Led by the Hand of God

[Studies Aired December 2, 2025]

Introduction

Throughout Scripture, we encounter a truth that challenges modern notions of independence: mankind is entirely God’s creation, designed to be completely subject to His desires and purposes. Yet this complete subjection is not that of lifeless puppets mechanically moved by external strings, but rather of beloved children being led by the tender hand of a loving Father. We are His workmanship, fashioned by His hand from beginning to end, every step ordered by His sovereign will.

The Apostle Paul declares this foundational reality: “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will” (Ephesians 1:11). This declaration establishes that everything—from cosmic movements to personal choices—operates under God’s sovereign direction. As Daniel proclaimed, “And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?” (Daniel 4:35).

Understanding this complete sovereignty transforms how we view our relationship with God. We are not autonomous beings who occasionally receive assistance, but rather children held by the hand of our heavenly Father. The psalmist captured this intimate guidance: “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way” (Psalm 37:23). Every footfall, every decision, every moment unfolds under His watchful care.

Created Subject to God’s Purpose

The Foundation of Creation

From the very beginning, Scripture reveals that mankind was created with a specific design and purpose. The prophet Isaiah records God’s own testimony: “But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand” (Isaiah 64:8). This imagery establishes the fundamental relationship between Creator and creation—we are entirely shaped by His hand according to His purposes. The Hebrew word for “work” (ma’aseh, H4639) denotes both the act of making and the thing made—we are both God’s creative process and His finished masterpiece.

Paul expands on this truth in Romans 8:20: “For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope.” Mankind was not created in a state of perfection that was later lost, but rather was fashioned from the beginning to undergo a divinely ordained process of transformation. We were made subject to vanity—to the limitations of natural, earthly existence—by God’s deliberate design, not by accident or rebellion. The Greek word for “vanity” (mataiotēs, G3153) speaks of emptiness and purposelessness, yet this was a temporary state imposed for redemptive purposes.

This intentional subjection serves God’s redemptive purpose. David confessed, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5). This is not an indictment of David’s parents, but rather a recognition that all humanity is formed from corruptible flesh, created “of the earth, earthy” as Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 15:47. We were fashioned this way by divine intent, for His redemptive purposes.

God’s Total Sovereignty

The extent of God’s sovereignty over creation cannot be overstated. Through Isaiah, God Himself declares: “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things” (Isaiah 45:7). This sweeping declaration demolishes any notion that some aspects of existence operate independently of God’s will. Both light and darkness, peace and adversity—all proceed from His sovereign hand.

This absolute authority extends to every detail of existence. Solomon wrote, “The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD” (Proverbs 16:1). Even our thoughts and words find their source in God’s working. Again he states, “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).

The prophet Jeremiah provides another powerful image of God’s complete control: “And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it” (Jeremiah 18:4). The potter deliberately creates vessels according to His purposes—some for honor, some for dishonor—all serving His ultimate design. As God continues through Jeremiah, “Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel” (Jeremiah 18:6).

Paul develops this potter imagery in Romans 9:20-21: “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?” The clay has no legitimate objection to the potter’s purposes.

The Purpose of Subjection

This universal subjection to God’s will serves a specific purpose—transformation from the natural to the spiritual. Paul explains, “Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual” (1 Corinthians 15:46). God deliberately created humanity in a natural, corruptible state as the first stage of His redemptive plan.

This process culminates in conformity to Christ’s image. Paul declares, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29). Everything about our creation and subsequent transformation aims at this singular goal—that we might bear the image of Christ. The subjection to vanity was never the end, but rather the means to this glorious purpose.

The natural creation itself groans under this design, awaiting its fulfillment. Paul continues in Romans 8:21-22: “Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” All creation anticipates the revelation of the sons of God.

Not Puppets, But Children

The Nature of Divine Leading

While God’s sovereignty is absolute, Scripture consistently presents our relationship with Him not as mechanical manipulation but as intimate paternal guidance. We are not puppets on strings, but children being led by a loving Father’s hand. This distinction is crucial for understanding how total sovereignty coexists with genuine relationship.

The imagery of being led by the hand appears repeatedly in Scripture. Isaiah writes, “For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee” (Isaiah 41:13). This is not the image of a puppet master pulling strings, but of a father steadying a child’s first steps. The psalmist Asaph declares, “Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory” (Psalm 73:23-24).

This leading involves genuine guidance rather than coercion. God does not force us as external objects but forms us as living beings. Paul explains God’s method: “It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). The Greek word for “worketh” (energeō, G1754) means to be operative, to energize—God works within us, shaping our desires and actions from the inside. This is not violation of our personhood but rather the very formation of it according to His design.

Paul proclaimed this truth to the Athenians: “For in him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Our very existence—every breath, every movement, every thought—occurs within God. We are not separate entities He manipulates from outside, but beings whose life is sustained within His life.

Jeremiah captures this internal working beautifully: “Turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God” (Jeremiah 31:18). The prophet recognizes that even his turning to God must come from God’s own turning work within him.

Led by the Spirit

For those in Christ, this leading becomes even more intimate through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Paul declares, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14). Being led by God’s Spirit is the very mark of sonship. This is not external compulsion but internal guidance, the Spirit working within our spirits to align us with God’s purposes.

Jesus described this Spirit-leading as essential for true worship: “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24). The Spirit guides us into the truth, conforming our minds and hearts to God’s reality.

This leading by the Spirit involves communication and fellowship. Isaiah promises, “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:21). The psalmist adds, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye” (Psalm 32:8).

The Intimacy of Fatherhood

This relationship transcends mere control to embody the intimacy of fatherhood. Paul declares, “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15). We are not slaves responding to a master’s commands from a distance, but children in intimate fellowship with our Father.

Jesus Himself modeled this relationship. He repeatedly referred to His Father’s will guiding His actions: “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38). Yet this submission to the Father’s will was not servile obedience but the natural outworking of intimate fellowship. Jesus declares, “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30).

Even Christ, the eternal Son, was led by the hand of the Father throughout His earthly ministry. He testified, “The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise” (John 5:19). The Father guided every step, and the Son followed in perfect communion. This pattern becomes ours through union with Christ. John declares, “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17). As Christ was led by the Father, so we are led—not as external compulsion but as beloved children walking in intimate fellowship. What was true of Him becomes true of us.

This father-child relationship involves discipline, but even discipline flows from love. Hebrews 12:6 explains, “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” The writer continues, “Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?” (Hebrews 12:9).

Workmanship of His Hands

Created for Good Works

Paul’s declaration in Ephesians 2:8-10 provides a comprehensive picture of how divine sovereignty and human identity harmonize: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Even our faith is not of ourselves but is God’s gift. This eliminates any grounds for human boasting. Yet this complete dependence establishes us as God’s workmanship. The Greek word translated “workmanship” (poiēma, G4161) gives us our English word “poem”—we are God’s artistic masterpieces, His poems created with purpose and beauty.

The good works we perform were foreordained—predetermined—by God. He prepared these works in advance and created us specifically to walk in them. Isaiah confirms, “This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD” (Isaiah 54:17). Even our righteousness originates from Him.

Every Step Ordered

The comprehensive nature of God’s ordering of our lives is beautifully expressed in Psalm 37:23: “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” The Hebrew word for “ordered” (kuwn, H3559) means established, confirmed, or prepared. God establishes every step before we take it.

This heavenly orchestration extends to both great and small matters. Proverbs 20:24 states, “Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?” Even the lot—the ultimate symbol of chance—operates under God’s direction. Solomon writes, “The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD” (Proverbs 16:33). What appears random operates according to sovereign design.

James reinforces this truth: “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (James 4:13-15). Our very existence from moment to moment depends on God’s will.

The Potter’s Purpose

The potter-clay relationship provides one of Scripture’s most powerful images for understanding God’s complete sovereignty over His creation. This imagery appears repeatedly because it perfectly captures the nature of His absolute authority.

Jeremiah received this revelation: “O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel” (Jeremiah 18:6). The clay possesses no independent agency. The potter forms it entirely according to his own purposes and design.

God’s will is irresistible not because it violates personhood but because it creates and sustains personhood. We cannot resist His will because our very existence and every faculty we possess originates from Him and depends upon Him. Yet this does not reduce us to lifeless objects. Clay in the potter’s hands becomes vessels with purpose and function. Similarly, God shapes us according to His purposes, forming us into vessels fit for His service.

From Beginning to End

Predestined According to His Purpose

Scripture repeatedly emphasizes that God’s work with us begins long before we are aware of Him. Paul declares, “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will” (Ephesians 1:5). Our adoption as children was predestined—determined beforehand—according to God’s pleasure.

Romans 8:28-30 provides one of Scripture’s clearest statements of this truth, revealing an unbroken chain: foreknowledge leads to predestination, which leads to calling, which leads to justification, which leads to glorification. No link depends on human decision. God foreknows, predestinates, calls, justifies, and glorifies. From start to finish, salvation is entirely His work.

The purpose of this predestination is conformity to Christ’s image. Peter writes, “Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (1 Peter 1:20). Christ Himself was foreordained, and we were chosen in Him before creation began. Paul adds, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love” (Ephesians 1:4).

David marveled at this predetermined design: “Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them” (Psalm 139:16). Before we drew first breath, God had written our complete story.

Called According to His Will

The calling that brings us into relationship with God originates entirely from His sovereign will. Jesus stated plainly, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain” (John 15:16). We did not choose Him; He chose us.

This calling operates through specific supernatural action. Jesus explained, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw (drag) him: and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44). The Greek word for “draw” (helkuō, G1670) means to drag or pull, indicating active, irresistible drawing.

Paul experienced this drawing dramatically on the Damascus road. He was actively persecuting Christians when Christ confronted him. Christ’s words are revealing: “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? … it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks” (Acts 9:4-5). “Kicking against the pricks” refers to an ox resisting the goad that drives it. Saul had been resisting God’s prompting by design, but God’s purpose prevailed.

This calling extends to all who will ultimately be saved. Jesus declares, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw (G1670 drag) all men unto me” (John 12:32). Paul confirms this universal scope: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22). The “all” who die in Adam corresponds exactly to the “all” who will be made alive in Christ.

Guided Through Every Stage

God’s leading does not end with our calling but continues through every stage of our spiritual journey. David testified, “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake” (Psalm 23:3). God Himself leads us in the paths we should walk, and He does so for His own name’s sake—for His glory and intent.

This continual guidance involves both direction and correction. Proverbs 3:5-6 counsels, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Acknowledging God in all our ways positions us to receive His direction.

Sometimes this guidance comes through difficult circumstances. Job testified after his trials, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). God knows our path even when we cannot see ahead. The psalmist adds, “The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands” (Psalm 138:8).

This perfecting work continues until completion. Paul assures us, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). The same God who began the work will complete it.

The Certainty of His Purpose

Because everything depends on God’s sovereign will rather than human decision, the outcome is absolutely certain. Paul declares, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

Nothing can separate us from God’s love because that love does not depend on our maintaining it. We are kept by His power. Peter writes, “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:5).

God’s purpose cannot fail because it depends entirely on His will. Isaiah records God’s declaration: “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure” (Isaiah 46:9-10). God declares the end from the beginning because He has determined both.

Lamentations confirms this absolute sovereignty: “Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not? Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?” (Lamentations 3:37-38). Nothing happens that God has not ordained.

This certainty extends to the ultimate redemption of all creation. Paul reveals, “That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him” (Ephesians 1:10). God’s purpose is to sum up all things in Christ.

The universe itself awaits this completion. Paul explains, “For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God … Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:19, 21). All creation will be delivered because God subjected it to vanity with this very deliverance in view.

Conclusion

We stand before a profound mystery that Scripture presents without apology: mankind is entirely God’s creation, completely subject to His will in every respect, yet we are beloved children guided by His loving hand, not puppets manipulated by external strings. The universe itself operates entirely under His sovereign control, every atom moving according to His purposes.

This is not the picture of a distant deity who wound up creation like a clock and stepped back to watch it run. Rather, Scripture presents an intimately involved Father who works all things according to the counsel of His own will, who guides His children every step of the way, who shapes us as the potter shapes clay in his hands. From the moment of our creation through every stage of our transformation until our final glorification, God directs, sustains, and perfects us.

This complete sovereignty does not diminish us but rather establishes our true dignity and security. We are not autonomous beings struggling to find meaning in a random universe. We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which He prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Our steps are ordered by the Lord. Our lives unfold according to His design.

Understanding this truth transforms how we live. We no longer bear the impossible burden of creating our own meaning or securing our own future. We rest in the hands of the Potter who forms us according to His purposes. We trust in the Father who holds our right hand and says, “Fear not; I will help thee.” We walk the path knowing that He who began a good work in us will complete it.

The psalmist captured this rest beautifully: “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters” (Psalm 23:1-2). This is the life of those who understand God’s sovereignty—not anxious striving but peaceful following, not independence but intimate communion with the One who leads us by the hand.

Paul’s great doxology in Romans 11:36 provides the fitting conclusion: “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” All things originate from God, proceed through God, and culminate in God. We exist from Him, through Him, and for Him. This is not constraint but liberation—the freedom of living in harmony with our created design, walking in the purposes for which we were made, guided every step by the hand of our loving Father.

May we rest in this glorious truth: we are God’s creation, subject to His will, yet cherished children led by His hand from beginning to end. In this complete dependence we find our true identity, our ultimate security, and our deepest joy. For His glory. Amen.

Matthew 26:1–35 The Woman With the Alabaster Box Who Anointed Jesus

[Study Aired December 1, 2025]

Today’s study looks at the plot to kill Jesus, the woman with the alabaster box of ointment who anointed Jesus at Bethany, Jesus confirming Judas as the one to betray Him, the last supper with His disciples and Jesus’ prediction of Peter denying Him three times.

The Plot to Kill Jesus

Mat 26:1  And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples, 
Mat 26:2  Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified. 

Jesus finishing all the sayings in verse 1 means that all we need to know about His coming with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness and His appearing with His angels, which heralds the kingdoms of this world becoming the kingdoms of Lord and of His Christ, has been made known to us. The fact that in verse 1 it was stated that all these sayings were directed to His disciples, lets us know that it is the Lord’s elect, symbolized by the disciples, who are given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven. 

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 
Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 
Mat 13:12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.  

The feast of the Passover commemorates the time that the Israelites were in Egypt where every male was to kill a lamb and use the blood of the lamb to smear the door post of their abode. As a result, the Lord will pass over their houses as He destroys the Egyptians. It symbolizes the beginning of our salvation as the blood of Jesus atones for our sins. 

Exo 12:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 
Exo 12:2  This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. 
Exo 12:3  Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: 
Exo 12:4  And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. 
Exo 12:5  Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: 
Exo 12:6  And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. 
Exo 12:7  And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. 
Exo 12:8  And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. 
Exo 12:9  Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. 
Exo 12:10  And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. 
Exo 12:11  And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’S passover.
Exo 12:12  For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. 
Exo 12:13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. 

The lamb to be killed by every man is Christ. It is for our sins that Jesus came to die for us. It is therefore important to note that the plotters wanted to kill Jesus during the feast of Passover. This emphasizes the point that Jesus was indeed the lamb that was killed by the people of Israel with the blood smeared on the doorposts of their houses and the flesh roasted with fire for food.

Joh 1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 

The flesh of the lamb must be roasted with fire and eaten at night. This is to let us know that we cannot separate the judgment of the Lord (roasting with fire) from His words. As we are being given insight into the mysteries of the kingdom of God, we are being judged to conform to His image.

Mat 13:21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

Mat 26:3  Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, 
Mat 26:4  And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him. 
Mat 26:5  But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people. 

The categories of people mentioned here in verse 3 represent the leaders of the church system in Jesus’ days. It implies that we were all involved in the death of our Lord Jesus since we were part of the church system of this world or Babylon. This does not mean that the people of this world were not part of this plot to kill Jesus. In Psalm 2, we are shown that the heathen were also involved in killing Jesus. Thus, every human being (every man) from Adam to date is guilty of the blood of Jesus.  

Psa 2:1  Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 
Psa 2:2  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, 
Psa 2:3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. 

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

Mat 26:6  Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, 
Mat 26:7  There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.

Bethany was a village around the Mount of Olives and was about two miles from Jerusalem. Simon had probably been healed by Jesus, and the feast was held in his house. Bethany means house of dates or house of misery. The fact that Jesus was at the house of misery sums up the life of Jesus during His sojourn here on earth. He was indeed the man of sorrow acquainted with grief. 

Isa 53:3  He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 
Isa 53:4  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 
Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

As He is, so are we. Our lives here on earth cannot be described as easy going. We are to complete what remains of Christ’s sufferings with the view of doing this on behalf of His body, the church.    

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: 

The woman with the alabaster box of very precious ointment represents the church of the Lord’s elect. The pouring of the oil on Jesus’ head signifies His rulership over His elect first and later, in an age to come, this rulership will be manifested outwardly as the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. 

1Sa 10:1  Samuel took a flask of olive oil, poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “The LORD has anointed you to be ruler of his people Israel. You will rule his people and save them from all their enemies. This will be the sign that the LORD has anointed you to be ruler of his people. 

What the woman did imply was that our resources in this life as His elect must be spent on affirming the Lord’s rulership in our lives. It is also important to note that Jesus was at this point about to offer His life for our sake and that of the world. He needed the assurance that His work here on earth had not been in vain. God therefore used the church (the woman) to assure Jesus of the reward set before Him – to rule His people. This incidence was therefore to strengthen our Lord Jesus to be able to bear the cross for the salvation of the whole world. 

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 12:3  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 
Heb 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 

It is also instructive to note that it was while Jesus sat at meat that He was anointed with oil. This indicates that our gathering together in His name to learn of Him is where we are assured of our reward of ruling the kingdoms of this world with our Lord Jesus Christ through what every joint supplies. 

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.  

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 
Rev 2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 

Mat 26:8  But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? 
Mat 26:9  For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. 

It is important to note that the disciples in this case were not converted yet, and therefore they were operating with the carnal mind. As we are aware, the carnal mind or worldly wisdom is enmity against God and cannot please the Lord.  

Rom 8:6  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 
Rom 8:7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 
Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 

The carnal mind has a show of worldly wisdom, but is of no value when it comes to stopping the indulgence of the flesh.  

Col 2:20  If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 
Col 2:21  “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 
Col 2:22  (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 
Col 2:23  These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. (ESV)

Mat 26:10  When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.
Mat 26:11  For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. 

The church of the Lord’s elect, represented here by the woman, is the one that is doing good work upon the Lord in this age. Doing good work upon the Lord means giving our brothers and sisters in the Lord what it takes to become overcomers through the Lord’s words. 

Mat 25:40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

However, it is we, the Lord’s elect, who are always facing criticism from our brothers and sisters in the church system of this world or Babylon for not impacting our societies with good works. Here in verse 11, the Lord is turning our focus from spending our resources in this life on feeding and clothing the world. The Lord saying that we do not have Him always in verse 11 is another way of saying that we have a short life span in this age to be able to please the Lord in order to become an overcomer. 

Job 14:1  Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. 
Job 14:2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. 

Psa 39:4  LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. 
Psa 39:5 Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah. 

Mat 26:12  For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. 
Mat 26:13  Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her. 

As stated in verse 12, the work of the church of the Lord’s elect (the woman) is pouring oil on the Lord’s body for His burial. The Lord’s body is the church, and the burial here is the death of the flesh. 

Eph 1:22  And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 
Eph 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.    

We anointing the Lord’s body is the same as the Lord anointing us through what every joint supplies. This means that the role of the church is to anoint us with oil for the burial of the flesh. That is to say that it is through what every joint supplies that the Holy Spirit empowers us to understand the Lord’s words and to endure the Lord’s judgment of our old man, resulting in the death of our flesh. 

Joh 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 

1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 

In verse 13, we are told that wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what the woman had done shall be told as a memorial of her. As we have indicated, the woman here is the church of the Lord’s elect. What this implies is that the gospel is preached through the church by what every joint supplies. Without the church, there is no gospel. 

Eph 3:9  And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Eph 3:10  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 
Eph 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 
Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 
Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 
Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 
Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 
Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.  

Judas to Betray Jesus

Mat 26:14  Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, 
Mat 26:15  And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. 
Mat 26:16  And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

Here we see Judas, one of the disciples of Jesus, betraying Him for thirty pieces of silver. In the account of Luke, we are made aware that the reason for Judas betraying Jesus was that he was possessed by Satan. 

Luk 22:3  Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. 
Luk 22:4  And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. 
Luk 22:5  And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. 
Luk 22:6 And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.  

It is important to note that Satan’s possession does not happen all of a sudden. As we yield to sin, we are gradually setting ourselves for Satan to have a stronghold within us. In the case of Judas Iscariot, he was described as a thief who helped himself to what was put in the money bag of the disciples. This flaw of the love of money is the opportunity that the devil exploited to cause Judas to betray Jesus for a fee of thirty pieces of silver. That is why we are admonished by the Lord to refuse to give the devil any foothold. The “foothold” is a small opening that can be expanded, leading to further spiritual compromise.      

Joh 12:4  But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 
Joh 12:5  “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 
Joh 12:6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 

Eph 4:26  Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 
Eph 4:27  and give no opportunity to the devil. 
Eph 4:28  Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
Eph 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 

The Passover with the Disciples

Mat 26:17  Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 
Mat 26:18  He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” 
Mat 26:19  And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover. 
Mat 26:20  When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. 

The feast of unleavened bread is a seven-day feast where the Israelites were required to put away leaven out of their houses. 

Exo 12:15  Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
Exo 12:16  And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. 
Exo 12:17 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance forever.  

As we are aware, the Lord told His disciples to “beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees”, which spiritually signifies the doctrines of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The Lord reclining at table with His disciples for the feast of unleavened bread shows that after acknowledging our role in the death of Christ (the significance of Passover), we are to feast on the word of the Lord alone and in so doing, we let go of the doctrines of men. 

Mat 17:5  While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 

Mat 26:21  And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. 
Mat 26:22  And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? 
Mat 26:23  And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. 
Mat 26:24  The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. 
Mat 26:25  Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said. 

We must remember that Judas was with the disciples even when many of the Lord’s disciples deserted Him. It is therefore not about how we begin, but how we end in this race, is the matter.   

Joh 6:66  From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 
Joh 6:67  Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 
Joh 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 
1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.  

As Paul said, if we are to win the prize, then we must learn to forget those things that are behind us and focus on what lies ahead. Through the Lord’s enabling, we should let go both of our successes and defeats and focus on what lies ahead.

Php 3:12  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Php 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 
Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 
Php 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.  

The Lord’s Supper

Mat 26:26  And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 
Mat 26:27  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 
Mat 26:28  For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 

Jesus taking the bread, breaking it and giving to His disciples means that it is the Lord who open up His word for us to understand. That is the same as being given the key of David to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. This is a privilege given to only a few (the Lord’s elect).

Isa 22:22  And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. 

Rev 3:7  And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; 

Jesus told the disciples to eat the bread which represents His body. We are also reminded that Jesus told His disciples to eat His flesh and drink His blood. To be granted to eat the flesh or the body of Jesus means to be given the understanding of the word of the Lord.

Joh 6:53  Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 
Joh 6:54  Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 
Joh 6:55  For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 
Joh 6:56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. 

To drink of the cup of His blood means recognizing that we are guilty of the blood of Christ and all the prophets. In the case of Jesus, the shedding of His blood was for our sins. 

Rev 16:5  And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus. 
Rev 16:6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. 

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. 

Mat 26:29  But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom. 
Mat 26:30  And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. 

Jesus saying that He will not drink of the fruit of the vine again until that day when He will be with His disciples in His Father’s kingdom is to remind us of the marriage feast of the lamb when He will come with His elect as the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. 

Rev 19:6  And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 
Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 
Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 
Rev 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

It is instructive to note that Jesus, together with His disciples, sang a hymn. Singing a hymn is a form of worship. In spite of the ordeal He was about to go through, He worshipped God. This is to show us the way of victory, which is to worship the Lord in His holiness irrespective of the situation we find ourselves in.

Psa 100:2  Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 
Psa 100:3  Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 
Psa 100:4  Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! 
Psa 100:5 For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. 

After singing a hymn, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives, where He was remembered for his anguished prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane before his arrest, and where he wept over Jerusalem. 

Jesus Foretells Peter’s Denial

Mat 26:31  Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 
Mat 26:32  But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 
Mat 26:33  Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” 
Mat 26:34  Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 
Mat 26:35  Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same. 

We have all fallen away at a certain point of our walk with the Lord during our time in the churches of this world. As we have seen from the word of the Lord, falling away is a necessary evil we must experience before we are given to know Christ. Jesus telling Peter that he would deny Him three times is to let us know that falling away is part of the process of spiritual maturity through the Lord’s judgment of our flesh (the significance of the number three). 

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 

We can see from these verses that the reason that we must fall away is that the Lord wants to reveal to us the man of sin or the flesh in our lives so that when He comes to judge us, we shall see His judgment as a necessary tool for the destruction of our old man or flesh. It is therefore through this process of His judgment that we can worship the Lord acceptably. The scripture which Jesus quoted to support the fact that His disciples will fall away is as follows:

Zec 13:7  Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. 
Zec 13:8  And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. 
Zec 13:9  And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

It is worth noting that after the fall away, Zechariah talked about the third part (that is, the elect) going through fire to be refined. This confirms why we must fall away at a certain point of our walk with Christ. 

Unfortunately, when we are of the flesh (the man of sin sitting in our temple), just like Peter and the rest of the disciples at that stage of their walk, we think we have what it takes to serve the Lord. It is indeed a privilege to be judged by the Lord in this age!!

Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 
Rom 11:34  For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 
Rom 11:35  Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 
Rom 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen.

The Spiritual Significance of the Color Green – Part 2

[Study Aired November 30, 2025]

Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

A brief summary

Green is the first color mentioned in scripture which is a combination of two of the three primary colors of the material realm. It is the combining of the primary color blue with the primary color yellow. We have shown that the spiritual significance of blue is its association in scripture with the things of the heavens. All that binds together Christ’s tabernacle is the blue loops at the ends of the curtains that make up the tabernacle. The robes of the priests were blue, and all of the holy things were wrapped in blue.

Yellow, on the other hand, in its negative application is associated with the deadly disease of leprosy. It is described with two different words, but both of those words are associated with the deadly disease of leprosy, and leprosy was prevented by keeping oneself clean of pollutions.

So the combining of the two primary colors of blue and yellow produce green. Green, therefore is a scriptural word which will always be a reference to the combining of these two colors with the goal of turning that which is born in a yellow and dying condition into an immortal, blue spiritual body.

Last week we saw how God in our immaturity gives us only “every green herb” for food until we are truly baptized “with the washing of water by the word.”

Gen 1:30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein [there is] life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.

Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

Only after we have begun to be crucified with Christ, have endured the waters of baptism, the Lord begins to raise us up in newness of spirit. Only then are we given “everything that moveth” as strong meat to nourish us:

This is the menu given Noah after the baptism of the flood:

Gen 9:3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

So “every green herb” is just another way of saying that we are not yet able to accept the “strong meat” of the word of God. The green herbs may be a little better than the milk of God’s Word, but it is no more the stage of maturity than is the ‘milk.’ Both are, in God’s Word, for those who “are weak in the faith.”

Rom 14:1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, [but] not to doubtful disputations.
Rom 14:2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

So we saw that it is only the strong in the faith, who are able to receive “strong meat.”

Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat

Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Introduction – Green as Both Positive and Negative in Scripture

Today we will look at how the color ‘green’ is used in the New Testament, and we will again see that green, in the physical realm, is the result of the very beginning of the process of the work of the spirit, signified by the color blue, upon the dying flesh, which is signified by the color yellow. We will see that as that process is being completed, physical life, signified  in nature by green plant life, is born within us. Plant life is ‘life’, but it is not life which has been given “the breath of life”, such as living, breathing creatures possess. It is so very instructive to know that the coming together of the three primary colors  of the material realm, blue, red, and yellow, the realm in which paints are mixed to produce all the many hues and colors we all see and enjoy, when those three colors are combined produce the color black, signifying darkness and death.

God has ordained that all in Adam must “pass from death unto life.”

Joh 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

The mind of Christ does not consider mere physical life to be life at all. Just as blue, red and yellow, the three primary colors of the material realm, produce the color black, signifying darkness and death, the mind of Christ considers this physical, material realm to be the realm of  death in need of “passing from death unto life” (Joh 5:24). Christ blatantly refers to the ‘life’ of this dying red clay vessel as death itself:

Mat 8:22  But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

Luk 9:60  Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

Revelation 8 speaks of the blowing of the first trumpet in the beginning of our judgment:

Rev 8:7  The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of [green] trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

“All green grass was burned up” is in the ongoing aorist tense. The Lord wants us to know that our judgment is a process which takes time to accomplish. We are not judged in ten seconds, rather we are being “crucified with Christ” (Gal 2:20), and we are in the process of “dying daily” (1Co 15:31).

1Co 15:31  I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

We will also see that as “all the green grass is [being] burned up” there is another later crop of many “green things in the trees, and in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt” which had not even come up yet when “all the green grass was burned up” at the beginning of our deliverance from Egypt.

Exo 10:15 For they [the locusts which came after the hail had already destroyed “every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field.”] covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt.

This is all in different forms of the Qal stem in Hebrew. ‘Hiphil’ “expresses the causative action of Qal.  Niphal is the passive of Qal.  The Qal stem in Hebrew is the equivalent of the Aorist tense in Greek. Both can and often do denote an ongoing process. The vast majority of verbs in both languages are in this ongoing tense. The process of photosynthesis in nature which produces all the green we see in our ecosystem, signifies this ongoing process of passing from the black, dark death realm of the material realm into the life giving white light of the intellectual spiritual realm.

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

The verbs ‘loved’ and ‘gave’ are both in the ongoing aorist tense.

Understanding this Is, Was and Will Be principle in God’s Word helps to clear up many apparent contradictions in the book of Revelation and throughout God’s Word. For example…

Rev 8:7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

…Is followed in the very next chapter with this apparently contradictory statement:

Rev 9:4 And it was commanded them [the locusts] that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

Why only a third part of the trees in chapter eight? Why all the grass? The answer is that all of the signs and symbols used by the holy spirit have both a positive and a negative application. All the increments mentioned in the book of Revelation, “the fourth part” (Rev 6:8), “the third part” (Rev 8:12), reveal the fact that salvation is a lifelong process. It demonstrates the truth that we must all “keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Rev 1:3 Blessed [is] he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. [In every generation]

Why would God want to “burn up” that with which He is working? Here is why:

1Pe 1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

Because the Word of God has both a positive and a negative application, “the natural man receives not the things of the spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned.”

1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Why must the “glory of man… wither and … fall away” (1Pe 1:24)? Here is why:

1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

“Flesh and blood” are sinful, signifying the negative application of the non-oxygen breathing vegetative spiritual state of our old man.

Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

Psa 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Sinful flesh, even the flesh of Christ, “cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” The only reason the flesh of Christ did not rot into the earth is that He was resurrected from the dead and was “changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.”

It was after Christ had been tried and condemned, after being beaten within an inch of His life, that he made this statement:

Luk 23:26 And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.
Luk 23:27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.
Luk 23:28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
Luk 23:29 For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.
Luk 23:30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.
Luk 23:31 For if they do these things [Crucify Christ] in a green tree [when the Lord was with them and giving them His Word], what shall be done in the dry [When the Lord sends a famine of His Word, (Amos 8:11)] ?

Amo 8:11  Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: [“In the dry” famine]

What is the “green tree” and what is “the dry?” Christ had “come to His own [with His “gospel of the kingdom of God”, signified by “the green tree”], and His own received Him not:”

Joh 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

Nevertheless, multitudes were following Christ, listening to His parables, being healed of their diseases and eating of His loaves and fishes.

Mar 6:34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
Mar 6:35 And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time [is] far passed:
Mar 6:36 Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.
Mar 6:37 He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?
Mar 6:38 He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.
Mar 6:39 And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.
Mar 6:40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.
Mar 6:41 And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave [them] to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.
Mar 6:42 And they did all eat, and were filled.

Why did Christ tell His disciples “Give you them to eat?” Does this mean that He now expects us to perform this miracle just as He performed miracles of healing? Absolutely not! What this is telling us is that God wants His disciples to give His followers spiritual nourishment. “Give ye them to eat… their daily bread.”

Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.

Christ gives us His Word day by day, as He determines is best for fulfilling His purpose in us. This is what Christ was doing for the people. He did it daily. This was “the green tree.”

“He began to teach… much people… He commanded them to make all sit by companies upon the green grass… they did eat and were filled.” But they were still “in a green tree,” sitting on “green grass”, signifying the living vegetative state of a “carnal… babe in Christ” (1Co 3:1-4).

It was this very group of people who would soon be without His teachings. They would then be “in the dry” and calling for Christ’s crucifixion only days later:

Luk 23:31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

Here is the answer to that question:

Lam 4:10 The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
Lam 4:11 The LORD hath accomplished his fury; he hath poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in [“the sinners in”] Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof.

Isa 33:14  The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
Isa 33:15  He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;

What is “the destruction of the daughter of my people?” Do we think this signifies a physical invasion and the physical loss of national sovereignty? No, that is not what “the destruction of my people” means. Here is what really is destroying God’s own people to this day:

Hos 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

These are not just words which “will be.” This is the state of God’s own people today. This is what is within each of us when we are “in the dry.” While we are blinded to our blindness, we are unaware that “every green herb” is being eaten by the locusts in our lives; we are literally starving to death and devouring our own flesh as we continue in our blindness and our rebellion against the Word of God:

Deu 28:53 And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the LORD thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee:

Deu 28:22 The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.

Jer 2:30 In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

Amo 4:9 I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured them: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.

Hag 2:17 I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your hands; yet ye turned not to me, saith the LORD.

“The green”, on the other hand, is that time in our lives where God’s spirit is still dealing with us, still in the process of turning the yellow we are into the blue we are all to become:

Rev 9:3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
Rev 9:4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

The key to understanding the book of Revelation is Revelation 1:3 and 22:6-7:

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Rev 22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings [are] faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
Rev 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed [is] he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

What do locusts do? Locusts eat up “all the green things which the hail had not destroyed.” Green signifies a process which has an end. It is a process which, like the flesh in which it is working, must one day come to its consummation.

Exo 10:14 And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous [were they]; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such.
Exo 10:15 For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt.

Had not every herb and all the fruit trees already been destroyed by the hail?

Exo 9:23 And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt.
Exo 9:24 So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.
Exo 9:25 And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field.

The destruction of Egypt within us is a process which gets more intense as it progresses. There are many who fear God, and yet they are still “in Egypt:”

Exo 9:18 Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.
Exo 9:19 Send therefore now, [and] gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; [for upon] every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.
Exo 9:20 He that feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses:
Exo 9:21 And he that regarded not the word of the LORD left his servants and his cattle in the field.

Why did Israel live through all of this? Was it all simply an historical event? Is that why all of this was written? Was it written so we could know what happened? Here is what Paul tells us:

1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1Co 10:12 Wherefore [for this reason] let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

“Happened to them and are written for our admonition?” Why? So we can be prepared for a plague of hail to be followed by a plague of locusts? No, that this is an incremental spiritual process is revealed in this very same chapter:

Exo 9:27 And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD [is] righteous, and I and my people [are] wicked.
Exo 9:28 Intreat the LORD (for [it is] enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.
Exo 9:29 And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth [is] the LORD’S.
Exo 9:30 But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the LORD God.
Exo 9:31 And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley [was] in the ear, and the flax [was] bolled.
Exo 9:32 But the wheat and the rie were not smitten: for they [were] not grown up.
Exo 9:33 And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the LORD: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth.
Exo 9:34 And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.
Exo 9:35 And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the LORD had spoken by Moses.

“The hail smote every green herb of the field, and brake every green tree of the field” and yet there was still much work to be done with the flesh because “the wheat and the rie were not smitten: for they were not grown up.” Here is what this Old Testament type is telling us:

Mat 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

“Let both grow together until the harvest” is not a once in a lifetime statement. The flax and the barley are smitten first, but the wheat and the rye have yet to be dealt with. Neither the barley and flax nor the wheat and the rye are smitten before they “are grown up”, or as Christ put it, “until the harvest:”

Exo 9:31 And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled.
Exo 9:32 But the wheat and the rie were not smitten: for they [were] not grown up.

Christ is working with us at every step of our spiritual development.

Our sins are not judged until they have matured. Otherwise the needed lessons will not have been learned. So letting the tares grow with the wheat “until the harvest” is an inward statement of how “judgment begins at the house of God” (1Pe 4:17).

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1Pe 4:18  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
1Pe 4:19  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Here is another type and shadow of this same spiritual principle:

Gen 15:16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.

The “giants in the land” who Israel confronted after their time in the wilderness, are nothing but a later, more mature type and shadow of the “green things” of Egypt. The natural man sees the fact that Israel was not affected by the last seven plagues and turns a type of God’s dealing with carnal babes still in Egypt into a type of His dealings with grown sons. It amounts to spiritual suicide which takes away the elect’s part in the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son [Greek: uihos – grown son] whom he receiveth.

Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

The point the spirit is making is that our judgment continues within us just as it did with Christ, until we draw our last breath in these ‘green… things’ which are still mere vessels of corruptible clay and dust.

We will break here for now. In our next study we will see how this color, and its significance as the working of the spirit in this dying vessel of clay, is applied in the book of Revelation.

Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

]]> https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/the-spiritual-significance-of-the-color-green-part-1/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-spiritual-significance-of-the-color-green-part-1 Fri, 28 Nov 2025 22:53:56 +0000 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=34691 Audio Download

The Spiritual Significance of the Color Green – Part 1

[Study Aired November 28, 2025]

I am revising this study of the color green because I  have learned since this was first written in 2007 that there are two sets of three primary colors. As we have seen thus far, the generally accepted three primary colors are blue, red and yellow. I have just discovered that those three primary colors when combined create the color black. The other set of three primary colors produces white or pure light when combined. This new set of primary colors is red, blue, and green. These three primary colors when combined produce white, or pure light. Red and blue are common to both sets of three primary colors. When you replace yellow with green in the three colors which produce black, that simple change causes red and blue when combined with green to produce white or pure  light. Therefore the first set of primary colors, red, blue and yellow, which when combined produce black, signifies this dying natural realm. The second set of three primary colors which when combined produces white or light signifying the realm of the life-giving spirit.

Here is how this link: https://science.howstuffworks.com/primary-colors.htm, expresses all of this from a natural perspective:

Two Color Theories: Additive and Subtractive Colors

“If you’re talking about painting, then yes: Red, yellow and blue are the primary colors. If you’re talking about physics and light, though, your primary colors are red, green and blue.” (End Quote)

Since we are all still in these “earthen vessels” we will continue this study with the understanding that replacing yellow with green takes us from the dying mind of the natural man to the life-giving mind of the spirit.

2Co 4:7  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

It is in this natural realm, where red, blue and yellow, the primary colors of our old man, combine to produce darkness and black, that we are striving to become a new man where red, blue and green combined will produce the pure life-giving light, the color white, of our new man. We are twice exhorted to “put on the new man”:

Eph 4:24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Col 3:10  And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

1Co 15:44  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
1Co 15:45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
1Co 15:46  Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

Gal 5:17  For the flesh [Red, blue, and yellow] lusteth against the Spirit [Red, blue, and green], and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

The flesh is called ‘the first man Adam’ (1Co 15: 45), a beast (Rev 13:1). ‘The first man Adam’ is also called “a living soul” which innately possesses “the breath of life”.

Gen 2:7  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

When I first checked with Strong’s numbers to see what Hebrew word was translated as ‘breath’ in Genesis 2:7, I fully expected that it would be ‘ruach’ because I had discovered earlier that the Hebrew word ‘ruach’ was translated as breath in this verse:

Ecc 3:19  For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath [H7307: ‘ruach’, spirit]; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.

Just two verses later this same Hebrew word is twice translated as ‘spirit’:

Ecc 3:21  Who knoweth the spirit [H7307, ‘ruach’] of man that goeth upward, and the spirit [H7307, ‘ruach’] of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?

‘The breath of life’ in Genesis 2:7  is not translated from the Hebrew word ‘ruach’. The word ‘breath’ in Genesis 2:7 is translated from the Hebrew word H5397, ‘nashamah’, and this is how Strong’s defines this Hebrew word:

H5397

נְשָׁמָה

neshâmâh

nesh-aw-maw’

From H5395; a puff, that is, wind, angry or vital breath, divine inspiration, intellect or (concretely) an animal: – blast, (that) breath (-eth), inspiration, soul, spirit.

Total KJV occurrences: 24

This word appears in the Hebrew 24 times and is translated as ‘spirit’ but twice. The vast majority of entries are translated as ‘blast, 3; breath, 12; breathe, 2; breathed, 2; breatheth, 1; inspiration, 1; souls, 1, and spirit, 2. This Hebrew word ‘nashamah’ has only to do with a breathing creature, and nothing to do with the realm of the spirit.

As always we must remember that every word of God’s Word has both a positive and a negative application, just as Christ, the cloud which led Israel out of  Egypt, was both light and darkness:

Exo 13:21  And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
Exo 13:22  He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, [from] before the people.

Exo 14:19  And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
Exo 14:20  And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

In brief summary, blue in scripture signifies the things of the heavens, both the heavens which are clean and pure and the heavens which must be cleansed:

Heb 9:23  [It was] therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

Red signifies the things of the earth, both those which are called but not chosen and those which are chosen yet are still in ‘vessels of clay.’

2Co 4:6  For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2Co 4:7  But we have this treasure [Christ in us] in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Our final primary color, yellow, signifies both our dead and dying condition as flesh and our living and our growing condition after being dragged to God by His Spirit. Read the study notes to see the scriptures which bear on each of these statements.

https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?s=the+color+yellow

Green is the coming together of blue with yellow when we are dealing with the three primary colors of the natural realm. But the primary colors of a three sided glass prism are red, blue and green, and the color green which dominates the plant kingdom of the living but not oxygen breathing creation is produced through the system of photosynthesis. This is what Google said when I asked, “What is photosynthesis”:

“Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants, algae, and certain bacteria convert light energy from the sun into chemical energy stored in glucose, a type of sugar, while releasing oxygen as a by-product. This process occurs primarily in the chloroplasts of plant cells, where the pigment chlorophyll absorbs light, mainly in the blue and red wavelengths, and uses that energy to drive the conversion of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air and water (H₂O) from the soil into glucose and oxygen. The overall chemical equation for photosynthesis is commonly represented as 6CO2+6H2O→C6H12O6+6O2, indicating that six molecules of carbon dioxide and six molecules of water are transformed using light energy into one molecule of glucose and six molecules of oxygen. Photosynthesis is fundamental to life on Earth, forming the base of the food chain, producing the oxygen in the atmosphere, and providing the energy source for nearly all ecosystems.” (End Quote)

Applying the Romans 1:20 principle of “the invisible things of God are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made”, to what we have just read we find that sunlight must be absorbed by our old man and that the “by product” of our old man absorbing the light of The Sun of Righteousness is the beginning of the birth of our new living, oxygen breathing new man. Here is this process explained in the New Testament:

1Co 15:53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1Co 15:54  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

Death is defeat and life is victory. Death is the inevitable product of this natural realm and life is the inevitable product of the realm of the spirit.

The first color mentioned in the scriptures which is formed by a combination of two of the primary colors of this material realm is the color we will deal with in this study. It is the color green. Here is where our color green is first mentioned in God’s Word. There is always much to learn where a word first appears in God’s Word:

Gen 1:29  And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
Gen 1:30  And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein [there is] life, [I have given] every green herb for meat : and it was so.

So the color ‘green,’ a color created by mixing blue with yellow, is first mentioned as connected with the food eaten by those who are created on the sixth day and who cannot yet eat the “strong meat” of the Word of God. Green is associated with “the green herbs” which are created via the process of photosynthesis.

Let’s take a look at Strong’s definition of this Hebrew word for ‘green’:

H3418
yereq
yeh’- rek
From H3417 (in the sense of vacuity of color); properly pallor, that is, hence the yellowish green of young and sickly vegetation; concretely verdure, that is, grass or vegetation: – grass, green (thing).

When we speak of a person being in ‘a vegetative state’ we are saying that they are alive but without their mind.

Dr. James Strong LL.D., S.T.D. shows no sign of being given spiritual insights, but in spite of his spiritual blindness, he was gifted at knowing and understanding the Hebrew and Greek languages. So, look at the definition he assigns to this word translated ‘green’ in the English language. “The yellowish green of young and sickly vegetation.” This is a very  accurate portrayal of the spiritual meaning behind this word as we will see.

The connection of the corruptible, dying, color yellow with this color green, is undeniable:

Psa 37:1  A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
Psa 37:2  For they shall soon be cut down like the grass , and wither as the green herb.
Psa 37:3  Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

Isa 15:1  The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence; because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence;

Isa 15:5  My heart shall cry out for Moab; his fugitives [shall flee] unto Zoar, an heifer of three years old: for by the mounting up of Luhith with weeping shall they go it up; for in the way of Horonaim they shall raise up a cry of destruction.
Isa 15:6  For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate: for the hay is withered away, the grass faileth, there is no green thing.

What we have just been told is that “green things” are destroyed and “laid waste” by “the workers of iniquity.” Locusts and canker worm eat green things:

Joe 2:25  And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

Now what are we told of those who only “eat every green herb” spoken of in Genesis 1:30?

Rom 14:1  Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, [but] not to doubtful disputations.
Rom 14:2  For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.

All the theories of evolutionists notwithstanding, the truth of God’s Word is that before the flood of Noah “every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein [there is] life,” was given nothing but “every green herb for meat.” Since “man shall… live… by every word which proceeds out of the mouth of God,” what is being revealed to us here is that until we are “baptized and risen with Him” (Rom 6:1-4), and this is speaking of the True baptism of God’s word, we live only on herbs and are not capable of receiving the meat of God’s Word.

Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

Heb 5:12  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Heb 5:13  For every one that useth milk [is] unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Rom 6:1  What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Rom 6:3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of his resurrection:

When we are babes we are all “weak in the faith, eating herbs” which are green. So, both milk and herbs are all we can accept at first, so “every green herb for meat” is all we are given. If we do not go beyond milk and herbs, we will not be fit to be ruling with Christ in His kingdom:

Heb 6:1  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Heb 6:2  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Heb 6:3  And this will we do, if God permit.

There are the six milk doctrines of the first principles of the doctrine of Christ. They are also the food eaten by those who are “weak in the faith.” The last of these six doctrines is the doctrine of “eternal judgment.” Eternal judgment is nothing less than the doctrine of universal salvation.  I can remember when I once considered this “green herb… first principle of the doctrine of Christ” as a T-bone steak. In reality even the doctrine of universal salvation is at best “green herbs” eaten by those are “weak in the faith.”

The second time we see this word ‘green’ it is under completely different circumstances than when we first saw it in the garden of Eden. The second time this word appears is after the flood of Noah. Here is what we are told Noah’s flood typifies in God’s Word:

1Pe 3:18  For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
1Pe 3:19  By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
1Pe 3:20  Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
1Pe 3:21  The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

The flood of Noah is a figure of our baptism. The sad truth of Hebrews six is that most Christians never really get past baptism. They cannot, therefore, eat anything stronger than “green herbs.” What does God word say awaits those who are baptized into Christ’s death? What is given to those who do leave the principles of the doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity? What was the difference between the diet of mankind  before and after the flood?

Gen 9:1  And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.
Gen 9:2  And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.
Gen 9:3  Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

Is there anything that is now not meat for us? Let’s look at an Old Testament example of those who were “weak in the faith, eating herbs” as contrasted to those who had gone beyond the milk and herbs of God’s Word:

Num 14:8  If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.
Num 14:9  Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.

After we get past being able to eat only green herbs and milk, only then “everything that moves” becomes a source of nourishment for God’s elect. Our greatest fears and enemies become victims of our desire to partake of the “strong meat” of the Word of God. Until that time, the things we use as nourishment, are also used by locusts as nourishment:

Exo 10:12  And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, [even] all that the hail hath left.
Exo 10:13  And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all [that] night; [and] when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.
Exo 10:14  And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such.
Exo 10:15  For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt.

Does any of this sound familiar to you? If you are into God’s Word, this will all sound familiar. In our next study we will cover many more of the scriptures with this color ‘green’ with its spiritual significance. Here are just a few such verses which we will examine at our next study;

Luk 23:31  For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

Rev 8:7  The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

Rev 9:4  And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

Green is positive inasmuch as the blue is performing its irresistible work in the flesh as it conforms the actions of this clay vessel to the actions of Christ.

Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world [yellow]: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind [blue], that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Let’s close this part of our study of this color with the understanding imparted to us in our opening verse:

Gal 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Green is not blue. It is rather blue as it works with yellow. Green is weak and sickly flesh as it is being worked with and eventually destroyed by the pure, fiery, clean burning, blue flame of the Word of God. “You cannot do the things you would” but “Christ in you” will do the things He would.

2Co 4:7  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

[Here is the link for the next study in this series.]

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“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will” Part 4

(Pro 21:16-31)

[Study Aired November 20, 2025]

Pro 21:16  The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
Pro 21:17  He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
Pro 21:18  The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.
Pro 21:19  It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.
Pro 21:20  There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
Pro 21:21  He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
Pro 21:22  A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
Pro 21:23  Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
Pro 21:24  Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.
Pro 21:25  The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
Pro 21:26  He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
Pro 21:27  The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
Pro 21:28  A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.
Pro 21:29  A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.
Pro 21:30  There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
Pro 21:31  The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

In this last part of proverbs chapter twenty one, there will be a strong emphasis on how to hold fast to the crown of life that God has called us unto (Rev 3:3, Rev 3:11).

Rev 3:3  Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

Rev 3:11  Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

We can negatively or positively hold fast to even the words of God, and so it is by God’s grace in the end that we will be found holding fast to the crown of righteousness which is Christ’s life in us (Col 1:27), as opposed to our own righteousnesses, which can even understand all mysteries and yet still be glorying in that which God is doing through us as though we had not received what we have from the Lord (Php 3:9, 1Co 4:7).

The Lord must take us through much tribulation (Act 14:22) along this river of life that He is taking us, and in doing that we will become persuaded, in time (Rom 8:38), that nothing can separate us from His hand that has the heart of the elect within it, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will” (Joh 10:28).

Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Joh 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Lev 16:21  And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:

Pro 21:16  The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.

Christ is the way, the truth and the life, and no man can come unto Him unless the Father draws us to him (Joh 6:44). Verse 16 is an admonition and a reminder to God’s people that we are where we are by the grace of God. The way of understanding is not given to Babylon today, and God’s elect have been called out of “the congregation of the dead”, those who are spiritually dead because there is no stay of bread or water to keep us spiritually alive when we are in the church systems of this world, which have been purposely blinded by the parables that Christ spoke and reveals to the elect (Isa 3:1, Mat 13:10-12).

Isa 3:1  For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water,

Pro 21:17  He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

True riches are to know God and His Son Jesus Christ, the pearl of great price (Joh 17:3). Loving pleasure requires that we love the things of this world, and God’s love does not abide in someone who has their heart set on the things of the earth, and not the things of the heaven (1Jn 2:15-17, Col 3:2).

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Col 3:2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

What we are being shown is that “He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man” spiritually, however if we are granted to see that he “that doeth the will of God abideth for ever”, then we can expect to live the rest of our lives being taught by God to forsake ungodliness and worldly lust, so that we can fulfill His will and His good pleasure, which is to give us the kingdom of God (Tit 2:11-13, Mat 6:33-34, Luk 12:32).

Mat 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Mat 6:34  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Luk 12:32  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Wine and oil, are symbols of God’s word, and in this proverb the wine and oil represent those earthy idols wrapped around His rich Word that draw us away from the true riches of knowing God and Christ. If God grants us to seek the kingdom of God first and His righteousness (Mat 6:33), putting Him before all things, we can then learn to be obedient to those rich words of Life, whether we have a little or a lot (1Pe 1:13-14, 1Ti 6:8, Heb 13:5, 1Ti 6:17).

Heb 11:26  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt:[the wine and oil pleasures of this world] for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Heb 11:27  By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

Mat 19:24  And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Mat 19:25  When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
Mat 19:26  But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. (God has made a way for us to esteem the reproach of Christ, greater riches than the treasures in Egypt Eph 2:8)
Mat 19:27  Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? [we have forsaken all, and followed you in this manner Mat 16:24-26]
Mat 19:28  And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Mat 19:29  And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting^G166 life.
Mat 19:30  But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

1Pe 1:13  Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1Pe 1:14  As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

Pro 21:18  The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.

When we recognize the wickedness within us in the day of evil (Pro 16:4), and our life that transgresses against the Lord, it will be because we are now making war against that wickedness through the righteous and upright spirit of God that is given to God’s elect (Rev 17:14). We overcome the ransom^H3724 (figuratively a redemption price: – bribe) of the wicked and the transgressor through Christ (1Co 6:20, 1Co 7:23, Rom 8:37).

Rev 17:14  These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

1Co 6:20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

1Co 7:23  Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Pro 21:19  It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.

John the baptist typifies the elect who are in transition in the wilderness of this world and ‘coming out of her my people’. The cry of John is to point to the saviour, and to denounce the woman, the church in the wilderness that God’s elect come out of. Christ then tells us that, with God’s spirit within us, the least is greater than John, seeing John does not have the earnest of the inheritance within him (Mat 11:11, Mat 10:31, Eph 1:14).

Mat 11:11  Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Mat 10:31  Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

The “angry woman”  is a symbol of the church in the wilderness that is governed by the law for the lawless (1Ti 1:9). This church in the wilderness symbolizes Babylon of today that have that same spirit of anger against God and His “but I say unto you” elevated commandments, preferring rather to embrace the eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth approach of the unconverted sons of thunder (Mat 5:44-45, Luk 9:54-55).

Mat 5:44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Mat 5:45  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Luk 9:54  And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
Luk 9:55  But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

Pro 21:20  There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth^{H1104 [H8762]}. it up.

The “treasure” that we desire is the mind of Christ, His refined word on our hearts that is likened unto gold and oil (Zec 4:2-6). God’s word is a spiritual commodity that we partake of daily, by dying daily. If we don’t die daily and pick up our cross, and deny ourselves and follow Christ, then we will be as a foolish man that squanders it all, not growing unto maturity as this parable of the wise and foolish virgins brings out (Mat 25:8-13) as well as the parable of the prodigal son (Luk 15:11-32). God is the one who determines who will heed His counsel, that will have us buying gold that is tried in the fire, meaning we are being crushed under the stone (Luk 20:18) with trials that will refine God’s word in our hearts (Mat 24:13, 1Pe 1:6-7).

H1104 Spendeth  bâla‛ baw-lah’
( [H8762] = Piel)
1. to swallow
2. to swallow up, engulf
3. squandering (fig.)

Mat 25:8  And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
Mat 25:9  But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. [Rev 3:18]
Mat 25:10  And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Mat 25:11  Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Mat 25:12  But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Luk 15:12  And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
Luk 15:13  And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
Luk 15:14  And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

1Pe 1:6  Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Pro 21:21  He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

If we are granted by God’s grace to follow after righteousness, we will find His life, His righteousness, and the honour that God has promised to bestow upon those who suffer in this life for the gospel of the kingdom of God. If God has written this in our books then Christ will accomplish this through His body, by grace through faith (2Ti 2:12-13, Php 2:12-13, Eph 2:8, Luk 22:32-34, Mat 16:25, Pro 8:35).

2Ti 2:12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
2Ti 2:13  If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Luk 22:32  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Mat 16:25  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Pro 8:35  For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

Pro 21:22  A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.

Christ in us scales the “city of the mighty”, representing the powers and principalities that we war against in our heavens (Eph 6:12), as he gives us the strength to overcome (Eph 1:20-23), “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”(2Co 10:5).

Eph 1:20  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Eph 1:21  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Eph 1:22  And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Eph 1:23  Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.(Col 1:24)

Pro 21:23  Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

“Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” is what God is able to accomplish in His workmanship, the elect. It is an ongoing process of examining our hearts that keeps our souls from troubles, and God knows how to deliver us from all of our troubles (Psa 34:19).

Psa 34:19  Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

Pro 21:24  Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.

This proverb is a good description of the beast that comes out the sea and blasphemes the name of God (Rev 13:6), being given power over all the nations within us at first (Rev 13:7-10) until Christ begins to destroy this haughty scorner with the brightness of his coming into our heavens (2Th 2:8). To have this haughty and proud spirit burnt out of us we will need the patience and faith of the saints given to us, so that we can hold fast to the crown of life we’ve been called unto.

Rev 13:10  He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Pro 21:25  The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.

The slothful person’s desire is to do nothing and that is what kills us spiritually and gives life to the beast. By God’s grace and the faith of Christ, we can be permitted to do battle against these spirits that “refuse to labour”. (Joh 6:27, Joh 6:63, Mat 11:28, Col 1:27-29, Heb 4:11-12).

Mat 11:28  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Col 1:29  Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Pro 21:26  He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

God’s elect are called unto a way of life that is generous, doing good unto all men, especially unto the household of faith “but the righteous giveth and spareth not” (Gal 6:10, Joh 12:3).

Gal 6:10  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Joh 12:3  Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

Mary represents the church, and her sacrifice of this costly ointment on Christ’s feet typifies the holy spirit that each joint supplies in love on Christ’s feet, representing our foundational walk in Him (Joh 13:10, Eph 2:20). Her tears and hair that are used to wash his feet remind us that we need to be washed by the word through the church (1Co 11:15), and that when we are broken and contrite as Mary was, we will take actions that demonstrate the fruit of our repentance causing the house, the church, to be filled with the odour of the ointment.

Joh 13:10  Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

1Co 11:15  But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

Pro 21:27  The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

Pro 21:27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abhorrence; How much more so when such a one brings it with scheming. (CLV)

Cain did not do well, and neither do any of us until we are given to acknowledge that the only sacrifice that is accepted by God is the one that is understood to be given by Christ working in us (Php 2:12-13, Eph 1:6).

Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

When we do well it is because Christ our hope of glory is within us doing well, both to will and to do, and as a result we are accepted of God, unlike Cain whose sacrifice had all the components of this proverb, “The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?” (Gen 4:3-7, 1Jn 3:11-12).

Gen 4:7  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

1Jn 3:11  For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
1Jn 3:12  Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one (first Adam), and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous (last Adam).

Pro 21:28 A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.

Pro 21:28  A false witness shall perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak unchallenged.(AFV)

If we are blessed to continue in the truth, the truth will set us free (Joh 8:31-32), and God will make our words like fire (Jer 5:14). It is those fiery words of God that cannot be challenged, and will save us and those who hear those words, which devours our Adamic nature (1Ti 4:16).

Jer 5:14  Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

1Ti 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Pro 21:29  A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.

It is Christ who directs our ways, and gives us power over the hardened heart that gives us a hardened face. When our hearts our softened then we can truly be directed by God and led by the spirit of God (Rom 8:14-16), which is where there will be liberty in our lives (Pro 3:5-8, 2Co 3:17).  Again, we are reminded that “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.”, so it is true that “the upright, he directeth his way”, but this must be understood in the context of (Php 2:12-13).

Php 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Pro 21:30  There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.

These following verses give confirmation to this proverb.

Isa 40:13  Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?
Isa 40:14  With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding? (“There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD”)
Isa 40:15  Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.

Rom 11:33  O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Rom 11:34  For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
Rom 11:35  Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? (“There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD”)
Rom 11:36  For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.(1Co 8:6, 1Co 2:16)

Pro 21:31  The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

Mankind’s way is against God, and it is a vain thing to trust in the arm of man, or a horse that is “prepared against the day of battle”. The rider and the horse ‘are one’, like the harlot on the beast of (Rev 17:3), and they will both be destroyed within us and all of humanity in time (Exo 15:1-3, Psa 37:16-18).

Exo 15:1  Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
Exo 15:2  The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
Exo 15:3  The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.

Psa 37:16  A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
Psa 37:17  For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.
Psa 37:18  The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

“Safety is of the LORD”, and the whole world will learn this great lesson when Satan is loosed for a little season and comes up against the camp of the saints, and the Lamb will overcome them (Rev 20:7-8, Rev 17:13-14).

Rev 20:7  And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8  And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.

Rev 17:13  These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
Rev 17:14  These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

“The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD” because, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will”, and what He wills, will in His perfect time be accomplished (1Ti 2:4, Job 23:13-14).

1Ti 2:4  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Job 23:13  But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? (“he turneth it whithersoever he will”) and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
Job 23:14  For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

The Spiritual Significance of Man vs Men in Scripture

[Studies Aired November 25, 2025]

Introduction

Scripture’s precision extends even to the distinction between singular and plural forms. When we examine the use of man versus men throughout the Bible, God reveals a spiritual principle woven into the very grammar of His Word. This distinction illuminates the relationship between giving personal account and collective identity, between individual experience and unified purpose, and ultimately between the first Adam and the last Adam.

The Hebrew word for man, adam (אָדָם, H120), carries both singular and plural meaning. This same word describes the first created human being and refers to mankind generally. Another Hebrew term, enosh (אֱנוֹשׁ, H582), emphasizes man’s mortal, frail nature—humanity in its weakness and dependence upon God. The Greek equivalent, anthrōpos (ἄνθρωπος, G444), likewise functions as both singular and plural, describing an individual human or humanity as a whole. This linguistic flexibility is not accidental but reveals God’s design: we are created as individuals in whom God reveals true identity within a collective whole, and that collective whole manifests through individuals in whom God works conversion.

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7). Here man is singular—the individual Adam—yet this one man contained all humanity within himself. As Paul writes, For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive (1 Corinthians 15:22). The singular man becomes the representative head of all men, just as Christ, the last Adam, becomes the representative head of all who are in Him.

This study will explore how Scripture uses the singular and plural forms to reveal spiritual truths about our identity in Christ, examining the personal dimension of God’s transforming work alongside the communal reality of the body of Christ.

A Note on Imperatives and Divine Agency

Before proceeding, we acknowledge a crucial hermeneutical principle: Throughout Scripture, when we encounter imperatives and exhortations, we understand these not as commands requiring independent human performance, but as descriptions of what God works in us. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). Even our willing and doing originate in His work, not in autonomous human effort. When Scripture says put on, cultivate, or be renewed, these reveal the pattern of God’s transforming work rather than obligations for self-generated human activity. God is the actor; we are the recipients and witnesses of His sovereign work.

The Individual Man: Giving Personal Account Before God

Scripture consistently emphasizes that God requires each individual to give account, using the singular man to establish this personal answering. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God (Romans 14:12). This verse underscores that regardless of our collective identity, each person gives account of his own walk with God—reporting what God has worked in him. The singular man in this context does not hide behind communal identity or shared justification.

The apostle Paul declares, What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (1 Corinthians 6:19). Here the individual believer is addressed—your body is singular, not plural. God makes each person a distinct temple for His dwelling. This brings both privilege and the necessity of giving account, for if any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are (1 Corinthians 3:17).

The Hebrew word ish (אִישׁ, H376), often translated man, emphasizes the distinct person. When Scripture uses ish, it typically highlights what God works personally in each individual—personal action wrought by God, personal faith given by God, personal experience of God’s work. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things (1 Corinthians 9:25). God produces self-control in each person—this is fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), not human achievement. The singular form reminds us that God works in each heart individually.

Jesus taught that God requires each to give personal account in the parable of the talents: For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability (Matthew 25:14-15). Though the servants formed a group, each received according to his capacity and would give answer separately regarding his stewardship. The master’s reckoning addressed each servant individually, requiring each man to give account of what he alone had been given—to report what had been accomplished through him.

This personal dimension appears throughout Scripture’s revelation of God’s work in believers. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind (Romans 14:5). But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another (Galatians 6:4). These passages reveal that while we function within a body, God cultivates conviction in each member and works faithfulness in each one individually.

The prophets consistently addressed individuals within the nation. Ezekiel received the word: The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him (Ezekiel 18:20). Though Israel existed as a unified nation, God required each person to give account of his own experiences. Communal identity did not eliminate the requirement to give personal account of what God had worked in individual lives.

The Common Men: Collective Identity and Unified Purpose

While Scripture establishes that God requires each person to give account, it simultaneously reveals a communal dimension where men function as a unified whole. The plural form often describes the church, the body of Christ, operating together to fulfill God’s purposes. Paul writes, For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12). Individual believers, though many men, form one collective entity in Christ.

The Hebrew word anashim (אֲנָשִׁים, H582), the plural of enosh, and the Greek anthrōpoi (ἄνθρωποι, G444), the plural of anthrōpos, describe groups functioning as a whole. When God addresses men, He often speaks to the collective people with a shared purpose. Ye men of Israel, hear these words (Acts 2:22). Peter addressed the gathered assembly as a unified people with common identity and destiny.

This communal reality appears clearly in the building metaphor. Peter declares, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:5). Though each believer functions as an individual living stone, God builds these stones together into one spiritual house. The plural stones construct the singular house—many men become one temple. Paul elaborates: Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit (Ephesians 2:19-22).

Notice Paul’s movement between plural and singular: ye (plural) are fellowcitizens (plural), yet together form a holy temple (singular), a habitation (singular). Individual believers maintain distinct identities while simultaneously being formed by God into one collective dwelling place for Himself. This is the mystery of many men becoming one man in Christ.

The concept of the body demonstrates this unity. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13). Many men with diverse backgrounds are united by God into one body through the Spirit. Paul continues, And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you (1 Corinthians 12:21). Each member remains distinct—the eye is not the hand, one man is not another—yet God causes all to function together as one organism.

This shared identity extends to spiritual warfare. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:10-11). Though God clothes each believer with this armor individually, He does so within the context of a collective army. The plural brethren suggests communal strength, mutual support in battle, and shared victory through Christ.

Male and Female: The Pattern of Union

Before examining the two Adams, Scripture reveals God’s original design for humanity as both singular and plural. Genesis presents a unique use of man that reveals profound spiritual truth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them (Genesis 1:27). Notice the shift from singular to plural: man (singular) becomes male and female (plural), yet both are encompassed in the one creation of man. This grammatical movement demonstrates that God designed humanity to function as a unified whole from the beginning.

The creation account continues: And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him (Genesis 2:18). God determined to complete the singular man through relationship. When God formed Eve, Adam declared, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man (Genesis 2:23). Two distinct individuals—man and woman, masculine and feminine—yet both originating from one flesh, designed by God for reunion as one flesh.

This physical pattern establishes a spiritual principle that finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ and the church. Paul reveals this mystery: For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:31-32). The singular man (Christ) unites with the collective men (the church, His bride) to become one flesh—many members forming one body with one Head.

The relationship between man and woman in marriage thus illustrates the relationship between Christ and the church. As husband and wife are two distinct persons who become one flesh, so Christ and His church are many distinct persons who become one body. The singular man (husband) represents Christ; the singular woman (wife) represents the collective church. Yet the church consists of many separate men and women who together form the bride. The movement between singular and plural throughout Scripture’s teaching on marriage and the church reflects this profound spiritual reality. This pattern of one becoming two, then two becoming one, prepares us to understand the greater mystery of the two Adams.

The First Man Adam and the Last Adam: Representative Headship

The most profound use of singular man versus plural men appears in Paul’s teaching about the two Adams. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit (1 Corinthians 15:45). Here Scripture uses the singular man to describe representative heads who contain multitudes within themselves. The first man Adam represents all natural humanity; the last Adam (Christ) represents all who bear the heavenly image. One man stands for many men.

Paul elaborates this principle: For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive (1 Corinthians 15:21-22). Two singular men determine the destiny of all men. In Adam, the representative head, all humanity participated in death. In Christ, the representative head, all who are His participate in life. The entire Bible concerns itself with these two men—the first man Adam and the last Adam.

The principle of representative headship explains how one man’s actions affect many men. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned (Romans 5:12). One man (Adam) brought consequences upon all men. This is not merely forensic imputation but representative identification—Adam was not simply the first to sin; he was the head of humanity, the singular man who contained all men within himself.

Similarly, For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17). The singular one man (Christ) reverses what the singular one man (Adam) initiated. Christ’s representative headship means that His victory becomes the victory of all men who are in Him. The many find their identity in the One.

This understanding illuminates Scripture’s constant movement between singular and plural. When Scripture speaks of putting off the old man and putting on the new man (Ephesians 4:22-24), it uses the singular to describe both the Adamic nature from which God divests us and the Christic nature with which God clothes us. Yet this singular man manifests in many separate men. Each believer experiences the death of the first man Adam and the life of the last Adam as God works this transformation, yet all share in one collective dying and rising from the old to the new.

The struggle between these two men plays out in every believer’s experience. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would (Galatians 5:17). The first man Adam (flesh) wars against the last Adam (Spirit) within each person, yet this is simultaneously the shared experience of all who are being changed by God from the natural to the spiritual.

Individual Transformation Within United Identity

Scripture reveals that God’s transforming work never occurs in isolation but always within the context of communal identity. God reveals to the singular man his true identity only as He places him among the plural men who form Christ’s body. Conversely, as God works transformation in each singular man, the collective body functions properly according to His design.

Paul’s teaching on spiritual gifts illustrates this balance. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal (1 Corinthians 12:7). God gives each person spiritual endowment, yet the purpose extends beyond personal blessing—to profit withal means for the benefit of the whole. God’s gifting in individuals serves communal edification. Paul continues, For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:8-9). God gives distinct individuals diverse gifts, yet all emanate from the same Spirit working through many members to serve the one body.

This interdependence reflects both God’s work in individuals and His work in the collective. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13). Notice the movement: we all (plural) come to a perfect man (singular). God matures many persons together toward one unified maturity, the fulness of Christ achieved not through any single man but through all men together in Him.

The building metaphor reveals this dynamic. Each believer stands as a living stone, yet God joins these stones properly to form the temple. From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love (Ephesians 4:16). God’s work in each part (the effectual working in the measure of every part) contributes to collective growth (maketh increase of the body). Paul also writes, But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him (1 Corinthians 12:18). God sovereignly places each member; the singular man cannot reach maturity apart from the plural men, nor can the communal body mature if God’s work in separate members remains incomplete.

This principle appears in Jesus’ teaching about the vine and branches. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing (John 15:5). God causes each branch to maintain distinct identity and to abide in Christ, yet no branch exists independent of the vine or the other branches. God gives life to the singular man only through connection to Christ and simultaneously through connection to the collective body.

The Wisdom of Men Versus the Wisdom of God

Scripture uses the plural men to describe human wisdom and systems that stand opposed to God’s wisdom. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:4-5). The collective wisdom of natural men—their philosophies, reasonings, and traditions—cannot comprehend spiritual truth. The plural emphasizes the accumulated knowledge of many minds all functioning from natural understanding.

Paul continues, Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory (1 Corinthians 2:6-7). The wisdom of men represents collective human understanding operating from the first man Adam—natural, carnal, limited to the five senses. This stands opposed to the wisdom of God, which comes through spiritual revelation to those being transformed by the last Adam.

James further clarifies this distinction: This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy (James 3:15, 17). The contrast between earthly and heavenly wisdom parallels the contrast between the first Adam and the last Adam—one earthly, the other heavenly.

The distinction between singular and plural illuminates this truth. When Scripture speaks of the natural man, it uses the singular: But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14). The singular man describes the unified Adamic nature shared by all unregenerate humanity. Yet when describing the collective wisdom produced by this nature, Scripture uses the plural men—for many individuals operating from the same natural mind produce a body of thought called the wisdom of men.

Similarly, spiritual wisdom operates both individually and communally. God gives spiritual understanding to each believer: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him (James 1:5). God gives wisdom when the singular man seeks it from Him. Yet this wisdom, given by God to many persons, forms a collective spiritual understanding that transcends any single person’s perception. The body of Christ, with its many members all receiving from the same Spirit, manifests wisdom that no singular man could produce—wisdom that God alone generates through His people.

From Natural Man to Spiritual Man

Scripture traces God’s work in transforming humanity from the natural to the spiritual, using singular man to describe both states. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly (1 Corinthians 15:47-49). The two singular men represent two communal realities—two humanities, two natures, two kingdoms.

God works in every believer this transition from being in the first man to being in the last man. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). The singular man experiences transformation by virtue of being placed in Christ. This is not merely moral reformation but fundamental change of identity—from being in Adam to being in Christ, from the first man to the last Adam—all wrought by God’s sovereign work.

The process continues throughout the believer’s life as God progressively transforms. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18). The plural we all indicates shared experience—God works this transformation in all believers—yet God causes each singular man to behold the Lord’s glory. God’s transforming work in individuals and His transforming work in the community proceed simultaneously as many men become one man in Christ.

This transformation manifests in practical righteousness. That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:22-24). The singular man describes both the nature from which God divests us and the nature with which God clothes us. This putting off and putting on is God’s transforming work in us, for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). God works in each believer to divest him of the first man Adam and to clothe him with the last Adam, yet this is the shared experience of all who are in Christ—making it both individual and communal reality.

The Son of Man: Individual and Common Identity in Christ

Jesus’ favorite self-designation, Son of man, reveals the profound connection between singular and plural, individual and collective identity. The Greek phrase ho huios tou anthrōpou (ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, G5207, G444) literally means the son of the man or the son of mankind. Christ identifies Himself with humanity while simultaneously standing as representative head of a new creation.

Daniel’s vision prophesied this title: I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed (Daniel 7:13-14). The singular Son of man receives a kingdom comprising all people, nations, and languages—the One represents the many, and the many find their identity in the One.

Ezekiel was addressed as son of man ninety-three times throughout his prophetic ministry, emphasizing his identification with frail, mortal humanity (enosh) even as he received divine revelation. Christ’s use of this title thus connects Him both to prophetic ministry and to identification with humanity’s weakness, yet He transcends both as the perfect man who brings redemption.

Jesus used this title to describe both His suffering and His glory. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works (Matthew 16:27). As Son of man, Christ identifies with humanity in redemptive suffering, yet as Son of man, He exercises divine authority to judge all men. The singular title encompasses both personal mission and collective representation.

The title also emphasizes Christ’s role as the last Adam. And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man (John 5:27). Christ’s humanity qualifies Him to judge humanity, yet His humanity is not that of the first man Adam but of the last Adam—the spiritual nature being God’s outcome from the beginning. Calling Himself Son of man, Jesus declares both identification with mankind and distinction from corrupt mankind. He is the true man, the pattern man, the representative head in whom all men find redemption.

Moreover, Christ’s body—the church—shares in this identity. Paul writes, For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God (Romans 8:14). God makes believers sons through union with the Son. The singular Son of man extends His sonship to many sons, God creating a collective sonship. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings (Hebrews 2:10). The singular Son brings many sons to glory, yet all these sons find their sonship only in Him as God works this identification.

Conclusion: Many Members, One Body

The scriptural distinction between man and men reveals the beautiful tension between giving personal account and communal identity that defines the Christian life. God calls each of us as singular men to experience personal relationship with Him, to receive holiness, to manifest faithfulness. Yet God reveals our true identity only within the collective whole, only as He places us among the many men who together form the one body of Christ.

This tension between singular and plural, between one and many, ultimately resolves in Christ. He is the singular representative head who contains all men within Himself. In the first man Adam, all died; in the last Adam, all are made alive. The entire Bible tells the story of God’s work transforming humanity from the first man to the last, from the natural to the spiritual, from the separate Adam to the unified Christ.

As individuals, we each give account before God—reporting what He has worked in us, testifying to His transforming power. Our personal transformation never occurs in isolation. God builds us together as living stones, fits us together as members of one body, grows us together toward the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love (Ephesians 4:16). God causes every part—each singular man—to function according to its measure, yet the goal is not individual perfection but communal maturity. We are many members, yet one body. We are many men, yet one man in Christ Jesus.

This is the great mystery Paul revealed: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones (Ephesians 5:30). Just as Eve came from Adam’s side, so the church comes from Christ’s pierced side. Many persons form one unified bride for the one Bridegroom. The singular man and the plural men both find their ultimate meaning and fulfillment in Christ, who is both the individual Son of God and the collective head of a new creation. In Him, God reveals that we are simultaneously distinct persons who give personal account and unified members with shared identity—many men becoming one man, one new man in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Matthew 25:31–46 Separating the Sheep From the Goats

[Study Aired November 24, 2025]

The study today is centered on the physical appearing of the Lord as the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. This coming will result in the separation of the sheep from the goats. This study is part of the Lord’s warning about His coming so that we are not found wanting at His coming.

Separating the Sheep from the Goats

Mat 25:31  When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 

The Lord Jesus coming in His glory with His holy angels refers to the first resurrection which coincides with the kingdoms of this world becoming the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. The holy angels with Him are the Lord’s elect in every generation who will reign with Christ over the kingdoms of this world for a period symbolized by 1,000 years. 

Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. 

All of the Lord’s elect who are dead will be raised as they join the Lord’s coming in glory. The Lord’s elect who are still living shall also be changed as they join the Lord at His coming. 

1Th 4:13  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 
1Th 4:14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 
1Th 4:15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 
1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

As we are aware, this kingdom of heaven is currently within us, His elect. The Lord’s coming will usher in the outward manifestation of the kingdom of heaven as the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. 

Luk 17:20  And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

During this age of the physical manifestation of the kingdom of heaven, the Lord’s elect shall reign with Christ over the kingdoms of this world. The Lord sitting upon the throne of His glory shows us His kingship status as He rules over the kingdoms of this world with His elect who shall also sit on thrones like Jesus. That is why we, His elect, are described as a royal priesthood. In this age, the royal status of the Lord’s elect has not yet been manifested. However, at His coming, the world will see us as royals.   

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 
Rev 2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 

Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.  

Mat 25:32  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 
Mat 25:33  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 

The Lord’s elect who represent the sheep shall be separated from the goats at the Lord’s coming. The dead in Christ shall rise up to meet the Lord, and the elect who are still living shall be changed as they join the Lord at His coming. This is the first resurrection.

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Joh 10:27  My sheep (the Lord’s elect) hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 
Joh 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

The goats signify our brothers and sisters in the church system of this world or Babylon. Setting the sheep on the Lord’s right hand means that the Lord’s elect represents the bride of Christ or the queen as shown in the following verse:

Psa 45:9  Kings’ daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.

It is also important to note that at the right hand of the Lord are pleasures forever more. That is to say that placing the Lord’s elect at the right hand means that we shall be rewarded with pleasures from the Lord. 

Psa 16:11  Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. 

Mat 25:34  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 

Verse 34 shows us that we are blessed of God if we are part of the first resurrection. 

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

As indicated in the Book of Revelation, the requirement for being part of the first resurrection is that we become overcomers. The question is “what are we required to overcome?” The answer is that we are to overcome the wicked one. The wicked one is the devil who gives power to the beast or our flesh. That is to say that the devil works through our flesh. This implies that overcoming the flesh means overcoming the devil. 

1Jn 2:13  I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
1Jn 2:14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast (our flesh): and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 

It is important to note that overcoming the flesh is through the Lord’s judgment of our flesh. The Lord’s judgment is therefore the tool He uses to destroy our flesh, making us overcomers and therefore qualified to inherit the kingdom. Inheriting the kingdom prepared for us from the foundation of the world means being made rulers of the kingdoms of this world during the thousand-year period after Christ’s coming. 

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 
Rev 2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 

Rev 5:10  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 

Mat 25:35  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 

If we are to understand these verses, then we have to know that Jesus represents us, and therefore if Jesus says that He was hungry, then it means that during our lives here on earth, we were also hungry at a certain stage of our walk with Him. 

Mat 25:44  Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 
Mat 25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 

The question is, “what does it mean spiritually to be hungry?” To be spiritually hungry means to experience famine of the word of the Lord. 

Amo 8:11  Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: 
Amo 8:12  And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. 
Amo 8:13 In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst. 

When we were in the churches of this world or Babylon, we experienced famine of the word of the Lord until Christ came to us with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness. It is as we became part of the church of the firstborn that we started being fed with the truth of the word of the Lord through what every joint supplies. This supply is the meat of the word that we receive from our brothers and sisters in the Lord.

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.   

Being hungry and being fed with meat is spiritually the same as being thirsty and being given drink. This is because being thirsty means absence of the word of the Lord and receiving drink is therefore being fed with the word of the Lord by the Lord’s elect. 

Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 

Joh 4:14  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Being strangers indicates that we were without Christ and were therefore strangers from the covenants of promise. However, through Christ, we who were strangers were drawn near to Christ by the blood of Christ, as we become part of the household of God. 

Eph 2:12  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.  

Eph 2:19  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 

Mat 25:36  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 

Nakedness refers to our sinful state, just as Adam and Eve realized their sinful state and confessed that they were naked. 

Gen 3:9  And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 
Gen 3:10  And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 
Gen 3:11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? 

To be clothed therefore means to put on the righteousness of Christ, which is achieved through the Lord’s judgment of our old man or flesh as we learn righteousness.

Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 

Rom 3:21  But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 
Rom 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 

Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

To be sick symbolize our sinful state but more specifically, our iniquity. This iniquity refers to trusting or having confidence in our own righteousness, which is offensive to the Lord.

Isa 1:4  Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. 
Isa 1:5  Why should ye be stricken anymore? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

Isa 33:24  And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.

Eze 33:13  When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it. 

Visiting the Lord means the Lord coming to us with the spirit of His mouth and His brightness through His elect. 

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 

To be cast into prison means experiencing the Lord’s fiery trial. It is through our fiery trials that the Lord comes to us to sit in the throne of our hearts and minds. 

Rev 2:10  Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Mat 25:37  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Mat 25:38  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 
Mat 25:39  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 
Mat 25:40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 

These verses show us that each of the Lord’s elect represents Jesus and therefore any ministration to our fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord is the same as ministering to Jesus. On the other hand, if we treat our brothers and sisters badly, we are basically treating the Lord in the same way. An example of this is shown in Paul’s first encounter with the Lord. 

Act 9:1  And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 
Act 9:2  And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 
Act 9:3  And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 
Act 9:4  And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 
Act 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.   

We can see here that although Saul was persecuting the disciples of the Lord, he was actually persecuting Jesus. In a similar vein, when we minister to the Lord’s elect, we are ministering to the Lord. 

Mat 25:41  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 
Mat 25:42  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 
Mat 25:43  I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 
Mat 25:44  Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 
Mat 25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 

We have already explained what it means to be hungry, thirsty, a stranger and being sick. We will therefore turn our focus on what it means to be on the left hand of the Lord in these verses. To do that, let’s take a look at the blessing of Joseph’s sons by His father Jacob. 

Gen 48:9  And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them.
Gen 48:10  Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them. 
Gen 48:11  And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed. 
Gen 48:12  And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. 
Gen 48:13  And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near unto him. 
Gen 48:14  And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn. 
Gen 48:15  And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, 
Gen 48:16  The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth. 
Gen 48:17  And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head. 
Gen 48:18  And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head. 
Gen 48:19 And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.  

From these verses, we can see that Manasseh was the first born and should have been blessed more by the laying on of Jacob’s right hand. However, by divine providence, Ephraim, the younger son, received more blessing as Jacob placed his right hand on him. We can look at Ephraim as the Lord’s elect who has received mercy at the expense of our brothers and sisters in Babylon.

As indicated in this study, it is the Lord’s elect who are placed at the right hand of the Lord. The left hand therefore symbolizes where our brothers and sisters in Babylon who shall receive mercy from us in the fullness of time in the lake-of-fire age. Just as Jacob told Joseph that the younger shall be greater than the older in Genesis 48:19, we, His elect, shall be greater in terms of the blessing of the Lord’s reward in store for us, than our brothers and sisters in Babylon.   

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 
Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 
Rom 11:32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. 
Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 

Mat 25:46  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. 

This verse is one of the verses used by our brothers and sisters in Babylon or the church system of this world to perpetuate the false doctrine of the Lord punishing people forever in the lake of fire. The Greek adjective used for everlasting is “Aionios” (αἰώνιος), which means “age-lasting.” It refers to a long, but finite, period of time, like a specific “age” or “eon.” However, the translators of the Bible erroneously used the word eternal or everlasting. As we have indicated in this parable, those on the left-hand side of the Lord who shall be judged in the lake of fire age represent our brothers and sisters in Babylon. However, the sum of the Lord’s words shows us that all the people of the world from Adam to the coming of Christ in the first resurrection, who do not know Him shall be part of the lake-of-fire age. It is also worth noting that Satan and His cohorts will also be part of the lake of fire age.  

Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. 

Rev 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. 

Rev 20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 

The righteous represents the Lord’s elect who shall be rewarded at the coming of Christ. 

May His name be praised. Amen!!

The Color Blue – Part 2

Blue is peculiar to the priesthood

[Study Aired November 23, 2025]

Up to this point we have seen blue only in conjunction with the colors purple and scarlet. In this study we will see blue where it is alone as well as sometimes with other colors.

We concluded our last study in chapter 35 of Exodus with the description of the men whom God uses to build His tabernacle. We saw that those who build God’s tabernacle are the same as those who are the tabernacle.  Those whom God uses in the construction of His Tabernacle are “filled… with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship.”

Exo 35:31  And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;
Exo 35:32  And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
Exo 35:33  And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work.

These are gifts which God gives to those He uses to build His spiritual Tabernacle. God is not working only with physical materials these days. All of these materials are now spiritual. We will see today that blue is associated with the things of God’s spirit and is therefore peculiar to God’s priesthood.

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

In the shadows of the Old Testament, we were told that those who were selected by God to build His Tabernacle were also gifted in working with ‘blue, purple and scarlet’ and in being capable of weaving these colors into the veil which we are told is Christ’s body:

Exo 35:35  Them hath he [God] filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work

Blue is associated with those who teach others

We saw last week that the men God chose to build His tabernacle were gifted in the ability to teach and to show to others how to do the things that were needed to accomplish the task of building God’s tabernacle:

Exo 35:30  And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the LORD hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah;
Exo 35:31  And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;
Exo 35:32  And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
Exo 35:33  And in the cutting of stones, to set [them], and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work.
Exo 35:34  And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.
Exo 35:35  Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work.

Here is the anti-type which all these qualities of Bezeleel and Aholiab signify:

1Ti 3:1  This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
1Ti 3:2  A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
1Ti 3:3  Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
1Ti 3:4  One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
1Ti 3:5  (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of [Build up and edify] the church of God?)
1Ti 3:6  Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
1Ti 3:7  Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

What is the tabernacle?

Those who are building the Lord’s tabernacle today are building with the spiritual words and works of Jesus Christ. Is not Christ the very foundation of God’s temple? Of course, He is:

1Co 3:9  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
1Co 3:10  According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
1Co 3:11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

“We are God’s husbandry” laboring to build for Him a house in which He can dwell. At the same time “ye are God’s building” (1Co 3:9). In the same way Christ, too, is both the foundation of His Father’s Tabernacle, and He is that Tabernacle.

Exo 25:9  According to all that I shew thee, [after] the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.
Exo 25:40  And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.

Christ is ‘the pattern, which was shown you in the mount.’

Heb 8:5  Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.

The word translated ‘pattern’ in this verse, quoted out of Exodus, is the Greek word ‘tupos.’

Here is Strong’s definition of this word:

“G5179
τυπος
tupos
too’- pos++++, a model (for imitation) or instance (for warning): – en- (ex-) ample, fashion, figure, form, manner, pattern, print.”

This is what we are told of Christ:

1Pe 2:21  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

What do we do as we follow in His steps? We show these things to others:

Rev 19:9  And he [the angel who is instructing John] saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
Rev 19:10  And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Who has “the testimony of Jesus Christ?” That would be John himself:

Rev 1:1  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified [it] by his angel unto his servant John:
Rev 1:2  Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

Who does John symbolize? Again:

Rev 22:8  And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
Rev 22:9  Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

John is symbolic of those who comprise God’s “true tabernacle:”

Heb 8:1  Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the [blue] heavens;
Heb 8:2  A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
Heb 8:3  For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.
Heb 8:4  For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:
Heb 8:5  Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.

Blue is peculiar to “the heavenly things”

Christ has entered into the heavens, and yet the world does not know where He is because the world does not know where or what ‘heaven’ is even though the scriptures make both very clear to those who are given eyes that see and ears that hear:

Heb 9:19  For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
Heb 9:20  Saying, This [is] the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
Heb 9:21  Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
Heb 9:22  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Heb 9:23  It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves [you and I and “all in Adam”, (1Co 15:22)] with better sacrifices than these.
Heb 9:24  For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself [“Christ in you”, (Col 1:27)], now to appear in the presence of God for us:

So, where did Christ go when he was resurrected and ascended to His Father? Where is His Father? Where is Christ? Where is “heaven itself?”

Joh 3:13  And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

Apparently it is possible to both “come down from heaven” and to “be in heaven” at the same time.

Luk 21:27  And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

Act 1:9  And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

Act 2:34  For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

Christ is in “the clouds of the heavens.” So, where is He? This is “the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints”:

Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Col 1:25  Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
Col 1:26  Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

That is right! Christ is even now in “the true tabernacle… which is… in you, the hope of glory.”

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

So, the tabernacle must be “according to the pattern” we have been given and according to the instructions we have been given. The words we have been given “are spirit and are life.” Spirit and life are not the words that come out of the hearts of false prophets who prophecy from their own hearts and say that they have matured beyond the words spoken by Christ in His Word, the Bible.

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

“The words that I speak” are “that which is written” and anything which contradicts “that which is written” is a lie:

1Co 4:6  Now these things, brothers, I applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us ye might learn not to think above that which is written, so that ye may not be puffed up, one over the one against the other. (ACV)

Rom 3:4  God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

As we learned in our last study, the tabernacle of God is composed of ten curtains held together by blue loops and gold taches, both symbolizing the function of the spirit which brings us together as God’s church, which is His body:

Exo 36:11  And he made loops of blue on the edge of one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling: likewise he made in the uttermost side of [another] curtain, in the coupling of the second.
Exo 36:12  Fifty loops made he in one curtain, and fifty loops made he in the edge of the curtain which [was] in the coupling of the second: the loops held one curtain to another.
Exo 36:13  And he made fifty taches of gold, and coupled the curtains one unto another with the taches: so it became one tabernacle.

1Co 12:11  But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
1Co 12:12  For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is [the] Christ. [“One tabernacle”]

So what is “the body?” What is “the tabernacle?” What is “the temple of God?” They are all one and the same thing. They are all where Christ and His Father dwell within each of His elect.  What tells us the significance of the color blue is that when we see it in scripture, it is prominent. Blue comes first. When we see where blue is located and what is done by the things that are blue, then we know what its function is. Blue loops and gold taches hold together the tabernacle of God. Where else do we see the color blue?

The bindings of the gold rings of the ephod are with a lace of blue

Exo 28:28  And they shall bind the breastplate by the rings thereof unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it may be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate be not loosed from the ephod.
Exo 28:29  And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually.
Exo 28:30  And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron’s heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually.
Exo 39:21  And they did bind the breastplate by his rings unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it might be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate might not be loosed from the ephod; as the LORD commanded Moses

The robe of the ephod is all of blue

Exo 28:31  And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue.
Exo 28:32  And there shall be an hole in the top of it, in the midst thereof: it shall have a binding of woven work round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of an habergeon, that it be not rent.
Exo 28:33  And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about:
Exo 28:34  A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about.
Exo 28:35  And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy [place] before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not.

Exo 39:22  And he made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue.

The gold plate of the mitre is to be on a blue lace

Exo 28:36  And thou shalt make a plate [of] pure gold, and grave upon it, [like] the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.
Exo 28:37  And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be.
Exo 28:38  And it shall be upon Aaron’s forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.

Where blue is used, no expense is spared

Look at the details and the expense taken in the construction of the ephod. This ephod is part of the “cloths of service” of those who serve in the temple of God.

Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

Clothing is works. Filthy clothing is filthy works. “Fine linen, clean and white” is the righteousness of Christ in His elect. The intricacies of the priestly “cloths of service” testify to how true is the fact that every hair of our heads is numbered, “specially of those that believe.”

Exo 39:1  And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made cloths of service, to do service in the holy [place], and made the holy garments for Aaron; as the LORD commanded Moses.
Exo 39:2  And he made the ephod [of] gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.
Exo 39:3  And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut [it into] wires, to work [it] in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, [with] cunning work.
Exo 39:4  They made shoulder pieces for it, to couple [it] together: by the two edges was it coupled together.
Exo 39:5  And the curious girdle of his ephod, that [was] upon it, [was] of the same, according to the work thereof; [of] gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen; as the LORD commanded Moses.
Exo 39:6  And they wrought onyx stones inclosed in ouches of gold, graven, as signets are graven, with the names of the children of Israel.
Exo 39:7  And he put them on the shoulders of the ephod, [that they should be] stones for a memorial to the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses.
Exo 39:8  And he made the breastplate of cunning work, like the work of the ephod; [of] gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.
Exo 39:9  It was foursquare; they made the breastplate double: a span [was] the length thereof, and a span the breadth thereof, [being] doubled.
Exo 39:10  And they set in it four rows of stones: the first row was a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this [was] the first row.
Exo 39:11  And the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.
Exo 39:12  And the third row, a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.
Exo 39:13  And the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper: [they were] inclosed in ouches of gold in their inclosings.
Exo 39:14  And the stones [were] according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, [like] the engravings of a signet, every one with his name, according to the twelve tribes.
Exo 39:15  And they made upon the breastplate chains at the ends, [of] wreathen work [of] pure gold.
Exo 39:16  And they made two ouches [of] gold, and two gold rings; and put the two rings in the two ends of the breastplate.
Exo 39:17  And they put the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings on the ends of the breastplate.
Exo 39:18  And the two ends of the two wreathen chains they fastened in the two ouches, and put them on the shoulderpieces of the ephod, before it.
Exo 39:19  And they made two rings of gold, and put [them] on the two ends of the breastplate, upon the border of it, which [was] on the side of the ephod inward.
Exo 39:20  And they made two [other] golden rings, and put them on the two sides of the ephod underneath, toward the forepart of it, over against the [other] coupling thereof, above the curious girdle of the ephod.
Exo 39:21  And they did bind the breastplate by his rings unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it might be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate might not be loosed from the ephod; as the LORD commanded Moses.
Exo 39:22  And he made the robe of the ephod [of] woven work, all [of] blue.

Let’s go back to the blue lace holding the rings of the blue-robed ephod.

Exo 39:21  And they did bind the breastplate by his rings unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it might be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate might not be loosed from the ephod; as the LORD commanded Moses.
Exo 39:22  And he made the robe of the ephod [of] woven work, all of blue.
Exo 39:23  And there was an hole in the midst of the robe, as the hole of an habergeon [Definition: a coat or corslet of linen], with a band round about the hole, that it should not rend.
Exo 39:24  And they made upon the hems of the robe pomegranates of blue, and purple, and scarlet, [and] twined [linen].
Exo 39:25  And they made bells [of] pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates upon the hem of the robe, round about between the pomegranates;
Exo 39:26  A bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, round about the hem of the robe to minister [in]; as the LORD commanded Moses.
Exo 39:27  And they made coats [of] fine linen [of] woven work for Aaron, and for his sons,
Exo 39:28  And a mitre of fine linen, and goodly bonnets of fine linen, and linen breeches of fine twined linen,
Exo 39:29  And a girdle [of] fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, [of] needlework; as the LORD commanded Moses.
Exo 39:30  And they made the plate of the holy crown [of] pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, [like to] the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.
Exo 39:31  And they tied unto it a lace of blue, to fasten it on high upon the mitre; as the LORD commanded Moses.
Exo 39:32  Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished: and the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.

Everything inside the tabernacle is to be covered with “a cloth of blue”

Num 4:1  And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
Num 4:2  Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers,
Num 4:3  From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.
Num 4:4  This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation, about the most holy things:
Num 4:5  And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering vail, and cover the ark of testimony with it:
Num 4:6  And shall put thereon the covering of badgers’ skins, and shall spread over [it] a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put in the staves thereof.
Num 4:7  And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon:
Num 4:8  And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put in the staves thereof.
Num 4:9  And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and his lamps, and his tongs, and his snuffdishes, and all the oil vessels thereof, wherewith they minister unto it:
Num 4:10  And they shall put it and all the vessels thereof within a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put [it] upon a bar.
Num 4:11  And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue , and cover it with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put to the staves thereof:
Num 4:12  And they shall take all the instruments of ministry, wherewith they minister in the sanctuary, and put [them] in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of badgers’ skins, and shall put [them] on a bar:
Num 4:13  And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon:
Num 4:14  And they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof, wherewith they minister about it, [even] the censers, the fleshhooks, and the shovels, and the basons, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of badgers’ skins, and put to the staves of it.
Num 4:15  And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear [it]: but they shall not touch [any] holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.

Moses and Aaron were both of the family of the Kohathites. So Korah and all of those working closest to Moses and Aaron were to be those of their own family who were closest to them. And yet they were not allowed to even touch the holy things.

This is all concerned with and signifies how close to the truth our brothers in Babylon are and yet how few are given eyes that see and ears that hear and keep the doctrines of Christ:

Heb 13:9  Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For [it is] a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein .
Heb 13:10  We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

Blue is the color of rulership

Est 8:15  And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.

The negative application of blue

The blue of Egypt is not the blue which represents the rulership of the spirit over the flesh. The blue of Egypt is the rulership of the flesh in those who claim to be God’s rulers but are not:

Jer 10:8  But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities.
Jer 10:9  Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men.

Eze 27:7  Fine linen with broidered work from Egypt was that which thou spreadest forth to be thy sail; blue and purple from the isles of Elishah was that which covered thee.

So blue has a negative application and is, as with all things pertaining to God and righteousness, counterfeited by the Adversary.

2Co 11:13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2Co 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2Co 11:15  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

We have seen that the color blue is used many times in conjunction with the colors purple and scarlet, and this combination of colors covers all of the curtains of the tabernacle. When this is the case, blue is almost always mentioned first, followed by purple and scarlet is last. We have seen that blue signifies the things of the spirit and is peculiar to the tabernacle and to the priestly garments. We saw that it is blue which is used to hold the tabernacle together and to make it “one tabernacle.” We have seen that blue is used time and time again to “bind together” God’s tabernacle, the gold plate on the mitre, the breastplate to the ephod, etc. We have seen that blue is peculiar to the vessels of service and the implements of service of the tabernacle, which are all stored on blue cloths while in transit. We saw that those who work with blue are teachers, and finally we have been shown that blue has to do with the priesthood and rulership.

Knowing what is the true tabernacle and the true priesthood tells those with eyes to see and ears to hear, that when we see the color blue, we are talking about the things of the spirit and of heavenly things, of “the heavens themselves.” Blue signfies what is in the hearts and minds of God’s elect.

[Here is the next study in this series.]

]]> https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/colors-in-scripture-blue-part-1/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=colors-in-scripture-blue-part-1 Fri, 21 Nov 2025 21:55:28 +0000 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=34648 Audio Download

Colors in Scripture – Blue, Part 1

[Study Aired November 21, 2025]

If the color red or scarlet symbolizes the first Adam being of the earth, blue symbolizes  the last Adam, “the Christ,” coming to be in the heavens.

1Co 15:47  The first man is of the earth, earthy [signified by the color red]: the second man is the Lord from heaven [signified by the color blue].
1Co 15:48  As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
1Co 15:49  And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

Our study today will deal with the spiritual significance of the process of spiritually going from scarlet to blue; from red to blue. That journey is a trying and bruising experience signified by the color purple, which is the color found between red and blue in the colors of the Lord’s dwelling place. Purple is the color of bruised flesh, signifying the “much… great tribulation” we are all destined to endure before we will be granted to enter into the Lord’s tabernacle:

Mat 10:21  And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Rev 15:8  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

God’s people all “come out of [Babylon]”:

Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her [Out of Babylon], my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Rev 18:5  For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

Being delivered from a ‘scarlet, red’ beast and the great whore, Babylon the Great, who is also “arrayed in… scarlet color” (Rev 17:3-4), all in whom the mind of Christ dwells are provoked to offer up their own bodies as a living sacrifice to the Lord (Rom 12:1):

Exo 25:2  Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.
Exo 25:3  And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass,
Exo 25:4  And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair,
Exo 25:8  And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
Exo 25:9  According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

The ”gold and silver and brass and blue and purple and scarlet…” all signify the sacrifice of our entire body and life to the Lord’s service:

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Christ is hated in this world. He is hated and dead in the streets of Babylon. Nevertheless, He has a “sanctuary” where He can dwell in peace in the hearts and minds of His elect, and that is where we go for consolation and comfort in times of trouble:

Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Php 2:1  If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
Php 2:2  Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

1Th 5:11  Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

The phrase “blue and purple and scarlet” is found 19 times in scripture. All 19 are in the book of Exodus dealing with the tabernacle and the priesthood which operated within the tabernacle. In this context, the color blue is mentioned as part of eight different facets of the temple and the priesthood.

1) The Tabernacle is Blue, Purple, and Scarlet

Exo 26:1  Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: [with] cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them.

Look at what holds the curtains of the tabernacle together:

Exo 26:4  And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the uttermost edge of [another] curtain, in the coupling of the second.

Blue signifies the things of the spirit, and it is Christ in us which holds us together in His spirit and in His love.

There were ten curtains that surrounded the tabernacle:

Exo 26:2  The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and every one of the curtains shall have one measure.
Exo 26:3  The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and [other] five curtains [shall be] coupled one to another.

These ten curtains signify the fact that Christ is in us dwelling in “earthen vessels”:

2Co 4:7  But we have this treasure [“Christ in us”, (Col 1:27)] in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/numbers_ten/

One more curtain was to cover the tabernacle. That totals 11 curtains, which signify the dissolution of the flesh.

https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/numbers-in-scripture-11/

2) Blue and Gold are What Connect the Curtains of the Tabernacle

If a cubit is 18 inches (45.27centimeters), then 28 cubits is 42 feet in length (12.8 meters), and four cubits would be six feet in breadth (1.83 meters). Therefore, we have ten curtains 42 feet long and six feet high which surround the tabernacle. These curtains are held together with blue loops connected one to the other with fifty “taches of gold”, fifty gold knobs.

Exo 26:4  And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the uttermost edge of another curtain, in the coupling of the second.
Exo 26:5  Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is in the coupling of the second; that the loops may take hold one of another.
Exo 26:6  And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle.

What is this telling those with eyes to see and ears to hear?

King James Version

1Co 12:11  But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
1Co 12:12  For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also [is] Christ.
1Co 12:13  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
1Co 12:14  For the body is not one member, but many.

Rotherham’s Emphasized Version

1Co 12:11 But, all these, energiseth the one and the same Spirit, distributing unto each one, peculiarly, even as it is disposed.
1Co 12:12 For, just as, the body, is one, and yet hath many members, but, all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so, also, the Christ;
1Co 12:13 For, even to one Spirit, we all, into one body, have been immersed, – whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free, – and, all, of one Spirit, have been caused to drink.
1Co 12:14 For, the body also, is not one member, but many:

3) The Vail Between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies was Also Blue, and Purple, and Scarlet.

Exo 26:30  And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was shewed thee in the mount.
Exo 26:31  And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:
Exo 26:32  And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks [shall be of] gold, upon the four sockets of silver.
Exo 26:33  And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy. 

The cherubims woven into the veil between the holy place and the holy of holies were “of blue and purple and scarlet”.

4) The “Door of the Tent” was Blue, and Purple, and Scarlet

The door is to be of “blue and purple and scarlet.” All three colors and the significance of all three colors are part of the process of entering through the veil into the presence of God.

Exo 26:36  And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, [of] blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework.

Now just as the spirit does in the book of Revelation, notice how the spirit begins in the holy of holies and “looks behind” to see what it took to get there:

Exo 26:34  And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.
Exo 26:35  And thou shalt set the table without the vail, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.
Exo 26:36  And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework.
Exo 26:37  And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, [and] their hooks [shall be of] gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.

John had to turn to see what was behind him before he realized that he had been granted to enter into the temple in heaven and to see the things of the spirit:

Rev 1:10 I came to be, in Spirit, in the Lord’s Day, and heard, behind me, a loud voice, as of a trumpet,
Rev 1:11 saying – What thou seest, write in a scroll, and send unto the Seven Assemblies, – unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamum,- and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
Rev 1:12 And I turned round, to see the Voice which was speaking with me, and, having turned, I saw Seven Lamps of gold;

The fact that the cherbims of blue and purple and scarlet are on both curtains, the curtain of the door to the holy place, and the curtain of the holy of holies signifies that our purple bruising continues as long as we are in these “earthen vessels”.

5) The Vail into the Holy of Holies Hangs on Four Pillars, the Door of the Tent Hangs on Five Pillars. Both are Blue, Purple, and Scarlet.

Exo 26:31  And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:
Exo 26:32  And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks [shall be of] gold, upon the four sockets of silver.

Exo 26:36  And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework.
Exo 26:37  And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, [and] their hooks [shall be of] gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.

The cherubim in the blue and purple and scarlet veil are hanging on four pillars through which all who come into the holy of holies must pass. The cherubim in blue, purple and scarlet also hang on five pillars at the entry of the holy place. What, or rather, who are these pillars and cherubims through which we come to our Creator? It is always best to let the scriptures answer our questions:

Rev 3:12  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name.
Rev 3:13  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Yes, the pillars in the temple signify the Lord’s elect “saviors” (Oba 1:21) through whom all men will come to the Lord (1Co 15:22).

Doesn’t Paul tell us that we are the temple of God?

1Co 3:16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

2Co 6:16  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

How are we the temple and yet pillars in the temple? Here is how that is accomplished:

Joh 14:20  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

We are in Christ, and Christ is in us. In the same way we are in the temple, and the temple is in us.

Rev 3:13  He that hath [been given, (Mat 13:10-15)] an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches [His temple].

Now let’s ask, “Who are the cherubims?” As always it is best to let the scriptures tell us who these four creatures are. In fact the creatures themselves tell us who they are:

Rev 5:6  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
Rev 5:7  And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
Rev 5:8  And when he had taken the book, the four beasts [The cherubims of Ezekiel one and Ezekiel 10] and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
Rev 5:9  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Rev 5:10  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

This is the exact same promise made to the overcomers of the seven churches in Revelation one:

Rev 1:5  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Rev 1:6  And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

The four beasts in the middle of and round about the throne of God and the overcomers of the seven churches are both “redeemed to God by the blood of Christ out of every kindred tongue and people and nation” and both are “made kings and priests unto God.” It is obvious that the overcomers of the seven churches, the four beasts and the four and twenty elders, the one hundred and forty and four thousand are all different symbols of those who will sit on thrones judging this world and then judge angels in the lake of fire:

Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

6) “The Gate of the Court” of the Temple Has a Curtain of Blue, Purple and Scarlet Hanging on Four Pillars.

All who come into the holy place must first come through the “gate of the court.” This, too, is blue, purple and scarlet.

Exo 27:16  And for the gate of the court shall be an hanging of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework: and their pillars shall be four, and their sockets four.

“Pillars in the temple” are just one more symbol of the Lord’s elect overcomers through whom all men of all time will be redeemed to our Lord:

Rev 3:12  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

7) The Garments of the Priesthood are Gold, Blue, Purple, and Scarlet

Exo 28:1  And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.
Exo 28:2  And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.
Exo 28:3  And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.
Exo 28:4  And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.
Exo 28:5  And they shall take gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen.
Exo 28:6  And they shall make the ephod [of] gold, [of] blue, and [of] purple, [of] scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work.
Exo 28:7  It shall have the two shoulderpieces thereof joined at the two edges thereof; and [so] it shall be joined together.
Exo 28:8  And the curious girdle of the ephod, which is upon it, shall be of the same, according to the work thereof; even of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.

The Lord’s priests’ clothing had to be of linen because linen does not cause sweat:

Eze 44:18  They shall have linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon their loins; they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth sweat.

Why does Ezekiel tell us “they shall not gird themselves with anything that causes sweat?” He tells us that our own spiritual clothing does not cause us to sweat because we are not the ones who are performing the good works in which He has before ordained that we should walk.

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9  Not of [our] works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Our clothes do not cause sweat because it is God who is performing that which He has ordained for us:

Job 23:13  But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
Job 23:14  For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

The clothes of the Lord’s elect kings and priests were blue, purple and scarlet clothing “for glory and for beauty.” The only “glory and… beauty” the Lord sees in anyone “is the righteousness of saints.” Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on what is in our hearts.

1Sa 16:6  And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’S anointed is before him.
1Sa 16:7  But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

The only “glory and… beauty” which the Lord sees is “the righteousness of saints”, and that righteousness is the righteousness of Christ, which beautifies and glorifies His bride:

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen [“For glory and beauty”, (Exo 28:2)], clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

The righteousness of Christ’s bride is “granted… to her.” A ‘grant’ is a gift :

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9  Not of [our] works, lest any man should boast.

8) Gold, Blue, Purple, and Scarlet are Used by Those Who Teach Others

“Cunning workmen…[who] devise curious works… in gold and silver and brass…  blue, and purple, and scarlet… and any manner of cunning work,” are those whom God is using to teach others to help in the building of the temple of God:

Exo 35:29  The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.

Pro 21:1  The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

Exo 35:30  And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the LORD hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah;
Exo 35:31  And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;
Exo 35:32  And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
Exo 35:33  And in the cutting of stones, to set [them], and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work.
Exo 35:34  And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.
Exo 35:35 Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work.

Gold, silver and precious stones all signify the Lord’s Word and His doctrines which we all twist and abuse and wrap around the idols of our hearts while we serve Babylon:

Eze 16:10  I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers’ skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk.
Eze 16:11  I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck.
Eze 16:12  And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head.
Eze 16:13  Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.

Eze 16:16  And of thy garments thou didst take, and deckedst thy high places with divers colours, and playedst the harlot thereupon: the like things shall not come, neither shall it be so.
Eze 16:17  Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them,

These verses demonstrate that gold, silver, and raiment of fine linen signify the Lord’s Words and His doctrines. The fine linen signifies the righteousness of Christ imputed to His saints.

That being the case, Bezeleel’s many gifts and his ability to teach others signify what the Lord is doing through His beautiful, glorious bride whom He has filled with His spirit for the purpose of  teaching others:

Exo 35:31  And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;
Exo 35:32  And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
Exo 35:33  And in the cutting of stones, to set [them], and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work.

Those they teach and the materials with which they work are both the result of God’s work in the heart’s of His people to build up His house. It is all just another way of showing all of us the unveiling of Jesus Christ which is “the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

Rev 19:10  And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See [thou do it] not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

1Co 14:3  But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
1Co 14:4  He that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

How does he edify the church? He does so by working with “gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet” among other things which are used to build up and edify the temple of God by those who God has “filled with wisdom of heart to work all manner of work…”

Conclusion of the Significance of Blue and Purple and Scarlet

Blue and purple and scarlet signify those in whom God’s Spirit is working the process of going from scarlet to blue, from the first to the last Adam:

Exo 36:8  And every wise hearted man among them that wrought the work of the tabernacle made ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work made he them.

1Co 15:45  And so it is written, The first man Adam [red – earthy – of the ground] was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit [blue – heavenly – of the spirit].

Purple is just the combining of the blue and the scarlet. Purple signifies the bruising that is experienced in going from scarlet to blue.

[Here is the link to the next study in this series.]

]]> https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/the-kings-heart-is-in-the-hand-of-the-lord-as-the-rivers-of-water-he-turneth-it-whithersoever-he-will-part-3/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-kings-heart-is-in-the-hand-of-the-lord-as-the-rivers-of-water-he-turneth-it-whithersoever-he-will-part-3 Thu, 20 Nov 2025 05:01:34 +0000 https://www.iswasandwillbe.com/?p=34640 Audio Download

“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will” Part 3

(Pro 21:11-15)

[Study Aired November 20, 2025]

Pro 21:11  When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
Pro 21:12  The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.
Pro 21:13  Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
Pro 21:14  A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
Pro 21:15  It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

In this study we’ll learn once again how “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will”, and how blessed we are to be judged in this age as God’s goodness leads us unto repentance and brings us to clearly see that our righteousnesses are as filthy rags (Isa 64:6), and that He alone can cleanse us from our Adamic reasonings that lead to death (Psa 51:7-12, Rom 2:4-7, Isa 66:2). It is Christ’s righteousness and God’s mercy and goodness that we are, Lord willing, laying hold of because our hearts are “in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water”.

Isa 64:6  But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Psa 51:7  Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Psa 51:8  Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Psa 51:9  Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Psa 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psa 51:11  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Psa 51:12  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

Rom 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Rom 2:5  But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
Rom 2:6  Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Rom 2:7  To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

Isa 66:2  For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

Pro 21:11  When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

When we discover that we are this scorner who needs to be punished, by God’s grace we will learn that the only thing that can change this wickedness within us is His judgement (Pro 16:4), which in turn will make the simple wise through the instruction and knowledge we receive via his chastening (Tit 2:11-12).

Pro 16:4  The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

Tit 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

We don’t learn without going through painful experiences in this life, and we all naturally scorn judgement, and devour iniquity until we don’t (Pro 19:28-29).

Pro 19:28  An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
Pro 19:29  Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.

God knows exactly how to break our scornful spirits via judgement so that we cry out to him and receive the much needed forgiveness and mercy that are abundantly His to give (Isa 55:7).

Isa 55:7  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

The end result of receiving those stripes is wisdom and a healed heart and mind that will be made ready to walk with Christ in that blessed and holy first resurrection, with His mercy that will be extended to all men, mercy that we have intimately become aware of via our heavenly Father (Rom 5:10) in this age (Psa 119:97-104, Mal 2:5-7).

Rom 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Psa 119:97  MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
Psa 119:98  Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.
Psa 119:99  I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
Psa 119:100  I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.
Psa 119:101  I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.
Psa 119:102  I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.
Psa 119:103  How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Psa 119:104  Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

Mal 2:5  My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.
Mal 2:6  The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.
Mal 2:7  For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

Pro 21:12  The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.

If we haven’t examined ourselves and go about judging others we are likened unto the blind leading the blind (Luk 6:39-45). However, if God is working with us in this age we are going to apply this verse first and foremost to ourselves, “The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness”, and in doing so we will be able to mercifully help others in the body by delivering them from sin via the wisdom and mind of Christ that teaches us that we are the chief of sinners (2Ti 2:15, 1Ti 4:16, Jas 5:19-20, Rom 1:16).

Luk 6:39  And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? (Joh 9:41)
Luk 6:40  The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
Luk 6:41  And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Luk 6:42  Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.
Luk 6:43  For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Luk 6:44  For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
Luk 6:45  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

1Ti 4:16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Jas 5:19  Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
Jas 5:20  Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins (ultimately Lord willing the innumerable multitude Rev 7:9).

Rom 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Pro 21:13  Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

This proverb reminds us that we are to be pitiful (Jas 5:11-12, Mat 5:37, 1Pe 3:8) toward each other seeing we are all “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” from God’s perspective until were not (Rev 3:17). We have each been commissioned in this life to be in the process of overcoming that spiritual poverty (Rev 3:18-22), again by God’s grace that teaches us to forsake ungodliness and worldly lust. If we don’t extend that same mercy and forgiveness to others, by not hearing the cry of the poor,(Mat 24:48-50) God will created circumstances in our life where we feel like He is not hearing us (Mat 6:15). This is a most grievous trial, and yet we know that God will not leave the elect with that feeling of being forsaken indefinitely. Christ identifies even with this feeling of abandonment (of the flesh), and knows how to restore us through God’s spirit (Psa 23:3, Mat 27:46).

Jas 5:11  Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
Jas 5:12  But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

1Pe 3:8  Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Rev 3:19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. [Heb 12:6]

Mat 6:15  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (“Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard”)

Mat 27:46  And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?[1Jn 4:17]

Pro 21:14  A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.

The gift we receive in secret is the life of Christ that is hidden from the world (Psa 27:5, Col 3:3). With God’s spirit within us we are able to pacify anger, and overcome strong wrath that cannot overtake the person who is “leaning on Jesus’ bosom” (Joh 13:23). John’s leaning on Christ bosom represents our setting our affections on things above, and not on things of the earth.

H5643  ‘Secret’  say’-ther, sith-raw’
Strong’s: From H5641; a cover (in a good or a bad, a literal or a figurative sense): – backbiting, covering, covert, X disguise [-th], hiding place, privily, protection, secret (-ly, place).
BDB: 1) covering, shelter, hiding place, secrecy (noun masculine)
1a) covering, cover
1b) hiding place, shelter, secret place
1c) secrecy
c1) secrecy (of tongue being slanderous)
2) shelter, protection (noun feminine)

Psa 27:5  For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secretH5643 of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

Col 3:1  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Col 3:2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Col 3:3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Col 3:4  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Col 3:5  Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Col 3:6  For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

Joh 13:23  Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

Pro 21:15  It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

Every child who is judged of his parents, experiences this joy of being corrected, and the joy does not come upon us without first having to feel the grievousness that comes with correction (Heb 12:6-15). This is how God destroys the iniquity or self-righteousness in us, by bringing us to cease from being “workers of iniquity”.

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Heb 12:8  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Heb 12:9  Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
Heb 12:10  For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
Heb 12:11  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Heb 12:12  Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
Heb 12:13  And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
Heb 12:14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Heb 12:15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;  

I’ll end this study off reminding us of God’s great mercy that will endure forever as He takes us through those turbulent waters where His hand is guiding us just as carefully as when the waters are still and we are resting in Him (Psa 107:1-31)

Psa 107:1  O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psa 107:2  Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
Psa 107:3  And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.
Psa 107:4  They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
Psa 107:5  Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
Psa 107:6  Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:7  And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.
Psa 107:8  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:9  For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
Psa 107:10  Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
Psa 107:11  Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
Psa 107:12  Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.
Psa 107:13  Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:14  He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
Psa 107:15  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:16  For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.
Psa 107:17  Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
Psa 107:18  Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.
Psa 107:19  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:20  He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
Psa 107:21  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:22  And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
Psa 107:23  They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
Psa 107:24  These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
Psa 107:25  For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
Psa 107:26  They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
Psa 107:27  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
Psa 107:28  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:29  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Psa 107:31  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!