The Call of the Apostles - Philip

And he [Jesus] went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons. He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. (Mark 3:13–19 ESV).

 

There are four different men named Philip mentioned in the Bible. Phillip was the name of two of King Herod the Great’s sons by different wives (Luke 3:1 and Matthew 14:3). The other two Philips in the Bible were servants of Christ and instrumental in the early church: Philip the disciple and apostle of Christ, and Philip the evangelist.

 

The disciple named Philip was, along with Peter and Andrew, from Bethsaida in Galilee (John 1:44; 12:21). Jesus called Philip, and then Philip went and found Nathanael and told him about Jesus. Nathanael also became Jesus’ disciple. The Bible does not contain much biographical detail about Philip or any of the other disciples, but John records several times when Philip spoke to Jesus.

 

Philip’s first recorded act as a disciple of Jesus was to go and tell his friend Nathanael. Later, Philip was approached by some Gentiles, more specifically, Greeks from Bethsaida who asked Philip to introduce them to Jesus (cf. John 12:20–22). Philip was the disciple who calculated the amount of money it would take to feed the 5,000 (cf. John 6:7). After the Last Supper, Philip requested that Jesus show them the Father, leading to Jesus’ statement, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (cf. John 14:8–9). The last time the Bible mentions the disciple Philip is as one of those gathered in Jerusalem to pray after the Lord’s ascension (cf. Acts 1:13). Tradition states that Philip went to Phrygia (in modern-day Turkey) as a missionary and was martyred there in Hierapolis.

 

Perhaps the greatest testimony of Philip to us today is that discipleship starts with a faith proposition. Philip didn’t find Jesus; Jesus found him. He was searched for and invited directly from Jesus to follow Him.  Philip didn’t have the witness of John the Baptist or direct testimony of a trusted brother.  He had a basic faith proposition from an apparent stranger.  This is a great example of choosing to believe without seeing evidence beforehand. Do you believe only when you see? Begin to love your life by believing and then seeing the wonderful work of God!

  

The Call of the Apostles - John, the son of Zebedee

 

While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he [Jesus] saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. (Matthew 4:18–22 ESV).

 

John, James’ brother, was best known as the "disciple whom Jesus loved". He was also a key member of Jesus' inner circle, he was the only apostle to stand at the crucifixion and was entrusted with the care of Mary, the mother of Jesus. He is also credited with authoring five New Testament books. Beyond his close relationship with Jesus, John was known for several historical and biblical milestones. He was also nicknamed boanerges (Son of Thunder) due to his fiery temperaments and zealous nature. He was a prolific author. Tradition credits him with writing the Gospel of John, three New Testament Epistles, and the Book of Revelation. Following Jesus' ascension, John became a pillar of the Jerusalem church alongside Peter, and later ministered in Ephesus.

 

During the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian, he was banished to the island of Patmos, where he received the visions documented in Revelation. He is distinguished as the only one of the original twelve apostles to survive into old age and die of natural causes, rather than facing martyrdom

 

There are some powerful lessons we can learn from John. First, we see the power of transformation. There is no doubt that his life shows us the way that experiencing Jesus' love changes a person. John's relationship with Christ softened his temper and transformed him into a model of friendship, charity, and devotion. He also shows us the power of unwavering loyalty. Remember, John was the only apostle present at the cross. He models steadfast, unwavering commitment even during times of intense suffering and the desertion of others. He also shows us the importance of humility in leadership. Despite being a member of Jesus' inner circle, John demonstrated deep humility. For example, when running to the empty tomb, he arrived first but waited for Peter (the designated leader of the apostles) to enter before him. He, like his brother, also teaches us the importance of balancing truth with grace. John wrote extensively about "truth" but always framed it in the context of "love". He taught that correct doctrine and standing for truth must be balanced with genuine compassion and care for others. His Gospel and epistles focus heavily on "abiding" in Christ and recognizing that God's very nature is love. That is a standard we can adopt in our lives for sure!

 

The Call of the Apostles - James, the son of Zebedee

 

While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he [Jesus] saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. (Matthew 4:18–22 ESV).

 

Today we come to another of the twelve apostles called by Jesus, James, son of Zebedee. James died early, in 44 AD, and was also known as James the Greater as he was older than the other James who was also a follower of Jesus. He was a Galilean fisherman who, alongside his brother John (who we will look at tomorrow), left his nets to become one of Jesus' first and closest disciples. In fact, as we shall see, he was one of the “inner circle” who often was a part of those experiences with Jesus like the transfiguration and the prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was also the first apostle to be martyred, his life, character, and legacy are central to early Christian history.

 

He was from the family of Zebedee and Salome; and, of course, the older brother of John the Apostle. While their trade was made as fishermen on the Sea of Galilee, he immediately became a follower of Jesus once called. He and his brother were called “sons of thunder” undoubtedly to their fiery temperament (cf. Mark 3:17). He was executed by beheading under King Herod Agrippa I in Jerusalem around 44 AD (cf. Acts 12:1-2).

 

James was uniquely selected to witness several of the most pivotal and intimate moments of Jesus' earthly ministry. However, because of his early death, much of what we know about him comes from the Spanish Church Traditions. According to strong historical tradition, James had traveled to preach the Gospel in Spain before his death. Following his martyrdom, his disciples are said to have miraculously transported his body to Galicia in northwestern Spain. His rediscovered tomb sparked the creation of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, which remains the destination for the world-famous Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James) pilgrimage route.

 

There are three things we should learn from the life of James. First, often radical obedience replaces comfort. James was a successful fisherman working in a prosperous family business with his father, Zebedee. When Jesus called him, James immediately left his nets, his career, and his family to follow an unknown future (Matthew 4:21–22). True discipleship requires immediate responsiveness and a willingness to step away from worldly security when God calls. Second, misguided zeal must be tempered by grace. I often tell folks that their “truth-telling” must be balanced with “grace-giving.” Passion for God is a virtue, but it must be balanced with grace, mercy, and wisdom rather than descending into judgment and anger. And, third, true greatness is found in servant leadership. Both James and John learned this lesson when they let ambition get the better of them as they (alongside their mother) asked Jesus for the ultimate positions of power, to sit on His right and left hand in the coming kingdom (cf. Matthew 20:20–28). Jesus used this moment to turn their definition of success upside down, stating that "whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant".

 

These lessons ought to be incorporated into our lives each day as we grow in Christ!

 

The Call of the Apostles - Andrew

 

While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he [Jesus] saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. (Matthew 4:18–22 ESV).

 

Andrew was also a fisherman from Bethsaida and originally a disciple of John the Baptist. After hearing John identify Jesus as the "Lamb of God," Andrew followed Jesus and spent the day with Him. Recognizing Jesus as the Messiah, Andrew immediately brought his brother Simon Peter to meet Him. The calling of Andrew is described primarily in the Gospels of John, Matthew, and Mark. The narratives break down into two distinct moments. The initial encounter (cf. John 1:35-42) took place near the Jordan River. Andrew and another disciple (traditionally believed to be John the Apostle) heard John the Baptist speak, which prompted them to follow Jesus. Jesus turned and asked, "What do you want?" When they asked where He was staying, He replied, "Come and you will see." Andrew spent the day with Jesus and was so convinced of His identity that he found his brother Simon, declaring, "We have found the Messiah," and introduced him to Christ.

 

Sometime later, while Andrew and Peter were casting their nets into the Sea of Galilee, Jesus walked by and formally called them to a life of full-time ministry. Jesus said, "Come, follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people." The brothers immediately left their nets and followed Him. Because Andrew was the first of the Apostles to be summoned into Christ's service, the Eastern Orthodox Church honors him with the name Protokletos, meaning "the First-Called".

 

Unlike his brother Peter, who is mentioned 156 times in the New Testament, Andrew’s name is only mentioned twelve times throughout scripture. Needless to say, Andrew’s role in establishing the Church was not as obviously impactful and as well-known as some of the other disciples. Regardless of how many times Andrew is mentioned in scripture, it is important to point out that what we do know about Andrew helps us identify character qualities that should be seen in the life of every disciple of Jesus Christ.

 

Perhaps most impactful and unique with Andrew was how he desired so greatly to spend time with men who were noticeably holy. Even before Jesus Christ had fully engaged in his ministry, we see in the Gospel of John that Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist (cf. John 1:40). Andrew followed him and desired to learn of what he was teaching. Which brings us to another important point about the character of Andrew – he was teachable. So much so, that when John the Baptist announced to his disciples, “Behold the Lamb of God!” (John 1:36), Andrew obediently began to follow Jesus Christ.

 

Those two characteristics would do us well in our journeys. We ought to seek wise men who understand the call to holiness; and, we should seek to be teachable throughout our lives. Let Andrew inspire you to those traits in your life!

The Call of the Apostles - Peter

 

While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he [Jesus] saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. (Matthew 4:18–22 ESV).

 

I hope you were encouraged and blessed through the little series through the Sermon on the Mount over the past few weeks. Today we start a new series that will look at the lives of each of the first twelve Apostles. We will take them in the order that Jesus chose them. The first two were brothers, Simon Peter and Andrew. We will look at Peter first and Andrew tomorrow. I must remind you that the order of the choice does not indicate prominence of position as much as it shows us simply how Jesus did it.

 

Simon Peter, also known as Cephas (cf. John 1:42), was one of the first followers of Jesus Christ. He was an outspoken and ardent disciple, one of Jesus’ closest friends, an apostle, and a “pillar” of the church (cf. Galatians 2:9). Peter was enthusiastic, strong-willed, impulsive, and, at times, brash. But for all his strengths, Peter had several failings in his life. Still, the Lord who chose him continued to mold him into exactly who He intended Peter to be.

 

It is interesting to note that Simon was originally from Bethsaida (cf. John 1:44) and lived in Capernaum (cf. Mark 1:29), both cities on the coast of the Sea of Galilee. He was married (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:5), and he and James and John were partners in a profitable fishing business (cf. Luke 5:10). Simon met Jesus through his brother Andrew, who had followed Jesus after hearing John the Baptist proclaim that Jesus was the Lamb of God (John 1:35-36). Andrew immediately went to find his brother to bring him to Jesus. Upon meeting Simon, Jesus gave him a new name: Cephas, which is the Aramaic, or Peter, which is the Greek and means “rock” (cf. John 1:40-42). Later, Jesus officially called Peter to follow Him, producing a miraculous catch of fish (cf. Luke 5:1-7). For the next three years, Peter lived as a disciple of the Lord Jesus. Being a natural-born leader, Peter became the de facto spokesman for the Twelve More significantly, it was Peter who first confessed Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the living God,” a truth which Jesus said was divinely revealed to Peter (cf. Matthew 16:16-17).

 

Peter was part of the inner circle of Jesus’ disciples, along with James and John. Only those three were present when Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus (Mark 5:37) and when Jesus was transfigured on the mountain (Matthew 17:1). Peter and John were given the special task of preparing the final Passover meal (Luke 22:8).

 

In several instances, Peter showed himself to be impetuous to the point of rashness. For example, it was Peter who left the boat to walk on the water to Jesus (Matthew 14:28-29)—and promptly took his eyes off Jesus and began to sink (verse 30). It was Peter who took Jesus aside to rebuke Him for speaking of His death (Matthew 16:22)—and was swiftly corrected by the Lord (verse 23). It was Peter who suggested erecting three tabernacles to honor Moses, Elijah, and Jesus (Matthew 17:4)—and fell to the ground in fearful silence at God’s glory (verses 5-6). It was Peter who drew his sword and attacked the servant of the high priest (John 18:10)—and was immediately told to sheath his weapon (verse 11). It was Peter who boasted that he would never forsake the Lord, even if everyone else did (Matthew 26:33)—and later denied three times that he even knew the Lord (verses 70-74).

 

Even as an apostle, Peter experienced some growing pains. At first, he had resisted taking the gospel to Cornelius, a Gentile. However, when he saw the Romans receive the Holy Spirit in the same manner he had, Peter concluded that “God does not show favoritism” (cf. Acts 10:34). After that, Peter strongly defended the Gentiles’ position as believers and was adamant that they did not need to conform to Jewish law (cf. Acts 15:7-11).

 

Another episode of growth in Peter’s life concerns his visit to Antioch, where he enjoyed the fellowship of Gentile believers. However, when some legalistic Jews arrived in Antioch, Peter, to appease them, withdrew from the Gentile Christians. The Apostle Paul saw this as hypocrisy and called it such to Peter’s face (Galatians 2:11-14). Later in life, Peter spent time with John Mark (cf. 1 Peter 5:13), who wrote the gospel of Mark based on Peter’s remembrances of his time with Jesus. Peter wrote two inspired epistles, 1 and 2 Peter, between A.D. 60 and 68. Jesus said that Peter would die a martyr’s death (John 21:18-19)—a prophecy fulfilled, presumably, during Nero’s reign. There are several things we can learn from the life of the great man of God.

 

First, Jesus always overcomes fear. Whether stepping out of a boat onto a tossing sea or stepping across the threshold of a Gentile home for the first time, Peter found courage in following Christ (cf. 1 John 4:18). Second, Jesus forgives unfaithfulness. After Peter had boasted of his fidelity, he fervently denied the Lord three times. It seemed that Peter had burned his bridges, but Jesus lovingly rebuilt them and restored Peter to service. Peter was a former failure, but, with Jesus, failure is not the end (cf. 2 Timothy 2:13). Third, Jesus patiently teaches. Peter repeatedly needed correction, and the Lord gave it with patience, firmness, and love. The Master Teacher looks for students willing to learn (cf. Psalm 32:8). Fourth, Jesus sees us as He intends us to be. The very first time they met, Jesus called Simon “Peter.” The rough and reckless fisherman was, in Jesus’ eyes, a firm and faithful rock (cf. Philippians 1:6).

 

Peter is wonderful example for all of us. When we trust in Jesus, He will produce our best in us. Trust Jesus’ call in your life!

The Reaction of the People on the Mount

 

And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. (Matthew 7:28–29 ESV).

 

Our reading today concludes the Sermon on the Mount. It is worth noting that Matthew recalls the crowds were astounded because Jesus spoke with His own divine authority. Unlike religious scribes who merely quoted previous rabbis and traditions, Jesus delivered absolute truths directly from God. These verses highlight a pivotal reaction to Jesus' teaching. The Greek word for "amazed" is ἐξεπλήσσοντο (exeplēssonto). According to Strong’s Lexicon it means to be astounded or thrown completely out of one's senses. The crowd was overwhelmed by the wisdom and radical nature of His message, properly, "strike out of one's senses" with the outcome of being utterly amazed (dumbfounded) or left "at a loss" from witnessing the incredible causing the viewer to gape in astonishment.

 

Jesus did not need to cite previous scholars or experts. Instead, He spoke the direct decrees of God, famously using phrases like, "You have heard that it was said..., but I say to you," establishing His identity as King. However, this cannot be the last of the experience.

 

The crowds were "amazed," but the Scripture shows us that many of these same people eventually walked away when Jesus’ teaching became too demanding. Being astonished by Jesus is easy; being transformed by him requires building your life on the rock of daily faith and obedience. Our reading today should challenge us to look beyond a superficial admiration of Jesus' moral teachings. If we truly recognize his voice as the supreme authority over our relationships, our finances, our hidden thoughts, and our future, we cannot remain unchanged. We must move past being casual fans in the crowd and become true builders on the rock.

 

It is wonderful to get excited when we are touched by the Spirit of God. However, I would caution all of us to heed the warning of the step-brother of our Lord, who wrote:

 

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. [19] You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. (James 2:18–23 ESV).

 

A tingly feeling is not the goal of Jesus’ teaching. A change in life is!

 

Further Instructions from the Mount - Pt 9

[Jesus said] “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24–27 ESV).

 

Spending my childhood and teen years in Galveston, Texas, I experienced several hurricanes. One of those is still ranked as one of the top five most destructive hurricanes to hit the United States. Carla came in with winds topping 150 mph and classified as a Category 4 on the Saffir-simpson scale. My dad felt confident we could ride it out in our home, though there was some doubt as the water began to rise to twelve feet completely covering the entire first floor of our grocery store. After the storm left our area, we ventured out to see the devastation. There were buildings of all sorts that were completely destroyed, others seemed to be little damaged.

 

What makes the difference between one home left standing and another left fractured and falling down. The quality of the building materials? No, these were all well-built homes and businesses. Only the best materials were used. The difference was what they were built upon. Those homes which had their foundation laid solidly in the ground stood firm against the tempest that raged against them. Those homes whose foundations were laid in the sand, fractured, broke and fell as the sand was swept away and the foundation collapsed.

 

Jesus uses this same analogy to bring out his final point in His conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount. It does not matter if you are talking about the foundation of a physical building or the foundation upon which you have built your life, the principle is the same. The material upon which you lay your foundation will determine the strength of the structure that is built upon it. It does not matter the cost and quality of the building materials used, for a house built on sand is only as strong as that sand. It will collapse when put to the test.

 

What are you building your life on? If it is anything less than the solid rock of Jesus, you have no hope of surviving the final storm!

  

Further Instructions from the Mount - Pt 14

 

[Jesus said] “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (Matthew 7:21–23 ESV).

 

In our reading today Jesus is speaking on the subject of true faith versus false professions, using the technique of contrast and comparison. Remember earlier in this chapter He describes two paths on which people walk through life, the broad road that leads to eternal destruction and the narrow path that leads to eternal life (vv. 13-14). In these verses He introduces the concept of the “many” and the “few” that He will return to.

 

Also, earlier in this chapter He again contrasts the two types of people by using imagery well known to those in an agrarian culture—sheep/wolves, grapes/figs, thorn bushes/thistles, good trees/bad trees, and good fruit/bad fruit (vv. 15-18). Having established the idea of dichotomy in the minds of His hearers, He goes on to apply these truths to the spiritual state of all those listening to Him. Jesus presents the two types of people who will come to Him on “that day,” meaning the last day, the day of judgment, the great day fixed by God and unknown to angels and men and which will be terrible to some and joyful to others. All will be seeking to enter the kingdom of heaven, but some will be turned away and will react in utter confusion and disappointment as what they thought was their “ticket” to heaven turns out to be worthless.

 

Some of these people are those who prophesied in the name of Jesus, meaning either foretelling things to come or preaching the Word in His name. Some may have even performed miraculous acts such as driving out demons and perhaps healings and other miracles, but all to no avail. Their works were done for their own glory, not His, and were nothing more than “filthy rags” (cf. Isaiah 64:6). In contrast, those who will enter heaven will not do so based on their miraculous achievements and accomplishments or works of any sort. They will have eternal life solely based on God’s sovereign gift of grace through the work of Jesus on the cross resulting in their faith in Him.

 

That naturally leads us to question who are these unfortunate people and how can they do miracles unless they are doing them by God’s power? We know several things about them from the text. First, we know there are many of them, because it is many who are on the broad road to eternal death, as compared to the relative few who have found the narrow path to eternal life. Second, they claim the name of Christ. These are not Muslims, Buddhists, or atheists. These are those who would gladly say, “I am a Christian.” They work their works in Jesus’ name. They pray and heal in Jesus’ name. They preach and teach in Jesus’ name. They build huge churches and ministries in Jesus’ name. They claim a relationship with Him. But they are none of His. In fact, He sends them away, not with commendation for their good works in His name, but by disowning their every deed and word. He “never” knew them, nor did they ever truly know Him.

 

Further, they weren’t Christians who lost their salvation. They were never part of the elect of God, chosen before the foundation of the world (cf. Ephesians 1:4), set apart and sanctified by the Spirit (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Timothy 2:21), and justified by faith (cf. Ephesians 2:8-9). The ones Christ puts away from Himself with harsh words of condemnation, calling them doers of evil, were never chosen of God and thus never came to Him in faith, despite their outward good works and miracles.

 

So, how do we know? That answer is simple. After a lengthy discussion the Apostle Paul says:

 

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:8–13 ESV).

 

It is a heart matter, not a behavior. Look into your heart!

 

Further Instruction from the Mount - Pt 7

 

[Jesus said] “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:15–20 ESV).

 

A "wolf in sheep's clothing" is an idiom for someone who disguises a ruthless, malicious nature behind a harmless, friendly facade. It serves as a universal warning to be cautious of deceptive people who use charm or a veneer of innocence to mask their true, dangerous intentions. 

 

Throughout the Scripture we are warned about false prophets (cf. Ezekiel 13, Matthew 24:23–27, 2 Peter 3:3). False prophets claim to speak for God, but they speak falsehood. To gain a hearing, they look good and make promises of great blessing and gain from the following of their teachings.  No matter how innocent and harmless these teachers appear on the outside, they have the nature of wolves—they are intent on destroying faith, causing spiritual carnage in the church, and enriching themselves. They “secretly introduce destructive heresies,” “bring the way of truth into disrepute,” and “exploit you with fabricated stories” (2 Peter 2:1–3).

 

The false teachers wear “sheep’s clothing” so they can mingle with the sheep without arousing suspicion. They usually are not up front about what they believe; rather, they mix in some truth with their falsehood and carefully choose their words to sound correct. However, in reality, they “follow their own ungodly desires” (Jude 1:17–18), and “they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed” (2 Peter 2:14). By contrast, a true prophet teaches the Scripture fully (cf. Deuteronomy 18:20). Wolves in sheep’s clothing twist God’s Word to deceive or influence the audience for their own purposes. Remember, Satan masquerades as an angel of light (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:14), and his ministers masquerade as servants of righteousness (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:15).

 

The best way to guard against these false prophets is to heed the warnings of Scripture and know the truth. A believer who “correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15) and carefully studies the Bible will be able to identify false prophets. Christians must judge all teaching against what Scripture says. We must trust and verify by the Scripture. We can also identify false prophets by their fruit—their words, actions, and lifestyles. If a teacher in the church does not live according to God’s Word, he is one of those wolves in sheep’s clothing. Be alert and aware!

 

Further Instructions from the Mount - Pt 6

 

[Jesus said] “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:12–14 ESV).

 

Our reading today contains two teachings that are related. Jesus begins with what many have called “the Golden Rule.” The second teaching deals with the choice between the narrow and broad gates, which is the path to eternal life rather than destruction. These two are taken together because they apply to those who have been given new life through grace. We cannot forget that without the new life of Christ we simply cannot choose the path that leads to eternal life. Without the new birth we are dead in our sin (cf. Romans 6:23). So, we will take them as they are presented, two sides of the same coin.

 

Matthew Henry has an interesting commentary on this truth:

 

“Christ came to teach us, not only what we are to know and believe, but what we are to do; not only toward God, but toward men; not only toward those of our party and persuasion, but toward men in general, all with whom we have to do. We must do that to our neighbor which we ourselves acknowledge to be fit and reasonable. We must, in our dealings with men, suppose ourselves in the same case and circumstances with those we have to do with, and act accordingly.”

 

If you have been a believer for very long you have come to learn this is never an easy task. Again, I am parroting Jesus with a simple statement, though it is a hard task. There are those times when others make our blood boil with anger and resentment, yet we are called to act with grace.

 

I have found this behavior to be “easier” when I remember the earlier teaching of Jesus that we not “give what is holy to dogs or cast our pearls before swine.” In Jesus’ day dogs were the cherished domesticated pets of our day. They were wild packs of animals roaming freely to kill and destroy. And, of course, swine were considered so unclean that to even come near a pig would require ceremonial and physical cleansing. The trick for me is always in determining who’s who. Jesus encourages us to pray and ask for the wisdom to do that. Often that wisdom comes experientially as the pigs and dogs reveal themselves for who they really are at their core. Once that happens it is easier to be kind and gracious, while avoiding any contact with them. I also remind myself that pigs do pig things and dogs do dog things. Expecting something different will only lead to hurt and destruction.

 

That is a narrow way, entered by the narrow gate. But it is the best path.

 

Further Instructions from the Mount - Pt 5

 

[Jesus said] “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. [9] Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:7–11 ESV).

 

Our reading today must be taken in the context of the previous two instructions. Remember Jesus said that we ought to be very careful in our judgment of others. In fact, He says we are not to judge at all. However, then He says we are discern the kind of people we share the wisdom of God with, “Don’t cast your pearls before swine, don’t give what is holy to dogs” (v. 6). The conundrum is in how to do that. I wrote a bit about that in the previous two devotionals; however, today we have a much more definitive answer. Jesus tells us to “ask, seek, and knock.” We do not have the necessary wisdom in ourselves to be able to rightly discern the heart of others. Prayer is the answer.  

 

So, Jesus teaches about prayer and encourages persistence through the commands to "ask, seek, and knock." He reassures followers that, just as a loving earthly father gives good things rather than harmful objects, God the Father will generously and lovingly answer the prayers of His children. Because living out these teachings—such as loving your enemies, forgiving others, and avoiding hypocrisy—is humanly impossible in one's own strength, Jesus teaches that believers must continually turn to God for help, wisdom, and inner transformation.

 

The verbs "ask," "seek," and "knock" are continuous in the original Greek, indicating a steadfast, active pursuit of God and His will. It is a call to draw near to God with your needs, actively search for His ways, and persistently wait at His door. Asking is the basic level of making requests. Seeking implies a greater investment of time and effort to find God's truth, while knocking indicates knocking on the door to enter into His presence.

 

Then Jesus uses the illustration of an earthly father. If a hungry child asks for bread or a fish, a loving father wouldn't maliciously hand them a stone or a snake. Jesus reasons that if imperfect, sinful humans know how to give good gifts, "how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!" This does not mean that God is a vending machine, nor that we have a "blank check" to ask for anything we want with the guarantee that God will grant it. God’s definition of a "good gift" may differ from human desires. He promises to provide exactly what is best for a believer's spiritual growth and will never grant a request that is ultimately harmful to His children.

 

I like what John Piper says about this:

 

“When you pause to consider that God is infinitely strong and can do all that he pleases, and that he is infinitely righteous so that he only does what is right, and that he is infinitely good so that everything he does is perfectly good, and that he is infinitely wise so that he always knows perfectly what is right and good, and that he is infinitely loving so that in all his strength and righteousness and goodness and wisdom he raises the eternal joy of his loved ones as high as it can be raised — when you pause to consider this, then the lavish invitations of this God to ask him for good things, with the promise that he will give them, is unimaginably wonderful.”

 

So, ask, seek, and knock as often as you want. Be persistent. Then trust God’s goodness to provide exactly what is best.

 

 

Further Instructions from the Mount - Pt 4

 

[Jesus said] “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.” (Matthew 7:6 ESV).

 

With today’s reading we come to a conundrum of a sort. Remember, Jesus just said in the previous five verses of this passage that we are not to judge others. Now He comes and says we are to make a judgment about what we share with people based on our knowledge of them. That requires judgement. So, which is it? Do we judge or not? I’ll have much more to say about that tomorrow, today let’s concentrate on the specifics of this instruction.

 

Jesus does warn against sharing sacred, spiritual truths with people who will not respect or appreciate them and will likely react with hostility. It calls for believers to balance the grace of not being judgmental with the wisdom of discernment in their relationships.

 

Here are the key aspects of this verse to understand:

 

There are some metaphors we need to understand first. In the biblical world, dogs were generally wild, roaming scavengers, and pigs were unclean. Both represent people who aggressively reject God's truth or hold it in utter contempt. These are not the domesticated animals that we are so familiar with today. The sacred things and pearls represent the profound, precious teachings of the gospel and the wisdom of God. The warning is very clear. Because these individuals do not understand the true value of spiritual wisdom, they will discard or mistreat it. He also cautions that these individuals may eventually turn and harm the person who offered them the sacred knowledge.

 

Most of the time I find myself leaning more toward the belief that there aren’t very many “pigs and dogs” that are in my circle of conversation. Because of that I share the gospel with everyone. However, I also filter my conversations with some of the other aspects of the Scripture with some people I know are not amenable to an honest conversation without resorting to attacks and name-calling. Tomorrow we will see how we can better make the decision of who’s who. For now, commit to sharing the gospel with all people.

 

Further Instructions from the Mount - Pt 3

 

[Jesus said] “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:1–5 ESV).

 

Our reading today speaks to Jesus’ condemnation of the improper judgment of others. It begins with this simple warning: “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you” (Matthew 7: 1-2). In his Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, W. E. Vine says the word judge “primarily denotes to separate, to select, to choose, hence to determine, and so, to judge or to pronounce judgment.”

 

Jesus is saying that we ought not to assume the office of a judge, in the sense of the Lord’s judgment. Jesus is condemning harsh, censorious judgment. We are not to be hypercritical or hypocritical. As Max Lucado wrote, “It’s one thing to have an opinion. It’s quite another to pass a verdict. It’s one thing to have a conviction; it’s another to convict the person.”

 

Jesus uses a humorous illustration of someone who has a log in their eye trying to remove a shaving from someone else’s eye. Ridiculous. Absurd. And wrong. First, remove the glaring fault from your life before you try to correct others for their minor flaws.

 

Judging is wrong when we judge others by jumping to conclusions without knowing all the facts, without understanding the situation or the circumstances, by impugning and attacking their motives, with partiality, partisanship, and prejudice, with censorious, nit-picking, hair-splitting assumptions, by appearance instead of righteousness, and without grace, mercy or love. Further, we ought to remember the “log in our own eye”… when we have worse faults in our own lives which need correcting.

 

Further Instruction from the Mount - Pt 2

 

[Jesus said] “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:25–34 ESV).

 

Tomorrow’s troubles are often the chief source of anxiety. In this part of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus has just gone over the trouble with valuing this world over the Kingdom world. He is emphasizing it with the emphasis that His followers should resist the pull of worry by remembering the Father’s faithful care and by giving priority to His kingdom. Life simply is more than possessions. You’d think we would understand that but we often find that simple things are the hardest things to master.

 

Jesus reminds us that life is greater than food, drink, clothing, or any other possession. If God feeds the birds and clothes the fields with beauty, He will certainly care for His people. Then He asks a very pointed question: “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” Worry consumes energy without producing peace, provision, or control. It magnifies tomorrow’s trouble while weakening today’s faith.

 

Again, the antidote is to seek first the Kingdom of God. Instead of fretting over daily needs, believers are called to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” This does not deny real needs; it places them under the care of the Father who already knows them.

 

Let me suggest one simple thing that might be helpful if you are a “fretter.” Trust God with your anxieties. Don’t ignore or deny them. God already knows what you’re feeling and He’s ready to help. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). Write down the things that concern you, whatever they are. Talk to God about those things. Lay your requests and concerns before Him. Then, thank God for His faithfulness and provision in the past; and, trust God to continue to take care of your worries about tomorrow.

 

Choose today to let the peace of God guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

 

 

Further Instructions from the Mount - Pt 1

 

[Jesus said] “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19–21 ESV).

 

As Jesus continues with His teaching from the Mount, He instructs his followers to prioritize eternal, spiritual wealth over temporary material possessions. He teaches that earthly treasures are temporary and vulnerable, whereas heavenly treasures are secure. Ultimately, He explains that a person's devotion naturally follows what they value most.

 

The picture I’ve attached today is of the interment of Aurora Schuck. When she passed away from cancer in 1989, she was laid to rest inside her beloved red 1976 Cadillac Eldorado convertible. The burial required 14 adjoining plots and a massive custom concrete vault. You can visit this gravesite at Riverview Cemetery in Aurora, Indiana. It seems her husband, Raymond, purchased 14 burial plots to accommodate the size of the car and vault. A custom concrete vault measuring 27 feet long, 12 feet wide, and 6 feet deep was constructed. A crane was used to gently lower the polished, drained Cadillac—with its top down and Aurora belted into the back seat—into the ground. Thirteen years later, when Raymond passed away in 2002, his cremated remains were piped down into the same vault so he could be reunited with Aurora and her cherished car for eternity.

 

Well, that may be a bit excessive, or at least eccentric. However, we should not get confused. Jesus isn’t condemning earning an income. He’s not ruling out earthly possessions. He’s not outlawing all saving. Or any enjoyment of His gifts. He’s telling us not to get our hearts wrapped around them. And make them our primary investment in this life.

 

He’s ruling out the selfish accumulation of stuff. An overly extravagant lifestyle. He’s telling us not to get too comfortable here on earth. To put our hope in the things of this age. Those things won’t last. They wear out. They break down. They decay. Or they get stolen. Back in Christ’s day, people lived with far more awareness of how transient everything was. Life was far more volatile, much more dangerous.

 

We don’t feel it quite as much today. We fool ourselves. We tend to think possessions and wealth will guarantee us a future. We can fight off thoughts of death for a time, but one day, a hearse will drive our bodies away. And, as they say, there won’t be a U-Haul behind… maybe a Cadillac, but not a U-Haul! Take care to treasure heavenly things!

 

The Model Prayer - Pt 9

 

[Jesus said] Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:9–13 ESV).

 

Before we leave the Model Prayer we should give some consideration to the verse that some manuscripts have added to verse 13: “For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen” It is a powerful doxology; however, the phrase “for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever,” as part of the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:13), is absent from the early Greek manuscripts like Sinaiticus (א) and Vaticanus (B), both 4th-century manuscripts; Bezae (D) from the 5th century; and Dublinensis (Z) from the 6th century. The absence of the phrase in these early Greek manuscripts is significant evidence that the words were not original in Matthew’s Gospel. That it is absent in the writings of early theologians like Tertullian (2nd—3rd centuries), Origen (3rd century), Cyprian (3rd century), Ambrose (4th century), and Augustine (4th—5th centuries) also suggests that “for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever” was not originally included in the Lord’s Prayer.

 

The real question might be posed for thought: “Is it a helpful reminder of how we ought to pray?” And of course, that answer is a resounding YES! So, let me point out a few points of inspiration.

 

First, we should not forget that it is the tendency of sinful man to prioritize an earthly kingdom rather than a heavenly kingdom. The earthly realm often prioritizes power, order, and material resources. However, Jesus's declaration underscores the transcendent nature of his kingdom: "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36). Unlike earthly kingdoms built on temporal foundations, the heavenly kingdom is characterized by righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Life is completely different as a citizen in the kingdom of Jesus. Jesus has called us into His kingdom not by His power, but by His love and sacrifice.

 

Second, we should understand the difference between earthly power versus heavenly power. Earthly power is fleeting, tied to material resources and human authority. In contrast, heavenly power, as seen in the resurrection, transcends the limitations of earthly existence. It is the power to transform death into eternal life, offering hope, healing, and redemption to all who have been called by the Holy Spirit into life. This resurrection power reshapes our perspectives and reaches out of eternity into space and time to infuse our lives with faith, hope, and love.

 

And third, we should recognize the difference between earthly glory and heavenly glory. Earthly glory often revolves around personal acclaim, achievements, and material possessions. How many likes or views do you have? How many people have read your book? What’s your approval rating? How much money do you have? What kind of car do you drive? However, heavenly glory manifests in acts of love and service, exemplified by Jesus washing the disciples' feet. This selfless love, culminating in the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, reveals the true glory of God—a glory rooted in love, sacrificial giving, redemption, and reconciliation.

 

This doxology of the Lord's Prayer encapsulates a spirit of submission and trust. By acknowledging God's kingdom, power, and glory, we relinquish our desire for control and recognition, placing our lives entirely in God's hands. This act of surrender is not a sign of weakness but of profound faith and dependence on the One who holds all things together. While probably later added by a scribe, it certainly captures the intent of Scripture. Prayer should be an act of submission and faith.