1. Matthew 10:41. What is “a prophet’s reward” and a “righteous man’s reward”?

Every good act has good consequences, well beyond the visible. To receive a Christian is to receive Christ. To receive Christ is to receive the Father of Christ. To receive a prophet and his message is to be in line for whatever reward a prophet is going to receive. To receive a holy saint of God is to receive that saint’s reward. God judges us on the basis of our reception of His Word and His people. Any heart that is pure enough to be receiving messages from Heaven, which implies obeying them, is worthy of the same blessings as the one who conveys those messages.

2. John 9:3. Did the blind man and his parents never sin?

It may sound like that was what Jesus was saying. But in the context, He meant that the sin of this man and/or his parents was not the reason the man was born blind.

The presence of sickness and infirmity is always a mystery to us. We know that somehow it is linked to the entrance of sin into the world. We know it is temporary. Sickness does not exist in today’s Heaven or tomorrow’s Earth.

Often sickness is the result of human abuse of the body, or simply a curse from God. Scripture is full of such instances and so is our own life. But “not so fast” is the rule of thumb for those who want to attach blame for each and every symptom of weakness. Often, we will see that there are purposes for a sickness that exist only in the mind of God, and we must leave them there. Such is the case before us.

3. John 10:34. Are we gods?

Jesus quoted from a Psalm that used the word “Elohim” to describe the condition of some men living at that time. These were men of privilege and wealth and honor, whose elevation over the ones around them had actually led them into sin. And in the end of the Psalm they are informed that they will die like men even though God had called them “mighty ones” or “gods” (Elohim).

Jesus used the Psalm to challenge the thinking of the Jews before him. If God called other men “gods”, why not Me? He was not trying to add to Jewish theology here the possibility that all men are divine!

4. John 11:5. How was this “love” different from others?

It is fascinating to know that Jesus has a variety of affections for a variety of people. We hear that “He loves us all the same,” but it seems from stories like this one, that that is not the case. Does He have the same warmth of feeling for a Judas that He does for a Lazarus? Obviously not.

Here was no flaming evangelist or future pastor-teacher. This man’s name will not be engraved on the foundation stones of the New Jerusalem. Lazarus was a friend. And Jesus loved him. Cared about him. And cared about the welfare of his temporarily bereaved sisters.

To be a friend of Jesus. There’s a life work for you.

5. John 11:9-10. Why the comments about walking in the light?

Jesus had a set time to do His work, and that time (the day) was not yet finished. He would be able to accomplish all that God wanted Him to accomplish while God allowed the “day” to continue. The night was indeed coming. This was the 12^th hour, so to speak. But night had not come yet, and until it did, He could walk freely.

So say many of the commentators, and I think they have it right.

6. John 11:50. How did Satan’s plan and God’s plan, dovetail?

It is always the case that Satan can do nothing to harm God’s plan, but only to enhance it. Consider Job, who was requested to be hurt for Satan’s purposes, but who was blessed by God in this very hurting.

The Jewish leaders wanted Jesus to die to save their nation. God wanted His Son to die to save a Planet. They are on the same page, though only God is aware of it.

7. Luke 11:15. Where did the name Beelzebub come from?

From Chaldean mythology. Spelled this way, he is “lord of the flies.” With a final “l” he is the god of dung. With Ba’al instead of Be’el, he is lord of the house. Whatever the spelling, he is thought to be the prince of all the false gods, hence, the devil himself.

8. Luke 11:19. Explain the logic of this argument.

I have found this passage difficult through the years. Here is as far as I have come with it, with commentary help.

There were men in Israel claiming to cast out evil spirits. For the most part, the claims were unjustified. But the practice continued. Did they do it in Satan’s name? Of course not. Neither did Jesus. Yet they never accused their own circle of being in league with the devil. Jesus, they accused.