Right in whose eyes?

Right in whose eyes?


 




 

At least 5 times it is written in Scriptures "right in his own eyes." (Deut 12:8, Judges 17:6, Judges 21:25, Proverbs 12:15, Proverbs 21:2).


At least 24 times it is written in Scriptures "right in the eyes of the Lord." (Deut 12:25-28, 2 Chronicles 25:2, etc.).


 

Two different attitudes:

1. I will do things my way in everything. My way is best.

2. I will do things God's way in everything. His way is best.

 

We see the results today where most does what is right in their own eyes. It is chaos. One group says this is best, and another no it is not best.


 

Where are the standards and whose standards do we follow?


 

It seems best to follow the standards of the one who made us. He made us to function in a certain way. This is an optimal way for healthy societies, family, work, finance, farming, individual, etc. to function.


 

Consider how the society would improve if we follow these 6 Laws of God

1. Wickedness (James 1:21)

2. All malice (1 Peter 2:1)

3. All guile (1 Peter 2:1)

4. All hypocrisies ((1 Peter 2:1)

5. All envies (1 Peter 2:1)

6. All evil speaking (1 Peter 2:1)

If we follow God's laws in our daily life, we will be happier, too.

He Is Risen!

 

Resurrection Day


 

And on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone having been rolled away from the tomb. And going in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. Then, as they became afraid and bowed their faces to the ground, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.' " And they remembered His words. And returning from the tomb, they reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the rest with them, who told these things to the apostles. And their words seemed like nonsense before them, and they disbelieved them. But Peter rose up and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen strips lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened. (Luke 24:1-12, EMTV)

 

The women who went to the tomb very early Sunday morning expected the body of Jesus to be there. They did not expect a risen Lord even though Jesus had told them that He would met with them in Galilee after He had risen. We see here the love and loyalty to the Lord Jesus.


 

Arriving at the tomb they were surprised that there were no soldiers guarding, no body lying, only (in this group anyway) 2 men in shining clothes.


 

The message they received both startled and surprised them. They went to tell the others, but the others would not believe.


 

The controversy of one or two angels (see Mark 16:1-8 and Matthew 28:1-5) is understood that one angel was outside when the first group went to the tomb and sitting by the tomb stone that was rolled away. When the second group arrived the angel who was outside went inside the tomb to join the angel who was already inside. So when the second group came and went inside, they saw two angels.


 

Matthew Henry in the Condensed Version of his commentary writes:


 

IV. Their satisfaction in this account, v. 8. The women seemed to acquiesce; they remembered his words, when they were thus put in mind of them, and thence concluded that if he was risen it was not more than they had reason to expect; and now they were ashamed of the preparations they had made to embalm on the third day him who had often said that he would on the third day rise again. Note, A seasonable remembrance of the words of Christ will help us to a right understanding of his providence.

      V. The report they brought of this to the apostles: They returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest of Christ's disciples, v. 9. It does not appear that they were together in a body; they were scattered every one to his own, perhaps scarcely two or three of them together in the same lodgings, but one went to some of them and another to others of them, so that in a little time, that morning, they all had notice of it. But we are told (v. 11) how the report was received: Their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. They thought it was only the fancy of the women, and imputed it to the power of imagination; for they also had forgotten Christ's words, and wanted to be put in mind of them, not only what he had said to them in Galilee some time ago, but what he had said very lately, in the night wherein he was betrayed: Again a little while, and ye shall see me. I will see you again. One cannot but be amazed at the stupidity of these disciples,--who had themselves so often professed that they believed Christ to be the Son of God and the true Messiah, had been so often told that he must die and rise again, and then enter into his glory, had seen him more than once raise the dead,--that they should be so backward to believe in his raising himself. Surely it would seem the less strange to them, when hereafter this complaint would justly be taken up by them, to remember that there was a time when it might justly have been taken up against them, Who hath believed our report?

      VI. The enquiry which Peter made hereupon, v. 12. It was Mary Magdalene that brought the report to him, as appears, John 20:1; John 20:2, where this story of his running to the sepulchre is more particularly related. 1. Peter hastened to the sepulchre upon the report, perhaps ashamed of himself, to think that Mary Magdalene should have been there before him; and yet, perhaps, he had not been so ready to go thither now if the women had not told him, among other things, that the watch was fled. Many that are swift-footed enough when there is no danger are but cow-hearted when there is. Peter now ran to the sepulchre, who but the other day ran from his Master. 2. He looked into the sepulchre, and took notice how orderly the linen clothes in which Christ was wrapped were taken off, and folded up, and laid by themselves, but the body gone. He was very particular in making his observations, as if he would rather credit his own eyes than the testimony of the angels. 3. He went away, as he thought, not much the wiser, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. Had he remembered the words of Christ, even this was enough to satisfy him that he was risen from the dead; but, having forgotten them, he is only amazed with the thing, and knows not what to make of it. There is many a thing puzzling and perplexing to us which would be both plain and profitable if we did but rightly understand the words of Christ, and had them ready to us.

What more can we say?


 

Do we believe?

The Day after the Crucifixion

Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And they rested on the Sabbath, according to the commandment. (Luke 23:56, EMTV)

Jesus died as was foretold.

Jesus was buried as foretold.

Now His body is in the tomb.



The Jews observed their Sabbath. What were the people thinking? It must have been a repeated conversation. For some they wondered about the prophecies of the Scriptures, for others perhaps fear. They did know the prophecies of the resurrection. They did not know specially that Messiah would rise from the dead but understood the resurrection to refer to all people. Nevertheless this first passage might have some hints.

1. Isaiah 53:9-12 ESV And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. (10) Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. (11) Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. (12) Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors." (Note for Messiah to see and experience the blessings of the last half of verse 10 through verse 12, He would have to be alive).

2. Daniel 12:2 NKJV And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.

There is the men traveling the road to the village of Emmaus who were talking about these things when Jesus joined them in their journey. This conversation, of course, would have been on Sunday after Jesus had risen.

Luke 24:13-24 NKJV Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. (14) And they talked together of all these things which had happened. (15) So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. (16) But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. (17) And He said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?" (18) Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have you not known the things which happened there in these days?" (19) And He said to them, "What things?" So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, (20) and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. (21) But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. (22) Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. (23) When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. (24) And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see."

It would have been a trying of their faith, for they did not understand completely about the resurrection of Jesus even though He had foretold this at least 4 times.

1. Matthew 20:19 EMTV "...and they will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He shall rise again."

2. Mark 9:9 EMTV "And as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should relate to no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man should rise from the dead."

3. Mark 14:28 EMTV "But after I am raised, I will go before you into Galilee."

4. John 2:19 EMTV "Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."

God kept them safe during this short time and rewarded them with the sight of their previous Savior.

Luke 24:36-48 EMTV Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you." (37) But being alarmed and becoming fearful, they thought they saw a spirit. (38) And He said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? (39) Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have." (40) When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. (41) But as they still disbelieved for joy, and marveled, He said to them, "Do you have any food here?" (42) So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. (43) And taking it, He ate it in their presence. (44) Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." (45) And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. (46) Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, (47) and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (48) And you are witnesses of these things.

We learn the lesson that some things are hard to understand but it is most reasonable to believe God and the Scriptures. Do not lose hope.

A Good Friday Devotion

"And all the crowds which came together for this spectacle, when they saw what had happened, beat their own chests and returned." (Luke 23:48, EMTV)


Jesus has just voluntarily died. It was with a loud voice, not the weak voice of one dying, that He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I will commit My spirit.' "And after He said these things, He breathed His last." (Luke 23:46, EMTV).


The people and the soldiers have a response. The crowds beat their own chests and returned, and "when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, "Certainly this was a righteous Man!" (Luke 23:47, EMTV)


I suppose that the people came to see Jesus crucified because His name was well known. Perhaps many had hoped this to be the promised Messiah, perhaps they did not believe in Him, or some other reason.


They saw what happened. They heard Jesus shout out. They saw the darkness and felt the earthquake. Now it was over, and they beat their chests and returned.


Why did they beat their chests? Beating their chests expresses the idea of sorrow in the death of a loved one and/or repentance. Consider:

1. "Then Samuel died; and the Israelites gathered together and lamented [literally "beat their breasts"] for him, and buried him at his home in Ramah. And David arose and went down to the Wilderness of Paran." (1 Samuel 25:1 NKJV)
   


2. "When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned [literally "beat her breast"] for her husband." (2 Samuel 11:26 NKJV)
   


3. "It is decreed: She shall be led away captive, she shall be brought up; and her maidservants shall lead her as with the voice of doves, beating their breasts." (Nahum 2:7 NKJV)
   


4. "And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' (Luke 18:13 NKJV)
   

Why the sorrow? There were some who did not want Jesus to die. They may have been reminded of the sin in killing an innocent man. This reminds me of "And those who heard it began to go out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman being in the midst." (John 8:9 EMTV). Perhaps, as Matthew Henry wrote, some felt that in killing an innocent man, God would judge the nation. Perhaps, they thought of their own sins. The Scripture does not tell us the thoughts of these people.


Truly the Scriptures have been fulfilled, "And I will pour out a spirit of compassion and supplication on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that, when they look on the one whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn." (Zechariah 12:10 NRSV)


Truly He is the Lamb of God, "The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29 EMTV)


Truly His death had a purpose, "For Christ also suffered once to atone for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring you to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit." (1 Peter 3:18 EMTV)


What is our reaction to the crucifixion of Jesus? Do we walk away untouched? Do we think of our own sins? Do we think that Jesus was a failure, a fool, a lunatic, or got his just desserts?


1. Alas! and did my Savior bleed,


and did my Sovereign die!


Would he devote that sacred head


for sinners such as I?


 

2. Was it for crimes that I have done,


he groaned upon the tree?


Amazing pity! Grace unknown!


And love beyond degree!


 

3. Well might the sun in darkness hide,


and shut its glories in,


when God, the mighty maker, died


for his own creature's sin.


 

4. Thus might I hide my blushing face


while his dear cross appears;


dissolve my heart in thankfulness,


and melt mine eyes to tears.


 

5. But drops of tears can ne'er repay


the debt of love I owe.


Here, Lord, I give myself away;


'tis all that I can do.

Peter’s Denial

Peter's Denial





 

A1 Objectives

B1 Describe how Peter denied Jesus.

B2 Describe how Jesus restored Peter.

A2 Scriptures

B1 Mark 14:27-31 Jesus foretell Peter's denial.

B2 Mark 14:53-54 Peter follows Jesus.

B3 Mark 14:66-72 Peter denies Jesus 3 times.

B4 John 21:1-19 Jesus appears to the 7 disciples and restores Peter.

A3 Notes

B1 Peter denies Christ. What does deny mean?

C1 Definitions

D1 To say something is not true

D2 To refuse a request

D3 Synonyms

E1 Dispute, controvert, oppose, gainsay.

E2 Deny, contradict both imply objecting to or arguing against something.

E3 To deny is to say that something is not true: to deny an allegation.

E4 To contradict is to declare that the contrary is true: to contradict a statement. 5. renounce, abjure.

E5 Source: deny. Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/deny (accessed: March 30, 2015).

C2 Biblical

D1

D2 More or less has the same meanings as English

B2 Free Will Baptist Treatise

C1 Article # APPENDIX TO CHAPTER XIII Adopted July, 1969

C2 Quote: "2. We believe that a saved individual may, in freedom of will, cease to trust in Christ for salvation and once again be lost. This we hold in distinction from those who teach that a believer may not again be lost."

B3 Some Scripture

C1 "But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are saying." And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to them there, "This man was with Jesus the Nazarene." But again he denied with an oath, "I do not know the Man!" (Matthew 26:70-72, EMTV)

C2 "Who is a liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son." (1 John 2:22, EMTV)

C3 "But whoever denies Me before men, I also will deny him before My Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 10:33, EMTV)

C4 "If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us." (2 Timothy 2:12, EMTV)

C5 "For certain men have crept in unawares, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, changing the grace of our God into licentiousness and denying the only Master God and our Lord Jesus Christ." (Jude 1:4, EMTV)

C6 "But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master, the One having bought them, and bringing upon themselves swift destruction." (2 Peter 2:1, EMTV)

C7 To Pergamos. "I know your works, and where you live, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith in the days in which Antipas was My faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells." (Revelation 2:13, EMTV)

C8 To Philadelphia. "I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it; because you have a little strength and have kept My word, and you have not denied My name." (Revelation 3:8, EMTV)

B4 What is the difference between Peter's denial and those who deny the Lord Jesus and "lose" their salvation?

B5 What type of denial did Peter do? How do we know?

B6 How do we avoid such a condition?

A4 Questions

B1 Was Peter courageous? Yes!

C1 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. And the servant's name was Malchus. (John 18:10, EMTV)

C2 But Peter followed Him from a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest, and he was sitting together with the attendants and warming himself at the fire. (Mark 14:54, EMTV)

B2 What was the motive for Peter's denial? What was the motive for Judas's denial?

B3 Peter's denial of the Lord Jesus is a very humiliating time in Peter's life.

C1 Why do you think this is recorded for us? If this happened to Peter, it might happen to us. We can repent.

C2 Does this record lend credibility to the infallibility of the Scriptures? Normally one would think that the humiliating aspects would not be included, yes positive things.

B4 Did the Lord Jesus know beforehand or was it decreed to have to happen? Technically it doesn't say, but to me, it seems most reasonable that Jesus foreknew this. If Jesus had decreed it to happen, then he led Peter to sin, which doesn't happen.

B5 "And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." (Luke 22:61, EMTV) After denying Jesus these 3 times, Jesus looked at Peter. What type of look was it? Was it an angry look, a loving look, or an I-told-you-so look?

B6 After repenting and asking forgiveness, Peter is asked 3 times by Jesus, "Do you love me?" What action/attitude is Jesus showing? That Peter was really forgiven and that he had not forfeited a ministry to serve Jesus.

B7 Response to denial.

C1 Peter's response to his denial: "And going outside, Peter wept bitterly." (Luke 22:62, EMTV)

C2 Judas Iscariot's response: "Then Judas, the one betraying Him, seeing that He was condemned, feeling regret, returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and elders," (Matthew 27:3, EMTV)

C3 What was the difference between these two men? "For godly sorrow brings about repentance leading to salvation, without regret; but worldly sorrow brings about death." (2 Corinthians 7:10, EMTV)

B8 How would something like this affect Peter's life and how he served Jesus?

B9 How many of the disciples did stumble when Jesus was betrayed? All

B10 Why did they all have to stumble? They didn't, but God knew this.

B11 Did Peter take God's name in vain when it says, "Then he began to curse and to swear, "I do not know this Man whom you are speaking of" (Mark 14:71, EMTV)

C1 No

C2 The Greek word for curse is to "bind one's self under a curse and judgment." This word would be used to prove he was not lying, that is, he called for God to curse and punish him, if he was lying.

C3 The Greek word for swear is to "make an oath."

B12 Some would say that we cannot trust the Bible, because of the contradiction in the Gospels concerning the number of times that the rooster crowed and when Peter denied Jesus.

C1 Passages

D1 The prophecy.

E1 Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times" (Matthew 26:34).

E2 Then He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me" (Luke 22:34).

E3 Jesus answered him… "Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times" (John 13:38).

D2 The fulfillment.

E1 And immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times" (Matthew 26:74b-75).

E2 Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times" (Luke 22:60-61).

H3 Peter then denied again [3rd time]; and immediately a rooster crowed (John 18:27).

D3 The above compared to Mark

E1 The prophecy: "...that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times" (Mark 14:30).

E2 The fulfillment.

F1 Peter denied knowing Jesus, then he again denied knowing Jesus--"went out on the porch, and a rooster crowed" (Mark 14:68).

F2 After Peter's third denial of Jesus, the rooster crowed "...a second time. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, 'Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times' " (Mark 14:72)

D4 The problem is that it appears that the rooster would not crow until Peter had finished all the denials, but in Mark the rooster crowed before Peter finished all the denials.

C2 Answers

D1 Some say the Peter denied Jesus a total of six times and that the rooster crowed after each triad. To me this seems stretched. (See here)

D2 Some say the rooster crowed 2 times in a row. (CARM/Matt Slick). The reading of the text does not seem to allow this. (Mark 14:66-72)

D3 Jesus was indicating the crow would be the main crow which was the second crow. (Apologetic Press, Eric Lyon)

D4 Different observers and different accounts. (behindthebadge)

D5 Original manuscript did not have "second", it was added to later manuscripts for unknown reasons. (New International Version notes and others).

D6 Mark's, Luke's, and John's account has Jesus giving this prophecy in the upper room, while Matthew given the account having left the upper room and on their way to the garden. Thus when Jesus repeated in on the way to the garden, he mentioned the two crows. (Many).

B13 John 21

C1 How many disciples present? 7

C2 Where are they? By the Sea of Tiberius (Lake Galilee)

C3 What does Peter want to do? Go fishing.

C4 How long did they fish? All night.

C5 At sun rise whom did they see? A man--Jesus.

C6 Did they recognize Jesus at first? NO

C7 What did the man (Jesus) tell them to do? Throw the net out the right side of the boat.

C8 Why the right side? Would it have made any difference? Who cares, but Jesus specifically said the right side, so it is best. The disciples believed Jesus and did so.

C9 Would it be hard for these to throw that net out after catching nothing all night? Would we obey some dude on the beach who told us this?

C10 What happened? They caught lots of fish.

C11 What couldn't they do with the net? Haul it in, because it was so full.

C12 How did John know that this man was Jesus?

C13 Why did Peter react the way he did?

C14 How many fish did they catch? 153

C15 Why didn't the net tear?

C16 When they reached the shore, what did Jesus ask them to do? "Come and eat."

C17 Who served the food? Jesus.

C18 Can we learn something about God's character from this? Will it affect us?

C19 How many times did this make of Jesus's appearing? 3

C20 How many times did Jesus ask Peter a question? 3

C21 When Jesus asked Peter to feed His sheep, did this make Peter the first pope? No

C22 Who are these sheep? Those who trust in Jesus.

C23 What does feed mean? Is Jesus asking Peter to provide food for them or spiritual service? Spiritual service.

C24 Did Jesus trust Peter after Peter failed so miserably? Yes. Why?

C25 Is there hope for us when we fail? Yes.

C26 Is there any sin that Jesus cannot forgive when we ask for forgiveness? No

C27 Does verse 23 (John 21:23) help us in interpreting the Bible? Yes, we must interpret it in its plain, normal sense.

Colossians 4:7-18

 

Final Greetings and comments


 

A1 Scripture

B1 Tychicus, our beloved brother and faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all things about me. I am sending him to you for this very thing, that he may know your circumstances, and he may encourage your hearts, with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all the things happening here. Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, receive him), and Jesus who is called Justus. These alone are my fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me. Epaphras greets you, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, always struggling for you in his prayers, that you may stand mature and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him witness that he has much zeal for you, and those in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis. Luke the beloved physician greets you, also Demas. Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church in his house. And whenever this letter is read before you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you also read the one from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which you received in the Lord, that you fulfill it." This greeting by my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen. (Colossians 4:7-18, EMTV)

B2 Our dear friend Tychicus, who is a faithful worker and fellow servant in the Lord's work, will give you all the news about me. That is why I am sending him to you, in order to cheer you up by telling you how all of us are getting along. With him goes Onesimus, that dear and faithful friend, who belongs to your group. They will tell you everything that is happening here. Aristarchus, who is in prison with me, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have already received instructions to welcome Mark if he comes your way.) Joshua, also called Justus, sends greetings too. These three are the only Jewish believers who work with me for the Kingdom of God, and they have been a great help to me. Greetings from Epaphras, another member of your group and a servant of Christ Jesus. He always prays fervently for you, asking God to make you stand firm, as mature and fully convinced Christians, in complete obedience to God's will. I can personally testify to his hard work for you and for the people in Laodicea and Hierapolis. Luke, our dear doctor, and Demas send you their greetings. Give our best wishes to the believers in Laodicea and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house. After you read this letter, make sure that it is read also in the church at Laodicea. At the same time, you are to read the letter that the believers in Laodicea will send you. And tell Archippus, "Be sure to finish the task you were given in the Lord's service." With my own hand I write this: "Greetings from Paul" Do not forget my chains! May God's grace be with you. (Colossians 4:7-18, GNB92)

A2 Outline

B1 Tychicus

C1 Beloved brother

C2 Faithful minister

C3 Fellow servant of the Lord

C4 Will bring an update on me (Paul)

D1 He may know what is happening at Colossae.

D2 He may (will) encourage your hearts.

B2 Onesimus

C1 Faithful and beloved brother.

C2 One of you (native of Colossae).

B3 Aristarchus--fellow prisoner of mine

B4 Mark

C1 Cousin of Barnabas

C2 Welcome him.

B5 Jesus (Justus)

B6 The three.

C1 (Aristarchus, Mark, and Justus are Jews)

C2 They are a comfort to me.

B7 Epaphras

C1 Native of Colossae.

C2 Bondservant of Jesus

C3 Prayer warrior.

D1 Praying that they may be mature.

D2 Praying that they may be complete in all the will of God.

C4 Zealous for those in Colossae, Laodicea, and Hierapolis.

B8 Luke-- the physician

B9 Demas--says "Hi."

B10 Paul

C1 Greet the believers in Laodicea.

C2 Greet Nympha (sister in Christ)

C3 Greet the church that meets in her house.

C4 Read the letter here, then in Laodicea.

C5 Read the letter to Laodicea in Colossae also.

C6 Tell Archippus to be sure to finish the task you were given in the Lord's service.

C7 I'm writing this salutation with my own hand. (Greetings from Paul)

C8 Don't forget my chains (prison, thus pray for me).

C9 God's grace for with all of you.

A3 Notes

B1 Ten people are mentioned here.

B2 Basic descriptions of each. What would we be remembered for?

B3 Mark had been rejected as a faithful laborer but is now a faithful laborer. (Acts 13:13)

B4 Tychicus

C1 Gentile

C2 Fellow servant--a missionary preacher like Paul.

C3 Faithful brother--faithful to Jesus Christ and His teaching as well as faithful to Paul.

C4 Paul wrote Colossians during his first imprisonment (in Rome) and Tychicus was present with him. This is why Paul writes that "he will tell you all things about me."

C5 Was with Paul traveling to Jerusalem. He was with him to deliver the offerings of the saints to help the poor Christians in Israel. And Sopater, a Berean, was accompanying him to Asia—also Aristarchus of the Thessalonians, and Secundus, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus, the Asians. (Acts 20:4, EMTV)

C6 Was the person who brought the Epistle to the Laodiceans and the Colossians.

C7 Sent to Titus. "Whenever I shall send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, hasten to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there." (Titus 3:12, EMTV). He was the replacement for Titus, so Titus could join Paul in Nicopolis.

C8 Sent to Timothy. "And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus." (2 Timothy 4:12, EMTV) He was sent to replace Timothy, so that Timothy could come and comfort Paul before Paul had to be executed for his faith.

B5 Onesimus

C1 We find the first mention of him in Philemon. Onesimus is a runaway slave owned by Philemon. Philemon had become a Christian and so had Onesimus. The letter to Philemon was an appeal to him for Onesimus.

C2 Evidently he was a thief as well as a poor worker. After conversion, he assisted Paul. Paul wrote that whatever Onesimus stole, he would repay.

B6 Aristarchus

C1 Gaius and he were seized by the Ephesians in Acts 19:29. "And the whole city was filled with confusion, and they rushed with one purpose into the theater, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, traveling companions of Paul."

C2 Was from Thessalonica. "And Sopater, a Berean, was accompanying him to Asia—also Aristarchus of the Thessalonians, and Secundus, and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy, and Tychicus and Trophimus, the Asians. (Acts 20:4, EMTV)

C3 Traveled to Rome with Paul. "And having boarded a ship of Adramyttium, scheduled to sail to the ports along the Asian coasts, we put to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us. (Acts 27:2, EMTV)

C4 He was a prisoner with Paul.

B7 Mark--the writer of the second Gospel.

B8 Jesus (Justus)--not much is known except that he was a fellow worker with Paul.

B9 Epaphras--Was the missionary to the Colossians. "just as also you learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf." (Colossians 1:7, EMTV)

B10 Luke--the physician.

B11 Demas--the one who left Paul, because he loved the world. "For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and traveled to Thessalonica—Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia." (2 Timothy 4:10, EMTV)

B12 Nympha might be Nymphas. The word is unclear. The former is a woman, the latter a man. The church make in her/his house. This house must have be large enough to hold a congregation.

"Salute Nymphas (or Nympha?), and the church which is in her (his? their?) house." Nymphas was apparently the leading Christian at Laodicea, the "Philemon of Laodicea," as Moule calls him. Compare Phm. 1:1-2. There has been much dispute as to whether the name of this person was Nymphas or Nympha. (The Greek form Numphan, an accusative sing., may stand for either spelling.) Also there is uncertainty as to whether the text should read "her" house, "his" house, or "their" house. The 1966 Greek text of the United Bible Societies gives the reading "her" house, but gives manuscript evidence for the other readings in the footnotes. No certain decision about the reading here is possible at present." From the commentary note in the College Press Commentary.

B13 This letter was written by an assistant, but Paul wrote this salutation with his own hand. He did this to authenticate his letters.

Sympathy vs. Malice

Brothers, do not be children in your understanding; rather, in malice be children, but in understanding be men. (1 Corinthians 14:20, EMTV).

Understanding. The Greek word φρήν
phren means the diaphragm area of the body referring to not only the anatomy but the source of feeling, emotions, etc. By extension it means thinking, understanding, mind, etc. Probably the best word for today would be sympathy. The understanding would be when someone listens to another and states, "O, now I understand" being used in sympathetic situation.

Malice is the hate of heart, mind, and actions.

What the apostle (under inspiration) is telling us that there is a contrast between sympathy and malice. We are to be like children regarding malice and sympathy as adults. We are to lay aside malice, be ignorant of it, and not be an expert in it. We are to grab hold of sympathy, be well acquainted with it, and be an expert in it. This God does for us, and we need to do for others.

The hate and death culture that is all too common today is not to be the culture of the Christian.