WE CONTINUE WITH THE SYNOPTIC VIEW OF THE TESTIMONY OF SAINT MATTHEW CONCERNING THE LIFE OF CHRIST. Christ commissions his 12 apostles to go into the world teaching the truth, with instructions. He then warns them of the worldwide demonic conspiracy USING COMPROMISED MEN AND WOMEN IN POSITIONS OF POWER against Christians and the faith, which would be a dual prophecy on the apostle’s time and in the last day’s tribulation.

SAINT MATTHEW CHAPTER 10 SYNOPSIS:

JESUS CALLED HIS TWELVE DISCIPLES AND GAVE THEM POWER AGAINST UNCLEAN SPIRITS, TO CAST THEM OUT, TO HEAL ALL MANNER OF SICKNESS AND ALL MANNER OF DISEASE.

NOW THE NAMES OF THE TWELVES APOSTLES ARE THESE: THE FIRST, SIMON, WHO IS CALLED PETER, AND ANDREW HIS BROTHER;

JAMES THE SON OF ZEBEDEE, AND JOHN HIS BROTHER.

PHILIP AND BARTHOLOMEW; THOMAS, AND MATTHEW THE PUBLICAN (TAX COLLECTOR); JAMES THE SON OF ALPHAEUS, AND LEBAEUS, WHOSE SURNAME WAS THADDEUS. SIMON THE CANAANITE, AND JUDAS ISCARIOT, WHO ALSO BETRAYED HIM.

(COMMENTARY: I FIND IT VERY INTERESTING THAT CHRIST CHOSE “REGULAR” GUYS TO BE HIS DISCIPLES. EVEN MORE FASCINATING IS HIS SELECTION OF “SIMON THE CANAANITE” TO BE ONE OF HIS TWELVE. THIS IS A TESTAMENT IN ITSELF THAT MEN CAN RISE ABOVE THEIR CULTURAL/TRADITIONAL LIMITATIONS TO TRANSCEND THE LIES OF THEIR FATHERS TO FOLLOW CHRIST. BEAUTIFUL!)

THESE TWELVE JESUS SENT FORTH AND COMMANDED THEM, SAYING, “GO NOT IN THE WAY OF THE GENTILES, AND INTO ANY CITY OF THE SAMARITANS ENTER NOT.” (REMEMBER SAMARITANS ARE A MIXTURE OF JEW AND GENTILE.)

“BUT GO RATHER TO THE LOST SHEEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL. AS YOU GO, PREACH, SAYING, THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND.”

(COMMENTARY: JESUS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. WHAT IT REALLY SAYS TO US IS, “WHAT IF YOU DIE TODAY, DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU WILL GO NEXT, AWAITING THE FINAL JUDGEMENT?” THIS IS WHY CHRIST SAID, “THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND.” ANY OF US COULD DIE TODAY, DON’T WAIT FOR THE SECOND COMING TO REPENT.”)

“HEAL THE SICK, CLEANSE THE LEPERS, RAISE THE DEAD, CAST OUT DEVILS: FREELY YOU HAVE RECEIVED, FREELY GIVE. PROVIDE NEITHER GOLD, NOR SILVER, NOR BRASS IN YOUR WALLETS. NOR SCRIP (PAPER MONEY) FOR YOUR JOURNEY, NEITHER TWO COATS, NEITHER SHOES, NOR YET STAVES (WALKING STAFFS): FOR THE WORKMAN IS WORTHY OF HIS MEAT.

“AND INTO WHATSOEVER CITY OR TOWN YOU SHALL ENTER, INQUIRE WHO IN IT IS WORTHY, AND THERE ABIDE TILL YOU GO THENCE. AND WHEN YOU COME INTO AN HOUSE, SALUTE IT. AND IF THE HOUSE BE WORTHY, LET YOUR PEACE COME UPON IT: BUT IF IT BE NOT WORTHY, LET YOUR PEACE RETURN TO YOU.

“AND WHOSOEVER SHALL NOT RECEIVE YOU, NOR HEAR YOUR WORDS, WHEN YOU DEPART OUT OF THAT HOUSE OR CITY, SHAKE OFF THE DUST OF YOUR FEET. VERILY I SAY TO YOU, IT SHALL BE MORE TOLERABLE FOR THE LAND OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH IN THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT, THAN FOR THAT CITY.”

COMMENTARY —

 

  1. WHY DOES CHRIST SAY IT SHALL BE MORE TOLERABLE FOR THE LAND OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH? BECAUSE THOSE CITIES NEVER HAD THE TESTIMONY OF PROPHETS SENT TO THEM TO TURN THEM TO REPENTANCE. THEY HAD ACCELERATED IN THEIR EVILS SO RAPIDLY THAT DESTROYING THE CITY WAS GOD’S ONLY CHOICE. HE KNEW THEY WOULD NOT HAVE LISTENED TO A PROPHET.

 

  1. NOT ONLY WAS SODOM AND GOMORRAH DESTROYED MATERIALLY, AND ITS PEOPLE INCINERATED BY FIRE AND BRIMSTONE; THEY STILL HAVE TO AWAIT THE FINAL JUDGMENT.

 

  1. THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HONEST MISSIONARIES SHAKE OFF THE DUST OF THEIR FEET AS A TESTIMONY AGAINST THEM WILL FACE GRAVER CONSEQUENCE OF JUDGMENT BY HAVING REJECTED REPENTANCE THAT CAME TO THEM WHILE IN THE FLESH.)

 

BACK TO THE WORDS OF CHRIST—

“BEHOLD I SEND YOU FORTH AS SHEEP IN THE MIDST OF WOLVES BE YOU THEREFORE WISE AS SERPENTS, AND HARMLESS AS DOVES.

BUT BEWARE OF MEN: FOR THEY WILL DELIVER YOU UP TO THE COUNCILS, AND THEY WILL SCOURGE YOU IN THEIR SYNAGOGUES. AND YOU SHALL BE BROUGHT BEFORE GOVERNORS AND KINGS FOR MY SAKE, FOR A TESTIMONY AGAINST THEM AND THE GENTILES. BUT WHEN THEY DELIVER YOU UP, TAKE NO THOUGHT HOW OR WHAT YOU SHALL SPEAK FOR IT SHALL BE GIVEN YOU IN THAT SAME HOUR WHAT YOU SHALL SPEAK. FOR IT IS NOT YOU THAT SPEAK, BUT THE SPIRIT OF YOUR FATHER WHICH SPEAKS IN YOU.

AND THE BROTHER SHALL DELIVER UP THE BROTHER TO DEATH AND THE FATHER THE CHILD: AND THE CHILDREN SHALL RISE UP AGAINST THEIR PARENTS, AND CAUSE THEM TO BE PUT TO DEATH.”

“AND YOU SHALL BE HATED OF ALL MEN FOR MY NAME’S SAKE: BUT HE THAT ENDURES TO THE END SHALL BE SAVED.

BUT WHEN THEY PERSECUTE YOU IN THIS CITY, FLEE YOU INTO ANOTHER: FOR VERILY I SAY TO YOU, YOU SHALL NOT HAVE GONE OVER THE CITIES OF ISRAEL, TILL THE SON OF MAN BE COME.”

COMMENTARY: CHRIST WAS WARNING OF THE CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION OF THE 1-2 CENTURY AD THAT WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. HE WAS ALSO MAKING A DUAL PROPHETIC REFERENCE TO THE LAST DAYS WHEN THIS PERSECUTION WOULD RETURN.WE ARE ALREADY SEEING SIGNS OF THIS END TIME PROPHETIC FULFILLMENT IN 2017.

“THE DISCIPLE IS NOT ABOVE HIS MASTER, NOR THE SERVANT ABOVE HIS LORD. IT IS ENOUGH FOR THE DISCIPLE THAT HE BE AS HIS MASTER, AND THE SERVANT AS HIS LORD. IF THEY HAVE CALLED THE MASTER OF THE HOUSE BEELZEBUB (OR SATAN), HOW MUCH MORE SHALL THEY CALL THEM OF HIS HOUSEHOLD? FEAR THEM NOT THEREFORE: FOR THERE IS NOTHING COVERED THAT SHALL NOT BE REVEALED; AND HID, THAT SHALL NOT BE KNOWN. WHAT I TELL YOU IN DARKNESS THAT SPEAK YOU IN LIGHT: AND WHAT YOU HEAR IN THE EAR THAT PREACH YOU UPON THE HOUSETOPS.”

PAY ATTENTION TO THIS! —

“AND FEAR NOT THEM WHICH KILL THE BODY, BUT ARE NOT ABLE TO KILL THE SOUL: BUT RATHER FEAR HIM WHICH IS ABLE TO DESTROY BOTH SOUL AND BODY IN HELL.”

FOR INSTANCE —

(COMMENTARY: MORE DANGEROUS THAN AN ENEMY SOLDIER WITH INTENT TO KILL THE BODY IS THE CON ARTIST TEACHER/IDOLATOR FROM VARIOUS CULTURES AND POWERS THAT TEACH LIES WHICH LEAD US PHILOSOPHICALLY AWAY FROM THE TRUTH AND PEACE IN CHRIST.  IF WE BLINDLY FOLLOW FALSE TEACHINGS THROUGH FAD, FALSE EMOTION OR ENTRANCEMENT OF THE MIND IT WILL CREATE FOR US AN EMBOSSED INVITATION TO HELL ON EARTH, AND MORE ESPECIALLY THE VERY REAL HELL OF THE AFTERLIFE!

 AN EXAMPLE OF THIS: I SPECIFICALLY REFER TO THE NEW AGE METAPHYSICAL MOVEMENT AND ITS PAGAN TEACHINGS, YET THERE ARE TOO MANY EXAMPLES OF OTHERS SO-CALLED DISCIPLINES TO CITE HERE! THE PROBLEM WITH ANY SPIRITUAL SYSTEM OUTSIDE OF CHRISTIANITY IS NOT RECOGNIZING THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST AS THE ONE GOD, CREATOR AND MASTER OF THE HUMAN SOUL. NOTHING COUNTERFEIT CAN INTERFERE WITH THAT. THE NEW AGE OR METAPHYSICAL THOUGHT ENCOMPASSES MANY BELIEFS, MOST COMMON IS THE HODGE PODGE EMBRACE OF ECUMENICAL THINKING BY BLENDING PARTS OF WORLD RELIGIONS INTO ONE MASS OF THOUGHT WORSHIP,  OFTEN PICKING AND CHOOSING WHAT ONE WANTS TO BELIEVE, MAKING THE WHOLE EXERCISE ONE OF FUTILITY, POWERLESSNESS, AND FANTASY. THOSE THAT BELIEVE IT HAS POWER ARE EXPERIENCING DEMONIC MIRACLES OF FALLEN ANGELS. THIS IS WHAT KEEPS THESE PEOPLE IN THIS STATE. PLUS ECUMENICAL BLENDING OF RELIGIONS IS THE END GOAL OF THE COMING ANTICHRIST, THUS METAPHYSICS IS A HARBINGER OF THAT SYSTEM IN THESE LAST DAYS BEFORE THE TRIBULATION. ANY THOUGHT SYSTEM THAT POINTS AWAY FROM CHRIST AS THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY IS COUNTERFEIT. ALL ONE EVER HAS TO DO IS THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATE THE FOUNDER AND GROUP OF ANY OF THESE SYSTEMS. )

CHRIST SPEAKS—

“ARE NOT TWO SPARROWS SOLD FOR A FARTHING? AND ONE OF THEM SHALL NOT FALL ON THE GROUND WITHOUT YOUR FATHER. BUT THE VERY HAIRS OF YOUR HEAD ARE ALL NUMBERED. FEAR YOU NOT THEREFORE, YOU ARE OF MORE VALUE THAN MANY SPARROWS.”

“WHOSOEVER THEREFORE SHALL CONFESS ME BEFORE MEN, HIM WILL I CONFESS ALSO BEFORE MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN. BUT WHOSOEVER SHALL DENY ME BEFORE MEN, HIM WILL I ALSO DENY BEFORE MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.

THINK NOT THAT I AM COME TO SEND PEACE ON EARTH: I CAME NOT TO SEND PEACE, BUT A SWORD.”

(COMMENTARY: DOES THAT GET YOUR ATTENTION? PLEASE ALSO REGARD THE NEXT FEW COMMENTS FROM THE MASTER—

“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: AND A MAN’S FOES SHALL BE THEY OF HIS OWN HOUSEHOLD.”

(COMMENTARY:  IS THIS STATEMENT CONTROVERSIAL OR WHAT? CHRIST WAS THE ULTIMATE REVOLUTIONARY. HE KNEW WHAT HIS MESSAGE WOULD DO TO AN EVIL WORLD. YES, HE CAME TO A DEEPLY DISTURBED SECULAR WORLD KNOWING THAT IF A MAN EMBRACED THE TRUTH IN CHRIST IT WOULD PROBABLY UPSET FOR A TIME THE OPERATIONS OF DARKNESS THAT PREVIOUSLY ENCOMPASSED THE GENERAL ATTITUDE AND OPERATIONS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD AND CIRCLE OF LIFE.

CHRIST HAD NO TOLERANCE FOR WHETHER ANYBODY WOULD BE OFFENDED BY SUCH A NEW CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE INTRODUCED INTO THEIR HOUSEHOLD. HE KNEW HIS MESSAGE WAS A SWORD THAT WOULD PUT MANY A FAMILY IN THE TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT THROES OF RESISTANCE TO CHANGE, CAUSING ARGUMENTS IN FAMILIES, EVEN MAKING ENEMIES OF BLOOD RELATIVES.

HE KNEW WHATEVER CAME ABOUT, THE CHANGE WOULD BE FOR THE BEST. HE UNDERSTOOD THERE WERE ONLY 2 KINGDOMS ON EARTH—HIS AND THE DEVIL’S.

“HE THAT LOVES FATHER OR MOTHER MORE THAN ME IS NOT WORTHY OF ME: AND HE THAT LOVES SON OR DAUGHTER MORE THAN ME IS NOT WORTHY OF ME.”

(COMMENTARY: TOO MANY PEOPLE IN THE SECULAR WORLD HAVE OVERLY STRONG CO-DEPENDENT ATTACHMENTS TO RELATIVES. THEY LACK THE GREATER LOVE OF CHRIST. FOR EXAMPLE WHEN THEIR PARENTS OR CHILDREN DIE THEY ARE INORDINATELY DEVASTATED OR GRIEVE FAR TOO LONG. WE SEE THIS ALL THE TIME! HEALTHY GRIEF IS A ONE YEAR CYCLE THEN GET ON WITH LIFE!

ON THE OTHER HAND, WE HAVE SEEN MANY CHRISTIANS DEAL WITH SEPARATION OR DEATH IN A POSITIVE WAY. THEY ARE ABLE TO COPE BECAUSE THEY HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SCRIPTURES AND THROUGH THE EXERCISE OF FAITH IN THE WORKS AND PROMISES OF THE MASTER, THEY FIND THEIR PEACE. THEY KNOW THERE LOVED ONES REACHED THEIR APPOINTED HOUR OF PASSAGE AND THAT ONE DAY, IF THEY WERE CHRISTIANS, THEY WOULD BE REUNITED IN JOY.)

“AND HE THAT TAKE NOT HIS CROSS, AND FOLLOWS AFTER ME, IS NOT WORTHY OF ME.”

“HE THAT FINDS HIS LIFE SHALL LOSE IT (FOR WE ALL DIE): AND HE THAT LOSES HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE SHALL FIND IT.”

“HE THAT RECEIVES YOU RECEIVES ME, AND HE THAT RECEIVES ME RECEIVES HIM THAT SENT ME (GOD THE FATHER).”

“HE THAT RECEIVES A PROPHET IN THE NAME OF A PROPHET SHALL RECEIVES A PROPHET’S REWARD; AND HE THAT RECEIVES A RIGHTEOUS MAN IN THE NAME OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL RECEIVE A RIGHTEOUS MAN’S REWARD.”

“AND WHOSOEVER SHALL GIVE TO DRINK UNTO ONE OF THESE LITTLE ONES A CUP OF COLD WATER IN THE NAME OF A DISCIPLE, HE SHALL IN NO WISE LOSE HIS REWARD.”

SAINT MATTHEW CHAPTER 11 SYNOPSIS:

WHEN JESUS HAD MADE AN END OF COMMANDING HIS TWELVE DISCIPLES, HE DEPARTED THENCE TO TEACH AND TO PREACH IN THEIR CITIES.

NOW WHEN JOHN THE BAPTIST HAD HEARD IN PRISON THE WORKS OF CHRIST, HE SENT TWO OF HIS DISCIPLES TO CHRIST ASKING, “ARE YOU HE THAT SHOULD COME, OR DO WE LOOK FOR ANOTHER?”

JESUS ANSWERED, “GO AND SHOW JOHN THOSE THINGS WHICH YOU DO HEAR AND SEE.”

CHRIST LISTS—

THE BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT

THE LAME WALK

THE LEPERS ARE CLEANSED

THE DEAF HEAR

THE POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM

“AND BLESSED IS HE, WHOSOEVER SHALL NOT BE OFFENDED IN ME.”

AND AS THEY DEPARTED, JESUS BEGAN TO SAY TO THE MULTITUDES CONCERNING JOHN, “WHAT WENT YOU OUT TO THE WILDERNESS TO SEE? A MAN CLOTHED IN SOFT RAIMENT? A PROPHET? YES AND MORE THAN A PROPHET. FOR THIS IS HE, OF WHOM IT IS WRITTEN, BEHOLD I SEND MY MESSENGER BEFORE YOUR FACE, WHICH SHALL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.

“AMONG THEM THAT ARE BORN OF WOMEN THERE HAS NOT RISEN A GREATER THAN JOHN THE BAPTIST: NOTWITHSTANDING HE THAT IS LEAST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS GREATER THAN HE.”

“AND FROM THE DAYS OF JOHN THE BAPTIST UNTIL NOW THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN SUFFERS VIOLENCE, AND THE VIOLENT TAKE IT BY FORCE.

(COMMENTARY: BY THIS REFERENCE WE KNOW THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS THIS EARTH WHOM VIOLENT MEN OF CONSPIRACY SEEK TO DESTROY).

“FOR ALL THE PROPHETS AND THE LAW HAVE SAID THIS UNTIL JOHN. AND IF YOU WILL RECEIVE THIS WORD, THIS IS ELIAS (JOHN THE BAPTIST) WHICH WAS FOR TO COME. HE THAT HAS EARS TO HEAR, LET HIM HEAR.”

“BUT WHEREUNTO SHALL I LIKEN THIS GENERATION? IT IS LIKE CHILDREN SITTING IN THE MARKETS, AND CALLING TO THEIR FELLOWS, SAYING WE HAVE PIPED (MUSIC) TO YOU FOR YOU TO COME AND DANCE; WE HAVE YELLED TO YOU AND YOU HAVE NOT REPLIED.”

(COMMENTARY: THIS IS A REFERENCE TO RIOTOUS LIFESTYLES.)

“FOR JOHN CAME NEITHER EATING NOR DRINKING, (COMMENTARY: CHRIST REFERS TO HOW EVERYBODY IS ALWAYS THROWING FEASTS OR PARTIES), AND THEY SAY, HE HAS A DEVIL.”

“THE SON OF MAN (JESUS HIMSELF) CAME EATING AND DRINKING, AND THEY SAY, BEHOLD A MAN GLUTTONOUS, AND A WINEBIBBER, A FRIEND OF PUBLICANS AND SINNERS. BUT WISDOM IS JUSTIFIED OF HER DEEDS.”

“THEN BEGAN HE (CHRIST) TO UPBRAID THE CITIES WHEREIN MOST OF HIS MIGHTY WORKS WERE DONE, BECAUSE THEY REPENTED NOT.”

“WOE UNTO YOU CHORAZIN! (A TOWN IN GALILEE) WOE UNTO YOU BETHSAIDA! (A PAGAN CITY IN ISRAEL) FOR IF THE MIGHTY WORKS, WHICH WERE DONE IN YOU, HAD BEEN DONE IN TYRE AND SIDON, THEY WOULD HAVE REPENTED LONG AGO IN SACKCLOTH AND ASHES. BUT I SAY, IT SHALL BE MORE TOLERABLE FOR TYRE AND SIDON AT THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT, THAN FOR YOU.”

“AND YOU, CAPERNAUM, WHICH ARE EXALTED UNTO HEAVEN, SHALL BE BROUGHT DOWN TO HELL: FOR IF THE MIGHTY WORKS, WHICH HAVE BEEN DONE IN YOU, HAD BEEN DONE IN SODOM, IT WOULD HAVE REMAINED UNTIL THIS DAY. BUT I SAY, THAT IT SHALL BE MORE TOLERABLE FOR THE LAND OF SODOM IN THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT, THAN FOR YOU.”

AT THAT TIME, JESUS SAID, “I THANK YOU, O FATHER, LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, BECAUSE YOU HAVE HID THESE THINGS FROM THE WISE AND PRUDENT, AND HAVE REVEALED THEM TO BABES (INNOCENT PEOPLE).”

“ALL THINGS ARE DELIVERED TO ME OF MY FATHER: AND NO MAN KNOWS THE SON, BUT THE FATHER; NEITHER KNOWS ANY MAN THE FATHER, SAVE THE SON, AND HE TO WHOMSOEVER THE SON WILL REVEAL HIM.”

 (COMMENTARY: WE KNOW GOD THROUGH CHRIST.)

“COME TO ME, ALL YOU THAT LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST. TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU, AND LEARN OF ME; FOR I AM MEEK AND LOWLY IN HEART: AND YOU SHALL FIND REST TO YOUR SOULS. FOR MY YOKE IS EASY, AND MY BURDEN IS LIGHT.”

Commentary: The only peace we shall ever know is through accepting Jesus Christ into our heart, mind and soul.

NEXT: WE CONTINUE WITH ST. MATTHEW!