Crowns? For Me? And You?

CROWNS? FOR ME? AND YOU?

You may remember in the Gospel Jesus mentioned that we should seek treasure that is unable to be eaten by moths or stolen by thieves, and I would like to touch on some of that treasure.  Most people recognize crowns as a form of treasure, so let's look in the bible and see how many crowns it is possible to collect; coming with me?
Our first crown is an incorruptible one!  "And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible." (1 Cor. 9:25)

Then there's a crown of rejoicing! "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?  For ye are our glory and joy." (1 Thess. 2:19 - 20)

Then there's a crown of righteousness, available to everone loving the coming of Christ! "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing." (2 Tim. 4:8)

Faithful church leaders have a crown coming to them, too!  "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.  And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." (1 Pet. 5:2 - 4)

Can you imagine a crown so easy to acquire, for loving the Lord?  "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him." (James 1:12)  Let us remember, now, that God equates love with obedience! This very same crown is mentioned again in Revelation! "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." (Rev. 2:10)

So now you know about these crowns available to you. Some are easy to obtain, some take work, and others perserverance, but let us show ambition, for the Lord is our greatest prize!  Let us collect as many as we are able!

Biblical Esoterics - Firsts, Repeats, and Unusual Oddities

BIBLE ESOTERICS - FIRSTS, REPEATS, AND UNUSUAL ODDITIES

The Only Queen Of Judah, Athaliah - "And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal. But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain. And he was with her hid in the house of the LORD six years. And Athaliah did reign over the land." (2 Kings 11:1 - 3) Imagine having a murderous queen for your ruler, one who killed all her grandchildren (or so she thought). She is the only ruler ordered killed by a priest, and the grandchild she miscounted in her killing spree ruled in her stead.
The Youngest King In Jerusalem - Jehoash - "And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet: and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king's house. Seven years old was Jehoash when he began to reign." (2 Kings 11:20 - 21) What a start this young man had! Imagine your Grandmother killing all your siblings, but you survive, thanks to your Aunt, and you are hidden until you are seven years old, then your ruling Grandmother is killed by order of the priest on the same day he makes you king. Can you imagine telling THAT story to your kids on your knee?

Though a minor prophet, Jonah's story is rather popular. He's the only man in the bible swallowed by a fish and spit back out!  It's practically 1/3rd of the book of Jonah.

Resurrections - The first to resurrect anyone by God's power was Elijah; "And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him. And she said unto Elijah, 'What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? Art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?' And he said unto her, 'Give me thy son.' And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed. And he cried unto the LORD, and said, 'O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?' And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, 'O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again.' And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived." (1 Kings 17:17 - 22) In 2 Kings 4:18 - 37 it has Elisha raising a Shunammite boy from the dead. and so we have a second resurrection, but there's more! Elisha wasn't done, even though dead! "And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet." (2 Kings 13:20 - 21). These three are of the Old Testament; now let's look at more in the New; the first was Jairus' daughter. "While He yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, 'Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?' As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, 'Be not afraid, only believe.' And He suffered no man to follow Him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. And He cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. And when He was come in, He saith unto them, 'Why make ye this ado, and weep? The damsel is not dead, but sleepeth." And they laughed Him to scorn. But when He had put them all out, He taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with Him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. And He took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, 'Talitha cumi'; which is, being interpreted, 'Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.' And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years." (Mark 5:35 - 42). The next is Lazarus, many Christians are familiar with this story in John 11:1 - 44. Four days dead, yet he rose at Jesus' call. Few people may recall this multiple resurrection, though; "Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many." (Matt. 27:50 - 53) Then, of course, we all believe in Jesus' resurrection who clai to be Christian, but there was another after His. In Acts 9:36 - 41, Peter used the power of the Lord to raise Dorcas, or Tabitha, from the dead. This is the last resurrection of the historical recordings of the bible.

Raptures Before The Big Rapture To Come - Two people went to heaven without dying in the Old Testament; the first was Enoch. "And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him." (Gen. 5:23 - 24) The second was Elijah. "And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, 'My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.' And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces." (2 Kings 2:11 - 12)

Terminal Attack Of Worms - After reading this passage of Scripture, one would be counted wise to give God His glory EVERY time! "And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost." (Acts 12:21 - 23) Imagine having an attack of worms so suddenly that you die? Gruesome way to go, yes?

Heavenly Transport - Long before Star Trek showed us a transporter that could "beam" people from one place to another, it appears The Lord already had that feat accomplished. How incredible it must've been for Philip! "And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea." (Acts 8:38 - 40).

Jeremiah's Version Of The Christmas Tree - See if this describes the Christmas tree of days before the fake ones bought in stores today; "Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good." (Jer. 10:2 - 5) This version of the Christmas tree seems to be about foolish idolatry.

The Flash Of The Old Testament - Can you imagine being able to run faster than a horse drawn chariot? Think of any athlete you can remember who ran great speeds for any given distance, and they were already outrun by an Old Testament prophet. "And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, 'Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand.' And he said, 'Go up, say unto Ahab, 'Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.'' And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel." (1 Kings 18:44 - 46)

Fed By Birds - We often hear or read of feeding birds, but not of being fed by them; but there was a prophet who actually was fed by ravens! "'Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.' So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook." (1 Kings 17:3 - 6) Imagine being Elijah, waited on by birds to bring him his meals!

What Do Cherubim Look Like? - For the best description, look in the entire first chapter of Ezekiel, and be amazed at the physical description of them! "Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass. And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings. Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward. As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle. Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies. And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went." (Ezek. 1:5 - 12) So if anyone tells you they look like little children with wings, you can give them another think coming!

Tattooing/Pimping Is A No-No - Tattoos are so popular nowadays, there's actually a tattoo TV show called "L.A. Ink", but did you know it is a violation of God's law? "Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD." (Lev. 19:28) Printing any marks on you is tattooing, and in the eyes of the Lord, it is as the heathens were in the time of Moses! Pimping was a no-no too, as apparently parents sold their daughters for sex in the days of Moses, too; "Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness." (Lev. 19:29)

The First Census - In the book of Numbers was the first census recorded in the bible, and it was only of the men who were 20 years old and up, and able to go to war (no handicaps); "Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls; From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies. And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one head of the house of his fathers." (Num. 1:2 - 4). Apparently, this was the first draft for military service, too!

Almonds In A Day - What if I told you a seemingly dead stick could bud, flower, and bear fruit in a day? Would that seem a little impressive to you? It's been done! "And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods. And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness. And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds." (Num. 17:6 - 8) Would that anyone had faith enough to cause that to every stick they laid hold of in a day, world hunger could be solved!

Floating Iron - How does anyone make iron swim? I don't mean a piece that's been hollowed out so that you can fill it full of air or helium, I mean a solid piece of iron. Elisha knew how to do it! "So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood. But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, 'Alas, master! For it was borrowed.' And the man of God said, 'Where fell it?' And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim. Therefore said he, 'Take it up to thee.' And he put out his hand, and took it." (2 Kings 6:4 - 7)

Man Walks On Water - I don't mean Jesus, I mean PETER! "And Peter answered Him and said, 'Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water. And He said, 'Come.' And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, 'Lord, save me.' And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said unto him, 'O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?'" (Matt. 14:28 - 31) People remember that Jesus walked on water, but few remember that Peter did, too!

Biblical Mudslinging And Namecalling

BIBLICAL MUDSLINGING AND NAME CALLING

During the days of Jesus' ministry, doing His work wasn't always a picnic; as a matter of fact, there were times it was downright nasty! They would say terrible things toward Jesus, and He, of course, was perfectly able to return fire! Our politicians nowadays do plenty of mudslinging and name calling towards their opponents, and the same thing was going on between cetain people and Jesus. Let's see what we can come up with...
  Fox - "And He said unto them, 'Go ye, and tell that fox, "Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected."'" Luke 13:32 (KJV) - Jesus directed this name at Herod Antipas because Herod was known for cunning deceit.

The eternally damning mudsling - "But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, 'This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.'" "And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come." Matt. 12:24, 32 (KJV) - After seeing Jesus perform a healing miracle, the Pharisees thought it of little consequence to accuse the Holy Spirit's work through Jesus of being the work of the devil (through Jesus.)  An eternally terminal mistake! Jesus answered back to the Pharisees who had made the mistake of saying what they did in Matt. 12:24 that their mouths had just uttered an eternally damning thing! The circumstances for this blasphemy cannot be duplicated today, but in their day, the circumstances were so!

Wicked and adulterous generation - "'A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas.' And He left them, and departed." Matt. 16:4 (KJV) - This name calling Jesus directed toward the Pharisees and Sadducees because they were just that; wicked and adulterous. Adulterous, depending on which Pharisee/Sadducee, may have been concerning an extramarital affair, but more likely their adulteration of the true intent of the scriptures with their interpretations.

Dogs - "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you." Matt. 7:6 (KJV) - "But He answered and said, 'It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.'" Matt. 15:26 (KJV) When someone was called a "dog", they were being called unholy, and this reference was typically given to Gentiles because they were unbelievers. In this second example, Jesus yet gave the woman what she wanted, despite being a non-Jew, because of her great faith.

Blind leaders of the blind/blind guides - "Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." Matt. 15:14 (KJV) - This reference was to both the Pharisees and those who followed/believed them. The Pharisees were offended because they knew He meant them as the blind leaders, and the ditch is hell.

Blasphemer - "Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief." 1 Tim. 1:13 (KJV) - In his humility, Paul confessed that he was this type of person, one who speaks irreverently or impiously of God. This is one of the few times you will find someone slinging mud onto their own reputation, although for Paul, this was his pre-born - again reputation.

Publicans - " And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples." Matt. 9:10 (KJV) - Publicans had the same reputation in those days as habitual sinners because when they collected taxes for the Romans, they were reknowned for extortion and malpractice while doing their jobs. They were the "untouchables" of Jesus' days on earth.

Heathen - "And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste." Lev. 26:33 (KJV) - This particular reference was part of a multi-faceted curse for the Israelites if they broke His commandments. In this case, it was a prophecy of His people's exile to Assyria and Babylonia. Heathens are people who do not believe in the true God of creation.

Heretic(k) - "A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself." Titus 3:10-11 (KJV) - This is an interesting term, because if you think about it, each time a new denomination is formed, the smaller denomination would be considered by the larger denomination to be heretics. Marcion was labeled a heretic for cutting away from the book of Romans from 14:23 to the end. It's something of a serious mudsling, because a heresiarch is considered, as suggested by Paul, to be subverted, one who willfully sins, and self-condemned in not accepting widely accepted Christian dogma.

Hypocrites - "Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward." Matt. 6:16 (KJV) - Christ often called the Pharisees hypocrites, and they were. In this case, they did not wash or trim their hair, and were even reported to have put ashes on their heads. They went out of their way to appear holy, while Jesus held their behavior as so much lip service to God, as their hearts were far from Him.

Pharisees - "But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" Matt. 3:7 (KJV) - From Christ's and His disciples' view, this was a mudsling associated with damning hypocrisy, but to the view of the common Jews and the other Jewish sects, They held the most influence. These were the worst persecutors of Jesus, thus John saw them as a "generation of vipers"!

Sadducees - "But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" Matt. 3:7 (KJV) - The Sadducees were largely from the priesthood and upper classes, contrasting from the Pharisees with doctrine such as denying a bodily resurrection, the oral traditions (of the Pharisees), angels, and future punishment and reward. Christ condemned them as severely as the Pharisees. Both sects were into extreme legalism, but opposed each other regarding rabbinic tradition, which the Sadducees rejected in regards to authority. They also were opposites regarding politics, which the Pharisees had little interest in.

After this last of name calling and mudsling that is of negative substance, we now will turn to namecalling of positive substance, three of which are names given to God in the New Testament.

Lost sheep - "These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, 'Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.'" Matt. 10:5-6 (KJV) - The lost sheep in this case were the Jewish people who did not yet believe in Jesus, or know Him as their Messiah. After their rejection of the King and Savior, the lost sheep came to include the Gentiles.

Rabbi/Rabboni - "Jesus saith unto her, 'Mary.' She turned herself, and saith unto Him, 'Rabboni'; which is to say, Master." John 20:16 (KJV) Master and Teacher are interchangeable, although Master in His case was more appropriate an interpretation.

My brethren - "But He answered and said unto him that told Him, 'Who is my mother? And who are my brethren?' And He stretched forth His hand toward His disciples, and said, 'Behold My mother and My brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of My Father which is in heaven, the same is My brother, and sister, and mother.'" Matt. 12:48-50 (KJV) - Prior to Christ saying this, brethren were family members by blood. Here Christ explains eloquently that we who believe and demonstrate so by doing the will of the Father are all family in the Spirit of Christ!

Prophets - "And Moses said unto him, 'Enviest thou for my sake? Would God that all the LORD'S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!'" Num. 11:29 (KJV) - Prophets were people who spoke by divine inspiration. Here Moses is referring to Eldad and Medad.

Apostles - "And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told Him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught." Mark 6:30 (KJV) - Apostles were hand-picked men whom Jesus was accompanied by during His ministry. Paul would later be included as an apostle because Jesus handpicked him while he was traveling to Damascus.

Disciples - Isaiah first used the word "disciples" - "Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples." Isa. 8:16 (KJV) - I purposely chose this verse of Scripture to show that disciples chose to follow whomever they would follow. Indeed, Jesus had many, many disciples, and even now, we call ourselves "Christians", which means we follow Christ (as much as humanly possible, although not nearly perfectly!) The apostles were also disciples, but as you have read illustrated before you, few disciples were apostles!

Son of man - "And he said unto me, 'Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against Me: they and their fathers have transgressed against Me, even unto this very day.'" Ezek. 2:3 (KJV); "But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith He to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house." Matt. 9:6 (KJV) - While this first was a title given to Ezekiel from God, Jesus demonstrated that this was His favorite title for Himself, since He used it more than 80 times throughout the bible towards Himself. Daniel first used the title toward Christ in Dan. 7:13 - 14. Christ used it to emphasize His suffering and death, His lowliness and humanity, and His coming rule as King over all His believers.

The Comforter - "If ye love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." John 14:15-17 (KJV) Jesus refers here to the Holy Spirit as the Comforter, and gives Him yet another name, the Spirit of truth. Blessed are all in whom the Holy Spirit resides!

So here you have a list of biblical mudslings that went on in biblical days, and they were rather different than the mudslinging that goes on between politicians of our days, although mudslinging is always dirt in the eyes of those whom it is directed at! Namecalling, on the other hand, depends on what you are inferring with the nomenclature; you can mean the name for good or evil! In any case, let us give one another only good names, and stifle the mudslinging as much as humanly possible!

TAKE JESUS, FOR EXAMPLE...

TAKE JESUS, FOR EXAMPLE...

When Jesus was here on earth around 2,000 years ago, one of the wonderful things He did was to set an example in so many ways.  Many do not understand He came to serve in so many capacities, and one facet was to serve as an example; so take Jesus, for example:

1. Suffered in silence - "What think ye?  They answered and said, 'He is guilty of death.' Then did they spit in His face, and buffeted Him; and others smote Him with the palms of their hands, saying, 'Prophesy unto us, Thou Christ, Who is he that smote Thee?'" Matt. 26:66 - 68 (KJV)  "And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right hand: and they bowed the knee before Him, and mocked Him, saying, 'Hail, King of the Jews!'  And they spit upon Him, and took the reed, and smote Him on the head." Matt. 27:29 - 30 (KJV)  "And some began to spit on Him, and to cover His face, and to buffet Him, and to say unto Him, 'Prophesy:' and the servants did strike Him with the palms of their hands." Mark 14:65 (KJV)  "And they clothed Him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about His head, and began to salute Him, 'Hail, King of the Jews!'  And they smote Him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon Him, and bowing their knees worshipped Him." Mark 15:17 - 19 (KJV)  "And the men that held Jesus mocked Him, and smote Him.  And when they had blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face, and asked Him, saying, 'Prophesy, who is it that smote Thee?'  And many other things blasphemously spake they against Him." Luke 22:63 - 65 (KJV)  "And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe, and said, 'Hail, King of the Jews!' and they smote Him with their hands." John 19:2 - 3 (KJV)  I must tell you, I am something of a complainer; I confess.  Even on the cross, the seven cries He cried were not complaints, but forgiveness for His accusers and those who crucified Him, hope for the thief who asked Him remembrance, a question of the Father of being forsaken, and if anything be construed as a complaint, that He thirsted.  Could any of us go through all that with only seven things to say, and only to note that we were thirsty for a sole complaint?  We, too, suffer from time to time, but when we suffer at the hands of anyone, do we take it as Jesus did, or do we fight back, mouth off, or moan for all to hear?

2. Forgave without being asked - "When Jesus had lifted up Himself, and saw none but the woman, He said unto her, 'Woman, where are those thine accusers?  Hath no man condemned thee?'  'No man, Lord.'  And Jesus said unto her, 'Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.'" John 8:10 - 11 (KJV)  "And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.  Then said Jesus, 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.'  And they parted His raiment, and cast lots.  And the people stood beholding.  And the rulers also with them derided Him, saying, 'He saved others; let Him save Himself, if He be Christ, the chosen of God." Luke 23:33 - 35 (KJV)  "And, behold, they brought to Him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; 'Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.'" Matt. 9:2 (KJV)  As He taught, so He did.  "So likewise shall My heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses." Matt. 18:35 (KJV)  Note nobody there asked Him to forgive them, He even did it despite their insolence and disgust in Him while He was on the cross!  This is often another tough example for us to follow.  Some of us would need time to force ourselves to forgive something this extreme, let alone without being asked.  Stephen was the first disciple after Jesus' death to use Christ's example without being asked forgiveness; "And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.'  And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, 'Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.'  And when he had said this, he fell asleep." Acts 7:59-60 (KJV)

3. Showed compassion - "But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd." Matt. 9:36 (KJV)  "And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and He healed their sick." Matt. 14:14 (KJV)  "Then Jesus called His disciples unto Him, and said, 'I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with Me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.'" Matt. 15:32 (KJV)  "And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, 'What will ye that I shall do unto you?'  They say unto Him, 'Lord, that our eyes may be opened.'  So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him." Matt. 20:32 - 34 (KJV)  "And there came a leper to Him, beseeching Him, and kneeling down to Him, and saying unto Him, 'If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.'  And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth His hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, 'I will; be thou clean.'  And as soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed." Mark 1:40 - 42 (KJV)  "And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed Him that he might be with Him.  Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, 'Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.'" Mark 5:18 - 19 (KJV)  The Lord gave us these examples of behavior not only for the reason of being like Him, but also that we might perform acts of compassion which are works worthy of going to heaven (see Matt. 25:31 - 40, James 2:17 - 24).  Not that we are saved by works, but by faith.  James explained in his epistle that the works demonstrate the faith in Christ, and as a two-part ticket, this gets one into heaven.

4. Correctly Taught from Scripture - Jesus often quoted Scripture to give correction and reproof to the errant.  "And when the tempter came to Him, he said, 'If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.'  But He answered and said, 'It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.'" Matt. 4:3 - 4 (KJV)  "Jesus answered and said unto them, 'Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.  For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.  But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, "I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?"  God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.'" Matt 22:29-32 (KJV)  "And saith unto Him, 'If Thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give His angels charge concerning Thee: and in their hands they shall bear Thee up, lest at any time Thou dash Thy foot against a stone.'  Jesus said unto him, 'It is written again, "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.'" Matt. 4:6 - 7 (KJV)  "Then he said unto them, 'O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?'  And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself." Luke 24:25 - 27 (KJV)  "Again, the devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto Him, 'All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.'  Then saith Jesus unto him, 'Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve. '" Matt. 4:8 - 10 (KJV)  "Jesus saith unto them, 'Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?" Matt. 21:42 (KJV)

5. Humility - "Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside His garments; and took a towel, and girded Himself.  After that He poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded.  Then cometh He to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto Him, 'Lord, dost thou wash my feet?'" John 13:3 - 6 (KJV)  Normally a servant washes feet; this was considered a lowly task.  Jesus put into action what He preached; "But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many." Matt. 20:26 - 28 (KJV)

6. Adopted Believers As Family - Jesus gave example of whom to call our family as not those who we are biologically related to, for those whom we are associated with in that manner are not always believers.  Since believers realize they are commanded to love one another, these are our family in Christ, family in the same faith in Christ, and so, family in spirit, which is firmer than family in blood.  "Then one said unto Him, 'Behold, Thy mother and Thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with Thee.'  But He answered and said unto him that told Him, 'Who is My mother?  And who are My brethren?'  And He stretched forth His hand toward His disciples, and said, 'Behold My mother and My brethren!  For whosoever shall do the will of My Father which is in heaven, the same is My brother, and sister, and mother.'" Matt. 12:47 - 50 (KJV)

So here we have six examples that Jesus gave us in His own behavior as well as in the teachings He spoke.  Let us behave as He gave example of, adopting fellow believers as family, and treating them so.  Let us humbly be of service one to another, and not to our adopted family in Christ alone, but even to unbelievers, that they might be converted by our behavior toward them, open their heart and their eyes to Christ, and be saved.  When we are asked questions that may be answered from Scripture, let us use it appropriately, and even for those who need reproof, that they might be ashamed, and turn to righteousness.  Let us show compassion where we are able, for many followed Christ because of His compassion; we too should direct them to follow Him because it is our reason for compassion on them!  Let us forgive everyone offenses of all kinds, for even Christ forgave sins of the worst kind, even those His enemies thought not to ask forgiveness for.  And lastly, and usually this is the hardest example He gave us to follow, let us suffer whatever for His sake, as He suffered abuse, ridicule, torture, and death for our sake.  Lord Jesus, bless us with the intestinal fortitude and ability to follow Your example!

A History Of Priesthood

A HISTORY OF PRIESTHOOD

Who was the first priest?  Ew, tough question!  Job 1:5 suggests Job was the family priest, and since it is considered written prior to 1500 B.C., it is also considered preMosaic, but Melchizedek is the first person associated with the word "priest" in the Old Testament; "And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God." (Gen. 14:18)  "And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, 'It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.'  Thus did Job continually." (Job 1:5)  If one considers making offerings to God a symbol of priesthood, since it is recognized as one of the first duties of the earliest priests, then perhaps Cain and Abel could also be considered the first priests, although Cain would also have to be considered the first BAD priest, too!  "And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.  And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof.  And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering He had not respect.  And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell." (Gen. 4:3 - 5)  So for the sake of the first use of the word, we might consider Melchizedek the first officially named priest, while you might consider the other three informal priests, or perhaps "protopriests".

I would say that Melchizedek is recognized biblically as the first priest, because his name shows up once in Genesis, and the next time it appears is in Psalms; "The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." (Psa. 110:4)  This psalm has the significance of asserting that Christ combines the offices of priest and king, just as Melchizedek, the first official priest did.

This first priest shows up again in the New Testament, with the spelling of his name slightly altered, and although Aaron serves as the model priest, this Scripture also glorifies Christ as the superior priest.  "For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.  And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.  And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.  So also Christ glorified not Himself to be made an high priest; but He that said unto Him, 'Thou art My Son, to day have I begotten Thee.'  As He saith also in another place, 'Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him; called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec." (Heb. 5:1 - 10)  Notice also that because Aaron is the model priest, and no women are ever priests throughout Scripture, this passage in Hebrews sets godly precept that women are excluded from being priests or pastors.  Christ is the head of man, man is the head of woman, woman is the head of children.  Adam was not deceived, but Eve.

Now this passage of Scripture calls for deeper investigation of a connection of Christ to Melchizedek.  You see, this passage means that Christ could never have been of the Levitical priests, because He was born of the tribe of Judah.  "For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.  And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another Priest, who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.  For He testifieth, 'Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.'" (Heb. 7:14 - 17)

Both Christ and Melchizedek were not Levites, but they also have other similarities.

1. Both were men - "Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils." (Heb. 7:4)  "For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" (1 Tim. 2:5)

2. Both were king-priests - "And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God." (Gen. 14:18)  "And speak unto him, saying, 'Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and He shall grow up out of His place, and He shall build the temple of the LORD: Even He shall build the temple of the LORD; and He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His throne; and He shall be a priest upon His throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both." (Zech. 6:12 - 13)

3. They were both appointed directly by God. - "(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)" (Heb. 7:21)

4. Lastly, both were called "King of righteousness" and "King of peace".  "To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;" (Heb. 7:2)  "And righteousness shall be the girdle of His loins, and faithfulness the girdle of His reins.  The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.  And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.  And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.  They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." (Isa. 11:5 - 9)

So here we have a history of priesthood, but probably not what you expected; this is of the Judaic branch; now, shall we cover the Levitical branch?

Levi, the ancestor of the Aaronic priests, was born the third son of Jacob and Leah, and Leah named him Levi, which means "attachment".  She felt the hate for her out of the deception done to Jacob by her father, and so with this third son of her fertility, she named him Levi, assuming so many sons would make Jacob attached to her.  "And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, 'Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.'" (Gen. 29:34)

While Levi may have been the grandfather of the priesthood, he was not known for being a good man.  Consider his father's blessing; "Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations.  O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall.  Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel." (Gen. 49:5 - 7)

"And the sons of Merari; Mahali and Mushi: these are the families of Levi according to their generations.  And Amram took him Jochebed his father's sister to wife; and she bare him Aaron and Moses: and the years of the life of Amram were an hundred and thirty and seven years." (Exod. 6:19 - 20)  So it is in this Scripture we find that Aaron and Moses are the grandchildren of Levi, and as Exodus is laid out, we know Aaron becomes the first Levite priest, closest to God only after Moses.

Think not that there were only two branches of priests, because before Aaron officially became a priest, the sons of Abraham by Keturah also had priests in the land of Midian were they dwelled.  "Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock." (Exod. 2:16)  Moses' father-in-law was a Midian priest!  "Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb." (Exod. 3:1)  There were other priests around, but they were not priests called by God.  The sons of Keturah were not approved by God.

Aaron at first is not referred to as a priest, but rather a prophet, and God Himself is He who called him thus; "And the LORD said unto Moses, 'See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.  Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land." (Exod. 7:1 - 2)  It was not God's will that only Aaron and his sons be priests, but rather ALL of Israel be priests!  "And ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.  These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel." (Exod. 19:6)  "And the LORD said unto Moses, 'Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish.  And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.'" (Exod. 19:21 - 22)  The priests mentioned here may have been elders of the tribes, but not officially designated in the manner to be instituted later.

After setting up the definition of the tabernacle of the congregation, we find God giving Moses instructions on the making of garments for Aaron and his sons to define them as the first Jewish high priests.  "And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto Me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.  And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.  And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto Me in the priest's office." (Exod. 28:1 - 3)  I only used these 3 verses for brevity, because in actuality, the entire 28th chapter is dedicated to the creation of the clothing!  The entire chapter 29 following it gives all the description of the installation of the priesthood, the ceremony lasting seven days!

Now without making this 200 pages long, let me say that if you're interested, the book of Leviticus contains every fathomable law and duty God gave concerning the priests and all their interactions between God and the people.  Offerings, sins, sicknesses; all these things and more are given in Leviticus concerning priests and their duties.

Now this job and office for the Lord was not to be taken lightly.  Two of Aaron's sons one day made a terminal "whoopsie" which was never repeated again throughout all the bible.  "And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He commanded them not.  And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD." (Lev. 10:1 - 2)

After the destruction of Aaron's two sons, God then instituted the Levite priesthood as a substitution for the firstborn of all the tribes.  "And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be Mine;" (Num. 3:12)

Think not that every day in the life of the priesthood was boring in the Old Testament.  One priest, Phinehas, killed two people with the same javelin right in the middle of the congregation one day, and while one might think it should've come to mind "thou shalt not kill" before he acted, as a matter of fact, God rewarded his action!  "And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.  And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; and he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly.  So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.  And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 'Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned My wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for My sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in My jealousy.  Wherefore say, "Behold, I give unto him My covenant of peace:"  And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel." (Num. 25:6 - 13).

Priests apparently were not excluded from war, either; no, they were sent into the thick of it!  "And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand of every tribe, them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the holy instruments, and the trumpets to blow in his hand." (Num. 31:6)

Let's move up to the New Testament now.  The priests didn't like Jesus; "And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple; and He healed them.  And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, 'Hosanna to the Son of David'; they were sore displeased, And said unto Him, 'Hearest thou what these say?'  And Jesus saith unto them, 'Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?'  And He left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and He lodged there." (Matt. 21:14 - 17)  The priests are Jesus' enemies.  How has this happened?  "Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill Him." (Matt. 26:3 - 4)  Corruption and power.  Jesus did not come up in the Levite priesthood as did they, so they were jealous, and coveted the power He wielded being the almighty Son of God!  Whenever He taught in the syngogues, no priest could defeat His wisdom, or catch Him slipping up, but He often tonguelashed so many in our Father's house, that they counted Him an enemy for His entire ministry.  "And when He was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto Him as He was teaching, and said, 'By what authority doest Thou these things?  And who gave Thee this authority?'  And Jesus answered and said unto them, 'I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell Me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.  The baptism of John, whence was it?  From heaven, or of men?'  And they reasoned with themselves, saying, 'If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, "Why did ye not then believe Him?"  But if we shall say, "Of men"; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.'  And they answered Jesus, and said, 'We cannot tell.'  And He said unto them, 'Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.' (Matt. 21:23 - 27)  He often spoke of their hypocrisies, and pointed out their shortcomings as to their station, so for them, this was cause to hate Him to death!  Once they had Him, He was tried by the priests, and they even would sin by bearing false witness against Him to have reason to kill Him!  "And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.  But Peter followed Him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.  Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put Him to death;" (Matt. 26:57 - 59)  "And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.  And Peter followed Him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire." (Mark 14:53 - 54)

Jesus usually didn't speak as though He held any priests or scribes in high regard, because if any was righteous, it appeared He never encountered them in any Gospel!  As a matter of fact, He used them as setting a wrong example in one of His parables!  "And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.  And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side." (Luke 10:31 - 32)

Even after Jesus ascended into heaven, His apostles went at odds with the Jewish priests.  Because they still had not believed that Jesus was the Christ and Messiah they were waiting for, they still set themselves against even His apostles.  "And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.  And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, 'By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?'  Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, 'Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, if we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole." (Acts 4:5 - 10)  "Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison." (Acts 5:17 - 18)  "And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.  And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name." (Acts 5:40 - 41)

Now let's go back to Jesus the High Priest, because we must remember not only that He is not dead, but He is still functioning as God and King and Savior and Priest!  "For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham.  Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.  For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted." (Heb. 2:16 - 18)  Since He took on the form of man, and since He withstood the temptations man is tempted with, yet remained sinless, and died for our sins, taking them all away from us on the cross, He is therefore in the eyes of the Father the perfect high priest of all mankind, ever faithful to all believers, abundant in mercy to all of us, who still make mistakes and sin, and He forgives every one.  "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb. 4:14 - 16)  "But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.  For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Heb. 9:11 - 14)

Jesus is the perfect High Priest, for His single offering of His own precious blood forever more cleansed us of all iniquities, past, present, and future, of those of us who believe on Him.  "And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till His enemies be made His footstool.  For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." (Heb. 10:11 - 14)

"For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.  Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate.  Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach." (Heb. 13:11 - 13)  This passage of Scripture illuminates the similarity of the animal sin offerings of the Old Testament and Christ as the sin offering of the New Testament, and the last sentence calls for us to leave false religions for the true faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Are you ready to become a priest?  All believers saved by His grace will become priests, offering up spiritual sacrifices!  And we will not be Levitican, but Judaic, like Melchizedek!  Note that it is written we will be a royal priesthood, and that means of the Judaic line!  "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.  Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded.  Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." (1 Pet. 2:5 - 10)  Let it be understood that the last part of this passage means once we were unsaved, but born again, now we are saved, since that point of salvation.  Let me give you further Scriptural backup to the concept that we will be both kings and priests, ministering forever to God; "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth.  Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." (Rev. 1:5 - 6)

I will give you one more proof of our royalty and priesthood, but further, I will give you in this passage that place where we will be such, for it is so written also in Revelation; "And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." (Rev. 5:10)  Oh, and by the way, we'll be priests for a mighty long time!  "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.  This is the first resurrection.  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years." (Rev. 20:4 - 6)

Just one more of many reasons to bless the Lord, each and every saved soul; because we are all heirs to the kingdom, who believe on Christ Jesus.  And we who believe on Him, we shall inherit the kingdom, and treasures that cannot be lost!

Honestly?

HONESTLY?

Lies come in a lot of forms; half truths, "white" lies, blatant lies.  We lie to ourselves as much as we do others, some a little more one way than the other, but every day we seem to have to deal with a lie.  Any wonder some people would enjoy being a hermit.  Some of the worst lies are from people you know; friends are bad, and family are even worse!  Consider a man I know of who loved people and wasn't afraid to show it.  He married a gal with special needs, she was handicapped.  Some family members of hers actually were wagering how long before he would divorce her, but it didn't happen.  When he visited some of her family, though, he had a way of hugging, lifting them off their feet when he did.  He meant nothing wrong or carnal about it, but some sowed this in their heart that he did, and made an innocent man bad.  In their sinfulness they lied to themselves that he was carnal in thought, judging against him without real cause.  He never had inappropriate relations with anyone, yet some of them made him a womanizer, even a child molester in their minds.  Then one day, it was made known that a different member of the family had molested an underage girl in the family, and certain ones in the family even heightened the evil in their hearts toward the innocent man, even though he had not done the deed.  The molested one even had projected her experience on the innocent man, and her brother even condemned him and denied he was related to the innocent man, yet claimed his wife as a relative.  He rationalized evil onto the innocent man that was unfounded, with no physical proof or even verbage from the innocent man to be condemned with; talk about being hated without cause!  One day the innocent man visited his wife's sister, and finally the evil, twisted lies about him were revealed to him.  He had not done anything carnal or evil, yet a number of his in-laws already had him convicted in their hearts.  What a tragedy for the innocent man.  Their hearts lied to them about him to make him evil as to bring him to the level of wickedness that was in their own hearts.  Honestly!  Condemned for the way he hugged!  Let's explore this situation and where it came from, and of other examples of lying and false witness.

"Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made.  And he said unto the woman, 'Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?'" (Gen. 3:1)  The devil is able to plant a seed of doubt about everything, including what God tells us.  Ever hear the ditty, 'Believe none of what you hear, and only half of what you see"?  The devil suggested here that God was not telling Eve and Adam the truth, and he was also tempting Eve to rebel against God and eat the fruit against God's law.  The innocent man's in-laws, whether saved or not, obviously have been ignorant for quite some time not to judge (Matt. 7:1-2), and not to bear false witness (Exod. 20:16, Deut. 5:20).

So where does all this evil of the innocent man's in-laws come from?  Even the evil that all of us have done at some time, of which lying and bearing false witness are only a facet of?  "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man:" (Matt. 15:18 - 20)  Jesus, our perfect Teacher, He has said it comes from the heart.  Whether one lies to themselves or to other people about an innocent person, it starts in their hearts.  Think not that lying and bearing false witness are not common afflictions of man, because they are.  The bible has a number of people who have lied, even some of His chosen have not told the truth in some way.  Let's look at a few.

"And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, 'What is this that thou hast done unto me?  Why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?  Why saidst thou, "She is my sister?"  So I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.'" (Gen. 12:18 - 19)  Abraham, who started life as Abram, told a half-truth to the Pharaoh.  "And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife." (Gen. 20:12)  While Abraham gave excuses for his deception to Abimelech, yet God kept safe the mother of the promised Seed, for Jesus would be of the line of Abraham.  Abram's lie had the consequence of all the wombs of Pharaoh's house to close up until Abram prayed for God to heal them.  No lie or false witness goes without consequence.

"And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, 'Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.'  And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, 'There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were: And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.'  But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.  And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate." (Josh. 2:3 - 7)  Rahab lied.  Flat-out lied.  To her king, no less.  But she recognized a greater king, the King of creation, and her loyalty to God, though a lie for demonstration, included her in the Messianic lineage.  As to the consequence, well; we all know what happened to Jericho, those of us who read the bible!

From Exod. 8:8 to 10:27, the Pharaoh lied to Moses that he would let the people go after each plague was dissolved.  Why?  "But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go." (Exod. 10:20)  Because Pharaoh's heart was hardened!  Here again we see that lies, like other evils done by man, come from the heart.

We know also now that even Peter lied, and three times!  "Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, 'I know not the man.'  And immediately the cock crew.  And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, 'Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.'  And he went out, and wept bitterly." (Matt. 26:74 - 75)  Now this is a unique lie.  It is unique in that Peter was the only person in the bible to commit a forewarned lie.  He was warned that he would do it three times before the cock crowed, and even though he found himself in a situation where the temptation was too great to lie, he did so indeed.  But let's consider the temptation, because although Peter said he would die with Christ, he did not, because just like the average human, we fear death, as he did, and so, even with Christ as his teacher and role model, he caved in to fear and lied.  Who among us would not do the same?  Remembering Jesus' warning, he cried bitterly, realizing who he denied, and probably feeling hypocritical that he didn't do what he said he would.

It is not good to practice lying and bearing false witness.  First of all, the tragedy begins in that the liar must then repent for a long time so that his or her reputation can be restored to a position of reputed honesty, that they might be judged trustworthy again.  Secondly, the lie(s) will have most likely produced consequences that may or may not be repairable.  Lastly, if a person practice lying to the death, Jesus may judge him or her in this manner: "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Rev. 21:8)  If their lives are like this in entirety, it is proof enough of being an unbeliever in Christ, and thus the punishment fits their crimes.

So if you know of someone who is like this, who bears false witness or lies as a habit, or as though a casual occurrence, there are a number of things you can do for them; also if a person read this and find themselves in this problem snare, there is something for that person, too.  "Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.  Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free Spirit." (Psa. 51:9 - 12)  Pray to God!  Yes, ask Him like this example, it's perfect for the sinful liar and false witness.  "Ye have heard that it hath been said, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.'  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." (Matt. 5:43 - 45)  When someone bears false witness against you, they are your enemy.  They are your enemy against your reputation, for the least part, let alone whatever other evil is conjured up in their wicked heart.  Jesus here tells us to love them, pray for them, bless them, and do good to them.  Even me, I pray for my enemies.  I pray that God turn them from children of perdition to children of God, that they may no longer be called my enemies, but my brothers and sisters in Christ.  I think it's a perfect prayer for enemies, myself, because they are not wished evil upon them, but rather good, and on top of that, if they become saved, they can no longer be my enemies!  I do indeed pray to God every night that my enemies be blessed by Him, and so should we all.  I pray for the good as well; God bless you all and your families, and abundantly!

Temple Maintenance

TEMPLE MAINTENANCE

First let me say I am not talking about some false religion's building, nor the building of ancient Christian days, but rather, I'm talking about YOU!  Your body is a temple, did you know that?  "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." (1 Cor. 3:16 - 17)  What things you do to your body, He expects you to take good care of it; not defile it, nor destroy it, nor use it for unholy, unChristian purposes.  We may have practiced these things when we were in unbelief.  But do we now?
While we were unsaved, we didn't deal with the temple in the way we should have.  We most certainly were the loose bull in a china store.  We were separated FROM God; once saved, we are required to be separated TO God.  "For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." (Lev. 11:44)  So we need to sanctify ourselves, or, make ourselves holy.  This passage gives us one facet of being holy, not defiling ourselves with creeping things.  For the unsaved, it's gabage in, garbage out.  For the saved, it's wholesome and holy things in, wholesome and holy things out.  What other ways can we sanctify ourselves to God?

"Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.  And ye shall keep My statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you." (Lev. 20:7 - 8)  "Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it Me.  And ye shall be holy men unto Me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs." (Exod. 22:30 - 31)  See these two instances where obedience makes us holy, because we have set ourselves apart to God from the world?  God wants us to be holy as a part of temple maintenance.  After all, would we expect a holy God to take up residence in a defiled temple?  Certainly not!

Tattoos and piercings are a common worldly practice these days, but how is this temple maintenance?  "Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD." (Lev. 19:28)  While the piercings everywhere on peoples bodies is a vanity thing, it is clear that tattoos are marks on the body, and thus violates this request from God!

Can we get help with temple maintenance?  Jesus said so.  "Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.  The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak." (Mark 14:38)  We know our flesh is weak, but we can pray to God for help; we know that He is faithful in all things to we who believe on Him!  Understand that the works of the flesh are the things which defile our temple, and the fruit of the Spirit are the things which maintain our holiness for cleanliness of our temple that we would have our God reside in!  So what are the works of the flesh?  "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (Gal. 5:19 - 21)  For those who need help with some of these words, sedition is rebellion, as in against authority, variance is a form of strife, emulations are jealousies, lasciviousness is lewdness, and heresy is a controversial dissention against accepted Christian dogma.

Now the fruit of the Spirit are things which lend to holiness; "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." (Gal. 5:22 - 25)  If we have all these fruits, we are of no offense, so we are in complete obedience each moment we walk this way.  God knows we are human, so maintenance of this degree is impossible to sustain until our last breath, of course, but it is still a worthy level of holines to strive for as long as you can maintain it!

So what else contributes to temple maintenance?  Would you believe denial?  Yes, denial of sustenance; fasting!  "And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed." (Acts 14:23)  Now some of us can only fast for so long, especially the diabetic.  Nevertheless, fasting lends to spirituality, because it is a way of denying self and rejecting the world.  Consider this next passage of Scripture.  Christ told His disciples they could not cast out a particular demon because it required much prayer and fasting; "And when He was come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, Why could not we cast him out?  And He said unto them, 'This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.'" (Mark 9:28 - 29)  Christ instructed that fasting lent to power over certain demons.  He was exemplary of fasting Himself before His temptations by Satan in the desert as well; "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.  And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward an hungred." (Matt. 4:1 - 2)  Being our holy Lord, He certainly took His human frame to the limits of its endurance, you would think, to fast for so many days, and with such a length of fasting, He resisted all the temptations of Satan with quotes of Scripture against each temptation.  Like another reference to fasting being something holy men do?  "As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, 'Separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.'  And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away." (Acts 13:2 - 3)  See how these men made themselves holy so as to minister to the Lord through fasting?

I have another ensample of that prior statement I gave of "garbage in, garbage out", and "wholesome and holy things in and out".  "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.  Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil.  Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.  Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." (Eph. 4:22 - 32)  By now it has become clear that temple maintenance is sustaining as long as humanly able a state of holiness, of both the mind and the body.  That term "corrupt communication" covers anything unholy that comes out of your mouth.  "Evil speaking" also covers a wide range of verbage that one might allow to slip off the tongue.  Nasty words, hurtful words, lies of all kinds...these are examples of a defiled temple!  These sins come from within the body, but carnality is external sinfulness.  "Flee fornication.  Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body." (1 Cor. 6:18)  By this we have an example of defiling our temple from without.

Our Lord gave ensample also of the difference between a defiled and a holy temple as through the eyes; "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.  The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.  But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness.  If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!" (Matt. 6:19 - 23)  "No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.  The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.  Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.  If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light." (Luke 11:33 - 36)  If one be unsaved, they are full of darkness, their temple is defiled.  They do no maintenance of their temple, for they do not understand that their body is meant to be the temple of God.  So they trash their temple; God is not in them.  Those who are saved, however, are lit with the Spirit of God, and strive to be holy and obedient, that their temple be maintained, and their whole body be full of light, the light of God!  "According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Pet. 1:3 - 8)

We also have this promise, that God will always be with us who believe and work to keep our temple holy; "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, 'I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.'  So that we may boldly say, 'The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.'" (Heb. 13:5 - 6)  We can depend on our faithful Jesus to help us be like Him; He is there to ask always when we think of striving to be like Him; and trying to be like Him is temple maintenance, indeed!

Marital Damage Control

MARITAL DAMAGE CONTROL

I have 53 bible study topics waiting for me to write them, and one of the customers on my route asks me to pray for him and his marriage, and write another one for him to read to give him biblical guidance to proceed in trying to save it; wow.  I don't mind; it just means God is expecting me to latch the sideboards on my plate and take care of a brother and sister in need!
First off, any married couple must start off equally yoked; "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?" (2 Cor. 6:14)  If one of you doesn't want to accept Scriptural advice, you can't be helped.  You both have to agree that the bible is right in it's advice and try to rebuild the relationship back to the way it was, and maybe even better!

#1. The husband is in charge. "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing." (Eph. 5:22 - 24)  "Unto the woman He said, 'I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.'" (Gen. 3:16)  Wives, don't get too upset; I haven't started on the husbands yet!  As every believer surrenders to Christ, so a wife is to submit to her husband.  He says, "Sorry, honey, can't afford that dress/necklace/bracelet/other bauble of any expense," then it is so.  If your husband tells you to do something you know isn't right, you might start by telling him you will do as he commands, and maybe ask him if he has examined it for reason of this flaw or another, and he may reconsider, but nevertheless, as Hosea obeyed the Lord and married a wife of whoredoms, so do as he does bid, so long as it is not disobedience to God's commandments and statutes.

Also, behave as a good wife, that he may cherish you not just because of your submission, but also because of all the good you bring to the marriage.  "Who can find a virtuous woman?  For her price is far above rubies.  The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.  She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.  She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.  She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.  She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.  She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.  She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.  She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.  She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.  She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.  She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.  She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple." (Prov. 31:10 - 22)  Basically this proverb is saying that this is the excellent wife of a pleased husband.  She knows how to work to create gain for them.  "She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.  Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.  She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.  She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.  Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.  Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.  Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.  Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates." (Prov. 31:24 - 31)  This model wife knows what she's talking about, takes care of business, and knows how to raise the kids correctly.  She knows when to be humble, and fears the Lord, and she deserves all the good things she works for.  If a wife strives to do all this, she can hardly be found at fault in a marriage.  If anything of this is missing from the wife's part in the marriage, let her do what is necessary to recover.  If necessary, ask advice from your husband, because you're a team!

#2. - Husbands, love your wives as you do your own self!  "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.  So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies.  He that loveth his wife loveth himself.  For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.  This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.  Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband." (Eph. 5:25 - 33)  Let a man be a virgin to all womankind excepting his wife, and not let there be any hint otherwise.  Not a singles advertisement in the mailbox, nor a filled subscription to a pornographic magazine.  Treat your wife as you would treat yourself; would you cheat on yourself?  Would you like her to cheat on you?  "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3)  You have to work together!  Treat her likewise, and be clean of carnality against her.  Consider the moral fiber of Uriah the Hittite; "And David said to Uriah, 'Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet.'  And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.  But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.  And when they had told David, saying, 'Uriah went not down unto his house', David said unto Uriah, 'Camest thou not from thy journey?  Why then didst thou not go down unto thine house?'  And Uriah said unto David, 'The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife?  As thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing." (2 Sam. 11:8 - 11)  We should all be of moral and ethical fiber, of good character, that our wife might be pleased of all reports of we who are husbands.  Let our wives never hear that we can be found in a tavern, drinking, or doing some other thing to bring her shame of our behavior.  My wife's girlfriends ask her questions concerning me, and she is quick to answer them an answer I would be pleased with.  Likewise, I do the same on her behalf, such as the fact that though she be handicapped, she has never ruined a meal in 31 years!  Men. love your wives; I brought mine a box of chocolates just today!  Bring your wife flowers on a day for no reason; spontaneously tell her not to bother cooking, you're taking her to dinner.  I take mine to breakfast more often than dinner, but take her out!  Respark that marriage!

I know another couple whom I cannot help, and their marriage is of surety headed for ruin, and nothing I can do to help save them, because while they are equally yoked, they are both unbelievers, and that is to their hurt.  His tongue is full of poison, no sentence goes without a cursing word of some sort, and few are the days he doesn't speak ill of his wife to her hurt.  So long as neither will repent and turn to Christ, I cannot help them.  If the bible means nothing to them, how can they be enlightened to the road of repairing their marriage?  I shall add them to my already long prayer list.  No wonder the bible has it written, "Pray without ceasing." (1 Thess. 5:17)

It's really simple; love one another as you do your own selves; be pure toward one another, and of your own selves, that the wife and the husband shall be pleased with one another.  Raise your children to know the way of the Lord, that they may be a joy to you when they are old enough to be on their own.  "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Prov. 22:6)  Start when they are very young, for corruption and evil is as a ravenous wolf in the school systems.  Forgive one another what has taken place already, because neither of you can take back past mistakes, and besides, it is Jesus' commandment! "But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses." (Mark 11:26)  Lastly, communicate with your spouse, but do this; "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." (Eph. 4:29)