Perseverance and Persecution

What does it mean to persevere? The word itself means to “continue in a course of action in spite of difficulty or with little or no indication of success.” Perseverance is an action word that describes the way a person lives. It is the action of the one who has the qualities of endurance and patience. It communicates to us that the one who perseveres has endured a task or trial for a period of time with some measure of difficulty or distress. We have many examples of perseverance given to us in the Scriptures or illustrated for us in society. It could be the marathon runner, the gladiator fighting to the death, or the soldier in battle. It also could be the mother raising her children, the father working hard to provide for his family, the pastor shepherding his church, the firefighter extinguishing the flames of a house fire, or the politician taking a stand for morality in a Godless culture. In the passage below, we have the idea of perseverance illustrated.

“Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” –Matthew 24:9-14

What you've just read is a small portion of the Lord Jesus instruction to his followers on the idea of persecution. Persecution means that Christians will suffer at the hand of unbelievers because of their faith. Jesus promised this to all those who would follow him. Paul echoes the same thing to Timothy by saying that “all who will live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. Here Jesus says that there is coming a time when the unbelieving world will be angry with Christians, they will hate them, and the world will will afflict them physically, and they will even kill Christians for their faith. There is coming a time when Christians won’t even trust each other. Instead professing Christians will betray and hate other Christians. There will be deception by false teachers, and Christian love will grow cold. There is suffering in store for Christians in the world. Jesus says here that the one that endures to the end will be saved. Jesus is not advocating that in order to be saved eternally you must endure to the end. This would be a works-based salvation. Rather, he is describing a future time of persecution called the great tribulation. During this time persecution will become so intense that there will be many professors of Christianity that will apostatize and leave the faith. What Jesus means here is that those who endure—those that persevere through this time of intense tribulation—shall be saved at the second advent of Jesus Christ. Jesus will return to the earth and put an end to all the fighting and persecution that will occur.

While this passage describes for us a yet future time of suffering for Christians, we can be encouraged right now to learn to persevere. Perseverance is connected with the Christian life. After all, once a person trusts in Christ for salvation, they begin a journey that will last the rest of life. Perseverance means that you will continue in your Christian faith until your dying breath. It means that you will remain faithful to the Lord your whole life. Perseverance is the idea of continuance. It is the idea of moving forward, running the spiritual race, walking with the Lord with patience and endurance. In the Scriptures God clearly communicates that He wants Christians to persevere. Peter tells us to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul told Timothy to endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews urges us to go on to perfection, to keep moving forward and not to draw back. James tells us to let the trials of life perfect us by giving us endurance.

Think of the coming tribulation and of those who will suffer to the point of death for the Lord Jesus. Christians we need to pray that we will gain that sort of perseverance in our faith. Are you persevering? Are you gaining the qualities of endurance and patience in your life? Let the trials of your life and the suffering at the hands of unbelievers encourage you to keep moving forward and not to draw back. Don’t be discouraged. Be a good soldier. Endure hardship for the Lord Jesus Christ. 

The Legacy of Spiritual Growth

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." -Matthew 28:19-20

Jesus commanded his disciples to go and make disciples of the nations. He commanded baptism, and teaching with the goal that these new disciples would be able to observe everything that Jesus commanded. In the early church we see this in action. On the day of Pentecost Peter, empowered by the Holy Spirit, preaches the good news about Jesus Christ and three thousand people were added to the church. In subsequent days, weeks, and months many more were added to the number of believers. But it wasn't just numerical growth that occurred as a result of Peter's preaching and the ministry of the other apostles. We also see spiritual growth in these people. Consider that just a few short chapters later, we see believers all praying together, giving of their possessions to support each other, distributing to widows, more leaders are chosen, and believers--not just the apostles--go everywhere preaching the word of God. This is the result of believers growing into spiritual maturity.

Spiritual growth is never meant to be exclusive to one person. And it is not meant to be contained to the span of your life. It is meant to be spread to others and to be carried through many generations. Your spiritual life is designed to reach out to others with the gospel of Jesus Christ. As you grow into spiritual maturity, you are to pass the truths you have learned on to others. Paul commanded Timothy in this way: "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." -2 Timothy 2:2 Spiritual growth is passed on through the teaching of the doctrines of Scripture and the instilling within believers to teach others also.

This growth should span generations. Not only are we to find those faithful men that Paul said to Timothy, but also fathers and mothers are commanded in the Scriptures to teach their children the word of God and bring them up in "the nurture and admonition of the Lord." The family can and should be a powerful tool for promoting spiritual growth. Parents teach children to know and love the Lord, then children get married, have children, and teach their children to know and love the Lord. It is an ongoing process. Spiritual growth is as much a legacy that you can leave behind after you are gone as it is a process that you should see in your life. If we stop and think about it, all believers today are part of a spiritual legacy that has been left by those who have lived spiritual lives before us. The writer of Hebrews put it this way: "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us," -Hebrews 12:1

Believers, your spiritual growth can be passed on to others by faithfully proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ and by teaching believers to observe all that He has commanded. May we all "..grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." -2 Peter 3:18

The Commands of Christ - Matthew 28:18-20

"And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to then end of the age." Amen." -Matthew 28:18-20


To whom is this command spoken?


This command is spoken to the disciples that had gathered in Galilee on the mountain that Jesus had appointed.

What does this command require?


Go and make disciples of all the nations by baptizing of them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and by teaching them to observe all things that Jesus had commanded.

What truths do we learn through this command?


Let's just break this down by the various phrases of these verses.

Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth. He is the Master. There is no one who has authority over Him. Surely this is a reason to obey Him. Keep in mind that Jesus begins this final command by appealing to His authority. He is God.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations. This is perhaps the trickiest part of the command. Is the command 'Go' or is the command 'make disciples'? In the Greek, the imperative in this phrase is 'make disciples.' What we have translated as 'Go' literally means as you are going. Some use this knowledge to excuse their disobedience. Jesus doesn't excuse not going, but rather He assumes that His disciples will go as a part of their disciple-making. Going is essential to making disciples of all nations. The only way that Jesus disciples would reach some from all nations is going.

What does it mean to make a disciple? The word disciple literally means learner. So disciple-making innately involves making learners of Jesus. I believe that all of Jesus' disciples are to be life-long learners. Learners never stop learning. Learners keep studying and keep obeying Jesus until they meat Jesus face to face.

Baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Baptism is a matter of obedience, not preference. Jesus commands it as part of making disciples. As a disciples of Christ, you must be baptized. There is much truth here regarding the doctrine of the Trinity. Notice that Jesus says that there is one name, yet three persons. Three in one, one in three, oh what perfect tri-unity.

Teach them to observe all that Jesus commanded. This phrase is why we began this study in the first place. In order to teach all that Jesus commanded, you must know what Jesus commanded. Read through the Gospels and search for the commands of Christ. Seek them not just for knowledge but also for obedience. Put into practice that which you seek to teach. Follow all of Christ's commands, not just some of them.


What are the blessings of obedience and the consequences for disobedience?


Reaching the lost and seeing disciples grow into disciple-makers are two of the blessings of obedience. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing one of your own learners seek someone out to teach themselves. This honors God and brings Him glory.

Disobedience to this command results in failing to reach the world for Christ.

Disciples, seek to be obedient to your Master. Honor Him by making disciples of all the nations. By the way, He will be with you always, even to the end of the age.

The Commands of Christ - Matthew 28:9-10

"And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" So they came and held Him by the feed and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me." -Matthew 28:9-10


To whom is this command spoken?


Mary and Mary Magdalene (v. 1)

What does this command require?


Rejoice! Do not be afraid. Go and tell [the disciples] to go to Galilee.

What truths do we learn here?


This is Jesus first appearance after His resurrection. Mary and Mary Magdalene came to see the tomb where Jesus was laid. There they saw an angel of the Lord and heard him declare that Jesus had risen from the dead. As they were on their way back to tell the disciples, Jesus met them and said, "Rejoice!" What a happy, joyous occasion this is! Jesus is alive. Rejoice! The women fell at His feet and worshiped Him. They were overjoyed at this awesome event.

Jesus then gives them instructions. First, He says to them, "Do not be afraid." Certainly that would have been a possibility, after all, Jesus was beaten and crucified just three days earlier. There is no reason to fear, however. Jesus is alive and in the flesh. He appeared to the women in bodily form, not as a spirit or as a ghost. The women were able to hold Him by the feet.

Secondly, Jesus says to these two women, "Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me." I find this intriguing because Jesus was there on the road to the tomb. Why couldn't the disciples have met Him on that same road? Whatever the reasoning, Jesus commands these two women to give a specific message to the disciples.

Mary and Mary Magdalene were obedient to Jesus. Later in this chapter we find the disciples gathering in Galilee on the mountain that Jesus had appointed. Tomorrow we will look at the final command in the book of Matthew, the Great Commission.

What are the blessings of obedience?


Because the women were obedient and gave the disciples the message that Jesus spoke to them, the disciples then went to Galilee where Jesus appeared to them to give them the Great Commission.

The Commands of Christ - Matthew 26:51-54

"And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. But Jesus said to him, "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?" -Matthew 26:51-54

To whom is this command spoken?

Spoken to Peter (John 18:10).

What does this command require?

Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.

What truths do we learn here?

Jesus is more interested in fulfilling what He was sent to earth to accomplish than protecting His own life. Peter missed this point. He didn't want his Master to die. Peter took matters into his own hands and tried to split Malchus in two. I wonder what Peter was thinking. Remember, there is a whole multitude of people with swords and clubs that are here to arrest Jesus. I think that Peter was trying to fulfill what he had said earlier in this chapter. Take a look at Matthew 26:33 - "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble." 

Jesus didn't need Peter's help. As Jesus says here, He could have called out to the Father and more than twelve legions of angels would be at His command. But this was not Jesus plan. Jesus knew that things had to happen this way in order to fulfill the Scriptures. 

What are the blessings of obedience? the consequences for disobedience?

Peter putting his sword in its place allowed Scripture to be fulfilled, just as God had planned.

If Peter disobeyed Jesus, Peter would have probably been killed by this mob. (all who take the sword will perish by the sword))

The Commands of Christ - Matthew 26:36-43

"Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, "Sit here while I go and pray over there." And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me." He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done." And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then He came to His disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand." -Matthew 26:36-46

To whom are these commands spoken?

The first command is spoken to the disciples. I believe that Judas is not present here because a little later in the chapter, Judas comes with the great multitude to arrest Jesus. The second and third commands are spoken to Peter and James and John. The fourth is spoken to all the disciples.

What do these commands require?

Sit here while I go and pray over there. (for all the disciples)

Stay here and watch with Me. (for Peter, James, and John)

Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation (for Peter, James, and John)

Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand. (for all the disciples)

What truths do we learn from these commands?

There is much to be learned here. The time of Jesus betrayal is soon coming, and Jesus brings His disciples to Gethsemane to pray. To the rest of the disciples He commanded them to sit and pray, then He took Peter, James, and John (His 'inner three' disciples) further into the garden to pray. Jesus was exceedingly sorrowful at this time. He was agonizing over His forthcoming death. He commanded these three disciples to 'watch' with Him.

Jesus goes a little further into the garden by Himself to pray. He then falls on His face and cries out to the Lord, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." After this prayer, Jesus returns to find the three disciples sleeping. They couldn't stay awake. Perhaps they didn't fully understand the gravity of the situation Jesus was facing. Perhaps they were just too tired. Perhaps they didn't understand what Jesus meant by 'watch with Me.' So Jesus commands them again to watch but this time He adds to the command and says, 'Watch and pray.'

Again Jesus goes away and prays to His Father and again He returns to find the disciples sleeping. This time He didn't wake them up and He didn't give them another command. So Jesus went and prayed again by Himself. After this third session of prayer, Jesus returns and wakes up the disciples. One final command is given them, "Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand."

What are the consequences for disobedience?

The disciples failed to obey Jesus here. He commanded them to pray and they slept instead. They failed to understand what was really going on. They failed to pray.

The Commands of Christ - Matthew 26:26-30

"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom." And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives." -Matthew 26:26-30


To whom are these commands spoken?


Jesus is with His disciples in the upper room. Here He institutes the Lord's Supper with them.

What do these commands require?


Take, eat; this is My body. Drink from [the cup], all of you.

What truths do we learn here?


Rather than exposit all of these verses, I would just like to look at the truth surrounding these two simple commands. First, Jesus commands the disciples to take and eat of the bread. The bread represents His body. It doesn't become the body of Christ, but is simply a representation of it. Second, Jesus commands them to drink from the cup, which represents Jesus' blood.

This whole ceremony is a representation of the new covenant established by Jesus sacrificial death on the cross.  It is the beginning of the fulfillment of Jeremiah 31:31-34 which says, "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah—not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." -Jeremiah 31:31-34

It seems that each command that we cover reveals how privileged the disciples were to receive these commands directly from our Lord. I can't think of anything more thrilling than participating in the fulfillment of God's Word and the revealing of God's plan. This brings new meaning to celebrating the Lord's Supper for me. It means that each time we partake of the Lord's Supper we proclaim that there is forgiveness of sins, knowledge of the Lord, and a new covenant with God. All of this is because of Jesus death on the cross and resurrection.

What are the consequences for disobedience?

Simply put, if you disobey this, you are missing out on one of the biggest blessings of the Christian life.

The Commands of Christ - Matthew 26:18

"And He said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, 'The Teacher says, "My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples."'" -Matthew 26:18


To whom is this command spoken?


The previous verse indicates Jesus is speaking to His disciples.

What does this command require?


Go into the city to a certain man. Tell him that this message from Jesus, "My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples."

What truths do we learn from this command?


Jesus' earthly ministry is coming to an end. He has spent three years with the disciples teaching and training them to be sent out after His death and resurrection. The events are all falling into place and soon Jesus will be crucified. Jesus realizes this and sends His disciples to prepare for the Passover, which would become what we remember as 'the Last Supper.'

Once again, we find that Jesus has a specific plan in mind. He didn't send the disciples to just anyone to prepare the Passover. He sent the disciples to a certain man. This man was a man who had a house with an upper room. He would have been a man that was obedient to the things of God. He was a man appointed by God for this specific time.

What are the blessings of obedience?


The disciples were obedient to this command. Jesus sent them to get things ready for the Passover, and they obeyed. Because of their obedience, the disciples saw the plan of God unfolding before their eyes and they participated with Jesus in this final Passover.

The Commands of Christ - Matthew 25:13

"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming." -Matthew 25:13


To whom is this command spoken?


This is a continuation of Jesus' discourse in response to the disciple's question: what will be the sign of your coming?

What does this command require?


The word translated 'watch' literally means to keep awake or to be vigilant. So the command here keep awake,  watch intently.

What truths do we learn here?


Jesus is coming back. There is no doubt about it. Some have tried to put a date down as to when He will return, but we know from this verse that we do not know the day or the hour in which Jesus is coming. The previous verses record for us a short parable about ten virgins in order to help us understand this command. Five of the virgins were wise and five were foolish. They were all waiting for their bridegroom to return for them. When the bridegroom returned, the foolish virgins didn't have any oil in their lamps so they asked the five wise virgins for some oil. The wise didn't lend any oil to the foolish for their might not have been sufficient for all. When the bridegroom returned, those who were wise entered into the wedding with him and the door was shut behind them. When the foolish returned from buying oil they said, "Lord, Lord, open to us!" but he answered them, "I do not know you."

This short parable teaches us a vital truth about Jesus return. We must be ready for Him to come. The wise virgins put oil in their lamps and waited for the return of the bridegroom. They knew he was coming back, and they looked for his coming. The foolish virgins did not prepare for his return. How sad it will be for those who do not prepare for Christ's return. He will say to them, "I do not know you." There is no second chances for those who hear those words from Jesus. When He returns, you must have already made your choice to follow Him.

So the question for you and I this morning is: Am I ready and waiting for Christ's return? O Christian, do not slumber or grow weary of waiting for your King. He is coming back on a day that we are not expecting. Let us eagerly await His return and let us be faithful in our preparation for our King. "But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good." -2 Thessalonians 3:13

If you have not trusted Christ as your Lord and Savior, the question for you is: What is keeping you from trusting in Jesus for salvation? The time is short. Jesus' return is unexpected. You must make your choice before He returns. Why not trust Him today? Why not admit that you cannot save yourself and that you need a Savior? He is eagerly awaiting your call. Come to Jesus, lay your sin at His feet, stop living for yourself and live for Him. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, you and your household." -Acts 16:31

What are the consequences of disobedience? the blessings for obedience?


If you are disobedient, you will hear Jesus say to you, "I do not know you."

If you are obedient, you will enter the wedding, just as the wise virgins in the parable.

The Commands of Christ - Matthew 24:40-44

"Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore, you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect."


To whom are these commands spoken?


Spoken to the disciples in response to their question about the sign of Christ's return and the end of the age (v. 3).

What do these commands require?


Watch and be ready, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.

What truths do we learn through these commands?


Jesus is returning at an unexpected hour. While these verses are referring to the second coming, not the rapture, both events will be unexpected. Our duty then is to be faithful with what Christ has called and commanded us to do and also to be expecting His return at any moment. The person that is not ready for Christ's return will be taken in judgment, just as the man in the field or the woman grinding at the mill.

So the question bears asking: Are you ready? Have you trusted in Christ for salvation? Have you devoted your life to obedience to your Lord and Master? Are you doing His will? These are serious questions. Questions that, if not considered and answered correctly, can affect your eternal destiny. There are some very real consequences for disobedience to these two commands and there are some very real blessings for obedience.

What are the consequences for disobedience and the blessings for obedience?


I'd like to just consider the rest of Matthew 24 to evaluate what happens when one is obedient or disobedient to these commands:

"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying in his coming,' and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."


Let us strive to be faithful, consistently walking with the Lord, doing His will, and eagerly waiting for His return.

The Commands of Christ - Matthew 24:3-5

"Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many...Then if anyone says to you, "Look, here is the Christ!" or "There!" do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect."
-Matthew 24:3-5, 23-24

To whom are these commands spoken?

Spoken to the disciples

What do these commands require?

Do not be deceived by false christs and false prophets. Do not believe it when they claim that the Christ has come.

What truths do we learn here?

Many volumes have been written on this chapter and many interpretations have been offered to try and explain what is going on in Matthew 24. Let me remind you that our goal is not to exposit every aspect of the text here, but simply to try and understand Jesus' commands.

These commands serve as a warning to the disciples. There will be many that claim to be the Christ. The sad thing is that they will deceive many. Jesus warns of this. To take heed means to pay close attention to, to listen up to the words of Jesus. I think that if we could boil this down to one concise statement to answer the disciples' question regarding the coming of Christ, it would be this: "Don't believe anyone who claims to be the Christ, you will know when I return." When Christ returns, it will be a glorious, remarkable thing. Matthew 24:30 says, "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." This is an unmistakable event. 

What are the consequences for disobedience and the blessings for obedience?

Matthew 24:24 - For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

Matthew 24:13 - But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

Do not let anyone deceive you regarding Christ's return.

The Commands of Christ - Matthew 23:1-12

"Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.' But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." -Matthew 23:1-12

To whom are these commands spoken?

Spoken to Jesus disciples and to the multitudes.

What do these commands require?

Observe whatever the Pharisees and scribes tell you to obersve, but do not imitate their works. Do what they say and not what they do. Do not be called Teacher. Do not call anyone on earth your father. He who is greatest shall be your servant.

What truths do we learn here?

There is a lot of instruction here from Jesus. It seems to be a bit of a summary of all that He has taught concerning the lifestyle of the scribes and Pharisees. First, Jesus points to their hypocrisy. They teach the law of Moses, but they do not do it. So the instruction is to do as they say and not as they do.

Second, Jesus points to their haughtiness. They exalted themselves to a place of prominence in Jewish society. They put themselves in the place of teacher of the law. God had not put them there. Jesus instruction is simple: do not be called teacher and do not call anyone on earth father. We must always keep in mind who our Teacher is. And we must always keep in mind who our Father is. God alone is our Teacher and Father.

Third, Jesus points to a much needed humility. Whoever is the greatest must also be your servant. He who exalts himself will be humbled. The idea there is that the person who lifts himself up like the Pharisees had done, would be put down, taken down from their place of prominence. Whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. This means that you start humble. You see yourself as nothing and become a servant to all. That humble man will be lifted up. James 46-10 tells us the same thing.

What are the consequences for disobedience and the blessings for obedience?

If you follow the example of the Pharisees, it will lead to hypocrisy and haughtiness. But if you humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, He will lift you up.

The Commands of Christ - Matthew 22:15-22

Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the tax money." So they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" They said to Him, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way. -Matthew 22:15-22

To whom is this command spoken?

The disciples of the Pharisees and the Herodians.

What does the command require?

Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.

What truths do we learn here?

Yet again, we find the Pharisees trying to trick and trap Jesus with a question. Only this time they didn't ask Him in person; they sent their little minions to do the dirty work. The pharisaical disciples come to Jesus, butter Him up with flowery words of praise, then ask their 'trick' question. "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" That is the best they could come up with. In part, I think the Pharisees were trying to discover if Jesus was the Messiah or not. They all thought that the Messiah was the one who would come and free them from Roman rule and establish a kingdom of peace and prosperity in Israel again. So their question this time may have had a little more honor than the others. But then again, maybe not.

Jesus blasts these hypocrites with His words. Jesus' explanation to these men makes total sense. Pay to Caesar what is Caesars and pay to God what is God's. The Pharisees didn't love God. They loved themselves. They served themselves. They did all things to make themselves look good. Jesus revealed what was truly in their hearts. I like His first words in reply to them: "Why do you test me, hypocrites?" The first words Jesus said show their true colors. They didn't really believe that Jesus was from God or that He knew the way of God.

The men marveled at Jesus reply, yet they couldn't find it within themselves to turn from their way and follow Jesus. They left Him and went their way. How sad that Jesus could teach them truth and they walk away.

The Commands of Christ - Matthew 21:33

"Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.' So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. "Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?" They said to Him, "He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons." -Matthew 21:33-41

To whom is this command spoken?

Spoken to the chief priests and elders of the people (v.23). Verse 45 also indicates the Pharisees were around.

What does this command require?

Hear another parable.

What truths do we learn here?

The parable shows what happened in the Old Testament. God repeatedly sent prophets to Israel and Judah. Over and over again they faithfully proclaimed God's words and God's plan. But the people, more specifically, the 'shepherds' (vinedressers in the parable) of Israel repeatedly beat up and killed the prophets. The parable also shows a truth about the New Testament. God finally sent His Son to Israel. Once again, the 'vinedressers' cast him out and killed him. 

Jesus poses a question to the audience. "What will the owner of the vineyard do to the vinedressers when he comes?" The people answer correctly. They said the owner would destroy those wicked men and give teh vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their season.

By way of application, I think this command and parable is a call to heed the words of Jesus. Will you act as a wicked vinedresser and trample underfoot the Son of God? Or will you faithfully heed His words and 'render Him the fruits in their seasons?

What are the consequences of obedience?

"Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. But when they sough to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes because they took Him for a prophet." -Matthew 21:45-46

These guys didn't get it. They should have turned from their ways and heeded Jesus' words. Verse 43 says, "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it." These are the consequences.

The Commands of Christ - Matthew 21:18-19

"Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, "Let no fruit grow on you ever again." Immediately the fig tree withered away." -Matthew 21:18-19


To whom is this command spoken?


Spoken to a fig tree

What is the command?


Let no fruit grow on you ever again.

What truths do we learn here?


Jesus is Lord of all Creation. He commands what He wills, and it comes to pass. In the New Testament, we find Christ commanded the wind, waves, and also this tree. He told Peter where to fish on a number of occasions, even though Peter was an experienced fisherman. And Peter always caught fish where Jesus told him to fish. Think about this for a moment: Mankind is the only part of creation that says 'no' to God. Everything else is obedient immediately. We can take a lesson or two in obedience from nature.

My dad always said, "Delayed obedience is disobedience." All too often, I'll obey on my time schedule, or when I feel like obeying. That is disobedience. How many times do we treat God like that? How many times do we ignore promptings of the Holy Spirit to witness and be obedient to our Gospel mandate? God desires our obedience not our delayed obedience. Your spiritual life can be measured by your obedience. So let me ask you, "How is your spiritual life?" How is your obedience?

This tree was obedient to Christ. Are you?

I just thought of something else. We are here on the earth to bear much fruit--fruit that is pleasing to God--fruit sown in righteousness. John 15:2 says, "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit." While I don't believe this means you can lose your salvation, I do believe that it means you can miss out on bearing fruit that is pleasing to God. Take every opportunity to bear fruit for the glory of God!

The Commands of Christ - Matthew 21:1-6

"Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and immediately he will send them." All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "TELL THE DAUGHTER OF ZION, 'BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU, LOWLY, AND SITTING ON A DONKEY, A COLT, THE FOAL OF A DONKEY.' " So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them." -Matthew 21:1-6

To whom is this command spoken?

Spoken to two of Jesus' disciples.

What does this command require?

Go into the village, bring the donkey and colt to Me, if anyone says anything to you, tell them "The Lord has need of them."

What truths do we learn through this command?

Jesus was in-tune with what the Scriptures said. He came to fulfill prophecy concerning Himself. I find the fulfillment of prophecies concerning Christ remarkable. There are so many things that were prophesied in the Old Testament about the Messiah. The odds of someone filling even just ten of those things are astronomical. Jesus fulfilled all that was prophesied about Him regarding His first coming. These prophesies that have been fulfilled point to who Jesus is. He is the Son of God, the Messiah, the Savior of the world, the King of Israel. 

Again, we have testimony here of Jesus omniscience. He knows all things. He knew where the donkey and colt were. He knew that someone might ask them about it. He knows all things.

What were the blessings of obedience?

These two disciples got to be a part of fulfilling the Old Testament. They also got to be a part of the wonderful celebration that we call the Triumphal Entry. 

The Commands of Christ - Matthew 20:25-28

"But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." -Matthew 20:25-28

To whom is this command spoken?

Spoken to the twelve disciples

What does this command require?

Whoever desires to be the greatest, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave.

What truths do we learn here?

The follower of Jesus must be humble. The mother of James and John asked Jesus in the previous verses to grant that her sons sit on either side of Jesus in His kingdom. They wanted the place of prominence. The other disciples didn't like this. They were 'greatly displeased.' I get the feeling that this is an understatement. They were probably upset that they didn't think of asking Jesus this question first. 

I like the imagery we have here about Jesus. It says He 'called them to Himself.' I get the picture that Jesus calms the situation down, brings them all together, and quietly explains the situation. Jesus brings peace to great arguments.

Principles of leadership in the secular world are completely opposite from the principles that Jesus lays out here for his disciples. The Gentiles lorded their authority over their subjects. But it was not to be this way with the disciples. The disciples were to be servants-leaders. They were to follow Jesus example, who did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

Let me ask you a question: Would you give your life in service of anyone? Most of us would answer, sure, I'd give my life for my family, or my friends. But would you give your life in service of someone that hates you? Would you make the greatest sacrifice so that another might live? I turn to Jim Elliot for advice here. He said, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." 

Whoever desires to be greatest among you, let him be your servant.

What are the consequences for disobedience and the blessings of obedience?

The first shall be last and the last shall be first.

The Commands of Christ - Matthew 19:16-22

Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, " 'YOU SHALL NOT MURDER,' 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,' 'YOU SHALL NOT STEAL,' 'YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS,' 'HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER,' and, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' " The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?" Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. -

Matthew 19:16-22

Who is this command spoken to?

A rich young man (v. 20, 22)

What does the command require?

Keep the commandments. Go sell what you have and give to the poor, and come, follow Me.

What truths do we learn here?

This is an interesting passage. It seems that Jesus is trying to convince this young man not to follow Him. But even though that is what it seems like, Jesus is only revealing what is truly in this young man's heart. Jesus laid out the scenario if the man truly wanted to inherit eternal life. All the young man had to do was sell what he had and follow Christ. This sounds like the most simple of commands, yet time and again, history (even recent history) proves that it is one of the hardest things to do.

This young man's first couple questions are interesting. "What good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" and "Which [commands]?" The young man shouldn't have needed to ask the second question. He should have known which commands to keep--all of them. It seems obvious from even the quickest glance at the Old Testament Law that God's standard was perfection. The young man acknowledged that he had kept the commands that Jesus listed. He had not murdered, had not committed adultery, had not stolen, had not lied about his neighbor, he had honored his father and mother. But it is important to realize that, even though it seemed he had, this young man never really kept the commands. Indeed, keeping the commands, alone, is insufficient for salvation. James tells us that if you've broken the law in one point, you are guilty of the whole thing.

Jesus listed off the commands from the ten commandments that had to do with interpersonal relationship. But Jesus never mentioned the commands that dealt with our relationship with God. He didn't have to. By telling this rich young man to sell what he had and give it to the poor, Jesus proved that the young man didn't really love God. This young man had his possessions exalted to the place of God in his life. He could not bring himself to the point of obedience here because his possessions were great.

Some today would argue that in order to inherit eternal life, we must sell all that we have and give it to the poor. While this is good and noble, and probably more needed today than ever, it is not what Jesus is getting at here. Let's stop and think about what is true for a moment. Nothing you do can gain you favor before God. That means even the most noble giving to charity amounts to nothing on your heavenly account. Jesus desires that we follow Him. This is the important point of the conversation in Matt. 19. Following Jesus, for this man, meant giving up all that he had. He couldn't do it because he loved his stuff more than he loved God. Following Jesus for you means it will cost you something. It means that we shouldn't hold our possessions with a tight fist. But the cost for me to follow Christ will be different than the cost for a Muslim man in Saudi Arabia. And the cost for me to follow Christ will be different than the cost for the pastor in China. The principle doesn't change, but the outflow in life does.

What does following Christ cost you? Is it costing you?

What are the consequences of disobedience?

This man went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. He missed out because he couldn't pay the price for discipleship.

The Commands of Christ - Matthew 19:14

"Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." -Matthew 19:13-14


To whom is this command spoken?


The disciples

What does this command require?


Let the little children come to Jesus.

What truths do we learn here?


Jesus is interested in ministering to little children. He desires to be near them and to allow them to come near to Him. Jesus wanted to lay hands on them and pray for them. The disciples were wrong to rebuke those who were bringing the children to Jesus.

Children's ministries are often neglected in churches. Children are left to themselves, or given some second-rate ministry to attend. We ought to be investing in children and discipling them in the way of the Lord. Children can teach us something about ministry. I am a firm believer that if you can't teach and minister to children, you probably won't be very effective teaching and ministering to adults. I knew a young man that wanted some opportunities to teach. We had a need in one of our children's ministries, so we offered him those opportunities. He told us that he didn't want to teach children, he wanted to teach adults, and he passed up this chance to minister. Children could have taught him a lot as a young man starting out in ministry. But he passed it up because he wanted that greater sphere of influence with adults.

Jesus says something significant here. He says, "of such is the kingdom of heaven." I don't think this means that there are only little children in the kingdom of heaven. I believe Jesus was talking of the faith of the little children, just has He had in another place. Those who enter the kingdom of heaven must have the faith of a little child. Children don't question the truth, they just accept it. Children don't try and find a better way, they just take the way that is shown them. We must have this sort of faith to enter the kingdom of heaven.

What are the consequences for disobedience?


Failure to see what the kingdom of heaven is really like.

The Commands of Christ - Matthew 18:21-22

"Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven." -Matthew 18:21-22


To whom is this command spoken?


Spoken to Peter.

What does the command require?


Forgive your brother up to seventy times seven times.

What truths do we learn here?


Peter must have thought he was doing well with the suggestion of forgiving seven times. The Pharisees taught to forgive three times. So what Peter did was double that, then add one just for good measure. Jesus knocked Peter's socks off with His response.

Not seven times, not even seventy times, but seventy times seven. This is an inconceivably high number to forgive someone. Many times I struggle even reaching the seven times. But Jesus desires that we forgive until we don't feel like it anymore, then keep on forgiving. The number here isn't important. Jesus is not saying that we forgive 490 times and then we're free to do whatever we want to the offender. The person that can forgive like that is not keeping track. The person that can forgive like this is modeling the forgiveness of God.


Think about it. How many times do you sin in a day? a week? a year? Yet every time we come to God and confess our sins to Him, He forgives us. He has even given us a promise that He will forgive us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness if we confess our sins to Him.

How forgiving are you? Do you model God's forgiveness to your brothers and sisters in Christ? Do you model God's forgiveness to unbelievers? Do you have to think about it each time your brother asks for forgiveness? or do you just forgive as soon as it is asked of you? "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." -Ephesians 4:32.

What are the consequences for disobedience?


Bitterness, relational conflict, spiritual drought, judgment from God,