Pick your battles…the strategic retreat

There is a lot of wisdom in this passage.  The Pharisees were plotting against Jesus and even though He could have confronted them and defeated them, He chose the strategic retreat because now wasn't the time for confrontation. 

Matthew 12:9-16(NKJV)

Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. 

And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him.

Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? 

Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 

Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. 

Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.

But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all. 

Yet He warned them not to make Him known, 

Pick your battles….good lesson to learn!

Where is mercy in the law?

I find this statement by Jesus a bit puzzling. 

Matthew 23:23(NKJV)

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 

Where do we find mercy in the law?  I thought that was part of why Jesus came, to add mercy because that was missing from the law.  The law is pretty cut and dried the way I read it.  I don't really see mercy there. 

Hmm, another issue that bears more study. 

"….so you shall perish, because you would not be obedient to the voice of the Lord your God. "

Hmm, I don't see a lot of Kumbaya here either!  Remember, God and Jesus are always in agreement.  This is what God says will happen to those who follow other gods. 

Deuteronomy 8:17-20(NKJV)

then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’  

“And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. 

Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the Lord your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish. 

As the nations which the Lord destroys before you, so you shall perish, because you would not be obedient to the voice of the Lord your God.

I'm just not seeing a lot of "live and let live" here.  It always puzzles me how many seem to think that Jesus overrides God.  That Jesus replaces the law when Jesus Himself specifically says He didn't come to replace the law but to fulfill it. 

I just don't see that view supported by Scripture.

After the tribulation…..

Oh oh, looks like I got this wrong!  I had always thought that the Rapture came before the Tribulation.  Looks like I was wrong.  These are the words from Jesus. 

Matthew 24:29-31(NKJV)

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 

Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 

And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

So we can see that Jesus says very clearly that He will come immediately after the tribulation.  My attitude had always been kind of who cares about the tribulation because it was my belief that the Rapture would take place before the Tribulation.  In other words the believers would be taken up before the Tribulation and wouldn't have to experience it.  

Based on these next verses I think I may have been wrong.

Matthew 24:36-44(NKJV)

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 

But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 

For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 

and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 

Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 

Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 

Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 

But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 

Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Now unless I am reading that wrong it is saying that the Rapture takes place right before Jesus returns.  Interesting.  Don't know why I hadn't noticed that before!

God is…Strength

My word study on strength has been much more interesting than the last couple of words that I studies.  I've included comments on a few of the verses and then I will give you a summary at the end.

Exodus 13:3(NKJV)

And Moses said to the people: “Remember this day in which you went out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out of this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten. 

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This "strength of hand" phrase was used 3 times in a very few verses.  I'm not sure about the "of hand" part but I do note that it was the strength of God, not the weakness of God, that brought them out of Egypt.

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Exodus 15:2(NKJV)

    The Lord is my strength and song,     And He has become my salvation;     He is my God, and I will praise Him;     My father’s God, and I will exalt Him.

1 Samuel 2:9(NKJV)

    He will guard the feet of His saints,     But the wicked shall be silent in darkness.      “For by strength no man shall prevail.

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In other words no man's strength is a match for God's strength.

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1 Samuel 2:10(NKJV)

    The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces;     From heaven He will thunder against them.     The Lord will judge the ends of the earth.      “He will give strength to His king,     And exalt the horn of His anointed.”

2 Samuel 22:3(NKJV)

    The God of my strength, in whom I will trust;     My shield and the horn of my salvation,     My stronghold and my refuge;     My Savior, You save me from violence.

2 Samuel 22:33(NKJV)

    God is my strength and power,     And He makes my way perfect.

2 Samuel 22:40(NKJV)

    For You have armed me with strength for the battle;     You have subdued under me those who rose against me.

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For those who think Jesus (and by extension God) are pacifists; arming your people with strength for the battle would seem to be an odd thing for a pacifist to do wouldn't it? 

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Job 9:4(NKJV)

    God is wise in heart and mighty in strength.     Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered?

Psalms 8:2(NKJV)

    Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants      You have ordained strength,     Because of Your enemies,     That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.

Psalms 18:32(NKJV)

    It is God who arms me with strength,     And makes my way perfect.

Psalms 27:1(NKJV)

    The Lord is my light and my salvation;      Whom shall I fear?     The Lord is the strength of my life;     Of whom shall I be afraid?

Isaiah 26:4(NKJV)

    Trust in the Lord forever,     For in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength.

Isaiah 33:6(NKJV)

    Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times,     And the strength of salvation;     The fear of the Lord is His treasure.

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This one is interesting.  We think of strength in the physical sense but look what this verse says.  What gives us the "strength of salvation"?  Wisdom and knowledge!

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Isaiah 40:9(NKJV)

    O Zion,      You who bring good tidings,     Get up into the high mountain;     O Jerusalem,     You who bring good tidings,     Lift up your voice with strength,     Lift it up, be not afraid;     Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”

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Notice it doesn't say quietly whisper about God.  It says lift up your voice with strength.

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Isaiah 40:31(NKJV)

    But those who wait on the Lord     Shall renew their strength;     They shall mount up with wings like eagles,     They shall run and not be weary,      They shall walk and not faint.

Lamentations 1:14(NKJV)

    “The yoke of my transgressions was bound;      They were woven together by His hands,     And thrust upon my neck.     He made my strength fail;     The Lord delivered me into the hands of those whom I am not able to withstand.

Joel 2:22(NKJV)

    Do not be afraid, you beasts of the field;     For the open pastures are springing up,     And the tree bears its fruit;     The fig tree and the vine yield their strength.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10(NKJV)

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 

Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

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OK, here are some of my observations.  Man can get strength from two places.  He can draw upon his own strength or he can draw on God for his strength.

Man's strength can fail.  Think of the phrase "end of my rope".  God's strength on the other hand can be renewed.  Just when we think we have reached "the end of our rope" if we call upon God we can feel our strength being renewed.  What we thought was the end of our rope was actually just a quick rest before drawing on God's strength as we surge to victory.

And lastly it is important that we acknowledge that our strength comes from God and that we give Him all the credit for that strength and what we do with it.  As Paul said God's strength is made that much more impressive when we allow it to shine through our weaknesses.  

So draw on God for your strength and make sure you praise Him and give Him all the credit for your strength!

Do you see any kumbaya here?

Interesting parable with God being the King.  And remember, this is Jesus telling this parable.  What did the king do when his invitation was rejected?  Was it live and let live?  :)

Matthew 22:1-10(NKJV)

And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: 

“The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 

and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. 

Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.”’ 

But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. 

And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. 

But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 

Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 

Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ 

So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.

I love it when Jesus looks them in the eye and tells them to pound sand!

This is one of my favorite exchanges between Jesus and the Pharisees.  Once again we see the ministry style of Jesus.  He doesn't soften the message.  He doesn't try to talk them into believing.  He recognizes that they aren't sincere in their question and Jesus basically tells them to pound sand!  :)

Matthew 21:23-27(NKJV)

Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?”

But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: 

The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?” And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 

But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.” 

So they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.” And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Would Jesus condemn income inequality?

Interesting question isn't it?  I think a lot of Christians would say that it is something that Jesus would condemn.  Before reaching that conclusion however I think it might be a good idea to search Scripture and see if Jesus actually ever spoke on the subject.

Guess what?  It turns out that he did.  Here is what I found.  This comes from Matthew 20:1-15.

20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. ² Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. ³ And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, ⁴ and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. ⁵ Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. ⁶ And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle,^[a] and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ ⁷ They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’^[b]

⁸ “So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ ⁹ And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. ¹⁰ But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. ¹¹ And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, ¹² saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ ¹³ But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? ¹⁴ Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. ¹⁵ Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ ¹⁶ So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”^[c]


Just to put this into perspective, this is Jesus telling this parable.  Notice that as he hires the additional people he says a couple of times that he would pay them "what is right".  Jesus is telling the story so He knows where it is going.  If He had wanted to condemn the practice this would have been a good opportunity but He didn't do that did He?  Nope, He did just the opposite.  He defined it as good.

So in the end he paid the people who worked just one hour 1100% more per hour than the people who worked all day.   Understandably the people who worked all day were a bit pissed off.  This would have been another opportunity for Jesus to side with them and condemn income inequality, but did He?  LOL, nope.  Look at what He said.

‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? ¹⁴ Take what is yours and go your way.

So while many Christians out there wail and gnash their teeth about how unfair income inequality is, Jesus seems to disagree with them! 

Why are Christians so afraid to speak the truth about Heaven and Hell?

I read an article by a man who has been a Christian his whole life and who has taught Sunday School for at least 3 decades.  In an interview he was asked if he thought Ghandi was in Heaven.  His answer?  "Scripture tells me I shouldn't judge so I don't know.". 

Really?  Is that what he really believes or was he just to afraid to answer truthfully?  Either way I find the answer troubling.  Here is why.

Scripture tells us that "the truth will set you free".  I believe that withholding the truth will keep people prisoners as well.  So let's analyze this situation.

Let's deal with "judging" first.  Does it really require a "judgement" to answer this question truthfully? 

Scripture tells us unambiguously that no one comes to the Father except through belief in His Son, Jesus.  Scripture makes very clear that salvation, getting into Heaven, is based solely on faith "so that none may boast".  Our works don't get us in.  Being good doesn't get us in.  Only faith in Jesus. 

So do we believe that or not?

Ghandi was a practicing Hindu his whole life.  Yes he was a good man who did some extraordinary things, but he rejected Jesus as his savior in favor of continuing to be a Hindu which was his free will choice to make.  Based on the facts, it doesn't require any "judgement" at all to answer the question.  Ghandi is not in Heaven.

Why are so many Christians so unwilling to say it?  I think it again goes back to the difference in ministry style between Jesus and Christianity today.  Christians today are too worried about offending people and turning them off to Jesus.  Christians today don't want to seem closed minded.  Christians today don't want to exclude anybody because after all doesn't Scripture say that God wants all saved and none to perish.  Yes He did but He but He didn't lower the standards to keep from offending and make it easier for all to get in.   

So what's the big deal?  The man in the article was just being polite some might say.  The big deal in my opinion is that a teachable moment is missed.  There are many people out there who do think that simply being a good person will get them into Heaven.  By not answering the question honestly, the belief in the "good person" exception will continue to grow.  Those people will not be set free because Christians are not being honest with them. 

I find that sad!

Is Jesus being contradictory here?

On the one hand we have Jesus telling us that in some cases it is OK to remove what I call toxic people from our lives.

Matthew 18:15-17(NKJV)

“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 

But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’  

And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

And yet just 4 verses later we have Jesus telling us that we have to keep forgiving them.

Matthew 18:21-22(NKJV)

Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”

Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 

Seems a bit contradictory.  I would suggest that there is no contradiction what so ever.  The two are not mutually exclusive.  Just because someone is toxic and has to be removed from your daily life doesn't mean that you haven't forgiven them.  Or to put it another way, forgiving someone doesn't mean that you have to therefore continue to subject yourself to their abuse. 

Make sense?  

Children of God-take two.

There are many who say we are all children of God.  Here is another verse that seems to indicate otherwise.

Matthew 12:49-50(NKJV)

And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! 

For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”

Jesus says only those who do the will of His Father in Heaven are children of God.  Hmm.

Preparing revolutionaries-proper role of the church?

Interesting question isn't it?  What prompted the question is that the local Congregational Church has that on their sign.  It raised a couple of questions for me.  First what are they revolting against?  Second, is it proper for the church to be doing that? 

Here is the Scripture selection for today.

Matthew 16:5-12(NKJV)

Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. 

Then Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.”

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have taken no bread.”

But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? 

Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? 

Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? 

How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 

Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

The Congregational Church in Kalamazoo is quite a Liberal congregation.  So it is my belief that their sign is calling for Revolutionaries against what they consider to be unjust government policies. 

On the other hand, maybe they are actually following Jesus' example and they are calling for revolution against the "Pharisees and Sadducees" of the church today.  But since they are part of the "Pharisees and Sadducees" of today's Christianity, in other words the official power structure of the church, I would find it odd that they would be fomenting a revolution against themselves.   Because of that I think the first choice is more likely.

So on to the second question.  Is it proper?  There are some who would say they are following in the steps of Jesus by doing so.  I would beg to differ.  Jesus' revolution was against the power structure of the church.  Jesus on more than one occasion, when asked about dealing with governments said very specifically that we are to obey our leaders because God put them over us.  Give unto Caesar and all of that. 

So it seems to me that raising revolutionaries against the government might not fall within the boundaries that Jesus had in mind.  But I could be wrong.  Only time will tell.  At judgment day even though we are saved we still have to answer for our works or lack of works.  It is at that time we will find out if they were right or wrong. 

Jesus' ministry style

As I have pointed out before, Jesus' ministry style was often confrontational with those who weren't sincerely seeking.  I believe that one of the biggest problems in Christianity today is a watering down of the message.  Jesus didn't do that. 

Take particular notice of what Jesus doesn't do when His disciples point out that He offended that Pharisees.

Matthew 15:1-9(NKJV)

Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 

“Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 

For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’  

But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”—

then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 

Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

    ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,      And honor Me with their lips,     But their heart is far from Me.

    And in vain they worship Me,      Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” 

Matthew 15:10-15(NKJV)

When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: 

Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”

But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 

Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”

Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.”

Here is what Jesus didn't do.  He didn't go "oh me oh my, I've offended them.  I better go apologize".  Nope, He didn't do that. 

Now some might say "yeah but that is Jesus.  He can tell when someone is insincere or not.  We don't have the ability to decide that.  That would be judgmental and we aren't supposed to judge remember?". 

I would disagree.  As I have pointed out in other blog posts, Jesus also told us to make judgements in other parts of Scripture and He instructed us on what to base those judgments on. 

Besides, quite often those asking the insincere questions have already made known that they have rejected Christ and they are trying to influence others to reject Christ also.  In this case you aren't making a judgment.  They have told you straight up that they have chosen to be enemies of God.  So should we soften the message to try and win them over as so many in the Christian world would do today or should we respond to those people following the example that Jesus set?

I don't know about you but I think we should follow the example Jesus set!

Does God act against His own?

I've often heard people day that God never acts against His own.  He may let Satan at us as He did with Job but God doesn't do it Himself.  Do you think that is true?

Jeremiah the prophet is considered the author of Lamentations.  So this is him writing.

Lamentations 1:14(NKJV)

    “The yoke of my transgressions was bound;      They were woven together by His hands,     And thrust upon my neck.     He made my strength fail;     The Lord delivered me into the hands of those whom I am not able to withstand.

Who do you think Jeremiah is referring to when he says "He made my strength fail"? 

Hmm…  :)

"Cursed is the man…..whose heart departs for the Lord"

Once again it isn't kumbaya Jesus.  God takes it seriously when you reject Him!  God doesn't take a live and let live attitude towards that.  God curses those who reject Him. 

Jeremiah 17:5(NKJV)

Thus says the Lord:      “Cursed is the man who trusts in man     And makes flesh his strength,     Whose heart departs from the Lord.

Jesus asked "who is worthy?" Doesn't that require a judgement?

Matthew 10:11(NKJV)

“Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. 

Matthew 10:13-14(NKJV)

If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 

And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. 

Isn't this interesting.  Once again we have Jesus instructing the disciples to make a judgement do we not?  Kind of goes against that whole 'do not judge" thing doesn't it?

Jesus doesn't say go stay with anyone.  He says go stay with someone who is worthy.  Those are Jesus' words.  So what does worthy mean?

worthy

adjective, worthier, worthiest.

1. having adequate or great merit, character, or value:

a worthy successor.

2. of commendable excellence or merit; deserving:

a book worthy of praise; a person worthy to lead.

noun, plural worthies.

3. a person of eminent worth, merit, or position:

The town worthies included two doctors.

From <http://www.dictionary.com/browse/worthy>

Isn't that interesting.  Jesus didn't say go stay with anyone.  Jesus didn't say go stay with the poor because they will inherit the earth.  Jesus did say go stay with someone of distinction, someone worthy. 

I would also point out that Jesus said if they aren't worthy to "let your peace return to you".  Now that doesn't seem to be very loving and accepting of Jesus does it?  Penalizing someone because they reject Jesus?  Just another example that those who reject Jesus are not entitled to the blessings of being a Christian.

So how do we determine who is worthy?

Matthew 12:33(NKJV)

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 

Works for me!

"Cursed is the man…..whose heart departs for the Lord"

Once again it isn't kumbaya Jesus.  God takes it seriously when you reject Him!

Jeremiah 17:5(NKJV)

Thus says the Lord:      “Cursed is the man who trusts in man     And makes flesh his strength,     Whose heart departs from the Lord.

I can't believe I never noticed this before.

Matthew 10:2-4(NKJV)

Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 

Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 

Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.

I don't know why but I had always assumed that the four Gospels were each written by an original apostle.  As I look at the names above I realize that only two of the four books of the Gospel are written by original apostles.  Mark and Luke, while apostles, were not part of the original 12.  Just weird that I never noticed that before.