ROMANS 6

 Paul asked if believers should continue sinning if salvation was based in God's free grace alone; but of course he said NO, because if believers were dead to sin then how shall they continue in it? Believers are baptized with Christ at His death and now identify with Him (in death and resurrection), and therefore, they "walk in newness of life."

Paul described how a believer's old nature (old man) "was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin." And if they died with Christ, they live with Him, too, because death no longer has control over Him. "...He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God."

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

He explained that to whomever or whatever they obeyed, that was whom or what they were slaves to, "whether sin leading to death, or obedience (to God) leading to righteousness." But praise God that they had been set free from sin because they obeyed the correct teaching. Now they are slaves of righteousness, that they may continue living in righteousness towards holiness.

Paul reminded them that there was no fruit in being slaves of sin, but death. But now they will have fruit of holiness and everlasting life. 

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

COMMENTARY 

Justification is an act and takes place immediately when you trust Christ. You are declared righteous and the guilt of and penalty for your sins are removed; and sanctification is a work, which God began in you and continues throughout your lifetime, removing the love, growth, and power of sin. 

In this chapter, Paul demonstrated how God takes a sinner and makes him holy. When Jesus becomes our Lord and Master, He gives us freedom from -- but not license to -- sin. 

Justification does not make a person good, but instead declares him righteous before God. So if God declares you righteous, He is going to work in you to help you stop living in sin. You cannot continue in sin because God is going to remove that power of sin. Believers still struggle with sin because they are still in their earthly bodies, but they will feel a change towards their sin; that is the power of the God working in them to overcome their sin. 

When Paul talked about baptism, he meant identity. Believers now identify with Christ. When Christ was crucified, the sins of believers were on Christ. But if you are not saved, then your sins are still on you, and you will be judged for them. Christ already took the penalty for sins of those who trust Him as Savior. Therefore, those who identify with Christ, are now living in His likeness. 

Believers who come to Christ as Savior must present or yield themselves to God for service. Even our sin nature must be yielded to God. Believe that God can do it and let Him live through you. Be obedient and live to Christ. How? Start by confessing your sin and weaknesses. 

According to McGee, there are only three ways to live: by the Law, license, or liberty. We cannot keep the Law, license, whose only fruit is shame, always leads to death, but liberty is the way to live free from sin and obedient to Christ. 

 

ROMANS 5

 Because believers have been justified by faith, they have peace with God through Jesus, having access to God in grace, and can rejoice in hope. And also they can rejoice in trials because trials produce perseverance, character, and hope because the love of God has been poured out in their hearts by the Holy Spirit...

Even while sinners were still weak, Christ died for the ungodly. Most people would not die for a righteous man or good man, but Jesus died while man was still sinning. Because of His blood, believers are justified and rescued from God's wrath. 

For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Because of Adam (the one man), sin (the offense) entered the world along with death, which spread to all men, and that offense resulted in condemnation. But through the One Man's righteous act and His obedience, this resulted in justification of life for many.

The Law entered that offense might abound, but where sin abounded, grace abounded much more; sin reigned in death, but grace reigns through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

COMMENTARY

In this chapter, Paul is telling believers that what Christ did on the cross "...delivers us from the guilt of sin...we will not come before God for judgment...an eternal home is waiting for those who have trusted Christ." 

But what about the present?

When a believer comes to Christ, these are his benefits:

1. Peace with God! No more alienation from God. No more guilt from sin!

2. Access to God in prayer. Go directly to Him!

3. Hope in God's promises and future!

4. Triumph in trials! Trials bring us into a closer and deeper relationship with God, and that brings joy and peace and patience and character and more hope!

5. Love of God brought to believers by the Holy Spirit who was given to them.

6. The Holy Spirit...our Helper! Again, He makes the love of God very concrete in a believer's heart. 

SIDEBAR: Imagine this: Jesus died for the ungodly -- His enemies, those who hated Him! Also, God did not save you with His love. He is holy and righteous, which means He must judge unrighteousness. Instead, God saves people by His grace, through faith. He loved you enough to send His Son to die for you, and that is how God demonstrates His love. When the guilt of sin was removed (through Christ's sacrifice on the cross), then He accepts repentant sinners. 

7. Deliverance from God's wrath. Believers are free from the penalty of sin. 

8. JOY in the Lord! Right now!! 

These are the benefits Paul described for those who enjoy salvation. 

SANCTIFICATION OF SAINTS

Justification is when a person is declared righteous at the moment of salvation. However, there is a process to make a person righteous by causing him or her to grow in grace and become sanctified (set apart) for God. 

Adam disobeyed God and sin entered the world, and with it death. This is how we all became sinners: 

1. We commit sin.

2. We are sinners by nature.

3. We are in a state of sin.

4. We are sinners by imputation because Adam was the federal headship of the human race.

Adam's sin was imputed to us. All mankind is lost, even little babies and civilizations of people on remote islands who never heard the gospel. All people are alienated from God. People don't want to be saved. 

But Christ is the federal head of "the new race of redeemed man, and the church is His body, a new creation."

DEATH

There are three terms of death: 

1. Physical means the body, a separation of spirit and body. 

2. Spiritual means separation from and rebellion against God, alienated from God, and dead in trespasses and sins.

3. Eternal death is eternal separation from God unless man is redeemed. 

Finally, the way sin is imputed from Adam through mankind is the same way righteousness is imputed from Christ to believers. Adam's disobedience made us all sinners with a sin nature, guilty of sin; but Christ's obedience (death and resurrection) made a way for God to declare believers righteous before Him. 

The Kingdom has been established on the cross of Christ. All other ways are sinking sand. 

DON'T BE THIS GUY

 

ROMANS 4

 Father Abraham was not justified in his flesh/works or else he could boast about himself, but not before God. Rather, the Scriptures say, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."

Those who work, his wages are as a debt to be paid. But those who trust in Christ (who justifies the ungodly) his faith is equal to righteousness. Even David, who was under the Law, said: 

Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin.

Paul then asked if the blessing was only for the circumcised? No, because Abraham believed while he was uncircumcised. Faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness because he believed God's promise. Therefore, he received the "seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised..."

The promise that Abraham would be heir of the world was not to him or his seed through the Law but through faith that it might be of grace for all, whether of the Law or outside the Law. Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah's womb was barren, yet, he still believed God's promise that from him would come nations of people. And his faith was strengthened. 

The promise of imputation was not for Abraham alone, but for us who believe that Jesus died for our sin and that God raised Him up from the dead.

COMMENTARY

In this chapter, Paul used Abraham, Father of the Hebrew nation, and David, the greatest Hebrew king, to demonstrate that man is a sinner, and God provided a righteousness for sinners and justification by faith. Faith was God's only requirement. Abraham was justified by faith before the Law, and David sang of justification by faith under the Law.

Any good works Abraham had done did not aid in his salvation, but were the result of his salvation, being justified by faith. For example, when he offered up his son Isaac in obedience to God's command. This was a work of faith, not flesh. 

Abraham believed in his heart that God told the truth...[His] faith was not an act, but an attitude. His heart was turned completely away from himself to God and His promise. 

 David could never be saved by the Law because David was a sinner, and he was chastened; but he knew the Lord would put away his sin. So even with the Law, David could not be saved. 

Back to Abraham, he was justified by faith in the resurrection -- life from the dead. Abraham believed God's promise to raise up a son out of the tomb of death, or the womb of Sarah. God raised up His own Son out of the tomb. Sarah's womb was like a tomb. But God brought out of it life. 

In Christ's death, He paid our debt; in His resurrection, He took out our acquittance.

Renáta Fucíková, Czech, 1964

ROMANS 3

What advantage did one have being Jewish or circumcised? A lot! For one, they had the Word of God. And if a circumcised Jew did not believe? It did not negate the faithfulness of God. 

Nonetheless, all men, both Jew and Greek, have sinned. And it was written;

There is none righteous, no not one; there is none who understand; there is non who seeks after god, they have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is non who does good, no, not one. Their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues they have practiced deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips; whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known. there is no fear of God before their eyes.

The law is for those under the law, and no man will be justified because the law brings the knowledge of sin. 

But now God's righteousness through Jesus is revealed, as told previously by the Law and the Prophets, to all those who believe. 

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness...

No one can boast now because man is justified by faith, not works of the law. God is also the God of the Gentiles because there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.  

COMMENTARY

Paul asked what good circumcision was. It was an advantage to have God's word, and it meant Jews had a responsibility, as an outward sign to demonstrate to the world who God is. Paul noted that Israel's faithlessness did not revoke His future promises to them. Because the Jews failed, it does not mean God failed.

God judges sin and all mankind is under sin. Man is a sinner by his actions, man is a sinner by nature, man is a sinner by imputation; and man is under sin. 

Being righteous means to be right. To be right with God means to receive His plan for salvation. 

No one is the person he wants to be and no one seeks for God. Some time ago, God tolerated man's ignorance, but those times are gone. All men must repent now because God is no longer tolerating man's lack of knowledge.

Man has left the right way. Even primitive civilizations had an understanding of living rightly. Somewhere, man took a detour. 

Man is unprofitable (rotten)!

No one does good. Not one! If we saw ourselves the way God does, we would be disgusted, too. 

Man's mouth abounds with cursing, deceit, and fraud, and is full of mischief and vanity. He is attracted to evil. Everything in his wake is destruction and misery. He does not understand how to make peace. And he has no fear of God. 

Bottom line: man cannot attain righteousness through the Mosaic Law. The Law is only good to reveal man as the sinner that he is. 

THE GOOD NEWS

God demands and then provides the righteousness for us, through Christ -- apart from the Law.  

That righteousness which the Father required, the Son became, and the Holy Spirit convinces of, and faith secures. - Dr. Brooks

The object of our faith is Christ. His blood and merit save us. By His grace we are saved. 

It is FAITH IN HIS BLOOD (His life --). The life of the flesh is in the blood. 

ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS COME (TO CHRIST). IF YOU COME, HE SAVES YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY, ABUNDANTLY. HE ACCEPTS US (not the other way around).

Finally, God gave the Jews the Law. Obviously, they could not keep the Law, which was why there had to be a sacrifice (of a lamb), which was provided in faith. The sacrifice always pointed to the coming Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who would be the propitiation for sin. And today, this is how we are saved, through faith in His sacrifice.

Paul Writing His Epistles - 1618-20

 

ROMANS 2

 Paul said that man has no excuse to judge others because however he judges, he too can be judged. But God's judgment is always right. Do not think you will escape His judgment. 

Paul asked if they (the church at Rome) thought so little of God's kindness, sufferance, and patience, which leads man to repentance? But because of man's hard heart, he is storing up punishment in the day of God's wrath. 

God will reward those (who do right) with eternal life, seeking glory, honor, and immortality; but God will punish those who are self-seeking, disobey truth with indignation, wrath, tribulation, and anguish. Only those who do what is right will be justified, for the Jew first and also the Greek. 

There is no partiality with God.

The Gentiles, who sin without the law will perish without the law; they do things by nature and are a law unto themselves, though the law was written on their hearts. However, the Jews have the law, boast in God, know His will, are a guide to others, and have knowledge and truth in the law. But they are hypocrites! They steal, commit adultery, and commit adultery. They dishonor God by breaking His law and mislead the Gentiles. 

Circumcision, if the law is honored, is worthy; but is nothing if the law is broken. If an uncircumcised men keeps the law, is he not counted as circumcised? And can he judge the circumsized? It is as if he were a Jew on the inside because circumcision is of the heart -- in the spirit, not the law -- whose praise comes from God.

COMMENTARY

In this chapter, overall, Paul is not referring to salvation, but how God will judge men accordingly because of their sins. 

First of all, rejection of Jesus is immediate judgment from God. Paul told the Jews that they may be religious and have the law, or you may be Greek and be a "good person," but without Christ, all will be lost. 

Now, when man judges others, he is acting as judge. Paul said that when man judges, he is using his own  standards. But God says that He has the right to judge man by His standards. And God's standards are right. Therefore, judgment using God's standards without Christ will be dreadful. 

God is good and His goodness should humble us. The wicked will face God's wrath. 

God will also judge believers according to their works. First, believers will receive the gift of eternal life, but then the works they do as a believer will be judged. "Men are not saved by the light they have; they are judged by the light they have." And Jews will be held to a higher standard because they had an advantage over the Gentiles.

Circumcision was part of the Mosaic system like baptism of the church. It is an outward expression, but it is useless if a person does not demonstrate evidence of belief or salvation. 

If man were judged by his own standards...

 

ROMANS 1

Paul addressed the Christians in Rome. He referred to himself as "called to be an apostle" and "separated to the gospel of God," which he noted was "promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead." 

Whew.

And then he added that so too were the recipients of this letter "called of Jesus Christ" and "called to be saints."

Paul also told them that he prayed always for them and was seeking a way to come to them. He often tried to come but "was hindered" by the Spirit though he is ready to preach the gospel to them and all in Rome.  He declared, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes..." 

The just shall live by faith.

Then he talked about the wrath of God. God has revealed Himself to men in creation, "His invisible attributes are clearly seen"...and are "without excuse." But man suppresses the truth and is ungrateful, so that their "foolish hearts were darkened." Man proclaims to be wise, but he is a fool. He even worships created things instead of God. 

Therefore, God permits them to worship the lust of their hearts by dishonoring themselves with one another and exchanging the truth for a lie. God gives them over to their abominable passions for the same sex so that they suffer the consequences. 

Because they do not want to know God, He gives them over to their perverted mindset and to continue practicing these wicked thoughts and behaviors:

• filled with unrighteousness
• sexual immorality
• wickedness
• covetousness
• maliciousness
• full of envy 
• murder
• strife
• deceit
• evil
• gossip
• backbiters
• hating God
• violent
• proud
• boasting
• inventing evil ideas
• disobedient to parents
• undiscerning
• untrustworthy
• unloving
• unforgiving
• unmerciful

And this goes for those who may not practice such behaviors, but encourage and defend those who do.

COMMENTARY

According to McGee, the Book of Romans teaches the total depravity of man who is "irrecoverably and hopelessly lost." Man has no righteousness of his own apart from God's righteousness. Man does not pursue God, nor does he understand God. God will never force us to serve Him; we must come willingly. It is His decision to call us, and He will only use those whom He calls.

The gospel was promised by the prophets from the Old Testament. God loves mankind and provides a way to save mankind. It is a loving relationship with Him. He loves us and gave Himself for us. "Grace is God's method of salvation." 

THE CALLED/ELECT

The called are the elect. They are the ones who have heard the call. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27). "He calls, and you answer. If you have answered, you are among the elect, one of the called of Jesus Christ." These are called saints, ones set apart for Him. Saints exalt Jesus Christ, when He becomes their Savior. It is not our behavior that makes us a saint, but rather our faith in Jesus Christ. Are you set apart for Him? 

Paul was not ashamed of the gospel because it has the power of God unto salvation, and he was obliged to God and the world to share the good news, which he received from God. The gospel is to everyone, regardless of who. It is personal and individual --- "whosoever will may come." Open to all, but limited by those who will believe.

According to Dr. Stifler: the effect of the gospel = salvation; the extent of the gospel = worldwide, everyone; and the condition of the gospel = faith in Jesus Christ.

The just shall live by faith: "God places a lost sinner in Christ, and He see him in Christ. The believer is absolutely accepted because of what Christ has done for him. The only method of procuring this righteousness is by faith." Justification (by faith) is when a sinner trusts Christ and may stand before God complete in Christ and His righteousness. 

THE WRATH OF GOD

As per McGee, the wrath of God is God's feeling about sin, not His punishment of sin. It is His holy anger. When we die, we will experience God's righteousness or His wrath. 

By the way, man is not improving himself, nor is he improving the world. Man is moving further from God. Man has knowledge of God, but he turns away from God. Paul lists what man was up to in his time, and it is still true today. 

• Man does not glorify God
• Is ungrateful
• Is vain
• Foolish heart is darkened
• Thinks he is wise, but is really a fool
• worships creation instead of the Creator

Man has hardened his heart against God and God has relinquished him over to his depraved practices, passions of dishonor, disgrace, depravity, and gross immorality. Even those who promote these bahviors will be condemned. 

Paul Writing Epistle to the Romans 

 

LUKE 24

 On the first day of the week, in the early morning, the women went (with the prepared spices) to the tomb and found it empty. The body of Jesus Christ was not there. Instead two men in shining garments stood by, and the women were afraid. The men asked why they sought the living among the dead. "He is not here, but is risen!" They reminded them that He said the Son of Man would be delivered and crucified and rise the third day. And they remembered. 

The women told the disciples, but they thought they were "idle tales." However, Peter ran to the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying by themselves, marveling at what happened.

Meanwhile, two men were walking from Jerusalem when Jesus joined them in conversation, asking what they were discussing. One of them asked how He could not know what had happened. And they explained to Him about Jesus who did mighty deeds, how the religious rulers condemned Him to death and crucified Him. They had expected Him to redeem Israel, and now women in their company reported His body was missing from the tomb and that they saw angels who said He was alive. 

Jesus called them foolish because they had not believed the prophets: that Jesus had to suffer these things to enter into His glory, such as the things spoken of from Moses and all the prophets, in the Scriptures. 

Jesus stayed with them awhile and broke bread with them, and as their eyes were opened, they realized it was Him, but He vanished. They declared that their hearts had burned within them while He opened the Scriptures to them. They immediately returned to Jerusalem and told the eleven disciples, 

He is risen indeed! 

Suddenly, Jesus appeared to them all in the room, saying, "Peace to you." They were afraid, and Jesus asked why they had doubts in their hearts. "Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have." Then they ate with Him.

Jesus told them that the things that happened were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Him. 

And He opened their understanding that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

He told them that it was necessary for Him to suffer and rise from the dead the third day and that "repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." 

Then He sent them to Jerusalem to await the promise and power of the Holy Spirit. He walked with them until Bethany, blessed them, and then ascended to heaven. They worshipped Him and continued to Jerusalem with great joy. 

COMMENTARY

"The Bible can only be divinely understood. Human intellect is simply not enough to comprehend its truths." The Lord opened their understanding (of the Scriptures) that they might understand. In 1 Cor. 2:14, Paul said, "But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." Only the Holy Spirit can make them real to us. Again, in order to understand the Bible you have to have the Holy Spirit open your mind and heart. 

The gospel message from Jesus to His disciples and to the world was that Jesus died and rose again from the dead, and that by trusting Him, sinners could be saved. The power of the Holy Spirit, through His disciples and all believers would carry the message to the ends of the earth. 

Supper at Emmaus - Stom, 1632

 

LUKE 23

The multitude took Jesus to Pilate, accusing Him of "perverting the nation" and discouraging the people from paying taxes to Caesar, which were absolute lies. They also said that Jesus claimed to be Christ, "A" King, as opposed to THE King. Thence, Pilate asked Jesus if He was King of the Jews, and Jesus said: "It is as you say."

Pilate was not threatened by Jesus and found no fault in Him, but the religious rulers were relentless. When Pilate learned that Jesus was a Galilean, he sent Jesus to Herod, hoping to relinquish himself of such judgment. Herod was glad to meet Jesus because he had heard much about Him, hoping Jesus would perform a miracle, but Jesus would not answer any of Herod's questions. Instead, Herod mocked Jesus and sent Him back to Pilate decked in a "gorgeous robe." From then on, Herod and Pilate were good buddies. 

Back in Pilate's hands, he explained to the religious rulers that he found no fault in Jesus concerning the issues they had accused Him of, and neither did Herod. He was not deserving of the death penalty. Pilate said the most he would do was chastise Jesus and let Him go. But the rulers threw a tantrum and asked for Barabbas, a murderer and a man who actually incited upheavals and rebellions. But I digress.

Again Pilate tried, but the people shouted: "Crucify Him, crucify Him!" Pilate asked, "Why? What evil has He done?" Again they insisted, and Pilate did not want a riot on his hands. Therefore, he sentenced Jesus to death, as they had demanded, and released the real rebel. 

Leading Jesus away, they had Simon bear Jesus' cross. A multitude of women followed and cried out to Him, but Jesus told them, "Daughters of Jerusalem (as a message directly to Jerusalem), do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, 'Blessed are the barren...!' Then they will begin to say to the mountain, 'Fall on us!' and to the hills, 'Cover us!' "

Then they crucified Jesus. The soldiers divided His garments, cast lots, and mocked Him, while people stood looking on. Even the rulers mocked Him: "He saved others; let Him save Himself, if He is the Christ, the chosen of God." Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." They also added an inscription over Him, in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS, kind of mocking the Jewish nation, as well. 

Two criminals were nailed to crosses, one on either side of Jesus. One of the criminals blasphemed Jesus and told Him to save Himself and them. But the other criminal rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? We are indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." Then he asked Jesus to remember him in His kingdom. Therefore, Jesus assured him that "...today you will be with Me in Paradise." 

Then there was darkness over the earth and the veil of the temple was torn in two. Jesus cried out, "Father, into You hands I commit My spirit," and breathed His last breath. 

Joseph, a council member of the Sanhedrin, asked Pilate for the body of Christ, took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a new tomb in the rock. The women had watched and observed where He was laid, returned to prepare spices for His body for the next day, but first they rested on the Sabbath.

COMMENTARY

The religious rulers knew they could not convince the Roman governor Pilate to punish Jesus with death for breaking Mosaic Law; therefore, they accused Him of treason against Rome. But even Pilate did not buy it. 

Regarding the women whom Jesus called "Daughters of Jerusalem": Jesus did not want their (or our) sympathy; He wanted their (and our) faith. Instead, He warned of the coming Tribulation when it will be better for one to not have children, particularly for Jerusalem. 

The sign above Jesus on the cross is actually accurate because the Hebrew represented religion, the Greek represented knowledge, and the Latin represented the law. When Jesus returns to set up His kingdom, He will truly be our political ruler, educational ruler, and spiritual ruler of the world. Forever. 

About the thieves on the cross: both were arrested, tried, and punished for theft. There was no difference. Both were not fit to live, according to Roman law. But one thief had faith to believe that the Lord Jesus would set up a kingdom, after His death. Whether he understood that before the cross or figured it out while hanging there for a few hours...the point is, that day, he believed and the other did not. And he was saved and changed immediately.

Notice that Jesus GAVE UP His life (His spirit). He did not struggle to death; He yielded His spirit to God. 

The Crucifixion - Fra Angelico, 1423 

 

LUKE 22

 It was the Passover, and the chief priests and scribes sought how to kill Jesus. Satan had entered Judas, and he approached the religious rulers with a plot to betray Him (away from the multitudes), which they agreed to pay him for.

At the Passover meal, Jesus met with His twelve disciples in the upper room and said He longed to eat with them before He suffered, and that He will "no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."

Then He gave thanks and broke bread, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." He also took the cup, gave thanks, and said, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which i sshed for you."

Then Jesus announced that His betrayer was with them at the table, and they all questioned which one it was. Next, they argued over who will be greatest in heaven, to which Jesus explained that the Gentiles act this way, but not so for His disciples. "Let...he who governs as he who serves." Jesus also told them that He is bestowing a kingdom upon them, and they will sit on thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. 

Jesus told Peter that He prayed for him because Satan was pursuing him, but Peter said he was ready to die for his Lord; Jesus told him that before the rooster crows, Peter will deny he knows Jesus three times. 

Jesus also told them to prepare for a long journey and what they need, including a sword for protection. 

For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me! And He was numbered with the transgressors. For the things concerning Me have an end. 

Next, they went to the Mount of Olives, and Jesus sat a ways from His disciples to pray, asking His Father to remove the cup from Him; "nevertheless, not my will, but Yours, be done." He was administered to angels to strengthen Him. He was in agony and sweat drops of blood. Then He saw His disciples sleeping, and He told them to pray lest they enter into temptation. 

Judas then showed up with a multitude and betrayed Jesus with a kiss. One of the disciples struck a servant of the high priest with a sword and cut off his ear. But Jesus healed his ear. Jesus pointed out that the multitude came with clubs and spears when He taught in the temple daily and they did not try to seize Him then; but they preferred the cover of darkness. 

They arrested Jesus and took Him to the high priest and Peter followed them. It was then that he was identified as a follower of Jesus by three people and denied the accusations, realizing that he did exactly as the Lord said. Then Peter wept bitterly in sorrow. 

Meanwhile, Jesus was mocked and beat. They blindfolded Him and struck Him and blasphemed Him. They asked Him if He was the Christ, but He knew they would not believe what He said. They asked again, and He said, "You rightly say that I am." And that was enough for them. 

COMMENTARY

Note that Jesus used two of the most delicate elements as symbols of His body and blood. Bread and wine will spoil in a few days. When we eat of these, we remember what He did on the cross.

Some believe that Judas left before the institution of the Lord's Supper, and McGee believes this to be correct. Luke does not give a chronological order of events. During the supper, when Jesus announced that one of them would betray Him, they all knew they were capable of doing so, and questioned who. We are all capable of doing so; if it were not for the Lord to keep us.

And not only were they inclined to betrayal, but they also wanted to know who would be greater in heaven. Jesus set them straight with His example of being a servant. He even took our place on the cross. He served mankind, and He set the table of salvation and invited us. For His apostles, they will sit on thrones and judge the tribes of Israel. 

All believers will have a responsibility in heaven, but it will be according to our works on earth. We are all given talents, abilities, and gifts at the time of salvation, and what we do with these gifts will determine how we are rewarded in heaven. It is not a judgement, nor is it a determinant of salvation. It is a reward for faithfulness with the gifts God bestowed in our care. 

When Jesus prayed that God would remove the cup from Him, it was not that He was afraid to die, but it was the repulsion of the cup He was about to drink, the repulsion of our sin. If we only knew how much so, we would understand the weight of this punishment. 

Jesus died for our eternal liberty. He loved a lost world so much that He went to hell itself to offer mankind salvation. And the world rejects Him. Why? 

After His illegal arrest in the cover of night without a true charge, the religious rulers put Him in the authority of the soldiers who cruelly mistreated Him. In the end, the Sanhedrin wanted Him condemned for admitting to be the Christ. Although, once in Roman hands, the charge was to be changed. How convenient. 

Jesus About to be Struck in Front of Former High Priest Annas - Madrazo, 1803

 

LUKE 21

 Jesus was in the temple when he observed the rich and a poor woman giving to the treasury. The rich gave out of their abundance and the poor woman gave out of her poverty all the livelihood that she had. 

His disciples remarked about the beautifully adorned temple, and Jesus replied that one day "these things which you see --- the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down." His disciples asked when will this happen?

Jesus warned them not to be deceived, "For many will come in My name saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time has drawn near.' Therefore do not go after them. But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately." 

Nation will rise against nation...there will be great earthquakes...and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you...wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. You will be betrayed even by parents...and friends; and they will put some of you to death. And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But not a hair of your head shall be lost. By your patience possess your souls. 

But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near...For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled...And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 

 Then Jesus talked about His Second Coming: There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and in the sea and of the nations on earth, there will be great distress. Men's hearts will fail from fear and expectation of those things, "for the powers of heaven will be shaken."

Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and life your heads, because your redemption draws near. 

 Next, Jesus used the parable of the fig tree: when they are budding, you know that summer is near. So when you see the things He just described happening, the kingdom of God is near. 

Heaven and earth will pass away but My words will by no means pass away.

He warned again not to be distracted with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this world because that Day will come unexpectedly. 

Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.

COMMENTARY

Regarding the rich giving to the treasury out of their abundance and the poor woman giving all of her livelihood, God looks at the sacrifice and how much we keep back for ourselves. 

Then the disciples wanted to direct His attention to the wealth and value of the temple. But Jesus wanted them to know that it would all be gone. So they asked when.

This section of Luke corresponds with the Olivet Discourse in Matthew and Mark. In Matthew's and Mark's gospels, the question posed was "What is the sign of Your coming?" and "the end of the age?" In Luke's gospel, he emphasizes that "there shall not be left one stone upon another," which is the destruction of Jerusalem. The question: when shall these things be (no stone left upon another), is no longer prophecy but history. This occurred in A. D. 70.

Some of the disciples present to hear the answer to the question would have likely still be alive these 40 years later to see the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus and would remember Jesus' words. (Of course, this similar destruction will occur in the Great Tribulation period, too, after the temple is rebuilt.)

Jesus described the characteristics of the times, and even now: there will be false Christs, wars, famines, illnesses, earthquakes, and fearful sights from heaven, which will probably intensify as we get closer to Jesus' coming. 

Then Jesus said, regarding the nation Israel and persecutions, "...they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prison..." which did happen to the disciples. 

And the betrayal by parents and family and friends...hated by all men for my name's sake, McGee said this verse refers to the 144,000 Jews who will be indestructible during the time of the Great Tribulation Period. I did not confirm. 

From the time of the first destruction of the temple (and likely before) we have been living in the times of the Gentiles. When those times are fulfilled, Jesus will return. But just before then, there will be great signs in the sky and great distress on earth. Again, this will be during the Great Tribulation.

The Destruction of the Temple - Colman, 1835