18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel”
(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
Matthew 1:18-25
“Hope in Emmanuel: God With Us”
As we approach Christmas, seeking solace in the presence of King Jesus amid the trials of this year, our focus turns to the facets of hope, joy, and love that emanate solely from the Lord. To commence this journey, let’s delve deeper into the profound narrative of Joseph, often overshadowed by Mary’s pivotal role.
Joseph, described as a “just man” (v. 19), faced a dilemma when confronted with Mary’s unexpected pregnancy. Despite the social norms and legal avenues available to him, Joseph chose a path of grace rather than justice. In a society quick to condemn and shun Mary, Joseph’s decision to spare her from shame embodies God’s profound mercy and compassion. It’s a poignant reflection of the gospel – choosing redemption over condemnation, displaying the heart of God toward His people.
The angel’s revelation to Joseph validated the truth behind Mary’s conception and urged him not to fear but to embrace his role in God’s divine plan. This narrative mirrors Christ’s embrace of the flawed yet beloved Church, demonstrating the beauty of redemption amid societal scrutiny and judgment.
The significance of the name Jesus reverberates throughout history. Beyond its literal meaning of salvation and divine assistance, it embodies the unparalleled authority and saving grace encapsulated who Jesus is (Acts 4:12, Philippians 2:9-10).
Emmanuel – God with us, a promise foretold by Isaiah in 7:14, served as a beacon of hope for Israel amid turmoil. It assured them of God’s presence, dispelling fear and fortifying their spirits against adversity. This promise resonates with timeless relevance today, assuring us that God’s presence transcends circumstances, offering unwavering hope and strength.
To close, let’s meditate on Romans 8:31-34, a profound reminder encapsulating the essence of Emmanuel:
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died – more than that, who was raised – who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
These verses reassure us that with God on our side through Jesus, no force or circumstance can overpower us. Christ’s intercession for us solidifies our hope and assurance in His unwavering love and support. Despite uncertainties that lie ahead, remember this truth: while challenges may arise, the throne of heaven remains unshakeable. God’s sovereignty prevails, and He orchestrates all things, offering us an unshakable foundation of hope.
Embracing the profound truth encapsulated in the name Emmanuel – God with us, let’s find rest, solace, and hope in the promises it holds. In acknowledging God’s abiding presence with us, both now and forever, may this Christmas season be a source of renewed hope and unwavering assurance.
Reflection Questions:
Think about the name Jesus and its meaning of salvation and divine help. What does this name mean for you personally, and how does Jesus bring hope and rescue into your life?
Reflect on times when you have felt overwhelmed or anxious. How does the idea of Emmanuel – God with us – offer comfort and strength in these moments in your life?
📖 Revelation 3:7–13We’re back!After a few months off, The King is Coming returns in 2026 with one of the most encouraging letters in Revelation — Jesus’s message to the faithful church in Philadelphia. In a world filled with opposition and weakness, Jesus opens a door no one can shut.In this episode, Keith Harris and Jamie Harrison explore:✔️ Jesus’s identity as the Holy One, the True One — God Himself✔️ What the “key of David” means and how Jesus alone opens and shuts✔️ The debated phrase “I will keep you from the hour of trial” — and how to read it biblically✔️ Why “little power” doesn’t disqualify faithfulness✔️ How being kept through the trial glorifies Christ’s strength in us✔️ What it means to be a pillar in God’s presence foreverThis church had no rebuke — only encouragement. And Jesus’s call still stands today: “Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.” (Revelation 3:11, ESV)🔗 Missed earlier episodes in the series? You can click here to catch up and listen from the beginning.✍️ If you’d like to see a written version of this podcast, complete with footnotes and cross-references, you can find it here.
67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,
68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people 69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71 that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; 72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us 74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
Luke 1:67-80
“Zechariah’s Hymn of Redemption”
Zechariah’s song, the Benedictus, bursts forth like a symphony of redemption, echoing through the corridors of history. It begins with the profound proclamation, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people” (Luke 1:68). These words, penned by a man once silenced by disbelief, now resound with the power of prophecy fulfilled and salvation’s promise proclaimed.
Zechariah’s hymn encompasses a tapestry of themes—each thread woven intricately with the divine promises, from David to Abraham, connecting the grand narrative of God’s faithfulness to the imminent arrival of the Messiah. At its core lies the concept of redemption—freedom from captivity and deliverance from sin’s bondage. It echoes the call of Isaiah, foretelling the release of captives and the opening of prison doors. Through Christ, God was inaugurating a new era of liberty, breaking the chains of sin and offering spiritual emancipation to all who believe (Luke 4:18). The imagery of the “horn of salvation” harks back to the Davidic tradition, symbolizing power and victory—assurance that in Christ, the enemy is defeated, and complete triumph prevails for God’s people (Psalm 18:2).
Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah, arrives, tracing His lineage to the royal lineage of David—bringing health, soundness, and spiritual wholeness to a broken world (Micah 5:2). His redemption doesn’t merely liberate; it transforms. The victory achieved by Christ doesn’t end in personal emancipation. Those redeemed are called to live in alignment with God’s will—to embrace freedom not for selfish desires but for a life of obedience and fulfillment in service to the Most High (Colossians 1:12–14).
Central to this anthem is the remission of sin debts. Humanity, indebted by sin, finds its burden lifted by the gracious act of Christ. His sacrifice becomes the means through which debts are canceled—a divine act of mercy that sets the repentant heart free from the chains of guilt and condemnation (Psalm 103:12).
Moreover, Zechariah’s hymn provides a profound metaphor—the dawning of a new day, the rising sun breaking through the darkness of humanity’s plight. Jesus, the Dayspring, brings light, life, and peace to a world shrouded in despair, heralding the tender mercies of God, and initiating a new era of divine grace and restoration (Isaiah 9:2). Zechariah, once mute, now becomes a mouthpiece of divine revelation. His joy is palpable as he rejoices not only in the birth of his son John but in the advent of the Messiah whom John will herald. Through the ages, prophets had foretold this moment, and now, it was finally dawning.
Today, the resonance of Zechariah’s song beckons—a call to believe in the Good News, to embrace the joy of salvation, and to join the chorus of praise for the Redeemer who came from the lineage of David to set the captives free. Just as Zechariah’s voice was restored to praise, may our lives echo with gratitude for the redemption found in Jesus Christ, our Savior and King.
Reflection Questions:
Considering Zechariah’s transformation from silence to praise, how can his experience encourage us to embrace gratitude and praise for the redemption found in Jesus? How might this echo our thankfulness for the salvation He brings?
Look at the imagery of the sun rising and chasing away darkness in vv. 78-79. How does the image of Jesus being like the bright sun rising and the darkness being unable to stand before Him help you understand His first coming? How about His second coming?
📖 Revelation 3:7–13We’re back!After a few months off, The King is Coming returns in 2026 with one of the most encouraging letters in Revelation — Jesus’s message to the faithful church in Philadelphia. In a world filled with opposition and weakness, Jesus opens a door no one can shut.In this episode, Keith Harris and Jamie Harrison explore:✔️ Jesus’s identity as the Holy One, the True One — God Himself✔️ What the “key of David” means and how Jesus alone opens and shuts✔️ The debated phrase “I will keep you from the hour of trial” — and how to read it biblically✔️ Why “little power” doesn’t disqualify faithfulness✔️ How being kept through the trial glorifies Christ’s strength in us✔️ What it means to be a pillar in God’s presence foreverThis church had no rebuke — only encouragement. And Jesus’s call still stands today: “Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.” (Revelation 3:11, ESV)🔗 Missed earlier episodes in the series? You can click here to catch up and listen from the beginning.✍️ If you’d like to see a written version of this podcast, complete with footnotes and cross-references, you can find it here.
57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” 61 And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” 62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.
Luke 1:57-66
“Rejoicing in Hope: Exploring the Joy of Advent” by Burt Schmitz
Today we begin thinking about the third week of Advent. This is the week of joy. There are few events in the lives of individuals that bring more joy than the birth of a child. Imagine with me some of what is happening with the birth of this child. Elizabeth in her old age has not only become pregnant, beyond any hope, and has now given birth to a child. She who at one time felt disgraced has found favor with God (Luke 1:24-25). Elizabeth rejoices! Her son was born! Oh joy! Her neighbors rejoice along with Elizabeth. I can hear them now. The sounds of rejoicing and laughter with one who has been blessed with her first-born child a son. Most of us have seen this scene and the joy it brings to our lives, and we can relate to the joy that comes with the birth of a child.
But is joy only a feeling that we get when things are going our way or when something wonderful and inexplicable happens to us? No, joy is much more than this. There is a joy that is experienced by God’s people that is based on more than a feeling. This joy rises above circumstances and focuses on the very character of God.[i] I can think of no reason to have joy more than that God has provided a way of salvation for us, His creation. Romans 5:12 states it this way, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith in this grace in which we stand: and we exult in hope of the glory of God.” What does that have to do with our Scripture for today?
When Zechariah was in the temple and the angel Gabriel was foretelling the birth of his son, Gabriel said, “You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth” (Luke 1:14). Joy and rejoicing at the birth of Elizabeth and Zechariah’s son. Why? It is not just the whole old age issue. It is because “he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah…to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:17-18). Joy because salvation is coming to the house of Israel and to all peoples!
Rejoicing and then confusion as Elizabeth says that his name is John. This is affirmed by Zechariah who writes “His name is John.” And immediately begins to speak in praise of God! A whole lot of joy and rejoicing because God is showing His people salvation. This was news that spread throughout the hill country of Judea, their home. Joy and rejoicing not just in the birth of a child. Joy and rejoicing because God is bringing salvation to His people. The really good news is this. The salvation that is spoken of for the people of that time is not just for them. This same salvation is available to us today through faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord. “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). Accept Jesus and experience true joy in His salvation.
Reflection Questions:
Considering Zechariah’s and Elizabeth’s joy at the birth of their son John, how might the angel’s prophecy about John’s role in turning people back to God contribute to their joy?
When Zechariah affirms the name John, leading to his immediate praise of God, what does his reaction reveal about the significance of God’s plan and the joy that comes from seeing it play out in real life?
📖 Revelation 3:7–13We’re back!After a few months off, The King is Coming returns in 2026 with one of the most encouraging letters in Revelation — Jesus’s message to the faithful church in Philadelphia. In a world filled with opposition and weakness, Jesus opens a door no one can shut.In this episode, Keith Harris and Jamie Harrison explore:✔️ Jesus’s identity as the Holy One, the True One — God Himself✔️ What the “key of David” means and how Jesus alone opens and shuts✔️ The debated phrase “I will keep you from the hour of trial” — and how to read it biblically✔️ Why “little power” doesn’t disqualify faithfulness✔️ How being kept through the trial glorifies Christ’s strength in us✔️ What it means to be a pillar in God’s presence foreverThis church had no rebuke — only encouragement. And Jesus’s call still stands today: “Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.” (Revelation 3:11, ESV)🔗 Missed earlier episodes in the series? You can click here to catch up and listen from the beginning.✍️ If you’d like to see a written version of this podcast, complete with footnotes and cross-references, you can find it here.
[i] Ronald F. Youngblood, F. F. Bruce, and R. K. Harrison, Thomas Nelson Publishers, eds., Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1995).
“My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; 52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.
Luke 1:46-56
“Rejoicing in God’s Care: Lessons from Mary’s Song”
When thoughts of God occupy our minds, what shapes our perceptions? Each person has their own view of God, influenced by feelings, family, and life. Some see God as distant, others as always present, loving, or serious.
Think about Mary, a big part of the Christmas story. She sang a song about God, not herself. This song came from her heart, filled with feelings. This song, called “The Magnificat,” reflects the reversal of fortunes people will experience through her son, Jesus (vv. 52–55). It shares themes and language with Hannah’s song in 1 Samuel 2:1–10, foreshadowing God’s acts of deliverance and echoing thanksgiving psalms in the Old Testament (Psalms 30, 34, 138).
In this song, Mary first speaks personally, saying that God paid attention to her, even though she was lowly. She says God chose her, a regular girl, for an important job (Luke 1:46–48). Mary doesn’t only talk about herself but also about God caring for everyone. This connects to God’s big plan for His people, reversing the fortunes of the poor and marginalized, remembering His covenant with Abraham (v. 55).
Mary’s song shows God’s care and strength. It shows that God knows us closely, even when the world might not see it. Despite what the world thinks, God shows His care, promise-keeping, and actions toward His people. He’s the caring God, who knows us deeply despite what people think.
This important truth shows God cares about us and is stronger than us. It changes how society sees things, making proud people humble and surprising rich people. Mary’s song talks about this, showing how God’s strength changes what people think (Luke 1:49–53).
As we think about Mary’s song, look at how it is similar to Nahum 1:7: “The Lord is good. He is a stronghold in the day of trouble. He knows those who are His.” Thankfully, through Mary’s willingness, she gave birth to the One who had come to be all of those things for us too. Let us look at her example of praise and worship Him!
Reflection Question:
How does Mary’s emphasis on God’s attention to the humble and lowly challenge the way society bestows value or attention?
In what ways does Mary’s song reveal the intimate relationship between God and His people? How does this contrast with the way the world views God’s involvement in our lives?
📖 Revelation 3:7–13We’re back!After a few months off, The King is Coming returns in 2026 with one of the most encouraging letters in Revelation — Jesus’s message to the faithful church in Philadelphia. In a world filled with opposition and weakness, Jesus opens a door no one can shut.In this episode, Keith Harris and Jamie Harrison explore:✔️ Jesus’s identity as the Holy One, the True One — God Himself✔️ What the “key of David” means and how Jesus alone opens and shuts✔️ The debated phrase “I will keep you from the hour of trial” — and how to read it biblically✔️ Why “little power” doesn’t disqualify faithfulness✔️ How being kept through the trial glorifies Christ’s strength in us✔️ What it means to be a pillar in God’s presence foreverThis church had no rebuke — only encouragement. And Jesus’s call still stands today: “Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.” (Revelation 3:11, ESV)🔗 Missed earlier episodes in the series? You can click here to catch up and listen from the beginning.✍️ If you’d like to see a written version of this podcast, complete with footnotes and cross-references, you can find it here.
5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.
8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And when his time of service ended, he went to his home.
24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25 “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
Luke 1:5-25
“Divine Surprises and Unforeseen Grace” by Will Goff
Imagine with me for a minute here: you work at a restaurant and at the end of each shift, you draw straws to see who is going to have to stay late and cleanup. Your name gets drawn and so everybody else leaves. You’re alone and you know that nobody else should be in the building, but when you’re cleaning the counter, out of your peripheral vision, you see somebody standing there. Talking about jumping out of your skin! I would probably throw the rag at the person and kick the bucket as I’m scrambling to get away. That’s what it was like for Zechariah when the angel appeared to him.
The angel says, “Do not be afraid,” but it was too late for that. He was already shaking and overwhelmed with fear – like the shock you feel when something really startles you. But then the angel gives Zechariah good news. The angel tells him that they will have a son. This is special for multiple reasons, but the biggest is the fact that Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, well past childbearing age with no children – so at least in their 50s or 60s. Can you imagine having your first child in your 60s? They thought they couldn’t have kids (v. 7). Talk about shock on top of shock!
And Zechariah did what most of us would do. He had questions and doubt instead of faith, but he gets answers for his questions and then some. Because of his doubt, the angel told him he wouldn’t be able to speak until the child was born. One of the most common verses we use at our house is James 1:19, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry.” We use this at our house because we all are too quick to speak instead of being quick to listen. What is God trying to tell you right now? Maybe you can’t hear him because you won’t stop talking. Silence may feel awkward for us, but many times God speaks in a still, small voice.
Picture this: despite Zechariah’s wavering faith in that divine encounter, God had monumental plans for both him and Elizabeth. The answer to his questioning wasn’t just a clarification; it was a revelation about their son—John the Baptist. Zechariah, entrusted with tending the temple’s incense and interceding for Israel in prayer, seemingly also pleaded with God for a child. Remarkably, both requests were met with overflowing abundance. The child born to them would be “filled with the Holy Spirit” (v. 15), leading many of Israel’s children back to their God (v. 16), and paving the way for a prepared people for the Lord (v. 17). It wasn’t just good news for Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Israel; it resonates with us today.
Zechariah’s response to this revelation resulted in a temporary silence imposed upon him. And Elizabeth? Her words are few, but their impact profound: “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people” (v. 25). Swift to listen, slow to utter. Yet, God removed her shame. He granted her a son destined to ready His people for His imminent arrival. It’s the narrative of God stepping in to remove the reproach of all who turn to Him. Zechariah and Elizabeth’s son’s name would be John – literally translated, “Yahweh has shown grace”. He showed grace to Zechariah and Elizabeth by sending John, and to the whole world by sending Jesus. That, my friends, is indeed good news!
Reflection Questions:
Zechariah was overwhelmed with big news that made his fears and faith clash. What happens (or has happened specifically) when such clashes happen in our lives?
Reflect on Elizabeth’s statement in v. 25: “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.” How does God’s grace in removing shame or reproach resonate with your own experience of God’s power to save?
📖 Revelation 3:7–13We’re back!After a few months off, The King is Coming returns in 2026 with one of the most encouraging letters in Revelation — Jesus’s message to the faithful church in Philadelphia. In a world filled with opposition and weakness, Jesus opens a door no one can shut.In this episode, Keith Harris and Jamie Harrison explore:✔️ Jesus’s identity as the Holy One, the True One — God Himself✔️ What the “key of David” means and how Jesus alone opens and shuts✔️ The debated phrase “I will keep you from the hour of trial” — and how to read it biblically✔️ Why “little power” doesn’t disqualify faithfulness✔️ How being kept through the trial glorifies Christ’s strength in us✔️ What it means to be a pillar in God’s presence foreverThis church had no rebuke — only encouragement. And Jesus’s call still stands today: “Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.” (Revelation 3:11, ESV)🔗 Missed earlier episodes in the series? You can click here to catch up and listen from the beginning.✍️ If you’d like to see a written version of this podcast, complete with footnotes and cross-references, you can find it here.
1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, 4 and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Soloman by the wife of Uriah, 7 and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, 8 and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, 9 and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10 and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, 11 and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. 12 And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, 14 and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, 15 and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. 17 So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.
Matthew 1:1-17
“Unlikely Lineage: Sin and Redemption in Jesus’s Family Tree” by Keith Harris
Once upon a time, there was a great King. He was foretold of old to be a great hero who would come from His faraway country to win back His lost love. His story is one of romance as He left His palace to rescue His Bride. His lineage hailed back to other…great…well, um….
One of the things I love about God’s Word is how it does not fall into the temptation to pretty things up or rewrite/remix them to be more acceptable. Yes, Jesus is the great King – the King of kings who was prophesied for centuries to come from heaven and rescue His people. Yes, Jesus’s Story is one of romance where He left His throne on high and traded it for a lowly manger in a tumble-down stable. But His lineage? It was not filled with kings and queens, although there are a few sprinkled in toward the middle. It was not filled with great heroes with tragic flaws; well, the tragic flaws are many. No, Jesus’s family tree was filled with regular old sinners with real sin and problems – people like me and you.
This Bible study will look at some women emphasized in Jesus’s family tree in Matthew who point us to Jesus in very specific ways. We do not have time to go fully into their stories today, so I will give you the cross-reference so you can check it out directly from Scripture.
The first woman is Tamar (v. 3), and her story is found in Genesis 38. Tamar was Judah’s – as in lion of the tribe of Judah, the original – daughter-in-law. She was originally married to Judah’s oldest son Er until “the Lord put him to death” because Er was “wicked in the sight of the Lord” (Genesis 38:7). In those days, when the elder son died, it was the role of his younger brother to take his place and father children in his name. This fell to second-born son, Onan, but Onan was more sinful and selfish than his big brother, doing what was “wicked in the sight of the Lord” and being “put…to death, also” (Genesis 38:10). Poor Tamar. Her only hope at bearing children would fall on Judah’s youngest son Shelah. But Judah lied and had no intention of continuing with Tamar. What did she do? She decided to be wicked herself. She tricked Judah and tempted him. How did he respond but by being wicked himself? Judah and Tamar committed sin together that is so heinous that I won’t write on it here. So, why would they be included in Jesus’s official lineage – in the Bible no less?
The second woman is Rahab (v. 5), and her story is found throughout the Bible in Joshua 2:1-21, 6:17, 6:22-25; Hebrews 11:31; and James 2:25. Rahab wasn’t one of God’s chosen people, and before the Hebrew spies came to her house in Jordan, she was known for her sinful profession, a profession that, like Tamar isn’t something I am writing down here. Yet she had faith in the God she had heard of because of the mighty work He had done with His people. She kept the Hebrew spies safe by hiding them from her own people. She sided with the Lord. Despite her people and her own history, God rescued her by letting her put a scarlet cord in her window to mark her safe. But what about that earlier profession? Why would someone like her be included in Jesus’s official lineage – in the Bible no less?
The third woman is actually somewhat related to Rahab – she ended up marrying Rahab’s son Boaz. Her name is Ruth, and her story is told in the book of the Bible bearing her name. Like her mother-in-law, she wasn’t one of God’s chosen people. She was from the land of Moab (a people group started by a whole bunch of mess way back in Genesis 19:30-37). Her husband Mahlon came to Moab with his family during a famine in Israel, seeking help from their own strength and ingenuity rather than from the Lord. While they were in Moab, her father-in-law, husband, and brother-in-law all died. She alone decided to go back to Israel with her mother-in-law Naomi. God blessed her while she was there and took care of Ruth and Naomi. Eventually, she – not one of God’s chosen people – would be blessed to marry Boaz, Rahab’s son. This story has a happy ending, especially considering Ruth would be David’s great-grandmother, but doesn’t King Jesus deserve a more presentable bloodline?
The fourth woman isn’t even called by her name, but how she is listed tells the sadness and sin surrounding her: “And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah” (v. 6, 2 Samuel 11:1-25). King David is heralded as a hero but mainly for his worship of the Lord. He is also known as a sinner. Yes, the man who slew Goliath and wrote a good chunk of the psalms committed some of the most heinous sins: murder and adultery. David saw “the wife of Uriah”, a woman named Bathsheba, and decided that he wanted to make her his. His decisions led to a child between them. Rather than owning up and confessing his sin – to the Lord, to his wives, to Uriah, to Israel, David undertook a massive cover-up that ended in his arranging Uriah’s murder. He stole a man’s wife. He took a man’s life. It looks good to have a man who killed a giant who worshiped the Lord in your lineage, but why associate King Jesus with the wickedness of King David (and the same or worse from many of the kings listed after him in the family tree)?
In short, there are answers to those questions. Why would the Bible recognize all those sins and sinners in Jesus’s lineage? They all really happened. Sin happens. All people “have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). None of us – not a single person in the history or future of the world – deserve to be in Jesus’s lineage, but faith in God – trusting in His work and His steadfast love and kindness – is woven through that lineage, marking like a scarlet cord those who are saved by trusting in Him. Looking at their sin and faith in Him reminds us that none of us are worthy of saving. But that is why He came. Jesus Himself said that He came to “seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10). And how did He come to seek and to save? Christmas. The incarnation of God becoming flesh and dwelling among us (John 1:14). He came to earth to provide a way for people like Tamar, Rahab, David, you, and me to be saved – by grace through faith in Him alone.
So, as you gather with family and friends and notice some rough looking fruit in your family tree – or whether you notice the same by looking in your own mirror, realize that Jesus is more than the reason for the season – He came to seek and save sinners like you and me. Won’t you ask Him to save you?
Reflection Questions:
By God including Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and David in Jesus’s family line, how do you see God’s grace and mercy at work despite their sins? How can that remind us of God’s redemption?
Consider the phrase Jesus used in Luke 19:10, that He came “to seek and save the lost”. How does that impact you personally?
📖 Revelation 3:7–13We’re back!After a few months off, The King is Coming returns in 2026 with one of the most encouraging letters in Revelation — Jesus’s message to the faithful church in Philadelphia. In a world filled with opposition and weakness, Jesus opens a door no one can shut.In this episode, Keith Harris and Jamie Harrison explore:✔️ Jesus’s identity as the Holy One, the True One — God Himself✔️ What the “key of David” means and how Jesus alone opens and shuts✔️ The debated phrase “I will keep you from the hour of trial” — and how to read it biblically✔️ Why “little power” doesn’t disqualify faithfulness✔️ How being kept through the trial glorifies Christ’s strength in us✔️ What it means to be a pillar in God’s presence foreverThis church had no rebuke — only encouragement. And Jesus’s call still stands today: “Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.” (Revelation 3:11, ESV)🔗 Missed earlier episodes in the series? You can click here to catch up and listen from the beginning.✍️ If you’d like to see a written version of this podcast, complete with footnotes and cross-references, you can find it here.
2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. 3 You have multiplied the nation; You have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. 4 For the yoke of His burden, and the staff for His shoulder, the rod of His oppressor, You have broken as on the day of Midian. 5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Isaiah 9:2-7
“The Eternal Salvation and Kingdom of GOD” by John Goldwater
Isaiah the prophet is given an incredible vision of the eternal salvation and kingdom that GOD will bring. GOD’s fight will bring light to darkness, hope to gloom, and victory to defeat. All these wonderful transformations will be accomplished by His power and experienced by His people. GOD Himself will accomplish all that He promises.
In Isaiah 8:19-22, the prophet describes those who have forsaken GOD and His Word in favor of occult practices. This practice of abandoning GOD and seeking spirits, sages, philosophies, religions, sciences, theories, or just man-centered feelings and wisdom, is still a practice prevalent in modern times. These twin sin of abandoning GOD and seeking others always and inevitably leads to darkness, hopelessness, and fruitlessness. And this is the backdrop into which GOD announces His coming eternal salvation and kingdom.
Isaiah 9:1-3 identifies the people and the place where GOD’s great initiative will first impact the earth. Ground zero of GOD’s great work will be the northern section of Israel, “Zebulun and the land of Naphtali…beyond the Jordan, in Galilee of the Gentiles” (Isaiah 9:1). These lands were devastated by the cruel Assyrian invaders and the residents there suffered greatly. The people described as the distressed, the lightly esteemed, the heavily oppressed, the Gentiles, the people who walked in darkness, and those who lived in death’s shadow. It’s just like GOD to take on the lowest people in toughest places during the darkest darkness, so that His light and glory will shine brightest.
This mighty and gracious act of GOD is meant to be experienced by His people. The light of GOD’s glory is meant to be seen and felt. They “have seen a great light…Upon them a light has shined” (Isaiah 9:2). The bright future of those who put their trust in GOD will not be hidden forever, eventually the darkness will flee in the light of the brilliant dawning of GOD’s saving power. GOD’s brilliant victory over darkness brings an ever-increasing joy. Joy like a bountiful harvest and joy like soldiers coming home from war will sweep away the years of want, suffering, and shame.
Isaiah 9:4-7 describe the perfect Savior and King in action. Verses 4, 5, and 6 all start with the word “For” to confirm that it is GOD alone who causes this victory, therefore it is to GOD alone to receive glory and honor. GOD will destroy the power of the enemy to oppress and burden His people. Just like the prophecy of Genesis 3:15, the special born Son who will crush the head of the serpent, implies, there cannot be lasting peace if there is a lasting enemy. Like when GOD struck down the Egyptians and the Midianites, He again will break the power of the His enemies. Furthermore, He brings an end to war itself. The uniforms and the gear used for war will become useless except for burning. This is all GOD’s doing.
GOD’s mission, His fight, is going to take place in close quarters and in the filth of this world. The Child born and the Son given will be none other than the Mighty GOD, God the Warrior, and Everlasting Father. These titles cannot rightfully and especially not biblically be address to any other being but GOD, the One True GOD. He will enter the fray and penetrate the darkness. He will be King at His birth and even His vulnerability is stronger than man’s strength (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 2:1-2, 1 Corinthians 1:25). His wisdom and counsel will be unstoppable because He is the Wonderful Counselor. The idea of Wonderful here carries describes that which is beyond human and worldly understanding. He is the Prince, the Ruler, of peace (Genesis 14:18, Psalm 110:4, Hebrews 7:1-3). He manufactures peace like a car manufacturer makes cars (Colossians 1:19-20). GOD, the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty GOD, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace (note He is both Father and Son=Prince), will both Give His Son and the Child born will be GOD with us, Immanuel – God with us. Because of this mysterious, gracious, and glorious incarnation the victory is assured.
The loving governance that He brings will rest on His shoulders and will last forever. For those who hope for real justice and righteousness to rule this world, hold it is coming. GOD will fulfill His promises through His Son JESUS. JESUS was born of the tribe of Judah and of the family line of David (Genesis 49:10, 2 Samuel 7:12-16, Romans 1:2-4). JESUS is the Child born, He is the Son given, He is the Word made flesh (John 1:1, 14), and He is the personification of the “Zeal of the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 9:7). Take time this season to think about how wonderful it is that GOD Himself, the perfect Savior and King, came to establish His Eternal Salvation and Kingdom.
“Joy to the world! The LORD is come; Let earth receive her King!”[i]
Reflection Questions:
Reflecting on v. 2, how does it describe the powerful impact of the light of Christ on places and people in darkness and despair?
Think on the titles and roles of Jesus in vv. 6-7. What do they tell us about who Jesus is?
📖 Revelation 3:7–13We’re back!After a few months off, The King is Coming returns in 2026 with one of the most encouraging letters in Revelation — Jesus’s message to the faithful church in Philadelphia. In a world filled with opposition and weakness, Jesus opens a door no one can shut.In this episode, Keith Harris and Jamie Harrison explore:✔️ Jesus’s identity as the Holy One, the True One — God Himself✔️ What the “key of David” means and how Jesus alone opens and shuts✔️ The debated phrase “I will keep you from the hour of trial” — and how to read it biblically✔️ Why “little power” doesn’t disqualify faithfulness✔️ How being kept through the trial glorifies Christ’s strength in us✔️ What it means to be a pillar in God’s presence foreverThis church had no rebuke — only encouragement. And Jesus’s call still stands today: “Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.” (Revelation 3:11, ESV)🔗 Missed earlier episodes in the series? You can click here to catch up and listen from the beginning.✍️ If you’d like to see a written version of this podcast, complete with footnotes and cross-references, you can find it here.
[i] George Thomas Kurian, Nelson’s New Christian Dictionary: The Authoritative Resource on the Christian World (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001).
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
Introduction
Tony Merida calls those 1 Peter was writing to “grieved saints gladdened by the gospel”.
Martin Luther believed 1 Peter contained all a believer needed to know to be a faithful follower of Christ.
Author (v. 1a)
v. 1a — Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ….
Peter is an example of great faithFULness.
He is the only non-Jesus human to walk on liquid water (Matthew 14:29).
He took his eyes off and nearly drowned after standing on liquid water (Matthew 14:30).
He tried to rebuke and correct Jesus after a prophecy by Jesus regarding His soon-to-come death, burial, and resurrection (Matthew 16:22-23).
And, of course, Peter denied Jesus three times while He was being beaten, mocked, and tortured.
Peter’s life is a beautiful example of redemption and repentance.
Jesus restored Peter three times after His resurrection (John 21:15-19).
Peter repented after being confronted regarding sin by the apostle Paul (Galatians 2:11-14).
1 Peter, at least in part, is an answer to what Jesus prayed about for Peter’s life, faith, and ministry (Luke 22:31-32).
Audience (v. 1b)
v. 1b — To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia….
“elect exiles”
This is almost an oxymoron. To be an exile means to have been rejected, but to be elect means to have been selected.
This phrase could be understood as resident aliens and is reminiscent of Philippians 3:20 — our citizenship is in heaven and from it we await a Savior!
“of the Dispersion”
Some Jews were already dispersed throughout the Greco-Roman world (John 7:35).
During the reign of Emperor Claudius (41-54AD), Christians were expelled from Rome and the areas that these elect exiles lived were where some of those outcasts settled.
Jerusalem Christians were dispersed after the stoning of Stephen (Acts 8:1-4).
According to… (v. 2)
v. 2a — …according to the foreknowledge of God the Father….
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.[1]
Greetings Sojourners!
I usually begin with a little banter, but my battling a migraine necessitates jumping right into the meat of today’s study. Please check out last week’s Bible study for the context (because context is key!).
Just like the pain in my head, sin lingers and clings to us. For the past two Bible studies in our Jesus Over All study (June 29 and July 13), we have been diving into the way Paul approaches the subject of sin in his letter to the Colossian church and how they (us, too) were taught the importance of putting it to death and taking it off and out of their lives. It seems like these past two weeks are negatively focused – and they were if you are looking at the dire circumstances and wages of sin, but part of what makes the gospel good news is what Jesus does with the bad news. Sin produces death. Jesus gives life. To a certain extent, knowing the fragility of life and the existence of death can make one’s life precious. Knowing that Jesus has saved us from the wrath of God our sin was due makes eternal life more precious. So, stick with me as we move through the last of what we need to take off (negative) to walk with Christ so that next week, when we look at what we need to put on (positive), our study can lead to worship in our lives!
As we did with verses 5-7, we are going to rely on a single lexicon/dictionary (Spiros Zodhiates’ The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament[2]) and lay out the definition and verses that contain the same word so that we get the full picture and context and avoid the temptation to cherry-pick definitions to suit bias. Also, remember that while this – as with vv. 5-7 – appears to be a list of sins, it is neither exhaustive (meaning these lists are all the sins there are) nor is the inclusion of any of these sins because of Paul’s or my dislike of certain behaviors. Each sin included in these lists needs to be put to death or taken off because God’s Spirit chose for these to be written here, “breathed out” by God through Paul’s writing, and “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). If offended – as I have been in studying Colossians 3:5-11 and writing these Bible studies, ask yourself what God is trying to teach you – or what correction do you need in your beliefs to square them with the Bible – or what training is God’s Spirit applying to your life that you may be righteous – or what course-correction does your lifestyle need in order to be in step with God rather than your own desires?
Now You Must Put Them All Away (v.8)
As in verses 5-7, these lists are specific sins that were plaguing the church at Colossae (and likely its sister church Laodicea), but the list in verse 8 seems to be more focused with sins within oneself, as in one’s heart-set and mind-set, than in specific actions (as in v. 5). This list shows more of what is going on within a person rather than the specific sins that make them visible in one’s life. Also, these are the sins Paul says are sins in which we “too once walked” and lived in but have no place in the new life in Jesus Christ. Think of it like this: we are sin-sick and have gone to the Great Physician to see what treatment needs to occur. Last week’s sins (vv. 5-7) are seen through the physical examination and may even appear on an x-ray. They are symptoms that are observable. But our Physician is thorough and because “no creature is hidden from His sight” and all “must give an account” to Him who is “living and active” and discerns “the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12-13), we have a deeper view, akin to an MRI or PET scan. The sin in verse 8 is malignant within us and festers within our hearts before its symptoms are seen in our lives. These sins can be hidden to all but God and need treatment by God’s Spirit so that those who are in Christ are being and have been brought from dead in their trespasses and sins – again “in which [we] once walked” (Ephesians 2:1-2) – to “made alive…in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-5).
Those who believe in Christ and confess Him as their Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9-10) are saved from their sin and the wrath that accompanies it. But this is not a new or a New Testament phenomenon; it goes all the way back to how God showed it would work back in the Old Testament prophecies (Ezekiel 36:26-27):
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
It was made abundantly clear – and continues to be made clear through God’s Word – that one’s life matches one’s spiritual standing. For those who are dead in their trespasses and sins, that death is eventually apparent – those sins do not stay hidden within one’s nature because one’s nature always exhibits itself. Jesus Himself clarified this in Matthew 15:18 when He said that “what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person”. What is inside will come out! In the same way that one’s sin goes from nature to behavior, those who are in Christ and have His Spirit dwelling within them will bear fruit of that relationship. The fruit – “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23) – will be visible – will come out – because the life that comes from believing and learning Jesus (Ephesians 4:20-21) is not a learned set of skills and cannot be faked. It will do what Paul prayed for the Colossian church in chapter 1:10: bear “fruit in every good work” exhibiting that we have increased “in the knowledge of God”! Notice that I did not say those good works earn the life; they are results of the life! Think about how one assesses whether someone is alive or dead. How can you tell the difference? Easy! The living person has life, and there is no life in a corpse. Like Ezekiel wrote in the verse we read earlier: God puts His Spirit in His people, His Spirit causes His people to walk in His ways, and even the desire to do good comes from Him.
Let me repeat some of that to make sure that we do not miss it. Being in Christ is not a learned set of skills and cannot be faked. It is a state of being. We are. Or we ain’t.
So often the world tells us to “fake it ‘till you make it.” Well, dear Sojourner, that just will not cut it with the Christian life because what God does is the genuine article. Just as sure as turkey does not make tasty bacon and tofu will never satisfy like a ribeye, only the divine power of God by grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ will produce the genuine article. Christ alone brings the dead to life (Ephesians 2:4-5). And we need to be sure that if we are not taking off these sins Paul shows us here and are content to live in them, we need to understand that, even if we fool the whole world, Jesus will recognize us as either the genuine article or imitation because He will recognize us by our fruits (Matthew 7:20).
Note that the way I illustrated that could be seen as humor above, but it is not. It is heavy – eternally heavy. It is not meant to make something serious a joke but is what is known as satire – to show how ridiculous it would be to believe that one is in Christ all the while wearing every fixture and tapestry of sin. It cannot be so. No one ordering and paying for a steak would be satisfied with a soybean gelatin mold that looks like and smells like beef. One taste will tell the truth. You can fool your congregation, your pastor, or your grandmama, but imitation will not stand the test on the day of judgment but will hear some of the most chilling words found in all of Scripture: “I never knew you; depart from me you workers of lawlessness” (Matthew 7:23).
So, taking these sins off is important. We cannot continue to try and be satisfied by the imitation joy and empty pleasure that sin offers, even within our hearts and minds. The world wants us to think that as long as we do not say it or do it there is no danger, but God knows best. He knows what we need (Him) and what we do not need (sin). With that in mind, here are those things that the Holy Spirit (through Paul) is telling us do not belong in our lives – that which needs to be taken off and put away from us.
“anger” ὀργή (orgḗ) — We all know what anger is, just like we know when anger is appropriate or not. In the context of Colossians 3:8, this is an enduring state of mind. Aristotle defined this particular Greek word for anger as “desire with grief”.
For me, this is the type of anger that seems like it is going to produce relief in me by blowing off steam but ends by immediately making me feel horribly guilty.
Mark 3:5 – And He looked at them with anger grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and was restored.
Romans 12:19 – Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay says the Lord.”
Ephesians 4:31 – Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with malice.
“wrath” θυμός thumós — This was used to describe wind and gave a picture of violent movements or passionate responses. When it was combined with the word translated “anger” above, it communicates something ferocious. Basically, “wrath” here is an outburst of “anger”.
Romans 2:8 – …but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.
Ephesians 4:31 – Let all bitterness and wrath and anger clamor and slander be put away from you, along with malice.
Revelation 19:15 – From His mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.
Deuteronomy 6:15 (Septuagint[3]) – …for the Lord your God in your midst is a jealous God – lest the anger of the Lord your God be kindled against you from off the face of the earth.
“malice” κακία kakía — This word describes a wickedness that occurs simply because it is a habit in the minds of evil people. It is used to describe people who want to do evil and comes from those who are genuinely wicked (and who enjoy doing evil).
Ephesians 4:31 – Let all bitterness and wrath and anger clamor and slander be put away from you, along with malice.
Titus 3:3 – For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.
1 Peter 2:1 – So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.
Proverbs 1:16 (Septuagint) – …for their feet run to evil and they make haste to shed blood.
“slander” βλασφημία blasphēmía — This word is often grouped together with the sin of false witness (like lying but much more purposeful and pointed). It is damaging someone’s reputation by saying or reporting things that wickedly seek to hurt or wound.
Matthew 15:19 (also Mark 7:22) – For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.
1 Timothy 6:4 – …he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions….
Ephesians 4:31 – Let all bitterness and wrath and anger clamor and slander be put away from you, along with malice.
The last in this list is “obscene talk” which essentially goes back to what Jesus said in Matthew 15:18 – what comes out of our mouths evidences what is really in our hearts. And, ultimately, it is the heart that matters. Works do prove faith (James 2:17), but there are those who appear to do good works that fall away.
Wrapping Up
There was a man named Demas whom Paul mentions at the end of Colossians. In Colossians 4:14, he tells the church at Colossae that Demas “greets” them just like Luke did. In Philemon (which was mailed with the letter to the Colossians), Paul calls him one of his “fellow workers” (Philemon 24). Yet in 2 Timothy 4:10 when Paul was in his final years and a prisoner in Rome, he reported that Demas, “in love with this present world”, deserted him and went to Thessalonica.
There is a saying in contemporary America that is used to justify whatever a person wants to do, especially things that someone might call sinful: “The heart wants what the heart wants.” It is the verbal equivalent to shrugged shoulders and communicates that people cannot help what they want to do. This is right and wrong. For those who do not know Christ, it is right. They want what they want and can do what they want. One cannot get more lost. Those who are dead in their sin are dead and cannot get dead-er. But the Bible does not leave room for those who profess Christ to take that path.
Demas was able to act like a Christian convincingly. He even convinced Paul and Luke! But he could not hide his heart – eventually he did not want to hide it anymore. 1 John 2:19 tells us that the enduring mark of faith in Christ is whether we continue in the faith – that those who “went out from us” were not “of us” because those who are in Christ continue in the faith until the end. Pretend does not endure. Acting does not endure. But what Jesus does on the inside is long lasting. So, Sojourner, we have some soul-searching to do.
As you read this, you may be tempted to work or try to earn our way out of any of these sins that are present in our lives because seeing the reality of our sin can be overwhelming. That will not work. Remember, the wages of sin is death. Our hope is not in what we can do – which amounts to our sin, but in the grace given to us in Christ. We need His work.
We need to fix our eyes on Jesus and repent, trusting in His Spirit to give us what He promised back in Ezekiel 36 – to see His fruit bear in our lives.
Let Psalm 139:23-24 be our prayer as we look at our own lives and seek to take off these sins – as we desire to love and follow Jesus and not allow our love for our sins draw us away like Demas:
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
I am praying for you as always and want you to know that you are not alone in the struggle against sin. Sometimes it seems harder to take certain sins off than others but know this: Jesus has paid the penalty for our sin and made a way – the only Way (John 14:6) out of death and into His eternal life. Will you trust Him or continue in sins? Do you love Jesus, or are you in love with this present world? I pray He helps you see which and draws you to Himself.
[3] The Septuagint is a Greek translation of the Old Testament in the 3rd-2nd centuries BC by Jewish scholars who understood Hebrew (and Greek) better than anyone who has lived in the last 1,800 years.
We are almost caught up to where we need to be to finish our Colossians study! It has done my heart and mind good over these past few weeks to dig back into the letter to the church at Colossae. As I have stated numerous times, Colossians[1] is my favorite book, but there is always a temptation in Bible studies – whether verbal or written – to try and get through passages. I am thankful for this opportunity to get the book of Colossians through me rather than me teaching through it. And I pray it gets through to you as well.
Our overview of Colossians 1:1-23 focused on the supremacy of Christ – who He is, what He has done, and how He is worthy of all worship, honor, and praise. Our overview of Colossians 1:24-2:7 reminded us how following Christ brings suffering like that which He bore on our behalf and how Jesus is One for whom we should be willing to suffer. Today, we are going to give our final overview before we dive back into our usual weekly Bible studies where we try to do what Ezra and Nehemiah did when Israel came out of Babylonian exile; they “read from the book…clearly” and “gave the sense” (Nehemiah 8:8). Let us get about that work today!
Captivated by Christ – NOT Captive to False Doctrine or Traditions (vv. 2:8-10)
8 See to it that no one takes you captive by [2]philosophy and [3]empty deceit, according to [4]human tradition, according to the [5]elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For [6]in him the whole fullness of deity dwells [7]bodily, 10 and [8]you have been filled in him, who is [9]the head of all rule and authority.
Colossians 2:8-10
The Colossian church faced the danger of false teachers because their knowledge of the Word was limited. If you remember, this church was not established by Paul, who typically spent more time teaching and discipling the churches he started. Epaphras, who was saved (likely in Ephesus) and brought the gospel home to Colossae, started this church. False teachers saw this limited discipleship as an opportunity to undermine the Colossians’ understanding of the gospel by promoting their own false gospel. Examining how Paul addressed this struggle can provide us with protection against similar threats today, as Satan and false teachers continue to seek such opportunities. Let us explore how Paul’s message to the Colossian church can safeguard us and our communities.
The command to not be taken captive might seem straightforward, but it is not as simple as it appears. Considering how much evil there is in today’s world, the command alone is insufficient to protect people. Just as I would not send my daughter off with a casual warning of avoiding kidnapping, but instead provide extensive guidance and precautionary measures, Paul does the same for the Colossian church. He commands them to guard themselves against being captured and provides a list of specific dangers and captors who are attempting to lead them astray with false gospels.
His list of trustworthy individuals is concise: Jesus. Before delving into the various false teachings, it is crucial to grasp this concept. Rather than focusing on all the details of each false teaching, the key is recognizing that they are not aligned with Christ (v. 8). Knowledge of Christ – as presented in the Bible and its teachings – is vital for protection against false doctrine.
Paul has already emphasized the deity of Christ through a beautiful hymn (Colossians 1:15-20). Now, through the Holy Spirit, he helps the Colossians discern the danger that exists within their midst. The false teachers appealed to human logic and reasoning, attempting to confuse them with plausible arguments. This is why it is so important to test teachers, examining whether they proclaim Christ or argue against His Word (1 John 4:1-6). You should evaluate me and what I teach! Because without engaging with the Word yourself, one is vulnerable to believe whatever is taught. This is a primary way to ensure we are not captured.
The false teachers also used empty deceit, making empty promises that exploit their lack of biblical knowledge. Today, many false teachers deceive others under the guise of faith healers, prosperity gospel preachers, or authors promising health and prosperity within a “Christian” context. They manipulate the vulnerable, while lacking true understanding and adherence to Scripture. The Colossian church struggled to distinguish between false promises and the genuine promises of God due to their limited access to sound teachers and the Word. However, we are blessed with abundant access to both. Thus, we must be vigilant and not be captured.
Human tradition can be potent and resistant to change. Yet, it is crucial to evaluate our sources of information and ensure they align with the whole Bible, rather than relying on opinions or popular beliefs. We must adopt the attitude of the Bereans in Acts 17, eagerly receiving the gospel but diligently examining the Scriptures daily to confirm the message’s truthfulness. Unlike the Colossians, we have numerous resources to study and understand God’s Word. Yet we fall into deception because we prefer to listen to false teachers who tell us what we want to hear. Let us strive to rely on the entirety of God’s Word and not be captured.
The term “elemental spirits” (v. 8) refers to basic principles or childish beliefs. Choosing to abandon the gospel of Jesus Christ for these lesser things is akin to returning to preschool after earning a high school diploma. Paul is questioning here why the Colossians, who have died with Christ to these elemental spirits, would continue to submit to regulations as if they were still alive in the world. The gospel requires faith, as it deals with unseen matters, while elemental spirits can be observed. It is easier to feel the warmth of the sun than to comprehend that Jesus upholds all things by the word of His power. Satan exploits the desire for tangible proof, leading individuals to worship created things rather than the Creator. We must guard against being captured by our desire for our finite human minds to make sense of all the things that are only learned by remaining steadfast in our faith.
The false teachers employed human logic, empty deceit, human tradition, and appeals to elemental spirits to deceive the Colossians. However, we have the privilege of extensive access to the Word of God and various resources to study it. By remaining vigilant, testing all teachings against Scripture, and holding fast to the Truth, we can protect ourselves from being captured by false doctrines.
For more, check out the original Bible study from this section:
11 In him also [10]you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by [11]putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 [12]having been buried with him in baptism, in which [13]you were also raised with him through faith in [14]the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And [15]you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God [16]made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by [17]canceling [18]the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 [19]He disarmed the rulers and authorities and [20]put them to open shame, by [21]triumphing over them in him.
Colossians 2:11-15
As I reflect further on the letter to the Colossian church, I am reminded of the importance of focusing on Christ when encountering false teachings. Paul warns against being swayed by philosophies, empty deceit, human traditions, and elementary principles that are not aligned with Christ. It is a reminder that the Bible challenges us to examine our beliefs and directs us to encounter its Author. It is my prayer through all of the Bible studies we produce that they help those reading to personally encounter Jesus and grasp the hope found in Him for eternal life and to be “delivered…from the domain of darkness and transferred…to the kingdom of [God’s] beloved Son” (ch. 1:13-14).
I had the opportunity a few weeks back to discuss the gospel with a non-believer who was fully entrenched in a dangerous cult. As we dug into Scripture, he was clearly hungry. Yet his family was unwilling to let go – nor he, his family. Rather than embracing the God of the Bible and coming to a knowledge of the truth, he remained blindly allegiant to the works-based gospel and false teachings of the “church” he came out of. So, discussing how easy it can be for one to get captured by false teaching or entrenched in worldly religion is not a moot subject for me. This is eternal life or death (John 3:16-21). And just like this young man, sometimes the religion is not entirely man-made but based on the Old Testament traditions that were meant to point to Christ.
One example from this section of Colossians (I must acknowledge the discomfort that may accompany discussing this topic) is circumcision. I hope this discussion will shed light on the significance of circumcision within the covenant God made with Abraham in the Old Testament while pointing to how it is a foreshadowing of the work of Christ.
Throughout the ancient Near East, covenants were sealed in a solemn and bloody manner, signifying the commitment of both parties involved. This was often called a covenant of halves because of the bloody nature of an animal being cut in half for the parties making the covenant to walk through signifying their agreement. The basic idea was that whoever broke the covenant suffered a fate like the animal. Yet, there was a fundamental difference in God’s covenant with humanity – only He walked through the halves of the sacrificed animals, expressing His faithfulness and foresight that mankind would inevitably break the covenant (Genesis 15).
Circumcision served as a reminder of the costly sacrifice God would make to reconcile people to Himself. It was not a means of salvation, but rather a symbol pointing to Jesus, who fulfilled the covenant and became the ultimate source of salvation. However, the Colossian church faced false teachings from Judaizers, who claimed that salvation required both Jesus and circumcision, along with adherence to the Mosaic Law and festivals. It is crucial to reinforce the truth that salvation is found solely in Jesus and that any addition or alteration to the gospel distorts its message.
The issue really was a question of equations (which should please my Algebra-teaching wife):
Jesus + nothing = EVERYTHING Jesus + anything = nothing
It may have seemed like a small thing for these false teachers to add circumcision to the gospel since the practice was prescribed to Israel in the Old Testament (Genesis 17:10-14; Exodus 4:24-26, 12:43-49; Leviticus 12:3; Joshua 5:2-12). But the Bible is clear even in the Old Testament that there was more to the practice than the removal of a male’s foreskin. Look at Deuteronomy 30:6: “And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.” Even then it was really an outward symbol of what God alone could do in their hearts. Once Jesus came, it was clear that people were to be set apart by their faith in Him (Galatians 5, 6:15; Romans 2:29).
This passage also draws a parallel between circumcision and baptism, highlighting their roles as outward symbols representing inward faith. Baptism symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (Romans 6:4), proclaiming our faith in Him. Through repentance and belief in Jesus, we are saved and experience a spiritual transformation, being raised from spiritual death to new life in Christ. It is essential to understand that salvation is exclusively found in Jesus, and any attempt to dilute or alter the gospel diminishes its power.
Furthermore, this passage brings to light the abundant grace and mercy of God demonstrated through Jesus. In Christ, we find forgiveness and the cancellation of our debts. The record of our sins is wiped away through Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross. We must appreciate the righteousness and justice of God, who paid the price for our sins to justify those who have faith in Jesus. As a result, believers are set free from condemnation and live in the freedom and righteousness that Christ provides.
This passage also highlights the victory of Jesus over Satan and the rulers and authorities. The nails on the cross symbolize the final defeat of Satan, as Jesus disarmed the spiritual forces through His sacrifice. His resurrection abolished death and brought forth life by grace through faith in Him. This truth resonates powerfully, offering believers a message of triumph and good news.
In summary, this passage delves into the spiritual significance of circumcision, baptism, and the redemptive work of Jesus. It emphasizes that salvation is found exclusively in Jesus and urges us to reject any attempts to add to or modify the gospel. Through Jesus, we experience transformation, forgiveness, and victory over the powers of darkness. It is a testament to the love, grace, and victory of God, offering hope and new life to all who believe in Him. May we hold fast to the truth of Jesus’ sufficiency and His unparalleled role in our salvation.
For more, check out the original Bible study from this section:
More Reminders Regarding Faith & Practice (vv. 2:16-23)
16 Therefore let no one [22]pass judgment on you [23]in questions of food and drink, or with regard to [24]a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 [25]These are a shadow of the things to come, but [26]the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one [27]disqualify you, [28]insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, [29]going on in detail about visions, [30]puffed up without reason by [31]his sensuous mind, 19 and [32]not [33]holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. 20 If with Christ [34]you died to the [35]elemental spirits of the world, [36]why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “[37]Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 ([38]referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to [39]human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in [40]promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are [41]of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
Colossians 2:16-23
Today’s last section emphasizes the importance of understanding the role of the Bible as the guide for Christian practice. We need to believe that the Bible is God’s Word, as stated in 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Our beliefs about the Bible shape the way we interact with it and determine whether we see it as important or merely a valuable influence.
Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ! – assuming that you have heard about Him and were taught in Him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
This passage distinguishes between knowing Christ and not knowing Him, highlighting the difference in one’s way of life. It is crucial to recognize that Jesus is at the center of Christianity. If there is no Christ, there is no Christianity. Our practices and beliefs should be centered on Him.
We are advised in this passage not to let anyone pass judgment on us regarding questions of food, drink, festivals, new moons, or Sabbaths. The false teachers in Colossae were trying to impose Jewish dietary laws and observances (like circumcision in the early passage) on the church, but these practices were meant to point to Christ, who is the substance. We must be cautious about who prescribes practices to the church and ensure that God’s Word is our ultimate guide.
The false teachers in Colossae also advocated asceticism, worship of angels, and visions, claiming superiority over others in their religious practices. However, Paul emphasizes the importance of holding fast to the Head, who is Christ. Jesus is the originator of our faith, and the church, as His body, should follow Him.
Are you seeing a trend here? Jesus is greater than religious practices (even practices that once pointed to Him.
We need to be continually reminded that if we have died to the old self and the old ways, they no longer need stake in our lives (and especially not our worship). Seeking after human precepts and teachings that do not bring life is like dabbling with death. The false teacher’s practices may seem attractive, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. Only Jesus has the power and value we need.
Again, it is essential to have access to the Bible and engage with it. Additionally, being part of a local church and having a pastor or shepherd who guides and protects us is crucial. That is right, God gave us the church for a purpose! Gathering with fellow believers and receiving instruction helps protect us from false prophets and deepens our understanding of what it means to be in Christ. Having and engaging with one’s faith family – church – also adds protection and accountability we need against false teachers who are actively seeking to destroy people!
For more, check out the original Bible study from this section:
I know that there was a lot of information in this section, but think about what parts of it cycled into each section:
We have been given everything that can be known about God in the Bible. We must utilize it by reading or listening to it. This is how we hear from God because He has already spoken. Anyone who proclaims that they have a fresh audible word of God, especially one that presents current information not present in Scripture, is a false teacher. Get away from them. Do not listen to them. The Word is how we measure whether teachers are teaching truth or lies. Any truth about Christ apart from the Bible is a lie.
Jesus is not just supreme in the universe. He must be supreme in our faith and practice. He is who the Bible says He is, and we need to keep Him as central in our lives. Anyone who is trying to promote a different Jesus than the Bible contains is a false teacher. He or she is dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. Those who promote a false Christ and false gospel are antichrists and not to be trifled with (and largely not engaged with).
God has made us a part of the body of Christ here on earth. This is called the Church. Yes, the Church is the body of Christ world-wide and throughout time, but there are local expressions of this. Church is not a building or an event but a people. Our sinful selves and false teachers want us to go rogue or solo on this subject, but we must remain vigilant. Anyone who tries to separate us from the fold (church) is a wolf (false teacher).
I am not trying to be an alarmist, but I want to sound the alarm. Paul did not write flippantly about this, and neither do I. It is my prayer that this Bible study will help you to be vigilant and to know Christ. Jesus, “who is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4), is our hope. Hold fast to Him!
[1] All Scripture references unless otherwise noted are from the English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Col 1:1–2.
[2] [1 Timothy 6:20] – O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called ‘knowledge’….
[3] Ephesians 5:6 – Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
[4] See Matthew 15:2 – “Why do your disciples break tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.”
[6] ch. 1:19 – For in Him all the fullness of God was to dwell…. | John 1:14 – And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
[8] Ephesians 3:19 – …and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
[9] See Ephesians 1:21-22 – …far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things under His feet and gave him as head over all things to the church….
[10] [Ephesians 2:11] – Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands…. | See Romans 2:29 – But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.
[11] v. 15 | ch. 3:9 – Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices….
[12] Romans 6:4 – We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
[13] ch. 3:1 – If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. | [Romans 6:5] – For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His.
[14] [1 Corinthians 6:14] – And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. | See Acts 2:24 – God raised Him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it. | See Ephesians 1:19 – …and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might….
[15] See Ephesians 2:1 – And you were dead in the trespasses and sins….
[16] See Ephesians 2:5 – …even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved….
[17] See Acts 3:19 – Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out….
[18] See Romans 7:4 – Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to Him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.
[20] [Genesis 3:15] – I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” | [Psalm 68:18] – You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there. | [Isaiah 53:12] – Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors. | [Matthew 12:29] – Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then he may plunder his house. | [Luke 10:18] – And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. | [John 12:31] – Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. | [John 16:11] – …concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. | [Ephesians 4:8] – Therefore it says, “When He ascended on high He led a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.” | [Hebrews 2:14] – Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil….
[21] Ephesians 2:16 – …and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
[22] Romans 14:3 – Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. | Romans 14:10 – Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God…. | Romans 14:13 – Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.
[23] Romans 14:17 – For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. | Hebrews 9:10 – …but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation. | See Leviticus 11:2 – “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, ‘These are the living things that you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth.
[24] Leviticus 23:2 – “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘These are the appointed feasts of the Lord that you shall proclaim as holy convocations; they are my appointed feasts. | Romans 14:5 – One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
[25] Hebrews 8:5 – They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” | Hebrews 10:1 – For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered ever year, make perfect those who draw near.
[26] [v. 2] – …that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ….
[27] 1 Corinthians 9:24 – Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
[29] [Ezekiel 13:7] – And a proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the returned exiles that they should assemble at Jerusalem…. | [1 Timothy 1:7] – …desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.
[30] [Ephesians 4:17] – Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.
[31] [Romans 8:7] – For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.
[32] See Ephesians 4:15-16 – Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
[33] Revelation 2:13 – “’I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. | Revelation 3:11 – I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
[34] See Romans 6:2 – By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
[36] [Galatians 4:9] – But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?
[37] v. 16 | 1 Timothy 4:3 – …who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
[38] 1 Corinthians 6:13 – “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food” – and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
[39] Isaiah 29:13 – And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men…. | Matthew 15:9 – …in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” | [Titus 1:14] – …not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.
[41] [1 Timothy 4:8] – …for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
Just Keith Harris 