Warren W. Wiersbe - Be Loyal (Matthew): Following the King of Kings

BE LOYAL
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All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes,
no part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form
without written permission from the publisher.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain.) Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible , Copyright 1960, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved; SCO are taken from the New Scofield Reference Bible, King James version, 1967 by Oxford University Press, Inc. Reprinted by permission.

LCCN 2008924753
ISBN 978-1-4347-6779-0
eISBN 978-1-4347-6524-6

1980 Warren W. Wiersbe

First edition of Be Loyal by Warren W. Wiersbe published by Victor Books
in 1980 SP Publications, ISBN 0-89693-313-X

The Team: Gudmund Lee, Amy Kiechlin, Jack Campbell, and Susan Vannaman
Cover Design: John Hamilton Design
Cover Photo: Veer Inc.

Second Edition 2008

Dedicated to some gifted friends whose keyboard
ministries have greatly enriched my own life: David Brackley
Merrill Dunlop
Bill Fasig
John Innes

C ONTENTS

: An Introduction to Be Loyal by Ken Baugh

2. (Matthew 12)

3. (Matthew 34)

4. (Matthew 5)

5. (Matthew 6)

6. (Matthew 7)

7. (Matthew 89)

8. (Matthew 10)

9. (Matthew 1112)

10. (Matthew 13)

11. (Matthew 14)

12. (Matthew 15)

13. (Matthew 16)

14. (Matthew 17)

15. (Matthew 18)

16. (Matthew 19:115)

17. (Matthew 19:1620:34)

18. (Matthew 21:122:14)

19. (Matthew 22:1546)

20. (Matthew 23)

21. (Matthew 24:144)

22. (Matthew 24:4525:46)

23. (Matthew 26:156)

24. (Matthew 26:5727:26)

25. (Matthew 27:2766)

26. (Matthew 28)

T HE B IG I DEA

An Introduction to Be Loyal
by Ken Baugh

In 1804, Thomas Jefferson sat down in the White House with a copy of the New Testament in one hand and a razor blade in the other and proceeded to cut and paste a Jesus of his liking. Being a Rationalist, Jefferson cut away the parts of the Gospels that spoke of Jesus divine nature and miracles and left only what he believed to be the ethical teachings of Jesus. He titled this work The Philosophy of Jesus of Nazareth. Later, in 1819, Jefferson cut and pasted another version of Jesus teachings, titling this edition The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth. The real Jesus, according to Jefferson, was merely a mana good man, an ethical man, and a moral teacherbut a mortal man nonetheless.

I find it interesting that so many people, like Thomas Jefferson, want a god made in their own imageone that they agree with, one that they can understand, and maybe even control. But a god made in the image of man is a god that is too small: too small to offer comfort during seasons of doubt and personal crisis, too small to provide answers to our questions, calm our fears, and give assurance in the face of death. The only God that can meet these needs is found in the person of Jesus Christ, and He did not give permission to anyone to redefine His nature. In fact, in Matthews gospel, Jesus identity is clearly stated: Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God (16:16 NIV ). The phrase the Christ is another way to say that Jesus is the Messiah, and according to Jesus genealogy in Matthew chapter 1, we know that as the Messiah, Jesus is the King whom the prophets foretold would come to save the world.

You see, Matthew wrote his gospel with a Jewish audience in mind, to reveal Jesus identity and nature and prove to Israel that Jesus was and is their one true Messiah and only King. Jesus performed miracles that supported the claims of the prophets, and He is the only person to have ever done so! The examples are many: Isaiah said that the coming King would give sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf (Isa. 29:1819; Matt. 5:3; 11:5). Jeremiah said that the coming King would be from the lineage of King David (Jer. 23:56). Ezekiel declared that the King would be a tree planted by God (Ezek. 17:2224; Matt. 13:3132). Hosea said that He would take flight to Egypt (Hos. 11:1; Matt. 2:15). Amos said that the sun would go dark when He died (Amos 8:9; Matt. 24:29). Micah stated that He would be born in Bethlehem (Mic. 5:15; Matt. 2:1). Zechariah said that He would make a triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Zech. 9:910; Matt. 21:45). In total, there are over 456 prophecies stating specific things that the King would do, and Jesus fulfilled them all right down to the smallest details.

In addition to all the prophecies that foretold of Jesus coming, Matthew records nineteen of the twenty-nine prophecies that Jesus fulfilled just in the last twenty-four hours of His life. What more convincing evidence should the nation of Israel need? According to the signs that have been laid out, for Jesus not to be the King in light of all this overwhelming prophetic evidence would be impossible! The evidence is overwhelming, Matthews point is clear: Jesus is the One, the Messiah. It was Jesus alone who in thirty short years was able to make a sacrifice for our sins, reconcile man to God, provide an example for all believers, destroy the Devil and his works, heal the brokenhearted, give abundant life, and glorify God the Father. Right now, at this very moment, Jesus is preparing a place for His loyal subjects a home in heaven where their will be no more death, crying, or paina paradise where we will live with Him for eternity. He is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords. Are you getting the picture yet? The evidence is clear, compelling and overwhelming: JESUS IS THE KING.

As you read and study the book of Matthew with Dr. Wiersbes exceptional commentary as your guide, I challenge you to keep your own running list of the supporting evidence of Jesus identity as well as His instructions for His loyal subjects to follow. During our time on earth before we are reunited with Jesus for eternity, we are commanded to carry out His Great Commission (28:1920), and in so doing we will be faithfully going about the Kings business.

***

Dr. Wiersbes commentaries have been a source of guidance and strength to me over the many years that I have been a pastor. His unique style is not overly academic, but theologically sound. He explains the deep truths of Scripture in a way that everyone can understand and apply. Whether youre a Bible scholar or a brand-new believer in Christ, you will benefit, as I have, from Warrens insights. With your Bible in one hand and Dr. Wiersbes commentary in the other, you will be able to accurately unpack the deep truths of Gods Word and learn how to apply them to your life.

Drink deeply, my friend, of the truths of Gods Word, for in them you will find Jesus Christ, and there is freedom, peace, assurance, and joy.

Ken Baugh

Pastor of Coast Hills Community Church

Aliso Viejo, California

A W ORD FROM THE A UTHOR

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