Jeff Chamblee The Bible. It's the word of God. Sharper than any two edged sword. This sacred book is living and active and contains all that's needed for life and godliness. Stay with American Family Radio for the next hour as we study God's word and take your Bible questions. Welcome to Exploring the Word.
Bert Harper We are studying the book of Matthew and we're in chapter 15, which is right in the middle of something that I would say Bible scholars call the period of Jesus withdrawals. Let me show you what that means in 14, 15 and 16. It starts in chapter 14 when Jesus hears about Jon the Baptist and his death. Chapter 14, verse 13, it says Jesus departed from there. And then in verse 22, Jesus since sends his apostles to the other side and he will follow them. And then in chapter 1521 that we'll study today, he departed to the regions of Tyre and sidon. In verse 29 of chapter, uh, 15, Jesus departs and skirted around the Sea of Galilee to go to the mountains. And in that same, uh, chapter, he does go. In verse 39, he got into a boat and came to the regions of Magdala. Chapter 16, verse 4, he left them and departed. You can see this. And he's building up to verse 21 in chapter 16, when he began to show his disciples that he would go to Jerusalem and suffer many things. Why would I talk about that? Because this is Jesus right before he goes to Jerusalem and there, uh, at Calvary, give his life for you and me. Well, Alex, this chapters, these three chapters 14, 15 and 16, they're filled with miracles and teaching. But that period of withdrawals, Jesus is on the move, isn't he?
Alex McFarland Well, he really is. You know, as you talk about the period of Jesus's withdrawals, I mean the, the, the trajectory is set. He's on his way to Jerusalem and, and ultimately to the cross. And uh, you know, in, in 15, there's so much good teaching here, and I know that we could spend a long, long time on so much of it. Um, but in verse two of chapter 15, you know, as is so often the case, the religious hierarchy, they kind of reprimand him. Uh, you know. Do you not know your disciples don't wash their hands the right way when they eat? And Jesus, uh, it's interesting, they start their question, why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? Christ says, why do you also transgress the commandment of God? Now, because I see this in church, believe me, I've, I've seen traditions of elders, but here's the thing, if you want to be right with something, be right with the commandments of God. And it's just the patience of Jesus, but also the. The unmistakable clarity and directness. It's very refreshing, isn't it?
Bert Harper It really is. I could not help but notice that, you know, they have. We're majoring on the traditions. That's exactly what they did. They had turned the law which was given, which was good for that time, and added to it. And the traditions had become more important than the law that God gave them. And, uh, that is so real. Again, which will win Al Tradition or truth? Truth always. It should win. But in their eyes, it wasn't. Now, notice one thing in verse one, I wanted to. I just want to mention it. Now. He is in Galilee. He's away from Jerusalem. But. And there's not a lot of Pharisees. There are some there, but the Pharisees are concentrated in Jerusalem. And guess what they did? They left Jerusalem to follow Jesus to try to. To get him. You remember, he says, from that time on, they wanted him discarded. They even said the word destroyed. And so they got this. And I'm going to use the word, see what you think. They send this posse out to try to trick him, don't they?
Alex McFarland They really do. And let me say this. What's interesting is, I mean, one of the keys of the first part of Matthew, chapter 15 is in 10 and 11, Jesus says, Hear and understand. Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth defiles a man. Now, we know, because I've had people say to me, as traveling around, you know, there are groups that are passionate about, you don't drink coffee or caffeine. Well, you know, you don't do it to excess, I hope, but it's not legalism. And let me just say this here's a word. Externalism. Now, there's salvation, there's sanctification, there's, uh, truly knowing Jesus in a personal relationship. And that's a matter on the inside. Now, it does manifest itself in the way we act outwardly. But these Pharisees, scribes and Sadducees, they were all about externalism. Now, here's my point. From three to nine, Jesus talks about showing honor to your father and mother. And the larger point of this, uh, chapter is that sin and defilement comes from within. It's not how you wash your hands. It's not what rituals you go through. It's not legalism. It's an internal, true new Birth relationship with God that will manifest itself. And here's the reason I think that you know, uh, you know it's wrong to curse your father or mother. And that's true. And then Jesus, he, he quotes Isaiah, uh, uh, Isaiah 29. These people draw near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. In vain they worship me. Verse 9. Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. And Bert, uh, Jesus, he teaches defilement is about what's on the inside of you. Because just cursing, uh, mother and father, that's one example. And there's no limit to the amount of sin that will manifest itself externally if you don't have a relationship with the Lord internally.
Bert Harper Amen. Now again, the traditions deal with ritual or uh, the external. Just like you said. God's truth deals with reality, which is out of the heart comes the issues of life. Now Alex, uh, I think there's several reasons that these Pharisees and scribes were given this way. Because they wanted to be in control of everyone. I mean, that's really what they're angry at Jesus because they were starting to lose their power over the people. They were following Jesus and they didn't like that. So here it is. They could judge the outside. In other words, this rule here of washing your hands, this rule here of doing this and that, you can look on the outside. Now God doesn't look there. He looks on the inside. Jesus looked on the crowds as the multitudes as sheep. Having no shepherd, he would listen to the, he would hear the Pharisees thoughts. So God has the right, he judges on the inside. So Jesus was turning this around on this and letting them see. And you're exactly right. What out of the heart, that's the heart. That's what comes the words, the actions, the attitudes, every one of those. And so here it is. Um, Jesus puts these people in their place, verse 12. Then his disciples and came. Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying? Now Alex, you think said, oh, do you think Jesus said, oh, no, I didn't mean to do that.
Alex McFarland Oh, somebody's offended. Well, let's water things down. Hey, by the way, um, well, let me stick to the text here.
Go ahead.
Alex McFarland Jesus answered and says, every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They're blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch. There's a very famous painting by the, um, artist from the middle Ages. Pieter Bruegel. And, uh, he was a Christian, by the way. He was one of the world's great, uh, artists. Bert. Many, many years ago, when I was working for James Dobson, we did a big youth event in Southern California. And I got to go to the Getty Art Museum. Uh, that is really a world treasure, actually. The Getty is built with leftover stone from the Roman Coliseum. And, uh, I learned a new word, travertine. That porous stone is what the Getty Art Museum is made of. But there are a lot of famous works of art, originals. And the Peter Bruegel paintings are out there. And there's a very famous painting of the blind leading the blind. And they both, they all fall into the ditch and see. That's why you don't want to follow a blind guide. And, uh, Bert, about salvation, we've often said this, you and I, that when what's internal is eternal, uh, becoming a church member is a fine thing, but signing a card and joining a church is not what gets you saved. Getting water baptized is a fine thing to do. But if you don't have that new birth relationship with Jesus, as the old saying goes, you'll go down a dry center and come up a wet center. And so this thing of, uh, blind leaders leading blinded people, it goes back a long, long ways, doesn't it?
Bert Harper It really does. And verse 19. Listen for out of the heart. Uh, you remember Samuel going to Bethlehem and going to Jesse's home to find out who would be the new king replacing Saul. And the first guy came out, and I'm sure he was tall, dark and handsome. And, uh, Samuel, this got to be the guy. He wasn't the gu. Because God looks on the inside. He's not impressed with outward appearance. And, uh, so here it is. God looks on your heart. Those of you who are listening, God can, uh, look through any mask that you might wear. You, uh, may act like it, you may seem like it, but God looks straight through that, and he knows your heart. To make sure you've trusted Jesus Christ as savior. You want that attitude, you want that spirit in you. And out of that proceed evil thoughts. Listen to all this. This is quite a lineup. Horrible lineup. Out of the heart proceeds evil thoughts. Murderers, um, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. Those things come from the heart. But where do they show and demonstrate themselves in action? And so, Alex, here it is. Jesus cuts right through them and go back to where we started. They said, do you not care about our traditions? And Jesus Says what about the commandments of God? You are disobeying them by saying certain things. We won't go into that. It's a long detail, but they could. They could, I would say, part of their salary and income, they could set aside and say, oh, this is from God to God, and we don't have to take care of our parents. And Jesus, let them know, hey, you don't get past me. I know why you're doing it, Alex. That's still true today about us. God knows why, doesn't he?
Alex McFarland He really does. I mean, the Lord knows our hearts and the word there. Uh, I don't mean to go backwards, but verse 14, Jesus says, Leave them alone. And literally in the. In the Greek, it's leave them now. The English translates it, you know, leave them alone, but it's really leave them. In other words, if you're part of. I mean, cults, they want to not only add to the Bible, but add to what you have to do to be saved. And, um, you know, to be clear, we're all about bearing fruit and living a righteous life. And if you are saved, you know, you're not saved by works, but if you're saved, good works should follow. But really, Bert, I've. I've said this. I think legalism, ritualism, religiosity, externalism. I think legalism has created more atheists than all the philosophy books ever put together, really. And that's why. And it sounds risky. Uh, legalists find the grace of Jesus a little scary, and everything in them, they want to add works on top of it. But it's the work that Christ did, not any effort outwardly that we can try to do.
Bert Harper Just like Jesus looks on the heart, the transformation from, uh, death unto life is in the heart. When we trust Christ, we'll be back with more of Matthew, chapter 15. It's really important. Don't go away,
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Jeff Chamblee Don't worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4, 6, 7. Just because I'm a believer doesn't mean I don't forget Then my heart is a deceiver there's doubts in my head But I belong to a redeemer who's not finished with me yet I could break it all and he'd make it all new that's the gospel truth the
Alex McFarland gospel truth welcome back to Exploring the Word. Hey, we're going to resume Matthew chapter 15 in Just a moment, but, uh, let me give you a few things to think about. Uh, tomorrow, Tuesdays, that's our day of prayer and we take prayer requests. But you can send in a prayer request or a Bible question for that matter, anytime you'd like to. You can reach us by email, wordfr.net, w o r d wordfr.net and then we have a very active Facebook page, uh, exploring the Word on Facebook. Brent Austin looks after that for us and people are always emailing in prayer requests and praises. You know, Bert, we have had many times where people call back in after the fact. They'll say, hey, several weeks ago everybody prayed about this or that and God has healed this person. God has resolved this situation. And so we bring our request. We praise him for all the answers and we love to hear from people and, uh, just keep that communication going on.
Bert Harper Amen. We really do. And we look forward to Tuesday. We look forward to every day. But, uh, Tuesday has become very, very vital part of our ministry and we thank God for that.
Alex McFarland Amen.
Bert Harper Well, we're in Matthew chapter 15 now. Something significant happens in verse 21, Jesus has been in Jewish territory even with the. These, uh, scribes and Pharisees following him all the way up this way from Jerusalem. But in verse 21, just listen to this, and I'm going to read it. Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the regions of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to him, saying, have mercy on me, O Lord, son of David. My daughter is severely demon possessed. Now, again, we'll get to what Jesus did here. But notice what she does. She's a Gentile woman. He's departed. He's getting further and further away from Jerusalem, which means there's fewer scribes and fewer Pharisees at this time. But they're following him. And so here this Gentile woman says, o Lord, son of David. Alex, I'll give you two choices. Is she worshiping him, or is she trying to get, uh, in on the inside, Sounding like a Jewish girl. Lady, you catch. I don't.
Alex McFarland Yeah, I do. Oh, Lord, son of David. Yeah, uh, you know, I think it's both.
Bert Harper I do too.
Alex McFarland Um, she shows her faith, really. And it's not only. And by the way, in the way Christ responds to her, it's gonna show the, uh, at least appreciation, awareness and affinity she had of Jewish customs here. Because, um, okay. She asked, you know, heal my daughter. My daughter is severely demon possessed. Jesus did not answer a word. And the disciples came and urged him, saying, send her away, for she cries out after us. Jesus says in, um, verse 24, I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then she comes and worships. She says, lord, help me. Now, 26 has caused a lot of people to read this. And let me say up front, and there's a fascinating, fascinating, uh, linguistic, uh, foundation here. Christ is not what we're about to read. This is not being cruel. He's not being demeaning or hateful. But Jesus answers and says, it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs. Now hit the pause button. Ah. On first blush, that sounds kind of cruel, doesn't it, Bert?
Bert Harper It really does. And when you see this and hear this, Jesus not answering her. Okay, um, I read several thoughts on this, and one of, um, them. Jesus is drawing her faith out. I just got to say this. In other words, son of David. Yeah. She recognized he was a Jew. She was identifying. But then her being quiet caused her to come and just say, what? Lord help me. Okay. Uh, in other words, uh, uh, the son of David. Yes, that was important. I understand that. But more important is Lord. He is Lord. And she moves from that, from son of David to only Lord. Now, she says Lord the first time, but this time, the reality of who she is, the reality everything sets in. And as you said, Alex, her knowing some of this and how, uh, if it stopped there, I'm not sure we would have known all that is. But because of his, uh, continuing working in her, we find out this is him drawing her out. One of the commentaries I read, this is like not a cur dog out the streets.
Alex McFarland Exactly.
Bert Harper It is a family pet. Someone that is a dog even in that day. That is, uh, what treasured, Alex.
Alex McFarland Uh, exactly. And there's a couple of words, and I'm not going to try to pronounce them, um, because these are kind of complex Greek words. But you're right. There could be an outdoor dog, a stray dog, a street dog, even a wild dog. But in the English, it says the little dogs. Now, one lexicon, I'm staring at it right now, says the word that Christ used, It was the same as a puppy dog, right? Like a beloved pet. But here's what one more commentator says. An in the house dog. Now, just before you think Jesus is being cruel, here's what I think we can derive from this, among other things, okay? In the house are the m. Members of the family. And this is a Gentile lady. She's not, uh, a child of Abraham yet. But here's the thing. Even a gentile, when you come into covenant salvation by believing in the Messiah, Jesus, the one and only Savior, the one and only one that rose from the dead, you become grafted in. Paul addresses this in Romans. In fact, let me say this. A gentile that believes in Yeshua is actually more kosher than an ethnic Jew who doesn't yet know Messiah. And so Jesus is almost using this term. And Bert, I would. I would be sure that, uh, he's looking at her with the most empathetic smile and the warmest receptive expression. I'm certain of it. Because what he's essentially saying is, look, yes, I can be your Lord. You might be gentile, but you're in the house now. You're about to become part of the family. I mean, imagine that if you took your dog, which, uh, I highly recommend this, and you looked in that little pet's face and you said, you're not just the family pet, you're part of the family. And so she says, and she's getting it. She says, lord, even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from the Master's table. Then Jesus answered and said to her, oh, woman, great is your faith, and let it be as you desire. And that very hour, her daughter was healed. And I believe, and I realize that this is pre Calvary. And there's a lot that she couldn't yet have known, but she knew Jesus was different. She knew he had the truth. She knew he had the power of God, and she was willing to come. She responded to the amount of light she had. And I believe you'll see this woman in heaven.
Bert Harper Uh, amen. There's no doubt in my mind. Notice what it says in 27 in the new King James, and it's in the Greek. True. She started out true, Lord. Even the little dogs. In other words, true. I'm just saying. Okay. Her first request, it was good son of David, my daughter, severely demon possessed. Uh, but he draws her in just like the woman at the well. Jesus would draw. Draw her in to the place of, uh, faith. I believe that's what he's doing here with her. Now, this notice, this is a Gentile woman. And notice. Great is your faith. There was another Gentile that Jesus talked about their faith being great. It was a centurion who came and said, I'm a man under. Also a man under authority. If you speak, all you have to do is speak. You don't have to go, Lord. And Jesus said, I have not found so great a faith, not even in Israel. So two of the greatest demonstrations of, uh, faith according to the word of God is by gentiles, the centurion. You find this in Matthew, chapter eight. And now this Gentile woman in Matthew, chapter 15. Great faith. And both of them. Notice what else is similar. Both of, uh, their requests was met without Jesus having to go. It was simply at his word. That is the power of Christ and that self, same hour, just like it was with the centurion. So here Jesus is demonstrating, uh, again, I've come for all people. And this lady, I'm calling her a lady. You know, at this point in time, uh, she, uh. There's no doubt. We'll see in my mind, Alex.
Alex McFarland Oh, yeah.
Bert Harper When he says, great is your faith, uh, it wasn't just about him healing her. It was about who he was, Lord.
Alex McFarland Yes. Um, well, in verse 30, it talks about. He's healing the lame, the blind, the mute, maimed many others. Okay. Lame would be somebody that's born with, you know, a crippling Disability. Blind Faith, mute. That means couldn't speak. And very often that's associated with a demonic oppression. Maimed would be somebody that was injured in a terrible injury and many others. They laid them down at Jesus feet and he healed them. So the multitude marvel when they saw the mute speaking. The maimed made whole the lame walking, the blind seeing, and they glorified the God of Israel. Now, wait a minute. It's Jesus doing the healing. Who is Jesus? Verse 31. He's the God of Israel.
Bert Harper And he's in gentile territory, Right?
Alex McFarland Exactly.
Bert Harper Now, uh, one thing real quickly. Uh, I know, uh, you and I, we see something, we'll go back to it. Notice, and I've already mentioned it, notice what he did after he got there in all this territory. Jesus departed from there. This is. Watch the movement of Jesus, chapters 14, 15 and 16. If you do a study, notice the movement. He is going from there to there until he gets to Caesarea Philippi and then the trans. The amount of transfiguration. This is so important areas. And so he skirted and notice that, went up into the mountains, uh, more isolated. Uh, and I can't help but say this missionally, Alex, don't, uh, be afraid to go to the isolated areas. Don't be afraid to go to the areas that are more difficult than others. Sometimes it's inner city, sometimes it's way out in the jungle or in the mountains. But where God leads, you, be sure and go. I just wanted to throw that in.
Alex McFarland Go ahead, brother. Well said, brother. Well said. Uh, well, we've made much of the feeding of the 5,000. Now he's going to feed 4,000. And he says to the disciples, uh, I have compassion on the multitudes. They've come now continued three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way. And the disciples, they don't see an opportunity, they see a problem. Well, where are we going to get all this food out here? He says, um, you know, in the wilderness, to feed a multitude. How many loaves do you have? And they said, seven and a few little fish. He commanded the multitudes to sit down, took the seven loaves and fish and gave thanks, as always. Hey, always say the blessing before you eat. Give thanks. And he broke them and gave them to the disciples. The disciples gave to the multitude. So they all ate and were filled. And they took up seven baskets and full of the fragments that were left. Now, those who ate were 4,000 men besides women and children. He sent away the multitudes and got into a boat, came to the region of Magdala. Uh, Bert, let me ask you this, because we've seen now two feedings of the multitudes, and I think there's a lot here to glean from this. But, um, do you think this second time the disciples were a little more confident than the first time because they knew that, okay, Christ is going to multiply and everybody's going to have not only enough, but even more than they need? Do you think the disciples went into this scenario maybe a little more confident?
Bert Harper I think a little bit. But there are some things that are different. He did that in Jewish territory. Now this is in Gentile territory. Would Jesus do for the Gentiles what he did for the Jews? Uh, you know, I don't know if they were asking that or not, but I see that as a possibility because there were. Now, this time, again, it doesn't tell about the little boy. We don't know if the seven loaves were from an individual or who it was from, and the few fish.
Bert Harper Regardless of what it is, the principles are the same. Jesus took what they had, okay? And he blessed and broke it. That is the principle here in feeding the 5,000, the 4,000. It's also true in our lives. Alex, we give him, uh, there's a guy, uh, Shamra, a sham guard. Yeah. Over in the Book of Judges, uh, all he had was an ox goad. But guess what God did without ox goad. He killed 300. I think it was Philistines with an ox goad. You know, God took, used what he had to do the work of God. And to do the work of God, uh, he will meet that need according to what you have or what he gives. And again, one more thing real quickly. They did what they could, and Jesus did what he could. They could gather it, they could distribute it, and then they could get it back into the seven baskets. But only Jesus could do the multiplication. We need to understand that in our lives. Jesus is the one that gives the increase, isn't he?
Alex McFarland He is. Beautifully said. Beautifully said, brother. You know, it's, uh, been said, and you're right. This is. Okay, the first, the 5000, was in Jewish territory near Bethsaida. This is in Gentile territory near Decapolis. And, um, he prays twice. This is in Matthew 15 and Mark, chapter eight. We don't have time to talk about it right now, but maybe later. Hey, we've got a break. We're going to take your, uh, Bible questions.
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Bert Harper Or visit preborn.com Bert Harper that's preborn.com Bert Harper.
Holy, holy, holy. Oh, God almighty, who has a million years to come. With all creation. I sing praise to the King of kings. You are my everything, and I will adore you.
Bert Harper We hope he is your everything. Jesus Christ.
Bert Harper Jesus Christ, Lord of Lords, King of kings. Follow him. Well, that number, if you have a Bible question, and Alex and I would love to hear your Bible question is 888-589-8884-088858-98840. Uh, we would love to hear from you today. Well, Alex, we've got some on the line already, but we've got lines that are open. You ready to go to the first question?
Alex McFarland Yeah, let's do it. And, folks, if you call in, you'll get through, I'm sure. So we're going to begin in, uh, I believe it's Louisiana, Wayne, in Louisiana. Thank you for calling in to exploring the word.
Yes, sir. My question is in the book of Peter. First, Peter said, you know,
Bert Harper hey, Wayne, is your radio on behind your brother?
If it is, okay, go ahead.
Bert Harper Wait. Yeah, you were talking twice, brother. You had an echo. Uh, yeah, go right ahead. Now. Now we can hear you.
Yeah. It says, while the ark was the pan weighing eight souls were saved by water. Okay, so my question is, did the water save them?
Alex McFarland Uh, well, uh, the. The ark saved them. Now, it was the water that the. The ark floated on. But let me just say this. The ark was the judgment. And, uh, I'm going to look this up because I want to see. All right. By the word. By right.
Alex McFarland This is where the discussion hangs. In the English, it says by water. But I am pretty sure, and I'm looking it up as we speak, it probably, um, is something like via water or through water. But just as the boat Noah prepared for over 100 years, the Ark was the physical salvation. Well, the Messiah that God had promised and prepared, Jesus, he's the Savior. It wasn't just the physical, uh, liquid that covered the earth that was the judgment. They were saved through it and from it, weren't they?
Bert Harper They really are. And that word, if it's, uh, again, you looked it up, it can be go, uh, saved, through, or whatever. And those small words that have different little words like for or through, uh, they can, in our language, you know, change exactly what it says. So you look at other scriptures to help you identify that and know what it is. Wayne, thank you for that.
Alex McFarland I, um, believe. Yeah, Let me. Let me look this up. I think it's in first Peter 3.
21.
Alex McFarland Um, but. But I'll get it before the show is out, but let's continue now, shall we, while I look this up.
Bert Harper Where do we go to next?
Alex McFarland Kentucky. And we're going to talk to Glenn.
Yes, this is Glenn.
Alex McFarland Yes,
welcome.
Yeah, um, thanks for taking my call.
Alex McFarland What you got, brother?
Can you hear me?
Bert Harper Yeah, you're on Glenn. Go right ahead.
Yes, my question is, I know we all come from Adam and Eve, but did. Where did the. The separation that. Where did the Jews and the Gentiles and the other nationalities come from? Was it during the, uh, Tower of Babel?
Bert Harper Could it been before that, Alex?
Alex McFarland Even before that? God bless you. You know, really, the sons of Noah, uh, all of the ethnicities in the world come from the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Really. And, uh, by the way, this is fascinating. And only the Bible gives us the accurate origins of not only of creation, Adam and Eve, the human race. And by the way, let me just say this. Genetically, when a male and a female conceive a baby, you have got literally, um. I knew this statistic, Burke, because I shared it at camp this summer, but it's basically something like 10 to the 150th power times 10 to the 150th power in an infinitesimally, I, uh, mean huge, immeasurably large number of genetic possibilities. And, you know, uh, you've got every sort of appearance, eye color, stature, hair color, hair texture, the amount of melanin in the skin, uh, the genetic possibilities from not just a male female pair, but when you talk about Shem, Ham and Japheth, you know, and yet we're all human beings, every ethnicity. Asian, African, European, uh, you know, um, Hellenic and Greek and Hebraic. Uh, we're all human beings, and we all come from the. The family line of the three sons of Noah, which came from the original male female pair, Adam and Eve.
Bert Harper And out of that would come Abraham and those of his ethnicity, you know, and so that's where the Jewish, uh, come from. Uh, Glenn and all the others that are Ham and uh, Shem, Japh. Yeah, they come from. They're all the Gentiles. So according to that, you know, the gentiles are far more greater for us in number. But Jesus, again, uh, God went down further and further to Abraham, and then it was to David, uh, to Judah, uh, David. I mean, it's amazing when you look at how it came out where Jesus Christ. I think that's the neat part of it, Alex.
Alex McFarland Amen. Amen. That's a great question. And, uh, let's go to Peggy in Mississippi. Peggy, welcome to Exploring the Word.
Okay, thank you, sir. Uh, my question is about the manna. God fed his people. Manna, uh, it came down from heaven, I guess, and he fed. God fed his people manna while they was in the, uh, desert or wherever. And like, well, what. Okay. And then I thought, uh, read or heard about there's hidden man. I put back.
Is that right?
Alex McFarland Yeah. The hidden man for who? But where is that, where is that at?
About the. What books is it in the Bible? Uh, about the, uh, feeding of the manna. And, and like, if there is hidden manna work, what books is in. I want, I want to go back and read that.
Alex McFarland The, the phrase hidden manna is in Revelation chapter two. Uh, and let me. Revelation 2:17. Let me, uh, talk about this, Bert. I'm going to defer to you. Jesus says, um, hear whoever has an ear. Let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on that stone a new name written. Well, for one thing, uh, let me just say that salvation is more than just physical life. Man, uh, does not live by bread alone. And manna was a type of bread that the Jews ate in the Old Testament. This is really kind of, uh, back in, I believe it's Exodus 16, they were in the desert. So the original manna was a bread like substance to sustain the Israelites in the wilderness. But that hidden manna, it. Well, it's salvation, but it's also in the tribulation. And this is what's gonna happen in Revelation 4 through 20. The hidden manna. The Jews that, um, are saved, they go to, uh, a secret place to hide out from the Antichrist. And God miraculously saves many. Now, many are martyred, but I think in a way. Bert. The hidden manna is the life of the Christian that walks with Jesus. We don't just live for this world. We don't just depend on this world and the security that we have in Christ, no matter what this world throws with us, throws to us. I think that's part of the. More than physical bread, the absolute spiritual reality of knowing Christ.
Bert Harper Amen. Alex, again, Jesus is the bread of life. And, uh, he has hidden that. He comes in and he sustained the word here. Sustains. Okay, get it? Okay. He will sustain us, uh, through whatever there is. Um, matter of fact, our. Our fishbowl retreat in October, and we still have room for people if they want to [email protected] if you're going to do it, you need to get it done this week. And, uh, so, Alex, he sustains us. That's what it says in Psalm 55:22. He's our sustainer. When you hear that hidden manna, I think it's hidden to the point. Wow. How can those people go through what they're going through and it be real? You catch.
Alex McFarland I got to tell you something. Now, uh, listen to this, everybody. The word can sometimes mean concealed. Now, here's the thing. Like Bev Shea sang, Jesus is all the world to me.
Alex McFarland A lot of people just couldn't get their mind around that. But the word translated hidden or concealed. For those of us that know Jesus, we know that nothing compares to knowing Christ. And that's concealed. A lot of people can't see it. Guess what the word is in Greek. It's word crypto. Nowadays, everybody is wanting cryptocurrency. Let me tell you, the best, the most valuable currency. And, uh, it doesn't have to be hidden. In fact, our job is to make it visible to everybody. The crypto manna, the.
Alex McFarland The hidden, concealed, the. The sustaining life that is being a believer in Jesus.
Bert Harper They see our good works and glorify the Father who's in heaven. Guess where those good works come from. It comes from God's Holy Spirit working himself out in and through us. Alex.
Alex McFarland So the next time somebody says, hey, uh, do you. What do you think about crypto? You can say, yeah, I'm for it, but not like you might think.
Bert Harper Amen. Amen. Thank you. Yeah.
Alex McFarland Marty in South Carolina. Marty, welcome to Exploring the Word.
Hey, guys. How are y' all doing today?
Alex McFarland Good. Thank you for calling.
Yeah, I just wanted to, uh, basically just comment first, uh, of all, I've read your book, um, 100 Bible Questions and Answers on Prophecy in the End Times. And I highly recommend this book to anyone that has. That struggles with the book of Revelation. You know, uh, the first time I read Revelation, it was, um, very confusing. I've heard a lot of different things about the book of Revelation. And, uh, and, and, and your book just really, you know, really helps to understand what, what's happening. And there was a program I watched, uh, I don't know if you guys are familiar with Answers in Genesis. Oh, yes, Ken Ham. And anyway, um, one of his. One of his fellows was on, and, uh, he was talking about comparing America to Babylon. Um, and my take on the program was in the way, you know, I'm 64 years old, and I've seen a lot of changes in, you know, our country. And, uh, the biggest change that I see is people have turned away from God. The, the younger generation, especially, they're growing up and they're not being taught. Um, they're.
They're not on a biblical foundation. And that was one of the things that they talked about in the. The program that I saw. So, uh, what. You know, I know that, uh, you know, government has its place, but I believe that the church has been replaced by government. And, uh, I'm just wondering what your take is on that and your thoughts about, uh, you know, and I know that, that we are, uh, you know, God is in control of all things, and he knows. He knows the future.
Bert Harper Amen.
Alex McFarland Hey, let me jump in here for a second.
Bert Harper Yeah. Wait a minute. It's time, Marty.
Alex McFarland Uh, yeah, Bert, I want to throw this to you, but, um, I agree. One thing he said, very, very perceptive, that for many, the state has become kind of like the savior. And the more and more socialist, the more and more Marxist a culture gets, rather than Christianity, God, scriptural truth, um, the state becomes God. And Bert, um, the idea that, uh, we are lawless and we are not accountable and defund the police and don't observe the rule of law, that's more and more a totalitarian, chaotic state. And part of American, um, foundational bedrock beliefs was that there is the Ten Commandments, there are moral boundaries, and every person is accountable for how they act and how they live. Um, we've drifted away from the true and living God to which the iron fist of the state has almost become God. I think Marty is right in alluding to that.
Bert Harper I agree. But I want to put a caveat to this, uh, because it wasn't long ago last week, when we was talking about Charlie Kirk and his assassination because of Charlie Kirk and some others and just going forth, there seems to be some renewal in this generation that we wondered, God, what are you going to do? So, you know, I don't know, but I have hope, Alex, that them turning again, they need to have a biblical foundation. That's what is really concerning to me. Because in the past, even in the great movement of God and even in the war movements in the 1960s, that's the only thing I can. Where God started working there, uh, they didn't have a great foundation either. But God can do it. And I'm praying he is doing this through this movement that we're seeing, especially young men, uh, say, hey, this government's not working. And I pray they're turning to God in great numbers. I really am.
Alex McFarland Amen. Amen. Uh, I think we're gonna. Can we squeeze one more time?
Bert Harper The music has started. Jared. We're sorry about that.
Alex McFarland Uh, Jared in Texas, please, uh, call back tomorrow. That music, um, is here. We had some questions that just required kind of a fully orbed, lengthy answer, didn't we?
Bert Harper We really did. And we appreciate everybody that listens to exploring the Word. Uh, and I know we. We go out saying, you know, tell them about exploring the Word and afr and tell them about Jesus. We really mean it. Uh, the best you ever heard. The best advertisement is a satisfied customer. Alex.
Alex McFarland Amen.
Bert Harper M. Well, so we got a lot of folks that, according to what you hear on the road and what I hear exploring, uh, the Word has a ministry that's helping people. And we want to continue to do that, don't we?
Alex McFarland And we give God the glory. Glory for it. Folks, uh, continue on in Matthew 15. Tomorrow's a day of prayer. We'd love to hear from you. Thank you for listening, and may God bless you in all things. The views and opinions expressed in this
broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.
Jeff Chamblee The Bible. It's the word of God. Sharper than any two edged sword. This sacred book is living and active and contains all that's needed for life and godliness. Stay with American Family Radio for the next hour as we study God's word and take your Bible questions. Welcome to Exploring the Word.
Bert Harper We are studying the book of Matthew and we're in chapter 15, which is right in the middle of something that I would say Bible scholars call the period of Jesus withdrawals. Let me show you what that means in 14, 15 and 16. It starts in chapter 14 when Jesus hears about Jon the Baptist and his death. Chapter 14, verse 13, it says Jesus departed from there. And then in verse 22, Jesus since sends his apostles to the other side and he will follow them. And then in chapter 1521 that we'll study today, he departed to the regions of Tyre and sidon. In verse 29 of chapter, uh, 15, Jesus departs and skirted around the Sea of Galilee to go to the mountains. And in that same, uh, chapter, he does go. In verse 39, he got into a boat and came to the regions of Magdala. Chapter 16, verse 4, he left them and departed. You can see this. And he's building up to verse 21 in chapter 16, when he began to show his disciples that he would go to Jerusalem and suffer many things. Why would I talk about that? Because this is Jesus right before he goes to Jerusalem and there, uh, at Calvary, give his life for you and me. Well, Alex, this chapters, these three chapters 14, 15 and 16, they're filled with miracles and teaching. But that period of withdrawals, Jesus is on the move, isn't he?
Alex McFarland Well, he really is. You know, as you talk about the period of Jesus's withdrawals, I mean the, the, the trajectory is set. He's on his way to Jerusalem and, and ultimately to the cross. And uh, you know, in, in 15, there's so much good teaching here, and I know that we could spend a long, long time on so much of it. Um, but in verse two of chapter 15, you know, as is so often the case, the religious hierarchy, they kind of reprimand him. Uh, you know. Do you not know your disciples don't wash their hands the right way when they eat? And Jesus, uh, it's interesting, they start their question, why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? Christ says, why do you also transgress the commandment of God? Now, because I see this in church, believe me, I've, I've seen traditions of elders, but here's the thing, if you want to be right with something, be right with the commandments of God. And it's just the patience of Jesus, but also the. The unmistakable clarity and directness. It's very refreshing, isn't it?
Bert Harper It really is. I could not help but notice that, you know, they have. We're majoring on the traditions. That's exactly what they did. They had turned the law which was given, which was good for that time, and added to it. And the traditions had become more important than the law that God gave them. And, uh, that is so real. Again, which will win Al Tradition or truth? Truth always. It should win. But in their eyes, it wasn't. Now, notice one thing in verse one, I wanted to. I just want to mention it. Now. He is in Galilee. He's away from Jerusalem. But. And there's not a lot of Pharisees. There are some there, but the Pharisees are concentrated in Jerusalem. And guess what they did? They left Jerusalem to follow Jesus to try to. To get him. You remember, he says, from that time on, they wanted him discarded. They even said the word destroyed. And so they got this. And I'm going to use the word, see what you think. They send this posse out to try to trick him, don't they?
Alex McFarland They really do. And let me say this. What's interesting is, I mean, one of the keys of the first part of Matthew, chapter 15 is in 10 and 11, Jesus says, Hear and understand. Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth defiles a man. Now, we know, because I've had people say to me, as traveling around, you know, there are groups that are passionate about, you don't drink coffee or caffeine. Well, you know, you don't do it to excess, I hope, but it's not legalism. And let me just say this here's a word. Externalism. Now, there's salvation, there's sanctification, there's, uh, truly knowing Jesus in a personal relationship. And that's a matter on the inside. Now, it does manifest itself in the way we act outwardly. But these Pharisees, scribes and Sadducees, they were all about externalism. Now, here's my point. From three to nine, Jesus talks about showing honor to your father and mother. And the larger point of this, uh, chapter is that sin and defilement comes from within. It's not how you wash your hands. It's not what rituals you go through. It's not legalism. It's an internal, true new Birth relationship with God that will manifest itself. And here's the reason I think that you know, uh, you know it's wrong to curse your father or mother. And that's true. And then Jesus, he, he quotes Isaiah, uh, uh, Isaiah 29. These people draw near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. In vain they worship me. Verse 9. Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. And Bert, uh, Jesus, he teaches defilement is about what's on the inside of you. Because just cursing, uh, mother and father, that's one example. And there's no limit to the amount of sin that will manifest itself externally if you don't have a relationship with the Lord internally.
Bert Harper Amen. Now again, the traditions deal with ritual or uh, the external. Just like you said. God's truth deals with reality, which is out of the heart comes the issues of life. Now Alex, uh, I think there's several reasons that these Pharisees and scribes were given this way. Because they wanted to be in control of everyone. I mean, that's really what they're angry at Jesus because they were starting to lose their power over the people. They were following Jesus and they didn't like that. So here it is. They could judge the outside. In other words, this rule here of washing your hands, this rule here of doing this and that, you can look on the outside. Now God doesn't look there. He looks on the inside. Jesus looked on the crowds as the multitudes as sheep. Having no shepherd, he would listen to the, he would hear the Pharisees thoughts. So God has the right, he judges on the inside. So Jesus was turning this around on this and letting them see. And you're exactly right. What out of the heart, that's the heart. That's what comes the words, the actions, the attitudes, every one of those. And so here it is. Um, Jesus puts these people in their place, verse 12. Then his disciples and came. Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying? Now Alex, you think said, oh, do you think Jesus said, oh, no, I didn't mean to do that.
Alex McFarland Oh, somebody's offended. Well, let's water things down. Hey, by the way, um, well, let me stick to the text here.
Go ahead.
Alex McFarland Jesus answered and says, every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They're blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch. There's a very famous painting by the, um, artist from the middle Ages. Pieter Bruegel. And, uh, he was a Christian, by the way. He was one of the world's great, uh, artists. Bert. Many, many years ago, when I was working for James Dobson, we did a big youth event in Southern California. And I got to go to the Getty Art Museum. Uh, that is really a world treasure, actually. The Getty is built with leftover stone from the Roman Coliseum. And, uh, I learned a new word, travertine. That porous stone is what the Getty Art Museum is made of. But there are a lot of famous works of art, originals. And the Peter Bruegel paintings are out there. And there's a very famous painting of the blind leading the blind. And they both, they all fall into the ditch and see. That's why you don't want to follow a blind guide. And, uh, Bert, about salvation, we've often said this, you and I, that when what's internal is eternal, uh, becoming a church member is a fine thing, but signing a card and joining a church is not what gets you saved. Getting water baptized is a fine thing to do. But if you don't have that new birth relationship with Jesus, as the old saying goes, you'll go down a dry center and come up a wet center. And so this thing of, uh, blind leaders leading blinded people, it goes back a long, long ways, doesn't it?
Bert Harper It really does. And verse 19. Listen for out of the heart. Uh, you remember Samuel going to Bethlehem and going to Jesse's home to find out who would be the new king replacing Saul. And the first guy came out, and I'm sure he was tall, dark and handsome. And, uh, Samuel, this got to be the guy. He wasn't the gu. Because God looks on the inside. He's not impressed with outward appearance. And, uh, so here it is. God looks on your heart. Those of you who are listening, God can, uh, look through any mask that you might wear. You, uh, may act like it, you may seem like it, but God looks straight through that, and he knows your heart. To make sure you've trusted Jesus Christ as savior. You want that attitude, you want that spirit in you. And out of that proceed evil thoughts. Listen to all this. This is quite a lineup. Horrible lineup. Out of the heart proceeds evil thoughts. Murderers, um, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. Those things come from the heart. But where do they show and demonstrate themselves in action? And so, Alex, here it is. Jesus cuts right through them and go back to where we started. They said, do you not care about our traditions? And Jesus Says what about the commandments of God? You are disobeying them by saying certain things. We won't go into that. It's a long detail, but they could. They could, I would say, part of their salary and income, they could set aside and say, oh, this is from God to God, and we don't have to take care of our parents. And Jesus, let them know, hey, you don't get past me. I know why you're doing it, Alex. That's still true today about us. God knows why, doesn't he?
Alex McFarland He really does. I mean, the Lord knows our hearts and the word there. Uh, I don't mean to go backwards, but verse 14, Jesus says, Leave them alone. And literally in the. In the Greek, it's leave them now. The English translates it, you know, leave them alone, but it's really leave them. In other words, if you're part of. I mean, cults, they want to not only add to the Bible, but add to what you have to do to be saved. And, um, you know, to be clear, we're all about bearing fruit and living a righteous life. And if you are saved, you know, you're not saved by works, but if you're saved, good works should follow. But really, Bert, I've. I've said this. I think legalism, ritualism, religiosity, externalism. I think legalism has created more atheists than all the philosophy books ever put together, really. And that's why. And it sounds risky. Uh, legalists find the grace of Jesus a little scary, and everything in them, they want to add works on top of it. But it's the work that Christ did, not any effort outwardly that we can try to do.
Bert Harper Just like Jesus looks on the heart, the transformation from, uh, death unto life is in the heart. When we trust Christ, we'll be back with more of Matthew, chapter 15. It's really important. Don't go away,
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Jeff Chamblee Don't worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4, 6, 7. Just because I'm a believer doesn't mean I don't forget Then my heart is a deceiver there's doubts in my head But I belong to a redeemer who's not finished with me yet I could break it all and he'd make it all new that's the gospel truth the
Alex McFarland gospel truth welcome back to Exploring the Word. Hey, we're going to resume Matthew chapter 15 in Just a moment, but, uh, let me give you a few things to think about. Uh, tomorrow, Tuesdays, that's our day of prayer and we take prayer requests. But you can send in a prayer request or a Bible question for that matter, anytime you'd like to. You can reach us by email, wordfr.net, w o r d wordfr.net and then we have a very active Facebook page, uh, exploring the Word on Facebook. Brent Austin looks after that for us and people are always emailing in prayer requests and praises. You know, Bert, we have had many times where people call back in after the fact. They'll say, hey, several weeks ago everybody prayed about this or that and God has healed this person. God has resolved this situation. And so we bring our request. We praise him for all the answers and we love to hear from people and, uh, just keep that communication going on.
Bert Harper Amen. We really do. And we look forward to Tuesday. We look forward to every day. But, uh, Tuesday has become very, very vital part of our ministry and we thank God for that.
Alex McFarland Amen.
Bert Harper Well, we're in Matthew chapter 15 now. Something significant happens in verse 21, Jesus has been in Jewish territory even with the. These, uh, scribes and Pharisees following him all the way up this way from Jerusalem. But in verse 21, just listen to this, and I'm going to read it. Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the regions of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to him, saying, have mercy on me, O Lord, son of David. My daughter is severely demon possessed. Now, again, we'll get to what Jesus did here. But notice what she does. She's a Gentile woman. He's departed. He's getting further and further away from Jerusalem, which means there's fewer scribes and fewer Pharisees at this time. But they're following him. And so here this Gentile woman says, o Lord, son of David. Alex, I'll give you two choices. Is she worshiping him, or is she trying to get, uh, in on the inside, Sounding like a Jewish girl. Lady, you catch. I don't.
Alex McFarland Yeah, I do. Oh, Lord, son of David. Yeah, uh, you know, I think it's both.
Bert Harper I do too.
Alex McFarland Um, she shows her faith, really. And it's not only. And by the way, in the way Christ responds to her, it's gonna show the, uh, at least appreciation, awareness and affinity she had of Jewish customs here. Because, um, okay. She asked, you know, heal my daughter. My daughter is severely demon possessed. Jesus did not answer a word. And the disciples came and urged him, saying, send her away, for she cries out after us. Jesus says in, um, verse 24, I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then she comes and worships. She says, lord, help me. Now, 26 has caused a lot of people to read this. And let me say up front, and there's a fascinating, fascinating, uh, linguistic, uh, foundation here. Christ is not what we're about to read. This is not being cruel. He's not being demeaning or hateful. But Jesus answers and says, it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs. Now hit the pause button. Ah. On first blush, that sounds kind of cruel, doesn't it, Bert?
Bert Harper It really does. And when you see this and hear this, Jesus not answering her. Okay, um, I read several thoughts on this, and one of, um, them. Jesus is drawing her faith out. I just got to say this. In other words, son of David. Yeah. She recognized he was a Jew. She was identifying. But then her being quiet caused her to come and just say, what? Lord help me. Okay. Uh, in other words, uh, uh, the son of David. Yes, that was important. I understand that. But more important is Lord. He is Lord. And she moves from that, from son of David to only Lord. Now, she says Lord the first time, but this time, the reality of who she is, the reality everything sets in. And as you said, Alex, her knowing some of this and how, uh, if it stopped there, I'm not sure we would have known all that is. But because of his, uh, continuing working in her, we find out this is him drawing her out. One of the commentaries I read, this is like not a cur dog out the streets.
Alex McFarland Exactly.
Bert Harper It is a family pet. Someone that is a dog even in that day. That is, uh, what treasured, Alex.
Alex McFarland Uh, exactly. And there's a couple of words, and I'm not going to try to pronounce them, um, because these are kind of complex Greek words. But you're right. There could be an outdoor dog, a stray dog, a street dog, even a wild dog. But in the English, it says the little dogs. Now, one lexicon, I'm staring at it right now, says the word that Christ used, It was the same as a puppy dog, right? Like a beloved pet. But here's what one more commentator says. An in the house dog. Now, just before you think Jesus is being cruel, here's what I think we can derive from this, among other things, okay? In the house are the m. Members of the family. And this is a Gentile lady. She's not, uh, a child of Abraham yet. But here's the thing. Even a gentile, when you come into covenant salvation by believing in the Messiah, Jesus, the one and only Savior, the one and only one that rose from the dead, you become grafted in. Paul addresses this in Romans. In fact, let me say this. A gentile that believes in Yeshua is actually more kosher than an ethnic Jew who doesn't yet know Messiah. And so Jesus is almost using this term. And Bert, I would. I would be sure that, uh, he's looking at her with the most empathetic smile and the warmest receptive expression. I'm certain of it. Because what he's essentially saying is, look, yes, I can be your Lord. You might be gentile, but you're in the house now. You're about to become part of the family. I mean, imagine that if you took your dog, which, uh, I highly recommend this, and you looked in that little pet's face and you said, you're not just the family pet, you're part of the family. And so she says, and she's getting it. She says, lord, even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from the Master's table. Then Jesus answered and said to her, oh, woman, great is your faith, and let it be as you desire. And that very hour, her daughter was healed. And I believe, and I realize that this is pre Calvary. And there's a lot that she couldn't yet have known, but she knew Jesus was different. She knew he had the truth. She knew he had the power of God, and she was willing to come. She responded to the amount of light she had. And I believe you'll see this woman in heaven.
Bert Harper Uh, amen. There's no doubt in my mind. Notice what it says in 27 in the new King James, and it's in the Greek. True. She started out true, Lord. Even the little dogs. In other words, true. I'm just saying. Okay. Her first request, it was good son of David, my daughter, severely demon possessed. Uh, but he draws her in just like the woman at the well. Jesus would draw. Draw her in to the place of, uh, faith. I believe that's what he's doing here with her. Now, this notice, this is a Gentile woman. And notice. Great is your faith. There was another Gentile that Jesus talked about their faith being great. It was a centurion who came and said, I'm a man under. Also a man under authority. If you speak, all you have to do is speak. You don't have to go, Lord. And Jesus said, I have not found so great a faith, not even in Israel. So two of the greatest demonstrations of, uh, faith according to the word of God is by gentiles, the centurion. You find this in Matthew, chapter eight. And now this Gentile woman in Matthew, chapter 15. Great faith. And both of them. Notice what else is similar. Both of, uh, their requests was met without Jesus having to go. It was simply at his word. That is the power of Christ and that self, same hour, just like it was with the centurion. So here Jesus is demonstrating, uh, again, I've come for all people. And this lady, I'm calling her a lady. You know, at this point in time, uh, she, uh. There's no doubt. We'll see in my mind, Alex.
Alex McFarland Oh, yeah.
Bert Harper When he says, great is your faith, uh, it wasn't just about him healing her. It was about who he was, Lord.
Alex McFarland Yes. Um, well, in verse 30, it talks about. He's healing the lame, the blind, the mute, maimed many others. Okay. Lame would be somebody that's born with, you know, a crippling Disability. Blind Faith, mute. That means couldn't speak. And very often that's associated with a demonic oppression. Maimed would be somebody that was injured in a terrible injury and many others. They laid them down at Jesus feet and he healed them. So the multitude marvel when they saw the mute speaking. The maimed made whole the lame walking, the blind seeing, and they glorified the God of Israel. Now, wait a minute. It's Jesus doing the healing. Who is Jesus? Verse 31. He's the God of Israel.
Bert Harper And he's in gentile territory, Right?
Alex McFarland Exactly.
Bert Harper Now, uh, one thing real quickly. Uh, I know, uh, you and I, we see something, we'll go back to it. Notice, and I've already mentioned it, notice what he did after he got there in all this territory. Jesus departed from there. This is. Watch the movement of Jesus, chapters 14, 15 and 16. If you do a study, notice the movement. He is going from there to there until he gets to Caesarea Philippi and then the trans. The amount of transfiguration. This is so important areas. And so he skirted and notice that, went up into the mountains, uh, more isolated. Uh, and I can't help but say this missionally, Alex, don't, uh, be afraid to go to the isolated areas. Don't be afraid to go to the areas that are more difficult than others. Sometimes it's inner city, sometimes it's way out in the jungle or in the mountains. But where God leads, you, be sure and go. I just wanted to throw that in.
Alex McFarland Go ahead, brother. Well said, brother. Well said. Uh, well, we've made much of the feeding of the 5,000. Now he's going to feed 4,000. And he says to the disciples, uh, I have compassion on the multitudes. They've come now continued three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way. And the disciples, they don't see an opportunity, they see a problem. Well, where are we going to get all this food out here? He says, um, you know, in the wilderness, to feed a multitude. How many loaves do you have? And they said, seven and a few little fish. He commanded the multitudes to sit down, took the seven loaves and fish and gave thanks, as always. Hey, always say the blessing before you eat. Give thanks. And he broke them and gave them to the disciples. The disciples gave to the multitude. So they all ate and were filled. And they took up seven baskets and full of the fragments that were left. Now, those who ate were 4,000 men besides women and children. He sent away the multitudes and got into a boat, came to the region of Magdala. Uh, Bert, let me ask you this, because we've seen now two feedings of the multitudes, and I think there's a lot here to glean from this. But, um, do you think this second time the disciples were a little more confident than the first time because they knew that, okay, Christ is going to multiply and everybody's going to have not only enough, but even more than they need? Do you think the disciples went into this scenario maybe a little more confident?
Bert Harper I think a little bit. But there are some things that are different. He did that in Jewish territory. Now this is in Gentile territory. Would Jesus do for the Gentiles what he did for the Jews? Uh, you know, I don't know if they were asking that or not, but I see that as a possibility because there were. Now, this time, again, it doesn't tell about the little boy. We don't know if the seven loaves were from an individual or who it was from, and the few fish.
Bert Harper Regardless of what it is, the principles are the same. Jesus took what they had, okay? And he blessed and broke it. That is the principle here in feeding the 5,000, the 4,000. It's also true in our lives. Alex, we give him, uh, there's a guy, uh, Shamra, a sham guard. Yeah. Over in the Book of Judges, uh, all he had was an ox goad. But guess what God did without ox goad. He killed 300. I think it was Philistines with an ox goad. You know, God took, used what he had to do the work of God. And to do the work of God, uh, he will meet that need according to what you have or what he gives. And again, one more thing real quickly. They did what they could, and Jesus did what he could. They could gather it, they could distribute it, and then they could get it back into the seven baskets. But only Jesus could do the multiplication. We need to understand that in our lives. Jesus is the one that gives the increase, isn't he?
Alex McFarland He is. Beautifully said. Beautifully said, brother. You know, it's, uh, been said, and you're right. This is. Okay, the first, the 5000, was in Jewish territory near Bethsaida. This is in Gentile territory near Decapolis. And, um, he prays twice. This is in Matthew 15 and Mark, chapter eight. We don't have time to talk about it right now, but maybe later. Hey, we've got a break. We're going to take your, uh, Bible questions.
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Holy, holy, holy. Oh, God almighty, who has a million years to come. With all creation. I sing praise to the King of kings. You are my everything, and I will adore you.
Bert Harper We hope he is your everything. Jesus Christ.
Bert Harper Jesus Christ, Lord of Lords, King of kings. Follow him. Well, that number, if you have a Bible question, and Alex and I would love to hear your Bible question is 888-589-8884-088858-98840. Uh, we would love to hear from you today. Well, Alex, we've got some on the line already, but we've got lines that are open. You ready to go to the first question?
Alex McFarland Yeah, let's do it. And, folks, if you call in, you'll get through, I'm sure. So we're going to begin in, uh, I believe it's Louisiana, Wayne, in Louisiana. Thank you for calling in to exploring the word.
Yes, sir. My question is in the book of Peter. First, Peter said, you know,
Bert Harper hey, Wayne, is your radio on behind your brother?
If it is, okay, go ahead.
Bert Harper Wait. Yeah, you were talking twice, brother. You had an echo. Uh, yeah, go right ahead. Now. Now we can hear you.
Yeah. It says, while the ark was the pan weighing eight souls were saved by water. Okay, so my question is, did the water save them?
Alex McFarland Uh, well, uh, the. The ark saved them. Now, it was the water that the. The ark floated on. But let me just say this. The ark was the judgment. And, uh, I'm going to look this up because I want to see. All right. By the word. By right.
Alex McFarland This is where the discussion hangs. In the English, it says by water. But I am pretty sure, and I'm looking it up as we speak, it probably, um, is something like via water or through water. But just as the boat Noah prepared for over 100 years, the Ark was the physical salvation. Well, the Messiah that God had promised and prepared, Jesus, he's the Savior. It wasn't just the physical, uh, liquid that covered the earth that was the judgment. They were saved through it and from it, weren't they?
Bert Harper They really are. And that word, if it's, uh, again, you looked it up, it can be go, uh, saved, through, or whatever. And those small words that have different little words like for or through, uh, they can, in our language, you know, change exactly what it says. So you look at other scriptures to help you identify that and know what it is. Wayne, thank you for that.
Alex McFarland I, um, believe. Yeah, Let me. Let me look this up. I think it's in first Peter 3.
21.
Alex McFarland Um, but. But I'll get it before the show is out, but let's continue now, shall we, while I look this up.
Bert Harper Where do we go to next?
Alex McFarland Kentucky. And we're going to talk to Glenn.
Yes, this is Glenn.
Alex McFarland Yes,
welcome.
Yeah, um, thanks for taking my call.
Alex McFarland What you got, brother?
Can you hear me?
Bert Harper Yeah, you're on Glenn. Go right ahead.
Yes, my question is, I know we all come from Adam and Eve, but did. Where did the. The separation that. Where did the Jews and the Gentiles and the other nationalities come from? Was it during the, uh, Tower of Babel?
Bert Harper Could it been before that, Alex?
Alex McFarland Even before that? God bless you. You know, really, the sons of Noah, uh, all of the ethnicities in the world come from the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Really. And, uh, by the way, this is fascinating. And only the Bible gives us the accurate origins of not only of creation, Adam and Eve, the human race. And by the way, let me just say this. Genetically, when a male and a female conceive a baby, you have got literally, um. I knew this statistic, Burke, because I shared it at camp this summer, but it's basically something like 10 to the 150th power times 10 to the 150th power in an infinitesimally, I, uh, mean huge, immeasurably large number of genetic possibilities. And, you know, uh, you've got every sort of appearance, eye color, stature, hair color, hair texture, the amount of melanin in the skin, uh, the genetic possibilities from not just a male female pair, but when you talk about Shem, Ham and Japheth, you know, and yet we're all human beings, every ethnicity. Asian, African, European, uh, you know, um, Hellenic and Greek and Hebraic. Uh, we're all human beings, and we all come from the. The family line of the three sons of Noah, which came from the original male female pair, Adam and Eve.
Bert Harper And out of that would come Abraham and those of his ethnicity, you know, and so that's where the Jewish, uh, come from. Uh, Glenn and all the others that are Ham and uh, Shem, Japh. Yeah, they come from. They're all the Gentiles. So according to that, you know, the gentiles are far more greater for us in number. But Jesus, again, uh, God went down further and further to Abraham, and then it was to David, uh, to Judah, uh, David. I mean, it's amazing when you look at how it came out where Jesus Christ. I think that's the neat part of it, Alex.
Alex McFarland Amen. Amen. That's a great question. And, uh, let's go to Peggy in Mississippi. Peggy, welcome to Exploring the Word.
Okay, thank you, sir. Uh, my question is about the manna. God fed his people. Manna, uh, it came down from heaven, I guess, and he fed. God fed his people manna while they was in the, uh, desert or wherever. And like, well, what. Okay. And then I thought, uh, read or heard about there's hidden man. I put back.
Is that right?
Alex McFarland Yeah. The hidden man for who? But where is that, where is that at?
About the. What books is it in the Bible? Uh, about the, uh, feeding of the manna. And, and like, if there is hidden manna work, what books is in. I want, I want to go back and read that.
Alex McFarland The, the phrase hidden manna is in Revelation chapter two. Uh, and let me. Revelation 2:17. Let me, uh, talk about this, Bert. I'm going to defer to you. Jesus says, um, hear whoever has an ear. Let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on that stone a new name written. Well, for one thing, uh, let me just say that salvation is more than just physical life. Man, uh, does not live by bread alone. And manna was a type of bread that the Jews ate in the Old Testament. This is really kind of, uh, back in, I believe it's Exodus 16, they were in the desert. So the original manna was a bread like substance to sustain the Israelites in the wilderness. But that hidden manna, it. Well, it's salvation, but it's also in the tribulation. And this is what's gonna happen in Revelation 4 through 20. The hidden manna. The Jews that, um, are saved, they go to, uh, a secret place to hide out from the Antichrist. And God miraculously saves many. Now, many are martyred, but I think in a way. Bert. The hidden manna is the life of the Christian that walks with Jesus. We don't just live for this world. We don't just depend on this world and the security that we have in Christ, no matter what this world throws with us, throws to us. I think that's part of the. More than physical bread, the absolute spiritual reality of knowing Christ.
Bert Harper Amen. Alex, again, Jesus is the bread of life. And, uh, he has hidden that. He comes in and he sustained the word here. Sustains. Okay, get it? Okay. He will sustain us, uh, through whatever there is. Um, matter of fact, our. Our fishbowl retreat in October, and we still have room for people if they want to [email protected] if you're going to do it, you need to get it done this week. And, uh, so, Alex, he sustains us. That's what it says in Psalm 55:22. He's our sustainer. When you hear that hidden manna, I think it's hidden to the point. Wow. How can those people go through what they're going through and it be real? You catch.
Alex McFarland I got to tell you something. Now, uh, listen to this, everybody. The word can sometimes mean concealed. Now, here's the thing. Like Bev Shea sang, Jesus is all the world to me.
Alex McFarland A lot of people just couldn't get their mind around that. But the word translated hidden or concealed. For those of us that know Jesus, we know that nothing compares to knowing Christ. And that's concealed. A lot of people can't see it. Guess what the word is in Greek. It's word crypto. Nowadays, everybody is wanting cryptocurrency. Let me tell you, the best, the most valuable currency. And, uh, it doesn't have to be hidden. In fact, our job is to make it visible to everybody. The crypto manna, the.
Alex McFarland The hidden, concealed, the. The sustaining life that is being a believer in Jesus.
Bert Harper They see our good works and glorify the Father who's in heaven. Guess where those good works come from. It comes from God's Holy Spirit working himself out in and through us. Alex.
Alex McFarland So the next time somebody says, hey, uh, do you. What do you think about crypto? You can say, yeah, I'm for it, but not like you might think.
Bert Harper Amen. Amen. Thank you. Yeah.
Alex McFarland Marty in South Carolina. Marty, welcome to Exploring the Word.
Hey, guys. How are y' all doing today?
Alex McFarland Good. Thank you for calling.
Yeah, I just wanted to, uh, basically just comment first, uh, of all, I've read your book, um, 100 Bible Questions and Answers on Prophecy in the End Times. And I highly recommend this book to anyone that has. That struggles with the book of Revelation. You know, uh, the first time I read Revelation, it was, um, very confusing. I've heard a lot of different things about the book of Revelation. And, uh, and, and, and your book just really, you know, really helps to understand what, what's happening. And there was a program I watched, uh, I don't know if you guys are familiar with Answers in Genesis. Oh, yes, Ken Ham. And anyway, um, one of his. One of his fellows was on, and, uh, he was talking about comparing America to Babylon. Um, and my take on the program was in the way, you know, I'm 64 years old, and I've seen a lot of changes in, you know, our country. And, uh, the biggest change that I see is people have turned away from God. The, the younger generation, especially, they're growing up and they're not being taught. Um, they're.
They're not on a biblical foundation. And that was one of the things that they talked about in the. The program that I saw. So, uh, what. You know, I know that, uh, you know, government has its place, but I believe that the church has been replaced by government. And, uh, I'm just wondering what your take is on that and your thoughts about, uh, you know, and I know that, that we are, uh, you know, God is in control of all things, and he knows. He knows the future.
Bert Harper Amen.
Alex McFarland Hey, let me jump in here for a second.
Bert Harper Yeah. Wait a minute. It's time, Marty.
Alex McFarland Uh, yeah, Bert, I want to throw this to you, but, um, I agree. One thing he said, very, very perceptive, that for many, the state has become kind of like the savior. And the more and more socialist, the more and more Marxist a culture gets, rather than Christianity, God, scriptural truth, um, the state becomes God. And Bert, um, the idea that, uh, we are lawless and we are not accountable and defund the police and don't observe the rule of law, that's more and more a totalitarian, chaotic state. And part of American, um, foundational bedrock beliefs was that there is the Ten Commandments, there are moral boundaries, and every person is accountable for how they act and how they live. Um, we've drifted away from the true and living God to which the iron fist of the state has almost become God. I think Marty is right in alluding to that.
Bert Harper I agree. But I want to put a caveat to this, uh, because it wasn't long ago last week, when we was talking about Charlie Kirk and his assassination because of Charlie Kirk and some others and just going forth, there seems to be some renewal in this generation that we wondered, God, what are you going to do? So, you know, I don't know, but I have hope, Alex, that them turning again, they need to have a biblical foundation. That's what is really concerning to me. Because in the past, even in the great movement of God and even in the war movements in the 1960s, that's the only thing I can. Where God started working there, uh, they didn't have a great foundation either. But God can do it. And I'm praying he is doing this through this movement that we're seeing, especially young men, uh, say, hey, this government's not working. And I pray they're turning to God in great numbers. I really am.
Alex McFarland Amen. Amen. Uh, I think we're gonna. Can we squeeze one more time?
Bert Harper The music has started. Jared. We're sorry about that.
Alex McFarland Uh, Jared in Texas, please, uh, call back tomorrow. That music, um, is here. We had some questions that just required kind of a fully orbed, lengthy answer, didn't we?
Bert Harper We really did. And we appreciate everybody that listens to exploring the Word. Uh, and I know we. We go out saying, you know, tell them about exploring the Word and afr and tell them about Jesus. We really mean it. Uh, the best you ever heard. The best advertisement is a satisfied customer. Alex.
Alex McFarland Amen.
Bert Harper M. Well, so we got a lot of folks that, according to what you hear on the road and what I hear exploring, uh, the Word has a ministry that's helping people. And we want to continue to do that, don't we?
Alex McFarland And we give God the glory. Glory for it. Folks, uh, continue on in Matthew 15. Tomorrow's a day of prayer. We'd love to hear from you. Thank you for listening, and may God bless you in all things. The views and opinions expressed in this
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In this episode, we begin a profound exploration of Matthew chapter 15, diving into the teachings and miracles of Jesus during a pivotal period of his ministry. Join us as we uncover the significance of Jesus' interactions with the Pharisees and the lessons on internal versus external righteousness. Through insightful discussion, we highlight the importance of true belief and the transformative power of Christ's love. Don't miss this enlightening journey through Scripture!
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