The New Covenant Has REPLACED the Old One!

Hebrews 8:6 But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises.

7 If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant to replace it. 8 But when God found fault with the people, he said:

“The day is coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. 9 This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of Egypt. They did not remain faithful to my covenant, so I turned my back on them, says the Lord. 10 But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.11 And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already. 12 And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”

13 When God speaks of a “new” covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and will soon disappear.

9:1 That first covenant between God and Israel had regulations for worship and a place of worship here on earth. 2 There were two rooms in that Tabernacle. In the first room were a lampstand, a table, and sacred loaves of bread on the table. This room was called the Holy Place. 3 Then there was a curtain, and behind the curtain was the second room called the Most Holy Place. 4 In that room were a gold incense altar and a wooden chest called the Ark of the Covenant, which was covered with gold on all sides. Inside the Ark were a gold jar containing manna, Aaron’s staff that sprouted leaves, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 5 Above the Ark were the cherubim of divine glory, whose wings stretched out over the Ark’s cover, the place of atonement. But we cannot explain these things in detail now.

6 When these things were all in place, the priests regularly entered the first room as they performed their religious duties. 7 But only the high priest ever entered the Most Holy Place, and only once a year. And he always offered blood for his own sins and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 8 By these regulations the Holy Spirit revealed that the entrance to the Most Holy Place was not freely open as long as the Tabernacle and the system it represented were still in use.

9 This is an illustration pointing to the present time. For the gifts and sacrifices that the priests offer are not able to cleanse the consciences of the people who bring them. 10 For that old system deals only with food and drink and various cleansing ceremonies—physical regulations that were in effect only until a better system could be established.

11 So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. 12 With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.

13 Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. 14 Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. 15 That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.

16 Now when someone leaves a will, it is necessary to prove that the person who made it is dead. 17 The will goes into effect only after the person’s death. While the person who made it is still alive, the will cannot be put into effect.

18 That is why even the first covenant was put into effect with the blood of an animal. 19 For after Moses had read each of God’s commandments to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, and sprinkled both the book of God’s law and all the people, using hyssop branches and scarlet wool. 20 Then he said, “This blood confirms the covenant God has made with you.” 21 And in the same way, he sprinkled blood on the Tabernacle and on everything used for worship. 22 In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.

23 That is why the Tabernacle and everything in it, which were copies of things in heaven, had to be purified by the blood of animals. But the real things in heaven had to be purified with far better sacrifices than the blood of animals.

24 For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf. 25 And he did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. 26 If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice.

27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, 28 so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.

10:1 The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. 2 If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared.

3 But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. 4 For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God, You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer. 6 You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin. 7 Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God— as is written about me in the Scriptures.’”

8 First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). 9 Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. 10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.

11 Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. 12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 13 There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. 14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.

15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says, 16 “This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”17 Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.”

18 And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.

19 And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20 By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

--- The New Living Translation

Conservative Commentator Rich Lowry Displays Ignorance of the Bible

In an article for the New York Post, Richard Lowry tried to use the Bible to refute Pope Leo XIV's remarks on war and peace. Unfortunately, Pope Leo needs to brush up his Bible and its lessons on war and peace only succeeded in demonstrating his own ignorance of what Scripture has to say on the subject. A word of advice to Mr. Lowry, in the future, he may want to think twice about future attempts to correct the scriptural understanding of a man who holds a doctoral degree in Canon Law from the Pontifical University of Thomas Aquinas and is the leader of over a billion Catholics! In other words, the pontiff did not attain his position by being a biblical dumb-dumb.

In the article, Lowry wrote:

Jesus preaches love and mercy, of course, but that is not a warrant for pacifism.

The great Christian thinkers St. Augustine and Thomas Aquinas gave us just war theory, reconciling Christian ethics with the existence of evil in the world and the necessity of warfare.

According to this view, which is embraced by the Catholic Church, a war can only be fought for a just cause and has to be waged in keeping with moral standards minimizing harm to civilians. 

Leo has wrongly made it sound as though no war can possibly be just — and regardless, his opposition to the Iran war isn’t dispositive or binding on anyone else. 

Now, as Mr. Lowry points out earlier in his article, the Bible is certainly full of war. There are wars in the Pentateuch, Joshua, Judges, I and II Samuel, I and II Kings, I and II Chronicles, etc. Moreover, rightly or wrongly, it is clear that many of the human authors of scripture attributed these wars to God himself and declared them righteous. Even so, God clearly told Moses on Mount Sinai: "You must not murder" (see Exodus 20:13). Moreover, we read in the book of Deuteronomy that God claimed that vengeance was HIS prerogative (Deuteronomy 32:35). Of course, all of that is Old Testament, and Lowry claims that Jesus didn't preach "a warrant for pacifism."

Jesus did, however, preach "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth, Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy, Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:5, 7, 9, ESV) He went on to declare: "You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." (Matthew 5:38-39, ESV) He also said: "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:43-45, ESV)

Likewise, in his letter to the Christians at Rome, Paul quoted the prophet Isaiah - who wrote: "Their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; desolation and destruction are in their highways. The way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their paths; they have made their roads crooked; no one who treads on them knows peace." (Compare Isaiah 59:7-8 with Romans 3:15-17) In the epistle to the Hebrews, Christians are instructed to: "Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:14) Notice too, what James said about the origins of fighting. He wrote: "Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war." (James 4:1-2, NKJV) Clearly, then, the Apostle James thought that fighting was NOT of Divine origin, but arose from human passions!

Jesus taught that the entire Law of God was comprehended in Two Great Commandments: to love the Lord your God with all your heart, and to love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:37-40) Likewise, Christ also taught that the requirements of God's Law could be met by treating other people the way that you would like to be treated by them. (Matthew 7:12) Now, how is war consistent with ANY of those expectations? No, from my perspective, Mr. Lowry would be much better served by staying within the realm of secular political commentary! What do you think?

Guest Post: Beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees by Reginald Killingley

We are all familiar with Jesus’s warning to His disciples to “beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (Matthew 16:6). Later, in verse 12, our Lord explains that the reference is not to literal yeast but to the teachings of these groups.

But the Pharisees and the Sadducees are both long gone. So, how is Jesus’s warning applicable to believers today?

Within any large group or organization there is a diversity of perspectives, often crystallizing around two poles. For convenience, we could describe these two approaches as “right” and "left" or conservatism and progressivism. This may be an over-simplification of the variety of viewpoints that exist across organizations and cultures, but the essence holds true nonetheless. These opposing points of view certainly occur in churches—and have done for centuries.

So, could Jesus be warning us to beware of polarization in our midst, as believers?

There is an interesting passage in the book of Ecclesiastes that seems to shed light on this possibility. Solomon warns against being either "excessively righteous" or "excessively wicked."

Ecclesiastes 7:16-18:

 

So do not be excessively righteous or excessively wise;

otherwise you might be disappointed.

 

Do not be excessively wicked and do not be a fool;

otherwise you might die before your time.

 

It is best to take hold of one warning without letting go of the other warning;

for the one who fears God will follow both warnings.

Pharisees tended to be very conservative and believed that their version of religious belief and practice was the only correct one. Sadducees, on the other hand, tended to be more secular and more involved with the Roman government and much less inclined to believe in the supernatural or in miracles such as the resurrection. Could Pharisees then be considered "excessively righteous" and Sadducees "excessively wicked"? Possibly.

Solomon warned against both moral self-righteousness and excess and moral recklessness and neglect.

Jesus used leaven as a metaphor for two opposite yet equally destructive spiritual attitudes—legalistic self-righteousness on the one hand and skeptical unbelief on the other.

In Jesus’s teaching, leaven often symbolizes a subtle but pervasive influence. Just as a small amount of yeast silently works its way through an entire lump of dough, false teaching or distorted spiritual attitudes can quietly permeate a person’s heart or a community’s culture. The danger lies in how easy it is to absorb these attitudes without noticing.

When Jesus said, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees,” he was alerting his disciples to how powerful—and contagious—such spiritual distortions could be.

Interestingly, we see evidence in the New Testament of Pharisees becoming believers. Nicodemus was one. So was Paul. And Gamaliel defended Christians. It would seem to make sense that believers would more likely arise from a conservative background rather than a less religious upbringing.

In fact, we see no evidence in the New Testament of any Sadducee becoming a believer. Moreover, two prominent Sadducees, Caiaphas and Annas, were instrumental in orchestrating the plan to kill Jesus. And in Acts 5:17-42 we read that the Sadducees jailed some of the apostles and forbade them from preaching about Jesus (an early example of cancel culture?).

For modern believers, Jesus’ warning calls for vigilance against falling prey to either extreme (type of leaven):

• The Pharisaical leaven of tradition, superiority, and exclusion.
• The Sadducean leaven of skepticism, secularism, or cultural accommodation.

So, believers today would do well to avoid either the extremes of "right-wing" legalism (the Pharisees) or of "left-wing" skepticism (the Sadducees). The leaven—or teachings—of both groups not only left them both "puffed up" with the conviction that they alone were right, but also led many other potential believers astray with their false certainties.

These distortions often map onto modern ideological polarization—religious legalism versus worldly relativism—which, like yeast, can spread quickly through a community if unexamined.

Perhaps the Feast of Unleavened Bread lasts a full week to give us time to beware of the leaven of either pole. It reminds us that purging leaven—false influences and divided loyalties—is not a one-day or even one-week act but an ongoing spiritual process.

Jesus’s warning, then, still applies today: true discipleship resists both the pride of rigid religiosity and the unbelief of cultural compromise.

--Reginald Killingley

Jesus Came Here to Serve God and Humankind!

I consulted a variety of perspectives on the reasons/purposes which brought the Son of God to this earth:

Bible Repository: 35 Important Bible Verses on Jesus' Purpose on Earth

Jesus's Purpose in Coming to Earth 

Christian Website: 10 Reasons Why Jesus Came to Earth

Got Questions: What was Jesus' Mission?

Topical Bible: Jesus Explains the Purpose of His Coming

In addition to these perspectives, I drew upon Blue Letter Bible's Strong's Concordance online and drew upon my own knowledge of Scripture. What follows is what was revealed to me by God's Holy Spirit:

Jesus came to this earth to serve God:

For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day. For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.”. - John 6:38-40, NLT

That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer. You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin. Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God— as is written about me in the Scriptures.’” First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. - Hebrews 10:5-10, NLT

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him." - John 3:16-17, NLT

But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. - Isaiah 53:10-11, NLT

In the book of Revelation, we read about the Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made. - Revelation 13:8, NLT

Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. - Hebrews 1:1-3, NLT

Jesus came to this earth to serve humankind:

"The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - Matthew 20:28, NLT

Then the angel of the Lord called again to Abraham from heaven. “This is what the Lord says: Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your son, your only son, I swear by my own name that I will certainly bless you. I will multiply your descendants beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will conquer the cities of their enemies. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me.” - Genesis 22:15-18, NLT

Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. - Isaiah 53:4-6, NLT

“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. " - Matthew 5:17, NLT

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. - John 1:14, NLT

No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us. - John 1:18, NLT

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.  If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do. - John 14:6-11, NLT

“My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” - Matthew 11:27-30, NLT

"I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” Mark 2:17, NLT

Jesus healed the sick - Matthew 4:24, 8:16, 12:15, 14:14, 15:30, 19:2, 21:14, Mark 1:34, etc.

Jesus set an example for us to follow - John 13:15, I Peter 2:21, etc.

Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying. We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham. Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested. - Hebrews 2:14-18, NLT

But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises. - Hebrews 8:6, NLT

Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant. - Hebrews 9:13-15, NLT

"All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep." - John 10:8-11, NLT 

Jesus came to this earth to establish God's Kingdom and his ekklesia. - Mark 1:14-15, Matthew 16:18, etc.

To summarize, Jesus came to this earth to:

Fulfill God's will

Reveal God to us

Reconcile us to God

Save us from sin and death and make eternal life possible for us

Heal the sick

Set an example for us to follow

Be our advocate with God

Fulfill the Law, the Prophets, and Writings of the Hebrew Scriptures

Establish God's Kingdom and His ekklesia

What do you think? 

Pope Leo XIV vs Franklin Graham

On Palm Sunday, Pope Leo XIV appealed for peace in the world. In his homily, he said: "Dear brothers and sisters,

As Jesus walks the Way of the Cross, we place ourselves behind him, following in his footsteps. As we walk with him, we contemplate his passion for the sake of humanity, his broken heart, and his life as a gift of love.

We turn our gaze to Jesus, who reveals himself as King of Peace, even as war looms around him. He remains steadfast in meekness, while others are stirring up violence. He offers himself to embrace humanity, even as others raise swords and clubs. He is the light of the world, though darkness is about to engulf the earth. He came to bring life, even as plans unfold to condemn him to death.

As King of Peace, Jesus’ desire is to bring the world into the Father’s arms, tearing down every barrier that separates us from God and from our neighbor, for “He is our peace” (Eph 2:14).

As King of Peace, Jesus enters into Jerusalem not upon a horse, but upon a donkey, fulfilling the ancient prophecy that calls for rejoicing at the arrival of the Messiah: “Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war-horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations” (Zech 9:9–10).

As King of Peace, when one of his disciples drew his sword to defend him and struck the high priest’s servant, Jesus immediately stopped him, saying: “Put your sword back into its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Mt 26:52).

As King of Peace, while he was burdened with our sufferings and pierced for our sins, Jesus “did not open his mouth, like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent” (Is 53:7). He did not arm himself, or defend himself, or fight any war. He revealed the gentle face of God, who always rejects violence. Rather than saving himself, he allowed himself to be nailed to the cross, embracing every cross borne in every time and place throughout human history.

Brothers and sisters, this is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war. He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying: “Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood” (Is 1:15)...

Vatican: Pope Leo XIV Homily Palm Sunday 2026

On Tuesday, the Reverend Franklin Graham appeared on an episode of Piers Morgan Uncensored and was asked to respond to the Pope's statement about God not listening to the prayers of those who wage war. In an article for The Christian Post, we read: "'Oh, I don't know,' Graham told Morgan in response. 'You know, David, King David, he prayed that God would train his hands how to fight his enemies. We know that God does take sides in history, certainly as it relates to biblical history. God gave great favor to David, great wisdom to David, every time he went into battle.'

Graham explained there are just wars, singling out World War II as an example, and went on to claim that the Iranian regime has become 'a danger to the whole world.' He ultimately blamed Iran for the approximately 70,000 Palestinian deaths in Gaza since October 2023, as well as for the thousands of deaths in Lebanon and Yemen.

I want peace, I don't want war," Graham said. "I don't support war, but I do believe, at times, there is justification when you're fighting evil. And the Islamic Republic of Iran, I believe, is an evil government. And so I hope there is a regime change. I really do."

When Morgan pressed Graham again to respond to the pope, Graham noted he is not Roman Catholic and that he comes 'from a different perspective,' though he implied he disagrees with the papal assertion that God rejects the prayers of those who wage war.

'Well, he didn't reject David's prayers, that's for sure,' he said. 'I think that Pope Leo, maybe he's putting that in a modern context. But if you take it from a biblical context, no question God heard the prayers of King David as he went against his enemies. And God gave him wisdom and guided him and directed him in his hands of war.'"

Christian Post: Franklin Graham cites King David in response to Papal war rebuke

I don't know about my readers, but it appears to me that Leo's homily is more Christologically sound than Graham's take on the subject. After all, God did instruct Nathan to rebuke King David's sinful behaviors (see II Samuel 12:1-14). Moreover, in the chronicles of the kings, we read: "Then King David rose to his feet and said: 'Hear me, my brothers and my people. I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord and for the footstool of our God, and I made preparations for building. But God said to me, ‘You may not build a house for my name, for you are a man of war and have shed blood.’ Yet the Lord God of Israel chose me from all my father's house to be king over Israel forever. For he chose Judah as leader, and in the house of Judah my father's house, and among my father's sons he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel. And of all my sons (for the Lord has given me many sons) he has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. He said to me, ‘It is Solomon your son who shall build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. I will establish his kingdom forever if he continues strong in keeping my commandments and my rules, as he is today.'" (I Chronicles 28:2-7, ESV) Likewise, the Prophet Isaiah wrote: "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies; your tongue mutters wickedness." (Isaiah 59:1-3, ESV)

Finally, we must remember the words of Jesus on the occasion of his "Sermon on the Mount." He said: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5:3-12, ESV) He went on to say: "You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you." (Matthew 5:38-42, ESV) Also, we must never forget that Christ had an army of angels available to him, and he chose to submit to the Jewish and Roman authorities and allowed them to put him to death (Matthew 26:53).

One last thing, Pope Leo XIV appears to have remembered that he is a citizen of God's Kingdom first and only a temporary inhabitant of this present world. In short, the "American Pope" has proven that he is NOT an American partisan.

Graham, on the other hand, is clearly in Trump's and America's corner. He seems to have forgotten that his primary allegiance is to God, Jesus Christ, and His Kingdom.

Anyway, this pretty much summarizes the way I see this conflict between the two views. What do you think?

Celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

The folks of my previous religious affiliation pointed out that Jesus commanded his followers to celebrate his sacrifice as the New Covenant Passover - his death, and that he hadn't instituted any celebration of his resurrection. Hence, according to their reasoning, there was NO Scriptural authority for celebrating Christ's resurrection. Moreover, they believed that the resurrection hadn't occurred on a Sunday, and that it had actually occurred on the Sabbath. In addition to these two factors, they believed that many of the modern symbols surrounding the Christian observance of "Easter"(e.g. bunnies, colored eggs, candy, etc.) were derived from pagan sources and were consequently inappropriate for Christians.

Well, were these folks right about Easter? Should Christians be celebrating the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth? If so, should it be on Saturday or Sunday or does it matter what day is celebrated? Were they right about the pagan origins of bunnies, eggs, and candy? These are some of the questions this post will address.

First, Christ said that he came to this earth to fulfill the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17). Please note that Christ didn't say that he came to fulfill certain passage from Torah and Isaiah. In other words, the assumption is that he would fulfill ALL of it - completely! That includes the festivals outlined in the twenty-third chapter of Leviticus. We've been over this ground before on this blog - many times. Christ was our Passover Lamb - sacrificed to remove the leavening of sin from our lives. He was also the Firstfruits of those whom God would resurrect from the dead, and the Wave-sheaf Offering to God. Moreover, Christ's resurrection was predicted by both David (Psalm 16:10) and the Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 53:10-12).

Now, it is a fact beyond all dispute that ALL four Gospel accounts (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) recount the events surrounding Christ's resurrection from the dead. In the Gospel of Matthew, we read: "Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead.'" (Matthew 28:1-7, ESV) Notice, in this account, the very first information which we are given is that the event happened AFTER THE SABBATH and TOWARD THE DAWN. Even so, the main message of the angel was that Jesus had RISEN!

Likewise, in the Gospel of Mark, we read: "When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. And they were saying to one another, 'Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?' And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, 'Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.'" (Mark 16:1-6, ESV) In this account, we are told that the women went to buy spices to anoint Christ's body "when the Sabbath was past." Then, "very early on the first day of the week," they arrived at the tomb and found the stone had been rolled away from the tomb's entrance.

In the Gospel of Luke, we read: "But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, 'Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here but has risen.'" (Luke 24:1-6, ESV) Notice, in this account, the women arrived at the tomb "on the first day of the week, at early dawn." Here, the angel asked them why they were seeking the living among the dead, and then told them that he wasn't there - that he had risen!

In the final account, the details are a little different than those recounted in the other three gospels. We read: "Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, 'They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.' So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead." (John 20:1-8, ESV) A few verses later, we are informed that Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, and that she finally understood that he had been resurrected.

Now, let's review what we have learned from the various accounts in the canonical gospels: 1) That Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead sometime after sundown on the Sabbath and between dawn on Sunday. 2) That this event was prophesied to happen by the Hebrew Scriptures. 3) Jesus was resurrected by supernatural power. All of this also strongly suggests that this was one of the critical/important events of Christ's ministry on this earth.

That Christ's resurrection is a critical part of Christ's story are reinforced by Jesus' own words. In the Gospel of John, we are informed that Christ declared: "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die." (John 11:25-26, ESV) Likewise, after he had cleansed the Temple, we read that the Jews confronted him about his justification for having done that. Then, we read: "Jesus answered them, 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.' The Jews then said, 'It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?' But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken." (John 2:19-22, ESV)

That this was a central part of Christ's story was further underscored by his apostles and disciples. In the book of Acts, we are informed that the apostles decided to replace Judas Iscariot after he committed suicide. We read: "So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection." (Acts 1:21-22, ESV) Please note that Christ's apostles believed that it was a fundamental part of their responsibility to be WITNESSES of the fact of Christ's resurrection from the tomb! Moreover, after quoting that same passage from the sixteenth Psalm referenced earlier in this post, in his Pentecost sermon, Peter declared: "Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses." (Acts 2:29-32, ESV)

In that same account, we are informed that Peter and John were speaking to the people, and "the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead." (Acts 4:1-2, ESV) A little later, in this same chapter, we read: "And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all." (Acts 4:33, ESV) Later still, we find the Apostle Paul preaching the message about Jesus and his resurrection at Athens (Acts 17:16-18). Clearly, all of Christ's apostles believed that his resurrection from the dead was a crucial component of their message about Jesus!

Indeed, in his first epistle to the saints at Corinth, Paul made very clear that this was at the center of his message about Christ. He wrote: "For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me." (I Corinthians 15:3-8, ESV) He continued: "Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ." (I Corinthians 15:12-23, ESV) Once again, we see that Christ's apostles clearly considered this to be a critical element of the story about Christ!

After reading through these many passages of Scripture (and there are more - Philippians 3:10-11, Hebrews 6:2, I Peter 1:3, 3:21), it becomes crystal clear that the fact of Christ's resurrection should be a cause for much celebration among his disciples. Yes, Christ commanded us to remember his death; but the absence of a command to do so, does NOT constitute a legitimate reason to ignore the other important events and teachings surrounding his time on this earth as a human! I celebrate his birth, his teachings, his miracles, his humility, his kindness, his death, his resurrection, and his ascension to heaven. Why not? Indeed, there isn't a single good reason to ignore these other important hallmarks of Christ's life/ministry!

What about the Easter bunny, colored eggs, and candy? When I inquired of my computer's AI about the origins of these things, I read: "The Easter Bunny originated as the 'Easter Hare' in 18th-century Germany, blending pagan fertility symbols, Christian traditions, and folklore to become the modern Easter icon." Now, admittedly, the rabbit as a fertility symbol goes back to pagan times. Hence, while the rabbit was previously used by the pagans as a fertility symbol, its association with Easter falls well within the Christian era - within the last three-hundred years! Nevertheless, if the Easter Bunny, colored eggs, and candy violate your individual conscience, you should avoid making them part of your celebration of Christ's resurrection. Likewise, if you aren't bothered by the rabbit's former association with paganism, have fun with the modern symbols! At any rate, whether you include or exclude these elements from your celebration of Christ's resurrection, your decision should NOT have any impact on your determination to celebrate Jesus Christ! Anyway, that's my take - What do you think?

The Parable of the Silver

The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.

The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.

After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.'

The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!'

The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.'

The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’

Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’

But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’

Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Matthew 25:14-30, NLT