Study the Bible with Arthur Bailey

Yeshua spent the final days of His earthly ministry with His disciples alone on the Mount of Olives preparing them for His death that would take place in two days. Prior to leaving the Temple Courts, His disciples had asked Him to tell them, when shall these things be? What shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world? The questions they asked Him were in response to the teachings He had done and His remarks about the destruction of the Temple. After telling them about a parable of wise and foolish virgins, Yeshua uses another parable about talents as a lesson to teach His disciples about the importance of the work ahead of them in advancing the Kingdom. The objective of the parable was to inform them that every person would have to give an account for what they did for the Kingdom with the time and resources they had. Although His disciples did not know that their lives were about to take a drastic and dramatic turn, Yeshua knew what was just a few short days away. Join us in this portion of Matthew as Yeshua, while He was still with His disciples, continued to warn and prepare them of His expectations of them to prepare and stay ready for His return.  

Israel cared for all of his family, however his selection of how he aligned them in preparation to meet Esau showed his preferences toward them.  Remember, Israel was afraid of Esau, “Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.” 

Israel planned for the worse and expected the worst-case scenario.  He expected Esau to attack him and exact revenge on him, possibly even kill some of his family.  Esau did not attack Israel, instead Esau embraced Israel, wept with him and offered him protection. 

While leaving the Temple, Yeshua’s disciples pointed out the beauty and elegance of the Temple. In His response to them, Yeshua said, "...See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down” When they arrived at the Mount of Olives, while sitting alone with Yeshua, His disciples asked Him three questions in response to the teachings He had taught while in Jerusalem and pertaining to what He had said concerning the Temple and its destruction. The disciples asked Yeshua, “Tell us, when shall these things be? What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” Yeshua did not answer their questions directly or give dates or timelines. Instead, Yeshua began by warning them of being deceived by men that would deceive many and gave them signs to look for. In this parabolic teaching about virgins, Yeshua pressed upon His disciples the importance of watching and staying prepared so that when He returned to redeem His people, we would all be watching for Him, prepared, and ready for His return.  

There are several lessons we can learn from the life of Israel or Jacob as we look at what Father has done and said.  Men, even to this day, tend to ignore YeHoVaH’s Words and therefore the lessons they contain.  

People have referred to Jacob as a deceiver, but as the Scriptures revealed, it was Esau who referred to him as a deceiver.  Jacob acquired the birthright honestly and without deceit. 

Father changed Jacob‘s name from Jacob to Israel but most still refer to Israel as Jacob.  Father confirmed his name change in Genesis 35.  

If Father changed his name to Israel, why do we still call him Jacob?  

Why do many still say the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?  

Messiah Yeshua’s earthly Ministry set the record straight concerning the preeminence of YeHoVaH’s Word in the earth in the lives of the people of Israel and the people of the world. From the very beginning of the New Testament writings, John the Baptist proclaimed Messiah’s coming and Yeshua made clear He did not come to do away with the Law or the Prophets.  

Included in the Law was the proclamation of YeHoVaH that He would raise up a Prophet from amongst the brethren liken unto Moses. Yeshua’s Teaching Ministry reaffirmed the Words of YeHoVaH given to Moses and the Prophets, as well as it fulfilled what Moses and the Prophets had said concerning Yeshua.  

As a Prophet, Yeshua’s Prophetic Ministry is put on full display in this portion of Matthew as He prophesies concerning future events. Join us for Yeshua’s prophetic proclamations of events that would unfold in the First Century and some of which, hundreds of years later at this time, have yet to come to pass. 

Isaac was still alive when Jacob returns to the land.  Remember: Jacob had obtained the birthright, but had not taken possession of any of his father’s possessions. The last thing Jacob knew about Esau was that his mother said Esau was planning to kill him.  So, Jacob sends messengers ahead of his arrival to inform Esau that he was already very wealthy and was not coming to take possession of anything. He only wants Esau to not take revenge on him. 

The messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to thy brother Esau, and he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.”  Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed.  Jacob prays and reminds YeHoVaH of His words and promise of protection.

Messiah Yeshua’s earthly ministry set the record straight concerning the preeminence of YeHoVaH’s Word in the earth in the lives of the people of Israel and the people of the world. From the very beginning of the New Testament writings, John the Baptist proclaimed Messiah’s coming and Yeshua made clear He did not come to do away with the Law or the Prophets.  

Included in the Law was the proclamation of YeHoVaH that He would raise up a Prophet from amongst the brethren liken unto Moses. Yeshua’s teaching ministry reaffirmed the Words of YeHoVaH given to Moses and the Prophets, as well as it fulfilled what Moses and the Prophets had said concerning Yeshua.  

As a Prophet, Yeshua’s prophetic ministry is put on full display in this portion of Matthew as He prophesies concerning future events. Join us for Yeshua’s prophetic proclamations of events that would unfold in the First Century and some of which, hundreds of years later at this time, have yet to come to pass. 

Last week in the first part of Chapter 31, YeHoVaH calls Jacob out from amongst his kindred in Haran to return to his kindred in Canaan.  On the third day after Jacob had fled from Laban and taken his wives, children, all of his livestock and possessions, Laban was told that Jacob had fled.   

Laban pursued Jacob for seven days.  Laban shows his intent was to hurt Jacob and possibly kill him and take all his possessions that  Laban still laid claim to. However, YeHoVaH came to Laban in a dream and warned him to take heed how he spoke to Jacob. 

Proverbs 16:7 When a man's ways please the LORD, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. 

Acting is the art or practice of representing a character on a stage or before cameras. The role of the actor is to convince the audience or on-looker that they are the actual character they are representing.  

Merriam Webster’s definition of actor is:  

• 1: one that acts: DOER – one that takes an active part  
• 2a: one who acts in a play, movie, television show, etc.  
• 2b: one who behaves as if acting a part  

The Biblical definition of an actor is hypocrite.  

After Yeshua responded to those leaders who had joined forces to trap Him, He answered their questions with questions of His own that finally shut them down and ended any further questions from them.  

Then, Yeshua proceeded to call out the Scribes and Pharisees, exposing them as actors in the service of God. Instead of leading people to God, they prevented people from entering the Kingdom of God and led the people away from Him.  

In this portion of Matthew, Yeshua exposed the religious leaders for what they were and issued strong warnings and rebukes to them for their role of hypocrisy. 

In this teaching, Jacob receives instructions to leave and return to the land of his fathers, Isaac and Abraham.  Jacob heard the conversations of Laban’s sons and see the countenance of Laban that is now very different than before.  Jacob discerned that his welcome has worn thin.  Laban realized he had been out witted, not by Jacob but by YeHoVaH.  

Elohim spoke to Jacob and told him it was time for him to return to the land of his father and kindred.  Father did not tell him to return to his father’s house, but to return to the land of his father, Isaac, and his kindred.  Jacob now reveals to his wives the wisdom given to him by God on how to multiply the flock which becomes Jacob’s wealth.