Daily Notes & Observations: “The Magi Came to the House” (Excerpt)

December 13, 2013 by

October 3

The Magi Came to the House

Daily Notes & ObservationsWhen December comes, it is common to see nativity scenes displayed in front of houses, places of worship, and other locations. These typically include depictions of the baby Jesus lying in a manger with Mary and Joseph, the animals, the shepherds, and the magi (wise men) gathered around. There is at least one problem with this — the magi were not present at the manger.

“After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh” (Matthew 2:9-11).

The shepherds were certainly present while Jesus was lying in a manger (Luke 2:15-16). But the magi did not arrive until after the Child had been moved from the manger into a house.

This is a relatively minor detail. But depicting the magi at the manger is not the only inaccuracy that is widely accepted by the religious world about the birth of Christ.

  • Many people imagine there being three wise men who visited Jesus. Yet the Bible does not tell us the number of magi who came (Matthew 2:1).
  • The Bible does not tell us the date of Jesus’ birth. Furthermore, the date that is usually commemorated — December 25th — does not fit with the events that transpired. Jesus was born during the time of year when the shepherds would be “staying out in the fields” with their flocks (Luke 2:8). The shepherds would not have been out like this in the middle of winter.
  • The Scriptures nowhere teach that there is to be a special day set aside to observe the birth of Christ, whether it is December 25th or some other day. There is but one memorial we are instructed to observe — the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26) — which focuses on the death of Christ.

Though the fact that the magi came to Jesus in the house — rather than the manger — is a small detail, it ought to remind us of the importance of being careful with how we handle God’s word. Do not assume that what you think or what you have been taught is necessarily correct. Instead, search “the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).

Daily Notes & Observations contains 365 articles like the one above – one article per day that will take you through the Bible in a year. Be prepared to start your study on January 1st – order your copy today!

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Daily Notes & Observations: “Violating the Law but Committing No Crime” (Excerpt)

December 12, 2013 by

September 15

Violating the Law but Committing No Crime

Daily Notes & ObservationsAfter being delivered from the lions’ den — which was his punishment for praying to the Lord — Daniel declared his innocence before the king.

“My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as I was found innocent before Him; and also toward you, O king, I have committed no crime” (Daniel 6:22).

Daniel said he was innocent toward the king and had “committed no crime.” But was this accurate? After all, Daniel violated a law that had been signed by the king.

“‘All the commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the high officials and the governors have consulted together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall be cast into the lions’ den. Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document so that it may not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked.’ Therefore King Darius signed the document, that is, the injunction” (Daniel 6:7-9).

Daniel clearly violated the law, yet he did nothing against God or the king. While Daniel’s statement — “I have committed no crime” — may seem inaccurate on the surface, his statement actually reflects a Scriptural principle: God’s people are to obey Him first and should not feel any guilt for refusing to submit to an ungodly law as the one Daniel refused to obey.

Remember what Peter declared to the Council: “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Later, in writing about our responsibility toward civil authorities, Peter said, “Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God” (1 Peter 2:16).

We are to act as free men because that is what we are. We have no obligation to comply with anti-God legislation.

Daily Notes & Observations contains 365 articles like the one above – one article per day that will take you through the Bible in a year. Be prepared to start your study on January 1st – order your copy today!

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Daily Notes & Observations: “Behold, Your People Are Women” (Excerpt)

December 11, 2013 by

August 4

“Behold, Your People Are Women”

Daily Notes & ObservationsAs the prophet Nahum announces God’s coming judgment against Nineveh, there is an interesting phrase that is used to describe the mighty city.

“Behold, your people are women in your midst! The gates of your land are opened wide to your enemies; fire consumes your gate bars” (Nahum 3:13).

This is not meant to be a disparaging remark against women. Nor does it mean that there would be no males in the city. Rather, it is simply pointing out that in the face of God’s judgment, their soldiers would not be able to fight against Him. In those days, the warriors would be men. Even in our modern culture, this is still generally true. So the point is that the warriors would be unwilling or unable to defend against God’s judgment. Notice a few other passages that use this same type of language:

“In that day the Egyptians will become like women, and they will tremble and be in dread because of the waving of the hand of the Lord of hosts, which He is going to wave over them” (Isaiah 19:16).

“A sword against their horses and against their chariots and against all the foreigners who are in the midst of her, and they will become women! A sword against her treasures, and they will be plundered!” (Jeremiah 50:37).

“The mighty men of Babylon have ceased fighting, they stay in the strongholds; their strength is exhausted, they are becoming like women; their dwelling places are set on fire, the bars of her gates are broken” (Jeremiah 51:30).

The lesson is that we cannot fight against God. No matter how strong or powerful we are (or think we are), He will defeat us if we rebel against Him.

Daily Notes & Observations contains 365 articles like the one above – one article per day that will take you through the Bible in a year. Be prepared to start your study on January 1st – order your copy today!

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Daily Notes & Observations: “They Prophesy for Money” (Excerpt)

December 10, 2013 by

July 14

They Prophesy for Money

Daily Notes & ObservationsAfter condemning the rulers for oppressive taxation of the people (Micah 3:1-3), the Lord addressed the prophets who had the same “love of money” (cf. 1 Timothy 6:10) as the rulers. Money, rather than simply proclaiming the word of God, was the primary motivation for these prophets.

“Her leaders pronounce judgment for a bribe, her priests instruct for a price and her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the Lord saying, ‘Is not the Lord in our midst? Calamity will not come upon us’” (Micah 3:11).

Since their motivation was money and not truth (their claim that the Lord was with them and would protect them was false), these prophets adjusted their message depending on whether or not their audience would support them.

“Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who lead my people astray; when they have something to bite with their teeth, they cry, ‘Peace,’ but against him who puts nothing in their mouths they declare holy war” (Micah 3:5).

For those who were willing and able to pay them, these prophets delivered a message that would be pleasing to them. But for those who did not support them, they responded with condemnation.

In every generation throughout the history of man, there have been people who were motivated primarily by money and were willing to compromise principles in order to gain wealth. The prophets were guilty of this in Micah’s day. Preachers can easily be guilty of this today — preaching a message that will be well-received by those who currently or could potentially support them. If a particular topic is controversial or not popular among their supporters, they simply ignore that topic — a blatant violation of their responsibility to preach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27).

Preachers must be more concerned with truth than with their support (or lack thereof) for preaching the truth. Paul told Timothy to “preach the word… in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2). Even when brethren would not like it and would “accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires” (2 Timothy 4:3), Timothy was not to compromise. “But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5).

Let us all, whether preachers or not, value the truth over every earthly thing.

Daily Notes & Observations contains 365 articles like the one above – one article per day that will take you through the Bible in a year. Be prepared to start your study on January 1st – order your copy today!

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Daily Notes & Observations: “A Worker’s Appetite” (Excerpt)

December 9, 2013 by

June 8

A Worker’s Appetite

Daily Notes & Observations“A worker’s appetite works for him, for his hunger urges him on” (Proverbs 16:26).

Hunger is the reminder that we need to eat in order to survive. That hunger motivates us to do something that God expects us to do — work. Those who have the ability to work must do so (2 Thessalonians 3:10), from the man who labors by the sweat of his face (Genesis 3:19) to the wife who is a worker at home (Titus 2:5).

Sadly though, our society is getting away from the Biblical model of personal responsibility. For many able bodied people, their hunger no longer motivates them to work hard in order to provide for themselves. Instead, their hunger makes them think they are entitled to receive the food they need (and much more) from someone else — parents, other family, friends, the government, etc.

Hunger is certainly something that is inherent in man. God designed us to get hungry. But this divinely-given mechanism that tells us we need food does not give us the right to expect that others will provide for us when we are unwilling to provide for ourselves. Paul wrote, “For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either” (2 Thessalonians 3:10).

Instead, the wise man says, “A worker’s appetite works for him.” How does it work? It motivates him to work and provide for himself. This is God’s design.

When we are hungry and need food (or clothing, shelter, etc.), we ought to work to provide these things for ourselves as long as we are capable of working. When necessities are repeatedly given to able-bodied people, they become conditioned toward dependence and slothfulness, instead of what God expects — independence and hard work.

Daily Notes & Observations contains 365 articles like the one above – one article per day that will take you through the Bible in a year. Be prepared to start your study on January 1st – order your copy today!

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