Commentary of the New Testament

By Pastor Everett Ramsey

Matthew 11:14  “And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.”

Matthew 17:10  “And His disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?”

Matthew 17:11  “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.”

America's Choice

by Pastor Don Elmore

What about this everlasting, unconditional covenant that our GOD made with our fathers that is mentioned so much in the Bible?  GOD walked between the slain animals (a 3 year-old heifer, a she-goat also 3 year-old, and a ram also 3 years-old; plus a pigeon and a turtledove) while Abram was in a deep sleep.  Abram did not walk between the animals; only God walked between the path of them.  Thus, the covenant was one-sided--unconditional; and only our GOD could break it.  Abram could not break this covenant; only GOD could (Genesis 15).

When the everlasting, unconditional covenant was promised to Abram that this would be God’s gift to him after he left his country (Iraq) and would go to the land of Canaan (full of giants) that He would bless those who blessed him and curse those who cursed him (Genesis 12:3).

When this promise was made to Abram, there were Cainites and Canaanites in the world; but there were no “Jews” in the world.  The Jews didn’t come onto the scene until after the birth of Esau.  Esau was the grandson of Abram; so those who cursed Abram could not be the ones equated with those who cursed the Jews.