Word of God

But he replied and said, "It is written, 'It is not by bread alone that a man lives, except by every word that issues from the mouth of God

The Gospel According to Matthew 4:4

The Book of Psalm 2:1-3

All commentary and study notes are prefaced/edited by Dr. Riktor Von Zhades

1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people murmur in vain. 2 The kings of the earth band themselves, and the Princes are assembled together against the Lord, and against his Christ. 3 Let us break their bands, and cast their cords from us.

Brethren:

Earlier this morning this editor posted from the Book of Hosea chapter 4 vss 1-2, and 6. That dovetails with the post that is found above. Indeed friends, the question is why do they do such things? Partly, it is believed that the ruler of this age, that being Satan entices them with such pleasures of carnality, that they cannot help but desire to be their own little gods. Who is ruler over me? Who shall control me? None can do so for I am my own man, my thoughts are my thoughts and none can stop me. (Read Judges 17:6; Psalm 10:3; Proverbs 21:2; 16:2; Isaiah 5:21; 56:11). However as we shall see in the next study, that the Lord our God dismisses their claims, and rebukes them in His wrath. - Dr. RVZ

“David didn’t expect a reply when he asked this question, because there really is no reply. It was an expression of astonishment: “When you consider all that the Lord has done for the nations, how can they rebel against Him!” God had provided for their basic needs (Acts 14:15-17), guided them, kept them alive, and sent a Savior to bring forgiveness and eternal life (Read Acts 17:24-31; Daniel 4:32). Yet, from the Tower of Babel (Read Genesis 11:4) to the crucifixion of Christ (Read Acts 4:21-31) to the battle of Armageddon (Rev. 19:11ff.), the Bible records humanity’s foolish and futile rebellions against the will of the Creator. The kings and minor rulers form a conspiracy to break the bonds that the Lord has established for their own good. The picture is that of a stubborn and raging animal trying to break the cords that bind the yoke to its body (Jer. 5:5; 27:But the attempt is futile (vain) because the only true freedom comes from submitting to God and doing His will. Freedom without authority is anarchy, and anarchy destroys. I once saw a bit of graffiti that said, “All authority destroys creativity.” What folly! Authority is what releases and develops creativity, whether it’s a musician, an athlete, or a surgeon. Apart from submitting to the authority of truth and law, there can be no true creativity. The British theologian P. T. Forsythe wrote, ‘The first duty of every soul is to find not its freedom but its Master.’

But the nations’ rebellion isn’t against “God” in some abstract way; they defy the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The one thing the nations can agree on is “We will not have this man to reign over us” (Luke 19:14). The word messiah comes from the Hebrew word meaning “to anoint”; the Greek equivalent is “Christ.” In the Old Testament, kings were anointed (Read 1 Samuel 10:1; 2 Kings 11:12), as were prophets and priests (Read Exodus 28:41). Jesus said that the world hated Him and would also hate those who followed Him (Read John 7:7, 18-19, 24-25; Matthew 24:9; Luke 21:17). The phrase “set themselves” means “get ready for war.” The consequences of this defiance against the Lord and His Christ are described in Romans 1:18, and it isn’t a pretty picture. - Pastor Warren Wiersbe - American Pastor and Theologian

Word of God

But he replied and said, "It is written, 'It is not by bread alone that a man lives, except by every word that issues from the mouth of God

The Gospel According to Matthew 4:4

The Book of Psalm 1:6

All commentary and study notes are prefaced/edited by Dr. Riktor Von Zhades

For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous, and the way of the wicked shall perish.

Brethren:

In continuing the the line of reasoning from the previous two verses we see the end results of the divergent paths of both types of men. In the former we see how God acknowledges those that walk in His ways and tread upon the paths of righteousness. In the latter example, we find that the ungodly are not so fortunate. It has been put forth, in these studies, the proposition that there are two paths that lead to the seat of judgment before the Living God. One is His way, and the other the ways of mankind. One wherein we are guided and instructed by the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, and the other guided by the carnal knowledge of men. The path one chooses will come before God on the final day; so it is asked, which road will you take in this life? - Dr. RVZ

“God must have all the glory of the prosperity and happiness of the righteous. They are blessed because the Lord knows their way; he chose them into it, inclined them to choose it, leads and guides them in it, and orders all their steps. Sinners must bear all the blame of their own destruction. Therefore the ungodly perish, because the very way in which they have chosen and resolved to walk leads directly to destruction; it naturally tends towards ruin and therefore must necessarily end in it. Or we may take it thus, The Lord approves and is well pleased with the way of the righteous, and therefore, under the influence of his gracious smiles, it shall prosper and end well; but he is angry at the way of the wicked, all they do is offensive to him, and therefore it shall perish, and they in it. It is certain that every man’s judgment proceeds from the Lord, and it is well or ill with us, and is likely to be so to all eternity, accordingly as we are or are not accepted of God. Let this support the drooping spirits of the righteous, that the Lord knows their way, knows their hearts (Read Jeremiah 12:3), knows their secret devotions (Read Matthew 6:6), knows their character, how much soever it is blackened and blemished by the reproaches of men, and will shortly make them and their way manifest before the world, to their immortal joy and honour. Let this cast a damp upon the security and jollity of sinners, that their way, though pleasant now, will perish at last.

[Henceforth], let us possess ourselves with a holy dread of the wicked man’s portion, and deprecate it with a firm and lively expectation of the judgment to come, and stir up ourselves to prepare for it, and with a holy care to approve ourselves to God in every thing, entreating his favour with our whole hearts.” Matthew Henry 17^th Century Theologian

Word of God

But he replied and said, "It is written, 'It is not by bread alone that a man lives, except by every word that issues from the mouth of God

The Gospel According to Matthew 4:4

The Book of Psalm 1:3-4

All commentary and study notes are prefaced/edited by Dr. Riktor Von Zhades

3 For he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of waters, that will bring forth her fruits in due season: whose leaf shall not fade: so whatsoever he shall do, shall prosper. 4 The wicked are not so, but as the chaff, which the wind driveth away.

Brethren:
 

Here above, the Psalmist illustrates the difference between the godly and the ungodly. The difference between being blessed and being cursed. Those that follow God’s paths are going to find those paths blessed with good things. Will there be tribulations? Yes of course, but the Lord your God will see you through each and every one. Yet, the ungodly will struggle in many different ways. He will be tossed to and fro in such a manner that can be likened to a dandelion, easy disturbed by the slightest of breezes. - Dr. RVZ

“Verse Three

[As verses one and two] describe the man who is blessed, this points at his blessedness, and shows and proves him to be an happy man; for he is comparable to a "tree": not to a dry tree, or a tree without fruit, or whose fruit is withered, but to a fruitful tree, a green and flourishing one; green olive tree, or a palm tree, or a cedar in Lebanon; to which David compares himself and the righteous. Moreover, the happy man before described is like a tree that is situated "by the rivers of water", or "divisions" and rivulets of water; which running about the plants, make them very fruitful and flourishing; see (Read Ezekiel 31:4 ) ; and which may intend the river of the love of God, and the streams of it, the discoveries and applications of it to regenerate persons; and also the fulness of grace in Christ, who is the fountain of gardens, the well of living waters and streams from Lebanon, to revive, refresh, supply, and comfort his people.

And so appears to be a tree of righteousness, filled with the fruits of righteousness, the graces of the Spirit, and good works; which are brought forth by him under the influence of grace, as he has opportunity, and according to the measure of grace bestowed. His leaf also shall not wither; neither tree, nor fruit, nor leaf shall wither, but shall be always green; which is expressive of the saints' perseverance: the reasons of which are, they are ingrafted in Christ the true vine, and abide in him, from whom they have their sap, nourishment, and fruit, ( Read John 15:1-2) ; they are rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith of him; and so they hold fast the profession of it without wavering.

And whatsoever he doth shall prosper meaning not so much in things temporal, of which Arama interprets it, for in these the good man does not always succeed, but in things spiritual: whatever he does in faith, from love, to the glory of God, and in the name of Christ, prospers; yea, those things in which he is concerned, that are adverse, and seem for the present to be against him, in the issue work for good to him: in short, such a man is blessed with grace here, and glory hereafter; and therefore must needs be an happy man.

Verse Four

They are not as the good man is; their manner and course of life are different; they walk in the counsel of ungodly men, like themselves, and take counsel against the Lord, his Anointed, and his people: they stand in the way of sinners, and steer their conversation according to the course of the world, and sit in the seat of the scornful; laugh at divine revelation, lampoon the Scriptures, deride good men, make a jest of religion and a future state: they have no delight in the law of the Lord, they cast it away from them, and despise it; and are so far from a constant meditation on it, that they never read it, nor so much as look into it, nor is it ever in their thoughts. (Read 10:4, 11, 14; Psalm 94:7)

They have nothing in them solid and substantial; they are destitute of all that is good; are vain and empty; without the knowledge of God and Christ; without faith in Christ and love to him; and are sensual, not having the Spirit, his graces and fruits: they are like chaff for lightness, vain in their imaginations, light in their principles, frothy in their words, and unstable in all their ways: they are never long in any position, unsettled, disquieted, and tossed to and fro; and there is no peace unto them. Driven and carried about with every wind of doctrine, with divers and strange doctrines, and entertain every light and airy notion; and are easily drawn aside and carried away by the force of their own lusts, and with every temptation of Satan, who works effectually in them”

John Gill

Word of God

But he replied and said, "It is written, 'It is not by bread alone that a man lives, except by every word that issues from the mouth of God

The Gospel According to Matthew 4:4

The Book of Psalm 1:2

All commentary and study notes are prefaced/edited by Dr. Riktor Von Zhades

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Brethren:

In the Aramaic translation (aka, the Peshetta) the above is translated; “Instead his pleasure is in the law of the Lord, and in his Torah he meditates day and night.” Likewise in the Tanach(Ed. 1917) it reads; “Rather the teaching of the Lord is his delight and he studies it day and night” In the latter translation, the word studies is also meant, according to the ancient Hebrew, “to utter”.

However in all the above translations, there is nothing lost on the meanings for we are instructed by God, via the Psalmist David, to thing upon the things that are handed down to us from God. That is to say His commands and His wisdom. Consider also the scriptures of the Book of Deuteronomy and the Book of Joshua, wherein we are instructed to keep the words of our Creator within our hearts and meditate upon them day and night. (Read Deuteronomy 6:6; Joshua 1:8)

Friends, let us take heed, and maintain our thoughts on the words of the scriptures daily, whenever and whereever possible. When we arise from our sleep, let us read and study, in order that our thoughts be to Him that made us, and before we return to our slumbers later in the evening, let us read again, so that we might have the peace of His words to accompany us during our nocturnal rest. Dr. RVZ

“Delighting in the Word and meditating on the Word must go together (Read Psalm 119:15-16, 23-24, 47-48, 77-78), for whatever we enjoy, we think about and pursue. If we speak to the Lord about the Word, the Word will speak to us about the Lord. This is what is meant by “abiding in the Word” (Read 1 John 2:14, 24). The way we treat the Bible is the way we treat Jesus Christ, for the Bible is His Word to us.” - Warren W. Wiersbe - American Pastor and Theologian

“A godly man, that he may do that which is good and cleave to it, submits to the guidance of the word of God and makes that familiar to him. This is that which keeps him out of the way of the ungodly and fortifies him against their temptations. By the words of thy lips I have kept me from the path of the deceiver, (Read Psalm17:4). We need not court the fellowship of sinners, either for pleasure or for improvement, while we have fellowship with the word of God and with God himself in and by his word. When thou awakest it shall talk with thee, (Read Proverbs 6:22).

The entire affection which a good man has for the law of God: His delight is in it. He delights in it, though it be a law, a yoke (Read Matthew 11:28-30), because it is the law of God, which is holy, just, and good, which he freely consents to, and so delights in, after the inner man, (Read Romans 7:16, 22). All who are well pleased that there is a God must be well pleased that there is a Bible, a revelation of God, of his will, and of the only way to happiness in him. The intimate acquaintance which a good man keeps up with the word of God: In that law doth he meditate day and night; and by this it appears that his delight is in it, for what we love we love to think of, (Read Psalm 119:97). To meditate in God’s word is to discourse with ourselves concerning the great things contained in it, with a close application of mind, a fixedness of thought, till we be suitably affected with those things and experience the savour and power of them in our hearts. This we must do day and night; we must have a constant habitual regard to the word of God as the rule of our actions and the spring of our comforts, and we must have it in our thoughts, accordingly, upon every occasion that occurs, whether night or day. No time is amiss for meditating on the word of God, nor is any time unseasonable for those visits. We must not only set ourselves to meditate on God’s word morning and evening, at the entrance of the day and of the night, but these thought should be interwoven with the business and converse of every day and with the repose and slumbers of every night. When I awake I am still with thee.” - Matthew Henry 17^th Century Theologian

Word of God

But he replied and said, "It is written, 'It is not by bread alone that a man lives, except by every word that issues from the mouth of God

The Gospel According to Matthew 4:4

The Book of Psalms 1:1

All commentary and study notes are prefaced/edited by Dr. Riktor Von Zhades

Blessed is the man that doth not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful.

Brethren:

Indeed, does man take joy in walking the paths given unto us by our Creator, as opposed to those paths offered by this sinful world. The wisdom that comes from above is far sweeter and better than all of man’s combined knowledge for the ways of life. It is as was written better than fine gold, or silver. (Read Psalm 19:10). As such the blessed man, the happy man takes heed of the word of God, and seeks it daily. - Dr. RVZ

“This psalm begins in like manner as Christ's sermon on the mount, ( Read Matthew 5:3 ) ; setting forth the praises and expressing the happiness of the man who is described in this verse. The words may be rendered, "O, the blessednesses of the man", or "of this man" he is doubly blessed, a thrice happy and blessed man; blessed in things temporal and spiritual; happy in this world and in that to come. He is to be praised and commended as a good man.

Take note that all men are by nature and practice ungodly, without God, without the true knowledge, fear, and worship of God and are at enmity against him. It is a character that belongs to God's elect as well as others, while in a state of nature; and is sometimes used illustrate the love of Christ in dying for them, and the grace of God in the justification of them, ( Read Romans 4:5, Romans 5:6) . But here it describes not such who are wicked in heart and life in common only, but the reprobate part of mankind, profligate and abandoned sinners, such a ude speaks of, ( Jude 1:4 ) ; and for whom the law is made, and against whom it lies, ( Read 1 Timothy 1:9 ).”

John Gill - 17^th Century Theologian

“A description of the godly man’s spirit and way, by which we are to try ourselves. The Lord knows those that are his by name, but we must know them by their character; for that is agreeable to a state of probation, that we may study to answer to the character, which is indeed both the command of the law which we are bound in duty to obey and the condition of the promise which we are bound in interest to fulfil. The character of a good man is here given by the rules he chooses to walk by and to take his measures from. What we take at our setting out, and at every turn, for the guide of our conversation, whether the course of this world or the word of God, is of material consequence. An error in the choice of our standard and leader is original and fatal; but, if we be right here, we are in a fair way to do well.” - Matthew Henry - 17^th Century Theologian

Word of God

But he replied and said, "It is written, 'It is not by bread alone that a man lives, except by every word that issues from the mouth of God

The Gospel According to Matthew 4:4

The Gospel According to Mark 14:58

All commentary and study notes are prefaced/edited by Dr. Riktor Von Zhades

We heard him say, I will destroy this Temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another, made without hands.

Brethren:

The scripture above is in reference to the Gospel of John (Read John 2:19), wherein the Messaih says as is written. Let us dwell on this thought; the temple is Solomon’s temple, it was built by him using master builders, and furnished by master craftsman, but in was still built by the hand of man. It was in tribute to the almighty God, and was to serve as a house of worship. Yet it became fouled by hands of man, (as we studied earlier when Christ drove out the merchants), and turned, as He stated into a den of theives. (Read Matthew 21:13). Consider then, that because Israel, had lost it’s way, in it’s relationship with God, that the temple itself represented that loss, and likewise the old testament and covenent. Herein then, Christ has stated that he will tear down the old testament, and rebuild a new one (a new temple), built by the word of God, not by the hands of man. As such, a new testament, a new covenent will be created upon His resurection.

This covenent, this is to say, the New Testament, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, will speak upon the mercy of God, and the redemption of sinners. It will no longer be in the hands of men via the preisthood to forgive, and sacrifice for their sins and the sins of others, but is now done, once and for all, for all men. - Dr. RVZ

Word of God

But he replied and said, "It is written, 'It is not by bread alone that a man lives, except by every word that issues from the mouth of God

The Gospel According to Matthew 4:4

The Gospel According to Mark 13:32-33, 37

All commentary and study notes are prefaced/edited by Dr. Riktor Von Zhades

32 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the Angels which are in heaven, neither the Son himself, but the Father. 33 Take heed: watch, and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

7 And those things that I say unto you, I say unto all men, Watch.

Brethren:

Herein above our Messiah speaks upon the end times. Prior to these verses he lists certian conditions upon which we should be watchful as warning signs. Take heed then that you dear reader are prepared and not caught unaware. Perhaps it would be best said to be ready at any time and to remain coninually in prayer and to stand steadfast and vigilant in your watch. Additionally, it should be noted that we as mere mortals also know not when our lives will be required by our Creator and it will be our time on this temporal plane that be shall expired. Therefore it would be wise to be ready to, as the saying goes, “meet our maker”, and to be prepared to give full account of our actions here on earth.

Likewise as we watch, let us be as the watchmen spoken of by the prophet Ezekiel (Read Ezekiel 3:17, 33:7), so that we might give warning to all those who are not prepared some time to get ready. These things will come to pass for God does not lie, (Read Numbers 23:19), for He has declared it, and it shall happen as He has so will it. - Dr. RVZ

“The Syriac and Persic versions read, "you all"; meaning all the rest of his apostles, and all his disciples and followers in Jerusalem, and in all Judea; who were all concerned in these things, and whom it became to watch, and be upon their guard, and cast off all sloth and negligence; since they knew not soon the son of man would come, and all these evil things would be brought upon the Jewish nation, city, and temple: and the same exhortation is suitable to saints in all ages, times, and places, on account of the various snares, temptations, and evils, that they are liable to, the suddenness of death, and the uncertainty of the second coming of Christ.’ John Gill 17^th Century Theologian