the Gentiles, lastly it points to the Remnant, showing the Day had come before the Night , thus we are the children of the Day, we are not children of the Night or of the Darkness.

In the New Testament there are two people termed “prophetess”, one is Anna, who spoke on behalf of God. The other is Jezebel, the self-appointed one in the Book of Revelation (Rev 2:20). So, should we say “all women must remain silent as the Scripture says”? No, since the Scripture only speaks of married women, yet it’s metaphorical in nature, not gender based. We also have these verses where God used both a man and a woman to prophesy over Jesus. We also have Isaiah 47:5 which Paul quoted to the carnal Corinthians, showing their position and condition was such the only place anyone among them could learn of the Lord was at home. Hardly a praise for their holiness. Then we have the daughters of Philip the Evangelist, who did prophesy (Acts 21:8-9). The test stands, we can use Scripture to set the captives free, or make more captives, the choice is ours, the result is in the hand of God.

From there Mary and Joseph would take their Son home (Luke 2:39), it becomes obvious, we haven’t seen the three wisemen (Magi), for good reason. We will also keep in mind the Gospel accounts don’t disagree, they agree.

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem (2:1).

The only things this verse tells us, is Herod was king when Jesus was born and when the wise men came, but it doesn’t say the wise men went to Bethlehem, nor does it show Jesus was a new born baby. The wise men were Magi, or men who watched the stars, yet the prophet Isaiah makes it very clear how stargazers, astrologers and the monthly prognosticators are not of God (Isa 47:13). These three men are obviously star watchers, not stargazers, the Magi looked at the stars as they related to God; they didn’t look at the stars to find their future or the future of man (prognosticators). Pointing the signs to God is Godly, twisting them to fit man is witchcraft. The three wise men came bearing gifts for Jesus, not bearing gifts for Herod, nor did they tell Herod’s future. History tells us the Magi’s names, as well as who brought what. Casper brought the frankincense, Melchior the gold, and Balthashar the myrrh.

Saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east and are come to worship Him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled and all Jerusalem with Him (2:2-3).

The term All Jerusalem refers to the religious leaders and scribes. The saying, “His star in the east”, would better read for us, “saw His star from the east”; either would be correct, since the wise men came from the east, and the star was ahead of them in the eastern sky.

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where the Christ should be born. And they said unto him, in Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet. And you Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, are not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of you shall come a Governor, that shall rule My people Israel (2:4-6).

One would think the religious rulers would be excited since they had scripture, with the confirming word from the wise men. Their entire existence and training is for the coming Messiah; however, the wise men were not members of the Sanhedrin, nor trained by the religious rulers; after all no one told the religious rulers the Christ was coming.

Pharisees tend to hold to their own, while rejecting anyone outside of their limited religious confines. These three strangers coming to the religious leaders saying they saw His star, held no weight at all with the theologians. If the Wise men would have held credentials from some Jewish religious group, or came on the scene as high ranking Pharisees, then the Pharisees would have taken notice. Rejection because one doesn’t fit the “group” is a trait of Phariseeism, the same trait would cause them to reject John the Baptist and Jesus.

In this setting we find the religious rulers quoting Micah 5:2; the wording, “rule My people Israel” is not found in Micah, but we do find “to be ruler in Israel”, which shows two things. First we find Matthew saying “My people”, but Micah refers to the land, thus Matthew by the Holy Ghost sees this as the Ruler of the people in the land of the people. The phrase “rule My people Israel”, could also read “feed My people Israel”, both are correct. So, how did Jesus rule? Did He sit on the seat of Herod? Or Pilate? Or take over Rome? No, a good King rules by taking care of His subjects, a bad king rules by manipulating the subjects.

The purpose of any kingdom is to carry out the will of the king, thus the Kingdom of God is to carry out God’s will; therefore, we said, “not my will, but Your will”. Here we find it wasn’t the land, although God called it the Promised Land, rather God was concerned for the People in the land. The land was merely a place to maintain and protect the people, but the people made the land a “god”.

The leaders of Israel were rejecting knowledge, yet it began when they refused to feed the people. Feeding the people with the desire to be fed of the people is not the call. Ezekiel prophesied against the shepherds of Israel for their failure to feed, heal and lead the people. God said He would come Himself to feed the flocks and gather the lost sheep (Ezek 34:1-16), and so He did.

Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And He sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and search diligently for the young child: and when you have found Him; bring me word again, that I may come and worship Him also (2:7-8).

The context shows Herod knew the time the wise men saw the star, and the approximate date of the birth of Jesus. When Herod used the Greek Paidion for the phrase, “young child”, rather than the Greek Brephos for baby it became obvious we are not talking about a baby, but a child. If Herod was looking for a baby, he would have used the Greek Brephos, not Paidion. When Luke refers to the baby Jesus in the manger he uses the Greek Brephos for infant (Luke 2:12 & 2:16), Paul called the Galatians Paidion. John used Paidion in the phrase Little Children, thus when we enter the kingdom of heaven we are Brephos, when we are Born Again we become Paidion. The evidence shows Jesus was not an infant when the wisemen showed up, it’s the point.

The distance from Jerusalem to Bethlehem is about five miles, thus Herod wouldn’t wait two years for the wise men to return, rather he would have waited a day or two at the most.

When they had heard the king, they departed; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy (2:9-10).

We find the star was visible to the wise men as they were in the east, thus they plotted and followed the star, but it’s just as apparent they lost sight of the star when they followed the directions of Herod by heading toward Bethlehem. However, it appeared Again to them in a different direction, showing Bethlehem was the birthplace, but not the location of Jesus as a Young Child. Again we find the Greek word Paidion used instead of Brephos, thus at this time Jesus was between one and two years of age. When they lost sight of the star, they changed directions, found it again and continued their journey. Clearly if Joseph, Mary and Jesus were still in Bethlehem the star would have been visible. We also have the added evidence of Jesus being circumcised at eight days old, coupled with the evidence showing after they did all according to the Law they returned to Nazareth (Luke 2:39). All evidence showing us the time for the Magi is past the time of the birth of Jesus.

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother and fell down and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts: gold and frankincense and myrrh (2:11).

Again we find the Greek Paidion for young child, plus we find the word “House”, thus the Wise men didn’t find Jesus in the stable, rather they turned and followed the star until they came to the House in Nazareth. Although the religious leaders said, “Go to Bethlehem”, the Magi knew the star pointed the way, and God places His star over us until we complete our course. Faith comes by hearing, but the hearing must be by the Rhema, here we find the words from religious leaders were producing a false direction, the same result false prophecy produces.

Bethlehem was due south from Jerusalem, but the house of Joseph was in the east, thus the star continued pointing to the east, which shows us we must keep our eyes on those things pointing to God, or we may miss the purpose of God, ending in the place we should not be.

And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way (2:12).

Okay, if these guys can read the stars, why a dream? The Magi never looked for people’s futures in the stars, they used the stars as “signs” relating to God. Since the house of Joseph was east of Jerusalem in Nazareth they went back in a different direction to avoid Jerusalem; however, if they departed from Bethlehem they needed only to travel in a straight direction home.

When they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying Arise and take the young child and His mother and flee into Egypt and be you there until I bring you word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy Him. When he arose, he took the young child and His mother by night and departed into Egypt (2:13-14).

The Magi had a dream of warning, now Joseph has a dream of warning, but it doesn’t mean all dreams project a warning; however, most do. Joseph’s dream didn’t come until the Magi left, thus God had all this timed to the minute. Joseph took Mary and Jesus to Egypt, away from the hand of Herod. There are times when faith tells us to run, times when it says to stand, but if we mix the two, we could run from the sign or stand and be destroyed. In this case God said, Run, thus faith entailed running, whereas presumption would have stood. However, Egypt wasn’t much better, but it was better than Israel at the time. In the Old Testament we find Jacob left the land and entered Egypt, Israel the nation left Egypt and entered the wilderness to find God. Jesus left the land, but He would also leave Egypt to lead us to the Father.

This is a good time to define Jew, Israel and Hebrew; Israel is the land, a person associated to the land is an Israelite, a Hebrew is a Sojourner, or one with a promise of land, but has yet to have the land in possession, a Jew is a person who has a right to enter covenant with God. Paul tells us circumcision is the sign of a Jew, whether of the flesh or heart. Circumcision of the flesh was the sign, or token for the Abrahamic Covenant, it’s still a sign for any male who desires to enter the Covenant God made with Abraham. For us it would be error, as Paul points out to the Galatians, since our Token is circumcision of the heart.

Joseph left by night, the route may have been due south along the coast, since it would have been the fastest. Jerusalem is located inland; the house of Joseph was east or nearer to the Mediterranean Sea. Joseph had to travel along the coast past Jerusalem in order to get to Egypt, at approximately the same time Herod was plotting to kill all the children in Bethlehem, which was south of Jerusalem.

Around the third century in a Capernaum Synagogue a symbol was found, which became a symbol for a nation called of God, but it represented these events, and the Magi. Paul taught in this synagogue, as did many Christians, thus it was felt the symbol was strictly Jewish, but if could relate to something else. The symbol is known today as the Magen David, or the Shield of David, or as we know it the Star of David, but it was first known as the “Star of the Son of David, the King of the Jews”. This symbol is on the flag of the nation Israel, but it has only been in use since the 19th century. There is an organization in Israel known as the Red Magen David, which is much like the Red Cross. The Red Cross was originally a symbol of the Blood of Jesus with the Cross as a sign of Mercy, and the Red for the Blood of Jesus. Modern day Jewish scholars tell us most of the tribes have been incorporated into the tribe of Judah. Even the word Jew comes from the Hebrew Yehudi or Judean, although it is a generic term today, it still stands for the tribe of Judah. Whether the Jews, who are circumcised of the flesh, know it or not, they have the Testimony of Jesus (Law and Prophets), they just don’t recognize it as such. Even those in the world who denounce Jesus recognize Him everyday. Each time they write the year down on a piece of paper, or speak the year, they are saying, “in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ”. Jesus, the Lion from the Tribe of Judah, still has His star over those who are Israel. According to some the Star with the two three pointed triangles was a teaching tool showing the Record in heaven, intersecting with the Witness on earth. Whether it’s the case or not, one can only speculate, but we can see how it could very well be the case. There are three bearing Record in heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost as One. There are three bearing Witness on earth the Water (Mercy of the Father), the Blood (Grace), and the Spirit (Born Again), these three Agree as one. The Star of David was not known to David, it was not known to any Jew before the Cross, nor used by Israel, but since it was found in a synagogue, they have used it ever since. We can see it as a Christian teaching tool, but we can also see it’s referred to as “Star”, which could also relate to “The Star pointing to the Son of David”. All this is still speculating about teaching aids, no more, no less.

And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called My Son (2:15).

The prophet Hosea wrote some 710 years before the birth of Jesus: Hosea was moved by the Holy Ghost and said, “Called My Son out of Egypt” (Hosea 11:1). Israel the nation was known as the wife of God, but here we find “My Son” thus the prophecy didn’t pertain to the nation, but to Jesus. thus the nation Israel merely left Egypt as a sign of a prophecy yet to come. Everyone of us were called out of Egypt by the Mercy of God into the kingdom of heaven, se we could receive the Grace of God.

This also shows us how some “previews” of prophecy will appear on the path to the prophecy coming to pass. One could say the prophecy was complete when the children crossed the Jordan, but they were not the “Son” of God. They were a preview, and a preview is more than a “coming attraction”, it’s a sign the prophecy will surely come to pass.

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth and sent forth and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men (2:16).

The word Coasts means Borderline, rather than a sea coast. This is after Joseph took Jesus and Mary to Egypt, but not two years later. The time element would be within days of the time the wise men came to Herod. Herod wasn’t looking for an infant, but for a young child. This would clear up the question as to why Jesus was in the temple when He was eight days old, yet not killed in the siege of Herod of Bethlehem. Simply, the siege was two years after the birth and during the time Jesus was in Egypt.

Also this Herod killed all the remaining rulers from the Hasmonean family, including one of his wives, and two of her sons. Herod all ready had the reputation of killing those in his way, even if they were family.

Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Ramah was there a voice heard, lamentation and weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and would not be comforted, because they were not (2:17-18).

God did not dictate the killing, He merely saw it from the beginning of the world, and warned the people by prophecy. If any of the people would have known about the Birth of Jesus, they would have also left the land and avoided the killing. Discernment keeps us from finding ourselves in the midst of the evil taking place; God warns, but we must hear in order to gain. Notwithstanding there are times when God allows for a purpose beyond our reasoning, not saying God makes the event happen, but at times He allows. We never judge the event by the event, we must wait to determine the purpose, often in the purpose we find the reason.

Rachel will not be Comforted, because her children were not, yet the Remnant will find Comfort during the Time of Comfort (restoration of Israel).

Jesus never said He was from Bethlehem, but the Jewish records of circumcision would have shown He was born in the city of David. Jeremy is the Greek form of the Hebrew Jeremiah, and Ramah is just north of Jerusalem toward the Dead Sea. When Jeremiah spoke this prophecy he also said, “Thus saith the Lord; a voice was heard in Ramah” (Jere 31:15); which is clearly a past tense statement, indicating God saw this complete, but God is not a manipulator, rather He can work the evils of man into the Plan to benefit His called. It doesn’t mean He ordains, or approves of the ways of man, it simply means God knows the events before they become events. We keep saying it until it hits home, the event may be a big surprise to us, but not to God. If He saw it, He is fully able to guide us through it, around it, or over it, while at the same time teach us a great lesson (I Cor 10:13).

God didn’t allow the children to die in vain, nor did they lose a thing. The next verse in Jeremiah says, “Thus saith the Lord; refrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears: for your work shall be rewarded” (Jere 31:16); therefore, the Work of these children was to die for the sake of God, thus God had a place for them far better than the earth. What the evil Herod did, God was able to turn it to Good for those called according to His purpose.

Rachel had two sons, Joseph and Benjamin (Gen 30:24 & 35:18). During the birth of Benjamin Rachel died, and she was buried in Ephrath (Bethlehem) (Gen 35:19). Since Rachel died during child birth the prophecy would reach to the Birth of the Child in Bethlehem, rather than some new age voice speaking out of the grave. Rachel named her son Benoni meaning “son of sorrow”, but Jacob changed his name to Benjamin meaning “son of the right hand”. The cries of sorrow were changed when those young children opened their eyes in the Bosom of Abraham, and knew the Son of the Right Hand would soon take captivity captive. We tend to equate all time to the flesh, the age of the flesh has nothing to do with the timelessness of the soul. Our flesh has a beginning and an end, our souls have a beginning but no end. Our souls are not limited to time, rather they have coupled and equated to the flesh, and the flesh equates to time. Heaven is not bound to time or space, hell is timeless, but bound to a location.

But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, Arise and take the young child and His mother and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life. And he arose and took the young child and His mother and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there; notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: (2:19-22).

This dream also held a warning, Joseph went to Nazareth a city in the territory of Galilee, which is just north of Samaria. Cana, Capernaum, and the Sea of Galilee are also in the territory of Galilee, and all were areas where Jesus would minister. Cana would be the place where the first miracle was done, Capernaum would be the place for many miracles. The warning was to return to the same place as they left, and not to go to Judea, and the Scripture does say, “warned of God”.

Luke points out Jesus was twelve years of age when He and His family went to Jerusalem during a Passover Feast (Luke 2:41). This shows Joseph had to return before the time, since Jesus was a Paidion when they entered Egypt.

Although Jesus was a youth of twelve years He asked questions, those who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers (Luke 2:47). It doesn’t mean Jesus was astonished at them, just the other way around. Just after Jesus is baptized He will again enter the temple on a Passover to teach and ask questions; however, the purpose will be much different (Jn 2:13-16). Luke also points out how Jesus at the young age of twelve did nothing for Himself, rather He was about His Father’s business and obeyed and honored Mary and Joseph. Jesus never did one self-based action, or one self-serving act, since any self based act would produce a point of accusation. Who then can anyone save their own soul?

And He came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene (2:23).

The Law of the Nazarite is located in Numbers chapter six, but there is more to being a Nazarite than not drinking strong drink, or cutting ones hair, yet both relate. The Covering (anointing) of Jesus was long, yet He didn’t allow the devil to put one razor to His Protection. Perhaps its for this reason Paul uses the metaphor “hair” for the anointing in First Corinthians (I Cor 11:14-15).

The real Nazarite Vow for Jesus began at the last Passover, when He said He would not take of the fruit of the vine, thus from this saying we find the Way (Church) was also known as the Sect of the Nazarenes (Acts 24:5). The word Nazarite means Set Apart or Separated, and Jesus separated us unto God.

John the Baptist was also a Nazarite, he went into the wilderness to be separated from the world until it was time for his work. The word Pharisee also means Separated, it depends on what one is separated to, or from. Luke’s account is the only one showing the cup of separation, then taking the Bread, then the third Cup of Passover, for us the cup of separation is our vow and token in our water baptism to be separated unto God from the world (Luke 22:15-20 & James 1:27).

The intent is to be separated unto God, but the Pharisees separated themselves unto a religious mindset, attaching themselves to their religious conceit. Instead of using the Scriptures or the Law to set people free, they used them to accuse and slander. The word Slander doesn’t mean the words must be false, rather it points to the intent; if the intent is malicious (to do harm) it’s slander, whether the words spoken are factual or not.

We will find Jesus didn’t take the Vow until the Cross and Resurrection, thus when speaking to the religious leaders He pointed out how John came neither drinking or eating, but Jesus did. It doesn’t mean Jesus was a drunkard, nothing held Jesus in bondage, He is over all things. To suppose these people were able to make grape juice, and preserve it as such, goes beyond historical knowledge. Noah drank from the grapes, and became drunk. No, Jesus was never drunk, but the Scriptures do show He did drink wine with the people. We can’t use it as an excuse to drink, or curse someone who does, it merely shows Jesus was not in bondage to anything, rather He is a good King over His kingdom, and all things are subject to Him, not the other way around. Whether one does or not isn’t the issue, whether the element has them in bondage is.

Jesus was known as “Jesus of Nazareth” (Jn 18:5), which could also read, “Jesus the Nazarite” or “Jesus the Separated One”. When Jesus entered Water Baptism it was not for repentance, but for the washing of the Sacrifice as well as the opening of the ministry for the Son of man. The Sacrifice being accepted was indicated by the Father sending the Spirit “as a dove”. Not saying the Spirit is a dove, rather it shows the symbol of the Father’s acceptance of the Sacrifice of Peace. The Holy Ghost came to show the beginning of the ministry, but the baptism did not make Jesus the Son of God, nor did it make Him the Son of man. The baptism by John was to present the sacrifice by washing it, and the Father indicated acceptance, which opened the ministry.

Noah sent a dove twice, the second time it didn’t return, showing Noah there was dry land. In this case the Dove was the sign of the accepted Sacrifice, and the Sacrifice had to be faith based since the Father said, “This is My beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased”, and God is pleased by faith (Heb 11:6).

The prophet saw the disciples separated before the fact (Ezra 8:24), Jesus was separated from the self nature long before He preached on denying the self (Ezra 9:1). We have many areas of separation, the first being separated from the world. Jesus was separated to perform righteous judgment (Ezra 10:16), we are separated from the world to avoid judgment. This shows His vow of the Nazarite began when He sat down at the right hand side of the Father, and it will end at the Judgment. God spoke through Amos and said, “I raised up your sons for prophets and of your young men for Nazarites. Is it not even thus, O you children of Israel?” (Amos 2:11).

John the Baptist was related to Jesus, since his mother Elizabeth was the cousin to Mary (Luke 1:36), yet John would say he didn’t know Jesus. Even though John was related to Jesus, he never knew the importance or purpose of Jesus until the Spirit descended. This puts asunder any concept of Jesus doing miracles before this point in time, we find Jesus waited for the Time, in patience, without going about bragging in who He was.

John’s wilderness experience is not an excuse for us to neglect studies, but it does show there are two elements, one is really no more important than the other. John was taught in the wilderness, after his wilderness he was ready to give his message. What Pharisee was going to teach John about water baptism? Or the kingdom of heaven? Jesus said John was Elijah if we receive it, but it refers to the message of the man, not the man being some reincarnation of Elijah. Elijah represents all the prophets, the message of John entailed the purpose of the prophets to announce and prepare the coming of the Lord.

For the Body of Christ we find the importance of prophecy still exists, it’s in every aspect of the Offices, Operations, Gifts and Manifestations (Rom 12:6, I Cor 11:5, 12:10, 12:28 & Eph 4:11-12). However, John was not New Testament, yet he was not Old Testament either, Jesus said the Law and Prophets were until John (Matt 11:13). John was very important, but we will find his ministry was very short, yet completed.

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea (3:1).

The wilderness was not some dry place stuck in the plains, since there had to be water for John the Baptist to baptize. The wilderness of Judea was along the coast of the Dead Sea (Salt Sea), south-west of Jerusalem. John never said, “I baptize you with sand”, thus we find the Jordan river ran through the wilderness area where John was baptizing.

The name John means Jehovah Favored or Favored Of Jehovah. The Apostle John was known as the “disciple Jesus loved”, this distinction doesn’t mean Jesus didn’t love John the Baptist, rather it means John the Apostle did something which set him apart, toward the end of this study we will see what the something was.

This also defines the ministry of John, although he was filled with the Holy Ghost it was for the specifics of the ministry. John’s ministry had three points, to prepare the way by preaching, to baptize people unto repentance in water, and to wash the Sacrificial Lamb of God. It was the authority granted, or the areas wherein the Holy Ghost would operate. The Holy Ghost will not operate outside the confines of the authority granted us, thus John did not heal the sick, but the disciples of Jesus did; John did not cast out devils, but the disciples of Jesus did. Yet, the disciples were not filled with the Holy Ghost, but they did operate under the Name of Jesus as it relates to Mercy in the kingdom of heaven.

Luke tells us about John the Baptist’s birth, dispelling the false thought of John being born of a virgin. Luke also shows, the correlation between John and the prophets. Not only did John come as Elijah, but like Jeremiah, he was called from the womb; therefore, John was a type of division, behind him was the Law and Prophets, ahead of him was the “Lamb of God”. John never operated under the “Name of Jesus”, his act of baptism ended when he was cast into prison at the same time when Jesus came out of the wilderness, the effectiveness of his baptism ended when Jesus said, “Go ye therefore” (Matt 28:18-20). It doesn’t take away from John, but shows the length of his ministry was very short.

John’s father was named Zacharias, meaning Jehovah Has Remembered. Zacharias was a priest in the temple, thus John was the son of a priest. The mother of John was Elizabeth (Hebrew Elisheba), in the genealogy we found Aaron’s wife was named Elisheba. John’s father was a priest, his mother was from the daughter’s of Aaron, and John was filled with the Holy Ghost, thus he had right standing to perform the task before him (Luke 1:5). John the Baptist pointed to the change to come in Jesus, yet John didn’t bring the change. John had to be filled with the Holy Ghost for two reasons, first and foremost was to wash the Sacrifice of God, the very Lamb of God. Second was to bare Witness (Jn 1:14), the proclamation without the authorization would lack validity.

When Zacharias was doing his priestly duties in the temple, the angel Gabriel appeared on the right side of the altar of incense (Luke 1:8-11 & Luke 1:19). The incense brought a sweet smelling offering unto the Lord, when the priests offered the incense they also dressed the lamps, and John would bear witness to the Light, it’s not saying he was the Light, thus the message of John pointed to the Light (Jn 1:6-7).

The verb Baptism means to identify with something, there is a vast difference between identifying with something, and using something to associate the identification. The act of Baptism was known to the Jews, but it was a sign, not an act, they didn’t baptize anyone, but they did Wash the sacrifices and the priests Washed themselves (Ex 30:19). The first sacrifice was a free will sacrifice, it was also Washed before being presented to the Lord. John the Baptist came to prepare the free will offerings of repentance, saying the people Should believe. John came to prepare the Way, but we are those called “the Way”. How can we walk by faith if our feet are not shod with the Preparation for the Gospel of Peace? We present ourselves a living sacrifice unto the Lord, which is our reasonable (logical) service (Rom 12:1).

John did one type of baptism and preached another, but he didn’t bring both. John did the baptism unto repentance, but preached on the baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire (Mark 1:4 & 1:7-8). When John looked upon Jesus, he said, “I have need to be baptized of You”; John knew Jesus came to baptize with the Holy Ghost, thus John wasn’t seeking water baptism, rather it was the Baptism with the Holy Ghost. This shows us John was filled with the Holy Ghost, but he knew there was more, something greater, the Baptism with the Holy Ghost, which entails the Holy Ghost bringing the Seed of God, known as the Spirit of Holiness (Acts 11:15-16).

As we now know, the word baptism is associated with the act of dipping a clothe into a dye to change its color; however, the word baptize doesn’t mean dip, rather it points to the process of being enfolded and covered for the sake of identification, thus the clothe identified with the color and changed, but the dye didn’t change to become the clothe. Our Baptism is a Token, or sign of something, the water didn’t change us, it would be an act of self-righteousness, rather we were transformed by God’s Mercy. The Water didn’t forgive us, neither did the water anoint us, but it was our sign or token of our identification with the death and resurrection of Jesus as acceptance into the Body, plus our acceptance of the requirements upon the Body. Can one be of the circumcision, without being circumcised? No, but circumcision was a token giving one a right to enter Covenant, it didn’t mean they had entered. We engage in water baptism as our token of acceptance, Jesus will baptize us with the Holy Ghost to receive the Spirit as His Token of acceptance.

Our water baptism being acceptance doesn’t mean it’s some rite to enter, it’s a serious matter relating to the Mercy of God. The baptism with the Holy Ghost is to receive the Spirit is the Token of Jesus accepting us into Grace. None of us can baptize anyone, including ourselves, with the Holy Ghost since the Holy Ghost brings the Gift, yet if we are in the Body we are commanded to teach, baptize others in water and teach the more.

It’s important to know the Baptism of John was Unto repentance saying the people Should believe on Jesus, but our Water Baptism is based on our repentance vowing we do believe on Jesus (Acts 19:1-5). John’s Baptism was known as “John’s Baptism”, or “The Baptism Of John” (makes sense), it was done by the authority of Jesus, it was specific in nature, and timed.

The children left Egypt and traveled through the water to enter the wilderness; however, the water didn’t change them, it was a place to show a separation from Egypt. When we were in Egypt God proved His love for us by opening the door to the kingdom of heaven, we enter the wilderness to prove our love for Him.

Before John the Baptist could have a ministry, he had to be born. When Gabriel appeared to Zacharias, he did so at the one place in the temple indicating to Zacharias something very special was about to happen. Zacharias and Mary both had a hard time in believing what the angel told them, but in Mary’s case the angel explained everything, whereas in Zacharias’ case his mouth was closed to keep his unbelief within. The difference between the two is what both committed to, and what they expected from God. Zacharias was a priest, he should have known Abraham believed in God, yet there was another element separating Zacharias from Mary, as he was told, “for your prayer is heard” (Luke 1:13). Mary didn’t pray “Oh Lord let me be the one to bring the virgin birth”. When God answered Zacharias’ prayer, Zacharias failed to believe it, yet he was a priest. In order to keep the unbelief from being spoken, Gabriel closed the mouth of Zacharias until John the Baptist was circumcised (Luke 1:20 & 1:59).

John had an unbelieving father, but it didn’t stop John from believing, nor did it stop the course and purpose God had for John. The plan made room for the unbelief of Zacharias, thus the unbelief of Zacharias didn’t stop the plan, God merely worked around it and brought the result. Why? The plan included Zacharias, but it centered on John’s duties, not the duties of John’s father; thus our unbelief will hinder us, and hinder what God desires to do in our life, but it won’t stop the plan of God in the lives of others.

When Zacharias’ mouth was open, it was opened by the prophetic word coming forth (Luke 1:67). It’s also of interest to see how Zacharias was a priest, in charge of the menorah; he prayed, yet didn’t believe he would receive an answer. Being in a body of believers, or calling ourselves Christian doesn’t automatically mean we believe.

The people prior to the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus were told, “go and sin no more”, or “go to the priest”, thus their sins were forgiven by direct Mercy applied to them personally, but these people understood what it meant, we don’t. It’s one thing to present some token in our place, it’s another to not only have God personally forgive us, but give us the power to forgive as He does. All the Acts before the Cross conducted by the disciples were Mercy based, they received the forgiveness of their sins, and operated under the Name of Jesus based on Jesus being the Son of man, yet they were able to cast out devils, preach and heal the sick.

The Law of Moses was not destroyed, rather Jesus provided another Law, one connecting us to heaven, thus moving us from one type of faith to another, from one Law to another. The Law of the Spirit is not an addition to the Law of Moses, it’s purposed for the heavenly; whereas, the Law of Moses is for the earthly. These people knew if their sins were forgiven, then anything produced as a result of the sin was removed, their Sign was a healed body. Nonetheless their faith was at issue, if they believed Jesus could, then applied their faith in the result, they were healed. However, they were still subject to the requirements of the Law of Moses to remain free. The forgiveness of their sins was atonement, or a balance between the curse and blessing; whereas, we are forgiven from on high, which means the power and authority of sin is removed, thus these people before the Cross had to maintain through the Law of Moses, but we are maintained by the Cross and Blood of Jesus.

If the Law of Moses was nailed to the Cross, then the freedom didn’t come until the Cross. Under the Law of Moses it was “give your sacrifice”, under the Law of the Spirit it’s “forgive so your Father in heaven may forgive you”. These people had the faith to reach to Jesus, and knew He had the authority to grant them forgiveness. Their faith was not in their ability to have faith, it was in the ability of Jesus to bring a result in the forgiveness of their sins. The power to heal all the land was in Jesus, the means to touch was still by faith, the knowledge of what He could do was still based in their belief.

The Mercy of God forgives our sins and iniquities, Grace as the Blood of Jesus brings remission removing us from the sin nature plus all sin represents. Mercy changes our condition, but the Law of the Spirit changes our position; therefore, the prayer of faith shall heal the sick one, but only Jesus can raise them.

Salvation is the goal, and Grace the gift, there isn’t one verse saying, Salvation is the gift, rather “by Grace are you saved through faith; not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Eph 2:8). The gift is The Gift of Grace, not one of many, or among the gifts, it is The Gift (Eph 3:7); the faith reaches to the goal of Salvation is not our measure, yet we know our Measure of faith is a gift, but to have Access it takes the established faith of Jesus (Eph 3:12 & Gal 2:20). The Faith of Jesus has already accomplished the task, our measure of faith is pointed to the victory already obtained, it is not attempting to gain some personal victory outside of Jesus.

We are saved from the world by God’s Mercy, and God’s Mercy grants us life, then we enter the process of salvation by Grace to receive the promise of life more abundantly. Confusing Mercy and Grace produces the same type of stronghold is produced when we confuse water baptism with the baptism with the Holy Ghost. John the Baptist had a message, he did an act, the two were related, but not interrelated. John’s baptism called for a preparation:

And saying, Repent you: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (3:2).

John was preparing the way, preparation called for repentance and belief. The people confessed their sins, which placed them in a position to receive the Mercy of God. The belief was based in what they did, their faith in the result of why they did it. However, the people were not required to believe in Jesus, the message was they should believe on Jesus (Acts 19:4). John’s baptism faded out with John, the water baptism we conduct took over. There are only two legal water baptisms for anyone on the face of the earth, John’s during John’s ministry, then the one we do as members of the Body of Christ. God never gave anyone else the legal right to baptize anyone in water, it’s not only a privilege, but a commanded duty for those in the Body of Christ only.

The kingdom of heaven was at hand not in hand, thus when Jesus told them their sins were forgiven, it was by His Mercy, they were at the Door, but they couldn’t gain entry until the Cross. The earthly ministry was based on “the Father has sent Me”, but ours is based on “Jesus has sent me”. Not saying we don’t still hold Mercy, but Pentecost added Grace. The Kingdom of God couldn’t be in hand until the Porter (Holy Ghost) granted the Spirit to us. None of these people said, “Son of David have Grace on me”, but they did say, “Son of David have Mercy on me”.

For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare you the Way of the Lord, make His paths straight (3:3).

Some translations have Esaias, which is Greek for the Hebrew Isaiah meaning Jehovah Has Saved, which is a past tense statement, thus the meaning of the name shows God called something a not to man, but a were to Him. The name Elijah means God Of Jehovah, thus the Father as El took Jehovah from His Bosom, and Jehovah became flesh for us. The Voice of him crying in the wilderness means John the Baptist proclaimed the Way, he wasn’t the Way. John was also in the wilderness, it’s a good place to be, since it’s free of Egypt. In essence, John was standing on the doormat saying, Prepare to Enter in. When these people heard “voice of one crying in the wilderness”, they knew it meant they could be free of Egypt, but it also meant they would still face one of the two mountains of the Law.

Matthew quotes Isaiah 40:3, but Isaiah 40:6-11 tells us what the Voice cries, as we read, “O Zion, that brings good tidings, get you up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that brings good tidings, lift up your voice with strength, lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! Behold, the Lord God will come with a strong hand and His arm shall rule for Him; behold His reward is with Him and work before Him, He shall feed His flock like a Shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm and carry them in His bosom and shall gently lead those that are with young”. The people knew the High Mountain was one Mountain not two, making Zion the mountain, separating it from the Mountain of the Law. The Law was the schoolmaster until Faith came, but after Faith came in Jesus, we are no longer under the schoolmaster (Gal 3:24-25). The Law came from Mount Sinai, but heavenly Zion is the foundation for New Jerusalem (Gal 4:23-25).

Jesus stood on the Mount of Olives (Mount of Mercy), as well as the Mount of Transfiguration, and with a Strong Arm He gathered up His sheep. Isaiah would also say the Voice will “make straight in the desert a highway for our God” (Isa 40:3). The Highway or Street is the place between places, or the means of direction to lead us from one place to another; however, it doesn’t mean the old place (Law of Moses) ceases to exist, it means we moved to a different position. The Voice of Elijah doesn’t save the people, rather it points to the Savior, who does save the people.

And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair and a leather girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey (3:4).

Elijah was a hairy man and John came dressed like a hairy man, and hair is a metaphor for the anointing (II Kings 1:8). Wild honey represents prophecy as sweet to the receiver, but it can be bitter in the belly if it points to judgment. Locusts devour the land and eat everything in sight, they also represent the rebellious religious rulers. John came with the sweetness of the prophecy, but with a mouth ready to expose religious conceit.

Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region around about Jordan and were baptized of him in the Jordan, confessing their sins (3:5-6).

John came as far as the wilderness, those who sought truth came to him, thus the people were still in the wilderness, which shows the Woman in the Book of Revelation is the off-shoot of these people is seen in the Wilderness still (Rev 12:14). The people came confessing their sins, but their sins were not forgiven by John. This Preparation placed the kingdom of heaven at hand preparing the people to receive Mercy, it didn’t grant them Mercy. If their sins were forgiven by repentance and water baptism, why then did Jesus heal them? Why don’t we see them coming out of the water healed? This was Preparation, not performance. Part of the preparation is belief, for these people it was to believe on Him who was to come, meaning their faith was at issue. For us it’s believing Jesus has come in the flesh, meaning the Greater He is Jesus in us evidenced by the Greater He (I Jn 4:1-4).

For us, we receive the death of Jesus in our place to obtain the promise of the Resurrection by the Spirit, as Jesus in us. These people not only didn’t have the Cross, they lacked knowledge regarding the Cross (Mark 9:32). In order to impute ourselves dead we needed something from God, the Cross of Jesus is the place. Without the Cross of Jesus all this is one big mind game, but we do have the Cross as our place of death, and the Resurrection as our place of Life, so we can have it more Abundantly. Paul asks us why were we baptized unto the death, if the dead raise not? Our water baptism doesn’t grant us these things, it’s our token setting us in a place to receive them with appreciation. Water baptism is like a signature, when we engage in water baptism as a candidate it’s a free will offering and acceptance. There is no commandment telling us to be water baptized, but those in the Body are commanded to teach and water baptize those who confess a belief in Jesus (Matt 28:18-20, Acts 8:36-37 & 10:47-48).

The fruit of repentance is what shows up after the person repents, often it’s a joy or relief in knowing one has confessed their sins before God. There is no requirement saying we have to confess each and every sin, for most if not all of us it would be impossible, since we committed sins we have no knowledge of. The premise is not simply to confess the sin, but take responsibility for them, then release the burden, as we turn to move in a different direction. The hardest thing for any of us is the war against self-righteousness, we want to do something to make up for our wrongs, but God simply wants us to turn and walk toward Him. These people confessed their sins, they were ready to gain the reward of forgiveness, yet in order to receive they had to make the effort to move toward Jesus. So do we, it’s the point.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: (3:7-8).

John is now eating locusts, yet when the people came to repent, he ate honey. The Pharisees lacked the fruit of repentance, they wanted to know by what right John was baptizing, but they also presumed they had nothing to repent for, assuming they had life by the Law of Moses, yet their lives showed they were still using the spirit lusting to envy.

The Pharisees first sent their religious representatives (watchdogs) to question John the Baptist regarding his authority, not his wording (Jn 1:19-22). John didn’t match up to their theology, he didn’t present a good religious appearance to the people, his demeanor was not proper for a man of the clothe. John didn’t go to their temple, he didn’t stop to get their approval before he acted, nor did he attend their classes. In the mind of the Pharisee, John did everything wrong, thus they rejected him and his efforts, regardless of the obvious results.

We look at these Pharisees and say, How stupid, but these same Pharisees looked at the children in the wilderness and said, How stupid; therefore, it’s best to submit to the New Man, and allow the Word in us to separate us from acting the Pharisee. Any of us can fall to the mindset of the Pharisee, and most, if not all of us have during those early days. We held an ineffective theology, or mixed the pride of life in our theology. Our thoughts of outward morality made us feel good, our ability to associate with religion made us fell superior, yet we were merely dressing the old man in a religious suit and calling him holy. Then one day exposure came, we were in the wilderness, all good, and all in the Process. God does His best work in the wilderness, look at John.

The men sent to question John’s authority asked him, “why do you baptize then, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, neither that Prophet” (Jn 1:25). John’s answer dispelled any concept of reincarnation, it wasn’t the physical body of the man Elijah, but the message. They didn’t question John’s power, after all he was baptizing, it was the man’s authority. John was baptizing in his own name, which generated the question. They knew power used outside of authority was rebellion, producing a cause for them to stop the proceedings; however, John shows his authority is far above their own. Like most Pharisees they felt if they didn’t grant the authority, there was none.

Later this same question of Authority will be directed at Jesus, what Authority did He have to clean the temple? He had the power, it was obvious, but Authority is a major issue. The term “in the Name” refers to Authority, John the Baptist never operated in the Name of Jesus, he operated in his own name. Therefore, he never joined the Ministry of Jesus, yet two of his disciples did (Jn 1:35). John’s ministry ended the Old Testament procedures for man to reach God, but it didn’t give man the New. The Law of Moses was still over these people until the Cross, yet the procedure was different. Jesus as the Son of man stood as the Mercy in the Law, thus He could grant them the blessing. On the same note as the Son of man He never cursed anyone, or told them they were blessed for being cursed.

The Written Law and Prophets are Anointed, but the one who speaks of them may not be. The Remnant have the Testimony of Jesus, which is the Old Testament (Jn 5:39). Now wait, we have a testimony. The Word of our testimony, is what we say, it’s others say about us. Our Witness is based on being Born Again (Acts 1:6-8). The Bible testifies of Jesus, it speaks of Life, it doesn’t give it (Jn 5:39). The testimony of Jesus is what the Law of Moses, prophets and Psalms say concerning Jesus (Luke 24:44). The Pharisees read about life, but made the mistake of thinking if they read about it, they had it, they were wrong, the Scriptures spoke of Jesus, who is Life.

The Pharisees wanted to know John’s authority or whose Name did he baptize in. Was it the name of Israel? Perhaps the name of the Father? Perhaps the name of Jehovah? Did John do it right? Were the people knee deep in water? Standing facing the west? Or perhaps the east? Did John hold his hands in the right position? All these are means to avoid the reason for John’s Baptism, the real question is, Did they repent? If so, John did it right. We can end in the same dilemma, what Name was spoken? Did we do it right? Are we in the Body? Was it salt water? Clear water? Running Water? Grape Juice? If we’re in the Body, know our sins are forgiven we did it right. The only reason to become baptized again is if we were baptized under John’s baptism after the Cross of Jesus which indicated we should believe (Acts 19:4-5).

John was standing in the Jordan, the same river Elisha parted, the same river that opened the promised land. John was standing waiting for the Ark of Covenant as the Word made flesh to come forth and bring the Covenant of Peace. The Pharisees on the other hand stood on the other side of the Jordan saying, “Well bless God, would you look at him, he looks so weird, who does he think he is?”.

John denied he was the Christ or the Prophet, he also denied he was Elijah, but he did say he was the one crying in the wilderness! John pointed to the Voice, not the person of Elijah. The Pharisees were looking for the man Elijah, but they should have been hearing the words of the prophet. They saw this man named John speak of the Light, then heard Jesus saying, He was the Son of man, yet they rejected the entire thing because they sought after a sign not afforded them. They wanted their sign, they were not willing to submit and believe the signs before them. Generally they knew of the prophecies of old, but they made up their own minds how they should come to pass, when they unfolded in a manner they weren’t expecting, they rejected them.

John called the religious minded “vipers”, and a viper kills with the contents of it’s mouth, and kills for the sole purpose of filling it’s stomach. A viper seeks self-benefit, and doesn’t care what it kills, as long as it can eat it. The word Serpent means a Malicious person, Malicious means with an intent to harm, thus a Serpent speaks, a Viper bites and devours. Both of these are of course metaphors, and neither means the people turned into snakes.

Knowing the intent of our own words takes the discernment of the New Man, and having a New Tongue still takes a transfiguration within. Jesus said, if we continue to believe we will have New Tongues, and we will take up serpents (Mark 16:18). Mark 16:18 has nothing to do with snakes, rather the Greek word is the same word used several times to describe the religiously conceited people. Today we hear people call one another a “jack-ass”, does it mean they are really a mule? Or they act like one? The context in Mark 16:18 is the same, and picking up some snake is not in context with the Scriptures (Luke 10:19). “Well, what about Paul, he took up the viper in Acts”. No, the viper attached itself to him, and Paul shook it off, much different than picking up the thing.

The religiously conceited in the time of Jesus were no different from those Jeremiah faced, and no different from the religiously conceited we face today, and all of them are termed a “generation of serpents and vipers” (Matt 23:33). Why does God allow these vessels of dishonor to exist? To show His Mercy through the vessels of honor (Rom 9:21-23). The religiously conceited are motivated by a malicious intent, energized by pride, envy, or a lust to be superior. Whereas the Believer is motivated by love, and is energized by a desire to be a faithful servant of the Lord.

There is a beginning to being free, and John the Baptist is asking the religious leaders to check their own heart (attitude) before they question his activity. How? Check the words they were speaking, and ask the question, “Why did I say that?”. Instead of looking at the event, they should look at the evidence. The Pharisees never saw the many people repenting in one place at one time; perhaps they never saw so many people repenting period. The result determined if John was sent by God or not, the result of the Pharisees also determined if they were acting for God or not. The people were repenting of their sins and seeking God, which was more than they were doing under the Pharisees, in fact, it was more than the Pharisees were doing. Phariseeism comes from envy, and the desire to control, and how can one be a Servant if they maintain control? Sound familiar? Sound too close to home not to offend? We’ve all been on the wrong side of the Jordan, but there is still time to jump in, and help out the Prophet.

And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham (3:9).

The Pharisees looked down their religious noses, and made their own decision, they assumed they were far above repentance. After all their robes would get wet, what kind of stewardship is that? The Pharisees made their fame by doing the Law of Moses, but when the words Faith appeared they ran behind Abraham, if the Law was at question they ran behind Moses but they never stood face to face with their own souls. James said, Abraham believed God, and acted on the decision by obedience (James 2:21-24). These Pharisees were descendants of Abraham, but hardly the seed of Abraham. If they were anything like Abraham, they would believe, obey, and honor the prophet.

And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which brings not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire (3:10).

Does it mean these people were real trees? No, it means they were of the fruit of the Fig Tree, which is the religious symbol for the Law of Moses. Instead of poor fruit, it was time for a “tree change”, from the Fig to the Olive. Why? The Fig Tree was failing to produce fruit, but John the Baptist was.

These Pharisees were their own ax, and were cutting the very roots of the tree of hope, yet they refused to cut the roots of their corrupt tree, causing God to do to them, what they were doing to Him (Isa 10:15 & Heb 3:19).

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: (3:11).

Without our study in the Old Testament we would have no idea what this verse entails. Rejection of John was bad enough, but these people were rejecting their only hope. If they couldn’t receive he who was sent, how will they receive Him who is the purpose of John’s ministry? If we receive the Prophet, we receive the Prophet’s reward, John’s reward was the ability to Touch Jesus. This also helps us understand the verses regarding the woman caught in the act of adultery – here they are rejecting John’s ministry, which leads to rejecting John, the attitude will lead to rejecting the ministry of Jesus, to rejecting Jesus, to rejecting the Living Water.

Can we give a sacrifice without repentance? Sure, but it’s a Cain sacrifice, just as repentance can be a sacrifice to escape the present danger, rather than turn and face Jesus. The danger passes, and so does the repentance. The very first murder in the Bible was between two brothers over a sacrifice (Heb 11:4 & Gen 4:5). Did Cain seek repentance? Sure, but he was warned before hand, and his repentance was because of the result of his sin, not because of what he did, or who he sinned against. It will be the same type of repentance Judas will give, whereas Peter will be sorry for whom he sinned against.

Whose fan is in His hand and He will thoroughly purge His floor and gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire (3:12).

Some think the fire of hell will last about twenty minutes, but John shows it’s unquenchable or without end, thus the world without end doesn’t mean it will be as it was in the time of Noah without end, rather it means the earth as the lake of fire will be without end. The word Bottomless doesn’t mean without a bottom, rather it means without end. Man’s soul has a beginning, but no end, and the place where he spends forever is his decision. God never sends anyone to hell, rather man makes his own decision, and God honors it, but it doesn’t mean God likes it. God’s control is based in His foreknowledge of all things, also He has the last word.

We have gone through this preparation to look upon Jesus: there is a time of preparation in our Jordan experience, a time of preparation in our wilderness experience, and a time for the saving of the soul, all have a purpose, all have a Godly goal.

Then comes Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John to be baptized of him (3:13).

After John tells us about the Baptism with the Holy Ghost, “then comes Jesus”, and the Apostle John told us, those who confess Jesus is come in the flesh – are of God; those who can’t are of the spirit of antichrist (I Jn 4:1-4). Confession is not merely saying the words, it’s living them. The fruit of the confession of Jesus is, “Greater is He in me”, which shows a manner of life, or the Ways of a person, not the Acts. The spirit of antichrist resists or hinders the Christ nature, which causes the one who is antichrist to attack the work of the Holy Ghost in the members of the Body of Christ. Like the Pharisees they stand on the wrong side of the Jordan, attempting to get those on the right side to cross back to the wrong side.

John the Baptist didn’t have to go to Jesus, Jesus came to John. John was sent to baptize and Look for the One who would come after him, but he was not suppose to go and find the One. All this shows us how the Sacrifice as the Son of man came to the son of a priest to be washed and presented to the Father, then the Father accepted the Sacrifice, and gave a Sign of a Dove to show the acceptance. This Dove will be seen as the Spirit and the Holy Ghost, so what have we here? A mystery? Perhaps, the Holy Ghost brings the Spirit, and the Dove not only represents acceptance it also shows the time for the Gospel of Peace. The Holy Ghost shows the beginning of the ministry, the Spirit the purpose of the ministry. It will begin with Jesus the Son of man based in Mercy, but the goal is the Resurrection and declaration of Jesus as the Son of God (Rom 1:3-4). The Holy Ghost has many functions, including reproving the world, appointing to the offices, and filling us to deal with the masses. The Spirit has functions as well, saving our souls is primary, manifesting the Witness is another, displaying the gifts another. Although John was filled with the Holy Ghost for the purpose of his ministry, he did not have the Spirit, and the disciples didn’t have either the Holy Ghost or Spirit until Pentecost. Jesus is the only one before Pentecost who could say, “the Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me”. The preview of Jesus having both the Holy Ghost and Spirit shows the dual function of the Holy Ghost, and how the title Spirit points to Salvation. The signs give us the goal of the ministry of Jesus, and ours as well. We must have Mercy, but we must have Grace as well, to seek one and avoid the other makes us unequal.

The presentation on the Cross was yet to come, but before the Sacrifice can die, it must be accepted. John didn’t say, “Behold the repentant One”, rather he said, “Behold the Lamb of God”. John knew why he baptized Jesus, thus the baptism for the people was one thing, the washing of Jesus for the time to come another.

The Father didn’t look down and say, “You know what? Those people have been sacrificing sheep for years, it’s not a bad idea, I think I will present My Son as the Lamb of God”. The Law was a shadow, and all the animals, and all the people who presented those animals couldn’t begin to form the Shadow of what Jesus was doing. Jesus was not an human conceived as all other humans, and then picked at the baptism, the baptism was the beginning of His ministry, He was the Word from before the beginning (Jn 1:1). For this reason we find the Sacrificial Lamb of God was slain from the foundation of the world. The plan was the purpose, and John the Baptist saw the Will of God in heaven being performed on earth. If we Believe, we can also see the Will of the Lord performed on earth As it is in heaven.

The priest never went to the sacrifice, the sacrifice was brought to the priest. John will stand in the place of everyone who is called to the kingdom; therefore, as great as John was, the least In the kingdom is Greater. John received his authority by Him who sent him. John said, “He sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom you shall see the Spirit descending and remaining on Him, the same is He which baptizes with the Holy Ghost” (Jn 1:33). Therein lays many answers, John may have known Jesus before, but He who sent him didn’t say, “when you see the Spirit descend on Jesus”, John wasn’t looking for Jesus, he was looking for the Spirit. In our case we can’t find the Spirit until we find Jesus. However, we also know John knew the second he saw Jesus coming to be baptized who He was; which is evident in the next verse.

But John forbade Him, Saying, I have need to be baptized of You and You come to me? (3:14).

Later Peter will forbid Jesus as well, but the intents of John and Peter are much different. Here John is being humble, later Peter is making a suggestion from his own will to stop the Will of God (Matt 16:22). If we think this means for Jesus to water baptize John we will miss the point. John preached the baptism for the remission of sin, yet he did the baptism unto repentance. John wanted to be baptized with the Holy Ghost, thus he knew who he was talking to, and knew the importance of his own role in all this. This also shows being filled with the Holy Ghost, and being baptized with the Holy Ghost are different. Why would John want to be baptized, if he was all ready filled? Two different things.

And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered Him (3:15).

The word Suffer is the Greek Aphiemi (or Apheo), meaning to Allow or Submit, it doesn’t mean to suffer pain. The first words of Jesus point to submission, allowing what God has ordained to take place in the proper order.

John’s purpose was this one act of obedience, yet Jesus would say, “thus it becomes us”; showing Jesus came Both by Water (Mercy), and Blood (Grace). Did Jesus have to submit? No, but He did. Having to do something, and doing something knowing it’s the right thing to do are different. Some do, because they have to, others do, because it’s the right thing to do.

Hebrews 10:22 says, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water”. The Purpose for the Doctrine of Baptisms is found in this verse. We are sprinkled with the Blood unto remission (Heb 9:20-21), but Water Baptism is the symbol of the washing of the flesh from the power of sin. The Cross and Resurrection relate to two things, Mercy and Grace, our water baptism is a token relating to the Mercy of God, and our vow to continue on in the other Baptisms to complete the One Baptism. Water is symbolic of God’s mercy, our submission into water baptism is based on our belief, not our faith. Belief is always the first step, Abraham believed, then righteousness was imputed, so it might be by faith (Rom 4:1-16). Whether we know it or not the Mercy of God set us free from the power of sin, but not the sin nature. It takes Grace and the Spirit to separate us from the sin nature. God’s Mercy begins the process when God does not impute sin on us, rather He forgives us based on the words of Jesus, “Father forgive them”. Our act of granting Mercy, is the assurance of securing the imparted Mercy.

These people believed their flesh was washed unto the Purifying, which they knew was the purpose of John’s baptism, and when they asked forgiveness of their sins, they expected to receive it (Jn 3:25). The word Purifying is the Greek Katharismos meaning an identification to the forgiveness of sins, it doesn’t mean the forgiveness has taken place. Forgiveness of sins is still based in God’s Mercy, remission from sin is based in God’s Grace. These people didn’t have Remission, but they received Mercy on earth, thus we find many saying, “Have mercy on me”, but none of them saying, “have Grace on me”.

And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto Him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him (3:16).

The Street is now being opened, and heaven’s Will is found in Jesus. John the Apostle shows, “he who saw the dove” was John the Baptist, the earthly witness. This dispelled the early heresy, saying, Jesus became the Son of God at the baptism. Clearly this was acceptance of the Lamb as the Sacrifice, and the beginning of the ministry. The Father accepted, John filled with the Holy Ghost declared it, and the Son being the Lamb give us the Record in heaven, being manifested on earth.

Paul separated the two positions of the Son of man, and Son God by saying Jesus was Made (not created) of the seed of David according to the flesh (Son of man), but Declared to be the Son of God with Power, according to the Spirit of Holiness, by the Resurrection (Rom 1:3-4). Without joining the two we will never know the Ways of Jesus, or see Him as God the Son.

Also Jesus came up out of the water, showing He went down under the water, rather than having John pour water over Him; however, later when Peter sees the Holy Ghost fall on the Gentiles he sought water, thus it depends on the amount of water available. Whether dipped, sprinkled or whatever, it’s still our belief determining if we were baptized in water or not. For some it’s merely taking a bath, or washing their head, for others it’s Token based on their belief. The carnal Corinthians were more concerned with who baptized them, then why they were baptized. Pharisees always concern themselves with the mundane, Were you dipped? Did they turn a hose on you? What name did they use? I don’t know, I was under the water when they speaking.

This verse doesn’t say the Spirit was a dove, rather the Spirit descended like a dove, or in the form of one. The word Like in the phrase “like a dove” is the Greek Hosei meaning “As It Were”, or “In The Manner Of”. The dove is not only a symbol of peace (Gen 8:10-11), but a sign of the acceptance of Peace. Later Jesus will say “Peace unto you” several times, but why? Didn’t the disciples here it the first time? Did Jesus forget He said it? No, it’s a process. The first time we have Peace with God is when we are accepted by God. Then we find Peace in the Spirit, then Peace in the Blood.

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased (3:17).

The Father was pleased with the Son before the Son did one miracle, and it’s the sacrifice God’s interested in, not our ability. The Greek word for Pleased is Eudokeo meaning I Find Delight or I’m Happy (Blessed). In Hebrews 11:6 the word Pleased is the Greek Euaresteo mean Very well pleased, and both relate to this experience. By faith Jesus submitted to being the Sacrifice unto the Father, and the Father received Him as if He was sacrificed. From then on Jesus operated in faith pointing to what was just ahead, as the Son of man He forgave sins on earth, based on what He would say (Father forgive them). This is the opening of The Faith, we move from faith (our measure of faith) to The Faith (Faith of Jesus). We give ourselves a living sacrifice by faith, we have no idea what Jesus will do with us, but faith knows the result is Glorious.

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil (4:1).

Ah gee, if we would have known. Jesus knew the next step was the wilderness, the place to set the record straight, He was going to do this God’s way. The devil didn’t lead Jesus into the wilderness, rather the Spirit did right after the baptism; therefore, our water baptism is the sign we are entering the wilderness to be proved of God. We left Egypt (world), crossed the water, now we are ready to be tested. Now wait a minute; didn’t James say God can’t be tempted? How then could Jesus be tempted? God cannot be tempted to do evil, neither does He tempt us to do evil, but in order for the evil temptation to be complete one must receive it, and one receives by having some lust in them, thus Jesus overcame, and the devil could not tempt Him to do evil. The three temptations prove there was no lust in Jesus for the devil to use, when the devil tempted Jesus, Jesus responded with Scripture, rather than “oh yeah”.

In Matthew, Mark and Luke we find the Spirit leading Jesus into the wilderness, the purpose then points to Grace, the devil was defeated in the wilderness, yet he came at Jesus by using the “tares”, thus Jesus said the Pharisees were of their father the devil. However, through Death, Jesus destroyed (made completely ineffective) him who have the power of death, that is the devil (Heb 2:14). We enter our wilderness to face, and defeat the old man by the New Man, and secure our rightful position in Christ.

Temptation has various areas, Jesus tempted Philip (Jn 6:6), but not unto evil. To simply say, “God will never tempt us”, leaves much to be desired. There is evil temptation, and the testing of our faith, yet they are based in the same Greek word. In order for someone to tempt us to evil, they must have an evil in them from which they tempt, and we must have one in us, in order to fall. if they tempt us from their evil, yet we discern, resist and don’t fall then it becomes a test to us. On the same note if God sends us a good gift, yet we filter it through a lust, and make it evil, it doesn’t mean God tempted us, it’s the context of James. If we use Grace, Mercy, or Wisdom in a self-centered manner and consume any of them on our own lust, or turn them into lasciviousness, it’s not God’s fault (Jude 4).

What would turn something of God into evil? The spirit of man, who also produces a proud or haughty look, a lying tongue, hands shedding innocent blood, a heart devising wicked imaginations, feet swift in running to mischief, a false witness speaking lies, and sowing discord among the brethren, all products of the old nature (Prov 6:16-19). Nonetheless, Jesus will not succumb to the temptation, thus He entered the wilderness to defeat the devil, and the Cross will destroy the devil. It was done for us, we face the works (wiles) of the devil, not the devil. Jesus made the devil ineffective (Heb 2:14), but we also know we can give place to the devil (Eph 4:27), which means two things. First, the devil can’t do a thing, unless we give him opportunity (place), second if we give him place, we can take it away.

The wilderness was not some dry place, rather the wilderness is only for the child of God, we are taken by the Spirit to discover who we are, who we can be, and how we reach the goal. We will also find if we truly love God as much as we told everyone we did. The Wilderness is our testing ground to bring forth the New Birth in confidence of faith. It becomes the place where the Greater He in us, really becomes the Greater He in our lives.

It’s also interesting to see how Jesus allowed the devil to take Him to places, but at the same time defeated the temptation. Jesus never submitted to the temptation, it’s the point. We can submit to people, and never submit to a temptation. Mercy knows when to submit, and when not to.

John the Apostle filled in many gaps in his account by answering questions and explaining many of the events happening during the forty day fast. John’s account removes controversy as he defines being in a wilderness doesn’t mean we’re in some desert somewhere. John gives us many events of the forty day fast beginning the very next day after the baptism, then he goes to the second day, then the third and so on (Jn 1:29). In John 4:43 Jesus enters Galilee, and Luke shows at the end of the forty day fast Jesus entered Galilee (Luke 4:14). While there, Jesus entered the Temple and declared the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him (Luke 4:18). Matthew and Mark agree with Luke and show Jesus in Galilee at the end of the fast (Matt 4:12 & Mark 1:14). John 3:24 shows John the Baptist was not yet cast into prison, yet when Jesus ends the forty day fast John is in prison (Mark 1:14 & Matt 4:12). John the Apostle tells us when Jesus was talking to the woman at the well the fast was in it’s last days based on the disciples concerned about Jesus eating (Jn 4:8 & 4:27-31). All this shows the battle with the devil was in the plan, and during the forty day fast Jesus taught time and again on being Born Again. Our wilderness connects to the issue.

John’s account also shows after Jesus entered Galilee from Samaria it was reported “a prophet has no honor in his own country” (Jn 4:43-44). Luke shows Jesus made this statement just after Jesus entered the temple in Nazareth (Luke 4:16 & 4:24). Matthew will also tell us when Jesus finished the fast the children of the devil came with the works of the devil, yet Jesus will continue to place the defeated enemy under the authority of the Logos. The devil came toward the end of the fast, thus the devil waits until he assumes we are in our weakest state, yet the devil is the prince of self-deception and makes more errors in one day, than we can make in a life time. Although the devil made his attacks at the end of the Fast, we find the same attacks continuing by those who have ears to hear the voice of darkness. The Romans never tempted Jesus, the people only tempted Jesus when persuaded by the religious leaders, or their own lusts (Jn 6:25-31). The religious leaders were always looking for fault, and then tempted Jesus with theological questions based in the same three temptations we find here. For us the warfare is two-fold, we war against the wiles of the devil coming at us, but we also war against using them.

And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward hungry (4:2).

Here we find the forty days pertains to the fast; however, yet Mark says Jesus, “was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto Him” (Mark 1:13). We tend to look at the word Angel as a winged creation from heaven, but fail to see some angels are human beings, who are purposed as the messengers of God. Paul told the Galatians they received him as an angel of God (Gal 4:14), he also said, he spoke with the tongues of man and angels (I Cor 13:1). John shows us the angels were the few disciples who were with Jesus at the time (Jn 4:8 & 4:31).

The temptations came during the forty days and continued right up to the Cross, even to the point when the people called out, “If You be the Son of God….” (Matt 27:40). God’s purpose is always good, not evil; whereas, the devil seeks to destroy us; the event never tells the story, it’s the result telling the story (James 1:13). If we attend the evil, we gain nothing, if we attend the Precious, we gain all the good. The event can have freedom abounding, but if all we’re looking at is the evil, the freedom will pass us by, and we are left in our self-pity.

It’s important to know how the religious leaders had more power to resist Jesus than the devils. When Jesus made a command toward the devils, they obeyed, but the religious leaders resisted Him, tempted and accused Him. Jesus didn’t come to save the devils, they were the interference to the plan, really only a slight hindrance to the overall picture. Jesus came for the Jewish people, thus people have more power to resist Jesus than the devils. On the same note, those same people had the power to receive Jesus, over the devil’s objection. The lesson for any of us is how much power we have over darkness, even when we were subject to it. It couldn’t stop us from coming to Jesus, how much more power do we have now?

We don’t want to confuse the wilderness with the Garden of Gethsemane, the Garden experience is not associated with the devil’s temptation in any way, shape or form. The Cup facing Jesus in the Garden came from the Father, not the devil. The wilderness and the Garden are two different events, with two different purposes, yet we will face both our wilderness and our Gethsemane on our path of Righteousness.

And when the tempter came to Him, he said, If You be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread (4:3).

The phrase “the tempter” doesn’t mean the devil is the only one who tempts, rather it means his only means is to tempt us with evil. The same is true with the phrase, “I have created the waster to destroy”; thus the only thing the waster can do is destroy; however, we also know what God creates is good. The devil found the iniquity in his heart, showing he had choice, but God knowing all things allowed choice. God being God knew, yet allowed, just as He allowed Cain to kill his brother. It doesn’t mean God created evil, it means man and the angels have choice. A good God would grant us the opportunity to pick good or evil, thus the choice is ours, the result is in God’s plan. This is evidenced in the same verse (Isa 54:16), the smith blows in the coals, he has the choice to make a dinner fork, or an idol. The smith was created by God, but has choice. Man cannot create, thus anything formed against us shall not prosper, since those doing forming them are creations, and we serve the Creator. Simply, God created the devil perfect, the devil found iniquity when he equated his beauty as a product of his hand. Therefore, the devil formed himself into evil, yet God knew it; however, it only shows a formed evil has no power over the created being, unless the created being allows it.

Looking at the temptation we can see how Jesus was hungry, yet all the devil had was a suggestion. Although it may have sounded right, after all Jesus is the Son of God, the purpose for creation. Wait, what was the first leg of the ministry? Son of man, the devil is tempting Jesus to operate outside the granted position into another position, yet both positions belong to Jesus, but each has a time. Here the temptation is to enter the lust of the flesh, to make something happen based on the desire of the flesh. God created by taking the spiritual and making it physical, witchcraft reverses the premise by taking the natural or physical and attempting to make it spiritual. We gain the Spirit to become spiritual, but if we attempt to make a spiritual change by using natural methods we have entered witchcraft.

But He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (4:4).

Jesus is the Bread of Life, He gave His Body for us, thus we are the Body as the Bread (I Cor 10:17). Jesus being the Logos tells us we need the Proceeding Rhema as well as the Bread. What was the Proceeding Word here? Jesus was using Old Testament Scripture, yet He came to bring us the New. The New would not be in hand until Pentecost when the Holy Ghost brings the gift, thus for Jesus to use New methods before the time would be witchcraft. It’s the temptation, to use evil methods to reach what is presumed as a good result.

The Fall nature hovered over man like a big dark cloud, keeping mankind in the darkness, but the Proceeding Word came by Jesus, and a change was at hand, but not in hand. Later Jesus as the Logos will say the Rhema He speaks is life and Spirit (Jn 6:63). The Proceeding Word pertains to Life and Spirit, until Pentecost when Life by the Spirit was granted in the person by the Holy Ghost giving the Gift (Jn 7:39).

Although Jesus is talking about a Proceeding Word, we find He used words from the Law to rebuke the devil. The Law of Moses is a Power and a Principality, it was sent to expose and convict sin. The devil is the cause of sin, but each of us took of the fruit willingly. Why didn’t Jesus use words of Grace? The devil has nothing to do with Grace, he is bound under sin and death. It’s also obvious Jesus believed the validity of the Scriptures, and confidence in the Bible is always displayed by what credence we give it. If we approach it with unbelief, it’s what we will produce. Looking for words from other unbelievers regarding the Bible never negates our unbelief.

Then the devil took Him up into the holy city and sat Him on a pinnacle of the temple and said unto Him, If You be the Son of God, cast Yourself down: for it is written, He shall give His angels charge concerning You: and in their hands they shall bear You up, lest at any time You dash Your foot against a stone (4:5-6).

Wait, hello, hold it, the Spirit took Jesus into the wilderness, but the devil took Jesus to the temple? How could this be? Did Jesus allow the devil to take Him? If not, does it mean the devil had more power than Jesus? Not at all, this shows how Jesus allowed to a point, but the purpose was to defeat the devil at the place. Now, did the devil take Him in a physical sense, or by vision? The word “took” is the Greek Paralambano which means By association, it has a meaning regarding receiving something transmitted, whether physical or mental. This verse shows the devil brought a Vision laced with a temptation. There were the people, the very reason Jesus came; there were all the religious people, all He had to do was make a show of Power to display His greatness, just convince them He was the Son of God by some great act. Who cares if it appears like “Jesus Christ and His traveling puppet show”, at least the people will be amazed, and perhaps even believe. However, this is still as the “Son of God”, the temptation is still to operate outside the call in order to obtain something at the devil’s suggestion. Grace could not come until Mercy was first granted, thus we come boldly to the Throne of Grace to first Obtain Mercy, and then Find Grace.

What did the devil use? Psalm 91:10 says, “there shall no evil befall you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling”, but this is only effective when God, “gives His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your way” (Ps 91:11). It was the “way” part the devil rejected, rather it was his way he offered. The context shows If we are seeking God, then God will protect us, it doesn’t say we are to tempt God then run about assuming the angels will protect us.

All the verses Jesus quotes are from Deuteronomy, the Book of the Second Law (Deut 8:3, 6:16 & 6:13). Our Old Testament lessons will pay off in our understanding of the Gospel. The devil is the enforcer of the curse, but it’s still the Lord who brings the curse, how can this be? Who spoke the Law into existence, God or the devil? God did, but He will not enforce the curse, the Law has the power to bring either blessing or cursing. The devil takes advantage of the curse, thus the curse never comes without cause (Prov 26:2). Remove the cause, remove the curse, or be removed from the realm where the curse is active to be set free. Some of us spend days fighting the curse, but fail to consider the “cause”.

Jesus said unto him, It is written again, You shall not tempt the Lord your God (4:7).

Jesus didn’t say, “You shall not make Me tempt the Lord My God”, rather He pointed right at the devil and said, you shall not, thus God is still God, and the devil was tempting Jesus to tempt the Father by operating in a position before the Time.

Back in Genesis the devil limited himself to the three temptations he presented at the tree, but he was also limited to the “dust” or flesh of man. Therefore, if we impute the flesh dead by the Cross of Jesus, we make the temptations of the devil ineffective. The devil uses the pride of life, the lust of the eye or flesh. Each of those is being used here, if the devil had more weapons he would have used them. Jesus was being tempted, but the temptation was not complete until He did something based on the suggestion of the devil. Since He never did one thing based on the suggestion of the devil, the temptation never took effect, thus He was never “tempted”. This alone shows Jesus as the Son of Man was still free of any and all lusts. The devil reached to the lust of the eye, but there was none. The devil reached to the lust of the flesh, but there was none. The devil reached to the pride of life, but there was none. When faced with temptation we run to the New Man, in Him is the victory. We discern, we don’t burn.

Again, the devil took Him up into an exceeding high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them; and said unto Him, All these things will I give You, if You will fall down and worship me (4:8-9).

The exceeding high mountain is Zion, thus Jesus is shown the entire nation of Israel, whether they are in Abraham’s Bosom, in the pit of hell, or walking on the earth. The devil is tempting Jesus to take one step of compromise to gain every Jew from times past, to times present. The entire Mountain, each rock, pebble, or bit of sand was being presented; however, not only would this negate the choice of the person, but it’s a form of deception beyond deception. The moment Jesus made the move to bow to the devil, He would have surrendered His authority to the devil. In all this we find Jesus came to do these things, but not by using the ways of the devil. The end would not justify the means.

The same three evil temptations come from the same tree, but with different wording. The religious rulers will tempt Jesus as well, but with different wording, yet still within the confines of the three temptations. Therefore, the Word of God is able to separate and discern the intent from the thought, before we either use or buy the words of darkness.

The self nature is the target for the temptations, yet Jesus was void of the self nature. Is this unfair or unequal? Not at all, Jesus took the devil on for us, our battles aren’t with the devil, our battles are against the works (wiles) of the devil (Eph 6:11). How could it be unfair if Jesus also made it possible for us to have the New Man, Jesus in us, the Hope of glory? It would be unfair if we didn’t have the New Man, but it’s not the case, we do.

The devil is crazy, but he’s not stupid, he knows the minute we attempt to use the ways of the world to accomplish what we think is a Godly result we give him opportunity to enter our lives. Using the wiles of the devil is not Godly, the old saying, “The end justifies the means”, is defeat for the Christian. The devil tempts us to use something of his to gain the result, but when we put on the New Man and submit to God’s methods we will defeat the temptation before it takes place.

Then said Jesus unto him, Get you hence, Satan: for it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve (4:10).

Again Jesus says, “You Shall”, thereby, pointing out even the devil will worship the Lord in the end. The devil said, “If You are”, but Jesus remained as the Son of man pointing to the effectiveness of the Mercy of God. Jesus defeated the devil in the wilderness not by miracles, but by Mercy. The Resurrection will bring Grace making the devil ineffective (destroyed – Heb 2:14).

Don’t think it we won’t have a similar experience, whether it’s the wiles of the devil, or one of his workers, there will be a time when we will be offered the “height of Zion” if we just take money, or curb our message a little. The temptation to bow to the works of the devil will come, but the Word in us is still able to warn, guide and resist the temptation. None of these temptations pointed to being rich, each pointed to something Jesus came to do. However, when these temptations are over He will say, “the Spirit of the Lord is upon Me because He has anointed Me”, there will be no mention of, “The anointing is on Me, because I defeated the devil”.

The word Rebuke means to Forbid, or Command Someone Not To Do Something, the command from Jesus was to forbid Satan from invading the Kingdom of God. Jesus discerned the deception and defeated it. The ministry would remain on course, the Lamb of God will remain on course as well.

Putting all three of the responses from Jesus together, we find the path we must walk in order to overcome the wicked one. We see these as, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word proceeding from the mouth of God, you shall not tempt the Lord your God, but you shall worship the Lord your God, Him only shall you serve”. This is the heart of warfare, having our mind centered on God.

Then the devil left Him and behold, angels came and ministered unto Him (4:11).

The angels are noted in John as the disciples who ministered to Jesus at the end of the forty day fast (Jn 4:31-33).

Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, He departed into Galilee (4:12).

This is a key point in time, here in Matthew and in Mark we find when the wilderness ends John is in prison, but in John we find John the Baptist was baptizing at the same as the disciples of Jesus, then we find the time when Jesus minister to the woman at the well would be the end of the wilderness experience. John also shows during the wilderness time Jesus was cleaning out the temple of those who sold doves, went to the wedding in Cana, all before John was cast into prison (Jn 3:22). The wilderness experience of Jesus was not kicking sand, but doing the things of the ministry. The wilderness for us isn’t physical, it’s internal.

Nazareth is a city in the area of Galilee, Luke says Jesus returned to Galilee in the Power of the Spirit, and taught in the synagogues (Luke 4:14-15). The purpose of our wilderness, and the saving of the soul is to provide us the ability to say, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me…” (Luke 4:18-19). The Spirit brings us the ability to be the Power of His Christ. After Jesus left Galilee, He would go to Capernaum (Luke 4:31). However, along the way He would stop in Cana, where He would perform His second miracle (Jn 4:46-54). This is not to be confused with the healing in Capernaum of the Centurion’s servant (Matt 8:5). John clears up the issue, showing Jesus did the “second” miracle while in Cana, but the result was in Capernaum, it’s not saying Jesus was in Capernaum (Jn 4:46-54).

Cana is just north of Nazareth and on the way to Capernaum, thus Jesus leaving Nazareth and going to Capernaum, then Mark and Matthew pick up the events in Capernaum. Mark moves from the baptism to the temptations, then shows John the Baptist in prison, then Jesus going to Galilee, but instead of talking about anything happening in Nazareth or Cana, Mark goes right to the sea of Galilee. Here in Matthew we pick up the events as Jesus leaves Nazareth and going toward Capernaum. From all the accounts we find after the wilderness, Jesus went back to Nazareth, the few disciples He had at the time all went back to their homes, including the two who left John’s ministry to join to Jesus. In John’s Account Jesus meets Peter, but it’s introduction only (Jn 1:41-42). Peter is not called until after the forty day fast, as Luke, Matthew and Mark show. The ministry didn’t go from “out of the water to all the disciples, to the cross”, it was Progressive in nature.

And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: (4:13).

In the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry the area of Capernaum was bordered by Gaulanitis and Ulatha; however, in the time of the kings, Capernaum was known as Chinnereth bordered by Zabulon to the north-east, and Nephthalim to the north-west.

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, The land of Zabulon and the land Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up (4:14-16).

The quote is two fold, first we find Isaiah 9:1-2, in which the prophet said a Great Light would come to the area of darkness. Then Isaiah 42:7 in which the blind eyes will be opened, and the prisoners will be set free; “them who sit in darkness out of the prison house”, which is the definition and being set free indeed; therefore, what the devil said he could do, Jesus will do, without any suggestion or assistance from the devil.

From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (4:17).

This is an important verse showing how the Process advances; clearly the Kingdom of heaven was not “in hand”, but “at” hand. Although we find Jesus did many things during the wilderness experience, the true Advancement of the ministry didn’t begin until the Wilderness was complete. For us it’s clear, we must face our wilderness with joy and gladness of heart.

This verse doesn’t say Jesus Began, it says He began to Preach, which helps us understand His conversations with Nicodemus and the woman at the well were teaching one on one. Jesus didn’t heal anyone in the wilderness, His disciples baptized others, but they were not sent out to heal or preach (Jn 3:22-24). Time and Timing are vital, we can’t jump the gun, or we could get shot.

The Greek word for Power is Dunamis, but even the false prophet has Dunamis; therefore, Dunamis has a range of effectiveness. We get our English words, dynamo and dynamite from the Greek Dunamis. We know one stick of dynamite can get the attention of a few, but a thousand sticks will move the mountain. One can have a few sticks of dynamite, and cause the devil concern but when we come with an unlimited amount of dynamite the devil runs as fast as he can, taking his works with him.

There is Dunamis in the natural and in the spiritual, but the only ones endowed with Spiritual Dunamis are those who are Spiritual (makes sense). Dunamis is the power to carry out a set chore, the false prophet has power to do evil, his authority is from the Beast of the Sea. Authority is the right to do something, power the ability to carry it out. We have the Authority of Jesus with the Power of His Christ, much different from the false.

And Jesus walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishermen (4:18).

Andrew was one of John the Baptist’s disciples, Andrew brought his brother Simon (Peter) to Jesus the day after the baptism (Jn 1:40). It was then when Simon’s name was changed to Peter, thus he was already known as Peter before Jesus called him (Jn 1:42). Luke would add more to this, showing how one is called, but there is a time to wait to be chosen, then comes the training into the position. This is one of the “threes” Peter will face, in this case we find the introduction in John, the call in Matthew, the acceptance in Luke.

And He said unto them, Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men (4:19).

The prophet Jeremiah said the Lord will send many fishers, but he also said we are the hunters who go to every mountain (Jere 16:16). The fishers of men don’t capture men, they toss the net (Gospel). The net grabs both good and bad fish, bringing them into the kingdom of heaven. Jude tells us to Keep ourselves in the love of God, looking for the Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life (future tense), as far as the Net on some have compassion, making a difference (good fish), with others save (from the world) with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh (Jude 21-23). Ahh, the Gospel is the net, we toss it to build the Rock, but Jesus builds the Church.

Jesus tells Peter and Andrew, He will make them fishers of men, which is future tense. Later Jesus would say, “from henceforth you shall catch men” (Luke 5:10).

And they straightaway left their nets, and followed Him. And going on from thence, He saw other two brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father and followed Him (4:20-22).

James Zebedee is not the same James who wrote the Book of James. James Zebedee was the first Apostle killed (Acts 12:2), Stephen was the first disciple killed (Acts 7:59-60). Neither is this Philip the one called “Philip the Evangelist”, Philip the Evangelist was one of the Seven picked by the Apostles as deacons, later anointed by Jesus as the only man in the Bible called an Evangelist (Acts 6:5 & 21:8). Both Philip the Apostle and Philip the Evangelist cast out devils and healed the sick, but Philip the Evangelist was appointed after Pentecost, Philip the Apostle before.

A man by the name of Alphaeus would be the father of Matthew; however, before Matthew was called by Jesus, he was known as Levi (Mark 2:14, Matt 9:9 & Luke 5:27). Mark shows right after Peter, Andrew and the Zebedee brothers were called, Jesus entered the synagogue in Capernaum to teach (Mark 1:19-21). Matthew expands this to all of Galilee, but Luke shows Jesus taught on the sabbath days in Capernaum, then Jesus taught from one of Simon’s ships (Luke 4:31 & 5:3-5). Luke shows Peter, Andrew and the Zebedee brothers were all partners in the fishing business (Luke 5:10). Although they left the act of fishing in Matthew’s account, they would later leave all to serve Jesus.

At this point in time the boat belonged to Simon, thus he still the fisherman of fish, but he will become a fisher of men, making Simon the fisherman, Peter the disciple (Luke 5:5, 5:8 & Acts 10:1-31). Peter had to make his decision, and after he makes Jesus, Lord, then he will forsake all to follow Jesus (Luke 5:11).

During these first few days Peter would admit he was a sinful man and not worthy, which is the fruit of repentance. None of us are worthy, it’s Christ who makes us worthy. All of us have sinned, it’s Christ who makes us sinless. Jesus who was sinless took on sin for us. We who were completely unrighteous, were granted His righteousness.

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the Gospel of the kingdom and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people (4:23).

These are signs following Jesus, but Mark shows the signs follow those who believe, so who is believing here? Jesus? Sure, without question, but so are the people. Their faith brought them to Jesus, their belief was based in their baptism. Once John the Baptist was cast into prison we don’t see anyone being baptized under his ministry. His disciples will come to Jesus, but nonetheless the ministry of John ceased when Jesus came out of the wilderness.

Jesus taught, preached the Gospel and healed, it takes all three to bring the Gospel. It’s interesting we don’t find “casting out devils” here, but it’s included in the aspect of healing. These people were separated from the world, but they were not privy to Grace until Pentecost. Their understanding of Mercy was simple, “If I’m forgiven of my sins, I’m healed”, or “if God gives me mercy, then I’m free of devils”. So, what has their faith to do with it? If faith is future, then their healings were predicated on coming to Jesus after their baptism. Their water baptism didn’t heal them, nor did it cast out the devils, but it was preparation, thus once they believed the purpose of their baptism their faith reached toward Jesus.

And His fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto Him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments and those which were possessed with devils and those which were lunatic and those that had the palsy; and He healed them (4:24).

Matthew lists five products wherein Mercy and Pardon of sins can reverse the curse; diseases, torments, devil possession, lunatics and the palsy, all of which were products of falling into the curse of the Law. If the Law is nailed to the Cross, then it’s nailed. To do any deed of the Law to gain a benefit from God, means we have placed ourselves back under the Law. If under the Law we have turned away from the Cross, and become subject to the curse. Colossians 2:14-17 says the entire Law was nailed, not just the points we don’t like. The Law of Moses is a Witness, but it’s a Witness unto Judgment, not Salvation. Do the Law of Moses and be judged by it, do the Law of the Spirit and be saved by it.

Jesus first went to them, now they are coming to Him. The signs and wonders drew the people, but His teaching brought a basis for belief. When Jesus spoke the Rhema, faith came, when faith came, the people were healed. All these people knew the Law, many would hear the Pharisees and scribes teach the Law, but faith only came when they Heard Jesus.

Jesus was doing what the Pharisees refused to do; Ezekiel prophesied a strong rebuke to the shepherds of Israel by saying, “Woe be to the shepherds of Israel who do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?” (Ezek 34:2). Jesus was feeding the flock, not Himself. Ezekiel continued with, “the diseased have you not strengthened, neither have you healed the sick, neither have you bound up what was broken, neither have you brought again what was driven away, neither have you sought what was lost; but with force and with cruelty have you ruled them” (Ezek 34:4). The Pharisees rejected the correction, refused the call, and ignored the rebuke, yet they watched Jesus going about doing the exact deeds they were suppose to do. The Pharisees had the deeds of the Law, but rejected the Mercy, God desired Mercy, rather than sacrifice. Peter would equate this to us by telling us not to take the oversight of the flock by constraint, but rather willingly (I Pet 5:1-4).

In Ezekiel the word Force means To Use Forcefulness Of Emotion or as we know it, Manipulation. The word Cruelty means To Fracture or to Break, meaning to break apart from something. It begins by some self-centered Pharisee bringing unbelief and doubt, moving us from Mercy and Love. It doesn’t pass away, we move from it; however, we can move back to it faster than we moved from it.

These people weren’t seeking Grace, they were seeking Mercy, by seeking they received. God is still a Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him above all else. We may not break down the wall in one day, one prayer, or one sermon, but we still have the promise, if we seek, ask and knock with the expectant persistence coupled with an anticipation of receiving, the wall will fall, and the Mercy and Glory will flow again.

And there followed Him great multitudes of people from Galilee and from Decapolis and from Jerusalem and from Judea and from beyond Jordan (4:25).

Jesus taught them, healed them, then they came to Him, now they follow Him. We maintain by following Jesus, yet there are some who seek the healing, not the Healer, some chase after the prosperity, yet they won’t seek the Kingdom of God. Some make the decision for power, yet deny the call to Follow Jesus.

The ministry now goes beyond the Jordan, reaching to the outcasts, of whom many of us were.

And seeing the multitudes, He went up into a mountain: and when He was set, His disciples came unto Him: (5:1).

Moses went to the mountain alone, Jesus takes the people to the Mountain. If we desire to follow Jesus up this Mountain, we must say to the destroying mountain, Be Gone. The Law of Moses had two mountains, one for blessing and the destroying mountain of the curse. Jesus used One Mountain for Mercy, and One for Grace (Mount of Transfiguration); however, we must follow Jesus up the Mount of Olives to obtain our Mercy.

The metaphor Olive points to the Anointing, here we find if we want the anointing to flow, walk in Mercy. There is an anointing in the office, one in the Law, and one over the prophets, but there is one based in Mercy, and one in us based in Grace. Positional authority dictates which anointing is working at the moment. Here Jesus teaches them how to maintain, or how to “go and sin no more”.

These areas of Mercy are the mainstay for them to do the will of the Father, they show us Jesus operated in Mercy, the forgiveness of sin on the earth. As yet the Door to heaven was not open, their sins were forgiven on earth, but only the Sacrifice of Jesus could bring forgiveness and Remission from heaven. This also gives the connection between Mercy and Grace, since Grace is the Kingdom of God, then Mercy relates to the kingdom of heaven. Mercy is our mainstay to keep us in line to walk in the Kingdom of God, thus we are in the kingdom of heaven, the Kingdom of God is within. The only difference between a vessel of honor and one of dishonor is Mercy, one grants it, the other does not.

And He opened His mouth and taught them saying, (5:2).

This teaching begins at Matthew 5:3 and goes until Matthew 7:27, some call these areas the Beatitudes meaning The Blessing Attitude or the Attitude to gain the Blessing. Mercy being the center of the Will of the Father shows these deeds of Mercy are Commandments, not suggestions. Jesus will call them the Least Commandments, but it doesn’t refer to them being less, it means they are the least we can do.

Moses went up the hill, gained the Tablets of stone, came down and found the people engaged in idol worship. Jesus goes up the mount to show the people how to cast down idols. The children in the wilderness cried all the time for food, Jesus fasted. The children lost, Jesus won. The children attacked God and the man of God, Jesus stood with God as the Son of man. The children heard the Ten Commandments and demanded a man to stand between them and God. Jesus as the Mediator will stand for all these people, and us. The Law of Moses became a barrier, Jesus is breaking down barriers. Moses had a Law with both cursing and blessing, Jesus won’t even mention the word “curse”. The Law of Moses was mandatory, either do it or be cursed. Here Jesus is presenting, if you want to be free, here are the keys. If not, at least you can’t say the keys weren’t offered. Jesus begins by showing there is a Blessing waiting for anyone who reaches out to Jesus.

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (5:3).

The word Blessed is the Greek Makarioi meaning Fully Satisfied, it entails a progressive mode, rather than a static one. The word Poor here is the Greek Ptochios meaning Poor and unable to do anything about it, not just lacking. The figure of speech “poor in spirit” is also a Jewish idiom meaning “without hope”, or without reason for hope. Jesus shows if we are Called of God, we have Hope. The phrase, “poor in spirit” also reads, Humble in Heart; however, in this we find the metaphor Heart points to Spirit, these people were still under the hand of the spirit of man, thus it was making them “poor”, but the promise of the Kingdom is at hand, thus it’s still receive Mercy, to find Grace.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted (5:4).

Instead of rejoicing over the fall of others, we mourn. If we mourn, God will comfort us. This also reaches to the Remnant, Jesus is still Lord of both Seasons. Mourning is just the opposite of rejoicing over the iniquity of others. Pride will rejoice over the failure of others, but those who mourn over the failure of others are those who have compassion. Compassion and Mercy are sisters, they belong to the same family.

Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth (5:5).

To inherit the earth doesn’t mean we possess the planet, this blessing connects to Psalm 37 where we find two groups of Meek. We also find out what Meek means, as well as finding out what the metaphor Earth means. Those who Wait on the Lord shall inherit the earth (Ps 37:9), those who shall delight themselves in “the abundance” of Peace shall also inherit the earth (Ps 37:11). This isn’t “peace” by itself, but the abundance of Peace, which entails Peace with God. The Jews are known by the metaphor Sand of the Sea, the Gentile by the metaphor Sea, but here we find the word Earth. The verse doesn’t say the Meek will inherit the Sea, or the Sand of the Sea, nor does it say the Heavens. The metaphor Earth relates to the kingdom of heaven, thus this relates to the kingdom of heaven, not the planet earth, or the “world”.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled (5:6).

Clearly the context of these attributes of the proper attitude point to the heart, here it points to the basis to obtain the Kingdom of God and the Righteousness of Jesus. God’s Mercy gives us the position to seek the Grace of God, the basis of Mercy is the ability to forgive, much of what Jesus is teaching us here is how to forgive and why. It’s interesting how Jesus said hunger and thirst, making a reference to the Body and Blood of Jesus.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy (5:7).

Here is the heart of the matter. Jesus didn’t say, Blessed are the Graceful, rather this points to Mercy. Mercy is an attitude ready to forgive, before there is a cause. This also shows Process; in order to get Mercy, we have to make the decision to give it. This principle is true with a great many things in the kingdom of heaven. Our first act of Mercy is forgiving everyone, but let’s face it there are people in our past, and perhaps in our life now whom we are hard pressed to forgive. What to do? If we don’t forgive, we won’t obtain Mercy, and we won’t be blessed. Imputing: blessed is the person to whom God does not impute sin, but we’re blessed when we impute forgiveness on others. The decision is first, we want to do it because it’s the right thing to do, but we must first impute, thus we pray for them. It may take some doing, or time, but as we enter therein we find the Mercy of God beginning to flow, then comes the ability, then the freedom. Mercy is a Key, if we loose people by forgiving them, then God will loose His Mercy on us. If we bind people by refusing to forgive them, then we have bound God’s Mercy in heaven from us. Incentive.

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God (5:8).

The word Pure used here means To Become Pure By Washing, it points to the Washing of the Water by the Word. The metaphor Water points to Mercy, this verse shows Mercy isn’t a one time endeavor, rather in order to remain Balanced we must hold both Mercy and Grace.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God (5:9).

The word Peacemaker is not to be confused with some form of world peace keeper. This connects to God’s Wisdom, “and the fruit of Righteousness is sown in Peace of them who make Peace” (James 3:18). This type of Peace is a Peace with God, by making peace with the brethren. This is not a peace between nations of the world, or making peace in the world. The rebuke for lacking this type of Peace is, “from where come wars and fighting among you? come they not hence, of your lusts warring against your members?” (James 4:1). James points to this very issue, later Jesus will show when two or three are gathered together in His name, there He is, which relates to making Peace between one another. The enemy knows ungodly “division” is not only carnal, but it’s very destructive. Ungodly division is a gate of hell, it hinders, causes people to go in other directions. If we spend most of our time fighting each other, how much time is left for the work of the Lord?

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (5:10).

God doesn’t Persecute us, the word Persecute means To Run Behind With Hot Breath, thus God is not behind us with hot breath, but the he in the world is. The Righteousness of God will always offend those who use self-righteousness (Rom 10:3-4). God does bring affliction, the word Affliction means To Rub In Pain, but the pain is not to destroy us, but to expose the dangers come from using the works of the devil. If we jump from mountain top to mountain top, where is faith? If we seek pleasure alone, where is praise? We are not persecuted for self-righteousness, but for the Sake Of God’s Righteousness. We gain God’s Righteousness after we seek the Kingdom of God, not before. Cults think they are persecuted for their righteousness, but they confuse being rebuked for error with righteousness, there is a vast difference.

Blessed are you, when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you (5:11-12).

This isn’t saying all manner of evil against theology’s sake, or saying things of truth, but painful: meaning a direct attack against the anointing, or something antichrist in nature attacking our stand in Mercy. This has to be falsely for the Sake of Jesus, the word Sake means Because Of and includes the purpose, or what caused the attack. Theology doesn’t disrupt the world, in fact, they enjoy much of man’s theology, it’s the Ways of Jesus offending the unbeliever. Love covers a multitude of sins, but it also exposes unbelief in others.

The meaning of the word Righteousness goes further than Right Standing, rather it includes being Just In a Perfect Position, thus Mercy grants us Right Standing on earth, but being perfect in Mercy is not the same as being Perfect in Grace. Grace is a position, granting us Right Standing in heaven. Mercy is supernatural, Grace is spiritual. Mercy gives us a condition, whereas, Grace gives us a position of spiritual effectiveness. Mercy comes from making Jesus our Savior, Grace comes as Jesus is our Lord, thus no one calls Jesus Lord but by the Holy Ghost (I Cor 12:3).

The word Stand has several meanings, all of which pertain to “when you have done all to Stand, Stand therefore” (Eph 6:13-14). We Stand by understanding the position and condition (Eph 1:13, 1:19, 2:2, 2:8-9, 2:14-15, 2:18, 3:7, 3:12, 4:1, 4:17, 4:22-24 & 4:26-5:2). The word Stand means, to take an upright position, remain stable, unchanged, to remain without wavering, not disturbed by events, to withstand, to tolerate, to encounter and resist, to refuse complacency, to defend, and to maintain a course. When we have done all to Stand, then we can Stand.

The word Rejoice means To Be Full Of Cheer, which entails holding Cheer in the face of adversity. This is not a mask of joy to cover the anger, rather this is obtaining the Joy of the Lord to avoid the anger. The quickest way to lose clarity and discernment, is to get mad. Once anger comes, Mercy goes out the widow. The phrase Exceeding Glad means Jump High For Joy, thus it’s not just jumping, but where we’re jumping to. We can jump from the frying pan into the fire, or jump to reach Jesus. This phrase indicates being lifted by our joy, or jumping by Joy above the event. It’s our Joy causing us to jump, thus it’s not jumping to find joy, but the joy causing us to jump.

You are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men (5:13).

Salt preserves and adds flavor, but it’s made up from two elements. Salt is also known as Sodium Chloride, either of these compounds by their self will kill us, but together they add zest to our food, more important they Preserve. Lot’s wife became the salt of the earth, but in her case she lacked the chloride, becoming a pile of waste (sodium). This verse above all others shows the importance of the change in natures taking place in us by the Engrafted Word. The earth is Preserved by those who walk in Mercy, remove them, and it falls apart. The Engrafted Word is bringing God’s Mercy as a part of our nature, we will do by Nature what Christ did by His Nature.

The phrase, Lose His Savor, means to become Foolish or Insipid. Insipid means Lacking Interest, or losing the proper attitude. Paul used the same Greek word translated as “Lost His Savor” in I Corinthians 1:20, only there it was translated as “Foolish” in the phrase, “Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” (I Cor 1:20). The comparison is how losing one’s salt causes them to use the wisdom of the world, making them foolish in the manner in which they deal with events and people.

You are the Light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid (5:14).

Were these people the Light? Hardly, the Light is Jesus, their Light didn’t come until the New Birth. These are teachings sent to two groups; first was the preserving of the Earth, now it’s a “city”. There are two Lights, the Greater Light of the Day and the Lesser Light of the Night, thus we find two groups in Mercy, but only one who has Grace.

Jesus said, “I Am the Vine and you are the branches…” (Jn 15:1-5). Jesus added, “I am the Light of the world: he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the Light of life” (Jn 8:12). The Light of Life is the Greater Light, yet in order to Follow Jesus we must first deny the self and pick up our cross. Before we can deny the self we have to prepare the ground by the attitudes of Mercy. Mercy is something the old man hates, he will use excuses, makes his calls for justice, vindictiveness, or validation, but his methods are always self-based. The Mercy of God is granted to those who ask forgiveness of their sins, or who receive forgiveness of their sins, in either case once the step is accomplished the ability to walk in Mercy is granted.

Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel but on a candlestick; and it gives light unto all that are in the house (5:15).

Our Light is not to be destructive, nor is our liberty is not to be flaunted before people. Light draws those who seek the Light, but it also causes some to flee based on their fear of the Light. Those who love darkness more than Light will attack the Light, but they will never defeat it. We have the Switch in our hand, turn it on and the Light shines, shut it off and fall prey to the darkness.

Let your Light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven (5:16).

Here we find the Light is Mercy based, since it’s related to “good works” and the “Father”. When we find the Father mentioned it usually relates to Mercy, and Grace is connected to Jesus as the Son of God, yet the ability to perform Grace is by the Gift given by the Holy Ghost, one God all in all. The Greater Light is then connected to Mercy and Grace, the Lesser Light to Mercy.

Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets: I am not come to destroy but to fulfill (5:17).

There were two ways to claim fulfillment, Jesus could tell them, “the Law of Moses is dead”, but it can’t be since it’s the very product those who do the Law are judged of. The Law is also one of the Two Witnesses in the Night, thus Jesus isn’t doing away with the Law, rather He is presenting another Law for those who desire to be spiritual in nature. This gives the second way, we complete the Law by imputing death by the Cross of Jesus. The word Fulfill means to Complete, or Bring To It’s Intended Purpose. The Law of Moses only benefits until the death of the doer, then it turns and becomes the judge of the doer. The Cross provided a way to complete the Law of Moses while we yet are alive, thus we can be considered dead, making the Power of the Resurrection available to us now.

Both the Law and Commandments are nailed to the Cross, they were handwritings against us (Col 2:14-16). Only someone with an ego as big as the earth would think they did all the Commandments to the letter, the Commandments were never “try, try again”, they were “thou shall”, meaning if we violated one, we violated them all. Did you ever what something someone else had, just because? Thou shall not covet.

For verily, I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or tittle shall in no wise pass from the Law, till all be fulfilled (5:18).

This is conditional on heaven and earth being intact, but it also shows a time of “passing”, thus the Law of Moses will pass, when All is fulfilled. This has to connect to, “it’s appointed unto all men once to die, then comes the judgment”. It’s important to keep in mind how the Law of Moses is only beneficial until death, then it becomes the judge of the doer. If all physical life has ceased and the Judgment passed, there is no need for the Law. However, the Law of the Spirit continues on.

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven (5:19).

This points to someone who teaches us to ignore Mercy, which is done by teaching us to seek vengeance, or make flesh and blood our enemy. Paul told us there is an element to the ministry of reconciliation connected to Mercy, in II Corinthians chapter 5 we find God in Christ reconciled the world unto Himself, by Not imputing their trespasses unto them, the Word of Reconciliation is committed unto us (II Cor 5:19). It connects to, “And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you” (Eph 4:32). We imputed death by the Cross to receive the Mercy of God, we are then expected not to impute sins on people, rather we impute Mercy.

The word Break doesn’t mean to Violate, rather it means to Dissolve. To Dissolve means to cast down, or attempt to do away with, or to ignore. We can teach faith for hours, then turn around and teach people how to get even with other people, finding ourselves in violation of this Commandment. Nonetheless there is something vital here, they shall be called “least in the kingdom of heaven”, yet the Least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John! Therefore, John was greater than all those before him, including Elijah, David, Moses, or Noah. How much more do we have if we walk in the Mercy and Grace of Christ?

For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven (5:20).

The righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees was self-righteousness, but they worked at it twenty-four hours a day. Self-righteousness is timed, one works to obtain something, once it’s obtained the act is dead, and they must begin a new. How could a working fisherman beat that? How about obtaining a Righteousness it’s better than self-righteousness. Jesus will get to it, and Paul will confirm it by saying Christ is the end of the Law for self-righteousness, yet the beginning of the Law of the Spirit unto God’s righteousness (Rom 10:4).

You have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shall not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment (5:21).

God gave Moses a Law, Moses gave it to the people, thus Jesus says, Them of old time, rather than “God told you”. Under the Law of Moses one could hate their brother, they just couldn’t kill him. This connects to First John, the brother who hates his brother is in darkness (I Jn 2:11). Hate includes envy, slander, evil talking, using the Bible against people or accusing them falsely, all of which have nothing to do with the Bible doing the rebuking and correction, it has to do with someone using the Bible incorrectly to support their self-conclusions on what someone should, or should not do. We can’t use the old man to vent our anger, neither can we use the Bible to support a wanton theology, then claim we are products of the New Man.

Clearly Jesus is giving Commandment, He is not doing away with the Old, rather He is going to show us how to go beyond the Old by obtaining the New. Like the wilderness, there is a place between, yet what we pick up from God in the wilderness we’re to carry with us to the other side.

But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, You fool, shall be in danger of hell fire (5:22).

Be angry and sin not, let not your anger speak or act for you. Jesus gives us the first of the least Commandments, instead of saying, Moses said, or So saith the Lord, He begins with, “I say unto you”; thereby, as the Son of man He is overriding the prior Law of Moses with a Proceeding Word of Mercy. He will couple this area with His position as the Son of God in Grace; therefore we come to the throne of Grace to Obtain Mercy and Find Grace.

Paul used this same area in telling the Ephesians how to Stand (Eph 4:26). Paul’s use of the phrase, Let not the sun go down, doesn’t mean we can keep the anger until night falls, rather it means to act Quickly in Mercy, before the Night comes. Anger is destructive, it doesn’t care who it hurts. We are angry at sin and what it does, but we don’t take anger out on the sinner, nor do we allow anger to guide or instruct us.

The word Fool used here is the Greek Moros, but the context is based in using it from a position of anger, not just saying it. Jesus just said, “every one who hears these sayings of Mine, and does them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man….” (Matt 7:26). Proverbs talks more about the fool, than the wise man. When speaking about the ten virgins Jesus says five were Foolish, and He used the same Greek word (Matt 25:2). Paul used this Greek word several times, in writing to Titus, he said, “but avoid foolish questions” (Titus 3:9); in writing to Timothy he said, “but foolish and unlearned questions avoid” (II Tim 2:23); in writing to the Corinthians he would say, “..has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” (I Cor 1:20); with, “because the foolishness of God is wiser than man;” (I Cor 1:25); adding, “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise..” (I Cor 1:27). Paul also called the Galatians foolish, thus the context in Matthew shows the intent is based in Anger, as well as saying the person is without God (godless), rather than simply using the words Fool or Raca. Both Jesus and Paul called people “fools”; however, neither used anger as their intent, and neither used the Greek Moros, thus their intent was to bring exposure unto correction to bring perfection.

The one who spoke in anger must seek to amend, but they also have to recognize how their anger motivated them. If we speak from our anger, or allow our anger to speak for us, we allowed a ruler of darkness to guide us. If it’s the case, we immediately seek the other person’s forgiveness, which entails humbleness on our part, thus humbleness destroys the pride which produced the anger. We can benefit, even in some outburst of anger, if we so desire. If we’re the victim, we immediately forgive the other person. Mercy entails Forgiveness on both sides.

There are three areas Jesus covers regarding anger, the first is holding anger without cause. Being motivated by Anger is not the same as “with cause”, anger without cause is an Anger with Disrespect (Raca – from Aramaic meaning useless, senseless, without any purpose, or godless), developing into bitterness. The root of bitterness is the cause for falling from Grace (Heb 12:15). However, if we spoke as an oracle of God, and the other person became angry it’s different, their anger is a sign of their rebellion. The source always determines the purpose.

We do get angry when we see someone playing with faith, or using mind games, but we never allow anger to guide or motivate us. Also we never get mad at the person, get mad at what holds the person captive. It’s strange at best, someone who is guided by the old man thinks they have it all together, but they are being used in a carnal way to bring about carnal disruptions. Feel sorry for them, but don’t get mad at them. On the same note we know Jesus was angry with the Pharisees, but the Pharisees gave Him just cause to be angry, yet He never allowed His anger to guide or act for Him. Jesus always gave them a way out as He always spoke the Truth in Love. Jesus told them, they were of their father the devil and the lusts of their father they would do, but it doesn’t mean Jesus beat them silly every time He was confronted by them. Jesus cleaned out the temple, and it’s clear He was angry, but not at the money changers, but what they were doing to the people of God. It’s the clue to God’s anger, God’s anger is kindled against evil, God hates the ways of the Wicked (Prov 6:16-19).

Peter, Paul, James, Jude and John all spoke about the false brothers in words anything but flattering. They called them antichrist, false teachers, self-transformed, mockers, self-willed or sons of perdition. The intent behind the writers was not to belittle the false ones, but to teach what to look for; therefore we judge the ways of a person, not the person.

Jesus will explain this deeper, showing the other side of the coin, or the reaction of the victim. If some brother or sister has unforgiveness against us, we go to the person to resolve the situation. If the person tells us Raca, and refuses to release the unforgiveness, we can still forgive them. Unforgiveness binds and destroys the person who retains it, but it does nothing to the one we are holding unforgiveness against.

Therefore If you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has ought against you (5:23).

The word “Therefore” links this saying with the prior one. In the Law of Moses it says, “Thou shall not”, but it never told the person how to avoid the “shall not”, rather it was the balance after the person missed the “thou shall not”. Here Jesus is giving us the taste of the Mercy found in the New Covenant, by showing us how to fix what is wrong to make it right.

The gift could be anything; this reminds us of Cain and how he allowed his anger to guide him into sin. Cain rejected the correction, yet God allowed it, but God never caused Cain to sin, or to kill. Cain was going to do what Cain was going to do, just as Balaam was going to do what he was going to do, just as Judas was going to do what he was going to do. None of them really desired change, or desired to show Mercy, the very traits of the Wicked.

Here is a way to destroy the wall of pride by entering the mindset of Mercy: Jesus is saying Before we offer our gift, yet Cain offered his and it was rejected. Now we know why, he did it because he thought he had to, showing he was all ready mad at his brother. Cain looked at the acceptance of Abel’s gift as the last straw, but his own attitude caused his sacrifice to be rejected. Jesus tells us make it right, and your gift will be honored by God.

The word Aught means something little, which builds to something greater. In this case we caused the seed of unforgiveness by our anger, it will grow until we are unable to forgive, or receive forgiveness, making us as good as dead. Whatever was done to us had a purpose, even if the enemy was involved, thus the purpose of the enemy is for us to hold unforgiveness, and accomplish for him, what he can’t do himself, destroy us. The Purpose of God is to destroy the works of the enemy by showing us to forgive as we are forgiven.

Leave there your gift before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother and then come and offer your gift (5:24).

Clearly Jesus is talking about forgiveness, it does little good to tell the Mountain to Go, yet hold unforgiveness in our hearts. Paul showed us we can have the faith to move all mountains, yet if we lack Love it gains us nothing (I Cor 13:2). How does it apply? It’s the very nature of Love to forgive. The premise is our hope, since God is Love, He is always willing to forgive. We are to forgive as God forgave us, and all of us within the Body are called to the Ministry of Reconciliation, wherein we don’t impute sins on others (II Cor 5:17-21). Sins, unforgiveness? Ahh, they do relate. When we hold unforgiveness against others, we are imputing sin on them. The danger? John will tell us the permission to receive the Holy Ghost was based on remitting sins down unto us. We want the Fullness of the Spirit, but the first step is Mercy (Jn 20:21-23).

Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison. Verily I say unto you, You shall by no means come out of there, till you have paid the uttermost farthing (5:25-26).

Wait, does this mean to agree with the devil? No, the word adversary means an opponent, it’s based on a legal term. The word agree is the Greek Isthi which is the second person imperative of the Greek Eimi meaning to submit, or refrain from debate, which simply means don’t add fuel to the fire by avoiding debate. Whether right, wrong or indifferent, seek forgiveness and be set free of the charges of the adversary.

If we are cast into prison we must pay, but if we seek to apply Mercy we are free indeed, thus Mercy is a Pardon, meaning there’s not enough evidence to apply the accusation or punishment.

In this we also have the self-based act of using the term Forgiveness in a demonic manner. We forgive in prayer first and foremost, but clearly we are to seek forgiveness from others; however, we seek forgiveness, we don’t demand it. The premise we seek their forgiveness, it doesn’t mean we tell someone we forgive them because we’re children of God. It’s the reverse of the premise, it indicates the other person was completely in error, we of course are so holy we forgive them. Sayings like, “I forgive you because I’m a child of God”, or “I forgive you because my Lord has commanded me”; are forms of manipulation, not Mercy. Using forgiveness as a means to place guilt on another is not forgiving them, but condemning them. Using Forgiveness as a means to exalt ones pride and ego is hardly the context here, in fact it fits the “fool” category. We are told to Ask forgiveness, not go about telling everyone we forgive them. A very big difference; one is based in Mercy, the other in pride.

You have heard that it was said by them of old time, You shall not commit adultery (5:27).

Adultery is the unlawful act committed by a married person who is involved with someone other than their mate, or other than the one they are espoused to. We can’t limit this to a sexual encounter, it also includes affection, and Israel the nation had an affection for idols, thus God called it adultery. Adultery is usually termed a short, timed act, or one not continual. Israel didn’t always hold an affection for idols, thus in the overall time span her adultery was short, but nonetheless adultery.

Fornication is termed an unlawful act between two people not married, it includes someone who is married, but has rejected their vows. It’s usually connected to the act of one who prostitutes their self for the lust of another, thus it’s conducted by one who doesn’t consider their self bound to the marriage, whether they are married or not, or whether they are espoused or not. The Wicked commit both adultery and fornication, they claim the marriage, yet hold to the old man (adultery), but they also reject the vows required to enter the Marriage (fornication), making them “lawless” (rejecting the Law over them).

A Fornicator has no respect for marriage, or the vows of marriage. Paul defined a fornicator as one who forbids to marry, or one who forbids the responsibility of marriage (I Tim 4:3). If we claim the New Man, we are the espoused Bride of Christ, thus if we lay in bed with the old man we are committing adultery. If we reject our vows to God by holding an affection for ways of the old man, we have committed fornication.

But I say unto you, That whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart (5:28).

The context is not merely a thought, but a plan based in a lust. This shows if the thought is constant, we better know it’s a lust. Shutting the eye gate only locks the lust in, it doesn’t free us. The Jewish mindset felt if a person had the thought, yet resisted it, they were more holy than a person who never had the thought. Jesus is showing playing with the thought will bring about a plan, the plan will bring about an action. This is not merely a thought, but a continual thought one puts together, then figures some way to bring it to pass.

By Rev. G. E. Newmyer – s.b.i. les10 Rev11/©2003

Bible, NT-11, Gospel 2, Matthew 1: Part 2

Bible, NT-11, Gospel 2, Matthew 1

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