Matthew
Mar 19th, 2010 |
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Category: Matthew, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name)
“A bright cloud overshadowed them.” This phenomenon was awesome in itself, but then a voice thundered out very majestically, “This is my beloved Son, … hear ye him.” This scene was so impressive that Peter referred to it in his epistle but said that despite its awesomeness and positiveness, the “more sure word of prophecy” was superior (2 Pet. 1:16-19). Do we have such a conviction? Is God’s Word more “sure” to us than if we had witnessed the transfiguration and heard the voice coming from the cloud? We should have the same reverence and respect for the Word of God that Peter had—regardless of the degree of our comprehension.
Being familiar with the account of the bright cloud over the nation of Israel and the Tabernacle in the Wilderness of Sinai, the disciples would have had no difficulty realizing that the message, or voice, came from God. Also, “Hear ye him [Jesus]” was almost like a reprimand, for earlier Peter had been arguing with the Master (Matt. 16:22). Now the Father was saying, “This is my Son. I am well pleased with him. You had better listen to him.” In other words, in listening to Christ, we are really listening to God, for the Son is the true and highest representative of the Father.
Tags: alleth into the fire, Ancient Worthies, and his raiment was white as the light, by prayer and fasting, Capernaum, Doth not your master pay tribute, face did shine as the sun, faith as a grain of mustard seed, faithless and perverse generation, find a piece of money, john the baptist, lunatic, Moses and Elias, Moses and Elijah, mount Sinai, Mount Tabor, New Testament saints, Old Testament saints, rebuked the devil, Son of man be risen again from the dead, tax-collecting season, three tabernacles, transfigured before them Posted in Matthew, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name) |
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Jan 19th, 2010 |
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Category: Matthew, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name)
Again and again the emphasis of Jesus’ condemnation of the scribes and Pharisees was on money and greed. The Temple was God’s house, which Jesus purged when he overturned the tables of the money changers. The Temple and the institution of the priesthood represented the religion of Jehovah, but all kinds of sinful practices were introduced such as changing money from Roman “unholy” coins to Jewish money and selling animals in the Temple precincts. Jesus had such a high respect for the Temple that he was indignant over the traffic taking place within. Here he was making the point that it was more important to swear by the Temple, which represented God, than to swear by money or mammon. The emphasis the Pharisees gave was to the contrary, completely backwards. They devoured widows’ houses and greedily acquired money, respect, authority, lands, etc. The Temple, built according to God’s institution, was greater.
Tags: blind guides, blood of righteous Abel, blood of the prophets, blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, chief seats in the synagogues, damnation of hell, dead men’s bones, devour widows’ houses, full of extortion and excess, garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, generation of vipers, gold of the temple, greater damnation, hypocrisy and iniquity, measure of your fathers, Moses’ seat, O Jerusalem, Pharisees, phylacteries, pretence make long prayer, proselyte, Rabbi, scourge in your synagogues, Scribes and Pharisees, shut up the kingdom of heaven, swallow a camel, swear by the temple, temple that sanctifieth, tithe of mint and anise and cummin, tombs of the prophets, whited sepulchres, Your house is left unto you desolate Posted in Matthew, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name) |
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Dec 31st, 2009 |
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Category: Matthew, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name)
Many of us have false concepts of justice and grace, thinking something is ours by right. Suppose we were seriously unemployed, needing a job for our very survival and for that of our family. We would be thankful for any job and for getting a full day’s wage. We should start to reason from this standpoint, for otherwise, the view is distorted and disproportionate. It was grace that gave the laborers the opportunity to work in the vineyard and to receive payment. Had the laborers fully appreciated that point, the reward of the penny to all would not have been a sore point. The whole way through, the parable teaches grace, not merit.
Tags: baptized with baptism, borne the burden and heat of the day, goodman of the house, healing the blind man, Hetairos, hire labourers into his vineyard, Jame and John Zebedee, Kingdom of Heaven, parable of the penny, parables, penny a day, sit on left hand, sit on right hand, Son of David, Son of man shall be betrayed, Sons of Thunder, The harvest is the end of the age, twelve disciples Posted in Matthew, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name) |
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Dec 31st, 2009 |
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Category: Matthew, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name)
The ruler had asked what he must do to inherit eternal life, and Jesus had said, “If thou wilt be perfect.” Only perfect obedience under the Law would give life, let alone consecration and following Jesus in the Gospel Age. The rich, young ruler went away sorrowfully, “for he had great possessions” (verse 22). The discussion terminated at that point, for a sensitive area had been touched.
Not many noble, wise, mighty, or rich are called (1 Cor. 1:26). The ruler’s neighbors probably considered him exemplary, but God does the calling. Usually He purposely calls those who are not so well esteemed in order to put to foolishness the wisdom of men. God can make something out of nothing, and He can make something into nothing. He calls the humble to put to nothingness that which men admire profoundly. As a result, no flesh will be able to glory in its own presence. Paul’s reasoning is like a sequel to this incident with the rich ruler. Those who know they are “sick” need a physician; those who feel whole are less likely to seek help.
Tags: camel to go through the eye of a needle, castrated, committeth adultery, divorce, eternal life, eunuchs, false witness, fornication, hardness of your hearts, inherit everlasting life, Judaea, judging the twelve tribes of Israel, Kingdom of Heaven, let not man put asunder, Marriage, Origen, Pharisees, shalt not commit adultery, Son of Man, Suffer little children, treasure in heaven, twelve thrones, writing of divorcement Posted in Matthew, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name) |
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Dec 31st, 2009 |
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Category: Matthew, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name)
First, the one or two witnesses listen to the alleged victim to hear what the grievance is. If it is a trivial matter, the witnesses would nip the matter in the bud, and it would be dropped. But if the accusation is judged worthy of attention if it be true, then the witnesses go to hear the alleged perpetrator’s side of the story. If the witnesses find the accusation is true—that the victim has been injured and has stated the case fairly (not exaggerating it)—they would try to help the perpetrator to see the error of his way. However, the witnesses do not start out with that motive, for at first, they do not know who is right. (Some claim injury when it is really a figment of their imagination.)
Tags: become as little children, cast into everlasting fire, cast into hell fire, disfellowship, excommunication, eye offend thee, foot offend thee, forgiveness, forsaking the Lord, godly sorrow, greatest in the kingdom of heaven, guardian angels, Kingdom of Heaven, little child in my name, millstone were hanged about his neck, second death, seventy times seven, their angels do always behold the face of my Father, trespass against thee, wicked servant Posted in Matthew, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name) |
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Oct 29th, 2009 |
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Category: Matthew, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name)
Jesus said, “Ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.” In Matthew 24:9, he said, “Ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.” These two Scriptures show that waves of very severe persecution afflict Christians from time to time. If we are in prison and know that the next day we must appear before the chief magistrate to represent the cause of Christ, we may be frightened because we are not accustomed to speaking in such a formalized manner. This situation is a little different from living the Christian life from day to day. But God says, “Do not take anxious thought, for I will give you the words.” Then, when we appear before the council, the court, and the chief magistrate—all of whom are opposed to us—we can relax, trusting in the Lord. We should reflect on the coming hatred of the true Christian cause so that we will not betray one another or recant under pressure. God will help us at that time if we trust Him. The fact that Jesus devoted several verses to the subject of persecution shows that we should reflect on them and the coming condition at the end of the age.
Posted in Matthew, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name) |
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Sep 16th, 2009 |
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Category: Matthew, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name)
“Blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For … many prophets and righteous men have desired to see … and to hear [understand] those things [but it was not given them to know].” The disciples were given the understanding, but before Jesus explained the parable, he told them that they were in a unique position. The lesson is that before the Lord gives us advanced understanding and truth, we must act. We must have the desire and must hunger and thirst for further righteousness if we are to be filled. Holy men of old had this desire and were in the proper heart condition, but it was not yet due time for this understanding.
Tags: bind the tares, Capernaum, cares of this world, Christendom, Dark Ages, dark sayings, deceitfulness of riches, dragnet, End of the World, End Times, French Revolution, furnace of fire, gather wheat into my barn, good ground, goodly pearls, Great Company, Great Multitude, Great Tribulation, grow together until the harvest, heareth the word, Last Days, light under a bushel, little flock, Mustard seed, Papacy, parable of the sower, parables, pearl of great price, Prophet, Prophetic Studies, reapers are the angels, Revelation, righteous shine forth as sun, second death, Seven Churches, sins forgiven, Smyrna, some an hundredfold, Son of Man, sower and the seed, stony places, time of the End, Time of Trouble, treasure hid in field, weeping and gnashing of teeth, wheat and tares, woman who mixed leaven in dough Posted in Matthew, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name) |
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Sep 16th, 2009 |
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Category: Matthew, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name)
The different types of ground the seed fell on represent different heart conditions. In the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares, the instruction was not to uproot the tares until the end of the age. Thus a progression was shown. The Parable of the Mustard Seed indicates that the primitive Church started with relatively few people but grew into a large nominal system (Papacy).
In other words, we are considering these parables from a different standpoint now—a dispensational standpoint. The woman who hid leaven in the three measures of meal pictures the adulteration of truth by Papacy in three primary areas: love, faith, and hope. Treasure being hid in a field pictures the Dark Ages, when it was very difficult to find the Word of God. Diligence and effort were required.
Tags: Capernaum, Christendom, Dark Ages, dragnet, French Revolution, Mustard seed, Papacy, parable of the sower, parables, pearl of great price, Prophet, Prophetic Studies, Revelation, Seven Churches, Smyrna, sower and the seed, treasure hid in field, wheat and tares, woman who mixed leaven in dough Posted in Matthew, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name) |
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Jun 20th, 2009 |
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Category: Matthew, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name)
We continue with the chapter of Matthew 24, explaining the verses which the Lord described the End of the Age (World), Time of the End. We are warned to flee (Mystic Babylon) and take none of her baggage with us. He explains the deceptions and “Lying Signs and Wonders” that Satan will use to ensnare the “Elect” if it were possible. Jesus gives us signs to watch for (One being the restoration of Israel). He describes the Tribulation, “Time of Trouble” that was never since the world began, likening it to the Time period that Noah and even Lot lived, and how God delivered the righteous. Finally we end up with the binding of Satan for the thousand years.
Tags: 1948, Binding of Satan, bottomless pit, catholic church, chains of darkness, Come out of her my people, eagle, epiphania, False Christs, false prophets, fig tree, four winds, gomorrah, goodman of the house, Harvest, Israel, little season, Lot, lying signs and wonders, Mystic Babylon, Noah, Papacy, parousia, rapture, sabbath day, second coming, sign of son of man, Sodom, tartaroo, Time of Trouble, Tribulation, trumpet, wolves in sheeps clothing Posted in Matthew, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name) |
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May 18th, 2009 |
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Category: Matthew, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name)
Matthew 24 is called the “Lord’s Great Prophecy.” The chapter is jam packed with pertinent prophetic information for the Christian living in our day. His disciples asked him, what would be the sign of his coming [parousia--presence], and the end of the age. The answer he gives is far deeper and broader than even they could understand.
Tags: Abomination that makes desolate, Dark Ages, dome of the rock, End of Age, End of World, False Christs, Father Divine, General Allenby, Harvest, Herod, Jerusalem trodden down of the Gentiles, Jezebel, Lord's Great Prophecy, Papacy, Prophet Daniel, rumours of wars, Second Advent, second coming, Sinaitic Manuscript, Time of Trouble, Zerubbabel. Titus Posted in Matthew, Verse by Verse --Studies led by Br. Frank Shallieu (Click on Book name) |
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