McGee, J. V. (1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary.
Based on the Thru the Bible radio program. (electronic
ed.) (1:ix-584). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
[Ps 82:6]
I have
said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of
the most High [Ps. 82:6].
"What does
He mean, “Ye are gods”? The Lord Jesus Christ
Himself quoted this verse when the Jews questioned
His deity. They accused Him of blasphemy because He
made Himself God. In John 10:33–37 we read, “The
Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone
thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou,
being a man, makest thyself God. Jesus answered
them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are
gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of
God came, and the scripture cannot be broken; Say ye
of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent
into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I
am the Son of God? If I do not the works of my
Father, believe me not.”
Jesus was
telling these Jews that they were sitting in
judgment and, when one sits in the place of
judgment, he is taking the place of God. Many saints
are guilty of that type of thing. They sit in
judgment on other saints. Paul says, “But with me it
is a very small thing that I should be judged of
you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own
self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not
hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the
Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until
the Lord come, who both will bring to light the
hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest
the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man
have praise of God” (1 Cor. 4:3–5). Paul is saying
that he is going to stand before God someday; and,
because of that, he doesn’t even judge
himself.
My friend, when you start judging someone, you are
acting for God, and you are a god when you have
taken that position of judging. I am fearful of our
nation with so many godless people seeking office.
They know nothing of the background of this country
which was founded upon the Word of God; they are not
in spiritual tune with the founding of this nation.
Years ago I
was greatly impressed by that judge in New York City
who presided at the trial of a husband and wife who
were charged with being spies. This judge was a Jew,
and he said that the night before he handed down his
judgment was spent in prayer. I was impressed with
that. Why? He was going to hand down a harsh
judgment; he was going to stand in the place of God
when he made the decision. That judge was actually
standing in the place of God when he judged the
lives of these two people who would have to pay for
their crime against the government. A man in that
position ought to be a godly man. He should be a man
of prayer. The big problem in our contemporary
society is not so much with the criminal as it is
with the judges and the breakdown of law and order.
It is strange that the breakdown of law and order
has begun with the law profession and not really
with the criminal element.
Any time
that you pass judgment on a person, you stand in the
position of God. Parents ought to recognize that.
What does God say to a little fellow growing up in a
home? He says, “Children, obey your parents in all
things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord”
(Col. 3:20). But wait a minute—what if his parents
don’t tell him to do the right things and don’t
bring him up the way they should? There are many
parents like that today. God says, “I am going to
hold them responsible. They are in My place. They
occupy that position because I have said to that
little boy, ‘My son, hear the instruction of thy
father, and forsake not the law of thy mother’”
(Prov. 1:8). God help the father or the mother who
does not lead their child in a godly pathway.
Someone has asked the question, “What is worse than
going to hell?” The answer given by a great preacher
in the South years ago was this: “To go to hell and
recognize the voice of your son and ask, ‘Son, what
are you doing here?’ and hear him answer, ‘Dad, I
followed you!’ ”
This is a
tremendous psalm. God says to the judges, “Be sure
you judge accurately. Ye are gods, and all of you
are children of the Most High.”"
McGee, J. V.
(1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary.
Based on the Thru the Bible radio program.
(electronic ed.) (2:804-805). Nashville:
Thomas Nelson.[Eph 4:6]
One God and Father of all, who
is above all, and through all, and in you all [Eph.
4:4–6].
"1. “One body” refers to the
total number of believers from Pentecost to the
Rapture. This one body is also called the invisible
church, but this is not wholly accurate. All true
believers should also be visible.
2. “One Spirit” refers to the
Holy Spirit who baptizes each believer into the body
of Christ. The work of the Holy Spirit is to unify
believers in Christ. This is the unity that the
believer is instructed to keep.
3. “One hope of your calling”
refers to the goal set before all believers. They
will be taken out of this world into the presence of
Christ. This is the blessed hope (see Titus 2:13).
4. “One Lord” refers to the Lord
Jesus Christ. His lordship over believers brings
into existence the unity of the church.
5. “One faith” refers to the body
of truth called the apostles’ doctrine (see Acts
2:42). When this is denied, there are divisions.
There must be substance to form an adhesion of
believers. This substance is correct doctrine.
6. “One baptism” has reference to
the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which is real
baptism. Ritual baptism is by water. Water baptism
is a symbol of the real baptism of the Holy Spirit
by which believers are actually made one.
7. “One God and Father of all”
refers to God’s fatherhood of believers. Since there
is only one Father, He is not the Father of
unbelievers. Sonship can come only through Christ.
The unity of believers produces a sharp distinction
between believers and unbelievers. He is Father of
all who are His by regeneration.
Paul has been talking about the
church, the body of Christ, joined to Him who is in
heaven at the right hand of the Father. The church
is a new man. It is a mystery. This is all true
because it is in Christ. Now some people can be so
involved in these truths who are—as the saying
goes—so heavenly-minded that they are no earthly
good. Paul is trying to show that we still walk down
here in a very evil, very sinful world.
In his discussion of this walk of
the believer, Paul speaks first to the individual.
The individual is to walk in lowliness and meekness.
Then he widens out to the entire church, which is
one body and one spirit. Finally, he brings this
passage to a great, tremendous crescendo, which
pictures the eminence and transcendence of God.
God is “above all, and through
all, and in you all.” This means that God is
transcendent. He is above His creation. He is not
dependent upon His creation. He doesn’t depend upon
oxygen to breathe. He doesn’t have to bring up some
supplies from the rear or go Saturday shopping in
order to have food for the weekend. He is
transcendent. He is not only transcendent, He is
also eminent. He is not only above all, but He is
through all and in you all. That means He is in this
universe in which you and I live. He is motivating
it and He is moving it according to His plan and
purpose. That is what adds meaning to life. That is
what makes life worthwhile.
Life gets a little humdrum now
and then, doesn’t it? There is a monotony to it.
Although I love taping broadcasts for my radio
program, sometimes when I’m in my study every day
for a couple of weeks, it gets monotonous, and I get
weary. But then I come to this great thought: all of
this is in the plan and purpose of God. Then I feel
like singing the doxology or the Hallelujah chorus,
and when I do, everybody moves out of earshot. But I
can sing unto the Lord with a song that comes from
my heart. The Bible says, “… making melody in your
heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19), and that is where
mine certainly comes from—not from my mouth, but
from my heart.
This chapter reminds me of a
great symphony orchestra. When I first went to
Nashville as pastor, some friends asked me to go to
the symphony with them. They thought they were doing
me a favor, but there are other things I would
rather do than go to a symphony concert. Although
I’m not musically educated, and I don’t understand
music at all, I got a message at that concert. We
had arrived early and I noticed all the instruments.
It looked like over a hundred men came out from all
the different wings and each went to his own
instrument. My friends told me that they were
“tuning up.” Each one played his own little tune
and, I give you my word, there was no melody in it.
It was terrible! They quit after a few moments, for
which I was thankful. Then they disappeared into the
wings. Soon they all appeared again. This time they
were in full dress with white shirts and bow ties.
Each man came to his instrument, but no man dared
play it. Then the spotlight went to the side of the
stage and caught the conductor as he walked out. He
bowed several times and there was thunderous
applause. Then he picked up a little stick and
turned his back to the audience. When he lifted that
baton, you could have heard a pin drop in that
auditorium, then when he lowered it—oh, what music
came out of that great orchestra! I had never heard
anything that was more thrilling. It made goose
pimples come over me and made my hair stand on end.
After that first tremendous
number, I got a little bored; I began comparing it
with life on this earth. Out in the world every
person is playing his own little tune. Everyone is
trying to be heard above the clamor of voices or
carrying his own little placard of protest. Everyone
seems to be out of tune, out of harmony, with
everyone else. It doesn’t look very hopeful in the
world today, and we look to the future with
pessimism. Like Simon Peter walking on the lake, we
see huge threatening waves. But one of these days
there is going to step out from the wings of this
universe, from God’s right hand, the Conductor. He
is called the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
He will lift that baton, that scepter, with
nail-pierced hands. When He does that, the whole
world will be in tune. He is eminent and He is
transcendent. He is “above all, through all, and in
you all” So don’t give up—the Conductor is coming.
He will get us all in tune.
The church is to walk as a new
man in this world. There is to be an exhibition. The
church is to be an extrovert, to witness, to
manifest life."
McGee, J. V.
(1997, c1981). Thru the Bible commentary.
Based on the Thru the Bible radio program.
(electronic ed.) (5:251-252). Nashville:
Thomas Nelson.
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