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Tag: Matthew

  • The Christ Child bound in the womb of eternity

    The Christ Child bound in the womb of eternity

    A human life is bound in the womb of eternity. In one sense a child is not fully born by its mother into the fullness of life — but only into a helpless and limited mortal life — where babe may become child, child may become man or woman — this quick-passing human life bound in the confines of mortal time followed inevitably by death and judgment.

    Born once in a human womb

    And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

    Gospel of John 1:14

    adam bore both sin and death conceived in a womb of measured time, incomplete and nourished in the blood of our mother — growing to burst forth into a glory beyond the bounds of this place to which we have clung for such a brief time — measured time ended beyond the bounds of our dark inner existence.

    What once was death separated from our mortal time within these bounds inevitably becomes life beyond humanity’s brief prison lifted into a glory of the everlasting Light beyond.

    And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,

    Hebrews 9:27

    So Christ was born a son of man

    to bear the sins of many, AND JESUS the SON of GOD, who IS and was God,

    will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. 

    See Hebrews 9:

    Ἐμμανουήλ

    Lexicon :: Strong's G1694  [click for pronunciation of the Greek word above- emmanouēl ]

    “BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL G1694,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.”

    Christians (and even many unbelievers who have witnessed an annual Christmas pageant) know the Scripture well. But think of its implication as well as the impact of Almighty God entering measured time and mortal flesh.

    An anointed Virgin of the Eternal God will have a son by the Holy Spirit of God!

    This Son of the Everlasting One IS actually GOD [theos] WITH US [in mortal flesh and blood], BORN — as are all mankind AND who must suffer DEATH as is appointed to EVERY son of man.

    Emanu–el – Hebrew Gospel announced in Matthew’s manger

    Matthew addresses the genealogy of JESUS EMMANUEL as he would any line of adam.

    The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:

    Gospel of Matthew 1:1

    I will not detail this linage of the promise of God through Abraham (who was childless) and David (whose Kingdom ended in defeat by Babylon) or that in his Gospel lineage Matthew designates Joseph as the husband of Mary. Matthew then adds that before she conceived JESUS, that is GOD WITH US, by the HOLY SPIRIT [v.18], however note that by these important names Matthew introduces of the LORD GOD in a fragile frame of a HUMAN CHILD.

    1:1 βίβλος γενέσεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ υἱοῦ Δαυὶδ υἱοῦ Ἀβραάμ

    Ἰησοῦ – iēsous –

    JESUS, in the now common language of the Roman Empire – JESUS, in Greek.

    [pronounced]

    JESUS Of Hebrew origin יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (H3091)

    You should recognize the name of an earlier savior who the LORD sent into the land promised to Abraham after the death of Moses.

    Joshua or Jehoshua = “Jehovah is salvation”

    From יְהֹוָה (H3068) and יָשַׁע (H3467)

    Joshua, almost literally Jesus IS Salvation from the Hebrew of Jacob [Israel], descendants of the promise of Yᵊhōvâ to save.

    [yeh-ho-shoo’-ah] יְהוֹשׁוּעַ

    יָשַׁע

    Χριστός

    Lexicon :: Strong’s G5547 – christos

    Christ (from the Greek) or Messiah (Hebrew)

    • The KJV translates Strong’s G5547 in the following manner: Christ (569x).
    • Outline of Biblical Usage [?]
      • Christ = “anointed”
        • Christ was [and is]1 the Messiah, the Son of God
        • anointed from χρίω
          • to anoint
          • consecrating Jesus to the Messianic office, and furnishing him with the necessary powers for its administration
          • enduing Christians with the gifts of the Holy Spirit

    And Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called [Messiah] Christ G5547.

    Gospel of Matthew 1:16 LSB

    Jesus’ Apostles witness Jesus as the Christ – Matthew 16 times in his Gospel and John 19 times in his Gospel plus 11 times in two brief letters and 7 times in Revelation.

    Χριστός Christós, khris-tos’;
    from G5548; anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus:—Christ. – BLUELETTERBIBLE.ORG

    The Christ child

    NO other term in the New Testament is used more than CHRIST [500+x] to characterize JESUS. ‘Christians‘ should not take lightly any replacement of CHRIST in Scripture with some less characteristic human title.

    Roger@TalkofJesus.com

    The Good News of Matthew:

    Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows:

    when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.

    And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly [divorcing his betrothed {with whom they ‘had not come together’}]. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying,

    “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the One who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name

    Jesus,

    for He will save His people from their sins.”

    • Did you catch that?

    The angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream as commands his to call the child, JESUS.

    JESUS, unlike Joshua of the same name before, “Jehovah is salvation,” not only is not born of an earthly father but is NOT sent to SAVE the sons of Abraham from earthly enemies or lay claim to an earthly land as a king.

    NO, Jesus, a son of man ONLY by the virgin Mary, “will save His people from their sins,” a mercy ONLY God can grant to a condemned son of adam.

    The Good News of John

    We began consideration of the Apostle’s Christian logic behind the birth of Jesus into time and human flesh. Today I end with his explanation of what also seems convincingly logical from the Savior who John calls ‘The Word‘ (λόγος – logos).

    Thirty years later -- from the Gospel of John 3:

    “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”

    “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born [from above] he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

    “How can a man be born when he is old? ..

    Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

    Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

    “That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit.

    “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

    Will you be born again (though we are old)?

    “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words [logos] will not pass away.

    A word of Jesus Christ from the Gospel of Matthew 24:25

    Here is the significance of the Christ child in a manger and the Son of Man Jesus on the cross who was born to save His people from their sins.

    manger with shadow of cross falling across

    Pilate said to them,

    “Then, what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”

    Gospel of Matthew 27:22a LSB

  • Matthew 25 – Parable of the Ten Virgins

    Matthew 25 – Parable of the Ten Virgins

     Awake, the voice is calling us!

    "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme" (literally: Awake, the voice is calling us) is a Lutheran hymn written in German by Philipp Nicolai, first published in 1599 together with "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern". 

It appears in German hymnals and in several English hymnals in translations such as "Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying" (Catherine Winkworth, 1858), "Wake, O wake! with tidings thrilling" (Francis Crawford Burkitt, 1906), and "Up! Awake! From Highest Steeple" (George Ratcliffe Woodward, 1908). 

The hymn is known as the foundation of J.S. Bach's chorale cantata Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140, as well as being the foundation of settings by other composers.

P. Nicolai wrote the hymn in 1598, a time when the plague had hit. - Source:  BachCantatas.com

    Wake up, the voice calls us
    of the watchmen high up on the battlements,
    wake up, you city of Jerusalem!
    This hour is called midnight;
    they call us with a clear voice:
    where are you, wise virgins ?
    Get up, the bridegroom comes;
    Stand up, take your lamps! Hallelujah!
    Alleluia!
    Make yourselves ready
    for the wedding,
    you must go to meet him!

    Zion hears the watchmen sing,
    her heart leaps for joy,
    she awakes and gets up in haste.
    Her friend comes from heaven in his splendour,
    strong in mercy, mighty in truth.
    Her light becomes bright, her star rises.
    Now come, you worthy crown,
    Lord Jesus, God’s son!
    Hosanna!
    We all follow
    to the hall of joy
    and share in the Lord’s supper.

    May gloria be sung to you
    with the tongues of men and angels,
    with harps and with cymbals.
    The gates are made of twelve pearls,
    in your city we are companions
    of the angels on high around your throne.
    No eye has ever perceived,
    no ear has ever heard
    such joy.
    Therefore we are joyful,
    hurray, hurray!
    for ever in sweet rejoicing.

    Advent 1

    Advent, (from Latin adventus, “coming”), in the Christian church calendar, the period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas and also of preparation for the Second Coming of Christ.

    • In Western churches, Advent begins on the Sunday nearest to November 30 (St. Andrew’s Day) and is the beginning of the liturgical year.
    • In many Eastern churches, the Nativity Fast is a similar period of penance and preparation that occurs during the 40 days before Christmas. The date when the season was first observed is uncertain.
    • Bishop Perpetuus of Tours (461–490) established a fast before Christmas that began on November 11 (St. Martin’s Day), and the Council of Tours (567) mentioned an Advent season.

    Source: Britanica.com

    a woke christmas sunday 2022 CE with Charlie Brown and his broke tree

    a woke OR AWAKE?

    I’m uncertain in these last days of the Common Era (once commonly called Anno Domini, literally “in the year of our Lord“ IF our church is woke or awake.

    (See link to ‘woke’ on TalkofJESUS.com cover page to learn more.)

    I’m also not certain if Linus reading Luke is the anti-inclusive message of the Gospel which offends the Holiday spirits of TV audiences, but I suspect that our aversion to ‘christmas‘ with a capital CHRIST (Christ-mass) is a deepening darkness as evident as the coming winter solstice.

    The title for this non-series for Advent ignored and ‘christian‘ ‘churches‘ CLOSED on christmas eve, christmas day or BOTH reflects my own nonplus question of why it seems so few christians really want to TALK OF JESUS at all, especially those of our local ‘church.’

    Roger@TalkofJESUS.com
    In previous years I have also prepared our hearts for Advent.
    The Scandal of a Virgin
    From Advent in the year of our Lord 2014

    In fact, December in the year of our Lord 2022 seems to be a time to gather the oil for our lamps that at least some of the virgins might be prepared for Christmas .. in fact, prepared for more.

    the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew

    Doctrinally, it must be repeated that the belief in the Virgin birth of Christ is of the highest value for the right apprehension of Christ’s unique and sinless personality.

    R. A. Torrey :: The Virgin Birth of Christ

    The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham..

    Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: 

    When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, 

    she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

    Gospel of Matthew 1:18 – King James Version

    Therefore, Sleepers AWAKE!

    Parable of Ten Virgins

    “Then the kingdom of heaven may be compared to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were foolish, and five were prudent.

    “For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.

    “Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. But at midnight there was a shout,

    ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’

    “Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’

    “But the prudent answered, saying, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’

    “And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast;

    and the door was shut.

    “And later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’

    “But he answered and said, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’

    “Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know the day nor the hour.


    A Caution of Jesus Christ to His betrothed, the Church

    This hour is called midnight;
    they call us with a clear voice:
    where are you, wise virgins ?

    Advent AD 2022: Are YOU awake?

    A Savior IS come.
    Christ died. Christ IS risen! Christ will come again.

    Are YOU preparing your soul with the oil of Christ’s anointing in the advent of His return?

  • Why worship legends, idols and false gods?

    Why worship legends, idols and false gods?

    Why worship legends or stone idols or false gods of mythology?

    Men, why are you doing these things?

    It’s a great question, isn’t it? Paul has asked adoring crowds who would worship him, WHY are you preparing a party to worship ME?

    In case you missed the parallels of first & 21st century application from our previous post from ACTS 14:
    The gods have become like men
    Statue of Hermes (who the crowds called Paul) in front of Grand Central Station NYC US

    Why are you treating men like God? Why do you worship legends of culture – idols of stone?

    Why do you believe the myths of what cannot possibly be true?

    These are great questions for the unenlightened masses, those with no thought of doing what is right in the eyes of God.

    Paul and Barnabas could have been worshiped like gods..

    (or Presidents.. or some football hero

    or a goddess-like media diva of the day

    i.e. Taylor Swift).

    The crowds wanted to party with these miracle-working men who made a lame man walk!

    Wow, our lesser gods could not have commanded a lame man to get up!

    The heavens declare the glory of God.
    The expanse shows his handiwork.
    Day after day they pour out speech,
    and night after night they display knowledge.

    Psalm 19:1-2 World English Bible

    Idols of Crowd frenzy – a contemporary context

    Paul and Barnabas stand up to the CROWD!

    NO EXCUSE for worshiping idols.

    NO EXCUSE for worshiping a mere man or mortal woman from our present or past.

    THEREFORE, PAUL PROCLAIMS:

    debate stage Trump, political idol of the extreme right and Biden, political idol of the extreme left.

    “We also are men of like passions with you, and bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to the living God, who made the sky, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who in the generations gone by allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways.

    Yet he didn’t leave himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you rains from the sky and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”

    Acts of the Apostles 14:15-17 WEB

    In essence, Paul and Barnabas tell the idol-worshipers of Lystra:

    Worship GOD and not idols of the sky and the earth and the sea.

    Do NOT worship the creation, but the Creator.

    Do NOT worship men claiming to save and heal, but only the Living God our Creator.

    Incited by all sides,

    Crowds Behave Badly

    u s capitol under siege Jan 6 2021

    It was a message as politically incorrect in first century culture as calling out false gods of our contentious 21st century culture.

    In fact (like today), these men having heard the Gospel hated Christ.

    So by their intentional blindness to Scripture they despised the Good News of Jesus Christ the Apostles persistently proclaimed in all the world.

    We cannot know for certain how long Paul and Barnabas remained in Lystra after these events, but because of their own agendas political leaders had outsiders ‘bused in’ to incite these idolatrous Lyconians, hoping to execute the messengers of grace through Christ.

    Is anything new under the sun? 
Evil men will continue to oppose Almighty God by their own means and to their own ends -- until the judgment.

    Acts 14:

    But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and after winning over the crowds and stoning Paul, they were dragging him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.

    Acts 14:19 Legacy Standard Bible

    What a turn of events!

    The Jews at one extreme opposing their own risen Messiah Jesus in order to cling to traditions set in place by Roman-appointed officials of the Herod’s go after Paul and Barnabas.

    And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

    Gospel of Matthew 15:14b LSB

    They convince these uneducated small-town Greek idolaters of the other extreme of religion who worship ALL of the Roman and Greek gods and goddesses to join in their Jewish custom of stoning men opposed to gods.

    PAUL SPEAKS AGAINST THEIR gods!

    So when they seize Paul, they punish him, wounding the Apostle of Christ to the gentiles before his Greek admirers of Lystra

    AND then the ignorant angry mob stones Paul to death (or so they thought victoriously at the end of this hatred outburst).

    Then they drag the tortured, battered and stone-beaten corpse of Paul out of the city gates of Lystra in victory of this justice of the Jews with the pagan worshipers of this city of Zeus.

    After the hate-feeding frenzy of the crowds is complete

    Luke then adds an amazing detail of the unexpected — yet another miracle.

    For it seems once again that the Lord has used Paul and Barnabas to convert some men and women of Lystra to become disciples of The Way of Jesus Christ.

    But while the disciples stood around him, he rose up and entered the city. 

    Luke records the Act of the Apostle Paul getting up after being stoned to death and walking back into the town of Lystra!

    A day after being stoned by the Jews and Pagans

     The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe.

    Acts 14:20b

    Paul had to have been hurting with all his abrasions and wounds from being beaten so mercilessly (possibly even whipped) and stoned to death (so it seemed to all).
    It is a journey of about sixty miles through the mountains from Lystra to Derbe.

    What next?

    The hundred kilometer journey [60 miles] of these disciples of The Way following Barnabas further into the Taurus Mountains, accompanied by a sorely-beaten Saul of Tarsus will take a little time as we continue just a bit further to Derbe on the two-year first missionary journey of Paul.

    To be continued...