MATTHEW

THE INSTITUTION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER–MATTHEW 26:26-30

Art Davison MATTHEW 0 Comment
THE INSTITUTION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
MATTHEW 26:26-30
Introduction:

This was an eventful day for the Lord and His Apostles. Mary the sister of Lazarus anointed the head of the Lord, Matthew 26:7, “There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.”

The Lord had to explain her motive saying in verse 10, 12, “Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me….12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.”

The Lord celebrated the Passover with His disciples.

I. THE OCCASION “And as they were eating…”

A. The Lord and His Apostles were assembled to observe the Passover on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, vv. 17, 19-20;

B. The Lord makes a STARTLING STATEMENT, v. 21;

1. The Lord mentioned this two days before the Passover, Matthew 26:2, “Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.”

2. Every account of the Lord’s Supper mentions this announcement by the Lord.

3. It was of paramount importance,

II. THE PASSOVER MEAL HAD NOW BECOME THE LORD’S SUPPER

A. This ceremony did not belong to the Passover but rather it pertained to HIS PERSON.

B. The Lord took Unleavened Bread, v.26;

1. He Blessed it, v. 26; 1 Corinthians 10:16b, “The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?”

2. He Broke it, v. 26, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 1 Corinthians 11:24, “And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.”

C. The Lord took the CUP and gave thanks, v. 27;

1. He tells His disciples to drink all of it, v. 27.

2. The wine in the cup represents His BLOOD, v. 28; 1 Corinthians 10:16a, “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?”

a. It was shed for the remission of sins, Hebrews 9:22, “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”

b. This is the Blood of the Covenant, Exodus 24:8, “And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.”

D. The Promise of that His disciple would be with Him in His Father’s kingdom, vv. 29-30.

CONCLUSION

Paul suggested that we need to examine ourselves before the Lord on this occasion. 1 Corinthians 11:28, “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.”

THE CHURCH, WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES–MATTHEW 16:18

Art Davison MATTHEW 0 Comment
THE CHURCH, WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES
MATTHEW 16:18
Introduction:

There are few doctrines about which there is more confusion than that of the doctrine of the church. Even among Baptist there is great confusion due to those who have chosen to disregard the clear teachings of the Word of God.

I. DELUSIONS ABOUT THE CHURCH.

A. The church is its buildings.

1. Many look at the church plant or buildings and think that they make what the church is.

2. The function of these buildings is to provide shelter from the elements in order to preach and teach the Gospel.

3. For hundreds of years churches had no buildings.

4. They provide space for the fellowship of God’s people, but are not dedicated solely to that end, but rather the to the teaching of God’s Word.

B. The church is universal and invisible.

1. The confusion:

a. The Family of God includes everyone who had trusted Jesus Christ as Savior since the time of Adam, Ephesians 2:19.

b. The Kingdom of God is Jesus Christ ruling over us, first in our hearts and eventually in our presence, Matthew 6:33. See also Mark 1:145-15; Luke 4:43; Matthew 13:41.

a. The Church of God…

(1) Is a local organization of baptized believers in Christ, 1 Corinthians 1:2.

(2) Has an address, Galatians 1:1-2.

2. The truth is that people do not make the distinction in the Scriptures. They listen to their teachers without examining the Word of God for themselves.

C. All churches are the same and equally scriptural.

1. Even though they do not have the same founder.

2. Even though they do not agree doctrinally.

D. The church disappeared during the Middle Ages.

1. This is the claim of the Protestants, who do not want to accept the Catholic Church is a true church.

2. This allows organizations, claiming to be true churches, which did not come out of the Reformation movement in Europe nor did Christ found them.

a. The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints = Mormons: Joseph Smith.

b. Seventh Day Adventists, Mary Baker Eddy.

c. Jehovah’s Witnesses, Charles Russell.

E. A person can be a good Christian without being an active member in a church, Hebrews 10:25.

1. If this is true, why did Christ organize His Church?

2. The Bible gives a high and holy place to the church of Jesus Christ.

II. DISTINCTIVES OF THE CHURCH.

There is a wide spectrum of belief and opinion concerning what constitutes a church. By and large many beliefs are based on human speculations and reasoning not founded in the Scriptures.

A. The New Testament Church is Divine in origin, Matthew 16:18.

1. The Lord himself founded and built His Church.

“The church whose charter is not issued by Christ, and whose credentials are not in Christ’s handwriting, must, sooner or later, see the handwriting on the wall. Every man-made church must share the fate of man, and since it has been appointed unto all men once to die, so shall it be with the work of their hands” (John William Porter, The Baptist Debt to the World, Baptist Heritage Press, p. 40).

2. For a church to be a true New Testament church, it must have been founded…

? At the Right Time: 30 AD.

? In the Right Place: Palestine.

? By the Right Person: Jesus Christ.

3. The first members were the Apostles, 1 Corinthians 12:28, “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-16.

B. The New Testament Church is Local and Visible in its Manifestation.

The word “church” comes from a Greek word meaning “called out assembly.” The word appears 115 times in the New Testament:

98 – it refers to a local, visible congregation.

11 – No specific congregation, but in a generic or institutional sense.

4 – Non-Christian assemblies, Acts 19:32. See also, vs. 39, 41.

2 – Prophetic sense, Ephesians 5:27. See also Hebrews 12:23.

C. The New Testament Church should be Independent in its association. There is no scriptural evidence to support the existence of modern day conventions, fellowships or associations.

D. The New Testament Church is Autonomous, i.e., Self-governing, in its operation.

1. In Acts 6 the Church in Jerusalem acted thus in choosing men to serve as the first deacons.

a. Their qualifications are laid out in 1 Timothy 3:8-12.

b. Their duties were under the direction of the pastor, Acts 6:3.

2. In Acts 13 the Church in Antioch sent out Paul and Barnabas as Missionaries.

3. In 1 Corinthians 5 the Church in Corinth dealt with a morals problem.

E. A New Testament Church is restrictive in membership.

1. They baptized only those that received Christ as Saviour, Acts 2:41, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”

2. God added those folks to the church, Acts 2:47.

3. The Lord has perpetuated His church. True churches which are the offspring of the Church that Jesus built, have always been in existence, Ephesians 3:21. See Matthew 16:18 also. They have been known by various names during the ages: Montanists, Novatians, Donatists, Paulicians, Albegenses, Waldenses, and Anabaptists.

F. New Testament Churches are Missionary in their outreach, Acts 1:8.

1. We have been commissioned to preach the gospel to every creature, Mark 16:15, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

a. Local or Home missions include your city (Jerusalem), your state (Judaea) and other states (Samaria).

b. Foreign missions include all other countries besides your country (unto the uttermost part of the earth).

2. We, as a church, have been empowered to accomplish what God commanded us to do, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:”

a. That happened on the day of Pentecost.

b. God’s power was manifested in the fact of men preaching the gospel in languages other than their own that they had not learned.

c. This power was manifested in the zeal of God’s people also.

CONCLUSION

Having studied the truth about the Lord’s church, every born-again Christian should be a member of a true church. They should attend regularly all of the services, Hebrew 10:25, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” It is a simple and sensible responsibility and an area where so many fail the Lord.

We should support the Lord’s church with our tithes and offerings in order to reach the lost. Someone did that so that you could hear the Gospel and be saved. Can we do any less? 1 Corinthians 16:2, “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.”

We should be ready to defend the Lord’s church…

? against unfounded criticism and attacks

? and respect the pastor, the man that the Lord has put in front of His work,

? as well as others in places of leadership.

THE CASE OF THE MAN WITHOUT A WEDDING GARMENT–MATTHEW 22:1-14

Art Davison MATTHEW 0 Comment
THE CASE OF THE MAN WITHOUT A WEDDING GARMENT
MATTHEW 22:1-14
Introduction:

The King had sent his servants to invite his guest to the wedding feast for his son, but they refuse to come. Another invitation was made, but this time the king’s servants were mistreated and some killed, whereupon the Kings sent His army to destroy those that had killed his servants. [Jerusalem, AD 70, Roman general Titus]

The king declared those people “unworthy” and sends his servants to call others, both bad and good.

Now everyone knows that to attend a wedding you must be dressed properly for the occasion. While our society is somewhat relaxed today, in the Lord’s day in Israel, the occasion demanded special attire.

I. THE UNWORTHY

A. These had mistreated his Servants.

1. The first group when to their farms or merchandise, v. 5, “ But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:”

2. The rest of those invited, the ecclesiastics, the scribes, the Pharisees, the Chief Priests, were the persecutors, v. 6, “And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.”

a. The Prophets were thus abused, Matthew 23:29-31, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, 30And 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. 31Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.”

B. These were the murderers of His servants.

1. These brought on the wrath of the King, v. 7, “But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.”

2. In 70 AD the Roman general Titus destroyed Jerusalem leaving no one rock upon another.

C. These had judged themselves worthy by their rejection of the invitation, Acts 13:46, “Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.”

II. OTHERS WERE INVITED – “BOTH BAD AND GOOD.” vs. 9-10

A. “Bad,”

1. In a physical sense: diseased or blind, Matthew 4:24, “And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.”

2. In an ethical sense: evil wicked, bad, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

B. “Good,” those that will receive Jesus Christ as Saviour, Revelation 5:9, “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;”

C. “Come ye,” an invitation to all people, Isaiah 55:1-3, Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. 3Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.”

1. Why “labour for that which satisfieth not?”

2. Listen to the Word of God, Isaiah 55:3, “Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.”

III. THE KING SEES A GUEST WITHOUT A WEDDING GARMENT, vs. 11-14.

A. Everyone was invited, but there is a standard, v. 12, “And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.”

1. “How camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment?”

a. Your robes must be better than religion offers, Matthew 5:20, “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

b. Everyone appears the same until they stand before the King, 1 Corinthians 4:5, “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.”

2. “And he was speechless.” Romans 3:19, “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”

B. “Bind him hand and foot, and take him away,” was the order of the King, v. 13, “Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

1. Without a wedding garment, i.e., Salvation by faith in Christ, there is no possibility of going to the feast (heaven), Revelation 21:27, “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

2. This guest without a wedding garment was cast into Hell, Matthew 13:42, “And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

C. “For many are called, but few are chosen.” v. 14; Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

CONCLUSION

Solomon said in Proverbs 16:25, “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Religion looks good to man’s eyes until he examines it by the Word of God. Then the religious person finds themselves without a garment for the wedding feast.

What is the solution to the problem? “And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Acts 16:30-31

THE BEGINNING OF SORROWS–PART 2–MATTHEW 24:1-14

Art Davison MATTHEW 0 Comment
THE BEGINNING OF SORROWS
MATTHEW 24:1-14
PART 2

Key: v. 8, “All these are the beginning of sorrows.”
Introduction:

This is the continuation of the first message on this theme. Before the coming of the Lord for the second time many things will happen.

Many will be deceived by the ministers of Satan as they speak with fair speeches denying the truth of the Word of God. They will declare their liberty as “Christians” to live a life of sin and lust that dishonors our Savior.

Wars and rumors of wars will be common and throughout the world will be famines and pestilence and sign in the heavens as well as here on the earth. But the end is not yet.

I. A TIME OF JUDGMENT BEFORE THE RAPTURE OF THE SAINTS

A. It will begin in the House of God, 1 Peter 4:17, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”

1. The time of separation:

a) Of the wheat and chaff, Matthew 3:12, “Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

b) Of wheat and tares, Matthew 13:30, “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.”

2. Who can stand at such a time? Malachi 3:2-5, “But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: 3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. 4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years. 5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.”

II. PEACE AND SAFETY WILL BE THE MESSAGE OF THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS

A. Of the enemies of Christ, 1 Thessalonians 5:3, “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.”

1. The one-world government will be agreed on, Daniel 9:27, “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”

2. Religion will move toward a one-world religion with it message of peace and safety.

B. Then sudden destruction will come, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, “Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;”

1. This destruction IS NOT ANNIHILATION that many think takes place after death.

2. This is the BREAKING UP OF THEIR PEACE and SECURITY through the outpouring of God’s wrath, Matthew 24:8, “All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

III. THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

A. We are in the last days, 1 John 2:18, “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.”

1. The spirit of antichrist is here, 1 John 4:3, “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”

2. The deniers of Christ are here, 1 John 2:22, “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.”

B. Many have gone out from those of us who preach the truth, 1 John 2:19, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”

1. Some have grown cold, Matthew 24:12, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”

2. Some have never been saved, 1 John 4:6, “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”

CONCLUSION

W. A. Criswell is quoted as saying before he died that he would be surprised to see 25% of his members in heaven. A. W. Tozer said that the number of lost professing Christians could be as high as 85%. Satan has been a busy man during the centuries.

Our time is limited and the stage is set for the Second Coming of Christ. What can we do that we are not doing to win others to Christ?

THE BEGINNING OF SORROWS–MATTHEW 24:1-14

Art Davison MATTHEW 0 Comment
THE BEGINNING OF SORROWS
MATTHEW 24:1-14

Key verse: v. 8, “All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Introduction:

The Lord is describing the “last days” to His disciples. He describes a time of great sorrow, not just for the world, but for the Lord’s people also.

It is a time of unbelief and of deception. Satan has attacked using every tool at his disposal. The Word of God is denied and many refuse to believe it. Ministers who appear to be God’s men, but in reality many are Satan’s men sowing discord and unbelief among professed Christians. Their words are smooth and persuasive bringing in “damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them.”

I. TAKE HEED THAT NO MAN DECEIVE YOU

A. Many shall come in my name, Matthew 24:24, “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”

1. False Christs, Acts 5:36-37, “For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. 37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.”

2. False prophets, 2 Peter 2:1, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”

a) Many followed their ways, 2 Peter 2:2, “And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”

b) Ministerial charlatans full of sins, 2 Peter 2:14,“Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:”

B. Many shall be deceived, Matthew 24:11, “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.”

1. People LISTEN to them and FOLLOW them and their shameful ways of…

a) Debauchery, 1 Peter 4:3, “For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:”

b) Filthiness, 2 Peter 2:7, “And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:”

c) Lust, 2 Peter 2:18, “For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.”

2. These have come in our mist PRETENDING to be men of truth, Jude 4, “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”

a) Two characteristics identify these godless men:

1) Perverting God’s grace by claiming liberty in Christ, they interpreted His grace as license to do what their flesh desired with no inhibitions, Jude 4c, “turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness,”

2) Rejecting God’s Son by denying the person and authority of Jesus Christ, Jude 4d, “and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”

b) God has condemned these men, Jude 4b, “who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men,”
II. THE END IS NOT YET

A. War and rumors of wars:

1. A time to be patient, Luke 21:19, “In your patience possess ye your souls.”

2. A time to wait on the Lord, Isaiah 40:31, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

B. Many signs shall be seen:

1. Famines:

a) A famine of bread, Psalm 105:16, “Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.”

b) A famine of the Word of God, Amos 8:11, “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:”

2. Pestilence, Amos 4:10, “I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses; and I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.”

3. Earthquakes, Luke 21:11, “And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.”

4. Signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars, Luke 21:25, “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;”

C. The Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached throughout the world, Matthew 24:14, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”

CONCLUSION

The end is not yet. The gospel is still being preached in many parts of the world and souls are being saved yet. When the Lord is finished then He will send His Son back. I don’t believe that day is far away.