2585.) Acts 24

In the Walk Thu the New Testament seminar, we remember Felix the ruler by twisting the whiskers of Felix the cat!

Acts 24 (NLT)

Paul Appears before Felix

Five days later Ananias, the high priest, arrived with some of the Jewish elders and the lawyer Tertullus, to present their case against Paul to the governor. 2 When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented the charges against Paul in the following address to the governor:

The high priest, some of the Jewish elders, and a top-notch lawyer — these folks are serious about getting Paul out of their hair!

“Your Excellency,

Felix! Born a slave, the emperor Claudius made him a freedman. Felix went on to marry the granddaughter of Mark Antony and Cleopatra and became the first slave in Roman history to be appointed a provincial governor. The ancient historian Tacitus says that he ruled as “a master of cruelty and lust who exercised the powers of a king with the spirit of a slave.” As we read on, we will see Felix’s propensity to try to turn any situation to his personal advantage.

you have provided a long period of peace for us Jews and with foresight have enacted reforms for us. 3 For all of this we are very grateful to you. 4 But I don’t want to bore you, so please give me your attention for only a moment. 5 We have found this man to be a troublemaker who is constantly stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the cult known as the Nazarenes. 6 Furthermore, he was trying to desecrate the Temple when we arrested him. 8 You can find out the truth of our accusations by examining him yourself.” 9 Then the other Jews chimed in, declaring that everything Tertullus said was true.

Plenty of accusations. But where is the supporting evidence?

10 The governor then motioned for Paul to speak. Paul said, “I know, sir, that you have been a judge of Jewish affairs for many years, so I gladly present my defense before you. 11 You can quickly discover that I arrived in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago to worship at the Temple. 12 My accusers never found me arguing with anyone in the Temple, nor stirring up a riot in any synagogue or on the streets of the city. 13 These men cannot prove the things they accuse me of doing.

14 “But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets. 15 I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will raise both the righteous and the unrighteous. 16 Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.

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Music:

One of my favorite hymns, because it is so full of truth and so singable. “In Christ Alone” was written in 2002 by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty.  HERE is Adrienne Liesching, Geoff Moore & The Distance.

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17 “After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God. 18 My accusers saw me in the Temple as I was completing a purification ceremony. There was no crowd around me and no rioting. 19 But some Jews from the province of Asia were there—and they ought to be here to bring charges if they have anything against me! 20 Ask these men here what crime the Jewish high council found me guilty of, 21 except for the one time I shouted out, ‘I am on trial before you today because I believe in the resurrection of the dead!’”

22 At that point Felix, who was quite familiar with the Way, adjourned the hearing and said, “Wait until Lysias, the garrison commander, arrives. Then I will decide the case.” 23 He ordered an officer to keep Paul in custody but to give him some freedom and allow his friends to visit him and take care of his needs.

Felix tried to walk a middle ground. He knew Paul was innocent, yet he did not want to identify himself with Paul’s gospel and the Christians. So he made no decision and kept Paul in custody.

–David Guzik

24 A few days later Felix came back with his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish. Sending for Paul, they listened as he told them about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As he reasoned with them about righteousness and self-control and the coming day of judgment, Felix became frightened. “Go away for now,” he replied. “When it is more convenient, I’ll call for you again.” 26 He also hoped that Paul would bribe him, so he sent for him quite often and talked with him.

“St. John the Baptist Rebuking Herod” by Giovanni Fattori (1825-1908) Galleria dell’Accademia, Florence, Italy

This brings to mind Herod Antipas’ interest with John the Baptist. Herod “was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him” (Mark 6:20). The difference is that Felix’s end motive was simple greed.

27 After two years went by in this way, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And because Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jewish people, he left Paul in prison.

Pilate condemns Jesus, from the movie “The Passion of Christ”

Felix keeps Paul in prison, even while knowing his innocence. This brings to mind Pontius Pilate, who condemned Jesus even while knowing Christ’s innocence. The leaders do what is expedient rather than what is right.

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Paul’s hometown, Tarsus, was the capital city of Cilicia. The picture above is of Cleopatra’s Gate, built in 41 BCE to welcome her to the city.

from Peculiar Treasures,
by Frederick Buechner

FELIX

Felix was the Roman governor of Cilicia. When Paul got into a knock-down drag-out with the Jerusalem Jews, Felix was the one that the Roman brass took him to in hopes of getting the matter settled once and for all. Paul’s Roman passport entitled him to a Roman hearing, and Felix gave it to him He seems to have listened sympathetically enough and to have had a fairly good understanding of both sides of the issue since on the one hand he already knew about the Christian movement and, on the other, he had a Jewish wife. Under the pretext of awaiting further evidence, he then placed Paul under custody but went out of the way to see to it that he was well taken care of. He could do what he wanted within reason, and his friends were allowed to supplement his rations from a kosher delicatessen.

The trouble came during a second interview a couple of days later. Felix had summoned him to find out how much his release was worth to him in hard cash, but with his usual tact Paul insisted on discussing justice, self-control, and future judgment instead. “Don’t call me, I’ll call you,” Felix said and sent him back to the pokey. He dropped in on him there from time to time to pursue his original line of inquiry, but Paul never seemed to zero in on what he was after.

With three squares a day, a roof over his head, and plenty of time to write letters, Paul had no major complaints apparently, and as long as Felix didn’t spring him, the Jews had no major complaints either. As for Felix himself, after two years he retired on a handsome government pension, leaving the problem of what to do with Paul for his successor to worry about. Felix, of course, means “the happy one” in Latin, and if happiness consists of having your cake and eating it too, he was well named.

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Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers.

Images courtesy of:

Felix the cat.   http://www.retrokimmer.com/2014/09/felix-cat-still-coolest-cat.html

Fattori.  http://imagecache6.allposters.com/LRG/15/1507/7M3BD00Z.jpg

Pilate and Jesus.  http://ourfaithinaction.net/wp-content/uploads/2004/02/pilate_condemns_jesus.jpg

Tarsus city gate. https://dwellingintheword.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/tarsus.jpg

2584.) Acts 23:23-35

Ancient Roman aqueduct in Caesarea

Acts 23:23-35   (NLT)

Paul Is Sent to Caesarea

²³ Then the commander called two of his officers and ordered, “Get 200 soldiers ready to leave for Caesarea at nine o’clock tonight. Also take 200 spearmen and 70 mounted troops. ²⁴ Provide horses for Paul to ride, and get him safely to Governor Felix.”

Amazing! 470 trained Roman soldiers would escort Paul out of Jerusalem! It was as if God wanted to exaggerate His faithfulness to him, and show him beyond any doubt that the promise of Jesus was true. Paul would be safe in Caesarea. Located about 60 miles northwest of Jerusalem, it was the official residence of the Roman governors of Palestine.

²⁵ Then he wrote this letter to the governor:

²⁶ “From Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings!
²⁷ “This man was seized by some Jews, and they were about to kill him when I arrived with the troops. When I learned that he was a Roman citizen, I removed him to safety. ²⁸ Then I took him to their high council to try to learn the basis of the accusations against him. ²⁹ I soon discovered the charge was something regarding their religious law—certainly nothing worthy of imprisonment or death. ³⁰ But when I was informed of a plot to kill him, I immediately sent him on to you. I have told his accusers to bring their charges before you.”

³¹ So that night, as ordered, the soldiers took Paul as far as Antipatris. ³² They returned to the fortress the next morning, while the mounted troops took him on to Caesarea.

“Up to Antipatris [about 25 miles] the country was dangerous and inhabited by Jews; after that the country was open and flat, quite unsuited for any ambush and largely inhabited by Gentiles.”
–William Barclay

³³ When they arrived in Caesarea, they presented Paul and the letter to Governor Felix. ³⁴ He read it and then asked Paul what province he was from. “Cilicia,” Paul answered.

³⁵ “I will hear your case myself when your accusers arrive,” the governor told him. Then the governor ordered him kept in the prison at Herod’s headquarters.

This would be Paul’s first opportunity to speak to someone at this level of authority (the governor). This was the beginning of the fulfillment of the promise made to Paul some 20 years earlier: that he would bear the name of Jesus to kings (Acts 9:15).

And this also began a two-year period of confinement for Paul in Caesarea. After that he spent at least two years in Rome. Taken together with travel time, the next five years of Paul’s life were lived in Roman custody. This was a striking contrast to his previous years of wide and spontaneous travel.

–David Guzik

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Music:

HERE  is “God Will Take Care of You,” sung a capella by the Antrim Mennonite Choir. Even though Paul did not know this particular song, I am sure he knew the truth of the lyrics.

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Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers.

Images courtesy of:

aqueduct at Caesarea.    https://dwellingintheword.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/caesarea-aduct.jpg

map.   http://lakesideministries.com/2ndCovenant/Acts/Acts_Images/ActsMap_3rd_Missionary_Journey_Paul%20Imprisoned%20in%20Caesarea.htm

2583.) Acts 23:1-22

“Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords” — 1 Timothy 6:15.  “VerseVisions” are digital mixed media by Georgia artist Mark Lawrence. This King of kings and Lord of lords is the One whom Paul is following; he is willing to suffer for the sake of Christ’s name.

Acts 23:1-22 (NLT)

Paul before the High Council

³⁰ The next day the commander ordered the leading priests into session with the Jewish high council. He wanted to find out what the trouble was all about, so he released Paul to have him stand before them.

¹ Gazing intently at the high council, Paul began: “Brothers, I have always lived before God with a clear conscience!”

The previous day Paul saw a great opportunity go unfulfilled when the crowd at the temple mount did not allow him to finish his message to them, but started rioting again. Now Paul had another opportunity to win Israel to Jesus, and perhaps a better opportunity. Here he spoke to the council, the Sanhedrin, with the opportunity to preach Jesus to these influential men.

According to William Barclay, this address, “Brothers,” meant that Paul was bold in speaking to the council, setting himself on an equal footing with them. The normal style of address was to say, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel.”

–David Guzik

² Instantly Ananias the high priest commanded those close to Paul to slap him on the mouth. ³ But Paul said to him, “God will slap you, you corrupt hypocrite! What kind of judge are you to break the law yourself by ordering me struck like that?”

The English Standard Version has the more literal translation of this verse:

Then Paul said to him, “God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting to judge me according to the law, and yet contrary to the law you order me to be struck?”

“Whitewashed wall”!  According to Josephus, the high priest Ananias was unworthy of the office. He was well-known for his greed:  stealing tithes from the common priests, giving lavish bribes to Romans, and using violence and assassination as tools to achieve his ends. He reaped what he had sown, however, and was brutally killed by Jewish nationalists.

⁴ Those standing near Paul said to him, “Do you dare to insult God’s high priest?”

⁵ “I’m sorry, brothers. I didn’t realize he was the high priest,” Paul replied, “for the Scriptures say, ‘You must not speak evil of any of your rulers.’”

⁶ Paul realized that some members of the high council were Sadducees and some were Pharisees, so he shouted, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, as were my ancestors! And I am on trial because my hope is in the resurrection of the dead!”

When Paul realized that they were not willing to listen to him, he divided the council. Paul plays one group against the other, since the Pharisees believed in the resurrection and the Sadducees denied it.

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Music:

I am often struck, as I read the sermons preached by Peter and Paul, by how often they rest their hopes on the resurrection of Christ. And yet I hear many sermons that never mention Christ’s great victory over sin, death, and the devil! Let us join the apostles now in praising God for raising Jesus from the grave! For no matter what may be wrong in your life, no matter what unhappiness or worry you may be carrying, this is most certainly true:  Christ is still risen!

HERE  the choir of King’s College, Cambridge sing the rousing Easter hymn  “This Joyful Eastertide”  with words by George R Woodford. The tune is a Dutch melody from David’s Psalmen, Amsterdam, 1685, arranged by Charles Wood.

This joyful Easter-tide, away with care and sorrow!
My Love, the Crucified, hath sprung to life this morrow.
Had Christ, that once was slain,
Ne’er burst His three day prison,
Our faith had been in vain;
But now hath Christ arisen,
Arisen, arisen, arisen!

My flesh in hope shall rest, and for a season slumber;
Till trump from east to west shall wake the dead in number.
Had Christ, that once was slain,
Ne’er burst His three day prison,
Our faith had been in vain;
But now hath Christ arisen,
Arisen, arisen, arisen!

Death’s flood hath lost his chill since Jesus crossed the river:
Lover of souls, from ill my passing soul deliver.
Had Christ, that once was slain,
Ne’er burst His three day prison,
Our faith had been in vain;
But now hath Christ arisen,
Arisen, arisen, arisen!

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⁷ This divided the council—the Pharisees against the Sadducees—⁸ for the Sadducees say there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, but the Pharisees believe in all of these. ⁹ So there was a great uproar. Some of the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees jumped up and began to argue forcefully. “We see nothing wrong with him,” they shouted. “Perhaps a spirit or an angel spoke to him.” ¹⁰ As the conflict grew more violent, the commander was afraid they would tear Paul apart. So he ordered his soldiers to go and rescue him by force and take him back to the fortress.

The Roman commander must wonder. First, the Jewish crowd went crazy yesterday when Paul said “Gentiles.” Now today the Sanhedrin breaks apart when Paul says “resurrection.”

¹¹ That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, “Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well.”

This must have been a difficult night for Paul. His heart longed for the salvation of his fellow Jews (Romans 9:1-4), and two great opportunities came to nothing. It would be no surprise if Paul blamed himself for the missed opportunity before the Sanhedrin.

So the kindly Lord Jesus comes and tells him, “Be of good cheer.” Be of good cheer is only one word in the ancient Greek, and is used five times in the New Testament – each time by Jesus.

· Jesus told the bedridden paralytic, Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you (Matthew 9:2). 

· Jesus told the woman with the 12-year bleeding problem, Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well (Matthew 9:22).

· Jesus told His frightened disciples on the Sea of Galilee, Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid (Matthew 14:27).

· Jesus told His disciples the night before His crucifixion, In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (John 16:33).

· And here, in Acts 23:11 – Jesus told Paul, be of good cheer.

But others are up and plotting . . .

The Plan to Kill Paul

Proverbs 6:16-19 (NIV)

There are six things the LORD hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
a false witness who pours out lies
and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

¹² The next morning a group of Jews got together and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. ¹³ There were more than forty of them in the conspiracy. ¹⁴ They went to the leading priests and elders and told them, “We have bound ourselves with an oath to eat nothing until we have killed Paul. ¹⁵ So you and the high council should ask the commander to bring Paul back to the council again. Pretend you want to examine his case more fully. We will kill him on the way.”

¹⁶ But Paul’s nephew—his sister’s son—heard of their plan and went to the fortress and told Paul.

We know very little of Paul’s immediate family, but here is one indication of the love they had for him. Later Paul will indirectly praise this nephew: “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” –1 Timothy 5:8

¹⁷ Paul called for one of the Roman officers and said, “Take this young man to the commander. He has something important to tell him.”

¹⁸ So the officer did, explaining, “Paul, the prisoner, called me over and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.”

¹⁹ The commander took his hand, led him aside, and asked, “What is it you want to tell me?”

²⁰ Paul’s nephew told him, “Some Jews are going to ask you to bring Paul before the high council tomorrow, pretending they want to get some more information. ²¹ But don’t do it! There are more than forty men hiding along the way ready to ambush him. They have vowed not to eat or drink anything until they have killed him. They are ready now, just waiting for your consent.”

²² “Don’t let anyone know you told me this,” the commander warned the young man.

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Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers.

Images courtesy of:

Lawrence.    https://dwellingintheword.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/lawrence-verse-visions.jpg

St. John’s Point Lighthouse and Whitewashed Wall, Killybegs, Ireland.   Photo by Richard Cummins.     http://imagecache5.art.com/p/LRG/34/3431/S5DHF00Z/richard-cummins-st-johns-point-lighthouse-and-whitewashed-wall-killybegs-ireland.jpg

my uncle rocks.   https://dwellingintheword.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/my-uncle-rocks.jpg

2582.) Acts 22

Acts 22 (NLT)

Paul Speaks to the Crowd

Someone asked a famous preacher, “What’s the secret of your success?”

“It’s simple,” replied the preacher. “I read myself full. I think myself clear. I pray myself hot. And I let myself go.”

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If you have never heard Dr. S. M. Lockridge preach about Jesus, you are in for a six minute treat,  HERE!

Dr. Shadrach Meshach Lockridge, 1913 – 2000, was the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, a prominent African-American congregation located in San Diego, California, for forty years. He was known around the world for his preaching.

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“Brothers and esteemed fathers,” Paul said, “listen to me as I offer my defense.” ² When they heard him speaking in their own language, the silence was even greater.

³ Then Paul said, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. As his student, I was carefully trained in our Jewish laws and customs. I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just like all of you today. ⁴ And I persecuted the followers of the Way, hounding some to death, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison. ⁵ The high priest and the whole council of elders can testify that this is so. For I received letters from them to our Jewish brothers in Damascus, authorizing me to bring the Christians from there to Jerusalem, in chains, to be punished.

⁶ “As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shone down around me.

Michelangelo’s “Conversion of St. Paul”

Here is the second account in Acts of Paul’s conversion
(see also chapters 9 and 26).

⁷ I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’

⁸ “‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked.

“And the voice replied, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, the one you are persecuting.’ ⁹ The people with me saw the light but didn’t understand the voice speaking to me.

¹⁰ “I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’

“And the Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything you are to do.’

¹¹ “I was blinded by the intense light and had to be led by the hand to Damascus by my companions. ¹² A man named Ananias lived there. He was a godly man, deeply devoted to the law, and well regarded by all the Jews of Damascus. ¹³ He came and stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight.’ And that very moment I could see him!

¹⁴ “Then he told me, ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and hear him speak. ¹⁵ For you are to be his witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard. ¹⁶ What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.’

¹⁷ “After I returned to Jerusalem, I was praying in the Temple and fell into a trance. ¹⁸ I saw a vision of Jesus saying to me, ‘Hurry! Leave Jerusalem, for the people here won’t accept your testimony about me.’

¹⁹ “‘But Lord,’ I argued, ‘they certainly know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. ²⁰ And I was in complete agreement when your witness Stephen was killed. I stood by and kept the coats they took off when they stoned him.’

²¹ “But the Lord said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles!’”

²² The crowd listened until Paul said that word. Then they all began to shout, “Away with such a fellow! He isn’t fit to live!” ²³ They yelled, threw off their coats, and tossed handfuls of dust into the air.

Paul Reveals His Roman Citizenship

A Roman citizen enjoyed a wide range of privileges and protections defined in detail by the Roman state. He (women were not considered full citizens) had the right to vote, the right to run for public office, the right to make legal contracts and hold property. Only Roman citizens were allowed to wear a toga. A Roman citizen could not be whipped or tortured, nor could he be condemned to death, except in the case of treason. Even then, he could not be sentenced to die on a cross.

²⁴ The commander brought Paul inside and ordered him lashed with whips to make him confess his crime. He wanted to find out why the crowd had become so furious. ²⁵ When they tied Paul down to lash him, Paul said to the officer standing there, “Is it legal for you to whip a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been tried?”

²⁶ When the officer heard this, he went to the commander and asked, “What are you doing? This man is a Roman citizen!”

²⁷ So the commander went over and asked Paul, “Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?”

“Yes, I certainly am,” Paul replied.

²⁸ “I am, too,” the commander muttered, “and it cost me plenty!”

Paul answered, “But I am a citizen by birth!”

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Music:

Paul answered, “But I was born free.”

Yet I am sure that Paul would agree with this song —  HERE  is “I Am Free”  by the Newsboys.

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²⁹ The soldiers who were about to interrogate Paul quickly withdrew when they heard he was a Roman citizen, and the commander was frightened because he had ordered him bound and whipped.

Once again, Paul benefits from his Roman citizenship. How wise of God to choose a man with such excellent credentials.

Paul before the High Council

³⁰ The next day the commander ordered the leading priests into session with the Jewish high council. He wanted to find out what the trouble was all about, so he released Paul to have him stand before them.

_________________________

Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers.

Images courtesy of:

preaching.    http://risbible.org/biblical-expository-preaching/

That’s my king.   https://revpacman.wordpress.com/2017/01/21/my-king-dr-s-m-lockridge/

Michelangelo.   http://www.mystudios.com/art/italian/michelangelo/michelangelo-st-paul.html

Roman citizen in a toga.   https://dwellingintheword.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/roman-citizen.jpg

2581.) Acts 21:15-40

On to Jerusalem in Jesus’ Name! The Jerusalem Cross is a design that appeared with the nobles during the First Crusade and was supposed to provide them with divine protection in the Holy Land. It features five crosses, one large and four small, that are said to represent Jesus and the four evangelists. It also symbolizes the four corners of the world in which Christianity is to be spread.

Acts 21:15-40   (NLT)

Paul Arrives at Jerusalem

¹⁵ After this we packed our things and left for Jerusalem. ¹⁶ Some believers from Caesarea accompanied us, and they took us to the home of Mnason, a man originally from Cyprus and one of the early believers. ¹⁷ When we arrived, the brothers and sisters in Jerusalem welcomed us warmly.

¹⁸ The next day Paul went with us to meet with James, and all the elders of the Jerusalem church were present. ¹⁹ After greeting them, Paul gave a detailed account of the things God had accomplished among the Gentiles through his ministry.

told in detail: “The Greek has the sense of recounting every single thing.” Paul told these Christians from a Jewish background everything God had done in his missionary efforts.

–David Guzik

Over the years, and particularly recently, I have been able to listen to several different people tell me about wonderful things that the Lord is doing around the world, works of redemption and reconciliation! Our God is so powerful; He is stirring up His people in every nation. We are seeing events happening that sound impossible:

• vast numbers of Muslims coming to Jesus because He appears to them in dreams and says, “I love you”;

• terrorists in Nigeria laying down their arms because they are following Jesus now;

• Bible classes being taught by former murderers and kidnappers in one of Colombia’s most dangerous prisons;

• Orthodox Jews, including even rabbis, receiving revelation that Yeshua is their Messiah.

I have sat with my mouth open in amazement and my eyes filled with tears of wonder as I have heard these detailed accounts of the things God is accomplishing among the people of the world.

I hope that in Heaven we will be able to hear many more “detailed accounts!”

__________________________

Music:

HERE is Matt Redman singing, “One Day (When We All Get To Heaven).”  What a day of rejoicing that will be!

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²⁰ After hearing this, they praised God. And then they said, “You know, dear brother, how many thousands of Jews have also believed, and they all follow the law of Moses very seriously. ²¹ But the Jewish believers here in Jerusalem have been told that you are teaching all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn their backs on the laws of Moses. They’ve heard that you teach them not to circumcise their children or follow other Jewish customs. ²² What should we do? They will certainly hear that you have come.

²³ “Here’s what we want you to do. We have four men here who have completed their vow. ²⁴ Go with them to the Temple and join them in the purification ceremony, paying for them to have their heads ritually shaved. Then everyone will know that the rumors are all false and that you yourself observe the Jewish laws.

²⁵ “As for the Gentile believers, they should do what we already told them in a letter: They should abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality.”

The Jewish believers in Jerusalem had heard that Paul had become essentially anti-Jewish and told Jewish Christians that it was wrong for them to continue in Jewish laws and customs. This was not the case, of course; based on Romans 14:4-6, it seems that Paul didn’t have a problem with Jewish Christians who wanted to continue to observe old customs and laws. So to quell these rumors, the elders proposed that Paul sponsor some Jewish believers in their Jewish rites. Paul agreed to do this, to demonstrate that he never taught Christian Jews to forsake Moses and not to circumcise their children and that they were required to ignore Jewish customs, as he had been false accused by some among the Jerusalem Christians.

But as per verse 25 — The Jerusalem elders understood that this had nothing to do with Gentiles who believe in Jesus. It didn’t mean that they had to perform any Jewish rituals to be right with God. Paul would rightly refuse to compromise on this important point.

–David Guzik

Paul Is Arrested

²⁶ So Paul went to the Temple the next day with the other men. They had already started the purification ritual, so he publicly announced the date when their vows would end and sacrifices would be offered for each of them.

²⁷ The seven days were almost ended when some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul in the Temple and roused a mob against him. They grabbed him, ²⁸ yelling, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who preaches against our people everywhere and tells everybody to disobey the Jewish laws. He speaks against the Temple—and even defiles this holy place by bringing in Gentiles.”

They claimed that Paul was against the people [Israel],the law, and this place [the temple], but these accusations were unfounded. Paul simply rejected trust in any of these as a basis for righteousness before God, which comes only through Jesus Christ.

Interestingly, the charges against Paul here are an echo of the charges Stephen was executed for (Acts 6:13). Paul helped preside over that execution; now he is accused in a similar way.

²⁹ (For earlier that day they had seen him in the city with Trophimus, a Gentile from Ephesus, and they assumed Paul had taken him into the Temple.)

It was absolutely prohibited for Gentiles to go beyond the designated “Court of the Gentiles” in the temple grounds. Signs were posted which read (in both Greek and Latin): “No foreigner may enter within the barricade which surrounds the temple and enclosure. Any one who is caught trespassing will bear personal responsibility for his ensuing death.” The Romans were so sensitive to this that they authorized the Jews to execute anyone who offended in this way, even if the offender was a Roman citizen.

³⁰ The whole city was rocked by these accusations, and a great riot followed. Paul was grabbed and dragged out of the Temple, and immediately the gates were closed behind him. ³¹ As they were trying to kill him, word reached the commander of the Roman regiment that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.

From the Tower of Antonia, at the northwest corner of the temple mount, more than 500 Roman soldiers were stationed only two flights of stairs from the Court of the Gentiles.

³² He immediately called out his soldiers and officers and ran down among the crowd. When the mob saw the commander and the troops coming, they stopped beating Paul.

³³ Then the commander arrested him and ordered him bound with two chains.

That is to say, handcuffed to a soldier on either side. Did he think of the prophecy of Agabus (Acts 21:11)?

He asked the crowd who he was and what he had done. ³⁴ Some shouted one thing and some another. Since he couldn’t find out the truth in all the uproar and confusion, he ordered that Paul be taken to the fortress. ³⁵ As Paul reached the stairs, the mob grew so violent the soldiers had to lift him to their shoulders to protect him. ³⁶ And the crowd followed behind, shouting, “Kill him, kill him!”

Paul Speaks to the Crowd

³⁷ As Paul was about to be taken inside, he said to the commander, “May I have a word with you?”

“Do you know Greek?” the commander asked, surprised. ³⁸ “Aren’t you the Egyptian who led a rebellion some time ago and took 4,000 members of the Assassins out into the desert?”

³⁹ “No,” Paul replied, “I am a Jew and a citizen of Tarsus in Cilicia, which is an important city. Please, let me talk to these people.”

At this moment, when his life was in danger from an angry mob and he was suspected of being a dangerous criminal, Paul had one thing on his mind: “Let me preach the gospel!”

⁴⁰ The commander agreed,

Once again Paul benefits from his Roman citizenship.

so Paul stood on the stairs and motioned to the people to be quiet. Soon a deep silence enveloped the crowd, and he addressed them in their own language, Aramaic.

This is the Lord’s Prayer written in Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke.

_________________________

Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers.

Images courtesy of:

Jerusalem cross.   https://www.amazon.com/Jerusalem-Cross-Crusaders-Vinyl-Sticker/dp/B00OM6RN44

Jesus looking at the earth.    http://churchofchrist-cg-az.com/sitebuilder/images/JesusLookingAtWorld-975×1005.png

Do Not Enter.    https://www.amazon.com/Enter-Sign-Street-Traffic-Signal/dp/B0040R1I78

The Lord’s Prayer in Aramaic.    http://www.catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/07/Aramaic.jpg

2580.) Psalm 149

Psalm 149 (ESV)

Sing to the Lord a New Song

Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
    his praise in the assembly of the godly!

“He is ever new in his manifestations; his mercies are new every morning; his deliverances are new in every night of sorrow; let your gratitude and thanksgivings be new also.”

–Charles Haddon Spurgeon

² Let Israel be glad in his Maker;
    let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!
³ Let them praise his name with dancing,
    making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!

⁴ For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
    he adorns the humble with salvation.

“It is the constant teaching of Scripture that we may please God. This was the testimony borne of Enoch before his translation, and the apostle exhorts us to walk worthily of the Lord, unto all pleasing.”

–F. B. Meyer, English evangelist and friend of D. L. Moody

⁵ Let the godly exult in glory;
    let them sing for joy on their beds.

The hours that we are awake do not give us enough time to praise God as we ought, so we must continue praising God even in our beds!

⁶ Let the high praises of God be in their throats
    and two-edged swords in their hands,
⁷ to execute vengeance on the nations
    and punishments on the peoples,

(something like, Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition!)

⁸ to bind their kings with chains
    and their nobles with fetters of iron,
⁹ to execute on them the judgment written!
    This is honor for all his godly ones.
Praise the Lord!

_________________________

Music:

HERE  is some sacred dance on a beach.  Only in heaven will I have any chance of being so graceful in movement!

_________________________

English Standard Version (ESV)   The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

Images courtesy of:

Let them praise His name in a dance.    http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/e4/f6/c5/e4f6c55fa49c89a39252480afb9abde9.jpg

Children dancing in the water.    http://ih1.redbubble.net/image.12398342.5366/flat,550×550,075,f.jpg

bedtime prayers.   https://i.pinimg.com/originals/91/77/85/9177858df372e3766a67efb85f76c68b.jpg

God be praised.   https://www.pinterest.com/pin/165999936236785435/?autologin=true

2579.) Malachi 4

Malachi 4  (ESV)

The Great Day of the Lord

“For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble.

God promised a fire for His people (Malachi 2:2-3) and here He promised a fire for the wicked. But there is a big difference between the refining fire applied to God’s people and the burning fire against the ungodly.

–David Guzik

The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. ² But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings.

Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die.
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

–Charles Wesley, 1739

You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. ³ And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts.

⁴ “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.

The last few words of the Old Testament are a call back to the Law, because under the Old Covenant people related with God on the basis of Law. Thank God for the New Covenant — for the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17).

⁵ “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.

It is significant that in these closing words of the Old Testament, God makes reference to both Moses and Elijah. They both met God at Mount Sinai (Exodus 3:1; 1 Kings 19:8-18). They also both met Jesus at the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-5).

⁶ And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers,

“

. . . to their earthly fathers and, more importantly, to their Heavenly Father . . .

lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”

The last verse in Malachi goes like this in the King James Version — “Lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” So the Old Testament ends with a curse.

But the New Testament ends with the fulfillment of the promise of the coming of the Sun of Righteousness — “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all!” (Revelation 22:21).

The End of the Book of Malachi
and
The End of the Old Testament

_________________________

Music:

HERE  is Judy Jacobs and “Days of Elijah.”

This song mentions Christ “shining like the sun,” as in Malachi 4:2 above. The song also talks about the voice in the desert crying “Prepare ye the way of the Lord.” This is an obvious reference to John The Baptist, who is prophesied of in Malachi 4:5 — “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:”

_________________________

English Standard Version (ESV)   The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

Images courtesy of:

Malachi 4:2.    http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy331/tdhack99/christian_malachi_4_2_1.jpg

the sun of righteousness.    https://dwellingintheword.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/mala4-healing-wings.jpg

fathers and children.    http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/236x/fe/3d/ff/fe3dff58d6389281d8e7ed068b3a11f7.jpg

2578.) Malachi 3

Malachi 3   (ESV)

“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. ² But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. ³ He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. ⁴ Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

_________________________

Music:

You are already hearing it in your head, aren’t you?!  HERE   is “But who may abide the day of His coming” from Part I of Handel’s Messiah.  And then,  HERE  is “And He Shall Purify.”  Performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus.

_________________________

⁵ “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.

Robbing God

Now we come to the fifth dispute, about repentance and tithing:

Prophet:   Return to Yahweh.

People:   How?

Prophet:    You are robbing God.

People:   How?

Prophet:   By withholding tithes and offerings.

–from “Malachi” in Old Testament Survey, by William Sanford Lasor, David Allan Hubbard, and Frederic William Bush

⁶ “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. ⁷ From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ ⁸ Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions.

from Whispers of His Power,
by Amy Carmichael

Tithes and offerings are not the same. “Tithes and offerings,” God says. In writing to the converts in Corinth (2 Corinthians 9:6-11), Paul does not speak of tithes; he takes them for granted. He speaks of offerings which are over and above tithes.

Love always finds ways to do more than give tithes. It gives free-will offerings, something over and above what must be given. That is the joy of love. It is about such love, and the things such love does, that God says “his righteousness remains forever” (v. 9). He calls our little love-gifts by that great name, and lay them up as treasures in heaven.

Are we faithful in our tithes? Are we loving in our offerings?

⁹ You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. ¹⁰ Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

¹¹ I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. ¹² Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.

The sixth and final dispute:

Yahweh:   You have spoken against me

People:   How?

Yahweh:   By saying it is vain to serve God.  He will punish the wicked and reward the faithful.

–from “Malachi” in Old Testament Survey, by William Sanford Lasor, David Allan Hubbard, and Frederic William Bush

¹³ “Your words have been hard against me, says the Lord. But you say, ‘How have we spoken against you?’ ¹⁴ You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts? ¹⁵ And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape.’”

The Book of Remembrance

¹⁶ Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name. ¹⁷ “They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. ¹⁸ Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.

Verse 17 in the King James Version goes like this —

And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

I believe it was the first funeral I ever attended. I was only a child, and it was another child who had died, drowned in the livestock watering tank outside the barn on a neighbor’s farm. My father and another man sang a duet, a hymn based on an idea from this verse, that God comes to gather his jewels.

When He cometh, when He cometh
To make up His jewels,
All His jewels, precious jewels,
His loved and His own.

Refrain:

Like the stars of the morning,
His brightness adorning,
They shall shine in their beauty,
Bright gems for His crown.

He will gather, He will gather
The gems for His kingdom;
All the pure ones, all the bright ones,
His loved and His own.   (Refrain)

Little children, little children,
Who love their Redeemer,
Are the jewels, precious jewels,
His loved and His own.    (Refrain)

_________________________

Music:

Far be it from any of us to get into disputes with God or with those who speak his truth! And may we not withhold from the Lord the tithes and offerings due to him! Instead, let me submit fully to You.  HERE  is Robin Mark and “I Surrender All.”

_________________________

English Standard Version (ESV)   The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

Images courtesy of:

I change not.    http://owprince.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/malachi-3_6-god-does-not-change.jpg

Tithes and Offerings.    http://opendoorministries2009.org/home/tithes_offering

Honor the Lord with the first fruits.   http://life323.com/weeks-1617-proverbs-3910/

Jewels.   http://www.thearkfellowship.org/content.cfm?id=148&ministry_id=1

2577.) Malachi 2

Malachi 2   (ESV)

The Lord Rebukes the Priests

“And now, O priests, this command is for you. ² If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the Lord of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart. ³ Behold, I will rebuke your offspring, and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings, and you shall be taken away with it. ⁴ So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the Lord of hosts. 

God uses Levi as an example for the priests in the days of Malachi. Levi is shown to be an example of:

• Reverence: He feared Me and was reverent before My name
• Knowing God’s Word: The law of truth was in his mouth
• Godly character: He walked with Me in peace and equity
• Preserving and promoting God’s Word: Should keep knowledge, and people should seek the law from his mouth

–David Guzik

⁵ My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. ⁶ True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. ⁷ For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. ⁸ But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts, ⁹ and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction.”

Judah Profaned the Covenant

Now comes the third dispute:

Prophet:  Yahweh will not accept your offerings.

People:   Why?

Prophet:   Because you have broken your marriage covenant with the wife of your youth.

–from “Malachi” in Old Testament Survey, by William Sanford Lasor, David Allan Hubbard, and Frederic William Bush

¹⁰ Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers? ¹¹ Judah has been faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the Lord, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god. ¹² May the Lord cut off from the tents of Jacob any descendant of the man who does this, who brings an offering to the Lord of hosts!

God’s command against mixed marriages in Israel had nothing to do with race, but with faith. There is even a foreign wife in the genealogy of Jesus:  Ruth was a Moabite who married a Jewish man named Boaz; but she forsook Moab’s gods for the Lord (Ruth 1:16).

–David Guzik

¹³ And this second thing you do. You cover the Lord‘s altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand. ¹⁴ But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. ¹⁵ Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. ¹⁶ “For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”

The Messenger of the Lord

Here begins the fourth dispute:

Prophet:   You have wearied Yahweh.

People:   How?

Prophet?    By questioning his justice, thinking that evildoers will prosper. God will punish the wicked.

–from “Malachi” in Old Testament Survey, by William Sanford Lasor, David Allan Hubbard, and Frederic William Bush

¹⁷ You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”

_________________________

Music:

I freely confess that for me some days it is easier to be faithful than others. And for those days when the world, the flesh, and the devil pull me away from wholly trusting Jesus, then I am so glad I can rely on him to be faithful to me. 2 Timothy 2:13 promises, If we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.  HERE  is Selah singing “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.”

_________________________

English Standard Version (ESV)   The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

Images courtesy of:

faithfulness.    http://larryslines.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Spirit-of-Faithfulness-10.00-.jpg

divorce.    http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/98/c3/e4/98c3e46f052d4cf5e67915e39b268ef7.jpg

2576.) Malachi 1

Malachi 1   (ESV)

The oracle of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.

Malachi makes no reference to his personal life or work, and he is not mentioned elsewhere in the Old Testament. But his writings show him to have been a dedicated prophet, used effectively to warn people of sin and urge them to conduct their lives in a manner pleasing to God. He speaks against intermarriage with foreign people, failure to pay tithes, and offering of blemished sacrifices. Probably the most outstanding matter regarding him was that God granted him the privilege of bringing the illustrious line of writing prophets to a close. He is the last.

–Leon J. Wood

The Lord‘s Love for Israel

² “I have loved you,” says the Lord.

J. Campbell Morgan translates this as “I have loved you, I do love you, I will love you,” says the Lord.

But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob ³ but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.” ⁴ If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” the Lord of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,’ and ‘the people with whom the Lord is angry forever.’” ⁵ Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel!”

God reminds his people that he loved Jacob but hated Esau. This is not to be taken absolutely but relatively, i.e., God preferred, or chose Jacob. Neither are Jacob and Esau to be understood exclusively as individuals but as nations, Israel and Edom. God’s love, then, primarily has to do with covenant. God formed a covenant relationship with the Israelites, so that they were the special objects of his love. Nevertheless, Gentiles are not completely excluded. The creator and father of all people is cognizant that there are those who fear him in every nation (see chapter 1, verses 11 and 14).

–from “Malachi” in Old Testament Survey, by William Sanford Lasor, David Allan Hubbard, and Frederic William Bush

God did not hate Esau in the sense of cursing him or striking out against him. Indeed, Esau was a blessed man (Genesis 33:9, 36:1-43). Yet when God chose Jacob, He left Esau unchosen in regard to receiving the blessing given to Abraham.

–David Guzik

The Priests’ Polluted Offerings

The book is written in a question-and-answer format sometimes called a disputation style.  There are six disputes.  We have already read the first one, above: 

Yahweh:  I have loved you.

The people:  How have you loved us?

Yahweh:  By choosing Jacob (Israel) over Esau (Edom).

The second dispute starts here and continues into chapter 2:

Yahweh:  Why do you priests despise my name?

Priests:  How have we despised your name?

Yahweh:  By offering polluted sacrifices.

Priests:  How have we done that?

Yahweh:  By offering blemished, sick, or lame animals.

–from “Malachi” in Old Testament Survey, by William Sanford Lasor, David Allan Hubbard, and Frederic William Bush

⁶ “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ ⁷ By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the Lord‘s table may be despised. ⁸ When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil?

The altar was the place of sacrifice, and it belonged to God. Yet the priests of Malachi’s day disgraced God and His altar by offering defiled food to Him. Ministers today must never present defiled food to God in their ministry.

If the pastor’s sermon (or the Sunday School teacher’s lesson, etc.) is filled with funny jokes, clever anecdotes, and emotional stores but it lacks God’s word – this is like defiled food. To throw in a few Bible verses here and there to illustrate or back up the preacher’s stories, but to really make the sermon all about the preacher is to offer defiled food. If the sermon isn’t about Jesus, if it isn’t about God’s Word, then the preacher is setting defiled food on God’s altar.

If the pastor’s sermon is sloppy, without doing the work in the study when there was the opportunity to do that work, that is like offering defiled food before God. When the preacher will not labor in prayer and meditation over God’s word and seek His message for the people, the sermon can be and offering of defiled food. If the preacher does not hold fast the pattern of sound words and rightly divide the word of truth, it is all like setting defiled food on God’s altar.

If that preacher’s sermon is cold, refusing to show any concern or passion in the pulpit; if his passion is reserved for other things in life, then the sermon can be like defiled food. If the preacher can pontificate or argue with the best of them, but his messages have no deep passion for God or your people, the message may be like defiled food. If the preacher does his job and collects his paycheck but with a heart for Jesus that is cold, that preacher sets defiled food on God’s altar.

–David Guzik

Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts.

The offerings were so poor that even the government would not accept them for payment of taxes!

⁹ And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts.

This phrase is rich with irony. Scottish theologian James Moffatt’s paraphrase gives the sense: Try to pacify God and win his favour? How can he favour any one of you, says the Lord of hosts, when you offer him such sacrifices?

¹⁰ Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand. ¹¹ For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.

This is a glorious promise that the true worship of God will extend all over the earth. Jesus’ command to spread the Gospel and to go to every nation is part of God’s way of fulfilling this promise.

–David Guzik

¹² But you profane it when you say that the Lord’s table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised. ¹³ But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, says the Lord of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the Lord. ¹⁴ Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.

_________________________

Music:

“My name shall be great among the nations,” God says!  Another way to say it — “Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun,” which is an Isaac Watts hymn.  HERE  it is adapted by Keith & Kristyn Getty.

_________________________

English Standard Version (ESV)   The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

Images courtesy of:

The prophet Malachi.   http://baptistmessage.com/malachi-old-sins/

I have always loved you.   https://allacin.blogspot.com/2018/03/malachian-illustrated-summary-of-life.html

worthless offerings.   https://www.slideshare.net/jamespharr1/12-dollars-more

Malachi 1:11.    https://dwellingintheword.wordpress.com/2014/07/14/1356-malachi-1/