Authority

  • Submitting to Earthly Authorities

    Romans 13:1–7

    Those who are under the authority of others are not allowed to wait for perfect leadership before they honor their supervisors, parents, church elders, and other leaders. Insofar as our leaders do not command us to do something God forbids ...Read More

  • The Fifth Commandment

    Deuteronomy 5:16

    John Calvin writes, “We should look up to those whom God has placed over us, and should treat them with honor, obedience, and gratefulness.” He goes on to say that this entails “that we are forbidden to detract from their ...Read More

  • Serving One Another in Marriage

    Ephesians 5:22–24

    Within the family structure, husbands are accountable to the Lord for the manner in which they lead their homes, and wives are accountable to God for submitting to their husbands’ authority. Husbands should not be concerned primarily with the duties ...Read More

  • Scripture Alone

    Mark 7:1-13

    We must be ever-vigilant lest we abandon the principle of sola Scriptura. To say that a passage in Scripture is not true because we do not understand or agree with it is to violate Scripture’s final authority. Legalism, the ...Read More

  • Civil Obedience

    Romans 13:1–2

    Some of the laws and regulations in your country today may seem unnecessary. Nevertheless, in obedience to Scripture we must obey even these unless they lead us to sin. We should not be known as those who try to find ...Read More

  • The Perils of Telling the Truth

    Galatians 4:15–17

    Matthew Henry offers this caution: “Ministers sometimes create enemies to themselves by the faithful discharge of their duty. Yet ministers must not forbear speaking the truth, for fear of offending others.” Pastors and leaders must love their people well, but ...Read More

  • Salvation and Childbearing

    1 Timothy 2:15

    On Monday, we will look at what else Paul means in 1 Timothy 2:15. Dr. MacArthur also writes that “women have the privilege of leading many out of sin to godliness” (p. 1,784). Mothers, grandmothers, and other women ...Read More

  • Unlimited Forgiveness

    Matthew 18:21–35

    It is not as if unforgiving people lose their salvation, Matthew Henry says, for “those who do not forgive their brother’s trespasses, did never truly repent of their own, and therefore that which is taken away is only what ...Read More

  • Church Authority

    Matthew 18:18–20

    The church’s ability to liberate people, says John Calvin, is not limited to the restoration of disciplined members to full participation in the congregation. Such liberation is also discharged when elders, according to Scripture, assure repentant people of pardon ...Read More

  • A Prophet without Honor

    Matthew 13:53–58

    Western society is blessed to be steeped in the teaching of Scripture and the person and work of Christ. However, we must take care that this blessing of familiarity does not motivate contempt in us for the things of God ...Read More

  • Jesus’ True Family

    Matthew 12:46–50

    What place does the church family have in your life? Do you think it important to know your fellow believers or do you leave worship without meeting new people and talking to old friends? We will be spending eternity with ...Read More

  • A Mission of Service

    Matthew 12:15–21

    The truth that Jesus will not snuff out a smoldering wick or break a bruised reed is one of the most encouraging truths of Christianity. When others would give up on us because of our failures, lack of money, talent ...Read More

  • The Aim of the Sabbath

    Matthew 12:9–14

    John Calvin comments, “Nothing could be more unreasonable than to pronounce a man, who imitated God, to be a transgressor of the Sabbath.” The Father gives His law for our benefit, and we must never forget this lest we improperly ...Read More

  • Freed from Bondage

    Matthew 9:32–34

    Luke 16:19–31 tells us that there are some who will not believe even if they see someone rise from the dead. Apologetic arguments and ministries of mercy are good things and powerful witnesses to the truth of God ...Read More

  • Christ’s Divine Authority

    Matthew 9:1–8

    Some theological traditions tend to pursue physical healing as if it is the ultimate need of human beings. Yet while it is good to ask the Lord to heal us when we are ill, we fundamentally need our sins to ...Read More