Tag Archives: Jerusalem

Luke 19

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Luke 19: Jesus came to Save souls

                Jesus entered and passed through Jericho, and while there a man named Zachhaeus, who was chief among the publicans desired to see Him. Zaachaeus was a very wealthy man, but short and had to climb up a sycamore tree to get the attention of Jesus, otherwise he would have been hidden in the great crowd gathered for Jesus. While passing by the tree, Jesus tells Zaachaeus to come down, for He needed to use his house. Zaachaeus, being fearful of the Lord told Him that he had given half of his wealth to the needy and always gave 4x back to anyone who he wronged. Jesus tells him that he doesn’t need to worry about his sins, for He came to “…save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)

                Jesus then gives the Parable of the Pounds;

“…A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return… he called his ten servants, and delivered to them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us… when he was returned, having received the kingdom…commanded these servants to be called unto him… that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said… Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be thou over five cities. And another came, saying, Lord. Behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept…” (Luke 19:12-20)

                All ten servants were given one pound each, the first made nine pounds and the second four pounds. The last servant made nothing, for he feared the man and did not want to lose the pound, so he did nothing with it. This Parable is similar to the Parable of the Talents, we should make the best out of our situation and never bury or hide something, we have endless opportunities and possibilities as mankind… make the best of it!

After telling the Parable, Jesus tells His Apostles to fetch Him a Colt that would be tied to door in a nearby village. So the Apostles go and grab the Colt, so that Jesus can ride it into Jerusalem. While in Jerusalem Jesus cleanses the Temple of evil, where the men have turned the house of prayer into “…a den of thieves.” (Luke 19:46)

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Luke 13

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Luke 13: Repent or Perish

Jesus tells us that the Galileans who were killed by Pilate at a sacrifice, or the eighteen people who were killed by a falling tower at Siloam, were not worse sinners than anyone else. He says; “…except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:5)

He speaks of the Parable of the Fig Tree;

“…A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sough fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find non: cut it down…. he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it. And if it bear fruit, well: and if it not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.” (Luke 13:7-9) Essentially the certain man was God, and He was coming to remove any fruit that did not produce good fruit, while the dresser of the vineyard, Prophets, Apostles and other men on earth plead with the Lord to give that tree or person another year to produce good fruit. If it were not for the dressers of the vineyard, the bad plants would have been cut and burned.

While teaching in the Synagogue a woman who had a problem with her spine came in and was healed and straightened out by the Lord. The ruler of the synagogue was displeased by this action on the Sabbath, and Jesus responds; “…Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?” (Luke 13:15) The man was a complete hypocrite and did not allow for a woman to be healed, but could lead his animals to drink.

Jesus then explains that the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, and leaven. The Mustard seed is the smallest of all the seeds, yet is one of the biggest when fully grown. We must strive to enter through the narrow gate to salvation, which will eventually be shut, causing wailing and gnashing of teeth, for Jesus will say; “… I know you not…” (Luke 13:27) Jesus laments for Jerusalem and its unwillingness, saying; “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather he brood under her wings, and ye would not!” (Luke 13:34) 

Mark 13

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Mark 13: Signs of the Second Coming

                Jesus speaks to His Apostles on the Mount of Olives, He explains that the great buildings of Jerusalem; “… shall not be one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” (Mark 13:2) Peter, James, John and Andrew ask Jesus in private what He meant by this?

Jesus explains to them that there shall come a time; “…when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.” (Mark 13:7-8) Jesus goes on to explain that those who follow Him, especially His Apostles, would be brought before rulers, kings and tribunals to testify against them. But, the Gospel of Jesus Christ will continue to spread throughout the world, and published among all nations!

Jesus tells His Apostles; “…ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (Mark 13:13) Jesus explains the end of the world as spoken of by Daniel, the prophet.

“…let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house.” (Mark 13:15) – Because of Flooding?

The world will experience darkness as the sun will stop giving light, the stars shall fall from the heavens and the powers in heaven will be shaken. After all this is done, the world will see the Second Coming of Jesus Christ

Jesus reminds His Apostles that they should not worry, for these things will just have to happen. But that they shouldn’t worry about when it will come; “…of that day and that hour no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.” (Mark 13:32-33)

Jesus explains that the Son of Man  [Jesus Christ] is as a “…man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants…” (Mark 13:34) Essentially Jesus is saying that He must soon depart, but He has left His Authority with His Apostles and from there they will have to carry about the work, but that He would one day return for the Second time.

Mark 11

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Mark 11: Jesus in the Temple – Money Changers

                Jesus and His Apostles ride into Jerusalem through to the Mount of Olives, where He commands two of His Apostles to go to a village near them, where they would find a colt tied to a doorway. So the Apostles leave and find a colt tied to a doorway, exactly as Jesus had told them. Some of those who were standing near the colt asked the Apostles what they were doing, the Apostles told them it was for the Lord, and the men told them to continue.

After returning to Jesus, Jesus hops onto the Colt and they ride into Jerusalem, all while people are shouting “…Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” (Mark 11:9) Jesus spends sometime in Jerusalem before it got dark and after “…he had looked round about upon all things…” (Mark 11:11) From here Jesus goes to Bethany, where He gets hungry and finds a fig tree. However, upon reaching the tree it was found that the tree was not producing fruit, only leaves.  Jesus answered upon the tree and said; “…No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever…” (Mark 11:14)

Jesus left the curse on the tree and departed with His Apostles into Jerusalem. When they arrived in Jerusalem, Jesus found that the temple had turned into a market place; Jesus began to “…cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? But ye have made it a den of thieves.” (Mark 11:17)

                Jesus was mad, because they were turning His house into a house of market. The scribes were of course angry by this display from Jesus, so they sought to destroy Him. As Jesus and His Apostles departed, and passed by the same fig tree, Peter reminds them; “…Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.” (Mark 11:21) Jesus then tells them that with Faith, even mountains can be made to move. He continues; “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall receive them.” (Mark 11:24) Jesus also instructs them that they should forgive always, especially when they pray. For if man forgive men, then the Lord will also forgive that man.

The scribes catch up to Jesus and ask Him by what Authority He is able to do such great miracles, and Jesus responds; “… I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. The Baptism of Job, was it from heaven, or of men? Answer me.” (Mark 11:29-30) The scribes were afraid to ask, because they reasoned with themselves; “…If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.” (Mark 11:31-32) After thinking over the question Jesus had proposed they respond; “…We cannot tell. And Jesus answering unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.” (Mark 11:33)

Mark 7

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Mark 7: False Traditions

                  The Scribes and Pharisees come from Jerusalem to criticize Jesus for feeding many, with having them wash their hands before eating, as it is customary for the elders to do. Jesus answers unto them; “…Well hat Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men…” (Mark 7:6-8) Jesus instructs them that just because it is tradition to do something, does not make it above the commandments or teachings of God. The people that were gathered with Jesus did nothing wrong, but simply failed to honor a tradition. Jesus explains that they were being hypocrites for saying they honored God, yet with their actions they were chastising His Only Begotten.

Jesus explains to those gathered, that only by what leaves man can defile him; “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, and evil eye, blasphemy, pride and foolishness.” (Mark 7:21-22) These are the things that can defile man, not what they partake.

From here, Jesus leaves to the borders of Tyre and Sidon where he meets a Greek woman, who had a daughter who was possessed of an evil spirit. Jesus tells the lady that she will come home to find her daughter cured and freed from the evil spirit. Jesus then departs the land and goes to the sea of Galilee, near the coasts of Decapolis. Jesus is met by a man who was not only deaf, but also dumb in his speech impediment, He takes the man and hold him; “…and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue.” (Mark 7:33) and instantly the man was able to hear and speak.

Matthew 23

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Matthew 23:

Woe unto Hypocrites 

                Jesus speaks unto the multitudes gathered before him and pronounces woes upon the scribes and the Pharisees, explaining that “…all their works they for to be seen of men… to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.” (Matthew 23:5,7) Jesus explains that you should call no one your father, except your Father in heaven (see verse 9), I always wondered why the Catholic Priests called themselves, father?

Jesus then goes off on the Scribes and the Pharisees, saying; “…woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! …” (Matthew 23:12,14,15,23,,25,27,29…)

Saying that they shut up the kingdom of heaven against men… devour the widow’s home, make long prayer, stealing the gold of the temple, full of uncleanliness, full of hypocrisy, and murderers of the prophets.

Jesus ends his bashing of the scribes and Pharisees, asking how they rejected all the prophets? “Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city… O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” (Matthew 23: 34, 37) 

Since the beginning of time, God has sent servants, the prophets to the earth. God has tried from the start to gather His children and save them, yet they keep rejecting His Prophets.

Matthew 21

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Matthew 21:

Cleaning the Temple

                  Jesus commands two of His Apostles to go to a village, where they would find an ass and a colt tied. He commanded them to loose both of them and bring them back to Him. Jesus tells that that if anyone tries to stop them from taking the ass and the colt, that they are to say that it is for the Lord. This would fulfill a prophecy that a “…King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.” (Matthew 21:5) Jesus then got on the ass and rode into Jerusalem and everyone on the way asked who this man was; “…This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.” (Matthew 21:11) Upon arriving at Jerusalem, Jesus went into the temple and “…overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer; but ye have made it into a den of thieves.” (Matthew 21:12-13) This shows that Jesus did not want moneychangers in the house of His father. This is important because it shows that churches should not be built for gain. If they are built for gain, then they become dens of thieves and are not houses of prayer. This is also interesting to see that Jesus does in fact have human characteristics and can be angered or upset.

While in the temple, after over turning tables, Jesus healed many people. After healing, Jesus left to Bethany, where he lodged. The next morning Jesus was hungered and went out to a fig tree, where the branches yielded no fruit, so Jesus essentially cursed the tree so it would never grow anything again, after it had withered the Apostles were shocked of His power. Jesus reminds them that with faith, they can move mountains. He also explains that “…all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing ye shall receive.” (Matthew 21:22)

                  Jesus returns to the temple and while their, some of the chief priests ask Jesus by what Authority does He perform His miracles. Jesus asks 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?” (Matthew 21:24-25) The chief priests are a little baffled, because if they say from heaven, then Jesus would ask them why they didn’t believe in His authority. But if they say by men, then they would fear the people, because the people believed that John was a prophet. So they answered Jesus by telling Him that they could not tell. So Jesus responds; “…Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.” (Matthew 21:27) This shows that Authority is important to have, Jesus had the proper authority from His Father, but He had nothing to prove and did not have to tell those questioning Him, by where He received His Authority.

Jesus then explains the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen:

There was a man who planted a vineyard and dug a wine press around it, and built a tower. This man left his home and went into the far country. When the fruit became ready for harvest he sent some servants to the husbandmen (who were taking care of the house) so that they could harvest the fields. The husbandmen took the servants, beat one, killed another and stoned the last one. So the man of the field sent more servants and the husbandmen did likewise to these new servants.

Finally the man sent his son, whom he thought wouldn’t be killed by the husbandmen. When the son arrived the husbandmen said among themselves; “…This is the heir; come let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.” (Matthew 21:38) The man who owns the farm is represented of as God the Father, who sent servants (Prophets) to collect the harvest in the land (the earth), but the husbandmen (the people of the world) rejected the servants and killed them. So finally God the Father sent His Son, whom the people also rejected and killed

Jesus asks those gathered; when the man of the field (the Lord of the field) comes back, what do you think he will do to the husbandmen? “…He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits of the season.” (Matthew 21:41)

                  Jesus is the stone that the builders rejected, but He has become the head of the corner. Jesus tells them; “…The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” (Matthew 21:43-44)

                  Jesus was explaining that because of His own rejection, that one day the Gospel would be restored and given to a new people. The Gospel of Jesus Christ was restored in the early 1800’s in the newly formed United States of America. This church, the church Jesus Christ himself restored is the ‘Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’. This had to be done, because as Isaiah pointed out; “The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.” (Isaiah 24:5) The gospel of Jesus Christ over the years was changed and distorted, thus the need for a Restoration and Another Testament of Jesus Christ; The Book of Mormon (which was written in Ancient America at the same time the Bible was being written in the old world.)

Matthew 15

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Matthew 15:

Contending Against Jesus 

                A group of scribes and Pharisees came to Jerusalem to speak to Jesus, saying; “Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For the wash not their hands when they eat bread.” (Matthew 15:2) Talk about digging for something to accuse Jesus. But Jesus had an answer waiting for them; “…Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightiest be profited by me; And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free…” (Matthew 15:3-6) Jesus condemns the scribes and Pharisees for not providing for their parents, because they say that it is a gift from God. Jesus tells them that they are hypocrites and that “…in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (Matthew 15:9)

                Jesus then calls the multitude to come and listen to His words; “…Hear and understand: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth man.” (Matthew 15:10-11) Essentially saying that the scribes and Pharisees need to be quiet, because they are only defiling themselves with the filth that comes out of their mouth. One of those in the multitude says; “…Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended…” (Matthew 15:12) and Jesus responds; “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” (Matthew 15:14) In other words, Jesus is saying that He doesn’t care that it offended them, because eventually they will fall into the ditch, because it is the BLIND LEADING THE BLIND.

Peter comes and asks Jesus for clarification, where Jesus explains that anything that enters the belly that is not clean, will be cast out one way or another. The body will process the good and eliminate the bad. Whereas the evil words that come out of the mouth, come from the heart. Where there is an evil heart, there are evil thoughts. These are the things that defile man, not having washed your hands before eating.

Jesus then departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon where a woman from Canaan comes to Jesus and begs for Him to heal her daughter, who was vexed with a devil. Jesus responds; “…I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 15:24), in other words, He was on a different mission and did not have time to come and heal her daughter. However, the woman persists and asks again. Jesus is impressed with her faith and rewards her, by healing her daughter. From here, great multitudes come to Jesus and ask to be healed; he heals those who were lame, blind, dumb and maimed. There he performed these great miracles for three days, and has compassion on the multitude that had been following him without food for those three days. Jesus, then commands the multitude to sit, while he performed a similar miracle to that of the five loaves of bread and two fish. This time Jesus feeds four thousand men, besides women and children with seven loaves of bread and a few fish. We learn that there was even left over food, of seven baskets.

Jesus then departs to the coasts of Magdala.

Matthew 2

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Matthew 2:

Birth of Jesus Christ

 

                Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod. Wise men come from the east to Jerusalem and said; “…Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2)

When King Herod heard that there was born a King of the Jews, he was troubled. Nevertheless he inquired of the wise men and sent them secretly to Bethlehem to recover the child and bring him to Herod, so that he could worship the child. So, the wise men leave and follow the east star; “…when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:11)

               

                The wise men however were warned in a dream that Herod wanted to seek the child, in order to destroy him. Based on this information the wise men secretly departed into their own country, traveling a different path. When Herod found out that the wise men had mocked him, he “…slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under.” (Matthew 2:16)

 

Soon after, Herod passes away and an angel of the Lord comes to Joseph and tells him; “…take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life.” (Matthew 2:20) So Joseph takes Jesus into the land of Israel to the city of Nazareth, so that he might be called Nazarene.

Summary of Zechariah

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Summary of Zechariah

Chapter by Chapter:

Zechariah 1-2: Zechariah calls Repentance/The Last Days…

Zechariah 3-4: Jesus shall come “The Branch”/Zerubbabel shall finish the Temple

Zechariah 5-6: An angel reveals truths/Christ will sit on His Throne

Zechariah 7-8: Hypocrisy in Fasts/The Restoration

Zechariah 9-10: The Messiah shall come/Judah and Joseph

Zechariah 11-12: Messiah will be Betrayed/The Jews will know Christ

Zechariah 13-14: The Jews will be forgiven/The Lord will fight for Israel

Summary of Zechariah:

Zechariah’s ministry took place during the reign of Darius the Great. Some modern scholars believe that the Book of Zechariah was written by at least two different people. I personally believe that it was only written by Zechariah… but I digress.

Zechariah calls the people of Jerusalem to Repentance, he speaks of the “BRANCH” who is otherwise known as Jesus Christ. He speaks of the Second Coming of Jesus Christs, the Restoration of His Gospel and Church, The Last Days, The wars and the plagues that will befall all the earth if they do not believe in the Lord. Finally at the end of the book we learn that righteousness prevails and the Lord rules over all the earth as King.