The Word for Today with Ray: August 2020

Monday, August 31, 2020

More than a Prophet - Matthew 11:9

Matthew the apostle shared how Jesus, “began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went you out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went you out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.” and in chapter eleven and verse nine of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus asked the multitudes if they saw John the Baptist as, “a prophet” where we read:

But what went you out for to see? A prophet? yes, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.

The verse reads, “But what went you out for to see? A prophet?” Matthew began with the word, “but” which means “nevertheless, moreover and” “what went you out” or “what did the multitude of people arise and go out” “to see” which means “to behold, observe, learn by looking, contemplate and perceive”? “A prophet” which refers to “one who was moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman and solemnly declares to men what he has received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation”? Matthew shared how Jesus further questioned the crowd as to whether they went to behold John the Baptist as a “prophet”.

The verse continues, “yes, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.” Matthew added the word, “yes” which means “verily, truly, assuredly and even so”, “I say” or “Jesus utters, declares and proclaims” “unto you” which means “to the multitude”, “and more” or “and exceeding some number or measure or rank or need” “than a prophet” which means “compared to one who was moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman and solemnly declares to men what he has received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation”. Matthew shared how Jesus confirmed to the multitude that John the Baptist was a “prophet” and greater than the “prophets” they knew of previously.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus elevated the role of His forerunner John the Baptist. The people may have thought of John the Baptist as a “prophet”, but Jesus shared how John was much greater than a “prophet”. God desires to have a loving relationship with every person, and He planned for John the Baptist to lead the way for Jesus to be known as the Christ or Messiah. Jesus is the “Savior of the World”, and those who are wise shall consider the substantial role John the Baptist had in His coming.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus quoted the scripture as He referred to John the Baptist, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.

A Man Clothed in Soft Raiment - Matthew 11:8

Matthew the apostle shared how Jesus, “began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went you out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?” and in chapter eleven and verse eight of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus asked the multitudes if they saw John the Baptist as, “a man clothed in soft raiment” where we read:

But what went you out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment?

behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.

The verse reads, “But what went you out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment?” Matthew began with the word, “but” which means “nevertheless, moreover and” “what went you out” or “what did the multitude of people arise and go out” “to see” which means “to behold, observe, learn by looking, contemplate and perceive”? “A man” or “a male human being” “clothed” which means “enrobed” “in soft raiment” which refers to “catamite and fine clothing and garments”? Matthew shared how Jesus asked the crowd again what they went to the wilderness“to see”, and He questioned whether they went to see John the Baptist dressed in “fine clothing”.

The verse goes on to say, “behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.” Matthew continued with the word, “behold”” which means “lo and see” “they that wear” or “the people who bear constantly as a accompaniment” “soft clothing” which means “garments that are catamite and fine” “are in king's houses” or “live in dwelling places of rulers, sovereigns, princes, commanders and lords”. Matthew shared how Jesus wanted to remember that people who “wear” “fine garments” live in “ruler's abodes”.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus continued to question the crowd surrounding Him concerning John the Baptist. He rhetorically wanted to know if they went to the “wilderness” to behold a man who was dressed in “fine clothing”, and He reminded them that those who wear those kind of garments live in “king's houses”. God used John the Baptist to be the “forerunner” of His Son Jesus Christ, and John's unusual location and attire had no bearing upon the message he carried concerning the Messiah. God loves people, and though His methods may be unexpected, His purpose is to have everyone be in a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus. Those who are wise shall yield to His perfect plan regardless of what they expect the messenger to look like.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus asked “the multitudes” once again about John the Baptist, “what went you out to see”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

A Reed Shaken with the Wind - Matthew 11:7

Matthew the apostle shared how Jesus told His disciples, “And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities. Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, And said unto him, Are you he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and show John again those things which you do hear and see. The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me”, and in chapter eleven and verse six of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus questioned the multitude concerning John the Baptist as to whether they thought he was, “a reed shaken in the wind” where we read:

And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John,

What went you out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

The verse reads, “And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, ...” Matthew began with the words, “and as they departed” which means “and at the time and moment John the Baptist's disciples left and took their journey away from”, “Jesus” whose name means “Jehovah is Salvation” and is “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate” “began” or “commenced” “to say” which means “to utter, declare and proclaim” “unto the multitudes” which refers to “the crowds of people” “concerning John” which means “about and in respect to John the Baptist”. Matthew shared how John the Baptist's disciples left Jesus, and Jesus turned toward the crowd who surrounded Him and began to speak about John.

The verse continues, “What went you out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?” Matthew added the words, “what went you out into” which means “what did the multitude of people arise and go out to” “the wilderness” or “the solitary, lonely, uninhabited wilderness” “to see” which means “to behold, observe, learn by looking, contemplate and perceive”? “A reed” or “a staff, measuring rod or plant stem” “shaken” which means “agitated, caused to totter” “with the wind” or “by way of a violent agitation and stream of air or a very strong tempestuous wind”. Matthew shared how Jesus questioned the crowd of people about what they went into the “solitary wilderness” to observe. He wanted to know if they thought John the Baptist was like a wavering “plant stem” which was “caused to totter” with a violent “wind”.

When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus waited till John the Baptist's disciples left before He spoke to the crowd about him. Though He told the disciples of John to tell him, “blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me”, Jesus spoke well of John without Him knowing. Jesus questioned the multitude as to what they went to behold when John was in the “wilderness”, and He desired to know if they thought of John as a “tottering plant stem” that was “agitated by a violent wind”. God has a plan for every person, and although they, like John the Baptist, may not be aware of what He has to say about them, God loves everybody and desires to have a relationship with them through His Son Jesus. Those who are wise will not be “offended in” Him but rather surrender their lives to Him as “Savior and Lord”.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus asks “the multitudes” more about John the Baptist, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Sunday, August 30, 2020

Whoever Shall Not Be Offended in Jesus - Matthew 11:6

Matthew the apostle shared how Jesus told His disciples, “And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities. Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, And said unto him, Are you he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and show John again those things which you do hear and see. The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them”, and in chapter eleven and verse six of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus said, “blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended” where we read:

And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

The verse reads, “And blessed is he, ...” Matthew began with the words, “and blessed” which means “and oh how happy” “is he” or “is the person whether male or female”. Matthew shared how Jesus referred to people who are made “oh so happy” because of that which He is about to declare.

The verse goes on to say, “... whosoever shall not be offended in me.” Matthew continued with the word, “whosoever” which means “whatever person whether male or female that” “shall not be offended” or “will not be stumbled, tripped, enticed to sin and fall away” “in me” which means “within and by Jesus”. Matthew shared how Jesus told John the Baptist's disciples those who are not “stumbled or tripped up by Jesus” are “blessed” people.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus wants people to be “blessed”, and when they are not “offended” by Him, they shall be. God desires to have a relationship with people through His Son Jesus, and those who submit their lives to Him shall not only be made truly “happy” but also receive “everlasting life” from Him.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus directs His attention toward “the multitudes” and asks them,“what went you out to see”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

The Blind, Lame, Lepers, Deaf and the Dead - Matthew 11:5

The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

The verse reads, “The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, ...” Matthew began with the words, “the blind” which means “those who have opaque or smoky sight or cannot see” “receive their sight” which means “recover the ability to see and look”, “and the lame” or “and those maimed or deprived of foot” “walk” which means “make their way, progress, make due use of opportunities, amble about and regulate their lives”, “the lepers” which refers to “the scaly, rough and affected with leprosy” “are cleansed” which means “are made clean from physical stains and dirt by curing”, “and the deaf” or “and the blunted, dull in hearing or dumb” “hear” which means “are endowed with the faculty of hearing, understanding and perceiving”. Matthew shared how Jesus told John the Baptist's disciples to observe how “blind” people are seeing, cripple people are “walking”, people with “leprosy” are made clean and people who could not “hear” now do.

The verse continues, “... the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” Matthew added the words, “the dead” which means “people who have breathed their last, are lifeless, deceased, departed and are destitute of life” “are raised up” or “are aroused, awaken and recalled from death to life”, “and the poor” which refers to “people who are reduced to beggary, asking alms, destitute of wealth, influence, position and honor” “have the gospel preached to them” which means “have the good news and glad tidings of the kingdom of God proclaimed to them”. Matthew shared how Jesus told the disciples of John the Baptist to report how “dead people” are “raised” to life again and “beggars as well as those destitute of wealth” have Jesus' “good news” of God declared to them.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see more of the ways Jesus ministered to people. He made the “blind see, the lame walk, the lepers cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead raised”, and He “preached” the “good news” of the kingdom of God to “the poor”. Jesus is the Messiah of God, and no one has ever done what He did among people. God desires people to have a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus, and those who truly consider these things shall know for certain, “Jesus is the Messiah of God”.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus referred to, “whosoever shall not be offended in me”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.