Reading
Now
the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from
the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their
conscience seared with a hot iron;
Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which
God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and
know the truth. For every creature of
God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with
thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by
the word of God and prayer.
Commentary
These
verses teach us that in the end times (in which we are now living), some
Christians will be led astray by "seducing spirits", and being
seduced, they themselves will speak "lies in hypocrisy." Outwardly they will appear to be good keepers
of God's law, "good Christians", but they will teach and preach
error, even with the knowledge they are teaching error. They will know they are lying. This will cause their conscience to burn more
and more (like a hot iron), yet they will not confess their lies nor retract
their false teachings. They will forbid
to marry, as if marriage is evil, and they will forbid the eating of certain
meats. In the following verses we see
God does not forbid us from eating any certain foods, but we are to receive
such with thanksgiving. We do not here
make a commandment and say it is sinful to eat a meal without praying first
(for that would be legalism), but it is always sinful to eat and enjoy the food
God has given without being thankful.
Since we do not in any wise deserve our daily bread, yet God freely
gives such from heaven being gracious, let us always remember to give God
thanks from the heart, which then expresses itself by our lips. "O give thanks unto the Lord for He is
good, for His mercies endure forever!"
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