(Lesson 4056)(02-28-23) Matthew 7:6
“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.”
Today’s lesson is a short and simple one. It simply means that the children of God are not to preach to those who don’t won’t to be ‘prech’ to.
As Jesus said in the quote, to “cast your pearls before swine” is, sadly, a waste of one’s time.~
(Lesson 4055)(02-27-23) Matthew 7:1-5
“ Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
Today’s quote very clearly tells us that we ARE NOT to judge the actions of our fellow man/woman.
I spite of what Jesus taught here, sadly, today, there are those, right here in this “Christian” nation, who are trying to pass laws that will force everyone in the USA to believe and act as they do.
That thought is directly opposed to what Jesus said in today’s quote. And, what Paul said in Romans 2:1; “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.”
Pray the children of God awaken and get back to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Spread the good news of God’s amazing saving grace, but if a man/woman chooses not to hear you, move along and leave them to the true judgment of God.~
(Lesson 4054)(02-26-23) Matthew 6:25-34
“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”
Today’s quote clearly relates that we, the children of God, are to have complete faith in Him for our every need.
Many of us only cry out to God when things go bad in our lives. If we ALWAYS have absolute faith in God to provide all that we need, all of the time, we will never have those bad times. Praise God for His amazing grace.~
(Lesson 4053)(02-25-23) Matthew 6:22-24
“ The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
Today’s quote relates that we can have only one master, if we worship worldly things, there is no room for God in our lives. However, if we worship God, worldly things always come second to Him.~
(Lesson 4052)(02-24-23) Matthew 6:19-21
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Today’s lesson warns against laying up stores, or as would be said in modern terms, don’t save up things that you don’t need. God will provide for His own as the need arises. I am living proof of that. God has ALWAYS provided for my every need, and always in a timely manner.
The final point in today’s quote is a very true one; “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.~
(Lesson 4051)(02-23-23) Matthew 6:16-18
“ Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.”
Although fasting is not much of an issue to the children of God today, the point of Jesus’ instructions to the Jews in today’s quote, was that one should ALWAYS be humble in his/her worship.~
(Lesson 4050)(02-22-23) Matthew 6:14-15
“ For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Today’s lesson is a short and simple one. Jesus said that if one failed to forgive those who mistreated that one, God would not forgive his/her our sins.
It behooves us to remember that since Jesus died for our sins, this rule does not apply to the children of God today. That lesson was given to the Jews while they were still under the rules of their old Laws.
After Jesus was sacrificed, His blood became the remitter of ALL sin to those who put their faith in Him.~
(Lesson 4049)(02-21-23) Matthew 6:9-13
“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”
Today’s quote is the Lord’s prayer, an example of how we, as Christian people, should pray.~
(Lesson 4048)(02-20-23) Matthew 6:5-8
“And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.”
Today’s quote is a lesson from Jesus Himself, telling us how we should and SHOULD NOT pray.
Every “Christian” denomination that I am aware of today, wrongfully promotes public prayer. As is so vividly laid out in today’s quote, the children of God ARE NOT to pray aloud, either in church or anywhere else, except in a private place.
Jesus specifically said that we SHOULD NOT pray in our “synagogues”, (churches) yet in every well known church I have ever heard of, someone will invariably “lead” prayers aloud.
As is so well established in today’s quote, Jesus despised hypocrisy. There can be no reason to stand and pray aloud, other than to draw attention to the one doing the praying.~
(Lesson 4047)(02-19-23) Matthew 6:3-4
“ But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.”
In today’s quote, Jesus explained why we should do our giving privately. It is so that God can give us our reward publicly.~
(Lesson 4046)(02-18-23) Matthew 6:1-2
“Take heed that ye do not your alms (giving) before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”
Today’s lesson tells us to never make a public display of our giving. We are to give when and where no one is watching. To do so signifies that we have no ulterior motive and that our giving is truly from a heart of love.~
(Lesson 4045)(02-17-23) Matthew 5:19-48
“Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
In today’s quote, Jesus condemned hypocrisy and taught the Jews that they should practice the requirements of the law and prophets, not in appearance only, but rather in fact in their everyday experiences.~
(Lesson 4044)(02-16-23) Matthew 5:17-18
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”
In today’s quote, Jesus Himself, clears up a point of contention between those who believe the laws of the old Testament still apply to the children of God today, as opposed to those of us who believe that the old laws were done away when Jesus fulfilled them.
Jesus said, “I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil”. It is clear, by what Jesus said therein, that the old laws of the Jews would stand until they were “fullfilled”. That fulfillment was accomplished when Jesus ascended back to the Father after living a perfect life under those laws
and thereby fulfilling them.~
(Lesson 4043)(02-15-23) Matthew 5:1-16
“And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
In today’s quote, Jesus defined His people, blessed them, and warned them to do the good work openly, keeping themselves devoted to the task without fear or hesitation.~
(Lesson 4042)(02-14-23) Matthew 4:23-25
“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.”
Today’s quote relates the beginning of Jesus’ ministry as He began teaching the gospel of the coming kingdom of God. He taught as He worked many miracles and healed all manner of illness and deformity among the Jews.~
(Lesson 4041)(02-13-23) Matthew 4:18-22
“And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.”
Today’s quote tells us that Jesus began to select ther twelve apostles.
(Lesson 4040)(02-12-23) Matthew 4:12-17
“Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
In today’s quote, Jesus fulfilled yet another prophesy. It is also very important to note that, when Jesus began to preach, He preached the very same message that John the Baptist had preached. That being, “Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”. (Matthew 3:2)
That information is important because Jesus did not, as some contend, preach Christianity, He preached that Christianity was soon to come. And He, like John, preached that message expressly to the Jews.
The doctrine of Christianity could not come into being until AFTER Jesus had completed His divine mission and had ascended back to heaven.~
(Lesson 4039)(02-11-23) Matthew 4:1-11
“ Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them. And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.”
In today’s quote, Jesus withstood all the temptations Satan could place before Him. In doing so, Jesus again, as He had done by subjecting Himself to water baptism, proved Himself a perfect and worthy sacrificial candidate for the sins of the world.
Had Jesus not subjected himself to water baptism, as prescribed by the law, had He not lived by every whit of the law, and had He not stood up to the temptations of Satan, He would not have been the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world.Thank God He was able!~
(Lesson 4038)(02-10-23) Matthew 3:13-17
“Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Today’s quote tells us that Jesus came to John the Baptist to receive the mandatory water baptism of the Jews.
Jesus was NOT baptized in water to become the Son of God, Jesus was divinely BORN and was already the Son of God from that virgin birth.
Jesus, after John had hesitated to baptize Him, said, “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.” When Jesus said those words, He proved beyond all doubt that the water baptism He underwent at the hands of John the Baptist, was thatsame ritual water baptism that is required under the law, to “fulfill all righteousness.
Water baptism is a work of man, it requires physical labor to accomplish. Those of us whom have studied God’s word, know that we are saved by grace. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that, not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
In Romans 4:4-5, Paul said, “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him the JUSTIFIETH the ungodly, His faith is counted for righteousness.”
Eternal salvation is a gift to those who believe in our Lord Jesus Christ. It’s just that simple.~
(Lesson 4037)(02-09-23) Matthew 3:11-12
“ I indeed baptize you with water unto (toward) repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Today’s quote is very, very important to the study of the New Testament and is seemingly ignored by the vast majority of today’s Christianity.
Note that John specifically said that his baptism was a water baptism TOWARD repentance. That being just as the old law prescribed. He then went further to explain that the baptism that is of (and into) Jesus Christ is a baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire.
John, in today’s quote, CLEARLY difined the difference between the water baptisms he performed, as per Jewish law, and the baptism that saves the eternal soul which is a baptism INTO, NOT WATER, but INTO Christ Jesus. “For as many of you as have been baptized INTO Christ, have put on Christ. (Galatians 3:27)
Sadly, the confusion over the meaning and intent of water baptism has cost the eternal souls of countless people over the millennia and continues to do so today. That is because, if one places that one’s faith in water baptism to remit sin, that one ignores the shed blood of Jesus Christ as the ONLY means by which one’s sins can be remitted through faith in that same Jesus Christ crucified.
There will be much more on this subject as these lessons progress.~
(Lesson 4036)(02-08-23) Matthew 3:7-10
“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”
In today’s quote, John scolded the Pharisees and Sadducees, (The Jewish hierarchy.) because they were not sincere, and had only come to him out of obsessive curiosity of those who would challenge their system of belief.~
(Lesson 4035)(02-07-23) Matthew 3:5-6
“Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.”
Today’s quote relates that many of the Jews went to John for water baptism. It behooves us, at this point, to understand why John administered water baptism.
Water baptism was, and remains, a traditional ritual of the Jews demanded by the old law. Before entering into any religious space or practice. Every Jew was required, by law, to be bathed by immersion, into “living” water. “Living” water is water that is flowing in a natural stream. The Jews built hundreds of “Mikvas” around Jerusalem to serve the purpose of ritual bathing, or, batpisms. (A Mikva is a pool of water fed by a natural source or stream.) The essence of the bathing was the fact that it was performed in “living’ water.
This information is valuable because, as will be exposed in the furtherance of these lessons, water baptism, (immersion) actually has no place in Christianity.
Remember this, Jewish baptism originally required “living” water. The living water that saves the eternal soul in Christianity is Jesus Christ crucified.
John 4:14, “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."~
(Lesson 4034)(02-06-23) Matthew 3:1-4
“In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.”
Today’s quote introduces John the Baptist. These lessons concerning John’s message, and the things he did, are some of the most important to be found in the New Testament.
John’s message was “repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’. John did NOT say, ‘the kingdom of heaven is here’.
John’s mission was to “prepare the way of the Lord”. It is VERY important that we remember these things as we study God’s plan for the eternal salvation of mankind.~
(Lesson 4033)(02-05-23) Matthew 2:19-23
“But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.”
Today’s quote relates that Joseph, after God had told him Herod was dead, brought Jesus to Galilee. Thereby fulling another prophesy.~
Lesson (4032)(02-04-23) Matthew 2:16-18
“Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.”
Today’s quote tells us the Herod, king of the Jews, out of frustration that the Magi had fooled him, and in his desperation to kill Jesus, perpetrated the “Slaughter of the Lambs” by killing all the babies in Bethlehem that were under two years old.~
Lesson (4031)(02-03-23) Matthew 2:13-15
“And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be J which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.”
In today’s quote, Joseph took Jesus to Egypt, at God’s command, to avoid Herod’s wrath.~
Lesson (4030)(02-02-23) Matthew 2:9-12
And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.”
Today’s quote relates that the Magi found Jesus, worshiped Him and, because of a warning from God, avoided Herod as they returned to the East.~
Lesson (4029)(02-01-23) Matthew 2:1-8
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.”
In today’s quote, Jesus, our Savior, is born in Bethlehem. And, as the Magi journey to worship Jesus, Herod begins to lay his plot to have Jesus killed.~
