Mike Kines

God Is Three In One – Mark 1

Quickly we see the Lord Jesus in snapshots: his arrival after John's preparation, baptism, forty days of temptation, calling the disciples, driving out demons, and the message he preached: "Repent! The kingdom of God is at hand! Believe the Good News!" Mark quickly takes us into the action of the ministry of Jesus.

By the end of the first chapter the Lord Jesus was already popular and followed by crowds of people. Most looked for the Lord Jesus to heal them or drive out demonic powers. The demons knew who the Lord Jesus was. They called him "the Holy One of God", but the Lord Jesus commanded them to be quiet. The Lord Jesus did not want any hype from the world. What he was sent to do would be accomplished with no help from the world.

The Lord Jesus was God's servant. We don't learn anything about his virgin birth, genealogy, or his family. We are simply thrust into the action with the baptism of Jesus and the Holy Spirit who drove him out into the wilderness. The Lord Jesus went through forty days of temptation by the devil. It was significant that this testing period lasted forty days. We see this same pattern in scripture with men whom God prepared to serve him.

After the time of testing the Lord Jesus immediately began his ministry in Galilee. He called his disciples and preached in synagogues. Those who heard him were amazed at his authority and especially when he cast demons out of a man in the congregation. So the devil attended church and sat in a pew. These demons would not tolerate the presence of the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus drove the demons out. He healed many people of diseases, including Peter's mother-in-law and a leper.

We have an example of the Lord Jesus spending solitary time in prayer with God. The disciples searched for him and told him that everyone looked for him. Instead of enjoying the popularity the Lord Jesus informed them he was leaving for other villages. He went to preach the gospel through the region of Galilee.

In Mark's gospel the Lord Jesus is presented as God's servant. He preached the gospel, healed the sick, and cast out devils. All of this proved he was the Messiah of God which was promised in the Old Testament.

Mark 1:15, "And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."

This message is for us today. Let us turn to God in repentance and put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is God's Messiah. He will return again and set up his kingdom on this earth.

The gospel of Mark began with the ministry of John the Baptist. He fulfilled prophecy in Isaiah which pointed to a voice in the wilderness. This voice in the wilderness prepared the way for the Lord. John was a forerunner of the Lord Jesus and prepared men for the arrival of the Messiah. The thrust of John's message was that men should repent immediately because the kingdom was approaching.

We have a physical description of John the Baptist. This was similar to the physical description of Elijah. Both wore leather belts and lived outside the world system. John ate locusts and wild honey. Elijah was fed by ravens and by a widow in Zarephath. Both men were sustained by God. The Lord was their provider. He was their provision. Prophets in the Bible received provision directly from the Lord. They received direct revelation, instruction, and guidance from the Lord. This was the kind of relationship the Lord wanted with everyone in the house of faith. He is the bread of life, he is the living waters, he is the God who holds our hand. However, only a remnant step out in faith and trust the Lord with their lives. They completely stake their name, reputation, and life upon the name of the Lord.

John pointed us to the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus acknowledged the ministry of John the Baptist. We do not need any confirmation from anyone else except the Lord for our work and ministry. The Lord confirmed John's ministry and pointed out that John did fulfill the work of Elijah's ministry. John the Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elijah. It is interesting how often this was pointed out. However, John the Baptist never did miracles. He only preached repentance and pointed men to the Lord Jesus.

We should follow the example of John the Baptist. We need to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and point men to the Savior. We are ambassadors for Christ with the word of reconciliation. We plead with men to be reconciled to God through the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:20-21, "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

Mark 1:9-11, "And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Men who read this verse and deny that God is three in one are beyond my understanding. These verses describe God as three persons in one God. Here we see the Son of God Jesus Christ. Here we see the Holy Spirit who is God. And we also hear the voice of the Father from heaven who is also God. God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

This three in one God is reflected in creation, and is reflected specifically through Israel, Church, and the nations. We see this three in one nature in the roles of prophet, priest, and king. The three in one nature of God was seen in the one ark of the covenant which contained the three elements of the tables of the covenant, Aaron's rod that budded, and the golden pot of manna. (See also Hebrews 9:4).

The doctrine of trinity is not a negotiable side issue. If anyone rejects God as three in one they reject the true God. God is three in one. The longer I go on the more convinced I become that those who reject the trinity of God have never met him. If a man meets God he will know who he is. There is no mistake about that.

The Lord Jesus affirmed the truth of God "three in one" in a final instruction to his followers.

Matthew 28:18-20, "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com

Matthew Chapter 28

Love inspired the women to travel to the place where their Lord was buried.

I have often reflected on the fact that these women knew this tomb was sealed and guarded by Romans. They knew Joseph closed the tomb when Jesus was laid to rest. Knowing all this what did they think they were doing at the tomb? In other gospels we read that the women prepared spices to anoint his body but how did they intend to get inside the tomb to him? I don't think they considered any of this. In my opinion they were motivated by love in their heart and did not think logically about any of this.

The soldiers were terrified at the sight of angels. There was an earthquake and angels appeared in order to remove the seal and the rock blocking the entrance to the tomb. These angels were there to help the women who arrived at the tomb.

Not only do we have the word of angels but these women also saw that the Lord Jesus was no longer in the tomb. The angels told the women that the Lord Jesus was risen and went ahead of the disciples to Galilee and would meet them there.

As these women rushed back to tell the disciples the good news the Lord Jesus himself met them.

The Lord Jesus greeted them with joy. Notice that the women worshiped the Lord Jesus. He is God. The Lord Jesus is God.

The Roman soldiers who guarded the Lord's tomb went to the religious leaders and reported what happened. Even then, after hearing the report, they were only interested in suppressing the truth about the Lord Jesus.

This was a cover up. The soldiers obviously were confused to seek out the religious leaders instead of reporting to their supervisors. They knew their leaders would execute them for failure in their mission.

"Teach all nations, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." This was the command to make disciples not converts. It is a call to invest our lives in the lives of others in order to share all the Lord Jesus gave us.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com

Matthew Chapter 27

They tried the Lord Jesus at night and then waited until morning. The motive was unclear why they waited until morning but it was clear that the chief priests and elders had decided to put Jesus to death. There wasn't enough room in the world for them and the Lord Jesus.

Why did they need Pilate? The religious leaders did not have a legal right to put someone to death so they needed the Romans to kill Jesus.

When Judas saw the result of his betrayal he felt remorse. Evidently this was not a remorse in the sense that he repented because the next thing he did was hang himself. He also returned the blood money which the religious leaders then used to buy a cemetery.

Judas saw Jesus condemned. Whatever reason Judas had for his betrayal failed and Judas felt remorse. He did not repent in the same sense that Peter repented. Judas felt a remorse which led him to suicide. The religious leaders were no comfort to his tormented soul.

Pilate was amazed at the response the Lord Jesus made to his accusers, which was to remain silent. It took divine strength to remain silent when people accused him and threatened his life. How difficult it would be for me not to defend myself. It was very hard to do. It was hard to stay silent and allow people to walk over him. I have failed many times in keeping my mouth shut but the Lord Jesus succeeded. Pilate was amazed at him and how he continued steadfastly to submit throughout this fake trial.

What they thought was weakness was really the strength of the Lord Jesus. He answered nothing.

Pilate was struck by the behavior of Jesus. No doubt the innocence of Jesus stood out in stark contrast to the criminals he had judged previously.

Pilate did not want anything to do with the Lord Jesus or with his accusers but he was stuck. He tried to escape a decision by offering the accusers a choice between Barabbas, a murderer, and Jesus. The people chose Barabbas over Jesus.

This was a foreshadowing of how people will choose the Antichrist over the Lord Jesus.

The people demanded that Jesus be crucified and his blood be upon them.

Crucifixion was abhorrent to these people. It was amazing that they not only asked for Barabbas but also demanded the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus. The chief priests persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas but something else moved in that crowd when they cried "Let him be crucified".

Pilate washed his hands in water in an attempt to remove his guilt. This could not remove his sin. Pilate was guilty, too. They were all guilty.

In the same way that the Lord Jesus took the place of Barabbas he also takes our place.

The Lord Jesus suffered at the hands of the religious leaders and now suffered at the hands of the Romans.

Pilate handed the Lord Jesus over to the soldiers to be crucified. The soldiers mocked Jesus by putting a robe on him and a crown of thorns on his head. They put a rod in his hand and bowed to him and said, "Hail king of the Jews". They spit on him and hit him with the rod then they lead him out to crucify him.

One remarkable fact about the scene of the Lord's crucifixion was the statements people made about him when they mocked him. They clearly testified that it was common knowledge that the Lord Jesus said he was the Son of God. This was a question we need to ask ourselves today, just as others have pointed out: either he is the Son of God or he is not.

When Jesus hung on the cross the soldiers cast lots for his clothes which was a fulfillment of prophecy.

The accusation set over his head: "This Is Jesus The King Of The Jews".

They did not understand why the Lord Jesus came. He did not come to save himself but came instead to save us.

Darkness covered the land and there was an earthquake. The Roman centurion standing there believed and declared, "Truly this was the Son of God".

Joseph of Arimathea received permission from Pilate to remove the body of Jesus from the cross and bury him. Joseph buried Jesus in his own tomb.

It is significant this was a new tomb. There was no other body in the tomb. When the Lord Jesus resurrected there was no mistake who it was that came out of the grave.

The enemies of the Lord knew he said he would rise again the third day. It is interesting they were more alarmed about this than the disciples. As a result they petitioned to have Roman guards seal and guard the tomb until the third day.

This Roman seal and guard ensured it was impossible that the disciples of the Lord Jesus could steal his body. In this way the religious leaders and Romans help solidify the facts surrounding the resurrection of Jesus and provided further proof he was risen indeed.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com

Matthew Chapter 26

The Lord Jesus finished his teaching. This was the end of his teaching ministry and the beginning of his redemption ministry.

"Ye know" the Lord Jesus said to them. The Lord Jesus told them on several occasions what would happen to him. Their minds, however, were filled with their own assumptions and they could not hear what he plainly told them.

It is amazing that the Lord Jesus told his disciples he would be betrayed into the hands of those who wanted to kill him. He assured them he would die but he would rise again and meet them in Galilee. None of them understood what the Lord Jesus said so clearly.

How often do we think we understand what the Lord is doing? How often do we think we understand what is happening? I often say if the Lord Jesus appeared to me and gave me simple instructions I would still mess up. Apparently, I'm the same kind of man these disciples were. They did not understand what the Lord Jesus said. My prayer is that I might grow each day in grace and hear God's word and obey it as these men learned to do.

As soon as the Lord Jesus predicted what would happen we see that his enemies gathered together and plotted how to kill him.

The Lord Jesus predicted his death. A woman came to him at the house of Simon the leper and broke an expensive jar of perfume and anointed him. The disciples were upset with the woman and thought this act of worship was a waste. In other gospels the disciple who protested was Judas who betrayed the Lord Jesus. Judas kept the money bag and was a thief the scriptures tell us. He probably wanted the money for himself, even though he spoke about the "poor". Also, it is interesting that the Lord Jesus said what this woman did would always be remembered and included wherever the gospel was preached. Of course, this is true, because we see this included in the gospels and it is often preached on as well.

I wonder if she knew why she poured this perfume on the Lord Jesus? In my opinion she was motivated by love for the Lord Jesus but the Lord stated that what she did was in preparation for his burial.

Immediately after the disciples were rebuked we see the next move Judas made was to betray the Lord Jesus. Perhaps all this talk of dying and burial was the final straw in his mind. Perhaps he thought the Lord had lost his mind. Whatever the motivations it is apparent he cast away any faith he had in the Lord Jesus. He cast in his lot with the enemies of God though he later regretted this.

Judas went to the chief priests and sold himself as a betrayer. He sold himself and the Lord Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. From that time Judas looked for an opportunity to betray the Lord Jesus. He did not have to wait long.

When I read these scriptures about Judas betraying the Lord Jesus for thirty pieces of silver I want to search my own heart and ask the question: what would I betray the Lord Jesus for? Would it be money? Would it be love of comfort or pleasure more than God? Would it be because I cannot endure being in a furnace of suffering and so cast away my faith that the Lord is still with me? What would it take for me to throw away my faith in the Lord Jesus and turn my back on him?

I think it is important to ask these questions and not be confident in myself or assume I would never betray the Lord. I am the same as these men. I am no different than Peter or any of the men who ran away.

The Lord Jesus had friends who were not mentioned by name. They reserved an upper room for him. The disciples were instructed where to go and speak to a man. They prepared everything for the Passover. The disciples were participants in preparations but everything was done ahead of time.

A topic at this meal was the Lord's betrayer. It was as if the Lord needed to get this off his heart first. Notice the reaction of the disciples. Each one examined his own heart instead of pointing fingers at others in the room. Each one wondered, "Is it I?"

This is a good question to ask myself on a regular basis. A good prayer is to ask the Lord to put his finger on anything in my heart, character, life, or attitude which might cause me to betray or deny him. I want to be wholehearted in my appraisal of myself. I know I am weak as water. Only by God's grace can I stand with the Lord through the trials in life.

A transformation happened from the Passover to the new way of observing the Lord's supper. This transformation took place because the Lord Jesus was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Every lamb Israel sacrificed looked forward to when the Lord Jesus died on the cross for the sins of all mankind. The Lord Jesus was the Lamb of God. John the Baptist proclaimed, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"

The Lord Jesus said that the wine is a symbol of his blood of the new testament and the bread symbolized his body given for us. The Lord Jesus invites us to eat and to drink of this bread of life and this living water which is Himself. He doesn't give us abstract principles or ideas to live by. Instead, the Lord Jesus gives Himself. He is the bread. He is the wine. He is everything we need for life, godliness, and for eternal life. The Lord Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through him. (John 14:6) There is no other name given under heaven whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)

The Lord Jesus told them they would be offended and he would be left alone. He said he would die but rise again. He told them he would see them again in Galilee. He told them he would rise again and meet them in Galilee.

Peter expressed his opinion that he was better than the others. He said he would never leave the Lord and would die with him.

We should humble our heart and rely on God's grace to deliver us from temptation. We can do nothing in our own strength.

The Lord Jesus replied to Peter and told him exactly what he would do. He told Peter how many times he would deny the Lord Jesus and that he would do this before the rooster crowed in the morning.

This must have shocked Peter but though the Lord Jesus told him this it still did not prevent Peter from doing exactly what the Lord Jesus predicted.

This account should make us tremble and examine our own lives. Are we so strong? Are we so confident? Peter demonstrated the difference between self-confidence and the reality of failure in temptation. He was a good example and with the help of the Lord we should search our heart. Let us humble ourselves and admit that if not for the grace of God we would do the same thing Peter did. We are no different. We are no better than Peter or any of these disciples who stumbled that night.

At the Garden of Gethsemane the Lord Jesus sought his Father before he was betrayed into the hands of sinners. The Lord Jesus set aside Peter, James, and John to accompany him. Yet even these three chosen disciples went to sleep. They were unable to keep their eyes open even this close to the end. They slept even as the enemy approached.

I think there are parallels in this account and what happens with the church in the last days before the return of the Lord Jesus. There is again this deep, supernatural sleep upon the church. Everyone seems oblivious and blind to an enemy who approaches to kill, steal, and destroy.

When I read this verse "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt" I am reminded that there is no other way for men to be saved. If there was any other way for men to be saved surely God would have allowed it rather than see his only begotten Son crucified. This passage reminds me of how heinous it is when people say there is some other way to God than through the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus encouraged his disciples to watch and pray so they would not enter temptation. He said the spirit was willing but the flesh was weak. Even here in his darkest hour the Lord Jesus was concerned about his disciples. He thought about their welfare and tried to help them while his own life was in peril.

Always remember that it was not unbelievers who betrayed Christ.

It was a man who spent three years in ministry with the Lord Jesus who betrayed him. It was a man who took part in feeding the multitudes with miraculous bread. It was a man who saw the Lord Jesus walk on water. It was a man who witnessed the blind seeing, the deaf hearing, and the lame walking. It was this man, Judas, who betrayed the Lord Jesus with a kiss.

Notice the Lord Jesus went willingly. He did not resist this arrest but committed himself into the hands of his Father. This was to fulfill prophecy as Matthew pointed out.

What was the crime the Sanhedrin charged the Lord Jesus with? It was the crime of being who he was. He was Christ and He is forever the Christ, the Messiah. He told them he would be seated at the right hand of glory and return in clouds of heaven. After his statement they accused him of blasphemy and condemned him. It is interesting that their conviction of the Lord Jesus as the Christ is a testimony against themselves. In my opinion, I think this was what the Lord Jesus meant when he said to them "Thou hast said". Out of their own mouths they confessed him as Messiah and then rejected him.

They thought they judged the Lord Jesus but it was the Lord Jesus who judged them. He is the final judge of the universe and every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess the Lord Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2)

Just as the Lord Jesus predicted Peter denied the Lord three times before the rooster crowed. In the end Peter remembered the word of the Lord and cried bitterly for his sin.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com

Matthew Chapter 24

They left the temple and the disciples pointed to the massive buildings. Perhaps they sensed the finality of what had just happened and were trying to distract the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus used the occasion to describe the end of those buildings and the end of history. What the Lord Jesus said about the buildings unfolded in a few short years when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem.

Sometimes in prophetic scripture one verse leaps hundreds or thousands of years in time between verses. This can happen right in the middle of a verse where there is a comma.

This is the case in these scriptures describing what happened in AD 70 by the Romans and then goes all the way to the end of the church age.

One characteristic of the last days is rampant deception. There is no doubt in my mind that I live in a time of intense delusion and deception. Every time I read a newspaper I do so with the knowledge that everything I am reading is some form of propaganda and lie.

The Lord Jesus described signs of wars, rumors of wars, and earthquakes in various places as the beginning of sorrows. He predicted widespread persecution of Christians. 1 Peter 4:12, "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you".

Also, the Lord prophesied many believers would be offended and their love for him would grow cold.

During these last days there is a groundswell of false prophets deceiving people. I see this right now with the rise of the prosperity gospel and false faith teaching in America. Also, there are many people attacking the doctrine of the rapture. All these are signs of false prophets and corrupt bible teaching.

In the middle of the seven year tribulation the abomination of desolation takes place. At this point the great tribulation begins, and events move rapidly in the last 3 1/2 years of the tribulation toward the second coming of the Lord Jesus.

A careful reading of Matthew chapter 24 shows there are two distinct appearances of the Lord Jesus. One is the rapture before the tribulation. The rapture appearance of the Lord Jesus is the one described when one person disappears and one is left. It is a secret appearance of the Lord Jesus when the church is taken out of the world. The other one is at the end of the tribulation when the Lord Jesus is seen by everyone. At the second return every eye on planet earth will see him returning in clouds of glory.

This second coming describes the return of the Lord Jesus at the end of the seven year tribulation period. This return is seen by everyone and is unmistakable.

The Lord Jesus draws a parallel between new growth on a fig tree and world events which indicate the fulfillment of prophecy. When these things are near it is like new leaves on a fig tree which indicates that summer is near. In a similar manner worldwide events which are described in this chapter indicate that the end of the age is near and the beginning of God's kingdom is at hand.

When the Lord Jesus describes no one knowing the day or the hour he is pointing us to his secret return to earth in which the church is snatched out of the world. This is commonly known as the rapture of the church. The original word in Greek is "harpazo", which means "snatching away". Every Christian with this hope purifies his life so he is ready for the imminent return of the Lord Jesus. We are exhorted to always be ready for the return of the Lord Jesus.

An evil servant is like unbelievers who complain that God is not bringing history to an end. This man says in his heart, "My lord delays his coming". He does not prepare himself for the return of the Lord. Instead, he lives whatever way he desires. This man is lazy and careless with his life and does not fear the Lord. The Lord Jesus says this man is separated from the true brethren ("cut asunder") and assigned a place with the hypocrites where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

This should strike the fear of God into the heart of every Christian.

Luke 21:36, "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."

Matthew Chapter 25

Here are two parables which describe our responsibility in light of the return of Jesus. We have a straightforward description of what the Lord will do when he returns. He judges the nations.

It is important to understand that everyone in this group are virgins but this group is then subdivided into two groups called "foolish" and "wise". It is important to keep in mind that this is not comparing two unlike groups but two groups within one larger category. Hopefully I can explain why I think this is important.

It is easy to think that the foolish virgins are false believers or unbelievers. I don't think that is accurate because the entire group is one category. We do not have a comparison here of people in completely opposite categories but people who are alike in everything except one crucial detail.

I don't believe foolish virgins are unbelievers or non-Christians. I believe all of these virgins represent the entire house of faith of professing believers. They all know about the return of Jesus.

In this parable the virgins are separated from one another by one simple fact. Those who are foolish do not bring enough oil with them to endure to the end when the bridegroom arrived.

I sincerely believe there must be a choice made by Christians every single day to wake up and put faith in Jesus Christ. I believe we need to confess Jesus Christ is our Lord every day and proclaim that we are united together with him in death, burial, and resurrection. I believe we must be filled with the Holy Spirit every day. I try to remember every day to ask God to fill me with the Holy Spirit and thank him for putting me in Christ Jesus and uniting me with him in death, burial, and resurrection.

I wonder how many Christians understand the importance of abiding in Christ this way every day. It is easy to move away from Jesus and believe in man-made religions, philosophies, and worldly faith systems. These take us away from simple faith in Jesus.

I think the foolish virgins represent Christians who rely on something other than the Holy Spirit. They do not make it to the end. They do not endure to the end.

I believe the only Christian who is eternally secure is the Christian who today believes in the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. TODAY is the day of salvation! Don't forget this. Anyone who gets off this is in peril.

This is the saving gospel and power of God for salvation. If we get off this gospel we are not secure. Our only security is the Lord Jesus and not confessing a doctrine of eternal security. Our security is in a MAN, not a doctrine or system of faith. Some Christians should repent of putting faith in doctrine rather than in the living God revealed in the Lord Jesus.

The foolish and wise virgins belong to one house of faith. This was not comparing other religions and Christianity. This was Jesus contrasting two groups in the one house of faith.

It is frightening to consider these facts which is probably why I never have heard a sermon on this parable pinpointing this distinction. I never knew this distinction existed until the Lord showed me.

The Lord showed me there is a true remnant in the house of faith. This true remnant of believers are those filled with the Holy Spirit every day and overcome. They do not merely talk about the Bible and doctrines. They don't just talk about God. Instead, they are united with him every day. They truly die to self and lay down their will in obedience to God's word every day. These believers are prepared to humble their heart in order to experience the presence of the living God. They don't want anything fake or phony from religious people and churches. They want to hear the voice of the Lord and are willing to pay the price to know the Lord Jesus in spirit and in truth.

The Lord Jesus told us to count the cost. To follow him costs our life. We must lose our life for the Lord Jesus in order to find eternal life. That is the straight and narrow road men have such a hard time walking. Why is it hard? Mostly because of pride and unbelief.

Note the end result of the foolish virgins. How surprised they must be when they are shut out of the wedding feast. All along they thought they would be in this wedding and at the last minute they are shut out. Why? Because they were not ready. They were not ready because they were not filled with the Holy Spirit. It is as simple as that.

People may say "I know the Lord" but the real question is this: does the Lord know you?

I want Jesus to know me. I want him to call my name. I heard him call my name before and I desire with all my heart to hear him call my name again.

To hear his voice is the most wonderful experience a man can have this side of heaven.

Here we see a great danger was not just sins of commission but sins of omission. The Lord Jesus used a parable to describe judgment day for servants of a master. This was a reflection of how things will be one day. There will be judgment and separation.

I don't pretend to understand how this takes place but I believe Christians should cultivate right now a genuine fear of God and look forward to the day of the Lord's return.

Most grab a comforting doctrine to soothe their conscience so they are not concerned about future judgment. However, as with the parable of the ten virgins we need to take into consideration this parable describes one group of people: servants of a master who receive talents to employ. Two of these men did well with the talents given to them; one did not.

There was a discerning between groups based upon what they do or do not do in life within these parables.

Is salvation therefore based on works?

Let me say without any doubt our salvation rests solely upon God's grace and not upon our works.

Let me be quick to add someone who truly believes in the Lord Jesus shows it through his life. This is what the parable tells me. Someone who truly believes is about his Father's business just like the Lord Jesus.

Notice the warnings were directed toward the house of faith and professing believers. The next section, however, turned towards dividing unbelieving nations from those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus gave a clear description of judgment day which befell the nations of the world. I believe this judgment took place at the end of the seven year tribulation and right at the beginning of the thousand year reign of Christ over the earth.

The basis of this judgment was related to how nations treat Christ's brethren. Who are these brethren? It is my opinion these brethren refer to Israel. Therefore this judgment is about how nations treat Israel.

I would not want to be in the shoes of a president who turns this nation against Israel. He is inviting wrath from God upon himself and this nation.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com

Matthew Chapter 23

After I read these denunciations against the religious leaders by the Lord Jesus I was inspired to examine my own heart. Do I have these characteristics in my life? Do I want to be seen by men? Do I desire prestige and position? Do I work in order to have a title and be considered "over" my fellow man? What is my goal in life? Do I desire to serve the Lord and my neighbor or do I want to be in control of my life and the lives of others around me?

The Lord Jesus had a list of denunciations and woes for these religious leaders.

He spoke to the people first and said these men sat in the seat of Moses but they did not help the people.

Instead, they actually put burdens on men. The Lord Jesus said they did not lift a finger to help the people upon whom they put these religious burdens.

This was in stark contrast to the Lord Jesus who invited everyone to come to him. The religious leaders put burdens upon people but the Lord Jesus told people that he would lift their burdens.

Matthew 11:28-29, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy leaden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."

The religious leaders put the burden of their wrong interpretation of the law on men, but the Lord Jesus instead invited people to himself. Notice the difference. Religious people have teachings, ideas, and principles; in contrast men filled with the Holy Spirit point to the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus revealed the motive behind why these religious men performed their "good works". They performed good works so they would be seen by men. Since their hearts were set on position then their actions needed to be seen by those who could bestow prestige and praise upon them.

These men loved upper rooms and high seats. This is the pride of life, the lust for prestige, power, and position.

Most religious leaders are susceptible to the pride of life. They liked to be called "rabbi". This indicated their desire for titles which elevated them over their fellow man. We should not grasp after titles but instead insist people call us "brother" and not "reverend" or "doctor".

The Lord Jesus explicitly told us not to call men "father" which Catholics do all the time. This should be a clue of how far away from the truth the catholic church is.

The Lord Jesus taught us that whoever exalted himself would be abased and whoever humbled himself would be exalted.

I think humility is a lesson that is lacking in the modern church. Our society is built upon the pride of life and it infects everything from top to bottom.

The church has not escaped the influence of prestige, position, and power. It is seen in the way church buildings erect a platform for pastors to stand on over the rest of the congregation. It is seen in the way religious leaders receive titles, diplomas, or certificates which deceive them and others into thinking that they have more prestige and position than their brothers in Christ.

The Lord Jesus turned his attention now directly to the religious leaders and pronounced woe upon them.

These men prayed long prayers while they cheated widows and orphans. Since we can clearly see how much God emphasizes the widow and orphan throughout scripture it is terrifying to think how far gone these religious leaders were.

These men had serious problems. They focused on things which did not matter while neglecting issues of life which were very important. How often am I also guilty of missing the forest for the trees?

Notice here that toward the end of these woes the Lord Jesus referred to these men as a brood of vipers. This use of the word vipers puts them in the same category as the devil. John the Baptist also denounced these religious leaders as a brood of serpents.

Jerusalem symbolized the leaders of Israel and their rejection of Messiah Jesus. The Lord Jesus said their house was left desolate, and this took place in the years after the Lord Jesus ascended to heaven. In a few years the nation of Israel was scattered, this time by the Romans, and the city of Jerusalem burned down.

However, the Lord Jesus will come back. He said they would see him again one day and they would say "Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." I believe this points to the time when the Lord Jesus returns for Israel to rescue her at the end of the seven year tribulation period. At that time the Lord Jesus will set foot once again on the mount of Olives.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com

Matthew Chapter 22

Per the requirement of the religious law a sacrificial lamb needed to be inspected to confirm it had no spot or blemish before being offered. In the same manner, the Lord Jesus was inspected and they found no fault in him. They tried hard to find fault but were unable to do so.

The Lord Jesus told them the parable of the wedding. The master who sent out the invitation for his son's wedding is Father God. He gave an invitation to the nation of Israel by sending his Son to them. Through the gospel accounts we see how the religious leaders rejected the Lord Jesus even though the common people heard him gladly. As a whole Israel rejected their Messiah.

In the parable, the invited guests refused to come to the wedding supper, but instead killed the messengers. This parallels how Israel killed the prophets who were sent to her with God's message. Many times we read how God's prophets were rejected, persecuted, and killed, even up until John the Baptist who was the last of the old testament prophets.

As a result, the master of the wedding supper, the father of the Son, brought his wrath upon them. Also, this began a general invitation to bring in whoever heard the invitation. This reflects the gospel message going to all the world. The Lord Jesus told his disciples to preach the gospel in all the world and to every person after he ascended to heaven. This is what we see happening throughout the book of Acts and beyond.

However, just because a person heard the gospel and went to church does not make him a Christian. There was a man who came to the wedding but did not wear wedding clothes. This is someone who heard the word but did not receive the word into their life to the extent that it changed who they were. They knew about God, the Bible, and probably attended church, but none of this got into their heart or changed who they were. They had selfish interests in mingling among God's people. This man eventually was exposed by the Lord and put out of the fellowship of the true bride of Christ.

The enemies of the Lord Jesus asked him questions in an attempt to trap him. Their trap was to get him to side with Jews or the Romans but the Lord Jesus easily navigated their questions. He told them to give to Caesar what is Caesar's (the coin with Caesar's image on it), but unto God what was God's (man bears the image of God). In his response, no one could trap him and no one could say anything bad about the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus clearly showed believers that they were citizens of another place and our kingdom was not of this current world system. While we are here we submit to the governing authorities in place. This was also the same message the apostle Paul and the other apostles wrote in their letters. A good example is Romans chapter 13.

The Sadducees tried to trap the Lord Jesus with a question about marriage and resurrection. The irony here was that these men claimed not to believe in the resurrection or in angels. But the Lord Jesus, in his reply, proved the resurrection in a simple way by using scripture. Scripture calls Jehovah the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The scripture said this in the present tense which means that he is even now the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and therefore these men must be alive. God is not the God of the dead but of the living, therefore these men, even though they died, must be alive in the presence of God. This showed the importance of knowing even the verb tense of scriptures because sometimes a point can be made just by what tense a verb is used in scripture.

The Lord Jesus was asked what was the greatest commandment and he easily replied, "Love God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength. The second commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself."

Scripture assumes you already love yourself. Men are lovers of their own selves and that is why we must be told to love our neighbor as we already love ourselves.

Now the Lord Jesus asked them a question. Why does David, speaking by the Holy Spirit, call his son "Lord"? The implication was not only was the Messiah the Son of David, but that he was also the Son of God. They could not or would not answer this question from the Lord Jesus and left him alone.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com

Matthew Chapter 21

The last part of the journey approached as the Lord Jesus traveled to Jerusalem. The Lord Jesus moved with determination toward his destiny at the cross. He knew his every action fulfilled the prophecy of the Messiah. He moved toward Jerusalem with the end and a new beginning in sight.

The Lord Jesus no longer told people to be quiet about the fact he was the Messiah. Now everything was done in public. The Lord Jesus allowed the crowd to hail him as Messiah.

The Lord Jesus gave specific instructions to two disciples to obtain transportation for him to enter Jerusalem. The way he chose to enter Jerusalem was fulfillment of prophecy about how the Messiah would enter Jerusalem on a lowly donkey. Matthew made sure we understood this was the fulfillment of prophecy and gave us the exact scripture references.

When people cried out "Hosanna" they were proclaiming the Lord Jesus was the Messiah. Perhaps some did this because everyone else did it. Even the children sang his praise on that day.

The next step on entering Jerusalem was that the Lord Jesus cleansed his Father's house of the wickedness of the money changers. This was a public demonstration of his authority as Messiah. He called the temple his own house.

When he finished cleansing the temple then those who needed healing came to him for help.

The cursing of the fig tree was one of two destructive miracles the Lord Jesus did. The other was when he allowed demons to go into a herd of pigs who threw themselves into the ocean.

Some try to draw a parallel between the fig tree and the nation of Israel but scripture says whoever curses Israel will be cursed. I do not believe the fig tree represents Israel because then the Lord Jesus would be cursing Israel. I do not believe this incident represented the nation of Israel rejecting the Lord Jesus.

The disciples were amazed at the miracle of the fig tree but the Lord Jesus taught them if they had faith and did not doubt they could speak to a mountain and it would jump into the sea. Here was the actual lesson of the fig tree. The Lord Jesus taught about faith and that nothing was impossible for him who prayed and believed.

The religious leaders challenged the Lord Jesus but he corrected them. He pointed to his predecessor John the Baptist. He told them the harlots and publicans heard John the Baptist and repented but the religious leaders did not repent. Those who heard John heard what the Lord Jesus said.

In the parable of the obedient and disobedient sons the Lord Jesus made the point that though Gentiles and sinners may not at first obey God when they hear the gospel they eventually repent and turn to God. Many who were great sinners enter the kingdom of God but those who trust in self righteousness remain outside the kingdom.

This points us to what Paul taught in his letters. Paul contrasted the difference between the righteousness of Christ and our self righteousness.

We cannot trust good works or following religious laws to earn righteousness. When we trust in the Lord Jesus we receive the righteousness of Christ.

Salvation is a free gift from God. It is obtained by believing and receiving the Lord Jesus and the work he accomplished in his death, burial, and resurrection.

The Lord Jesus warned the religious leaders about what they did. They plotted to kill the Son of God.

The Lord Jesus knew it and told them what they would do through a parable. He said those who fall upon him are broken but those upon whom he fell were crushed to powder. The lesson is that it would better to come to the Lord Jesus when he offered mercy. If we refuse to come to the Lord Jesus now he promised he would return later and then it will be too late. When the Lord Jesus comes again he brings the wrath of God upon earth.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com

Matthew Chapter 20

The Lord Jesus told a parable which showed what the kingdom from heaven was like. It seemed the fairness in the kingdom from heaven appeared as unfairness depending on the attitude of the one observing the king and the kingdom.

It was not unfair for a man to be generous with his money. However, those who measure according to the principle of self viewed this man's generosity as unfair. Those who saw unfairness interpreted what they saw according to the principle of self. Those who saw generosity judge according to the principle of grace.

There are two ways to live: according to grace or according to the law. Remember: the same measure we use on others is measured to us as well.

This is why I want to live by grace. I do not want to judge according to self interest. I want to discern life by grace. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

The Lord Jesus saw what was before him. He spoke of his death and resurrection often but no one understood what he said. I'm convinced the same is true today. World events and bible prophecy literally scream that the return of King Jesus is at hand but who is listening? Who is paying attention?

The prediction the Lord Jesus made of his death and resurrection were set in contrast to the request of James, John, and their mother.

They did not understand greatness according to the kingdom from heaven. They were programmed to see greatness according to the world system. They thought greatness was reigning over others like Roman kings or religious leaders who created rules to oppress people.

The Lord Jesus made it clear that the kingdom from heaven was the opposite of the kingdom of this world. The kingdoms of this world, as they currently exist, have no part in the kingdom from heaven. In the third day when the Lord Jesus reigns as King over this earth we will see true spiritual authority in government.

Until then we suffer under the oppression of government, business, and society as it is now. This current world system oppresses the spirit in man and exalts the material and physical. This current world system makes men into idolaters who are covetous, full of lust, pride, and murder.

The kingdom from heaven is not like this. In the kingdom from heaven the man who serves and lays down his life is the one who is great.

The Lord Jesus knew this was the future of James and John despite their misunderstanding of what greatness truly was. These men indeed faced tribulation in the world but the Lord Jesus promised the apostles they would one day sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

The blind men cried to the Lord Jesus and called him "Son of David". The Lord Jesus responded to their cry and he healed them of blindness.

Matthew 20:25-28, "But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

The Lord Jesus taught on greatness as a result of this mother's request. She approached the Lord Jesus and requested that her sons be at his right and left hands in his kingdom. This occasion provided the Lord Jesus the opportunity to teach what greatness truly meant from the perspective of God and eternity.

My thought here is that the Lord Jesus never rebuked her or her sons for desiring greatness but instead redirected their idea of what greatness was. We should aspire to be great in the kingdom of heaven but we need to understand greatness in God's kingdom is the opposite of greatness in the world system that we currently live in.

The world system creates the illusion of greatness by individuals who lord themselves over others through oppression, manipulation, and deception. This is not difficult for men to do because men who do not believe in God are slaves to self-worship. Every man who is a slave to self-worship desires above anything to exalt himself over others. He is controlled by the lust for prestige, position, pride, and is driven by the desire to compete, win, and overcome other people. The business world and sports world are examples of this.

Government, business, and society are controlled by the serpent poison of self-worship. They make a name for themselves. They create power and authority through making a name and bringing numbers under their name to effect influence and persuasion. This is witchcraft which at its core is control of others in order to exalt self.

Most people who pursue their daily routine in government, business, and society have no idea how united together with Satan they are in principle, goal, and purpose.

Most Christians are blind to this also from what I have seen in my experience. They do not see or understand how the plain word of God applies to their everyday life situations, their relationships with others, and the end-goal of their life pursuit.

If the end goal is self they are not living for the kingdom of heaven. If a man is living solely and completely for self he cannot be a Christian. Unless you deny self you cannot follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore greatness in the kingdom of heaven is servanthood. A man who is great in the kingdom from heaven is a man who puts others before himself. A servant is someone who acts on behalf of others. A Christian's goal is benefiting others. By benefiting others through self-sacrifice and self-denial we indeed serve and follow the Lord Jesus.

We deceive ourselves when our goal in life is money or self-gratification and then we think we are a Christian. We are not Christian if we think and live like this. We follow the natural course of unbelievers united in essence, principle, and spirit with the serpent Satan. John 8:44, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do."

It is not hard to discern the children of the devil from the children of God. If you are a child of God it is obvious when you encounter people who follow the devil. The children of the devil worship self. The children of God deny self and worship the Lord Jesus by dying to self and living for others.

Self-help, self-improvement, and any psychology, philosophy, or religion devoted to self in any aspect is influenced by demons. These doctrines of demons the bible warns us about are rampant in the last days.

Do you want to be great? Then deny self and be a servant. Become a slave of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com

Matthew Chapter 19

The Pharisees questioned Jesus, not because they sought truth, but because they tried to get him to contradict the law of Moses. They wanted ammunition to use against him. Their questions were designed to trap the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus condescended to answer their questions and in the process taught us a great deal about God's original plan for marriage.

The Lord Jesus returned to Genesis to answer questions from the Pharisees. They asked him about divorce, but he taught them God's plan for marriage. He used the example of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden as the ideal marriage which God planned. The Lord made them male and female and those two became one flesh. This is the plan of God for marriage. Anything else is against God and is against nature as God intended. The further away from this people get the more they invite God's wrath and judgment upon themselves.

Once again the Lord Jesus showed he was concerned about children despite the impatience of his disciples. The Lord Jesus blessed the children. This is an example churches follow with the pastor blessing newborn babies in dedication ceremonies.

The account of the rich man and the Lord Jesus was also told in Mark and Luke. Since this was related in three of the four gospels I count it important in understanding who God is. This shows us how the Lord Jesus responded to people who came to him for eternal life and how to truly become a follower of Jesus Christ.

The underlying root problem of the rich man was his money. He obeyed the 10 commandments which deal with the relationship with our fellow man but his problem was money. Money was his idol and his god. This man trusted in his wealth and his money more than he did God.

Money is not every man's problem but it was this man's problem. Some problems a man may have could be drug addiction, or alcohol, or various lusts. This man's specific problem was money. This is a common problem as the Lord Jesus pointed out how difficult it was for people with a lot of money to enter the kingdom of heaven.

The problem with money is the effect on a man. A man who goes through the process of obtaining it in the world system is conformed to idolatry. The love of the money is the root but the problems it produces are pride, covetousness, and idolatry. In order to amass wealth in the world system it is inevitable a man will leave broken lives in his wake. Paul said this problem drowns men in temptation.

I think it is ironic that American Christians desire to acquire as much money as they can. Where can you find Christians who are willing to give up everything in order to follow Jesus?

It may seem impossible that anyone would give up everything they have to follow Jesus but with God all things are possible.

The Lord Jesus promised his disciples that every man who gave up everything to follow him would be rewarded. There is primarily a spiritual reason to give up everything to follow Jesus: eternal life, which is more important than anything a man can obtain in this life.

The Lord Jesus said if we seek first God's kingdom and his righteousness these other material, physical needs are met as a matter of course. We need to keep our focus on following the Lord Jesus and not turn aside to materialism. The enemy is very subtle. He can cause us to covet the stupidest things in order to get us turned aside from following Jesus with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Here is an interesting promise the Lord Jesus gave the twelve apostles who left everything to follow him. Matthew 19:28, "And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." This has not yet happened, even now. I think we would know if this had taken place by now. There is still yet a time in the future when there will be twelve tribes in the nation of Israel and each tribe has an apostle sitting on a throne over each tribe.

This is interesting because it reveals God still yet has plans for the nation of Israel. There is an intermingling of the church and Israel but the nation of Israel is still very distinct and separate from the church.

God is three in one so also the people of God are three in one. The people of God are Israel, Church, and the Kingdom. There are three seasons or periods of time on the earth. The first is Israel, the second is the Church, and the third one is the Kingdom. This is seen by three items within the ark of the covenant: the law, the rod that budded, and the pot of manna. These three are one. (Hebrews 9:4)

The twelve thrones for the twelve apostles. That is quite a thought and I think a nice correction for those who think the church replaced Israel. True Christians today have the same faith Abraham had. There is always one true spiritual people of God whose faith rests upon the promise of God which is the Lord Jesus. He is the Seed! He is the Promise. Those whose faith rests upon Jesus Christ alone are the true people of God no matter what season of time they lived in.

Speaking of God's future plan: do people stop and realize that the New Jerusalem coming down from heaven in the book of Revelation has the names of the twelve tribes of Israel upon it?

Revelation 21:12, "And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:"

Does this indicate God has future plans for Israel? I think it does. The church did not replace Israel. We are all one and are those who have the faith of Abraham. In each one of God's three days the outward shell of God's people looks different (Israel, Church, and the Kingdom) but underneath we are the same and are united by faith in the Lord Jesus.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com