Tag Archive | christianity

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (10/23): Matthew 12:22-37

Oct23

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“Whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” Matthew 12:32

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REVIEW – Jesus was confronted again by the uber-religious Pharisees, this time on Sabbath Law. Oh, the things they did NOT know!

Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath, who originally “rested” after six days of creation and set the seventh day (Sabbath) apart for rest for His people, is confronted for eating a few kernels of grain to assuage hunger, and for healing a poor, crippled man on the “day of rest.”

This day was created by God out of mercy for mankind, not for a DAY OF DIABOLICAL, pride-building, gut-twisting fear of offense. Sheesh!

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Matthew 12:22-23.

A man in the grips of Satanic beings who prevented him from seeing or speaking was brought to Jesus.

(Stop for a minute and imagine this man’s life. Tormented in body and soul; unable to control wild movements that caused him terrible pain (cutting, falling into fire), unable to tell anyone about it or even ask for help, constantly in a deep darkness of body and spirit.)

Truly a picture of Hell.

But “someone” brought him to Jesus, and Jesus healed Him! WOW!

“Can this be the Son of David (the Messiah)?” the amazed watchers asked.

YES!!

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Matthew 12:24-30.

“NO!” cried those sour Pharisees.

WHAT??

Then they gave their shocking explanation for the Son of God’s loving goodness toward this man. “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons, that this man casts out demons.”

This is the pit of despicable (and stupid) utterances. Giving credit to Satan for what God has done through His Son via the Holy Spirit? I would not have been surprised if the earth had opened and swallowed them whole.

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Jesus knew their thoughts, of course, and reasoned aloud, for the people’s sake (I believe).

“1) Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.”

“2) If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?”

“3) If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons and daughters cast them out. Therefore they will be your judges.”

“4) But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” And finally,

“5) How can someone enter a strongman’s house and plunder his goods, UNLESS He first binds the strong man?”

This is so reasonable; it’s hard to believe why the people might have been tempted to believe the Pharisees’ rash statement. These “teachers of the law” did it out of jealousy, of course. Jesus was taking away their importance, making them seem stupid in the eyes of the people, who had stood in so much awe of them.

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Matthew 12:30-32.

Jesus then drew the line in the sand. “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

And the ‘coup de gras.’ (The final, deadly cut.)

“Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will NOT be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will NOT be forgiven, either in this age or the age to come.”

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good …. or make the tree bad and its fruit bad. You WILL know a tree by its FRUIT.

Then Jesus turns to the dark-hearted Pharisees,

“You nest of snakes! How can you speak GOOD, when you are EVIL? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The GOOD person out of his GOOD treasure brings forth GOOD, and the EVIL person out of his EVIL treasure brings forth EVIL.”

“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for EVERY CARELESS WORD they speak, for by your WORDS you will be justified … and by your WORDS you will be condemned.’

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(NOTE: These may be the harshest words Jesus has ever spoken to anyone. He has taken the pronouncement of the Pharisees that His power comes from Satan, and condemned them to hell for it. They looked like “good” trees, but the fruit of their mouths/hearts betrayed them. Those words came straight from a heart full of evil. Their words were UNFORGIVABLE, then and in the age to come.)

(Can we commit the ‘unforgivable sin’ today? Are you terrified that you might have? I’ll venture to say that if you are afraid you did, you probably did not. Your fear and remorse are signs of repentance. If so, you can go to God, confess what you believe was that sin, and God promises – for Christ’s sake – to forgive you.)

(These Pharisees did NOT repent. They hardened their hearts and sought all the more to destroy/kill the Son of God. In fact… they did kill Him, and then lied to cover it up.)

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (10/19): Matthew 10:21-42.

Oct19

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven.” Matthew 10:33

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REVIEW – Jesus sent out His 12 chosen disciples as apostles to tell the “good news” that the kingdom of heaven was near, sending them only to Jewish villages and towns at that time. Jesus also gave them the power to heal, cast out demons, and even raise the dead to verify their message.

He cautioned them that not everyone would joyfully receive the gospel. The apostles would be turned away, slandered, arrested, and dragged into court to testify. But the Holy Spirit would tell them what to say in that moment.

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Matthew 10:21-25.

Jesus’ warnings and preparations for ministry expanded not only to these twelve disciples, who went on a few weeks’ trip; they applied also to them after Pentecost, and even to missionaries to new lands today. All will face opposition, some very serious.

Jesus told them that the Gospel message would divide families. Persecution would cause them to flee family and home, and even face execution. They would be hated for Jesus’ name’s sake.

“But the one who endures to the end will be saved. The disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.” What they did to Jesus, they would do so to His disciples. But a welcome “well done, faithful servant,” is waiting in Heaven for the one who endures and/or gives his life.

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Matthew 10:26-33.

But Jesus says not to fear them. ‘Do not fear those who kill the body and cannot kill the soul. Rather, fear Him, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Then comes the comforting reminder that a believer’s value is greater than that of the sparrows. God knows when each one falls, and we are of much more value than them. He also knows every hair on our head! He knows when our testimony puts us into boiling water… or into the fire.

Jesus’ promise to believers: “Everyone who acknowledges Me before men, I will also acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will deny before my Father who is in heaven.“

So, let us settle it in our hearts now: we should never forsake Him who saved us. With God’s help, we will never blaspheme or curse His precious, holy name.

(Yes, Peter did deny Jesus outside the high priest’s house, and Jesus predicted it. But oh, how he suffered remorse and fear for three days before Jesus met with him, forgave him, and then reinstated him before his brothers.)

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Matthew 10:34-39.

This passage is hard to take in. A sword and not peace? Enemies in your own household?

Yes, Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), and faith in Him and His sacrificial death DOES bring peace with God. (John 14:27) But He does not guarantee peace within our families.

And more and more this is the case. Converting to Christ can strain family relationships here in the U.S. In other countries, it can mean converts are cast out from the family, considered dead, and can no longer return. Churches are burned, Christians are persecuted, even martyred for Christ’s sake.

Jesus is warning His followers then and now. How firm is our faith? How resolute are we to stand firm in our testimony? Has our heart truly been “converted?”

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Being a Christian is no “walk in the park.” It doesn’t mean simply wearing a shirt or a necklace with a cross on it. It doesn’t mean just going to Church… even if we carry a Bible. It’s heart belief.

Then those very chilling but true words.

“Whoever loves father and mother more than Me, is not worthy of Me.”

“Whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.”

“And whoever does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.”

“Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.“

Hard words to read. Hard words to take in. Do they turn you off? Do they make you say, “He is not worth it.”

Remember a few lessons ago, some wanted to follow Jesus, but turned back when the “following” meant sacrifice – of fortune, or even the assurance of a place to sleep at night.

I pray our hearts will remain steady and sure. Pray that they will!

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Matthew 10:40-42.

After these stern, hard words, Jesus ends this preparation for ministry with some encouraging words.

Sometimes, when you take the Gospel message to a new place, they will receive you with joy and thanksgiving. They will open their hearts, homes, wallets, and refrigerators to you.

You will be a blessing!

And by blessing you, they will welcome Jesus.

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (10/16): Matthew 10:1-20.

Oct16

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“Do not be anxious about how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.” Matthew 10:19

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REVIEW – As Jesus ministered in Capernaum, the crowd followed; people with illnesses were brought to Him, and seeing their faith… He healed them all. A few days before, Jesus had healed those demon-filled men in Gadara. In response to questions, He taught about His kingdom. It was almost as if He was giving His disciples an “example.”

At the end of yesterday’s reading, we saw a brief summary of His work. 1) He went throughout all the cities and villages, 2) teaching and proclaiming the Gospel of His kingdom, and 3) healing every disease and affliction. He saw the people as sheep without a shepherd and had compassion on them.

Then, He spoke specifically to His disciples. 1) The harvest is great, 2) the laborers are few. 3. Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into the harvest. And in today’s reading, Jesus does just THAT.

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Matthew 10:1-5a.

Jesus now specifically calls twelve men from the many who are still faithfully following Him to be His Apostles (sent-out ones). He gives them divine authority to do the very things He has been doing, because this will be their work after He is gone – to spread the Gospel, followed by signs and wonders as proof of their apostleship.

They will have authority over DEMONS, and power to HEAL every disease and affliction. (If you read through Acts, you will see this happening too.) At the end of today’s passage, you will see that they will have the Holy Spirit’s help in WHAT to say and HOW to say it.

See how Matthew lists the disciples in pairs. Did Jesus send them out this way? (If so, it’s very interesting to consider who went with whom.) Or was this simply an easier way to memorize their names?

  • 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 tax collector,
  • James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus,
  • Simon the Zealot. and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him.

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Matthew 10:5-15

Jesus sent these men out FIRST to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Even later, Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, went to Jews first, then the rest of the world.

They were FIRST to preach that the kingdom had come (in Jesus). They were to HEAL the sick, RAISE the dead, CLEANSE lepers, and CAST OUT demons to verify their message. And they were to go only where the message was accepted. They were not to receive pay, only ‘room and board.’ If the people rejected their message, they were to abandon that work and go on to another.

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Matthew 10:16-20.

This warning and challenge from Jesus will stretch far beyond the days in which He spoke them, into the time after the Church’s birth at Pentecost, and even into our day.

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves … so, be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.”

And then comes the encouragement and promise.

“WHEN they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”

That was probably more than what they wanted to hear as they set out in pairs for the towns in Galilee. But certainly, as these men later scattered throughout the then-known world (and were martyred for their Lord), they would remember Jesus’ words and stand with faith and courage.

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Reading the Gospels in 2026 (10/14): Matthew 9:1-17.

Oct14

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:13b

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REVIEW – As Jesus left the crowd to sail across the Sea, two men ran up and pledged to follow Him. But they were soon found to be all talk and no commitment. On the SE shore of Galilee, Jesus found two more men, desperately consumed by demons who were tearing them apart. Jesus freed them from their possession, and they spread the news of Jesus’ work throughout their land. Two men on opposite ends of Jesus’ journey, so different in their background, current life & possessions, and dedication to Him.

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Matthew 9:1-8.

Back across the Sea, Jesus entered Capernaum again, and immediately some people brought a paralytic to him. When Jesus saw THEIR faith, He turned to the man on the bed. Seeing his deepest need, Jesus spoke aloud, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.”

How did the paralyzed man react to this inner cleansing? We’ll never know, because right then some religious leaders stepped forward and accused Jesus. ‘This man is blaspheming!”

Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do YOU think evil in your hearts? Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Rise and walk’? “But that you may know that the Son of Man has AUTHORITY on earth to forgive sins…” And here Jesus turned to the cripple and said, “Rise, pick up your bed and go home.”

And the no-longer-paralyzed man got up and went home (healed and forgiven!). When the crowds saw this (no mention of the religious leaders’ reactions), they were afraid and GLORIFIED GOD, who had given men such authority

The religious leaders thought they had no sin; they practiced a righteousness far beyond what God asked… at least in their own eyes. Jesus had not come for such men (or women) as these. They were the kind of pompous men who had already “received their reward.”

No, Jesus had come to save those who recognized their sin and helplessness, personified in the paralytic whose sin tormented his mind. Their seeking Him and their faith received a “reward” from Jesus: forgiveness of sin and relief from their body’s pain.

Who went away from this scene rejoicing, do you think?

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Matthew 9:9-18.

Then, just like that, Jesus walked past the Roman tax booth where Matthew sat, stylus and scroll in hand. Had HE witnessed the paralyzed man healed and forgiven? Was his heart also wretched with sin, with betrayal of his people and his God? Did his eyes meet Jesus’ as the Son of God approached? Were Jesus’ words filled with tender compassion?

“Follow me,” Jesus said.

And Matthew rose (left all) and followed Him. (Just like the fishermen before him.)

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Like another tax collector saved by the Lord Jesus (Zaccheus), Matthew held a dinner party to honor his new Master and invited all his tax-collector friends. “Listen to this man! Hear his healing words! He has come from heaven for men like us! He will forgive!”

What a joyous dinner!

But outside, some grumbled. They were the very ones who griped at the paralytic’s forgiveness. “Why does this man eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (They might have smelled that good lamb roasting and the garlic-onion-lentils … and were a bit jealous.)

Jesus heard and answered them with a couple sayings of the day. “‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, only those who are sick.’ Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the “righteous”, but sinners.”

Did they read up on what the ancient Rabbis had said, or did they simply disregard everything but their own disdain of this simple Teacher from Nazareth?

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Matthew 9:14-17.

Another accusatory question, this time from John the Baptist’s disciples. “Why do WE and the Pharisees fast, but YOUR disciples do not fast?” (First of all, why were John’s disciples partnering with the uber-strict Jewish leaders? John had once called these self-righteous men “a nest of vipers!’)

All Jews were required by God to fast ONCE PER YEAR, on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). That’s it, barring a national emergency.

Over the years, tradition and rabbinic law added 5 or 6 more to commemorate tragedies like the destruction of the Temple and exile to Babylon, etc. The Pharisees fasted ONCE OR TWICE PER WEEK to “parade” their piety. God NEVER asked for this.

(Now there is nothing wrong with your fasting and praying for special reasons in your own life. Do this in private and as unto God. Matthew 6:16-18)

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Jesus answered them with three illustrations they would recognize. (But would they understand?)

1. No guest fasts as long as “the Bridegroom” is with them. (Jesus). But when the Bridegroom is “taken away from them,” then they will fast (and mourn). Jesus is hinting at his own execution.

2. Again, take a favorite old robe with a big rip in it. (The Pharisee’s old way of striving to please God by works.) You don’t stitch a new piece of material to it. Everyone knows that wool shrinks at the first few washes. The old garment is dormant, but the new piece will shrink and tear the robe even more.

The Pharisee’s old way of striving to please God by works must give way to the new, living way of faith that Jesus teaches.

3. The new wine, which expands as it ferments, will not work in an old, stiff wineskin, but will tear it so it cannot hold the precious drink of joy. New wineskins (a new way of faith) are needed to hold the new “saved by faith alone” teachings Jesus brings.

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Now whether they understood these illustrations is debatable. Some might see that Jesus was showing them a new way, prophesied by the prophets of old … and follow Him. Most will have their thinking confused, and their anger magnified.

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Reading the Gospels in 2026 (10/13): Matthew 8:18-34.

Oct13

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“Teacher, I will follow you wherever You go.” Matthew 8:19.

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REVIEW –

The Sermon on the Mount revealed that no one could enter into Jesus’ kingdom of heaven by being “good” or doing “good works.” All of them (and we) are sinners, and no matter our attempts and desires to live righteous lives, we can’t. Not even the uber-pious religious leaders could. There must be another way. The desperate leper and the important Centurion pointed to it. It is by faith in Jesus.

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Matthew 8: 18-22.

From His descent down the mountain until late that night, Jesus had been non-stop meeting the needs of the sick, disabled, and demon-possessed, with only a short meal break that Peter’s mother-in-law made.

Early the next morning, Jesus hoped to escape the crowd for some quiet time with His disciples and headed to the boatyard with them. But the masses followed him, with outstretched hands and loud pleas. As Jesus stepped into one of the boats (possibly Zebedee’s), a man called out.

“Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”

Perhaps the man even followed them toward the boat. But Jesus stopped and said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

Whoa! The man must have hesitated and thought about that. Did he really want to give up his nice home on the hill beside the Sea, with the wonderful view? Did he want to give up his daily meals and nightly bed? Um… nope. He turned back.

Jesus hesitated again when another man ran up and said to Him, “Let me first go and bury my father!”

“Follow me … and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”

Wow, that sounds harsh. But in this case, the man’s father wasn’t even dead yet. He probably was still in good health. What the phrase “bury my father” meant was that the man wanted to go home and make sure he got his inheritance when his father did die. THEN, with his inheritance settled, he’d go find Jesus… Or maybe not.

Jesus was asking which was more important to the man. His “stuff” or Himself.

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Matthew 8:23-27.

Jesus finally climbed into the boat with the others, and maybe John and James pushed off before jumping in too. They began rowing out of the harbor into the blue Sea of Galilee. The peace and quietness was wonderful.

Maybe Jesus commented on the things He’d just said to the would-be followers. Maybe He commended these men for leaving “all” to follow Him.

Eventually, Jesus’ exhaustion took over, and He lay down on the bench at the back of the boat. The men rowed on, talking in low voices so as not to disturb Him.

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And then the storm arrived. That deceptive Sea!! A bit of wind and then a gale. A ruffle on the water, and then it was pouring over the sides. They rowed hard and bucketed out the Sea. And the Sea began to win!!

“SAVE US, LORD! WE ARE PERISHING!” they screamed over the noise of wind and water.

Jesus woke up. (By their calls, not by the storm.)

As the wind whipped His hair and robe, and the water drenched Him, He called, “Why are you afraid, O ye of little faith?”

Then He turned and spoke to His creation, perhaps scolding it as He would a child. “Stop it, now!” Instant obedience. “Yes, Master.” And there was a great calm.

Of course the disciples were “totally wowed!” “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey Him?”

They were about to learn a bit more about the power in His Words.

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Matthew 8:28-34.

Eventually they pulled ashore in the country of the Gadarenes, at the South-Eastern side of the Sea of Galilee. The people of Gadara were Greek-influenced Gentiles (hence the pigs, later). The land in that area was mountainous and came sharply down to the sea. Archaeologists have found several graveyards there.

They had barely had time to pull the boat onto the land and secure it when a pair of demon-crazed men came running and screaming towards them out of the tombs.

WHOA!! The disciples probably wanted nothing more than to get back into the boat and push away… facing a storm rather than these crazies!!

(NOTE: Mark and Luke mentioned only one demoniac. He was probably more aggressive than the other.)

Jesus stood firm. He was the Son of God; who or what did He fear? The super-aggressive demoniac slid to a stop bare inches from Jesus, squirming and contorting and growling.

Finally he shouted, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”

He writhed and twisted but finally screamed out, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.”

“GO!” said the Lord of the Universe.

The Legion of demons (between 4,000 and 6,000) left the tortured men, clamored into the pigs, and promptly drove them down the steep hill and into the deep end of the Sea.

The disciples stood aghast, the boat’s rope still in their hands.

The herdsmen yelled with fear, threw down their staffs, and fled into the city, returning with a crowd. The crowd had heard all that Jesus had done from the shepherds, ESPECIALLY what happened to the demon-possessed men.

They begged Jesus to — no, not to stay and teach & heal them — but to LEAVE!

And so He did, returning to Capernaum. (Matt. 9:1)

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Jesus had come all that way to minister to two men. Just two. But in the other Gospel accounts, we know that the miracle was both seen and told throughout the region by those two. TWO devil-possessed men, converted by the power of Jesus’ word, evangelized a REGION. (Read Mark 5:18-22)

Compare these two men with the wannabe followers who had earlier turned back. (Vss.19-22)

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Reading the Gospels in 2026 (10/9): Matthew 7:24-29.

Oct9

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and DOES them will be like a….” Matthew 7:24.

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REVIEW – Jesus warned about false prophets: sheep in wolves’ clothing, thornbushes and thistles, and diseased trees. All examples from agriculture and farming, which His listeners knew well. Jesus said all of these would end up “in the fire.”

To make it clear whom He was talking about, Jesus described people who, although very pious, dynamic, charismatic, and talented religious leaders, lacked one thing. They did NOT do the Father’s will, which was to believe in Him. In their last terrifying moment of trusting in these “pious works,” they will hear Jesus say, “I never knew you. Depart from Me.” Faith in the Son, and not good works, is the key to Christ’s kingdom.

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Matthew 7:24-27.

Jesus gives one more illustration about two house builders.

One man was wise, perhaps experienced in all that could go wrong in home building, and now knew the best way. He dug deep until he hit bedrock.

Then he laid the foundation for his home. The walls, floors, and roof now sat steady and strong on that base.

Another man, perhaps new at the trade, or maybe one who had not learned from previous fails, began construction right away.. He smoothed and leveled a base for his house on the packed dirt.

Then he built a beautiful, multi-storied home that made many around him envious.

Then the builders moved their families into the houses they built and began living the good life.

Then it began to rain.

Perhaps not a Noah-like rain, but a steady downpour. Rain poured from the two homes’ roofs and ran in rivulets down the driveways. The water ran clean from the first house. Dirty water, then mud growing thicker and thicker, flowed from the second home.

Foundations were revealed.

At one house, solid blocks reached far below the surface, while at the other, the dirt beneath the blocks was quickly eroding away. The second house began to tip and sink.

Then, hurricane-like winds began beating on the houses, causing windows to shudder in one and the tipping to increase in the other.

Finally, with one great gust, the beautiful house built on the “sand” leaned all the way over and, with a horrendous roar, fell, crushing walls, windows, and the furniture inside. The debris twisted, broke apart, and the floodwater carried it away.

When the wind receded, the rain stopped, and a bright rainbow appeared in the clear blue sky … the house on the rock stood still.

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like the wise man who built his house on the rock.”

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.Matthew 7:28-29.

“And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for He was teaching them as One who had authority, and not as their scribes.”

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Think back over the last 14 studies on the “Sermon on the Mount.”

Remember all that Jesus taught this crowd of “followers” about His kingdom, which was “at hand,” there and NOW.

This was certainly not the “kingdom of the Messiah” they had expected (freedom from Rome and a utopia on earth). His kingdom seemed difficult to enter and exist in. Who could do it? And yet, He taught with such authority and knowledge of the Scriptures…

Some stayed to follow and hear more from Jesus. Others faded away. “It’s too hard.”

Which will we be? Standing steady, or falling away?

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Challenge: Go back today or this weekend and reread Chapters 5-7 of Matthew, the Sermon on the Mount. What stood out to you? What “convicted” you? What made you love Jesus more?

Reading the Gospels in 2026 (10/7): Matthew 7:7-14.

Oct7

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“So, whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12

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REVIEW – We saw several “Don’ts” in yesterday’s study. “Don’t judge your brother’s failings before taking care of your own.” “Don’t give holy things to dogs.” “Don’t give ‘pearls’ to pigs.” (And the day before, “Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth.” and “Don’t be anxious.”)

No one likes to be given all these restrictions. They feel like heavy burdens, like “THE LAW.” But they are for the good of the ‘Kingdom dwellers.” Today Jesus will show his listeners on that hillside the good and better way … even if it is quite narrow.

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Matthew 7:7-8.

“ASK, and it WILL BE given to you … SEEK, and you WILL FIND … KNOCK, and it WILL BE OPENED to you.”

As if they didn’t hear correctly, Jesus repeats this. “For EVERYONE who asks receives, and the one who seeks, finds, and to the one who knocks, it will be opened.”

Did those people sit there dumbfounded, mouths half open? Did they ask themselves if these promises were honest-to-goodness true? In our day, we (or at least kids) might ask, “Is this Man a ‘genie with three wishes to grant?’

But Jesus is speaking of the goodness, kindness, and grace of His heavenly Father to those who come into His kingdom. To those who believe His gospel. To those whose hearts have been changed.

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Matthew 6:9-11.

Jesus gives examples from THEIR world, showing how this love, to a minor degree, works in their families.

“Which of YOU, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? (They look around at each other and shake their heads. Not me!)

Or, “If your son asks for a fish, which of you will give him a snake?” (Moms are aghast at THIS thought and frown at Jesus. No way!)

“No! You, who are evil (compared to the Lord God), know how to give GOOD gifts to your children. How much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ASK?”

You can almost see hope spreading through the crowd. Yes… God might answer our prayers. Jesus says He will. Can we believe it….?

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Much later, Jesus’ brother James repeats this idea in his letter. See James 1:17 says, “EVERY good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is NO variation or shadow due to change.”

God doesn’t change His mind. He is not ‘wishy-washy’ with His promises. What He says, He does. We can trust Him. So, Jesus says, ask Him, seek Him and His goodness, knock on the doors of heaven. HE WILL answer!

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Matthew 7:12.

“The Golden Rule.” You’ve probably heard it many times. It sounds glib, easy to do… but is it?

“So, whatever you wish that others would do to YOU, (you) do to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Jesus says this “rule” is the gist of all the principles in the Old Testament.

At another time, He would tell them that to “Love God supremely, and others as yourself” was ALL the Law.

Jesus puts this “rule” as a positive statement. Whatever (good) you wish to be done to you … do that to others. (Of course, it doesn’t always follow that if we treat others well, they will respond back in the same way. But we have learned that our Father, who sees our good works, WILL reward us.)

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The Golden Rule was not new. Rabbis wrote it before Christ; you can even find it in Hinduism and Buddhism!! (Whoa!) BUT they always wrote it in the NEGATIVE. “What is hateful to yourself, do NOT to someone else.”

THINK ABOUT THAT. How is it different from what Jesus said? IS there a difference?

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Matthew 7:13-14

“Enter by the narrow gate…’

“… for the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are MANY, for the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are FEW.”

Wide and narrow,

Easy and hard,

Destruction and life,

Many and few.

Two ways to heaven and eternal life are offered to people. The narrow gate is by faith, through Christ alone. This is true salvation in GOD’s way, and its reward is heaven. The wide gate includes all religions of works and self-righteousness. This is MAN’s way. It leads to hell.

Jesus emphasizes the difficulty in following Him – it’s like taking up a cross and being crucified!! (Matthew 10:38-39, 16:24-25) “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22)

True salvation is by grace alone, but it’s not easy. It involves knowing the truth, repenting, submitting to Jesus as Lord, and being willing to obey His word and will, wherever that leads. Not easy, but glorious.

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In this last section of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus will continue to show the division between true believers and those who are “just coming along for the ride.” It will get quite serious…even scary.

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Reading the Gospels in 2026 (10/6): Matthew 7:1-6.

Oct6

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“Judge not, that you be not judged.” Matthew 7:1

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REVIEW – Jesus told his followers not to be anxious, worried, or scared about their future supply. Why? Because their heavenly Father knows they need food, clothing, shelter, etc. Aren’t the birds fed every day? Aren’t the flowers of the field wonderfully clothed? And these are tiny, transitory things compared to us humans made in His image. No, keep your eyes and desires on the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Seek to honor God first, and “all these things will be added to you.”

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Matthew 7:5.

“Judge not, that you be not judged.”

Doesn’t this speak to all of our hearts? (It does to mine.) In this passage, judging means criticizing or condemning someone, looking down on them with a superior attitude, and, in the process, usually puffing ourselves up.

“I” wouldn’t ever do THAT!” we say. “I’m not a gossip like THAT woman,” we whisper to one friend and then another.

Oh, my!

Jesus cautions His followers that with the same “measure” we give out judgment, WE will be judged.

(I am sometimes so critical of others that this statement makes me tremble! Thank You, God, for confession and forgiveness through Jesus!)

“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?”

Jesus goes beyond our inner thoughts, and even beyond voicing our opinion of others. What if we try to help them “get over” their gossiping, or gluttony, or lustful imagining, or snobbishness? We might go to them with “welf-help” books or even point out specific Scripture verses. We may tell them that God will bless them if they stop doing such-and-such…to no avail.

“How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is a log in your own? Hypocrite! First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye,”

Jesus says we must first humble ourselves and remove those glaring sins from our own lives by true confession and repentance. After that, on an equal level, we can gently lead the person to the way of the cross and to overcoming sin.

Like Jesus, Paul, in Galatians 6:1, tells us how to approach a brother (or sister) in sin. “If anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.”

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BUT! Not ALL judging is wrong for a believer.

In John 7:24, Jesus tells us, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” This is discerning moral and Scriptural truth. (Jesus was speaking to the people and religious leaders who tended to believe “man’s” teaching over God’s Law.

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Matthew 7:6.

“Do not give to ‘dogs’ what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before ‘pigs,’ lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.”

Now, what in the world does Jesus mean by these cautions? Who are ‘dogs’ and ‘pigs,’ and what are your ‘pearls?’

“Pearls” here refer to the truths of the Gospel, the precious message of Jesus our Savior. The wonder of our sin, God’s love, and Jesus’ sacrifice, and the sweet hope of resurrection and heaven. These are the “pearls of great price” that believers hold in their hearts and want to share with others.

But… Jesus says NOT to give this message of hope to “dogs” and “swine.”

If you remember Jesus’ healing of the Syrophoenician woman’s daughter (Mark 7:24-30), you will remember Him saying that it was not right to “throw the children’s food to the dogs.” This gentile woman agreed, but countered that “even the dogs under the Master’s table eat the crumbs that fall.” Jesus was pleased with her faith and healed her daughter.

From this story, we see that “dogs” are what Jews called Gentiles. “Pigs” also represent Gentiles to the Jews, but here speak of all the people who are completely hostile, disrespectful, or closed off to spiritual truth.

Jesus warned His listeners against forcing precious truths onto people who will not appreciate them and may even attack the messenger. (This is a wise caution for us today as we witness the Gospel to our friends and others. But we can PRAY for them.)

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When Jesus taught on earth, before His death and resurrection and the birth of the church at Pentecost, the gospel message was to go to the Jews first. When Jesus later sent out His own disciples, He told them to go to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

BUT, before Jesus ascended, He told his disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit to come in power to witness; THEN they were to go to all the world and preach the Gospel.

Paul’s well-known verse repeats this. Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

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Reading the Gospels in 2026 (10/5): Matthew 6:25-34.

Oct5

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…” Matthew 6:33.

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REVIEW – What is at the CENTER of our thinking, our vision, and our emotions? Jesus said they should be on things “above,” towards the light, and on God.

“Where your treasure is, there will your HEART be.”

“If your EYE is healthy, your whole body will be full of Light.”

“LOVE and serve only one Master: the Lord God.”

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Matthew 6:25.

“Therefore… Jesus connects those “heavenly” ideas above to the down-to-earth worries we all have. He says that if our hearts are devoted to things above, our vision is centered on the light of truth, and we love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and bodies… then we should not be anxious about anything.

Jesus instructed us to pray simply, “Give us this day our daily bread.” If we pray sincerely and with faith, why should we worry about food or anything else?

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Matthew 6:26.

Jesus tells his followers (sitting on the hillside and us too) to Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are YOU not of more value than the birds?”

As His listeners looked up and spotted some sparrows or gulls, they might have nodded slightly in agreement. “Huh, I never thought about that.”

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Matthew 6:27.

“And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his lifespan?” We today would probably agree totally, and in fact know that anxiety and stress can actually subtract hours, days and years from your life.

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Matthew 5:28-30

“Consider the lilies of the field how they grow…” Surely this crowd glanced around at the flower covered hills, and perhaps even picked a small daisy or scarlet poppy growing by their knee to look at it closely.

“…they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” More nods as they really look closely at the intracacies of the flowers around them.

“But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”

Perhaps foreheads are wrinkled in consternation as they consider the velvety petals of the flowers compared to the roughspun material of their own tunics and robes. There’s a bit of doubt there as they doubt they’d ever have robes like Solomons. Perhaps their faith WAS small.

Then Jesus brings them back to His Kingdom.

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Matthew 6:31-33.

Since God takes such good care of His world – from the tiny birds that flit in the air to the fields of flowers covering the hills around Capernaum – “Therefore, DO NOT BE ANXIOUS! ”

“Don’t say, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink? or ‘What shall we wear?’ for your heavenly Father KNOWS that you need them all.”

God knows all of that. Trust Him.

“But seek FIRST the kingdom of God and HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, and all these things will be added to you.”

Take care of the things God has called you to do… first. And He will take care of the things you need. No problem.

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.“Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness, Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust in Him, and He will act. He will bring forth YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS as the light and your justice as the noon day.” Psalm 37:3-6

“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:31.

Again, Jesus is pressing them to look up to the things of God.

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Matthew 6:34.

“Therefore (the third time He uses the word in this section, Jesus is building on each truth, taking them deeper into the heart of God), “…do not be ANXIOUS about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

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But also, we are not to be PRESUMPTUOUS.

James 4:13-14 – “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit.’ Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead your OUGHT to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.'”

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Reading the Gospels in 2026 (9/9): Matthew 2:1-12.

Sep9

Read and Believe in Jesus.

“And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him.” Matthew 2:11

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REVIEW – When Joseph heard that his betrothed “wife” was pregnant (and not by him), he was in turmoil. What to do? He loved Mary and didn’t want to shame her. But that she was pregnant meant only one thing, right? Infidelity. So sadly, he decided to “divorce” her privately, saving her from a spectacle or even severe judgment.

But before he could act, an angel visited him in a dream and explained the whole amazing story. Mary was pregnant by … the Holy Spirit! Her morality was intact! He, Joseph, would be the child’s legal father and so pass the right to King David’s throne to the boy. Joseph was to name this stepson Jesus because… He would “save His people from their sins.” The angel nodded at the dreaming Joseph and assured him it was right in God’s sight for him to marry Mary. So he did.

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And now we take a giant step in time.

If you read Luke’s gospel, you know that Joseph and Mary had to travel to Bethlehem “for a census” (or so Rome thought), but actually it was to fulfill scripture that the Messiah would be born in David’s hometown of Bethlehem. While there, Mary gave birth.

Eight days later, a local priest (perhaps even Zechariah, John’s father) circumcised the boy, and Joseph named Him Jesus. Forty days after Jesus’s birth, to fulfill all the Jewish laws, Joseph and Mary took Him to Jerusalem to “redeem” Him, as all firstborn males were to do. This was also the time of Mary’s ritual cleansing after a birth. She could now become “a wife” to Joseph. For this, they brought two doves, which were the appropriate sacrifice for the poor.

In the temple, old Simeon also blessed Jesus and identified Him as the long-awaited Messiah of Israel, and “a light for the Gentiles.” He told Mary that her Son would “pierce her heart.” An old prophetess, Anna, also blessed Jesus and His parents.

Then, preferring to live in Bethlehem and not return to Nazareth, the couple found a house, and Joseph set up his carpentry.

TWO YEARS HAVE PASSED.

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Matthew 2:1-2.

Then, one normal day in Herod’s palace, a foreign delegation arrived and upset the king and his household, and in fact, all Jerusalem, forever.

These majestic, blue-and-gold, star-crested, robed, and bejeweled foreigners dismounted their camels and entered the palace with smooth, assured bearing. They looked around, and then, in a tone that told they were used to dealing with mere “human” kings, asked Herod,

“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star when it rose, and have come to worship Him“

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(NOTE: People have wondered about the star for ages. Could it have been a supernova? A conjunction of planets? Halley’s comet? Consider what Bible commentaries say: that this was supernatural reality, similar to the Shekinah that guided the Israelites in the days of Moses. Read Exodus 13:21; it is very enlightening.)

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Matthew 2:3-6.

Herod is stunned and angered at their audacity. HE is king of the Jews. HE is the one who rules in Jerusalem. What do they mean, a new King has been born?? But then a cold chill turns his heart to ice. King of the Jews? Do they mean … the Messiah? NO! It can’t be!

Smiling on the outside, Herod invites his important guests, these “Magi,” to a lounge to perhaps be refreshed and entertained while he finds the answer to their question.

Quickly, Herod assembles the chief priests and scribes and asks them WHERE the Messiah was to be born. These men are familiar with the Scriptures and don’t need to go searching. They know the passage written by the prophet Micah (5:2), and they quote it.

“And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.”

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Matthew 2:7-8.

Calming himself and perhaps taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, Herod calls back in these important Eastern “wise men.” First, he casually asks when they first saw this star, and then he directs them just a few miles southeast of Jerusalem to the little town of Bethlehem.

“Oh, and be sure to let me know where you find Him. I want to come worship him too.” Herod adds with false fervor as he escorts the men to their waiting camels.

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Matthew 2:9-12.

After getting the directions, the Magi (three or a dozen) went on their way. And, lo and behold, the star appeared again and seemed to lead the way. They rejoiced greatly and eagerly followed it. Soon it came to rest over a small house in Bethlehem. (What a stir they must have caused in the sleepy little town!)

They each took a prepared gift from the saddlebags of their camels and went to the house. Inside, they saw Jesus with his mother. They fell down before the little boy and worshipped Him. Then, they opened their treasures and gave Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.

I imagine Mary sitting (or perhaps standing by a stove with a wooden spoon in her hand), her mouth wide open in wonder at such a sight – the richly attired wise men, their worship of her Son, their magnificent gifts. WOW. Did she go call in Joseph? Did they stand in wonder?

And Jesus? Grinning and pointing with a chubby hand at the fancy-dressed men. Reaching for the shiny gifts, patting them and clapping His hands. “Looka, Imma! See, Abba!”

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Matthew 2:12.

How long did the Magi stay? Perhaps they brought in sweet treats from Babylon – baklava, honey & wafers, raisins & dates – and shared sweet wine with the family. But at some time, at least one of them received a warning dream from Jehovah God.

“Do not return to Herod!”

So they all mounted camels, waved at the joyful boy in Mary’s arms, and went towards their homeland … by another route.

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I know the Bible does NOT call these visitors Kings. And nowhere does it tell us how many there were, but the Christmas Carol “We Three Kings” has always been my favorite. Especially the final stanza, which describes what their three gifts “could have” depicted. 

"We Three Kings" by John H. Hopkins (1820-1891)

We three kings of Orient are;
Bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.

Refrain:
O star of wonder, star of light,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.

Born a King on Bethlehem's plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
Over us all to reign.

Refrain

Frankincense to offer have I;
Incense owns a Deity nigh;
Prayer and praising, voices raising,
Worshipping God on high.

Refrain

Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom;
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone cold tomb.

Refrain

Glorious now behold Him arise;
King and God and sacrifice;
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Sounds through the earth and skies.

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