What Matthew 19 Teaches about Marriage

When Matthew 19 is referenced it is almost always with regard to verse nine, and it is generally regarding the subject of divorce and remarriage. However, in all of our discussions on this very important context, we often overlook the most important aspect of the first nine verses of the chapter: what Jesus says about marriage itself. I honestly believe that if men understood and enacted Jesus’ teachings on marriage in Matthew 19, the questions about the acceptability in areas of divorce and remarriage would largely die away because marriages would be as God intended. Consider what this great passage imparts concerning marriage.

Marriage is between one man and one woman (Vs. 4-5). It is deeply troubling that this conversation even has to take place in our society today, for in generations past any other notion would have been proclaimed ludicrous, and rightfully so. But in today’s society where down is up, up is down, and truth non-existent, the question regarding for whom marriage is intended is at a fever pitch. However, the answer from Scripture is immediate and unwavering. Jesus stated, “Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder” (Mat. 19:4b-6).

God created man and woman and gave them to each other as a married unit. Interestingly enough mankind is arguing about marriage as though man formed it, he did not. God formed marriage; he created man and woman, and placed them in that bond. Man does not have any say in what marriage is because he did not create it, nor does he have the right to separate and destroy what God joined together.

Husband and wife are to be one flesh (Vs. 5). Oftentimes people read this phrase and automatically think of the sexual relationship. While certainly that is an element of the point being made here, it is not the whole. The statement, both in the Hebrew and the Greek, is an idiom reinforcing the fact that they are to work as one unit, as if they were one body. They are to leave their parents to establish their own bonds of unity outside of the previous family unit. They are to cleave to one another, literally meaning “to be glued together.” There is to be nothing that separates the husband and wife, they are to be as one body.

In today’s society, many individuals desire to be married separately. By that I mean that they want to be married, but they want to retain their previous freedoms, focuses, and lifestyles. The husband and wife is not one unit, working toward the same goals with the same desires and the same focus; but are instead two beings trying not to get in each other’s way as they go through their separate lives. Such is not marriage as God intended and is one example of why divorce rates in our generation are so high; we do not understand what Jesus meant when he said “one flesh.”

Divorce was never included in God’s plan. God intended marriage to be a lifelong commitment; a molding of two lives together for the development of family, society, and righteousness throughout life. God expected man to understand, appreciate, and dedicate himself to the plan that was put in place. Jesus makes this statement concerning divorce in verse 8: “Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.” God did not want divorce, in fact, he hates it (Mal. 2:16). Divorce is a perverting of the marriage bond; it takes what is supposed to be the greatest attachment in this physical world and dilutes it with sin and selfishness. There has never been a divorce where at least one party has not committed sin. Even in the case of “no-fault divorces” both parties have sinned because they have reneged on the oaths and promises they made to God and each other.

Divorce was never in God’s plan, and it should never be considered a forefront option in the mind of any married individual. Divorce was intended as an option of last resort when an individual violated one’s sexual faithfulness to their mate and physically bound oneself to another through fornication. In our society, it has become the option of first resort, but even in cases of fornication it should not be so. Divorce is final and it is always devastating in its consequences.

There are many things we should learn about marriage from this great chapter. Jesus was trying to show the Pharisees that if man understood marriage the way he should, the question of divorce would never enter into the equation. Such is definitely true. If a man and woman are devoted to God and one another as they should be, to be united in purpose, desire, focus, and relationship; then divorce will never be a thought. It is only when one or both parties pull away from the marriage that divorce ever enters the picture.

Teach the principles of marriage. See that your children learn them, understand them, and serve the God who gave them. Doing so will return marriage to its properly sanctified state and reverse the course of ungodly divorces and sinfulness in our society.

Learning about the Pharisees

The Pharisees are, for many people, one of the most intriguing groups of the New Testament. They play a prevalent role in the accounts of the ministry of our Lord and a central role in his crucifixion; but there is no record of such a group of people in the Old Testament. Therefore, it behooves us to consider where this mysterious group of people originated and for what purpose they existed.

The Pharisees are first mentioned by name during the time between the Old and New Testaments, during the reign of John Hyrcanus in the late second century B.C. Therefore, by ancient standards, they were a relatively new group at the time of Jesus and the apostles, having only been in existence for a little more than an hundred years.

The name “Pharisee” means “separated ones.” Although there is much discussion over the issue of that from which they were intended to be separated, there is one reason which seemingly stands above the rest. At the time the Pharisees began, there was a great cultural battle occurring in Jewish society between those who were seeking to hold to the Old Law completely, and those who were seeking to incorporate aspects of Greek life (otherwise known as Hellenism) into the culture of the Jewish people. Because of this battle, two distinct groups formed: the Sadducees (who sought to incorporate the cultures of Hellenism into Jewish society), and the Pharisees (who fought to retain the integrity of the teachings and lifestyle of Judaism). Because of their categorically opposite views, these two groups despised each other, and even fought each other physically in the years leading up to the time of Christ. It is for this reason that the Jewish Council (made up half of Pharisees and half of Sadducees) began to fight verbally in the presence of Paul in Acts 23:1-10. Therefore, the indication seems to be that the Pharisees were seeking to be separate from the Hellenistic teachings of many among their people.

It is because of their desperate fight in this regard that other problems occurred for the Pharisees. In their zealous adherence to the Law of Moses they also took as being absolute law all of the traditions of the elders. By doing so they were binding where God had not bound and had added to the Law in their zeal. Though they are described accurately by Paul as “the straightest sect” of the Jews (Acts 26:5), they were still incorrect about their approach to Judaism. Jesus would condemn them with these words, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Mat. 15:8-9).

By the time of the preaching of Christ, the Pharisees had also become a very powerful political party. The acquiring of that power also brought a love and desire for more power and prestige among the Jews. It is because of this mind-set that many of the Pharisees turned against Jesus, for they said, “If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation” (John 11:48). Their love for power and prestige brought them to their final decision to murder our Lord and Savior.

The Pharisees are a very interesting group to study, and one which we need to understand so that we do not make the same mistakes they did. Their devotion to the Law is admirable, but their willingness to pile their own laws upon God’s caused great problems to their relationship with God. There is a great deal to respect about the Pharisees, but there is also a strong warning to Christians; we must ever be cautious that, in our zeal for God’s Word, we do not become like the Pharisees and begin making our own laws and ideas equal to the laws of God.

When it is Acceptable to Lie

In our relativistic society we are constantly bombarded by those, even among the religious, who proclaim that lying is not such a big deal; and it is certainly acceptable in certain situations and for certain purposes. Men have often brought forth hypothetical situations in which the only “option that makes sense” is lying, but though such a perception might be there, the reality is much different.

Nevertheless, let us consider for a moment that such arguments may be correct. There are times where it would be acceptable to lie. Consider some of those occasions with me.

It is acceptable to lie… when personal selfishness overrides concern for the souls of others. This attitude says, “What I need is most important and it does not matter what my actions may cause others to do.” Such was the attitude of Abraham when he and Sarah went to Egypt and he asked her to claim she was his sister, not his wife (Gen. 12:11-13). Abraham was afraid of losing his life because someone might desire his wife and was willing to do whatever it took to remain in good health. However, his actions did not take into account the impact his lies would have on the souls of others. If God had not stepped in, Abraham would have allowed another man to commit adultery with his wife, all for the sake of a perceived problem that was not even a reality. Abraham’s selfishness caused him to ignore the well-being of others for the sake of his own insecurities. When people put themselves first, they often find lying an acceptable solution, even if it is to the detriment of others.

It is acceptable to lie… when physical health usurps spiritual health. This occasion is often seen when one is more worried about losing their life than losing their soul. David exemplified this attitude when he came to Ahimelech the Priest in the city of Nob (1 Sam. 21). David was on the run from Saul after the events that brought the king’s jealousy down upon David’s head. Instead of seeking help with honesty and sincerity, David lied to Ahimelech and told him he was on an errand from Saul and needed provisions (1 Sam. 21:1-3). Because of David’s lies, Ahimelech could not make an informed decision and helped David, receiving for his actions his own condemnation and execution at the hand of Saul (1 Sam. 22:17-19). David’s lies were told out of fear for his physical life, but they failed to take into account the effect they would have, not just on Ahimelech and his people, but also on his own relationship with God. When David hears what has happened, he knows he is to blame, and recognizes the consequences his actions brought upon the people of Nob. Many would lie to save their own lives, only to put in jeopardy their own souls and the lives of others; but when living is all that matters, lies are always acceptable.

It is acceptable to lie… when treasures on earth are deemed more valuable than treasure in heaven. This mentality focuses on one’s ability to retain physical possessions. Ananias and Sapphira certainly serve as a model example of this characteristic. They wanted to keep some of the wealth from the property they sold for themselves (Acts 5:1-2). This was neither wrong nor condemned. The problem came when they lied to man and God about what they had given to the apostles. Their desire for treasures on earth, coupled with the desire for notoriety, caused them to lie to try and receive physical abundance and recognition. Unfortunately their desire for the physical treasures of men’s riches and men’s praise caused them to forget the loss of eternal treasure they would endure, but the judgment and consequences were swift and eternal. Is not this what people do when they cheat on their taxes and lie to get out of paying debts? The focus becomes wholly about physical wealth, never about the consequences spiritually.

In reality, the only time man finds it acceptable to lie is when he has become too focused on this earth and its goods. Every time an individual tries to speak of an acceptable occasion for lying, he shows by word and deed that his focus is only on the physical, never the spiritual.

God has been adamant that liars will not be found acceptable, nor will they receive the eternal rewards of Heaven (Rev. 21:8). Therefore, no matter what man may say, Christians must recognize that the number of occasions that will occur in life where lying is acceptable will equal the number of occasions where we have no choice but to lie: namely, zero.

The Importance of Knowing the Context

It is one of the things least often considered when it comes to the Bible, yet it is also one of the most important tools necessary to its understanding. The use of context is vital if one desires to truly understand the message the Lord is seeking to deliver in any given passage.

It has often been said, “A text, taken out of its context, becomes a pretext.” Man can make anyone say anything when they disregard the context in which it is being said. One can see this type of ignorance (willful or otherwise) protrude from the bushes of almost every aspect of life; whether it is journalists looking for a story, politicians looking for a punch line, members of an argument trying to get an upper hand, or people trying to make arguments in religion. It is readily evident that if the context is ignored, the meaning can be greatly skewed.

However, because God is the author of the Scriptures, he has laid before us both what he wants us to know and what he wants us to understand. There is a vast difference between knowledge of what someone has said and understanding of what was intended by that statement. Therein lays the difference in an individual knowing the Bible in a general way, and understanding the things taught in a specific way.

Consider some areas in which men have perverted the context of a passage and thus completely changed its meaning. In First Corinthians 2 Paul writes, “But as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him” (1 Cor. 2:9). Many people read this passage of Scripture and make application to Heaven. Therefore, as their thinking goes, we cannot have any true understanding of Heaven. Unfortunately, such an application refuses to take into account the context because this passage is dealing with the revelation of the Word of God. Paul is emphasizing the fact that without the Holy Spirit’s revelation, man would not know anything about God because eye has not seen Him, nor ear heard Him (1 Cor. 2:7-13). If it were not for God’s revelation, man would know nothing of salvation, Heaven, Hell, eternity, the Day of Judgment, and many other spiritual revelations made in Scripture. This beautiful passage is intended to give us confidence in the revelation of God, but we greatly diminish the individual’s ability to understand it when we take it out of its context.

Another such passage which is commonly taken out of context is the King James Version’s rendering of Isaiah 14:12. From this passage “everyone” knows that Satan’s name is Lucifer and that he was a fallen angel from Heaven… or so it is told. Unfortunately, such a rendering requires an individual to completely ignore the context. When one examines the context, he will find that this statement is made, not concerning Satan, but concerning the king of Babylon (Isa. 14:4). Combine that with the fact that this term translated “Lucifer” would, from the original Hebrew, be better translated “day-star” as it is in most other translations, and it removes any possible reference to Satan. Instead, it is a portion of a proverb Isaiah was commanded to give against the king of Babylon, not a depiction of who Satan is and from whence he originated.

The Bible truly is the most beautiful book ever authored, because this book was authored by none other but our Creator; but for it to be understood as it should be, careful consideration must always be made to, as a classmate of mine once said, “the verses that came before it, and the verses that will come after it.” If we would take this approach, we could not only know what God intended, but all men would understand the Bible alike.

Delight and Meditate

It is not uncommon for certain people, even within the body of Christ, to treat the Law of God as something to be dreaded. It is likened unto the chore nobody wants or the plague from which to recoil. This is evidenced by a number of factors: the unwillingness of some to attend services more than once a week, the complete absence of the Word of God at home, and the willingness to place almost anything ahead of God and his people.

However, in the face of this, the Bible places a great emphasis upon the individual who is truly blessed and how that person lives. Notice the writing of the Psalmist: “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night” (Psa. 1:1-2). There are a number of attitudes listed in these two verses which will apply to the truly converted one.

He walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly. The faithful man does not spend his time listening to those who have no care or concern for God or His Word. Rehoboam took unwise counsel from men who had no inclination toward God and it cost him the majority of his kingdom (1 Kin. 12:1-20). We are to walk in the counsel of God, not of men (Jud. 20:18; Acts 20:27).

He does not stand in the way of sinners. One who follows God does not follow the path of the ungodly. From cover to cover, God teaches against making the ungodly among your “circle of friends” (Jam. 4:4; 1 Pet. 4:1-4). This is not to say that we can have no fellowship outside Christ, else how would we ever convert one? But to look after our own souls, such relationships should be guarded ones at best.

He does not sit in the seat of the scornful. The word “scornful” means “to mock, scoff, have in derision” (Strong). We are not to be scornful people toward anyone, but especially toward God and his Word. Peter wrote, “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (2 Pet. 3:3-4). We must not have such an attitude toward God nor listen to those who exhibit such an attitude toward the Word of God.

The faithful Christian does not live in such a way as to allow any of these influences to control his life. Rather, the Psalmist writes that his delight is in the Law of the Lord and he meditates upon it day and not. One who truly loves God delights in His Word (Psa. 119:97, 105). He finds joy, comfort, peace, and encouragement from it. Because of this, he spends time meditating upon it. The word “meditate” means to muse upon, or to ponder. This is not an occasional reading of random passages, but a concerted effort (day and night) to know and understand the Law of God.

The psalmist concludes the thought by stating, “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (Psa. 1:3). The Christian that delights in God’s Word and spends his time learning from it and thinking about it will be able to live a life of acceptability before God. Those words will then guide his decisions and actions and everything he does will prosper because he has done it in the right way, with the right focus, and the right heart. Let us always delight in, and meditate on, God’s Word.

My Wish for My Sons

My wife and I have three sons and, though we do not yet know the gender, a fourth child due in November. I have been thinking a great deal in recent months about examples for my children. We live in a world that casts actors, athletes, and superheroes as the role models for our children; they should not be. One dictionary defines a “role model” as, “Somebody to be copied; a worthy person who is a good example for other people.” It is unfortunate, but most of the people in today’s world are not worthy to wear that label. Instead, by their actions and decisions, they show that they are nothing more than the most recent lesson of what not to do.

As I consider what I want my sons to be and who I want them to emulate, I cannot help but turn to Scripture. For it is there I find the people I want my sons to resemble. I would like to share with you my wish for my sons and encourage you to seriously consider the same for your children; because who you want your children to be will determine the directions with which you align their hearts.

My sons…

I wish you to have the heart of David. David was by no means the perfect individual. He was as flawed and imperfect as they come, and God was not afraid to show us both sides of his life. However, there is one thing about David that could never be denied: his heart. He was described as a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam. 16:7; Acts 13:22). He was a man that, though imperfect, was always humble and willing to repent when faced with his sin. His heart was filled with the desire to serve God and the direction of his soul is laid out for all to see in the Psalms. Have the heart of David, the humility to admit when you are wrong and repent; for it will clear your conscience, and save your soul.

I wish you to have the honor of Joseph. There is no individual I can find in Scripture who faced more desperate situations and troublesome strife at such an early age than Joseph. Yet in all of his trials he worked with purpose and served God with honor. At a time in which he could have claimed “I have no choice” with Potiphar’s wife; he instead claimed “I have made my choice.” At a time when he could have despaired at his condition in prison; he helped oversee and care for those around him. At a time when he could have had vengeance on his brothers who meant him so much harm; he took care of them and saw to their every need. Have the honor of Joseph that no matter what comes at you in life you live and work to the glory of God and the benefit of man.

I wish you to have the conviction of Paul. Paul never did anything half-heartedly. He told the Colossians, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Col. 3:23). When he was converted to Christ and became the apostle Paul, he worked diligently for the cause of Christ to the day of his death. His letters show a man who believed in what he taught to the point he could not refrain from helping others along the way. He worked hard at training men to preach the Gospel like Timothy and Titus. He worked to encourage his brethren as with Philemon and the Philippians. As his life came to an end, he had no regrets. He simply said, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7). Know what you believe and why, and once you know the truth hold onto it with such conviction that Satan and all his servants could not wrest you away from it, for they will surely try.

My sons need to know what I want them to be and why; they also need to know the truth about life, this world, eternity, and why they must obey God’s commands no matter what. I pray that my sons will uphold the values of Scripture, but I know that their instructions and preparations to do so must come from me.

Teach your children to know, love, and obey God. Give them God’s role models to emulate. Teach them the principles of a godly life every day and in every way (Deu. 6:7-9). Show them you love them by training them and walking them down the path of righteousness, not by letting them “find their own way,” for that will only lead to failure and destruction.

Disciples Like Jason

When reading the book of Acts there are many names that are well known from Paul’s journeys; men such as Paul, Silas, Barnabas, Timothy, Apollos, and others are easily recognized and their exploits remembered. However, there are also a number of disciples whose lives are not as elaborately detailed in Scripture, but serve to be just as much a lesson to us today.

Tucked away in a few verses of Acts 17 is the mention of one such disciple by the name of Jason. We know nothing about this man’s background, occupation, or personal connection with any of the apostles. He is not mentioned anywhere else in Scripture other than a possible mention by Paul in Romans 16:21. Yet in a few short verses of Acts 17 his actions have a lasting impact and bear an eternal reminder of the type of disciples God needs. Consider the text referencing this disciple.

“But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things. And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.” (Acts 17:5-9)

Jason was recognized as a Christian. The unbelieving Jews were looking for Paul and Silas. They have stirred up the entire city because of their anger and disbelief and they want someone to bring before the rulers of the city. They are unable to find the apostle and his companion so they settle for some others who are known to be Christians, and prominent among these is Jason. He has not hidden his Christianity, he is not afraid of his beliefs or of others knowing who he follows and where he stands. The indication from the text is that these unbelieving Jews did not have to go door-to-door through the city searching for Christians; they knew exactly where to find Jason and others in Thessalonica.

Jason was given to hospitality. Among the accusations that are brought before the rulers of the city is the fact that Jason has received into his home these preachers of the Gospel and housed them during their time in Thessalonica (Vs. 7). When they originally came to Jason’s house, it was because they desired Paul and Silas, not Jason himself. It is possible Jason could have spared himself a great deal of grief if he had simply asked Paul and Silas to find other accommodations, but such does not appear to have been Jason’s nature. As a Christian, he opens his home to Paul and Silas even though it meant having men assault his house in their anger at the preaching of the truth.

Jason remained godly in the face of turbulence. There are two things that stick out in my mind reading the account of Jason. He never denies that Paul and Silas were staying with him, nor does he deny his faith in Christ. There would have been many, given the pressure of the mob and the local authorities who would have sought to save their own skin and let Paul and Silas deal with it; but not Jason. He also handles himself correctly before the government. There is no sign of rebellion or insolence from Jason, but he pays his bond (security – KJV) and handles the situation correctly. It would have been easy for Jason to compromise his faithfulness with anger and rashness in response to his treatment, but his actions are impeccable.

We need more disciples like Jason. Ones who, though not well known or the center of attention, commit their lives to justly serving the cause of Christ. They are not afraid of their Christianity, but embrace it; they help those who are seeking to proclaim the Gospel in every way possible; and they portray godliness in every aspect of life no matter how much turbulence boils up around them. Though we do not know much about the life of Jason, his example should never be ignored or forgotten. Let each of us endeavor to be an example like this faithful servant of Christ.

In The Beginning…

There are 2 books of the Bible which begin with this particular phrase. The very first words laid out in Scripture bear these words: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). In the New Testament, John begins his epistle, by inspiration, with these words: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).

Both of these books introduce themselves by going back to the beginning. Yet they both deal with very different facets of that beginning. When you put these two statements concerning the beginning of time together, they lead to a beautiful conclusion of the might and majesty of the creation.

John, in his writing, deals with the spiritual presence at the beginning of time. Unlike many in the modern world would have us believe, there was “someone” present in the beginning. It was not simply an accidental “big bang,” but there was an intentional cause behind it. John wrote that the Word both “was with God,” and “was God.” John continues by stating: “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3).

John proclaims who was responsible for the creation. It was the one who was “made flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). It was none other than Jesus Christ; thus advocating the presence, not only of the Father, but of the entire Godhead at the creation of the world.

Though John shows the spiritual side of the beginning, Moses, in the book of Genesis, lays forth the physical side. Just as important as who did the creating is what was created. Moses begins the book of Genesis by laying forth a premise: God created the heaven and earth. He then continues that he might prove the fullness of that premise. Over the course of the next 2 chapters, God through Moses will show how everything which is, or has ever been, found upon the face of the earth came into being. Whether it was the creation of light, the universe, and the earth itself on the first day, or the creation of man on the sixth day, the Bible clearly shows that all in the universe was created in that time frame. Paul emphasized the creative power of God (specifically Christ) as it was displayed in the creation when he wrote by inspiration, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist” (Col. 1:16-17).

As sad as it is, there are many in the world, and some even in the church, who do not believe that God created all in 6 days. They believe in “theistic evolution,” the idea that God started the process, and then let evolution take over. Yet a study of Genesis 1 and John 1 leaves absolutely no room for such a conclusion.

An examination of the verses which follow these 3 great words in each of these 2 books leads man to see a complete picture of the beginning of time. That picture includes who was involved, how it was done, and what was accomplished. Let us always be mindful of what occurred “in the beginning.”

What Would Nehemiah Say About Us?

The book of Nehemiah is one of my personal favorites in the Old Testament. It is the inspired diary of the man who oversaw the rebuilding of the wall in Jerusalem after the return from captivity. The rebuilding of the wall was a feat not often seen because of the ways and means by which it was accomplished. People from all walks of life were working on the project. In chapter 3 there is an extensive list of the builders of the wall. They were rulers and common men, priests and craftsmen, people of Jerusalem and families from the outlying towns and villages, men and women. All came together to work on this great project and the whole wall was built in a mere 52 days because the people had a mind to work (Neh. 4:6; 6:15).

However, within that list of workers in Nehemiah 3 there is one very interesting statement made by the author. He records in verse 5, “And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.” Of all the people in the region, and all of those listed as physically assisting with this project, the Tekoite nobles are the only ones stated to have refused the work building the wall. The reasons for their actions could be many, but the excuses are not enumerated in the text. What is important is that when the time came for the work to be done, they were absent.

Seeing this particular statement causes me to consider another question: what if Nehemiah were to write about the works done in our congregations, laying out the individuals and families that were fulfilling the duties and works of the church in each location, what would he say about me and my family?

It has often been repeated that in most congregations 10% of the people do 90% of the work. While in my experience I have no doubt of the general truth of such a statement, such is not the way it should be. We have a responsibility to be working in the Kingdom of the Lord (John 9:4; Jam. 1:25). The Lord’s church is not the place for the lazy or self-absorbed, but for the servant and workman (Mat. 20:1-16, 27-28). Therefore, it should be the case in every congregation that 100% of the work is done by 100% of the people. It is understood that there are varying degrees of ability and areas of expertise, but there is always more than enough work to go around and always the need for more hands and hearts willing to devote themselves to the task.

If Nehemiah were to write about you and your congregation, what would he say? Would he write of you as he did of so many in his time; how they took of their time, energy, and resources to ensure that the work was accomplished to the best of their ability? Or would he write of you as he did of the Tekoite nobles; that while others worked around you, you did nothing but stand back and watch?

Let us always be willing to put our hands to the task. There will never be too many workers in the Kingdom of God, but there are often far less than there should be. We must respond to the Lord’s tasks in the same manner the people responded to Nehemiah: “Let us rise up and build” (Neh. 2:18).

An Ambiguous God?

We live in a world which revels in ambiguity. Webster defines “ambiguous” as: “Having two or more meanings; doubtful; being of uncertain signification; susceptible of different interpretations; hence, obscure. It is applied to words and expressions.” Ambiguity revolves around uncertainty, making someone unsure of what should be done or why something is being done. It is specifically described as being applied to words and expressions, the things which we write and say.

Ambiguity has long been the politician’s best friend. They are able to make promises about anything they want, but never have to explain what they mean or how they intend to pay for all of these glorious additions to life and luxury. Unfortunately, many times, those who are ambiguous make things sound so good that many people do not even pick up on the ambiguity. They are happy to go along thinking they are following one thing, when in reality they are allowing something else entirely.

The most exasperating aspects of ambiguity are found in another area: religion. It has become commonplace in our religious society today to make everything Biblical ambiguous. There is no way to truly understand what God wanted to say to us because he was not intelligent enough to be able to give it in a way that we could understand it; or at least so the perceived argument goes. But is God really ambiguous in the Bible? Has God really given us double talk and unclear terminology of which we cannot come to a clear understanding? Certainly not. Man’s inventions have made it ambiguous, and man’s pride and arrogance have provided the foundation upon which such charges of ambiguity reside. Consider three vital areas where God has not been ambiguous.

God has not been ambiguous about salvation. Regardless of what many in the religious world profess, God has stated exactly what is expected of man in order to obtain eternal salvation. We must hear and understand the word of God (Rom. 10:17), believe in Jesus Christ and His promises (Heb. 11:6), repent of our sins (Acts 17:30), confess Christ before men (Rom. 10:9-10), and be immersed in water for the remission of our sins (Acts 22:16). These requirements are completely unambiguous, nor are they difficult to understand, unless you are one who does not want to believe them. Yet, God’s clarity does not end here.

God has not been ambiguous about worship. God has given to us very clearly what He expects out of our worship. We are to sing with the voice to teach and admonish one another in praise to God (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16), we are to humbly bow ourselves in prayer to God (1 Tim. 2:1-8), we are to give from what God has so richly blessed us (1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 9:6-8), we are to partake of the Lord’s Supper on every first day of the week (Mat. 26:26-29; Acts 20:7), and we are to preach and teach to one another the Word of our Lord (Acts 20:7; 2 Tim. 4:2). These things are not difficult to understand or to carry out; but man’s hardened heart has stated that God’s unambiguous commands are not sufficient.

God has not been ambiguous about eternity. We live in an age where many people believe one of two ideas: either there is no eternity, or everyone is going to Heaven. Neither of these fit the Bible’s clear teaching. Heaven will be reserved for those who love God and keep his commandments (John 14:1-3; 1 The. 4:13-18; 2 Tim. 4:6-8). Hell has been reserved for those who refuse to follow through with the commandments of God and turn from him (2 The. 1:7-9; Rev. 21:8). These things are neither ambiguous nor hidden.

God, unlike man, is not ambiguous in what he says or expects. May it ever be our endeavor to be honest in our approach to God and his Word, that we might learn what is expected and reject those who will not proclaim it as it is.