Just the Bible
F a l s e t e a c h i n g s e x p o s e d
Commentary on the New Testament
The Gospels - Page 1
I tell you that something greater than the temple is here
Matthew 12,6
The Lord said to my Lord
Matthew 22,44
He has spoken blasphemy
Matthew 26,63-65
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
Matthew 28,19
and my spirit rejoices in GOD my Savior
Lukas 1,46 f.
because they knew he was the Messiah
Luke 4,41 f.
GOD has come to help his people
Luke 7,16
So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him
Luke 8,38 f.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with GOD, and the Word was GOD (…) The Word became flesh
John 1,1-18
Make straight the way for the Lord
John 1,22 f.
A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me
John 1,29 f.
for he knew what was in people
John 2,24 f.
No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man
John 3,13
The one who comes from above / from heaven is above all
John 3,27-35
For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling GOD his own Father, making himself equal with GOD
John 5,18
that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father
John 5,22 f.
so He has granted the Son also to have life in himself
John 5,26 f.
Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before
John 6,61
For Jesus had known from the beginning who would betray him
John 6,64
You are of this world; I am not of this world
John 8,23
if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins
John 8,24
before Abraham was, I am
John 8,56-58
I have power to lay it down and power to take it up again
John 10,17
I and the Father are one
John 10,30
Isaiah said this because he saw his glory and spoke about him
John 12,37-41
believe in GOD and also believe in me
John 14,1
Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father
John 14,6-11
and we will come to them and make our home with them
John 14,23
now I am leaving the world and going to the Father
John 16,28
And now, Father, glorify me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world began
John 17,5
All I have is yours, and all you have is mine
John 17,10
When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground
John 18,6-8
My Lord and my GOD
John 20,28
Matthew 12,6
6 "I tell you that something greater than the temple is here."
In this statement Jesus speaks about his position as Messiah. As the LORD's anointed, Jesus has greater significance than the prophets and kings before him and also than the temple. The Bible testifies that GOD does not live in temples (Acts 7,48 / Acts 17,24). The earthly temple in Jerusalem during the old covenant period was merely the place where Yahweh caused His name to dwell. The Jews were supposed to go to this place to worship GOD and to offer sacrifices to Him - including the sin offerings prescribed in the Mosaic Law. The Bible declares that Jesus Christ is the true sacrifice that takes away man's guilt and that the true temple of GOD is not of stones but of believers with Christ as their head (Ephesians 2,20). In this respect, Jesus is more important than the Jewish temple of that time. This fact does not make Jesus GOD. Rather, the verse expresses that GOD values His children more than a temporary building.
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Matthew 22,41-45
Psalm 110,1
41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?” “The son of David,” they replied. 43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says, 44 “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” 45 If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?”
GOD gave visions and revelations about the Messiah to His servant David, who was king of Israel and also a prophet of the LORD. This included the revelation that the Messiah, as a descendant of David, would sit on his throne and rule over all nations forever. By asking his listeners this question, Jesus wanted to show that he is not only David's descendant, but also David's Lord, since as Messiah he is above David, even though he comes after David in time. As Messiah, Jesus has higher authority than David. This verse does not make Jesus GOD, especially since David differentiates between the LORD and his Lord. At this point, GOD is not speaking to himself, but to the Messiah, whom he has appointed as king over his kingdom.
Mt 1,1 / Mt 12,23 / Mt 15,22 / Mt 21,9 / Joh 7,42 / Rom 1,3 / 2nd Tim 2,8 / Rev 5,5
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Matthew 26,63-65
63 But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living GOD: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of GOD.” 64 “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy."
The Greek verb blasphēmeō and the Greek noun blasphēmia are primarily associated with blasphemy. This includes insulting GOD, desecrating something considered holy, or claiming to be GOD in any way (Romans 2,24 / Revelation 13,6). In Greek, these were common words used to describe someone who speaks negatively about other people. In the New Testament the two words are also used in connection with people (Titus 3,2 / Acts 18,6 / Romans 3,8 / 1st Peter 4,4 / Revelation 2,9), angels (2nd Peter 2,10-12 / Jude 1,8-10 / Revelation 13,6), impersonal things like GOD's word (Titus 2,5) or the way of truth (2nd Peter 2,2) used. In Matthew 26, the religious leaders considered Jesus calling himself the Messiah an insult to GOD's reputation. That is why they demanded the death penalty for Jesus, as was provided for in the Mosaic law for blasphemy (Leviticus 24,16). Apparently the Pharisees and Sadducees of Jesus' time had decided that anyone who claimed to be the Messiah was blaspheming GOD and therefore deserved to die.
The accusation of blasphemy can also refer to Jesus' statement that he would soon sit at the right hand of GOD. Although this fact was foretold in the Old Testament about the Messiah (Psalm 110,1 / Daniel 7,13 f.), the scribes viewed it as blasphemy. In reality, however, this represents a distinction that GOD intended for His Messiah. Jesus confirmed that he was the Messiah (not GOD) with his answer to the high priest's question. At the same time, Jesus declared that what was written about him would be fulfilled. The high priest's question shows that he understood Son of GOD as a synonym for Christ and could distinguish between the Messiah and the living GOD. Even though there was no reason to find Jesus guilty, the Jews did so anyway. Their sole concern was to eliminate Jesus in order to retain power and control over the people. Jesus' truthful statement about himself was sufficient justification for them.
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Matthew 28,19
19 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (…)."
This verse refers to three; but does not say that they are “one” or that all three are “one GOD”. Mentioning the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit together in one context only shows that these three exist. If the phrase about the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit is original, then the three things to which this verse refers are GOD the Father, His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, the gift or power of GOD. Given GOD's ultimate authority and power, Christ's exalted position as resurrected Messiah and Lord, and GOD's power over His Holy Spirit dwelling and working within believers, it makes sense that Jesus mentions all three here.
In the book of Acts, the disciples baptized exclusively in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 2,38 / Acts 8,16 / Acts 10,47 f. / Acts 19,5 f.). There is no evidence that John the Baptist or Jesus' disciples used any formula at baptism as described in the Gospel of Matthew. They baptized people in the name, that is, in the authority of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, pronouncing only the name of Jesus, the risen Lord and Head of the Church, because thereby His entire authority as Savior was expressed. Similarly, Paul rhetorically asked the Corinthians if they had been baptized in his name (1st Corinthians 1:13), which they were not, since Paul had no power to save anyone.
Similar to the Gospel of Matthew, the word name (Old Greek: onoma) is used in the singular in several places for two or more people. Jacob speaks of the name (singular) of his fathers Abraham and Isaac (plural) (Genesis 48:16). GOD commands not to mention the name (singular) of other "gods" (plural) (Exodus 23,13 / Deuteronomy 18,20 / Joshua 23,7). GOD says to David that He has given him a great name, which is like the name (singular) of the great ones (plural) on earth (2nd Samuel 7,9 / 1st Chronicles 17,8). Similarly, it says that the name (singular) of the wicked (plural) will pass away (Proverbs 10,7).
In addition, Jesus does not necessarily have to be GOD for people to be baptized in his name. The Israelites were also symbolically baptized into Moses, the servant of GOD, as they passed through the Sea of Reeds (1st Corinthians 10,2). This is about the authority of a messenger from GOD. Therefore, Matthew 28,19 should be understood neither as a confession of faith nor as a Trinitarian baptismal formula.
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Luke 1,46 f.
46 And Mary said, "My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in GOD my Savior (...)"
In the New Testament both Jesus and GOD, the Father, are called Savior (Old Greek: sōtēr) (Isaiah 43,11 / 1st Timothy 1,1 / 1st Timothy 2,3 / 1st Timothy 4,10 / Titus 1,3 / Titus 2,10 / Titus 3,4 / Jude 1,25). GOD, the Father, is the origin of all things and therefore also of the plan of salvation that He realized through Jesus. GOD caused the virgin birth of Jesus (Matthew 1,20) and gave him His Holy Spirit to enable Jesus to live a sinless life (1st Peter 2,22). Without GOD's work, it would have been impossible for Jesus to do GOD'S works and save us. Therefore, GOD the Father can rightly be called Savior. In the Old Testament, GOD raised up various saviors for His people (Nehemiah 9,27 / 2nd Kings 13,5 / Isaiah 19,20 / Obadiah 1,21). It is therefore wrong to say that Christ and GOD are one and the same because they are both called Saviors. Mary's praise in these two verses clearly refers to GOD, the Father. At no point did Mary call Jesus "her GOD".
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Luke 4,41 f.
41 Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of GOD!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah. 42 At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them.
Demons are not stupid or ignorant. They know the scriptures well, as Satan demonstrated when he tempted the Lord Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4,1-11). After all, the Messiah was the one who would destroy Satan's rule. Therefore, the special attention of all dark forces was on him. Satan's goal from the beginning was to overthrow Jesus and thereby thwart GOD's plan of salvation. First, the devil tried to seduce Jesus. Persecution came later, which ultimately culminated in Jesus' death on the cross. Satan and his demons obviously knew full well that Jesus was the Messiah and that GOD had given him authority over all demons and evil spirits. From these two verses it is clear that even the demons knew how to distinguish between GOD and His Son. In addition, this statement also confirms that Son of GOD is a synonym for Christ (= anointed one). In Matthew 4,8-11, Satan tempted Jesus by offering him all the kingdoms of the earth for possession. This would make no sense if Satan had believed that Jesus was GOD, since GOD owns the whole world. In this respect, this would not have been a temptation for Jesus if he knew that he was GOD. Furthermore, Jesus told the devil to worship GOD and not himself.
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Luke 7,16
16 They were all filled with awe and praised GOD. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “GOD has come to help his people.”
This statement is to be understood in a figurative sense. GOD visits his people by blessing them through the Messiah. In earlier times GOD worked through judges, prophets and priests; finally through His human Son. The fact that people called Jesus a great prophet shows that they did not consider him to be GOD.
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Luke 8,38 f.
38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return home and tell how much GOD has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.
GOD speaks and works through people. So when a miracle is performed, the thanks and honor go first and foremost to GOD, who gave the strength for it, and secondly to the one who performed the miracle in faith. GOD performed great miracles through Jesus and later through the apostles (Acts 19,14). If someone was healed by an apostle, it could be said that both GOD and the apostle healed him. This does not make the believer GOD, but simply means that GOD worked through the apostle. Jesus emphasized in several places that it is the Father who does the works through him (John 14,10 f. / Acts 10,38). It should also be taken into account that the healed person must have been so happy and euphoric after his healing that he wanted to tell everyone about the miracle. Since Jesus had made him well, the first thing he wanted to do was give him credit, even though Jesus instructed him to give glory to GOD. Even in normal everyday life it often happens that you first thank the person who helped you, even if GOD actually deserves the first praise. Regardless of this, Jesus' name should also be honored through signs and wonders that GOD caused to happen in his name (Acts 19,17).
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John 1,1-18
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with GOD, and the Word was GOD. 2 He was with GOD in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. (...) 9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. (...) 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (...) 18 No one has ever seen GOD, but the one and only Son, who is in the bossom of the Father, has made him known.
In the beginning
The words in the beginning (Old Greek: en archē) are reminiscent of the first words of the creation account. While Genesis 1,1 is about the first/original creation, the New Testament - including John 1 - mostly refers to the gospel and the restoration of the fallen creation. The claim that archē means a timeless eternity is false. Archē firstly always refers to a specific point in time and secondly to the object under consideration (John 15:27 / John 16,4 / Acts 11,15). The John Prologue is about the beginning or origin of GOD's plan of salvation, which GOD realized through Jesus Christ. The same applies to 1st John 1,1. Mark 1,1 even speaks of the beginning (archē) of the Gospel.
...was the word
In the beginning was the Word (Old Greek: logos); not "the son" (Old Greek: huios). GOD's speech always precedes GOD's actions (Isaiah 42,9 / Isaiah 46,9-11). GOD speaks and it happens (Genesis 1,3 + 6 + 9 + 14 + 20 + 24 + 26 + 29 / Psalm 33,9). Logos is not an abstract description for a pre-existent Son called “the Word”, but describes an act in which GOD decides something and calls it into existence from nothing (Romans 4,17). The same applies to the word speak (Hebrew: 'âmar / Old Greek: legō). At the center of GOD's plan is the Messiah. This already existed in GOD's mind before the foundation of the world; but not as a real person. Adam was the first human being created by GOD. Jesus is the beginning or the first creature of the new creation (Revelation 3,14). In 1st Corinthians 15,45, Jesus is called the last Adam because he embodies what Adam or man was created to be. The Word (logos) and Jesus the Son (huios) are not synonymous.
...and the word was with GOD
The word (logos) comes from GOD (Isaiah 55,11 / Psalm 147,15 / Matthew 4,4). Therefore one can say that in the beginning it was with (Old Greek: pros) GOD.
...and GOD / devine was the word
GOD'S word belongs to GOD and is closely interwoven with GOD. It is an expression of His will and wisdom. In this respect one can say that GOD was the Word. Since the definite article the (Old Greek: ho) before GOD (Old Greek: theos) is missing here, theos can also be rendered as divine.
3 Through it all things were made; without it nothing was made that has been made.
All things can mean both the first creation and the gospel or the new creation. In several places we read that GOD created through His Word (Psalm 33,6 / Psalm 148,5 / Hebrews 11,3 / 2nd Peter 3,5-7). There is no reference to Jesus here. In addition, none of the apostles connect the creation account with Jesus. In relation to the gospel, it means that GOD made everything that He had planned and devised before the creation of the world in order to save us humans come true in the Messiah.
4 In it was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
The promise of the Messiah was the light of men. He was and is the hope of redemption from sin and death for GOD's people and thus of eternal life. For many centuries, GOD announced the coming of the Savior through His prophets through dreams, visions and numerous revelations (Amos 3,7 / Acts 7,52). GOD already gave the first prophecy to Adam and Eve (Genesis 3,14 f.). Over time, more and more concrete predictions were added.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
John the Baptist was the herald sent by GOD to announce the imminent appearance of the Messiah and thus of the light that GOD had promised in His word (logos). Coming into the world can refer to Jesus' birth or Jesus' mission, which began with Jesus' baptism. This does not mean an incarnation of a pre-existing being.
10 He was in the world, and though the world was made because of him, the world did not recognize him.
Verse 10 is a foresight, because only in verse 14 does it say that Jesus began to really exist. The Greek word dia, rendered through in most translations, can also be translated as for someone's sake. GOD created the earth for the Messiah and for man to give it to him as an inheritance. The Messiah was to sit on the throne of his father David and rule over GOD's people for all time (Luke 1,31-33). Because Jesus fulfilled GOD's will, he is the rightful heir (Hebrews 1,2).
11 He came to his own, but his own did not receive him.
The Jews rejected Jesus as their Messiah, who was one of them. Although he was the king of Israel and at the same time the rightful heir, Jesus was rejected and murdered by the leaders of his people (Matthew 21,38 f.). But everyone who is willing to believe GOD's message and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior may belong to GOD's people and thus participate in GOD's inheritance, eternal life in the world to come. GOD raised up His servant Jesus to mankind so that all could come to the Father through him (John 14,6). Jesus is the way and GOD is the destination. Faith in Jesus goes hand in hand with a person's spiritual rebirth and a holy lifestyle.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the only begotten Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Since time immemorial, the Jews have eagerly awaited their messianic king. The Jews have always eagerly awaited their messianic king. When the time was fulfilled, the Messiah was born as a human being (1st Peter 1,20 f.). The Savior of the world, who until then only existed in GOD's mind (logos), now lived among people. The Word became flesh. GOD'S promise became reality. Because Jesus was directly conceived by the Holy Spirit of the Father, he was sinless from the beginning. Jesus taught people the whole truth about GOD and His will. The Mosaic Law was not perfect in this regard. The many good works that Jesus did among people and his substitutionary death on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins reveal GOD's immeasurable grace towards humanity. Jesus radiates the glory that Adam and his descendants lost through sin (Romans 3,23). In Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD, we recognize the perfect human being and the true image of GOD (Colossians 1,15).