In This Issue

• THE THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER
• TIMOTHY AND EPAPHRODITUS
• RHODE ISLAND RED OR POLAND CHINA?
• UPCOMING GOSPEL MEETING SCHEDULE
• MORE INFORMATION...

THE THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER

Matthew 27:1-8 tells of Judas’ attempt to undo his betrayal of Jesus. When the chief priests and elders refused to take back the 30 pieces of silver and put it back into the temple treasury, Judas threw the money aside and went out and committed suicide. Then the chief priests took the money and bought the potter’s field as a place to bury strangers. Matthew says in verses 9-10, "Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, ‘And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of Him who was priced, whom they of the children of Israel priced, and gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.’"

This passage of Scripture has presented a difficulty for Bible students because the primary passage Matthew makes reference to is not in the writings of Jeremiah, but from the prophecy of Zechariah.

Bible scholars have suggested several possible solutions to this problem. Adam Clarke tells us that in the ancient scrolls, the Hebrew Scriptures were divided into three sections: the Law, the Psalms, and the Prophets. He says that in their arrangement, the first book in the prophetical section was that of Jeremiah, and that sometimes the section would be referred to by that writer, even though one of the other writers may be the actual author of the that passage. We find this to be a very unlikely explanation, especially in the light of the fact that the New Testament speakers and writers so frequently quoted from the other prophets by name, especially Isaiah.

Some scholars have suggested that Matthew had in mind, not only the passage found in Zech. 11:12-13, but also some similar passages found in Jeremiah, chapters 18 and 19, and that he lumps all the verses together and makes reference to Jeremiah, who wrote most of the verses Matthew had in mind. Still other scholars suggest that perhaps Jeremiah had ORALLY spoken this prophecy, and that Zechariah later put it into writing. (The Holy Spirit, who guided Matthew in his writing, would know that, of course.) Still others have suggest that Jeremiah may have actually written the last few chapters of the book of Zechariah. And others have suggested that perhaps in the succeeding generations since Matthew wrote, an uninspired copier accidentally supplied the name of Jeremiah where Matthew had correctly put "Zechariah," and that copier’s mistake was repeated in later manuscripts.

At any rate, the important thing for us to note is that hundreds of years before Jesus was ever born, the inspired prophet had foretold the exact amount of money His betrayer would receive, and how that money would eventually be spent.

--CRJ

TIMOTHY AND EPAPHRODITUS

The great love of Jesus Christ that would compel Him to leave the glories of heaven and be made flesh staggers rationality. How utterly improbable that He would lower himself to take the nature of the creature. The King of the universe, now the slave of all. God, the Word, the Creator—dying! That God would submit to death, let alone the degradation of the cross, presses the boundaries of the absurd. Who can believe such a report? It never entered our minds that God would save us at such awful cost to Himself. We are swept away by the sheer magnanimity of His love. What rock-hard hearts can stand unmoved as we are caught up in the story? For He did this for me—and for you. This is gospel preaching that stirs and moves and changes. This is a mountain-top experience.

But from such lofty heights we go immediately to the valley. Philippians 2:19-30 seems out of place so closely following the great section about the mind of Christ (vv. 5-11). I do not doubt the long hours of toil, and even danger, that Timothy and Epaphroditus faced. I believe they were men that should be esteemed. But, why should such a glorious revelation of Christ’s mind be followed with the praise of two of us "just plain ol’ Joes"?

I’m slow, but I think that’s it. It fits like a hand in a glove. Jesus so consecrated Himself to God that He was willing to be poured out for the supreme benefit of others. So, too, these brothers consecrated themselves to God, subduing self in the service of others. The Lord Jesus Christ was their model and they faithfully followed His steps.

Timothy: A Man of Character

We say, on occasion: "He has character." The Greek word is karakter, an instrument used for marking or engraving. It passed from that to mean the mark, brand or stamp engraved. The ancients made the "character" of a horse in the forehead of a bondslave. We talk of "the lasting impression" made on an individual by adversity or the tutelage of a great mentor. "He has character," that is, the highest moral qualities have been stamped on his heart as indelibly as the brand on a cow. So, Jesus Christ marked young Timothy (v. 22).

Timothy was a timid fellow. That does not lend itself well to the task of confronting false teachers and cantankerous brethren. But, he met both challenges. It does not help one to meet the dangers of persecution—railings, imprisonment, or even death. But, Timothy overcame his fear and suffered imprisonment (see 2 Timothy 1:7-8; Hebrews 13:23). He was often sickly (1 Timothy 5:23). That doesn’t help you keep up with the schedule of preaching demanded by missionary work. Yet, he did all of it as a "slave of the gospel" (v. 22). A slave has no will, save his master’s. We are so deluged with "my rights" that I fear we cannot know the true meaning of being Christ’s bondslave. Timothy did. He knew what it meant to do something you don’t want to do, but you do it because it serves another’s good. He knew what it was to endure hardship like a good soldier (2 Timothy 2:3). The test of any army is how they fight when they are hungry and tired and want to go home. He genuinely cared for the brethren (v. 20). Paul often used him in missions to churches they had established. There was nothing artificial or forced about his love for the brethren.

Paul said he was "equal-souled" with him (v. 20, isopsychos). Timothy shared Paul’s deep concern for the churches (2 Corinthians 11:28). He outstripped all who were left in Rome when it came to devotion to Christ. What a sad generalization that those Christians put self first and Jesus Christ second. What good excuses men can make for taking the easy route over God’s hard way. Unpleasant duties have a way of not becoming duties at all. How the kingdom of God has been hindered by such people! Can it be said of us, "He is a Timothy?"

Epaphroditus: Risking It All

Paul pays tribute to this man when he calls him "fellowworker and fellow soldier" (v. 25). He was no passenger, just along for the ride. These words speak of effort, loyalty, endurance—a man of Christ’s mind. Philippi committed their trust to him and he faithfully carried out his mission to Paul, even to the point of nearly dying (see v. 30 with v. 8).

He risked it all. The verb is paraboleuomai, a gambling term meaning to stake all on the turn of the dice. Epaphroditus took a calculated risk in serving Christ, the willingness to expend all he had in His service (2 Corinthians 12:15). He was worthy of that honorary title the early Christians gave to such "proven character"—Parabolani, "The Riskers." Cyprian best defined the word. In A.D. 252, a plague swept the city of Carthage. The populace threw out the dead bodies and fled for their lives. But, Cyprian gathered the congregation together and sent them to bury the dead and tend the sick at the risk of their own lives. "Foolhardy," "reckless" would be the epithet of the world. What an impact Christianity could make if every believer’s epithet was Parabolani, even if it became their epitaph.

Enduring, spending, risking all in serving Christ because they had the mind of Christ. When you see them in our day, esteem them highly, brethren. There are precious few of "equal soul."

--Chuck Durham, Christianity, Nov. 1990

RHODE ISLAND RED OR POLAND CHINA?

There are those who know not the difference between a Rhode Island Red and Poland China, others who cannot distinguish a Redwood from a Redbud, still others who cannot tell you which is an alternator and which is a distributor. This inability is not to be attributed to a mental inaptitude but to a lack of active interest in agriculture, botany, or mechanics.

Likewise there are those who know not the difference between the truth and a lie. You most likely come into routine contact with such individuals in your day-to-day business dealings. These will swear up and down that they are telling the truth, and are being fair. Chances are, they believe themselves. The Scriptures note this phenomena: "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the hearts" (Prov. 21:2). Again, this inability to distinguish between integrity and dishonesty must not be attributed to moral inaptitude. The problem is that they don’t know the difference. The reason that they don’t know the difference is that they are more interested in self-gain than in the subject of integrity.

A like phenomena may be observed in religion. There are those who insist that such-and-such a matter is the gospel truth: "It’s in there somewhere." And they think it is. Jesus observed a long time ago, "Ye searth the scriptures, because ye think that in them ye have eternal life; and these are they which bear witness of Me; and ye will not come to Me, that ye may have life" (John 5:39-40). The problem is that they don’t know the difference between truth and error.

Heb. 5:14 notes, "But solid food is for full-grown men, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil." According to this statement, effort is necessary to develop the ability to discern good from evil. The reason that so many cannot make the distinction is ultimately due to a lack of genuine, active interest.

The point is not that you must learn the difference between a Rhode Island Red and a Poland China, a redwood and a redbud, or a distributor and an alternator in order to go to heaven. But you must be interested in honesty, and you must be interested in what the will of God really is. Acts 17:30 plainly teaches that ignorance is no excuse. As Prov. 21:2 shows, to think that you are right in your own eyes is not the determining factor in being right with God, for ultimately, "Jehovah weigheth the hearts."

--J. Princeton Simons

[Editor’s Note: In case you don’t know, and want to know, a Rhode Island Red is a particular breed of chicken, and a Poland China is a specific breed of swine. --crj]

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