Season 4 Podcast 109 The Stories of the New Testament, Matthew Ch 12:1-15, “Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy”

During the time of Christ, the Pharisees and Sadducees, rejecting his divinity and seeing him as a threat to their power, sought early on to destroy the Savior. Before John the Baptist, A prophet had not been in Israel since Malachi, 400 years earlier. The Mosaic law had become buried under layers of scholarly interpretations. One law that had particularly become corrupted was the law regarding the Sabbath Day.  The Jewish leaders used the laws of Moses as a source of power. They particularly used the laws regarded the Sabbath Day to justify killing the Messiah.

1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.

The Sabbath had become a burden with a long checklist of do’s and don’ts. As with other laws, they had lost the spirit of the Sabbath and become slaves to the letter of the law defined by the leaders.  Of course, it was not without precedent. Early on in their history the following is recorded.

Numbers 15:32-36

“And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. And the Lord said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the Lord commanded Moses.”

I grew up in the South when we had Sunday Blue Laws defining what could and could not be done on the Sabbath day. Such a law today, as defined by the Old Testament, would probably wipe out the world. It was this ancient tradition that the Pharisees and Sadducees used against Christ’s disciples.

But Jesus uses the example of the corn to establish the fact that he is the Lord of the Sabbath. Using examples from the Old Testament, He teaches new doctrine regarding the Sabbath Day.

3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; 4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?

Christ is establishing his authority.

6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. 7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

As part of the New Testament covenant, Jesus teaches that serving others unselfishly without intent to get gain is a proper Sabbath Day observance. Notice that the Savior is not doing away with the observance of the Sabbath day. Rather he is redirecting the people’s thoughts on how they should view the Sabbath Day.

Season 4 Podcast 108 “The Story of Creation, Genesis 1-3 Pt II”

DAY SEVEN

In this podcast Linda and I will analyze Genesis Chapter 2 which continues to relate the story of creation. We thank you for taking this journey with us.

Notice that in Chapter Two of Genesis the structure of the first six days is abandoned.  In Chapter One, each day of the first six days begins the same way:

“And God Said.”

And ends with

“And the evening and the morning were the” 

Followed by the number of the day, First through Sixth. In Chapter Two there is no evening and morning of creation. In fact, it begins with:

“And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.”

It is perhaps illogical to assume that the Almighty ever stops creating.  He is defined by his creation. However, we are dealing with only one story of creation, the Genesis story which details the creation of earth and the people of the earth, which is each of us, and its environment. It is as if God has finished the creation story specifically defined in Genesis. Even the language changes.  Moses records.

“And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.”

Can we assume then that all the laws of creation related to our galaxy are in place and the earth will begin its evolutionary process.  But something is missing, an incredibly important element—water.

“These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.”

This is in Genesis two, after the six days of creation. Nothing can live without water, 

There is only one conclusion that we can reach and it is this: It suggests two creative periods, each with six days of creation. In the first creative period all living things were first created spiritually and not temporally. They are governed strictly by spiritual laws. Temporal creation, or that creation which is governed both by spiritual laws, for all living things have a spirit, and temporal laws, for all living things must die, could not occur until after the rains started. The two-periods of creation that closely parallel each other are clearly set forth in Job.

Job 38: 4-12

“Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddling band for it, And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed? Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;”

Season 4 Podcast 107 Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queen, Canto 3 Episode 7 “The Adventures of Una.” Pt I

In the previous Podcast, # 104, The Redcross Knight listens to the tale of The Weeping Tree. It is a warning to the Redcross Knight to flee from Duessa; however, the Knight does not heed the warning because Duessa presented herself as Fidessa, the daughter of an Emperor who had been kidnapped by Sansfoy who in fact was her lover. Having lost Sansfoy, Duessa seeks to destroy the Redcross Knight by causing him to lose his virtue, the source of his strength. 

In Canto 3 Una sets out on a journey to find the Redcross Knight who has abandoned her because of the false dream caused by the magician Archimago.

CANTO III

Forsaken Truth long seeks her love,

and makes the Lyon mild,

Mars blind Devotions mart, and falls

in hand of leacher vile.

Canto 3 is the story of the adventures of Una as she seeks the Redcross Knight.  As mentioned The Redcross Knight represents holiness. Achieving Holiness is a very rocky road as will be illustrated by his further adventures. Una, on the other hand, represents truth. Una does not suffer the same temptations as her champion; however, her own journey is fraught with dangers. For example, in Canto 3 she is met by a lion, by a robber/rapist, by the wicked magician Archimago who is disgused as the Redcross Knight, and by Sansloy, whose name means without law. All seek Una’s destruction, and she has no champion. If they can destroy Una, who symbolizes truth, then it will follow that they can destroy The Redcross Knight, who symbolizes holiness. 

To appreciate the journeys of Una and the Redcross Knight, we must examine how they overcome the obstacles in their path, one in seeking truth and the other in seeking holiness. In that sense it becomes a cautionary tale for Spenser is assuming that we are also on the path of truth and holiness and will be confronted by strong opposition. Remember that Una is on a mission to find the Redcross Knight so that he can deliver her royal parents who are held captive by a powerful dragon. Una is true but she is inexperienced to the subtlety of Satan and the evils of the world.

The first obstacle that Una meets is a fierce lion.

One day nigh wearie of the irksome way,

From her unhastie beast she did alight,

And on the grass her dainty limbs did lay

In secret shadow, far from all men’s sight:

From her faire head her fillet she undight,

And laid her stole aside. Her angels face

As the great eye of heaven shined bright,

And made a sunshine in the shady place;

Did never mortal eye behold such heavenly grace.

It fortuned out of the thickest wood

A ramping Lyon rushed suddenly,

Hunting full greedy after salvage blood;

A strange thing happens. The beast is so taken by Una that he forgot his ravage hunger.

Soon as the royal virgin he did spy,

With gaping mouth at her ran greedily,

To have at once devoured her tender corse:

But to the prey when as he drew more ny,

His bloody rage asswaged with remorse,

 And with the sight amazed, forgat his furious force.

Instead of seeking blood he becomes as tame as a kitten. Of course, it perpetuates the idea that beauty can tame the most savage beast. But the lion senses more in Una than mere physical beauty. He is responding to the purity of her soul and the simplicity of truth.

Season 4 Podcast 106 The Stories of the New Testament, Matthew Ch 11, “My Yoke is Easy”

The relationship between The Savior of the World and the forerunner, his cousin, John the Baptist is intriguing. There is only one recorded incidence of their meeting, and it is one of the most spectacular events recorded in scripture.  First, you get a rugged image of John the Baptist.

MATTHEW 3

4 And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

But many came out into the desert just to hear John preach. John was just as bold as the Savior in condemning the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Matthew 3

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

John clearly received many revelations for he knew who he was and what his primary role was.

Matthew 3

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

When he saw Christ, he recognized him immediately.

Matthew 3

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

Christ teaches John and the world the importance of what John is doing.

Matthew 3

And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

That was followed by one of the greatest events the world has seen. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are revealed on earth proving that they are three separate and distinct beings.

MATTHEW 3

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

In Matthew Chapter Eleven John has been cast into prison, but he sends two disciples to Christ to ask a strange question.

Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

Season 4 Podcast 105 “The Story of Creation, Genesis 1-3 Pt I”

In this and the succeeding two podcasts on The Story of Creation, Linda and I will analyze Genesis Chapters 1-3 which relate the story of creation and the fall of man. The story of creation is among the greatest stories ever told. Those who read the Bible are acutely aware of what is not said. For such an important story, the language of the Holy Bible is very succinct. It is also beautiful and astonishingly informative. We thank you for taking this journey with us.

In the following I recommend that you have the King James Version of the Text in front of you. Though I have used the wording of the KJV, I have discarded the traditional chapter and verses and divided the story of creation into parallel elements as if it were a poem. It would take many pages to do a complete analysis which could only be illustrated in written form. Audio does not do it justice. In reading Linda is following my parallel structure.

In the beginning God created 

the heaven

and the earth.

And the earth 

was without form, 

and void; 

and darkness was upon the face of the deep. 

And the Spirit of God moved 

upon the face of the waters.

The above was the introduction. Now we begin the description of each day of Creation. Each Day begins with “And God said,” and ends with “And the evening and morning were” followed by the number of the day. Day of course means period of time, not 24 hours. Time cannot be created before the timing mechanism is in place, and that does not really occur until after the fall. Our time is measured by the revolutions of the Sun, Moon, and Earth as they stand in heaven today. Such a clock did not exist before creation occurred. I am not competent enough in science to discuss the scientific implications of Genesis. Science must stand or fall upon its own methods. I have one primary goal. I let the great poets John Milton and Alexander Pope speak for me—to justify the ways of God to man. I believe the Bible is the word of God. I am a literalist. My goal is not to question the Bible but to understand it. It is true that we are at the mercy of human translators, and it is always possible that in translation some ambition souls may slant the text according to opinion rather than sticking to the original text. We do not live in a perfect world, but we are very fortunate that down through the centuries men of great character tried to preserve the original thus we have what we have, and it is magnificent.

DAY ONE

And God said, 

Let there be light: 

and there was light.

And God saw 

the light, that it was good: 

and God divided 

the light from the darkness.

And God called 

the light Day, 

and the darkness 

he called 

Night. 

And the evening and the morning were the first day.

By restructuring the epic poem, you may easily discern the parallel elements: God created, God moved, God said, God saw, God divided, God called. In some I insert words that are clearly implied to complete the parallel elements. You may also see the antithetical parallelism: heaven & earth, form & void, darkness & light, day & night, evening & morning. Without paragraphs or verses or numbers or titles, parallelism provided the structure of ancient Hebrew poetry. Whenever things are repeated they are repeated for a purpose thus allowing the readers to connect scriptures throughout the Holy Bible. Parallelism enhances meaning, provides emphasis, gives structure, connects concepts, and clarifies relationships. It is awkward at first for readers of English, but it grows on you. Now Let’s connect it to the second day.

Season 4 Podcast 104 Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queen, Canto 2 C Episode 6 “The Weeping Tree.” 

In the previous Podcast, # 101, The Redcross Knight kills Sansfoy and Duessa changes her name to Fidessa, and deceives the Redcross Knight. Having abandoned Una, his true love, The Redcross knight now travels with Fidessa whose only desire is to destroy the Redcross Knight for killing her lover Sansfoy.

This epic story is about how the Redcross Knight, who represents the virtue of holiness, becomes St. George. However, the road is very difficult. It is compounded by the fact that he has abandoned Una, who stands for truth, and now he is in the clutches of the Evil Duessa posing as the daughter of an Emperor when in reality she is the evil Duessa, the Whore of Babylon, and represents pure evil. What follows is the first warning to the Redcross Knight that Fidessa is a wicked witch and wishes to destroy him. Without Una the callow youth does not understand the warning.

 Long time they thus together traveled,

Till weary of their way, they came at last

Where grew two goodly trees, that faire did spred

Their arms abroad, with gray moss overcast,

And their green leaves trembling with every blast,

Made a calm shadow far in compass round:

The fearful Shepherd often there aghast

Under them never sat, ne wont there sound

His merry oaten pipe, but shund th' unlucky ground.

Even shepherds won’t go near the cursed ground, but the Redcross Knight, who is fearless, pays no heed. The sun is high in the sky. It is a very hot day, and he seeks rest under the cursed trees.

But this good knight soon as he them can spie,

For golden Phœbus now ymounted hie,

From fiery wheels of his fair chariot

Hurled his beame so scorching cruell hot,

That living creature mote it not abide;

And his new Lady it endured not.

There they alight, in hope themselves to hide

From the fierce heat, and rest their weary limbs a tide.

The Redcross Knight sees Fidessa as the most beautiful woman he has ever met; therefore he plucks a limb from the tree to make her a garland.  A very strange thing happens. Blood rather than sap drips from the broken branch.

Faire seemely pleasaunce each to other makes,

With goodly purposes there as they sit:

And in his falsed fancy he her takes

To be the fairest wight that lived yit;

Which to express he bends his gentle wit,

And thinking of those branches green to frame

A garland for her dainty forehead fit,

He pluckt a bough; out of whose rift there came

Small drops of gory blood, that trickled down the same.

Furthermore, the tree cries out at the Knight begging him not to tear his poor body apart. Then the tree warns the Redcross Knight to fly from Fidessa and get as far away from her as he can. If he doesn’t the same thing will happen to him as happened to the unhappy voice coming from the tree. It turns out that it is not a tree at all but two former unhappy lovers who were turned into trees by Fidessa and her evil powers.

Therewith a piteous yelling voice was heard,

Crying, O spare with guilty hands to tear

My tender sides in this rough rynd embard,

But fly, ah fly far hence away, for fear

Least to you hap, that happened to me hear,

And to this wretched Lady, my dear love,

O too dear love, love bought with death too dear.

Astond he stood, and up his hair did hove,

And with that sudden horror could no member move.

 The Redcross Knight doesn’t know what to make of the strange event. He doubted his own senses. He thought it was a ghost from hell or an evil spirit.

Season 4 Podcast 103 “The Stories of the New Testament, Matthew Ch 10 B”

Last week we learned that the gospel is to be taught and the children of Israel to be gathered until Christ comes again. This brings to mind the statement of John in the Book of Revelation.

Revelation 14:6-7

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

The following statement is not meant just for the twelve apostles. He is speaking of all those who bear witness of the Savior. What was true in his day is also true in our day.

Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Christians everywhere can take courage from his words. But Christ goes further and explains how important all his children are.

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Christ offers this great promise to those who testify of him.

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

Christ is speaking of our day. As the scriptures attest, to whom much is given much is expected. In Luke we read.

Luke 12: 32-40

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

Season 4 Podcast 102 “Sing A New Song of Freedom.” 

Linda and I live on the banks of Big Creek in East Tennessee. I love to sit in my Amish rocking chair on the wide wooden deck of our log cabin, listening to the singing creek rushing over the washed rocks, watching the cardinals, blue birds, and yellow finches feeding on sunflower seeds from our red bird feeder hanging on an iron post under a black walnut tree by the creek.  Often a great blue heron can be seen fishing the winding waters, standing on spindly legs on the smooth rocks or spreading its wide wings as it glides silently over the rushing creek.  

Big Creek, flowing to freedom, begins its odd journey to the sea with a single voice in a little stream at the top of the Smoky Mountains in Martha Sundquist State Forest:

It carries the song of freedom along as it travels hastily and bravely down the mountain, winding through the dark hollers, joined by other small creeks and singing wildlife.  Gradually the creek grows and the choir increases:

Finally, Big Creek flows into the French Broad River.

The French Broad river is 218 miles long, the third oldest river in the world.

Joining the Holston River, they form the Tennessee River, which flows into the Ohio river, which is 981 miles long.  The Ohio flows into the Mississippi River which is 2,320 miles long, the fourth-longest and the fifteenth-largest river in the world.

The Mississippi River flows into the Mississippi River Delta in the Gulf of Mexico, which is 300 million years old and connects to the Atlantic Ocean, the second largest ocean in the world, covering 20 percent of the surface of the earth, separating the old world from the new world. 

My, what a little creek can do!

From humble beginnings the movement swells as it gathers momentum, flowing to the sea with all nature following behind it.  When it joins the fountain into which all rivers run, the deep fountain sings in perfect harmony for the voices are no longer individual but one voice. The idea is that nature itself loves freedom, that agency is why we are here and why earth was prepared for mankind.  

Inspired by nature, the people, in their march to freedom, start to join in, from a small choir to a vast assembly, accompanied by heavenly hosts as they again assert their rights and restore their freedom—freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from hate, freedom from prejudice, freedom from addictions, freedom from propaganda, freedom from sin, freedom from selfishness, freedom from fear, freedom from lies, freedom from racism.  

Heaven hears their song and accepts their offering.  It is only then, when the waters flow from the mighty basin of the Great Gulf of Mexico into the vast Atlantic Ocean, that the Fountain of all Righteousness, The King of Kings and Lord of Lords, arrives and a new song is sung.

After watching the sparkling stream by day from my deck and the multitudinous fireflies blinking like stars by night, I came up to the loft of the cabin, still thinking of that sparkling image and wrote the following song.  It is meant to be a song of freedom and hope. At the same time, it is a call for action.

I can imagine hearing all the voices in the music of the rushing waters—starting very small, first branches, then creeks, then rivers, and then oceans: first the insects, the frogs, the reeds, the willows, the rushing waters, the harps, the symbols, the dancing fireflies, the jubilee of nature.  Next, I can also imagine as men, women, and children join with nature singing in loud chorus, accompanied by a heavenly choir, till the King of Freedom Himself comes in the clouds on a white horse surrounded by all the saints dressed in white.  All sing the new song of freedom.

Season 4 Podcast 101 Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queen Canto 2 A Fidessa

In the previous Podcast, # 96, the Redcross Knight and the Dwarf abandon Una. In his very next adventure, he encounters Duessa which means false, and Sansfoy, her lover, which means faithless. The Redcross Knight kills Sansfoy and Duessa changes her name to Fidessa, true, and deceives the Redcross Knight. This episode begins with the battle between the Redcross Knight and Sansfoy. Sansfoy is one of three brothers: Sansfoy (without faith); Sans joy (without joy); and Sans Loy (without law), all of whom the Red Cross Knight must conquer to achieve holiness. However, he is deceived by Duessa. 

It is Duessa who commands Sansfoy to kill the Red Cross Knight.

 With faire disport and courting dalliance

She entertained her lover all the way:

But when she saw the knight his spear advance,

She soon left off her mirth and wanton play,

And bade her knight address him to the fray:

His foe was nigh at hand. He prickt with pride

And hope to win his Ladies heart that day,

Sansfoy is in love with Duessa and will do anything she commands him to do. He charges the Redcross Knight.

 Forth spurred fast: down his coursers side

The red blood trickling stained the way, as he did ride.

 The knight of the Redcrosse when him he spied,

Spurring so hot with rage dispiteous,

Gan fairly couch his spear, and towards ride:

 The following description of the battle symbolizes the battle between good and evil. The Red Cross Knight represents holiness. Sansfoy represents faithlessness. All the battles fought by The Redcross Knight symbolize two things: (1) Evil in a fallen world inspired by Satan. And (2) The battle within himself. The Red Cross Knight must overcome his own weaknesses. The following scenes in Canto II brilliantly show the wiles of Satan. Remember the Redcross Knight, tricked by false dreams, has abandoned Una who represents truth, leaving him very vulnerable. The Redcross Knight immediately recognizes Sansfoy as evil and, therefore, fights with all his might. He kills Sansfoy; however, following the battle, he is entirely deceived by Duessa.  He believes all of her cunning lies. She represents falsehood and has only one goal in mind—to destroy the Redcross Knight for killing her lover. If Una had been with him, she would have unmasked Duessa immediately.

 Soon meet they both, both fell and furious,

That daunted with their forces hideous,

Their steeds do stagger, and amazed stand,

And eke themselves, too rudely rigorous,

Astonied with the stroke of their own hand

 Do back rebut, and each to other yielded land.

 As when two rams stirred with ambitious pride,

Fight for the rule of the rich fleeced flock,

Their horned fronts so fierce on either side

Do meet, that with the terror of the shock

 Astonished both, stand senseless as a block,

Forgetful of the hanging victory: 

So stood these twain, unmoved as a rock,

Both staring fierce, and holding idly

The broken relics of their former cruelty.

 The Sarazin sore daunted with the buffe

Snatcheth his sword, and fiercely to him flies;

Who well it wards, and quyteth cuff with cuff:

Each others equal puissance envies, 

And through their iron sides with cruel spies

 Does seek to pierce: repining courage yields

No foot to foe. The flashing fire flies

As from a forge out of their burning shields,

And streams of purple blood new dies the verdant fields.

 The enraged Sarazin with a last violent charge goes in for the kill, but he is under a curse. Sansfoy had been forwarned not to fight the Redcross Knight, but because of his love for Duessa he overrules his reason and fights with fury. 

Season 4 Podcast 100 “The Stories of the New Testament, Matthew Ch 10 A”

We offer a weekly podcast, Monday thru Friday. Each Friday we discuss the New Testament, King James’ Version. We are now on Matthew Chapter 10.

The Twelve Apostles are sent on their first mission. They are instructed to only teach the Jews. Christ gives them his power “against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. 

The names of the twelve apostles are given.

The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphæus, and Lebbæus, whose surname was Thaddæus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

In Chapter Ten we are given to understand the administrative role of the twelve apostles. They are commissioned to gather the house of Israel. Matthew records:

These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Ironically the Jews, being the seed of Abraham did not know they were lost sheep, but they are given the first chance to hear the saving principles of the gospel of Christ. Historically, we know that by and large not only do they reject the apostles but they crucify the Savior and kill the first apostles. But notice the message Jesus charges them to give.

And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

What does that mean, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand? First remember the Sermon on the Mount and the promises attached to the beatitudes:

1.     Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

2.     Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

3.     Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

4.     Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

5.     Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

6.     Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Christ, in sending his disciples among the Jews, is teaching a new doctrine. First they are teaching that Christ is the prophesied Messiah. The Jews were looking in the wrong place. They expected a Messiah to deliver them from the Romans, not a lowly carpenter’s son born in a stable. Next they are teaching where Christ is, there is the Kingdom of heaven. To be in the Kingdom of heaven you must be with Christ. However, only through faith can they recognize him. 

While on earth, Christ is teaching about himself, that he is the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the savior, and redeemer of the world and only through him can mankind be saved. He wants the Jews to know that he is the true Messiah prophesied by the ancient prophets and the law of Moses. Everything begins with Christ. That was the message the Twelve Apostles were to bring to the Jews first. Why.  Well, it was the responsibility of the Jews to take the Gospel to the world. Christ was building a missionary force so that when he died, they would go to all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people and preach the gospel.