by Wells, Steve
(10.21) “Brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents.” Families will be torn apart because of Jesus. (This is one of the few prophecies in the Bible that has actually come true.)
22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
(10.23) “Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.” Jesus tells his disciples that he will return before they can “go over the cities of Israel.” Later (24.14) he says he will not come until the gospel is preached throughout the world. Well, his disciples went over the cities of Israel and then died waiting for the “return of the Lord.” Now, nearly 2000 years later, and long after the gospel had been preached throughout the world, his followers still wait.
354 When will the end of the world come?
24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
(10.28) “Fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Notice that Jesus makes a clear distinction between the soul and the body in this verse. Why would he do that if, as the Governing Body of the Jehovah's Witnesses teaches, the soul is the body?
132 Should we fear God?
157 Does Hell exist?
(10.29-31) God is involved in the death of every sparrow. He sees to it that they each die painful deaths of starvation, predation, or disease. But don't worry. God will do the same for you. (He thinks that humans are worth much more than sparrows.)
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
(10.29) “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.”
30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
(10.31) “Ye are of more value than many sparrows.”
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
(10.33) “Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father.” Peter denied Jesus three times before men. Therefore Jesus must have denied Peter before God.
34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
(10.34) “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.”
355 Is Jesus peaceful?
(10.35-37) Jesus warns us not to love our parents or children too much. We have to make sure that we always love him more than our family.
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
(10.35-36) “I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.”
37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
(10.37) “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”
38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.
(10.41) “He that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.”
35 Has there ever been a righteous person?
42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
MATTHEW 11
11 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.
2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?
(11.3) “Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?” John the Baptist is still not sure about Jesus. (He's in prison and is soon to die.) He sends his disciples to ask, “Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?” Well, if he isn't sure after seeing and hearing the events at Jesus' baptism, then how can anyone else be?
4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:
5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.
9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
(11.11) “There hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” John the Baptist was the greatest man ever to live (even greater than Jesus), but “he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
217 Who was the greatest: Jesus, Solomon, or John the Baptist?
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
(11.12) “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” Until when? (John the Baptist was still alive when Jesus supposedly said these words.) Jesus continues to bewilder his poor disciples by saying, “The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.”
13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
(11.13-14) “John … is Elias.”
356 Was John the Baptist Elijah?
15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? I
t is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,
17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
20 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
(11.21-24) Woe unto thee
Jesus condemns entire cities to dreadful deaths and the eternal torment of hell because they didn't care for his preaching.
21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
(11.21) “Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida!”
22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.
23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
(11.23-24) “And thou, Capernaum … shalt be brought down to hell … it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.”
25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
(11.25) “Jesus … said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.” Wise and prudent people have always rejected Jesus. They still do today.
161 Who is the Lord of the earth?
26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
MATTHEW 12
(12.1-5) When Jesus and his disciples are accused of breaking the sabbath, he excuses himself by referring to a scripture in which priests who “profaned the sabbath” were blameless. But there is no such passage in the Old Testament.
101 Is it necessary to keep the Sabbath?
193 Was David alone when he asked for the holy bread at Nob?
12 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.
(12.1) “Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat.”
2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.
(12.2) “When the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.”
3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;
(12.3) “He said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;”
4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?
(12.4) “How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?”
5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
(12.5) “Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?”
6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.
7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
(12.7) “I will have mercy, and not sacrifice.”
20 Does God desire animal sacrifices?
8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
9 And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:
(12.10-13) Jesus heals a withered hand.
10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
(12.10) “There was a man which had his hand withered.”
11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.
(12.13) “Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.”
14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.
15 But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;
(12.15) “Great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all.”
16 And charged them that they should not make him known:
17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.
19 He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.
20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.
22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
(12.22) “Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him.” Jesus casts out a devil from a man who was blind and dumb. (Those who are unable to see or hear are possessed by devils.)
23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
(12.24) “When the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.” This would be a good strategy for Beelzebub. Help Jesus (a false prophet/Messiah) cast out devils, so that the people will (mistakenly) believe in him.
25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.
28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, exce
pt he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
(12.30) “He that is not with me is against me.”
357 Who is for or against Jesus?
(12.31-32) The unforgivable sin: blasphemy against the Holy Spirit
358 Is there an unforgivable sin?
31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
(12.31) “Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven.”
32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
(12.32) “Whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him.”
33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
(12.34) “O generation of vipers” Jesus often called people names. One of his favorites was to call his adversaries a “generation of vipers.”
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
(12.36) “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
(12.37) “By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”
359 How are people judged by God?
304 Is salvation by faith alone?
307 Is anyone justified?
38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: