S1: It's our first live gathering around the radio kitchen table
S1: in the year. The new year 2025. What should be
S1: our ultimate priority for this new year and for every year?
S1: Stay with me and we'll talk about that in just
S1: a moment. Hello, friends. Welcome to Open Line with Ray
S1: Moody Radio's Bible Study Across America. My name is Michael Ray.
S1: I'm the academic dean at Moody Bible Institute, also professor
S1: of Jewish studies and Bible here and here we are
S1: sitting around the radio kitchen table. We're going to be
S1: taking your questions about the Bible, God and the spiritual life.
S1: If you have a question you'd like to call, the
S1: phone number here is (877) 548-3675. Let me Let me give
S1: you that a little bit slower. (877) 548-3675. And Tricia McMillan
S1: is our producer. Back in the chair today. Omar Mendoza
S1: is doing all things technical and someone is answering the phones.
S1: Not sure who it is. Uh, someone is around here.
S1: Didn't see him. Lisa and Anthony. Oh, I'm so glad
S1: that they are answering the phones. They will be the
S1: first voices you hear again. The phone number (877) 548-3675. Time
S1: to go. Get yourself a cup of coffee. I've got mine.
S1: And open your Bible because we're going to study the
S1: scriptures together. Let's start by talking about what is the
S1: most important aspect of our lives. I mean, what's the
S1: number one feature that comes before everything else? Let's ask ourselves,
S1: what's my ultimate priority. What do I care about the most?
S1: Some of us might say it's my family. Others might
S1: say I need to care for my family. So it's
S1: financial security or my job that's most important. Some of
S1: us might think getting healthy this year is the most
S1: crucial part of my life, or finding a meaningful relationship.
S1: But if we review the priority given to us by
S1: the Lord Jesus himself, we'll find our ultimate priority. In
S1: Matthew 633 it says, but seek first his kingdom and
S1: his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.
S1: So what should be our ultimate priority, priority in 2025?
S1: And actually, for every day of every year. Matthew 633
S1: is saying that we are called to pursue eternal values,
S1: not temporal ones. The word seek in this verse is
S1: a present tense command, and that has the nuance of
S1: always seek the Lord's most concerned that we pursue that
S1: which lasts forever, not what fades away as our first priority.
S1: God wants us to seek his kingdom. Kingdom refers to
S1: God's rulership. So he's asking us to seek his rulership
S1: in our lives. That's what the Lord Jesus is talking
S1: about when he says, seek first his kingdom. It means
S1: pursuing whatever it is that God wants us to accomplish
S1: in our lives. When we ask, What's God's will? This
S1: is at the top of the list that we willingly
S1: pursue his direction, his rule in our lives. Many of
S1: us really give lip service to this commitment, but then
S1: when it comes down to it, we might resist following
S1: God's rulership if what he demands is hard. Too many
S1: of us rewrite the old hymn this way. I'll have
S1: my own way, Lord. I'll have my own way. I'll
S1: be the potter. You be the clay. I'll mold you
S1: and make you after my will. While you are waiting.
S1: Yielded and still. No. He has to be our ultimate goal.
S1: His rule in our lives. But it's not just God's
S1: rulership that we're to prioritize. Seeking eternal values requires us
S1: to pursue God's righteousness as well. Seeking his righteousness refers
S1: to making the pursuit of the holiness of God a
S1: reality in my life. We can become so frustrated with
S1: our own failures that we just give up and give in.
S1: We say we'll never be holy. Yet Jesus, the Lord
S1: Jesus encouraged us to hunger and thirst for righteousness so
S1: that we'd be satisfied. That means my New Year's vision
S1: must include a renewed commitment to spiritual disciplines like reading
S1: God's Word daily, praying persistently, actively serving in my local
S1: congregation and other disciplines as well. And what does the
S1: Lord Jesus promise those who put his eternal values first
S1: and foremost in our lives? It's simple. God will provide
S1: for all our temporal needs and concerns. That's what he
S1: means by all these things will be provided. In the
S1: context Jesus was discussing basic needs like food and clothing.
S1: He said that if we pursue God's eternal values, God
S1: would provide temporal necessities. Note that this is a promise
S1: that God would provide basics, not luxuries. There is no
S1: promise that we'll be rich and it won't necessarily come
S1: like manna from heaven. He will provide jobs so that
S1: we can work for our bread. Also, notice that this
S1: promise really is directed to God's children, not all people.
S1: God in his common grace, allows rain to fall on
S1: the just and the unjust alike, and he provides for
S1: all people. But he only promises this provision to those
S1: who pursue his rule and his righteousness. Some of us
S1: might object that there have indeed been followers of the
S1: Lord Jesus who have experienced poverty. They've even experienced starvation.
S1: I think the answer is that this is a general promise.
S1: But there are exceptions. When the Lord wants some of
S1: his children to suffer for righteousness sake, he'll provide an alternate. Namely,
S1: the enablement for them to cope with starvation or exposure,
S1: or even martyrdom. Their faithfulness to the Messiah, Jesus to
S1: the very end, even in terribly difficult times, will bring
S1: great glory to God. Here's Jesus point in Matthew 633.
S1: It's simple. If we pursue spiritual priorities, God will give
S1: us material provision. If we have eternal values, God will
S1: meet our temporal needs. A.W. Tozer once said, when we
S1: take to ourselves the place that is God's. The whole
S1: course of our lives are out of joint. But what
S1: Jesus taught is actually the reverse. When we give to
S1: God His rightful place in our lives, the whole course
S1: of our lives comes into balance. And that's how to
S1: find our ultimate priority for 2025. Well, that's a great
S1: reminder for the new year. Uh, you know, I've got
S1: this thing about New Year's. You know, people say, Happy
S1: New Year for weeks and weeks and weeks into the
S1: new year, my limit is two weeks. So today is
S1: the only time that I will be with you live
S1: to say Happy New Year. But then after that, I
S1: stopped saying it and it's just because we're on. After
S1: two weeks, we're in the new year. We're going. But
S1: I do want to say Happy New Year to all
S1: of you. And begin by talking with Rita in Hendersonville,
S1: North Carolina, listening on the Moody Radio app. Hello, Rita.
S1: Welcome to Open Line. How can I help you.
S2: Doctor? Happy new year. I was reading in Second Kings
S2: and over and over again it talks about like Amaziah,
S2: son of Joash, the fourth king of Israel, became king
S2: in Samaria and he reigned 41 years. When did Samaria
S2: become a place? It went from where kings in Israel
S2: reigned to that place nobody even wanted to walk through
S2: where Jesus went to see the woman. The Samaritan woman.
S1: Okay, well, that's a little Old Testament history. Okay. And, uh,
S1: by the way, if you want to really follow the
S1: Old Testament history, something that would be really helpful. It's
S1: an old book. It's probably 50 years old, maybe more,
S1: but it's called A Survey of Israel's History by Leon Wood,
S1: and it's a really helpful history of the Old Testament.
S1: There's others one Eugene Merrill did called Kingdom of Priests.
S1: That's also a good one. But Leon Wood, best and
S1: easiest to follow. Follow the history. And here's what the
S1: history was. Uh, the, the you know, the two. There
S1: was one kingdom under David, right. And Solomon, Judah, and
S1: then under Rehoboam. Remember, he didn't listen to the good
S1: advice of the the counselors and listened to the young
S1: youngster's advice. And as a result, he increased taxes and
S1: the kingdom split Jeroboam taking ten tribes to the north
S1: that becomes known as the Northern Kingdom or the Kingdom
S1: of Israel, with its capital in Samaria, the city of Samaria,
S1: and then the southern kingdom, Judah and Benjamin. Those are
S1: the two tribes that becomes known as the Kingdom of
S1: Judah under the Davidic dynasty. So all the kings there
S1: are descended from David. So there you have your two kingdoms.
S1: And then, uh, Assyria came and conquered the northern kingdom
S1: in the year 722. 721. Somewhere around there. Uh, 721
S1: is the date I'd give you. Uh, so the Northern
S1: Kingdom falls with its capital, capital in Samaria. And then
S1: what happens is the Assyrians take most of the people,
S1: but not all, to Assyria. They exile them. And then
S1: when they exile them, uh, they bring people from Assyria
S1: into the northern kingdom, and they intermarry with the the
S1: people who have remained. And as a result, those people
S1: are not known as Israelites or Jewish people at this point.
S1: Those intermarried, they become known as Samaritans. And then when Nehemiah,
S1: for example, comes back to build the wall in Judah,
S1: it is the Samaritans that oppose and harass what they're
S1: what they're doing in rebuilding the wall. The other thing
S1: that happens is I left out that the southern kingdom
S1: falls to Babylon, and they go into captivity as well.
S1: But when they come back under Nehemiah, that's when the
S1: Samaritans who have already been there, they they start harassing them.
S1: And then also what happens in the Intertestamental period, the
S1: period between the Old Testament and the new, uh, when Antiochus,
S1: the king, the Hellenistic king of Syria, begins to oppress
S1: the Jewish people. The Samaritans join with him and are
S1: involved in oppressing the Jewish people, which is when that
S1: becomes the most hated region there. Sort of like a
S1: tension between the, the, the Jewish people who have returned
S1: into the kingdom there, and the Samaritans who have been
S1: involved in oppression of the Jewish people under during the
S1: Second Temple, the Second Temple has been built. And under
S1: that second temple, Antiochus has been oppressing them. The Samaritans
S1: joined with this Hellenistic king in oppressing the Jewish people.
S1: That's where we get the story of Hanukkah when they
S1: deliver them. So that's that's sort of in a nutshell,
S1: what happened. So it's in the intertestamental period that Samaria
S1: becomes the place to avoid. Okay.
S2: Thank you. Boy, that was a lot of animosity all
S2: through a lot of years.
S1: Yeah, yeah. And then, uh, part of the conflict was
S1: that the, uh, the Judaeans destroyed the temple. Uh, and
S1: as a result of destroying the temple. Oh, my. Uh,
S1: the Samaritans hated the the Jewish people, but it was
S1: part of war. It's it's a mess. But anyway, that's
S1: where it came from. Uh, thanks for your call, Rita.
S1: I hope that helped. Uh, hope it really spurs you
S1: to read about Old Testament history. And when we come back,
S1: we'll take more of your questions right here on Open Line.
S1: Our number (877) 548-3675. This is Michael. Be right back. Do
S1: you ever feel overwhelmed trying to see how all 27
S1: books of the New Testament fit together? Well, I have
S1: the perfect resource for you. Survey of the New Testament
S1: by Paul Benware takes you on a journey from Matthew
S1: to Revelation, giving you the big picture of God's grand
S1: story of redemption. Get your copy of this resource today.
S1: When you give a gift of any size. Call (886) 447-1222
S1: or go to open line radio.org. Welcome back to Open Lines.
S1: So glad you're joining us for this new year of 2025.
S1: We're looking forward to many, many times of talking together
S1: about your questions about the Bible, God and the spiritual life.
S1: It's it's just a really an amazing thing that that
S1: week after week, we get to study the scriptures together.
S1: This is the Bible study across America and I am
S1: so grateful for your listening in. Let's go back to
S1: the phones. We're going to talk with Laura in The Villages, Florida.
S1: Welcome to Open Line. Laura. How can I help you today?
S3: Good morning. I'll say Happy New Year. I'm like you
S3: one more time. That's it, that's it.
S1: Good. Thank you. Laura.
S3: Um, I've been thinking about after Jesus's resurrection. He went
S3: down to Hades and he preached to them. And I
S3: know that nothing God does is a coincidence that there
S3: was a purpose for that. And I'm wondering, did Jesus
S3: go there? Because maybe, you know, it was part of
S3: him fulfilling everything to go to Hades, where we would
S3: have ended up if we didn't have him. And so
S3: I just wanted you to speak on. Why do you
S3: think that? Does the Bible say anything about why he
S3: went there?
S1: Okay. Well, first of all, there are many people who
S1: say that he went there to give those who. The
S1: spirits who are locked up in Hades, uh, a second chance.
S1: I don't think that that's really appropriate, you know, to
S1: give them another chance to to believe. Leave. Uh, the
S1: in uh, Hebrews 927 it is appointed unto man once
S1: to die, and then the judgment. So I don't believe
S1: there's post-death second chances. Another interpretation of the that he
S1: descended to Hades is, uh, that he went to proclaim judgment, uh,
S1: upon those who were the spirits in prison. So that's
S1: a second view. I'm going to tell you the third view.
S1: And by the way, a great New Testament scholar theologian
S1: by the name of Wayne Grudem, uh, he and I
S1: agree on this. I don't believe the Lord Jesus descended
S1: to Hades at all. Uh, so how's that? Here's what
S1: I think. When the Lord Jesus was, uh, on the
S1: cross and he was dying, uh, the the thief on
S1: the cross says to him, Lord, remember me when you
S1: come into your kingdom. The Lord Jesus says, today you'll
S1: be in my kingdom, but I'll meet you afterwards because
S1: I've got to go to Hades first. He says, no.
S1: Today you'll be together with me. Uh, in in, in at, uh,
S1: in heaven, basically. Uh, and then secondly, he says, as
S1: he's dying, father, into your hands, I commit my spirit.
S1: So he goes right to the father. And then. So
S1: where does this idea come from that the Lord Jesus
S1: descended to hell or to Hades? Uh, well, first of all,
S1: I think most people know it because it's in later
S1: versions of the Apostles Creed. But it's it's not in
S1: the original versions of the Apostles Creed. And then lastly,
S1: it comes people think from first Peter chapter three and
S1: verse 18. So I'm turning there right now. And in
S1: first Peter three, this is what I'm going to try
S1: and tell you what I think he's talking about. Uh,
S1: he says, uh, let's see if I can find it here. Uh,
S1: verse 18, for Messiah suffered for sins once for all,
S1: the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you
S1: to God after being put to death in the flesh,
S1: but made alive in the spirit. Uh, and then my
S1: version says at in that state he also went and
S1: made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in
S1: the past were disobedient. When God patiently waited in the
S1: days of Noah while an ark was being prepared. So
S1: what is this talking about? Well, Christ suffered for the
S1: sins in the flesh. He was put to death in
S1: the flesh, but made alive either in the spirit as
S1: he was spiritually made alive when his flesh died, or
S1: I think it could possibly refer to, but made alive
S1: by the Holy Spirit, but made alive by the spirit.
S1: By whom? The spirit. That's what I would say. By
S1: the spirit he went and made a proclamation to the
S1: spirits who are now in prison. Here's what I think is.
S1: It's saying that the Lord Jesus died in the flesh,
S1: but he was raised by the spirit. And it's through
S1: that spirit that he went. And in previous days, during
S1: the times of Noah, he preached through Noah to the
S1: people who would not believe. And now they are the
S1: spirits in prison, awaiting final judgment. They are now in prison.
S1: So he didn't go preach to them when they were
S1: in prison. He preached to them when they were alive
S1: through Noah. And there's a great article. It's a technical article.
S1: So I wouldn't, uh, probably recommend it for everyone, but
S1: there's a great article written by Wayne Grudem in the
S1: Trinity Journal many years ago showing how that was the
S1: idea that it was preaching through Noah that that the
S1: Lord Jesus made proclamation through him just like he he
S1: preached through the apostles after his ascension. So he preached
S1: through Noah before the flood. That's what I think it's
S1: talking about. And I don't believe he ever ascended, descended
S1: to hell. He only went to be with the Father
S1: in spirit until the resurrection. Okay, Laura?
S3: Yes, yes. Um, it's a tough one. Yeah, it's a heavy.
S3: Not to undo, you know, because the Apostle's Creed, when
S3: you mentioned that, I remember saying that that, uh, you know,
S3: sometimes our own traditions end up messing us up. Yeah. Um,
S3: it's like at Christmas time, you've got the shepherds and
S3: the wise men all together, and.
S1: And there's only three of the wise men, right? So
S1: we don't know how many there were.
S3: So, you know, we end up, uh, getting kind of
S3: our scripture messed up. Yeah. So. But thank you for
S3: answering my question. And God bless you and what you're doing.
S1: Thank you so much for your call. I really appreciate it. Uh,
S1: we're we're going to talk with Cathy in Minnesota listening
S1: on Ktag. Uh, welcome to Open Line, Cathy. How can
S1: I help you?
S4: Good morning. Thank you so much for taking my call. Um,
S4: my neighborhood has a little Bible study, and we are
S4: studying specifically the life of Jesus right now. Last week,
S4: we were speaking and looking into his baptism. And when
S4: the Trinity is all visible and audible. The question we
S4: had in our book was, can you think of any
S4: other times in Scripture where the Trinity is visibly, audibly
S4: present altogether?
S1: Um. Is this a trick question? No. I'm just no,
S1: I don't, I'm just. I'm just joking. It feels like.
S1: I feel like we're playing a little biblical Trivial Pursuit here. Uh. Mm.
S1: That's what when people ask me the question of when
S1: were all three present, I always mention the baptism. That's
S1: what I think of first, at the, uh, Transfiguration. The
S1: father speaks. Uh, and so I would say that that's, uh,
S1: that's one example, but it's only the father and the son, uh,
S1: that's there. The father speaks at the Transfiguration in Matthew
S1: chapter 16, uh, while he was still speaking. I'm sorry,
S1: at the transfigure, Matthew 17, while he was still speaking,
S1: suddenly a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from
S1: the cloud said, this is my beloved son. I take
S1: delight in him. Listen to him. But I don't see
S1: that the Holy Spirit. I do believe he was present,
S1: but he's not, uh, descending like a dove, you know? Right. Uh,
S1: I don't know anything else. I'll show you a great
S1: Old Testament verse. This is kind of fun when you
S1: think about it. Isaiah 4816. Okay. Uh, there we go.
S1: Finding that one. Isaiah 4816 starts off by saying, uh,
S1: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning. Here's
S1: what it says. Approach me. Listen to this. From the beginning.
S1: I have not spoken in secret. Who's the one speaking?
S1: If you look in the context, uh, like, for example,
S1: in verse 12. Listen to me, Jacob and Israel, the
S1: one called by me. I am he, I am the first.
S1: I am also the last. Obviously God is speaking right.
S1: And then he says, I have not spoken in secret
S1: from the time anything existed, I was there. Again, God
S1: is speaking. And then it says, and now the Lord Yahweh,
S1: or the Lord God has sent me, and his spirit.
S1: So you have all three mentioned there. I think you've
S1: got the father who sent the son and his spirit
S1: right there. Isn't that something right there in the Old Testament? Yeah,
S1: that's a good triune verse in the Old Testament.
S4: Yes. And in the Old Testament even.
S1: Yeah, yeah. So I guess that's where it is. That's
S1: my answer to the. And it's audible because one of
S1: them is speaking. Right. The uh, where it says I
S1: was there from the beginning. And then now the Lord
S1: God has sent me and his spirit. So pretty cool. Uh,
S1: you know, if you can find any other verses, Kathy,
S1: let me know. But I just think of the baptism. Okay.
S3: Yes.
S4: Thank you so much. Appreciate it. Love your.
S1: Program. Oh, thank you so much. Appreciate you listening. Oh, my. Well,
S1: I did want to say I appreciate appreciate every listener.
S1: I also appreciate the team here that works together. We're
S1: all part of this family of open line. But there's
S1: some people who are very special. They are part of
S1: the team because they are kitchen table partners. They give
S1: monthly so that we can be on the air weekly.
S1: And one of the great things about that is that
S1: I like to say thank you by sending you a
S1: Bible study moment every other week. And I just want
S1: to say thanks to those kitchen table partners and hope
S1: that maybe some of you might consider, if you're a
S1: regular listener, becoming a kitchen table partner. If you did,
S1: you'd give monthly and we'd we'd send you that Bible
S1: study moment. I'd really, really appreciate it. It really gives
S1: us great assurance about the program to stay on. If
S1: you'd like to become a kitchen table partner, call (888) 644-7122. 22.
S1: That's (888) 644-7122. And, uh, you can also go to Openline radio.org.
S1: And when you do, you can sign up there to
S1: become a kitchen table partner. We'll appreciate that so much.
S1: We're going to come back with the Febc mailbag. Trish
S1: is coming into the studio. And we're going to take
S1: the questions you've mailed in to open by going to
S1: ask Michael a question at Online radio.org. Appreciate you guys
S1: so much for doing that. We're going to be right
S1: back with more right here on Open Line. Welcome back
S1: to Open Line. So glad that you're listening in today.
S1: It's time for the Febc, uh, mailbag, which that Febc
S1: stands for Far Eastern Broadcasting Company. And we're so grateful
S1: that Febc partners with Open Line to bring you this
S1: weekly open line Febc mailbag. Febc. Far Eastern Broadcasting Company
S1: is a terrific organization. They bring the good news to
S1: people via media and personal engagement. Check out the Febc
S1: podcast about what they are doing all around the world.
S1: It's called Until All Have Heard. If you'd like to
S1: find that podcast, you can always go to febc. That's febc. Org.
S1: Check out the podcast and the rest of the information
S1: there about the organization is a terrific group that's doing
S1: a lot to bring the gospel to the world. And
S1: joining me right now for the Febc mailbag is the
S1: Queen of the questions, Tricia McMillan. So glad to see
S1: you for the New Year.
S5: Glad to see you, too.
S1: It's been so long.
S5: Really. I know.
S1: Yeah, because we did an a pre-recorded podcast for last week.
S1: And then of course there was some time off for
S1: the holidays, for Christmas, and I took some time for Hanukkah, right.
S5: Which came really late this year. Or at least what
S5: I recall it coming because it usually comes before Christmas.
S1: Here's here's what we Jewish people always say. The holidays
S1: are either late or early. They're never on time. We
S1: just because they change. Because, uh, Jewish people are. Judaism's
S1: calendar is a lunar calendar, so it changes dates. Okay.
S1: The date is always the same. Kislev 25. But because
S1: the lunar calendar doesn't jibe with us. Okay, all the time.
S1: That's why.
S5: It's different. You may not know this, and so I'm
S5: putting you on the spot. Does does how late Hanukkah
S5: came in relation to Christmas this year? Uh, impact when
S5: it comes for Easter or for Passover?
S1: Uh, Passover should be probably a little bit later this year. Okay.
S5: Uh, and I realize I can just look that up, but.
S1: But but yeah, it'll be a little later. But, uh,
S1: the thing is, with Easter, it's Easter is not always
S1: the same day. Easter is based on the solar calendar
S1: about when the equinox happens. And so, uh, yeah, I
S1: don't know how it's going to relate to Easter.
S5: So okay, I know I put you on the spot.
S5: I didn't look up the date of Easter yet. You
S5: didn't anticipate that question coming? Yeah.
S1: It's okay.
S5: Let's talk about Passover.
S1: Yeah. So, uh. Okay. Well, I did want to ask
S1: you what was your your highlight of your Christmas celebration?
S5: Ooh, highlight was, I think, spending time with family. I had, um,
S5: I unexpectedly got to see my brother and his wife, uh,
S5: at Christmas, and then, um, got to see a lot
S5: of my husband's family, um, kind of in a bulk group,
S5: which I wasn't expecting. A couple were planned, but then
S5: there were a couple extras, a couple extra of his
S5: siblings who we saw. And so that was like an
S5: unexpected blessing, too. So I would say the family time
S5: was really nice. And we got some projects done around
S5: the house, which was like a secondary highlight. That's great.
S5: Just lots of time with family.
S1: Our highlight, believe it or not, was that after Christmas,
S1: the days immediately after our daughter in law had to work,
S1: our son had to work. And so we got to
S1: watch the grandkids with multiple sleepovers. Yeah. And bowling events
S1: and other fun.
S5: Times during.
S1: Hanukkah, during Hanukkah, and lighting the candles every night and
S1: singing the songs, playing special games. It was like one
S1: of the best times.
S5: Yeah.
S1: Uh, of course, we were together as a family, you know?
S1: You know, all the kids and everyone together at Christmas.
S1: But for Hanukkah, it was real special for me to
S1: be with the grandkids.
S5: Yeah. Oh, that sounds wonderful.
S1: Yeah. Eva, too. Yes. Yeah. I was happy to be
S1: with Eve.
S5: She's a given. Yeah. But.
S1: But we were there together. It was fun.
S5: Oh, good. Yeah. Good. Yeah.
S1: So. Okay.
S5: And now we're back. Yeah. Now we're back.
S1: I'm ready. You know, that was a lot of time off.
S1: I'm ready to ready to work.
S5: It was. And so we do have some carry over
S5: on questions. And actually what's funny is this one actually
S5: came in during January. Um, but David in Tennessee wants
S5: to know if there was a significance to the fact
S5: that the angel told the shepherds that they would find Jesus,
S5: one in a manger and two wrapped in swaddling clothes. Uh,
S5: he's been searching the internet, and the only thing he's
S5: found is that lambs were not swaddled. Um, so so
S5: was there a significance to these specific details that the
S5: shepherds were told?
S1: Well, it seems to me that he's been looking someplace
S1: on the internet. Now, one of the things that the
S1: internet is saying more than more, because there is a
S1: book that came out and talked about it that was
S1: very popular, that that these were priestly shepherds, shepherds who
S1: were preparing lambs for the temple.
S5: This is what the internet is saying. This is not
S5: what you're.
S1: This is what he found. It didn't say this, but. Right.
S1: I'm not saying this, but this is what they're going
S1: to see. Yeah. If you look all about the shepherds
S1: that these were shepherds making raising lambs for temple sacrifice,
S1: and therefore what they would do is they would go
S1: to a particular place in Bethlehem based on Micah four,
S1: and they would wrap the lambs so that they would
S1: not be without they would be without spot or blemish.
S1: That would be unbruised. Now the thing is, can you
S1: imagine taking a baby lamb and swaddling it? I don't
S1: think they would put up with that. Wrapping them up.
S1: I you know, I just but the truth of it is,
S1: there's nothing in rabbinic literature that teaches that the priests,
S1: the priestly shepherds, would swaddle lambs. It is a made
S1: up thing.
S5: Okay, so what he found wherever he looked was correct.
S1: It was correct. They did not swaddle them. Uh, and
S1: so I'm glad to hear that there's something right on
S1: the internet. That's good. Uh, now, the significance of the
S1: angel telling the shepherds that they would find this baby,
S1: this glorious king that was just born not in a palace,
S1: but in a manger. That's that's kind of unusual. So
S1: they were told where to look. You're supposed to look
S1: where they keep animals. Look for.
S5: Strange.
S1: A baby in a manger.
S5: Even. Even a normal baby. You wouldn't look there. I mean, like,
S5: even if it wasn't a king.
S1: Yeah. And then wrapped in swaddling clothes is what every
S1: baby is. But not just. But it's not a baby
S1: that's been abandoned in a manger. It's a baby that's
S1: being cared for. But there's no room. And so therefore,
S1: that they they had to use the, the manger as a,
S1: as a, as a like crib or, or a cradle. Right.
S1: That's so it's basically it gives two bits of information. One,
S1: these are people who don't have any place to be.
S1: So they have to be where they keep the animals,
S1: like in the barn, so to speak, but not really
S1: a barn like we think of. But in this cave
S1: where they kept some animals outside the home. And then secondly.
S1: But this is not a baby that's been abandoned or
S1: uncared for. It's just that it's swaddled. It's being cared
S1: for as a baby is. And so it gave them
S1: two clues for what to look for.
S5: Okay. But there would there was not an Old Testament
S5: prophecy that would have said he's going to be lowly
S5: in with animals or something, that this was fulfilled, fulfilled. Okay.
S1: No, the, the, the verse that, that a lot of
S1: people point to for this is in Micah four. I'm,
S1: I'm talking while I turn my pages. You know, whenever
S1: I do this, I wonder if people wonder what in
S1: the world I'm doing, but I'm trying to turn the pages,
S1: so I turn them loud so that they give me.
S5: Time when we hear it. Yeah, it sounds intentional. Yeah.
S1: It says in Micah four eight. And you. Watchtower of
S1: the flock, fortified hill of daughter Zion. The Zion. The
S1: former rule will come to you. Sovereignty will come to
S1: daughter of the daughter of Jerusalem. The word watchtower of
S1: the flock is the Hebrew words Migdal Eder and Migdal Eder.
S1: Apparently there was a watchtower in the fields of Bethlehem
S1: where they could keep watch over, you know, keep watch
S1: over their flocks by night from a tower. Uh, and
S1: so that could be some people said that they went.
S1: That's where the cave was. Where the where the manger
S1: was at Migdal Eder. I don't think so. I think
S1: it's Migdal Eder is just representative for Bethlehem. So, you know,
S1: it's it's like if sometimes when people talk about the
S1: United States, they'll say. And Washington has said, you know. Yeah.
S1: So Migdal Eder is like a key place in Bethlehem. Uh,
S1: and the Tower of, of Bethlehem, so to speak. And,
S1: and that's, that's what the prophecy is foretelling that the
S1: Messiah will come from Bethlehem. That's picked up in Micah
S1: five two.
S5: So okay.
S1: Let's do one more.
S5: Okay.
S1: Because that took too long.
S5: Okay. Um, next question. First, I do have to say, um,
S5: Eva is listening in on top of things. And Passover
S5: is April 12th. Okay. And Easter is April 20th. Oh,
S5: there we go. Okay. Thank you. Eva.
S1: Yeah, I told you she texted the answers.
S5: I know Pamela in Michigan listens to Wgme. Nathaniel has
S5: always been inspiring to me, but his name is not
S5: listed in the 12 disciples. Do we know any more
S5: about him from history?
S1: Or he was an Israelite without guile? That's what we know. Okay,
S1: that's what John says in John 145 through 51, remember? Uh, and,
S1: you know, there is, uh, he's an interesting character. There's
S1: a couple of things I want to say about this.
S1: First of all, let me just start with this. If
S1: you have a question like this, I've decided I'm going
S1: to try and say this more and more about where
S1: you can find the answer. Not because, you know, I
S1: don't want people to think that I am the the
S1: source of all knowledge. There's a lot of places where
S1: you can find answers. I think everyone should have a
S1: Bible dictionary in their library. Every growing believer who wants
S1: to understand the Bible better should have a Bible dictionary.
S1: We have a great one at Moody called the Unger's
S1: Bible Dictionary. Moody publishers, uh, Merrill Unger was a great scholar. Uh,
S1: and so the Unger's Bible dictionary, you could look up Nathaniel,
S1: and they would give you everything we know about him
S1: in the Bible. So it's a one volume thing. It's
S1: really worth it. And whenever you get it, when there's
S1: a big sale at Moody Publishers, you know, Moody Books.com,
S1: I think we have periodic sales if you books.org.
S5: But yes.
S1: Yeah. Sorry. Okay. And then also, uh, one of the
S1: things if a person becomes a kitchen table partner $30
S1: a month, which I mentioned in a previous segment, the
S1: kitchen table partners, if they do it for $30 a
S1: month as a kitchen table partner, they'll get 50% off.
S5: All the.
S1: Time. Everything in all the books. And that'd be a
S1: great way to get the the Unger's Bible Dictionary, but
S1: that would tell you a lot. Secondly, it says that
S1: he was the Lord. Jesus said, I saw you when
S1: you were under the fig tree. Being under the fig
S1: tree was actually a rabbinic idiom for studying the Bible. Mhm.
S1: And so he may have been under a fig tree
S1: and we can take it literally. Or it may be
S1: that the Lord Jesus was saying I saw you when
S1: you were studying. That's kind of interesting. Yeah. I'm not
S1: sure which it is, but it could be either one. Yeah.
S1: And then he was the Lord. Jesus says he hears
S1: an Israelite, a true Israelite, in whom there is no guile.
S1: So he was Jewish and was a transparent, honest person.
S1: I think that's that's kind of cool.
S5: I mean, if that's what Jesus says about you. Yeah.
S5: You know, pointing you out and saying that that's.
S1: How cool is that?
S5: Pretty cool thing.
S1: And the only other time that we were aware of him. Uh,
S1: and uh, is in John 21, when they went back
S1: fishing after Peter said, I'm going back. Nathaniel is mentioned
S1: as going back.
S5: And fishing with them. Yeah.
S1: Okay. That's the only two times he's mentioned.
S5: John 21 two. Yep. Okay. So. All right. Well, I
S5: hope that helps, Pamela. There's not a lot there, but. Yeah.
S5: What is there is telling you what his name.
S1: Means, which is a great name. Gift of God.
S5: That's a good name.
S1: Yeah. I love that name. Yeah. I know someone named Nathan.
S5: Yes. That my husband's named Nathan. He's a gift. That's right.
S1: That's great. Okay, we're we're going to take a break here.
S1: And when we come back, we'll be back with more
S1: of your questions that you've called in. 848775483675. Thank you,
S1: Tricia McMillan, for bringing those questions together. You'll be back
S1: next hour with more. This is Michael Ray. Dominic, you're
S1: listening to Open Line. We'll be right back. Welcome back
S1: to Open Line. So glad that you are here with
S1: us and I'm so grateful for your listening. One of
S1: the things I'm also grateful for is that Chosen People
S1: Ministries is partnering with us to help bring you Open Line.
S1: That's a wonderful ministry that has been involved in bringing
S1: the good news to Jewish people for, uh, 130 years.
S1: Pretty amazing when you think about it. Well, uh, they are, uh,
S1: they're concerned. And I think Christians should be concerned about
S1: the growing anti-Semitism in the world. And that's why I
S1: Chosen People Ministries is offering a free book to our listeners.
S1: It's called Uncommon Allies American Jews and Christians uniting against Hitler.
S1: It was written by Alan Shore, and it's a book
S1: that shows the importance and power of Christians standing against
S1: anti-Semitism in the past. So we'll be motivated to do
S1: the same in the present and the future. Go to openlibrary.org.
S1: That's our website. Scroll down and you'll see a link
S1: that says A Free gift from Chosen People Ministries. Click
S1: on that and you'll be taken to a page where
S1: you can sign up for your own free copy of
S1: this really important book called Uncommon Allies. And we're going
S1: to talk to Courtney in Atlanta, Georgia, listening on. I'm
S1: guessing the internet. Welcome to Open Line, Courtney. How can
S1: I help you today?
S6: Good morning Michael I was calling to find out a
S6: couple weeks ago you had a panel on, and it
S6: sounded like there was agreement that in Matthew 23, Zacharias
S6: was the same Zacharias that said in Second Chronicles 24,
S6: I'm just trying to figure out how you got that.
S7: Well, it seems like I think.
S1: Uh, let me just say that 100% of Bible interpreters, 100%
S1: would say that it's talking about, uh, from the blood
S1: of Abel. It talks about in that verse that's in
S1: Genesis to the blood of Zechariah, whom you murdered between
S1: the sanctuary and the altar. Right. Uh, that's in Second Chronicles,
S1: chapter 24, verse 20, where he is murdered between the, uh,
S1: the sanctuary and the altar. So it's. And that that's
S1: a literary device the Lord Jesus is using there, because
S1: Genesis is the first book of the Bible. Second Chronicles
S1: is the last book of the Bible according to the
S1: Hebrew canon at that time. Uh, and so it's saying
S1: from the first to the last, that's really what it's saying.
S7: Uh, I guess.
S1: But the question you have is it says the son
S1: of Berechiah. Berechiah Is the prophet Zechariah one one and
S1: two and not, uh, this one here in, uh, this verse, uh,
S1: it's a different Zechariah you're saying. Right?
S7: Yes.
S1: Okay. Uh, well, the there's some, uh, in, in, uh, like,
S1: for example, Gleason Archer in his book on Encyclopedia of
S1: Bible difficulties. His explanation is that the grandfather of the
S1: Zechariah killed between the altar and the sanctuary, his grandfather,
S1: not his father, was named Berechiah. So he had the
S1: same name. I don't think that's right. I don't think
S1: that's the answer. I think what we have here is
S1: a textual copyist error. Year after year after year of copying.
S1: And it just went and it was early done. I
S1: think that there was a scribe and he was saying
S1: he didn't know the story in in Second Chronicles, and
S1: he just changed it to because he only knew the
S1: prophet Zechariah, son of son of Berechiah. And and that's
S1: what he did. In fact, the oldest we have two very,
S1: very ancient editions in Greek of Matthew. And they have
S1: it right. They don't have it berechiah. So I think
S1: that what we have is a very early copyist error
S1: that got then put into a lot of the documents.
S1: And that's why it says Berechiah here in, in Matthew 2335.
S7: Okay. Okay.
S6: There's the earlier copies. Did they just not have verify
S6: at all, or does it say like the son of
S6: Jehoiada or something like that?
S7: Jehoiada. It does say that. Yeah. Oh, wow.
S6: Awesome. All right. That's good to know.
S7: Okay.
S1: Well, good. Thanks for your. It's a good question, but
S1: by the way, this is one of the things that's
S1: really important. It shows that the Hebrew canon was complete
S1: in the first century, that they they there it is,
S1: the Lord Jesus using the Hebrew canon from Genesis to
S1: Second Chronicles. And he's he's recognizing the complete Hebrew canon.
S1: I think that's pretty cool.
S7: So that is okay. I appreciate it.
S1: Sure. Thanks for your call. Uh, court. Uh, Eugene in
S1: Grand Rapids, Michigan, listening on WGN. Can you ask your
S1: question really quick? Because we're coming up against the break.
S8: Yeah, sure. Go ahead.
S1: Hello? Hello. Go ahead with your question.
S8: Okay. Yes. My question is about, uh, uh, Mark 14th chapter, uh,
S8: the where Jesus was arrested and it says something about
S8: Jesus was arrested. All the disciples fled. And then the last, uh,
S8: verse there says something about a young man wearing nothing
S8: but a linen garment was following Jesus. Uh, who was
S8: that young man? And what was that verse 51 about?
S1: Well, it says, this is an interesting thing. The gospel
S1: of Mark is actually the gospel of Simon Peter. Why?
S1: It's historically what the gospel of Mark is traditionally understood
S1: to be. As Peter goes and gives a sermon about
S1: the life of Jesus in Rome. Mark is listening to it,
S1: takes down notes, and writes up the gospel based on
S1: what Peter dictated to him, basically in that sermon. And
S1: so this is Mark writing Peter's understanding of the life
S1: of Jesus for Romans. That's what the gospel of Mark is. Uh,
S1: but he did he still the one that wrote it up.
S1: And so this is his little saying, his little writing, saying, hey,
S1: I was there. There's a certain young man, John Mark,
S1: that's he's he's putting his signature in there saying having
S1: a linen cloth wrapped around his naked body, probably wearing
S1: underwear of some sort, not completely naked, was following him
S1: and they caught hold of him. He they grabbed a
S1: hold of the the garment. He fled and ran off
S1: in his underwear Uh, and that's, uh, John Mark saying, hey,
S1: this is not just Peter's words. This is me. I
S1: was there. So that's what I think that is. Okay.
S1: Thanks for your call. Really, really appreciate it. Thanks for listening, everyone.
S1: That's it for the first hour. Keep listening. There's a
S1: second hour of open line on most of these stations.
S1: Your station doesn't carry open line second hour. You can
S1: always listen on the Moody Radio app or online, or
S1: you can get the podcast afterwards during the break, check
S1: out our web page. Open Line radio.org has all kinds
S1: of links that you're looking for, like past programs where
S1: to give a question in written form. Ask Michael a question.
S1: You can find it all there. How to get our
S1: current resource. Whatever you're looking for is there? Our Bible
S1: study across America will continue in the second hour, so
S1: stay with us. Open line with Doctor Michael Dolnick is
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S1: We'll be right back.