XIX. THE COMMANDS OF JESUS: (FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH) KJV, AMP, EXB, MSG 1. ("BE THOU FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH") Rev. 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Fear nothing that you are about to suffer. [Dismiss your dread and your fears!] Behold, the devil is indeed about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested and proved and critically appraised, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be loyally faithful unto death [even if you must die for it], and I will give you the crown of life. Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer [be persecuted/afflicted] for ten days [perhaps a symbolic number meaning a significant and definite time]. But be faithful, even if you have to die, and I will give you the crown [a wreath worn to indicate high status or as a reward] of life. “Fear nothing in the things you’re about to suffer—but stay on guard! Fear nothing! The Devil is about to throw you in jail for a time of testing—ten days. It won’t last forever. “Don’t quit, even if it costs you your life. Stay there believing. I have a Life-Crown sized and ready for you. 2. ("HOLD FAST WHICH THOU HAST") Rev. 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one may rob you and deprive you of your crown. “I am coming soon [quickly]. Continue strong in your faith [Hold on to what you have] so no one will take away your crown [wreath indicating honor or victory; 2:10]. “I’m on my way; I’ll be there soon. Keep a tight grip on what you have so no one distracts you and steals your crown. 3. ("WHEN MEN SHALL REVILE YOU, AND PERSECUTE YOU,...REJOICE, AND BE EXCEEDING GLAD") Mt.5:11-12 + Luke 6:23 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of your outward conditions) are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account. Be glad and supremely joyful, for your reward in heaven is great (strong and intense), for in this same way people persecuted the prophets who were before you. “You are blessed [Blessed are you; or God will bless you] when people insult [mock; abuse; revile] you and hurt [persecute] you. They will lie and say all kinds of evil things about [against] you because you follow [of] me. Rejoice and be glad, because you have a great reward in heaven. People did the same evil things to [They likewise persecuted] the prophets who lived before you. “Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble. + Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. Rejoice and be glad at such a time and exult and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is rich and great and strong and intense and abundant in heaven; for even so their forefathers treated the prophets. Be full of joy [Rejoice and leap] at that time, because you have a great reward in heaven. [For] Their ancestors did the same things to the prophets [2 Chr. 36:16]. “Count yourself blessed every time someone cuts you down or throws you out, every time someone smears or blackens your name to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and that that person is uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—skip like a lamb, if you like!—for even though they don’t like it, I do . . . and all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company; my preachers and witnesses have always been treated like this. (Luke 6:22-23 MSG) 4. ("WHEN THEY PERSECUTE YOU IN THIS CITY, FLEE YE TO ANOTHER") Mt. 10:23 But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. When they persecute you in one town [that is, pursue you in a manner that would injure you and cause you to suffer because of your belief], flee to another town; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before *the Son of Man comes. Footnotes: *Believed by many to mean the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Other commentators observe that the saying seems to teach that the Gospel will continue to be preached to the Jews until Christ’s second coming. When you are treated badly [persecuted] in one city, run [flee] to another city [the next]. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through all the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes [Dan. 7:13–14]. “When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family. There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate! But don’t quit. Don’t cave in. It is all well worth it in the end. It is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors! Before you’ve run out of options, the Son of Man will have arrived. (Matthew 10:21-23 MSG) 5. ("WHEN THEY DELIVER YOU UP, TAKE NO THOUGHT HOW OR WHAT YOU SHALL SPEAK") Mt. 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. But when they deliver you up, do not be anxious about how or what you are to speak; for what you are to say will be given you in that very hour and moment, When you are arrested, don’t worry about what to say or how to say it. [For] At that time you will be given the things to say. “Don’t be naive. Some people will impugn your motives, others will smear your reputation—just because you believe in me. Don’t be upset when they haul you before the civil authorities. Without knowing it, they’ve done you—and me—a favor, given you a platform for preaching the kingdom news! And don’t worry about what you’ll say or how you’ll say it. The right words will be there; the Spirit of your Father will supply the words. (Matthew 10:17-20 MSG) 6. ("MURMUR NOT AMONG YOURSELVES") John 6:41-43 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. Now the Jews murmured and found fault with and grumbled about Jesus because He said, I am [Myself] the Bread that came down from heaven. They kept asking, Is not this Jesus, the *Son of Joseph, Whose father and mother we know? How then can He say, I have come down from heaven? So Jesus answered them, Stop grumbling and saying things against Me to one another. Footnotes: *Capitalized because of what He is, the spotless Son of God, not what the speaker may have thought He was. Some people [The Jewish leaders; The Jews] began to complain [grumble; murmur] about Jesus because he said, “I am the bread that comes down from heaven.” They said, “This is [Is this not…?] Jesus, the son of Joseph. We know his father and mother. How can he [now] say, ‘I came down from heaven’?” But Jesus answered [responded], “Stop complaining to each other [grumbling/murmuring among yourselves]. At this, because he said, “I am the Bread that came down from heaven,” the Jews started arguing over him: “Isn’t this the son of Joseph? Don’t we know his father? Don’t we know his mother? How can he now say, ‘I came down out of heaven’ and expect anyone to believe him?” Jesus said, “Don’t bicker among yourselves over me. You’re not in charge here. The Father who sent me is in charge. He draws people to me—that’s the only way you’ll ever come. Only then do I do my work, putting people together, setting them on their feet, ready for the End. This is what the prophets meant when they wrote, ‘And then they will all be personally taught by God.’ Anyone who has spent any time at all listening to the Father, really listening and therefore learning, comes to me to be taught personally—to see it with his own eyes, hear it with his own ears, from me, since I have it firsthand from the Father. No one has seen the Father except the One who has his Being alongside the Father—and you can see me. (John 6:41-46 MSG) 7. ("LOOK UP AND LIFT UP YOUR HEADS") Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. Now when these things begin to occur, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption (deliverance) is drawing near. When these things begin to happen, look up [or stand up] and hold your heads high, because the time when God will free you [your redemption/liberation] is near [at hand]!” “And then—then!—they’ll see the Son of Man welcomed in grand style—a glorious welcome! When all this starts to happen, up on your feet. Stand tall with your heads high. Help is on the way!” (Luke 21:27-28 MSG)
Posted on: Wed, 25 Sep 2013 20:21:53 +0000