Mini Commentary (10/31/09)

I have just finished reading Matthew 27 & 28, which marks the end of the book. I'd like to point out something that's been bothering me the past couple days. I believe that we (myself included) have become desensitized to Christ's death on the cross. Perhaps it's just that we've heard about it so many times that it doesn't affect us anymore... Or maybe it's because we reduce it to a story that is "safe for kids" in Sunday school. I think it's a mixture of many things.

Though, on the note of Sunday school, I can understand why we scale the story back a bit. The truth is so graphic in nature that some kids wouldn't be able to handle it. Just look to "The Passion of the Christ" movie for an example. It's rated "R" for a reason, right?

I think some people forget that Jesus went through more than just the crucifixion. Sure, crucifixion was the worst way to die in Jesus' day. It was saved for only the worst of criminals because it was considered too painful and torturous for most people. But before that, Jesus was scourged. By all accounts this wasn't just a normal whipping; the tool was most likely a cat-of-nine-tails, which had barbs of stone attached to the ends of the nine strips of leather. It was used to destroy a person, and could expose the insides of a person, yeah, it was that bad.

After THAT they removed his clothes (which after the scourging would be unbearable in its self) and dressed him up as a king. They made him wear a scarlet robe and gave him a reed staff. Then pressed a thorn crown on his head. I can't even imagine how painful that was. After they mocked him, they beat him with the 'staff'! What I wonder at this point is how he is even alive...

They put his cloths back on him and led him to Golgotha. A point I'd like to make here is that I don't see any mention (in Matthew at least) that Jesus actually carried his cross. Every movie I've seen has Him carrying it some ways, and then dropping it. After all that punishment, I wonder if he could even stand. Matthew cuts right to them picking out Simon to bear the cross in Christ's stead.

At last, they nailed him to the cross. Nails through the wrists, and through the Achilles tendons of his feet.

Let me get to my point here. The other day I read a book called "Martyrs Song" by Ted Dekker. It's a fairly short fictional story that lays out such a beautiful picture of Christ's sacrifice for us. I cried as I finished the book because of the impact it brings. I wondered to myself, if I cry over a fictional story written by a human, what does that say for me when I can just hear of Christ's death with a straight face? When a pastor preaches about Jesus' death, how can people hear the story and not break down in tears? If we get emotional (ok maybe I'm just weird) over a story or movie where the main character dies or something tragic happens, how much more should we be when we read about our own Savior and Lord, our Creator and Father, sacrificing Himself for our sakes? How can we thank Him for what he did and just go on our merry way?

I understand that He rose from the dead and is alive today, that's an awesome part of the story! But let's not let it dull out memories of his sacrifice! He suffered all this physical torture and mental torment because he loved us enough to go through it. That to me is just amazing, that our GOD would die for US! Not just die, but suffer. It seems that I'm going in circles here...Anyway, thanks for reading this much, I had to share what I was feeling.

Happy Reformation Day everyone! (look it up, it's pretty cool)

Mini Commentary (10/20/09)

I read a bunch today, but didn't have time to write up any more...


Matthew 21:19 "And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, 'Let no fruit grow on you ever again.' Immediately the fig tree withered away."

This may seem harsh, but Jesus is using this fig tree to give an example to the disciples. MacArthur says that this passage is talking about Israel’s fruitlessness. They rejected Christ, and therefore will be judged accordingly. However, I believe that this can also apply to every Christian. I believe that God will judge a Christian who lives out his life for himself. As Christians, we must produce fruit! It not only furthers the Gospel, but is proof that we are, in fact, Christian. What good is a "Fig" tree if it doesn't grow figs? Why is it even called a fig tree? BECAUSE IT GROWS FIGS. Why would we call ourselves Christians if we don't produce fruit?


Matthew 22:22, 33, 46 "Jesus' Teaching is Amazing"

In all three of these verses, the crowds were astonished by what Jesus was saying! In 22 He answered the Pharisees question about taxes in a way they hadn't planned on. The people "marveled" at His words. In 33 He silences the Sadducees by explaining a small part of Heaven to them. The people were "astonished" by his teaching. Finally in 46 He had turned the tables and questioned the Pharisees. They could not answer his brilliant question and "nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore." Christ boggled the minds of the greatest scholars of the day, yet how often do we find ourselves amazed or astonished at the Bible? How often do we just sit back and say "Wow, the Creator of Heaven and Earth has spoken here" and marveled at its truth and power?

Mini Commentary (10/12/09)

 Ok, it's been a little while, but I'm back in action! Here's what I focused on today:


Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

Even if it's only two or three! A couple doing devotions together, or some friends studying the Bible, Jesus says that He will be right there with them. How cool is that!?


Matthew 19:16-26 "Rich Young Ruler"

Jesus uses His knowledge of the man's heart to expose him. Sure, the man did not murder or steal, however, he could not get into heaven because his earthly riches were too dear to him! He didn't fully understand what Jesus was telling him. Jesus tells us to store up our treasure in Heaven, not on earth. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21). The rich young ruler's heart belonged to his wealth, not Jesus. Perhaps he was somewhat like Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8:9-25), both had bad motives. Simon wanted to be able to perform miracles, while the rich man here wanted to live forever (with his wealth). Now wait. Let me point out, NO, Jesus is not saying here that rich people can't go to heaven. There are some very strong Christians who have lots of money. The problem is the love of money and how money becomes an idol. Remember the commandment "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me"? That's exactly what Jesus is using here. Hehe, love the ending verse too: (Jesus talking) "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." SO COOL!!!


Matthew 20:1-16 "Parable of the Laborers"

Jesus makes a point here to talk about the last becoming the first, and the first becoming last. Now, I may be completely off here, but as Jesus talked about the landowner giving the laborers who only worked an hour the same wage as the laborers who worked a full day, I had to think about Christians receiving Christ at different times in their lives. Say someone receives the Lord at a very young age and serves his entire life for Christ. Now take a man who lived his entire life for the world, doing whatever he wanted for 70 years. On his deathbed, someone tells him the gospel (for the first time in his life) and he realizes what a fool he was. With his dying breaths, he proclaims Christ as the one true God to all who would come see him. Will one of these men be greater in the Kingdom of Heaven? Possibly. Will one have more crowns to lie down at Jesus' feet? Probably. However, all who come to Christ with a repentant heart will receive salvation! It doesn't matter what time in a person's life, it doesn't matter what happened before. The laborer's who were hired at the eleventh hour were standing around idle all day, and only worked for one hour. Yet they received the same payment. The parable stands as a testament to the grace and generosity of God.

Archive: Mini-Commentary (9/25/09)

Ok, so this is the first real good mini-commentary that I did. I'll post it now just so that I don't have to later :P


Matthew 12:31 "Therefore I say to you, every sin a blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men."

Yes, this is the preverbal "Unpardonable Sin". However, Jesus is talking to the Pharisees at this point, not to everyone in the crowd. The Pharisees' sin was claiming that Jesus had cast out demons by the power of Beelzebub and not believing in the Spirit! Jesus was saying that they would not be forgiven because they knew the truth, but refused to accept it and tried to lead others astray. This "Unpardonable Sin" was affective only at that time in history and has no bearing whatsoever today.


Matthew 12:38 "Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, ‘Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.’"

Proof positive that the scribes and Pharisees are dumb blinded. Jesus had just told them that they can never be forgiven for their "Unpardonable Sin", and the first thing they ask is to see a sign?! They weren't scared to death? They didn't even care about what He had just said, probably didn't even listen to Him.

Mini Commentary (9/26/09)

Alright, I've got some before today, I'll post those some other day. But I thought I'd just start with the verses that stood out today!

Matthew 15:32-39 "Jesus Feeds 4,000"

This is a repeat miracle of the first "Feeding of the 5,000". It's amazing to think that Jesus did this twice! Both times he blessed a small amount of food and fed thousands of people! Many don't even realise that Jesus performed this act twice and sometimes even blend the two events into one.

Matthew 17:21

"However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."

Jesus is finishing telling his disciples how faith can move mountains. It seems that some people read the proceeding verses to this one by themselves without finishing and reading v. 21. Sure, through faith in God, we can do great and mighty things, however, as Jesus points out, the "moving mountains" type require much praying and fasting. And why shouldn't they? If anyone who is a Christian with a little bit of faith could move mountains, what glory would that bring to God? But if someone prayed and fasted and petitioned God for something great to happen (Not just on a whim, but with a real reason), the glory would then go to God!

Matthew 17:25

"...And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes from their sons or from "strangers?"

In this section, people came and asked Simon Peter if Jesus would pay the temple tax. As Peter came back to the house where Jesus was, Jesus asked him concerning whether kings tax their own sons. Peter answered that kings never tax their own sons. What Jesus is hinting at here is that technically, he is God's Son, so technically, He shouldn't have to pay a "temple tax"! This is such a cool section, who would have thought of that but Jesus? Oh, and for those who are wondering, Jesus sent Peter to catch a fish (who would have a coin in it's mouth) and pay the tax anyway.

That's all for today!

My Mini Commentary

Hey everyone!

Recently I've started reading the New Testament, my goal is to simply to read it through (never done that before). As I've been reading, some verses stand out to me and I've been typing up my thoughts/explanations for them! Usually I'll have a verse per chapter or two :) I'll try to post them here when I can!

First and Welcome!

Hey everyone! This is my first ever blog, we'll see how this goes. I'll be using it to talk about things that happen to me as I live my life. Be warned: there WILL be ranting from me about political and religious topics here, yes "WILL". Not "Maybe", "will" :)

Have a nice day!