The Truth in Print Vol. 28 Issue 9, Oct 2022
A Publication of the Valley church of Christ,
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364
(928-782-5058)
Website Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
SPEAK EVIL
OF NO MAN – BUT I CAN SAY …
We
find the admonition to “speak evil of no man” in Titus 3:2. To speak evil means
to vilify, defame, or blaspheme. Most don’t
know how to read the Bible. In the same verse we are not to be a brawler
(fighting, quarrelsome), we are to be gentle (fair, equitable), showing all
meekness. If I call a brawler what he is, i.e., a brawler do I violate “speak
evil of no man”? People pay no attention to what Jesus said and where he said it.
Furthermore, they pay no attention to what hypocrites said to Him and when they
said it. Finally, most pay no attention to what Jesus said and who He said it
to! When it comes to social, cultural, and political activities, Christians
deal with the immoralities as He did. The unfruitful works of darkness are to
be reproved. (Eph 5:11-13). I’ll use Herod Antipas as the first example. Was he
the fox Jesus said he was?
SOME
THINGS WE KNOW ABOUT HEROD ANTIPAS
A
Son of Herod the Great
Herod
Antipas was a son of Herod the Great. He ruled over Galilee and Perea. His father, king Herod, is recorded as ruling
in Matthew 2 when Christ was born. He is king who in great anger put to death
all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two
years old and under -- seeking to have the Christ child included in the
slaughter.
How
would you describe him? As a great guy? An angel warned Joseph to take his
family and flee into Egypt, and stay there until they were brought word from
the angel that Herod was dead. Why? Because Herod would seek the Christ child
to destroy Him, if possible.
Archelaus,
Another Son of Herod
Joseph’s
Return to the Land of Israel Took Place When Archelaus, Another Son of Herod,
Reigned in Judea:
Mat
2:22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of
his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of
God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:
Mat
2:23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be
fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a
Nazarene.
Luke
Records the Reign of Herod the Tetrarch of Galilee at the Beginning of John’s
Ministry:
Luk
3:1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate
being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother
Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the
tetrarch of Abilene,
Luk
3:2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John
the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia:
“3. Herod Antipas was the son
of Herod the Great and Malthace, a Samaritan woman. Half Idumean, half
Samaritan, he had therefore not a drop of Jewish blood in his veins, and
“Galilee of the Gentiles” seemed a fit dominion for such a prince. He ruled as
“tetrarch” of Galilee and Peraea (Luk 3:1) from 4 bc till 39 ad. The gospel
picture we have of him is far from prepossessing. He is superstitious (Mat 14:1
f), foxlike in his cunning (Luk 13:31 f) and wholly immoral. John the Baptist
was brought into his life through an open rebuke of his gross immorality and
defiance of the laws of Moses (Lev 18:16), and paid for his courage with his
life (Mat 14:10; Ant, XVIII, v, 2).”
REBUKED BY JOHN (LK 3:16-20)
John’s Message
for All is Put With His Reproving Herod for Herodias, and Herod’s Shutting Up
John in Prison.
Luk 3:15 And as
the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John,
whether he were the Christ, or not;
Luk 3:16 John
answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one
mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose:
he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
Luk 3:17 Whose
fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the
wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
Luk 3:18 And many
other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.
Luk 3:19 But
Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's
wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,
Luk 3:20 Added
yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.
The Complete Word
Study Dictionary:
Herodias. The
granddaughter of Herod the Great and mother of Salome (Mat 14:3; Mar 6:17, Mar
6:19, Mar 6:22; Luk 3:19). She first married her uncle Herod Philip; she
afterward married Herod Antipas, another uncle, during her first husband's
lifetime. For this unlawful and scandalous connection, John the Baptist
faithfully reproved both parties, which cost him his life (Mat_14:3-10). When
her husband Antipas was banished to Lyons, France, she shared his banishment
with him.
·
This King Wasn’t Exempt From John’s Rebukes, and
Wanted to Put John to Death, but Feared the Multitude Because They Counted Him
as a Prophet (Matt 14:1-5).
·
Herodias,
Herod’s Wife, Wanted to Kill John and Succeeded by Her Own Cunning (Mk
6:14-29).
THE DEATH OF JOHN THE
BAPTIST IS PUT WITH HEROD’S HEARING OF JESUS’ WORKS, AND THINKING HE WAS JOHN
RISEN FROM THE DEAD. AT HIS BIRTHDAY PARTY THE DAUGHTER OF HERODIAS DANCED FOR
HIS GUESTS – HE WAS PLEASED AND OFFERED THE CHOICE OF WHAT SHE DESIRED. NOTICE
THE IMPORTANCE OF HIS DINNER GUESTS AT THIS TIME (MAR 6:21, 26), AS WELL AS HIS
WIFE’S CUNNING. ARE THESE GOOD PEOPLE? GREAT GUYS?
Mar 6:14 And king Herod
heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the
Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth
themselves in him.
Mar 6:15 Others said, That
it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.
Mar 6:16 But when Herod
heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the
dead.
Mar 6:17 For Herod himself
had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias'
sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.
Mar 6:18 For John had said
unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.
Mar 6:19 Therefore Herodias
had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:
Mar 6:20 For Herod feared
John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and
observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him
gladly.
Mar 6:21 And when a
convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords,
high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;
Mar 6:22 And when the
daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them
that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou
wilt, and I will give it thee.
Mar 6:23 And he sware unto
her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my
kingdom.
Mar 6:24 And she went forth,
and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the
Baptist.
Mar 6:25 And she came in
straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give
me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.
Mar 6:26 And the king was
exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with
him, he would not reject her.
Mar 6:27 And immediately the
king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and
beheaded him in the prison,
Mar 6:28 And brought his
head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her
mother.
Mar 6:29 And when his
disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a
tomb.
·
This Guy Wanted to
See Jesus:
Luk 9:7 Now
Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed,
because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead;
Luk 9:8 And
of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets
was risen again.
Luk 9:9
And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such
things? And he desired to see him.
·
This Guy was
Exceedingly Glad When He Got to See Jesus:
Luk
23:6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a
Galilaean.
Luk
23:7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent
him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.
Luk
23:8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to
see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped
to have seen some miracle done by him.
Luk
23:9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him
nothing.
·
Jesus “Answered Him Nothing” --- John’s Rebuke was His Condemnation, and He
Needed no More! John’s Message Was for All Including the King!
·
Formerly Enemies, Herod, and Pilate Now Become
Friends at Jesus’ Trial
·
Notice Herod’s Treatment of Jesus, Having Been
Shunned
Luk 23:11 And
Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in
a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.
Luk 23:12 And the
same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at
enmity between themselves.
Luk
23:10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.
·
Pilate
Included Herod in His Decision Given at This Point
Luk 23:13 And Pilate, when he had called
together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,
Luk 23:14 Said unto them, Ye have brought this
man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined
him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof
ye accuse him:
Luk 23:15 No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to
him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.
Luk 23:16 I will therefore chastise him, and
release him.
Luk 23:17 (For of necessity he must release
one unto them at the feast.)
“GO
YE, AND TELL THAT FOX” DID NOT MAKE HEROD INFERIOR, HE WAS A FOX!
As
Jesus Was Journeying towards Jerusalem
Luk
13:31 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get
thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.
Luk
13:32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out
devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall
be perfected.
Luk
13:33 Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day
following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.
I
CAN SAY “FOX”
“fox”
[G258 alōpex, n.f.]
· Thayer Definition:
1) a fox
2) metaphorically a sly or crafty man
·
Strong’s
Definition: - a fox, that is, (figuratively) a cunning person: - fox
MOST
PEOPLE PAY NO ATTENTION TO WHAT JESUS SAID AND WHERE HE SAID IT
A Certain Pharisee Asked Jesus to Dine With Him.
The Pharisees Bound Human Tradition Handed Down, and Thus Made Void God’s Word
(Cf. Mk 7:5-13).
· Told them their heart was full of greed and
wickedness (Lk 11:39).
· Called those Pharisees present “fools” (Lk
11:40).
· They were covetous (Lk 11:41).
· They were unjust and did not keep God’s
commands (Jo 14:15; I Jo 5:3).
· They loved to be seen by men (Lk 11:43).
· They were hiding their immoralities (Lk
11:44).
Now,
how are you going warn others as well as correct injustice if you can’t
identify the wrongs and who is doing them? He also called them “whited
sepulchres.”
Mat
23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto
whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full
of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
Mat
23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are
full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
I
CAN SAY “HYPOCRITES!”
· “hypocrites” [G5273 hupokritēs, n.m.]
· Thayer Definition:
2) an actor, stage player
3) a dissembler, pretender, hypocrite
From [G5271
hupokrinomai, vb.]
3) to simulate, feign, pretend
Jesus’
use of “hypocrites” is seen in Matt 23:13, 14, 15, 23, 25, 27, 29-31.
Hypocrites
Were Identified in the Church When Necessary:
·
At Antioch,
Peter, Barnabas, and the Jews Who Came from Jerusalem “Played the Hypocrite”
(Gal 2:11-21).
MOST
PEOPLE PAY NO ATTENTION TO WHAT HYPOCRITES SAID AND WHEN
Luk
11:45 Then one of the lawyers answered and said to Him, "Teacher, by
saying these things You reproach us also."
· “reproach”
[G5195 hubrizō, vb.] Thayer Definition:
1) to be insolent, to behave
insolently, wantonly, outrageously
2) to act insolently and shamefully
towards one, to treat shamefully
3) of one who injures another by
speaking evil of him
From G5196 hubris, n. Thayer Definition:
1) insolence
1a) impudence, pride, haughtiness
2) a wrong springing from insolence,
an injury, affront, insult
3) mental injury and wantonness of its
infliction being prominent
4) injury inflicted by the violence of
a tempest
THE
PLOY IS, “YOU’VE HURT US SO MUCH!”
See what they accuse Jesus of here. And with fervent malicious hurtful zeal,
those opposing are said to be injuring the minds of the filthy woke today.
Disapprove of their filth – disapprove of their stealing from women athletes –
state God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against those who suppress the truth
in unrighteousness (Rom 1:18) -- expose their vile passions against the natural
order (Rom 1:26-27) – and you’ve hurt them so much – they have been so injured,
and you are inflicting mental harm with the violence of a tempest. That’s a complaint
used against Jesus by those who heard the truth He spoke against them!
MOST
PEOPLE PAY NO ATTENTION TO WHAT JESUS SAID AND WHO HE SAID IT TO
Woe
to You Lawyers! (Lk 11:45-52)
Luk
11:46 And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with
burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one
of your fingers.
Luk
11:47 Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your
fathers killed them.
Luk
11:48 Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they
indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.
HE’S
HITTING MOTIVES HERE! They built up
the tombs of the prophets while saying they did not approve of what their
fathers did in killing them (Cf. Matt 23:30). Their adorning the tombs was a
“show” to mask the evil in their hearts. He called the likes “hypocrites” (Cf.
Matt 23:28-36). What did they do with Stephen? They gnashed at him with their
teeth, cast him out of the city and stoned him! (Acts 7).
Luk
11:49 Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and
apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:
Luk
11:50 That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of
the world, may be required of this generation;
Luk
11:51 From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished
between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required
of this generation.
Luk
11:52 Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of
knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye
hindered.
These
hypocrites were trying to keep them from belief in Christ. An example is the
parents of the blind man and their fear of them (Cf. Lk 16:16; Jo 9:22). Read
that chapter and see how that insignificant blind man handled hypocrites!
I
CAN SAY “VIPERS!” (Matt 23:27-36)
Mat
23:29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs
of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
Mat
23:30 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.
Mat
23:31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of
them which killed the prophets.
Mat
23:32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
Mat
23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of
hell? …
·
“serpents” G3789 ophis - a snake, figuratively (as a
type of sly cunning) an artful malicious person, especially Satan: - serpent.)
·
“generation”
G1081 gennēma - offspring; by
analogy produce (literally or figuratively): - fruit, generation.
What
were their fathers? -- “you are the children of those who killed the prophets…”
(Matt 23:30).
Jesus
gets right to Satan as their father (pater, parent) in John 8:
Joh
8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my
word.
Joh
8:44 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.
Joh
8:45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
Joh
8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not
believe me?
Joh
8:47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because
ye are not of God.
·
You can go from
that back to Gen 3:15, Satan’s “seed” H2237 meaning “fruit,” i.e., what is
produced.
·
The apostle John
gives the identifier:
1Jn 3:10 In this the children of God
are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness
is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
AT
TIMES “LEWDNESS” IS THE RIGHT WORD
Jesus’
Parable Teaching What Comes Out of a Man Defiles the Man
Mar 7:14 And when he had called all the
people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you,
and understand:
Mar 7:15 There is nothing from without a man,
that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him,
those are they that defile the man.
Mar 7:16 If any man have ears to hear, let
him hear.
Mar 7:17 And when he was entered into the house from the people,
his disciples asked him concerning the parable.
Jesus’
Explanation of the Parable
Mar
7:18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not
perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot
defile him;
Mar
7:19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out
into the draught, purging all meats?
Mar
7:20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the
man.
Mar
7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts,
adulteries, fornications, murders,
Mar
7:22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye,
blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
Mar
7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
· Mk 7:22 “lasciviousness” [G766
aselgeia]
Thayer Definition:
1) unbridled lust, excess,
licentiousness, lasciviousness, wantonness, outrageousness, shamelessness,
insolence
The
Filthy Conduct of Homosexuals is Stated by Peter
2Pe
2:7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the
wicked:
2Pe
2:8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed
his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
· “filthy conversation” – “conversation” stands for conduct in this
verse [* G766 aselgeia, n.f.]
Thayer
Definition:
1) unbridled
lust, excess, licentiousness, lasciviousness, wantonness, outrageousness,
shamelessness, insolence
What
kind of conduct did the sodomites have? What President said “Do you know men
can get pregnant? Really! Really!” Any foxes out there! Do you know what a male
fox is? A “Tod” or Dog. Where was the Speaker of the House of Representatives
found? At Ru Paul’s “Drag Race All Stars” competition. A female fox is called a
“Vixen.” A “Skulk” is a group of foxes.
This
is What Paul Said About All Who Fulfill Lusts Against the Natural Order:
Rom
1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; …
Rom
1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the
creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Rom
1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women
did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Rom
1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in
their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and
receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
Rom
1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave
them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not
convenient;
Here's
an Example Left for All Who Depart from the Course of Nature – But People Are
Not Taking It to Heart
· Jud 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the
cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and
going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the
vengeance of eternal fire.
The
word “suffering” here means they are at this present day in Hades suffering
this vengeance of God. People aren’t listening!
The
Counsels of the Wicked Are Deceit
Pro
12:5 The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked
are deceit.
· “counsels” [H8458]
Strong’s: - properly steerage (as a management of ropes), that is,
(figuratively) guidance or (by implication) a plan:
· “deceit”
[H4820 mirmâh] Strong’s: - fraud: - craft, deceit (-ful, -fully), false,
feigned, guile, subtilly, treachery.
THIS
IS PLANNED. In discussions where
some willingly admit to the shamelessness of LGBTQ immoral filth, they’ll often
include questioning if those promoting it are sincere, or just ignorant. You
get tired of hearing them stop short in explaining the deceit! When one is corrupted they don’t despise
evil. There is a scriptural point that says, “Wisdom is too high for a fool: he
openeth not his mouth in the gate” (Pro 24:7) – yet
when found in public offices of responsibility you have what we see in those
promoting critical race theory today! (Cf. Pro 22:22). Filthy politicians,
their so-called spiritual leaders, educators as administrators, teachers,
teachers promoting gay and gender clubs, complicit immoral parents, and
corporate heads are responsible for Queer Theory being taught to children. One
explained their deceit with getting children to ask questions, and then that
justifies their answering with Queer Theory that sexualizes children. Those
promoting lewdness have ministers of Satan supporting them in the same – just
watch the show at the “high ground” National Cathedral.
I
CAN SAY “MOCKERS” (2 Pet 3:3-7)
Peter
is Not Speaking Evil in Describing Them This Way.
2Pe 3:3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last
days, walking according to their own lusts,
2Pe 3:4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For
since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the
beginning of creation."
2Pe 3:5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God
the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the
water,
2Pe 3:6 by which the world that then existed perished,
being flooded with water.
2Pe 3:7 But the heavens and the earth which are now
preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and
perdition of ungodly men.
If
you asked them if they believe in the Flood, and God’s reason for sending it
what do you know you’ll hear?
Valley
Church of Christ
2375 W. 8th
Street, Yuma, AZ 85364
(928) 782-5058
~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
Sunday
Services – Classes ~10:00; Assembly 10:50 am; Evening: 6:00 pm.
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evening – 7:00 pm
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