Matthew - Outward Righteousness

In today's study from Matthew 5:19-20, we see again that our righteousness cannot be obtained by the Mosaic Law, but instead through the completed work of our Lord on the cross.

The Measure/ Standard of the Law

v.19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Understand that the Kingdom of Heaven that Jesus is referring to is the one that he wanted to bring in at his First Advent. However, since it was rejected and he was crucified; it will be brought in at his Second Advent. A man’s level in the kingdom of heaven is to be based upon what he did with and taught about the commandments (the Law).

The Righteousness of the Law

v.20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Bear in mind that when Jesus spoke of exceeding the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, he was talking to his disciples who were still under the law.

As a matter of fact, we must remember that the entirety of the Gospel accounts were still under the Law as that the age of Grace had not officially began until the crucifixion and Matthew 27:50-51 where we are told that when Jesus had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. Matthew 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent. Therefore, we have no righteousness from the law because we are under the New Covenant.  Our righteousness comes from Christ, and therefore exceeds the righteousness of the Pharisees.

1 Corinthians 1:30 “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” We are no longer under the Mosaic Law, since we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ under the New Covenant. Gal 3:22-26  But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.  23  But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.  24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  25  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.  26  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Outward Righteousness

As for the Pharisees, unfortunately their righteousness was all outward, it was the appearance of righteousness; it was all for show; it was all in an attempt to keep the Law as they saw it. We know this because Jesus said in Mark 7:6-7 “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.  And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'” Also, in Matthew 23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments. Also, in Matthew 23:27-28 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.  28  Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Apparently, while they were outwardly “righteous”; inwardly their hearts were detestable and our Lord called them out on it. That why our Lord said in Mark 7:20-23 "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.  All these evil things come from within and defile a man." Thus, they could not enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus cautioned them in Matthew 23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? 

Jesus is saying that it’s not about outward, but inward righteousness. If you are righteous on the inside, you will be righteous on the outside! That kind of righteousness can only come about by faith in Christ through his finished work upon the cross for you and I.

Matthew - The Righteousness of the Law

In today's study from Matthew 5:17-18, we see that Jesus fulfilled the righteousness of the Law and established the permanence of the Law.

The Righteousness of the Law

v.17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. Jesus now turns the attention of his disciples to the subject of the law and righteousness. In Jesus’ ministry he dealt with several things concerning the law. First, He dealt with the fulfillment of the law. Some folks got the idea that Jesus was against the law, that he had come to destroy it. We see this in how they tempted Jesus with the law. Mat 12:10-14 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. 11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? 12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. 13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other. 14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

Again, they mistakenly thought that he was going to do away with the Law. Instead, he fulfilled it with his righteousness. Rom 10:3-4 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. Understand that the ultimate purpose of the law was righteousness. Jesus did it, and thus fulfilled it! Deu 6:24-25  And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day. 25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.

Where does that leave us? Rom 3:21-22 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: Now that Christ has fulfilled the law, the righteousness of God is by faith in the one that fulfilled it: Jesus!

So, first Jesus fulfilled the righteousness of the Law. Secondary, Jesus dealt with the permanence of the Law as well.

The Permanence of the Law

v.18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. This verse tells us three things: 1. The Law is still in place. Though Christ fulfilled the righteousness of the law by keeping it perfectly; he did not do away with it. 2. Other aspects of the Law still need to be fulfilled. That will not happen ultimately until the Tribulation and the Millennial Reign of Christ (cf. Rev 12:17; 14:12; 22:14). 3. The Law will be fulfilled before heaven and earth pass away (cf. Rev. 20:11; 21:1; 2 Pet 3:10-13). By the way, a jot and a tittle are the smallest characters in the Hebrew alphabet. They are the equivalent to our “dotting of the I” and “crossing of the T”.

Matthew - Light of the World

In today's study from Matthew 5:14-16, we see that Jesus said that his people are the light of the world.

Light of the World

vv.14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  (15)  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  (16)  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Jesus now tells the Jews that they are the light of the world.

God said in Genesis 1:3-5 Let there be light: and there was light.  4  And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.  5  And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. From these verses we see that after God created the heavens and the earth, the next thing that he created was light. What I find interesting about this is that this light is not the sun, moon or stars as that it they were not created until the fourth day. See, it says in Genesis 1:14-19 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: 15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. 16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. 17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. 19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

Clearly, there is a difference between the light created in v.3 and the lights that were created in vv.14-19. The Psalmist declares, The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun (Psalm 74:16). Isaiah speaks of this initial light in 45:7 when he said I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. This light that God created in v.3 appears to be a form of energy that is visible only to the human eye.

Upon further study, we are told that this light actually comes out of darkness. 2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Okay, it is time to put your thinking caps on. With this first light, we would not be able to see the light from sun, moon, and stars. No, I cannot explain that.

Application to Jesus

However, I do know that just as there would be no life apart from that initial light, Jesus compared himself to that same light when he said in light John 8:12 "I am the light of the world," He is that light that brings life!

Joh 3:19-21 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  20  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  21  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. 1 John 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

Greatest Testimony

So, in the end, we need light to live physically and to live spiritually. As a matter of fact, the existence of light is one of the greatest testimonies for the existence of God because no one can explain where the “light” came from to this day. Trust me the evolutionists don’t have a clue. As a matter of fact, part of God’s punishment for them that reject Him is to remove them from this light. Matthew 8:12  But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew - Good for Nothing

In today's study, we wrap up our study on Matthew 5:13 and it's application to Israel and the Church.

Application to the Jew

How does this apply to the Jews that Jesus is speaking to? They were the salt that he was referring to! However, they were now impure and had lost their savor! They had picked up impurities in their worship of God.

Instead of sacrificing to Jehovah God according to their Covenants of Salt, they sacrificed to idols. Psalms 106:36-38  And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.  37  Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,  38  And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.

Instead of following priests in Aaron’s line according to their Covenant of Salt, they followed other priests. 1 Kings 12:28-31  Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.  29  And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.  30  And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.  31  And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.

Instead of being under a king from David’s line according to their Covenant of Salt, they put themselves under tribute to foreign kings. John 19:15“But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priest answered, We have no king but Caesar.

Conclusion of Jewish Application

The conclusion is that the Jews had had lost their savor and were good for nothing. Jeremiah 13:10 This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing. They were good for nothing but to be “cast out.” Two things were to happen as a result of the Jew losing savor. 1. Physically - They were to be cast out of the land physically in 70 AD by the Roman General Titus just like the salt was cast out. 2. Spiritually – They had rejected their Messiah and were spiritually blinded (Romans 11:25).

Application to the Church

1. Christians are the salt of the earth because we are precious to God. In Jesus’ day, salt was an expensive and valued commodity. As a matter of fact, Roman soldiers were many times paid in salt, giving rise to the phrase "worth his salt."

2. Christians are like salt because they have a preserving influence. Salt was used to preserve meats, and to slow down the decaying process. So too, we as Christians should have a preserving influence on our culture.

3. Christians are like salt because they add flavor. Christians should be a "flavorful" people.  Not bores! Man, you don’t know what it means to live until you’ve been released to die! 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

4. As Christians, we are not to lose our savor (flavor) and become good for nothing. Salt must keep its "saltiness" to be of any value and to avoid being cast away. 1 Corinthians 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. How about you?  Are you worth your salt?

Matthew - Salt of the Earth

Today, we return to the text of Matthew 5:13 to discuss what it actually means when our Lord said, "Ye are the salt of the earth".

Salt of the Earth

v.13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. In this verse, we clearly see the need for contextual interpretation before any attempt can be made at application. Let’s first look at the interpretation of this verse.

Interpretation

Many will say that this verse applies to Christians. However, this verse does not apply to the Church specifically as that it has specific application to the House of Israel. He is still talking to the same people; the Jews. Sure, application can be made to the church but the interpretation has to first and foremost be given to the house of Israel.

When teachers apply it to Christians, they say things like, "Salt keeps meat from corrupting, so when we preach the gospel we keep the world from corrupting." However, in reality, just the opposite is true; we have been preaching the gospel for centuries and the world is just as corrupt as it always has been…or worse.

They go on to say that "Salt cleanses, thus we have a cleansing effect on the world." I have yet to see that in my lifetime. On the contrary, the world has crept into the Church (for the most part) and defiled it.

The Kingdom of Heaven

Again, we must keep in the forefront of our minds that this passage is in the “Sermon on the Mount” or what I prefer the “Giving of the Law”, was preached to Jewish disciples about the Kingdom of Heaven, a literal, visible kingdom on this earth in which the Jews will be the ruling nation and over which Jesus will be the King.

Again, where does the Old Testament end and the New Testament begin? The cross! Hebrews 9:16-17 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.  17  For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. Mat 26:26-29 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. So, the reference to "ye" is a reference to Israel.

Salt Covenants

So, why are the Jews called the salt of the earth? They are the salt of the earth because of God’s covenants of salt were made with them. The book of Numbers records God’s Covenant of Salt for the Aaronic priesthood. Numbers 18:19  All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto the LORD, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: it is a covenant of salt for ever before the LORD unto thee and to thy seed with thee. Also, in 2 Chronicles 13:5 Ought ye not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?

As a matter of fact, all of Israel’s offerings were accompanied by salt. Leviticus 2:13  And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.

These covenants were called perpetual in that they have no end and will stand forever. That includes into the Millennial Reign of Christ. Rabbi Moshe Yoseph Koniuchowsky said, “The term "covenant of salt" is indicative of the everlasting nature of the relationship between the children of salt, and their Elohim Yahweh. When we hear the term salt, the understanding is that the things Yahweh addresses are eternal, enduring, never changing, and abiding forever. All salt covenants then are eternal, and eternally binding on the sons and daughters of Yisrael, regardless where they are to be found, and regardless of whether a physical temple stands on Mt. Moriyah or not.”

Lost Their Savor

Notice, but if it loses its savor or flavor. How does salt lose its savor or flavor? A Christian chemist named Morvant says that Jewish women used salt on meat to preserve it since they had no refrigeration. Salt has ways of stopping bacteria and fungus by dehydrating the meat. The women would use the salt over and over because it was an expensive commodity.

In the dehydrating process, the salt would take on the impurities from the meat. The result was that the salt would lose its ability to "preserve" because its chemical composition would change with the addition of other chemicals from the meat. The women could tell when it was no longer good or “had lost its savor” by tasting it.  Then it was thrown out because it was good for nothing.

Notice, to be trodden under foot of men. What does this mean? The women would then take the old salt that had lost its savor and throw it around their yards and pathways to keep the grass from growing. Very similar to the way we de-ice a sidewalk or road today with salt.

It is interesting that this same phrase is used to describe what they did to their Messiah and what he in return will allow to happen to them. Hebrews 10:29 “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” The phrase is also used in Luke 21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Application to the Jew

How does this apply to the Jews that Jesus is speaking to? They were the salt that he was referring to! However, they were now impure and had lost their savor! They had picked up impurities in their worship of God. Instead of sacrificing to Jehovah God according to their Covenants of Salt, they sacrificed to idols. Psalms 106:36-38  And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.  37  Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,  38  And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.

Instead of following priests in Aaron’s line according to their Covenant of Salt, they followed other priests. 1 Kings 12:28-31  Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.  29  And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.  30  And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.  31  And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.

Instead of being under a king from David’s line according to their Covenant of Salt, they put themselves under tribute to foreign kings. John 19:15“But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priest answered, We have no king but Caesar.

Conclusion of Jewish Application

The conclusion is that the Jews had had lost their savor and were good for nothing. Jeremiah 13:10 This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing. They were good for nothing but to be “cast out.”

Two things were to happen as a result of the Jew losing savor.

1. Physically - They were to be cast out of the land physically in 70 AD by the Roman General Titus just like the salt was cast out.

2. Spiritually – They had rejected their Messiah and were spiritually blinded (Romans 11:25).

Why Do Bad Things Happen - Part 3

We are continuing our theme today in regards to suffering, and more specifically, why God allows bad things to happen.

Fourth, God allows bad things to happen to demonstrate His chastening. Chastening is defined as the inflicting of suffering for purposes of moral improvement or a recalling to duty. The writer of Hebrews says in Hebrews 12:5-8, “…My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.” The very fact that God does indeed chasten us is proof that we are His children!

Think about it for a moment. I’m not going to chastise your children. They are not mine, but yours. It’s your responsibility to correct them when they go astray because they belong to you! As Christians, we belong to God. Therefore, as His children, he chastises us because we are His! Why does God do this? - Because He loves us.

Hebrews 12:9-11 says, “Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”

God wants us to be partakers of his holiness and to yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness. That’s impossible without chastening. God wants us to be perfect (complete). It says in Matthew 5:48, “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” And in Colossians 1:28, “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” That’s quite an expectation!

It reminds me of Job when he went through his ordeal. In the end, he came out repentant when he said, “I know that thou canst do everything, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

When our suffering is at the hand of God’s chastening rod, we should come out the same way: repentant and closer to what God wants of us. It says in 2 Peter 3:9 that the “…Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” God’s chastening is designed to bring about repentance in our lives.

Why Do Bad Things Happen? - Part 2

We are continuing our theme today in regards to suffering, and more specifically, why God allows bad things to happen.

To Demonstrate His Grace

Second, God also allows bad things to happen to demonstrate His grace. A great example of this is found in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 when the Apostle Paul prayed three times that God would take away some type of illness that he called a “thorn in the flesh”. God’s response was simply, “No!” He told him, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” While Satan is the one who gave Paul the thorn in the flesh, God allowed it to happen in order to demonstrate the sufficiency of his grace. Paul eventually got to the place where he rejoiced more in the infirmity than in the healing because of the strength of God’s grace.

To Demonstrate His Works

Third, God allows bad things to happen to demonstrate His works. John 9:32-33 says, Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing. Here is a guy who was allowed to be born blind and live blind into adulthood merely for God’s glory. God demonstrated his ability to heal this blind man; something only God could do. This man had to wait a long time for God to reveal what He was doing, but was it ever worth the wait!

It also reminds me of the story of Lazarus. John 11:1-4 says, Now a certain [man] was sick, [named] Lazarus, of Bethany,…Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard [that], he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. God allowed Lazarus to die so that that He could resurrect him in front of many witnesses and receive the glory!

The conclusion is that God created us for a reason. Those who fail to grasp this fail. We were created for a reason and for a purpose. Isa 43:7  Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. 1 Co 10:31  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Once we realized why we are here…we glorify God and we enjoy God. That’s we those who have not come to this reality are miserable. Psa 86:12  I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.

"We are cruel to ourselves. We try to live in this world without knowing about the God whose world it is and Who runs it. The world becomes a strange, mad, painful place, and life in it a disappointing and unpleasant business, for those who do not know about God. Disregard the study of God, and you sentence yourself to stumble and blunder through life blindfolded, as it were, with no sense of direction and no understanding of what surrounds you. In this way you can waste your life and lose your soul.” - J.I. Packer (Knowing God)

Why Do Bad Things Happen? - Part 1

Why do bad things happen? In answering this question, I realize that there are many who have suffered a great deal of unexplainable troubles in this life and who, to this day, cannot figure out why. My attempt to answer this question is in no way intended to minimize the trouble many have endured. Nor is it to accuse you of some great wrongdoing in order to hurt you even more. I’m just going to look in the Bible to see what it says about this subject. I believe these passages will explain many bad things that happen, but not all. There is still a devil and he is pretty busy. God allows bad things to happen for numerous reasons that I can find in the Bible.

To Demonstrate His Power

First, they happen so that God can demonstrate His power. A great example of this is found in the Bible in regards to the Egyptian captivity that the Israelites suffered for over four hundred years (Exodus 1-14). In speaking of this, the Apostle Paul said in Romans 9:17, “For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth."

In essence, God allowed Pharaoh and the Egyptians to enslave the Israelites so that His power could be demonstrated in their deliverance. The longer Pharaoh hardened his heart and refused to let the people go, the more opportunity that God had to display His power to not only the Egyptians, but to the Israelites as well. The bottom line is that we may have to endure something bad NOW (I.e. the Jewish captivity in Egypt), so that God can be allowed to demonstrate His power LATER.

As matter of fact, later when Israel had already been delivered from the Egyptians, they came to the city of Jericho and met a harlot named Rahab who told them, “I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that [were] on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. And as soon as we had heard [these things], our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he [is] God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.” Joshua 2:9-11

God, no doubt, allows bad things to happen to prove His power, not only in our lives, but also in the lives of others. And when God’s power is displayed, God is magnified.          

Does God Allow Suffering?

Revelation 2:10 says, “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Jesus is telling this Church of Smyrna that they are about to suffer persecution. Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:12, "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."

I guess the question should be, “Is it in God’s plan that Christians suffer?” The answer is, “Yes.” That cannot be denied. I often hear Christians say "Satan, we bind you in the name of Jesus!" But we must understand something. Just because you want to bind him does not automatically mean that God wants to bind him. Sometimes God does allow Satan to do things out of his sovereignty that we cannot stop. Jesus told the Church of Smyrna to be faithful unto death!

The Example of Job

First, I think of the story of Job in the Old Testament. In Job 1:6-12 it says, “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them…And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side?...And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.” Did God allow Job to suffer? Yes.

The Example of Peter

Second, I think of Peter in the New Testament. Jesus said to Peter in Luke 22:31-32, “…Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." Notice that Jesus did not pray that Peter would be delivered from the “sifting” that was to come, but that his faith would not fail him when it was over.

The Example of Paul

Third, I also think of Paul the apostle said in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9, "…there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Wouldn't it have been great if Job, Peter, and Paul could have all just have bound Satan and averted their suffering? Job would have never had such a horrible time by losing everything he owned, his children, and his bodily suffering. Peter could have avoided his three denials. Paul could have escaped the thorn in his flesh. But that was not in God’s plan for their lives.

James said in James 1:2-4, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations (various trials); Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” God used their suffering to perfect them. Maturity in the faith comes with the realization that God often allows Satan to buffet us for His divine purposes.

Conclusion

Finally, notice that the Christians in Smyrna were promised that if they were faithful in their testing and persevered unto death that they would receive the crown of life. The Bible speaks of five crowns that can be received based upon their faithfulness in this life. The Imperishable Crown spoken of in 1 Corinthians 9:25, Crown of Rejoicing spoken of in 1 Thessalonians 2:19, Crown of Righteousness spoken of in 2 Timothy 4:8, Crown of Life spoken of here in Revelation 2:10 and in James 1:12, and the fifth crown is the Crown of Glory that is given to pastors spoken of in 1 Peter 5:4.

And what will we do with them when we get them? Rev 4:4, 10-11  And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Matthew - Blessed are the Persecuted

In today's study from Matthew 5:10, we take a look at when the Old Testament ended and when the New Testament began and also are reminded that those who live Godly in Christ will be persecuted.

Blessed are the Persecuted

vv.10-12 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Jesus was persecuted from the time of his birth to the time of his death. He promised the same for those who would follow him! Jesus said in Matthew 10:34-39Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

We see others in the Bible who were also persecuted for believing in Jesus such as the Blind Man in Joh 9:33-34 when he told the religious leaders after his healing that if this man were not of God, he could do nothing. Their response sadly was that he was born altogether in sins, who was he to try to teach them, and he was promptly thrown out of the synagogue. The promise is that those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake would indeed receive the kingdom of heaven. Jesus even went as far as to tell them that they are rejoice in the face of persecution (cf. Luke 6:27-36).

Christian Application

Christians are also asked in Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? The answer is, none of these things.

Also in 2 Tim 3:12 we are told that all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. If you are living a Godly life, you will indeed suffer for it. No way around it.

Hast thou no scar?  No hidden scar on foot, or side, or hand?  I hear thee sung as mighty in the land, I hear them hail thy bright ascendant star, Hast thou no scar?  Hast thou no wound?  Yet I was wounded by the archers, spend, Leaned Me against a tree to die; and rent, By ravening beasts that compassed Me, I swooned: Hast thou no wound?  No wound, no scar?  Yet, as the Master shall the servant be, And, pierced are the feet that follow Me; But thine are whole: can he have followed far Who has no wounds nor scar?