Book of Hosea Chapter 10 Vs. 6

ONCE MORE: PUPPET-KINGS AND PUPPET-GODS

It shall be also carried unto Assyria for a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel. Hos. 10:6

be also carried... The golden calf, (Hosea 6-8), shall be carried into Assyria. It was the custom of the eastern people, and also of the Romans, to carry away the gods of the conquered countries. For a present to King Jareb (see Hosea 5:13). The king of Assyria is meant who’s dependent and tributary the king of Israel now was.

to king Jareb... Another name for Tiglath-Pileser who punished both Ephraim and Judah (2Kgs. 15:27-31; 16:7-10). When the moth and termites had performed their work on both nations of Israel, then God became a lion to Ephraim and destroyed the nation (2Kgs. 17:1-41); later He became a young lion to Judah and destroyed her (2Kgs. 24-25).

Ephraim shall receive... They shall be ashamed to find that the idol in which they trusted could not defend them or itself from being disgraced and taken away. For worshipping such an idol, when they shall see it broke to pieces, and the gold of it made a present to the Assyrian king, and that it could not save them, nor itself.

and Israel shall... Of giving in to such idolatry, contrary to the counsel, mind, and will of God. Or of the counsel, which they and Jeroboam took to set up the calves at Dan and Beth-el; and thereby keep the people from going up to Jerusalem (1 Kgs. 12:28). As well as of their counsel and covenant with the king of Egypt against the king of Assyria (2Kgs. 17:4).

This is speaking of the calf being carried into Assyria and was given to the king. It had been proclaimed as god of Israel. This calf was helpless to itself, or to these people. The calf is an idol. The name Jareb means he will contend. It is probably a symbolic name for Assyria. The counselors were just as evil as the ones they gave counsel to. All of the counsel led to shame.

Yea, himself shall they pack to Assyria; he shall be offered as tribute to King Pick-Quarrel. Ephraim shall take disgrace, and Israel be ashamed because of his counsel.

The reference to the Assyrian army carrying off the idols of defeated foes is abundantly illustrated in Neo-Assyrian literature and art. The great king refers to Assyria’s king (cf. Hos. 8:10).

The reference to the Assyrian army carrying off the idols of defeated foes is abundantly illustrated in Neo-Assyrian literature and art. The great king refers to Assyria’s king (cf. Hos. 8:10). The NIV takes Hos. 10:6 as a reference to Israel’s shame over the fate of her gods, called wooden idols. The text is better translated, Israel will be ashamed of its own counsel (cf. KJV, NASB, NIV marg.), the reference being to the nation’s unwise political policy of courting Assyria’s favor (cf. Hos. 5:13; 7:8-9, 7:11; 8:9-10; in Isa. 30:1 the same word [‛ēṣâh] is used of a political alliance with Egypt).

Gospel of Matthew Chapter 25 Vs. 30

 The Parable of the Talents

Matthew 25:30 “And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

And cast ye... He was a servant as much as the rest of them, but he became unprofitable (Mat. 25:14, 25:19, 25:30).

into outer darkness… This would describe the darkness farthest from the light, i.e., outer darkness.

weeping and gnashing... This speaks of inconsolable grief and unremitting torment. Jesus commonly used the phrases in this verse to describe hell (13:42, 24:51). Another description of eternal hell, not the grave (Mat. 13:42, 13:50; Rev. 9:2). Wailing, here and in Mat. 13:50; weeping in Mat. 8:12; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30; Luke 13:28; and gnashing of teeth in all these passages picture bitter remorse and pain.

You see, poverty does not insure you that you will go to heaven. Neither does the fact that you have money insure you that you will go to hell. Many believe just this. The parable of the talents proves how much in error this is. It is not how much you have that counts; it’s what you do with what you have.

God has no respect for the faithless. Faith in Jesus Christ is what saves us. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. You can easily see what happens to those who have no faith in the 30th verse above. They are cast into hell, the place of torment.

As the necessary and natural sequel to promotion in service was the joy of the Lord, so the natural and necessary sequel of degradation is the outer darkness, where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

On weeping and gnashing of teeth see comments on Mat. 13:42. The Parable of the 10 Virgins (Mat. 25:1-13) stressed the need for preparedness for the Messiah’s return. This Parable of the Talents stressed the need to serve the King while He is away.

Book of Hosea Chapter 10 Vs. 5

 ONCE MORE: PUPPET-KINGS AND PUPPET-GODS

The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it. Hos. 10:5

Samaria shall fear... Beth-aven is speaking of house of vanity. The calves here are speaking of the calf that Jeroboam set up in the temple to worship. They had slipped into gross idolatry. This calf cannot help them in their time of trouble.

the calves of... Beth-aven—house of naught. (See 4:15; 8:5).

People thereof shall... The people shall mourn at the loss of the calf, and the priests will mourn with them. The people and the priests had accepted this calf to worship as their god. God allows it to be taken.

For the Calf of Beth-Aven the inhabitants of Samaria shall be anxious: yea, mourn for him shall his people, and his priestlings shall writhe for him - for his glory that it is banished from him. In these days of heavy tribute shall the gold of the golden calf be safe.

Some details of the approaching judgment and exile are described in Hos. 10:5-8. The calf-idol (cf. see Hos. 8:5) located in Beth Aven (i.e., Bethel; cf. See Hos. 4:15) would be carried away by the victorious Assyrian army, causing great consternation among its worshipers. Idolatrous priests translate a rare term (k^emārı̂m), used only of priests of Baal (2Kgs. 23:5; Zeph. 1:4).

Gospel of Matthew Chapter 25 Vs. 29

The Parable of the Talents 

Matthew 25:29 “For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.”

For unto every... The recipients of divine grace inherit immeasurable blessings in addition to eternal life and the favor of God (Rom. 8:32), (see 13:12).

But those who despise the riches of God’s goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering (Rom. 2:4), burying them in the ground and clinging instead to the paltry and transient goods of this world, will ultimately lose everything they have (6:19; John 12:25).

As the necessary and natural sequel to promotion in service was the joy of the Lord, so the natural and necessary sequel of degradation is the outer darkness, where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

As a result, he lost what he had (Mat. 25:29; cf. Mat. 13:12), and was cast into judgment. Like the unworthy servant in Mat. 24:48-51, he too would be eternally separated from God.

Book of Hosea Chapter 10 Vs. 4

ONCE MORE: PUPPET-KINGS AND PUPPET-GODS

 

They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field. Hos. 10:4

They have spoken... The nobles and great men in Israel, the heads of the parties, or the counsellors of the kingdom.

words, swearing falsely... Have in long and repeated consultations and debates contrived and laid forth the designs most like to help us; but all in vain, all is but words. Or thus they have deceived one another, and ruined all; and this latter seems exactly to suit with what follows.

in making a... By perjury deceiving those they treated with, in making a covenant; either among themselves, accepting a usurper, promising and swearing loyalty to him; or with their allies, as with the Assyrian king, whose covenant they broke by perjury and contrary to oath, sent to and confederated with Sun, or So, king of Egypt.

Thus Judgment springeth... i.e. Divine revenges do so abound everywhere; or else unequal and sinful projects, counsels, and resolutions of their rulers. They are instead of just, wholesome and saving, turned into bitter, poisonous and pernicious as hemlock.

as hemlock in... A proverbial speech expressing the greatness of this pernicious evil. So this will be explained by (Amos 6:12), oppression, injustice, and all sins spread as hemlock quickly overruns a field, over the entire kingdom. Hemlock—poppy.

They had not kept their covenant with God. It appears; even their day to day life was full of deceit and lies. They made agreements; they had no intention of keeping. God had forbidden them to swear at all, but worse than that, they had sworn lies. Hemlock seems to be associated with bitter herbs. This is speaking of the chastisement of God that comes upon them for their lies. Instead of producing sweet edible food, their land is full of bitterness.

He shall break the neck of their altars; He shall ruin their pillars. For already they are saying, No king have we, for we have not feared Jehovah, and the king-what could he do for us?

Speaking of words, swearing of false oaths, making of bargains-till law breaks out like weeds in the furrows of the field.

The people’s lack of respect for the Lord was illustrated by their lack of regard for legal agreements they made with each other. Their attitude toward fellow Israelite's including frequently taking each other to court simply reflected their lack of loyalty to God.

Gospel of Matthew Chapter 25 Vs. 28

 The Parable of the Talents

Matthew 25:28 “Take therefore the talent from him, and give [it] unto him which hath ten talents.”

Take therefore the... This shows it was not special grace, which is intended by the talent; for the gift and calling of special grace are without repentance and are that good part which shall not be taken away. But gifts may fail, cease, and vanish; they may be taken away from men and men from them.

The Slothful Servant

Here we have the truth illustrated by this parable (Mat. 25:28-30).

The Slothful Servant Was:

1. Ungrateful (Mat. 25:18)

2. Erroneous in reasoning (Mat. 25:18, 25:24)

3. Unjust (Mat. 25:18)

4. Fault-finding; accusing (Mat. 25:24)

5. Self-justifying (Mat. 25:24)

6. Fearful (Mat. 25:25)

7. Wicked (Mat. 25:26)

His Punishment:

1. Rebuked (Mat. 25:26)

2. Judged out of his own mouth (Mat. 25:26)

3. Judged for failure of trust (Mat. 25:27)

4. Stripped of his talent (Mat. 25:28-29)

5. Cut off and banished forever from his master (Mat. 25:30; see, Mat. 13:42)

The Lord of this servant was very angry with him. He called him just what he was, wicked and lazy. When the Lord comes back, He wants to find us working for him. These people that say God has told them not to do anything are in for a rude awakening. The Bible says no work no eat (2Thes. 3:10).

Heb. 6:12 “That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

Work never hurt anyone. When Jesus comes back, we must be found working, not sitting around wringing our hands in fear. Some are so afraid they will do something wrong, that they are not doing anything at all. FEAR IS NOT OF GOD.

In the story above, this man’s lord told him that it did no good hidden in the ground. If nothing else, he could have drawn interest on it at the bank. The man was not trustworthy, so his lord took this talent from him and gave it to someone who put it to use. Now, the five-talent man had eleven, because of his faithfulness.

Then follows doom. Instead of promotion, degradation: take the talent from him. And in this there is no arbitrary punishment, no penalty needing to be inflicted-it comes as the result of a great law of the universe, according to which unused powers fall into atrophy, paralysis, and death; while on the other hand, faithful and diligent use of power enlarges it more and more: Take therefore the talent from ‘him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

Again, His reasoning indicated he lacked faith in his master; he proved to be a worthless servant.

Book of Hosea Chapter 10 Vs. 3

 ONCE MORE: PUPPET-KINGS AND PUPPET-GODS

For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us? Hos. 10:3

what then should... Question 6. Next, Hos. 11:8.

We have no... These are the words of despair, not of repentance; of people terrified by the consciousness of guilt, but not coming forth out of its darkness; describing their condition, not confessing the iniquity which brought it on them. In sin, all Israel had asked for a king, when the Lord was their king. In sin, Ephraim had made Jeroboam king. In sin, their subsequent kings were made, without the counsel and advice of God; and now as the close of all, they reflect how fruitless it all was.

because we feared... Worshiped not, kept not his law, depended not on God, therefore we have no king, or one next to none, not able to help us.

what then should... And now if we had our king, were he as powerful, wise, and successful as Jeroboam the Second, yet it would be too late, the Assyrian power hath so far prevailed, and God is so far departed from us. Kings are not able to save without the God of kings.

The king that they had chosen for themselves, who was not appointed of God; and had no power at all to help them in their time of trouble. God had protected them from just such a problem, as long as they were obedient to Him. Now, they have placed their faith in others, and have no help at all. The fear of the LORD here, is speaking of the great respect that was due Him. It is really speaking of reverence.

As a result of the approaching invasion, the nation’s political structure would be shattered and her king removed (cf. Hos. 10:7, 10:15). In the aftermath of the calamity the people would recognize their own unfaithfulness (i.e., failure to revere the Lord) as the basis for judgment. The situation would become so hopeless that most would realize that even… a king could bring no remedy (cf. Hos. 13:10).