Matthew 14 ... Reading through the Bible

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, 2 And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. 

3 For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias 'sake, his brother Philip's wife. 4 For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. 

5 And when he (Herod) would have put him (John) to death, he (Herod) feared the multitude, because they counted him (John) as a prophet. 

6 But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. 7 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. 8 And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger. 9 And the king was sorry:nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. 10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. 11 And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel:and she brought it to her mother. 12 And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
 
13 When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart:and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. 14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
 
15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. 

16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. 

17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. 18 He said, Bring them hither to me. 19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 

20 And they did all eat, and were filled:and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. 21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
 
22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray:and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 

24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves:for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 

26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 

27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 

28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 

29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 

31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 

32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. 33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
 
34 And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; 36 And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment:and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.

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Comments by Joan Boney  

Herod had John the Baptist beheaded because John spoke against adultery which Herod was committing with Herodias, Herod's brother's wife.

When Jesus came, HE spoke about adultery:   

Mt. 5 ... 27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 

Jesus took adultery a step further than the men of the time had considered.

29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee:for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee:for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 

31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery:and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

Jesus is saying that the man must not divorce a faithful wife.  If a man does divorce a faithful wife, that wife will commit adultery if she remarries and he will be the cause of her adultery because he put her away (divorced) her.

And the man who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.

The woman had no "right of divorce", meaning she could not divorce her husband.  But she could leave her husband but if she did so, she must remain unmarried.  Paul said this is "a commandment of the Lord" for the NT church.

I Cor. 7 ... 10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband:and let not the husband put away his wife.

Also in NT church ...

I Cor. 7 ... 12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord:If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband:else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. 15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases:but God hath called us to peace. 16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

If a man is married to an unbeliever ... or a woman is married to an unbeliever ... The believer is to live as a believer, continuing to obey God in his life even when his mate does not believe.  And if the unbeliever chooses to depart, Paul says, "Let her (or him) depart."  The bonds of that marriage ends.

Psalm 119:33-40 ... Prayers to God & Promises from God to the Church

33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes;
and I shall keep it unto the end.
 
34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law;
yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
 
35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments;
for therein do I delight.
 
36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies,
and not to covetousness.
 
37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity;
and quicken thou me in thy way.
 
38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant,
who is devoted to thy fear.
 
39 Turn away my reproach which I fear:
for thy judgments are good.
 
40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts:
quicken me in thy righteousness.  



Comments by Joan Boney  

This Psalm is filled with prayers to God.  Go back to this portion of this Psalm and look at the underlined parts which are prayers to God.

Psalms are often filled with prayers to God and also have promises from God.  We identify with much of these.  Thus they are so meaningful to us today. (and some lines of prophecy concerning Jesus are contained in some psalms)

Exodus 21 ... Viewing the works of God through scripture

(God to Moses)

1 Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them. 

2 If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve:and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing. 3 If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself:if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him. 4 If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself. 5 And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:6 Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.
 
7 And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do. 8 If she please not her master, who hath betrothed her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed:to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her. 9 And if he have betrothed her unto his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters. 10 If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish. 11 And if he do not these three unto her, then shall she go out free without money.
 
12 He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death. 13 And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee. 14 But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.
 
15 And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.
 
16 And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
 
17 And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.
 
18 And if men strive together, and one smite another with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keepeth his bed:19 If he rise again, and walk abroad upon his staff, then shall he that smote him be quit:only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall cause him to be thoroughly healed.
 
20 And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished. 21 Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished:for he is his money.
 

22 If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow:he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. 23 And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, 24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

(Remember these are Old Testament laws ... Jesus brought another spirit when HE came in the flesh ... Jesus spirit was salvation for man ... the second coming of Jesus will be to judge man and it will be over then for all eternity.)


26 And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, that it perish; he shall let him go free for his eye's sake. 

27 And if he smite out his manservant's tooth, or his maidservant's tooth; he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake.
 
28 If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die:then the ox shall be surely stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be quit. 29 But if the ox were wont to push with his horn in time past, and it hath been testified to his owner, and he hath not kept him in, but that he hath killed a man or a woman; the ox shall be stoned, and his owner also shall be put to death. 30 If there be laid on him a sum of money, then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatsoever is laid upon him. 31 Whether he have gored a son, or have gored a daughter, according to this judgment shall it be done unto him. 32 If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.
 
33 And if a man shall open a pit, or if a man shall dig a pit, and not cover it, and an ox or an ass fall therein; 34 The owner of the pit shall make it good, and give money unto the owner of them; and the dead beast shall be his.
 
35 And if one man's ox hurt another's, that he die; then they shall sell the live ox, and divide the money of it; and the dead ox also they shall divide. 36 Or if it be known that the ox hath used to push in time past, and his owner hath not kept him in; he shall surely pay ox for ox; and the dead shall be his own.

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Luke 9 ...  51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he (Jesus) should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, 52 And sent messengers before his face:and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. 53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. 

54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 

55 But he (Jesus) turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.

 And they went to another village.

Matthew 13 ... Reading through the Bible

1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. 2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 

3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth:and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 

7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. 

10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 

11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance:but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 

13 Therefore speak I to them in parables:because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 

14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 

16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see:and your ears, for they hear. 

17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
 

18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. 

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while:for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 

22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 

23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
 

24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 

27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 

28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. 

The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 

29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 

30 Let both grow together until the harvest:and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them:but gather the wheat into my barn.
 
31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds:but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
 
33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. 

34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. 

36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house:and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. 

37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 

38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 

39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 

40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.  

41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire:there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 

43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
 
44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
 
45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
 
47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. 

49 So shall it be at the end of the world:the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire:there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 

51 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. 

52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
 
53 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence. 

54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? 55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? 56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? 57 And they were offended in him. 

But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. 

58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Psalm 119:25-32 ... Prayers to God & Promises from God to the Church

25 My soul cleaveth unto the dust:
quicken thou me according to thy word.
 
26 I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me:
teach me thy statutes.
 
27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts:
so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
 
28 My soul melteth for heaviness:
strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
 
29 Remove from me the way of lying:
and grant me thy law graciously.
 
30 I have chosen the way of truth:
thy judgments have I laid before me.
 
31 I have stuck unto thy testimonies:
O Lord, put me not to shame.
 
32 I will run the way of thy commandments,
when thou shalt enlarge my heart.


Comments by Joan Boney  


quicken thou me according to thy word.


Jn. 15 ...Jesus says ... 1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away:and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 

3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.  

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches:He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit:for without me ye can do nothing. 

6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 

7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

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27 Make me to understand

Only if God gives me understanding can I have understanding.

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 29 Remove from me the way of lying:

It is amazing how often the way of lying comes to our mind when someone approaches us.  The flesh wants to look good to other flesh.  The way of God, the way of truth, often makes us look to man not so good.  So we are tempted to alter the truth a little or to leave out some parts of the story.  This is the way of lying to make us more approved in the sight of man.

James 3 ...17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

Jn. 8 (Jesus says) ... 38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father:and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. 39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. 40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God:this did not Abraham. 

41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. 42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me (The Word) :for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 

44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own:for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

If you lie, you serve the devil.  If you live in hypocrisy, you live in deception and you deceive yourself and those who hear you.  You serve the devil.

God is light, truth, and there is no darkness in God.  Jn. 1

If you yield yourself to lies and hypocrisy, even for what you think is a "good" reason to protect another person, you live in lies which are of the devil.

You can't be of truth and of lies.  If you go into lies, you let devils move into your house.

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30 I have chosen the way of truth:

It is a choice.  It is not automatic.

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O Lord, put me not to shame.
 
Shame is a by-product of withholding truth and trying to make ourselves appear good and appear attractive to this world or trying to make another human great.  We will be shamed for glory.  And when God reaches us with what we have done, we will be ashamed of ourselves.  Glory of humans will not be long lasting.  The Bible likens human glory to grass that springs up only to have a lawn mower cut it down.

Hopefully we will be ashamed of ourselves on this earth before we get to the judgment seat of Christ where there is no more opportunity for us, just final judgment and "rewards", whether rewards for doing good or for doing evil.

II Cor. 5 ...   9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;

Exodus 20 ... Viewing the works of God through scripture

1 And God spake all these words, saying, 2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them:for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. 

7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

(When a person profanes the Word of God, making spiritual things secular, he takes the name (The Word) of God in vain.  I have heard ministers joke about parts of the word of God and later it is very hard to read that part of the Word without thinking of that minister and what that minister said.  This makes the Word of God profane and takes the name of the Lord in vain, making it vain.)

8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God:in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day:wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.


(NT sabbath ... Heb. 4:10 For he that is entered into HIS rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from HIS.
11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest,)

12 Honour thy father and thy mother:that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. 

13 Thou shalt not kill. 

14 Thou shalt not commit adultery. 

15 Thou shalt not steal. 

16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. 

17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
 

18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking:and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. 19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear:but let not God speak with us, lest we die. 

20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not:for God is come to prove you, and that HIS fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. 

(Having a "fear of the Lord" in you is critical.  It is the fear of God which allows us to know that what God shows us is always the best way for us to go and if we do anything other than what God says in the matter at hand, we go in a way that is likely to destroy us.  Therefore a fear of the Lord keeps us in the way of God.  A fear of God is the knowledge that doing what God says is always the correct way for us.  We must not choose to go opposite to that which God says to us.  I have seen people in the church choose to go opposite from that which God told them and very bad things happen as a result.  You would not think a person who is born again would choose to disobey God but I have seen this happen.)

21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
 
22 And the Lord said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. 23 Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.
 
24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen:in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee. 

25 And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone:for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it. 

(Almost everything a human touches is polluted by that human.  The pride of man in what "he" did pollutes the creation.  If God tells us to do something and we do that, God is glorified.  But when "we" do it, we glorify ourselves.) 


26 Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.

Matthew 12 ... Reading through the Bible

1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. 

2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. 

3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; 4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?

 6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. 7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day. 

9 And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:
 
10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. 

11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? 

12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. 

13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.
 
14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. 

(Religious people often try to destroy prophets for prophets come from God and speak of the sins which the religious people do not want to have revealed.

Mt. 23 ... Jesus says ... . 29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, 30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. 31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. 32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. 33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
 
34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes:and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. 36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. 

37 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! 

38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

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Matthew 12

15 But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence:and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all; 16 And charged them that they should not make him known:17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased:I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. 19 He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. 21 And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.
 
22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb:and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? 

24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. 

(Antichrist ... always fighting God and trying to make himself to seem wise.)

25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? 

27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. 

28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. 29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. 30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
 
31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men:but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32 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. 

33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt:for the tree is known by his fruit. 

Mt. 11 ... When disciples of John the Baptist came to see if Jesus was the Christ (or should they look for another), what did Jesus say to them?

Jesus said ... Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

"By their fruits ye shall know them."

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Matthew 12

34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 

(John the Baptist also used the term "generation of vipers" when he spoke to the people ... 

Lk. 3 ... John said ... Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father:for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees:every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.) 

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Matthew 12

Jesus says ...35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things:and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 

36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

 
38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 

39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it:because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. 42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it:for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. 

(JB ... One time an evil pastor said to me, "Did Noah really condemn the people of the earth."   

The Holy Spirit said, through me, "YES, because Noah believed and obeyed God and they did not and thereby Noah condemned other by his belief in God and by his obedience to God." 

Every time a person believes God and obeys God, that person (by his acts of obedience) ends up as a form of condemnation to those people around him who do not believe and do not obey God.  In the day of judgment, God can say, "So and so believed ME ... how is it you could not believe ME?"  Thus condemnation by those who believe.

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Matthew 12

43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there:and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.


(If you desire to be rid of evil spirits and yet you do things to feed evils spirits instead of filling your house with the word of God continually, you will likely have even more evil spirits move in and your last state will be worse than it was before.)

46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. 47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. 48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? 49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Matthew 11 ... Reading through the Bible

Comments by Joan Boney  

I'm reprinting Matthew 11 from yesterday because God gave me impetus to write more about prophets in connection with that which Jesus said in this chapter.  Therefore some of you might have read the chapter before these additions were printed.  For those who have already read the writing with these additions, it will be good for you to read it again.

Matthew 11

1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. 

2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? 

4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
 
7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings 'houses. 9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 

Malachi 4 ... 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:
6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Luke 3 ...3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; 6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.  

A prophet comes warning you and correcting you.  In Mt. 11, Jesus is rebuking the people.  What did you expect to see from John the Baptist?

Jesus was THE PROPHET ... and Jesus spoke very strong words also to those who were doing evil.  He was always rebuking the scribes and Pharisees.  This is what prophets do.  This is what they are set forth by God to do.  Read Jeremiah 1-3 ... 

Jeremiah 1 

4 Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

 7 But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child:for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. 8 Be not afraid of their faces:for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord. 9 Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. 10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

 16 And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.

 17 Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee:be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. 18 For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land. 19 And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee.

Jeremiah 2

 5 Thus saith the Lord, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain? 6 Neither said they, Where is the Lord that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt? 7 And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination. 8 The priests said not, Where is the Lord? and they that handle the law knew me not:the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

 11 Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. 12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the Lord. 13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

 19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee:know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord God of hosts.

 20 Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the Lord. 21 A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel:for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten the Lord their God. 22 Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the Lord our God. 23 Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains:truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel. 24 For shame hath devoured the labour of our fathers from our youth; their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters. 25 We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us:for we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God.

This is the work of a prophet in both the OT and NT church.

And what was the end of John the Baptist on this earth?  John refused to approve Herod's adultery for Herod took his brother's wife for sex.  As a result, the wife had John beheaded. Mt. 14

The main thing the church people and pastors try to do is stop the prophet from speaking when they, the pastors and people, are doing evil in the church ... By stopping the prophet from speaking in the church, they "kill the prophet."

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Matthew 11 

11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist:notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. 15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.


16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, 17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. 19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

20 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. 

23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell:for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
 
25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 

26 Even so, Father:for so it seemed good in thy sight. 27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father:and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
 
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

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Comments by Joan Boney

When the people went out to the wilderness to see John the Baptist, they went out to see a prophet. How could they think that prophet was going to come dressed in soft raiment ... John is a prophet.  Prophets don't come with flowery words to make the people feel good about themselves.


When I was attending a church in Dallas years ago, there would frequently be someone stand up and speak "prophecy".  It would be words that caused people to get all emotional and get big smiles on their faces.  And afterward I could never remember anything that person had said.  This is almost a sure sign their words were idle words and that person just spoke a vision of his own heart which did not profit the people at all.

Though today, NT Church, each person who belongs to God has Holy Spirit, God still uses prophets in NT church.  

We see that by Ephesians 4 ... After Jesus was resurrected HE gave "gifts" to the church ... 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Look at the example we are given of John the Baptist when the people came out to see him ... John said to them:

O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father:for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.  

9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees:every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 

10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? 11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. 12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? 13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. 14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages. Lk. 3

These are not soft words ... These are words to wake up the people.  John the Baptist did not say to them they were okay ... John showed them their many sins.  This is a prophet! 

Psalm 119:17-24 ... Prayers to God & Promises from God to the Church

17 Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live,
and keep thy word.
 
18 Open thou mine eyes, 
that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
 
19 I am a stranger in the earth:
hide not thy commandments from me.
 
20 My soul breaketh for the longing
that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.
 
21 Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed,
which do err from thy commandments.
 
22 Remove from me reproach and contempt;
for I have kept thy testimonies.
 
23 Princes also did sit and speak against me:
but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.
 
24 Thy testimonies also are my delight
and my counsellors.


Comments by Joan Boney  

 18 Open Thou mine eyes,  

We see this example many time in Bible.  "Open my eyes ... Open his eyes ..."   Until this happens we cannot see.

God had me deliver a message to a woman.  Pam Padgett read the message and told me she rejoiced in that message "because it was so clear."  I told Pam the woman to whom I had delivered the message just called me saying "I don't understand that message."  

Understanding is from God.  Pam's eyes are opened by God.  The woman was blind.  The message I delivered to her got me free from her so it certainly accomplished God's purpose... which was to free me!  I delighted in being freed from having to hear the fleshly stories of this woman when she called me.  After that message to her, she stopped calling me.  Therefore she no longer flaunts her ideas in front of my face.  Neither has she been saved, so far.  Had she been saved, she would come to me immediately in repentance.  If God saves her, she will be ashamed of her words and her ideas and her actions of past.  All who are saved are ashamed of those things done in their flesh.  Salvation is saving us from our flesh.

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Elisha prayed, asking God to open the eyes of his servant ...

II Kings 6 ...  8 Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp. 

9 And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down. 10 And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice. 11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel? 12 And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king:but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
 
13 And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. 14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host:and they came by night, and compassed the city about. 15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? 

16 And he (Elisha) answered, Fear not:for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw:and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. 18 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

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After Jesus was raised from the dead and before HE ascended into heaven, HE was talking with some men but at first they didn't recognize it was Jesus ...

Lk. 24 ... 13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 

15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. 

17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? 

18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? 

19 And he said unto them, What things? 

And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. 21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel:and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. 22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; 23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. 24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said:but him they saw not. 

25 Then he (Jesus) said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 

28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went:and he made as though he would have gone further. 29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us:for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. 

30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 

32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while HE opened to us the scriptures? 33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, 34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. 35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how HE was known of them in breaking of bread.

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God opened the eyes of Peter to see Jesus as the Christ.

Mt. 16 ... 13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist:some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona:for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

God revealed this to Peter, no man did.  No man has the power to reveal Jesus to another man.  Only God can reveal Jesus.  Only God can open the eyes of man.  Only God can give a man understanding.  The rock is the revealed word of God.  The gates of hell will not be able to win out over that word God reveals to us by HIS Spirit.

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Acts 9 ... 1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus:and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man:but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
 
10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus:for, behold, he prayeth, 12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. 13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. 

15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way:for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. 

17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales:and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. 

19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. 20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? 22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

We are so different when God opens our eyes.  No man can make us understand.  Understanding is from God when we understand.

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19 I am a stranger in the earth:

The things spoken by people of this world sound so strange to me, as if they spoke a language that I do not understand, a "foreign" language.  This is because I no longer belong to this world.  I was changed when God revealed Himself to me.  Now it is God that makes me understand and that understanding is so very different from this word and from the churches of man which have not the Spirit of God.  We are strangers, speaking different languages.

Heb. 11 ... 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

... 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly:wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God:for he hath prepared for them a city.

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23 Princes also did sit and speak against me:
but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.
24 Thy testimonies also are my delight
and my counsellors.

Exodus 19 ... Viewing the works of God through scripture

1 In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount. 

3 And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; 4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles 'wings, and brought you unto myself. 5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people:for all the earth is mine:6 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.
 

7 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the Lord commanded him. 

8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do. 

And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord. 

9 And the Lord said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the Lord.
 
10 And the Lord said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes, 11 And be ready against the third day:for the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai. 12 And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it:whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:13 There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live:when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.
 

14 And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. 15 And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day:come not at your wives.
 
16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. 

17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. 18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire:and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. 

19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. 

20 And the Lord came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount:and the Lord called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up. 

21 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. 22 And let the priests also, which come near to the Lord, sanctify themselves, lest the Lord break forth upon them. 23 And Moses said unto the Lord, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai:for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it. 

24 And the Lord said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee:but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the Lord, lest he break forth upon them. 

25 So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them.

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1 Corinthians 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

Matthew 11 ... Reading through the Bible

1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. 

2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? 

4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
 
7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings 'houses. 9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 

Malachi 4 ... 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:
6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Luke 3 ...3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; 6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.  

A prophet comes warning you and correcting you.  In Mt. 11, Jesus is rebuking the people.  What did you expect to see from John the Baptist?

Jesus was THE PROPHET ... and Jesus spoke very strong words also to those who were doing evil.  He was always rebuking the scribes and Pharisees.  This is what prophets do.  This is what they are set forth by God to do.  Read Jeremiah 1-3 ... 

Jeremiah 1 

4 Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

 7 But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child:for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. 8 Be not afraid of their faces:for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord. 9 Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. 10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

 16 And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.

 17 Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee:be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. 18 For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land. 19 And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee.

Jeremiah 2

 5 Thus saith the Lord, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain? 6 Neither said they, Where is the Lord that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt? 7 And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination. 8 The priests said not, Where is the Lord? and they that handle the law knew me not:the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

 11 Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. 12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the Lord. 13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

 19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee:know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord God of hosts.

 20 Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the Lord. 21 A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel:for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten the Lord their God. 22 Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the Lord our God. 23 Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains:truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel. 24 For shame hath devoured the labour of our fathers from our youth; their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters. 25 We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us:for we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God.

This is the work of a prophet in both the OT and NT church.

And what was the end of John the Baptist on this earth?  John refused to approve Herod's adultery for Herod took his brother's wife for sex.  As a result, the wife had John beheaded. Mt. 14

The main thing the church people and pastors try to do is stop the prophet from speaking when they, the pastors and people, are doing evil in the church ... By stopping the prophet from speaking in the church, they "kill the prophet."

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Matthew 11 

11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist:notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. 15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.


16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, 17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. 19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

20 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. 

23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell:for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
 
25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 

26 Even so, Father:for so it seemed good in thy sight. 27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father:and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
 
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

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Comments by Joan Boney

When the people went out to the wilderness to see John the Baptist, they went out to see a prophet. How could they think that prophet was going to come dressed in soft raiment ... John is a prophet.  Prophets don't come with flowery words to make the people feel good about themselves.


When I was attending a church in Dallas years ago, there would frequently be someone stand up and speak "prophecy".  It would be words that caused people to get all emotional and get big smiles on their faces.  And afterward I could never remember anything that person had said.  This is almost a sure sign their words were idle words and that person just spoke a vision of his own heart which did not profit the people at all.

Though today, NT Church, each person who belongs to God has Holy Spirit, God still uses prophets in NT church.  

We see that by Ephesians 4 ... After Jesus was resurrected HE gave "gifts" to the church ... 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Look at the example we are given of John the Baptist when the people came out to see him ... John said to them:

O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father:for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.  

9 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees:every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 

10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? 11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. 12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? 13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. 14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages. Lk. 3

These are not soft words ... These are words to wake up the people.  John the Baptist did not say to them they were okay ... John showed them their many sins.  This is a prophet! 

Psalm 119:9-16 ... Prayers to God & Promises from God to the Church

9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?
 
by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
 
10 With my whole heart have I sought thee:
O let me not wander from thy commandments.
 
11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart,
that I might not sin against thee.
 
12 Blessed art thou, O Lord:
teach me thy statutes.
 
13 With my lips have I declared
all the judgments of thy mouth.
 
14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies,
as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate in thy precepts,
and have respect unto thy ways.
 
16 I will delight myself in thy statutes:
I will not forget thy word.


Comments by Joan Boney

10 With my whole heart have I sought thee:

Straight forward with singleness of purpose is very important to us.


James 1 ... 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Jesus said:  You cannot serve God and mammon ... Mt. 6

If our heart is double and we have fleshly desires mixed in with mental desires toward wanting to serve God, we have a problem.

fleshly desires:
- praise of men
- fame 
- money and worldly riches

These things can cause us to be like that fountain which has both sweet and bitter water.

James 3 ... 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

The only way I know to deal with mixed desires it to pray diligently, with true desire to do only the will of God ... asking God to show us when we are fleshly that we might turn.

If you really want to go in the way of God rather than the way of your own flesh, I believe God can reach you when you belong to God.

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14 I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies,
as much as in all riches.

We rejoice ... take great pleasure in the way of God ... We read the various things in the Bible which show us the way of God and we greatly delight in these stories... We think on the ways of God daily ... Keeping such before us is very great help to us. 


15 I will meditate in Thy precepts,
and have respect unto Thy ways.

Exodus 18 ... Viewing the works of God through scripture

1 When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses 'father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt; 2 Then Jethro, Moses' father in law, took Zipporah, Moses 'wife, after he had sent her back, 3 And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land:4 And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh:5 And Jethro, Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:6 And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.
 
7 And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent. 8 And Moses told his father in law all that the Lord had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the Lord delivered them. 

9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. 10 And Jethro said, Blessed be the Lord, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods:for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them. 

12 And Jethro, Moses 'father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God:and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father in law before God.
 
13 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people:and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening. 14 And when Moses 'father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even? 

15 And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:16 When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws. 

17 And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. 18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee:for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone. 19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee:Be thou for the people to God- ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. 21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:22 And let them judge the people at all seasons:and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge:so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee. 

23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace. 

24 So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said. 

25 And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 26 And they judged the people at all seasons:the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.
 
27 And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.