Truth Over Traditions

Jesus healed many in Israel and cast out demons as signs, symbolizing the nation’s deplorable spiritual condition and desperate need for healing and restoration. Tragically, Israel rejected the signs and refused to believe. Consequently, the nation wandered as sheep without a shepherd. Pastor Hollandsworth shows how the problem is the same today amongst believers in the Church of Jesus Christ. 

The apostle Paul preached two gospels: the gospel of the grace of God for unbelievers and the gospel of kingdom inheritance for believers. Pastor Hollandsworth explains how the latter gospel was formerly a mystery, but was revealed by Paul to the Church of Jesus Christ, offering reward, glorification, and co-ruling as sons to glory in the coming kingdom, for those who qualify. 

Jesus exorcises multitudes of demons from two men who have superhuman strength and live as wild men among the tombs. But why does Jesus cast the demons into pigs? Pastor Hollandsworth explains the origin of demons and the remarkable significance of this miracle for national Israel and for us today. 

Jesus teaches about the high price required to be His disciple, which is a matter of sanctification, not salvation. Pastor Hollandsworth gives four requirements for discipleship, while pointing out that magnificent rewards can be earned for those who remain faithful to Jesus.

The parables of the hidden treasure, pearl of great price, and dragnet take the word of the kingdom out to the end of the age. Pastor Hollandsworth gives an interpretation for each parable, in light of context, demonstrating that one applies to Israel, one to the Church, and one shows the possible verdicts for believers at the Judgment Seat of Christ. 

Jesus shares the parables of the mustard seed and the leavened bread to describe how the kingdom inheritance offer will fare throughout the Church Age. Pastor Hollandsworth clarifies that these parables are not about the spread of the gospel of grace or the progress of the Church, but the corrupting work of Satan to destroy the word of the kingdom, as represented by the birds and the leaven.

In an effort to derail those who are on the pathway to becoming kingdom inheritors, Satan plants tares that represent believers who live lawlessly and teach erroneous views of the kingdom. Pastor Hollandsworth debunks the view that the tares are unbelievers who merely profess to be saved, and explains that the fire that burns the tares is a metaphor for the Judgment Seat fires.  

Jesus announces that his “brethren” are those who do His will and thus, going forward, He will speak to them in parables in order to conceal truth from those who are hard-hearted while revealing it to the open-hearted. Pastor Hollandsworth explains the parable of the four soils, each of which represents a different response to the kingdom inheritance message.

Jesus exorcises a demon from a man and heals the maladies the demon had caused. But the Pharisees, instead of rejoicing, accuse Jesus of doing this in the power of Satan. Pastor Hollandsworth discusses the meaning of Christ’s rebuke to the Pharisees, answering the questions: What is the unpardonable sin? To whom does it apply? Can Christians commit this sin today?

Jesus is invited to a Pharisee’s house for dinner. While there, a disreputable woman washes his feet with her tears and anoints them with fragrance. The Pharisee is incensed. Pastor Hollandsworth applies Christ’s lesson, that those who are forgiven much, love Him much. Those who perceive they have been forgiven little, love Him only a little.