General Inspection

Matthew 22:15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. 16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. 17 Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? 19 Show Me the tax money." So they brought Him a denarius. 20 And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" 21 They said to Him, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." 22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way. 23 The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, 24 saying: "Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 25 Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. 26 Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh. 27 Last of all the woman died also. 28 Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her." 29 Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. 31 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 32 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." 33 And when the multitudes heard this, they were astonished at His teaching. 34 But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" 37 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." 41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 saying, "What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?" They said to Him, "The Son of David." 43 He said to them, "How then does David in the Spirit call Him 'Lord,' saying: 44 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool" '? 45 "If David then calls Him 'Lord,' how is He his Son?" 46 And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.    

“Behold! The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

John the Baptist had seen enough. The Holy Spirit had informed him, “Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.”

Inspection passed, Jesus is, without doubt – at least for John the Baptist – the long-promised Messiah. The Son of David. The Son of Man. The Lamb of God.

Why do others struggle so? Remember the Law of the Passover, that the lamb was to be invited into the home on the 10th day of the month and kept close until the 14th day of the month, when the lamb would be slaughtered?

Those 4 days were very important for the Jews, as those would be the days when they would become assured of the perfection of the Passover lamb by way of inspection.

Jesus - The Lamb of God come to take away the sins of the world – has entered Jerusalem on the 10th day of the month. History teaches us He will be crucified on the 14th day. In that period of time He is inspected for perfection by those charged with killing Him.

One intent on murder is different than one intent on wisdom. In this series of inspections for perfection, Jesus responds in such amazing ways, one cannot help but gain the wisdom of God from what He says – unless your heart is hard, and your mind is completely closed.

How could they NOT see Jesus as their long-promised Messiah, based upon these answers alone? The responses Jesus provides to their questions are both startling and disarming. They are living proof the questioners are in the presence of The Living God. No one else could conceive of such perfect answers to such difficult questions. Jesus must be the Messiah. There is no other answer. He is without blemish, and without spot. And The Holy Spirit testifies to the wisdom of these answers to anyone who will listen.

-Pastor Bill

God’s Father

Hosea 14:1 O Israel, return to the Lord your God, For you have stumbled because of your iniquity; 2 Take words with you, And return to the Lord. Say to Him, "Take away all iniquity; Receive us graciously, For we will offer the sacrifices of our lips. 3 Assyria shall not save us, We will not ride on horses, Nor will we say anymore to the work of our hands, 'You are our gods.' For in You the fatherless finds mercy." 4 "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, For My anger has turned away from him. 5 I will be like the dew to Israel; He shall grow like the lily, And lengthen his roots like Lebanon. 6 His branches shall spread; His beauty shall be like an olive tree, And his fragrance like Lebanon. 7 Those who dwell under his shadow shall return; They shall be revived like grain, And grow like a vine. Their scent shall be like the wine of Lebanon. 8 "Ephraim shall say, 'What have I to do anymore with idols?' I have heard and observed him. I am like a green cypress tree; Your fruit is found in Me." 9 Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right; The righteous walk in them, But transgressors stumble in them.

God has a heart for fathers.

The very title He has chosen for Himself - of all those He could have had us refer to Him by – is ‘Father.’

If there is anyone to be chosen as a role model for fathers and fatherhood, it is God Himself.

God indicates His great concern for the role of fatherhood by His great concern for the fatherless.

43 times in His word, God refers to the plight of the fatherless. In fact, one of the main reasons He chose to judge the nation of Israel is because they did not care for the fatherless children in their midst.

In the Book of James, the Holy Spirit tells us concern for the fatherless is one of the marks of “true religion.” In other words, if you are truly seeking the heart of God, one of the marks of that seeking will be a true concern for those who are fatherless.

In our “modern” age, we have begun to think fathers may not be necessary at all. (Perhaps this was part of Israel’s crime as well.) We say that anyone can raise a child, and that two women or two men doing that job are as equipped as the standard nuclear family to accomplish all that is needed in child-raising.

We have replaced confusion for care and concern. Who is the author of confusion?

That we may have a concern for the fatherless tells us how concerned we are to be for our own actions as fathers. In full definition, a ‘father’ is much more than biological, and this is probably the strongest indication of what God is driving at in His judgment of the people over their lack of concern for the fatherless.

In short, His concern is for the children, plain and simple. The innocent victims of fatherlessness – and most of all the Godlessness of fatherlessness – have always been God’s children. It takes a Godly father to raise a Godly child. Are you God’s father to His children?

-Pastor Bill

The Invitation

Matthew 22:1 And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: 2 "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. 4 Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding." ' 5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. 6 And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. 7 But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.' 10 So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11 But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. 12 So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 14 For many are called, but few are chosen."

Jesus next tells a parable involving a wedding invitation.

God’s invitations are different than man’s.

In many cases, when we send an invitation, it is in reality the solicitation of a gift, (according to our culture.) Now, while this may sound a bit crass, it is also true. Very cultured, though.

The receipt of an invitation to a wedding, or a graduation, tells us we are known, we are loved, we are accepted, we are invited to attend, and…we are also invited to go somewhere and pick something up to bring with us or send in the mail. A check will do nicely.

SOMETIMES, the invitation is accompanied by directions about where we may shop to purchase what the one who sent the invitation desires to receive. When we get to the store, we are invited to consult a registry containing ONLY those things which are desired to be received. Very practical. Very congenial. Very cultured.

It keeps the one sending the invitation from having to return the gift you are expected to provide, because you brought with you something they did not need or desire. That would be terrible.

When God offers an invitation, it is all on Him to provide all the characteristics of what the invitation entails. All He desires is you. He even gives you all the gifts He desires to receive, according to the invitation.

And God does not distinguish. He invites everyone. He desires all to come to His ‘Wedding Party,’ and He welcomes all those who will come. He only requires you come according to His “dress code.” In this case, the clothing choice is not merely symbolic – it is a revelation of the condition of the heart of the one responding to His invitation. Will you come? Will you come according to His design?

-Pastor Bill

History as Teacher

Matthew 21:33 "Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. 34 Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. 35 And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. 37 Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' 38 But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.' 39 So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?" 41 They said to Him, "He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons." 42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes'? 43 "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 44 And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder." 45 Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet.

It has been well said if you pay no attention to history you are doomed to repeat it.

There are several places in the Bible where a direct recitation of the history of the Jews is provided. Acts 7 is one, with the speech of Stephen before the High Priest and the accusers of the Sanhedrin.

Acts 13 gives us Paul’s account of the history of the Jewish people, how they were enslaved in Egypt, and how God rescued them and brought them into the Promised Land, while driving out the occupants of the land He was providing them.

Both accounts recognize and memorialize God’s care for the Jews, while also reminding us of a problem prevalent among them of not listening to God in the present – even while celebrating all He has done for them in the past.

That’s a strange thing isn’t it?

To consider yourselves a Promised People in a Promised Land – and yet not be presently aware of all God is doing in the here and now? And to learn this has always been the case?

Can you indeed celebrate the history of your people – and the glory of God in working with your people – while at the same time refusing to understand exactly how inglorious the behavior of your people has always been before God when it comes to the prophets God has sent you to reveal His glory?

This is exactly what Jesus is telling the Jews here. God has always been on your side, but you have never been on His. That is a tragedy, and by not making yourselves aware of this history you are presently repeating it, and are about to perform the greatest tragedy in the history of the world.

-Pastor Bill

Usurped Authority

Matthew 21:12 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 13 And He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.' " 14 Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant 16 and said to Him, "Do You hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes. Have you never read, 'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise'?" 17 Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there. 18 Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, "Let no fruit grow on you ever again." Immediately the fig tree withered away. 20 And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree wither away so soon?" 21 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done. 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." 23 Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, "By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?" 24 But Jesus answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: 25 The baptism of John--where was it from? From heaven or from men?" And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?' 26 But if we say, 'From men,' we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet." 27 So they answered Jesus and said, "We do not know." And He said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things. 28 "But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, 'Son, go, work today in my vineyard.' 29 He answered and said, 'I will not,' but afterward he regretted it and went. 30 Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, 'I go, sir,' but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said to Him, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.

From the Book of Exodus on down, the Hebrew people have been given charge over what relationship with Holy God should be like, granted by the authority of God.

That relationship has a “look” and “feel” is unquestionable in human experience, and it is the same with God. God has provided guidelines about how relationship with God is to take place – and to take the design He has provided and make it into something else is a fruitless abomination before God.

This is what Jesus is so profoundly demonstrating to all who would see in the days just prior to His death. The leaders of the “faith” have misled the people into callousness and fruitlessness, the people chose to follow - and within 40 years the Temple, the city of Jerusalem, and the Hebrew people would be withered and dead, with a mere remnant left to survive, even to this day.

-Pastor Bill

Sight for the Blind

Matthew 20:29 Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. 30 And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!" 31 Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!" 32 So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, "What do you want Me to do for you?" 33 They said to Him, "Lord, that our eyes may be opened." 34 So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.

Matthew 21:1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. 3 And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and immediately he will send them." 4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: 5 "Tell the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.' " 6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. 8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: "Hosanna to the Son of David! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!' Hosanna in the highest!" 10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, "Who is this?" 11 So the multitudes said, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee." 12 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 13 And He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.' " 14 Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant 16 and said to Him, "Do You hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes. Have you never read, 'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise'?" 17 Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there.

As Jesus leaves Jericho for the final time, He is acknowledged by a blind man in a way that reveals the true nature of sight.

Previously, Jesus had also healed a blind man at Jerusalem on the Sabbath. When He was accosted by the Pharisees because he had healed the blind man, Jesus told them it was they who were blind, not because they saw – but because of what they overlooked.

Now it is Bartimaeus seeing things no one in this crowd can see. In his physical blindness, this blind man saw Jesus as the ONLY one who could possibly heal him. There is a great difference in seeing Jesus from a place of desperation and seeing Him from a place of “interest.” Jesus honors that difference every time.

As He enters Jerusalem, Jesus encounters that same contrast in the eyes of the crowd. Who will see Him for Who He truly is? Who will remain willfully blind?

-Pastor Bill

Raising Servants

Matthew 20:20 Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. 21 And He said to her, "What do you wish?" She said to Him, "Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom." 22 But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They said to Him, "We are able." 23 So He said to them, "You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father." 24 And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave-- 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." 29 Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. 30 And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!" 31 Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!" 32 So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, "What do you want Me to do for you?" 33 They said to Him, "Lord, that our eyes may be opened." 34 So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.

Salome, John and James’ mother, comes to Jesus to ask of Him what all mothers with a knowledge of Christ may desire to ask of Him, should they be so bold.

Apparently, Salome was that bold.

And it stands to reason, as Jesus had nicknamed her boys, “Sons of Thunder.” They had to have gotten that spirit from somewhere, and we see in this passage their mother is a likely candidate to have instilled that nature in her sons.

Now she asks Jesus to set her sons above all others in the kingdom of heaven. She understands it is “His kingdom,” and she senses His ability to install those He will where He will in His kingdom.

Jesus fends her off by teaching her the source of true greatness. While declaring this greatness of position is not of His design, but of the Father, Jesus goes further by declaring what is demanded of those who would follow and seek Christ’s greatness.

It would come at a high price. Discipleship would cost everything – and even then to be at His right hand and at His left was not something to strive for.

That which Jesus encourages us to instill in our children is a sense of servanthood. A desire for it. Servitude…for my son?

This is totally contrary to what most of us seek as parents. Can you imagine, (upon the birth of your child,) praying to God and asking, “Dear Lord, please make my son a servant?”

While it may be beyond our imagining, Jesus declares this is the source of greatness. Jesus says, “Whoever desires to be great among you, let him be your servant.” Do you desire greatness for your child?

-Pastor Bill