Three Missing Kings in Matthew’s Lineage

I remembered reading the genealogy of Jesus during the time I was newly saved. One of the things worth noticing is that there are three kings missing. First, we read the right lineage. However, it seems that we are getting a mistake. We have Jehoram begetting Uzziah or Ozias in Greek. Wait, doesn’t the Old Testament chronology tell us that Jehoram begat Ahaziah, Ahaziah begat Joash, and Joash begat Amaziah? At first, it seems like Matthew wrote 14 generations and just wanted to balance it. I once assumed there were missing records in the civil registrar at that time. Yet, we know God’s Word is without flaw. Matthew would’ve had some reason.

Sabotage in Luke 2:33 in Modern Versions?

It’s one thing to be a KJV Onlyist. It’s another thing to be engaging with the likes of materials written by Chick Publications, the late Peter S. Ruckman (who’s a bizarre conspiracy theorist), and Gail Ripplinger. Even KJV Onlyist proponent, David W. Cloud, has rejected Ruckman and Ripplinger as unsound. I remembered getting an NIV (before I got into KJV Only). Then I got into the KJV Only movement because Pastor Danny Bornales (a staunch extreme KJV Only) compared Bibles often. I believe a lot of people got saved from Bornales’ TV broadcast. I heard the salvation message more than once. I got saved listening to Bornales’ sermon. Before that, I think I heard Franklin Graham’s message on Trinity Broadcasting Network which I don’t recommend. One of the alleged sabotage regarding the KJV is Luke 2:33. I heard that the way the modern translations say it supposedly denies the virgin birth.

The Parable of the Ten Pounds

I remembered a message more than 20 years ago where the pastor talked about the parable of the ten pounds. This is not to be mistaken as the parable of the talents. Both parables had a worthless servant who didn’t invest the money but laid it idle for some foolish reason. In Hebrew, a mina is worth three months of salary. The story can be found in Luke 19:11-17.

The Unconditional Election of Zacchaeus the Tax Collector

Right now, I’m practically determined to blog through Luke before Christmas arrives. Last year’s Christmas disaster stopped it and I feel obliged to finish it. At this point, I decided to write about Zacchaeus himself (Luke 19:1-10). Earlier on, Luke narrated about the Pharisee and the publican. Later, we read of another publican, a very short man named Zacchaeus. We hear of how evil tax collectors are. Matthew was called to ministry from the dirty tax table. Later, Matthew brought more tax collectors to Jesus. The tax collectors were so hated that some people probably felt they were beyond repentance. Yet, Zacchaeus proved he wasn’t beyond repentance.

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

Last year, I wasn’t able to finish my blogging through Luke. It was because the storm hit and I was focused on survival. Thankfully, by God’s grace, I’m now typing what I’m typing now. Only God knows the full extent of what He will allow and what I’m going through. A topic which I feel writing about is the Pharisee and the tax collector in Luke 18:9-14. This would be a good Christmas devotional, especially if how man tends to dismiss the ugly reason why Jesus had to be born. It’s because we’re not basically good and being good for goodness sake doesn’t work.

Practical Christianity on Celebrating Christmas

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Arthur W. Pink had a book called Practical Christianity. It’s no secret that Protestant preacher, Pink, had a very negative view of Christmas. He even wrote an article against Christmas (which might be better called off XMas because of how anything goes except Christ). Here’s an excerpt from that article and I could agree with many things concerning it: