Matthew 26:17-25is about the Passover, consisting of two parts as follows:
Matthew 26:17-19
26:17. Now on the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?"
26:18 And 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."'"
26:19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.
We learn about the Passover preparation related with the venue.
Mark 14:13-15
14:13 And He sent out two of His disciples and said to them, "Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him.
14:14 "Wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?"'
14:15 "Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared; there make ready for us."
It is in a city, in a large upper room, furnished and prepared, referring to New Jerusalem.
Revelation 21:10
21:10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
In Old Testament, the Passover is the deliverance of Israelites from Egypt to go to Canaan.
In New Testament, the Passover is the deliverance of the Church from the sin and the world to enter New Jerusalem.
How can we enter New Jerusalem?
We have to have life renewalfrom carnal men to spiritual men or perfect men as Jesus is; or from mortar pot to gold pot.
What can renew us?
Where can we get the process of life renewal until we become perfect as Jesus is?
Luke 2:6-8
2:6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.
2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
2:8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
The Lord is the true teaching Word, Holy Spirit, and God's love, that was born to become Jesus in sheepfold.
It means we can be reborn by the true teaching Word, Holy Spirit, and God's love to become same with Jesus in sheepfold also.
The result will be same if the seed, namely the true teaching Word, Holy Spirit, and God's love, and the venue are same.
The result will be different if the seed is same but the venue is different.
The sheepfold (the Holy Place) means our perseverance in doing three main services as follows:
- Verse 17-19 about the Passover preparation.
- Verse 20-25 about eating the Passover.
Matthew 26:17-19
26:17. Now on the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?"
26:18 And 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."'"
26:19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.
We learn about the Passover preparation related with the venue.
Mark 14:13-15
14:13 And He sent out two of His disciples and said to them, "Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him.
14:14 "Wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?"'
14:15 "Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared; there make ready for us."
It is in a city, in a large upper room, furnished and prepared, referring to New Jerusalem.
Revelation 21:10
21:10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
In Old Testament, the Passover is the deliverance of Israelites from Egypt to go to Canaan.
In New Testament, the Passover is the deliverance of the Church from the sin and the world to enter New Jerusalem.
How can we enter New Jerusalem?
We have to have life renewalfrom carnal men to spiritual men or perfect men as Jesus is; or from mortar pot to gold pot.
What can renew us?
- The true teaching Word -->The Table of Showbread.
John 1:1,14
1:1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
God is Logos, meaning the true teaching Word.
Jesus is the true teaching Word that became flesh or a man.
1 Peter 1:23
1:23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,
Human must be reborn or renewed by the true teaching Word to become as glorious or perfect as Jesus is. The renewal happens especially through our patience in Bible Study Service and Holy Communion(The Table of Showbread). - The power of Holy Spirit -->Golden Candlestick.
2 Corinthians 3:17
3:17Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Matthew 1:20-21
1:20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
1:21 "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins."
The Lord is the spirit.
Jesus is Holy Spirit who was born to become same as human.
Human must be renewed by Holy Spirit in order to become same as Jesus is.
2 Corinthians 3:18
3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Human must be renewed by Holy Spirit in order to become as glorious as Jesus is, especially through patience in General Service(Golden Candlestick). - God's love -->Golden Altar of Incense.
1 John 4:8-9
4:8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
4:9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
God is love.
Jesus is the love of God that was born as human.
Zephaniah 3:17
3:17 The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."
Men must be renewed by God's love to become perfect as Jesus, especially through patience in Prayer Service(Golden Altar of Incense).
Where can we get the process of life renewal until we become perfect as Jesus is?
Luke 2:6-8
2:6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.
2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
2:8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
The Lord is the true teaching Word, Holy Spirit, and God's love, that was born to become Jesus in sheepfold.
It means we can be reborn by the true teaching Word, Holy Spirit, and God's love to become same with Jesus in sheepfold also.
The result will be same if the seed, namely the true teaching Word, Holy Spirit, and God's love, and the venue are same.
The result will be different if the seed is same but the venue is different.
The sheepfold (the Holy Place) means our perseverance in doing three main services as follows:
- Golden Candlestick -->perseverance in General Service.
- Table of Showbread -->perseverance in Bible Study Service with Holy Communion.
- Golden Altar of Incense -->perseverance in Prayer Service.
- Male/Husband.
Matthew 14:15-19,21
14:15 When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food."
14:16 But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."
14:17 And they said to Him, "We have here only five loaves and two fish."
14:18 He said, "Bring them here to Me."
14:19 Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes.
14:21 Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Men have to sit on the grass.
The grass refers to shepherding.
To sit on means a firm position.
Thus, we have to be steadfast in shepherding, that is to say we are able to consume shepherding Word.
As a result, there is miracle.
The miracle will not happen if one has not become steadfast but wandered, even there will be decline.
The miracle is especially the renewal of our characteristics as follows:- Egoism [Matthew 14:15] is renewed to become responsibility.
The responsibility of a husband is in physical life and spiritual one.
The responsibility in spiritual life is to direct the wife and children to enter into the true shepherding and to be faithful and true in serving and ministering God.
Our whole life is determined by the food. Wrong food will cause itch or allergy. Therefore, we have to heed our true spiritual food. - The character of belittling or not appreciating the shepherding Word.
John 6:8-9
6:8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him,
6:9 "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?"
The practice is as Eutychus who was sleepy hearing the Word and bored of the Word.
It does not increase the spirituality but makes the spirituality fall even die and one loses the salvation.
Likewise, ten spies magnified temptation more than the Word and they lost their hearts, became hopeless, and left God; and finally they did not enter Canaan.
This characteristic must be renewed to become characteristic of appreciating shepherding Word and totally relying on the shepherding Word.
If we have experienced the renewal of our characteristics, which is the spiritual miracle, we will experience the physical miracle for sure, namely the preservation of the hand of Chief Shepherd directly besides the rest and peace in the middle of the world which has become as the desert with many beasts threatening us. - Egoism [Matthew 14:15] is renewed to become responsibility.
- Woman.
Matthew 15:21-22,26-28
15:21. Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
15:22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed."
15:26 But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs."
15:27 And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."
15:28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
The woman of Canaan cost only as a dog, namely one who has got lost from shepherding.
Woman or wife must not get lost from the shepherding but persevere in shepherding.
If the wife perseveres in shepherding, there will be a miracle, namely the renewal of tongue, from the tongue of dog to the tongue of sheep.
The tongue of dog is as follows:- Licking vomit, referring to corrupt words, unclean words, and lies.
- Licking sores, referring to telling the mistakes of other people, gossiping.
- Licking blood, meaning slandering.
All of them are dry words. Consequently, the life becomes dry, there are problems and tears, even the marriage and children are destroyed.
The tongue is a rudder which can direct us to New Jerusalem or hell.
Let us appreciate every word in shepherding Word, do not miss it.
A word of shepherding Word is able to help and bless us.
The vain words(the tongue of dog) can be renewed to become righteous words.
Woman often blames other people, even God, to justify herself. Such woman is not shepherded.
Righteous word means justifying the Word and blaming ourselves, so we can confess our sins and be forgiven, we can worship God with the word of faith.
There will be God's mercy where we have faith.
The faith with the mercy results in miracle. There is spiritual miracle and physical one for us, even our marriage and children are healed. - Licking vomit, referring to corrupt words, unclean words, and lies.
- Youth.
Luke 7:11-13
7:11. Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd.
7:12 And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her.
7:13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep."
Nain = pasture, shepherding.
Nain = pleasant place.
Youth must make the shepherding become pleasant place.
Be alert! Do not quit from the true shepherding because it makes one go to tomb, referring to spiritual death and perdition.
The good conscience will determine. It must be firm in the true shepherding.
1 Peter 3:20-21
3:20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.
3:21 There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
The heart of man tends to be wicked. It will be renewed to become good conscience in water baptism, so we can be steadfast and patient in the true shepherding.
1 Peter 5:5-6
5:5. Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
We are under the mighty hand of God which will lift us up in His time.
To lift us up means as follows:- To lift us up from all falls in sin, so we can live in holiness.
- To lift us up from all declines, and to make us successful and beautiful in His time.
- To lift us up so we can minister in the ministry of building Christ's body.
- To lift us up on glorious clouds to be together with Him forever in New Jerusalem.
- To lift us up from all falls in sin, so we can live in holiness.