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The Berean: Daily Verse and Comment https://www.theberean.org A starting point for Bible study which gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God. (c) 1992-2024 Church of the Great God en-us Fri, 21 Jun 2024 03:40:00 EDT dgrabbe@cgg.org (David Grabbe) dgrabbe@cgg.org (David Grabbe) Church of the Great God Church of the Great God dgrabbe@cgg.org 2 Chronicles 24:1-2 Fri, 21 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/9802/2-chronicles-24-1-2.htm https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/9802/2-chronicles-24-1-2.htm 1 Corinthians 6:15-17 Thu, 20 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/10187/1-corinthians-6-15-17.htm https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/10187/1-corinthians-6-15-17.htm Galatians 4:9-10 Wed, 19 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/15/galatians-4-9-10.htm https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/15/galatians-4-9-10.htm Mark 7:20-23 Tue, 18 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/8204/mark-7-20-23.htm https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/8204/mark-7-20-23.htm Ecclesiastes 7:15-18 Mon, 17 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/9155/ecclesiastes-7-15-18.htm https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/9155/ecclesiastes-7-15-18.htm Exodus 20:14 Sun, 16 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/9820/exodus-20-14.htm https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/9820/exodus-20-14.htm Matthew 5:17-18 Sat, 15 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/10315/matthew-5-17-18.htm https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/10315/matthew-5-17-18.htm Matthew 9:30-31 Fri, 14 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/8393/matthew-9-30-31.htm https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/8393/matthew-9-30-31.htm Ezekiel 3:14-15 Thu, 13 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/7080/ezekiel-3-14-15.htm https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/7080/ezekiel-3-14-15.htm Ezekiel 10:6-7 Wed, 12 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/8258/ezekiel-10-6-7.htm https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/8258/ezekiel-10-6-7.htm Ecclesiastes 2:24 Tue, 11 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/8954/ecclesiastes-2-24.htm https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/8954/ecclesiastes-2-24.htm Revelation 1:9-10 Mon, 10 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/6359/revelation-1-9-10.htm https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/6359/revelation-1-9-10.htm Proverbs 29:18 Sun, 9 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/3598/proverbs-29-18.htm https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/3598/proverbs-29-18.htm 2 Corinthians 6:11 Sat, 8 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/10327/2-corinthians-6-11.htm https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/10327/2-corinthians-6-11.htm Hebrews 11:32-34 Fri, 7 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/10245/hebrews-11-32-34.htm https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/10245/hebrews-11-32-34.htm Genesis 6:9 Thu, 6 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/6283/genesis-6-9.htm https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/6283/genesis-6-9.htm 1 Samuel 12:6-7 Wed, 5 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/10160/1-samuel-12-6-7.htm https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/10160/1-samuel-12-6-7.htm Exodus 20:8-11 Tue, 4 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/3042/exodus-20-8-11.htm https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/3042/exodus-20-8-11.htm Romans 2:1-3 Mon, 3 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/3340/romans-2-1-3.htm https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/3340/romans-2-1-3.htm Matthew 4:3-4 Sun, 2 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/4683/matthew-4-3-4.htm https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/4683/matthew-4-3-4.htm This XML file does not appear to have any style information associated with it. The document tree is shown below. <rss xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:taxo="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/taxonomy/" xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" version="2.0"> <channel> <title>The Berean: Daily Verse and Comment</title> <link>https://www.theberean.org</link> <description>A starting point for Bible study which gives valuable insight into the verses that make up the Word of God.</description> <copyright>(c) 1992-2024 Church of the Great God</copyright> <language>en-us</language> <lastBuildDate>Fri, 21 Jun 2024 03:40:00 EDT</lastBuildDate> <managingEditor>dgrabbe@cgg.org (David Grabbe)</managingEditor> <webMaster>dgrabbe@cgg.org (David Grabbe)</webMaster> <itunes:author>Church of the Great God</itunes:author> <itunes:owner> <itunes:name>Church of the Great God</itunes:name> <itunes:email>dgrabbe@cgg.org</itunes:email> ... </itunes:owner> <atom:link href="https://rss.theberean.org/feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/> <item> <title>2 Chronicles 24:1-2</title> <pubDate>Fri, 21 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT</pubDate> <link>https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/9802/2-chronicles-24-1-2.htm</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/9802/2-chronicles-24-1-2.htm</guid> <description> <![CDATA[ <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td valign="top"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><h1><a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/11679/eVerseID/11680" target="_blank">2 Chronicles 24:1-2</a> </h1></td> </tr> </table> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><blockquote><div class="articleVerse" id="articleVerse">(1) Joash <i>was</i> seven years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name <i>was</i> Zibiah of Beersheba. (2) Joash did <i>what was</i> right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest. </div></blockquote></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><img height="20" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> </tr> </table> <table cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6" rowspan="2"><IMG height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0"></td> <td colspan="2"><div id="articleBody" class="articleBody"><p><a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/11655/eVerseID/11655" name="1165511655" id="11655-11655-5480" class="verseRef" title="verse">II Chronicles 22:10</a> reads, “Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal heirs of the house of Judah.” Athaliah, daughter of Israel's King Ahab and Jezebel and thus the granddaughter of Omri (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/11647/eVerseID/11647" name="1164711647" id="11647-11647-20498" class="verseRef" title="verse">II Chronicles 22:2</a>), was the wife of Jehoram, king of Judah. Once her son had died by the hand of Jehu, she staged a coup, killing all of Ahaziah's heirs and taking the throne. She reigned for six years.</p> <p>But Jehoshabeath, who was the daughter of Jehoram and (perhaps) Athaliah, took Joash, her youngest nephew and still an infant, and hid him from Athaliah's henchmen, saving his life (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/11657/eVerseID/11657" name="1165711657" id="11657-11657-18828" class="verseRef" title="verse">II Chronicles 22:12</a>). Evidently, when she saw the carnage taking place, she ran into the nursery, picked up Joash, and put him in one of her own rooms with a nurse. In short order, he was spirited away to the Temple, where he lived in secret for the next six years (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/11657/eVerseID/11657" name="1165711657" id="11657-11657-27622" class="verseRef" title="verse">II Chronicles 22:12</a>). Jehoshabeath could do this because she had made an excellent marriage to Jehoiada, one of the best high priests in Israelite history.</p> <p>In the life of Joash, Jehoiada proved a powerful influence for good. Joash reigned for forty years, but unfortunately, Jehoiada did not live through its entirety. Despite being the front man as the heir of David, Joash did not really have it in him to be king—but Jehoiada did. We see this to be true in the next verses:</p> <blockquote> <p>Now after the death of Jehoiada the leaders of Judah came and bowed down to the king. And the king listened to them. Therefore they left the house of the L<span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 11px">ORD</span> <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/booklet/id/421/god-is-what.htm" id="sr-421-16381" class="libraryPreview" title="library">God</a> of their fathers, and served wooden images and idols . . .. (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/11695/eVerseID/11696" name="1169511696" id="11695-11696-775" class="verseRef" title="verse">II Chronicles 24:17-18</a>)</p> </blockquote> <p>The wording in the first part of the last sentence implies that these Judahite leaders abandoned the way of life represented by the Temple. We would say that they “left the church.” In other words, the nation's entire political leadership apostatized, using weak Joash to return to the paganism they had enjoyed under Joash's grandfather, father, and grandmother.</p> <p>We could call Joash a “fellow traveler.” He was a leaner, a clinging vine, who did not have the resources within himself to forge his own path. Once Jehoiada died, whenever the pressure of leadership fell on him, he had no one to lean on, and he faltered and declined. Spiritually, he died.</p> <p>Without Jehoiada, Joash bent whichever way the wind blew. His peers in the realm found him easy to influence, as he would follow the crowd. His character reflected the group of courtiers around him at any given moment. When Jehoiada was with him, his beneficial influence made Joash compliant and a good king. But when he was with a bad crowd, men like the idolatrous leaders of Judah, he followed them like a lost puppy, too afraid to buck his peers. Finally, he would not <a href="https://www.truegospel.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Basics.tour/ID/7/Repentance-Belief-and-Gospel.htm">repent</a> when God warned him that he was going astray. Joash's fate was assassination and the disgrace of not being buried with the kings (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/11703/eVerseID/11703" name="1170311703" id="11703-11703-17269" class="verseRef" title="verse">II Chronicles 24:25</a>).</p> <p>We can see Joash's character as merely programmed but not internalized. We might also describe it as reflective of those around him rather than genuinely his. <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/974/faith-what-is-it.htm" id="sr-974-24835" class="libraryPreview" title="library">Faith</a> must be grounded within us and personally held. We cannot go through life on someone else's coattails. As <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/20746/eVerseID/20746" name="2074620746" id="20746-20746-5534" class="verseRef" title="verse">Ezekiel 14:14</a> teaches, even Noah, Job, and Daniel, three of the most righteous, faithful men in all of history, could save only themselves.</p> </div><br> </td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p>— John W. Ritenbaugh</p> <p><strong>To learn more, see:<br> <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/1837/three-missing-kings-part-two.htm" target="_blank"> Three Missing Kings (Part Two)</a></strong></p></td> <td align="center"> </td> </tr> </TABLE> <br><br> <div class="articleTopics" id="articleTopics"><b>Related Topics:</b><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/177/Apostasy.htm" target="_blank">Apostasy</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/12618/Athaliah.htm" target="_blank">Athaliah</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/20858/Failure-Exercise-Leadership.htm" target="_blank">Failure to Exercise Leadership</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/6382/Jehoiada.htm" target="_blank">Jehoiada</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/15048/Jehoiada-as-Powerful-Force-for-Good.htm" target="_blank">Jehoiada as a Powerful Force for Good</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/8406/Jehoram.htm" target="_blank">Jehoram</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/15096/Jehoshabeath.htm" target="_blank">Jehoshabeath</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/6384/Joash.htm" target="_blank">Joash</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/6383/Joashs-Character.htm" target="_blank">Joash's Character</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/9961/Three-Kings-Missing-from-Matthew-1.htm" target="_blank">Three Kings Missing from Matthew 1</a><br> </div> <br><br> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> ]]> ... </description> ... </item> <item> <title>1 Corinthians 6:15-17</title> <pubDate>Thu, 20 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT</pubDate> <link>https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/10187/1-corinthians-6-15-17.htm</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/10187/1-corinthians-6-15-17.htm</guid> <description> <![CDATA[ <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td valign="top"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><h1><a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/28483/eVerseID/28485" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 6:15-17</a> </h1></td> </tr> </table> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><blockquote><div class="articleVerse" id="articleVerse">(15) Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make <i>them</i> members of a harlot? Certainly not! (16) Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body <i>with her?</i> For <i> "the two,"</i> He says, <i> "shall become one flesh."</i> (17) But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit <i>with Him.</i> </div></blockquote></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><img height="20" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> </tr> </table> <table cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6" rowspan="2"><IMG height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0"></td> <td colspan="2"><div id="articleBody" class="articleBody"><p>The biblical concept of husband and wife being "one flesh" is far more involved than many people think. This teaching has its origins in <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/55/eVerseID/55" name="5555" id="55-55-20799" class="verseRef" title="verse">Genesis 2:24:</a> "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." Too many Christians pass this off as being merely an illustration of the marriage bond—that when a man and woman marry, the two become one. However, when Jesus quotes this verse in <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/23769/eVerseID/23769" name="2376923769" id="23769-23769-5552" class="verseRef" title="verse">Matthew 19:6</a> and <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/24597/eVerseID/24597" name="2459724597" id="24597-24597-28299" class="verseRef" title="verse">Mark 10:8</a>, He states it in the negative: ". . . they are no longer two but one flesh," strengthening the principle beyond mere illustration.</p> <p>This phrase "one flesh" is used only seven times in the Bible: four times in the above three verses, as well as <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/23768/eVerseID/23768" name="2376823768" id="23768-23768-804" class="verseRef" title="verse">Matthew 19:5</a>; <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/29336/eVerseID/29336" name="2933629336" id="29336-29336-8879" class="verseRef" title="verse">Ephesians 5:31</a>; and <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/28484/eVerseID/28484" name="2848428484" id="28484-28484-23701" class="verseRef" title="verse">I Corinthians 6:16</a>. This final scripture elevates the "one flesh" principle, revealing a spiritual correspondence.</p> <p>How sacrilegious it would be to try to force Christ into a union with a harlot! Yet, that is what members of the church do when they give themselves over to un-Christian behavior, since they have been joined to Christ by covenant. He is the Bridegroom, and the church is the Bride. Such iniquity, Paul suggests, is the spiritual counterpart to a married man having sexual relations with a woman who is not his wife.</p> <p>Coitus—whether inside or outside of marriage—binds a man and woman as one flesh. <i>Joined</i> in verse 16 is derived from the Greek word <i>kolláo</i>, which means exactly the same thing as the Hebrew word <i>dabaq</i> in <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/55/eVerseID/55" name="5555" id="55-55-21921" class="verseRef" title="verse">Genesis 2:24:</a> "to glue together," "to cleave," "to adhere." Paul is plainly stating that, as the conjugal relations of a couple bind them together like glue, so also does the illicit act of a man and a harlot unite them as one flesh.</p> <p>In the <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/1867/do-we-need-old-testament.htm" id="sr-1867-13637" class="libraryPreview" title="library">Old Testament</a>, writers often used forms of the verb "to know" as a euphemism for the sexual act (see <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/81/eVerseID/81" name="8181" id="81-81-19610" class="verseRef" title="verse">Genesis 4:1</a>; <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/7232/eVerseID/7232" name="72327232" id="7232-7232-1011" class="verseRef" title="verse">I Samuel 1:19</a>; etc.). This "knowing" suggests that the actual intercourse is but the physical sign of the greater personal and emotional intimacy that is shared—even with a prostitute. "Uncovering the nakedness" of another, as is written throughout Leviticus 18, is such an intimate act that it creates a bond between the two participants.</p> <p>Too many people of this generation think of sex as cheap. Since the publication of the <i>Kinsey Report</i> in the late 1940s and the early 1950s, the doors of promiscuity have been flung wide open, spawning the sexual revolution. Nowadays, it raises few eyebrows that some have multiple sexual partners, even before graduating from high school!</p> <p><a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/booklet/id/421/god-is-what.htm" id="sr-421-11956" class="libraryPreview" title="library">God</a> does not consider the sexual union of man and wife as cheap. As the author of Hebrews writes, "Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge" (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/30246/eVerseID/30246" name="3024630246" id="30246-30246-3059" class="verseRef" title="verse">Hebrews 13:4</a>). To Him, it is so valuable that every time a person engages in it, he more intimately binds himself to his spouse, making marriage even more precious. Clearly, the "one flesh" principle is vital to Christian marriage.</p> <p>However, the sexual aspect of this principle should not distract us because, in fact, the focus is on the closeness of union or togetherness. Without using the term "one flesh" again, the apostle expands on how this principle applies to marriage in <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/28486/eVerseID/28488" name="2848628488" id="28486-28488-27373" class="verseRef" title="verse">I Corinthians 6:18-20</a>; <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/28490/eVerseID/28492" name="2849028492" id="28490-28492-9813" class="verseRef" title="verse">7:2-4</a>. He writes, "You are not your own" (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/28487/eVerseID/28487" name="2848728487" id="28487-28487-1034" class="verseRef" title="verse">I Corinthians 6:19</a>), and "You do not have authority over your body, but your spouse does" (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/28492/eVerseID/28492" name="2849228492" id="28492-28492-28795" class="verseRef" title="verse">I Corinthians 7:4</a>, paraphrased).</p> <p>This is a major Christian understanding, one that separates it from marriages in other religions. Once married—once joined as a unit—the individuals in the covenant (husband and wife, male and female) are subsumed within the bond. To use a sports analogy, the team becomes more important than the individual players. The principle of "one flesh" leads to absolute togetherness or unity—living, thinking, planning, working as one.</p> <p>This is obviously the ideal. It should not embarrass anyone or make anyone feel like a failure if this kind of total oneness is not present in his or her own marriage. It may never happen. Even so, God expects married couples to work toward the goal of being so committed to the relationship, so much in <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/guides/id/212/love-bible-study-guide.htm">love</a> with each other, so willing to work harmoniously together, that they function as a perfectly oiled unit, as it were.</p> <p>We should never forget that marriage is a type of something greater! What does God want of us? To be one spirit with Him (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/28485/eVerseID/28485" name="2848528485" id="28485-28485-7791" class="verseRef" title="verse">I Corinthians 6:17</a>)! The marriage relationship, where a man and a woman come together as one flesh, is a training program for the majority of us to learn how to be one with Him. If we cannot be one flesh with the person closest to us, how can we hope to be one spirit with God?</p> <p>Marriage is a primary spiritual testing ground for us to prepare to be the Bride of <a href="https://www.biblicaljesus.org/">Jesus Christ</a> our Savior and to be one with God. Thus, we learn how to work in tandem with another human being whom God has given to us as a mate. Like a yoke of oxen, we must learn to pull in the same direction and for the same purposes, straining to reach the same ultimate glory.</p> <p>How are we married couples doing? Are we pulling together? Or have we agreed to something like a 50/50 marriage? God would frown on a 50/50 marriage because it implies that one is willing to meet his spouse only halfway. God desires us to give <i>everything</i> up to the other—so much that we no longer even own ourselves! Each spouse owns the other. That is surrendering a great deal, but it is also receiving much in return.</p> <p>This is as good as it gets, humanly speaking. The perfect marriage is one in which each partner is wholly committed to the other and to the relationship. Each mate is striving to the utmost to live according to the will of God by showing true love—outgoing concern—for the other. And the perfect mate is the loving Christian giving his all to develop God's character both in himself and in his spouse.</p> </div><br> </td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p>— Richard T. Ritenbaugh</p> <p><strong>To learn more, see:<br> <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/weekly/id/472/marriage-a-god-plane-relationship-part-seven.htm" target="_blank"> Marriage—A God-Plane Relationship (Part Seven)</a></strong></p></td> <td align="center"> </td> </tr> </TABLE> <br><br> <div class="articleTopics" id="articleTopics"><b>Related Topics:</b><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/23943/Leave-Cleave-Verse.htm" target="_blank">"Leave and Cleave" Verse</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/4806/Bride-Christ-Preparation-for-Marriage.htm" target="_blank">Bride of Christ, Preparation for Marriage</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/21402/Cleave-to.htm" target="_blank">Cleave to</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/21407/Dabaq.htm" target="_blank">Dabaq</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/21400/Fornication-Weakens-Future-Marriage.htm" target="_blank">Fornication Weakens a Future Marriage</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/7097/Fornication-Spiritual.htm" target="_blank">Fornication, Spiritual</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/11209/Harlotry-Principle.htm" target="_blank">Harlotry Principle</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/198/Intimacy.htm" target="_blank">Intimacy</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/14299/Intimacy-Marriage.htm" target="_blank">Intimacy in Marriage</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/6428/Intimacy-with-Christ.htm" target="_blank">Intimacy with Christ</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/854/Intimacy-with-God.htm" target="_blank">Intimacy with God</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/22671/Marriage-as-God-Plane-Relationship.htm" target="_blank">Marriage as a God-Plane Relationship</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/2312/Marriage-Covenant.htm" target="_blank">Marriage Covenant</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/21419/Marriage-Partners-Become-One-Flesh.htm" target="_blank">Marriage Partners to Become One Flesh</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/1426/Sexual-Intimacy-Analogy.htm" target="_blank">Sexual Intimacy Analogy</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/21929/Submitting-Each-Other.htm" target="_blank">Submitting to Each Other</a><br> </div> <br><br> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> ]]> ... </description> ... </item> <item> <title>Galatians 4:9-10</title> <pubDate>Wed, 19 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT</pubDate> <link>https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/15/galatians-4-9-10.htm</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/15/galatians-4-9-10.htm</guid> <description> <![CDATA[ <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td valign="top"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><h1><a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/29141/eVerseID/29142" target="_blank">Galatians 4:9-10</a> </h1></td> </tr> </table> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><blockquote><div class="articleVerse" id="articleVerse">(9) But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how <i>is it that</i> you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? (10) You observe days and months and seasons and years. </div></blockquote></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><img height="20" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> </tr> </table> <table cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6" rowspan="2"><IMG height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0"></td> <td colspan="2"><div id="articleBody" class="articleBody"><p>The common, traditional explanation of <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/29141/eVerseID/29142" name="2914129142" id="29141-29142-21787" class="verseRef" title="verse">Galatians 4:9-10</a> is that Paul is reprimanding the Galatians for returning to <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/1867/do-we-need-old-testament.htm" id="sr-1867-29842" class="libraryPreview" title="library">Old Testament</a> observances that were a form of "bondage." Insisting that Paul taught that the Old Testament law was "done away" (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/29509/eVerseID/29509" name="2950929509" id="29509-29509-11719" class="verseRef" title="verse">Colossians 2:14</a>), they conclude that <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/1900/are-you-christian.htm" id="sr-1900-4583" class="libraryPreview" title="library">Christians</a> should not keep the days that <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/booklet/id/421/god-is-what.htm" id="sr-421-7027" class="libraryPreview" title="library">God</a> had commanded Israel to keep. In verse 10, Paul mentions observances of "days and months and seasons and years." Some contend that these observances refer to God's <a href="https://www.sabbath.org/">Sabbath</a> and <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/497/does-paul-condemn-observing-gods-holy-days.htm" id="sr-497-11843" class="libraryPreview" title="library">holy days</a> commanded in the Old Testament. But this interpretation overlooks many foundational points.</p> <p>Galatia was not a city but a province in Asia Minor. The church membership was undoubtedly composed mainly of Gentiles, and the males were physically uncircumcised (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/29165/eVerseID/29165" name="2916529165" id="29165-29165-28405" class="verseRef" title="verse">Galatians 5:2</a>; <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/29201/eVerseID/29202" name="2920129202" id="29201-29202-19291" class="verseRef" title="verse">6:12-13</a>). In looking at Paul's initial dealings with these people, we find that they had a history of worshiping pagan deities. In Lystra, a city in Galatia, God healed a crippled man through Paul (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/27423/eVerseID/27433" name="2742327433" id="27423-27433-29158" class="verseRef" title="verse">Acts 14:8-18</a>). The people of the area were so astonished at this miracle that they supposed <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/158/barnabas-son-of-encouragement-consolation.htm" id="sr-158-15851" class="libraryPreview" title="library">Barnabas</a> and Paul, whom they called Zeus and Hermes (verse 12), to be pagan gods! They wanted to sacrifice to them, and would have, if the apostles had not stopped them (verses 13-18). This shows that the people in Galatia were generally superstitious and worshiped pagan deities.</p> <p>The major theme of the Galatian epistle is to put them "back on the track" because someone had been teaching "a different gospel," a perversion of <a href="https://www.truegospel.org/">the gospel</a> of <a href="https://www.biblicaljesus.org/">Christ</a> (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/29064/eVerseID/29065" name="2906429065" id="29064-29065-17904" class="verseRef" title="verse">Galatians 1:6-7</a>). The Galatians had derailed on their understanding of how sinners are justified. <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/sermon/id/644/spotting-false-teachers.htm" id="audio-644-23571" class="libraryPreview" title="library">False teachers</a> in Galatia taught that one was justified by doing physical works of some kind. The majority of evidence indicates that the false teachers were teaching a blend of Judaism and <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/1186/gnosticism-false-knowledge.htm" id="sr-1186-926" class="libraryPreview" title="library">Gnosticism</a>. The philosophy of Gnosticism taught that everything physical was evil, and that people could attain a higher spiritual understanding through effort. It was the type of philosophy that its adherents thought could be used to enhance or improve anyone's religion. In Paul's letter to the Colossians, we read of this same philosophy having an influence on the church there. It was characterized by strict legalism, a "taste not, touch not" attitude, neglect of the body, worship of angels, and a false humility (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/29513/eVerseID/29518" name="2951329518" id="29513-29518-7068" class="verseRef" title="verse">Colossians 2:18-23</a>).</p> <p>What, then, were the "days, months, seasons and years" that Paul criticizes the Galatians for observing? First, Paul nowhere in the entire letter mentions God's holy days. Second, the apostle would never refer to holy days that God instituted as "weak and beggarly elements." He honored and revered God's law (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/28104/eVerseID/28104" name="2810428104" id="28104-28104-25010" class="verseRef" title="verse">Romans 7:12</a>, 14, 16). Besides, he taught the Corinthians to observe <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/guides/id/12/passover-bible-study-guide.htm">Passover</a> and the <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/guides/id/3354/feast-unleavened-bread-bible-study-guide.htm">Days of Unleavened Bread</a> (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/28462/eVerseID/28463" name="2846228463" id="28462-28463-24535" class="verseRef" title="verse">I Corinthians 5:7-8</a>), and he kept the Sabbath and holy days himself (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/27497/eVerseID/27497" name="2749727497" id="27497-27497-14870" class="verseRef" title="verse">Acts 16:13</a>; <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/27579/eVerseID/27579" name="2757927579" id="27579-27579-2746" class="verseRef" title="verse">18:21</a>; <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/27633/eVerseID/27633" name="2763327633" id="27633-27633-5670" class="verseRef" title="verse">20:6</a>; <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/28785/eVerseID/28785" name="2878528785" id="28785-28785-4963" class="verseRef" title="verse">I Corinthians 16:8</a>).</p> <p>When the scriptures in question are put into context, the explanation of what these days were becomes clear. In <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/29133/eVerseID/29137" name="2913329137" id="29133-29137-29921" class="verseRef" title="verse">Galatians 4:1-5</a>, Paul draws an analogy in which he likens the Jew to a child who is waiting to come into an inheritance and the Gentile to a slave in the same household. He explains how, before the coming of Christ, the spiritual state of the Jew was no different from the Gentile because neither had had their sins forgiven nor had they received God's Spirit. Prior to the coming of Christ, both Jews and Gentiles were "in bondage under the elements of <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/sermon/id/440/christian-and-world-part-one.htm" id="audio-440-7258" class="libraryPreview" title="library">the world</a>" (verse 3).</p> <p>The word "elements" is the Greek <i>stoicheion</i>, which means any first thing or principle. "In bondage under the elements of the world" refers to the fact that the unconverted mind is subject to the influence of <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/sermon/id/167/satan-part-1.htm" id="audio-167-1043" class="libraryPreview" title="library">Satan</a> and his demons, the rulers of this world and the authors of all idolatrous worship. Satan and his demons are the origin, the underlying cause, of the evil ways of this world, and all unconverted humans are under their sway. "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the <a href="https://www.truegospel.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Basics.tour/ID/6/What-are-Laws-of-Kingdom.htm">law of God</a>, nor indeed can be" (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/28124/eVerseID/28124" name="2812428124" id="28124-28124-6022" class="verseRef" title="verse">Romans 8:7</a>). Paul is saying that both Jews and Gentiles had been in bondage to <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/489/what-sin-is-does.htm" id="sr-489-17110" class="libraryPreview" title="library">sin</a>.</p> <p>In <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/29140/eVerseID/29140" name="2914029140" id="29140-29140-29728" class="verseRef" title="verse">Galatians 4:8</a>, Paul brings up the subject of the idolatry and paganism that they had participated in before their conversion. "But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods." This obviously refers to the worship of pagan deities (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/27423/eVerseID/27433" name="2742327433" id="27423-27433-7970" class="verseRef" title="verse">Acts 14:8-18</a>). He is making it clear that God had called them out of that way of life. Paul continues this thought in verse 9, where his obvious concern was that the Galatians were returning to the way of life from which God had called them. The "weak and beggarly elements" were demon-inspired, idolatrous practices, NOT something God had commanded. "Elements" here is the same word, <i>stoicheion</i>, translated "elements" in verse 3. An extension of <i>stoicheion</i> can refer to the heavenly bodies that regulate the calendar and are associated with pagan festivals. The apostle condemns the practices and way of life that had been inspired by Satan and his demons, the principal cause of all the world's evil. Paul recognized that the Galatians had begun to return to their former slavish, sinful practices.</p> <p>It is evident that the "days, months, seasons and years" Paul refers to in verse 10 were the pagan, idolatrous festivals and observances that the Galatian Gentiles had observed before their conversion. They could not possibly be God's holy days because these Gentiles had never observed them before being called, nor would Paul ever call them "weak and beggarly." Rather, they were turning back to their old, heathen way of life that included keeping various superstitious holidays connected to the worship of pagan deities.</p> <p>Far from doing away with God's holy days, these scriptures show that we should not be observing "days, months, seasons and years" that have their roots in paganism, such as <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/booklet/id/464/plain-truth-about-christmas.htm" id="sr-464-7930" class="libraryPreview" title="library">Christmas</a>, <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/booklet/id/465/plain-truth-about-easter.htm" id="sr-465-6685" class="libraryPreview" title="library">Easter</a>, Valentine's Day, <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/838/halloween.htm" id="sr-838-15139" class="libraryPreview" title="library">Halloween</a>, and any other days that originated from the worship of pagan gods.</p> </div><br> </td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p>— Earl L. Henn</p> <p><strong>To learn more, see:<br> <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/497/does-paul-condemn-observing-gods-holy-days.htm" target="_blank"> Does Paul Condemn Observing God's Holy Days?</a></strong></p></td> <td align="center"> </td> </tr> </TABLE> <br><br> <div class="articleTopics" id="articleTopics"><b>Related Topics:</b><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/68/Days-of-Unleavened-Bread.htm" target="_blank">Days of Unleavened Bread</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/62/Demonic-principalities.htm" target="_blank">Demonic principalities</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/78/Elements-of-World.htm" target="_blank">Elements of the World</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/66/Gnosticism.htm" target="_blank">Gnosticism</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/44/Gods-Law.htm" target="_blank">God's Law</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/56/Holy-Days.htm" target="_blank">Holy Days</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/69/Idolatry.htm" target="_blank">Idolatry</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/65/Judaism.htm" target="_blank">Judaism</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/35/Old-Covenant.htm" target="_blank">Old Covenant</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/72/Pagan-Holidays.htm" target="_blank">Pagan Holidays</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/58/Paganism.htm" target="_blank">Paganism</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/67/Passover.htm" target="_blank">Passover</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/37/Sabbath.htm" target="_blank">Sabbath</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/71/Sin.htm" target="_blank">Sin</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/70/Slavery.htm" target="_blank">Slavery</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/1627/Stoicheion.htm" target="_blank">Stoicheion</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/1626/Weak-Beggarly-Elements.htm" target="_blank">Weak and Beggarly Elements</a><br> </div> <br><br> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> ]]> ... </description> ... </item> <item> <title>Mark 7:20-23</title> <pubDate>Tue, 18 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT</pubDate> <link>https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/8204/mark-7-20-23.htm</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/8204/mark-7-20-23.htm</guid> <description> <![CDATA[ <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td valign="top"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><h1><a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/24484/eVerseID/24487" target="_blank">Mark 7:20-23</a> </h1></td> </tr> </table> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><blockquote><div class="articleVerse" id="articleVerse">(20) And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. (21) For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, (22) thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. (23) All these evil things come from within and defile a man." </div></blockquote></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><img height="20" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> </tr> </table> <table cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6" rowspan="2"><IMG height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0"></td> <td colspan="2"><div id="articleBody" class="articleBody"><p><a href="https://www.biblicaljesus.org/">Jesus</a>, in <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/24484/eVerseID/24487" name="2448424487" id="24484-24487-16593" class="verseRef" title="verse">Mark 7:20-23</a>, provides clear insight as to the location of the generator of man's drive to possess. Notice especially what He lists first, as it is the generator that leads to the other sins. His instruction thus also points out where the other sins can be stopped. A person's evil thoughts do not exist because of brainlessness, but because of confusion of values and lack of concern for godly, spiritual truth, leading to careless, shoddy moral choices.</p> <p>Paul adds in <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/28099/eVerseID/28099" name="2809928099" id="28099-28099-9813" class="verseRef" title="verse">Romans 7:7:</a> "What shall we say then? Is the law <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/489/what-sin-is-does.htm" id="sr-489-21976" class="libraryPreview" title="library">sin</a>? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/sermon/id/1376/thou-shall-not-covet.htm" id="audio-1376-12656" class="libraryPreview" title="library">covetousness</a> unless the law had said, 'You shall not covet.'" Some of God's laws are self-evident even to the natural mind, but only <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/booklet/id/421/god-is-what.htm" id="sr-421-20977" class="libraryPreview" title="library">God</a> can tell us that it is <i>absolutely</i> wrong to lust. By contrast, a major theme of the modern culture is"You can have whatever you want, if you only make the effort."</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/1472/tenth-commandment.htm" id="sr-1472-2456" class="libraryPreview" title="library">tenth commandment</a> deals with attitude and motivation. Even if an individual secretly rejects God's standard and way in his heart and lusts after something he cannot or will not lawfully possess or do, then eventually, this mental rebellion will break out in sin. Action will manifest what the mind has been doing all along.<br /> </p></div><br> </td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p>— John W. Ritenbaugh</p> <p><strong>To learn more, see:<br> <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/1472/tenth-commandment.htm" target="_blank"> The Tenth Commandment</a></strong></p></td> <td align="center"> </td> </tr> </TABLE> <br><br> <div class="articleTopics" id="articleTopics"><b>Related Topics:</b><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/6254/Coveting.htm" target="_blank">Coveting </a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/87/Covetousness.htm" target="_blank">Covetousness</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/135/Lust.htm" target="_blank">Lust</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/7026/Sin-Begins-as-Thought.htm" target="_blank">Sin Begins as a Thought </a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/11440/Sin-Begins-as-Imagination.htm" target="_blank">Sin Begins in Imagination</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/7024/Sin-Begins-in-Heart.htm" target="_blank">Sin Begins in the Heart</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/4899/Tenth-Commandment.htm" target="_blank">Tenth Commandment</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/579/The-Tenth-Commandment.htm" target="_blank">The Tenth Commandment</a><br> </div> <br><br> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> ]]> ... </description> ... </item> <item> <title>Ecclesiastes 7:15-18</title> <pubDate>Mon, 17 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT</pubDate> <link>https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/9155/ecclesiastes-7-15-18.htm</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/9155/ecclesiastes-7-15-18.htm</guid> <description> <![CDATA[ <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td valign="top"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><h1><a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/17445/eVerseID/17448" target="_blank">Ecclesiastes 7:15-18</a> </h1></td> </tr> </table> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><blockquote><div class="articleVerse" id="articleVerse">(15) I have seen everything in my days of vanity:<br /> There is a just <i>man</i> who perishes in his righteousness, <br /> And there is a wicked <i>man</i> who prolongs <i>life</i> in his wickedness. <br /> (16) Do not be overly righteous, <br /> Nor be overly wise: <br /> Why should you destroy yourself? <br /> (17) Do not be overly wicked, <br /> Nor be foolish: <br /> Why should you die before your time? <br /> (18) <i>It is</i> good that you grasp this, <br /> And also not remove your hand from the other; <br /> For he who fears God will escape them all. <br /> </div></blockquote></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><img height="20" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> </tr> </table> <table cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6" rowspan="2"><IMG height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0"></td> <td colspan="2"><div id="articleBody" class="articleBody"><p>The sense of this passage clarifies when we fit it into a sub-theme present throughout the book: “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” As chapter 7 opens, Solomon presents several unusual and mystifying statements about some of life's experiences. He writes that the day of one's death is better than the day of one's birth and that it is better to go to the house of <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/184/beatitudes-mourning.htm" id="sr-184-21996" class="libraryPreview" title="library">mourning</a> than to the house of feasting.</p> <p>These unusual statements are true within Solomon's theme, but reasons are not immediately available. Verse 15 and his ensuing explanation contain a parallel situation for which no easy answer exists. It, too, may be simply so much vanity. Throughout Ecclesiastes, Solomon is explaining matters that we vaguely grasp but need support to understand more completely.</p> <p>Ultimately, <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/booklet/id/421/god-is-what.htm" id="sr-421-1293" class="libraryPreview" title="library">God</a> is the Author of Ecclesiastes, and He intends it should be understood this way. Supported by our <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/974/faith-what-is-it.htm" id="sr-974-18296" class="libraryPreview" title="library">faith</a> in God, we must deal with our lack of complete knowledge and accept it. Some truths that God intends us to grasp we must dig out, requiring hard intellectual labor. He allows this sub-theme of not fully knowing what is going on in our lives to exist because it helps to create tests to fulfill His purpose, that we <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/1530/living-by-faith-gods-sovereignty.htm" id="sr-1530-11701" class="libraryPreview" title="library">live by faith</a>, trusting Him (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/30172/eVerseID/30172" name="3017230172" id="30172-30172-22811" class="verseRef" title="verse">Hebrews 10:38</a>).</p> <p><a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/17370/eVerseID/17371" name="1737017371" id="17370-17371-2679" class="verseRef" title="verse">Ecclesiastes 3:10-11</a> confirms this sub-theme:</p> <blockquote> <p>I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.</p> </blockquote> <p>Solomon repeats a form of it in <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/17453/eVerseID/17455" name="1745317455" id="17453-17455-12419" class="verseRef" title="verse">Ecclesiastes 7:23-25</a>, 29:</p> <blockquote> <p>All this I have proved by <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/sermon/id/5721/biblical-wisdom.htm" id="audio-5721-13009" class="libraryPreview" title="library">wisdom</a>. I said, “I will be wise.” But it was far from me. As for that which is far off and exceedingly deep, who can find it out? I applied my heart to know, to search and seek out wisdom and the reason of things, to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness. Truly, this only I have found; that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.</p> </blockquote> <p>He is still searching for reasons for these confounding circumstances, but he admits a dissatisfying failure. In <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/17475/eVerseID/17476" name="1747517476" id="17475-17476-14411" class="verseRef" title="verse">Ecclesiastes 8:16-17</a>, he still has no personally satisfying answer to his search:</p> <blockquote> <p>When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to see the business that is done on earth, even though one sees no sleep day or night, then I saw all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. For though a man labors to discover it, yet he will not find it; moreover, though a wise man attempts to know it, he will not be able to find it.</p> </blockquote> <p>In <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/17537/eVerseID/17538" name="1753717538" id="17537-17538-25193" class="verseRef" title="verse">Ecclesiastes 12:13-14</a>, he concludes the book:</p> <blockquote> <p>Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether it is good or whether it is evil.</p> </blockquote> <p>Solomon admits to finding no fully satisfying answer to every paradox, conundrum, or irregularity in the life of even the faithful person in his relationship with God. The conclusion? By faith and without disrupting our obedience to God, we must accept and live with some events of life. The wise know that God will work things out.</p> </div><br> </td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p>— John W. Ritenbaugh</p> <p><strong>To learn more, see:<br> <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/1651/ecclesiastes-christian-living-part-ten-paradox.htm" target="_blank"> Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Ten): Paradox</a></strong></p></td> <td align="center"> </td> </tr> </TABLE> <br><br> <div class="articleTopics" id="articleTopics"><b>Related Topics:</b><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/16677/All-is-Vanity.htm" target="_blank">All is Vanity</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/19604/Better-Go-to-House-Mourning.htm" target="_blank">Better to Go to the House of Mourning</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/5863/Conundrum.htm" target="_blank">Conundrum</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/19037/Day-Ones-Death-Better-than-Day-Birth.htm" target="_blank">Day of One's Death Better than Day of Birth</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/19607/God-has-Made-Everything-Beautiful-Its-Time.htm" target="_blank">God has Made Everything Beautiful in Its Time</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/18634/God-has-Placed-Eternity-Our-Hearts.htm" target="_blank">God has Placed Eternity in Our Hearts</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/19605/God-Made-Man-Upright.htm" target="_blank">God Made Man Upright</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/19599/Irregularities.htm" target="_blank">Irregularities</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/907/Living-by-Faith.htm" target="_blank">Living by Faith</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/19608/Man-Has-Sought-Out-Many-Schemes.htm" target="_blank">Man Has Sought Out Many Schemes</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/18663/No-One-Can-Find-Out-Work-God-Does.htm" target="_blank">No One Can Find Out the Work God Does</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/5860/Paradox.htm" target="_blank">Paradox</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/19051/Whole-Duty-Man-Fear-God.htm" target="_blank">Whole Duty of Man to Fear God</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/19052/Whole-Duty-Man-Keep-Commandments.htm" target="_blank">Whole Duty of Man to Keep Commandments</a><br> </div> <br><br> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> ]]> ... </description> ... </item> <item> <title>Exodus 20:14</title> <pubDate>Sun, 16 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT</pubDate> <link>https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/9820/exodus-20-14.htm</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/9820/exodus-20-14.htm</guid> <description> <![CDATA[ <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td valign="top"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><h1><a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/2066/eVerseID/2066" target="_blank">Exodus 20:14</a> </h1></td> </tr> </table> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><blockquote><div class="articleVerse" id="articleVerse">(14) "You shall not commit adultery. <br /> </div></blockquote></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><img height="20" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> </tr> </table> <table cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6" rowspan="2"><IMG height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0"></td> <td colspan="2"><div id="articleBody" class="articleBody"><p>The nation has been wringing its collective hands over the pederasty scandal among Catholic priests. Not only have the dangers and foolishness of the doctrine of priestly celibacy been exposed, but the disgraceful situation has also revealed the absolute bankruptcy of biblical morality and ethics throughout the Catholic hierarchy. It presents the picture of a feeble old man holding his hands out in dismay, saying, "What should I do?"</p> <p>Like most of mankind, even many "<a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/1900/are-you-christian.htm" id="sr-1900-7651" class="libraryPreview" title="library">Christians</a>," Catholic theologians threw out the Bible as the basis for their beliefs a long time ago. Tradition and the pontifications of the Popes hold at least as much sway as God's Word, and truth be told, probably more—much more. Thus, looking to the Bible for answers to the current crisis will not be a common action.</p> <p>Of course, the seventh commandment—"You shall not commit adultery" (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/2066/eVerseID/2066" name="20662066" id="2066-2066-2119" class="verseRef" title="verse">Exodus 20:14</a>)—covers the perversions of pederasty, as it also covers homosexuality, the unmentioned other half of this equation (see <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/3274/eVerseID/3274" name="32743274" id="3274-3274-25246" class="verseRef" title="verse">Leviticus 18:22</a>; <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/27958/eVerseID/27958" name="2795827958" id="27958-27958-4994" class="verseRef" title="verse">Romans 1:27</a>). Though the Bible does not specifically say, "You shall not uncover the nakedness of a child," the underlying assumption is that this would be universally known to be evil. In any case, sexual relations with a minor outside of marriage would be fornication, a <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/489/what-sin-is-does.htm" id="sr-489-7049" class="libraryPreview" title="library">sin</a> covered in numerous verses.</p> <p>What is the proper biblical penalty for pederasty? As mentioned, pederasty is not found in the Bible, but the instructions concerning fornication and homosexuality can give us guidance. Notice <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/3332/eVerseID/3332" name="33323332" id="3332-3332-10426" class="verseRef" title="verse">Leviticus 20:13:</a> "If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them." The penalty for fornication varied according to the situation. In a case of rape—in which the woman's cries for help could not be heard—only the man was put to death (see <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/5496/eVerseID/5498" name="54965498" id="5496-5498-24293" class="verseRef" title="verse">Deuteronomy 22:25-27</a>). By combining these two penalties, the child-molester would be put to death, while his traumatized victim would not be punished.</p> <p>Of course, this solution would never be used in our modern, therapeutic, humanistic society. Even though our good and just Creator <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/booklet/id/421/god-is-what.htm" id="sr-421-542" class="libraryPreview" title="library">God</a> gave these laws to regulate behavior among carnal people, the "wise" and politically correct people of today think of such a penalty as harsh, barbaric, and cruel.</p> <p>Yet, how else can human society deter further criminal and sinful behavior? The penal law God gave to Israel—based on the "eye-for-an-eye" principle (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/2101/eVerseID/2103" name="21012103" id="2101-2103-4245" class="verseRef" title="verse">Exodus 21:23-25</a>), that is, punishment to fit the crime—had four primary characteristics that our system lacks. To produce deterrence, punishments were:</p> <blockquote> <p>1. applied equally to all people: rich, poor, high, low, Israelite, or Gentile (see <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/1866/eVerseID/1866" name="18661866" id="1866-1866-27979" class="verseRef" title="verse">Exodus 12:49</a>).<br /> 2. executed publicly as an example to the community (see <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/3460/eVerseID/3460" name="34603460" id="3460-3460-15694" class="verseRef" title="verse">Leviticus 24:13</a>; <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/5469/eVerseID/5469" name="54695469" id="5469-5469-29113" class="verseRef" title="verse">Deuteronomy 21:21</a>).<br /> 3. generally "brutal" to teach the serious effect of sin (see <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/5284/eVerseID/5284" name="52845284" id="5284-5284-7240" class="verseRef" title="verse">Deuteronomy 13:11</a>; <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/5444/eVerseID/5446" name="54445446" id="5444-5446-13555" class="verseRef" title="verse">20:16-18</a>).<br /> 4. enacted swiftly to link crime to punishment (see <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/17470/eVerseID/17470" name="1747017470" id="17470-17470-11763" class="verseRef" title="verse">Ecclesiastes 8:11</a>).</p> </blockquote> <p>Today's sentences vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and sometimes trial to trial; occur out of the public eye, usually in a prison; lack teeth, so much so that in some cases inmates prefer prison life to life on the outside; and descend on the criminal months or years after his crime. Little in the modern system commends itself to true justice or the betterment of humanity.</p> <p>If we desire a little bit of hope, it is good in these days of continuing decline—what judge Robert Bork called "slouching toward Gomorrah"—to remember the words of <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/22439/eVerseID/22439" name="2243922439" id="22439-22439-25677" class="verseRef" title="verse">Amos 5:15:</a> "Hate evil, <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/guides/id/212/love-bible-study-guide.htm">love</a> good; establish justice in the gate. It may be that the L<span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 11px">ORD</span> God of hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph." The bad news is that this ray of hope shines through only after a great storm of grief and destruction—God's justice—that looks imminent. The good news is that, after that, <a href="https://www.biblicaljesus.org/">Jesus Christ</a> will establish His truly just government on the earth to rule for all eternity (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/17886/eVerseID/17890" name="1788617890" id="17886-17890-318" class="verseRef" title="verse">Isaiah 11:1-5</a>)!</p> </div><br> </td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p>— Richard T. Ritenbaugh</p> <p><strong>To learn more, see:<br> <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/weekly/id/70/deterrence.htm" target="_blank"> Deterrence</a></strong></p></td> <td align="center"> </td> </tr> </TABLE> <br><br> <div class="articleTopics" id="articleTopics"><b>Related Topics:</b><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/160/Adultery.htm" target="_blank">Adultery</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/22572/Americas-Immoral-Lifestyle.htm" target="_blank">America's Immoral Lifestyle</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/6011/Bestiality.htm" target="_blank">Bestiality</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/20895/Consequences-Immorality.htm" target="_blank">Consequences of Immorality</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/4333/Eye-for-an-Eye.htm" target="_blank">Eye for an Eye</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/428/Fornication.htm" target="_blank">Fornication</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/12384/Fornication-Defiles.htm" target="_blank">Fornication Defiles</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/355/Gods-Justice.htm" target="_blank">God's Justice</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/423/Homosexuality.htm" target="_blank">Homosexuality</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/18407/Homosexuals-Will-Not-Inherit-Kingdom-God.htm" target="_blank">Homosexuals Will Not Inherit Kingdom of God</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/1209/Humanism.htm" target="_blank">Humanism</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/21394/Humanist-Secularist-as-Synonyms-for-Atheist.htm" target="_blank">Humanist and Secularist as Synonyms for Atheist</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/1542/Political-Correctness.htm" target="_blank">Political Correctness</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/1263/Remnant-Joseph.htm" target="_blank">Remnant of Joseph</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/4834/Seventh-Commandment.htm" target="_blank">Seventh Commandment</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/8999/Sin-Penalty-for.htm" target="_blank">Sin ,Penalty for</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/161/Seventh-Commandment.htm" target="_blank">The Seventh Commandment</a><br> </div> <br><br> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> ]]> ... </description> ... </item> <item> <title>Matthew 5:17-18</title> <pubDate>Sat, 15 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT</pubDate> <link>https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/10315/matthew-5-17-18.htm</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/10315/matthew-5-17-18.htm</guid> <description> <![CDATA[ <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td valign="top"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><h1><a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/23252/eVerseID/23253" target="_blank">Matthew 5:17-18</a> </h1></td> </tr> </table> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><blockquote><div class="articleVerse" id="articleVerse">(17) "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. (18) For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. </div></blockquote></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><img height="20" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> </tr> </table> <table cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6" rowspan="2"><IMG height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0"></td> <td colspan="2"><div id="articleBody" class="articleBody"><p>The word “fulfill” is <i>pleroo </i>(<em>Strong's</em> #4137), which means “to make full, to fill up; to fill to the full.” It carries no implication of making something obsolete or unnecessary. Rather, <a href="https://www.biblicaljesus.org/">Jesus</a> fulfills the commandments by making their applications more encompassing by teaching and exemplifying how they are to be kept in the Spirit. He added the spirit of the law.</p> <p>As the <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/topic/id/2537/jesus-christ-as-god-lord-of-old-testament.htm" id="topic-2537-22827" class="libraryPreview" title="library"><a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/booklet/id/421/god-is-what.htm" id="sr-421-13393" class="libraryPreview" title="library">God</a> of the Old Testament</a>, the One who became Jesus—the Word, God who “became flesh and dwelt among us” (see <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/26046/eVerseID/26049" name="2604626049" id="26046-26049-8602" class="verseRef" title="verse">John 1:1-4</a>, 14)—issued all the commandments. The Bible emphasizes that God never changes (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/23127/eVerseID/23127" name="2312723127" id="23127-23127-25946" class="verseRef" title="verse">Malachi 3:6</a>; <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/30250/eVerseID/30250" name="3025030250" id="30250-30250-26063" class="verseRef" title="verse">Hebrews 13:8</a>), which includes His approach to <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/489/what-sin-is-does.htm" id="sr-489-1633" class="libraryPreview" title="library">sin</a> and righteousness. We need to obey Him and His law.</p> <p>In <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/23780/eVerseID/23780" name="2378023780" id="23780-23780-30831" class="verseRef" title="verse">Matthew 19:17</a>, Jesus points to the Ten Commandments when He tells the rich young ruler to keep them if he wants to enter into eternal life. The following two verses remove all doubt about what commandments He means, citing five of the Ten Commandments. In a way, He is alluding to <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/17537/eVerseID/17537" name="1753717537" id="17537-17537-10218" class="verseRef" title="verse">Ecclesiastes 12:13</a>, where Solomon advises, “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all.” Or, as the <i>Good News Translation</i> puts it, “. . . because this is all that we were created for.”</p> <p>The apostle Paul, in <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/28507/eVerseID/28507" name="2850728507" id="28507-28507-11587" class="verseRef" title="verse">I Corinthians 7:19</a>, instructs <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/1900/are-you-christian.htm" id="sr-1900-23464" class="libraryPreview" title="library">Christians</a> about the central place of those commandments: “Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.” He writes in <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/28099/eVerseID/28099" name="2809928099" id="28099-28099-4064" class="verseRef" title="verse">Romans 7:7</a>, “I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/sermon/id/1376/thou-shall-not-covet.htm" id="audio-1376-11623" class="libraryPreview" title="library">covetousness</a> unless the law has said, 'You shall not covet.'” God's law defines both righteousness—what we are to do—and sin—what we should not do.</p> </div><br> </td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p>— John Reiss</p> <p><strong>To learn more, see:<br> <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/1867/do-we-need-old-testament.htm" target="_blank"> Do We Need the Old Testament?</a></strong></p></td> <td align="center"> </td> </tr> </TABLE> <br><br> <div class="articleTopics" id="articleTopics"><b>Related Topics:</b><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/20252/Careful-About-Obedience.htm" target="_blank">Careful About Obedience</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/2523/Changelessness-God.htm" target="_blank">Changelessness of God</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/2062/Law-Keeping.htm" target="_blank">Law Keeping</a><br> </div> <br><br> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> ]]> ... </description> ... </item> <item> <title>Matthew 9:30-31</title> <pubDate>Fri, 14 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT</pubDate> <link>https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/8393/matthew-9-30-31.htm</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/8393/matthew-9-30-31.htm</guid> <description> <![CDATA[ <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td valign="top"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><h1><a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/23410/eVerseID/23411" target="_blank">Matthew 9:30-31</a> </h1></td> </tr> </table> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><blockquote><div class="articleVerse" id="articleVerse">(30) And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, "See <i>that</i> no one knows <i>it.</i> <i>"</i> (31) But when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country. </div></blockquote></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><img height="20" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> </tr> </table> <table cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6" rowspan="2"><IMG height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0"></td> <td colspan="2"><div id="articleBody" class="articleBody"><p><a href="https://www.biblicaljesus.org/">Jesus</a> gives this command in five of His thirty-three miracles. His warning is sternly given, as in Greek it is a scolding phrase linked to strong emotion like anger. It adds extra force and implies danger in disobedience. Here, it suggests that the two men need to improve in doing right.</p> <p>We should not always go easy on new converts about living a strict, upright life. God's standards must be upheld, guarded, and not watered down, whereas today's society tolerates <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/489/what-sin-is-does.htm" id="sr-489-27128" class="libraryPreview" title="library">sin</a> and weakens standards that are deemed "too hard" to keep. While ministers must follow God's command in <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/18788/eVerseID/18788" name="1878818788" id="18788-18788-10547" class="verseRef" title="verse">Isaiah 58:1</a> to, "Cry aloud, spare not; . . . tell My people their transgression," they must be careful not to <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/562/the-defense-against-offense.htm" id="sr-562-10416" class="libraryPreview" title="library">offend</a> or burden new converts with requirements that, because of their weak understanding, they cannot fulfill completely. Nevertheless, new members need to know God's holy standards. If His Spirit is working in their hearts and minds, they will not be driven away by them.</p> <p>At first, Christ's warning to keep quiet may seem to contradict the Christian duty to tell <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/sermon/id/440/christian-and-world-part-one.htm" id="audio-440-6102" class="libraryPreview" title="library">the world</a> about His works (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/24889/eVerseID/24889" name="2488924889" id="24889-24889-18764" class="verseRef" title="verse">Mark 16:15</a>). In this case, He has something else in mind. His command is first to protect against the impedance of His ministry (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/24261/eVerseID/24261" name="2426124261" id="24261-24261-28310" class="verseRef" title="verse">Mark 1:45</a>) and imperiling Himself.</p> <p>In addition, He wants to keep the healed men from being puffed up with pride, as well as to give proof of their healing in their conduct, not by words. Nothing proves <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/974/faith-what-is-it.htm" id="sr-974-10444" class="libraryPreview" title="library">faith</a> in Christ as well as righteous conduct that comes from a true change of heart. However, though these men had faith enough for healing, they did not have enough to follow His commands. A Christian must make sure that His faith is not a temporary faith that lacks obedience, but one based on <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/guides/id/212/love-bible-study-guide.htm">love</a> for <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/booklet/id/421/god-is-what.htm" id="sr-421-27473" class="libraryPreview" title="library">God</a>. As Christ says in <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/26692/eVerseID/26693" name="2669226693" id="26692-26693-11892" class="verseRef" title="verse">John 14:23-24</a>, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word."</p></div><br> </td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p>— Martin G. Collins</p> <p><strong>To learn more, see:<br> <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/biblestudy/id/1504/miracles-jesus-christ-healing-two-blind-men-part-two.htm" target="_blank"> The Miracles of Jesus Christ: Healing Two Blind Men (Part Two)</a></strong></p></td> <td align="center"> </td> </tr> </TABLE> <br><br> <div class="articleTopics" id="articleTopics"><b>Related Topics:</b><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/3054/Change-of-Heart.htm" target="_blank">Change of Heart</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/15313/Compromising-Standards.htm" target="_blank">Compromising Standards</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/15312/Cry-Aloud-Spare-Not.htm" target="_blank">Cry Aloud, Spare Not</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/164/Disobedience.htm" target="_blank">Disobedience</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/2359/Gods-Standards.htm" target="_blank">God's Standards</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/214/Obedience.htm" target="_blank">Obedience</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/235/Pride.htm" target="_blank">Pride</a><br> </div> <br><br> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> ]]> ... </description> ... </item> <item> <title>Ezekiel 3:14-15</title> <pubDate>Thu, 13 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT</pubDate> <link>https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/7080/ezekiel-3-14-15.htm</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/7080/ezekiel-3-14-15.htm</guid> <description> <![CDATA[ <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td valign="top"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><h1><a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/20517/eVerseID/20518" target="_blank">Ezekiel 3:14-15</a> </h1></td> </tr> </table> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><blockquote><div class="articleVerse" id="articleVerse">(14) So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me. (15) Then I came to the captives at Tel Abib, who dwelt by the River Chebar; and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days. </div></blockquote></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><img height="20" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> </tr> </table> <table cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6" rowspan="2"><IMG height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0"></td> <td colspan="2"><div id="articleBody" class="articleBody"><p>When Ezekiel was finally back among the captives, he felt a great bitterness. He calls it, "the heat of my spirit." The New King James margin has at this point, "the <em>anger</em> of my spirit."</p> <p>This heated or angry bitterness equates to a kind of zeal. God's revelation is actually its basis because what went down into his stomach and revealed or opened up a great deal of truth to him was from <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/booklet/id/421/god-is-what.htm" id="sr-421-3990" class="libraryPreview" title="library">God</a>. It has given him a perspective that no one else has—a unique view on <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/sermon/id/440/christian-and-world-part-one.htm" id="audio-440-7941" class="libraryPreview" title="library">the world</a>, on the way things should be, and on all the truth of God. It brings him sadness, a kind of <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/184/beatitudes-mourning.htm" id="sr-184-8509" class="libraryPreview" title="library">mourning</a>, because of the crooked way of humanity.</p> <p>Remember that the angel went about looking for those who sighed and cried over the abominations of the earth (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/20626/eVerseID/20627" name="2062620627" id="20626-20627-24434" class="verseRef" title="verse">Ezekiel 9:3-4</a>). That is a deep sadness, a grieving over what is going on—along with a realization of one's powerlessness to change it. The people who <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/1478/torment-of-godly-part-one.htm" id="sr-1478-16193" class="libraryPreview" title="library">sigh and cry</a> see so many people going the wrong way and making their lives a total waste, and they find themselves unable to make any sort of beneficial change for them.</p> <p>This zeal also contains a kind of <i>astonishment</i>, as verse 15 attests. Ezekiel was astonished for an entire seven days—a whole week! Trying to figure out just what was going on, he was dumbfounded. Probably part of it was that he had been given this commission, and he was asking, "Why me, Lord?" But he was also astonished by the understanding that he had been given and at what God was doing.</p> <p>Finally, there is his anger. Somebody like Ezekiel would be angry because nothing was being done. It is the flipside of his sadness. He was angry that his people would not <a href="https://www.truegospel.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Basics.tour/ID/7/Repentance-Belief-and-Gospel.htm">repent</a>. He was likely thinking, "Come on, people. Listen! If you would only listen to God, things would turn around for you."</p> <p>So the prophet shows <i>a </i>zeal to help people to change, but also a sadness that they probably will not. He also exhibits a total amazement over the fact that God is actually going to work all this out.</p> <p>What Ezekiel displays is a weird emotion, but it is understandable why all of its facets are brought down to the one word: bitterness. There is little, if any, happiness and <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/280/fruit-of-spirit-joy.htm" id="sr-280-5393" class="libraryPreview" title="library">joy</a> involved. It is the kind of mood where we say today, with a shake of the head, "Man, this is bad." It is an emotion on the very edge of downright pessimism.</p> <p>What it does, though, is drive the prophet to do his work—because he is the only one, it seems, who can do it. Truly, he is, because God has chosen him in particular to do it. He may have picked somebody else, but He had prepared this particular individual for the job. And given a dose of that bitterness, the prophet is glavanized to get the job done.</p> </div><br> </td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p>— Richard T. Ritenbaugh</p> <p><strong>To learn more, see:<br> <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/sermon/id/734/two-witnesses-part-two.htm" target="_blank"> The Two Witnesses (Part Two)</a></strong></p></td> <td align="center"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" border="0"> <tr><td align="center"><a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/sermon/id/734/ap/1/two-witnesses-part-two.htm"><img src="https://i.cgg.org/player.png" border="0" alt="Listen to this sermon"></a></td><td></td></tr></table> </td> </tr> </TABLE> <br><br> <div class="articleTopics" id="articleTopics"><b>Related Topics:</b><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/15019/Anger-of-Spirit.htm" target="_blank">Anger of the Spirit</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/15865/Astonishment.htm" target="_blank">Astonishment</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/3162/Bitterness.htm" target="_blank">Bitterness</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/4553/Ezekiel.htm" target="_blank">Ezekiel</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/15299/Pessimism.htm" target="_blank">Pessimism</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/899/Sighing-Crying-for-Abominations.htm" target="_blank">Sighing and Crying for Abominations</a><br> </div> <br><br> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> ]]> ... </description> ... </item> <item> <title>Ezekiel 10:6-7</title> <pubDate>Wed, 12 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT</pubDate> <link>https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/8258/ezekiel-10-6-7.htm</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/8258/ezekiel-10-6-7.htm</guid> <description> <![CDATA[ <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td valign="top"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><h1><a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/20640/eVerseID/20641" target="_blank">Ezekiel 10:6-7</a> </h1></td> </tr> </table> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><blockquote><div class="articleVerse" id="articleVerse">(6) Then it happened, when He commanded the man clothed in linen, saying, "Take fire from among the wheels, from among the cherubim," that he went in and stood beside the wheels. (7) And the cherub stretched out his hand from among the cherubim to the fire that <i>was</i> among the cherubim, and took <i>some of it</i> and put <i>it</i> into the hands of the <i>man</i> clothed with linen, who took <i>it</i> and went out. </div></blockquote></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><img height="20" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> </tr> </table> <table cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6" rowspan="2"><IMG height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0"></td> <td colspan="2"><div id="articleBody" class="articleBody"><p>This is a very interesting passage. It makes no mention of the Babylonian troops who would later descend upon and lay siege to Jerusalem, who were going to slay and burn. Spiritually speaking, those who died in that catastrophe died at the hands of the angels whom <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/booklet/id/421/god-is-what.htm" id="sr-421-6788" class="libraryPreview" title="library">God</a> had sent, and Jerusalem burned with the fire of God!</p> <p>Herbert Armstrong taught that the book of Ezekiel is for the modern <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/896/searching-for-israel-promises-to-faithful.htm" id="sr-896-17900" class="libraryPreview" title="library">nations of Israel</a>, which are presently led by the United States of America. Truly, it is a vision, but it points to a reality: that America's fall will be the greatest of any nation in the history of <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/sermon/id/440/christian-and-world-part-one.htm" id="audio-440-11931" class="libraryPreview" title="library">the world</a>. Yes, and the vision seems to tell us that when she burns, America will burn with the very fire of God.</p> <p>Ezekiel, as verse 19 indicates, watches as the cherubim "mounted up" and left the earth. God returns to His throne in heaven, but the impact of the visions remain on Ezekiel's psyche. Thousands in Jerusalem had perished, and the city was in flames. Ezekiel must have been absolutely terrified to <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/sermon/id/138/do-you-see-god.htm" id="audio-138-8750" class="libraryPreview" title="library">see God</a> leave, to see such utter devastation in advance and probably in living Technicolor, to witness the destruction of God's Temple, the slaughter of myriads of people, and the end of his homeland as he and his forefathers had known it for centuries.</p> <p>He may have asked, "Could Israel have become so decadent? Could this happen to the city of God?" He must have wondered, but he knew the answer. He had seen it in visions from God Himself.</p> <p>Similarly, we could ask today, "Could America drift so far from the principles of its founding?" and "Can the destruction of America as we have known her really be happening right before our eyes and her final dissolution be so relatively close?"</p> <p>We, too, know the answer, for we have seen it in God's Word.</p> <p>Are we tormented by what we see around us? Are we spiritually tortured by the evil that we hear and see?</p> </div><br> </td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p>— Charles Whitaker</p> <p><strong>To learn more, see:<br> <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/1478/torment-of-godly-part-one.htm" target="_blank"> The Torment of the Godly (Part One)</a></strong></p></td> <td align="center"> </td> </tr> </TABLE> <br><br> <div class="articleTopics" id="articleTopics"><b>Related Topics:</b><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/13227/Americas-Dissolution.htm" target="_blank">America's Dissolution</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/13224/Americas-Fall.htm" target="_blank">America's Fall</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/13226/Destruction-America.htm" target="_blank">Destruction of America</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/13223/Ezekiels-Prophecies.htm" target="_blank">Ezekiel's Prophecies</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/13220/Ezekiels-Torment.htm" target="_blank">Ezekiel's Torment</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/13218/Fury-on-Jerusalem.htm" target="_blank">Fury on Jerusalem</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/300/Gods-Judgment.htm" target="_blank">God's Judgment</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/13225/Israels-Decadence.htm" target="_blank">Israel's Decadence</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/6401/Jerusalem-Siege-of.htm" target="_blank">Jerusalem, Siege of </a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/6118/Remnant-Israel.htm" target="_blank">Remnant of Israel </a><br> </div> <br><br> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> ]]> ... </description> ... </item> <item> <title>Ecclesiastes 2:24</title> <pubDate>Tue, 11 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT</pubDate> <link>https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/8954/ecclesiastes-2-24.htm</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/8954/ecclesiastes-2-24.htm</guid> <description> <![CDATA[ <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td valign="top"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><h1><a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/17358/eVerseID/17358" target="_blank">Ecclesiastes 2:24</a> </h1></td> </tr> </table> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><blockquote><div class="articleVerse" id="articleVerse">(24) Nothing <i>is</i> better for a man <i>than</i> that he should eat and drink, and <i>that</i> his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God. </div></blockquote></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><img height="20" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> </tr> </table> <table cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6" rowspan="2"><IMG height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0"></td> <td colspan="2"><div id="articleBody" class="articleBody"><p>In <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/23314/eVerseID/23316" name="2331423316" id="23314-23316-23335" class="verseRef" title="verse">Matthew 6:31-33</a>, <a href="https://www.biblicaljesus.org/">Jesus</a> informs us what our primary focus regarding work should be:</p> <blockquote> <p>Therefore do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the <a href="https://www.truegospel.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/basics.tour/ID/2/What-Did-Jesus-Preach.htm">kingdom of God</a> and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.</p> </blockquote> <p>Undoubtedly, earning a living is important to life. However, we can easily drift into over-emphasizing the day-to-day, wage-earning job above Christian responsibilities. At the same time, the Kingdom of <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/booklet/id/421/god-is-what.htm" id="sr-421-3738" class="libraryPreview" title="library">God</a> can easily suffer from the “out of sight, out of mind” syndrome. To guard against this happening, we must consciously put God's Word and work as our highest priorities. This is not to say that Christian works should be given the greater time but that we must have a higher regard for them. We must consider it an absolute necessity not to neglect them.</p> <p><i>Work</i> is defined as “the physical or mental activity directed toward the accomplishment of a project one has either been assigned or undertaken on his own volition.” God, in whose image we are being created, is our overall Model. The first image God gives mankind of Himself is of Him working.</p> <p><a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/26/eVerseID/26" name="2626" id="26-26-28374" class="verseRef" title="verse">Genesis 1:26</a> establishes the early time-setting when work was shown as an assigned responsibility of mankind:</p> <blockquote> <p>Then God said, “Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”</p> </blockquote> <p>Most of the Bible's first two chapters are comprised of showing God working. In our culture, people generally think that as one rises in importance, he is relieved of most work, a flawed concept to say the least. In His culture, nobody is higher than God, and in <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/26228/eVerseID/26228" name="2622826228" id="26228-26228-25193" class="verseRef" title="verse">John 5:17</a>, Jesus states that God works continually. Genesis 1 and 2 provide as clear an example of His activity as is found in Scripture.</p> <p><a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/29967/eVerseID/29967" name="2996729967" id="29967-29967-19392" class="verseRef" title="verse">Hebrews 1:3</a> further clarifies the Creator's continuous work:</p> <blockquote> <p>. . . who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the majesty.</p> </blockquote> <p>His “upholding” indicates continuous, purposeful, and energetic movement toward carrying out a purpose.</p> <p><a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/46/eVerseID/46" name="4646" id="46-46-19043" class="verseRef" title="verse">Genesis 2:15</a> adds to our understanding of God as our Model of work and of work being an assigned responsibility: “Then the L<span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 11px">ORD</span> God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.” If we follow the orderly, step-by-step sequence of events as God creates, He did not create Adam and Eve until everything physically necessary for living was in place and operational. The narrative shows that He led them to the Garden, and His first command to mankind, represented by them, lets them know that they had to work to guard the Garden from deteriorating and to make it productive.</p> <p>Note three significant things from this opening revelation about work:</p> <p>1) God gives no indication to man that he is entitled to something for nothing.</p> <p>2) The command to work preceded Adam and Eve's <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/489/what-sin-is-does.htm" id="sr-489-18567" class="libraryPreview" title="library">sin</a>, so we must understand that work is not a penalty for sin. <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/73/eVerseID/75" name="7375" id="73-75-502" class="verseRef" title="verse">Genesis 3:17-19</a>, God's pronouncement of Adam's curse, makes this point plain:</p> <blockquote> <p>Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it': Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”</p> </blockquote> <p>The curses for their sin definitely made work more difficult, but the responsibility to work continued otherwise unchanged.</p> <p>3) Therefore, <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/17358/eVerseID/17358" name="1735817358" id="17358-17358-1753" class="verseRef" title="verse">Ecclesiastes 2:24</a> highlights God's original command regarding work: “There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God.” Thus, work is a blessing, a valuable gift from God.</p> </div><br> </td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p>— John W. Ritenbaugh</p> <p><strong>To learn more, see:<br> <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/1602/ecclesiastes-christian-living-part-two-works.htm" target="_blank"> Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Two): Works</a></strong></p></td> <td align="center"> </td> </tr> </TABLE> <br><br> <div class="articleTopics" id="articleTopics"><b>Related Topics:</b><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/18237/Christian-Works.htm" target="_blank">Christian Works</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/18153/Ecclesiastes-Christian-Living.htm" target="_blank">Ecclesiastes and Christian Living</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/4413/Kingdom-God-Seeking-First.htm" target="_blank">Kingdom of God, Seeking First</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/2378/Seeking-First-Kingdom-of-God.htm" target="_blank">Seeking First Kingdom of God</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/18303/Work-as-Blessing.htm" target="_blank">Work as a Blessing</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/18302/Work-as-Gift.htm" target="_blank">Work as a Gift</a><br> </div> <br><br> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> ]]> ... </description> ... </item> <item> <title>Revelation 1:9-10</title> <pubDate>Mon, 10 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT</pubDate> <link>https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/6359/revelation-1-9-10.htm</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/6359/revelation-1-9-10.htm</guid> <description> <![CDATA[ <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td valign="top"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><h1><a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/30707/eVerseID/30708" target="_blank">Revelation 1:9-10</a> </h1></td> </tr> </table> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><blockquote><div class="articleVerse" id="articleVerse">(9) I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. (10) I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, </div></blockquote></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><img height="20" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> </tr> </table> <table cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6" rowspan="2"><IMG height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0"></td> <td colspan="2"><div id="articleBody" class="articleBody"><p>John informs us that he "was on the island that is called Patmos" (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/30707/eVerseID/30707" name="3070730707" id="30707-30707-30853" class="verseRef" title="verse">Revelation 1:9</a>), a small, rocky Aegean island just west of due south from Ephesus, employed as a prison or place of exile by the Roman emperors. Most prisoners were required to work the quarries and mines on the island, but John's advanced age may have allowed him to avoid such backbreaking labor.</p> <p>He writes that he was exiled there "for [because of] the word of <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/booklet/id/421/god-is-what.htm" id="sr-421-8140" class="libraryPreview" title="library">God</a> and for the testimony of <a href="https://www.biblicaljesus.org/">Jesus Christ</a>," an indication that his preaching had come to the attention of the Roman authorities, and judgment had gone against him. It is likely that John had spoken against the emperor cult (the worship of the current Roman emperor as a god, a practice that reached its height under Domitian, <span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 11px">AD</span> 81-96), and his exile rather than execution can only be attributed to Jesus' prophecy of John not facing martyrdom (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/26921/eVerseID/26921" name="2692126921" id="26921-26921-18155" class="verseRef" title="verse">John 21:22</a>). The apostle perhaps remained on Patmos for less than two years, as such exiles were routinely released upon the death of the emperor who had exiled them.</p> <p>Some Protestants and Catholics contend that John saw these visions on a Sunday because John writes that he "was in the Spirit on the <a href="https://www.sabbath.org/index.cfm/basics/faq/id/168/what-is-lords-day-revelation-110.htm">Lord's Day</a>" (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/30708/eVerseID/30708" name="3070830708" id="30708-30708-25353" class="verseRef" title="verse">Revelation 1:10</a>). This is merely an unfortunate misunderstanding due to the prevalence of unscriptural <a href="https://www.sabbath.org/index.cfm/basics/faq/id/135/is-sunday-worship-mentioned-in-new-testament.htm">Sunday worship</a> throughout Christendom. In Greek, this phrase reads <I>en teé Kuriakeé heeméra</I>, literally "on the belonging-to-the-Lord day." Although it is different in construction to other instances of "the day of the Lord" in the New Testament, the meaning is the same. John is speaking not of the first day of the week, but of the time of God's judgment known throughout the <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/1867/do-we-need-old-testament.htm" id="sr-1867-30616" class="libraryPreview" title="library">Old Testament</a> as "the day of the L<span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 11px">ORD</span>." (Sunday, the first day of the week, was never known in the <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/1507/where-is-gods-true-church-today.htm" id="sr-1507-5329" class="libraryPreview" title="library">true church</a> as "the Lord's Day," for Jesus Himself says He is "Lord of the <a href="https://www.sabbath.org/">Sabbath</a>" (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/24289/eVerseID/24289" name="2428924289" id="24289-24289-22242" class="verseRef" title="verse">Mark 2:28</a>), which is the seventh day.)</p> <p>The apostle is giving the reader vital information about the time setting of his vision and thus the true application of the <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/topic/id/3708/revelation-book-of.htm" id="topic-3708-29468" class="libraryPreview" title="library">book of Revelation</a>. Through the agency of God's Spirit, John received a vision of end-time events and related material that reveal to the church a unique understanding of the day of the Lord. Though couched in late first-century terms and allusions, Revelation is first and predominantly about the time of the end, when God through Christ will intervene in world affairs and establish His Kingdom on the earth. Most of its prophecies are only now beginning to be fulfilled or are still awaiting fulfillment in years just ahead. In a sense, the book of Revelation is as current as today's newspaper—even better, because we have it in advance!</p></div><br> </td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p>— Richard T. Ritenbaugh</p> <p><strong>To learn more, see:<br> <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/1048/introduction-revelation.htm" target="_blank"> The All-Important Introduction to Revelation</a></strong></p></td> <td align="center"> </td> </tr> </TABLE> <br><br> <div class="articleTopics" id="articleTopics"><b>Related Topics:</b><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/322/Day-of-Lord.htm" target="_blank">Day of the Lord</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/649/Lords-Day.htm" target="_blank">Lord's Day</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/4107/Patmos-.htm" target="_blank">Patmos </a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/1549/Revelation.htm" target="_blank">Revelation</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/37/Sabbath.htm" target="_blank">Sabbath</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/2566/Sabbath-Jesus-as-Lord-of.htm" target="_blank">Sabbath, Jesus as Lord of</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/4080/Sun-Worship-.htm" target="_blank">Sun Worship </a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/207/Sunday-Worship.htm" target="_blank">Sunday Worship</a><br> </div> <br><br> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> ]]> ... </description> ... </item> <item> <title>Proverbs 29:18</title> <pubDate>Sun, 9 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT</pubDate> <link>https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/3598/proverbs-29-18.htm</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/3598/proverbs-29-18.htm</guid> <description> <![CDATA[ <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td valign="top"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><h1><a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/17243/eVerseID/17243" target="_blank">Proverbs 29:18</a> </h1></td> </tr> </table> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><blockquote><div class="articleVerse" id="articleVerse">(18) Where <i>there is</i> no revelation, the people cast off restraint; <br /> But happy <i>is</i> he who keeps the law. <br /> </div></blockquote></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><img height="20" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> </tr> </table> <table cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6" rowspan="2"><IMG height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0"></td> <td colspan="2"><div id="articleBody" class="articleBody"><p>Modern versions replace "vision" with "revelation," but the choice is negligible because God's revelation is the true and most important vision (foresight, discernment, insight) for our lives. <I>The</I> <I>Living Bible</I> paraphrases this verse as, "Where there is ignorance of <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/booklet/id/421/god-is-what.htm" id="sr-421-24462" class="libraryPreview" title="library">God</a>, the people run wild, but what a wonderful thing it is for a nation to know and keep His laws!" An old English version based on the Latin Vulgate provides a fascinating rendering in light of what has happened recently in the church: "When prophecy shall fail, the people shall be scattered." Adam Clarke comments, "Where divine revelation, and the faithful preaching of the sacred testimonies, are neither reverenced nor attended, the ruin of that land [or church] is at no great distance."</p> <p>All these renderings show a measure of cause and effect. The vision a person has is the cause, and the effect is the way he then conducts his life. Where there is a true vision, or revelation of God, it motivates those who have reverence for it to conduct their lives in a way that produces good fruit - happiness. If the vision that guides is not from God, the people are motivated to "run wild" or "cast off restraint." That is, they will not discipline themselves to take proper responsibility, and the result is they perish - quite a contrast to the satisfying result of keeping God's laws!</p> <p>There can be no doubt about what vision produces. It enhances our perception of what will occur or be produced if a certain course is followed. Thus, it increases our discernment and sharpens our judgment about which way we should go. If the vision, the foreseen result, seems good to a person, he is motivated to proceed in that direction. When vision and the fear of God combine, they produce a strong stimulus to obey Him. Vision gives a mental picture of results, and the deep and abiding respect for God produces a compelling inclination to please Him.</p></div><br> </td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p>— John W. Ritenbaugh</p> <p><strong>To learn more, see:<br> <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/719/the-elements-of-motivation-part-two-vision.htm" target="_blank"> The Elements of Motivation (Part Two): Vision</a></strong></p></td> <td align="center"> </td> </tr> </TABLE> <br><br> <div class="articleTopics" id="articleTopics"><b>Related Topics:</b><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/890/Discernment.htm" target="_blank">Discernment</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/2388/Foresight.htm" target="_blank">Foresight</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/664/Knowledge-of-God.htm" target="_blank">Knowledge of God</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/416/Law.htm" target="_blank">Law</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/376/Prophecy.htm" target="_blank">Prophecy</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/2022/Prophecy-Motivating-Power-of.htm" target="_blank">Prophecy, Motivating Power of</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/1549/Revelation.htm" target="_blank">Revelation</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/330/Vision.htm" target="_blank">Vision</a><br> </div> <br><br> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> ]]> ... </description> ... </item> <item> <title>2 Corinthians 6:11</title> <pubDate>Sat, 8 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT</pubDate> <link>https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/10327/2-corinthians-6-11.htm</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/10327/2-corinthians-6-11.htm</guid> <description> <![CDATA[ <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td valign="top"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><h1><a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/28910/eVerseID/28910" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 6:11</a> </h1></td> </tr> </table> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><blockquote><div class="articleVerse" id="articleVerse">(11) O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. </div></blockquote></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><img height="20" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> </tr> </table> <table cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6" rowspan="2"><IMG height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0"></td> <td colspan="2"><div id="articleBody" class="articleBody"><p>Understanding II Corinthians as a whole requires knowledge of the often-strained relationship between the apostle Paul and the church in Corinth. The city was a crossroads of the pagan Mediterranean culture of the day, and every kind of philosophy, religion, and activity was available there. Thus, the people who responded to Paul's evangelism, mostly Gentiles, had to unlearn a great deal of worldliness—to put it lightly. They often went to extremes and were easily convinced one way or another. If we did not know that the apostle Paul's “thorn in the flesh” (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/29030/eVerseID/29033" name="2903029033" id="29030-29033-2276" class="verseRef" title="verse">II Corinthians 12:7-10</a>) was an actual bodily ailment, the Corinthian church would have been a good candidate for it!</p> <p>Many Corinthians appear not to have had a good opinion of Paul, especially when they compared him to Peter and Apollos (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/28376/eVerseID/28376" name="2837628376" id="28376-28376-187" class="verseRef" title="verse">I Corinthians 1:12</a>; <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/28415/eVerseID/28415" name="2841528415" id="28415-28415-28835" class="verseRef" title="verse">3:4</a>). He was not to their stature, they thought, not as bold and powerful as Peter or as eloquent and dynamic as Apollos (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/28982/eVerseID/28982" name="2898228982" id="28982-28982-16591" class="verseRef" title="verse">II Corinthians 10:10</a>). They suspected him of impure motives, and his demanding, corrective style (as they saw it) often rubbed them the wrong way. Besides, he said things that confused and constrained them, though he also spoke about freedom, and perhaps he was just a mite too intellectual for them.</p> <p>In addition, he had written to them of his plan to spend some time with them (see <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/28782/eVerseID/28784" name="2878228784" id="28782-28784-22487" class="verseRef" title="verse">I Corinthians 16:5-7</a>), but due to a crisis in the Corinthian congregation (see <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/29044/eVerseID/29044" name="2904429044" id="29044-29044-14634" class="verseRef" title="verse">II Corinthians 12:21</a>; <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/29046/eVerseID/29046" name="2904629046" id="29046-29046-17477" class="verseRef" title="verse">13:2</a>), he changed his plans, deciding that the crisis warranted an emergency visit, a year earlier than planned. But that visit was a painful disaster, a source of “sorrow” (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/28826/eVerseID/28827" name="2882628827" id="28826-28827-13811" class="verseRef" title="verse">II Corinthians 2:1-2</a>) because, when Paul sought to correct the situation, it led to the “contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults” mentioned in <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/29043/eVerseID/29043" name="2904329043" id="29043-29043-27846" class="verseRef" title="verse">II Corinthians 12:20</a>. He made plans to visit them twice more before returning to Judea (see <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/28816/eVerseID/28817" name="2881628817" id="28816-28817-7976" class="verseRef" title="verse">II Corinthians 1:15-16</a>).</p> <p>After returning to Ephesus, however, he changed his mind about his plans (reverting to his original one) and sent them another epistle (lost to history), which has come to be known in scholarly circles as the “Severe Letter” (see <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/28828/eVerseID/28829" name="2882828829" id="28828-28829-7724" class="verseRef" title="verse">II Corinthians 2:3-4</a>; <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/28925/eVerseID/28929" name="2892528929" id="28925-28929-16463" class="verseRef" title="verse">7:8-12</a>). He seems to have decided another face-to-face visit would cause further grief, and a letter would be less confrontational. But his new plan backfired on him, as the Corinthians were offended by his vacillation, thinking him “fleshly” (see I<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/28376/eVerseID/28376" name="2837628376" id="28376-28376-24843" class="verseRef" title="verse">I Corinthians 1:12</a>, 17), that is, carnal, not spiritually minded. Even so—wonder of wonders!—they responded positively to his correction in the “Severe Letter” and repented (see <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/28924/eVerseID/28933" name="2892428933" id="28924-28933-10392" class="verseRef" title="verse">II Corinthians 7:7-16</a>).</p> <p>Finally, also undermining Paul's reputation, a group of false apostles, probably of a Jewish bent, had infiltrated the Corinthian church (see <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/28842/eVerseID/28828" name="2884228828" id="28842-28828-4963" class="verseRef" title="verse">II Corinthians 2:17-3:2</a>; 5:11-13; 10:12-12:13). They accused him of peddling God's Word and commending himself, and they claimed he was not an apostle at all. These <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/sermon/id/644/spotting-false-teachers.htm" id="audio-644-24706" class="libraryPreview" title="library">false teachers</a> had shattered the Corinthians' confidence in Paul and his teaching.</p> <p>Such is the setting of Paul's exclamation in <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/28910/eVerseID/28910" name="2891028910" id="28910-28910-21885" class="verseRef" title="verse">II Corinthians 6:11</a>. His solution to his problems with the Corinthian members was to be completely open with them about everything. He would hold nothing back. In Greek, the sentence reads more literally, “Our mouth has been opened to you, Corinthians; our heart has been opened to you!” He lays his thinking and emotions bare to their scrutiny, telling them plainly, hoping they would see he had dealt with them genuinely and righteously. He loves them and wants to help them “come to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/29286/eVerseID/29286" name="2928629286" id="29286-29286-28193" class="verseRef" title="verse">Ephesians 4:13</a>). He has done everything for their spiritual good.</p> <p>In the next verses, he tells them he has not restrained his affection for them, as they probably thought he did not <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/guides/id/212/love-bible-study-guide.htm">love</a> them. But he does not hold back that their attitude toward him restricted them, stating that they needed to reciprocate, to be open with him (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/28912/eVerseID/28912" name="2891228912" id="28912-28912-12953" class="verseRef" title="verse">II Corinthians 6:13</a>). In essence, he says, “For my part, I've cleared the air and spoken the truth. Now you do the same.” We can take it as a lesson in interpersonal relations: Honesty and openness, with humility, are the best policy. But how hard it is to do!</p> </div><br> </td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p>— Richard T. Ritenbaugh</p> </strong></p></td> <td align="center"> </td> </tr> </TABLE> <br><br> <div class="articleTopics" id="articleTopics"><b>Related Topics:</b><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/5995/Corinthian-Church.htm" target="_blank">Corinthian Church</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/16141/Corinthianize.htm" target="_blank">Corinthianize</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/7094/False-Apostles.htm" target="_blank">False Apostles</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/2077/False-Teachers.htm" target="_blank">False Teachers</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/24564/Pauls-Severe-Letter-Corinthians.htm" target="_blank">Paul's Severe Letter to Corinthians</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/4326/Thorn-in-Flesh.htm" target="_blank">Thorn in the Flesh</a><br> </div> <br><br> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> ]]> ... </description> ... </item> <item> <title>Hebrews 11:32-34</title> <pubDate>Fri, 7 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT</pubDate> <link>https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/10245/hebrews-11-32-34.htm</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/10245/hebrews-11-32-34.htm</guid> <description> <![CDATA[ <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td valign="top"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><h1><a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/30205/eVerseID/30207" target="_blank">Hebrews 11:32-34</a> </h1></td> </tr> </table> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><blockquote><div class="articleVerse" id="articleVerse">(32) And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also <i>of</i> David and Samuel and the prophets: (33) who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, (34) quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. </div></blockquote></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><img height="20" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> </tr> </table> <table cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6" rowspan="2"><IMG height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0"></td> <td colspan="2"><div id="articleBody" class="articleBody"><p>In a way, Samson was a narcissist. From his birth, he was the "special boy," a miracle child. His parents likely doted on him because of this miraculous beginning. Scripture tells us that his parents caved to his every desire, and despite this, he does not treat them with a great deal of respect. For example, when he desires to marry, he tells his father, "Give me that Philistine girl as my wife!" He did not entreat or ask: "Dad, I'd like to go down to Timnah and see this woman. Do you think this is good? Do you think you could please arrange it for me?" No, it was, "Get me this woman!"</p> <p>But behind the scenes, <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/booklet/id/421/god-is-what.htm" id="sr-421-29996" class="libraryPreview" title="library">God</a> was working with him. Even so, Samson's attitude throughout most of his judgeship was quite selfish. His pursuit of his carnal desires is a case in point. He pigheadedly and foolishly blundered into situations that a little wiser person, one less sure of himself, would have approached a bit more cautiously. Also, in many of these situations, Samson is proud, touchy, quick to anger, and swift to knock others on the head with the jawbone of an ass.</p> <p>Only at the very end of his life, when he volunteers to sacrifice himself to gain a victory for Israel—<em>after </em>being severely humbled by blinding, slavery, and mockery of the Philistines—does he make a real breakthrough. Then he dies.</p> <p>Finally, God had brought him to the point where he said, "God, if you will it, I will do what needs to be done to give Israel a victory." God says, "That is the attitude I was looking for all along. Go!"</p> </div><br> </td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p>— Richard T. Ritenbaugh</p> <p><strong>To learn more, see:<br> <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/sermon/id/5475/poor-spirit.htm" target="_blank"> The Poor in Spirit</a></strong></p></td> <td align="center"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" border="0"> <tr><td align="center"><a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/sermon/id/5475/ap/1/poor-spirit.htm"><img src="https://i.cgg.org/player.png" border="0" alt="Listen to this sermon"></a></td><td></td></tr></table> </td> </tr> </TABLE> <br><br> <div class="articleTopics" id="articleTopics"><b>Related Topics:</b><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/923/Poor-Spirit.htm" target="_blank">Poor in Spirit</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/1326/Samson.htm" target="_blank">Samson</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/254/Spiritual-Poverty.htm" target="_blank">Spiritual Poverty</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/24335/Poor-Spirit.htm" target="_blank">The Poor in Spirit</a><br> </div> <br><br> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> ]]> ... </description> ... </item> <item> <title>Genesis 6:9</title> <pubDate>Thu, 6 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT</pubDate> <link>https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/6283/genesis-6-9.htm</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/6283/genesis-6-9.htm</guid> <description> <![CDATA[ <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td valign="top"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><h1><a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/147/eVerseID/147" target="_blank">Genesis 6:9</a> </h1></td> </tr> </table> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><blockquote><div class="articleVerse" id="articleVerse">(9) This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. </div></blockquote></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><img height="20" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> </tr> </table> <table cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6" rowspan="2"><IMG height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0"></td> <td colspan="2"><div id="articleBody" class="articleBody"><p>In the Hebrew text, the word <i>perfect</i> is <i>tamîm</i> (<i>Strong's</i> #8549), and its basic meaning is "complete" or "entire." It does not mean "perfect" as we think of it today, as "without fault, flaw, or defect." Other English words that translate <i>tamîm</i> better than "perfect" are "whole," "full," "finished," "well-rounded," "balanced," "sound," "healthful," "sincere," "innocent," or "wholehearted." In the main, however, modern translators have rendered it as "blameless" in <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/147/eVerseID/147" name="147147" id="147-147-2089" class="verseRef" title="verse">Genesis 6:9</a>.</p> <p>This does not mean that Noah never sinned, but that he was spiritually mature and that he had a wholehearted, healthy relationship with <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/booklet/id/421/god-is-what.htm" id="sr-421-13710" class="libraryPreview" title="library">God</a>, who had forgiven him of his sins, rendering him guiltless. The thought in <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/147/eVerseID/147" name="147147" id="147-147-8238" class="verseRef" title="verse">Genesis 6:9</a> extends to the fact that Noah was head-and-shoulders above his contemporaries in spiritual maturity. In fact, the text suggests that he was God's <i>only</i> logical choice to do His work.</p> <p>The New Testament concept of perfection, found in the Greek word <i>téleios</i> (<i>Strong's</i> #5056), is similar to <i>tamîm</i>. Perhaps the best-known occurrence of <i>téleios</i> occurs in <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/23283/eVerseID/23283" name="2328323283" id="23283-23283-21743" class="verseRef" title="verse">Matthew 5:48:</a> "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." Certainly, Jesus desires that we become as flawless as we can humanly be, using the utter perfection of the Father as our model, but His use of <i>téleios</i> suggests something else. His aim is that a Christian be completely committed to living God's way of life, maturing in it until he can perform the duties God entrusts to him both now and in His Kingdom. In harmony with this idea of spiritual growth toward completion, <i>téleios</i> is well translated as "mature" in <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/28401/eVerseID/28401" name="2840128401" id="28401-28401-27513" class="verseRef" title="verse">I Corinthians 2:6</a>, and in <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/30045/eVerseID/30045" name="3004530045" id="30045-30045-3922" class="verseRef" title="verse">Hebrews 5:14</a>, it is rendered as "of full age."</p> <p>In addition, unlike Greek, biblical Hebrew is a rather concrete language, expressing itself in colorful, often earthy terms, and emphasizing its meaning with repetition and rephrasing. Because his vocabulary was limited by a relatively small number of words, a Hebrew writer relied on syntax, metaphors, puns, and other figures of speech to make his meaning clear. Perhaps chief in his bag of verbal tricks was parallelism.</p> <p>Parallelism is similar to the use of appositives in English. When we say, "Fred Jones, the pharmacist, often rode his bicycle to work," we restate the subject of our sentence and add information at the same time. The Hebrew writer did the same thing, but he was not limited merely to renaming nouns; he worked in phrases, clauses, and whole sentences. For instance, a well-known parallelism appears in <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/14694/eVerseID/14694" name="1469414694" id="14694-14694-29897" class="verseRef" title="verse">Psalm 51:2:</a> "Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/489/what-sin-is-does.htm" id="sr-489-30518" class="libraryPreview" title="library">sin</a>." Many of the proverbs of Solomon also follow this form, for example, "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/16859/eVerseID/16859" name="1685916859" id="16859-16859-17593" class="verseRef" title="verse">Proverbs 16:18</a>).</p> <p>In the same way, "<a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/1019/perfect-generations.htm" id="sr-1019-9289" class="libraryPreview" title="library">perfect in his generations</a>" acts as a parallel thought to Noah being "a just man." <i>Just</i> represents the Hebrew <i>tsaddîq</i> (<i>Strong's </i>#6662), meaning "just," "righteous," "lawful" (in accord with a standard), "correct." Noah was a man who lived in accordance with God's revealed will, unlike all others of his time. In writing this description of Noah, Moses' use of parallelism emphasizes Noah's unusual righteousness for a man living among the spiritually degenerate humanity of his day.</p> <p>The thought of Noah being spiritually complete or righteous beyond all of his contemporaries fits hand-in-glove with the context.</p> <blockquote> <p>Then the L<span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 11px">ORD</span> saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the L<span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 11px">ORD</span> was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the L<span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 11px">ORD</span> said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them." But Noah found grace [favor, acceptance] in the eyes of the L<span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 11px">ORD</span>. (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/143/eVerseID/146" name="143146" id="143-146-21667" class="verseRef" title="verse">Genesis 6:5-8</a>)</p> </blockquote> <p>His fear of God, exhibited in his obedience to God's instructions—his righteousness—is why God chose Noah, not his supposed racial perfection! In fact, the verse contains no connotation of race at all but is entirely interested in Noah's spiritual résumé. God wanted Noah, a man of integrity and morality, to build the ark and reestablish human society on a godly footing. The biblical account testifies that he performed his responsibility as well as any man could.</p> <p>From what we have seen, a fair translation of verse 9 would be:</p> <blockquote> <p>These are the records of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among his contemporaries. Noah walked with God.</p> </blockquote> <p>This is reinforced in <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/161/eVerseID/161" name="161161" id="161-161-13494" class="verseRef" title="verse">Genesis 7:1</a>, in which the Lord says to Noah, ". . . I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation." As God says in <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/18925/eVerseID/18925" name="1892518925" id="18925-18925-30232" class="verseRef" title="verse">Isaiah 66:2</a>, "But on this one will I look [have favor]; on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word." Such a man was Noah.</p> <p>The apostle Paul writes in <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/29129/eVerseID/29131" name="2912929131" id="29129-29131-30350" class="verseRef" title="verse">Galatians 3:26-28:</a></p> <blockquote> <p>For you are all sons of God through <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/974/faith-what-is-it.htm" id="sr-974-13485" class="libraryPreview" title="library">faith</a> in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.</p> </blockquote> <p>Physical traits—such as genetic "perfection," social status, or gender—are not high on God's list of priorities regarding His children, but putting on the faith and righteousness of <a href="https://www.biblicaljesus.org/">Jesus Christ</a> is what impresses Him. In Noah's case, these qualities are what led to his salvation—not anything as insignificant as the color of his skin.</p> </div><br> </td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p>— Richard T. Ritenbaugh</p> <p><strong>To learn more, see:<br> <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/1019/perfect-generations.htm" target="_blank"> 'Perfect In His Generations'</a></strong></p></td> <td align="center"> </td> </tr> </TABLE> <br><br> <div class="articleTopics" id="articleTopics"><b>Related Topics:</b><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/3963/Blameless.htm" target="_blank">Blameless</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/2837/Maturity.htm" target="_blank">Maturity</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/2838/Maturity-Trajectory-Toward.htm" target="_blank">Maturity, Trajectory Toward</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/305/Noah.htm" target="_blank">Noah</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/3966/Perfect-His-Generations-.htm" target="_blank">Perfect in His Generations </a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/154/Perfection.htm" target="_blank">Perfection</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/50/Righteousness.htm" target="_blank">Righteousness</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/1092/Spiritual-Growth.htm" target="_blank">Spiritual Growth</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/3080/Spiritual-Growth-Process-of-.htm" target="_blank">Spiritual Growth, Process of </a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/712/Spiritual-Maturity.htm" target="_blank">Spiritual Maturity</a><br> </div> <br><br> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> ]]> ... </description> ... </item> <item> <title>1 Samuel 12:6-7</title> <pubDate>Wed, 5 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT</pubDate> <link>https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/10160/1-samuel-12-6-7.htm</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/10160/1-samuel-12-6-7.htm</guid> <description> <![CDATA[ <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td valign="top"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><h1><a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/7467/eVerseID/7468" target="_blank">1 Samuel 12:6-7</a> </h1></td> </tr> </table> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><blockquote><div class="articleVerse" id="articleVerse">(6) Then Samuel said to the people, “<i>It is</i> the LORD who raised up Moses and Aaron, and who brought your fathers up from the land of Egypt. (7) Now therefore, stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD concerning all the righteous acts of the LORD which He did to you and your fathers: </div></blockquote></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><img height="20" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> </tr> </table> <table cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6" rowspan="2"><IMG height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0"></td> <td colspan="2"><div id="articleBody" class="articleBody"><p>I Samuel 12 is instructive on the subject of finding a still, quiet place in a hectic world. It recounts a major event in the history of Israel, and the prophet Samuel twice advises the Israelites to be still so that they could think deeply about the course they were taking. We would be wise to take his advice before making any major change of direction in life.</p> <p>In I Samuel 8, the people had gathered to demand that Samuel give them a king just as all the other nations had. Besides being a prophet, Samuel was also Israel's judge at the time, and being old, he had turned most of his duties over to his two sons. However, unlike the incorruptible Samuel, their services went to the highest bidders. Even so, Samuel was quite distressed when Israel asked for a king because he understood that their request was a thinly veiled rejection of <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/booklet/id/421/god-is-what.htm" id="sr-421-18909" class="libraryPreview" title="library">God</a> (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/7377/eVerseID/7377" name="73777377" id="7377-7377-12871" class="verseRef" title="verse">I Samuel 8:7</a>). He also knew that a king would eventually accrue to himself the nation's wealth and power and essentially enslave the populace. Nevertheless, God told Samuel to comply with their request.</p> <p>After installing Saul as king, Samuel says, "It is the L<span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 11px">ORD</span> who raised up <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/sermon/id/2226/moses-servant-god.htm" id="audio-2226-5716" class="libraryPreview" title="library">Moses</a> and Aaron, and who brought your fathers up from the land of Egypt" (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/7467/eVerseID/7467" name="74677467" id="7467-7467-15821" class="verseRef" title="verse">I Samuel 12:6</a>). Perhaps this seems self-evident. Still, he is setting the stage for his main point, ensuring that they understood that God was behind everything that had ever happened in the history of Israel—certainly, He had orchestrated her most seminal events. God had called and trained Moses and Aaron for their work in freeing Israel from Egyptian bondage, and in a way, Samuel alludes to the fact that God had raised him, too, as judge and prophet. In other words, he has the full backing of God.</p> <p>Then he gives them a piece of advice: "Now therefore, stand still, that I may reason with you before the L<span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 11px">ORD</span> concerning all the righteous acts of the L<span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 11px">ORD</span>, which He did to you and your fathers" (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/7468/eVerseID/7468" name="74687468" id="7468-7468-5193" class="verseRef" title="verse">I Samuel 12:7</a>). They had just crowned their first king, and they were very excited, caught up in the festivities. They had also just won a huge victory over one of their enemies, and they were aglow with jubilation and a feeling of invincibility. Being united under a king made this a new age for the land of Israel—these were exciting times! But Samuel says, "Everyone, be quiet. Calm down and let me reason with you."</p> <p>Then he reiterates what God had done for them in bringing them out of Egypt and into the wilderness. After they entered the land, they had trouble with oppressive foreigners, and God had raised up judges to give them victories and shake off the oppression. Yet, free and prosperous, Israel soon forgot God, committed idolatry, and once again became enslaved. God had delivered them by the hand of a new judge, and this pattern of prosperity, apostasy, oppression, and deliverance repeated itself many times. The history of Israel was one of God's blessing and mercy and their perfidy and rebellion, which God countered by punishing them. This pattern, Samuel warns, would continue even though they now had a king:</p> <blockquote> <p>Now therefore, here is the king whom you have chosen and whom you have desired. And take note, the L<span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 11px">ORD</span> has set a king over you. If you fear the L<span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 11px">ORD</span> and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the L<span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 11px">ORD</span>, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the L<span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 11px">ORD</span> your God. However, if you do not obey the voice of the L<span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 11px">ORD</span>, but rebel against the commandment of the L<span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 11px">ORD</span>, then the hand of the L<span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 11px">ORD</span> will be against you, as it was against your fathers. (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/7474/eVerseID/7476" name="74747476" id="7474-7476-28969" class="verseRef" title="verse">I Samuel 12:13-15</a>)</p> </blockquote> <p>Then, the prophet repeats his advice for them to stand still, this time to "see this great thing which the L<span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 11px">ORD</span> will do before your eyes" (verse 16). Samuel calls for God to send thunder and rain. What makes this storm miraculous is that Saul's coronation took place during the wheat harvest in late spring—around Pentecost—when the dry season had already begun. Thunderstorms in May or early June were unheard of, but "the L<span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 11px">ORD</span> sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the L<span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 11px">ORD</span> and Samuel" (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/7479/eVerseID/7479" name="74797479" id="7479-7479-23765" class="verseRef" title="verse">I Samuel 12:18</a>).</p> <p>This miracle showed the people that God backed Samuel's every word. His was a true saying from a trustworthy prophet of God. If they would listen to reason, they could take instruction from his address and use it to their benefit. If they would remain faithful to God, the monarchy they had asked for could work, just as it had worked under the righteous judges. However, if they failed to listen, this system was no better than the last one, and they would once again be oppressed, enslaved, and scattered.</p> <p>Notice the Israelites' reaction: "And all the people said to Samuel, 'Pray for your servants to the L<span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 11px">ORD</span> your God, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins the evil of asking a king for ourselves'" (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/7480/eVerseID/7480" name="74807480" id="7480-7480-8844" class="verseRef" title="verse">I Samuel 12:19</a>). Once they stood still, they began to realize what they had done, and God's added "ka-boom" from heaven drove the point home.</p> <p>Samuel's warning was tremendously serious, and the Israelites needed to be still to perceive just how far they had strayed from understanding and doing God's will. In their previous agitated, excited state, they could not truly listen to him, and they certainly could not see godly reason. The same holds true for us in these tumultuous times. If we really want to know what God is trying to tell us, we need to calm down, be still, and listen intently to His Word.</p> </div><br> </td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p>— Richard T. Ritenbaugh</p> <p><strong>To learn more, see:<br> <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/weekly/id/486/beating-rat-race-part-three.htm" target="_blank"> Beating the Rat Race (Part Three)</a></strong></p></td> <td align="center"> </td> </tr> </TABLE> <br><br> <div class="articleTopics" id="articleTopics"><b>Related Topics:</b><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/23927/A-Government-Like-Nations.htm" target="_blank">A Government Like the Nations</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/10073/Calm-Down.htm" target="_blank">Calm Down</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/20986/Human-Government-Based-on-Exploitation-People.htm" target="_blank">Human Government Based on Exploitation of People</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/16016/Israel-Rejecting-God.htm" target="_blank">Israel Rejecting God</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/3961/Israels-Apostasy.htm" target="_blank">Israel's Apostasy</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/14349/Learning-from-History.htm" target="_blank">Learning from History</a><br> </div> <br><br> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> ]]> ... </description> ... </item> <item> <title>Exodus 20:8-11</title> <pubDate>Tue, 4 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT</pubDate> <link>https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/3042/exodus-20-8-11.htm</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/3042/exodus-20-8-11.htm</guid> <description> <![CDATA[ <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td valign="top"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><h1><a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/2060/eVerseID/2063" target="_blank">Exodus 20:8-11</a> </h1></td> </tr> </table> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><blockquote><div class="articleVerse" id="articleVerse">(8) "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. (9) Six days you shall labor and do all your work, (10) but the seventh day <i>is</i> the Sabbath of the <span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 11px">L<span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 11px">ORD</span></span> your God. <i>In it</i> you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who <i>is</i> within your gates. (11) For <i>in</i> six days the <span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 11px">L<span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 11px">ORD</span></span> made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that <i>is</i> in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the <span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 11px">L<span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 11px">ORD</span></span> blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. <br /> </div></blockquote></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><img height="20" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> </tr> </table> <table cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6" rowspan="2"><IMG height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0"></td> <td colspan="2"><div id="articleBody" class="articleBody"><p>In verse 8, <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/booklet/id/421/god-is-what.htm" id="sr-421-17114" class="libraryPreview" title="library">God</a> says "Remember the <a href="https://www.sabbath.org/">Sabbath</a> day." Then He tells us that we are to work six days, and the seventh day we are not to work. Verse 11 gives the reason why.</p> <blockquote> <p>For in six days the L<span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 11px">ORD</span> made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested <em><strong>the</strong></em> seventh day [not <em><strong>a</strong></em> seventh day.] Therefore the L<span style="font-variant: small-caps; font-size: 11px">ORD</span> blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.</p> </blockquote> <p>This verse firmly establishes the Sabbath as law, a command to be kept. Yet, it is very clear that this law has its roots in <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/32/eVerseID/34" name="3234" id="32-34-6857" class="verseRef" title="verse">Genesis 2:1-3</a>, for there, <em>God set the example</em> in what He did. He rested, and He blessed the seventh day.</p> <p>God could have rested at any time. Or, we might say, He needed no rest at all. But He rested. God does not grow weary or become tired. He could have ended the creative cycle at the end of the sixth day, but He did not. Creation did not cease at the end of the sixth day. This is a very important concept. <b><i>The seventh day is also a creation of God. </i></b>He kept right on creating, only this time He created by not working, by ceasing.</p> <p>What did He do? He created a period of rest and of holy time. He created a specific period of time: <em>the</em> seventh day. What He created was just as real as the things created on the other six days. Thus, on the Sabbath, creating continued, but it took on a different form in that it was not outwardly visible. The Sabbath symbolizes to man that <em>God is still creating.</em></p> </div><br> </td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p>— John W. Ritenbaugh</p> <p><strong>To learn more, see:<br> <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/sermon/id/245/fourth-commandment-part-1.htm" target="_blank"> The Fourth Commandment (Part 1)</a></strong></p></td> <td align="center"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" border="0"> <tr><td align="center"><a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/sermon/id/245/ap/1/fourth-commandment-part-1.htm"><img src="https://i.cgg.org/player.png" border="0" alt="Listen to this sermon"></a></td><td></td></tr></table> </td> </tr> </TABLE> <br><br> <div class="articleTopics" id="articleTopics"><b>Related Topics:</b><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/96/Holy.htm" target="_blank">Holy</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/570/Holy-Time.htm" target="_blank">Holy Time</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/2255/Holy-Keeping.htm" target="_blank">Holy, Keeping</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/2256/Holy-Making.htm" target="_blank">Holy, Making</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/81/Rest.htm" target="_blank">Rest</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/37/Sabbath.htm" target="_blank">Sabbath</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/2252/Sabbath-Remembering.htm" target="_blank">Sabbath, Remembering</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/95/The-Fourth-Commandment.htm" target="_blank">The Fourth Commandment</a><br> </div> <br><br> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> ]]> ... </description> ... </item> <item> <title>Romans 2:1-3</title> <pubDate>Mon, 3 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT</pubDate> <link>https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/3340/romans-2-1-3.htm</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/3340/romans-2-1-3.htm</guid> <description> <![CDATA[ <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td valign="top"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><h1><a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/27964/eVerseID/27966" target="_blank">Romans 2:1-3</a> </h1></td> </tr> </table> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><blockquote><div class="articleVerse" id="articleVerse">(1) Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. (2) But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. (3) And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? </div></blockquote></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><img height="20" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> </tr> </table> <table cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6" rowspan="2"><IMG height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0"></td> <td colspan="2"><div id="articleBody" class="articleBody"><p>The apostle Paul comments on the hypocrisy that often occurs when judging others. This is a clear explanation of <a href="https://www.biblicaljesus.org/">Jesus</a>' illustration of a man with a plank in his eye critically pointing out the speck in someone else's (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/23320/eVerseID/23322" name="2332023322" id="23320-23322-20829" class="verseRef" title="verse">Matthew 7:3-5</a>)!</p> <p>In the original Greek, "inexcusable" in <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/27964/eVerseID/27964" name="2796427964" id="27964-27964-8352" class="verseRef" title="verse">Romans 2:1</a> is literally "defenseless<I>.</I>" In the spiritual court of law, there is no defense for the actions of a person who commits the same <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/489/what-sin-is-does.htm" id="sr-489-3617" class="libraryPreview" title="library">sin</a> of which he accuses another. An interesting aspect of this appears when we understand a more thorough meaning of the word "practice" (<I>prassoo</I>) that occurs later in the verse. It means to perform repeatedly or habitually, to do exactly. We can infer from this that Paul means these accusers have not only committed the particular sin before but are also <I>continuing </I>to commit it!</p> <p>We cannot properly assess what a righteous standard is if we use others or ourselves—fallible human beings—as the standard. True judgment is according to the truth of <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/booklet/id/421/god-is-what.htm" id="sr-421-6087" class="libraryPreview" title="library">God</a>. Paul makes this very point in the next verse: "But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things" (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/27965/eVerseID/27965" name="2796527965" id="27965-27965-29944" class="verseRef" title="verse">Romans 2:2</a>).</p> <p>God's righteous judgment is based on truth. This means that His decisions are reached based on reality, on the facts of the case, not on appearances or intentions. It also means He judges without partiality to rank, wealth, station, or position. Finally, it means that He judges against an authoritative and unchanging standard: His own character as revealed in His Word.</p> <p>Judging our lives according to how others live is a sure way to neglect and ignore serious problems in our own lives. Continuing in verse 3, Paul writes, "And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?" God pronounces judgment on those who make a practice of indulging in sin. The apostle makes it quite certain that all sin will be judged. No one will "get away with it."</p> <p>Some, indulging in self-praise, write their own testimonials to promote themselves because they are full of impatient pride, unable to wait for the acknowledgment and praise of others for their accomplishments. In their own foolishness, these people try to establish their own conduct as the norm and then find great satisfaction in always measuring up to the standard that they have set.</p></div><br> </td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p>— Martin G. Collins</p> <p><strong>To learn more, see:<br> <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/45/comparing-ourselves-among-ourselves.htm" target="_blank"> Comparing Ourselves Among Ourselves</a></strong></p></td> <td align="center"> </td> </tr> </TABLE> <br><br> <div class="articleTopics" id="articleTopics"><b>Related Topics:</b><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/516/Hypocrisy.htm" target="_blank">Hypocrisy</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/199/Judging.htm" target="_blank">Judging</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/2501/Judging-According-Appearance.htm" target="_blank">Judging According to Appearance</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/1394/Judgment.htm" target="_blank">Judgment</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/1027/Judgment-Distorted.htm" target="_blank">Judgment, Distorted</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/876/Standards-of-Morality.htm" target="_blank">Standards of Morality</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/875/Standards-of-Right-Wrong.htm" target="_blank">Standards of Right and Wrong</a><br> </div> <br><br> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> ]]> ... </description> ... </item> <item> <title>Matthew 4:3-4</title> <pubDate>Sun, 2 Jun 2024 02:00:00 EDT</pubDate> <link>https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/4683/matthew-4-3-4.htm</link> <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.theberean.org/index.cfm/main/default/id/4683/matthew-4-3-4.htm</guid> <description> <![CDATA[ <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td valign="top"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><h1><a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/23213/eVerseID/23214" target="_blank">Matthew 4:3-4</a> </h1></td> </tr> </table> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6"><img height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> <td><blockquote><div class="articleVerse" id="articleVerse">(3) Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." (4) But He answered and said, "It is written, <i> "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."</i>" </div></blockquote></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><img height="20" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0" /></td> </tr> </table> <table cellSpacing="0" cellPadding="0" border="0"> <tr> <td width="6" rowspan="2"><IMG height="1" src="https://i.theberean.org/pixel.gif" width="6" border="0"></td> <td colspan="2"><div id="articleBody" class="articleBody"><p>Even when <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/sermon/id/167/satan-part-1.htm" id="audio-167-15633" class="libraryPreview" title="library">Satan</a> says truth, even when he quotes Scripture, he puts a perverse twist to it. How did our Lord fight Satan? With truth! That is how one defeats Satan: being confident that <a href="https://www.biblicaljesus.org/">Jesus Christ</a> has already secured the victory and that <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/booklet/id/421/god-is-what.htm" id="sr-421-21647" class="libraryPreview" title="library">God</a> has put a hedge around us so that we will not fall into a situation confronting Satan that is beyond us, and being absolutely reliant upon the truth of God! Even though we may not be able to see how it is worked out, even though we may feel that following the truth of God is going to require a considerable sacrifice on our part, we have the example of Jesus Himself fighting Satan by relying upon the truth of God. He trusted what God said.</p> <p>One might wonder why Satan used "if." He did not use "if" to get Jesus to doubt His Sonship. Jesus knew who He was. Rather, he was trying to get Him to reflect on the meaning of "if." Satan seems to be saying, "Surely, <I>if</I> You are the Son of God, You have the right to expect Your needs at the moment to be satisfied."</p> <p>Jesus did not fall for it. As hungry as He was, He knew it was a trap. He knew He did not have to be concerned about supplying His material needs because God would do it for Him. Did He not later say, "If God so feeds the birds of the field"?</p> <p>This was a temptation for Christ to use His Sonship in a way other than its God-ordained purpose. What is the God-ordained purpose of our calling? "Seek first the <a href="https://www.truegospel.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/basics.tour/ID/2/What-Did-Jesus-Preach.htm">Kingdom of God</a> and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" (<a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/23316/eVerseID/23316" name="2331623316" id="23316-23316-27552" class="verseRef" title="verse">Matthew 6:33</a>). That is the truth of God. God will supply what we need. So Jesus' answer was, "Thank you, but I'll just wait for God to supply My need."</p></div><br> </td></tr> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p>— John W. Ritenbaugh</p> <p><strong>To learn more, see:<br> <a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/sermon/id/179/satan-part-5.htm" target="_blank"> Satan (Part 5)</a></strong></p></td> <td align="center"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" border="0"> <tr><td align="center"><a href="https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/sermon/id/179/ap/1/satan-part-5.htm"><img src="https://i.cgg.org/player.png" border="0" alt="Listen to this sermon"></a></td><td></td></tr></table> </td> </tr> </TABLE> <br><br> <div class="articleTopics" id="articleTopics"><b>Related Topics:</b><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/3170/Resisting-Satan-with-Truth.htm" target="_blank">Resisting Satan with Truth</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/3146/Satans-Devices.htm" target="_blank">Satan's Devices</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/3159/Satans-Stratagems.htm" target="_blank">Satan's Stratagems</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/2525/Satans-Traps.htm" target="_blank">Satan's Traps</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/3158/Satans-Wiles.htm" target="_blank">Satan's Wiles</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/2378/Seeking-First-Kingdom-of-God.htm" target="_blank">Seeking First Kingdom of God</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/1287/Temptation.htm" target="_blank">Temptation</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/88/Truth.htm" target="_blank">Truth</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/1146/Truth-Love-of.htm" target="_blank">Truth, Love of</a><br> <a href="https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/3169/Truth-Trusting-Gods.htm" target="_blank">Truth, Trusting in God's</a><br> </div> <br><br> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> ]]> ... </description> ... </item> ... </channel> ... </rss>