{"id":6614,"date":"2024-07-29T17:43:36","date_gmt":"2024-07-29T17:43:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/?p=6614"},"modified":"2024-07-29T17:43:36","modified_gmt":"2024-07-29T17:43:36","slug":"judgment-on-the-rich","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/judgment-on-the-rich\/","title":{"rendered":"Judgment on the Rich"},"content":{"rendered":"

Click HERE for sermon audio<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/sup>Come now, you who say,\u00a0\u201cToday or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit\u201d\u2014<\/span>\u00a014\u00a0<\/sup>yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For\u00a0you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.<\/span>\u00a015\u00a0<\/sup>Instead you ought to say,\u00a0\u201cIf the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.\u201d<\/span>\u00a016\u00a0<\/sup>As it is, you boast in your arrogance.\u00a0All such boasting is evil.<\/span>\u00a017\u00a0<\/sup>So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. (James 4:13-17)<\/span><\/p>\n

Introduction<\/b><\/p>\n

As we begin chapter 5, James starts with his second use of this phrase, \u201ccome now,\u201d as he addresses the rich, calling their attention to the matter at hand, a matter which we find to be sobering and solemn. The use of this phrase connects us with the previous passage and shows his readers the present urgency to listen and give heed to what is said. It is not a matter to put off or delay.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is interesting to note, and may be helpful to us here, to recognize that throughout his letter, James has mainly been addressing \u201cbeloved brothers,\u201d or \u201cbrothers,\u201d and here he addresses men by a different title, \u201cyou rich.\u201d It seems here, and by the whole passage, that James is addressing the rich persecutors of the brothers, which could be false professors or wayward believers, but most predominately is their Jewish countrymen with riches, authority, and power in Jerusalem that were the cause of their persecutions, upon which these annunciations of judgment would come. This goes well with the fact that the following passage seeks to comfort the brothers who are under such a thumb, encouraging them to patient endurance in such times.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Rich<\/b><\/p>\n

To further identify the rich here, we must take into account elsewhere that James speaks of the rich. We saw the rich mentioned in chapter 1, verse 10-11, where James tells the rich to boast in their humiliation, \u201cbecause like a flower of the grass he will pass away.\u201d And, \u201cSo also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.\u201d So in chapter 1, James speaks of the rich \u201cpassing away.\u201d Then we saw them again in chapter 2. James describes a rich man entering their assemblies in fine clothes, which indicate their wealth, authority, and status. And there he speaks of the rich as those who drag the brothers to court and blaspheme the honorable name by which they were called. So there we talked about how these rich that James refers to are those from outside their assembly, outside the community of brethren, who come into their gatherings. So James has been making a distinction between the brothers and these particular rich men. These things, combined with the content of chapter 5, indicate that the distinction remains. In chapter 5, they are also those who condemn and murder the righteous person, implying such ones are not among the righteous.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So we find that throughout this letter, James has been speaking to encourage the brothers in steadfastness, instructing them how to live and conduct themselves in the face of trials; AND he also speaks to their persecutors, their countrymen opposed to Christ, who are the powerful authority-controlling Jewish leaders who drag them to court and persecute them, as we see in the book of Acts.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is their sin?<\/b><\/p>\n

So what is their sin, according to what James describes here? Is it merely the possessing of wealth and riches? No, having wealth is not in itself a sin, it is the things that James describes them doing with their wealth, or the ill-gotten ways in which they have attained riches, as well as the trust and confidence they have put in such things.<\/span><\/p>\n

The first specific condemnation James gives is in verse 3, \u201cYou have laid up treasure in the last days.\u201d Certainly James is not speaking of godly wealth which a man works for to pass on to his children\u2019s children. He is speaking of the laying up of treasures on earth, and not in heaven. In this, James recalls once again the sermon on the mount, where Jesus taught in Matthew 6:19ff, \u201cDo not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.\u201d Such one\u2019s hearts were here on earth, in their treasure, and thus opposed to heavenly treasure and the ways of Christ.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We are again reminded of the parable of the rich fool that we considered last week from Luke 12:13ff – he had great wealth and pondered how he would enjoy himself and store up his riches, yet that night, his soul was required of him. It is a foolish thing to lay up treasures on earth and neglect one\u2019s soul. But James goes on to show that it is more than mere foolishness, but what those who laid up treasure on earth did was evil.<\/span><\/p>\n

The second sin which these rich committed is in verse 4. They defrauded their laborers – those who worked for them in their fields, those who depended upon being paid for their work in order to live. These rich held back the wages that were due to those who worked for them. This is a particular evil. For it is not simply that they refused to give to the poor or help the needy, but they unjustly held back wages from those who earned their wages – thus defrauding their neighbor.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not only was this evil activity in their own day, but it is a law which Israel knew from the Old Testament. Leviticus 19:13, \u201cYou shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning.\u201d Deuteronomy 24:14-15, \u201cYou shall not oppress a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brothers or one of the sojourners who are in your land within your towns. You shall give him his wages on the same day, before the sun sets (for he is poor and counts on it), lest he cry against you to the LORD, and you be guilty of sin.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

So in Old Testament Law, they were required to pay these poor laborers their daily wage and not hold them back, because they depended upon these wages. The holding back of such wages was tantamount to oppression. God takes this so seriously, that it is a reason for prophetic judgment in Malachi 3:5, saying, \u201cThen I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, <\/span>against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages<\/b>, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the LORD of Hosts.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The second sin of the rich here is in verse 5, \u201cYou have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence.\u201d This is a sin of luxurious self-indulgence. Instead of storing treasures in heaven, instead of paying what they owe to whom they owe, they have taken their riches which they got by fraud, and have spent them on luxurious self-indulgence. This is not the mere enjoyment of nice things, but it is self-indulgence at the expense of wrongful gain. Self-indulgence is an excessive or unrestrained gratification of one\u2019s lusts or desires. James has warned against such lusts and desires, hasn\u2019t he? And these rich were unrestrained and undisciplined in feeding their every lust and desire. Christians are to be disciplined, prudent, and wise, honestly working, being fruitful, and productive. We so often find that ill-gotten gains lead to ill-spent luxuries and self-indulgences. And in so doing, they have fattened their own hearts for slaughter, just as pig is fattened for the day of slaughter, so they did to their own selves in their self-indulgence.<\/span><\/p>\n

The final sin mentioned here is in verse 6, \u201cYou have condemned and murdered the righteous person.\u201d This may recall chapter 4 verse 2 to mind, \u201cYou desire and do not have, so you murder.\u201d Ill-gotten gains lead to ill-spent indulgence, which leads to greater evils, when you spend all your gains and still crave for that which you do not have.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As in chapter 4, verse 2, some will say that this is metaphorical murder, or refers to the holding back of wages to the laborer, which is tantamount to murder since he depends upon his wages for his life. Others would concur it is literal murder. I\u2019ll have more conclusions on this verse in a moment.<\/span><\/p>\n

A Judgment Passage, like the Prophets<\/b><\/p>\n

So, upon all these sins, James pronounces great judgments. This passage reads like something from the prophets when they speak oracles of God in judgment upon their subjects. Commentators like Calvin and Thomas Manton say that this passage is less instruction, and more denunciation, as they pronounce judgment upon these rich. There are terms used in this passage which are terms you will find in the prophets in their judgment oracles. This is not to be lost on the reader, but it is to be noted and taken for as good a judgment as any in Old Testament Scripture.<\/span><\/p>\n

James calls upon the rich to \u201cweep and howl\u201d for the miseries that are coming upon them. This may hearken back to chapter 4, verse 9, where James calls the sinners and double-minded to \u201cmourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.\u201d The weeping and howling implies a great expression of misery, which James says is coming upon you. Similar language is to be found in the prophets, or even seen in the gospels when Jesus weeps over Jerusalem for the destruction to come upon her.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Isaiah 22:4, \u201cTherefore I said: \u2018Look away from me; let me<\/span> weep<\/b> bitter tears; do not labor to comfort me concerning the destruction of the daughter of my people.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Or Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, references could be filled, such as Jeremiah 3:21, \u201cA voice on the bare heights is heard, the <\/span>weeping<\/b> and pleading of Israel\u2019s sons because they have perverted their way; they have forgotten the LORD their God.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Weeping and wailing, mourning and howling is a sign of judgment to come.<\/span><\/p>\n

He says their riches have rotted and their garments are moth-eaten. Certainly we think of Jesus\u2019 words of not storing up treasures where moth and rust destroy. But these words are also words of prophetic language of judgment. For example, Isaiah 50:9 says, \u201cBehold, the Lord GOD helps me; who will declare me guilty? Behold, all of them will <\/span>wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up<\/b>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

We further see that this is a proclamation of judgment upon the rich, for their corroding gold and silver will be \u201cevidence\u201d against them. Evidence is something used to prove one\u2019s guilt in judgment. And here the judgment is the very riches they loved and treasured and stored up for themselves and indulged themselves with that will be evidence against them. Indeed it is the corroding of their riches that is evidence, which indicates the ill-use of the riches, the dwindling away of riches in luxuries, that is evidenced against them. This is the opposite of the witness of the righteous man who has wealth – his wealth will be seen as having been used productively, to be fruitful, to provide for his family, to bless others, and used for godly means. But the wealth of the self-indulgent is a corroding wealth, a wealth turned in on itself in rottenness.<\/span><\/p>\n

And James says their corroded wealth will eat their flesh like fire. James does not speak of literal fire here, but it is a simile, since he says it will eat their flesh LIKE fire. While hellfire is real, and the ungodly rich will go there and experience great torment, James speaks in a word picture here to describe the way one\u2019s ungodly use of wealth devours their own flesh and is a judgment upon them. We also may think of the way the Bible speaks of a refining fire – where the impurities are melted away so that what is refined is made pure. The judgment coming upon them will serve such ends.<\/span><\/p>\n

Further evidence of the judgment language of this passage is in the fact that the wages of the laborers that were held back are crying out against them, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the LORD. Throughout the Bible when the poor are oppressed, when the godly are persecuted, they cry out to the Lord, and when their cries reach heaven, the Lord hears and responds by coming in judgment and rescue of His people. Think of the Israelites in Egypt, when God comes down, He says that he heard their cries in slavery. Or think of the cries of the persistent widow crying out for justice until it was given. Or think of the martyred saints in Revelation crying out, \u201cHow long O LORD?\u201d When such cries reach God\u2019s ears, so to speak, be ready, for judgment is coming. And rescue is coming.<\/span><\/p>\n

Furthermore it says that their cries have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. This title given to the Lord is a title of His commanding of His heavenly host, His heavenly army, His angelic hosts and servants who do His will in carrying out judgments and ministering to His people. It is a title of warfare, power, and might. A title of one with authority and strength to save and destroy. And that\u2019s what we do when we cry out to God in prayer to deliver us from evil – we are praying for Him, the Lord of Hosts, to come and to save and destroy. The \u201cLord of Hosts,\u201d is even seen in connection with the Lord drawing near for judgment as we saw in Malachi 3:5.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, prayer for deliverance is warfare – it is an appeal to heaven – to the Lord of Hosts – to One who is more powerful and has more resources at His disposal than the most wealthy and powerful enemies this world could ever know. And such rich ones will not go on forever in their oppression.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As one famous song-writer put it, \u201cYou can run for a long time, but sooner or later God\u2019ll cut you down.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, the prophetic judgment nature of this passage is evident when James says, \u201cYou have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.\u201d We mentioned the pig, or other animal which is fattened up for the day of slaughter, given plenty to eat and indulge upon, but a day of slaughter is coming that they know not. So such rich ones have been so fooled by the deceitfulness of sin to fatten up their own hearts for the day of slaughter. There is no question about the prophetic judgment nature of this passage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Judgments coming upon<\/b> them<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

But not only is this a judgment passage in the same spirit as the prophets, but this is a judgment passage upon this particular people to whom James speaks. We certainly can and will make application to ourselves and to the final judgment, but it is evident that James is writing about particular issues and of a particular people upon whom this particular judgment will come upon. And James gives particular encouragement to the brothers to endure through these persecutions from the fact that these rich will pass away as judgment comes upon them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Note these other reasons why I say it is evident James speaks particularly of a judgment which is coming upon these rich people.<\/span><\/p>\n

First, he says to these rich, that these miseries \u201care coming upon you.\u201d Throughout this passage he uses that pronoun speaking to these rich: \u201c<\/span>you<\/b> rich,\u201d miseries are coming \u201cupon <\/span>you<\/b>,\u201d \u201c<\/span>Your<\/b> riches have rotted,\u201d \u201c<\/span>your<\/b> garments are moth eaten.\u201d \u201c<\/span>Your <\/b>gold and silver have corroded,\u201d \u201ctheir corrosion will be evidence against <\/span>you<\/b>,\u201d and \u201cwill eat <\/span>your <\/b>flesh like fire.\u201d \u201c<\/span>You <\/b>have laid up treasure in the last days.\u201d \u201cThe wages of the laborers who mowed <\/span>your <\/b>fields, which <\/span>you<\/b> kept back by fraud, are crying out against <\/span>you.\u201d<\/b> \u201c<\/span>You <\/b>have lived on earth in luxury.\u201d \u201c<\/span>You<\/b> have fattened <\/span>your<\/b> hearts. \u201c<\/span>You<\/b> have condemned and murdered.\u201d \u201cHe does not resist <\/span>you<\/b>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Second, what these rich did, they are said to do in the last days. If we were to study the term \u201clast days,\u201d in the bible, my view is that we would find it can be used to describe different last days. It isn\u2019t always referring to the same time period, such as the end of the world, or the end of the old covenant. We aren\u2019t going to study all of that today, but what we do see in this passage, is that the last days spoken of here are days in which these rich, which James writes about, were in, for in these last days they laid up treasure. So these rich people laid up treasure in whatever last days they were in.<\/span><\/p>\n

Third, these last days are also called a day of slaughter in verse 5. Again, this day of slaughter was a day in which these rich people fattened up their hearts. A day of slaughter, which they were in, is clearly a day of mighty judgment.<\/span><\/p>\n

So while there are abiding warnings against riches in this world, and good abiding biblical principles upon these things, one commentator notes, \u201c…we might understand [James] 5:1-6 as describing the manner in which the rich man will \u2018pass away\u2019 as described in [James] 1:9, thus bookending the prophecy of James 1.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Fourth, and finally on this point, I return to the phrase in verse 6, \u201cYou have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.\u201d Some translations have it as the righteous one, or the just one. It is a definite article in the original language, which is where we get \u201cTHE\u201d righteous person. Now who might this righteous person, or just one be? I would argue that James is speaking primarily here about Jesus! Not only does the language allow for this, but this phrase, \u201cthe Just one,\u201d or the \u201crighteous one,\u201d is used elsewhere in the Bible, by the apostles, to refer clearly to Jesus.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, Peter, speaking of the death of Christ, addressing the men of Israel says in Acts 3:14-15, \u201cBut you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of Life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The martyr Stephen refers to Jesus with this title, in regard to His death at the hands of Israel, and he calls it a \u201cmurder\u201d as James does here. Acts 7:51-52, \u201cYou stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Paul in Acts 22:14, also refers to Jesus with this title in regard to giving his testimony, how he was met and saved by the one he formerly persecuted, saying what Ananias spoke to him when he opened his eyes, \u201cThe God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; for you will be a witness for him\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

So this title is used by Stephen and the apostles to refer to Jesus. And indeed the Scripture testifies that it was the wealthy scribes, pharisees, and chief priests who condemned Jesus in a court of law and called for his murder, clamoring for the release of Barabbas and the crucifixion of Christ by the Romans, and openly declared, \u201clet His blood be upon us and upon our children!\u201d And these rich ones went on to oppress and persecute the early Christians and converts to Christ as also testified in the New Testament. And I believe James points to this fact, for one of the reasons the judgment is coming upon them and a reason for the poor believers to take comfort in the Righteous One who is able to save and destroy.<\/span><\/p>\n

One Church Father called Theophylact says this, \u201cIt cannot be denied that this verse refers to Christ, especially since James adds that there was no resistance. Nevertheless it also includes others who suffered at the hands of the Jews, and he may even have been speaking prophetically about his own approaching death.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Application<\/b><\/p>\n

As with every text of Scripture, in order to faithfully receive and be doers of it, we need to first rightly understand it, and then faithfully apply it to ourselves. The judgment upon the 1st century rich oppressors is not the final judgment. It is not the end of the story. We don\u2019t get to walk away unwarned. We are to learn from their condemnation and know that we will share in it, in the ultimate day of judgment, if we do not heed it ourselves.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We too are to learn not to trust in riches and live in luxurious self-indulgence while neglecting our duties that we know we are to do and while oppressing others and doing injustice. We too are to learn that earthly riches still do not last. And that the rich oppressor today, will also soon pass away, and that Jesus will yet come to save and destroy once again. For Proverbs 11:28 is true, \u201cWhoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Indeed, how foolish we would be to see all these great warnings and judgments on the rich oppressor, and go out and become rich oppressors ourselves. You may not think you are rich, but do you wrong others? Do you not give what you owe? Maybe you don\u2019t defraud the poor, because you think yourself poor, but do you defraud the rich? Defraud your employer?<\/span><\/p>\n

We are not to seek after such things and store up ill-gotten treasures on this earth. Ill-gotten treasures lead to piercing judgments. Sweet to the taste but bitter beyond compare in the end. Instead, let us work honestly providing for one\u2019s household and giving to those in need. Let us seek first the kingdom of heaven, and all these things will be added unto you.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus teaches us that instead of laying up treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy, we are to lay up treasure in heaven. Matthew 6:20-21, \u201cbut lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Are you laying up treasures for yourself in heaven? Do you desire to receive the crown of life that God gives to those who love Him? What are you working for? Are things of the earth your treasure, or is Christ your treasure? Do you live and work for Him, desiring to know Him more and obey Him more and teach Him and His ways to your children, to your family? Do you seek to patiently endure difficult days and unjust people, like Christ your Savior did? That\u2019s what He did for you. And more, He will ultimately deliver you from evil and evil men. Is Christ your treasure?<\/span><\/p>\n

You may think you haven\u2019t crucified and murdered Christ like these rich oppressors, but Hebrews speaks of those who fall away and refuse to repent as crucifying the Son of God again to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. Be warned against this way, and lift up your eyes off earthly riches and look to the riches of Heaven, crown Jewel being Jesus Christ, the precious Son of God, the one who shed His precious blood to atone for sinners. Look to the one who even forgave the criminal next to Him on the cross. Look to the one who even looked upon those who crucified Him and prayed, \u201cFather forgive them, for they know not what they do.\u201d Look to the One who took one who persecuted him, Saul turned Paul, and made him, the chief of sinners, His chief missionary of the early church.<\/span><\/p>\n

What have you done? Have you acted unjustly? Have you robbed or defrauded? Have you sought to lay up earthly treasures? Have you indulged your desires? Have you condemned and murdered the righteous one? Jesus is not just the one who is able to destroy, but also the One who is able to save. He saves and redeems murderers, oppressors, defrauders, self-indulgers, and persecutors of His church. Do not wallow in your sin and guilt and think you have sinned yourself out of His grace, come to Him for mercy, He loves to save. He is the Lord of Hosts! That is His name! He commands thousands and ten thousands at His side, your sin is not too much for Him! Be saved today!<\/span><\/p>\n

What a treasure Jesus Christ is to sinners who have tasted His forgiveness and the joy of salvation. How He loves to give Himself to the poor and needy ones, the weak and helpless sinners. That\u2019s what we see here in James, that Christ is Savior and Defender of the poor, oppressed, and helpless. If that is who you are, this Jesus Christ is your champion! Therefore you can endure, you can be patient in tribulation, you can submit yourself to Him, and be counted with James\u2019 \u201cbeloved brothers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Click HERE for sermon audio \u00a0Come now, you who say,\u00a0\u201cToday or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit\u201d\u2014\u00a014\u00a0yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For\u00a0you are a mist that appears for a little time and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":685,"featured_media":6615,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1582],"tags":[33,78,84,672,678,699,707,1983,1114,2035,2034],"class_list":{"0":"post-6614","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sermon","8":"tag-33","9":"tag-78","10":"tag-84","11":"tag-james","12":"tag-jenkins","13":"tag-joshua","14":"tag-judgment","15":"tag-rich","16":"tag-sermon","17":"tag-treasures","18":"tag-wealthy","19":"entry"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/07\/R-1.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1107,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/reasons-for-not-evaluating-a-sermon\/","url_meta":{"origin":6614,"position":0},"title":"Reasons for Not Evaluating a Sermon","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"August 16, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Preaching is serious business. So is listening to a sermon. For those of us who take preaching seriously as it should be taken, there is sometimes the desire to evaluate the sermon. Sermon evaluation is not necessarily a bad thing. There are indeed good reasons and ways to do so.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Faith"","block_context":{"text":"Faith","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/faith\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":6513,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/a-rich-man-and-a-poor-man\/","url_meta":{"origin":6614,"position":1},"title":"A Rich Man and A Poor Man","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"June 3, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Click HERE for sermon audio My brothers,[a]\u00a0show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ,\u00a0the Lord of glory.\u00a02\u00a0For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in,\u00a03\u00a0and if you pay attention\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/06\/R.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/06\/R.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/06\/R.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/06\/R.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/06\/R.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1629,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/martyn-lloyd-jones-on-the-sermon-on-the-mount\/","url_meta":{"origin":6614,"position":2},"title":"Martyn Lloyd-Jones on the Sermon on the Mount","author":"Joshua Mills","date":"May 5, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"I have heard many people say, \u201cSurely the Sermon on the Mount teaches that we have our sins forgiven only if we forgive others. Doesn\u2019t our Lord say, 'but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses'\u201d (Matt. 6:15). Is this true? Is\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"bible\"","block_context":{"text":"bible","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/tag\/bible\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2017\/05\/268.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2017\/05\/268.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2017\/05\/268.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1368,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/a-short-practical-guide-to-preaching\/","url_meta":{"origin":6614,"position":3},"title":"A Short, Practical Guide to Preaching","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"April 21, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"There is not a one size fits all method or structure of preaching. 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He was a chief tax collector and was rich.\u00a03\u00a0And\u00a0he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sermon"","block_context":{"text":"Sermon","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/sermon\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2023\/04\/posts-icon-zacchaeus-sunday4.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6614","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/685"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6614"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6614\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6615"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6614"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6614"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6614"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}