The Bible Standard - Discover the Truth.
Christadelphians Talk about various subjects concerning True Bible Teaching.
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Episodes
Monday Sep 22, 2025
Monday Sep 22, 2025
In 1 Chronicles 6 we read of the priestly descendants of Levi. From verse 16 to the chapter's end, we read of the 3 main families- Gershon, Kohath and Merari and we read how this relates to the 24 orders of priests verses arranged by order by Samuel together with David. From verse 54 to the end of the chapter we learn of their settlements - for unlike the twelve tribes they were given no allotted inheritance. It was their job to dwell among the tribes of the nation and to teach Yahweh's Word. Joseph's two sons each are given a portion meaning that Joseph receives the double portion. In this way he is treated as the firstborn and because of his Joseph's portion, Levi is not counted among the tribes and receives no allotment among Israel. In Ezekiel chapter 19 we hear a lament about the princes of Judah, who are compared to young lions. David himself was the lion of the tribe of Judah and was a mighty conqueror whose territory became great. But the nation divided and was weakened. The northern kingdom of Israel went into captivity long before the southern kingdom of Judah experienced its death throes under its last four kings. Because Judah's evil rulers they became vassals to both Egypt and Babylon. Verses 10-14 describe the stripping bare of Judah who had been a fruitless vine verses compare with the parable of Psalm 80 verses 8-13. These fruitless people stand in marked contrast to the Son of God verses see the words of Psalm 80 verses 14-19; and John 15 verses 1-11. Luke 16 verses 1-13 speaks of the parable of the dishonest manager. That lazy and double-dealing manager's behaviour is thoroughly unscrupulous. However, in view of his reluctance to work this corrupt steward his secured by unjustly favouring future "friends" who will take care of him. When that servant is dismissed from his job, he hopes that his newly acquired friends will look after him. Jesus does not in any way commend dishonest behaviour, but our Lord says that utilising resources for future outcomes is a behaviour in which 'the children of this age' outshine the 'children of light'. The parable can be explained that we hope to receive of our Lord "the true riches" (eternal life) and we are taught that what we have i.e. any material wealth and how we have used it is likely to be an index of our faithfulness. All we have God has richly given us. Are we bountiful in bestowing it to help others? Or are we selfish? The Law and the Prophets belonged to an era until John the Baptist came. Now we must seize the initiative and press into the Kingdom of God. Jesus teaches us that divorce is to be abhorred and that a divorced person should not remarry. The chapter then outlines the parable of the rich man - who is called by some Dives - and Lazarus (the beggar). Note it is a parable addressed to the Pharisees and is not in any way a literal story. It was a derisive taunt of the Pharisees, who had adopted the Grecian mythology about ‘immortal souls'. The parable also has a strong message to the high priest Caiaphas and the priestly Sadducean class. Caiaphas had five brothers each of whom succeeded to the rank of high priest. The Sadducees did not believe in resurrection (Acts 23 verses 7-8). Within a short time of our giving this parable he would raise Lazarus from the dead (John 11). And resulting in the Sadducees plotting to kill Jesus. The Sadducees also sought to kill Lazarus because he was a living proof of what they would not believe. Again, the parable can be explained at a number of levels. Even in Jesus' derisive taunt punctuation can make the world of difference. The rich man died and was buried in hell - this is universally true for all of us. Then in the words of the parable followed the resurrection which will be for those who are rejected a time of torment - weeping and gnashing of teeth for the rejected (Matthew 25). Note Jesus tells that the import of the parable is to teach resurrection (verses 30-31). Both classes of leaders (Pharisees and Sadducees) stood condemned because of their failure to "hear the Law and the Prophets". Another clear import of the parable is that a failure to show mercy in our lives today will guarantee our excision from God's kingdom tomorrow. Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow
Sunday Sep 21, 2025
Sunday Sep 21, 2025
1 Chronicles 5 returns to Reuben's descendants and restates the reason why his descendants' genealogy had been displaced to follow Simeon's descendants. Then the chapter follows with the descendants of Gad and their warlike campaigns against the Hagarites. Lastly the record speaks of the descendants of the half tribe of Gad who lived east of the Jordan, until the Assyrian captivity. Ezekiel 18 records a profound truth we are all souls - that is breathing creatures as the Hebrew word means. We all are because of sin rightly related to death - verses 4 and 20 (compare Romans 6 verses 23). The nation of Judah complains of being treated inconsistently at the hands of the Almighty; but oh, how wrong they were! God treats true repentance with absolute forgiveness; but those who turn their back on their Sovereign would be recompensed accordingly. The proverb - 'the fathers ate the sour grape and the children's teeth were set on edge' that was prevalent throughout the kingdom of Judah was a false proverb. Our God deals equitably with each person according to his, or her, own doings. The case study evident in this chapter of the three generations is clearly speaking of Ezekiel's contemporaries Manasseh, Hezekiah and Amon. Luke 15 records the three parables of the lost - sheep, coin and son. "All we like sheep have gone astray" (Isaiah 53) but hopefully we have been recovered by our chief Shepherd 1 Peter 5. However, how poor it was that the coin was lost in the house of believers. Was it lost because of an oversight, or, even worse, because of a lack of care due to the preoccupation of those self-interested occupants of the ecclesial house? God only knows! But like in the parable of the lost sheep there is great joy in heaven and on earth in the recovery of the coin. Finally, we are told the parable of the Prodigal (or wasteful) son. The wasteful son through hardship brought on by his own lack of understanding of the great benefits that come to all who are blessed to be in our Father's house, as well as the Prodigal son's own greed. In his hardship that son has time to reflect on the love of the father (Father) and to find opportunity to return to the household. The father was anxiously waiting for any news of his son's return and runs to meet his lost son and receives him with great feasting and rejoicing. The elder son symbolises the self-righteous Pharisees who could feel no joy when those who they contemptuously call sinners joyfully embrace the father's graciousness. Let us read aloud verses 31-32. Then pause, ponder and make sure we love our gracious Father and rejoice when His children return to the fold. Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow
Saturday Sep 20, 2025
Saturday Sep 20, 2025
1 Chronicles 4 records the descendants of Judah. One of the notable descendants was Jabez, whose prayer to God and subsequent blessing is told in verses 9-10. What we learn is that Yahweh is ever attentive to the pleas of His children both small and great. We know nothing about Jabez except for his prayer seeking for the Almighty to bless and prosper him. Next the record tells of Simeon's descendants - perhaps we would have expected those of Reuben. But Reuben lost the position of firstborn through a disgraceful act (Genesis 49 verses 3-4). Ezekiel 17 records the parable of the two eagles. The eagles were those kings of Judah who were promoted to prominence by the king of Babylon. But the eagles did not maintain faith with Nebuchadnezzar but broke the covenant which they had made with the Babylonian monarch. Those kings rebelled and were savagely dealt with by the king of Babylon. Our God expects His children to be truthful at all times verses Matthew 5 verses 33-37; Zechariah 8 verses 16-17; Revelation 22 verses 14-15. Yahweh will exalt the lowly and abase the lofty verses James 4 verses 7-10; 1 Peter 5 verses 5-6. In Luke 13 the enemies of the Lord maliciously attack him by drawing his attention to the Galileans, who Pilate had slaughtered as they were sacrificing in Jerusalem. Jesus tells his audience of Judeans of a recent event where a wall in Siloam - Jerusalem's backyard - fell on many Judeans. Did it happen because they were bad sinners? No, on both counts - but both tragedies provided opportunities for reflection and repentance, as any report of suffering does for us today. This is followed in chapter 13 by the parable of the barren fig tree which represents Israel's failure to bring forth fruit to God. Jesus next, on the Sabbath day heals a woman with an unclean spirit. The parables of the mustard seed and the leaven come next in the record. Then the record speaks of the parable of the narrow door, through which every disciple must strive to enter. Our Lord Jesus Christ laments over Jerusalem - to be torn down stone by stone as the leprous house. He will be welcomed in the Kingdom, when they would say, "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord" (Psalm 118 verses 26). Chapter 14 of Luke begins with Jesus healing a man on the Sabbath day. That man had clearly been planted as a test for Jesus. Would he heal on the Sabbath day? The Lord was invited to speak at a dinner for Pharisees and Jesus gives advice in the parable of the wedding feast. Then came another parable about the great banquet to which each invited class found excuses not to attend. These people who were called by the gospel to come to the wedding feast of the Son of God all adjudged themselves unworthy of eternal life in the kingdom. As a result of their rejection, we have graciously been offered a place. Two parables follow which tell us that as disciples of Jesus we must always count the cost of discipleship and wholeheartedly pursue that goal. Every disciple of our Lord must accept the peace that our Sovereign offers to us through the emissaries of the gospel and then make peace with Him verses Ephesians 2 verses 11-22. The chapter concludes with the need for zest and salt among our Master's disciples. Salt was an essential ingredient of every sacrifice and spoke of keeping covenant with the Almighty. And so, it is a vital component of the disciple's faithful walk before his/her Sovereign leading onto His gracious bestowing of eternal life on His saints. Salt speaks of sincerity in Christ's disciples as we are told in Colossians 4 verses 6. Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow
Friday Sep 19, 2025
Friday Sep 19, 2025
Friday Sep 19, 2025
1 Chronicles 3 records the sons of David and their genealogy through Solomon to Zerubbabel the Governor under the returned exiles from Babylon around 537 BC. Jeconiah was a descendant of king Solomon David's son. But that man was disinherited by the LORD, who said of Jeconiah verses "write this man childless ... no son of his will prosper, nor sit on David's throne verses Jeremiah 22 verses 24-30. The two branches of David's family came together in Zerubbabel by way of a Levirate marriage. Matthew 1 records Jesus' legal right to the throne through Joseph (the guardian of our Lord) as recorded there. Whereas Luke 3 records Mary's genealogy and therefore that our Lord Jesus Christ's actual ancestral line through Nathan David's son. In Ezekiel 16 we have a description of Israel Yahweh's faithless wife. Her descent is said, spiritually, to be from Amorite stock - the earliest of the Canaanitish nations (meaning "great of mouth") and the Amorites were of giant stature as Deuteronomy tells us. Israel's father is said to be a Hittite from the powerful kingdom of the Hathi originally in Turkey and among the mightiest empires of that time - rivalling Egypt. Yahweh Israel's Sovereign Lord had pity on His people and took her unto Himself as His wife in love. How did Israel repay her God's loving kindness; only by scorning Him and prostituting herself without payment. God would judge her as the profligate covenant breaker that she was. But her younger sister, Judah, behaved no better. The Almighty describes them as being of the same sisterhood as Sodom, whose abominable lewdness was legendary. Nonetheless the time would come when the repentant daughters would again be covenanted by the everlasting kindness of Yahweh in the Kingdom of His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. In Luke 12 the Lord counsels regarding the destructive teachings of the Pharisees. Our Lord Jesus says to his followers to have no fear when they are tried and killed by the religious authorities. This is because our Father has power over everything - including life and death. When giving testimony before rulers believers would be aided in their witness. In the parable in this chapter of the rich fool (based on the life of Nabal in 1 Samuel 25) our Lord refuses to arbitrate in a property dispute between two brothers. Instead, Jesus turns the opportunity into a discussion about the dangers of covetousness and the need to be rich in loving service to God at all times. Christ urges the disciples to be free from anxiety. Look at nature and the Almighty's abundantly providing out of His richness. Disciples need, as wise and faithful servants, to be in a state of continual readiness for their Lord's coming. A constant challenge for disciples is that often times family opposition will be the result of a person's acceptance of Christ. As disciples we must be alert to the era in which we live. Our Master is standing at the doorpost of our hearts and knocking Revelation 3 verses 20-21. Finally, if believers find themselves in a dispute, they need to quickly reach agreement with their adversaries, or the results may be much worse. Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow
Thursday Sep 18, 2025
Thursday Sep 18, 2025
The Chronicle's account does not begin with the genealogy of Saul, the nation's first earthly king, as we might have expected, since he was disgraced and taken away by God in Yahweh's anger. It rather begins with the Almighty's chosen king - the man after His own heart. It tells us of David's thirteen wives and seventeen sons and the circumstances that brought one of David's younger sons, Solomon, to succeed him on the throne. It also outlines the genealogies of some of his prominent wise counsellors and of David's administration. In Ezekiel 15 we find a short but powerful parable about the vine that tells us that the wood from the is useless for making anything. The vine is also very poor in its use for kindling heat. The vine has but one use; to produce fruit and the kingdom of Judah had shown that they were useless in this respect. The vine is an oft used symbol of God's people, Israel - Isaiah 5; Psalm 80 etc. The same lessons must be applied to spiritual Israel - those who have embraced the gospel message verses Matthew 21 verses 43. We come across it in each of the four gospel accounts. The greatest lesson on our need for fruitfulness comes from the Master teacher verses John 15 verses 1-11. We can only produce fruit by abiding within the Vine of our Father's planting i.e. of ourselves we can produce fruit, but in our Lord Jesus Christ we can and will by his grace do. In Luke 11 we start with a record of, what is termed, the Lord's Prayer. It is a model prayer, not a mantra to be repeated without thought. It commences with an acknowledgement of the Father's awe-inspiring status. Then follows petitions for the Almighty's will to be fulfilled on earth, as it is in heaven. The kingdom will come when Messiah returns in glory. Lastly are personal petitions for forgiveness and for food. The prayer closed with an acclaiming of the praise, greatness and glory of our Sovereign. Then follows teaching about generosity among friends and our need to be seekers, askers and knockers on doors. Our Father is generous and gives only benefits to His children. Upon curing a deaf-mute Jesus is accused of doing it by a demon power Beel-zebul - the Lord of the dung heap. This was equivalent to blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Jesus tells his enemies that if he was casting out diseases by a demonic power then Jesus would be a destroyer of the kingdom of the enemy who had "inflicted" those who suffered. No, just as the magicians of Egypt at the time of Moses were forced to acknowledge - "this is the finger of God". A parable of the need to fill our cleansed and empty house with good things after the sweeping out of evil is next mentioned in the chapter. The Lord says that happiness lies in hearing and keeping the Word of God. Then follows Christ's telling the hearers of the sign of the prophet Jonah. There is more to this sign than would first seem apparent verses 1) Jonah from Gath-Hepher which is in Galilee where our Lord's ministry thrived verses see John 7 verses 52; 2) Jonah means 'dove' the evident sign at Jesus' baptism; 3) the overwhelming majority of Jesus' disciples were Galilean as Isaiah 9 verses 1-7 predicted; 4) Jonah spent three nights in the belly of hell i.e. inside the belly of the great fish before being symbolically resurrected. The chapter then instructs us to be single minded seekers. The record in this chapter concludes with the pronouncing of woes upon the Pharisees and the Lawyers because of their hypocrisy. Rather than having the effect of curtailing them in their behaviour these evil men sought even more to provoke our Lord.Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow
Wednesday Sep 17, 2025
Wednesday Sep 17, 2025
The books of Chronicles were believed to have been written by Ezra to outline what was needing to be done by the returning exiles to be Yahweh's faithful people. Chapter 1 of 1 Chronicles records the genealogy of Adam through to Abraham and his descendants. The chapter concludes with the twelve dukedoms of Esau. These were in force for hundreds of years before the monarchy in Israel. Chronicles focuses on the positive rulers who after difficult years sought to spiritually revive the kingdom of Judah. We saw in the two books of Kings that all of the rulers of the northern kingdom of Israel were wicked. Judah's fortunes fluctuated with the occasional great reformer, although the general direction of thekingdom was a downward spiral. By heeding the lessons learned from both books of Kings and from both books of Chronicles hopefully the returning exiles would return from idolatry to a pure and God-fearing community. History tells us that those who returned from the Babylonian captivity never again turned to idolatry. Ezekiel 14 tells us of the idolatry of Judah. God would not spare His judgments on Jerusalem. What an incredible state of affairs it was when three of the greatest intercessors for the nation to that point in history could not meditate on behalf of the kingdom - Noah, Job and Daniel. Though these three men, had the LORD raised them up at that time, should seek pardon for the nation from the Almighty it would have been in vain. Judah's Sovereign would send four disastrous acts of judgment on Jerusalem - sword, famine, wild beasts and pestilence. Luke 10 says that the Lord Jesus appoints seventy emissaries to spread the gospel message. These men were sent out two by two so as to support each other. Although they carry the message only within the confines of the land it was symbolic of the Gospel being taken to all the nations from Israel (compare Genesis 10; and Deuteronomy 32 verses 8). Once again, these ambassadors were to take the minimum of provisions and to rely on faithful help. Any person scorning them would bare their condemnation. Three such Galilean cities are named and their inexcusable behaviour catalogued. The seventy returned to Jesus with triumphant tales. Christ indicates that their reports were a token of the triumph of Christ's kingdom over those of this world (compare with Revelation 11 verses 15). The Lord then reveals that the Father's will can only be understood by those receiving the kingdom message with a child-like trust. Let us take great heed to that lesson. The parable of the Good Samaritan, which is unique in Luke, portrays the perils and pitiful attitudes of those who should have understood their role among God's people. Instead, it is the Samaritan, whose care was evident for the man who had fallen among thieves. Jesus is the Samaritan of the parable, and he will recompense those who have taken care of the Father's people. The oil and wine was the healing balm of the Gospel message. The chapter concludes with a disagreement between Martha and Mary about what is most necessary. Both the roles of these two sisters are essential, but the most important of all is to sit at our Lord's feet and to learn from Jesus.Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow
Tuesday Sep 16, 2025
Tuesday Sep 16, 2025
2 Kings 24 records that Yahweh judged His people for their tragic treatment of His Law. There was no other remedy than to remove them from the Promised Land. It is believed that both books of Kings werewritten by Jeremiah to tell Judah why they were in Babylonian captivity. Chapters 24 and 25 record the fall and capture of Jerusalem and Nebuchadnezzar's brutal treatment of the treacherous Zedekiah. The temple was destroyed and the large bronze furniture broken up. The silver and golden vessels were preserved and taken to Babylon. Gedaliah was appointed Governor by Nebuchadnezzar over the remainder of the people who were not taken to Babylon. Gedaliah was slain by Ishmael causing the local militia captains, the sons of Kareah, to panic and flee to Egypt to escape the coming retribution of Babylon. When Evil-Merodach comes to the Babylonian throne Jehoiachin is released from prison and privileged to eat at the Babylonian king's table. Ezekiel 13 records some of the abominable idolatrous practices of Judah, The idolatrous people indulged in supposedly hunting for "souls" (the non-existent spirit life of the departed) which Ezekiel chapter 13 calls 'hunting for souls'. What exactly this mumbo jumbo involved is hard to envision, but Isaiah also counsels against such wizardry - see Isaiah 8 verses 19-20. Luke 9 tells us of the commissioning of "the twelve" who were sent to Israel's lost sheep. These Apostles were seemingly unprepared for such a task but took the Gospel forth in faith - note the similarity in the opening verses of Luke chapters 8 and 9 (8 verses 1 compare with 9 verses 1-2). The record tells us of Herod's perplexity on hearing the report of Jesus' ministry. Herod hearing of the miracles being done by Jesus and he becomes frightened believing that these miracles might have been done by John the Baptist risen from the dead. The chapter tells us of the feeding of the 5,000 which is followed by the record of Jesus' prayer in solitude. We are told that this prayer of our Lord follows Peter's confession that "Jesus was the Christ of God". Jesus foretells his sufferings, crucifixion and resurrection. The disciples are exhorted that it is imperative to take up one's stake (Greek 'stauros') and follow Christ. The remaining segments of the chapter centre on Elijah. The transfiguration is recorded in verses 28-36 - where Moses, representing the Law; and Elijah the Prophets - are seen with our Lord in glory. The Father clearly showing and declaring the surpassing, excellent glory of His Son. Peter comments on the wonderful lessons learned then verses 2 Peter 1 verses 16-21. Read these aloud and ponder their significance for your belief in the inspired Word of God. A paralytic boy is cured by the Lord, when the 9 Apostles who had not gone into the Mount were frustrated by their inability to heal the boy. Once more Jesus tells them of his coming suffering, which message, yet again, fell on deaf ears. Sadly, the Apostles were preoccupied with their feelings of self-importance. Incredibly those who saw the events of the transfiguration should have seen that their Lord alone was great and that they were merely the servants of the coming King. The twelve rebuke a man who is performing miracles in the name of Jesus Christ. Their chastising was because that man was not of their company. Jesus declared - that they who are not against us must be for us. Jesus was next turned away from a Samaritan village since he was clearly intent on going to Jerusalem. James and John, rightly given the appellation "sons of thunder", sought to bring fire upon that village as Elijah had done in 2 Kings 1. Jesus rebukes his Apostles and alludes to the saving mission of the 'whisper of a voice' - found in Elisha's mission. The chapter concludes with three would be disciples being challenged by Christ Jesus to count the cost of following him. The three examples are verses 1) who wanted to make discipleship a second priority. 2) the next would follow when family responsibility had passed - this would always be a problem and left with those not willing to embrace the challenges of following Christ; and, 3) the third had business matters which required attention - Jesus tells that man needs to learn the lesson of which is seen in Elisha's calling 1 Kings 19 verses 19-21.Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow
Monday Sep 15, 2025
Monday Sep 15, 2025
In the record of 2 Kings 22 we have the reign of Judah's second greatest king - Josiah. He was a great reformer according to all that was written in the Law of Moses. But this came after 57 years of evil rulership and the loss of the Book of the Law, within the very temple where it should have been revered and taught. Josiah is the subject of a prophecy that was given at the commencement of the divided kingdom - to Jeroboam 1 some three and a half centuries earlier (see 1 Kings 12). At the age of 26 Josiah began to utilise the faithful craftsmen to repair the temple. Hilkiah the High Priest finds the Book of the Law (possibly the very one written by Moses about eight and a half centuries earlier). That precious book is handed to Shaphan the scribe to take it to king Josiah. Shaphan reads it before the king who rends his clothes. Josiah knows how greatly Judah has sinned against their God. Josiah sends to Huldah the prophetess, who tells them that judgment is unavoidable, but that it would be postponed until after Josiah's death because of his humility before his Sovereign. 2 Kings 23 records the reforms of Josiah all of which had been declared earlier to Jeroboam 1 by the unnamed prophet who came from Judah. Josiah causes all Judah to listen to and comply with the words of the newly found Book of the Law. The king, Josiah, finds the tomb of that prophet who had foretold these events and leaves his bones to lie undisturbed - this being symbolic of resurrection (Psalm 34 verses 20-22). Josiah keeps a Passover like none throughout the 430 years of history of the two kingdoms - Israel and Judah. Josiah dies in a battle against Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt. God had warmed Josiah not to meddle with Pharaoh Neco. But this was a bad error of judgment from Josiah that led to his tragic and premature death verses referred to in Isaiah 57 verses 1. Eliakim was placed, as a vassal of Neco, on the throne for three months; and Judah is put under tribute. Eliakim is removed and replaced by Jehoiakim. In Ezekiel 12 we have an enacted parable telling of the extremities and sufferings occasioned by the siege. Ezekiel portrays by his actions the outcomes of Jerusalem's siege. A very small remnant of Judah would be saved. Ezekiel shows that the profligate and weak king Zedekiah is to be taken into captivity. The statement was made by the false prophets that it would be a long time before the Almighty would bring such judgment on His people. Not so says Jeremiah who is asked by Yahweh to show the people of Judah the hardships that were to come and the scarcity of food. Luke chapter 8 begins by naming some of the women who accompany our Lord and his Apostles. Among them was Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's nobleman (consider some of the difficulties this may have occasioned - perhaps very similar to Obadiah, the steward of Ahab, who had fed 100 of Yahweh's prophets during the great drought). The Parable of the Sower is taught, as the basis of understanding all of our Lord's parables. As we have seen it can be called the parable of the soils as the seed sown is the same - it was the response of the 4 soil types that differed. The chapter then records an explanation from Jesus as to why our Lord spoke in parables. It was to reveal the message to the seekers and to confound the self-righteous. The teaching by parables is a fulfilment of Christ's mission and is explained in Psalm 78 verses 1-4 and Isaiah 6 verses 1-13. Then follows the parable of the lamp on the table which outlines the disciple's responsibility to spread the Gospel. Jesus' mother and brothers, being concerned for him, seek to curtail his preaching. They are told to join the supporters rather than those who are slowing down God's work. Next Jesus calms a storm demonstrating that he is indeed the Son of God (see Psalm 107 verses 23-32). The chapter then says that he heals the man called Legion. Whose curing is proved by the destruction of the pigs. The Jews should not have been breeding these as the Law of Moses forbad it. The record follows with the curing of the woman with the issue of blood for 12 years (note Luke's ironic comments about his fellow doctors). Then Jesus raises the twelve-year-old daughter of Jairus (whose name means 'enlightenment') and presents her alive to her parents. Christ shows that he is indeed the Good Shepherd of John 10 when he said to the child "little lamb arise". Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow
Monday Sep 15, 2025
Monday Sep 15, 2025
The record tells us that at Hezekiah's death his son Manasseh began to reign, aged 12. His mother's name was Hephzibah, meaning 'my delight is in her'. What joy must those final years of Hezekiah's have been? But sadly, Manasseh's rule was steeped in idolatry and blood shedding. Read the LORD's summary of that bloodthirsty king's rule in verses 11-15. The streets of Jerusalem flowed with blood under this king. History records that the prophet Isaiah fled from this evil man and hid in a hollow tree. The king gave orders to saw the prophet in half (cp Hebrews 11 verses 37). However, despite 55 years of evil at Manasseh's end God forgave him because he repented and that final turning to God saw him being taken from prison to Jerusalem - see 2 Chronicles 13 verses 10-13. Ezekiel explains why in chapter 18 verses 4-23 read and ponder. But the people of Judah, having revelled in idolatry for so long, could not change their behaviours. Manasseh's son Amon succeeds him ruling for two years before being slain by the king's own servants. In Ezekiel 11 judgment is pronounced upon Judah's wicked counsellors who mistakenly saw themselves as untouchable. The prophet Ezekiel counsels Judah to settle in Babylon for the 70 years. The length of the exile that Jeremiah had prophesied. But the arrogant rulers in Judah said that no destruction could ever come to them. It was essential to totally overthrow these wicked people and to make a new start with the remnant, who were to be the returning exiles. Luke 7 begins with the healing of a faithful and loved Roman Centurion's servant. The Centurion had built a synagogue for the Jewish people - most likely in Capernaum. As a man in command and also under the authority of Rome he saw our Lord Jesus Christ as the emissary of God. Jesus announces that the Centurion's faith exceeded any faith that could be found in Israel. This Centurion was truly the seed, and heir of Abraham's kingdom (Romans 4 verses 13; Genesis 12 verses 3). In the town of Nain Jesus raises a widow's son. In this and many like incidents our Lord Jesus was learning how painful it would be for his Father to see His only begotten Son die. Messengers are sent to our Lord Jesus Christ from a disconsolate John the Baptist, who was languishing in Herod's prison at Machaerus. Jesus immediately performs many miracles before John's messengers and refers them to Isaiah 61. The Lord then remonstrates with the crowd on their fickleness - Jesus and John are both the Father's wise children. Not a greater man than John the Baptist had ever been born of a woman, except the Messiah himself. The chapter next says that a sinful woman, who comes into the house of Simon the Pharisee, anoints Jesus' feet in love - and because of her great love she is forgiven greatly for her sins. Luke is telling us in this chapter of three confrontations our Lord had with the Pharisees occurring in the house of a Pharisee - Luke 7; 11; 14. Simon the Pharisee and those with him are instructed by Christ on the basis of divine forgiveness i.e. love. Let us pause, ponder and learn this. Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow