The Gospel of Matthew

Part I

 Introduction 

   The book of Matthew is like no other book in the new testament because it proves to the searching Jew that Jesus is the one that Moses and the prophets spoke about in all of their writings. Jesus had this to say to the religious leaders of his own nation: 

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. John 5:39 

   The events that occurred in the life of Jesus, and especially during his three-and-a-half-year ministry all occurred while Israel was under the law of Moses (The Mosaic covenant). We, as the body of Christ, are not under the law, but under grace. (Romans 6:14-15) 

   I encourage you to ask yourself just what in the four gospels actually belongs to the Jewish nation when they were under the law, and what if anything can believers claim from them during this age of grace?  

   The law of Moses remained in effect until after the death of Jesus Christ, the Testator which is mentioned in Hebrews 9:16-17. 

   Millions have had to spiritualize away many verses in the gospels and say that they mean something else because they fail to apply them to whom they were delivered to (Israel under the law). 

   The book of Acts follows the four gospels, and it serves as a transitional book between prophecy and mystery, with the doctrines of grace being introduced in Paul's epistles. 

   There can only be harmony in our Bible study when we rightly divide the word of truth as Paul told us to in 2 Timothy 2:15. 

   I hope this study will help you to start to believe every word of God instead of spiritualizing Israel's passages as yours. Your walk with God will be so much more complete if you do, and the body of Christ (the church) will begin to be unified around the truth. 

 

Chapter One 

The lineage of  Israel's King 

   I want us to begin our study together by noticing in the very first verse how that Matthew records Jesus' genealogy by listing David before Abraham. The reason for this is that Matthew's main message is about Israel's future King and His future kingdom. 

   Abraham is the Father of the Jewish nation, but it was through David (God's choice for King) that the promise of an heir which would reign over Israel forever would be fulfilled. 

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

   For those who may not know it, Christ is not Jesus' last name, it is his title, and it means exactly the same thing as the word Messiah in Hebrew, it means literally, the anointed one. 

2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; 3 And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; 4 And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; 5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; 

  Booz is Boaz who was the son of Rachab (Rahab) the harlot. Boaz could marry Ruth (a Gentile) because of who his mother was (A gentile).

   Jews were not supposed to marry outside of the Jewish lines unless the one they were marrying had converted to Judaism. 

   Under the Mosaic law a Gentile had to convert to Judaism in order to be saved, for salvation was of the Jews. (John 4:22) We, as Gentiles, no longer have to convert to Judaism today in the age of grace to be saved. 

6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; 

   The very fact that Matthew begins with the lineage of the kings of Israel testifies to the fact that the book of Matthew is a book about a King and his kingdom. 

   Luke's gospel goes from Mary back to Adam, because Jesus is called the Son of man with Adam being the first man. Christ is later called the second Adam in 1 Cor 15:45. 

   It would be through the lineage of Solomon that all future kings would reign. The other lineage given in the book of Luke traces Christ's lineage back from Mary to Nathan, (Solomon's brother). 

   The reason for the two lineages is that there was a curse put on Solomon's line found in Jeremiah 22:30, and in order for Jesus to become King he would have to be born through a virgin from Nathan's lineage (Solomon's brother) to avoid the curse. 

Jeremiah 22:30 Thus saith the LORD, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.  

7 And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; 8 And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; 9 And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; 10 And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; 11 And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: 12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; 13 And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; 14 And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; 15 And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; 16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. 17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations. 

   What a coincidence that there were fourteen generations separating these three major periods in Israel's history. It wasn't a coincidence at all, but rather an indicator to the nation of Israel and to the world that something big was about to happen once again. 

   There are actually seventeen generations between David and the carrying away, but God only allows the legitimate fourteen generations to be mentioned. 

   Three kings were cursed by God, and their generations were removed from His list for all eternity. At the carrying away into Babylon the reign of the Kings of Israel had ceased.

   After fourteen generations had passed from the Babylonian captivity a new King was born that literally changed the world. 

   Notice also that this lineage was the kingly line which would mean that the rightful king of Israel, prior to the Messiah's birth, should have been Joseph, the husband of Mary, had it not been for the curse upon his lineage.  

   Instead there was a puppet of Rome, king Herod, sitting on the throne of Israel as there had been for quite some time. Herod himself was an Edomite, not a Jew. 

   Also notice from David down to Jacob (Joseph's father), how that Matthew records that each father begat their son up until Joseph and Jesus.  

   Joseph, it says, was the husband of Mary of whom was born Jesus, because as the gospel of John records that Jesus was the only begotten Son of God: 

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

   The necessity for the virgin birth was because of mankind's sin nature which could not be passed down to the Son of God if he was to become the Lamb of God (Sacrifice) which took away the sin of the world. More on the necessity of the virgin birth follows. 

18 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. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 

   The law says that if a woman has played the Harlot that both her and the man should both be stoned. Now we know that Mary was innocent of any wrong doing, but put yourself in Joseph's place for a moment. Would you believe Mary's story? No, you wouldn't. 

   Joseph was kind, and a just man, and he was going to give her a divorce privately, so as not to bring any more perceived shame to his or her family.

   Notice that scripture records that Mary and Joseph had not as of yet come together intimately, and that the child was from the Holy Ghost and not Joseph. 

20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 

   Who your Father is means something in the scripture. The angel of the Lord called Joseph the son of David to testify to any Jew who would read these scriptures that Joseph was a descendant of king David himself and he should have been king at the time preceding Jesus' birth had it not been for the curse. 

   Herod may have been selected as king over the land of Israel by Rome, but Jesus was born King of the Jews by divine right.  

   The Jews should have been paying attention to the descendants of king David because they knew that the Messiah must come from that line. The very name Jesus in Hebrew means salvation. 

   The people should have been in Bethlehem that night waiting for the Messiah's birth, but no one was waiting. The fact that there was no room for them in the Inn signified that the nation of Israel, as a whole, had no room for God in their hearts at that time. 

   Joseph's own family did not have room for them, probably because most thought Mary had relations before her marriage to Joseph. 

22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 

   Here we have the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 being fulfilled right on time. Time is not an obstacle for God. Joseph would have been the king of Israel at that time had it not been for the curse put on this lineage in Jeremiah 22:30. 

   This curse actually served to protect Joseph's line from Satan's attacks because he would have focused his attention on other things because he knew that the royal bloodline was now cursed. God had a way around it. 

24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. 

  The statement that Joseph knew her not is a very important portion of scripture as it refutes the Catholics claim to the perpetual virginity of Mary. 

   Joseph and Mary had sexual relations after the birth of Jesus as any normal husband and wife would and produced numerous offspring. (James, Joses, Simon, Judas and their sisters. Matthew 13:55 & 56) 

   There is no excuse today for Jews who claim they are still looking for the Messiah, all they have to do is to take an honest look at the gospel account of Jesus and compare it with their own prophets’ prophecies concerning the Messiah, and they can plainly see that Jesus is the Messiah they have been waiting for. 

   Sadly, many Jews will one day follow the antichrist during the first half of the seven-year tribulation (the time of Jacob's trouble Jeremiah 30:7), and they will believe the antichrist to be their Messiah. 

   It is then that many believing Jews will flee into the wilderness, and they will realize that they missed their Messiah by two thousand years.

   The good news however is that all the Jewish people alive at the end of that time will be saved, because God promised it in his word. 

Romans 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob (Israel): 

   Sadly, many Christians have pushed Jews away from reading the gospels instead of toward them by their actions over past two thousand years in persecuting them because they themselves do not understand their own scriptures. Satan is good at deceiving both Jew and Gentile alike. 

  No true Christian should ever persecute the Jews. They should however provoke them to jealousy by telling them how good God has been to them in saving them. 

 

Chapter Two 

King of the Jews 

1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 

   Wise men still seek him today, but these were not just some lucky travelers who just happened to come across a great event in human history. 

   These men were anxiously waiting the appearing of the sign in the heavens as foretold in Isaiah, and in the book of Numbers, that would lead them to the very spot were the Saviour of the world would be born. 

Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. 

   Moses foretold of a star that would come out of Jacob (Israel) that would possess a sceptre (a king's royal staff), and the book of Daniel foretold the very day when the Messiah would come riding into the city of Jerusalem. Daniel 9:24-27 

Numbers 24:17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. 

   The wise men were waiting, but Herod was trembling because the very next verse in Numbers prophesied his doom.

   I think Herod was well aware of this prophecy, and that explains why he acted the way he did in killing all the children under two years of age.

   He was trying to prevent its fulfillment. You can't stop God! 

Numbers 24:18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly. 19 Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city. 

   Herod was an Edomite, and the Edomites don't fare too well when the Messiah reigns, so, Herod was nervous and rightfully so. He thought he was about to lose everything. 

   Too bad he didn't turn to Christ at that time, but instead he became infamous because of his brutal attempt to stay in power. 

   These wise men from the east were Jewish Magi from the area of Babylon. Many Jews remained behind after their captivity had ended, and religious schools were established by some of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego's descendants. 

   It is very possible that these Jews did not possess the book of Micah because they were still living in the land of Babylon, and they may not have had access to the whole old testament as the Jews living in Israel would.  

   This would also explain why the wise men didn't know exactly where the Messiah was born. Micah 5:1 & 2 prophesied Bethlehem as the place of the King's birth. 

   Who in that area would have been searching the Jewish scriptures while waiting for their Messiah?  The Jewish descendants remaining from the Babylonian captivity. 

   The news troubled Herod, but it troubled Satan even more, for if the King of the Jews was born, then the Messianic kingdom would undoubtedly begin soon. Satan knew his incarceration in the bottomless pit was nigh at hand, so he had to act quickly.  

   He moved Herod to find this future King that would threaten both of their reigns, so that he could have him killed. Satan did not know about God's mystery program with the body of Christ because it was still hid in God and not revealed until Paul revealed it later in his epistles Romans through Philemon. 

3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 

   Here is a prophecy written over 400 years before Jesus was born, and many Jews still reject Jesus as being their Messiah, because they say he isn't ruling Israel today. 

   They refuse to consider that Christ came the first time as their Saviour from their sins, and at his second coming he will come to rule and reign. 

   They don't believe they need salvation from their sins, so they are blinded in part by God for this. Christ had to suffer, be rejected and killed as Isaiah 53 foretold: 

Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. 11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. 

   The Messiah (Christ) must then sit at his Father's right hand until his enemies are made his footstool as David himself told us in the book of Psalms, and then his reign will never cease: 

Psalm 110:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. 

4 And when he (Herod) had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem, in the

land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. 

   This is a prophecy from Micah chapter five verse two. Jesus was already born, and he was most likely well over a year and a half now, closer to two years of age. 

   The journey itself would have taken many months to make it all the way from Babylon to Jerusalem, and when they arrived, they did not find a babe in a manger but a young child in a house. 

7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. 

   Herod, the Edomite who was set up to rule by Rome, had dismissed the wise men momentarily while he conversed with the religious leaders of Israel as to the prophecies of a coming king. 

   Herod didn't care about the God of Israel, but he did care about preserving his place of leadership as king, and with the backing of Satan he was determined not to allow a Jew to take his place. 

   It was almost two years after the birth of Christ before these wise men make it to Jerusalem, Israel's capital, to inquire of its leaders as to the Messiah's whereabouts.  

   Bethlehem is only a one hour walk from Jerusalem's center. It is interesting that the star led them to Herod when you remember what happened to the inhabitants of Bethlehem at Herod’s hands. 

9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. 

   Notice that Joseph, Mary, and the now young child were staying in a house instead of a stable. Also notice that God goes out of his way to describe Jesus as a young child, instead of as a babe lying in the manger. 

   Remember that Joseph was from Bethlehem, and most of his family still would have lived there. Not even Joseph's family would provide room for his wife because all perceived her as an adulteress.  

   Joseph's family may have later been convinced of the story of Mary's pregnancy, and they  may have assisted them because they took up residency there for almost two years. 

   Joseph probably remained in Bethlehem to protect his wife from being stoned back in her hometown of Nazareth for becoming pregnant before she was married. 

   Satan had inspired Herod to act out his plan for the destruction of the child Jesus, and all the while God was carrying out a plan of his own. We serve a God today who is all knowing, and he will never be caught off guard by Satan. 

12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. 13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 

   This is a reference to something that God had said in reference to Israel being in captivity in Egypt (a type of the world). God called his Son (Jesus) out of Egypt just like He called Israel (also called his son) out of Egypt. 

Hosea 11:1 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. 

Numbers 24:8 God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows. 

   All of the prophecies in verse eight concerning Christ have not come to pass yet, but they will during the kingdom which immediately follows the seven-year tribulation (the time of Jacob's trouble. Jeremiah 30:7). 

14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. 16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding

wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, 18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. 

   Here was an act of premeditated mass murder, all because Satan wanted one child dead. Satan cares for no one but himself, and he would destroy the whole world if he could to condemn the world with him, but God will not allow that to happen. 

   Why Herod waited two full years before acting out this plan is mind boggling, but I know that God had his hand in holding back Herod and Satan from accomplishing their evil plan. 

19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life. 21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: 23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene. 

   God wanted his son protected, and the best place for Jesus was not back in Bethlehem where he was born, but in Nazareth, far to the North.    

   In Bethlehem he would stick out because he would have been the only child his age in all of Bethlehem because of Herod's failed attempt to assassinate him years earlier. 

   Herod's son Archelaus would have been watching for anyone in that city that was Jesus' age, and he would have had him killed to preserve his own throne just in case. 

   Notice in verse twenty-three that not everything that was spoken by the prophets was written down in scripture, even though it was prophetic.  

   For some reason known only to God, certain portions of God's words were spoken and not written. They were passed down orally from generation to generation. 

   The description the young child is mentioned nine times in the same chapter for emphasis. There was no babe in a manger in Matthew as recorded in Luke's account, because Luke's account talks about the events of the night of his birth, while Matthew records the threat from Herod which occurred almost two years later. 

 

Chapter Three 

The kingdom of heaven is at hand 

1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 

   Verse one begins with the words in those days which was literally twenty-five and a half years after Jesus and his family returned from a two-year exile in Egypt. 

   The first message preached in Matthew is a message directed to the Jews as a nation concerning their long-awaited kingdom. This was not a message to the church today. We are not looking for the kingdom, the Jew was and unfortunately still is.  

  We are looking for the blessed hope, the rapture of the body of Christ. Also notice that the statement that the kingdom of heaven is at hand is made by John. 

   This long-awaited kingdom comes from heaven to earth. Our going to heaven when we die is not to be confused with the kingdom of heaven for Israel. 

   The Jew under the law has an earthly destiny in the kingdom with their King, while the body of Christ has a heavenly destiny during the kingdom. 

   Notice that John said the kingdom of heaven is at hand. The kingdom was at hand while the King was with them, but soon after the nation of Israel rejected their King, the church age began with the body of Christ.  

  This kingdom will once again be at hand during the tribulation (the time of Jacob's trouble Jeremiah 30:7), just prior to Jesus' actual return to set up his earthly kingdom. 

   Notice also that John is the only one called a Baptist in the Bible. Jesus wasn't called a Baptist, his disciples were not, and Paul wasn't either. Don't get mad at me its Bible!  

   The only Baptist mentioned in the Bible ministered under the law, not during the dispensation of grace. John's unique baptism was administered to Jews alone under the Mosaic law. 

3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. 

   The Jews knew the Messiah's forerunner would come and preach these very things, that is why they questioned him as to who he was and why he was baptizing. Every Pharisee knew the words of Isaiah well: 

Isaiah 40:3-5 The voice of him that cryeth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. 

   John's seclusion in the wilderness sheltered him from the evils of his day which made it a lot easier for him to call sin, sin, even when he was confronted with the religious leaders of his day: 

5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, 6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. 

   You don't have to confess your sins to a prophet today because we (the body of Christ) are not under the law of Moses that was given to the nation of Israel. We are under grace! See Romans 6:14 & 15 

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Saducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 

   Notice that Matthew calls John's Baptism, his baptism, because John's baptism was calling a nation to repentance for their disobedience to the covenant, they had made with God at mount Sinai. 

   The covenant they were still under as a nation when John the Baptist came on the scene. Paul never baptized anyone with the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 

   On Paul's third apostolic journey, we come across twelve disciples of Apollos, that all had been baptized by John the Baptist. 

   The twelve were then re-baptized by Paul in the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 19:5), because  John's baptism identified the recipient as repenting of breaking God's covenant with Him as a nation, that was under the law. 

   Their previous baptism did not recognize Jesus as the Christ, for they had not yet heard that he was the Christ. They were the first Ana-Baptists (re-baptized) in history. 

   The wrath to come that John mentions to these religious Jews was the wrath of the time of Jacob's trouble which was to come just prior to the return of the Lord and the setting up of his kingdom. 

   Why was John living in the wilderness? Why was he wearing camel skins and eating locust dipped in honey? He was telling Israel of their coming kingdom of which Christ would be teaching his followers to sell all that they had, John had nothing to his name.  

   He was in the wilderness because in the writings of the prophets, Israel knew that they would have to flee into the wilderness during the 70th week of Daniel.  

   John was a little ahead of his time. He didn't however see the church age being ushered in when Israel rejected their Messiah, that was still a mystery hid in God at that point. 

8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 

   When we get saved, we are to separate ourselves from sinful activities in order that we may see sin as it is, instead of allowing sin to desensitize us to it. 

   There have been many false teachings spread about the message that John the Baptist preached and what place it has in the church today, if any. 

   There was a difference in the message that John preached prior to Jesus’ baptism, as compared with the messages that he, Jesus and the apostles preached later on to the Jews. 

   The difference is that John preached early on that the Jews should believe on him that should come after him. They all preached a completed kingdom message later on that said, whosever hath the Son hath the Father. John also began preaching this in John 3:36 after the Baptism of Jesus. 

   Today however we should be preaching Christ crucified, buried, and risen again 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 i.e. The preaching of the cross, which is also called the gospel of the grace of God in Act 20:24.

   This differs as I said earlier from the gospel of the kingdom which was preached to the Jews only.  

   John knew these religious people were not serious, for had the leadership of Israel actually repented in anticipation of the kingdom they would have accepted Jesus as their King. 

11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 

   John's baptism was the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. No one is baptized with the baptism of repentance today. Jesus baptism for Israel was not with water, it was with the Holy Ghost. 

   Jesus didn't want anyone to confuse his baptizing Israel with the Holy Ghost with water baptism, so that is one reason why he never baptized anyone in water, he allowed his disciples to baptize with water. 

   John preached about Israel’s King, and his soon coming kingdom (the gospel of the kingdom). Israel was looking forward to their future kingdom. 

   They were not looking forward to the cross because they knew nothing of it until six months prior to Christ going to it. We today are looking back to his death, burial and resurrection (The gospel of the grace of God). 

   When the disciples of John the Baptist and Jesus were baptized their baptism pictured their repentance from not following God's covenant given to them at Mt. Sinai and their faith in the King and his kingdom, which was at hand. 

   The word "unto" is the key word in understanding what is meant in this verse. The prefix "un" simply means "the opposite of", and the root word "to" means "something in the future". 

   The meaning of the word "unto" is: "because of something that had previously happened" i.e., their recent repentance from disobeying the God's covenant, and their faith towards their coming King. They were unaware however that he would have to shed his innocent blood for their sins: 

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. Hebrews 9:22 

   John said that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire. This baptism with fire is for the lost in the lake of fire as the next verse clearly explains. It has nothing to do with cloven tongues of fire on the day of pentecost, nor is it a baptism of martyrdom. 

   It is a baptism of unquenchable fire. Today we are not baptized with the Holy Ghost, but rather by the Holy Ghost, and that is when we are placed into the body of Christ, there is a big difference. 

1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body., 

12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. 

   There are denominations that actually claim they are fire baptized today because they have absolutely no clue how to rightly divide the word of truth. No believer in the dispensation of grace will ever be baptized with the unquenchable fires of hell. 

13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 

   John wanted to skip his responsibility to baptize Jesus with water, and hurry on to the baptism that Jesus would perform with the Holy Ghost. 

   The baptism with the Holy Ghost, however, would not be for John, as he would be beheaded shortly after Jesus public ministry began. 

15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 

   The righteousness that Jesus was talking about here is found in John's testimony to the nation of Israel the day after Jesus returned from the wilderness temptation which was forty days after his baptism: 

John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. 31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 

   The next day in verse twenty-nine simply meant the day after Jesus' baptism by John. 

16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 

   John needed to be obedient and baptize Jesus, because God had told him earlier that while he was baptizing those in Israel who had repented of breaking their covenant with God, that the Messiah would come to be baptized of him. 

   John would know that it was the Messiah, because God had told him that after he baptized him, that he would see the Holy Ghost descend upon him in the form of a dove. 

John 1:32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33 And I knew him

not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. 

   While John the Baptist was baptizing others, he forbad Jesus to be baptized by him, because, he said that he needed to be baptized by Jesus instead of the other way around. Jesus needed to be baptized by John, so that John could make him manifest to Israel. 

   The question is often asked, Why did Jesus get baptized with Israel's baptism of repentance if he had nothing to repent of? Jesus was made in the fashion of a man and took upon himself the sins of the world.  

   He was identifying himself with a sinful nation that had broken their covenant with God, and he later became sin for them, and ultimately the whole world. Here is something to ponder, was John the Baptist ever baptized? Hmm? No. 

   Jesus was also baptized as a part of the requirement of a priest to minister to the people (he is Israel's High Priest after the order of Melchizedek).  

   Israel was also being baptized to prepare them to be a nation of priests in the kingdom, but that got put on hold with their rejection of their king. See Exodus 19:5-6 

 

Chapter Four 

The gospel of the kingdom? 

1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 

   Why did the Spirit of God lead Jesus to be tempted if as the Bible says God doesn't tempt any man? First of all, Jesus is not just any man.

   He is the Son of God. Secondly, Jesus had to be tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin, in order to be our Saviour. Hebrews 4:15 

2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made

bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 

   Notice that Satan came at Jesus at his weakest hour, just like he does with us still today. This is a quote from Deuteronomy 8:3 Have you ever gone as long as Jesus in one of your temptations that it could compare to this one? 

   It usually only takes some people a few minutes to fall when tempted, and that is without the forty days of fasting that preceded Jesus' testing. 

   The fasting would have made Jesus physically more susceptible to turning the stones into bread to feed his amazing hunger, but he didn't for you and me. 

5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 

   Satan had known from the moment of his own creation that God had a son, and he knew it was the very one he was tempting on that day.  

   What he was trying to get Jesus to do was to prove his deity by obeying the devil's request which would have been a sin, which never fooled our Saviour for even a second. Psalms 91:11 

8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him. 

   Satan knows that Jesus will be the King of kings, so he offers him what is going to be his one day, except Satan is offering the kingdom to Jesus without having to go to the cross. Satan offered Jesus a crown without a cross. 

   Satan wants to be worshiped, and he agrees to make Jesus his second in command as long as he bows down and worships him.  Jesus would have no

part of this, and it is Satan who will forcibly bow to the Son of God one day. Amen! 

   Did you know that Satan has succeeded in deceiving many Muslims into believing that Jesus will be Allah's Lieutenant one day and that he will destroy all that appose Allah? Satan continually recycles his old tricks. 

12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; 

   Nothing that was done by Jesus was done by chance, it was all a part of God's plan. Jesus did not wake up one day after hearing that John was cast into prison and just decided to go to the Galilee region. His steps were ordered by the LORD. 

   John's following decreased, and Jesus' following increased in the days directly following Jesus' baptism, because John pointed his disciples to Jesus as he was supposed to do.  

   Not all of his disciples left to follow Jesus right away, some who were converted under John's preaching traveled far away to spread the good news that the Saviour was about to appear. 

   Apollos was one of them found in Acts 18:24-28, and the disciples mentioned in Acts 19:1-7 were also John's disciples.

   Some of John's disciples needed more than one calling to follow Jesus completely. When John was cast into prison many of his converts began to follow Christ, but not all. 

13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: 14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; 16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. 

   This was a quote from the Isaiah 9:1-7. 

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 

   Jesus begins his public preaching ministry on this day, and his message was repentance to the Jews for killing the prophets that he had sent unto

them and turning back to the covenant they had made with God at Sinai as a prerequisite for entering the kingdom which was at hand. Israel did not repent.

18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. 21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. 22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him. 

   This occurred after the arrest of John the Baptist by King Herod. Notice that this time the brothers were together fishing, and that John the Baptist was not present, as he was for the first time that Christ called John's disciples unto Himself. 

   Luke records the final calling of John's disciples unto Jesus almost one full year after Jesus began His public ministry in Cana of Galilee: 

23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. 

   Jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom to the Jews, and he verified that the kingdom was truly at hand by fulfilling the Messianic signs prophesied that would be done by Israel's future King at the onset of his kingdom. 

   If this was the same message that we preach today, then the Charismatics would be right, but they are not. Signs were for the nation of Israel who was birthed as a nation with signs from God. 

   The Jew required a sign to prove the speaker was sent from God, and He gave the nation all the signs it needed, and yet they still rejected Him. Jesus himself said, A wicked and adulteress generation seeks after a sign. 

   Why did Jesus heal all manner of sickness and diseases in Israel? Because Israel was to be a nation of priests in the kingdom, and no priest could have any infirmities in the flesh. 

24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and

torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. 25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan. 

   Why can't the so-called faith healers today heal anyone who is a lunatick, or who has cerebral palsy? Because these are kingdom signs used to confirm the word of God to unbelieving Jews. 

   The Messiah cast out demons as a sign to Israel that during his kingdom Satan himself would be bound for a thousand years. All this was to show the Jew that he indeed was their Messiah. 

 

Chapter Five 

The Sermon on the Mount 

   Before delving into the most well-known sermon that has ever been preached, I feel it is important to admonish the reader to remember the words of Paul to his dearly beloved Timothy: 

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 

   The sermon on the mount can only be fully understood when the reader places it in its proper context. Jesus was speaking to the Jews two thousand years ago and not to the church today. 

   Jesus was teaching about their kingdom that the Jews who were expecting to be restored. The church is not a part of the kingdom!  

   There are many wonderful truths found in the sermon on the mount, and while some of the truth in the sermon on the mount may be applicable to every generation, there are some things that are solely intended for the Jews during the kingdom. 

   Notice the context in verse three where Jesus plainly tells his Jewish hearers that he is referring to a time period known as the kingdom. John the Baptist, Jesus, and his disciples all preached:

"Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." 

1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 

   We in the body of Christ today have heaven as our destiny, while Israel has an earthly destiny during the millennial kingdom. The kingdom of heaven is when things will be done on earth as they are done in heaven. 

   The kingdom is a literal and physical time period that lasts a thousand years that Jesus is teaching about and that every Jew who knew their Bible knew what he was talking about.  

   Gentiles tend to mess it up a lot because they think they are spiritual Jews, and that they are entitled to all the literal promises to the nation of Israel. They are not! 

   Notice Jesus clearly tells these Jews under the law that they shall inherit the earth. We in the body of Christ (the church) have heaven, not the earth, as our inheritance. 

6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one

jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 

   The Messiah came to fulfill the law. We are not under the law, we are under grace. Romans 6:14 The law was still in effect during the earthly ministry of Jesus. 

    The age of grace could not take effect until after the death of the testator of the first testament according to Hebrews 9:16-17. 

19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. 

   Notice Jesus teaching that these Jews were to keep the law, and to teach the law, and based on their obedience to it their standing during the kingdom would be established from the least to the greatest.  

   Entrance into the kingdom however required that they have the righteousness of Christ. Christians do not keep the law today to determine our status. 

   Also notice that many of the scribes and the Pharisees would be refused entrance into the kingdom because they sought entrance through their own righteousness and not the righteousness of God. If they trusted in their Messiah, they would have his righteousness. 

21 Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 

   In the church age we do not bring sin offerings to an altar, that is clearly for the Jew under the law. There will however be offerings made again during the kingdom, but none will take away sins. 

25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. 

   This does not need to be spiritualized, because it means exactly what it says. The confusion arises when Christians try to make it apply to them in the church age, when it is to the Jew during the kingdom. 

   You may wonder why Jesus was teaching these Jews kingdom truths when the church age would interrupt the kingdom program. The Jews were offered the kingdom, but they rejected it. 

27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 

    The religious leaders had become legalistic, and they had added their own interpretations to the law. Jesus instructed them on the spirit and the intent of the law that they had drifted so far from over the centuries. 

   These truths will be practiced in the kingdom when Satan's influence will be. Without Satan's tempting, and Jesus ruling on the earth, the standards will be stricter than during any previous dispensation. 

31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: 32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. 

   Man said you can give a woman a writing of divorcement for any reason, but that was man interpreting things the way man wanted it to be interpreted. God alone has the correct understanding of it in his word. 

33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by

heaven; for it is God's throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. 

   Jesus taught that it is more than the outward acts of our flesh that we should be concerned about. We should be more concerned about the inward self, for it is from there that all outward actions proceed. 

   There are principals in the law that transcend all ages. The law is good if it is used lawfully. If it is rightly distinguished as separate from the doctrines of grace.  One must realize today that by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified. 

38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. 43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. 

   While most of what is being taught here by Jesus is practical for any age, Jesus is actually teaching old testament law to the Jew that will be in effect again during the kingdom. 

   Jesus taught a deeper understanding of the law of Moses to the Jews than they had ever heard. We as Christians are not under the law, but are under grace.  

   The church is not under the dietary and ceremonial laws because they were never intended for us during the church age. Much of the law will be in place for the believing remnant during the tribulation period, and during the kingdom. 

   The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. Luke 16:16 

 

Chapter Six 

Thy kingdom come 

1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. 

   Jesus does not say that these Jews will go to heaven during the kingdom to receive their rewards, and that they will live there for eternity, but that the Father is in heaven, and he will reward those that follow Him when they enter their kingdom.  

   Their reward is stored up for them in heaven for now, but it will be delivered to the faithful servant in the kingdom here on this earth. 

How Israel was to pray? 

5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. 

Israel's prayer for their kingdom to come: 

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come, 

   The Jews were looking and praying for the kingdom to come back to Israel like it was with king David and king Solomon.  

   The big difference is that the future kingdom will be ruled by the Messiah. We don't pray for the kingdom to come today we pray, Even so, come Lord Jesus. We are waiting for the rapture, not the kingdom. 

   The Jews will be praying this prayer feverishly during the time of Jacob's trouble which shall come upon all the earth, because it will be the worse time the world has ever seen, and they will long for their kingdom to come. 

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 

   God's will shall be done on the earth as it is in heaven, for his kingdom will have arrived, which is called the kingdom of heaven. 

11 Give us this day our daily bread. 

   When the Mark of the Beast is mandatory at the mid-point of the tribulation the Jews will need God to supernaturally supply them with bread for three and a half years in the wilderness as He did for the children of Israel once for forty years.  

   The believing Jew will not receive the antichrist’s mark, nor worship his image, and he will be refused food. This is nothing for God, he did it before and he can do it again. 

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 

   We don't receive forgiveness as we forgive our debtors today, we forgive today because we are forgiven. Don't spiritualize this passage, it is not to us today under grace. 

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: 

   Israel will be led of God away from the evil of the antichrist during that great and terrible time known as the time of Jacob's trouble. 

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly

Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 

   These passages would contradict clear passages in Paul's epistles if we did not understand that we are to rightly divide Israel's law program (known as the prophecy program), and the church's mystery program, which was given to us by the apostle Paul, which was kept secret from before the foundation of the world. 

16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 

   Israel's treasures (rewards) are laid up for them in heaven. They will be distributed to them during their long-awaited kingdom here on earth, when the Messiah returns after his enemies are made his footstool.  Psalm 110:1

22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not

much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. 

   It is the Jew of old that is to be seeking the kingdom of heaven to come down, while the body of Christ today are to be making all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery that Paul tells us about in Ephesians 3:9. 

   To mix these two programs is to commit a major spiritual blunder in understanding scripture. The Jew during the tribulation period will once again be praying for the kingdom to come. 

   Every denomination and cult differ from one another because they have taken things that belong to Israel's program and have tried to force them into the church's program and they don't fit, so they have to spiritualize them to try to rationalize them. 

 

Chapter Seven 

Judge not 

1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. 6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. 7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 

   Countless people claim these promises today, and they wonder why they do not receive whatever they ask for. Some preachers today tell people that they have a lack of faith, and that they need to unlock these promises by sending them a gift. 

   Woe unto them. They do not have these gifts themselves, because they are not for us today. 

9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? 12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 

   Gifts are mentioned here that were prevalent during Christ's ministry, and the early ministry of the apostles, these gifts began to cease prior to the cannon of scripture becoming complete near the end of the first century. 

   These gifts will be active again during the seven-year tribulation period. 144,000 Jewish missionaries will use them to win many to Christ. 

   Whatever God's will is in heaven, shall be acted out on the earth instead of just in heaven. God's will will finally come to the earth. Notice those

wishing to enter this kingdom will have to be doers of God's word, and not just hearers only. 

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. 28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 

   The reason for Jesus teaching as one that had authority was because he had authority from God the Father. The scribes parroted whatever traditions of men they had learned from their forefathers, and they knew very little scripture, as is true today with many Jewish people. 

 

Chapter Eight 

Shew thyself to the priest 

   The sermon on the mount has ended and Jesus healed two different classes of people, one a Jew with leprosy, and the second a Gentile with palsy.  

  It is interesting to note the difference in the instructions handed out to the two different people, who represent two different classes of people. 

   It is also interesting to note that there are twelve miracles performed in chapters eight, and nine, and in chapter nine, two of those miracles have to do with the number twelve. Twelve is the number identified with the nation of Israel. 

1 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. 2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the

priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. 

   While Jesus was on earth for thirty-three and a half years, he kept the law perfectly, and commanded every Jew to do the same. The law will be kept by Israel during the thousand-year kingdom as well as during the tribulation. 

* Notice Jesus tells this Jewish leper that he must obey the law, and go show himself to the priest, and to offer an offering as commanded by Moses.  

   Now let's see how the King of the Jews deals with a Gentile Centurion whose son was in need of healing.  

5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, 6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour. 

   From this portion of scripture, we learn that the many Gentiles will sit down with many Jews during the kingdom, while many of those who thought they would be there just because they were Jews will be cast out for their unbelief. 

   There is not even a hint of replacement theology in this verse, for it says that the Gentiles will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the three patriarchs of the nation of Israel. 

    The Gentiles who will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are any Gentile converts to Judaism prior to Christ, and any Gentile who becomes a believer in Christ while the kingdom was either at hand in the time of Jesus' earthly ministry, or during the tribulation, and also any Gentiles who believe on him during the kingdom. 

   Jews and Gentiles who believe today in the age of grace have a heavenly destiny, not an earthly one. That does not mean we will not have any dealings with our old home down here. Quite the contrary.  

   Earth will be the central focus during the kingdom, and we in the body of Christ will hold positions in the heavenlies that are focused in support of what is going on here on the earth, as well as out into the heavenly places. We will have the best of both worlds so to speak. 

14 And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever. 15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them. 16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: 17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses. 

   This is a quote found in Isaiah fifty-three, verse four that was fulfilled in the days of Jesus, and the apostle’s ministries, and because it was fulfilled it vanished away. 

  Healings in this way will not occur again until the tribulation period when the kingdom of God will be at hand literally. 

   Jesus took Israel's infirmities and bore Israel's sicknesses while he was on the earth. Isaiah was speaking to Israel about Israel. He was not speaking about us in the church age today. 

   How many well-meaning people have claimed healing for themselves, and others and have not received it, because they were wrongly taught that these scriptures are for all people of all ages?

Following Jesus 

18 Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side. 19 And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes

have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 21 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead. 

   Jesus cannot be their Lord if the next words out of their mouth was, “Let me first...,”. There is nothing wrong with a person burying their father, but this man was waiting for his father to die first before he would serve him. 

   Jesus required those when the kingdom was "at hand" to sell everything they had and to come and follow him, because if Israel had accepted him as king and repented the kingdom would have been set up very shortly after, but they did not. 

Jesus power over demons and nature 

23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. 24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. 26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. 27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! 

   Jesus is fully God and fully man at the same time, He is not half God and half man, but God incarnate (God come in the flesh). 

   During the kingdom, all power will be given unto Christ, and he will have power over the elements.  If a nation refuses to come to his annual feasts in Jerusalem, he will simply prevent it from raining there by the power of his word. 

28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. 29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? 30 And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. 31 So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. 32 And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the

waters. 33 And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils. 34 And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts. 

   These Gergesenes were Gentiles living on the North east side of the sea of Galilee. You will notice they were pig farmers, and it was not the time for Gentiles to come into the picture yet, so they besought Jesus to leave. These swine literally committed suey-cide. 

   The very act of casting out devils was a message to Satan and his demons that when the Messiah comes back to rule and reign, they would have no authority or power because they will be bound for a thousand years. Read Revelation 20:1-6 

 

Chapter Nine

It was never so seen in Israel 

1 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. 2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. 3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. 4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? 5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? 6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. 7 And he arose, and departed to his house. 8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men. 

   Jesus said what he said intentionally because he knew what was in the scribes' heart, and he addressed them by telling them exactly what they needed to hear.  

  Jesus let all those there on that day know that he was the Messiah, and the Messiah alone had power to forgive sins because he was God in the flesh i.e., the Son of man. 

9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. 10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? 12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. 13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. 

   Here we have the author of the book of Matthew identified as a hated tax collector and yet Jesus saved him as well. God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 

   Jesus never passed up an opportunity to straighten out the Pharisees diluted doctrine of self-righteousness. Many today attend liberal churches that are nothing more than social centers that cannot heal the sinners, because they are too good to humble themselves. 

14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? 15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. 16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. 17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved. 

   The apostles were the children of the bridechamber. Christ is the bridegroom and the bride was the believing remnant of Israel, not the church as we understand it today. 

   It is a time of rejoicing when the bridegroom is with his wedding party, not for mourning. Jesus is the bridegroom spoken of here, and he would be departing soon and then it would be a time for the children of the bridechamber to fast. 

   John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting at that time as they had been doing for generations, but something new was at hand, the long-awaited kingdom, and who understood it better than its future King. 

    The bride, that Israel understood from Christ's teaching, was a totally Jewish one with earthly aspirations. That Jewish bride had twelve apostles that would sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel.

   The bride of Christ is not the body of Christ. More on this subject in later chapters. 

18 While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. 19 And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples. 20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: 21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. 22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. 23 And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, 24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. 25 But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. 26 And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land. 27 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us. 

   For those who recognized Jesus for who he was, there was healing, and entrance into his future kingdom, but for those who did not, the opposite was true. 

   The two women here each represented the nation of Israel by the number associated with them in the scriptures, the number twelve. They were diseased, and dead spiritually speaking. They both had a problem that only the Messiah could remedy. 

28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. 29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. 30 And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it. 31 But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country. 32 As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil. 33 And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes

marveled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel. 34 But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils. 

   The story is always the same, the multitudes would marvel and believe, while the leaders would deny and condemn. The leaders here were guilty again of blaspheming the holy Spirit when they attributed the works that Christ did through the power of the holy Spirit as coming from Satan. 

35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. 

   In verse thirty-five we see that Jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom. This is not the same as the gospel that we preach today. The gospel which we preach today tells people of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. 

   John, Jesus and his disciples, preached the good news of the coming kingdom, and of its King. This gospel was always accompanied by signs of healings, and the casting out of devils, because during the kingdom Satan will be bound and disease will be a thing of the past. 

   As of yet his disciples had not even heard of his prophesied death, but that was all about to change as the days and weeks of Jesus earthly ministry, turned into months and years. (Three and one-half years to be exact). 

 

Chapter Ten 

Go not into the way of the Gentiles 

1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. 

   There are those that claim they have power to heal today that flood the airwaves, but for some reason no crippled kids rise up and walk, no blind person ever receives their sight, and no lepers are ever cleansed on television. 

   That is because this power and authority was given to his twelve disciples for a specific time period while the gospel of the kingdom was being preached.

   Healings were a sign unto the Jew that the kingdom truly was upon them, and that they needed to repent, and to believe the gospel of the kingdom. 

2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. 5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 

   Notice that Jesus commands his disciples to go only to the Jews. This comes across as racism or favoritism to the unlearned student, but nothing could be farther from the truth. 

   This message was an offer to Israel to repent for her past rejections of the prophets and their messages, and for them to return back to the covenant they had made with God at Mount Sinai. 

   As you know, Israel as a nation rejected their King even though he proved who he was to Israel by fulfilling the scriptures before their eyes with miracles, signs and wonders. 

   Watch as this chapter progresses and see if you notice as Jesus preaches to the Jews of his day, and see if you don't notice that he skips over 2,000 years of Gentile (predominantly) church history without a mention of it.  

   He continues to speak concerning the situation the Jews will find themselves in during the tribulation period as if it were only a few years away. 

8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. 9 Provide neither gold, nor

silver, nor brass in your purses, 10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. 

   Modern day charismatics fake a portion of these gifts and the televangelist never obeys verse nine because they want you to give to them.  

"Plant your seed in my ministry and you shall release your healing, or your financial blessing!" 

 They are nothing more than thieves and charlatans! Remember that this is a message directly to the Jews preparing them for the kingdom, it is not to the church.  

   God does not give the church the same marching orders for our mission’s program today as he does here to these Jewish missionaries. 

11 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. 12 And when ye come into an house, salute it. 13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. 15 Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. 

   The church today doesn't shake off the dust off our feet when someone doesn't listen to the gospel of the grace of God, we keep going back to them as often as we can. 

   The Jews here were being offered a brief period of repentance for her past sins of rejecting God's word and his messengers.  

  Surely, they should reverence his Son, but instead they killed him. The day of judgment will begin at the onset of the tribulation. Notice how the things taught here will apply to those ministering during the time of Jacob's trouble. 

16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 18 And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. 19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how

or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. 21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. 

   Here we can plainly see that Jesus is not talking of a time that occurred during his first coming, but of a time just before his second coming, when believers (many Jewish) would be persecuted as never before during the time of the great tribulation. 

   It is the Jew here that has to endure to the end of the tribulation who is saved, for scripture is clear that all Jews that endure to the end of that terrible time shall be saved. 

   Saved physically, because they endured the tribulation period, and saved spiritually as well because they believed on their Christ. 

23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. 

   Again, we see that Jesus is referring to the tribulation because the disciples could have gone over the cities of Israel with the gospel of the kingdom. He is not talking to the church, as we will be in heaven with Christ. 

   Jesus is talking to the Jewish believers in Israel during the last half of the tribulation period. How do I know this? Simple, Christ has not come back yet, so he has to be referring to a later period. 

24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. 25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? 26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. 27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. 28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground

without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. 32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. 40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. 41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. 42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. 

   During the tribulation many believers will die for their faith, but where sin abounds grace abounds more, and many miracles will occur then. Here is an excellent chapter division because it is at the end of this message to Israel.

 

The End