Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Matthew 13:47-52.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea, and gathering fish of every kind;  and when it was filled, they drew it up on the beach;  and they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away.  So it will be at the end of the age;  the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous, and will throw them into the furnace of fire;  in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

“Have you understood all these things?”  They *said to Him, “Yes.”  And Jesus said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”  Matthew 13:47-52.

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It is not difficult to understand this parable of the dragnet.  It is also not difficult to agree with the justice of God in separating the wicked from the righteous and in punishing the wicked.  “Have you understood all these things?”  They *said to Him, “Yes.”  Verse 51.

In the sense of the scribe who brings out of his treasure old and new things in the following verse 52, this teaching is an old thing (the justice of God in separating the wicked from the righteous and in punishing the wicked).  “And Jesus said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure things new and old.”  Verse 52.

A faithful teacher must not only teach old familiar things that are easily understandable and agreeable but also new things that are difficult to understand and accept.

“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:  preach the word;  be ready in season and out of season;  reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;  but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.  But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”  2 Timothy 4:1-5.

Today’s devotion comes from Matthew 13:44-46.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again;  and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.”  Matthew 13:44-46.

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Christ is like “one pearl of great value”.

We tend to focus just on the value of Christ and gloss over the oneness of Him.  There is nothing like Him.

Article 1:  That there is One Only God.

We all believe with the heart, and confess with the mouth, that there is one only simple and spiritual Being, which we call God;  and that he is eternal, incomprehensible, invisible, immutable, infinite, almighty, perfectly wise, just, good, and the overflowing fountain of all good.  Belgic Confession.

The world seek fine “pearls of wisdom” here and there but is never content.

But, there is “one pearl of great value”, namely our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Who is worthy, so to speak, for us to sell all that we have and buy.  “More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,”  Philippians 3:8.

And, Christ is like “a treasure hidden“.

Likewise, we tend to focus on the value of Christ and gloss over the hiddenness of Him.  Although Christ is worthy of the best search, we will not find Him unless God reveals Him to us.

Christ is wisdom personified.

“4 If you seek her as silver
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5 Then you will discern the fear of the Lord
And discover the knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2:4-5.

In Christ “… are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”  Colossians 2:3.

We have seen that Christ hid Himself in parables.

“And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”  Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.”  Matthew 13:10-11.

“At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants.  Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.  All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father;  nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” Matthew 11:25-27.

Today’s devotion comes from Matthew 13:36-43.

“Then He left the crowds and went into the house.  And His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.”  And He said, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, and the field is the world;  and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom;  and the tares are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age;  and the reapers are angels.  So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age.  The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and will throw them into the furnace of fire;  in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Then THE RIGHTEOUS WILL SHINE FORTH AS THE SUN in the kingdom of their Father.  He who has ears, let him hear.”  Matthew 13:36-43.

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We may wonder why we need to live in a world with the “stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness”.

Like the slaves of the landowner in the parable of the tares of the field, we may want and even pray that God get rid of them more quickly than God intends to do.  “…  The slaves *said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’  But he *said, ‘No;  for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them.” Matthew 13:28-29.

In today’s Scripture, this His explanation of this parable, our Lord focuses on the end result.  “Then THE RIGHTEOUS WILL SHINE FORTH AS THE SUN in the kingdom of their Father.  …”  Verse 43.

This end result that we will shine in our Father’s kingdom gives us encouragement and patience to endure.

Likewise, we are reminded why God “endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction”.  Romans 9:22.

“And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory,”  Romans 9:23.

Today’s devotion comes from Matthew 13:18-23.

“Hear then the parable of the sower.  When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart.  This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.  The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;  yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.  And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.  And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it;  who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”  Matthew 13:18-23.

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Without the grace of God, no one would understand.

“as it is written,

“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”

Romans 3:10-12.

But, God does grant understanding to those whom He chooses.  Matthew 13:11.

Without the grace of God, all would fall away and produce no fruit when temptations, affliction, or persecution arose.

Article 3.  By reason of these remains of indwelling sin, and the temptations of sin and of the world, those who are converted could not persevere in a state of grace, if left to their own strength.

But God is faithful, who having conferred grace, mercifully confirms, and powerfully preserves them herein, even to the end.  FIFTH HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Perseverance of the Saints of The Canons of Dordt.

All of this is God’s work from beginning to end:  from the beginning of “Unconditional Election” through “Limited Atonement” through “Irresistible Grace” through “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  The following is a good summary.

Article 11.  But when God accomplishes his good pleasure in the elect, or works in them true conversion, he not only causes the gospel to be externally preached to them, and powerfully illumines their minds by his Holy Spirit, that they may rightly understand and discern the things of the Spirit of God;  but by the efficacy of the same regenerating Spirit, pervades the inmost recesses of the man; he opens the closed, and softens the hardened heart, and circumcises that which was uncircumcised, infuses new qualities into the will, which though heretofore dead, he quickens;  from being evil, disobedient and refractory, he renders it good, obedient, and pliable; actuates and strengthens it, that like a good tree, it may bring forth the fruits of good actions.  THIRD AND FOURTH HEADS OF DOCTRINE Of the Corruption of Man, His Conversion to God, and the Manner Thereof of The Canons of Dordt.

“You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain …” John 15:16.

Today’s devotion comes from Matthew 12:46-50.

“While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him.  Someone said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You.”  But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?”  And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers!  For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.”  Matthew 12:46-50.

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Today’s Scripture does not teach us to neglect our duty to take care of our mother or father or even brothers or sisters.

Even with the weight of the world on Jesus at the pinnacle of His mission on earth at the cross, Jesus carefully took time to care for His mother by transferring the care of His mother from Himself before he died (and later resurrected and ascended to heaven) to His beloved disciple John.  John 19:26-27.

Jesus also prioritized the financial care of parents over offerings to the church.  “For God said, ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother is to be put to death.’  But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever I have that would help you has been given to God,” he is not to honor his father or his mother.’  And by this you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition.”  Matthew 15:4-6.

In summary, consider these very strong words about the importance of financial care of our household family members.  “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”  1 Timothy 5:8.

Rather, today’s Scripture teach us of the oneness that we have with fellow Christians and the spiritual care that we should give fellow Christians.

The context of this Scripture is that Jesus was teaching the crowds.  He was providing spiritual care for the crowds.

Although Jesus did provide physical bread through His miracles, most importantly, He provided spiritual bread.

Yes, we can and should give to the poor.  “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”  Galatians 6:10.  “For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them;  but you do not always have Me.”  Mark 14:7.

But, in comparison, notice how specific and directed and emphasized is the spiritual care that we should give to fellow Christians in the following Ephesians chapter 4.  We and fellow Christians are one body of Christ, and we should spiritually build up this body of Christ.

Other doctrine seem to be social missions in which there is little difference between the secular and the religious.

But, Reformed Doctrine sees the primary mission of the church to provide spiritual care for fellow Christians.

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;  one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.  …

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;  until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”  Ephesians 4:4-6 and 11-13.

Today’s devotion comes from Matthew 12:30-37.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+12&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad;  for the tree is known by its fruit.  You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good?  For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.  The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good;  and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.”  Matthew 12:33-35.

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Other doctrine depend on man’s goodness, man’s wisdom, man’s skill, and man’s alleged free-will to produce good fruit.

But, Reformed Doctrine depends on the work of God the Father in electing those who will become good trees, the work of God the Son in making those elect new creations in Christ (good trees), and the work of the God the Spirit to produce the good fruit of the Spirit.

This is summarized by “Irresistible Grace”, the “I” of “TULIP”, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

Article 11.  But when God accomplishes his good pleasure in the elect, or works in them true conversion, he not only causes the gospel to be externally preached to them, and powerfully illumines their minds by his Holy Spirit, that they may rightly understand and discern the things of the Spirit of God;  but by the efficacy of the same regenerating Spirit, pervades the inmost recesses of the man;  he opens the closed, and softens the hardened heart, and circumcises that which was uncircumcised, infuses new qualities into the will, which though heretofore dead, he quickens;  from being evil, disobedient and refractory, he renders it good, obedient, and pliable;  actuates and strengthens it, that like a good tree, it may bring forth the fruits of good actions.  THIRD AND FOURTH HEADS OF DOCTRINE Of the Corruption of Man, His Conversion to God, and the Manner Thereof of The Canons of Dordt.

Without God’s “Irresistible Grace”, man remains in his natural condition of “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”.  In other words, without God’s “Irresistible Grace”, man remains a bad tree incapable of producing good fruit.

Article 3.  Therefore all men are conceived in sin, and by nature children of wrath, incapable of saving good, prone to evil, dead in sin, and in bondage thereto, and without the regenerating grace of the Holy Spirit, they are neither able nor willing to return to God, to reform the depravity of their nature, nor to dispose themselves to reformation.  THIRD AND FOURTH HEADS OF DOCTRINE Of the Corruption of Man, His Conversion to God, and the Manner Thereof of The Canons of Dordt.

“So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.”  Matthew 7:17-18.

Today’s devotion comes from Matthew 12:22-29.

“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.  All the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?”  But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.”

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.  If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself;  how then will his kingdom stand?  If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out?  For this reason they will be your judges.  But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.  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.” Matthew 12:22-29.

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Other doctrine ignores God’s sovereignty, and its disciples are in constant fear of the devil and man.

But, Reformed Doctrine sees God’s sovereignty throughout Scripture, and its disciples are in peace that God is in total control.

“But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”  Verse 28.

Using Jesus’ explanation and analogy in verse 29, Jesus can cast out demons and otherwise destroy the works of the devil, because Jesus first bound the devil (dominated him) before He plundered his house (destroyed his works).

“… The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.”  1 John 3:8.

Q.  1.  What is thy only comfort in life and death?

A.  That I with body and soul,1 both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ;  who, with His precious blood, hath fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil;  and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head;  yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto Him.  Heidelberg Catechism.

“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand.  And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;  and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed;  after these things he must be released for a short time.

…

And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also;  and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”  Revelation 20:1-3 and 10.