Jesus used the parable of a vineyard to show why publicans and harlots would enter the kingdom before the religious leaders. The kingdom was compared to a vineyard a landowner planted and completely equipped. He then leased the land to some vinedressers who agreed to pay the landowner out of its fruit. The owner sent servants to collect rent at harvest time. The vinedressers beat, stoned and killed the multiplied numbers of servants. He thought they would respect his son, but the wicked vinedressers plotted against the son in hopes of getting his inheritance (John 11:47–50). They then cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Jesus asked, “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?” Some listeners correctly judged the owner would destroy those men and lease the vineyard to others who would honor their agreement. Others, perhaps recognizing the full import of such a conclusion, said “Certainly not!” (Matthew 21:33–46; Luke 20:16). The Jews rejected a multitude of God’s messengers (1 Kings 18:13; 22:24–27; Matthew 14:3–12; Hebrews 11:35–38). Jesus is God’s last spokesman to sinful man (Hebrews 1:12; 2:13). The Father asked Him to take the form of a servant so He could be sent (Philippians 2:5–8). He served as the final messenger and the only fully acceptable sacrifice. Rejecting Him left them to look forward to the Judgment with fear (Hebrews 10:26–31). Jesus quoted Psalm 118:22–23, telling the religious leaders the kingdom of God would be taken from them …

Prayer is the avenue God has given us to take things before His throne. The power of that statement causes faithful Christians to desire to make their prayers as effective as possible. Effective prayer begins with the realization that it is directed to God (Matthew 6:5–8; 7:7–11). It is made when one approaches the Father through His Son. “Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who makes intercession for us” (Romans 8:34 NKJV; Hebrews 4:14–16; 9:24; 1 John 5:14–15). Sin must be put away by one desiring to offer an effective prayer (Psalm 34:15–16; 66:18; Proverbs 15:29; 1 John 1:9). Setting aside sin also necessitates setting aside the sins others may have committed against the praying one. He must forgive before asking (Matthew 6:14–15; Mark 11:25–26; Colossians 3:13). God is holy and cannot fellowship the unholy (1 Peter 1:15–16). Prayer is only useful if one believes God can answer (James 1:5–7; Ephesians 3:20; Mark 11:24; Isaiah 64:4). God will only answer those who set themselves aside. James declared, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures” (James 4:3; Matthew 6:19–21). Jesus’ parable about the Pharisee and the tax collector demonstrates this point (Luke 18:9–14). The hardest part of effective prayer may be that it must be practiced persistently. Jesus and Paul both stressed this important element (Luke 18:1–8; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Romans 1:9; Philippians 1:3–4). Those of us wanting to …

Most Bible students know idolatry is condemned under the Law of Moses (Exodus 20:3–5). Paul said idolatry is ignorant worship (Acts 17:29–31). The foolishness of it is seen in the contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal, as well as in the prophecy of Isaiah (1 Kings 18:20–40; Isaiah 40:9–20). Christians should run from it because it is a work of the flesh (1 Corinthians 10:14; Galatians 5:20). It is depicted as spiritual adultery (Hosea 1:2). We easily recognize idolatry is wrong but may not see how it fits in our world until we notice that it is putting anything ahead of God. One of those things might be self. Paul warned perilous times would arise partly because of self-lovers (2 Timothy 3:1–2). I need to tear down the self-idol and take up my cross daily (Luke 9:23). God now owns me because He bought me with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). I need to put myself aside and care for the needs of my mate (1 Corinthians 7:3–4). Wives will submit to their husbands, and husbands will love their wives like Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:22, 25) if we set aside self. I need to tear down the idol of things and money. The love of money leads to great evil (1 Timothy 6:9–10). It cost the rich young ruler a great opportunity to receive eternal life (Matthew 19:16–26). Covetousness is idolatry (Colossians 3:5). The wise man stated, “Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, Than great …

Jesus is more than a baby in a manger. His very name means “Savior.” He understood that role from the time He left Heaven. After all, He is eternal. He told the Jews, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58 NKJV). John described Him in the opening words of his record of the life of our Lord. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1–2). John and the writer of the letter to the Hebrew Christians said He was the Creator (John 1:3; Hebrews 1:1–3). Jesus knows me. I am not accurate if I say, “No one knows how I feel.” The Lord “had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man” (John 2:25). Some scribes were thinking Jesus was blaspheming when He told the paralytic his sins were forgiven. Jesus asked, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? Which is easier to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk?’” (Mark 2:1–12). The Lord knows my thoughts. Jesus loves me. His love is shown in what He did for me and everyone else. He proclaimed, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” He also declared, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (John 15:13; 10:11). The Savior gives …

We are surrounded by opportunities to tell the good news of God’s plan of salvation: neighbors, friends, coworkers, fellow students or just someone showing obvious signs of despair. Each of us needs to be driven to see those open doors and speak a good word for Jesus. People need to hear that their salvation is a part of God’s plan. Jesus’ death on the cross, in which He shed His blood, was in the mind of God before He laid the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:18–21; Ephesians 3:8–11). Calvary was no surprise to the Father; it was part of His plan to save (Acts 2:23). Jesus was given all authority (1 Corinthians 15:27a). He commanded His followers to teach all nations while they were going. Teaching would result in some becoming disciples of Christ through baptism (Matthew 28:18–20). Individuals are given the choice to yield to Christ’s authority now or before God’s judgment bar (Philippians 2:9–11). We must tell because everyone needs to hear. Jesus’ marching orders to His followers are set forth in Matthew, as we have seen, as well as in Mark 16:15–16 and Luke 24:46–47. Luke gave one more account of it when he told Theophilus a portion of the Master’s parting words (Acts 1:8). The message of salvation is the means of God uniting the world. Jews and Gentiles become part of one body when they obey His commands (Ephesians 2:13–16). The Lord anticipated that unity when He said, “And other sheep I have which …

Accidents happen, as most have heard. When the thing that is broken or hurt is another human being, we may urgently seek a first aid kit. The things we do to the physically injured are just as necessary for the spiritually wounded. The first step is to clean the hate out of the wound (Colossians 3:8). Paul instructed the Christians at Rome to put aside wrath, remembering, “It is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:19–21 NKJV). The cleansed wound often needs a salve applied to it. God’s people need to apply the salve of love, even for their enemies (Matthew 5:44–45). John told his children in the faith, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God for God is love” (1 John 4:7–8). Our love is a response to the great love displayed by our Father who sent His Son to die for people without strength (Romans 5:6–8). The injured might take an aspirin to relieve the pain. God’s children need to take an eternal view to relieve their pain. Paul told the brethren at Corinth, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of …

A few days ago, we experienced a super blue moon. It was the second full moon of this month, and it was especially bright. It is rare and beautiful to behold. Teresa and I enjoyed seeing the earth lit up that night! In the spiritual realm, light comes from God’s Word. The singer of Israel said, “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 NKJV). Isaiah chided the people of God because they listened to false gods and failed to have the light of God in them (Isaiah 8:19–20). Paul wrote, “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). The light of God’s Word calls for right conduct. John told his children in the faith that they had to walk in the light to have fellowship with God (1 John 1:5–6). Paul wanted the saints to realize light and darkness do not mix (2 Corinthians 6:14). Since light and darkness do not coexist, the apostle issued an appeal. “Therefore ‘Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.’ ‘I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty’” (2 Corinthians 6:17–18). There are a number of good things that come …

God heard the groaning of His people and remembered His promise to deliver them. “Remembered” is not in the human sense of the word. He had told Abraham that his descendants would be held in bondage and oppressed for four hundred years (Exodus 2:23–25; Acts 7:6). The Egyptians dealt with the Israelites in a harsh manner, and it certainly seemed to some of them that God had forgotten them. The Almighty was actually preparing a leader for His people in the land of Midian, a now eighty-year-old Moses. Moses was tending the flocks of his wife’s family in the area around Horeb. That name “is not restricted to one single mountain but applies to the central group of mountains in the southern part of the peninsula” (Keil and Delitzsch). Moses was tending the flocks “to the back of the desert,” which Cook indicates would be to the west side, since the Hebrews viewed the east as being before a man (Exodus 3:1). The Angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in the middle of a burning bush that was not consumed with fire. Moses turned aside to see this amazing sight. God spoke to him out of the bush, or as Stephen says, “the voice of the Lord came to him” (Exodus 3:2–4; Acts 7:30–32). He required Moses to show reverence by taking off his shoes because he was standing on holy ground. The presence of the Lord made the ground holy. God identified Himself as “the God of Abraham, …

Exodus begins with Joseph’s generation dead and a Pharaoh on the throne who did not know him (Exodus 1:1–5). That ruler feared the rapidly multiplying Hebrews and determined to deal craftily with them, placing them in slavery. Taskmasters were placed over them, and they were used to build the supply cities of Pithom and Raamses. Pharaoh apparently hoped the hard work would decrease their numbers, but they increased with God’s blessing (Exodus 1:6–14). The king next told the two women in charge of the Hebrew midwives to kill all the boy babies at birth. The midwives feared God more than any human authority and refused to be a part of such cruelty. When the numbers continued to grow, they explained to Pharaoh that Hebrew women were sturdier than the Egyptian women and gave birth before they arrived. God blessed these women with homes and families because they feared Him more than man (Exodus 1:15–21). Pharaoh then told the Israelites to cast all male children into the river. A husband and wife of the tribe of Levi, Amram and Jochebed, had a boy baby. The beauty of this male child caused his parents to believe he was specially favored by God. Their faith in God caused them to hide him for three months (1:22; 2:2; Acts 7:19–20; Hebrews 11:23). Hiding the growing boy became impossible, so Jochebed waterproofed an ark of bulrushes and placed the baby in it on the river in the reeds by the bank with his sister set …

God speaks today through His only begotten Son of God (Hebrews 1:2). The importance of the message is seen in the messenger. God declared Him to be His Son and planned for Him to receive the nations as an inheritance (Psalm 2:7–8). Jesus’ Sonship and glory were attested to by the Father at His baptism (Matthew 3:13–17). The nations are subject to Him and worship Him (Psalm 22:22–27). God made the worlds by His Son (John 1:1–5, 14). Jesus’ purpose on earth was to do the work of His Father (John 9:4). Everything in the universe stands by His power (Hebrews 1:3). All was put in motion by Him and remains because of His power. Our Lord shined forth with the essence of the glory of His Father (Colossians 1:15). He is His “express image” of His person like the exact imprint of a seal in wax. Neil Lightfoot, in Jesus Christ Today, said “upholding all things by the word of His power” refers to Jesus’ responsibility for the “providential government” of the universe and His direction of its destiny. He is our Redeemer (John 3:16–17). Jesus was made a purification for our sins. He exercised His priestly office in offering His own blood in sacrifice for our sins. We put away our sinful lives when we participate in the likeness of His death, burial, resurrection and begin to live a new life (Romans 6). The Lord told His disciples He was going to be with the Father. He planned to …

Fear seems to come upon us at unexpected times. Our hearts jump when the doctor enters the room to tell us the results of critical tests. A knot forms in our stomachs as the boss calls us in to his office during a company downsizing. Most of us would benefit by taking a look at David’s approach to conquering fear. The conquest of fear begins with prayer. David said, “One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek…Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me” (Psalm 27:4a, 7 NKJV). When we feel enemies are surrounding us, God’s peace will guard out hearts (Philippians 4:6–7). Fear can be driven away by worshiping our Father. David’s one desire was to always dwell in God’s temple, where he would “offer sacrifices of joy” and “sing praises to the Lord” (Psalm 27:6). When Paul and Barnabas were in an hour of trial, they similarly sang and prayed at midnight (Acts 16:25). Struggling saints have great advantages in assembling, as can be seen in the epistle to the Hebrew Christians (Hebrews 10:24–25). God’s protection also offers us a way to conquer fear. David declared, “For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock” (Psalm 27:5, 8, 11–12). God’s protection is ultimately sought through obeying His instructions, as God told Joshua …

Paul spoke of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross as God’s “indescribable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15 NKJV). David, in Psalm 22, gave us snapshots of the sense of rejection our Lord experienced as He hung upon the tree. We hear the cry of our Savior, seemingly disturbed by the silence. “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning? O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; And in the night season, and am not silent” (Psalm 22:1–2). Yet, He still calls Him “My God” (Matthew 27:46). Jesus knew God had answered His people (Psalm 22:3–5). The Lord had leaned upon the Father since infancy (Psalm 22:9–11). Why did He not hear Him now? Isaiah looked down through the centuries and saw it was because of me (Isaiah 53:4–6)! David depicted the suffering of the Savior. Him endured scorn and ridicule (Psalm 22:6–8). That is an unmistakable preview of the words people would hurl at Him as He hung on the cross (Matthew 27:39–44). Through inspiration, David also foresaw His crucifixion and the parting of His garments (Psalm 22:16, 18; Matthew 27:35a; John 19:23–24). Israel’s sweet singer helps us realize the complete trust the Son had in His Father. He praised His Father throughout His lifetime. He urged others to do likewise, declaring, “For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face …