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Matthew tells us Jesus crossed over from Capernaum to the other side
Welcome to Exploring the Word.
>> Bert Harper: The Bible is a book of action. We're in Matthew and I want to introduce this by showing you, I love these. When it comes up in, chapter eight, verse 28, he crosses over from Capernaum to the other side, the Gadarenes, the Sea of Galilee. But then after that man, the demons are cast out of the two. And mainly one that the other two, the gospels that cover this. Talk about you come to chapter nine, verse one. And it said so he came into a boat and crossed over and came to his own city. You could say he crossed back over. So he went over there. We don't know everything he did, but it says they wanted him out of the region and he left and he came back to Capernaum. The question is how much more good he could have done on the other side had they not rebelled against him.
Bert Harper: There's something called a harmony of the Gospels
This is Bert Harper along with Dr. Alex McFarland and Alex the man, if you look at the Bible in see, is a, it is a book of action, isn't it?
>> Alex McFarland: Well, it really is. And Bert, it's great to be with you. Great to have everyone listening. And we are in embarking on Matthew chapter nine. Yeah, it is a book of action because God is a God who is active. I mean he created the universe. And Bert has been said that God's great work of creation has been coupled also with God's great work of redemption.
>> Bert Harper: Amen.
>> Alex McFarland: And this in Matthew 9, the paralytic that's gonna get healed. If you look, it corresponds with Mark, chapter two. And by the way, let me just say this. Cause we talk about a lot of resources like a concordance. But there's something that is a wonderfully enlightening tool and that's called a harmony of the Gospels. Because what you've got in Matthew, Mark, Luke and Jon. And I'm sure most everybody knows this, but you know, we've got all kind of people at different, stages of their Christian walk. The four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and Jon. There are four biographies of Jesus. And there, it's been said that there are 72 main steps from glory to glory and the healing of the, of the paralytic. And very famously where Jesus heals a man of a physical infirmity but he says, son, your sins be forgiven. my point is when you lay Matthew, Mark, Luke and Jon side by side, not every gospel gives every single scenario. Some gospels mention one thing, another mentions. And there, there are certain things that all four mention, like of course the crucifixion and resurrection. But I would encourage people, and it might be in the middle of your Bible, you might have a Bible that has a harmonization of the gospel accounts. But it's I think very, very enlight because Bert, what you see the locations, Nazareth, the Judean wilderness, Cana of Galilee, Capernaum Judea, the Sea of Galilee. and then you've got places like Gadarenes that we talked about yesterday. But then of course the focal, geographical place is Jerusalem. But really in half a dozen localities, the 72 main happenings in the ministry of Jesus are all portrayed. And anyway, I've always loved to look at the harmony of the Gospels and folks that might be a study tool that you find a blessing in.
>> Bert Harper: Alex, I agree fully. Now in the Bible that I use here, at afr, it is the new open Bible. And like me, you come to chapter nine of Matthew and right underneath it, it gives you where else it's found in mine, Mark 2 and Luke 5. Luke 5, yeah. I go through this and I can look and especially this one, the first one about the paralytic Mark has a bigger portion of his story told. There, matters 12 verses. So what you can do, and I did this, I've, I've got a message that I preach concerning this. It's when Jesus is in the house. Because over in it says when Jesus was in the house, all these things happened. But here it adds to it. And if you have them side by side, like you can get it in the harmony of the Gospels, you can look at it at the same time. But if you don't have that, you can do what I can do with this Bible. I read that and I said I'm going to turn over here to Mark Chapter two and Luke five and read what they say and you get a fuller story. Now the first three Gospels are called the Synoptic Gospels. Now it doesn't mean they are exactly the same, but they cover the same material. They cover I, I would say a lot of the northern part, the Galilean ministry of Jesus, while Jon by himself, he covers more of the Judean ministry. you come to him in chapter 11 where Lazarus is raised and the rest of Jon is talking about everything that took place there in Jerusalem and around Jerusalem. So there's so much here. And this is what we try to do on exploring the Word. Not only just do this, but we to equip you with materials and information that will, you can go through the Word of God so well. So, Alex, that I thank you for doing that and sharing that that was needful at this time. Go ahead.
Bert: It's a harmonization of the Gospels
>> Alex McFarland: Well, it's fascinating and I, know we need to get into the text, but, I've often mentioned the Jon Rice Study Bible and it's often called the Rice Reference Bible, and it was published by Thomas Nelson. It's out of print, but it's got a really good harmony of the Gospels. And I mentioned it probably three or four months ago and somebody emailed me and they said, there was three on eBay, but they all got gone in like one day. And I suspect it was exploring the word listeners that bought them. But you'll find this fascinating. in 170 A.D. there was a man named Tatian, T A T I A N. And he did the first harmonization of the Gospels. And it, it was called the Dietesaron. And that means, from four, one or one out of four. In other words, Tatian wanted to write one continuous, narrative of the life of Jesus. So that's what diatessaron means. Now in our times there's been people like Jon at Robertson and others, but, it's a harmony of the Gospels. And, and with that we'll, we'll get into the text. But Matthew 9, he got into a boat, crossed over and came to his own city. Then behold, they brought to him a paralytic lying on a bed. In other words, a paralyzed man. Jesus saw their faith. This is very important. He said to the paralytic son, be of good cheer. Your sins are forgiven you. And at once some of the, some of the scribes said within themselves, this man blasphemes. But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier to say your sins are forgiven, or to say, arise and walk. But so that you may know the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins. He said to the paralytic, arise, take up your bed and go to your house. And the man rose up and walked and went to his house. Bert, this is amazing. I want you to please comment on it. Those scribes, they were indignant that Jesus claimed to have the power to forgive sins. And yet. That's exactly right. He did have the Power to forgive sins.
>> Bert Harper: There's so much here again, it's hard not to settle down and stay here a long time. That is exactly right. Notice what it says. Knowing their thoughts, that's what happens. Later on it'll be. He heard certain things in this chapter, so there's nothing hidden from him. That's the first thing. There's nothing hidden from the Lord Jesus Christ. He knew it all then, he knows it all now. And the other thing I would want to say in verse two, they brought him. You talked about the four friends. Now, if you read Mark's account, they couldn't get through just straightforward. They couldn't get through the crowd negotiating, part, part or anything. They had to go around, come up another way, get up on top of the house through the roof, take off some of those, I would say plats that were there to, you know. And they let him down. So when it says, behold, they brought him to paralytic. Also in Mark, it says, when Jesus saw their faith, it's plural, but I believe it was the individual's faith that would save him, but it was the faith of the friends that got him there. Alex, that is so powerful to me that, those. We get these calls, especially on Tuesday, the day of prayer, but also on other days that say, this loved one of mine is far away. This daughter, this son, this spouse. you know, they're away from God, and they're not trusting him. Listen, do not give up. Jesus saw their faith. I think God responds to the friends who were praying for their friends to be saved. That God activates, and he sends people in their way. God does respond. And he says when he saw their faith. I found that encouraging as well.
>> Alex McFarland: Well, it's so sweet.
I,
>> Alex McFarland: I. I got to tell you, Bert, when I. I was a young Christian, I read Mark, chapter two, which is this account, and it just about moved me to tears.
>> Bert Harper: Amen.
>> Alex McFarland: The, you know, true friends get their friends to Jesus, and here's this man paralyzed on a cot. And these friends, you're right, they. The friends, they thought if we can just get him to Jesus, he's going to be okay. And maybe we ought to come up with a button. True friends take their friends to Jesus.
>> Bert Harper: Amen. Amen.
>> Alex McFarland: But, so here's the thing. Jesus, of course, who is omniscient, he knows all things. For one thing, Jesus saw their faith. So they've got trust, faith. And he says, son, be of good cheer. Your sins are forgiven. Now, I don't know. The paralyzed man, only God knows everything in his heart. But he was, his heart was toward the Lord. And Jesus says, your sins are forgiven. Now, what's, beautiful here is these scribes, very accusatory. Jesus is going to demonstrate to them that he has not only power over disease and creation, but he has spiritual authority to absolve us of our guilt. And they said, this man blasphemes. Josh McDowell said this. To claim to be God or to be able to save a soul, to claim I have the power over eternity. If you are God and you are the Savior, it's not blasphemy. It's just truth. And so they said Jesus was blaspheming. But Jesus, you know, verse six, the Son of Man. That's one of the titles, you know. Lord Messiah, God, Christ, Son of God, Son of man. And this is a title from Daniel. And they would have known this is a title for the Messiah. Jesus said, you all need to know the Son of Man. I have power to forgive sins on earth. Bert, I'll say this.
Bert Harper: Jesus took care of first things first without healing
I'll throw it to you. I'm glad that when it comes to the forgiving of sins, Jesus is still the one who's got the power to do that. And we can call out to him.
>> Bert Harper: Amen. The only one. The only one. Now let me say, people say, why did he do that without healing? First things first. This man came with two needs, and he had faith in both. He had faith in that he was the Son of God. So Jesus took care of the main thing first. Which is what? That which is spiritual. That greater need. The greater need between what you have in a disease and what you are in Christ without him, through the most important one is the one that is eternal, and that's eternal life. So Jesus took care of first things first. And that's a principle. A, man that comes to offer up a gift, and he remembers that his brother has ought with him. He said, first, go make that right. Leave you, leave your offering, then come back. So get first things first in your life. Those of you who are listening, make sure you're saved. Yes, you have needs, your family has needs. But make sure you're right with God through Jesus Christ. We're going to be back and we're going to continue in Matthew 9 right after this break.
>> Bert Harper: Right now, more mothers need that moment of hope. Just $28 sponsors one ultrasound and $140 helps rescue five babies. You're generous tax deductible gift also helps provide mothers who choose life with love and Support and care for up to two years. Please don't wait. Help surround mothers and babies with compassion, truth and hope today. To donate, dial 250 and say the key word baby. That's hashtag250baby. Or visit preborn.com Bert Harper. That's preborn.com Bert Harper.
You, Lord, are my lamp. The Lord turns my darkness into light. Psalm 18:28.
Praise him for friends and family, for the very air we breathe, for having everything we need. Won't somebody come praise the Lord with me? Yeah, Can I get a hallelujah? Someone say amen.
>> Alex McFarland: We'll say it. We'll say hallelujah and amen.
>> Bert Harper: Amen.
>> Bert Harper: Way to go, Alex.
>> Alex McFarland: Praise the Lord.
Bert Harper: Christ forgave the paralyzed man in Matthew chapter 9
Welcome back to Exploring the Word on the American Family radio network. Alex McFarland, Bert Harper, Brent Austin at the board. And we're very honored that you all are listening. And we're in Matthew, chapter 9. And Christ forgave the paralyzed man. He said to the paralytic, verse six, arise, take up your bed and go to your house. And he arose and departed to his house. Now, when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and they glorified God, who had given such power to men. Bert, I don't want to spiritualize too much, but I just got to say in verse six, arise, take up your bed and go to your house. Now. hopefully everybody listening, you're not on a bed of affliction or paralyzed, but when you come to Jesus, yes, the most important thing of all. Our sins are washed away. We're saved. We arise, we're right with God. But then we go forward in the newness of life. And there are certain things that we leave behind. And it might not be a bed of paralysis, or it may be, but we leave behind the way things were and who we were, and go to your house. In other words, resume your life. But now in a state of new life. Bert, I just think in Matthew 9, 6, there's a gospel message in there for each and every one of us, isn't it?
>> Bert Harper: Amen. The old is past. The new has come. What do you follow in the new? What he's opened up. And, that's exactly. He arose. I love this. Arise. He arose. He said, take up your bed, go to your house. Listen. And he arose and departed to his house. That is a sign. Let me just say this, the first act of discipleship, obeying the Lord, you know, and I love verse 7. When the multitude saw it, they marveled, they were amazed, and glorify God. Listen, that's exactly our purpose, you know, glorifying him. And he was glorified. And listen, we don't know everything. This is the next verse. A man called Matthew. He also goes by the name Levi, by the way. He was sitting at the tax office and Jesus came by and followed me. Now, I, I, I don't believe this is the first time Matthew had ever seen Jesus or Jesus saw Matthew. I, believe Matthew. This is my opinion, Alex. you can disagree. I believe he had been hanging around some of this and he's been seeing it and he's been thinking about it, he's been dwelling on it. But he's a Jew that's out of fellowship with the Jewish community. If he's a tax collector and he's a Jew, which he is, Levi, I guarantee you he, you know, he's out there and not, not walking with any particular group. He's kind of isolated because the Jewish community doesn't want to have anything to do with him. And possibly him, you know, him connected with the Romans, he probably have a lim number of people that were really interested in him. He saw that in Jesus. And when Jesus said follow me, he arose and followed him. And Alex, you was talking about leaving some things behind. that's exactly what Matthew did, isn't it?
>> Alex McFarland: well, exactly, exactly. And you know, the Matthew of Matthew 9, verse 9 is the writer of this gospel. You know, it's interesting, Luke references himself and this is one of the examples where, you know, Matthew the apostle is Matthew the publican, who wrote this gospel. I mean, at least that's what most scholars say. Bert, have you gotten that study?
>> Bert Harper: Yes, that's it.
>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, exactly.
Bert Harper: I believe in traditional authorship of the gospels
And by the way, this is the topic of traditional authorship of the gospels. And I, I do believe in the traditional authorship of the Gospels and all the biblical books because really if you read or if you maybe you took a religion course at a college, in the 20th century it became very fashionable to just question and even deny almost everything that people had known for two millennia. And as time has gone on, Bert, Even in the 30 years since I graduated from seminary, more and more people have acknowledged that the hyper skepticism really was not based in anything other than unbelief. I mean, so we accept the Bible for how it was written and for what it says. But Jesus says to Matthew, follow me. So he arose and followed him. Now what happened is Jesus said at the table in the house that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. So Jesus goes to eat at Matthew's house, doesn't he?
>> Bert Harper: Matthew's party.
>> Alex McFarland: Yeah.
>> Bert Harper: Yeah, he does.
>> Bert Harper: And.
>> Bert Harper: And listen, by the way, in Luke, in Luke's account, he uses that term. He left all and then he followed him.
>> Bert Harper: So.
>> Bert Harper: Go ahead. I just wanted to throw that in.
>> Alex McFarland: Yeah. And this is in Matthew. I mean, Luke, chapter five. But, the Pharisees, they. They saw and they said to his disciples, and, you know, it's almost like they're whispering and going to the disciples, and they don't go straight to Jesus, right? Now, why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners? When Jesus heard that verse 12, he said to them, those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means. I desire mercy and not sacrifice, for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Now that verse 13, many great sermons have been preached. Here's Jesus's mission. He said, look, the righteous, they're. They're in the family already. I didn't come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. And Bert, if your goal is to save sinners, you got to go where the sinners are. And Jesus ate. Praise the Lord. He received tax collectors and sinners, and he received this sinner too. And, aren't you glad we have a Savior who's willing to reach out to those that need forgiveness?
>> Bert Harper: Amen, Alex. Well said. And notice he quotes from Hosea 6. 6. I Desire Mercy and not sacrifice. Now, here's what those Pharisees were famous for. They were famous for doing everything according to the sacrifice and making it known. Watch me. Listen me. The Pharisee went up and said, oh, God, I thank you. I'm not like that guy right over there. Oh, say they wanted to be seen and heard. And now, here's the catch. For I did not come m to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Now here it is. They're not righteous. They are self righteous. Those that are listening today, make sure your righteousness is the righteousness that Christ brings into your life. Not a list of rules. I don't do this. I don't do that. I'm as good as they are. I do this. No, listen. It's the righteousness of Jesus Christ. It's a relationship with him, knowing him and following him. And, and so, Alex, Jesus just again, he. He does this again and again. But I've noticed this in verse 4. He knew their thoughts and here in verse 12. He heard them. Now, I don't know if that touches anybody besides Bert Harper, but, in other words, your thoughts, your words, they're a dead giveaway of who we are, aren't they?
>> Alex McFarland: Well, they really are. And the Lord knows. Let's remind ourselves that God knows. God knows our thoughts. He hears our words. And we will give an account, that would, you know, Ecclesiastes. I believe it's 1214. That says, you know, every word and every deed we'll give an account for. And, that. That makes me want to come to Jesus.
>> Bert Harper: Me and you both.
Yeah.
Alex: John the Baptist was a transitional figure between Old and New Testament
>> Alex McFarland: So, Jon the Baptist's disciples come, and we've talked about this how Jon the Baptist, he was kind of an Old Testament prophet and a NewSong Testament evangelist. Really, I believe Jon the Baptist and his preaching was really a bridge that seems to unite Old Testament and NewSong, the promised of. Of Christ coming and the reality of Christ's incarnation. But they.
>> Bert Harper: Can I interrupt just a minute and ask you something? I, I hate to do that, but this just crossed me. I'd never thought about it till you said that Jon the Baptist was that transition old to the new. Okay.
>> Bert Harper: Correct.
>> Bert Harper: I believe that Samuel and I just thought of that. He was a transitional figure from the period of the Judges to the time of the Kings.
>> Alex McFarland: Amen.
>> Bert Harper: You catch what I say?
>> Alex McFarland: Absolutely.
>> Bert Harper: Well, that brings me to thought. There's usually transition period of time, like the church, the Old Testament, being that in the day of Pentecost, there was some times there, they were still going to the temple to pray. Acts, chapter three. So this transitional period, but also in our own lives. And you disagree?
>> Bert Harper: Yes.
>> Bert Harper: All things are made new. I agree, man. But yet, at the same time, that discipleship process, it's transitioning from the old to the new. you've got a new nature. But guess what? That old nature. Old nature doesn't die easily, does it?
>> Alex McFarland: That. That is very true. And, you know, maybe we'll have to do a program sometime about these transitional figures and transitional seasons. And you and I have talked about this much. The Book of Acts, really, from the incarnation, resurrection and ascension to Pentecost and the church age proper, the Book of Acts is kind of a transition. And the two main figures would be, in my opinion, Peter and Paul, of course. Really, Paul kind of becomes the dominant figure by the end of the Book of Acts, but, God is always at work. We started the program saying that God is a God of action. And, world history is really the Story of salvation history. God working to bring forth the Messiah and make salvation possible. That whosoever will may come. And folks to everybody listening, we hope that that whosoever will includes you. We hope that you have opened your heart and put your faith in Jesus. But the disciples of Jon the Baptist, they say, you know, why do we. And the Pharisees, we often fast. But the disciples of Jesus, they don't fast. And here's what Christ says. Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? In other words, if you're going to, a wedding reception, you're probably going to celebrate because you're right there with you. Might be, you know, friends of the bride or friends of the bridegroom. but the time is coming when the bridegroom will be taken away. Then they will fast, before we get to 16 and 17, fasting is something that is really associated with solitude. You know, people have gotten alone with God and fasted and prayed. Jesus went into the wilderness alone for 40 days and fasted. And so what Christ is saying is, look, I'm here, and my disciples are with me every day. And they rejoice in that. They're not sad. And by the way, they're not begging God in prayer because they can talk to Jesus face to face right here. And so they're not fasting because at that moment now, it wouldn't last forever. But Christ is there physically present with
>> Bert Harper: them, Alex, as it continues. And he gives two illustrations. And they're powerful.
>> Bert Harper: They really are.
>> Bert Harper: We'll try to get to them today.
Bert: Verse 16 says no one puts new cloth on old garment
We'll stop with verse 17, probably with the time frame. But it says no one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch pulls away from the garment and the tear is made worse. Now, I'm old enough and was poor enough that I had blue jeans. And guess, what I do. I'd wear holes.
>> Bert Harper: Yes.
>> Bert Harper: At the knees. Now that would be popular today. So I was just way before my time, I guess.
Yes.
>> Bert Harper: But anyway, you didn't put new blue jean denim on the old denim. I remember my mother taking the, another pair of old jeans, cutting out that and then sewing them to put that patch on that not new one, because it would make it worse. It would tear. It just. You don't mix the two. Then the other one was, which is even, I think, even a greater word picture, it says, nor did people put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break the Wine is spilled and the wine skins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins and both are preserved. Now, the old wine skins, after they were out, they would harden. So you couldn't use it because the new wine put in. What would it do? It would expand and it would cause the breakage. Alex, the Old Testament. Yeah, it served a purpose, but it had, you know, this is new. This is called the new covenant. This is called the Holy Spirit coming. Not just coming on people, but coming in and dwelling. these are two very vivid word pictures, aren't they?
>> Alex McFarland: Well, yeah, it really is. Because, I mean, you've got in 16, the illustration of cloth. In 17, the illustration of, of the wine skin. Now, I'm just going to say this. The, the. The old cloth and the new cloth, the old wineskin and the new wine skin. The old cloth and the, old wine skin is Judaism, and the new cloth and the wine skin is Christianity. And I'm not saying this, out of anti Semitism. We love Israel, we love the Jewish people, and God has big things for them. But here was, you know, it's been 400 years since the writing of Malachi. It's, It's a, dead, empty religious ritual. That's the old clothes and, you know, new cloth, you sew it on and it shrinks. It makes the tear worse. The new cloth, the new wineskin, the new covenant. This is Christianity. The Old Testament was Jesus promised. The NewSong Testament is Jesus present. The Old Testament was Jesus really concealed. The NewSong Testament is Jesus revealed. And, let me say, folks, well, Bert, when I got saved, there was some stuff I had heard in church that I had to kind of unlearn. You know what I mean?
>> Bert Harper: Yes.
>> Alex McFarland: And folks, now Christ, God incarnate, shed his blood, rose from the dead. That's not up for discussion. We know that's true, but look, I believed in Darwinian evolution. That's what I'd been taught in school. I, got in the word of God and I realized that wasn't true. And so we need to always be willing to shape our beliefs on what God's word says. Not something we may have assumed or even long been taught.
>> Bert Harper: Hallelujah. 888-589-8840 is the number. If you have a Bible question, Alex and I would love to hear it today.
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from the highest of heights to the depths of the. Creations Revealing your majesty from the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring Every creature unique in the song that it seems all exclaiming, indescribable.
If you have a Bible question, call us at 888-589-884
>> Alex McFarland: Welcome back to Exploring the Word. Bert and Alex here. Time to give the telephone number. It's 888-589-884. Triple 858-98840. If you have a Bible question, call in. We've got lines open. You'll get through. And we would love to hear any question. It doesn't necessarily have to be about Matthew here where we are, but it could be. But we'd love to hear from you. 888-58-9883. And Bert, we also, I want to say this. We have a very robust Facebook page. You can like us on Facebook. We'd be grateful. Be our Facebook friend. And we post a lot of stuff there. And you can also email us if you ever wanted to do that.
>> Bert Harper: Wordfr.net okay, well, Alex, we. Yesterday was day of prayer. And on day of prayer, seemed like we get more activity on Facebook than, you know, a lot of times. And so I understand Brent, got some of that and wants to pass it on.
Brent asks for prayers for two people who need healing
We want to do that first thing
>> Alex McFarland: today, one of those days where we got an abundance of them and they were still coming in when we went off the air. So I've got two here. One is, from Laura. She's asking for a prayer for her son who is in desperate need of a job. And he's got an interview coming up and, has a very young family. also, Kevan asked for prayer for his mother, Katy. she is, has a broken ankle and ask him for prayers for healing.
>> Bert Harper: Okay, Laura's, son needs, a job, and Kevan's mom, Katy, needs healing. Father, I pray that you would be with these. And we thank you for them. And, God, I just. I thank you for being who you are, that you are concerned about us. And like we studied about the paralytic today, you did heal him, but the greatest need in his life was a relationship with you. We don't know where everybody calls in and where they are, far as the people they're praying for. But we are praying that you would work in their lives, draw them to you, that they may know you as Savior and Lord. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Thank you so much, Brent.
Make sure you have RSVP's to God's invitation, Alex says
Well, let's go to the phone lines. And again, I'll remind you that number, as Alex did, is 888-589-8840. And we'd love to hear your Bible question today. Let's go to Robert in Louisiana. Robert, thank you for calling. Go right ahead. Okay.
>> Bert Harper: Are.
>> Bert Harper: Are you on speaker or anything?
>> Bert Harper: Robert,
>> Bert Harper: if you could take it off speaker, it would probably help. Okay. And turn your radio down or off.
Is that better?
>> Bert Harper: Oh, man. Yeah, we better. We thought a hurricane was coming to Louisiana when you first got on, man, because we've had storms up here. We thought it was happening in Louisiana. But thank you for calling. Go right ahead.
We could use the rain, in some of this place. look, my question is. Has to do in Revelation 19, where Jesus is talking about the, Anyway, Jon's actually talking about, blessed are those that are invited to the marriage supper. Obviously they're not the. That's not the bride and he's the groom, so he doesn't need the invitation. Who are those who are invited to that?
>> Bert Harper: Okay, Alex, go ahead. Go ahead. I heard you.
>> Alex McFarland: It's, the whole wide world, isn't it? not everybody responds, but to be provided is a blessing, isn't it?
>> Bert Harper: It is. Invitation. You've got to receive the invitation. I read some. Jan was showing. My wife was showing me something about this, just the other day, and talking about, you're invited, to the wedding, but you've got to respond. It was going to be at a glorious reception and everything in line and said, but you must respond RS whatever that is. And, and so they didn't. And they decided at the last minute to go. Okay. And so, when they got there, the guy said, well, I've. I've got the invitation here. Yes, but you do not have the receipt. Get in. Okay. Don't decide to get into Christ too late. Do it now. You. You know, they would not let them in because they'd gotten there too late. Listen, Come to Christ and do it today. We want people to be saved today, don't we, Alex?
We do.
>> Alex McFarland: I looked up the word. It really is a word for summon. This is Revelation 19:9, by the way. the marriage of the lamb has come. His wife has made herself ready, and to her, to the bride of Christ. It was granted, that she's arrayed in fine linen. Then he said to me, write, blessed are those who are called or summoned or invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. These are the true sayings of God. Everybody is invited to the marriage of the lamb and to be part of the bride. Now, not everybody RSVPs, but the. The. The roster is open right now. And, you know, so much we could say about the gospel, but, folks, you've been invited to a marriage. And in fact, as a believer, you're part of the. The bride. and everybody loves a wedding. It's a beautiful thing. Make sure, folks, that you have RSVP's to God's invitation, which says, whosoever will may come.
>> Bert Harper: Amen.
Why isn't the Old Testament written in chronological order
I got a question, and I wanted to answer it because I've given out the 11 chapter, 11 books that you can read to read through the Old Testament chronologically. Had to give it out today to someone who had heard about it. I had to. I got to. I should change my language, Alex. they asked me, why isn't the Old Testament written in chronological order?
>> Alex McFarland: Why is it the Old Testament written in chronological order?
>> Bert Harper: Why is it not written in chronological order?
>> Alex McFarland: well, part of the reason, I think, is because you've got different things going on from the creation and the fall, and then the call of Abraham, and then you've got the Egyptian, captivity, and then you've got the period of the Judges. so there are a number of scenarios that need to be played out. but, anyway, because there's just a lot going on. The overarching theme, of course, is that God is calling forth, the nation of Israel, through whom he would send Jesus the m. Messiah. Ah. And it just, There's too many scenarios that. It's just not something that lends itself to a completely linear presentation.
>> Bert Harper: You.
>> Bert Harper: You can't read it that way. Okay, Paul, listen, Moses wrote those first five books. And, but Job was written probably during the period of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, so it was there before. So you would not interrupt the Genesis account to put Job right there in the middle of it. You could not do that. And then you have the period of the Kings, first and second Samuel, and first and second, second Kings, especially when the prophets were active as they could be. So it would be interrupting the whole idea while you were given a chronological order of which king served this king, served this king, and interrupted with the prophet message that this prophet gave. So the way it's given is, Is not chronologically, but if you understand that, okay, this is the period of time when it happened. If you get a chronological view of it, it will help. And you can see, put the prophets where they belong. Yeah, the psalms spread out too long. It's hard to put the Psalms all in where it happened. But, that's the reason you just could not be done that way. So I thought that was a great question, and I appreciate it.
Alex: I hear we're having a drought right now in northwest Arkansas
>> Alex McFarland: Very good question.
>> Bert Harper: Let's go to Arkansas and talk to Linne. Linne, thank you for calling. Go right ahead.
Okay, thank you. Yeah, I wanted to know about, in the end times climate, how it's mentioned in the Bible. if it's judgment. I. I hear we're having a drought right now. And whenever it rains, it's, few and far between, and it's very minimal. And I told a friend of mine, we've both been praying for rain, and I said, I think we need to pray for a soaking rain. And she said, well, we need to be grateful for anything we get. And I said, well, yeah, I believe that. I'm grateful. We, you know, we just really need a good ring.
>> Bert Harper: Okay, that's in what part of Arkansas is that? All over Arkansas or part of it land?
I don't know if it's all over Arkansas, but northwest Arkansas.
>> Bert Harper: Okay, listen, I believe in praying and bring your umbrella, Alex. You know what I mean? You heard about your prayer meeting they were having? This is. I, don't know if it's true, but I heard it when I was a kid. they were having a prayer meeting for rain, and the only one that showed up that was prepared for God's answer was the little girl that brought the umbrella. So I believe we need to pray and bring our umbrellas, Alex.
>> Alex McFarland: Amen.
Luke 21:11 talks about earthquakes, famines and pestilences
Well, you know, some of the extremes in the climate, may be signs of the last days, because Luke 21:11 talks about near the end of time, there will be earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, along with fearful sights and great signs in heaven and the word for famine there in Luke 21:11. It can mean, well, really, I'm looking at the lexicon now. Destitution and, ah, dearth, D, E, A, R, T, H. Like there's a dearth of, you know, health care or somewhere or something. Well, it means an absence of something. And so when there's an absence of rain, you can't grow the crops. So there can be famine. And that's, you know, by the way, Joseph in the Old Testament, in Genesis 37 through 45, the first rationing in human history, preparing, storing up for the time of famine. That comes right out of the way that God led Joseph. But, it has been said, Bert and I don't want to make too much of this, but I want to be observant of it. There have been more earthquakes in the last hundred years. Seismologists, and others believe in the last hundred years, more earthquakes than in all the previous years of history combined. And, I mean, look, we've seen everything from tsunamis to earthquakes to tornadoes, extreme drought, drought, extreme rain and flooding. when it talks about the creation groaning like birth pangs awaiting the return of Christ, I don't know. I could see that being present in our times.
>> Bert Harper: Well, I understand that, and I believe that, but we got to go back to the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. They all happened at the same time in the 1930s. And it was severe. Man. You see the pictures of the Dust bowl and what it did to the crops and what it did to everything. The Depression, the, You know, we live in difficult times, no matter what times it is. But that exponential. I believe the reason with some of it is that we see the signs of the time, is our ability to know. We hear about it worldwide. We don't just hear about it. Speaking of that, the flooding that's in Nepal, Brent reminded me of that. Thou. I don't know if it's hundreds of people or whatever that is drowning because of too much rain in Nepal. And 71% of Arkansas is under drought for lack of rain. So we. We're living in this dichotomy of this and that. And so it's. It's extremes, extreme. We need to know that Christ is on his way. We're going to go to Mississippi. Joni, thank you for calling. Go right ahead.
Yes, sir.
Bert: Baptists say that hell is eternal; Seventh Day Adventists disagree
I have a question. The Seventh Day Adventists say that at the end, that a person is consumed, by fire, and there is an end to their soul. But Baptists say that hell is eternal. Can you help clarify that?
>> Bert Harper: Okay. It's called the annihilation of the soul. Alex. Matter of fact, Kirk Cameron and others, it's brought it up, not just Seventh day Adventists, but it's been discussed in evangelical, terms as well. Hasn't has.
>> Alex McFarland: And let me say this, that, annihilationism is wrong. among the verses, Revelation 14:11 talks about of those that are in hell, it says the smoke of their torment ascended forever and ever. The wording there literally means into the eons. And by the way, let me say this. The same wording talks, about that, into the ages we will the saved experience the love of Jesus. So if hell is temporary, not eternal, why do we think heaven would be eternal and not temporary? No. Anyone who teaches that the soul dies or gets snuffed out or. No, Ancient statements of Christian, orthodoxy said we believe. Now listen, and this is all biblical. The everlasting conscious punishment of the lost, the everlasting conscious blessedness of the saved. Bert, I disagree. Biblically, I disagree with annihilationism.
>> Bert Harper: I do too. Not because I want to, but because of the scriptures. yeah, hey, it'd be easier. Oh, man. Yes, Revelation 14, but not.
Some people claim there are 20 books in the Bible that aren't there
Hey, we got time for one more call and it's Mark in Texas. Mark, go right ahead. How you doing?
>> Bert Harper: I know you don't want to believe everything on Facebook, but I heard the other day someone claiming that there was 20 books in the Bible that are not in the Bible, 20 books that should be. And I don't believe that there, there's anything God left out, but I just wanted to have yalls thoughts on what, what the 20 books of the Bible that some people believe should be there that aren't.
>> Bert Harper: Mark, thank you for calling. Alex, don't have a lot of time. Take it ahead, man.
>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, thank you for this wonderful question. Bert and I addressed this in our first book, 100 Bible Questions and answers, and also in Our most recent 100 Bible Questions on prophecy. Look, there have been in the ancient world from 100 to 400 years after the life of Christ. There were a number of books and writings floating around. But what you have in the Bible are the books written by apostles, eyewitnesses of Jesus. Ah, Affirmed by the early church, shown to have the power of God. The old Testament canon, 39 books. Nobody questions the 27 NewSong Testament books. What is in your Bible is what God gave. There are no lost books of the Bible. That's just a modern popular legend.
>> Bert Harper: But it's not true what Satan is trying to do. And some have bought into it is diminish what we have, okay? Diminish that which has been proven and over and over again. And I use this, and I believe with all my heart, if we can can trust God to give it, we can also trust God to collect it. And that's it, Alex. Tomorrow we'll continue in Matthew, chapter nine. Those of you that can, read ahead. There's still exciting miracles and teachings ahead in the Book of Matthew.
The views and opinions expressed in this
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American Family Radio takes your Bible questions live on American Family Radio
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Matthew tells us Jesus crossed over from Capernaum to the other side
Welcome to Exploring the Word.
>> Bert Harper: The Bible is a book of action. We're in Matthew and I want to introduce this by showing you, I love these. When it comes up in, chapter eight, verse 28, he crosses over from Capernaum to the other side, the Gadarenes, the Sea of Galilee. But then after that man, the demons are cast out of the two. And mainly one that the other two, the gospels that cover this. Talk about you come to chapter nine, verse one. And it said so he came into a boat and crossed over and came to his own city. You could say he crossed back over. So he went over there. We don't know everything he did, but it says they wanted him out of the region and he left and he came back to Capernaum. The question is how much more good he could have done on the other side had they not rebelled against him.
Bert Harper: There's something called a harmony of the Gospels
This is Bert Harper along with Dr. Alex McFarland and Alex the man, if you look at the Bible in see, is a, it is a book of action, isn't it?
>> Alex McFarland: Well, it really is. And Bert, it's great to be with you. Great to have everyone listening. And we are in embarking on Matthew chapter nine. Yeah, it is a book of action because God is a God who is active. I mean he created the universe. And Bert has been said that God's great work of creation has been coupled also with God's great work of redemption.
>> Bert Harper: Amen.
>> Alex McFarland: And this in Matthew 9, the paralytic that's gonna get healed. If you look, it corresponds with Mark, chapter two. And by the way, let me just say this. Cause we talk about a lot of resources like a concordance. But there's something that is a wonderfully enlightening tool and that's called a harmony of the Gospels. Because what you've got in Matthew, Mark, Luke and Jon. And I'm sure most everybody knows this, but you know, we've got all kind of people at different, stages of their Christian walk. The four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and Jon. There are four biographies of Jesus. And there, it's been said that there are 72 main steps from glory to glory and the healing of the, of the paralytic. And very famously where Jesus heals a man of a physical infirmity but he says, son, your sins be forgiven. my point is when you lay Matthew, Mark, Luke and Jon side by side, not every gospel gives every single scenario. Some gospels mention one thing, another mentions. And there, there are certain things that all four mention, like of course the crucifixion and resurrection. But I would encourage people, and it might be in the middle of your Bible, you might have a Bible that has a harmonization of the gospel accounts. But it's I think very, very enlight because Bert, what you see the locations, Nazareth, the Judean wilderness, Cana of Galilee, Capernaum Judea, the Sea of Galilee. and then you've got places like Gadarenes that we talked about yesterday. But then of course the focal, geographical place is Jerusalem. But really in half a dozen localities, the 72 main happenings in the ministry of Jesus are all portrayed. And anyway, I've always loved to look at the harmony of the Gospels and folks that might be a study tool that you find a blessing in.
>> Bert Harper: Alex, I agree fully. Now in the Bible that I use here, at afr, it is the new open Bible. And like me, you come to chapter nine of Matthew and right underneath it, it gives you where else it's found in mine, Mark 2 and Luke 5. Luke 5, yeah. I go through this and I can look and especially this one, the first one about the paralytic Mark has a bigger portion of his story told. There, matters 12 verses. So what you can do, and I did this, I've, I've got a message that I preach concerning this. It's when Jesus is in the house. Because over in it says when Jesus was in the house, all these things happened. But here it adds to it. And if you have them side by side, like you can get it in the harmony of the Gospels, you can look at it at the same time. But if you don't have that, you can do what I can do with this Bible. I read that and I said I'm going to turn over here to Mark Chapter two and Luke five and read what they say and you get a fuller story. Now the first three Gospels are called the Synoptic Gospels. Now it doesn't mean they are exactly the same, but they cover the same material. They cover I, I would say a lot of the northern part, the Galilean ministry of Jesus, while Jon by himself, he covers more of the Judean ministry. you come to him in chapter 11 where Lazarus is raised and the rest of Jon is talking about everything that took place there in Jerusalem and around Jerusalem. So there's so much here. And this is what we try to do on exploring the Word. Not only just do this, but we to equip you with materials and information that will, you can go through the Word of God so well. So, Alex, that I thank you for doing that and sharing that that was needful at this time. Go ahead.
Bert: It's a harmonization of the Gospels
>> Alex McFarland: Well, it's fascinating and I, know we need to get into the text, but, I've often mentioned the Jon Rice Study Bible and it's often called the Rice Reference Bible, and it was published by Thomas Nelson. It's out of print, but it's got a really good harmony of the Gospels. And I mentioned it probably three or four months ago and somebody emailed me and they said, there was three on eBay, but they all got gone in like one day. And I suspect it was exploring the word listeners that bought them. But you'll find this fascinating. in 170 A.D. there was a man named Tatian, T A T I A N. And he did the first harmonization of the Gospels. And it, it was called the Dietesaron. And that means, from four, one or one out of four. In other words, Tatian wanted to write one continuous, narrative of the life of Jesus. So that's what diatessaron means. Now in our times there's been people like Jon at Robertson and others, but, it's a harmony of the Gospels. And, and with that we'll, we'll get into the text. But Matthew 9, he got into a boat, crossed over and came to his own city. Then behold, they brought to him a paralytic lying on a bed. In other words, a paralyzed man. Jesus saw their faith. This is very important. He said to the paralytic son, be of good cheer. Your sins are forgiven you. And at once some of the, some of the scribes said within themselves, this man blasphemes. But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier to say your sins are forgiven, or to say, arise and walk. But so that you may know the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins. He said to the paralytic, arise, take up your bed and go to your house. And the man rose up and walked and went to his house. Bert, this is amazing. I want you to please comment on it. Those scribes, they were indignant that Jesus claimed to have the power to forgive sins. And yet. That's exactly right. He did have the Power to forgive sins.
>> Bert Harper: There's so much here again, it's hard not to settle down and stay here a long time. That is exactly right. Notice what it says. Knowing their thoughts, that's what happens. Later on it'll be. He heard certain things in this chapter, so there's nothing hidden from him. That's the first thing. There's nothing hidden from the Lord Jesus Christ. He knew it all then, he knows it all now. And the other thing I would want to say in verse two, they brought him. You talked about the four friends. Now, if you read Mark's account, they couldn't get through just straightforward. They couldn't get through the crowd negotiating, part, part or anything. They had to go around, come up another way, get up on top of the house through the roof, take off some of those, I would say plats that were there to, you know. And they let him down. So when it says, behold, they brought him to paralytic. Also in Mark, it says, when Jesus saw their faith, it's plural, but I believe it was the individual's faith that would save him, but it was the faith of the friends that got him there. Alex, that is so powerful to me that, those. We get these calls, especially on Tuesday, the day of prayer, but also on other days that say, this loved one of mine is far away. This daughter, this son, this spouse. you know, they're away from God, and they're not trusting him. Listen, do not give up. Jesus saw their faith. I think God responds to the friends who were praying for their friends to be saved. That God activates, and he sends people in their way. God does respond. And he says when he saw their faith. I found that encouraging as well.
>> Alex McFarland: Well, it's so sweet.
I,
>> Alex McFarland: I. I got to tell you, Bert, when I. I was a young Christian, I read Mark, chapter two, which is this account, and it just about moved me to tears.
>> Bert Harper: Amen.
>> Alex McFarland: The, you know, true friends get their friends to Jesus, and here's this man paralyzed on a cot. And these friends, you're right, they. The friends, they thought if we can just get him to Jesus, he's going to be okay. And maybe we ought to come up with a button. True friends take their friends to Jesus.
>> Bert Harper: Amen. Amen.
>> Alex McFarland: But, so here's the thing. Jesus, of course, who is omniscient, he knows all things. For one thing, Jesus saw their faith. So they've got trust, faith. And he says, son, be of good cheer. Your sins are forgiven. Now, I don't know. The paralyzed man, only God knows everything in his heart. But he was, his heart was toward the Lord. And Jesus says, your sins are forgiven. Now, what's, beautiful here is these scribes, very accusatory. Jesus is going to demonstrate to them that he has not only power over disease and creation, but he has spiritual authority to absolve us of our guilt. And they said, this man blasphemes. Josh McDowell said this. To claim to be God or to be able to save a soul, to claim I have the power over eternity. If you are God and you are the Savior, it's not blasphemy. It's just truth. And so they said Jesus was blaspheming. But Jesus, you know, verse six, the Son of Man. That's one of the titles, you know. Lord Messiah, God, Christ, Son of God, Son of man. And this is a title from Daniel. And they would have known this is a title for the Messiah. Jesus said, you all need to know the Son of Man. I have power to forgive sins on earth. Bert, I'll say this.
Bert Harper: Jesus took care of first things first without healing
I'll throw it to you. I'm glad that when it comes to the forgiving of sins, Jesus is still the one who's got the power to do that. And we can call out to him.
>> Bert Harper: Amen. The only one. The only one. Now let me say, people say, why did he do that without healing? First things first. This man came with two needs, and he had faith in both. He had faith in that he was the Son of God. So Jesus took care of the main thing first. Which is what? That which is spiritual. That greater need. The greater need between what you have in a disease and what you are in Christ without him, through the most important one is the one that is eternal, and that's eternal life. So Jesus took care of first things first. And that's a principle. A, man that comes to offer up a gift, and he remembers that his brother has ought with him. He said, first, go make that right. Leave you, leave your offering, then come back. So get first things first in your life. Those of you who are listening, make sure you're saved. Yes, you have needs, your family has needs. But make sure you're right with God through Jesus Christ. We're going to be back and we're going to continue in Matthew 9 right after this break.
>> Bert Harper: Right now, more mothers need that moment of hope. Just $28 sponsors one ultrasound and $140 helps rescue five babies. You're generous tax deductible gift also helps provide mothers who choose life with love and Support and care for up to two years. Please don't wait. Help surround mothers and babies with compassion, truth and hope today. To donate, dial 250 and say the key word baby. That's hashtag250baby. Or visit preborn.com Bert Harper. That's preborn.com Bert Harper.
You, Lord, are my lamp. The Lord turns my darkness into light. Psalm 18:28.
Praise him for friends and family, for the very air we breathe, for having everything we need. Won't somebody come praise the Lord with me? Yeah, Can I get a hallelujah? Someone say amen.
>> Alex McFarland: We'll say it. We'll say hallelujah and amen.
>> Bert Harper: Amen.
>> Bert Harper: Way to go, Alex.
>> Alex McFarland: Praise the Lord.
Bert Harper: Christ forgave the paralyzed man in Matthew chapter 9
Welcome back to Exploring the Word on the American Family radio network. Alex McFarland, Bert Harper, Brent Austin at the board. And we're very honored that you all are listening. And we're in Matthew, chapter 9. And Christ forgave the paralyzed man. He said to the paralytic, verse six, arise, take up your bed and go to your house. And he arose and departed to his house. Now, when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and they glorified God, who had given such power to men. Bert, I don't want to spiritualize too much, but I just got to say in verse six, arise, take up your bed and go to your house. Now. hopefully everybody listening, you're not on a bed of affliction or paralyzed, but when you come to Jesus, yes, the most important thing of all. Our sins are washed away. We're saved. We arise, we're right with God. But then we go forward in the newness of life. And there are certain things that we leave behind. And it might not be a bed of paralysis, or it may be, but we leave behind the way things were and who we were, and go to your house. In other words, resume your life. But now in a state of new life. Bert, I just think in Matthew 9, 6, there's a gospel message in there for each and every one of us, isn't it?
>> Bert Harper: Amen. The old is past. The new has come. What do you follow in the new? What he's opened up. And, that's exactly. He arose. I love this. Arise. He arose. He said, take up your bed, go to your house. Listen. And he arose and departed to his house. That is a sign. Let me just say this, the first act of discipleship, obeying the Lord, you know, and I love verse 7. When the multitude saw it, they marveled, they were amazed, and glorify God. Listen, that's exactly our purpose, you know, glorifying him. And he was glorified. And listen, we don't know everything. This is the next verse. A man called Matthew. He also goes by the name Levi, by the way. He was sitting at the tax office and Jesus came by and followed me. Now, I, I, I don't believe this is the first time Matthew had ever seen Jesus or Jesus saw Matthew. I, believe Matthew. This is my opinion, Alex. you can disagree. I believe he had been hanging around some of this and he's been seeing it and he's been thinking about it, he's been dwelling on it. But he's a Jew that's out of fellowship with the Jewish community. If he's a tax collector and he's a Jew, which he is, Levi, I guarantee you he, you know, he's out there and not, not walking with any particular group. He's kind of isolated because the Jewish community doesn't want to have anything to do with him. And possibly him, you know, him connected with the Romans, he probably have a lim number of people that were really interested in him. He saw that in Jesus. And when Jesus said follow me, he arose and followed him. And Alex, you was talking about leaving some things behind. that's exactly what Matthew did, isn't it?
>> Alex McFarland: well, exactly, exactly. And you know, the Matthew of Matthew 9, verse 9 is the writer of this gospel. You know, it's interesting, Luke references himself and this is one of the examples where, you know, Matthew the apostle is Matthew the publican, who wrote this gospel. I mean, at least that's what most scholars say. Bert, have you gotten that study?
>> Bert Harper: Yes, that's it.
>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, exactly.
Bert Harper: I believe in traditional authorship of the gospels
And by the way, this is the topic of traditional authorship of the gospels. And I, I do believe in the traditional authorship of the Gospels and all the biblical books because really if you read or if you maybe you took a religion course at a college, in the 20th century it became very fashionable to just question and even deny almost everything that people had known for two millennia. And as time has gone on, Bert, Even in the 30 years since I graduated from seminary, more and more people have acknowledged that the hyper skepticism really was not based in anything other than unbelief. I mean, so we accept the Bible for how it was written and for what it says. But Jesus says to Matthew, follow me. So he arose and followed him. Now what happened is Jesus said at the table in the house that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. So Jesus goes to eat at Matthew's house, doesn't he?
>> Bert Harper: Matthew's party.
>> Alex McFarland: Yeah.
>> Bert Harper: Yeah, he does.
>> Bert Harper: And.
>> Bert Harper: And listen, by the way, in Luke, in Luke's account, he uses that term. He left all and then he followed him.
>> Bert Harper: So.
>> Bert Harper: Go ahead. I just wanted to throw that in.
>> Alex McFarland: Yeah. And this is in Matthew. I mean, Luke, chapter five. But, the Pharisees, they. They saw and they said to his disciples, and, you know, it's almost like they're whispering and going to the disciples, and they don't go straight to Jesus, right? Now, why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners? When Jesus heard that verse 12, he said to them, those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means. I desire mercy and not sacrifice, for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Now that verse 13, many great sermons have been preached. Here's Jesus's mission. He said, look, the righteous, they're. They're in the family already. I didn't come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. And Bert, if your goal is to save sinners, you got to go where the sinners are. And Jesus ate. Praise the Lord. He received tax collectors and sinners, and he received this sinner too. And, aren't you glad we have a Savior who's willing to reach out to those that need forgiveness?
>> Bert Harper: Amen, Alex. Well said. And notice he quotes from Hosea 6. 6. I Desire Mercy and not sacrifice. Now, here's what those Pharisees were famous for. They were famous for doing everything according to the sacrifice and making it known. Watch me. Listen me. The Pharisee went up and said, oh, God, I thank you. I'm not like that guy right over there. Oh, say they wanted to be seen and heard. And now, here's the catch. For I did not come m to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Now here it is. They're not righteous. They are self righteous. Those that are listening today, make sure your righteousness is the righteousness that Christ brings into your life. Not a list of rules. I don't do this. I don't do that. I'm as good as they are. I do this. No, listen. It's the righteousness of Jesus Christ. It's a relationship with him, knowing him and following him. And, and so, Alex, Jesus just again, he. He does this again and again. But I've noticed this in verse 4. He knew their thoughts and here in verse 12. He heard them. Now, I don't know if that touches anybody besides Bert Harper, but, in other words, your thoughts, your words, they're a dead giveaway of who we are, aren't they?
>> Alex McFarland: Well, they really are. And the Lord knows. Let's remind ourselves that God knows. God knows our thoughts. He hears our words. And we will give an account, that would, you know, Ecclesiastes. I believe it's 1214. That says, you know, every word and every deed we'll give an account for. And, that. That makes me want to come to Jesus.
>> Bert Harper: Me and you both.
Yeah.
Alex: John the Baptist was a transitional figure between Old and New Testament
>> Alex McFarland: So, Jon the Baptist's disciples come, and we've talked about this how Jon the Baptist, he was kind of an Old Testament prophet and a NewSong Testament evangelist. Really, I believe Jon the Baptist and his preaching was really a bridge that seems to unite Old Testament and NewSong, the promised of. Of Christ coming and the reality of Christ's incarnation. But they.
>> Bert Harper: Can I interrupt just a minute and ask you something? I, I hate to do that, but this just crossed me. I'd never thought about it till you said that Jon the Baptist was that transition old to the new. Okay.
>> Bert Harper: Correct.
>> Bert Harper: I believe that Samuel and I just thought of that. He was a transitional figure from the period of the Judges to the time of the Kings.
>> Alex McFarland: Amen.
>> Bert Harper: You catch what I say?
>> Alex McFarland: Absolutely.
>> Bert Harper: Well, that brings me to thought. There's usually transition period of time, like the church, the Old Testament, being that in the day of Pentecost, there was some times there, they were still going to the temple to pray. Acts, chapter three. So this transitional period, but also in our own lives. And you disagree?
>> Bert Harper: Yes.
>> Bert Harper: All things are made new. I agree, man. But yet, at the same time, that discipleship process, it's transitioning from the old to the new. you've got a new nature. But guess what? That old nature. Old nature doesn't die easily, does it?
>> Alex McFarland: That. That is very true. And, you know, maybe we'll have to do a program sometime about these transitional figures and transitional seasons. And you and I have talked about this much. The Book of Acts, really, from the incarnation, resurrection and ascension to Pentecost and the church age proper, the Book of Acts is kind of a transition. And the two main figures would be, in my opinion, Peter and Paul, of course. Really, Paul kind of becomes the dominant figure by the end of the Book of Acts, but, God is always at work. We started the program saying that God is a God of action. And, world history is really the Story of salvation history. God working to bring forth the Messiah and make salvation possible. That whosoever will may come. And folks to everybody listening, we hope that that whosoever will includes you. We hope that you have opened your heart and put your faith in Jesus. But the disciples of Jon the Baptist, they say, you know, why do we. And the Pharisees, we often fast. But the disciples of Jesus, they don't fast. And here's what Christ says. Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? In other words, if you're going to, a wedding reception, you're probably going to celebrate because you're right there with you. Might be, you know, friends of the bride or friends of the bridegroom. but the time is coming when the bridegroom will be taken away. Then they will fast, before we get to 16 and 17, fasting is something that is really associated with solitude. You know, people have gotten alone with God and fasted and prayed. Jesus went into the wilderness alone for 40 days and fasted. And so what Christ is saying is, look, I'm here, and my disciples are with me every day. And they rejoice in that. They're not sad. And by the way, they're not begging God in prayer because they can talk to Jesus face to face right here. And so they're not fasting because at that moment now, it wouldn't last forever. But Christ is there physically present with
>> Bert Harper: them, Alex, as it continues. And he gives two illustrations. And they're powerful.
>> Bert Harper: They really are.
>> Bert Harper: We'll try to get to them today.
Bert: Verse 16 says no one puts new cloth on old garment
We'll stop with verse 17, probably with the time frame. But it says no one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch pulls away from the garment and the tear is made worse. Now, I'm old enough and was poor enough that I had blue jeans. And guess, what I do. I'd wear holes.
>> Bert Harper: Yes.
>> Bert Harper: At the knees. Now that would be popular today. So I was just way before my time, I guess.
Yes.
>> Bert Harper: But anyway, you didn't put new blue jean denim on the old denim. I remember my mother taking the, another pair of old jeans, cutting out that and then sewing them to put that patch on that not new one, because it would make it worse. It would tear. It just. You don't mix the two. Then the other one was, which is even, I think, even a greater word picture, it says, nor did people put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break the Wine is spilled and the wine skins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins and both are preserved. Now, the old wine skins, after they were out, they would harden. So you couldn't use it because the new wine put in. What would it do? It would expand and it would cause the breakage. Alex, the Old Testament. Yeah, it served a purpose, but it had, you know, this is new. This is called the new covenant. This is called the Holy Spirit coming. Not just coming on people, but coming in and dwelling. these are two very vivid word pictures, aren't they?
>> Alex McFarland: Well, yeah, it really is. Because, I mean, you've got in 16, the illustration of cloth. In 17, the illustration of, of the wine skin. Now, I'm just going to say this. The, the. The old cloth and the new cloth, the old wineskin and the new wine skin. The old cloth and the, old wine skin is Judaism, and the new cloth and the wine skin is Christianity. And I'm not saying this, out of anti Semitism. We love Israel, we love the Jewish people, and God has big things for them. But here was, you know, it's been 400 years since the writing of Malachi. It's, It's a, dead, empty religious ritual. That's the old clothes and, you know, new cloth, you sew it on and it shrinks. It makes the tear worse. The new cloth, the new wineskin, the new covenant. This is Christianity. The Old Testament was Jesus promised. The NewSong Testament is Jesus present. The Old Testament was Jesus really concealed. The NewSong Testament is Jesus revealed. And, let me say, folks, well, Bert, when I got saved, there was some stuff I had heard in church that I had to kind of unlearn. You know what I mean?
>> Bert Harper: Yes.
>> Alex McFarland: And folks, now Christ, God incarnate, shed his blood, rose from the dead. That's not up for discussion. We know that's true, but look, I believed in Darwinian evolution. That's what I'd been taught in school. I, got in the word of God and I realized that wasn't true. And so we need to always be willing to shape our beliefs on what God's word says. Not something we may have assumed or even long been taught.
>> Bert Harper: Hallelujah. 888-589-8840 is the number. If you have a Bible question, Alex and I would love to hear it today.
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from the highest of heights to the depths of the. Creations Revealing your majesty from the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring Every creature unique in the song that it seems all exclaiming, indescribable.
If you have a Bible question, call us at 888-589-884
>> Alex McFarland: Welcome back to Exploring the Word. Bert and Alex here. Time to give the telephone number. It's 888-589-884. Triple 858-98840. If you have a Bible question, call in. We've got lines open. You'll get through. And we would love to hear any question. It doesn't necessarily have to be about Matthew here where we are, but it could be. But we'd love to hear from you. 888-58-9883. And Bert, we also, I want to say this. We have a very robust Facebook page. You can like us on Facebook. We'd be grateful. Be our Facebook friend. And we post a lot of stuff there. And you can also email us if you ever wanted to do that.
>> Bert Harper: Wordfr.net okay, well, Alex, we. Yesterday was day of prayer. And on day of prayer, seemed like we get more activity on Facebook than, you know, a lot of times. And so I understand Brent, got some of that and wants to pass it on.
Brent asks for prayers for two people who need healing
We want to do that first thing
>> Alex McFarland: today, one of those days where we got an abundance of them and they were still coming in when we went off the air. So I've got two here. One is, from Laura. She's asking for a prayer for her son who is in desperate need of a job. And he's got an interview coming up and, has a very young family. also, Kevan asked for prayer for his mother, Katy. she is, has a broken ankle and ask him for prayers for healing.
>> Bert Harper: Okay, Laura's, son needs, a job, and Kevan's mom, Katy, needs healing. Father, I pray that you would be with these. And we thank you for them. And, God, I just. I thank you for being who you are, that you are concerned about us. And like we studied about the paralytic today, you did heal him, but the greatest need in his life was a relationship with you. We don't know where everybody calls in and where they are, far as the people they're praying for. But we are praying that you would work in their lives, draw them to you, that they may know you as Savior and Lord. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Thank you so much, Brent.
Make sure you have RSVP's to God's invitation, Alex says
Well, let's go to the phone lines. And again, I'll remind you that number, as Alex did, is 888-589-8840. And we'd love to hear your Bible question today. Let's go to Robert in Louisiana. Robert, thank you for calling. Go right ahead. Okay.
>> Bert Harper: Are.
>> Bert Harper: Are you on speaker or anything?
>> Bert Harper: Robert,
>> Bert Harper: if you could take it off speaker, it would probably help. Okay. And turn your radio down or off.
Is that better?
>> Bert Harper: Oh, man. Yeah, we better. We thought a hurricane was coming to Louisiana when you first got on, man, because we've had storms up here. We thought it was happening in Louisiana. But thank you for calling. Go right ahead.
We could use the rain, in some of this place. look, my question is. Has to do in Revelation 19, where Jesus is talking about the, Anyway, Jon's actually talking about, blessed are those that are invited to the marriage supper. Obviously they're not the. That's not the bride and he's the groom, so he doesn't need the invitation. Who are those who are invited to that?
>> Bert Harper: Okay, Alex, go ahead. Go ahead. I heard you.
>> Alex McFarland: It's, the whole wide world, isn't it? not everybody responds, but to be provided is a blessing, isn't it?
>> Bert Harper: It is. Invitation. You've got to receive the invitation. I read some. Jan was showing. My wife was showing me something about this, just the other day, and talking about, you're invited, to the wedding, but you've got to respond. It was going to be at a glorious reception and everything in line and said, but you must respond RS whatever that is. And, and so they didn't. And they decided at the last minute to go. Okay. And so, when they got there, the guy said, well, I've. I've got the invitation here. Yes, but you do not have the receipt. Get in. Okay. Don't decide to get into Christ too late. Do it now. You. You know, they would not let them in because they'd gotten there too late. Listen, Come to Christ and do it today. We want people to be saved today, don't we, Alex?
We do.
>> Alex McFarland: I looked up the word. It really is a word for summon. This is Revelation 19:9, by the way. the marriage of the lamb has come. His wife has made herself ready, and to her, to the bride of Christ. It was granted, that she's arrayed in fine linen. Then he said to me, write, blessed are those who are called or summoned or invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. These are the true sayings of God. Everybody is invited to the marriage of the lamb and to be part of the bride. Now, not everybody RSVPs, but the. The. The roster is open right now. And, you know, so much we could say about the gospel, but, folks, you've been invited to a marriage. And in fact, as a believer, you're part of the. The bride. and everybody loves a wedding. It's a beautiful thing. Make sure, folks, that you have RSVP's to God's invitation, which says, whosoever will may come.
>> Bert Harper: Amen.
Why isn't the Old Testament written in chronological order
I got a question, and I wanted to answer it because I've given out the 11 chapter, 11 books that you can read to read through the Old Testament chronologically. Had to give it out today to someone who had heard about it. I had to. I got to. I should change my language, Alex. they asked me, why isn't the Old Testament written in chronological order?
>> Alex McFarland: Why is it the Old Testament written in chronological order?
>> Bert Harper: Why is it not written in chronological order?
>> Alex McFarland: well, part of the reason, I think, is because you've got different things going on from the creation and the fall, and then the call of Abraham, and then you've got the Egyptian, captivity, and then you've got the period of the Judges. so there are a number of scenarios that need to be played out. but, anyway, because there's just a lot going on. The overarching theme, of course, is that God is calling forth, the nation of Israel, through whom he would send Jesus the m. Messiah. Ah. And it just, There's too many scenarios that. It's just not something that lends itself to a completely linear presentation.
>> Bert Harper: You.
>> Bert Harper: You can't read it that way. Okay, Paul, listen, Moses wrote those first five books. And, but Job was written probably during the period of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, so it was there before. So you would not interrupt the Genesis account to put Job right there in the middle of it. You could not do that. And then you have the period of the Kings, first and second Samuel, and first and second, second Kings, especially when the prophets were active as they could be. So it would be interrupting the whole idea while you were given a chronological order of which king served this king, served this king, and interrupted with the prophet message that this prophet gave. So the way it's given is, Is not chronologically, but if you understand that, okay, this is the period of time when it happened. If you get a chronological view of it, it will help. And you can see, put the prophets where they belong. Yeah, the psalms spread out too long. It's hard to put the Psalms all in where it happened. But, that's the reason you just could not be done that way. So I thought that was a great question, and I appreciate it.
Alex: I hear we're having a drought right now in northwest Arkansas
>> Alex McFarland: Very good question.
>> Bert Harper: Let's go to Arkansas and talk to Linne. Linne, thank you for calling. Go right ahead.
Okay, thank you. Yeah, I wanted to know about, in the end times climate, how it's mentioned in the Bible. if it's judgment. I. I hear we're having a drought right now. And whenever it rains, it's, few and far between, and it's very minimal. And I told a friend of mine, we've both been praying for rain, and I said, I think we need to pray for a soaking rain. And she said, well, we need to be grateful for anything we get. And I said, well, yeah, I believe that. I'm grateful. We, you know, we just really need a good ring.
>> Bert Harper: Okay, that's in what part of Arkansas is that? All over Arkansas or part of it land?
I don't know if it's all over Arkansas, but northwest Arkansas.
>> Bert Harper: Okay, listen, I believe in praying and bring your umbrella, Alex. You know what I mean? You heard about your prayer meeting they were having? This is. I, don't know if it's true, but I heard it when I was a kid. they were having a prayer meeting for rain, and the only one that showed up that was prepared for God's answer was the little girl that brought the umbrella. So I believe we need to pray and bring our umbrellas, Alex.
>> Alex McFarland: Amen.
Luke 21:11 talks about earthquakes, famines and pestilences
Well, you know, some of the extremes in the climate, may be signs of the last days, because Luke 21:11 talks about near the end of time, there will be earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, along with fearful sights and great signs in heaven and the word for famine there in Luke 21:11. It can mean, well, really, I'm looking at the lexicon now. Destitution and, ah, dearth, D, E, A, R, T, H. Like there's a dearth of, you know, health care or somewhere or something. Well, it means an absence of something. And so when there's an absence of rain, you can't grow the crops. So there can be famine. And that's, you know, by the way, Joseph in the Old Testament, in Genesis 37 through 45, the first rationing in human history, preparing, storing up for the time of famine. That comes right out of the way that God led Joseph. But, it has been said, Bert and I don't want to make too much of this, but I want to be observant of it. There have been more earthquakes in the last hundred years. Seismologists, and others believe in the last hundred years, more earthquakes than in all the previous years of history combined. And, I mean, look, we've seen everything from tsunamis to earthquakes to tornadoes, extreme drought, drought, extreme rain and flooding. when it talks about the creation groaning like birth pangs awaiting the return of Christ, I don't know. I could see that being present in our times.
>> Bert Harper: Well, I understand that, and I believe that, but we got to go back to the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. They all happened at the same time in the 1930s. And it was severe. Man. You see the pictures of the Dust bowl and what it did to the crops and what it did to everything. The Depression, the, You know, we live in difficult times, no matter what times it is. But that exponential. I believe the reason with some of it is that we see the signs of the time, is our ability to know. We hear about it worldwide. We don't just hear about it. Speaking of that, the flooding that's in Nepal, Brent reminded me of that. Thou. I don't know if it's hundreds of people or whatever that is drowning because of too much rain in Nepal. And 71% of Arkansas is under drought for lack of rain. So we. We're living in this dichotomy of this and that. And so it's. It's extremes, extreme. We need to know that Christ is on his way. We're going to go to Mississippi. Joni, thank you for calling. Go right ahead.
Yes, sir.
Bert: Baptists say that hell is eternal; Seventh Day Adventists disagree
I have a question. The Seventh Day Adventists say that at the end, that a person is consumed, by fire, and there is an end to their soul. But Baptists say that hell is eternal. Can you help clarify that?
>> Bert Harper: Okay. It's called the annihilation of the soul. Alex. Matter of fact, Kirk Cameron and others, it's brought it up, not just Seventh day Adventists, but it's been discussed in evangelical, terms as well. Hasn't has.
>> Alex McFarland: And let me say this, that, annihilationism is wrong. among the verses, Revelation 14:11 talks about of those that are in hell, it says the smoke of their torment ascended forever and ever. The wording there literally means into the eons. And by the way, let me say this. The same wording talks, about that, into the ages we will the saved experience the love of Jesus. So if hell is temporary, not eternal, why do we think heaven would be eternal and not temporary? No. Anyone who teaches that the soul dies or gets snuffed out or. No, Ancient statements of Christian, orthodoxy said we believe. Now listen, and this is all biblical. The everlasting conscious punishment of the lost, the everlasting conscious blessedness of the saved. Bert, I disagree. Biblically, I disagree with annihilationism.
>> Bert Harper: I do too. Not because I want to, but because of the scriptures. yeah, hey, it'd be easier. Oh, man. Yes, Revelation 14, but not.
Some people claim there are 20 books in the Bible that aren't there
Hey, we got time for one more call and it's Mark in Texas. Mark, go right ahead. How you doing?
>> Bert Harper: I know you don't want to believe everything on Facebook, but I heard the other day someone claiming that there was 20 books in the Bible that are not in the Bible, 20 books that should be. And I don't believe that there, there's anything God left out, but I just wanted to have yalls thoughts on what, what the 20 books of the Bible that some people believe should be there that aren't.
>> Bert Harper: Mark, thank you for calling. Alex, don't have a lot of time. Take it ahead, man.
>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, thank you for this wonderful question. Bert and I addressed this in our first book, 100 Bible Questions and answers, and also in Our most recent 100 Bible Questions on prophecy. Look, there have been in the ancient world from 100 to 400 years after the life of Christ. There were a number of books and writings floating around. But what you have in the Bible are the books written by apostles, eyewitnesses of Jesus. Ah, Affirmed by the early church, shown to have the power of God. The old Testament canon, 39 books. Nobody questions the 27 NewSong Testament books. What is in your Bible is what God gave. There are no lost books of the Bible. That's just a modern popular legend.
>> Bert Harper: But it's not true what Satan is trying to do. And some have bought into it is diminish what we have, okay? Diminish that which has been proven and over and over again. And I use this, and I believe with all my heart, if we can can trust God to give it, we can also trust God to collect it. And that's it, Alex. Tomorrow we'll continue in Matthew, chapter nine. Those of you that can, read ahead. There's still exciting miracles and teachings ahead in the Book of Matthew.
The views and opinions expressed in this
broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.
Chapters:
(00:00) American Family Radio takes your Bible questions live on American Family Radio
(00:16) Matthew tells us Jesus crossed over from Capernaum to the other side
(01:21) Bert Harper: There's something called a harmony of the Gospels
(06:14) Bert: It's a harmonization of the Gospels
(12:40) Bert Harper: Jesus took care of first things first without healing
(15:24) Bert Harper: Christ forgave the paralyzed man in Matthew chapter 9
(19:21) Bert Harper: I believe in traditional authorship of the gospels
(23:51) Alex: John the Baptist was a transitional figure between Old and New Testament
(27:51) Bert: Verse 16 says no one puts new cloth on old garment
(31:42) Preborn Network offers free ultrasounds to women facing unplanned pregnancies
(33:39) If you have a Bible question, call us at 888-589-884
(34:40) Brent asks for prayers for two people who need healing
(35:51) Make sure you have RSVP's to God's invitation, Alex says
(39:24) Why isn't the Old Testament written in chronological order
(41:53) Alex: I hear we're having a drought right now in northwest Arkansas
(43:16) Luke 21:11 talks about earthquakes, famines and pestilences
(46:17) Bert: Baptists say that hell is eternal; Seventh Day Adventists disagree
(48:08) Some people claim there are 20 books in the Bible that aren't there
✍️ Episode References
American Family Radio
https://afr.net
The Bible
https://www.biblegateway.com
Jon Root Study Bible
https://www.thomasnelson.com
Dietesaron
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatessaron
Josh McDowell
https://www.josh.org
Chapters:
(00:00) American Family Radio takes your Bible questions live on American Family Radio
(00:16) Matthew tells us Jesus crossed over from Capernaum to the other side
(01:21) Bert Harper: There's something called a harmony of the Gospels
(06:14) Bert: It's a harmonization of the Gospels
(12:40) Bert Harper: Jesus took care of first things first without healing
(15:24) Bert Harper: Christ forgave the paralyzed man in Matthew chapter 9
(19:21) Bert Harper: I believe in traditional authorship of the gospels
(23:51) Alex: John the Baptist was a transitional figure between Old and New Testament
(27:51) Bert: Verse 16 says no one puts new cloth on old garment
(31:42) Preborn Network offers free ultrasounds to women facing unplanned pregnancies
(33:39) If you have a Bible question, call us at 888-589-884
(34:40) Brent asks for prayers for two people who need healing
(35:51) Make sure you have RSVP's to God's invitation, Alex says
(39:24) Why isn't the Old Testament written in chronological order
(41:53) Alex: I hear we're having a drought right now in northwest Arkansas
(43:16) Luke 21:11 talks about earthquakes, famines and pestilences
(46:17) Bert: Baptists say that hell is eternal; Seventh Day Adventists disagree
(48:08) Some people claim there are 20 books in the Bible that aren't there
✍️ Episode References
American Family Radio
https://afr.net
The Bible
https://www.biblegateway.com
Jon Root Study Bible
https://www.thomasnelson.com
Dietesaron
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatessaron
Josh McDowell
https://www.josh.org
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