John 10:31-42 - Charges of Blasphemy Refuted

John 10:31-42

31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?” 33 The Jews answered Him, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.” 34 Jesus answered them, “Has it not been written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? 35 If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), 36 do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37 If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; 38 but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.” 39 Therefore they were seeking again to seize Him, and He eluded their grasp.

40 And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was first baptizing, and He was staying there. 41 Many came to Him and were saying, “While John performed no sign, yet everything John said about this man was true.” 42 Many believed in Him there.

Message: Charges of Blasphemy Refuted

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: After Jesus says in 10:30, "I and the Father are one" these Jews immediately pick up stones to stone Him for they recognize that the words of Jesus are that He is making Himself equal to God and they believe this to be blasphemy. Jesus then responds to them speaking further about himself being the Son of God. The Jews do not respond favorably and want to seize him, but he eludes their grasp. Chapter 10 then concludes that Jesus has left to go beyond the Jordan to the place where John had first been baptizing. And many believed in Him there. 

Deuteronomy 13:1-5 is a tough passage for it says that false prophets shall be put to death or executed. It speaks of people coming and asking you to serve other gods that you do not know. I think this could also mean people who ascribe to God ways about Him that are not true, thus they fashion God into their own image rather than accepting Him for Who He is. Perhaps at this time, this is what the Jews were doing, though they were simply at that moment trying to seize Him but they thought Jesus was making Him out to be equal with God. 

Jesus states that He is the Son of God and that the works that He is doing support the idea that the Father is in Him and He in the Father. I was speaking to a Muslim man a couple of weeks ago that said no where does it say that Jesus states He is God and yet these words mention that He and the Father are one and then the Jews of the day go to stone Him and He comes back that they need to look at the work that He does and they will see that the Father is in Him and He is in the Father. I wish I would have responded with these words at the time. 

Believers can state that they are in God and God in them. John 3:21, "But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” Romans 8:9 - "However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him." These words are different though from Jesus saying in response to him and the father being One that He is basically of the same essence of God. Jesus is still responding to the question of who He is? For the other writings are speaking of practicing our faith and that as we practice we can be in Christ as doing the work of Christ. This is different from what Jesus said when he was stating that His works will testify that the Father is in Him and He is in the Father. 

Tabletalk says, "If Scripture can call men gods who are in reality not divine, how much more is it right to refer to the One who is God as the Lord and Creator of all?" This is to explain how Jesus responds initially to being confronted about blasphemy. Jesus responds by first saying that in scripture, going back to Psalm 82:6 where it says, "I said, “You are gods, and all of you are sons of the Most High."  

Hmm. I don't understand that word from Ligonier at the moment and the referencew to Psalm 82 seems still to be confusing. So in trying to understand Psalm 82 a little more, My Open Bible says Psalm 82 is "Rebuke of Israel's Unjust Judges." I notice in the NIV and KJV the reading is a little different as verse 1 of Psalm 82 says, "God presides in the great assembly; he renders judgment among the “gods”." So NIV and KJV says among the "gods" instead of NASB saying "in the midst of the rulers." So rulers in this passage are gods. Verse 1 - God takes a stand and judges even the rulers, even the gods. Both are elohim, but the particles are different. One means God the most high and the other a man, probably what rulers were sometimes called in that day. So these judges, while all ordained by God, are not doing what they are supposed to be doing as judges. Verse 2 - they judge unjustly. Verse 2 - they show partiality to the wicked. And yet they in verse 3, vindicate or act harshly toward the weak and fatherless. Verse 4 God says they need to "Rescue the week and needy; deliver them out of the hand of the wicked." So these rulers which are also called gods are not acting correctly. As such, these rulers or gods are actually instruments of God. The Word of the Lord comes to these judges, thus they are called sons of Elyon. As such, for Jesus to call Himself the Son of God is not blasphemy. 

Summary: The Jews sought to stone Jesus for speaking a statement of blasphemy but Jesus states God can name him the Son of God, even men from Psalm 82 held this distinction, but Jesus is God incarnate. 

Promise: Christ possesses divine authority inherently according to His divine nature. 

Prayer: Lord, it is a joy to read and study your word, though it takes me time sometimes to understand it. Continue to provide me understanding of Your word here. Thank you for the clarity of Your word in showing that you a mission that many don't understand, but we stand by You and trust in You. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

Various Scripture - Difficult Teachings of Jesus

Luke 13:1-5

l Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And He answered and said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered this fate? 3 I tell you, no, but, unless you repeat, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower of Siloam fell and killed them, were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 

What the Lord is Saying: As I have read and studied these texts so far in John, I see that often Jesus is explaining something that is not immediately apparent, and yet as He explains the meaning it becomes apparent. Based upon uses of things in society, we are somewhat conditioned or trained to think of things a certain way. Some horrible acts have happened in history so where was God in these events? Luke 13:1 mentions Pilate attacking some worshipers and mixing their blood with the animal sacrifices they were offering. And then Jesus also mentions a nondeliberate act in which the tower in Siloam fell on 18 people, crushing them. Jesus responds then to people who think that the people did something wrong to merit this. Suffering and sickness may be due to a person's sin, but not always. These events are to wake us up to the need to repent and get ourselves right with God. This is what Jesus is saying in verse 5. 

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Matthew 24:36 - But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. 

What the Lord is Saying: We are often focused on His return. We like figuring out the unknown, the discovery. And yet Jesus says, no one know, but how is that He includes Himself in this? We know Jesus lived fully man and fully God on this earth. His responses reveal this and this is one place where it seems His response to Him not knowing was Him speaking as a man. Much of what Jesus is trying to convey to people in the Gospels is that He has been sent from the Father to do the Father's will. And this is, in a way, another example. 

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Mark 11:12-14

12 And on the next day, when they ha departed from Bethany, He became hungry. 13 And seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 And He answered and said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again!" His disciples were listening. 

What the Lord is Saying: How could a morally pure individual curse an innocent fig tree? Like the fig tree, the Jews were supposed to bear good fruit. However, in Jesus’ day, He could not find much spiritual fruit among the religious authorities and even many of the people (Mark 11:20–33; see Matt. 23). He cursed the fig tree to warn the people what would happen to them if they did not repent of their fruitlessness.

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Matthew 12:22-32 

22 Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed him, so that the mute man spoke and saw. 23 All the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.”

25 And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? 27 If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges. 28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.

30 He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

31 “Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. 32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

What the Lord is Saying: The unforgivable sin has troubled many. Blasphemy is a sin involving words, against God. The problem was the Pharisees were thinking that Jesus was acting by the devil. Thus, they were committing blasphemy, attributing sinful acts to God. Jesus was trying to prevent the Pharisees from carrying out this sin. We must all be careful of our intent toward God. 

Exodus 20:7 - Using God's Name Frivolously

October 28

Exodus 20:7 - “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain."

Message: Using God's Name Frivolously 

Time: Most likely this book was penned by Moses. The book covers a period of approximately eighty years, from shortly before Moses’s birth (c. 1526 BC) to the events that occurred at Mount Sinai in 1446 BC. The Bible's message of redemption appears in Exodus as well: though the children of Israel were enslaved in a foreign land, God miraculously and dramatically delivered them to freedom, provided the Law, established the system of sacrifice, and gave instructions on building of His tabernacle. God began to fulfill His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

What the Lord is Saying: 

I am not sure there is any commandment that is broken more than this one in our society right now. The way God's name is thrown around and used to cry out disgust or as a curse word is crazy. There is a normal exclamation of OM_ which has become a norm as well and I don't get it. It is interesting because I love old movies and using God's name as a curse word was not prevalent before the sixties in movies. Cursing in general was not done. And yet now it is common in books, TV, and movies. And yet there are other words that have now become offensive, but not God's name. 

I'm always reminded that Jews will not even utter God's name and write it out as G-D for it is too holy of a name to even write. Jews view Deuteronomy 12:4 as meaning that we are prohibited from desecrating, destroying, or erasing God's name. Tom Nelson mentioned one time in a lesson that when men copied the Torah they would not copy each word, but copy each letter and if they ever made a mistake on copying God's name the paper would have to be ripped up and start all over. Again, it is amazing to think how far we've come in our use of God's name. 

November 15

Matthew 12:34 - For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.

It is not only cursing, but any use of God's name in a frivolous manner shows disrespect to our creator. I need to watch this in my life as I can often give rise to a joke. 

Summary: Blasphemy or using God's name frivolously are examples of taking God's name in vain. 

Promise: Be quick to repent and let's honor God with our speech and do the reverse of blasphemy and extol and praise His name throughout our lives. 

Prayer: O Lord God, I want you use your name in a way that brings honor to your name and respect. I want to turn from any way in my life in which I do not respect this name. Even in my entertainment Lord help me to stay clear of circumstances and shows and movies that bring disdain to You. Lord, our culture has little respect for you and for their sins and often my agreement or listening ear I ask your forgiveness, for them and for me. Be glorified always. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of July is about the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God. 

Bringing me to Christ

The Restraint of the Law - the law is given for lawless, unholy, disobedient people, to restrain us from acting on our sinful thoughts. Restraint and Guilt - the law is meant to restrain Christians and non-Christians alike; so that others may see Christ. The Law's Revelation of Sin - The Law reveals sin, at times making it more desirable, and show the sin which people commit and the complete standard it expects. The Law and Our Powerlessness - We are powerless over the Law and Sin revealed. It is in Christ that we receive forgiveness and the power to resist sin. The Law our Guardian - The law is not a tool of justifying me, but rather it is an instrument to bring me to Christ and show me my need for Him. 

Guiding our Lives

The Guidance of the Law - The Law is a guide in our lives for what pleases God and what it looks like to walk in holiness. The Antinomian Error - We were slaves to sin, but now we are slaves to obedience and righteousness. Judaizing Legalism - The error of Judaizing Legalism is the idea that obedience brings about God's acceptance of us for salvation. The Deadliest Form of Legalism - This legalism is that one would get too focused on external practices instead of focusing on the heart.

The Law is our Guide

The Centrality of Love - Love and the law go hand in hand. We do not belong to God unless we love our neighbor, and we cannot love our neighbor without knowing and doing God‘s law and loving him. Finding Guidance in the Law - God's Word, all if it, is a guide to my life and I am to meditate on it continually. The One and Only God - I seek to trust and love God above all else today. Images and Idols - Pictures, statues, symbols, art, people are not bad; but be careful about placing too much emphasis on these things I see.

Mark 14:63-65 - The Humiliation of Christ

Mark 14:63-65
63 Tearing his clothes, the high priest *said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? 64 You have heard the blasphemy; how does it seem to you?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. 65 Some began to spit at Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists, and to say to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers received Him with slaps in the face.

Message: The Humiliation of Christ

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus has been arrested and it is Thursday night. He has been seized under the cover of darkness, after he had prayed. The disciples and people fled; even one man who started to get apprehended got away naked, but he still got away. But, then Peter and John followed Jesus to the Sanhedrin court. They first accused Jesus improperly and so Jesus didn't respond. But then they asked Him if he was the Christ, the Son of the Blessed (God). And this time Jesus answered and acknowledged and even spoke of His future.

Jesus has just remarked to this question - “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One? And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.” And the response Tearing his clothes, the high priest *said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy; how does it seem to you?” Blasphemy is speaking sacrilegiously of God. It is not showing reverence to God. The high priest felt like he had all the evidence he needed to condemn Jesus to death because he had admitted to being the Messiah, the Son of God.

Jesus had admitted in the previous verses that He had a special relationship with God. He admitted that He was the Son of God and then He also calls himself the Son of Man. Now the question that has been raised is blasphemy here referring just to Jesus having a special sort of relationship with God or it referring to him having more than just a special relationship but being God himself. Traditional Christianity would be the latter while many religions such as Muslims, Jehovah Witnesses and liberal Christians say the former.

What we do know for sure is he was utterly offended. We know this because of the tearing his clothes. This was probably a man of multiple tunics and tearing ones clothes was a sign of exceptional grief. But this wasn't simply a tearing of one's clothes, but it was a violent tear. The Greek word is rent and it implies violent dramatic action. The high priest is making a point. He is calling attention to Jesus' words. But I still wonder what his motivation was in doing this. He wasn't someone that wanted or felt like there was a need for any more evidence. He had all the evidence he needed and getting witnesses to testify against Jesus was more of a formality. So perhaps the tearing of His clothes was more to enunciate with clarity that nothing more is needed for Jesus has made the claim. Was Jesus just embodying an exceptional person or was he stating that He was equal with God and thereby God.

And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. It seems that the JW's for one focus not on Jesus admitted he was the son of God, but instead focus on Jesus saying that he had a special place of distinction at the right hand of God. Whatever this meant at the time, the people felt like he was worthy to be condemned to death. Would Jesus claiming that God has reserved for him a special place be enough for him to be crucified or was this more likely because he was proclaiming to be God.

Some began to spit at Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists, and to say to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers received Him with slaps. It is now about 3am. Jesus has not slept as the night before was his last night of sleep. What follows now is not just contempt but the greatest contempt that people would have on someone. To spit on someone was a sign of this sort of contempt. And then if that wasn't enough there was blindfolding and then beating him with their fists. And Mark and Luke record that they would say to Jesus to Prophesy.

In some ways this is puzzling because nowhere have we seen this type of rage of Jesus and yet it must have been present. There must have been many that equally hated Jesus as those who loved Him in a great way.

Summary - It is now late into the morning and because of Jesus saying that he is the Son of God and calling himself the Son of Man, the charge of blasphemy is given and Jesus is now being spit on, blindfolded and struck with fists.

Promise: Jesus is voluntarily taking this humiliation.

Prayer: Lord, you were humiliated for me. That is clear. Please continue to reveal yourself to me. You were hated in a way I have not seen recorded yet in the Scripture. I worship You.

Mark 7:20-23 - Evil in Heart

Mark 7:20-23

20 And He was saying, “That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, 22 deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. 23 All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.”

Message: Evil in Heart

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface: Jesus speaks to all the people, going beyond just the scribes, and declares clearly that when speaking of being clean, the key is what comes out of a person, not what is taken in. What is unneeded to the human body are thrown off and eliminated through waste. If the people want to know what defiles, it is what comes out of a person that matters most. Jesus is declaring this radical message over and over - the heart. We need to focus on the heart. 

Jesus is emphasizing that what comes into a man - be it drink or food, even eating with unclean hands is not what defiles a person, but rather that which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. There is a clear contrast here that he is emphasizing.The Pharisees and scribes questioned why the disciples were not maintaining the tradition of hand washing that was thought to render people clean. Ultimately, Christ explains that cleanliness is an interior matter. It is the state of one's heart that determines cleanliness for the heart is the origin of all uncleanness. Before any sinful deed can be committed, it is conceived in the heart. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts...All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man. 

God and man see people differently. This, to me, further emphasizes the radical nature in which Jesus came. I Samuel 16:7 says, But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” This verse reminds me of the way God has always been and therefore God sees in a way that man does not see. Naturally, we look at the outward and our prisons are set up because people have committed outward violations. The civil law is set up like this. But, God and Jesus go beyond the outward to the inner. This must be a difficult thing for society to comprehend for everywhere we are trained in the idea of the outward, but everyone God trains us on what is on the inside that matters most. 

Here sins are listed to clearly show their inner origins: fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. The first six in this list are acts that are seen outside of the flesh while the second six are attitudes behind the acts. 

First on the list is fornications. It is interesting for there is such a great power of sexual sin and sexual temptation that has been present in every culture of man. It was a problem 2,000 years ago and it is a problem today. The internet in the last 25 years has seen the proliferation of this sin. This is a sin that seeks to become more and more private.

Second is thefts. To be a thief is obviously abhorrent in society. But, for me, the acts of being a thief are changing. We most definitely grade this sin, in that taking a dollar versus $100 is seen a way different. With the advent of movies in the home came forth the issue of piracy. Even the internet and youtube made piracy of music more prevalent to the point that they had to figure out a way to make money on listening to music and now it has become the norm to listen in this manner. 

Third is murders. For me, personally, Roe v Wade in 1973 was the biggest change that occurred over the issue of murder for society accepted that murder of the fetus was warranted based upon a woman's choice. In the nineties, doctor assisted suicide started to appear as we looked at the other end of the spectrum, the elderly. Again, sin began to be disguised as warranted behavior. Society still today does not view either of these as murder. 

Fourth is adulteries. Adultery is not a new thing. It is a sexual sin practice that has been present for thousands of years. As a person that loves to watch old movies, adultery in the movies has always been present. There was a notion that if one was wealthy then they more easily could afford a mistress. The woman as an object of the man's desires crept more and more into people's thoughts and was then culminated with pornography being viewed as entertainment. 

Fifth is coveting. Coveting is a internal desire seen outwardly. Consumerism has made coveting a normal practice. The desire to have what your neighbor possesses is viewed as competition and moves us to be a strong business person. 

Sixth is wickedness. This is all kinds of wicked behavior. Thus, anything not covered previously is covered here. 

This is what we see and now Jesus focuses on what is on the inside. Deceit means lying, not telling the truth, deceptiveness, false witness. Lying can be pretending to be something we are not. Lying shows up in church all the time as people want to pretend to others that they are religious in order to get acceptance from society. 

Sensuality shows up in our behavior and speech. It is a dirty mind. Once again, society has made having a dirty mind being completely acceptable. Its amazing to think of the TV sitcoms and their attitudes and behaviors that made having a dirty mind comedic.  

Envy is to look with hate or to look with anger. 

Slander is to have abusive speech such as blasphemy. I went and saw a movie yesterday, one I should have avoided for the slander or abusive language that occurred in the movie, all under the disguise of laughter and entertainment was incredible and the most haunting thing was to witness children in the movie laughing at themes most likely they did not understand at all, but only laughed because their parents also laughed beside them. 

Pride is the feeling of being superior to others. And then foolishness, to be unthinking or senseless.

The issue that I'm seeing more and more is the normalizing of these sins in society. We don't think of these in a serious light because we have such a thirst for entertainment that we excuse these behaviors because they have made us laugh or enjoy life. 

Summary - Jesus, in a way, concludes the utter defilement of the heart by naming a list of these sins and repeats the idea that evil comes from within. While we stare at the outward, it is what is on the inside that matters most.  

Promise: Sin and holiness are fundamentally issues of the heart. Although holiness can be faked before men, God is never fooled. 

Prayer: Lord, I want to walk in holiness. I thank you for forgiving me of my sins and I'm embarrassed of how prevalent these sins continue to be in my life. I should know better. Thank you for the reminder and continue to clean me up, not only so that my witness is better but so that I can have peace with myself in life. 

Mark 3:28-30 - Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

Mark 3:28-30
28 “Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”—30 because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”


Message: Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Verses 28 and 29 of this passage are words from Jesus. So far, one of the central messages that Mark is putting forth about Jesus is he has come with an authority of speech different from anyone else. In chapter 1:21, Jesus goes to the synagogue and the scribes immediately notice this. In verse 27 it states, What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him. And this authority from Jesus continues as he preaches and teaches repentance and believing in the gospel, and has the authority to cast out demons from people's lives and heal them.

Jesus has most recently spoken to the scribes after they accused him of being of the devil and he quickly dispels this and shows that Satan cannot and will not cast out Satan. Satan must be bound first. An outside source is needed to deliver people from the power of Satan and Jesus is the one with that authority.

In these verses today, Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit for the first time in the book of Mark. Thus, the Holy Spirit is real and present. Mark did mention the Holy Spirit at Jesus' baptism as they Spirit descended upon him (1:10). But here Jesus speaks directly of a sin against the Holy Spirit and it being the sin that is not pardoned or forgiven. Jesus is in the sin forgiveness business. I have already seen this in chapter 2 when he speaks to the paralytic brought by friends in stating to him My son, your sins are forgiven. Now here he presents a contrast of sons of men who sin and even blaspheme, but the blaspheme of the Holy Spirit is a greater, unforgivable sin.

First of all, what I see is this is the context of the scribes coming to Jesus stating that He is possessed by Beelzebul (3:22) and Jesus clearly refuting this. But he does this in an explanation using parables, but now also mentions the Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Thus, the scribes are sinning with their words toward Jesus so uttering blasphemy against the Holy Spirit also appears to be words toward Jesus. And yet in verse 28 the sin of blasphemy is mentioned as a sin that is forgiven. Thus, blasphemy, which is speaking about God or his acts in a profane way (unfortunately a very common occurrence in today's world). Thus, how is this blasphemy against the Holy Spirit different? How is profaning the name against the Holy Spirit different from profaning the name of God?

Jesus is speaking directly to the scribes and their condemnation of Jesus is beginning to be repetitive. The Holy Spirit, also sent by God, like Jesus, is to believers and reveals God. So, this blasphemy isn't very clear.

The common explanation I have seen is that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is not a one-time sin, but a recurring sin of willfully disregarding the work of God in people's lives, thus the belief that God does not work in people's lives and therefore is not real. I John 5:16 speaks of a sin that leads to death and the sin appears to be the complete disregard of the power of God in people's lives.

I have a friend who is a Christian and I believe he spent so much of his life using God's name as a curse word that when it comes out of his mouth, he doesn't even notice it. Yes, it is sin, but I still believe is a saved man. Whereas, the blasphemy of the Spirit is stating that God does not work in people's lives, thus separate from profaning the name of God.

Purpose: RC Sproul - Worrying about [whether one has committed the unforgivable sin] is one of the clearest evidences that [the troubled person has] not committed this sin, for those who commit it are so hardened in their hearts that they do not care that they commit it.

Prayer: Lord, I am ashamed at the times in my life that I have blasphemed your name and I thank you for forgiving that sin as well as all of my sins. Lord, I hate to hear your name blasphemed and disregarded in our world today. I look forward to the day when both this blasphemy and the total disregard of the work of You in people's lives will be seen and heard no more.

Matthew 12:22-32 - A Sin Unforgivable

Matthew 12:22-32
²² Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed him, so that the mute man spoke and saw. ²³ All the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?” ²⁴ But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.”
²⁵ And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand. ²⁶ If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? ²⁷ If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges. ²⁸ But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. ²⁹ Or how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.
³⁰ He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
³¹ “Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. ³² Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

Message: A Sin Unforgivable

Time: The date of Matthew's composition is anywhere from 55-60 AD probably in Antioch of Syria. The writing is most likely to the Jews. His purpose was to show them that Jesus of Nazareth was the expected messiah and both his genealogy and his resurrection were legitimate proofs of this.

What the Lord is Saying: 

This is an interesting section of scripture and one that probably has been hotly debated regarding its meaning. The passage clearly is focusing on the Holy Spirit. Looking it over, I see that Jesus healed a blind and mute demon-possessed man. Afterwards, he spoke and saw. The Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out demons according to Beelzebul. The question was not whether or not a demon could be cast out, but by what authority. In order for the kingdom of God to reign then demons can only be cast out by the the Spirit of God. Jesus is saying that Satan has no reason to cast out his own demon from a man and therefore take down his own kingdom. Jesus says that the demon must be bound in a man before it can be cast out. If someone is not with Jesus, they are against Jesus, so the demon-possessed man is against Jesus. He then transitions to sin and blasphemy of the Spirit and the unforgivable sin.

In just talking about the sin issue here, it is of note that all sin is forgiven, except one, which means cursing God. rejecting God, denying Him, murder, adultery, or breaking any of the commandments -- these are all forgivable. There is great comfort in what God has done.

But something of great importance here is this particular sin -- blasphemy. Blasphemy is the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for a deity. If there is a sin that seems to be totally disregarded in our current society, it is not showing reverence to God's name. 

For the meaning of this passage I am looking at the words from Tabletalk for September 2, 2015:

The Pharisees see that Jesus has just freed a man from demonic oppression and that many people are thinking that He must therefore be the Christ. Some of these Pharisees attribute Jesus' ability to exorcise demons to Beelzebul (Satan). This error is significant because our Savior notes that the finger of God is behind His power in spiritual warfare. By the Holy Spirit He casts out demons, which should be evident to all. The Lord then teaches on the blasphemy of the Spirit, thereby indicating that it consists of attributing demonic activity to Jesus. In other words, calling a work of God the work of Satan is what is in view with respect to the blasphemy of the Spirit.

This is what the Pharisees did in relations to Jesus' healing of the demonic man's blindness and inability to speak -- asserting that Jesus was actually doing the work of Satan.

Promise: Those who blaspheme the Spirit are hardened against Him and have no fear of offending Him. 

Jesus Calling: July 12

Whenever you feel distant from Me, whisper My Name in loving trust. This simple prayer can restore your awareness of My Presence.
     My Name is constantly abused in the world, where people use it as a curse word. This verbal assault reaches all the way to heaven; every word is heard and recorded. When you trustingly whisper My Name, My aching ears are soothed. The grating rancor of the world's blasphemies cannot compete with a trusting child's utterance: "Jesus." The power of My Name to bless both you and Me is beyond your understanding. 

Acts 4:12
English Standard Version
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Verse Thoughts
The name of Jesus is to be used by man for salvation.  

John 16:24
English Standard Version
Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Ephesians 4:29
English Standard Version
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Verse Thoughts
I added this verse because it has meant a lot to me.  


My Prayer
Lord, thank You for saving me. I trust You. Your ways are the best ways. Forgive me for settling for a way of life outside of You. Lord, I hate it when Your name is abused in the world. It is so horrible to hear Your name misused. It is amazing how it is thrown around and abused. Every time I hear it used that way, I want to praise You instead, but often I don't. I try to pretend that it wasn't used that way. Lord, forgive me for remaining silent. Help me Lord. Give me power to not just stand by.

Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. If you haven't already, please purchase the book and support the author. 


Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.

Romans 3:18 - No Fear of God

Romans 3:18 - “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” 

Message: The picture of no fear of God.

Time: Paul probably wrote Romans between A.D. 57-58 while he was at Corinth in the home of his friend and convert Gaius. He planned to go first to Jerusalem to deliver a gift of money from the Gentile churches to the poor in Jerusalem. Then he hoped to visit Rome on his way to Spain. His hopes were later realized, but not as he had expected. When he finally arrived in Rome in early A.D. 60, he was a prisoner under house arrest (Acts 28:11-31).

What the Lord is Saying:

Here in verse 18 is sort of an interesting, though apt, culmination of man's departure from God. It is somewhat similar to chapter 1. I am always reminded that as my turns from God, he stops giving thanks to God for His hand of providence in life. And here is the calling card of the sinner. We have seen that no one is righteous, the tongue is poison and our feet are swift to shed blood. 

But, more directly now before God, there is no fear of God. This statement really could be a summary statement of the problem with all men: no fear of God. This is a quote from Psalm 36:1, "Transgression speaks to the ungodly within his heart; There is no fear of God before his eyes."

The stark reminder of this verse is man really doesn't care about God. Fearing God causes us to turn away from evil (Proverbs 3:7). The fear of God means our sin is constrained so without it, sin is unleashed. It always amazes me the surprise it seems the Christian world has in the world's sins. They don't fear God. How can we expect them to follow through on God's commandments when they don't fear Him? 

Deuteronomy 4:10 -  Remember the day you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, when the Lord said to me, ‘Assemble the people to Me, that I may let them hear My words so they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.
-- with an absence of God's words in our life, there is going to be an absence of the fear of God. 

Why is the fear of God so important? I think it is a recognition that God is there. It is interesting that when I'm breaking the law of speeding, I fear the police catching me. In a dark room, sometimes I fear not having light. Sometimes I fear being found out for not being as smart as people think I am. I fear people often, not wanting to talk to them about God, because I don't want their rejection of me or their verdict upon me. I think of money too much because I fear being without it. I have fears that my children will not walk with the Lord. But, I wonder if I really fear God. What often motivates me to not sin is the consequences of sin. I hope that what begins my desire to avoid sin is the realization that God is there. He created me. He has a purpose for me. He is in control. In some ways, I think fear of God is respecting who God is. It is recognizing that He is there, always. It is knowing that He is Holy. It is believing in Him.

Promise: Without fear of God, there is no foundation. Man is in chaos.

Romans 3:12-14 - The Mouths of Sinners

Romans 3:12-14 -
12 All have turned aside, together they have become useless;
There is none who does good,
There is not even one.”
13 “Their throat is an open grave,
With their tongues they keep deceiving,”
“The poison of asps is under their lips”;
14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness”;

Message: The first evil attribute: our tongue

Time: Paul probably wrote Romans between A.D. 57-58 while he was at Corinth in the home of his friend and convert Gaius. He planned to go first to Jerusalem to deliver a gift of money from the Gentile churches to the poor in Jerusalem. Then he hoped to visit Rome on his way to Spain. His hopes were later realized, but not as he had expected. When he finally arrived in Rome in early A.D. 60, he was a prisoner under house arrest (Acts 28:11-31).

What the Lord is Saying:

Reminder of Man's Depravity and Turning away from God
In Romans 1, Paul described the rejection of God by people. It was a process though. People start by not giving thanks to God (1:21) and then exchange God for something or anything else (1:22) and suddenly what people want is not God but their own desires, to the point that they are really in life serving their own needs (1:23-24). And then they reject God's intention and replace it with something else.

As I read these verses, I'm reminded of that description Paul has already given his readers of man's awareness of God and then rebellion. And yet that awareness is something God gave man. He gave man the knowledge of Him (1:19). God is evident within us.

Verse 12
The reality of these verses, is that on our own, there is none righteous. There is none who understands. None who seeks for God. And now in verse 12, we see that all have turned or bent themselves away from God. We have a bent, away from God. Like what was presented of the gentile in chapter 1, and so each of us needs to have more compassion on the lost. 

Moses, David, Isaiah, Jonah -- God reveals himself and the first thing we do is turn away.

We "become useless." This is the picture of rotten fruit. What a horrible verdict on man. And "none does good."

How quickly do I sometimes walk in to church and just start singing about the greatness of God without first reviewing the reality that I don't seek after God, understand Him, have turned from Him, and don't do any good apart from Him. Would by heart and voice be more impassioned if I began with that understand? I need to start with the idea that I am utterly offensive.

Verse 13
Psalm 5:9, "There is nothing reliable in what they say; Their inward part is destruction itself. Their throat is an open grave; They flatter with their tongue." What a horrible prognosis on mankind. Our throat reeks of death. Our speech threatens death. With our words, we push people into an open grave.

With our tongue, we keep deceiving. We lure people away from what is true. Deception is presenting a lie as truth. And this isn't a one time thing, but it is continuous in that we keep on doing it.

These are tough words about the tongue. The grave, deception, and poison. When a snake plants it's venom in a person, their is a quick need to cut it away. Asps refers to a bag of poison under the lips.

Verse 14
Cursing and bitterness. Cursing is blaming God or profanity. Bitterness is reproaching God because of the way He has run your life. Again, our first inclination is not to thank God, but to say to him, "why me?" Blasphemy is a frivolous use of God's holy name. Cursing is a declaration that God is to blame. Bitterness is all to common in my life as I look at the blessing of another and then look at me and say, "Why me?"


Promise: From Tabletalk: We do not serve God with the strength or focus that we ought, and if the standard by which one is declared righteous before Him is perfection, then outside of Christ we are indeed worthless servants of the Lord. Human beings are not born into a natural state of being on "God's side."

Romans 2:24 - Blaspheming God's Name

Romans 2:24 - For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written.

Message: Our creed is to represent Christ the best way we know how and yet, through our sin, God's name is used by us in vain. 

Time: Romans was probably written during Paul’s third missionary journey from Corinth to a Jewish/Gentile church in Rome (around 56-57 AD).

What the Lord is Saying:

This is probably, in my opinion, one of the most compelling verses in the Bible. After the Jew is confronted with their words of upholding their faith, Paul shows them that their lives don't mirror their talk and ultimately, because of this, God's name is profaned among the very people that the Jews know need God the most--the Gentiles. And this is the problem today of so many Christians (and me).

How often in my life do I do things, in front of others, that are contrary to the person I am (or should be) in Christ? How often do my actions not reflect Christ? Or in any way present Christianity? I do things and then immediately regret them. And there are hidden sins I commit that I just hope no one finds out about. And yet if even my immediately family discovered them I would be ashamed. But, the bottom line in all of this is not that my name would be dragged through the mud and I would look bad, the fact is My Savior and Lord's name would be profaned. That is the biggest problem.

Now, it is very true, that no one can be perfect and so on one level, no person should be looking at another person expecting them to never sin.

I remember when I worked in the summer of 1989 in Myrtle Beach at the International Golf Club. The managers knew the three of us coming to work there were from a Christian organization and they loved to catch us doing things they defined as sin. We might have gotten angry or hurt ourselves and cried out with a word exclaiming our pain. But, there was one man especially, Jerry, that would always giggle a little when we said something that he thought was not an attribute of being a Christian. 

I remember my dad sharing with me that while he was working at the hospital one of the pastors at the church we were attending made the comment to him regarding a patient he was visiting in the hospital and how he could talk to my dad because the "person was going to die" and my dad took it as it wasn't necessary for him to be in a hurry with this patient.

I think of the atheist friend I speak to online that has told me that he doesn't like the way people present themselves as being so pious in the church when he knows their lives don't mirror this presentation. Or he states that Christianity can't be real when there are all of these people throughout history killing others in the name of God.

So, while I don't think Paul is saying that Jesus should be judged by the actions of man because no man is perfect. Nevertheless, man should be trying to live his life the best way possible.

I notice myself acting in a comprising way often at work where I might say something negative towards my boss or gossip in the workplace in order to be in agreement with someone or even get a laugh. I need to see that God's name is blasphemed because of my behavior.

Promise: (From TableTalk) -- The Bible is clear that until we are glorified, we will always fail at some level to practice what we preach. Non-Christians will take advantage of this and always use our failures as cause to blaspheme the Lord, and there is not much we can do about it. However, if we are open about our failures and are careful to never promise sinlessness in this life, we can render their criticisms wholly illegitimate.

Malachi 2

Message: God is to be set apart and praised and honored and His covenants are to be taken seriously. 

Time: Late 5th Century BC; After Malachi I when the Lord came down on the people for not giving God their best and the priests were willing to accept second-best.

What the Lord is Saying:

The Lord Rebukes the Priests
(v. 1-2) Our priority to the Lord is to give honor to His name. This is the whole and entire purpose of the tabernacle and the role of the priests: to give Glory to God in the Highest.

Reminds me of the Chris Tomlin song, "Glory in the Highest."
    You are the first
    You go before
    You are the last
    Lord, You're the encore
    Your names in lights for all to see
    The starry host declare Your glory

    Glory in the Highest.

This is our chief aim of life, to glorify God and give Him the honor he deserves. How can we not do this and then think God will bless us?

(v. 3) When I don't honor God, but then bring to Him offerings and expect a blessing, it is odd. How I live like this. I secure my salvation in the Lord and then I live my life in such a way as to just barely give God what He deserves and then sit back and expect my life to fall into place. (v.4) I am to repent. The covenant is to seek the Lord, repent of my ways. (v.5) Would I just realize that I am to stand in awe of the Lord and realize who He is.

King James Version - over and over we see God telling us to not fear.

Deuteronomy 1:21 - Behold, the Lord thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.
Deuteronomy 31:8 - And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
Joshua 1:9 - Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Joshua 10:25 - And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight. 

1 Chronicles 22:13 - Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the Lord charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed.
1 Chronicles 28:20 - And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.

2 Chronicles 20:15 - And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's. 

2 Chronicles 20:17 - Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you. 

2 Chronicles 32:7 - Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: 

Isaiah 51:7 - Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. 

Jeremiah 23:4 - And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord. 

Jeremiah 30:10 - Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the Lord; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid.

Jeremiah 46:27 - But fear not thou, O my servant Jacob, and be not dismayed, O Israel: for, behold, I will save thee from afar off, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and be in rest and at ease, and none shall make him afraid. 

We walk in control of our lives most of the time because of something we fear and yet over and over the Lord reminds us to "fear not."

There are actions of the true priest and how he is to act and conduct himself (v. 6-7). His instruction is true. He walks in peace. He walks in an upright way. He turns many from their focus on sin. He guards knowledge. People look to him for instruction. He is a messenger sent from the Lord. But, the false priest acts in the opposite manner (v. 8,9) and has poor outcomes or results. Many stumble, many are corrupted and you are partial in your instruction, trying to have your cake and eat it, too. Your name will not be set apart.

Judah Profaned the Covenant
All of us have the same God. God is the one that created us. So, why do we often act so poorly toward one another (v. 10)? We do we often act that we are not of the same family. That is a hard question for life. Family members can go their separate ways at times but we can still leave in love. We are pondering leaving our church right now, but that doesn't mean we think any less of the people that are there. Specifically here in this passage (v.11) the concern is placed on Judah and their unfaithfulness and the way they have treated those things in their life that should be sacred. They haven't placed the honor they should toward the Church. God loves His Church and yet how often do people instead go out and choose to marry the world instead? We need to be careful that we don't act this way and then occasionally think that are service to God will bring blessing to our life (v. 12).

It wasn't enough that people disregarding God's covenants and did not give Him honor, but they turned their back on the wife of their youth and instead went after foreign wives (v. 13-16). They went outside the church and went instead to other places to seek after other women. God is the one that establishes the covenant between husband and wife and then we often turn our back on it and go after other wives. The overriding issue here is how we don't take serious enough the covenants that God has set up for us. 

The Lord is wearied by our words. Our throat is an open grave (Romans 3:13). Our words begin to no longer have value (v. 17).


Promise: God is to be honored. Give Him the honor He deserves by following what He teaches throughout His word. Don't look to being favored by man. Persistence of sin in our life will lead to all kinds of problems in our lives.

Ezekiel 25

Message: Prophecies against Ammon, Moob and Seir, Edom, and Philistia

Time: The Word of the Lord comes to Ezekiel.

What the Lord is Saying:

Message to the Ammonites: It is against them. They are to hear the word of the Lord. There problem was their response when the Lord's sanctuary was profaned or blasphemed, and the desolation of the land of Israel, and Judah going into exile. You will lose your borders, therefore. You will be under someone else's control (the East) and your comfortable way of life will now be inhabited by others. The things that our yours will become theirs. Your good way of life will be no more. Through this know that "I am the Lord."

Message to Moab and Seir: What was their problem? They stated that the house of Judah is like all other nations. And for that, they were handed over to the East, like the Ammonites. How interesting. This should remind us of what the Lord thinks of people that don't agree with His words. We are to raise up those that He raises up.

Message to Edom: What was their problem? They acted revengefully against Judah and took vengeance on them. God's response: Make them desolate. Use Israel to act out the Lord's vengeance upon them.

Message to Philistia: What was their problem? They acted revengefully and desired not to just destroy, but to destroy continually (never-ending enmity). The Cherethites (another people group in the land of Philistia) and the Philistines will be struck down. It could be that the Cherethites were the guards for the rest of Philistia. The bottom line is the Lord will take vengeance upon them.

Promise: People are not obedient to the Lord's commands. But, the Lord will make it clear through painful experiences that He is the Lord.