What is spiritual rest? Hebrews 3 (quoting Psalm 95) discusses a rest for the people of God in the spiritual promised land. Are you looking for a sermon on spiritual rest? Try reading or listening to this chapter from Work and Rest God’s Way for a better understanding!

Table of contentsThe Promised Land and Spiritual RestRebellion with the Twelve SpiesUrgently Enter the RestUnbelief Is a Heart IssueMoving from the Physical Rest to the Spiritual RestAn Important WarningThe Need for FaithThe Gospel in the Old TestamentGod Preached the Gospel to AbrahamGod Preached the Gospel to Adam and EveCombining the Gospel with FaithA Continual RestA Spiritual Rest That Is Still AvailableGod’s Spiritual Rest Is Not about a Physical LocationFootnotes

John Eliot was a Puritan missionary to the American Indians, pastor of the First Church in Roxbury, and founder of the Roxbury Latin School in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He fulfilled his pastoral duties, including preaching biweekly into his eighties, while ministering to the Indians. He took up court cases for their property rights, pleaded for clemency for them, fought against them being sold into slavery, sought to secure lands and streams for their use, and established schools for them. He labored to consolidate Indians so they could enjoy a Christian society, and at one point, there were fourteen towns of “Praying Indians.” Eliot learned their tongue so he could translate sermon transcripts, the Bible, and twenty other books into their language.166

Eliot was busier than most of us can imagine. He seemed as though he lived the lives of many men. Why do many of God’s most faithful servants work the hardest, and yet are rested and at peace? The answer is there’s a rest that’s not physical. The most important rest is spiritual, and they experience it. Conversely, why do some of the laziest people, who do the least, seem overwhelmed and filled with anxiety? They experience physical rest, but they lack spiritual rest.

The Promised Land and Spiritual Rest

The clearest passage explaining spiritual rest is Hebrews 3:7–4:11. Rest is the theme of the verses as the word occurs twelve times. The author of Hebrews also references the Old Testament extensively in these verses. Unfortunately, sometimes people read the Old Testament and think, “What does this have to do with me? How can I learn from people who lived so long ago and whose lives are so different from mine?” These are unfortunate questions because the New Testament states the Old Testament provides us with examples and instruction:

“For whatever things were written [in the Old Testament] were written for our learning” (Romans 15:4).

“Now all these things happened to [the Israelites] as examples, and they were written for our admonition” (1 Corinthians 10:11).

Often, the Old Testament provides a backdrop for New Testament instruction. One such example takes place as the author of Hebrews reveals that the Promised Land is a type and shadow of the spiritual rest God offers His people.

Rebellion with the Twelve Spies

We must be familiar with Israel’s rebellion on the border of the Promised Land. In Numbers 13 and 14, the twelve spies returned after spending forty days examining the land. They shared their report with the nation, that while the land was as wonderful as God said, it was also filled with enemies. Ten of the spies said Israel couldn’t defeat the enemies, but Joshua and Caleb said God would give them victory.

Tragically, the people believed the ten spies, so they didn’t believe God; therefore, God said the nation couldn’t enter. They would’ve received the land the next day, which means what was about to be a wonderful blessing for them, ended up being a moment of historic discipline. Israel was forced to wander in the wilderness for forty years—one year for each day the spies were in the land (Numbers 14:34). The generation of unbelief would die, but their children, whom they accused God of trying to murder, would enter the land (Numbers 14:3 cf. Numbers 14:31).

The author of Hebrews has this rebellion in view as he presents the Promised Land as a picture of spiritual rest. We will consider this passage piece by piece throughout this chapter.

Urgently Enter the Rest

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice” (Hebrews 3:7).

Psalm 95 records the rebellion as God saw it, and the author of Hebrews quotes Psalm 95:7–11 in Hebrews 3:7–11. Although Psalm 95 was written by David as a wonderful affirmation of the inspiration of Scripture, it is attributed to the Holy Spirit. David was the human author, but the Holy Spirit is the true and greater Author of all of God’s Word.

To convey urgency, this is the first of four times the author uses the word “Today” (also in Hebrews 3:13, 15, and 4:7). Don’t put off entering God’s rest! Live as though you might not have the same opportunity tomorrow. The Israelites serve as a warning to us. They were to enter the Promised Land, but they rebelled and were told they couldn’t enter (Numbers 14:1-4). They attempted to enter but were chased out by the Canaanites (Numbers 14:39-45).

Unbelief Is a Heart Issue

Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion (or at Meribah, which means, “tempting or testing”), in the day of trial (or at Massah, which means, “contention or quarreling”) in the wilderness, where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, and saw My works forty years. Therefore I was angry with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways’ (Hebrews 3:8–10).

This is the first of three times the warning, “Do not harden your hearts” occurs (also in Hebrews 3:15 and 4:7). The author holds them responsible for their unbelief because belief and unbelief are not independent of people’s will. This is the first of four times the heart is mentioned because belief and unbelief are heart issues: “For with the heart one believes” (Romans 10:10; see Hebrews 3:10, 3:12, and 3:15). Hence, “They always go astray in their heart.”

“Tested” and “tried” describe Israel’s behavior in the wilderness, and it is always related to their unbelief.

They didn’t believe God would deliver them from the Egyptian army: “When Pharaoh drew near, [Israel] said to Moses, ‘Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt?’” (Exodus 14:10–11).

They didn’t believe God would provide water for them: “[Israel] complained against Moses, saying, ‘What shall we drink?’” (Exodus 15:24) and “[Israel] contended with Moses, ‘Give us water, that we may drink’” (Exodus 17:2).

They didn’t believe God would provide food for them: “Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness [saying], ‘Oh, that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger’” (Exodus 16:2–3).

They didn’t believe God appointed Moses as their leader: “[Israel] said, ‘Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?’” (Numbers 12:2).

When God is “tested and [tried]” by our unbelief, there is a point that His longsuffering comes to an end. We don’t know when that will be, but Israel learned it was when they believed the ten spies instead of God.

Moving from the Physical Rest to the Spiritual Rest

So I swore in My wrath, “They shall not enter My rest” (Hebrews 3:11).

We would expect God to swear Israel could not enter the land, but He said they could not enter “My rest” (also in Hebrews 4:3). The Old Testament described the Promised Land as a place of rest: “Until the Lord has given rest to your brethren as to you, and they also possess the land which the Lord your God is giving them beyond the Jordan” (Deuteronomy 3:20; see also Deuteronomy 12:9–10, Joshua 21:44, and 22:4).

This is the first time the author of Hebrews uses the word “rest,” looking beyond the physical rest in the Old Testament to the spiritual rest in the New Testament. Since the Promised Land prefigured a spiritual reality, it was always about more than a physical piece of land. John MacArthur said, “The application of this picture is to an individual’s spiritual rest in the Lord, which has precedent in the Old Testament.”167 We see the precedent in verses offering God’s people rest:

“Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you” (Psalm 116:7).

“To whom He said, ‘This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest,’ and, ‘This is the refreshing’; yet they would not hear” (Isaiah 28:12).

An Important Warning

Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:12–13).

Israel “[departed] so far from [God]” they accused Him of murder: “Why has the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims?” (Numbers 14:3; see also Exodus 14:11–12 and 16:3). The author wants to prevent his readers from doing the same; therefore, he says, “Beware,” which is a word of warning, followed by “lest there be in any of you,” to make it personal.

He exhorts each of us to “exhort one another.” The Greek word for “exhort” is parakaleo, related to our word “parallel,” because exhorting means coming alongside someone else.

The phrase “deceitfulness of sin,” reminds us sin lies. We need brothers and sisters in Christ who exhort us with the truth. Christians outside of fellowship open themselves up to many dangers, including deception.

The Need for Faith

Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest,

God’s timeless pattern for male leadership in the bible is woven from Genesis to Revelation. The pattern began at creation and is maintained with patriarchs, priests, kings, apostles, and elders. Paul said, "I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority" (1 Timothy 2:12). In discussions about the role of women in church leadership, Deborah is often the first example brought up to support the idea of female leaders. For this reason, Deborah is worth looking at more closely in her own post. If you're wondering, "What does the bible say about leadership?" read or listen to this material from Your Marriage God’s Way for answers.

https://youtu.be/thn12gSFjo4

God’s timeless pattern for male leadership in the bible is shown with patriarchs, priests, kings, apostles, and elders (1 Timothy 2:12).

Table of contentsMale Leadership in the Bible is God's PatternFemale Leaders in the Bible Don't Conflict with God's Pattern of Male LeadershipQueens in the BibleJezebel and AthaliahEstherPriestesses in the BibleProphetesses in the BibleMiriam the ProphetessHuldah the ProphetessThe Pattern of Male Leadership in the Bible Continues Today"I Do not Permit a Woman to Teach or to Assume Authority" (1 Timothy 2:12)What Does It Look Like to Obey the Spirit of the Law Versus the Letter of the Law?The Real Question About Male Leadership in the Bible

I was not raised in a Christian home. While my parents were moral and hardworking, and I learned much from them, they didn’t model gender roles for me as they’re presented in Scripture. This led me to believe men and women are identical regarding their roles and responsibilities. Aside from the obvious, such as not going into the bathroom of the wrong gender or playing on the opposite gender’s sports team—things that, tragically, our world is even starting to get wrong—I didn’t think of men and women acting much differently from each other.

This was still the case when I went through ROTC and became an Army officer. Except for a few differences, such as lower requirements on the physical fitness tests, I didn’t see men and women facing different expectations or being treated differently. Although I wasn’t a Christian at the time, and even though I couldn’t put my finger on it, there was a nagging suspicion that men, versus women, should lead. You probably have this thought in the back of your mind, too. Why is that? Because, as Scripture reveals, God created men to lead.

Male Leadership in the Bible is God's Pattern

We see male leadership throughout the history of God’s people. The pattern began at creation and is maintained throughout Scripture. Consider the following:

God called men to serve as the focal points of His covenants with mankind (for example, Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus).

There were patriarchs instead of matriarchs.

The tribes of Israel were named after men.

The only legitimate mediators between God and people were men (i.e., priests instead of priestesses).

God appointed kings instead of queens.

The 12 disciples were men. Jesus could have chosen six men and six women, but He chose all men for these leadership positions.

The 70 evangelists sent out after the 12 were all men (Luke 10:1). Again, though Jesus could have chosen 35 men and 35 women, He chose all men.

The seven deacons in Acts 6 were all men.

Female Leaders in the Bible Don't Conflict with God's Pattern of Male Leadership

So why do we see examples of female leadership in Scripture? Were these women anomalies? Are they examples of rebellion against God’s design, or is there another explanation? To answer these questions, let’s look at them individually.

Queens in the Bible

Scripture mentions three prominent queens falling into two categories: evil and good.

Jezebel and Athaliah

Jezebel (1 Kings 16-22; 2 Kings 9) and Athaliah (2 Kings 8, 11) were evil women who seized control and became tyrannical leaders.

What is Sabbath rest in Hebrews 4? What does the bible say about rest in the finished work of the cross? How is rest described in Hebrews 4:1-13? Read or listen to this chapter from Work and Rest God’s Way for answers.

Table of contentsEntering the Sabbath RestWhat Does the Bible Say About Rest in the Finished Work of the Cross?Work Hard to Rest?Are You in the Wilderness, or Have you Entered the Sabbath Rest?Joshua Is a Type of JesusEgypt Is a Type of the WorldMoses Is a Type of the LawDelivered from Egypt, but Dying in the WildernessFollowing the True and Greater Moses and Joshua Into the Sabbath Rest

Entering the Sabbath Rest

For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his (Hebrews 4:8–10).

A right is a freedom given to people and protected by a government’s laws. For example, American citizens have the right to express themselves, worship as they wish, and vote in elections for public officials.

A privilege is an opportunity or advantage given to people who meet certain conditions. For example, driving is a privilege for people who have reached an age, passed a test, and agreed to obey the rules of the road.

The author of Hebrews wrote to his readers about a privilege they could be given, and that’s entering “a Sabbath rest.” The condition they had to meet is contained in the words “for the people of God.” If the readers became God’s people, they could experience His rest.

Since Gentiles were coming into the church, the Hebrew readers felt as though they were losing their status. The author of Hebrews explains that the only way they could remain the “people of God” was not by descending from Abraham, but by believing:

Unbelieving Jews would lose their privileged status even if they were in the Promised Land and even if they observed the Sabbath.

Believing Gentiles became the people of God even if they weren’t in the Promised Land and even if they didn’t observe the Sabbath.

The words, “there remains” reveal the rest is available now, as opposed to only being available in the future when we get to heaven. The Greek word for “rest” in the previous verses is katapausis, but the word for “Sabbath rest” in Hebrews 4:9 is sabbatismos, and this is the only place it occurs in Scripture. The words “there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God” are similar to Hebrews 4:1 “Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest,” but whereas the Promised Land was in view earlier, now the Sabbath is in view. Just as the Promised Land prefigured God’s rest, so too does the Sabbath.

The point the author of Hebrews is making is spiritual rather than physical; he is not primarily referring to physically resting from work. Instead, he is referring to spiritually resting from working for salvation. The Sabbath rest also looks back to creation when “[God] rested from His works.” He rested on the seventh day because His work was finished, and we can rest because the work for our salvation is finished. Just as God didn’t resume working again on the eighth day, we don’t resume working for our salvation on a later day. We enter God’s rest by trusting what Jesus has already and fully accomplished on our behalf.

Notice it doesn’t say those who have entered will cease from their works. It says they “[have already] ceased from [their] works as God did from His.” We don’t enter the rest and then cease working for salvation. We have entered the rest because we have ceased working for salvation.

What Does the Bible Say About Rest in the Finished Work of the Cross?

The priests might have been the hardest workers in the Old Testament. Jesus said, “On the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless” (Matthew 12:5). They didn’t even get to rest on the Sabbath! The tabernacle and temple had many furnishings, but none for resting because the priests’ work was never done:

Every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God (Hebrews 10:11–12).

Priests had to continually offer sacrifices because none of them could “take away sins.” This meant they did not experience permanent rest. In contrast, Jesus is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). As our High Priest, He “sat down” because His work was done. Jesus rested, and He offers that rest to us:

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).

Jesus offers rest to “all who labor and are heavy laden,” which is how anyone must feel trying to keep the Mosaic Law to be saved. Peter said it is “a yoke on the neck [that] neither our fathers nor we were able to bear” (Acts 15:10) and Paul said it is a “yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1). But Jesus said His yoke is “easy,” and His “burden is light.”

We can rest in the salvation Jesus provides. We don’t have to wonder if we’ve done enough because it’s not about what we do. It’s about what Jesus has done. It’s not based on our work, but on Christ’s work on our behalf. It’s not about our unrighteousness. It’s about Jesus’ righteousness imputed to our account. I rest because Jesus, my Advocate, sat down at the right hand of His Father in glory.

Work Hard to Rest?

Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience (Hebrews 4:11).

By repeating the word “today” five times in the previous verses, the focus was on the urgency of entering (in Hebrews 3:7, 3:13, 3:15, and twice in 4:7). Now the words “let us therefore be diligent” focus on the effort needed to enter. The word “us” shows the author included himself. He knew he needed to do everything he told his readers to do! Everyone—even the authors of Scripture—must be diligent to enter God’s rest! This brings us full circle. We’ve spoken of the importance of diligence regarding the physical, and now we see the importance of diligence regarding the spiritual.

There is a paradox. We enter by believing, but belief doesn’t require effort. It seems inconsistent to say we must work hard (be diligent) while also saying we must rest. How can this be resolved? John 6:28–29 records:

They said to [Jesus], “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

When we think of work, we don’t think of believing. We think of doing something. Jesus used the word “work” ironically. The people were convinced they should work to earn God’s favor. Jesus said they must abandon confidence in their efforts and trust wholly in Him and the work He would do. Their “work” is to believe that their work will never save them; only Christ’s finished work can do so. That is what true saving faith is, not a thing we do that prompts God to be gracious to us. Faith is the God-given gift, the instrument by which we lay hold of Christ and all his merits.

The Greek word for work is ergon, and it means, “to undertake or become occupied with an enterprise.” As Christians, our enterprise is believing and being occupied with Jesus. It is our belief that pleases God. As the author of Hebrews later says, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is” (Hebrews 11:6). Believing is the work God wants, and when we believe, we can spiritually rest, because we need no longer work.

The Promised Land and the Sabbath foreshadowed our spiritual rest in Christ. To appreciate this beautiful truth, we must understand one of the purposes of the Old Testament.

Are You in the Wilderness, or Have you Entered the Sabbath Rest?

The Old Testament typology found in Joshua, Egypt, and Moses is crucial to understand. Then we can examine ourselves and see where we are in our spiritual journeys.

Joshua Is a Type of Jesus

In Hebrews 4:8, the author said, “For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day.” Joshua and Jesus have the same name, but Jesus is Greek, and Joshua is Hebrew. They both mean, “Jehovah is salvation”:

Joshua led God’s people in the Old Testament into the physical rest (Promised Land).

Jesus leads God’s people in the New Testament into the spiritual rest.

Jesus is better than Joshua because He leads people into the better rest.

Egypt Is a Type of the World

Joseph invited his brothers and their families into Egypt; seventy people total (Exodus 1:5). They “were fruitful and increased abundantly…and the land was filled with them” (Exodus 1:7). Exodus 12:37 says Moses delivered six hundred thousand men from Egypt, which means there were probably around two-to-three million people total. Egypt served as a womb for Israel to grow from seventy people to millions of people. Israel’s journey parallels ours:

Israel was born in Egypt like we’re born into the world.

Israel was delivered from Egypt like we’re delivered from the world.

Israel struggled with wanting to return to Egypt (Exodus 14:11-12, 16:3, 17:3, Numbers 14:3, 20:5), like we struggle with wanting to return to the world.

Israel turned to Egypt for help instead of turning to God (2 Kings 18:21, Isaiah 36:6, Ezekiel 17:15) as we turn to the world for help instead of turning to God.

God brought Israel out of Egypt into the Promised Land, like He brings us out of the world into His rest.

Moses Is a Type of the Law

The Law was given to Moses, which is why it’s known as “The Law of Moses” and “The Mosaic Law.

Luke 10:38-42 contains the account of Mary and Martha. We see Martha serving and Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus. Read or listen to this chapter from Work and Rest God’s Way to learn when it helps us to sit at Jesus's feet.

Table of contentsWhen We Must Sit at Jesus’ FeetScripture Sanctifies but Service Might NotThe Problems with Being Overwhelmed1. Sitting at the Feet of Jesus Helps When We Are Filled with Self-Pity2. Sitting at the Feet of Jesus Helps When We Are Easily Annoyed3. Sitting at the Feet of Jesus Helps When We Are Frustrated with the Lord4. Sitting at the Feet of Jesus Helps When We Are Anxious5. Sitting at the Feet of Jesus Helps When We Are Worried About OthersA Supernatural Solution

When We Must Sit at Jesus’ Feet

Mary’s posture at Jesus’ feet stands in stark contrast to churches that neglect the one thing needed. Willow Creek has been one of America’s most influential churches. They had elaborate programs and activities, and the measure of success was the number of people served. So they thought. However, they then conducted a thorough, multi-year study of their ministry and found that their programs and activities didn’t produce spiritual growth. Bill Hybels was the senior pastor at the time, and to his credit, he was open about their findings:

Some of the stuff that we have put millions of dollars into thinking it would really help our people grow and develop spiritually, when the data actually came back, it wasn’t helping people that much. Other things that we didn’t put that much money into and didn’t put much staff against is stuff our people are crying out for. We made a mistake. What we should have done when people crossed the line of faith and become Christians, we should have started telling people and teaching people that they have to take responsibility to become self-feeders. We should have gotten people, taught people, how to read their Bible between service, how to do the spiritual practices much more aggressively on their own.

They found that keeping people busy had not produced sanctification. The church of Sardis exemplifies this. In Jesus’ letter to the church, He said, “These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: ‘I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead” (Revelation 3:1). They had “a name” or reputation that they were “alive,” which means they were known as the happening church.

The people were busy, but Jesus said they were dead. How can a church be alive and dead? They were alive (and busy) physically, but dead spiritually. It’s an unbelievably sad irony that the church everyone thought was thriving was filled with unregenerate people.

Scripture Sanctifies but Service Might Not

Jesus told the Twelve to make disciples by “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20). Disciples need to receive Jesus’ teaching, and Mary received His teaching directly from Him, at His feet!

Willow Creek incorrectly thought programs produce spiritual growth. The word of Christ alone produces spiritual growth:

“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17).

“[Christ] might sanctify and cleanse [the church] with the washing of water by the word” (Ephesians 5:26).

“As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2).

The Word equips us to live out the Christian life:

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16–17).

Ephesians 4:12 says church leaders are supposed to “[equip] the saints for the work of the ministry,” and if saints are equipped by God’s Word, then church leaders need to feed their flocks the word. God’s Word gives us faith: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). Faith comes from the Word because we can’t have faith in a God we don’t know, and we know God through His Word; through sitting at the feet of Jesus.

Considering where the account of this episode with Mary and Martha appears is instructive. Luke 10:1–24 records the sending of the Seventy, which is about the preaching of the gospel. Luke 10:25–37 records the Good Samaritan, which is about serving one’s neighbor. Mary and Martha follow in Luke 10:38–41, revealing that before we can do either of the aforementioned—preach the gospel or serve—we must first spend time with Jesus. Why? He alone fuels our ministry. Physical effort can never accomplish what must be done in the Spirit. We can’t rise above our relationships with the Lord. Jesus Himself said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

When we try to serve the Lord, but we haven’t sat at His feet, it can be damaging. Few things are as harmful as people trying to serve Jesus when they haven’t spent time with Him. Consider Martha’s example. Time at Jesus’ feet is what she needed more than anything else. We tend to think service benefits us, but Martha, Willow Creek, and Sardis show us that’s not always the case! In Martha’s case, her Christless service revealed her resentful, proud, and crabby heart.

The Problems with Being Overwhelmed

The Greek word for “distracted” is perispao, and it means “over-occupied” or “too busy.” Martha was overwhelmed. You can picture her turning from one task to the next, fussing over all the details: ensuring the table is set, the food is served at the right time, and everyone is comfortable. Ironically, her fussing probably made people uncomfortable. She was driven by circumstances and pulled in too many directions. Not only did she take on more than she could handle, but she also took on tasks the Lord didn’t even want. She was making elaborate preparations, ostensibly for the Lord, but they were not the one thing needed.

This is fitting for us because we live in a fast-paced culture. There’s no end to the number of things we can do or distractions that can pull us in. If we’re not careful, we find ourselves overwhelmed. We become like Martha taking on things Jesus might not want us doing, or that might pale in comparison to what He would rather we do. My wife, Katie, has a wise perspective here, and I appreciate her humility in sharing this:

I have a tendency to put too much on my plate. I remember doing this in college when I worked three jobs and went to school full-time. When I married Scott, he witnessed this firsthand. I was often overwhelmed, so he encouraged me to focus on the tasks the Lord put in front of me—homeschooling our children and keeping the home. Even though I hate boundaries I know they are instruments of peace for me. I want to encourage any Marthas reading this to seek your husband's counsel before signing up for something. We certainly don't want our families suffering because we are too busy.

The account of Mary and Martha follows the Good Samaritan, one of the most convicting accounts in Scripture regarding serving. Then we reach Martha and learn an important lesson—service must be done the right way. Galatians 5:22 lists peace as a fruit of the Spirit. Since Martha didn’t have peace, we may rightly conclude that she was serving in the flesh, not in the Spirit.

One problem with being overwhelmed is it often introduces sins into our lives. When we’re stressed, or when we’ve taken on more than we can handle, we’re faced with many temptations. This happened to Martha, and she gave in. The feet of Jesus was the one place in all the world she should’ve been. By looking at her example we can see when we must sit at Jesus’ feet.

1. Sitting at the Feet of Jesus Helps When We Are Filled with Self-Pity

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?” She thought she was being neglected and overlooked, so she felt sorry for herself. She thought nobody cared about her and all that she had to do.

The same thing can happen with us. We feel like we’re the only ones working, we must do everything ourselves, and nobody cares about us. When we find ourselves filled with self-pity, we must examine our hearts and see whether we’re serving with the right attitude.

A good test is whether we have joy. If we don’t, what is the solution? The solution is not to quit working. Having a pity party isn’t an excuse to avoid serving. We don’t put off a bad attitude by putting on laziness. The solution is to take steps to have a better attitude, and that means spending time at Jesus’ feet until we can serve Him and others joyfully.

2. Sitting at the Feet of Jesus Helps When We Are Easily Annoyed

Martha said, “My sister has left me to serve alone.” You can imagine her giving Mary dirty looks, stomping around, sighing, huffing and puffing, maybe even slamming dishes, hoping someone notices. She became more and more upset until she finally did something we wouldn’t believe if it wasn’t recorded—she interrupted Jesus while He was teaching!

We should believe she did this, though, because we do the same thing when we are not fixing our eyes on Jesus and sitting at His feet. We interrupt Him with our complaining spirit, arguments, and disobedience when He’s teaching us hard lessons.

Martha wasn’t upset about serving. For people like her, service itself will rarely be the point of annoyance. Instead, service is their element; it’s what they enjoy. The annoyance will come from others who don’t pitch in. This can happen to us, too. We feel like we’re the only ones serving, which leads us to be annoyed with those around us. When we’re impatient, agitated, resentful, rude, bossy, controlling, or insensitive in our service, these are signs we need to sit at Jesus’ feet.

Sometimes a husband comes home from working hard all day,

Trials and suffering are part of this life. Read or listen to the Introduction of Enduring Trials God’s Way if you want to learn the Bible verses on suffering and trials.

Table of contentsPat and Kathy Mundy's Trials and SufferingTheir Concern for...Us?Why Should You Trust Me?Some of Our Trials and Suffering

My wife, Katie, and I grew up together in northern California. We lost touch after high school and then reconnected almost ten years later. At the time, Katie was living in our hometown of McArthur, California, but I was seven hours south in Lemoore, California. Some wonderful friends of mine, Pat and Kathy Mundy, graciously invited Katie to live with them so we could be near each other, even though they did not know her yet. The four of us became close. They performed our pre-marital counseling and made the trip north for our wedding. Seven years ago, Katie and I moved from Lemoore to Woodland, Washington. Although the distance changed our relationship with Pat and Kathy, we remained friends.

Pat and Kathy Mundy's Trials and Suffering

A few years ago, Pat retired from the police department, and he and Kathy looked forward to investing in their grandkids, traveling, and serving in the church. Then everything changed. Kathy got sick, and a hospital visit revealed an aggressive form of cancer. The “golden years” have been filled with trials and suffering: doctor appointments and multiple rounds of chemotherapy. Nothing slowed the disease, and in a last attempt, they moved to Seattle for an experimental treatment. A few weeks ago, on their way north, they surprised us and stopped by our house to visit.

Their Concern for...Us?

I felt privileged to see them at this time in their lives. As soon as we got them sitting in our living room, I wanted to hear everything they felt comfortable sharing about their trial, but the first thing they said was, “How is your dad’s Alzheimer’s?” Despite what they were experiencing, they “[esteemed] others better than [themselves]” (Philippians 2:3). Throughout the conversation, they gave little indication they were experiencing such difficult trials and suffering. As we talked, they discussed their blessings far more than they discussed any amount of suffering. Repeatedly, they shared how good God was being to them.

Reflecting on that conversation, I have asked myself: “Why did they not question (or criticize) God? How could they be so thankful during such a difficult trial? Why did they respond this way when their circumstances would devastate many other people? Could I respond this way if I experienced something similar?” Only time can provide an answer to the last question. The other questions I hope to answer in the following chapters.

Why Should You Trust Me?

Is there any reason you should trust my answers? No, and I am not asking you to do so. This book is not a collection of my thoughts about trials. Rather, I am inviting you to trust the Bible. Enduring Trials God’s Way came from several sermons I preached, and I labored over each one for twenty to thirty hours per week. God knows what is necessary for people to find joy in suffering, and I hope to present the recipe for that in the following chapters.

As a pastor, I watch firsthand as people suffer through trials. Woodland Christian Church maintains a prayer list, and it seems as soon as we can remove one request, another is added. We have prayed about medical issues, job losses, deaths of family members, and the examples could go on.

Some of Our Trials and Suffering

My family has not been immune to trials and suffering. There are all the difficulties associated with ministry. This past year: my sister-in-law, who lives with her family next door to us, experienced two massive heart attacks. Katie and I experienced our third miscarriage. My dad, John LaPierre, who lived with my mom up the street from us, went through radiation and chemotherapy (and that is besides his Alzheimer’s). Not long after, my mom called me terrified, begging me to rush to their house. Dad was unconscious on the floor and not breathing. I delivered CPR until the paramedics arrived, but they were unable to revive him.

Trials and suffering are inevitable on this side of heaven as we will see as we begin chapter 1. My prayer has been that I can give you the encouragement from God’s Word that He wants you to have when you experience them!

The Parable of the Persistent Widow and the Unjust Judge in Luke 18:1-8 is commonly misunderstood. The wrong interpretation is, “Be persistent in prayer until God gives you what you want.” The correct interpretation is if an unjust judge can be persuaded to give justice to a woman he has no regard for, then how much more will God, who is just, give justice to his elect whom he loves.

Table of contentsAlways Praying Without Losing Heart“Ought Always to Pray” Involves a Disposition Toward GodWe Can “Lose Heart” When Praying Because It Is Hard WorkWhat the Parable of the Persistent Widow and the Unjust Judge TeachesThe Judge with no Regard for JusticeThe Persistent Widow Who Wants JusticeParables Don't Give all the DetailsGod's View of WidowsThe Widow Only Had Her PersistenceThe Point of the Parable of the Persistent Widow and the Unjust JudgeThe Widow Represents Us…to an ExtentThe Incorrect Interpretation of the Parable of the Persistent Widow and the Unjust JudgeThe Correct Interpretation of the Parable of the Persistent Widow and the Unjust JudgeWhen Will God Provide this Justice?There Have Always Been "Widows" Wanting JusticeDo We Have Faith Like the Widow?The Parable of the Persistent Widow Makes Us Wonder, "Why the Delay?"Footnotes

https://youtu.be/rmSjtzzEvHE

The Parable of the Persistent Widow and the Unjust Judge in Luke 18:1-8 teaches God, who is just, give justice to his elect, whom he loves.

The chapter breaks in Scripture are helpful, but they were added by man. One of the dangers with them is they can cause us to think, “This is a new chapter, so it must not be related to the previous chapter.” But it’s the opposite with The Parable of the Persistent Widow and the Unjust Judge. We need to keep the previous chapter in mind to interpret the parable correctly. Everything Jesus taught in Luke 18:1-8 flows from his teaching at the end of Luke 17 on his Second Coming.

The second half of Luke 18:8 says, "when the Son of Man comes." This is the context. The parable is related to Jesus’s Second Coming. Robert Stein wrote, “The parable serves as a concluding illustration to Luke 17:22-37 [about Jesus’s Second Coming].”181 John MacArthur’s sermon on The Parable of the Persistent Widow and the Unjust Judge is titled, “Persistent Prayer for the Lord’s Return.”

Always Praying Without Losing Heart

Jesus knew that as his disciples waited for his return, they could become discouraged, lose heart, and begin to doubt, so...

Luke 18:1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

It’s a theme in Scripture that we ought always to pray:

Romans 12:12 says, "be constant in prayer"

Ephesians 6:18 says, "praying at all times"

Colossians 4:2 says, "continue steadfastly in prayer"

1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, "pray without ceasing"

When I was Catholic, there was only one way to pray: kneeling with your eyes closed, head bowed, and hands folded. I remember one time when someone wanted to pray with me and I thought we couldn’t pray, because we couldn’t kneel.

When I became a Christian I learned that we didn’t have to pray this way, but I read verses like this one that we ought always to pray, and I was confused. I thought, “How could I pray all the time? I won’t have time for anything else, such as eating, working, or even sleeping, because I can’t pray while I sleep.” To be honest, if you’re like me, and you have trouble sleeping, you pray because you know it will help you fall back to sleep.

“Ought Always to Pray” Involves a Disposition Toward God

We are not expected to – literally – pray all the time. There’s a place for concentrated prayer times, but praying all the time refers to a receptive disposition toward God.

Let me give you an example that I believe illustrates this. When we lived in California, one of my good friends, Pat Mundy, was a cop. One time I was with him, and he noticed someone he said, “didn’t look right.” I asked him why he noticed this person, and he said, “As a cop you’re always looking around at people and situations, seeing if things seem off. Even though I am off duty, I can never really be off duty.”

This is the same for Christians. Even when we are, “Off duty,” which is to say not praying, we are never really “off duty,” in the sense that we haven’t flipped off a switch and started ignoring God. We are not out of communion with him.

Instead, have a receptive disposition toward God. We are still sensitive to him and what he wants from us. We are always ready to seek him in whatever situation we face.

in 1 Samuel 3:4-9 God repeatedly called out to Samuel, but Samuel thought it was Eli. Samuel kept going to Eli, but Eli told Samuel it was not him and he should go back to bed. On the third time Eli recognized God was calling to Samuel, which he shared with the boy, and then told him how to respond if it happened again:

1 Samuel 3:10 The Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “SPEAK, FOR YOUR SERVANT HEARS.”

We don’t hear from God audibly like Samuel did, but we hear from him through his Word. Even when we are not praying, we should have a disposition that says, “Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.” We are going about our daily lives, doing the things God wants us to do. We are at our jobs, going to school, spending time with family, talking with friends, having a meal, and we are always receptive to God and sensitive to his will for our lives.

We Can “Lose Heart” When Praying Because It Is Hard Work

In Luke 18:1 Jesus also mentioned one of the most common temptations when praying: "[losing] heart." We know that one of the main reasons we give up doing anything is because it is difficult. We lose heart, which means we become discouraged, which is how it is translated in some Bibles, such as the NASB. And it is very easy to lose heart when praying because prayer is difficult. Every time we pray, it is a spiritual battle.

Romans 15:30 I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me IN YOUR PRAYERS TO GOD ON MY BEHALF,

The Greek word for strive is agōnizomai, which is related to the English word agony. It means, “To enter a contest: contend in the gymnastic games; fight.” Paul asked his readers to join him in doing something difficult. Even agonizing. We might expect him to ask them to strive together with him in giving financially until it hurts, resisting temptation, or in being persecuted for Christ. Instead, he asked them to agonize, of all things, in prayer for him.

Colossians 4:12 Epaphras…a servant of Christ Jesus…ALWAYS STRUGGLING ON YOUR BEHALF IN HIS PRAYERS, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.

Paul praised Epaphras because he was always struggling in his prayers. Again, the word for struggling is agōnizomai.

My dad taught us numerous prayers when I was growing up Catholic. I recited them all of them, especially before bed. Reciting prayers is NOT hard work. It does not involve striving or agonizing. If there is anything hard about it, it is the boringness. I could zip through all my prayers without ever thinking about what I was saying. I could say an entire rosary with my mind elsewhere. I became a Christian and read Jesus’s words:

Matthew 6:7 When you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.

I had to completely change the way I prayed. Instead of reciting prayers, or as Jesus warned against [heaping] up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, I had to concentrate on what I was saying. And it was hard work to concentrate. My prayers frequently sounded like:

“Father, please help me serve you well…oh wait, when I get home I need to respond to that email…Lord, can you help me become more like Christ…should I train chest or back today?…God, will you please help me teach my students well…That reminds me I still need to mow the lawn. I hate doing that, because of my allergies.”

Praying was and still is hard work for me. It is easy to lose heart and give up. We wonder, "“Will my prayers accomplish anything? Am I wasting my time? “How long do I have to keep praying for this? Should I keep praying for this?”182

What the Parable of the Persistent Widow and the Unjust Judge Teaches

So, Jesus preached The Parable of the Persistent Widow and the Unjust Judge to encourage his disciples, including us, to be persistent and not give up in our prayer lives.

The Judge with no Regard for Justice

Luke 18:2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man.

This judge is evil and corrupt. He does not represent God! To say he neither feared God nor respected man is to say he disobeyed the two greatest commandments:

Mark 12:29 Jesus [said], “The most important [commandment is…] 30 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

If he had no regard for God or man he also had no regard for justice:

If he had no regard for man, but he had regard for God, he would still have a regard for justice to please God.

If he had no regard for God, but he had regard for his fellow man, he would have regard for justice for man’s sake. We know atheists crave justice when they feel an injustice has taken place.

But if you have a man with no regard for God or man, he will have no regard for justice, which is the case with this judge.

The Persistent Widow Who Wants Justice

There happens to be a widow in the city who craves justice, which this sets up the confrontation:

Luke 18:3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.

How does God prepare us for service? Philippians 1:6 says, "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Read or listen to this chapter from my book, A Father Offers His Son, to learn about God's preparation process for Abraham, David, and us!

Table of contentsGod's Preparation Process for AbrahamGod Prepared

Abraham through Their RelationshipGod Prepared Abraham through Previous TestsThe Family TestThe Walk by Faith TestThe Famine TestThe Fear of Man TestThe Generosity TestThe Compassion TestThe Giving TestThe Spiritual Leader TestThe Circumcision TestThe Integrity TestThe Ishmael TestGod's Preparation Process for DavidGod's Preparation Process for UsThe Danger of Forgetting God’s Past FaithfulnessWe Can Be Confident God Is Preparing Us (Philippians 1:6)

How does God prepare us for service? Philippians 1:6 says, "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." God has preparation process for us to complete us.

God's Preparation Process for Abraham

We doubt that we could be like him if given a a test of such magnitude. But God prepared Abraham for the test in Genesis 22, and it should be an encouragement that He also prepares us for the trials and tests we face, such as the Coronavirus.

God Prepared

Abraham through Their Relationship

By the time Genesis 22 takes place, Abraham had a deep history with God. Abraham had been through many experiences with God, and as a result, he knew Him. When Abraham interceded for Sodom, he talked God down from fifty righteous people to ten righteous people (Genesis 18:32).

The exchange looked like a conversation between friends, which is fitting since three times in Scripture Abraham is called God’s friend (2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23). At points, Abraham worried about pushing God too far, but the longer they talked, the more Abraham learned about God’s patience and graciousness. Experiences in relationships can allow trust to build. Abraham had been through so much with God that he trusted Him, even when He asked him to sacrifice his son.

When

Abraham first met God back in Genesis 12, could he have passed the same test he

passed in Genesis 22? Did Abraham have the faith in Genesis 12 to do what he did

in Genesis 22? I doubt it. God prepared Abraham for Genesis 22 in the previous ten

chapters.

Abraham needed great faith to sacrifice Isaac, and God built that faith in Abraham through their relationship. For example, Abraham believed God would raise Isaac from the dead, and God convinced Abraham He could raise Isaac from the dead by bringing two other bodies back to life—his and Sarah’s. Abraham knew he and Sarah could no longer have children. Their bodies were “dead,” but:

And not being weak in faith, (Abraham) did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.

Romans 4:19-21

Abraham

believed God could raise Isaac from the dead. Why? He experienced God

supernaturally raise his and Sarah’s “dead” bodies in their old age so they

could have Isaac.

God Prepared Abraham through Previous Tests

God also prepared Abraham for the test of Genesis 22 through the tests He gave him in the previous chapters.

The Family Test

Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house.”

Genesis 12:1a

This is the “Family Test” that involved leaving his relatives behind. Abraham failed by bringing his nephew, Lot.

The Walk by Faith Test

Now the Lord had said to Abram: “[Go] to a land that I will show you.”

Genesis 12:1b

At the same time, Abraham faced the “Walk by Faith Test” since God told him to go to a land he had never seen.

The Famine Test

Then Abraham faced the “Famine Test":

Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land.

Genesis 12:10

Abraham failed this test when he left the land and went to Egypt.

The Fear of Man Test

Then he also failed the “Fear of Man Test” when he told Sarah to say she was his sister to protect himself:

“Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you."

Genesis 12:13

The Generosity Test

In Genesis 13, Abraham passed the “Generosity Test.” His herdsmen began fighting with Lot’s herdsmen, and Abraham gave Lot the best choice of land for his animals:

So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren. Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left.”

Genesis 13:8-9

The Compassion Test

In Genesis 14, Abraham passed the “Compassion Test” when he risked his life to rescue his nephew Lot from the five kings who captured him:

Now when Abram heard that (Lot) was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan… So he brought back all the goods, and (Lot) and his goods.

Genesis 14;14, 16

The Giving Test

Then Abraham passed the “Giving Test” when he would not keep the wealth he acquired from the battle against Sodom:

Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.” But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’”

Genesis 14:21-23

The Spiritual Leader Test

Abraham failed the “Spiritual Leader Test” when he submitted to Sarah and had a child with Hagar:

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai.

Genesis 16:1-2

The Circumcision Test

Abraham passed the “Circumcision Test” when God gave him the sign of the covenant, and he had the males with him obey:

So Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house and all who were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very same day, as God had said to him.

Genesis 17:23

The Integrity Test

Abraham failed the “Integrity Test” when he lied about Sarah being his sister:

Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.”

Genesis 20:2

He put his wife in danger, and she ended up in a pagan king’s harem.

The Ishmael Test

Finally, Abraham passed the “Ishmael Test” that most clearly prepared him for Genesis 22. God commanded him to give up a different son. This test is overshadowed by the account with Isaac, but it was still very difficult for Abraham:

Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing. Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac.” And the matter was very displeasing in Abraham’s sight because of his son. But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba.

Genesis 21:9–14

Abraham’s “displeasure” is mentioned twice, but he still passed the test. Before God ever asked Abraham to offer up Isaac, He first asked him to “offer up” Ishmael. Did Abraham have any idea God would soon after say, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and offer him as a burnt offering”? No, but God prepared him for that difficult test through the previous tests.

Proverbs 24:27

God's Preparation Process for David

Abraham was far from the only person in the Old Testament God tested. David faced a great test when he went before Goliath. Although it would be terrifying, David did not seem the least bit afraid:

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”

1 Samuel 17:45–47

Why was David so confident he could defeat Goliath? He provided the answer before he stepped on the battlefield. When Saul discouraged David from fighting Goliath, David responded with such a convincing argument that Saul permitted him:

David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock,

In Luke 17:33-37 Jesus taught "one will be taken and the other left." People are “left” to enter the kingdom. Other people are “taken” in judgment to the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 19:11-21). This resembles the way the wicked people in Noah’s day were "taken" by the flood.

Table of contentsGive Up This Life to Receive Eternal LifeLot’s Wife Sought to Preserve Her Life but Lost ItNoah and Lot Lost Their Lives to Keep ThemHow Does "Losing Our Life" Relate to the Second Coming?Why Is Luke 17:36 Missing?The Prophetic TimelinePeople Are “Taken” to the Battle of ArmageddonPeople Are “Left” to Enter the KingdomThe Birds (Visibility) and Corpses (Judgment) of the Battle of ArmageddonJesus's Two ComingsThe Sword Out of Jesus's Mouth Defeats the Enemies at the Battle of ArmageddonThe Battle of Armageddon Will Be Like a WinepressJesus's Names in Revelation 19The Battle of Armageddon Is an Execution Versus a BattleEternal Torment in Hell Versus AnnihilationOne Will Be Taken and the Other Left to Separate the Saved and Lost

https://youtu.be/AqSbMD94btA

In Luke 17:33-37 Jesus taught "one will be taken and the other left." People are “left” to enter the kingdom. Other people are “taken” in judgment to the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 19:11-21). This resembles the way the wicked people in Noah’s day were "taken" by the flood.

Give Up This Life to Receive Eternal Life

A paradox is a statement that seems contradictory, inconsistent, untrue, or even absurd, but is still true. There are several paradoxes in Scripture:

Matthew 23:11 says, "Whoever wants to be greatest, should be everyone’s servant."

Mark 9:35 says, "Anyone who wants to be first, must be the very last."

2 Corinthians 6:10 says, "As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything." If you’re sorrowful you’re not rejoicing, if you’re poor you don’t make others rich, and if you have nothing, you don’t possess everything.

2 Corinthians 12:10 and 13:9 say, "When we are weak we are strong." When you’re weak you’re not strong.

James 1:2 says, "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials. Joy is the last thing you experience in trials."

Luke 17:33 says, "Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it." This is one of the most well-known paradoxes in the Bible. The paradoxical nature is immediately noticeable:

You can’t preserve your life and lose it. Preserving your life means you did NOT lose it.

You can’t lose your life and keep it. Losing your life means you did NOT keep it.

It’s easier to understand this paradox if the verse is broken in half. When Jesus says, "Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it," He’s referring to people who live for this life and pursue what the world offers. These people will not find eternal life.

Then when Jesus says, "but whoever loses his life will keep it," He’s referring to people who give up their earthly lives for Him. If we do this, we will find eternal life. It’s like Paul said in Philippians 1:21 that "to live is Christ." We surrender to Him, inviting Him to use us in whatever ways He deems best.

It’s the language of Romans 12:1: "Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." We are no longer living for ourselves. We’re living for the Lord. Jim Elliot famously said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

Lot’s Wife Sought to Preserve Her Life but Lost It

Luke 17:33 flows perfectly from the previous verses, because they contain three examples of what Luke 17:33 describes. Lot’s wife looked back to her true home, Sodom, which she valued more than the next life that God had for her. She is a perfect example of someone who sought to preserve her life but lost it.

Noah and Lot Lost Their Lives to Keep Them

On the other hand, Noah and Lot preserved their lives by being willing to lose them:

Noah was willing to let go of his life in the pre-flood world and get on the ark, and he preserved his life in the process.

Lot was willing to abandon his life in Sodom, and he preserved his life in the process.

It is a question of what we desire:

If we desire to preserve our lives in this world, then we will lose our lives.

But if we are willing to lose our lives for Jesus’s sake we will keep them.

How Does "Losing Our Life" Relate to the Second Coming?

The context is the Second Coming, so how does this all relate? If we long for Jesus’s return we desire to see this life, as we know it, come to an end so that we can begin the next life in His kingdom. In this way we preserve our lives. But people who love this life don’t want to see Jesus return, because they don’t want this life to end. They want to hold onto this life, and in the process they will lose their lives, as the following verses reveal...

Luke 17:34 I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. 35 There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.” 36 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left

Why Is Luke 17:36 Missing?

Luke 17:36 is only in some Bibles:

The KJV contains verse 36 without a footnote

The NKJV has a footnote that says, "The NU omits verse 36." The NU (Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament) is the manuscript used for modern translations, such as the ESV, NIV, or NASB.

The modern translations, such as the ESV, NIV, or NASB, because they use the NU, say something like, “The oldest manuscripts don’t include it verse 36,” or the “Most reliable manuscripts omit verse 36.”

It goes outside the scope of this post to go into detail about why the modern translations are missing some verses. Here’s the good news: Whether your Bible does or doesn’t contain Luke 17:36 doesn’t change anything, because it is just another example of what the previous two verses are discussing: one will be taken and the other left.

The Prophetic Timeline

Let me briefly explain the future order of events so the following verses make sense. In the First Coming Jesus spiritually established His kingdom on the earth. At Jesus’s Second Coming He will physically establish His kingdom on the earth, and here are the order of events leading up to that and immediately after it:

The Rapture of the Church

The Seven Year Tribulation

The Second Coming of Christ

The Battle of Armageddon

The Millennial Kingdom (the physical kingdom established on the earth)

People Are “Taken” to the Battle of Armageddon

This is where it gets a little confusing: Luke 17:33-36 describe one will be taken and the other left, which sounds like the rapture. But the context is the Second Coming of Christ (Luke 17:24), which is seven years after the Rapture.

When you think of the people taken away to the Battle of Armageddon to be judged, think of the way the wicked people in Noah’s day were taken away by the flood. Consider the parallel account: "As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man…39 and they were unaware until the flood came and SWEPT THEM ALL AWAY, so will be the coming of the Son of Man" (Matthew 24:37, 39). It says very clearly that the way the people were taken away by the flood looks to the way people are taken away at that Second Coming.

People Are “Left” to Enter the Kingdom

The people who are left, are left to enter the millennial kingdom that Jesus physically establishes on the earth. Think of these people being left to enjoy a new beginning the way:

Noah and his family was left to enjoy a new beginning after the whole population of the earth was taken in the flood.

Lot and his family were left to enjoy a new beginning after the people in Sodom were destroyed by the fire and brimstone.

Consider the way it’s worded in the Amplified Bible:

Luke 17:34 I tell you, on that night [when Messiah comes again] there will be two [sleeping] in one bed; the one (the non-believer) will be taken [away in judgment] and the other (the believer) will be left. 35 There will be two women grinding [at the mill] together; the one (the non-believer) will be taken [away in judgment] and the other (the believer) will be left.

The Amplified clarifies that the unbelievers are taken, and the believers are left, and there are two important footnotes:

The first footnote: “This is not the sudden catching up (or rapture) of believers as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 when Christ returns in the air (not to earth), and gathers believers to be with Him.” This is one of the main differences between the Rapture and the Second Coming:

At the rapture Jesus meets the church in the air without stepping foot on the earth.

At the Second Coming Jesus returns to the earth.

The second footnote: “The believers are left and will be with Christ on the earth during the Millennium.”

The Birds (Visibility) and Corpses (Judgment) of the Battle of Armageddon

Luke 17:37 And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”

They mean, "Where are the people who are judged taken to?"

Some Bibles say eagles instead of vultures, because the Greek word can be translated either way, but it’s more appropriate to think of vultures because they are the birds that gather or circle above corpses. It might seem strange, or even graphic, to associate Jesus's Second Coming with vultures and dead bodies, but when you study it out, it makes perfect sense. Consider what God said to Job when He questioned him:

Job 39:27 Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes his nest on high? 28 On the rock he dwells and makes his home, on the rocky crag and stronghold. 29 From there he spies out the prey; his eyes behold it from far away. 30 His young ones suck up blood, and WHERE THE SLAIN ARE,

Proverbs 13:4 says, "The soul of the diligent is swiftly supplied." The Bible verses about working diligently should encourage and challenge everyone. Read or listen to this chapter from Work and Rest God’s Way to learn about diligence in the Bible.

Table of contentsThe Importance of DiligenceApply the Principle of Putting Off and Putting OnRemember, Stopping Is Only the First StepPut on Working DiligentlyProverbs Are Generalities, but not GuaranteesWorking Diligently Produces WealthWorking Diligently Leads to PromotionsMy Example from Army ROTCJoseph's ExampleDavid's ExampleJesus's ExampleWorking Diligently Means Finishing What You BeginWorking Diligently Produces SatisfactionA Diligent HeartSpiritual DiligenceFootnotes

The Importance of Diligence

Maybe you’re reading this book because you want to be more diligent, repent of laziness, find joy in work, learn to rest, or all of the above. Changing is hard. As a pastor, I’ve heard many people say, “I’m going to stop this” or “I’m going to start that.” I’ve said the same myself.

Only 64 percent of New Year’s resolutions last longer than the first month, and only 46 percent last longer than six months. We often begin well, but within a short period of time, we find ourselves resuming what we committed to stopping or stopping what we committed to starting. How can we change…for good?

Apply the Principle of Putting Off and Putting On

The single greatest reason we fail to change, at least regarding sin, is we “put off” without “putting on.” When we hear the word “repent,” unfortunately we often think only of stopping, but we must also think of starting. If there’s a sin we want to repent of, we must replace it with a corresponding behavior.

John the Baptist is a man whose message can be summarized in the word “repent.” He said, “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:8 and Luke 3:8). We don’t typically associate repentance (stopping) with bearing fruit (starting), but we should. The apostle Paul also knew how to preach repentance. In Acts 26:20 he said, “Repent, turn to God (stopping), and do works befitting repentance (starting).”

This is known as putting off and putting on, or severing and replacing, and it’s explained in Ephesians 4:

Verse 25 says, “Put away lying.” This is what we put off, followed by: “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor.” This is what we put on. We can’t simply stop lying. We must also make a conscious effort to start telling the truth; ensure what we say is accurate.

Verse 28 says, “Let him who stole steal no longer.” This is what we put off, followed by: “Rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.” We can’t simply stop stealing. We must replace theft with hard work and generosity. Since this is a book about work’s blessings, it’s worth noticing that it serves as a remedy for theft!

Verse 29 says, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth.” This is what we put off, followed by: “But what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” We can’t simply stop saying unwholesome things. We must intentionally speak words that edify and encourage.

Verse 31 sums it up: “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.” Put off all this, and then put on verse 32: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Paul makes the same point in Colossians 3:

Verse 8 says, “Now you are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.”

Verses 12 and 13 say, “Put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, bearing with one another, and forgiving one another.”

When we repent of the sins in verse 8, we’ll produce the fruit in verse 12. The actions are presented in opposing pairs. If there’s a sin that you need to repent of, but it is not mentioned in these verses, determine the opposite of that sin. More than likely that is what you need to put on.

Remember, Stopping Is Only the First Step

The second step is starting the accompanying behavior that fills the vacuum that was created. In the parable of the unclean spirit, Jesus described the danger of taking the first step (putting off) without taking the second (putting on). Matthew 12:43–45 records:

When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then [the unclean spirit] says, “I will return to my house from which I came.” And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

At first, things seem good because the unclean spirit (sin) is removed from the man’s life. Unfortunately, he didn’t fill the void, and as a result, his life (the house), remained empty. The man ended up worse off than when the unclean spirit left. This reveals the unfortunate human tendency for reform to be temporary. Psychologists, prisons, and juvenile centers testify to this. People will be sorry, stop for a little while, but soon find themselves doing the same thing again. Why? They fail to produce the necessary fruit.

In counseling, people who thought they repented will say “I stopped this. Why do I keep struggling?” My reply is, “You stopped, but what did you start? You put off, but what did you put on?” Let me give you some practical examples:

You stopped going to bars, but what did you start doing?

You stopped yelling at your kids, but what did you start saying to them?

You stopped watching things you should not, but did you start reading your Bible more?

You stopped coveting, but did you start giving?

When there’s sin in your life, make sure your prayers are twofold. First, ask the Lord, “What do you want me to repent of and put off?” Then, “What accompanying fruit do you want me to produce and put on?”

Put on Working Diligently

The practice of putting off and putting on should be applied to multiple areas of the Christian life, including work and rest. Everyone struggles with laziness to some extent. If we’re going to put it off, what should we put on? Diligence! Whether we’re lazy physically, mentally, or spiritually, we need diligence! We put off whatever form of laziness we struggle with and commit to being diligent.

The Prodigal Son is a good example. His first request was, “Father, give me” (Luke 15:12). When he repented and returned home, his second request was, “Make me like one of your hired servants” (Luke 15:19). He put off the lazy, entitled attitude that got him into trouble, and he put on the humble, diligent attitude of a servant. Back in Hebrews 6:11–12, the author said, “Show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become lazy.” If they were going to persevere, they needed to put off laziness and put on diligence.

What is diligence? According to Dictionary.com, diligence is “constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken; persistent exertion of body or mind.” Diligent people get the job done. They don’t quit until they have completed the job. The Bible uses the word “diligence” in several ways, and just as sluggard is always used negatively, diligence is always used positively.

Although the words “put off” and “put on” are not used in the book of Proverbs, there are repeated demonstrations of this principle by the discussion of these pairs:

Wisdom versus foolishness

Patience versus hastiness

Pride versus humility

Truth versus deceit

Obedience versus disobedience

Righteousness versus unrighteousness

Proverbs encourages putting off laziness and putting on diligence by frequently coupling them together.

Proverbs Are Generalities, but not Guarantees

The book of Proverbs contains life principles that are generally true, but they’re not guarantees. This must be understood before digging into the verses because of the health and wealth preachers who distort the gospel.

They misuse proverbs to teach that God wants people to become rich, be promoted, and never lose a job, but the following verses don’t make these promises. Instead, they commend hard work and condemn laziness. They encourage the diligent and warn the slothful.

Working Diligently Produces Wealth

He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. He who gathers in summer is a wise son; he who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame (Proverbs 10:4–5).

There’s a clear cause-and-effect relationship between diligence and its rewards, and laziness and its heartbreaking consequences. It pays, literally, to be diligent; they reap wealth as their reward. The lazy have only themselves to blame, and they reap the consequences of their actions: poverty. A “slack handed person” slacks off at work, or slacks off in looking for work. When people don’t have a job, their full-time job is looking for work. Warren Wiersbe said: “A new college graduate was asked if he was looking for work. He thought for a minute and then replied, ‘No, but I would like to have a job.’ That seems to be the attitude of too many people today.”199

Just as laziness and diligence are contrasted, so are work (gathers in summer) and sleep. Just as ants store food for the winter ahead, so do the diligent prepare for the future: “He who tills his land will have plenty of bread” (Proverbs 12:11 and 28:19). This is repeated to make the point that work allows people to eat. Diligence is manifested in the foresight to store up food in the summer rather than sleep through the harvest. Just as lazy people sleep while the ant works, they also sleep while the diligent work.

Why mention sons? Diligent children bless their parents. Conversely,

When we hear the word lazy, we almost always think physically, but what about spiritually (Hebrews 12:4)? Read or listen to this chapter from Work and Rest God’s Way to see how to avoid spiritual laziness.

Table of contentsThe Dangers of Spiritual LazinessA Field (or Life) Overgrown with Thorns and WeedsDon’t Rest on Previous Labor to Avoid Spiritual LazinessLaziness Toward Spiritual DisciplinesLaziness Toward Temptation and SinMental LazinessBe Encouraged by Christ's Second Coming to Avoid Spiritual LazinessFootnotes

When we hear the word “lazy,” we might immediately think of an unemployed forty year old living in his parents’ basement, or people on welfare who are capable of working. They’re physically lazy, but what about spiritual laziness? We aren’t sleeping in bed all day or standing on street corners asking for money, but are there other ways we’re lazy, such as spiritually?

The Dangers of Spiritual Laziness

The following verses begin with another strong criticism of physical laziness, but they introduce a spiritual application that we’re wise to consider:

I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; and there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down. When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction: a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest; so shall your poverty come like a prowler, and your need like an armed man (Proverbs 24:30–34).

The end of these verses is repeated from Proverbs 6:10–11. God wants to make sure we don’t miss two points. First, there’s a strong association between sleep and laziness. Second, unexpected disaster awaits the lazy.

The words “saw…considered…looked” reveal that the father studied the field owned by the lazy man who lacks sense (devoid of understanding), just as he earlier instructed his son to study the ant. Wise people learn by observation, and just as we can learn from good examples (the ant), we can also learn from bad examples (the lazy man).

The lazy man’s neglect is evident by the shambles and overgrown weeds infesting his property. The dilapidated state leaves the owner without profit. The owner is responsible for the ruin of his own field, depicting the way lazy people ruin whatever they encounter. Proverbs 18:9 says, “He who is slothful in his work is a brother to (or is like) him who is a great destroyer.” What exactly do lazy people destroy, or waste, besides fields they own? Two things: the talents God has given them and the time of people investing in them.

Lazy people do such a bad job “working” that whatever they do will have to be thrown out or done again. They’re more work than help. A sluggard is painful as an employee; no boss wants an inefficient sluggard who won’t get the job done. Proverbs 10:26 says, “As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the lazy man to those who send him.” Vinegar in our mouths and smoke in our eyes isn’t deadly, but it is annoying, just like a lazy employee.

A Field (or Life) Overgrown with Thorns and Weeds

Thorns appear in the sluggard’s life like they appear in his field. In both cases, he’s too lazy to remove them: “The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns” (Proverbs 15:19).

A field representing a person’s life is a common metaphor in Scripture. Jesus told the parable of the sower with the different soils (fields) representing different people (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23). Regarding the ways God used Paul and Apollos in people’s lives, Paul said, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field” (1 Corinthians 3:6, 9). When God described the work His Word does in people’s lives, He said:

For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth (Isaiah 55:10–11).

The rain and snow represent the Word, and the ground (field) that produces represents people’s lives:

For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned (Hebrews 6:7–8).

These verses tie together Isaiah 55:10–11 and the lazy man’s field in Proverbs 24:

The rain in Hebrews 6:7 that brings forth “herbs” parallels the rain of Isaiah 55:10 that “[makes] it bring forth and bud.”

The field in Hebrews 6:8 that “bears thorns and briers, is rejected and burned” parallels the lazy man’s field (and life) in Proverbs 24:30–34 that is “overgrown with thorns [and] covered with nettles.”

Just as fields are revealed by what they produce, so are we revealed by what we produce. Jesus said, “Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore, by their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:17–20).

Don’t Rest on Previous Labor to Avoid Spiritual Laziness

The author of Hebrews spoke strongly to his readers about being rejected and cursed. Then he followed that up with encouragement for those who were saved:

But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister (Hebrews 6:9–10).

The author is more optimistic about his readers—he expects “better things [from them]”—than those “whose end is to be burned” (Hebrews 6:8). They have worked, and he expected them to continue working. Their labor was love for the saints, and this served as evidence of, or “[accompanied their] salvation.” He said God would remember their works, and this can be one of the greatest reasons to be faithful. When we’re tempted to be lazy, thinking about the rewards that await us provides the motivation we need to keep going.

Even though the author expected his readers to continue working, he didn’t want them resting on their previous efforts:

And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become lazy, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises (Hebrews 6:11–12).

The words “imitate those [of] faith” reveal he’s speaking spiritually, versus physically. He’s not warning about physical laziness. He’s warning against spiritual laziness. Many of these Hebrews probably worked extremely hard physically, but did they put forth that same effort spiritually in their relationships with the Lord? Similarly, the author may be revealing the laziness we’re guiltiest of—spiritual instead of physical.

Laziness Toward Spiritual Disciplines

During Sunday school, when I taught on this topic, a man became convicted and raised his hand. He humbly shared that he had worked hard his whole life, and right when I began to think he was being prideful, he said, “But I regret how lazy I’ve been when it came to the spiritual disciplines.”

We work hard all day and feel exhausted when evening rolls around. When we look back on how we spent our time and energy, how much was invested in our relationships with the Lord? We slack off, not at our workplace, but regarding spiritual disciplines. Prayer, church attendance, Bible study, Scripture memorization, and Christian fellowship don’t receive the attention they should. Neglecting the spiritual is neglecting the Lord. He isn’t the priority He should be in our lives.

Neglecting the spiritual also implies there isn’t spiritual work to do. But there’s always more to be done. Paul said we should be “always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). God wouldn’t use the word “always” unless there’s always something spiritually profitable for us.

There are unbelievers who need to hear the gospel. Jesus said, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Luke 10:2). We can labor, pray for those who labor, or pray God sends out people who labor. There are believers who need prayer and encouragement. Paul said, “Comfort each other and edify one another” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Who might God have us reach out to through a phone call, email, or text message with something as simple as, “I just wanted to see how you’re doing. Is there any way I can pray for you?”

Jesus said, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4). Our time to serve the Lord on this side of heaven is limited; therefore, we must take full advantage of it. Ecclesiastes 9:10 says, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.” We must serve the Lord to the best of our ability as long as He allows. Anyone who wants to avoid spiritual laziness can easily find an answer to the question, “What can I do right now for God?” Since Jesus redeemed us, everything—including our time—belongs to Him.

Laziness Toward Temptation and Sin

Hebrews 12:4 says, “You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.” Opposing sin is described as “[resisting] and striving.” These are military terms indicating considerable effort. There is no room for laziness in this conflict.

The author of Hebrews told his readers they hadn’t experienced persecution that cost them their lives. Since they were called to that,