by Gary L. Evans
Matthew — Part 10
Mat 6:16 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.
Fasting from food and only drinking water for a day or more is an excellent way to cleanse the body from accumulated toxins. It also allows the digestive system to begin to cleanse itself and get some rest. We should have a positive attitude whenever we decide to fast and not act like we are doing some religious ritual before other people.
Mat 6:17-18 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 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.
Our fasts should be sanctified and kept private between us and our Father.
Mat 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Covet things that are Eternal, not things that will pass away. Whenever we work to please our Heavenly Father, Who is Eternal, we will receive Eternal rewards. But when we work to get things in this world, we may use them only for a short time relatively, and as the world passes away, so will also our material possessions. So we should covet Eternal rewards.
Mat 6:22-23 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 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!
The “light” symbolizes Truth and Goodness. But “darkness” symbolizes Falsehood and Evil. We should fill our hearts and minds with the Truth and Goodness of God through His Word.
The word “single” is from “hap-looce’” which means “properly folded together, that is, single (figuratively clear).” So in this context it means “if your eye is clear.”
Mat 6:24 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.
The word “mammon” is from “mam-mo-nas’” which means “(confidence, that is, figuratively wealth, personified); mammonas, that is, avarice (deified).”
We cannot serve our Heavenly Father and also serve the god of this world.
Mat 6:25 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?
We should not worry about our lives, about food or water or clothes. Our lives are worth much more than those things.
Mat 6:26 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?
God takes care to feed the birds, and we are much more important than they are.
Mat 6:27-29 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
We cannot grow an inch taller by worrying about our height and wishing for it. So why should we worry about having better clothes to wear? The flowers of the fields grow into very beautifully decorated bodies even though they do not work or weave material.
Mat 6:30-34 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 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.
Trust our Heavenly Father and obey His Commandments and enter The New Covenant to receive The Promise. And do not worry. Fear is not of God.
Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
The word “judge” is from the Greek “kree’-no” which means “Properly to distinguish, that is, decide (mentally or judicially); by implication to try, condemn, punish.” So it means in this context to condemn. We should be very careful before condemning anyone, because by doing so we might be condemned our own self.
Deu 19:15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.
Only by two or three credible witnesses can we establish any transgression of The Law. These can be eyewitnesses, or today we can use fingerprints found at the crime scene or the rifling of a bullet that shows it came from the defendant’s gun as credible witnesses in the matter.
Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
By the same degree of fairness and justice we decide someone else’s guilt is exactly the degree of fairness and justice with which we will be convicted our own self.
Mat 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
The word “mote” is from “kar’-fos” and means “a dry twig or straw”. And “beam” is from “dok-os'” which means “a stick of timber”. So the comparison is like of a splinter in one man’s eye compared to the beam of lumber in the other man’s eye.
Mat 7:4 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?
The analogy is about the wrong doing of the man being accused compared to the wrong doing of the man making the accusation.
Mat 7:5 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.
The word “hypocrite” is from “hoop-ok-ree-tace'” which means “an actor under an assumed character (stage player), that is, (figuratively) a dissembler (hypocrite).” So the unjust man pointing the finger in condemnation of the other is like a “stage play actor on the Greek stage.” He presents himself as being righteous while judging someone else but is himself the greater sinner.
A true Christian should be willing to teach God’s Law rather than pointing his or her finger in condemnation. Teaching is a positive approach to leading others who are in error to repentance. But ultimately it is their decision whether to repent or not. And for criminal cases, a court of law should deal with those crimes, not just one witness.
Mat 7:6 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.
The word “holy” is from “hag’-ee-os” which means “sacred (physically pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially consecrated).” We must not give the sacred truths of God’s Word to “dogs.” Even though dogs can be beloved pets, they are also filthy animals that eat their own vomit and do other very unclean things. So they cannot appreciate the Knowledge and Understanding provided to us through The Word. Similarly it would be a waste to give it to filthy people who lack any discretion. Note that in Scripture, the word “dogs” often symbolizes “homosexuals” because of their filthiness. This figurative usage of the word implies that we must not give Sacred things to unrepentant sinners.
Mat 7:7-8 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
When we pray to our Father to ask for something we need, believe that we will receive what we pray for, and The Lord will answer our prayer and give it to us.
Mat 7:9-10 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
Jesus presents a shocking contrast of how kindly we treat our own children with how an unbelieving person expects to receive nothing from God except trouble, even though he or she is a child of God.
Mat 7:11 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?
Even though all of us have sinned, we still know how to be good to our own children. And we are God’s children, and God is much more loving than we could ever be.
Mat 7:12 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.
Where in The Law is this written?
Lev 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
We are commanded to love others as our own self. And when we do, we put ourselves in their shoes and perceive that what we say and do to them, we actually say and do to ourselves.
Mat 7:13 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:
The word “strait” is from “sten-os'” which means “narrow (from obstacles standing close about).”
The word “broad” is from “yoo-roo’-kho-ros” which means “spacious.”
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Following God’s law is a straight and narrow path to travel through this life. We are careful not to turn to the left or to the right, but to stay on that path. But living in rebellion against God is a wide open way to behave in this world, because there is no limit to how sinfully people can live their lives.
Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
The term “false prophets” is from “psyoo-dop-rof-ay’-tace” which means “a spurious prophet, that is, pretended foreteller or religious impostor.” Such people are false Christians. Their claims of being able to explain Bible Prophesy are false, because they don’t actually understand the Scriptures. They are Antichrists who contradict The Word of God and lead people who listen to them astray. And the notion of “hungry wolves” implies that many of them are predators, that is, con artists who plan to rob the people of their property or do even greater harm to them.
Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Jesus then describes people as fruit trees and vines. Grape vines and fig trees produce good fruits suitable for eating. So true Christians teach wise doctrines and interpretations of God’s Word which build up The Lord’s assembly. But Antichrists teach useless ideas and even harmful interpretations of The Scriptures when others are deceived by them.
Mat 7:17-18 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
The word “corrupt” is from “sap-ros'” which means “rotten, that is, worthless (literally or morally).” So Antichrists are rotten and worthless in their pretense of being Christian.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
People who do not prove to be sincere and honest Christians who actually do good work will be cast into the Lake of Fire on The Day of Judgement.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Just observe the results of what people say and do. We cannot know the thoughts of people’s minds, but we can observe the results of their doings. And those are the most important facts to consider about other people.
Mat 7:21 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.
When Christ Jesus returns to establish His Millennial Kingdom, not everyone who recognizes and greets Him will inherit Eternal Life. Only those who have repented of their transgressions and entered into The New covenant in this world will take part in The First Resurrection.
Mat 7:22 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?
There will be many false Christians on The Lord’s Day who will brag to Him about how they were preachers and teachers and had done many things in Jesus’ Name.
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
The word “iniquity” is from “an-om-ee’-ah” and means “illegality, that is, violation of law or (generally) wickedness.”
But all who had continued transgressing God’s Law while dwelling in the flesh will be dead in their sins and cast out of New Jerusalem. Remember that the reward for transgression is death.
Mat 7:24-25 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: 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.
Christ Jesus is our ROCK. And when we obey Him and The Word of God, then our dwelling place will be secure for The Eternity.
Mat 7:26-27 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: 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.
But all who disobey our Lord’s Teaching and The Word of God will be outcasts during The Millennium and dwelling in the wilderness weeping and wailing and gnashing their teeth.
Mat 7:28-29 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Whosoever has eyes to see and ears to hear, let him hear.
Matthew — Part 11
Mat 8:1-4 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 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.
After Jesus came down from the mountain where He had taught the people, He healed a leper and commanded him to obey The Law and go to the priest as required for a testimony to them that God had healed him.
Lev 13:2-3 When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests: And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and when the hair in the plague is turned white, and the plague in sight be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean.
This is God’s Law of Leprosy. Jesus always obeyed The Law Himself and taught the people to also obey. In this case, the priest must look at the skin of the leper to determine if he is still unclean or has become cleansed of the disease.
Lev 13:4-6 If the bright spot be white in the skin of his flesh, and in sight be not deeper than the skin, and the hair thereof be not turned white; then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague seven days: And the priest shall look on him the seventh day: and, behold, if the plague in his sight be at a stay, and the plague spread not in the skin; then the priest shall shut him up seven days more: And the priest shall look on him again the seventh day: and, behold, if the plague be somewhat dark, and the plague spread not in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean: it is but a scab: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.
When the leprosy appears to be healing and has stopped spreading in the skin, then the priest must quarantine the leper for seven days, and then again inspect him. If his skin still appears to be improving, then he must be quarantined for another seven days. Then if the priest sees that his skin is still healing, then the priest should declare the man clean.
Mat 8:5-7 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
A Roman centurion came to Jesus begging Him to heal his servant. Jesus said that He would come to his home with him and heal his servant.
Mat 8:8-10 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. 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. 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.
This man was a Roman, a Gentile, yet he had great faith even that Jesus could heal his servant without going to his home but just by speaking the words to command him to be healed. So Jesus was impressed by his faith.
Mat 8:11-12 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. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Then Jesus explained that many Gentiles would come from all other countries and be fellow believers with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in The Millennium. Thus many Gentiles will take part in The First Resurrection. But most of Israel who claim to be God’s Chosen People will be outcasts dwelling among the dead.
Mat 8:13 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.
Jesus then healed the centurion’s servant as he had requested.
Mat 8:14-15 And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever. And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.
Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law of a fever.
Mat 8:16-17 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: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
Where was this written?
Isa 53:1-6 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 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. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 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. 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.
Christ Jesus came to obey all of God’s Law and to fulfill all Prophesies regarding The Messiah. So we can see that healing the sick, casting out unclean spirits, and paying the Price to atone for our sins was according to Prophesy.
Mat 8:18-20 Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side. And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 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.
A scribe promised to follow Jesus wherever He went. And Jesus replied that He did not have a permanent home. He just slept wherever He happened to be when He became tired. So the scribe would have to live the same way, not having a home.
Mat 8:21-22 And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.
So the cost of following Jesus is to be willing to literally be homeless in effect and to drop everything and follow Him right now without looking back. Most people are unwilling to pay that price to follow Jesus.
Mat 8:23-24 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
As they were in a boat to cross to the other side, Jesus took a nap, even though a terrible storm had risen up and waves were filling the boat with water.
Mat 8:25-27 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. 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. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
The Disciples were terrified and woke Him and begged Him to save them before they all died. Jesus rebuked them for their lack of faith. Then Jesus rebuked the winds and sea and suddenly there was complete calm. The Disciples were amazed by what they had witnessed.
Everything Jesus did was for a teaching purpose, and in this case, Jesus was demonstrating that He was The Son of Man and had Dominion over the earth and everything in the earth.
Mat 8:28-29 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. 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?
Two wild men that dwelt around the tombs cried out to Jesus by name. They also declared that He was The Son of God, which meant that Jesus also had Dominion over Heaven. Those devils knew who Jesus was because they had known Him in Heaven before He came here in His mother’s womb. Then they asked Him if He was going to torment them right now before the set time.
Mat 8:30-32 And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding. So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. 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.
The devils begged Jesus to let them go into the herd of swine. And Jesus told them to go into them. Then the swine ran over a cliff into the water and drowned. Even pigs can’t tolerate being possessed with devils and go completely insane.
Mat 8:33-34 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. 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.
Then the swine herders ran into the city and told everybody what Jesus had done and what had happened to the swine. And the whole city came to see Jesus, but then they asked Him to leave. They were more concerned about those pigs that had died than they were the two men that Jesus had saved from those devils.
Whosoever has eyes to see and ears to hear, let him hear.