Tag: Matthew

  • 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.
    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:
    
    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...
    
  • Unworthy of Eternal Life

    Unworthy of Eternal Life

    Acts unworthy of Godseeking men

    יְשַׁעְיָהוּ (Isaiah) 49:6  וַיֹּאמֶר נָקֵל מִֽהְיוֹתְךָ לִי עֶבֶד לְהָקִים אֶת־שִׁבְטֵי יַעֲקֹב ונצירי יִשְׂרָאֵל לְהָשִׁיב וּנְתַתִּיךָ לְאוֹר גּוֹיִם לִֽהְיוֹת יְשׁוּעָתִי עַד־קְצֵה הָאָֽרֶץ׃ ס

    Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you – Acts 13:40 NIV

    Acts 13: in Pisidian Antioch

    This scene unfolds on a second Sabbath when Saul of Tarsus and Joseph of Cypress have been invited back to share their GOOD NEWS of Israel's Messiah at the synagogue of Pisidian Antioch. 
    
    On the the previous Sabbath:

    When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas..

    Acts 13:43a – of Paul and Barnabas – NIV
    NOW (on this next Sabbath in Antioch)
    Antioch Pisidia with Roman theatre in foreground - ruins on L and model on R

    44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 

    Antioch in the direction of Pisidia

    Reminder: Antioch is not a Jewish city but a Roman one. 
    Some facts:
    • During the reign of Emperor Augustus, the Romans established eight colonies in Pisidia, but only Antioch was honoured with the title of Caesarea.
    • Roman legions were stationed near the city, and their veterans were given land in the area. Later, the city was awarded the title Socia Romanorum that is Loyal Ally of Rome.
    • the road known as Via Sebaste.. connected Antioch with Perge on the Mediterranean coast.
    • a branch of this road leading to Iconium (now Konya) and Lystra was added.
    First Century Antioch in the direction of Pisidia (third largest city in the Roman Empire) 
    - a place with a small synagogue, several temples of gods of Rome and Greece and a theatre where crowds could hear an orator, a Roman politician or go to town for various entertainment.

    Luke does not tell us where Paul and Barnabas were at this point.

    Perhaps just outside the synagogue (for there would not have been enough room for the crowds inside.) As was his later habit Paul and their disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ may have walked to a large public square or even the city’s large theatre.

    Click for pictures of the archeological site.
    

    Acts of the unworthy chosen

    45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy.

    Contradicting the Word of God

    They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him.

    To the Jew first

    Numbers 16:

    28 And Moses said: “By this you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own will..” 31 Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods.. 34 Then all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up also!” And a fire came out from the Lord and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering incense.

    “Remember these things, O Jacob,

    And Israel, for you are My servant;

    I have formed you, you are My servant;

    O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me.

    “I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud
    And your sins like a cloud.

    Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”

    Isaiah 44:21-22 LSB

    He says, “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant
    To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to cause the preserved ones of Israel to return;

    I will also give You as a light of the nations
    So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

    Isaiah 49:6

    And a Light to the Gentiles

    Romans and Greeks drawn to Pisidian Antioch by the Lord God to hear the Good News of redemption preached by Paul to a remnant of Israel in the synagogues.

    The light of the Gospel now shines in the Roman world as fulfillment of Scripture well-known to the Jews.

    Psalm 67:
    excerpt

    אֱלֹהִים יְחָנֵּנוּ וִֽיבָרְכֵנו יָאֵר פָּנָיו אִתָּנוּ סֶֽלָה׃

    God be gracious to us and bless us,
    And cause His face to shine upon us— Selah.
    
    That Your way may be known on the earth,
    Your salvation among all nations.
    
    Let the nations be glad and sing for joy;
    For You will judge the peoples with uprightness
    And lead the nations on the earth. Selah.
    
    Let the peoples praise You, O God;
    
    Let all the peoples praise You.
    
    God blesses us,
    That all the ends of the earth may fear Him.
    

    I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

    To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

    Prophesy of Isaiah 42:6-7 King James Version
    Isaiah 60:

    “Arise, shine, for your light has come,

    And the glory of Yahweh has risen upon you.

    “For behold, darkness will cover the earth
    And dense gloom the peoples;

    But Yahweh will rise upon you,

    And His glory will appear upon you.

    “Nations will come to your light,

    And kings to the brightness of your rising.


    And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

    Isaiah 60:3 KJV

    The Apostle Paul has just preached:

    For the Lord has commanded us

    Acts of the Apostles 13:

    47 “For so the Lord has commanded us,
    ‘I HAVE PLACED YOU AS A LIGHT FOR THE GENTILES,

    THAT YOU MAY BRING SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH.’

    Of course the reaction of the local Romans and Greeks would be joy at this Gospel.

    And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

    And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region.

    Certainly this is also Good News to the faithful worshipers of the Lord who have waited for the Messiah, the Christ who saves and fulfills the promises of God.
    

    Lift up thine eyes round about, and see:

    all they gather themselves together, they come to thee:

    thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.

    .. the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.

    Isaiah 60:4,5b KJV

    But the Jews..

    Ἰουδαῖος

    Remember: Saul of Tarsus and Joseph of Cypress are also Jews who have greeted their brothers in the synagogue as ‘brothers.’

    MANY disciples of The Way of Jesus the Messiah are Jews who have turned from the darkness of their former disobedience to follow the Lord our God.

    BUT, the GOSPEL is only Good News to those who will accept it –– to those who will turn from their sin —

    Jew, Roman, Greek — European, African, American —

    the Gospel is Good News ONLY to those willing to follow Jesus Christ our Savior and Redeemer as Lord.

    And like today MANY will oppose the Gospel of Jesus Christ — Jew, Gentile or so-called ‘christian.’


    But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas,

    and expelled them from their region.

    Acts of the Apostles 13:30 NKJV

    ὅριον

    13:50 οἱ δὲ Ἰουδαῖοι παρώτρυναν τὰς σεβομένας γυναῖκας τὰς εὐσχήμονας καὶ τοὺς πρώτους τῆς πόλεως καὶ ἐπήγειραν διωγμὸν ἐπὶ τὸν Παῦλον καὶ Βαρναβᾶν καὶ ἐξέβαλον αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ τῶν ὁρίων αὐτῶν

    Galatia map with its capitol Pisidian Antioch

    Unworthy of Grace

    Does this sound at all familiar?

    Just as Saul of Tarsus had persecuted disciples of The Way and pursued them beyond the district of Judea, so too some Jews of Pisidian Antioch continue to refuse the grace of their Redeemer.

    Yet even the Lord Jesus had encountered such opposition.

    And when He came to the other side, into the region of the Gadarenes, two men who were demon-possessed met Him as they were coming out of the tombs. They were so extremely violent that no one could pass by that way. And behold, they cried out, saying,

    “What do we have to do with You, Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?” ..

    And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw Him, they pleaded with Him to leave their region.

    Gospel of Matthew 8:34 LSB [Mat 8:28-34]
    topical map of Israel from sea of Galilee, valley of the Jordan
    Topical map Galilee to Judea

    “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

    Gospel of Matthew 11:21 LSB – The rebuke of Christ Jesus to the Jews unworthy of grace

    “And any place that does not receive you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dust off the soles of your feet for a testimony against them.”

    Gospel of Mark 6:11 – Instruction of Jesus to the Twelve

    Acts of Paul and Barnabas leaving Pisidian Antioch

    13:51

    But having shaken off the dust of their feet against them, they went to Iconium.


    Acts of the Apostles and disciples: To be continued in Iconium…