Posts tagged Chris Karpus
Where's a Palm Frond When You Need It? | Matthew 21:1-9
Where's a Palm Frond When You Need It? | Matthew 21:1-9

“Where’s a Palm Frond When You Need it?”

Setting:

- Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the dead, so folks were pretty excited…including Jesus’

enemies

- Matthew 20:17-19

17  Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to

them,  18  “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the

chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death  19  and will hand

him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be

raised to life!”

- Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons asked Jesus if her boys could sit at his right and left

hands

- They didn’t get it…in fact, Matthew has her at Jesus’ crucifixion…

Matthew 21:1-6

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two

disciples,  2  saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey

tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me.  3  If anyone says anything to

you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

4  This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: (the prophet Zechariah)

5  “Say to Daughter Zion,

    ‘See, your king comes to you,

gentle and riding on a donkey,

    and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” [a]

6  The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them.  7  They brought the donkey and the

colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on.

This is referencing the Old Testament prophesy of the coming King…the Messiah

Zechariah 9:9

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!

    Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!

See, your king comes to you,

    righteous and victorious,

lowly and riding on a donkey,

    on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

This prophesy of the coming King was 500 years before Jesus…

In Jacob’s blessing on his son Judah, he is also pronouncing that Israel’s true and everlasting

king will come from the tribe of Judah…even referring to the donkey

Genesis 49:10-11

The scepter will not depart from Judah,

    nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, [a]

until he to whom it belongs [b]  shall come

    and the obedience of the nations shall be his.

11  He will tether his donkey to a vine,

    his colt to the choicest branch;

he will wash his garments in wine,

    his robes in the blood of grapes.

Why a donkey?

In ancient times, when a conquering king rode into a city, it was usually with a show of great

power and wealth, on a white horse in times of war, and a donkey in times of peace. Our King,

Jesus was going to ride into the city triumphantly, yet peacefully and meekly on a donkey.

Meek, meaning power under control.

1 Kings 1:32-34

32  King David said, “Call in Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.”

When they came before the king,  33  he said to them: “Take your lord’s servants with you and

have Solomon my son mount my own mule and take him down to Gihon.  34  There have Zadok

the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel. Blow the trumpet and shout,

‘Long live King Solomon!’

This represents the day that Solomon was recognized as the new king

So - The symbolism and significance of this event would be understood by everyone there…

- So, After a few years of showing people who He was, and telling those He healed not to tell

anyone, Jesus was letting the people of Jerusalem, those visiting for the Passover, the

leaders of the synagogue, the rulers of Jerusalem and every single one of us know that He

was and is indeed the Messiah…the King

Matthew 21:1-6

6  The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them.  7  They brought the donkey and the

colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8  A very large crowd spread their

cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.  9  The

crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna [b]  to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” [c]

“Hosanna [d]  in the highest heaven!”

Hosanna: means “save now”…where did that come from??

Psalm 118:25-26

LORD, save us! (That is the word Hosanna)

    LORD, grant us success!

26  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.

    From the house of the LORD we bless you. [a]

- They did not truly understand HOW Jesus was going to save them.

-

- Their expectations were not in line with the King’s will, but their own.

-

- They understood the prophesy enough to know that He was the messiah, but not enough to

get past their own notions of why He was there and what the Messiah was going to deliver

them from… He did not come to deliver them from Rome. He came to deliver them and all

of us from sin, death and hell.

-

So why did they lay down palm fronds?

Palm branches were often used in the celebration of victory and in King David’s time, they were

used to honor royalty.

Even Wikipedia says: The palm branch, or palm frond, is a symbol of victory, triumph, peace,

and eternal life. We see them in the old testament and even in the Book of Revelation:

Revelation 7:9

9  After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from

every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They

were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

So if palm branches are so important, why didn’t we distribute them today?

Because you already have one…because I believe we already ARE one…

If we are in Christ, are we not (as Wikipedia called it) symbols of victory, triumph, peace, and

eternal life?

Everything you can lay down before the King, you already have. We know what it meant for

people to lay down their coats and palms before Jesus, but He is calling us to lay down our lives

for our King…our hearts, our minds, our strength …everything we are.

Every thought / Every action / Every relationship / Every job / Every habit / Every worry / Our

past, present and future. That is what we should be laying down before our King

In Luke 14, Jesus talks about the cost of being a disciple…

Luke 14:25-27

25  Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said:  26  “If anyone comes to me

and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their

own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.  27  And whoever does not carry their cross and

follow me cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:33

33  In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

Galatians 2:20

20  I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live

in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

He wants us to lay down everything we are for Him…so much more than a palm frond and a

cloak.

He laid down His life for us and asks the same of us for Him.

What are your expectations of the King? Are they in line with His will or with yours?

Do you know that our King isn’t here to make you rich? Or to make you happy? Or to help you

take control of society with power. Our king said “in this life you will have trouble” and “Whoever

wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

As a follower of Jesus, If we are not living a life for Him, are we yelling “Hosannah” with our

mouths and “Crucify Him” by our actions?

This was easier when it was just a palm branch…in fact…where’s a palm frond when you need

it?

That same king who came riding a donkey into Jerusalem as a peaceful conquering king,

conquered sin and death, delivered us from an eternity without God, and is coming back to

vanquish the enemy…and the next time, He will be riding a war horse…

Revelation 19:11-16

11  I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called

Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.  12  His eyes are like blazing fire, and on

his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he

himself.  13  He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.  14  The

armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and

clean.  15  Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will

rule them with an iron scepter.” [a]  He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God

Almighty.  16  On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Luke 19:39-40

39  Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

40  “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

All of nature knows the significance of this moment…and this King…do we?

Pray

The Lord’s Supper

23 Corinthians 11:23-26

23  For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he

was betrayed, took bread,  24  and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my

body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”  25  In the same way, after supper he took

the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in

remembrance of me.”  26  For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the

Lord’s death until he comes.

Passages from The Message:

Matthew 20:17-19

Matthew 21:1-6

Zechariah 9:9

Genesis 49:10-11

1 Kings 1:32-34

Matthew 21:1-6

Psalm 118:25-26

Revelation 7:9

Luke 14:25-27

Luke 14:33

Galatians 2:20

Revelation 19:11-16

Luke 19:39-40

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Guest UserGrace Christian Fellowship1 Timothy 4, 1 Timothy, Guard this Treasure, Darien Gabriel, non denominational church, bible believing church, Ladson, SC, Grace Christian Fellowship, Chris Karpus
How to Go Into the World | John 1:1-5 | Chris Karpus
How to Go Into the World | John 1:1-5 | Chris Karpus

Go into the world the way Jesus came into the world.

John 1:1-5

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  2  He was

with God in the beginning.  3  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made

that has been made.  4  In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.  5  The light shines

in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome [a]  it.

Why did He come into the world?

Why do we go into the world?

Why did He come into the world?

John 3:16-17

16  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him

shall not perish but have eternal life. 17  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn

the world, but to save the world through him.

He came to save us…sin separates us from God

Romans 5:12-19

12  Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this

way death came to all people, because all sinned—

13  To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against

anyone’s account where there is no law.  14  Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to

the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who

is a pattern of the one to come.

15  But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how

much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus

Christ, overflow to the many!  16  Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s

sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many

trespasses and brought justification.  17  For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned

through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of

grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

18  Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one

righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.  19  For just as through the

disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of

the one man the many will be made righteous.

So we need saving from our sin that separates us from God…Only Jesus, through His birth, life,

death and resurrection could atone for the sin of humanity.

Why do we go into the world? – well…because He said so

Mark 16:15

15  He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 

Matthew 28:16-20

16  Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to

go.  17  When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.  18  Then Jesus came to them

and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  19  Therefore go and make

disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy

Spirit,  20  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with

you always, to the very end of the age.”

So how do we go into the world the way Jesus came into the world?

GENEROUSLY

Romans 5:8

8  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

2 Corinthians 9:11-15

11  You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through

us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

12  This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also

overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.  13  Because of the service by which you have

proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your

confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with

everyone else.  14  And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the

surpassing grace God has given you.  15  Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

1. God enriches us…He provides for us to always be generous (every occasion)

2. Our generosity will result in people thanking God

3. Through the service of generosity, people will see your obedience that accompanies

your action…they will see your faith in action…as you confess the gospel of Jesus

4. They will see you loving them as a result of your faith, and praise God

So yes, to go into the world the way Jesus came to the world, we would need to do it

generously.

SACRIFICIALLY

Philippians 2:1-11

2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from

his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,  2  then make my

joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one

mind.  3  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above

yourselves,  4  not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

5  In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6  Who, being in very nature [a]  God,

    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

7  rather, he made himself nothing

    by taking the very nature [b]  of a servant,

    being made in human likeness.

8  And being found in appearance as a man,

    he humbled himself

    by becoming obedient to death—

        even death on a cross!

9  Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

    and gave him the name that is above every name,

10  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11  and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

    to the glory of God the Father.

- Another version – the ESV - says that He emptied Himself

-

- Yet, He was fully God and fully Man

-

- It could mean that He set aside the privileges of deity that stand between the divine

Christ and the shame and degradation and suffering and death of the cross. That’s the

point of Philippians 2:5–8. He moved from such height to such shameful degradation on

our behalf.

-

- And that’s the mind-set we’re supposed to have as we serve others.

Matthew 22:36-40

36  “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37  Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all

your mind.’ [a]   38  This is the first and greatest commandment.  39  And the second is like it: ‘Love your

neighbor as yourself.’ [b]   40  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

John 13:34-35

34  “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love

one another. 35  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one

another.”

That kind of goes back to people seeing our faith in action and praising God

BUT…

John 15:13

13  Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

What does it mean to “lay down one’s life” for someone?

It most certainly means die for them

It could also mean to live for someone

1 John 3:16-18

16  This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought

to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.  17  If anyone has material possessions

and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God

be in that person?  18  Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions

and in truth.

-back to love in action

It’s easy to say that we would die for someone – because it’s incredibly unlikely

- Make a mental list of folks you would die for…you would lay down your life for

- Would you live your life for the same people…now we’re talking about laying

down our life…

Do you see a trend?...to go like Jesus came is to live generously and sacrificially

-It doesn’t just honor God, but it shows people your faith in action and they will glorify

Him for it.

COMPASSIONATELY

To extend love to others requires that we first understand something about their needs. That

means trying to put ourselves in their shoes. 

- It may mean we observe and ask questions to better understand people’s situations

- It may first start by CARING about people

Empathy is our feeling of awareness toward other people's emotions and an attempt to

understand how they feel. Compassion is a response to empathy or pity and creates a desire to

help…it’s empathy and pity in action…doing something about it.

- Really loving our neighbor requires that, once we understand something about

another person’s pain, we do what we can to ease it or to somehow lighten the

burden. This is where empathy is transformed into compassion.

Matthew 9:35-38

35  Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the

good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.  36  When he saw the crowds,

he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a

shepherd.  37  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  38  Ask

the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

- Jesus is telling the disciples, from a place of compassion, to ask God to send us out-

o To live like Him

o To love compassionately – to love in action – so that people will come to

know Him

Luke 7:11-15

11  Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went

along with him.  12  As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the

only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with

her.  13  When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”

14  Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still.

He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!”  15  The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus

gave him back to his mother.

This story gets me, because this is also my story.

John 11:33-35

33  When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also

weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.  34  “Where have you laid him?” he

asked.

“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

35  Jesus wept.

Romans 12:15-18

15  Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  16  Live in harmony with

one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low

position. [a]  Do not be conceited.

17  Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of

everyone.  18  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

How do we show compassion like Jesus?

1. Compassion is an action, not just pity.

a. Action makes our love easier to see than just pity. In fact, At the end of the day,

what the world needs most isn’t a bunch of Jesus' followers who feel

compassionate but don’t act on it. It needs followers of Jesus who are willing to

be compassionate, and act on it. If it’s in your power, or through the power of

God, then do something…but be helpful…pray for wisdom and discernment.

b.

2. We need to be open to interruption and involvement in people’s lives

a. What are our friends and family currently going through?

b. Who has God put on your heart right now?...

c. Let’s pray that God would show us

Generously…. sacrificially and compassionately

Galatians 5:22-23

22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness,  23  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Matthew 7:16

16  By their fruit you will recognize them….

Are we generous to the point where people will glorify God

Are we sacrificial? Are we living our lives for others or ourselves?

Are we compassionate? Do we act on our pity and even empathy?

- If we go into the world the way Jesus came into the world, people will see our faith in

action…that’s being disciples who make disciples…

So how do we do that…other than the obvious things we’ve already talked about?

1. If we’re loving generously, sacrificially and compassionately, we’re keeping Christ in

Christmas.

2. If there is a “war on Christmas”, it’s because the soldiers lost their focus and abandoned

their positions

3. We’re not called to verbal battles over “merry Christmas” vs “happy holidays”.

Is it possible that we’re telling the world to keep Christ is Christmas, but not doing it ourselves?

Are we more likely to show Christian outrage more than outreach? We need a re-set if we’re

really going to show people who Jesus is.

Poinsettias – elderly or sick – take one…don’t take the trees

December 10, 2023 Scripture References

John 1:1-5

John 3:16-17

Romans 5:12-19

Mark 16:15

Matthew 28:16-20

Romans 5:8

2 Corinthians 9:11-15

Philippians 2:1-11

Matthew 22:36-40

John 13:34-35

John 15:13

1 John 3:16-18

Matthew 9:35-38

Luke 7:11-15

John 11:33-35

Romans 12:15-18

Galatians 5:22-23

Matthew 7:16

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Guest UserGrace Christian FellowshipChris Karpus, John 1:1-5, non denominational church, Bible believing church, Ladson, SC, Christmas 2023
Am I a Sheep or a Goat? | Matthew 25:31-46
Am I a Sheep or a Goat? | Matthew 25:31-46

Am I a Sheep or a Goat? – The Moment of Truth

Matthew 25:31-46

The Sheep and the Goats

31  “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious

throne.  32  All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as

a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  33  He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his

left.

34  “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your

inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  35  For I was hungry and you

gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you

invited me in,  36  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison

and you came to visit me.’

37  “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and

give you something to drink?  38  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and

clothe you?  39  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40  “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters

of mine, you did for me.’

41  “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared

for the devil and his angels.  42  For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you

gave me nothing to drink,  43  I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not

clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44  “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or

sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45  “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for

me.’

46  “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

1. - Following the parables of the 10 bridesmaids and the distribution of the talents (Mikey and Clay)

A. In the last few weeks, through Jesus’ parables, we’ve learned:

- that we need be prepared in anticipation of His coming (and know the consequences of not be

prepared)

- that we need to invest the gifts talents and abilities that he’s given us in His kingdom (and know

the consequences of not investing ourselves in His Kingdom work)

- and finally (truly finally) with this parable, Jesus shows us how to respond to his grace and what

he expects to see as fruit in His followers.

- Not really a parable as much as a prophesy – we don’t find terms like “like” – the kingdom of Heaven is

like…or “like 10 virgins. Jesus is giving a statement of fact: “When the Son of man comes…”

- This is about the 2 nd coming of Christ,- Something each of us is going to experience

-The most public event of all time

- It could be today, tomorrow or in a thousand years.

- Before Jesus died and rose again, He prepared His disciples for His departure and all of us for His

return.

Verse 31

31  “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 

- Jesus is confirming that He is:

The one who will be enthroned as JUDGE

Daniel 7:9

“As I looked, “thrones were set in place,

    and the Ancient of Days took his seat.

The One In the presence of angels…

Daniel 7:10

A river of fire was flowing,

    coming out from before him.

Thousands upon thousands attended him;

    ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.

The court was seated,

    and the books were opened.

The One who will reward the righteous…

Daniel 7:18

But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever

and ever.’

- and punish the wicked

Daniel 7:26

But the court will sit, and his (satan’s) power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever.

- get the picture? Jesus in all His glory…maybe this will help…

Revelation 19:11-16

11  Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and

True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.  12  His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His

head were many crowns. He  [a] had a name written that no one knew except Himself.  13  He was clothed

with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.  14  And the armies in

heaven, clothed in  [b] fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.  15  Now out of His mouth

goes a  [c] sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of

iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  16  And He has

on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND

LORD OF LORDS.

Verses 32-33

32  All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a

shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  33  He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his

left.

-Absolute truth that each of us will be standing there with each other – all of us…ever

- He is going to separate us, one from another

- this is going to be a personal interaction. We will EACH stand, individually before Jesus, in all of

His glory. (Harkening back to the parable of the talents stressing individual gifting, responsibility

and accountability.

- He is going to place each of us either on His right or on His left…no middle ground…no fence to

sit on

Matthew 25:34-40

34  “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your

inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  35  For I was hungry and you

gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you

invited me in,  36  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison

and you came to visit me.’

37  “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and

give you something to drink?  38  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and

clothe you?  39  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40  “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters

of mine, you did for me.’

- He will judge each of us individually, based on the life we lived – what we did or didn’t do.

- That’s a familiar theme from Matthew 16…

Matthew 16:27

  For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will

reward each person according to what they have done.

- You may ask…isn’t that a works-based salvation? NO

I am not saved by works, but works are the evidence that I’ve been saved

- The good works performed by believers aren’t the basis of salvation but should be understood

as the necessary EVIDENCE of salvation. These works are the fruit and product of our new life

in Jesus.

- We don’t do these things to be saved…we are compelled to do these things because we ARE

saved….out of our love and gratitude for Jesus

- the works, we will find, are works of LOVE

- They’re lowly, not spectacular and seemingly not religious (but maybe they ARE…)

James 1:27

27  Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in

their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

- faith and hope aren’t mentioned…only LOVE.

Could it be that LOVE is the true evidence and fruit of our faith? How we love others

demonstrates how we love Jesus.

John 15:12

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

1 John 4:7-8

7  Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of

God and knows God.  8  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

1 John 4:19-21

  We love because he first loved us.  20  Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For

whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have

not seen.  21  And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and

sister.

1 John 3:17-18

17  If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how

can the love of God be in that person?  18  Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with

actions and in truth.

Matthew 22:36-40

36  “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37  Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your

mind.’ [a]   38  This is the first and greatest commandment.  39  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as

yourself.’ [b]   40  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Everything hangs on LOVING GOD and LOVING PEOPLE…everything

It’s not the works that Jesus rewards, but evidence that we truly KNOW HIM and LISTEN TO

HIM…that we LOVE HIM and LOVE OTHERS.

- In this case, it’s the command and also the fruit

Matthew 25:41-46

41  “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared

for the devil and his angels.  42  For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you

gave me nothing to drink,  43  I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not

clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44  “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or

sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45  “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for

me.’

46  “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

- Those judged by Jesus meet opposite fates…

- the righteous come to Jesus, and the unrighteous depart from Him

- the righteous are blessed, and the unrighteous are cursed

- There is a fearsome finality to Jesus’ judgement – there are no second chances at this point.

- Both the righteous and the unrighteous seem surprised…maybe both are professing Christians

- Both answer…”Lord…”

Matthew 7:21-23

21  “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who

does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  22  Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not

prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many

miracles?’  23  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Philippians 2:10-11

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11  and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

    to the glory of God the Father.

- We shouldn’t be surprised by any of this after reading this parable – we know what Jesus is looking for

on judgment day.

- If it seems harsh, consider the fact that Jesus is giving us a 2000 year heads-up…

- Jesus will know how much we love Him, based on how much we loved the least of these.

- We are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, all our strength and all our mind.

AND love our neighbor as our self.

The two have always been connected…we show God how much we love Him when we

obey this and love others. We are truly called to love God and love people, because Jesus

identifies with the least of these.

So, back to a pretty legit question is: Is Jesus teaching works righteousness here?..that we can somehow

earn our salvation through righteous works?...No

- One clue is in how the righteous reply – if they were trying to earn eternal life by feeding the

hungry, and so on, they wouldn’t be surprised when Jesus commended them for good works.

- Jesus isn’t defining FAITH in this story – He’s showing us what it looks like when it’s alive, and the

consequences of it when it’s dead.

James 2:14-26

14  What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such

faith save them?  15  Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.  16  If one of you says to

them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is

it?  17  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

18  But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.  19  You believe that there is

one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

20  You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless [d] ?  21  Was not our father

Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?  22  You see that

his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.  23  And

the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as

righteousness,” [ e ]  and he was called God’s friend.  24  You see that a person is considered righteous by what

they do and not by faith alone.

25  In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she

gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?  26  As the body without the spirit is

dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

-In that light, Martin Luthor said this:

“ O, it is a living, busy, active, mighty thing this faith. It is impossible for it not to be doing good works

incessantly. It does not ask whether good works are to be done, but before the question is asked, it has

already done them and is consistently doing them. Whoever does not do such works, however, is an

unbeliever.”

That sounds really harsh, doesn’t it?...I mean…that last sentence…but if you think about it, isn’t that

exactly what this parable is saying? Isn’t that exactly what Jesus is saying?

That makes us have to ask: Is the neglect of service to others so wicked that it deserves separation from

God for eternity?...the fires of hell?

The answer, both fortunately and unfortunately, is YES.

James 4:17

17  If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

- In some ways, there’s no ambiguity in what Jesus is saying here…so what seams really clear in this

reading?

- What do these passages in Matthew teach us about Jesus’ return?

1. His return will be sudden

- people will be going through their daily routine

2. His judgement will be irreversible – no second chance to repent at that point

- There are servants who will not be ready when their Master returns

- There will be bridesmaids locked out of the marriage feast for not preparing

- There’s no middle ground…no fence to ride, and I believe that if there were, Jesus

would swipe left

3. Our hearts will be exposed.

- The true nature of who we are before God will come to light

4. Our sentence may be surprising

5. We must be prepared – our lives and our eternities are at stake

6. The Kingdom of Heaven is not for those who simply respond to an invitation. All of the

bridesmaids had done that…or just praying the sinner’s prayer (which is not in the Bible)

7. The Kingdom of heaven is not for those who simply make a confession – each of the

bridesmaids would have said they were part of the bridal party

8. The Kingdom of Heaven is not for those who merely express some affection – positive feelings

about Jesus wont be enough on the last day.

Where do we go from here?

- The first big application of this is that we should be grateful that Jesus will one day set the world right.

- We should be grateful that Jesus told us in advance how to show Him love...that how you treat other

people demonstrates the nature of your relationship with Jesus.

- His mercy is like a long yellow light…

- We should be grateful that Jesus loves us enough to tell us through these parables:

- how to be prepared in anticipation of His coming (and the consequences of not be prepared)

- the importance of investing our gifts talents and abilities that he’s given us in His kingdom (and

the consequences of not investing ourselves in His Kingdom work)

- and finally (truly finally) with this parable, Jesus shows us how to respond to his grace, and love

Him the way He wants to be loved.

- Now…taking care of the poor is not new to the word of God. The Bible mentions the poor over 2000

times.

Isaiah 58:10

…and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry

    and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,

then your light will rise in the darkness,

    and your night will become like the noonday.

- “spend yourselves” means give them your life! Leave it all on the field.

- but what about taking care of ourselves…retirement…for when we’re old?

Matthew 6:19-21

19  “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves

break in and steal.  20  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not

destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  21  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be

also.

- So one could say that the Bible says to spend your life on behalf of the poor, not to spend your life trying

to avoid dying poor.

- and you don’t know when that is (by the way)

Moving Forward:

You serve people that God has put around you not because you want to get to heaven, but because

Jesus has changed your heart.

Are you ready for that day?

Are you ready to meet God?

Are you ready to stand before Jesus and give an account?

You might ask yourselves, or ask God: How can I be ready?

1. Trust in Jesus…give Him your heart. Don’t be close-fisted with your life

Triangle

2. Repent of your sin…

Hebrews 12:1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that

hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for

us,  2  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the

cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  3  Consider him who

endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

3. Listen to the warnings Jesus has given us in the last few weeks, and pray earnestly for Him to show

you where your heart is.:

-The maidens (Matthew 25:1-13) consider themselves friends of the bridegroom, but they don’t

live in a way that anticipates his return.

-The wicked servant (Matthew 25:14-30) considers himself in the employ of the Master, but he’s

never offered his talents without reserve for the kingdom.

-The “goats” (Matthew 25:31-46) are surprised to be rejected by Jesus, who they thought they

were faithfully serving. But when it came to pouring themselves out for the crushed people of

God, they weren’t engaged at all.

Here’s the sobering thing about these parables: There is no middle ground. You are either committed to

the mission, all-in for Jesus, and using your resources for his people and his kingdom, or you are not. You

are either a sheep or a goat. And that puts the lukewarm Christian in a very precarious position.

- Have you offered your life and your talents, no matter your age, as an investment in the kingdom? Could

we look at your giving and say that you are all-in with the mission of God? Would your calendar back up

what your words say when you declare, “Jesus is Lord”?

- This isn’t the time to ask ourselves questions about our actions. It’s time to ask ourselves questions

about our faith…especially in light of Matthew 25

- It’s time to ask ourselves if we are giving God the first and best of ourselves, your time and your money,

or are you giving Him the leftovers.

- It’s time to stop calling our complacency, apathy or indifference to those Jesus calls us to love, a “busy

schedule” or “bills” or “forgetfulness”. Call it what it is…sin.

We sang “Open the Eyes of my Heart”…Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. I want to see you. Not only has

Jesus told us how to show Him love, but He has shown us where to find Him.

4. Go to them…the hungry, the thirsty, to strangers. Clothe the naked…look after the sick…visit a

prisoner.

5. Use the gifts, talents and abilities that the master has given you to serve Him…to love God by loving

people.

- If you don’t feel like it, do it anyway. I can promise you that when we go to Africa and look in the faces of

those kids, you bet I see the face of Jesus.

6. Seek out opportunities…don’t just sit and wait for them to come to you…

Buy food for the blessing box

If you see there’s a meal train, jump on it…or start one for someone who needs it

We’re currently putting together back-to-school items for newly arrived refugees and those less

priviledged.

Give from your time, your talent and treasure sacrificially to your church and other organizations

and people that God leads you to. Find an organization doing the work of God and help them. If you cant

find one, start one.

Go to your neighbor

Practice loving people as an outpouring of your gratitude to a loving, merciful, grace-giving God

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Guest UserGrace Christian FellowshipChris Karpus, Matthew 25, sheep or goat, Grace Christian Fellowship, Ladson, SC, non denominational church, bible believing church
Who Do You Say I Am? | Matthew 16:13-28
Who Do You Say I Am? | Matthew 16:13-28

“Who Do You say I Am”?

Matthew 16:13-28

Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah

13  When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the

Son of Man is?”

14  They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the

prophets.”

15  “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

16  Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

17  Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and

blood, but by my Father in heaven.  18  And I tell you that you are Peter, [ a ]  and on this rock I will build my

church, and the gates of Hades [b]  will not overcome it.  19  I will give you the keys of the kingdom of

heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be [c]  bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will

be [d]  loosed in heaven.”  20  Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Jesus Predicts His Death

21  From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many

things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be

killed and on the third day be raised to life.

22  Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to

you!”

23  Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not

have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

24  Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up

their cross and follow me.  25  For whoever wants to save their life [e]  will lose it, but whoever loses their life

for me will find it.  26  What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or

what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?  27  For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s

glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

28  “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man

coming in his kingdom.”

13 “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14  They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah;

and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

-John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeramiah, or one of the prophets back from the dead. A good man or

Godly man, but not God Himself

- There’s irony in that they were closer to believing that He was a prophet raised from the dead,

than the Savior who would actually be raised from the dead

- There were a lot of people in the first century who would have said they believed in

Jesus – that He was a prophet or a good man

- There are a lot of people in the 21 st century who would say the same thing

- approx.. 85% of Americans believe that Jesus was a real historical figure –

-52% of Americans think Jesus was a great teacher

-They didn’t say “the Messiah”, and many don’t now.

CS Lewis: liar, lunatic or Lord

l am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about

Him: I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God.

That is the one thing we must not say.

A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral

teacher. He would either be a lunatic-on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg-or

else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the

Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit

at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not

come with any patronising nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that

open to us. He did not intend to. ... Now it seems to me obvious that He was neither a lunatic nor

a fiend: and consequently, however strange or terrifying or unlikely it may seem, I have to accept

the view that He was and is God. (Mere Christianity, 55-56)

15  “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

- “you” here is plural, directed at the apostles

- Everything now and for eternity hinges on your answer

16  Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

- This is the first time we see the apostles confess who Jesus is

- Who you say Jesus is determines everything about how you follow Him.

- If you believe He’s a good teacher, that’s how you follow Him. If you think He has some

good ideas, you’ll listen to Him once in a while

- If you believe He’s the Savior, that should change everything about how you live your

life.

- 17  Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and

blood, but by my Father in heaven. 

- Divine revelation rather than human deduction

- The grace of God is the only way anyone can behold the beauty AND PURPOSE of Christ

John 6:44-45

““No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the

last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the

Father and learned from him comes to me.”

-A Biblical argument can be made that the only way we will know Jesus for who He truly is, is ONLY

through the revelation of God our Father…but God reveals it to others through our evangelism.

-In fact, the only reason why we are together as a family is because God our Father made it so.

18  And I tell you that you are Peter, [ a ]  and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades [b]  will

not overcome it. 

- “You are Peter” (Petros = rock) - this parallels Peter’s confession

- First use of the word “church” or “ekklesia” in the gospels

- Jesus isn’t implying anything of a particular church structure, just promising that he will establish a

gathered community of his followers, and help them grow. – a community of people who submit to

Gods Kingly rule.

Jesus promises the indestructibility of His church.

- Gates of Hades, sometimes referred to the gates of hell – probably the powers of death.

- Gates are largely defensive, so if you consider the gates of hell, or the powers of death on the

defense, that means those gates cannot withstand the power over death that Jesus instills in the

church.

- This passage may not be about protecting the church from the gates of hell (and death)…Hell is on the

defensive…not us! Jesus is saying the gates of hell, death itself cannot withstand His power through the

church. The church needs to be storming the gates of hell, not sitting in our cozy buildings waiting for it

to come to us. Either way, death is defeated…

- We overcome death – we don’t have to defend against it’s power

- Death cannot stop this Messiah, nor His followers – Christ gives His authority to the church

- Being a part of a church is not like joining a club –it comes with an extremely important confession with

eternal ramifications.

- All too often in the US, joining a church looks more like joining a country club these

days.

- multi-million dollar facilities with racquetball courts, gyms, recreational

facilities, bookstores and sometimes a place to gather and worship. Even then,

the logos, jerseys, bumper stickers, Sunday concerts and worship albums help to

build membership, but may not build God’s kingdom.

- WHAT YOU WIN THEM WITH, IS WHAT YOU WIN THEM TO.

-we have to be careful not to do to the church what the Jews did to the temple.

19  I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be [c]  bound in

heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be [d]  loosed in heaven.”  20  Then he ordered his disciples not

to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

- I grew up Roman Catholic, and the Catholic church uses this passage to justify Peter as the first

Pope, and through apostolic succession, confessing sins to priests in confessionals. As they forgive, they

loose on earth…but….

- this is not about the authority of Peter, but the authority of Jesus Christ

- this is not about a supreme pope, but a sovereign Savior

- this is not about an infallible pope, but an invincible mission

There is imagery of keys that close and open, lock and unlock (Isaiah 22:22) and take the binding and

loosing referring to Christians making entrance to Gods kingdom available or unavailable to people

through their witness, preaching and ministry. This will tie in closely with John 20:23

When Peter or the other apostles, or any follower of Christ for the matter, proclaims the gospel, it is

done under Jesus' authority-His authority to save sinners and to judge sinners. Jesus' authority to save

means that we can say to any person in the world, "If you turn from your sin and trust in Jesus as Savior

and Lord, you will be free from sin forever' That's a guarantee based on the authority of Christ and His

Word. At the same time, we can also say to any person in this world, "If you do not tum from your sin

and trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord, you are bound to your sin and its payment for all eternity in hell."

Authority has been entrusted to us as the church to proclaim this message.

We speak with the authority of Christ. The urgency and priority of evangelism flows from these truths

21  From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many

things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be

killed and on the third day be raised to life.

-Jesus speaks plainly of His coming fate - anticipating that he may be killed does not require any

supernatural insight…Matthew 12:14

“But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.”

But, more than common sense must lie behind the prediction of His resurrection.

Elders - not previously mentioned - members of the Sanhedrin

“Chief priests and scribes” - teachers of the law

Jesus doesn’t explain here the use of the word “must”, but accounts for it in Matthew 20:28

28  just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a

ransom for many.”

22  Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to

you!”

-Peter does not recognize that Jesus’ death and resurrection must precede the establishment of the

church and that His followers must also suffer before Gods kingdom will triumph.

-Peter has not yet conceived of a suffering Messiah

-Peters is emphatic…basically “no way”, “this shall never happen”!!

-Trying to thwart God’s plan for Jesus life is, in fact, the role of the devil, not a disciple…hence Jesus’

reply.

23  Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not

have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

-He’s not saying Peter is the devil or possessed, but dramatically stating that the perspective Peter

represents here, however unwittingly, is the same as Satan’s.

-Peter moves very fast from foundation block to stumbling block

-Peter represents the viewpoint of unredeemed humanity, rather than God’s will.

-Get behind me means get away, or out of my site…similar to his rebuke of satan in Matthew 4:10

Where a similar temptation was aimed at Jesus in the desert:

“Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him

only.’””

- “Take up his cross” is metaphorical - submission to God’s will, wherever it may lead = deny himself. It

also represents an ominous possibility that some of the disciples might literally be crucified.

-Self-denial means putting God and His kingdom priorities first.

-This is so counter cultural to life in America

 you deserve a break today

 Get the pampering you deserve

 You deserve only the best

The pursuit of happiness is a constitutional right, not a biblical right

Do you know what we truly deserve? Death

Romans 6:23

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Any preacher who tells you that you deserve anything better than death…you know, your best life now,

is a wolf in sheep’s clothing and does not have your eternal soul in mind…run

This is how we find life.

Galatians 2:19-20

““For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I

no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who

loved me and gave himself for me.”

The logic of Jesus’ command depends wholly on the existence of life beyond the grace

Live for yourself and you will die. Die to yourself and you will live.

27  For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each

person according to what they have done.

-Glory awaits ahead, but only after suffering

-“What he has done” is more literally like “his practice” and refers to an individual life viewed in its

entirety

28  “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man

coming in his kingdom.”

Verse 28 is kind of cryptic but is probably referring to the transfiguration, which is coming up next . The

transfiguration will be a foretaste of his resurrection.

2 Peter 1:16-18 (Peter later referring to the transfiguration)

“For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus

Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. He received honor and glory from God the

Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with

him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him

on the sacred mountain.”

-Regarding suffering having to precede glory is a tough one for Christians today, especially in the US,

where prosperity preaching contradicts the teachings and life of Jesus.

-Have you died to yourself?

-Have you taken up your cross?

James 1:27

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in

their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

James 1:27 NIV

Romans 12:1-2

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living

sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern

of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and

approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Romans 12:1-2 NIV

Matthew 25:31-46 NIV

““When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne.

All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a

shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his

left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your

inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you

gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you

invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison

and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and

feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in,

or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King

will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine,

you did for me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the

eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was

thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes

and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will

answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in

prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the

least of these, you did not do for me.’ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous

to eternal life.””

“Who Do You Say I Am”? - Verses for slides

Matthew 16:13-28

Mathew 16: 13-14

Matthew 16:15

Matthew 16:16

Matthew 16:17

John 6:44-45

Matthew 16:18

James 1:27

Matthew 16:19-20

Matthew 16:21

Matthew 12:14

Matthew 20:28

Matthew 16:22

Matthew 16:23

Matthew 4:10

Matthew 16:24-26

Romans 6:23

James 1:27

Romans 12:1-2

Matthew 25:31-46

Galatians 2:19-20

Matthew 16:27

Matthew 16:28

2 Peter 2:16-18

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Guest UserGrace Christian Fellowshipnon-denominational church, Chris Karpus, Grace Christian Fellowship, bible believing, Matthew, Peter, Ladson, SC, church
The Heart of the Matter is the Matter of the Heart| Matthew 5:27-30
The Heart of the Matter is the Matter of the Heart| Matthew 5:27-30

Matthew 5:27-30 – The Heart of the Matter is the Matter of the Heart

Jesus moves on from the 6 th to the 7 th commandment…”You shall not kill”

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ [a] 28 But I tell you that anyone who

looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye

causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body

than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it

off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go

into hell.”

Exodus 20:14 – “You shall not commit adultery” One of the 10 commandments

Leviticus 20:10 – Punishable by death

10 “‘If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the

adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death.”

Jesus says “You have heard it said”. He is not quoting scripture or changing scripture, but referencing

man’s traditions around the old testament law.

+ Moses and the scribes did not emphasize the internal aspects of adultery, but just the external…the

act…which was punishable by death. For many, it became a conveniently narrow definition of sin. You

were either an adulterer or not, and if you were caught, you were dead.

Part of that narrow definition…

Deuteronomy 24:1 – References divorcing a woman because she is “displeasing”

If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about

her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house

1. According to some of the scribes, a man could divorce his wife if he grew “cool” toward her if he

didn’t like her cooking.

+ A law that was clearly intended to safeguard marriage and the women of Israel was turned

into an escape clause for self-indulgent men…also pious and proud

+ Jesus was speaking to these arrogant leaders who were counting themselves righteous,

knowing , but He knew the condition of their hearts. He knows the condition of our hearts too.

It was very natural, as it is today, for those of us who are non-adulterers to feel maybe a little smug or

conceited…the whole…”I haven’t done THAT”. “Jesus isn’t talking to me on that one.”

(Proverbs 11:2) When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

So in this passage, Jesus introduces a radically new standard.

Few of us have not crossed that line from attraction to lust at some time – this should fill us with a

poverty of spirit and a humility that realizes that we are spiritually bankrupt. It also should make us

amazed that God loves us the way He does.

+ Jesus carries us to a place that we never saw coming but was intended by God all along.

…”but I say…” Jesus is speaking with authority…

+The heart of the matter is the matter of the heart

+ In this life…in this world, much like Jesus saying hatred in our hearts being the same as

murder, the penalty is not the same as it is for murder, neither are the consequences of lust

literally the same as adultery, but God sees them as worthy of the same penalty…

+ Jesus calls a halt to this distortion of God’s word by saying that the lust that leads to adultery

will also lead a man to hell.

+ Adultery actually breaches several of the 10 Commandments: the commandment that forbids

it, coveting which leads to theft and even idolatry.

2. Jesus is not talking about looking or recognizing someone’s beauty, but lustfully looking or fantasizing

about more than just looks…a GAZE, not a GLANCE...and to Him (“But I tell you…”) it’s the same.

It starts in “The heart”…What does the Bible say about the heart?

Jeremiah 17:9

The heart is deceitful above all things

and beyond cure.

Who can understand it?

Proverbs 4:23

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

3. We need to recognize that those thoughts and actions which, long before any overt sexual sin, makes

the possibility of giving into temptation more likely, and we must take dramatic action to avoid them.

Psalm 51:10

Create in me a pure heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

The crucible for silver…refinement of precious metals…to purify us

Proverbs 25:4-5

Remove the dross from the silver,

and a silversmith can produce a vessel;

5 remove wicked officials from the king’s presence,

and his throne will be established through righteousness.

Consider God a silversmith refining us…impure stuff comes to the top under heat

James 1:2-4

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, [ a ] when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of

your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect

and complete, lacking in nothing.

We need to leave our lives of sin behind…all sin, and allow God to refine us.

John 8:2-11

2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat

down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery.

They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of

adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were

using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning

him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a

stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left,

with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they?

Has no one condemned you?”

11 “No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

+ Jesus does not condemn her, but calls out the hypocrisy of those willing to stone her.

+ We don’t really know what Jesus wrote, but consider this possibility….

+ Jesus wrote in the sand twice…you could say that Jesus was drawing a line in the sand – for her

to step over and sin no more.

+ We need to draw a line in the sand in our own lives

4. How do we draw a line in the sand?

Colossians 3:5

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and

covetousness, which is idolatry.

Vs 29:

29: If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose

one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes

you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for

your whole body to go into hell.”

+ The eyes can entice the heart, and the heart, enticed by the eyes, directs the hands

+ Does Jesus want us to literally cut off our hand or pluck out our eyes?

No. He wants us to:

+ Realize where sin will take us and turn from it. Jesus said that Hell is the direction where all sin

leads

+ God has something better for all of us

+ Deal with sin aggressively, immediately and decisively. You don’t need to cut off your hands, but…

+ If you need to cancel Netflix, then do it

+ If you need to get a flip phone, then do that

+ If you need to quit your job to guard your heart, prayerfully consider it.

+ If you need to get rid of your romance novels, then do it

+ You may need better friends

Do whatever you have to do…for your eternal soul, for your marriage, for your children…

Jesus is also addressing you and YOUR sinful heart, me and MINE. He says to pluck out YOUR eye, not

someone else’s.

Matthew 7:4-5

4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a

plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see

clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

+ Don’t blame others for your sin…take responsibility for it. While there is truth in avoiding doing things

that cause a brother or sister to stumble, blaming how people dress or whether you are satisfied at

home for the condition of your heart, or the actions that come from it, is no different than the scribes’

escape clause for their self-indulgence. Jesus put that idea to death.

James 4:17

17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

Why did He have to say it? He doesn’t want us to go to hell. Sin takes us there. Period.

Francis Chan-

“Hell is the backdrop that reveals the profound and unbelievable grace of the cross. It brings to light the

enormity of our sin and therefore portrays the undeserved favor of God in full color.”

There is good news…He is good news, and a greater understanding of the depth and scope of our sin,

will give us a greater understanding of our need for a Savior.

Romans 5:8

8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:9

9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the

dead, you will be saved.

We’re saved by the cross…the same God that said “this is how I see it…” is the same one who rescues us

from it. The more we understand the depths and consequences of our sin, the greater appreciation and

desire we’ll have for the One who rescues us from it.

The Heart of the Matter is the Matter of the Heart – July 17, 2022

Scripture References

Matthew 5:27-30

Exodus 20:14

Leviticus 20:10

Proverbs 11:2

Jeremiah 17:9

Proverbs 4:23

Psalm 51:10

Proverbs 25:4-5

James 1:2-4

John 8:2-11

Colossians 3:5

Matthew 5:29-30

Matthew 7:4-5

James 4:17

Romans 5:8

Romans 10:9

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Guest UserGrace Christian FellowshipChris Karpus, Grace Christian Fellowship, non-denominational church, church, Ladson, SC, Grace Christian Fellowshiop, Matthew 5, Bible-believing
Who is the King of Glory? | Psalm 24:8
Who is the King of Glory? | Psalm 24:8

“Who is the King of Glory?” (Psalm 24:8)

Exodus 12: 1-14

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, 2 “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. 3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb[a] for his family, one for each household. 4 If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. 5 The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. 6 Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. 7 Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. 8 That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. 9 Do not eat the meat raw or boiled in water, but roast it over a fire—with the head, legs and internal organs. 10 Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. 11 This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover.

12 “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord. 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.

14 “This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance.

+ First month of the year – Nisan

+ slaughter a spotless lamb and put some of its blood on the doorframe

+ Deliverance from death…”when I see the blood, I will pass over you”…

+ a precursor to the events of Holy Week with Jesus as the spotless lamb.

Matthew 21:1-6

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: (the prophet Zechariah)

5 “Say to Daughter Zion,
‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”[a]

6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on.

Zechariah 9:9

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

1. Jesus spent a considerable amount of time prior to this event healing and teaching, but even telling those he healed not to tell anyone about this. By getting on a donkey and riding into Jerusalem, Jesus announced that he was coming as Israel's messianic king. He was presenting himself as Israel's promised king. By his actions, he was saying, "Behold, your king comes to you”

2. There were over 300 prophesies about the Messiah in the Old Testament, and Jesus fulfilled all of them. The odds of that happening…3” square tiles over the face of the earth, one with a red dot on the back

Genesis 49:10-11

The scepter will not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,[a]
until he to whom it belongs[b] shall come
and the obedience of the nations shall be his.
11 He will tether his donkey to a vine,
his colt to the choicest branch;
he will wash his garments in wine,
his robes in the blood of grapes.

In Jacob’s blessing on his son Judah, he is also pronouncing that Israel’s true king will come from the tribe of Judah…even referring to the donkey

In ancient times, when a king rode into a city, it was usually with a show of power and wealth, on a horse in times of war, and a donkey in times of peace.

Matthew 21:8-9

8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna[b] to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[c]

“Hosanna[d] in the highest heaven!”

What is only hinted at in Genesis was made plain in the Gospel: Jesus, the Son of David, from the tribe of Judah, rode into Jerusalem as Israel's rightful king.

Hosanna: “save now”…where did that come from??

Psalm 118:25-26

Lord, save us! (That is the word Hosanna)
Lord, grant us success!

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
From the house of the Lord we bless you.[a]

Just above this is verse 24:

22 The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
23 the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 The Lord has done it this very day; (This is the day the Lord has made)
let us rejoice today and be glad.

1. This is the day…every day…yes, but not just any day

2. This psalm is not just referring to any day…it could be referring to Psalm Sunday

Daniel 9:25 (written around 530 BC)

25 “Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One,[a] the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble.

Nehemiah 2:1-5

2 In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before, 2 so the king asked me, “Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart.”

I was very much afraid, 3 but I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”

4 The king said to me, “What is it you want?”

Then I prayed to the God of heaven, 5 and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.”

Artaxerxes Sends Nehemiah to Jerusalem - The king wrote letters for Nehemiah’s safe passage to go rebuild Jerusalem.

1. We know from history that King Artaxerxes began his reign in 465 BC

So 20 years into his reign would have been about 444 BC…

-When they don’t refer to a specific day, it was the first of that month.

Nisan 1, 444 BC = March 5, 444BC (somewhere between March and April).

- First, there will be 7 sevens from the time of this decree (seven 7 year periods, or 49 years), then 62 sevens, or 434 years

- Add the 49 years to the 434 years = 483 years

- The Hebrew calendar had 360 days…so…

- 360 (days) x 434 years = 173,880 days

Take the first day of Nisan, 20 years into the king’s reign…around March 5, 444 BC, and add 173,880 days, you end up with a date of around March 30, 33 AD…which could very well have been Palm Sunday. (This is the day the Lord has made)

Daniel 9:26

After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing.[b] The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed.

Just a few days later, some of the same people who were yelling “Hosanna” were yelling “crucify Him”

In the year AD 70, the Romans destroyed the temple.

This is the day…

Luke 19:41-44

41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on THIS DAY what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”






Jesus comes to greet his subjects with all humility and meekness.

The king's gentleness is symbolized by his mode of transport.

In some way, you can see how some of the same people that were saying “hosanna” later in the week were saying “crucify Him”.

Their expectations were not in line with the King’s will, but their own.

They understood the prophesy enough to know that He was the messiah, but not enough to get past their own notions of why He was there and what the Messiah was going to deliver them from.

What are your expectations of the King? Are they in line with His will or with yours?

Do you know that our King isn’t here to make you rich? Or to make you happy? Or to help you take control of society with power. Our king said “in this life you will have trouble” and “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

-2 weeks ago, I lead worship and pointed out in a song about God’s faithfulness, that the writer says “you’ve never failed me yet”…and how much I didn’t like the work “yet”. God will never fail you, but it doesn’t mean He will give you everything you want.

In reality, like those along the road to Jerusalem, acknowledging that Jesus is Lord-do we want something from Him that isn’t part of His will?

Do we yell “Hosannah” with our mouths and “Crucify Him” by our actions?

Perhaps the best word to describe it is "meekness," which means power under control.

If we are saved by such a gentle king, then we should serve him with all gentleness. Gentleness is one of the marks of the Christian, the fruit of God's Holy Spirit (see Galatians 5:23). Sadly, many Christians are harsh in their judgments, abrasive in their opinions.


1. Embrace that Jesus is the King

2. Acknowledge that He knows what’s best for us

3. Praise him by setting your expectations of Him in alignment with His will

That same king who came riding a donkey into Jerusalem as a peaceful conquering king, conquered sin and death, delivered us from an eternity without God, and is coming back to vanquish the enemy.

Revelation 19:11-16

11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.”[a] He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

king of kings and lord of lords.

Bible verses for Palm Sunday – April 10, 2022

Exodus 12: 1-14

Matthew 21:1-6

Zechariah 9:9

Genesis 49:10-11

Matthew 21:8-9

Psalm 118:24-26

Daniel 9:25

Nehemiah 2:1-5

Daniel 9:26

Luke 19:41-44

Revelation 19:11-16


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Guest UserPalm Sunday, King of Glory, Chris Karpus, non-denominational church, Bible-believing, church, Grace Christian Fellowship, Ladson, SC, Psalm 24