Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 25, 2009

Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him.

Today’s devotion was Matthew 8:1-4. 
 
“When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him.  And a leper came to Him and bowed down before Him, and said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”  Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.  And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”  Matthew 8:1-4.  (Emphasis added.).  
 

Here is a quote from Calvin’s Commentary on these verses:

“Having stretched out his hand, he touched   Under the Law, the touch of a leper was infectious; but as Christ possesses such purity as to repel all filth and defilement, he does not, by touching, either pollute himself with leprosy, or become a transgressor of the law.  When he took upon him our flesh, he did not only deign to touch as with his hand, but was united to one and the same body with ourselves, that we might be flesh of his flesh, (Genesis 2:23.)  Nor did he only stretch out his arm to us, but descended from heaven even to hell, and yet contracted no stain from it, but, retaining his innocence, took away all our impurities, and sprinkled us with his holiness. By his word alone he might have healed the leper; but he applied, at the same time, the touch of his hand, to express the feeling of compassion. Nor ought this to excite our wonder, since he chose to take upon him our flesh, that he might cleanse us from our sins. The stretching out of his hand was therefore an expression and token of infinite grace and goodness. What we indolently read, and coldly pass by, cannot be duly weighed without great astonishment. The Son of God was so far from disdaining to talk to a leper, that he even stretched out his hand to touch that uncleanness.”
 
Here is the link to the full Commentary by Calvin on these verses –

 
 
Compare Jesus with the Pharisees.
 
The Pharisees lay law upon law on the people: “And they tie up heavy loads, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.”  Matthew 23:4. 
 
In contrast, Jesus tied up the heavy loads of the law and laid them on His own shoulders and gave us His Spirit as a yoke: “in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit”.  Romans 8:4.
 
The Pharisees would not touch a leper and probably would drive away the lepers as outcasts. 
 
In contrast, here we see, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched the leper.
 
The Pharisees were not only concerned about physical contagion of leprosy.  They did not want to be spiritually polluted.
 
In contrast, Jesus “who knew no sin” became “sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”  2 Corinthians 5:21. 
 
How can we be unmoved with this astonishing display of love and lesson of love by Jesus?!
 
“And have mercy on some, who are doubting;  save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.  Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”  Jude 1:22-25.

Comments Off on Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him.

Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 24, 2009

A Good Foundation

Today’s devotion was Matthew 7:24-29. 
 
24  “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.
                                                  
25  “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.

26  “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.

27  “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell–and great was its fall.”

28  When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching;

29  for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.”  Matthew 7:24-29.  

 

Here are some quotes (not contiguous) from Calvin’s Commentary on these verses:

“Christ therefore compares a vain and empty profession of the Gospel to a beautiful, but not solid, building, which, however elevated, is exposed every moment to downfall, because it wants a foundation. Accordingly, Paul enjoins us to be well and thoroughly founded on Christ, and to have deep roots, (Colossians 2:7,) “that we may not be tossed and driven about by every wind of doctrine,”  (Ephesians 4:14)
 
The general meaning of the passage is, that true piety is not fully distinguished from its counterfeit, till it comes to the trial. For the temptations, by which we are tried, are like billows and storms, which easily overwhelm unsteady minds, whose lightness is not perceived during the season of prosperity.
  
Who heareth these sayings   The relative these denotes not one class of sayings, but the whole amount of doctrine. He means, that the Gospel, if it be not deeply rooted in the mind, is like a wall, which has been raised to a great height, but does not rest on any foundation. “That faith (he says) is true, which has its roots deep in the heart, and rests on an earnest and steady affection as its foundation, that it may not give way to temptations.” For such is the vanity of the human mind, that all build upon the sand, who do not dig so deep as to deny themselves.
 
The meaning therefore is, that, where he had given the people, on all sides, a taste of his doctrine, all were seized with astonishment, because a strange, indescribable, and unwonted majesty drew to him the minds of men. What is meant by his teaching them as having authority, and not as the scribes, I have already explained.”

Here is the link to the full Commentary by Calvin on these verses –

Click here: Commentary on Matthew, Mark, Luke – Volume 1 | Christian Classics Ethereal Library

 

Colossians 2:6-7 states:  “Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.” 

Immediately following Colossians 2:6-7 is a section that emphasizes the sufficiency of Christ.  “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.  For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;  and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.  When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.  When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.”  Colossians 2:8-15. 

And yet, this is not a passive and unfruitful faith.  Our faith is active and fruitful.  “Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.  For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.  Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;  for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.”  2 Peter 1:6-11. 

We may ask:  “Who is sufficient for these things?  Who can believe and do all these things such that they can have a good foundation?”  “And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness ” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”  2 Corinthians 12:9.  “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 1:6.  “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;  for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:12-13.  “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Hebrews 12:1-2.  

Comments Off on A Good Foundation

Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 22, 2009

Beware of false prophets

Today’s devotion was Matthew 7:15-20. 
 
15  “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
                                                   
16  “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?

17  “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.

18  “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.

19  “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

20  “So then, you will know them by their fruits.”  Matthew 7:15-20.  

 

Here are some quotes (not contiguous) from Calvin’s Commentary on these verses:

“It was a general expectation among the Jews that, under the reign of Christ, their condition would be delightful, and free from all contest or uneasiness. He therefore warns his disciples that, if they desire to persevere, they must prepare themselves to avoid the snares of Satan. It is the will of the Lord, (as has been already said,) that his Church shall be engaged in uninterrupted war in this world. That we may continue to be his disciples to the end, it is not enough that we are merely submissive, and allow ourselves to be governed by his Word.  Our faith, which is constantly attacked by Satan, must be prepared to resist.

(P.S.  Professor Hanko – This paragraph above reminds me very much of what you said to me before.  )

It is of the greatest consequence, undoubtedly, that we should suffer ourselves to be directed by good and faithful ministers of Christ.

“The sheep hear the voice of the shepherd; and a stranger they do not follow, but flee from him,” (John 10:3, 5).  Hence too we infer, that there is no reason why believers should be discouraged or alarmed, when wolves creep into the fold of Christ, when false prophets endeavor to corrupt the purity of the faith by false doctrines. They ought rather to be aroused to keep watch: for it is not without reason that Christ enjoins them to be on their guard. Provided that we are not led astray through our own sluggishness, we shall be able to avoid every kind of snares; and, indeed, without this confidence, we would not have the courage necessary for being on our guard. Now that we know that the Lord will not fail to perform his promises, whatever may be the attacks of Satan, let us go boldly to the Lord, asking from him the Spirit of wisdom, by whose influences he not only seals on our hearts the belief of his truth, but exposes the tricks and impositions of Satan, that we may not be deceived by them.

From their fruits you shall know them.  Had not this mark of distinction been added, we might have called in question the authority of all teachers without exception. If there is a mortal danger to be dreaded in teachers, and if we see no way of avoiding it, we shall be under the necessity of holding them all suspected: and there will be no better or shorter method than to keep our ears shut against them all. We see that ungodly men, to screen themselves when rejecting every kind of doctrine, hold out this danger, and that weak and ill-informed persons remain in a state of perplexity. That our reverence for the Gospel, and for its faithful ministers and teachers, may not be diminished, Christ enjoins us to form our opinion of the false prophets from their fruits.

Under the fruits the manner of teaching is itself included, and indeed holds the chief place: for Christ proves that he was sent by God from this consideration, that “he seeketh not his own glory, but the glory of the Father who sent him,” (John 7:18.)

Do men gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?  By these proverbs, which were then in common use and universally received, Christ confirms his statement, that no man can be deceived by false prophets, unless he is wilfully blind: for the fruits as plainly discover upright servants of God, and unfaithful workmen, as the fruits point out the nature of the tree.”

Here is the link to the full Commentary by Calvin on these verses –

Comments Off on Beware of false prophets

Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 21, 2009

“Enter through the narrow gate”.

Today’s devotion was Matthew 7:13-14. 
 
13  “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.

14  “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”  Matthew 7:13-14. 

 

Arminianism is like the broad way leading to destruction, and Calvinism is like the narrow way that leads to life. 

In TULIP – The Five Points of Calvinism in the Light of Scripture by Duane Edward Smith, 2nd Edition, Baker Books, 2003, pages 13-14, it is stated:  “… in 1618, a National Synod of the Church was convened in Dort to examine the teachings of Arminius in the light of Scripture. After 154 earnest sessions, which lasted seven months the Five Points of Arminianism were found contrary to Scripture and declared heretical (heresy).”

Here is a briefest summary and comparison of the doctrines, mostly comparing the third point (“Universal Atonement” in Arminianism compared to “Limited Atonement” in Calvinism). But, the reader should study all Five Points of Calvinism and compare it to the Five Points of Arminianism in light of Scripture.In comparison to the wide bridge of Arminianism, Calvinism is the narrow bridge because salvation is only available for the Elect, but unlike the Arminian bridge which only goes half-way across the stream, Calvinism’s narrow bridge completely crosses the stream because God handles all the points of salvation. Because Man is so totally depraved (first point of Calvinism) that he is “dead” in sin, hostile to God, cannot please God, cannot understand the things of God, and is in bondage to sin and Satan, God must make His elect “born again” or “alive” or “draw” them to Christ, or else no one would believe and be saved. God does everything for the elect, including giving them faith, sanctifying them, and preserving them to salvation, so that all the Elect will be saved. See the golden chain of salvation in Romans 8: 29-30.

So, how is Arminianism like the broad way?  In regards to this third point, Arminianism believes that God loves everyone, Christ died for everyone, and God wants to save everyone, and that the only difference between the unsaved and saved is that the saved take what I will call “man’s free will leap of faith” from that wide bridge of universal atonement (which wide bridge illustrates that Christ died for everyone). Arminians believe that everyone has an equal opportunity to be saved, but that Christ’s death saved no one.  Only those who take “the free will leap of faith” (to the other shore as the illustration) will be saved. Thus, the bridge is wide, but it only goes halfway across the stream.

So, how is Calvinism like the narrow way?  In contrast to Arminianism, Calvinism believes that God only loves His elect and only wants to save them. Christ died only for the elect, and God does everything necessary for the salvation of His elect.  In comparison to the wide bridge of Arminianism, Calvinism is the narrow bridge because salvation is only available for the Elect, but unlike the Arminian bridge which only goes half-way across the stream, Calvinism’s narrow bridge completely crosses the stream because God handles all the points of salvation. Because Man is so totally depraved (first point of Calvinism) that he is “dead” in sin, hostile to God, cannot please God, cannot understand the things of God, and is in bondage to sin and Satan, God must make His elect “born again” or “alive” or “draw” them to Christ, or else no one would believe and be saved. God does everything for the elect, including giving them faith, sanctifying them, and preserving them to salvation, so that all the Elect will be saved. See the golden chain of salvation in Romans 8: 29-30.

 

As our Scripture for today, Jesus tells us in Matthew 7: 12: “Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.” This Scripture should cause us to pause and consider whether or not Arminian’s doctrine in universal atonement which alleges a broad free will way of salvation open to everyone and is based on “man’s free will man’s leap of faith” may be the broad way that leads to destruction.

Arminianism appears to rest on “the wisdom of man” while Calvinism appears to rest on “the power of God”? Is it true faith to believe that salvation is dependent on man’s free will choice – “the wisdom of man”? Certainly, Arminianism is more attractive and wise and just to our natural human mind to believe that everyone has an equal opportunity to be saved and to believe in free will and to believe in sufficient goodness in man and to believe that salvation is ultimately controlled by us as to whether or not we will choose Christ and be saved. However, our faith should not rest on the wisdom of men (Arminianism) but on power of God (Calvinism). See I Corinthians 2: 5.

Do we trust the broad way of man’s free will?  Or, do we trust the narrow way of God’s election?  “Enter through the narrow gate”.

Comments Off on “Enter through the narrow gate”.

Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 20, 2009

Ask, seek, knock: Trust God, your Father, to give you good things

Today’s devotion was Matthew 7:7-11. 
 
7  “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
                                           
8  “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
                                                      

9  “Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?

10  “Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?

11  “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!”  Matthew 7:7-11.  

 

Here are some quotes (not contiguous) from Calvin on his Commentary on these verses.

“Ask, and it shall be given you.  It is an exhortation to prayer: and as in this exercise of religion, which ought to be our first concern, we are so careless and sluggish, Christ presses the same thing upon us under three forms of expression. There is no superfluity of language, when he says, Ask, seek, knock: but lest the simple doctrine should be unimpressive, he perseveres in order to rouse us from our inactivity.

He uses the metaphor seek, because we think, that those things which our wants and necessities require are far distant from us — and knock, because our carnal senses imagine, that those things which are not immediately at hand are shut up.

Though he gives all things freely to us, yet, in order to exercise our faith, he commands us to pray, that he may grant to our requests those blessings which flow from his undeserved goodness.

Is there any man among you?  It is a comparison from the less to the greater. First, our Lord contrasts the malice of men with the boundless goodness of God.  Self-love (φιλαυτία) renders us malicious: for every man is too much devoted to himself, and neglects and disregards others.  But this vice yields to the stronger feelings of a father’s love, so that men forget themselves, and give to their children with overflowing liberality. Whence comes this, but because God, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, (Ephesians 3:15,) drops into their hearts a portion of his goodness?  But if the little drops produce such an amount of beneficence, what ought we to expect from the inexhaustible ocean? Would God, who thus opens the hearts of men, shut his own?  Let us also remember that passage of Isaiah, “Though a mother forget her children,” (Isaiah 49:15,) yet the Lord will be like himself, and will always show himself to be a Father.

Your Father will give good things.  This is expressly mentioned by Christ, that believers may not give way to foolish and improper desires in prayer. We know how great influence, in this respect, is exerted by the excesses and presumption of our flesh.

Christ therefore enjoins us to submit our desires to the will of God, that he may give us nothing more than he knows to be advantageous. We must not think that he takes no notice of us, when he does not answer our wishes: for he has a right to distinguish what we actually need. All our affections being blind, the rule of prayer must be sought from the word of God: for we are not competent judges of so weighty a matter. He who desires to approach God with the conviction that he will be heard, must learn to restrain his heart from asking any thing that is not agreeable to his will.  “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”  (James 4:3)

Here is the link to the full commentary on these verses –

 
 
Although Commentaries can be helpful, we must be careful to not let the Commentary overwhelm the simple and clear commands in Scripture.  Here, I think there is a particular danger that we can be so careful about what we ask (so that we do not “give way to foolish and improper desires in prayer”) that we omit to “ask, seek, knock” as we are commanded here.  
 
Let us consider the analogy given in this Scripture.  Children do often ask for foolish and improper things.  And yet, the father is not angered nor upset;  the father will only give what is good to his children. 
 
Although Scripture does warn us later (“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”  (James 4:3) ), here, the Scripture does not so warn us.  I think the reason for this “omission” here is that it is so important that we “Ask, seek, knock:  Trust God, your Father, to give you good things” that we need to consider it first alone and digest it first alone, before we go on to other thoughts.  The specific context of James 4:3 is that James was addressing the source of quarrels and conflicts.  Here, Jesus was speaking more generally. 
 
Therefore, let us generally, be simple and direct, like children, in asking for good things.  Let us ask in simple “child-like faith”, rather than worrying too much about whether or not our requests are proper.  Let us remember that the very essence of faith includes the element that God is a rewarder.  “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”  Hebrews 11:6.
 
When we find ourselves in the specific context of quarrels and conflicts, we can then be more careful as to what we ask. 
 
In any event, we also need to trust God that He will reveal any imperfect attitude and correct it, including improper prayer requests.  “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;  however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.”  Philippians 3:14-16.

Comments Off on Ask, seek, knock: Trust God, your Father, to give you good things

Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 19, 2009

“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine”

Today’s devotion was Matthew 7:6:  “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” 
 
 
It is interesting that Calvin devotes a whole Commentary on this one verse.  Here is a quote of the entire Commentary except the first two sentences.
 
“Christ reminds the Apostles, and, through them, all the teachers of the Gospel, to reserve the treasure of heavenly wisdom for the children of God alone, and not to expose it to unworthy and profane despisers of his word.

But here a question arises: for he afterwards commanded to preach the Gospel to every creature, and Paul says, that the preaching of it is a deadly savor to wicked men, and nothing is more certain than that it is every day held out to unbelievers, by the command of God, for a testimony, that they may be rendered the more inexcusable. I reply: As the ministers of the Gospel, and those who are called to the office of teaching, cannot distinguish between the children of God and swine, it is their duty to present the doctrine of salvation indiscriminately to all. Though many may appear to them, at first, to be hardened and unyielding, yet charity forbids that such persons should be immediately pronounced to be desperate. It ought to be understood, that dogs and swine are names given not to every kind of debauched men, or to those who are destitute of the fear of God and of true godliness, but to those who, by clear evidences, have manifested a hardened contempt of God, so that their disease appears to be incurable. In another passage, Christ places the dogs in contrast with the elect people of God and the household of faith, It is not proper to take the children’s bread, and give it to dogs, (Matthew 15:27.) But by dogs and swine he means here those who are so thoroughly imbued with a wicked contempt of God, that they refuse to accept any remedy.

Hence it is evident, how grievously the words of Christ are tortured by those who think that he limits the doctrine of the Gospel to those only who are teachable and well-prepared. For what will be the consequence, if nobody is invited by pious teachers, until by his obedience he has anticipated the grace of God? On the contrary, we are all by nature unholy, and prone to rebellion. The remedy of salvation must be refused to none, till they have rejected it so basely when offered to them, as to make it evident that they are reprobate and self-condemned, (αὐτοκατάκριτοι,) as Paul says of heretics, (Titus 3:11.)

There are two reasons, why Christ forbade that the Gospel should be offered to lost despisers. It is an open profanation of the mysteries of God to expose them to the taunts of wicked men. Another reason is, that Christ intended to comfort his disciples, that they might not cease to bestow their labors on the elect of God in teaching the Gospel, though they saw it wantonly rejected by wicked and ungodly men. His meaning is lest this inestimable treasure should be held in little estimation, swine and dogs must not be permitted to approach it. There are two designations which Christ bestows on the doctrine of salvation: he calls it holy, and compares it to pearls. Hence we learn how highly we ought to esteem this doctrine.

Lest these trample them under their feet Christ appears to distinguish between the swine and the dogs: attributing brutal stupidity to the swine, and rage to the dogs And certainly, experience shows, that there are two such classes of despisers of God. Whatever is taught in Scripture, for instance, about the corrupt nature of man, free justification, and eternal election, is turned by many into an encouragement to sloth and to carnal indulgence. Such persons are fitly and justly pronounced to be swine Others, again, tear the pure doctrine, and its ministers, with sacrilegious reproaches, as if they threw away all desire to do well, all fear of God, and all care for their salvation. Although he employs both names to describe the incurable opponents of the Word of God, yet, by a twofold comparison, he points out briefly in what respect the one differs from the other.”

Although I quoted all but the first two sentences, here is the link to the full Commentary on Matthew 7:6 by Calvin, primarily if you want to read it in its found format –
 
 
 
Notice how Calvin emphasizes the following elements of the Gospel:  “the corrupt nature of man, free justification, and eternal election”.   
  
Notice how Calvin presents our “duty to present the doctrine of salvation indiscriminately to all”.   (“how grievously the words of Christ are tortured by those who think that he limits the doctrine of the Gospel to those only who are teachable and well-prepared.”)  This refutes so-called “Hyper-Calvinism”. 
  
But, after having done so, we notice “they have rejected it so basely when offered to them, as to make it evident that they are reprobate and self-condemned, (αὐτοκατάκριτοι,) as Paul says of heretics”, then we should no longer offer it to them nor any longer subject the Gospel to “taunts” and “open profanation”.   

Comments Off on “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine”

Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 18, 2009

“your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things”

Today’s devotion was Matthew 6:25-34.
 
25  “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
                                                   
26  “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?
                                                           

27  “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?

28  “And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin,

29  yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.

30  “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!

31  “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’

32  “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

33  “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34  “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.”  Matthew 6:25-34. 

 

Calvin has so much to say that he divides this Scripture passage into two sections in which he has comments about each section of Scripture.  I will only include two quotes, but I will also give you the link to read more if you want.

“Believers ought to rely on God’s fatherly care, to expect that he will bestow upon them whatever they feel to be necessary, and not to torment themselves by unnecessary anxiety.   … Your heavenly Father knoweth that you have need of those things: that is, “All those persons who are so anxious about food, give no more honor, than unbelievers do, to the fatherly goodness and secret providence of God.”

Here is the link to the first section of Calvin’s comments on this Scripture (and you need only to click on “Next” at the end of the first section to get to the “next” section – Click here: Commentary on Matthew, Mark, Luke – Volume 1 | Christian Classics Ethereal Library

 

We seem to always know that God is Almighty and can do anything.  We seem to always know that we do have certain needs.  But, we seem to need a reminder that God is our “Heavenly Father” Who knows that we need all things and Who wants to provide all that we need and Who does provide all that we need.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  “Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?  “Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?  “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!”  Matthew 7:7-11. 

Moreover, if God will do “the greater” for us, will not He also do “the lesser” for us?  In other words, if God will provide eternal life for us with all the joys and provisions of heaven, including lavish streets of gold, will He not provide food, clothing and other things that we now need on earth?  “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”  Romans 8:32. 

 

May our faith honor “the fatherly goodness and secret providence of God”.  May our faith be used by God to draw others to Himself. 

                                                            

“so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”  1 Peter 1:7

Comments Off on “your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things”

Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 18, 2009

Judge Not: Not Absolute Prohibition, but Cure to Curiousity Sifting too Closely

Today’s devotion was Matthew 7:1-5.
 
1  “Do not judge so that you will not be judged.2  “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.

3  “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?

4  “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye?

5  “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”  Matthew 7:1-5. 

 

Here are some quotes from Calvin’s Commentary (not contiguous) on these verses:

“Matthew 7:1. Judge not.   These words of Christ do not contain an absolute prohibition from judging, but are intended to cure a disease, which appears to be natural to us all.  We see how all flatter themselves, and every man passes a severe censure on others. This vice is attended by some strange enjoyment: for there is hardly any person who is not tickled with the desire of inquiring into other people’s faults.

This depraved eagerness for biting, censuring, and slandering, is restrained by Christ, when he says, Judge not.  It is not necessary that believers should become blind, and perceive nothing, but only that they should refrain from an undue eagerness to judge:  for otherwise the proper bounds of rigor will be exceeded by every man who desires to pass sentence on his brethren. 

To judge, therefore, means here, to be influenced by curiosity in inquiring into the actions of others. This disease, in the first place, draws continually along with it the injustice of condemning any trivial fault, as if it had been a very heinous crime; and next breaks out into the insolent presumption of looking disdainfully at every action, and passing an unfavourable judgment on it, even when it might be viewed in a good light.

That you may not be judged.  He denounces a punishment against those severe judges, who take so much delight in sifting the faults of others. They will not be treated by others with greater kindness, but will experience, in their turn, the same severity which they had exercised towards others.

Luke 6:37, 38.  Forgive, and it shall be forgiven to you. Give, and it shall be given to you. This promise, which is added by Luke, means, that the Lord will cause him, who is indulgent, kind, and just to his brethren, to experience the same gentleness from others, and to be treated by them in a generous and friendly manner. 

Matthew 7:3.  And why seest thou the straw?  He expressly touches upon a fault, which is usually found in hypocrites. While they are too quick-sighted in discerning the faults of others, and employ not only severe, but intentionally exaggerated, language in describing them, they throw their own sins behind their back, or are so ingenious in finding apologies for them, that they wish to be held excusable even in very gross offenses. Christ therefore reproves both evils: the excessive sagacity, which arises from a defect of charity, when we sift too closely the faults of brethren, and the indulgence by which we defend and cherish our own sins.”

Here is the link to the full Calvin Commentary on Matthew 7:1-5 – Click here: Commentary on Matthew, Mark, Luke – Volume 1 | Christian Classics Ethereal Library

Comments Off on Judge Not: Not Absolute Prohibition, but Cure to Curiousity Sifting too Closely

Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 12, 2009

“Turning the other cheek” to avoid the blow but to also be patient

Today’s devotion was Matthew 5:38-42.
 
38  “You have heard that it was said, ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.’  

39  “But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

40  “If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.

41  “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.

42  “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.”  Matthew 5:38-42. 

  

Here is Calvin’s Commentary – Click here: Commentary on Matthew, Mark, Luke – Volume 1 | Christian Classics Ethereal Library

Here are some quotes from Calvin’s Commentary in italic interspersed with my comments in regular font.  “God had enjoined, by his law, (Leviticus 24:20,) that judges and magistrates should punish those who had done injuries, by making them endure as much as they had inflicted.’  

But some wrongly thought the law entitled them to also take private revenge.  “They thought that they did no wrong, provided they were not the first to make the attack, but only, when injured, returned like for like.”

“Christ informs them, on the contrary, that, though judges were entrusted with the defense of the community, and were invested with authority to restrain the wicked and repress their violence, yet it is the duty of every man to bear patiently the injuries which he receives.”  (Emphasis added.)

“There are two ways of resisting: the one, by warding off injuries through inoffensive conduct; the other, by retaliation.  Though Christ does not permit his people to repel violence by violence, yet he does not forbid them to endeavor to avoid an unjust attack. … He afterwards extends the law of patience so far, that we are not only to bear patiently the injuries we have received, but to prepare for bearing fresh injuries. The amount of the whole admonition is, that believers should learn to forget the wrongs that have been done them, — that they should not, when injured, break out into hatred or ill-will, or wish to commit an injury on their part, — but that, the more the obstinacy and rage of wicked men was excited and inflamed, they should be the more fully disposed to exercise patience.”
 
“Christ now glances at another kind of annoyance, and that is, when wicked men torment us with law-suits. He commands us, even on such an occasion, to be so patient and submissive that, when our coat has been taken away, we shall be prepared to give up our cloak also. None but a fool will stand upon the words, so as to maintain, that we must yield to our opponents what they demand, before coming into a court of law: for such compliance would more strongly inflame the minds of wicked men to robbery and extortion; and we know, that nothing was farther from the design of Christ.  … In short, when Christians meet with one who endeavors to wrench from them a part of their property, they ought to be prepared to lose the whole.  Hence we conclude, that Christians are not entirely prohibited from engaging in law-suits, provided they have a just defense to offer. Though they do not surrender their goods as a prey, yet they do not depart from this doctrine of Christ, which exhorts us to bear patiently “the spoiling of our goods,” (Hebrews 10:34.)”
 
“We are only enjoined to exercise patience, that we may not be unduly distressed by the loss of our property, but calmly wait, till the Lord himself shall call the robbers to account.”
 
In summary, whether it be violent attacks or unjust lawsuits, we can ward them off through inoffensive conduct or just defenses.  But, we must be fully disposed to exercise patience.  We may not be unduly distressed by injuries or loss of property, realizing the following two principles: 
First, Luke 12:15 :  “Then He said to them, ” Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”  
Second, Romans 12:19 : “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ” VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord.”

Comments Off on “Turning the other cheek” to avoid the blow but to also be patient

Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 12, 2009

Swearing

Today’s devotion was Matthew 5:33-37. 
 
33  “Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.’
                                              
34  “But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,
                                                
35  or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING.

36  “Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.

37  “But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil.”  Matthew 5:33-37. 

This is a puzzling and specific Scripture passage on a minor point.  I did not have any ideas on how to comment on it prior to my research.  I was tempted to not write on it.  But, I decided to read what Calvin had to say concerning it.  Here is the link to it –
 
What I thought was most interesting were the following quotes:
 
“For God condemned in the law not only acts of perjury, but lightness in swearing, which lessens the reverence for his name. The man who perjures himself is not the only person who takes the name of God in vain, (Exodus 20:7.) He does so, who idly and contemptuously pronounces the name of God on trivial occasions, or in ordinary conversation. While the law condemns every kind of profanation of the name of God the Jews imagined, that the guilt of it lay entirely in acts of perjury. Christ reproves this gross error of supposing that they might, without danger, abuse the name of God, provided they did not swear falsely.”
  
“we ought to refrain from allowing ourselves the liberty of unnecessary swearing: for, when there are just reasons to demand it, the law not only permits, but expressly commands us to swear. Christ, therefore, meant nothing more than this, that all oaths are unlawful, which in any way abuse and profane the sacred name of God, for which they ought to have had the effect of producing a deeper reverence.”
 
“37. But your speech shall be, Yes, yes; No, no.  
Christ now prescribes, in the second place, a remedy; which is, that men act towards each other sincerely and honestly: for then simplicity of speech will have quite as much weight as an oath has among those who are not sincere. Now, this is certainly the best way of correcting faults, to point out the sources from which they spring. Whence comes the great propensity to swearing, but from the great falsehood, the numerous impositions, the unsteady and light conduct, so that hardly any thing is believed?  … “Yes, yes; No, no.” This repetition means, that we ought to abide by our words, so that all may be convinced of our honesty.“
 
 
In summary, not only is perjury condemned by the Law, the Law also condemns the “lightness in swearing” by which we take God’s name in vain.  We should act towards each other sincerely and honestly so that all may be convinced of our honesty, without the perceived need and propensity to swear.  Swearing should be reserved for those very rare and important occasions that the law requires it, such as in a court of law.    

Comments Off on Swearing

Posted in Uncategorized

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »

Categories