Trusting God!

Prophet Isaiah: ¹ It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord (Christ Jesus our Lord and Master). He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of His robe filled the Temple. ² Attending Him were mighty seraphim (fiery angels), each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. ³ They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with His glory!” Isaiah 6:1-3, New Living Translation 2^nd Edition

Isaiah 6 has been called by many scholars the most important chapter in the book of Isaiah. In this chapter, the prophet Isaiah receives his call as a prophet or messenger of the living LORD of Heaven’s Armies (see Isaiah 6:8). More importantly, this chapter reveals the glory of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies and Christ Jesus our Lord (Messiah) in the glorious Throne Room of Heaven (see Isaiah 6:1-8)!

In this all-important chapter, the prophet Isaiah saw the Lord Jesus Christ (Messiah) in the year King Uzziah died (see Isaiah 6:1). King Uzziah, also known as Azariah in some biblical translations, ruled in Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel, from 792 to 740 BC (e.g., see 2 Kings 14:21-22; 2 Kings 15:1-7, 13, 30, 32, 34; Chronicles 26:1-23). Sadly, a civil war split and divided the Israelites into the north (Israel), and the south (Judah) after King Solomon’s death, and the prophet Isaiah lived in the more pious southern kingdom of Judah where Jerusalem and the Temple was located (Isaiah 1:1; see also 1 Kings 11:9-13; 1 Kings 12:16-20). The prophet Isaiah ministered and served during four kings of Judah – Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (e.g., see Isaiah 1:1; Isaiah 6:1; Isaiah 7:1; Isaiah 37:2-39:8).

When Isaiah began his prophetic ministry, Judah and Israel seemed strong and wealthy. However, the prophet Isaiah saw people using their power and wealth to harass and oppress the poor, the widow, the orphan, and the alien (e.g., see Isaiah 1:16-20, 23; James 1:27). Men went around drunk, and women cared more about their clothes than their neighbor’s hunger and the oppressed (e.g., see Isaiah 3:16-24; Isaiah 5:7-12). People gave “lip service” to God with their outward religious ceremonies, rituals, and fasts, and they kept up an appearance as righteous and good, but inwardly they neglected mercy, truth, justice, and goodness (e.g., see Isaiah 1:10-15).

In the year King Uzziah died, the prophet Isaiah saw in a vision the Lord Jesus (see Isaiah 6:1)! The New Testament confirms that the prophet Isaiah saw the Lord Jesus’ glory and spoke about Him (see John 12:41). Moreover, the apostles Peter, James, and John also witnessed the Lord Jesus’ glory when He walked the earth (e.g., see Matthew 17:2; Mark 9:2; Luke 9:29, 32; John 1:14; 2 Corinthians 3:18). The prophet Isaiah saw the LORD of Heaven’s Armies and His Son – the Righteous Servant Jesus – sitting upon the Throne high and exalted (Isaiah 6:1; see also Isaiah 52:13; Isaiah 53:12; Isaiah 57:15; Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 19:28; Matthew 20:21; Matthew 25:31; Acts 2:33; Acts 3:13; Philippians 2:9). The Lord Jesus was so glorious and BIG that only His train (hem or seam) filled the Temple (Isaiah 6:1; see also Revelation 1:13).

Hovering above the Lord Jesus were mighty, six-winged angels of fire (Isaiah 6:2; see also Revelation 4:6, 8-9). Amazingly, the prophet Ezekiel and John, the author of the book of Revelation, saw similar vision of the Throne Room of Heaven, and the prophet Ezekiel and John saw around the Throne six-winged fiery heavenly beings (e.g., see Ezekiel 1:4-6, 11, 13-14, 26; Revelation 4:6-9; Revelation 5:6; Revelation 6:1). These angels of fire are also called seraphim in some biblical translations (e.g., see Isaiah 6:2, RSV). The Hebrew word seraphim mean “flames.”

Throughout the Holy Scriptures, fire is the symbol for the living LORD God. The prophet Daniel had similar vision of the living LORD God’s Throne surrounded by flaming and blazing fire (see Daniel 7:9-10). Moreover, when the living LORD God Almighty appeared to the ancient Israelites at Mount Sinai (Horeb), He descended on Mount Sinai with smoke and in fire (see Exodus 19:18). To the Israelites, the glory of the LORD God Almighty looked like a consuming fire on top of Mount Sinai (Exodus 3:2; Exodus 24:17-18; Deuteronomy 5:4-5, 23-26; Deuteronomy 9:3; see also Genesis 15:17; Hebrews 12:29). For the LORD God Almighty is a consuming and powerful fire (see Deuteronomy 4:11, 24, 33, 36; 1 Kings 18:24, 38-39).

With two of the fiery angels’ wings, they covered their faces with two others they covered their feet, and with two they flew (see Isaiah 6:2). In a great chorus, the winged angels of fire called to another and sang:

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with His glory!” Isaiah 6:3, New Living Translation 2^nd Edition

The angels’ singing shook the Temple’s foundations, and suddenly the entire sanctuary was filled with smoke at the presence of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies (Isaiah 6:4 see also Exodus 19:17-18; Exodus 40:34-35; Ezekiel 43:4-5; Ezekiel 44:4). The winged angels of fire humbled themselves before the all-powerful and holy LORD of Heaven’s Armies!

The TRIPLE repetition of God’s holiness emphasizes God’s endless and infinite holiness. The prophet Isaiah saw the wonderful glory and complete holiness of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies (see Isaiah 6:3). As mentioned earlier, in some biblical translations the LORD of Heaven’s Armies is translated LORD of Hosts, the GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, and the LORD Almighty (see Isaiah 6:3). After seeing the LORD of Hosts, the prophet Isaiah acknowledged that the whole earth is full of the living LORD God’s glory (Isaiah 6:3; see also Exodus 15:11; Numbers 14:21-22; Psalm 72:18-19). Importantly, the Holy Scriptures repeatedly calls upon God’s creation – all humans – to be holy as the LORD of Heaven’s Armies is holy (e.g., see Exodus 19:5-6; Leviticus 11:44-45; Leviticus 19:2; Leviticus 20:7, 26; 1 Peter 1:15-16; 1 Thessalonians 4:7; 1 John 3:3). One day in the future, the whole earth will be filled with God’s holy people and the LORD of Heaven’s Armies’ glory will be the light of the world (e.g., see Isaiah 11:9; Isaiah 61:1-2; Revelation 21:1-22:21).

Wonderfully in the book of Revelation, John sees a similar vision of both Christ Jesus our Lord and His Father the living LORD God Almighty receiving a similar praise and worship in heaven (e.g., see Revelation 1:4-5, 8; Revelation 4:1-3, 8, 11; Revelation 5:13-14). The glory and holiness of the living LORD God Almighty is equally the glory and holiness of His Son, the Lord Jesus because the living LORD God and His Son are One (e.g., see John 1:18; John 10:30, 38; John 14:9-11, 20; John 17:11, 21-23).

Importantly, the prophet Isaiah proclaimed: “I have seen the King, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies” (see Isaiah 6:5, New Living Translation 2^nd Edition). The prophet Isaiah saw with his own eyes the true and living King and Judge of all the earth! Truly, the living LORD God Almighty is the Sovereign and eternal King and Judge who rules the whole earth (see also Jeremiah 10:10; Daniel 6:26; Hebrews 12:23). The living LORD God Almighty reigns over the nations, and the exalted King is seated on His Throne (e.g., see Psalm 47:6-9; Daniel 7:9). Moreover, the living LORD God Almighty is righteous, and He sees and rules EVERYONE on His earth (see Psalm 11:4-7; Psalm 103:19; Isaiah 66:1-3, 7; Daniel 4:17. Matthew 5:34; Matthew 23:22). The living LORD of Heaven’s Armies is not simply the greatest of many gods — He is the only true God and everlasting King and LORD of lords (e.g., see Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Deuteronomy 10:17; Psalm 10:16; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 10:6, 10; 1 Timothy 1:17; 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:14; Revelation 19:16). As the apostle Paul proclaimed: “To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen” (see 1 Timothy 1:17, English Standard Version).  

After seeing the glory and holiness of the King, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies and His Righteous Servant, Christ Jesus our Lord, the prophet Isaiah confessed and acknowledged his sinfulness and guilt and the sinfulness and guilt of all races of people (Isaiah 6:5; see similar confessions in Judges 16:21-22; Job 42:6; Jeremiah 10:14-16; Luke 5:8). Next, one of the mighty angels flew over to the altar and with a pair of tongs picked out a burning coal (see Isaiah 6:6). Then, the mighty angel touched the prophet Isaiah’s lips with the burning coals and said,

See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven. Isaiah 6:7, New Living Translation 2^nd Edition

Thus, the living LORD God Almighty cleansed, forgave, purged, and atoned for the prophet Isaiah’s sins and wickedness (Isaiah 6:7; see also 1 Timothy 1:12-17; 1 John 1:7-9). Similarly, the living LORD God reached out His hand and touched Jeremiah’s mouth and placed His words in Jeremiah’s mouth to take His messages throughout the world (see Jeremiah 1:9-10; Jeremiah 26:12, 15). Moreover, the living LORD of Hosts placed His words and authority on the prophet Daniel’s lips (see Daniel 10:16-21).

Then, the prophet Isaiah heard the Lord Jesus asking, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” (see Isaiah 6:8, New American Standard Bible). The prophet Isaiah offered his services to the Lord Jesus and said, “Here am I. Send me!” (see Isaiah 6:8, New American Standard Bible). The apostle Paul received a similar heavenly message from the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus (see Acts 9:4).

Significantly, the phrase Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us? has been debated by scholars throughout the centuries. This plural pronoun for God – the word “Us” – has been seen in Genesis 1:26, Genesis 3:22; Genesis 11:7 as well as here in Isaiah 6:8. Some scholars believe the “Us” refers to the heavenly council of God or the Holy Trinity – God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Spirit.

The Holy Scriptures teach that surrounding the LORD God’s Throne are all the armies of heaven (hosts) on His right and His left (e.g., see Deuteronomy 33:2; 1 Kings 22:19; Job 2:1; Psalm 89:5-8; Hebrews 12:22). The Holy Scriptures also call the armies of heaven surrounding the LORD God the “heavenly council,” “heavenly court,” “hosts of heaven,” or the “Sabaoth” (e.g., see Job 1:6; Job 38:7; Jeremiah 23:18, 22; Luke 2:13; Romans 9:29; James 5:4). The Holy Scriptures speak of a “heavenly court” or “heavenly council” (e.g., see Genesis 1:26; Genesis 3:22; Genesis 11:7; Job 15:8; Psalm 82:1; Isaiah 6:8). Revelation chapters 4 and 5 give a beautiful picture of the Throne Room of God with His heavenly council (see Revelation 4:1-5:14). Because of the LORD God’s mighty armies, the Holy Scriptures will sometimes translate the living God the “LORD of Hosts,” “the God of the armies of Israel,” “LORD of Heaven’s Armies,” or “LORD Almighty” (e.g., see 2 Samuel 5:10; 1 Samuel 17:36, 45; 1 Kings 18:15; Isaiah 6:3; Zechariah 4:6, 9).

The Lord Jesus Christ is Commander of God’s armies of heaven as the Firstborn Son of the living LORD God (e.g., see Joshua 5:13-15; Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 16:16; John 20:30-31; Revelation 19:11-16, 19). Even more, the Lord Jesus Christ is One with His Father the LORD God (e.g., see Deuteronomy 6:4; John 10:30; John 14:9-10; John 17:11, 21-23). The New Testament rightly proclaims that Jesus is Lord and Christ (the Anointed One, Messiah) filled with the Spirit who currently sits in the throne room of heaven (e.g., see Acts 2:36; Revelation 5:6). The Lord Jesus Christ is seated “on the right hand of the Majesty on high,” the place of honor beside His Father, the LORD God (Hebrews 1:3, 13; see also Psalm 110:1-2; Matthew 22:43-44; Matthew 26:64; Mark 16:19; Luke 22:68-69; Acts 2:33-34; Acts 5:31; Romans 8:34; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3, 13; Hebrews 8:1; Hebrews 10:12; Hebrews 12:2; 1 Peter 3:22). The fact that the Lord Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of the LORD God indicates that He is actively ruling and reigning with His Father as Lord of All (see Hebrews 1:2, 13). The hosts of heaven worship the Lord Jesus Christ (e.g., see Hebrews 1:6; Revelation 5:8, 11-14). One day coming soon, EVERYONE will worship in heaven and on earth and under the earth Christ Jesus as Lord, to the glory of God the Father (see Philippians 2:9-11). Moreover, one day Christ Jesus as the Great I AM will come on the clouds of heaven at His Second Coming with the heavenly hosts (e.g., see Psalm 110:1; Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 16:27; Matthew 24:30-31; Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:62; Revelation 1:7).

Many other faithful servants of God have had the privilege of seeing the LORD God Almighty with all His multitudes of heaven standing around Him on His right and on His left, including Jacob (later renew Israel) (see Genesis 32:30-32); Moses and the ancient Israelites (see Exodus 3:1-6; Exodus 24:9-10, 17); Joshua (see Joshua 5:13-15); the prophet Micaiah (see 1 Kings 22:19); Jeremiah (see Jeremiah 1:7-10); Ezekiel (see Ezekiel 1:26), Daniel (see Daniel 7:9-14); and John of Revelation (see Revelation 4:1-5:14). The prophet Isaiah, like many other faithful servants of God, saw the living LORD God’s Throne of heaven and His Son Jesus (Isaiah 6:1-4; see also e.g., see Exodus 24:10; Numbers 12:8; 1 Kings 22:19; Psalm 123:1; Isaiah 52:12; John 12:41; Hebrews 11:26; Hebrews 12:22; Revelation 4:1-5:14).

A true prophet of the living LORD God has had the privilege of seeing the LORD God sitting on His throne with His heavenly council or court (e.g., see Exodus 24:9-10; 1 Kings 22:19-22; 2 Kings 2:11-12; Isaiah 6:1-7; Jeremiah 23:16-22; Ezekiel 1:26-28; Daniel 7:9-14; Amos 3:7). Long ago the LORD God, again and again, spoke through His faithful prophets (messengers) in many and various ways, including visions, dreams, and even face to face (Hebrews 1:1; see also see Numbers 12:6, 8; 2 Kings 17:13; 2 Chronicles 36:15; Jeremiah 7:3, 13; Jeremiah 25:4; Jeremiah 26:5; Jeremiah 29:19; Jeremiah 35:15; Ezekiel 14:6; Ezekiel 18:30). The living LORD God gave the prophets His plans, warnings of repentance, divine will, and purposes for all people (Hebrews 1:1; see also 2 Kings 17:13; Jeremiah 35:15; Ezekiel 18:31; Amos 3:7).

The Lord Jesus declared to the prophet Isaiah,

“Go and tell this people: Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.  Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” Isaiah 6:9-10, New International Version

The Lord Jesus commanded Isaiah to go and tell the people that they will listen and listen, but they will not understand, and they will look and look, but they will not learn (see Isaiah 6:9-10). Importantly, the Lord Jesus wanted the people to repent and turn to His Father, the LORD God so that they may find healing (salvation) (see Isaiah 6:10). In the New Testament, the Lord Jesus quoted Isaiah 6:9-10 at Matthew 13:14-15; Mark 4:12; Luke 8:10, and John 12:39-40. Also, the apostle Paul quoted Isaiah 6:9-10 or versions of these verses at Acts 28:26-27 and Romans 11:7-10, 25. Sadly, during His public ministry on earth, the Lord Jesus experienced a similar rebellion and rejection by Israel to Him and His Father’s message despite many His heavenly signs and wonders (e.g., see John 12:37-50). Moreover, many people rebelled and rejected the apostle Paul’s message about the Lord Jesus and the Good News of the Kingdom of God (e.g., see Romans 10:16). The Lord Jesus warned Isaiah that the people would not pay attention, but he was to continue to proclaim God’s truths to the people (see Isaiah 6:9-10).

Then, the prophet Isaiah asked the Lord Jesus, “Lord, how long will it be before they are ready to listen?” (see Isaiah 6:11, Living Bible Translation). The Lord Jesus warned and replied to the prophet Isaiah’s questions, “Not until their cities are destroyed — without a person left — and the whole country is an utter wasteland, and they are all taken away as slaves to other countries far away, and all the land of Israel lies deserted!” (see Isaiah 6:11-12, Living Bible Translation). The people’s lack of hearing and repentance will lead to God’s wrath (Isaiah 6:11-12; see also e.g., Daniel 9:3-15). The Lord Jesus warned the prophet Isaiah, that Israel will be invaded and purged again and again and destroyed because of their unfaithfulness and rebellion against God and His righteous commands (e.g., see Leviticus 26:14-45; Deuteronomy 28:15-68). Throughout the centuries, the land of Israel has again and again been subject to chastisement (burning) but not complete destruction (e.g., see 2 Kings 17:7-23; see 2 Kings 25:1-21; 2 Chronicles 36:17-20). The Lord Jesus promised Isaiah that Israel will be like a tree cut down; however, a holy seed like a stump or offspring still lives to grow anew – the faithful remnant (see Isaiah 6:13). Significantly, the Lord Jesus informed the prophet Isaiah that God’s faithful and obedient people — a remnant — will survive (Isaiah 6:13; see also Nehemiah 1:5; Isaiah 10:22; Daniel 9:4).

In Isaiah 7, the prophet Isaiah sees the Lord Jesus’ predictions coming true during the reign of evil King Ahaz (see 2 Chronicles 28:1-4). During the reign of King Ahaz of Judah, Jerusalem in the southern kingdom of Israel was attacked by King Rezin of Syria (also known as Aram) and wicked King Pekah of Israel’s northern kingdom (also known as Ephraim) (Isaiah 7:1, 8; see also 2 Kings 15:25, 37-28; 2 Kings 16:5). King Pekah of Israel was the son of Remaliah, and Ahaz was the son of Jotham and grandson of king Uzziah of Judah (Isaiah 7:1, 5, 9; see also 2 Kings 16:1; 1 Chronicles 3:12-13; Isaiah 1:1). However, King Rezin and King Pekah of Israel were unable to carry out their devious plans against Jerusalem, and Jerusalem city stood (see Isaiah 7:1, 6-7).

The news had come to the royal court of Judah that Syria (Arameans) was allied with Israel against Judah (see Isaiah 7:1). In some biblical translation, Israel is referred to as “Ephraim” as Ephraim was Israel’s dominant tribe in northern kingdom (e.g., see Isaiah 7:2, KJV). Now, the hearts of the King Ahaz and the people of Jerusalem trembled with fear, like trees shaking in a storm (see Isaiah 7:2).

However, the LORD God said to Isaiah, “Take your son Shear-jashub and go out to meet King Ahaz” (Isaiah 7:3; see also Isaiah 8:3, 18). The name Shear-jashub means “a remnant shall return” (Isaiah 7:3; see also Isaiah 10:20-22). The LORD God through His prophet Isaiah said to tell King Ahaz to calm down, quit worrying, and do not be afraid of the fierce anger of your enemies, King Rezin of Syria and King Pekah because their kingdoms will be defeated (Isaiah 7:4; see also Isaiah 8:12-13; Isaiah 10:24; Isaiah 35:4). The living LORD God declared through His prophet Isaiah that both the kings of Syria and Israel have created an evil plan against Judah to terrorize and throw the people into a panic (see Isaiah 7:5-6). King Rezin and Kings Pekah’s planned to fight their way into Judah and install the son of Tabeel as Judah’s king and removed Ahaz (see Isaiah 7:6). However, the Sovereign LORD announced to His prophet Isaiah that Rezin and Pekah’s plans will not succeed because this invasion will never happen nor take place (see Isaiah 7:7). The living LORD God – Yahweh – was with Judah if Judah will wholeheartedly trust in Him (Isaiah 7:10-14; see also -Isaiah 8:10; Romans 8:31).

The LORD God announced through His prophet Isaiah that Syria (Aram) is no stronger than its capital, Damascus, and Damascus is no stronger than its king, Rezin (see Isaiah 7:1, 8). As for Israel (Ephraim), the LORD God announced that within sixty-five years, the northern kingdom of Israel would be crushed and destroyed because their continued disobedience and unfaithfulness to Him (Isaiah 7:8; see also 2 Kings 17:24; Isaiah 8:4). Samaria, who was at that time the capital of Israel (Ephraim) and King Pekah’s power did not increase (Isaiah 7:1, 9; see also 2 Kings 15:29). Samaria was overthrown by Assyria in 722 BC, ten years after the downfall of Damascus, fulfilling the prophecy.

Most important, the LORD God through His prophet Isaiah declared to Ahaz:

“If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all” (see Isaiah 7:9, English Standard Version). Another biblical translation reads, “If you don't take your stand in faith, you won't have a leg to stand on” (see Isaiah 7:9; The Message). In other words, King Ahaz had to BELIEVE and TRUST in the Sovereign LORD God Almighty and not his present circumstances. If King Ahaz wanted the LORD God’s blessings and success, he had to live by faith in the LORD God alone (Isaiah 7:9; see also 2 Corinthians 5:7). Humble trust and obedience to the LORD your God in EVERYTHING will lead to VICTORY because the living LORD God fights and protects His faithful people (e.g., see also Exodus 14:13-14; Joshua 10:8; 2 Chronicles 20:20; Proverbs 16:3). The living LORD God is good to those whose patiently and humbly hope is in Him, who honor Him, and to the one who wholeheartedly seeks Him (e.g., see Isaiah 8:12-14; Isaiah 30:18; Isaiah 40:31; Lamentations 3:25-27). Even though the holy LORD God is high and exalted, He comes to EVERYONE – rich, poor, young, old, black, white – who humbly and wholeheartedly loves, trusts, and obeys Him with His blessings (e.g., see Deuteronomy 5:32-33; Psalm 34:18; Psalm 138:6; Isaiah 57:15; Isaiah 61:1-3; Isaiah 66:1-2; Matthew 5:3-10).

Second Kings 16:5-18 and 2 Chronicles 28:1-21 record the historical background of Isaiah 7. Sadly, evil King Ahaz did not believe and trust in the LORD God and Judah was eventually defeated! Moreover, Aram (Syria) was crushed in 732 BC, and Israel lost her national existence in 722 BC because of their unfaithfulness and disobedience to the living LORD God.

References

Amplified Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1987).

ESV Study Bible, English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008).

Message Bible (Colorado Springs, CO:  NavPress, 2002).

The Living Bible Paraphrase (Tyndale House, 1971).

Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).

Schwab, George, Senior Professor of Old Testament (Due West Campus, SC: Erskine Theological Seminary, 2018).

God’s Good Fruit

Prophet Isaiah: ¹ Now I will sing for the One I love a song (ballad) about His vineyard: my Beloved had a vineyard on a rich and fertile hill. ² He plowed the land, cleared its stones, and planted it with the best vines. In the middle He built a watchtower and carved a winepress in the nearby rocks. Then He waited for a harvest of sweet (good) grapes, but the grapes that grew were bitter (bad)…. ⁷ The nation of Israel is the vineyard of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies (also called LORD of Hosts). The people of Judah are His pleasant garden. He expected a crop of justice, but instead He found oppression. He expected to find righteousness, but instead He heard cries of violence…. ¹⁶ But the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will be exalted by His justice. The holiness of God will be displayed by His righteousness….

¹⁸ What sorrow for those who drag their sins behind them with ropes made of lies (falsehood), who drag wickedness (sin) behind them like a cart! ¹⁹ They even mock God and say, “Hurry up and do something! We want to see what You can do. Let the Holy One of Israel carry out His plan, for we want to know what it is.” ²⁰ What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light, and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter. ²¹ What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever. ²² What sorrow for those who are heroes at drinking wine and boast about all the alcohol they can hold. ²³ They take bribes to let the wicked go free, and they punish the innocent. ²⁴ Therefore, just as fire licks up stubble and dry grass shrivels in the flame, so their roots will rot and their flowers wither. For they have rejected the Law of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies; they have despised the Word of the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 5:1-2, 7, 16, 18-24, New Living Translation 2^nd Edition

The book of Isaiah has been called by some scholars the pinnacle book of the Bible. In the pages of Isaiah, one can see the living LORD God’s hand working from creation in Genesis to His coming new creation at the end of the age. Importantly, the book of Isaiah reveals the Righteous Servant of God – Jesus!

The prophet Isaiah began his ministry in the year of King Uzziah’s death, approximately 740 BC (e.g., see 2 Chronicles 26:22-23; Isaiah 1:1; Isaiah 6:1). The prophet Isaiah continued to proclaim the living LORD God’s message to Judah and Jerusalem in the southern kingdom of Israel during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (e.g., see Isaiah 1:1; Isaiah 2:1). The prophet Isaiah prophesied to Judah and Jerusalem at the same time as the prophets Hosea, Amos, and Micah in the 8^th century BC.

Amazingly, the prophet Isaiah predicted Israel and Judah’s coming destruction and Exile from the Promised Land (e.g., see Isaiah 5:25-30; Isaiah 39:5-7). However, starting in chapter 40, the prophet Isaiah provides the people of God comfort and the coming salvation through a Righteous Servant of God – Jesus (e.g., see Isaiah 40:1-2; Isaiah 52:1-2). Through the Righteous Servant’s suffering, the prophet Isaiah predicted He would provide salvation and righteousness for many and atonement for their sins (e.g., see Isaiah 52:13-53:12). Even more, the prophet Isaiah predicts the Righteous Servant inviting ALL PEOPLE to come and find salvation in Him (e.g., see Isaiah 55:1-3).

From the beginning, the living LORD God created a good world and humans to reflect His holy and good image (e.g., see Genesis 1:1-2, 26-28; Genesis 2:4, 7; Job 38:8-11). The LORD God created Adam and Eve in His image and likeness to be filled with righteousness and holiness (e.g., Genesis 5:1, 3; Genesis 9:6; 1 Corinthians 11:7; Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10; James 3:9). As created beings of the living LORD God, humans were to love, respect, and obey Him as their Creator above all else FIRST (e.g., see Genesis 2:15-17; Deuteronomy 6:4-6, 13-14; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Matthew 22:37; John 14:15). However, the first humans Adam and Eve disobeyed and rebelled against God, which lead to the Great Fall and death of humanity (e.g., see Genesis 3:1-7; Romans 6:23). Humanities’ sin and rebellion continued until the time of righteous Noah (see Genesis 6:8-9; Genesis 7:1; 2 Peter 2:5). At the time of Noah, humanities’ sins and rebellion reached to heaven, which led to the living LORD God’s cleansing of the whole earth through the Great Flood (e.g., see Genesis 6:5-8:19).

To begin again, the living LORD God raised Abraham, who became the Father of many nations (see Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 17:3-8, 16; Genesis 18:18; Romans 4:17-18). The living LORD God chose Abraham so that he would direct and instruct his children and his household after him to keep and do His righteous, just, and good ways on His earth He created (e.g., see Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 17:1-2, 9 Genesis 18:19; Psalm 24:1-2; Isaiah 66:1-2). Abraham became the father of Isaac (see Genesis 21:3-8), and Isaac became the father of Jacob (see Genesis 25:26), who was later renamed Israel by the living LORD God (see Genesis 32:28; Genesis 35:10). Israel became the father of the Twelve tribes of Israel, which included Judah (see Genesis 35:22-26). Israel and his son Judah became God’s vineyard, and the living LORD God loved and chose Israel and Judah as His special treasure (Isaiah 5:1, 7; see also Exodus 15:17; Exodus 19:5-6; Psalm 80:8-11).

The living and faithful LORD God redeemed and saved His beloved vineyard, Israel and Judah, from Egyptian slavery, and then He planted His beloved vineyard on a very fertile hill in the Promised Land, Canaan (Isaiah 5:1, 7; see also Exodus 3:10; Exodus 12:51; Exodus 20:2; Deuteronomy 7:7-9; Joshua 3:9-10; Psalm 80:8; Micah 6:3-4; Acts 13:18-19). As the LORD God Almighty’s redeemed people, Israel and Judah were to obey and worship the living LORD God Almighty only and live according to His righteous ways and commands on His earth (e.g., see Exodus 19:4-6). Moreover, Israel and Judah were to be the living LORD God’s holy Kingdom people to spread and carry out His righteous standards on His earth (e.g., see Exodus 19:6; Deuteronomy 4:5-9; Deuteronomy 7:6; Deuteronomy 14:2). The living LORD God nurtured and cared for His beloved vineyard, and the living LORD God planted within His vineyard the best vines (Isaiah 5:2; see also Deuteronomy 32:9-15; Jeremiah 2:21). Then, the living LORD God built a watchtower to protect and shield His vineyard and cut a winepress in the rocks (Isaiah 5:2; see also 1 Samuel 2:9; Isaiah 27:3; Isaiah 31:5).

The living LORD God of Heaven’s Armies – GOD of the Angel Armies – waited for good fruit from His vineyard that He had protected, loved, and nurtured (see Isaiah 5:2). He expected His vineyard to produce a generous crop of good fruit – justice, mercy, peace, truth, and goodness (see Isaiah 5:7). However, the vineyard produced either no fruit or bad fruits that grew wild, sour, and worthless (Isaiah 5:2, 4; see also Matthew 21:18-19; Mark 11:12-13; Luke 13:6-9).

Instead of good fruit, the living LORD God’s vineyard rejected His righteous ways and produced bad fruit: murder, idolatry, arrogance, greed (covetousness), oppression, adultery, corruption, and lies (Isaiah 5:7-8, 18; see also Deuteronomy 32:15-30; Isaiah 3:14-15; Isaiah 30:12; Isaiah 59:1-4, 7-8, 12-15; Jeremiah 2:5-8; Ezekiel 22:23-28; Acts 7:38-40). The people of Israel and Judah were robbing and defrauding people by buying up property, so others had no place to live, while their homes were built on great estates (Isaiah 5:8; see also 1 Kings 21:1-3, 15-16; Jeremiah 22:13-17; Micah 2:1-2; Haggai 2:9-12). Moreover, the people of Israel and Judah practiced idolatry, blackmail, committed robbery, oppressed the poor and needy, and mistreated the foreigner and denied the foreigner justice (e.g., see 2 Kings 17:7-23; Ezekiel 22:29). Even worse, amongst the prophets and priests, they were doing horrible acts: adultery, living a lie and strengthening the hands of evildoers and their wickedness (e.g., see Jeremiah 5:30-31; Jeremiah 23:10-14). Then, God’s vineyard engaged in drunkenness and wild parties while disregarding the living LORD God and His righteous Law to love and care for others (Isaiah 5:11-12, 21-24; see also Isaiah 1:3-9, 15-23). Truly, the drunkenness, exploitation of others, and perversion of the people God had created were exceedingly great (Isaiah 1:2-5, 21-23; Isaiah 5:8-12, 18-24; Isaiah 24:5, 20; Ezekiel 9:9).

Then, the people God created blasphemy, mocked and dared His coming wrath against sin (Isaiah 5:18-19; see also Jeremiah 5:12-13; 2 Peter 3:3-4). These wicked people were even saying that what is right is wrong and what is wrong is right (Isaiah 5:20; see also Proverbs 17:15). Even more, these wicked people believed they were wise and smart by the world’s standards (Isaiah 5:20-21; see also Romans 1:22; 1 Corinthians 1:20; 1 Corinthians 3:18-20). However, the LORD God saw the people of Israel and Judah as drunken fools who did not honor Him and took bribes to pervert justice while letting the wicked go free and hurting the innocent, the poor, and the foreigner (Isaiah 1:23; Isaiah 5:11, 21-23; Isaiah 10:1-2; see also Exodus 23:6-9; Proverbs 17:15; Proverbs 23:20-21, 29-30; Ezekiel 22:12). In summary, Israel and Judah had rejected the good covenant (Law) of the living LORD God Almighty and did not trust wholeheartedly in Him (Isaiah 1:10; Isaiah 5:24; Isaiah 30:9, 12; see also Exodus 19:1 through Exodus 24:18).

Then, the living LORD God of Heaven’s Armies cried what more could have been done for His vineyard (see Isaiah 5:4)! He had graciously delivered His people Israel and Judah from Egyptian slavery and bondage (e.g., see Exodus 3:10; Exodus 6:6; Micah 6:3-4). The living LORD God of Heaven’s Armies even sent His holy Word through His messengers – godly prophets – again and again, because He loved His vineyard (e.g., see 2 Chronicles 36:15; Jeremiah 7:25-26; Jeremiah 25:4; Matthew 21:35-39; Matthew 23:37; Luke 13:34). However, the vineyard persecuted, mocked, and killed God’s messengers (e.g., see 2 Chronicles 24:21; 2 Chronicles 36:14-16; Matthew 5:12). Even worse, the vineyard worshipped and served worthless idols instead of the true and living God (e.g., see Exodus 20:2-3; Jeremiah 2:5).

Therefore, the living LORD God of Heaven’s Armies – the King and Judge – prepared for His judgment and wrath against His vineyard because of their sin, wickedness, and unfaithfulness against Him (Isaiah 5:3, 24; see also e.g., Deuteronomy 28:15-68; 2 Chronicles 36:16-17; Matthew 21:40). THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES TO SIN! First, the living LORD God declared that He would remove the fences and protective hedge around His vineyard and let His vineyard go to pasture to be trampled by cattle and sheep because of their unfaithfulness to Him and His righteous ways (Isaiah 5:5; Isaiah 6:11-13; see also Jeremiah 5:10-13). Next, the living LORD God promised not to prune nor hoe His vineyard but let the vineyard become overgrown with briars and thorns and become a dry wasteland (Isaiah 5:6; see also Jeremiah 12:10-13). Moreover, the living LORD God promised beautiful homes will lie deserted and the land unfertile for seventy years of rest because of Israel and Judah’s sins and unfaithfulness against Him (Isaiah 5:9-10; see also 2 Chronicles 36:21; Jeremiah 25:11; Jeremiah 29:10; Daniel 9:1-14). Then, the prophet Isaiah predicted the living LORD God would send His people into Exile where they will receive just punishment for their sins (Isaiah 5:13; see also Deuteronomy 28:36-42, 64-68). In the Exile, the prophet Isaiah predicted the LORD God’s prideful and wicked people would experience death, destruction, and despair because of their sin and unfaithfulness against Him (see Isaiah 5:14-15).

Next, the Sovereign LORD God – the LORD God of Hosts or Heavens Armies (Yahweh) promised His punishment and wrath on His vineyard using the nations of the world as His weapons of destruction (Isaiah 5:13-14, 25-30; Isaiah 10:5-34; see also Jeremiah 25:8-12)! The living LORD God gave His vineyard into the hands of the Assyrians and the Babylonians, who destroyed Israel and Judah and carried God’s people into the Exile (e.g., see 2 Chronicles 36:17-20). In approximately 722 BC, Israel’s northern kingdom was destroyed by the Assyrians, and the Assyrians scattered God’s people (see 2 Kings 17:7-23). The Assyrians Then in approximately 586 BC, Judah and Jerusalem were devastated by the Babylonian army, and the Jews were taken captive and into the Exile (see 2 Kings 25:1-21).

Here is the Good News! The prophet Isaiah predicted God’s restoration, blessings, and comfort for His repented people (see Isaiah 40:1-2). The prophet Isaiah called on the vineyard to TRUST the living LORD God (e.g., see Isaiah 7:4; Isaiah 30:1-17; John 3:16). The living LORD God promised through His prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah goodness, peace, hope, favor, and restoration to His repented and faithful people who wholeheartedly seek, love, and trust Him (Isaiah 49:9-11; Isaiah 55:6, 12; Isaiah 54:6; see also Jeremiah 24:4-7; Jeremiah 29:10-14; Jeremiah 30:18-22; Matthew 7:7-11).

The living LORD God Almighty wanted His people to stop doing wrong, learn to do right, and seek goodness and justice for the fatherless, the widow, the foreigner, their workers, and the poor and not just more ceremonial rituals and self-serving fasting (e.g., see Isaiah 1:16-17, 23; Isaiah 58:3-4). The living LORD God of Hosts – Yahweh – loves justice, goodness, and mercy, and He hates robbery, evil, and wrongdoing (Isaiah 61:8; e.g., see also Psalm 11:7; Psalm 33:4-5). Thus, the living LORD God wanted His people to follow His righteous example and pursue love, justice, goodness, and mercy towards others, especially the poor, the homeless, and the oppressed (e.g., see Isaiah 58:6-7; Matthew 5:3-16). The living LORD God promised His blessings, healing, mercy, and grace to those who honor and obey Him and those who loves and cares for the poor, hungry, widow, the fatherless, and the foreigner (Isaiah 58:8-14; see also Deuteronomy 30:15-20).

Amazingly, the beautiful “Song of the Vineyard” announced by the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 5 was also told by the LORD God’s Son, Jesus (e.g., see Matthew 20:1-16; Matthew 21:33-46; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 13:6-9; Luke 20:9-19). As Jesus announced during His public ministry on earth, unless you repent, you too will all perish (e.g., see Luke 13:3, 5). The living LORD God’s Son Jesus calls upon the church – believers of Jesus – to produce good fruit or also risk punishment or removal (e.g., see Luke 13:6-9). The church through faith in Jesus have been grafted into the vineyard and become apart of Israel (e.g., see Romans 2:28-29; Romans 11:22-24; Ephesians 3:6).

Jesus proclaimed during His earthly ministry that EVERYONE – Jews, Gentiles, young, old, black, and white – must REPENT and PRODUCE GOOD FRUIT (e.g., see Matthew 4:17; Matthew 21:33-40, 43; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 20:9-19; Galatians 5:22-23). Believers of Jesus can produce good fruit as we love and obey Jesus – the Vine, and the Owner of the Vineyard – Jesus’s Father, the living LORD God of heaven and earth (e.g., see Matthew 21:40; Mark 4:8; John 15:1-2, 4-5, 8, 16-17). Believers’ good deeds and good fruit brings glory to the living LORD God (e.g., see Matthew 5:13-16; Matthew 7:12; 15-23; John 15:8; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Ephesians 2:10; Titus 2:7, 14; Titus 3:1, 8, 14; 1 Peter 2:12, 15). The apostle Paul, a servant of the LORD God and His Son Jesus, continued the good message from the Old and New Testament. He encouraged believers of Jesus to do what is right, pure, and good, not only in the eyes of the God but also in the eyes of people (e.g., see Romans 12:1-2, 9-21; 2 Corinthians 8:21; Philippians 2:14-16).

Importantly, the prophet Isaiah proclaimed that the living LORD God Almighty is highly exalted on His heavenly throne, and He is justice and good (Isaiah 5:16; e.g., see also Deuteronomy 32:3-4; Isaiah 2:11, 17; Isaiah 6:1-3; Revelation 5:7, 10). The living LORD God commands justice and goodness on His earth (see Isaiah 5:7, 16). The prophet Isaiah, like many other faithful servants of God, saw the living LORD God’s throne of heaven and His Son Jesus (Isaiah 6:1-4; see also e.g., see Exodus 24:10; Numbers 12:8; 1 Kings 22:19; Psalm 123:1; Isaiah 52:12; John 12:41; Hebrews 11:26; Revelation 4:1-5:14). The prophet Isaiah predicted that one day the LORD God’s earth will be filled with His justice, goodness, and His glory (e.g., see Isaiah 1:26; Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 28:5-6; Isaiah 33:5-6, 10; Revelation 21:1-3, 7-8, 22-27; Revelation 22:3-5). The Sovereign LORD God Almighty – the Holy One of Israel – is the LORD of the all earth, and He is GREAT enough, WISE enough, and TRANSCENDENT enough that He can always be trusted (e.g., see Deuteronomy 3:24; Isaiah 66:1-2)! Everyone who loves, honors, and respects the living LORD God Almighty will receive His abundant treasure in His Kingdom (e.g., see Isaiah 33:6; Matthew 6:33). Therefore, the prophet Isaiah calls up not only Israel and Judah but ALL PEOPLE ON EARTH to love, honor, and trust (faith) the living LORD God Almighty (Isaiah 8:13; see also Exodus 20:20; Isaiah 29:23).

Reference

Amplified Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1987).

ESV Study Bible, English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008).

Message Bible (Colorado Springs, CO:  NavPress, 2002).

The Living Bible Paraphrase (Tyndale House, 1971).

Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).

Oswalt, John. The NIV Application Commentary: Isaiah (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003).

Schwab, George, Senior Professor of Old Testament (Due West Campus, SC: Erskine Theological Seminary, 2018).

Reason Jesus Came!

¹ Then Jesus, full of (and controlled by) the Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost), returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness (desert), ² where He was tempted (tested) by the devil for forty days…. ¹⁴ Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power. Reports about Him spread quickly through the whole region. ¹⁵ He taught regularly in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. ¹⁶ When He came to the village of Nazareth, His boyhood home, He went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. ¹⁷ The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to Him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written: ¹⁸ “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, for He has anointed Me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim that captives will be released (freedom), that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, ¹⁹ and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.” … ³¹ Then Jesus went to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and taught there in the synagogue every Sabbath day. ³² There, too, the people were amazed at His teaching, for He spoke with authority…. ³⁶ Amazed, the people exclaimed, “What authority and power this Man’s words possess! Even evil (unclean) spirits obey Him, and they flee at His command!” … ⁴⁰ As the sun went down that evening, people throughout the village brought sick family members to Jesus. No matter what their diseases were, the touch of His (Jesus) hand healed everyone…. ⁴² Early the next morning Jesus went out to an isolated place. The crowds searched everywhere for Him, and when they finally found Him, they begged Him not to leave them. ⁴³ But He replied, “I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other towns, too, because that is why I was sent.”

Luke 4:1-2, 14-19, 31-32, 36, 40, 42-43, New Living Translation 2^nd Edition

The Gospels declare that Jesus’ central or main reason for coming from His Father, the living LORD God of heaven and earth, was to teach and preach the Good News of God’s Kingdom (Luke 4:43; e.g., see also; Matthew 5:3, 10; Matthew 6:10; Matthew 9:35; Matthew 24:14; Luke 4:43; Luke 8:1; John 3:3-5; Acts 1:2-3). Jesus was on a mission from God to announce and invite EVERYONE – Jews, Gentiles (non-Jews), black, white, young, old, men, and women – into God’s glorious Kingdom NOW through our faith (trusting in God) and repentance (turning from sin) (e.g., see Matthew 3:2; Matthew 4:17, 23; Matthew 22:1-14; Mark 1:14-15)!

During His earthly ministry, Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom (e.g., see Matthew 9:35). The LORD of Heaven’s Armies sent His Son Jesus to proclaim the Good News (also known as the Gospel or Message) of God's Kingdom (see Luke 4:43). Indeed, Jesus brought God’s Kingdom with Him, and He generously gave everyone through faith in Him the rich blessings of God’s Kingdom – healing, restoration, deliverance, wisdom, and salvation (e.g., see Matthew 4:17, 23-25; Matthew 8:16-17; Matthew 9:35-36; Matthew 15:30; Mark 1:14-15, 21-26, 29-34, 39-45; Luke 4:18-19, 40-41; Luke 7:21-23; Luke 19:10; Acts 10:38).

To preach this Good News of God’s Kingdom, Jesus’s Father the living LORD of Heaven’s Armies anointed His Son Jesus with an abundance of the Holy Spirit’s power and authority (Luke 1:31-33, 35; Luke 3:21-22; Luke 4:1, 14, 18-19; see also e.g., Isaiah 11:1-2; Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 3:16; Matthew 12:18; Matthew 17:5; John 1:32-33; John 3:2, 34-36; Acts 10:38; Peter 1:17). Truly, the fullness of God was with Jesus (e.g., see John 1:1, 14, 16; John 14:9; Philippians 2:6; Colossians 1:19; Colossians 2:9-10). Moreover, Jesus was the long-awaited King and Messiah, which means the Anointed One of God, predicted to come in the Old Testament prophecies from the family line of King David (e.g., see Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Ezekiel 37:24-25; Daniel 9:24-26; Matthew 1:1, 16-18; Matthew 2:2; Matthew 11:13; Matthew 16:16; Luke 2:26; Luke 9:20; John 1:41; John 4:25-26; John 6:69; John 20:30-31; Acts 2:36; Romans 1:3-4).

Likewise, Jesus the Messiah was a great Teacher of God. Jesus often taught and preached in the towns and villages throughout the Palestine region about God’s Kingdom (e.g., see Matthew 4:23; Matthew 11:1; Luke 4:14-16; John 6:59; John 18:20). The people were amazed and praised Jesus’ authoritative and wise sermons (Luke 4:15, 31-32, 36; see also Matthew 13:54; Mark 1:21). Jesus’ words were gracious, powerful, and doctrinal sound (e.g., see Matthew 7:28-29; Matthew 8:27; Luke 4:22, 32). While on earth, Jesus spoke the TRUTH of God’s Word, instead of merely quoting the opinions of others as His authority (e.g., see Mark 1:22; Luke 4:32, 36; John 7:46).

In the opening chapters of Luke’s Gospel, Jesus was teaching and preaching in the Jewish synagogues when He was given the Old Testament book of the prophet Isaiah (see Luke 4:15-16, 31; see also Matthew 13:54; Mark 6:1-2). Jesus announced to the listening crowd:

¹⁸ The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed (chosen) Me to preach the Gospel (Good News) to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance (freedom) to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty (free) them that are bruised (broken, burden), ¹⁹ to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Luke 4:18-19, King James Version

Definitely, the living LORD God of Heaven’s Armies anointed His Son Jesus the Messiah by the Holy Spirit to bring His salvation, healing, grace, kindness, and deliverance as promised by the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 11:1-5; Isaiah 42:1, 6-7; Isaiah 48:16; Isaiah 49:8-9; Isaiah 61:1-2; see also Matthew 1:21, 23; Matthew 11:5-6; Matthew 12:18; John 3:34; Acts 1:2; Acts 4:12). As He traveled throughout all the towns and villages preaching the Good News of God’s Kingdom, Jesus healed EVERY kind of disease, sickness, unclean spirit, severe pain, and illness (e.g., see Matthew 4:23-25; Matthew 12:15; Matthew 19:2; Luke 4:38-41; Luke 6:19; Acts 2:22). Jesus had mercy and compassion for hurting and oppressed people (e.g., see Matthew 9:35-36; Matthew 12:18-21; Matthew 14:14).

Even more, Jesus was delivering people through faith in Him into God’s glorious Kingdom and away from Satan’s destructive and deadly kingdom (e.g., see Luke 4:33-35, 40-41; Luke 13:15-16)! The Gospels declare that Jesus brought freedom and deliverance from Satan, who only comes to kill, steal, and destroy, as predicted by the prophet Isaiah (e.g., see Isaiah 49:9; Matthew 12:28-29; Luke 11:20-22; John 8:36, 44). The living LORD God of Heaven’s Armies sent His Son Jesus to destroy Satan’s evil and destructive work (e.g., see Genesis 3:15; Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8). Jesus taught His disciples to pray and ask His Father, the living LORD God, to keep them safely within God’s Kingdom and away from Satan and his evil works (e.g., see Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:1-4; John 17:15l 2 Thessalonians 3:3; 2 Timothy 4:18). The living LORD of Heaven’s Armies was ready to give everyone His Kingdom’s blessings which came to His Son Jesus by faith (e.g., see Isaiah 61:2-3).

In fact, John the Baptist heard about Jesus’ goodness while unjustly imprisoned for speaking against Herod and his wife, who violated God’s Law (e.g., see Matthew 11:2; see also Matthew 14:3-5). John the Baptist was faithful to God, and he proclaimed the righteous standards of God (e.g., see Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:3-8). Moreover, John the Baptist and Jesus were blood-related, as John’s mother Elizabeth was related to Jesus’s mother Mary (see Luke 1:36). Both John the Baptist and Jesus Christ were great messengers sent from the living LORD God as predicted in the Old Testament promises (Matthew 11:9-10; see also e.g., 2 Samuel 7:12-16; John 1:6-7; John 3:16, 28; John 5:37; Acts 13:23). John the Baptist shined brightly for the living LORD God on earth because John came in the spirit and power of the prophet Elijah to announce the Messiah’s arrival (Matthew 11:11, 14; see also Malachi 4:5; Matthew 17:10-13; Mark 9:11-13; Luke 1:17). For all the Prophets and God's Law were announced until John the Baptist and teamed up with John in proclaiming and preparing the way for the Messiah of the Kingdom (Matthew 11:13; see also Matthew 5:17-20; Matthew 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 3:3-6; Luke 16:16-17). 

John the Baptist heard about Jesus’ miracles, and he sent his disciples to ask Jesus if He was indeed the long-awaited Messiah the world had been waiting to arrive (Matthew 11:3, 13; see also Luke 7:18-20). Jesus announced to John’s disciples to inform John what was going on: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are healed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to new life, and the poor of the earth learn that God is on their side (e.g., see Matthew 11:4-6; John 9:39). At that very time, Jesus was healing many who had diseases, sicknesses, and evil spirits, and He gave sight to many who were blind, as predicted by the prophet Isaiah (e.g., see Isaiah 29:18-19; Isaiah 35:5-6; Isaiah 61:1-3; Luke 7:21-23).

Nevertheless, Jesus proclaimed to the listening crowd that even the lowliest person in God’s Kingdom would be greater than John the Baptist (see Matthew 11:11)! God’s Kingdom is the power and the glory forever (e.g., see Matthew 6:13). Jesus announced from the days of John the Baptist until now people have tried to violently force themselves into the Kingdom of God, and the Kingdom has been advancing (Matthew 11:12; see also Luke 16:16).

Jesus taught in proclaiming the Good News of God’s Kingdom that He came not to bring peace on the earth but a sword to destroy and defeat the evil works of Satan’s kingdom (e.g., see Matthew 10:34-36; Luke 12:51-53). The arrival of God’s Kingdom brings conflicts! As the Kingdom of God comes into anyone’s life, Jesus defeats the evil ruler of this age and plunders the strongman's house (e.g., see Isaiah 49:24-26; Isaiah 53:12; Matthew 12:29; Mark 3:27; Luke 11:21-22; John 16:33; Romans 8:37; Ephesians 6:10-11, 13). JESUS IS THE STRONGER MAN that defeats Satan’s destructive forces in your life! Through His Son Jesus, the LORD God of heaven establishes His reign.

Jesus defeats and destroys Satan’s presence in people’s lives and hearts (e.g., see Acts 10:38). Thus, the Kingdom of God with its dawning and acceptance into one’s hearts and lives create opposition, violence, and anger by Satan (e.g., see Mark 1:23-26, 34; Mark 3:11; Mark 5:1-15; Mark 9:17-26; Luke 4:34-35, 40-41). Satan is dominated by selfishness, pride, and wickedness. As the Kingdom of God dawns, it is in a direct threat to Satan and his kingdom. This leads to violence! One of the clear signs of the presence of God’s Kingdom in one’s life and heart is deliverance from evil!

Therefore, REPENT and COME TO JESUS (e.g., see Matthew 11:20, 28). All things on heaven and earth have been entrusted and given to Jesus by His Father, the LORD God of heaven and earth (e.g., see Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 11:27; Matthew 28:18; Luke 10:22; John 3:35; John 13:3; Acts 17:24-25; Hebrews 1:1-3). The Lord Jesus Christ (Messiah) is the Head over every power, spirit, and authority (e.g., see Romans 14:9; Ephesians 1:10, 20-22; Philippians 2:9-10; Colossians 2:9-10; 1 Peter 3:22). Jesus promised that everyone who comes to Him would live freely and lightly (e.g., see Matthew 11:28). Jesus the Messiah came from the living LORD God to bring His Father’s love, mercy, liberation, deliverance, and freedom from sin, bondage, evil, and sickness for ALL PEOPLE – Jews and Gentiles (non-Jews) – through faith, goodness, and obedience (e.g., see Ecclesiastes 3:12-14; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Isaiah 64:5; Luke 4:18-21, 25-27; Acts 10:34-35; Acts 13:38; Romans 10:12-13)! The Kingdom of God has no boundaries, and ALL ARE WELCOME through faith in Jesus (e.g., see Hebrews 4:14-16). There are salvation and peace with the LORD God of heaven through His Son Jesus, who is Lord of all (e.g., see Isaiah 53:11; Acts 4:12; Acts 10:36, 43; Romans 5:1-2; 2 Corinthians 5:17-19).   

References

Amplified Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1987).

ESV Study Bible, English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008).

Message Bible (Colorado Springs, CO:  NavPress, 2002).

The Living Bible Paraphrase (Tyndale House, 1971).

Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).

Melton, Loyd, Senior Professor of New Testament (Due West Campus, SC: Erskine Theological Seminary, 2018).

Treasures of God’s Kingdom

Jesus: ⁴⁴ “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field. ⁴⁵ Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. ⁴⁶ When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it! …” ⁵² Then He added, “Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old.” Matthew 13:44-46, 52 New Living Translation 2^nd Edition

Matthew 13 gives essential teaching from Jesus about the treasures of God’s Kingdom. In Matthew 13, Jesus teaches the people through a series of brief parables. Jesus the Messiah was a great Teacher (Matthew 13:54; see also e.g., Matthew 4:23; Matthew 23:10; Mark 1:22-23; Mark 6:1-2; Luke 4:31-32; John 11:28). He regularly taught in the synagogues and was praised by everyone (e.g., see Matthew 4:23; Mark 6:2; Luke 4:15-16, 31-32, 43-44). Many Jews living in the first century Palestine were amazed at His wise, authoritative, and Spirit-filled teaching, and the people sometimes referred to Jesus as Rabbi (Matthew 13:56; see also e.g., Matthew 7:28; Matthew 22:33; Luke 4:22, 36; John 1:38, 49; John 7:15). Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit’s power (e.g., see Luke 3:22; Luke 4:1, 14, 18; Acts 10:38). As Jesus taught the people in first century Palestine, large crowds of people often gathered around Him (Matthew 13:1-2, 36; see also Matthew 4:25; Mark 3:7-9; Luke 5:1-3). Jesus regularly taught the people about the reality of the Kingdom of God (e.g., see Matthew 4:23; Matthew 9:35; Luke 9:11).

When teaching about the Kingdom of God, Jesus constantly used parables (Matthew 13:3, 10, 34-36, 53; see also Matthew 22:1-3). Parables were not unique to Jesus. Parables were also used in the Old Testament but rarely (e.g., see Psalm 49:4; Psalm 78:2). Likewise, the Jewish rabbis of Jesus’ day used parables in their teachings. A parable has been defined in many ways by biblical scholars such as an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Some scholars have defined parables as an allegory or a symbolic story. Essentially, a parable is a story or illustration, where one compares one thing to another (e.g., see Matthew 13:33; Matthew 18:23; Matthew 20:1; Matthew 22:1; Matthew 25:1; Mark 4:26, 30; Luke 13:18, 20). Jesus often used parables when teaching about the Kingdom of God with simple stories taken from common and everyday life, such as a field planted, a man finding treasure, or a seed planted (see Matthew 13:3, 24, 31, 36, 44-46). In fact, Jesus never taught the people about the Kingdom of God without using stories and illustrations in the form of parables, as predicted in the Old Testament prophets (Matthew 13:3, 34-35 referencing Psalm 78:2; see also Mark 4:33-34; John 16:25, 29).

In His public ministry, Jesus proclaimed the existence and treasures of God’s Kingdom available to ALL PEOPLE – saints and sinners - through our wholehearted and genuine REPENTANCE (turning from sin), FAITH (trust and dependence on God), and OBEDIENCE (practicing and doing God’s Word (e.g., see Daniel 4:27; Luke 6:47; Luke 8:19-21; Luke 11:27-28; 1 John 2:5). Everyone who repented, accepted and obeyed the message of God’s Kingdom and produced good fruit received the treasures of God’s Kingdom (Matthew 13:8, 23; see also e.g., Matthew 21:28-32, 43; John 14:15, 21, 23; John 15:5-8, 10; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 John 5:3). These abundant treasures included wisdom, insight, understanding, healing, deliverance, salvation, and many other heavenly blessings from the Most High God and His Kingdom (Matthew 13:8, 10-12, 16, 23; see also Isaiah 6:9-10; Luke 4:18-19, 33-35, 38-41; 1 John 5:20). The more you love, honor, and obey the living LORD God as your King, the more heavenly goodness, blessings, and treasures that He gives you from His Kingdom (Matthew 13:12, 16-17; see also Matthew 6:33; Matthew 25:29; Mark 4:24-25; Luke 19:26-27; John 15:2, 5). With the acceptance of God and His Kingdom comes full liberation and freedom from sin, sickness, and ignorance (e.g., see Matthew 4:23-25; Matthew 10:7-8; Luke 10:8-9). Our faith and obedience to the living LORD God brings deliverance and protection from the evil one, physical and mental healing, and restoration (e.g., see Matthew 4:23-25; Matthew 8:16-17; Mark 1:21-26, 29-34, 39-45; Luke 4:40-41; John 17:15; 2 Thessalonians 3:2-3).

One of the clearest examples of blessings from God’s Kingdom is Daniel, and his three friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah (see Daniel 1:4-6). However, these four Jewish boys were given new names when God’s people were exiled to Babylon: Daniel was called Belteshazzar, Hananiah was called Shadrach, Mishael was called Meshach, and Azariah was called Abednego (see Daniel 1:7).

Daniel and his three friends were continually faithful, loyal, and obedient to the living LORD God of Israel and acknowledged Him as the true King of all the world, even when they were exiled in Babylon. In their hearts, Daniel with his three friends refused to worship and serve any other gods or idols except the LORD God of Israel as the only true God of heaven and earth (Daniel 2:47 ; Daniel 3:3, 7, 10-12, 14, 16-18; Daniel 4:25; Daniel 6:5, 10-11, 13-14, 16-23; see also Exodus 20:3-7, 23; Deuteronomy 5:6-11; Deuteronomy 6:4-6, 13-14; Deuteronomy 10:17;  Matthew 22:37; Luke 4:8; 1 Timothy 6:15). Daniel and his three friends acknowledged to everyone – kings and paupers alike – that the living God of heaven controls and rules the universe, and He has all wisdom and power (Daniel 2:20-23; Daniel 4:17, 25; see also e.g., 1 Chronicles 29:11-12; Proverbs 2:3-6; Isaiah 28:29; James 2:6). In their distress and trials, Daniel and his three friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego discovered that the LORD God of heaven is mighty to save when we call upon His Name and trust wholeheartedly in Him (Daniel 3:19-30; Daniel 6:21-23; see also e.g., Joshua 24:14-15; 1 Samuel 17:36-37; Psalm 27:1-2; Isaiah 43:1-2; Zephaniah 3:17; Acts 2:21; 1 Corinthians 1:24; 2 Corinthians 1:9-10). Daniel and his three friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had complete confidence in the LORD God!

Because of their faithfulness and obedience, the living LORD God blessed Daniel and his three friends with the secrets and mysteries of heaven – an understanding mind, eyes that see, and ears that hear (Matthew 13:10-13; see also Deuteronomy 29:4; Daniel 1:17-20; Daniel 2:19-20, 23; Daniel 10:1, 11-12; 1 Corinthians 2:10-16; James 1:5). Daniel and his three friends received from the living LORD God wisdom, insight, understanding, as well as high positions of authority and service in the Babylonian and Persian governments (Daniel 1:17-21; Daniel 2:48-49; Daniel 3:12, 30; Daniel 5:11-12; Daniel 5:28; Daniel 6:2, 28; Daniel 9:22-23; see also 1 Kings 3:11-15; 1 Kings 4:29-34; Romans 13:1). The more Daniel and his three friends trusted, served, and honored the living LORD God the more abundant treasures the living LORD God blessed them (e.g., Matthew 13:12; Matthew 25:29; Luke 8:18; Luke 19:26-27). Even when facing death for their allegiance and faithfulness to the living God, Daniel and his three friends relied upon God, and the living LORD God rescued them from harm and danger (Daniel 3:16-29; Daniel 6:21-23; see also Isaiah 43:2-3; 2 Corinthians 1:8-11).

Even more precious, the Spirit of the living LORD was with Daniel (e.g., see Daniel 2:11; Daniel 4:8-9, 18; Daniel 5:11, 14). Additionally, the living LORD God gave Daniel direct access to Him and His throne room of heaven, as well as knowledge of His Kingdom (see Daniel 7:1, 9-10, 13-14). While serving in his high government position, Daniel urged the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar to stop sinning, do what is right, break from his wicked past and be merciful to the poor (Daniel 4:27; see also Isaiah 1:10-20; Isaiah 55:6-7; Isaiah 58:6-7, 10). Most importantly, Daniel urged the government to acknowledge the living LORD God of Israel as the true King and that His Kingdom and dominion is from everlasting to everlasting (Daniel 4:2-3, 17, 25, 32, 34-35; Daniel 5:21; Daniel 6:25-27; see also Psalm 103:17-19; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 10:10; Jeremiah 27:4-5)! The living LORD God alone is the eternal Most High God over all the kingdoms of the earth (e.g., see Psalm 83:18; Isaiah 37:15-16).

In Matthew 13, the Lord Jesus proclaimed that Satan and his evil predators do not want people to receive the treasures of God’s Kingdom. When anyone hears the goodness of God’s Kingdom, Satan and his evil workers are the criminal birds, weeds, and thistles of the world, and they come to steal God’s good Word from your hearts and sow discord and false teaching among people (Matthew 13:4-7, 18-22, 24-28, 38-39; see also Matthew 24:4-5, 11; 24; John 8:44; 1 John 3:8, 10). Even worse, others simply refuse the blessings and treasures of God’s Kingdom because of their cares, hardship, and persecution or their desires for worldly wealth, riches, and fame (Matthew 13:5-7, 20-22; see also 1 Timothy 6:9-10, 17; 2 Timothy 4:10; 1 John 2:15-17). Instead of loving and obeying the LORD God, some would rather follow the ways of this evil world and Satan’s evil kingdom by gratifying the seductions and desires of the body and mind (e.g., see 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:1-3; Galatians 5:19-21). However, Jesus promises that Satan and his weeds, lawbreakers, false workers, false prophets, and evildoers who do not submit, obey, and follow the LORD God and His Kingdom will be punished and thrown into hell with eternal condemnation (Matthew 13:30, 40-42, 47-50; see also Matthew 3:12; Matthew 25:41-46; Revelation 19:19-21; Revelation 20:7-10; Revelation 21:8, 27). The reason Jesus came was to destroy Satan’s evil and destructive work on earth and to deliver EVERYONE through faith in Him into God’s glorious Kingdom (e.g., see Luke 4:18-19, 36-37, 43; John 12:31; Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8).

The Holy Scriptures are clear: those who reject Jesus, will not repent, and continually practice sexual immorality, adultery, corruption, deception, idolatry, witchcraft, sorcerers, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, as well as murderers, cowards, disobedient, drunkards, and all liars will not inherit and enter the glorious Kingdom of God (Matthew 13:41-42; see also e.g., John 8:44; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:5; Revelation 22:15). The living LORD God and His Son Jesus are good, holy, and truthful (Matthew 13:24, 37-38; see also e.g., 2 Chronicles 7:3; Psalm 73:1; Psalm 145:9; 1 Timothy 4:4). Jesus promises that God will send His holy angels at the end times, and they will remove from God’s Kingdom everything that causes sin and do evil and throw such lawbreakers of God’s commandments into the fiery furnace (Matthew 13:39-42, 50; see also Matthew 24:30-31; Revelation 14:15; Matthew 19:20-21; Revelation 20:10).

Jesus taught that the Kingdom of God is present now in the world, but the Kingdom looks small like a tiny mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-32; see Mark 4:30-31; Luke 13:18-19). One day, Jesus promises the Kingdom of God will become grand and glorious (Matthew 13:32; see also Mark 4:32). The Kingdom of God will cover and saturate the ENTIRE earth (Matthew 13:33; see also Zechariah 14:9; Revelation 11:15). The living LORD God and His Son Jesus will reign forever and forever in Kingdom here on earth (e.g., see Jesus promises that the faithful, repentant, and good workers of the living God will enter His glorious Kingdom and shine as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father, the LORD God Almighty (Matthew 13:38, 43; e.g., see also Proverbs 4:18; Daniel 12:3; Matthew 5:3-12, 16; Matthew 7:12-13, 17, 21-23, Matthew 25:1-12; 14-30, 34-40; Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 John 3:7; Revelation 21:9-11).

Jesus taught that the Kingdom of God is like a valuable treasure a man discovered in a field (see Matthew 13:44). In his excitement and joy, Jesus proclaimed the man sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field and get the heavenly treasure (Matthew 13:44; see also Proverbs 23:23)! Again, Jesus described the Kingdom of God like a merchant on the lookout for valuable pearls (see Matthew 13:45). When the merchant discovered the precious pearl of great value, the merchant sold everything he owned to purchase the glorious pearl (see Matthew 13:46)! According to Jesus, the Kingdom of God is so valuable and important! Acceptance of God’s Kingdom brings a new life from heaven above and joy (e.g., see John 3:3-8; Roman 14:17; 2 Corinthians 5:17). “Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge” (Romans 11:33, NLT2). The living LORD God graciously gives His heavenly wisdom, guidance, and understanding for all who seek, love, and obey Him (e.g., see Isaiah 8:19-22; Matthew 6:33)

Once more, Jesus taught that the Kingdom of God could be illustrated by a fisherman (see Matthew 13:47). The fisherman cast a net into the water and gathered in fish of every kind, valuable and worthless (Matthew 13:47; see also Matthew 22:10). When the net was full, the fisherman dragged the net onto the beach and sat down and sorted out the good fish into crates and threw the bad fish away (see Matthew 13:48). Jesus promised at His return at the end of the world God’s holy angels will come and separate the wicked people from the godly and righteous who were kind, merciful, and humble towards others (see Matthew 13:41; 49). In His public ministry, Jesus promised that the peacemakers, merciful, good, and humble would inherit God’s Kingdom (e.g., Matthew 5:3-12; Matthew 9:10-13; Matthew 25:31-40). However, Jesus promised His Father the living LORD God of heaven and earth would cast the wicked who were unjust, unmerciful, and hateful towards others into the fire where they will be weeping and gnashing of their teeth (Matthew 13:42, 50; see also Matthew 25:41-46).

References

ESV Study Bible, English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008).

Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).

The Living Bible Paraphrase (Tyndale House, 1971).

Coming Kingdom of God

²⁰ One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God come?” Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God cannot be detected by visible signs. ²¹ You will not be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It is over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you.” ²² Then He (Jesus) said to His disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see the day when the Son of Man returns, but you will not see it. ²³ People will tell you, ‘Look, there is the Son of Man,’ or ‘Here He is,’ but do not go out and follow them. ²⁴ For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other, so it will be on the day when the Son of Man comes.” Luke 17:20-24, New Living Translation 2^nd Edition

In Luke 17, Jesus gives teaching to His disciples about the Kingdom of God as He headed toward Jerusalem to suffer death as the world’s final sacrifice for sins against His Father, the living LORD God of heaven (Luke 17:11, 25; e.g., see also Matthew 16:21; Mark 8:31-33; Luke 9:22, 51; Titus 3:5; 1 John 4:10). While Jesus was going to Jerusalem, Jesus took his Twelve disciples aside privately and said to them that He would be turned over to the religious leaders and the Romans to die, but He will be victorious over death (e.g., see Matthew 20:17-19).

Likewise, Jesus warned His disciples that testing, temptations, frustrations, hard trials, and stumbling blocks are sure to come from Satan and his evil workers in this world (Luke 17:1; see also Matthew 18:7; John 16:33). Satan and his lawless predators are the weeds in the world who causes sin, do evil, and try to harm and hurt God’s people (e.g., see Matthew 13:24-30, 41). Moreover, Satan and his evil prophets try to snatch God’s Word from our hearts through their false teaching and unbiblical doctrine (e.g., see Matthew 7:15-23; Matthew 13:4, 19). However, Jesus promised that His Father will punish Satan and his evil workers who do and causes such trials, troubles, testing, and temptations to God's people (Luke 17:1-2; see also Matthew 8:12; Matthew 13:42; Matthew 18:6, 10, 14; Mark 9:42; Revelation 20:7-10). The living LORD God of heaven and earth is just and fair, and He will punish those who cause sin and trial and give relief to those who have been unjustly harmed and hurt by Satan and his evil workers (e.g., see Exodus 23:22; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10).

Also, Jesus warned His disciples to pay attention to yourself and not follow the wicked example of Satan and his evil workers (Luke 17:3; see also Matthew 7:1-5). Similarly, Jesus taught His disciples that if your brother or sister follows Satan’s example by sinning, they must go and point out their fault, just between the two of them (Luke 17:3; see also Leviticus 19:17-18; Matthew 18:15). If the fellow disciple repents and asks for forgiveness, Jesus taught His disciples always be forgiving and merciful towards our fellow brother or sister, even if they wrong and sin against you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness and mercy (Luke 17:3-4; see also Matthew 18:21-22, 26-27, 33-35; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13). Jesus taught that citizens of God’s Kingdom must be continually forgiving, patient, kind, and merciful to one another (e.g., see Matthew 5:7; Matthew 6:14-15; Luke 6:36; Matthew 25:34-36). Even more, Jesus taught His disciples when praying and believing God in faith, we must first forgive and reconcile with anyone that has an offense against us because our prayers without love and forgiveness is nothing (e.g., see Matthew 6:12, 14-15; Mark 11:25; Luke 6:37; 1 Corinthians 13:2).

One day, Jesus’ disciples asked Him how to receive more faith (see Luke 17:5). Jesus taught His disciples that if they have faith in His Father, the living LORD God of heaven, even only the size of a mustard or poppy seed, this small faith in the living LORD God would be large enough to uproot a large tree or move a large mountain at your command (Luke 17:6; see also Matthew 17:20-21; Matthew 21:21-22; Mark 11:22-26). Importantly, Jesus taught that everything is possible for one who believes and have faith in His Father, the living LORD God Almighty (e.g., see Matthew 21:19-22; Mark 9:23). Faith and trust in the living LORD God Almighty can move mountains (e.g., see 1 Corinthians 13:2; James 1:5-8). Even more, Jesus taught His disciples that faith and trust in Him will lead to good and mighty works for His Father’s glory (e.g., see John 14:12-14).

Jesus warned His disciples against doubting the power of the living LORD God Almighty but instead always humbly BELIEVE, SERVE, and OBEY Him and His Father from our whole hearts and TO SERVE OTHERS (Luke 17:7-10; see also Matthew 20:25-28; Matthew 24:46; Luke 12:37). The Lord Jesus Christ and His Father, the living LORD God Almighty, are One (e.g., see John 10:30). Moreover, Jesus taught His disciples to have a heart of thanksgiving, worship, and praise to Him and His Father in heaven for every answered prayer (see Luke 17:11-19). Our continual FAITH, worship, and thanksgiving to the living LORD God Almighty and His Son Jesus bring our healing, restoration, and salvation (Luke 17:17-19; see also Matthew 9:20-22; Mark 10:52; Luke 7:50; Luke 8:48; Luke 18:42).

One day the Pharisees demanded and asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God would come (see Luke 17:20). Like many people today, the Pharisees and the religious leaders looked for signs of the coming end of the age (e.g., see Matthew 12:38; Matthew 16:1; Luke 11:16). The Pharisees and the religious leaders were aware of the evils, persecutions, and suffering in first century Palestine. Most likely, the Pharisees saw society getting worse and believed that God was about to bring an end to human history and the coming Kingdom of God.

During first-century Palestine, the typical expectations of the Jews was that the Kingdom of God would occur in the future as a dramatic and cataclysmic inbreaking of God at the end of the age when God’s righteous ways would triumphant over evil and wickedness (e.g., see Isaiah 65:17-15; Isaiah 66:15-24; Malachi 4:1-3, 6). Moreover, the Pharisees believed that the coming Kingdom of God would be a time when the Jewish people would be restored to their fortunes as the people of God as in the days of King David and Solomon and punish Israel’s enemies (e.g., see Isaiah 60:1-3; Isaiah 62:1-5; Isaiah 66:7-14). Furthermore, the Pharisees believed a future military ruler – the Messiah (Christ) – such as King David would come to restore Israel’s fortunes. Until God established His Kingdom, the Pharisees tried to maintain ritual purity in this world by careful observation of the Law. The Pharisees saw the presence of the Kingdom of God when they submitted themselves to the Law (e.g., see Exodus 20:3-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21; Malachi 4:4).

However, Jesus taught the listening Pharisees that the Kingdom of God does not come by counting the days on the calendar, observation, nor visible signs (see Luke 17:20). Essentially, Jesus warned the religious leaders against speculating on the coming Kingdom of God while not enjoying the present. Jesus’ Father, the LORD God of heaven, is reigns and rules earth! Even more, the LORD God of heaven is omnipresent and omnipotent, and He fills the heaven and earth (e.g., see Psalm 139:7-10; Isaiah 66:1-2; Jeremiah 23:23-24; Daniel 5:21; Acts 17:24-28). Most important, the LORD God of heaven is the true and living eternal King of kings and Lord and lords, and His Kingdom reign is eternal and from everlasting to everlasting (e.g., see Exodus 15:18; Deuteronomy 10:17; Psalm 10:16; Psalm 145:13; Isaiah 37:16; Jeremiah 10:10; Daniel 4:3, 34-35, 37; Daniel 6:26; 1 Timothy 1:17; Revelation 4:1-2, 8-11).

In the Old Testament, the living God through His servants Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel declared that He would exercise His eternal Kingship by establishing His Kingdom over people’s lives and hearts through His chosen King – the Davidic Messiah (e.g., see Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 8:8, 10; Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 11:1-5; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Ezekiel 37:25; Daniel 2:44-45; Daniel 7:13-14, 27; Matthew 3:2; Luke 1:32-33). God’s eternal Kingdom came with His Son, Jesus the Messiah, who is a direct descendant of Abraham and King David (e.g., see Matthew 1:1; Luke 1:31-33, 68-69; Acts 13:22-23; Romans 1:3-4). Jesus taught the listening Pharisees that the Kingdom of God had already come and was present in His life and ministry (see Luke 17:21). Through the Lord Jesus, the living God was establishing His reign and rule despite opposition and resistance of Satan and his evil workers (e.g., see Matthew 11:12; Matthew 12:28; Luke 11:18-20). The Kingdom of God began in the life and ministry of Jesus, continues in the work of the Holy Spirit in the church, and will climax in the return and subsequent world rule of God and His Son Jesus (e.g., see Romans 14:16-17; Revelation 11:15).

With Jesus’ public ministry, He brought heaven to earth! Jesus was the Anointed One, which means the Messiah or Christ, and He was filled with the Spirit of God (e.g., Luke 3:21-22; 4:1, 14, 18-21, 32-36, 41; Acts 10:38). Jesus’ life and ministry revealed miraculous signs and evidence that He brought the Kingdom of God to earth (e.g., see John 9:16; John 11:47). The vast crowds of people who REPENTED and PLACED THEIR FAITH IN JESUS received the Kingdom’s restoration and healing (e.g., see Matthew 4:23-25; Matthew 14:34-36; Mark 1:14-15, 29-34). Through repentance and faith in Him, Jesus healed and restored ALL who were sick, paraplegic, blind, hurting, maimed, crippled, and mute — all sorts of people in need (e.g., see also Luke 4:18-19, 38-41; Luke 6:17-19; Luke 17:11-19; Revelation 7:17; Revelation 21:3-4). The people saw the mutes speaking, the maimed healthy, the dead raised to life, the paraplegics walking around, the blind seeing, and the poor refreshed because of their faith in Jesus (e.g., see Matthew 15:29-31; Luke 7:21-23). The people were amazed and knew the Kingdom of God had arrived in the Lord Jesus Christ (e.g., see Matthew 21:8-11)! Jesus taught the listening Pharisees that the Kingdom of God had already come and was present in His life and ministry (see Luke 17:21).

Nevertheless, the Kingdom was present in the life and ministry of Jesus in its beginnings though future in its fullness. In one sense, the Kingdom of God is here already with the first coming of Jesus, but in the richest sense the Kingdom of God is still to come with God’s final judgment (e.g., see Mark 13:1-3, 26-27; Luke 11:20; Luke 16:16-17; Luke 17:20-21; Luke 22:16, 18, 29-30; John 3:16-21).

Jesus taught His disciples they will long to see Him when He returns to heaven with His Father, the living LORD God of heaven and earth (Luke 17:22; see also Matthew 9:15; Mark 2:19-20; Luke 5:34-35). Then, Jesus warned His disciples not to be deceived by false and evil workers coming in His Name proclaiming that He has returned or that the time is near for His return (Luke 17:23; see also Mark 13:21-23; Luke 21:8). Jesus cautioned that false messiahs and false prophets will appear and use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders to deceive and trick people, even God’s elect people (e.g., see Matthew 7:15; Matthew 24:5, 11, 23-26; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11; 1 John 2:18; Revelation 13:13-15). Jesus taught His disciples that they and the entire world will know the future day when He returns as it will be as evident as the lightning that flashes across the heavenly skies (Luke 17:24, 30; see also Zechariah 9:14; Matthew 24:3, 27, 37, 39).

Jesus warned when He returns the human world will be as uncaring, corrupt, and evil just as in Noah’s day (Luke 17:26; see also Genesis 6:5-13; Psalm 14:2-3; Matthew 24:37). During the days of Noah, Jesus taught that the people ate, drank, and married right up to the day when Noah went into the ark and the flood came and destroyed them all (Luke 17:27; see also Genesis 7:6-23; Matthew 24:38-39). By faith, God warned righteous Noah about the coming flood (see 2 Peter 2:5). Noah in holy fear and obedience built an ark to save his family from the disastrous floods (see Hebrews 11:7; 1 Peter 3:20). While people were saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction came upon them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they did not escape (see also 1 Thessalonians 5:3).

Likewise, Jesus taught that the day of His future return into the world will be as it was in the days of Lot when people went about their daily business — eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building (Luke 17:28; see also 2 Peter 2:6-7). Nevertheless, Jesus taught the morning Lot walked out and left Sodom, then fire and brimstone (sulfur) swept and rained down from heaven and destroyed them all (Luke 17:29; see also Genesis 19:15-16, 24). In the same way, Jesus predicted it will be “business as usual” right up to the hour of His sudden return when the Son of Man is revealed from heaven in blazing fire, power, and glory with His holy angels, and the Kingdom of God arrives (Luke 17:30; see also Daniel 7:10, 13-14; Zechariah 14:5; Matthew 16:27; Matthew 24:30; Matthew 25:31; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:7, 13; Jude 14; Revelation 1:7).

On the glorious day of His return, Jesus cautioned that those away from home must not return to pack and those in the fields must not return to town (Luke 17:31; see also Matthew 24:17-18; Mark 13:15-16; Luke 21:21). As a reminder, Jesus teaches what happened with Lot’s wife who looked back and wanted to return to Sodom, but she became a pillar of salt (Luke 17:32; see also Genesis 19:17, 26). Importantly, Jesus taught that whoever clings to his life shall lose it, and whoever loses his life for His purpose shall save himself and find life (Luke 17:33; see also Matthew 10:39; Matthew 16:25; Matthew 19:25-30; John 12:25).

Importantly, Jesus taught that one day His Father, the living and true LORD God Almighty of heaven and earth, will judge all nations when He returns in His glory with all the holy angels at His second coming (e.g., see Isaiah 66:6, 15-16; Matthew 25:31). The LORD God will judge and punish the evil, wicked, and disobedient with an everlasting punishment and destruction for their sins, injustices, and lawlessness (e.g., see Isaiah 66:18; Matthew 25:32, 41-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9; 2 Peter 3:7). Moreover, Jesus warned His disciples that His coming with the future Kingdom of God will come suddenly, unexpectedly, and without warning (e.g., see Matthew 25:1-13; Mark 13:33-37; Luke 12:35-48; Luke 21:34-36; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 16:15). NO ONE KNOWS the day or hour when the future Kingdom of God will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son Himself (e.g., see Matthew 24:42-44). Only Jesus’ Father, the living LORD God of heaven and earth, knows the future coming Kingdom of God when He will send His Son Jesus in the clouds with great power and glory with His holy angels (e.g., see; Zechariah 14:6-7; Matthew 24:36; Mark 13:26, 32-33, 35; Luke 12:40, 46; Luke 21:27; Acts 1:7).

Until the future Kingdom of God arrives, Jesus proclaimed we must turn from our sins (repent) and always be alert, prayerful, and ready for His return at any time (e.g., see Matthew 24:44-51; Luke 13:3-5). The work of the church as Jesus’ disciples is to faithfully GO AND PROCLAIM THE KINGDOM to all people and not retract and separate from the world (e.g., Matthew 28:18-20). The Gospel of Jesus is still the Gospel of the Kingdom (e.g., see Matthew 4:17, 23-25; Matthew 24:14). The early disciples of Jesus faithfully proclaimed the Kingdom of God to the world (e.g., Acts 20:25; Acts 28:23, 31; Colossians 4:11).

The LORD God welcomes all into His Kingdom whenever His Son Jesus is accepted in REPENTANCE, FAITH, AND OBEDIENCE (e.g., see Mark 1:14-15; John 1:12-13). One of the clearest messages of the Holy Scriptures is that the LORD God of heaven is the King of Glory that rules and reigns the earth (e.g., see Psalm 24:1-2, 7-10; Isaiah 66:1-2)! The LORD God gives His grace, blessings, and Kingdom to those who are HUMBLE, MERCIFUL, REPENTANT, FAITHFUL, and OBEDIENT to His Word more than any meaningless religious ritual, ceremony, or sacrifice (e.g., see 1 Samuel 15:22-23; Psalm 24:3-6; Isaiah 1:11-20; Isaiah 66:2-6; Micah 6:6-8; Matthew 5:3-16; Matthew 19:14-15; Luke 18:13-14). Even more, the LORD God is faithful, and He will keep His obedient servants safe from the evil one until His Son Jesus is revealed from heaven (e.g., see 1 Corinthians 1:7-9; 2 Thessalonians 3:3).

¹ This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. So do you think you can build a house for Me? Do I need a place to rest? ² My hand made all things. All things are here because I made them,” says the LORD. “These are the people I am pleased with: those who are not proud or stubborn and who fear My word. Isaiah 66:1-2, New Century Version

References

Apologetics Study Bible: Understanding Why You Believe (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2012).

ESV Study Bible, English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008).

Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).

The Living Bible Paraphrase (Tyndale House, 1971).

J.I. Packer. Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1993).

Melton, Loyd, Senior Professor of New Testament (Due West Campus, SC: Erskine Theological Seminary, 2018).