Whole Gospel Ministries

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

March 11, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed

GOD’S PURPOSE IN NATIONS

(WHY JESUS PAID ‘UNJUST’ TEMPLE TRIBUTE: A VITAL LESSON FOR CHRISTIANS IN THESE LAST DAYS 

MAIN TEXT: “Does not your Master pay tribute?” Matt. 17: 24. See verses 22-27, KJV. 

Now follows extract from The Desire of Ages, by E. G. White, pp. 433-4 (all emphasis and notes provided):

    “Soon after they [Jesus with His first Twelve] reached the town [of Capernaum], the collector of the TEMPLE REVENUE came to Peter with the question, ‘Doth not your Master pay tribute?’ 

     “This tribute was NOT a civil tax, but a RELIGIOUS CONTRIBUTION, which every JEW was required to pay annually for the support of the temple. [It was essentially a clerical state!]. A refusal to pay the tribute would be regarded as DISLOYALTY TO THE TEMPLE,—in the estimation to the Rabbis a MOST GRIEVOUS SIN. 

   “The Savior’s attitude toward the RABBINICAL LAWS, and His plain REPROOFS to the defenders of TRADITION, afforded a PRETEXT for the charge that He was seeking to OVERTHROW THE TEMPLE SERVICE.  Now His enemies [from His own, the chosen people!] saw an opportunity of casting DISCREDIT upon Him. In the collector of the tribute they found a READY ALLY. 

    “Peter saw in the collector’s question an INSINUATION touching on Christ’s LOYALTY TO THE TEMPLE. Zealous for his Master’s honor [per usual compulsive-impulsive Peter], he hastily answered, WITHOUT CONSULTING Him, that Jesus would pay the tribute. 

    “But Peter only PARTIALLY comprehended the PURPOSE of his questioner. There were some classes who were held to be exempt from the payment of the tribute. 

    “In the time of Moses, when the Levites were set apart for the service of the sanctuary, they were given NO INHERITANCE among the people. The Lord said, ‘Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the Lord is his inheritance.’ Deut. 10:9. 

    “In the days of Christ the priests and Levites were STILL regarded as especially devoted to the temple, and were not required to make the ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION for its support.

    “PROPHETS also were exempt from this payment. In requiring this payment, the rabbis were SETTING ASIDE His claim as a PROPHET OR TEACHER, and were dealing with Him as with any COMMONPLACE PERSON. A refusal on His part would be represented as DISLOYALTY TO THE TEMPLE; while, on the other hand, the payment of it would be taken as JUSTIFYING THEIR REJECTION OF HIM as a Prophet. 

    “Only a little before, Peter had acknowledged Jesus as the Son of God; but he now MISSED THE OPPORTUNITY on setting for the CHARACTER of His Master. [result of impulsive-compulsive self-confidence he was known for among the Twelve]. By his answer to the collector, that Jesus would pay the tribute, he had VIRTUALLY SANCTIONED THE FALSE CONCEPTION of Him do which the priests and rulers were trying to give currency. [another occasion of Peter’s ‘denials’ of Christ]. 

    “When Peter entered the house, the Savior made no reference to what had taken place, but inquired, ‘What thinkest thou, Simon? Of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? Of their own children, or of strangers?’ Peter answered, ‘Of strangers.’ And Jesus said, ‘Then are the children free.’ 

    “While the people of a country are taxed for the maintenance of their king, the MONARCH’S OWN CHILDREN ARE EXEMPT. 

    “So Israel [as a nation], the professed people of God, were REQUIRED to maintain His service; but Jesus, THE SON OF GOD, was under no such obligation [!]. If priests and Levites were exempt because of their connection with the temple, HOW MUCH MORE He to whom the temple was His Father’s house.

    “If Jesus had paid the tribute WITHOUT A PROTEST, He would virtually have acknowledged the JUSTICE OF THE CLAIM,  and would have thus DENIED HIS DIVINITY. 

    “But while He SAW GOOD to meet the demand, He DENIED THE CLAIM upon which it was based. In PROVIDING FOR the payment of the tribute He gave EVIDENCE OF HIS DIVINE CHARACTER. It was manifest that He was ONE WITH GOD, and therefore was not under tribute as a mere subject of the kingdom. 

THE WAY JESUS PROVIDED FOR THE TRIBUTE PROVED HIS DIVINITY

   “Go thou into the sea,” He directed Peter, ‘and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a PIECE OF MONEY: and take, and give unto them FOR ME AND THEE.’ 

    “Though He had clothed His divinity with humanity [in the great mystery of godliness of His incarnation], IN THIS MIRACLE HE REVEALED HIS GLORY. It was evident that this was He who through David had declared, [Ps. 50: 10-12 quoted]. While Jesus made it plain that He was under NO OBLIGATION to pay the tribute, HE ENTERED INTO NO CONTROVERSY WITH THE JEWS IN REGARD TO THE MATTER; for they would have MISREPRESENTED His words, and turned them AGAINST Him.

    “Lest He should give OFFENSE by withholding the tribute, HE DID THAT WHICH HE COULD NOT BE JUSTLY BE REQUIRED TO DO. 

    “This lesson would be of GREAT VALUE to His disciples. [Why?] Marked changes were soon to take place IN THEIR RELATION TO THE TEMPLE SERVICE, and Christ taught them not to place themselves NEEDLESSLY IN ANTAGONISM TO ESTABLISHED ORDER. So far as possible, they were to AVOID giving occasion for MISREPRESENTATION OF THEIR FAITH. 

Lesson for today as Present Truth: 

   “While Christians are not to sacrifice ONE PRINCIPLE OF TRUTH, they should AVOID CONTROVERSY whenever it is POSSIBLE to do so [without compromising the truth].” (End of extract from Desire of Ages, pp. 433, 434. 

Let all true followers of Christ keep this vital, timely, and all-encompassing principle in mind and heart when facing and dealing with the prophesied controversies over the testing truths of these last days. 

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

March 4, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

GOD’S PURPOSE IN NATIONS (WHY JESUS SANCTIONED ‘PAYING TAXES TO ROME’ IN HIS TIME Part 2) 

See Matt. 22: 15-22; Mark 12: 13-17; Luke 20. 20-26, KJV 

Now follows extract from the inspired pen of Ellen G. White providing spiritual clarity on the subject (all emphasis provided): 

BACKGROUND. In Christ’s time the Pharisees formed one of three groups in the Sanhedrin; the other two being the Sadducees and Herodians. Historically, in the “religious spectrum” of New Testament Judaism, the Sadducees were the “liberals,” and the Pharisees, the “conservatives,” who stressed ‘separation from the world and its defilements’ through ‘righteousness by their works.’ The least of the three, the Herodians, were thought to be ‘Herod’s soldiers,’ according to Jerome; ‘court officials of Herod,’ by other commentators.    

Now follows an enlightening extract, providing spiritual and practical clarity for all, from the inspired pen of Ellen G. White: 

     “The Pharisees and Herodians had been bitter enemies, but they were now in enmity to Christ. The Pharisees had ever chafed under the exaction of tribute by the Romans. The payment of tribute (civil taxes) they held to be CONTRARY TO THE LAW OF GOD. 

     “Now they saw an opportunity to lay a snare for Jesus. Their spies came to Him, and with apparent sincerity, as though desiring to know their DUTY, said, ‘Master, we know that Thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest Thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly: is it LAWFUL for us to GIVE TRIBUTE TO CAESAR, or no?’ 

     “The words, ‘We know that Thou sayest and teachest rightly,’ had they been SINCERE, would have been a wonderful admission. But they were spoken to DECEIVE; nevertheless their testimony was true. The Pharisees did know that Christ said and taught rightly [all in truth and righteousness]. 

    “Those who put the question to Jesus THOUGHT they had sufficiently disguised their PURPOSE; but Jesus read their hearts as an OPEN BOOK, and sounded their HYPOCRISY. ‘Why tempt ye Me?’ He said; thus giving them a SIGN they had not asked, by showing that He read their HIDDEN purpose. 

    “They were still more confused when He added, ‘Show Me a penny.’ They brought it, and He asked them, ‘Whose image and superscription has it?’ They answered and said, Caesar’s.’ Pointing to the INSCRIPTION ON THE COIN, Jesus said, ‘Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Cesar’s; and unto God that things that are God’s.’ 

    “The spies had EXPECTED Jesus to answer their question directly, IN ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. If He should say, It is UNLAWFUL to give tribute to Caesar, He would be reported to the ROMAN authorities and arrested for inciting REBELLION. 

    “But in case He would pronounce it LAWFUL to pay the tribute, they designed to accuse Him before the PEOPLE as opposing the law of God. . . .

    “Christ’s reply was no evasion, but a candid answer to the question. Holding in His hand the Roman coin, upon which were stamped the name and image of Caesar, He declared that since they were LIVING UNDER THE PROTECTION of the Roman power, they SHOULD RENDER to that power the support it claimed, SO LONG AS THIS DID NOT CONFLICT WITH A HIGHER DUTY. But while PEACEABLY SUBJECT to the laws of the land [or nation], they should at all times give their FIRST ALLEGIANCE TO GOD.

     “The Savior’s words, ‘RENDER. . . UNTO GOD the things that are God’s,’ were a SEVERE REBUKE TO THE INTRIGUING JEWS. [Here’s how and why:]. “Had they faithfully fulfilled their obligations to God, they would NOT HAVE BECOME A BROKEN NATION, SUBJECT TO A FOREIGN [and malign] POWER. No Roman ensign would have waved over JERUSALEM, no Roman sentinel  would have stood at her gates, no ROMAN GOVERNOR would have ruled within her walls. THE JEWISH NATION WAS THEN PAYING THE PENALTY OF ITS APOSTASY FROM GOD. 

     “When the Pharisees heard Christ’s answer, ‘they marveled, and left Him, and went their way.’ He had rebuked their HYPOCRISY AND PRESUMPTION, and in doing this, He had stated A GREAT PRINCIPLE, A PRINCIPLE THAT CLEARLY DEFINES THE LIMITS OF MAN’S DUTY TO THE CIVIL GOVERNMENT AND HIS DUTY TO GOD. 

     “In many minds a vexed question had been settled. Ever after they had held to the right principle. [Righteousness is also ‘right doing]. And although many went away DISSATISFIED, they saw that the PRINCIPLE UNDERLYING the question had been CLEARLY set forth, and they marveled at Christ’s FAR-SEEING discernment [down to our very time, up to the stupendous culmination of Bible’s prophecies regarding the kingdoms and nations of the fallen earth].” From The Desire of Ages, April,1950 ed., Pacific Press Publishing Asso., pp. 601-3. 

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

February 25, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

IT IS LAWFUL TO RENDER TRIBUTE TO CAESAR

   “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute due; custom to whom custom [is due]; fear to whom fear [is due]; honor to whom honor [is due]. Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” Rom. 13: 7, &, KJV. 

The true and faithful disciples and followers of Jesus Christ—God’s law-abiding Christians—have clearly-defined, separate duties to ‘church’ and to ‘state.’ 

In today’s mid-week “Manna,”we shall first consider what Christ and His apostles taught regarding “tax paying tribute to Caesar” or tax returns. Prayerfully read the following Scriptures on your Bibles: Matt. 22: 15-22; Mark 12: 12-17; Luke 20: 19-26; Rom. 13: 1-8; preferably the KJV, then, RSV. 

Now these (all emphases, bracketed words provided): 

    “The ‘taxing’ of Luke 2:2 (KJV), is a rendering of the Greek ‘apographe,’ ‘registration,’ ‘census.’ Doubtless the registration of names and of property was also the basis for the LEVY of a property tax. Levi Matthew, a Jewish tax collector (see Publican) under Roman appointment, was called by Christ to be a disciple (Matt. 9:9; Luke 5: 27). 

Christ disapproved the general practice of EXTORTING amounts ABOVE THE OFFICIAL TAX (see Luke 3: 12, 13), yet earned the reputation of ‘a friend of tax collectors’ (Matt. 11: 19, RSV; cf. ch. 9:10-13). When asked whether it was LAWFUL to pay taxes (see RSV) to CAESAR, JESUS ENDORSED the practice, BUT USED THE OPPORTUNITY to enjoin the fulfillment of THE OBLIGATION  TOWARD GOD, thus setting forth the CHRISTIAN’S SEPARATE DUTIES TO CHURCH AND TO STATE. (Matt. 22: 15-22).” – SDA Bible Dictionary Complete with Atlas, Commentary Reference Series, Vol. 8, Review & Herald, WA D.C., 1960, entry ‘Taxes,’ p. 1067

TRIBUTE. “In general, forced contributions of money, goods, or labor to be made at stated times by a SUBJECT PEOPLE TO THE RULER by whom they are conquered and are under whose suzerainty they live. MOSES instructed Israel (Deut. 20:11) concerning the placing of other nations under ‘tribute’ (the Hebrew ‘mas’ ‘forced labor,’ is commonly rendered ‘tribute’ in the KJV. Gen. 49:15; Judges 1:28; 1 Kings 4:6, etc.).

    “A ‘tribute’ of a spoil captured by the army was to be given to the Lord (Num. 31: 28-30). 

    “The Israelites paid tribute at various times to Moab (Jgs. 3:15, RSV), Egypt (2 Kings 25:33; 2 Chron. 36: 3, RSV), Assyria (2 Kings 17:3; 2 Chron. 28:21, RSV), and Persia (Est. 10:1, etc.). 

    “Taxes were always heaviest at times in times of emergency, did the MILITARY campaigns of kings [or ‘kingly powers’] and emperors were FINANCED BY SUBJECT PEOPLES. 

    “Xerxes (Ahasuerus) king of Persia distinguished himself as a great raiser of tributes (see Est. 10:1). His disastrous campaign against Greece necessitated increases burdens on those he ruled (see Dan. 11:2). In Ezra’s time the Jews were still under tribute to Persia [modern-day Iran] (Ezra 4:13).

    “Paul counseled CHRISTIANS  to pay ‘phoros,’ ‘tribute,’ ‘TAXES,’ to the civil government. (Rom. 13: 6, 7).” – Ibid, p. 1110. 

God’s appointed way, “It is written,” “Thus saith the Lord,” “To the law and the testimony,” is always the best way for it is the “way of righteousness.” 

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

February 18, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

SEEK THE PEACE OF THE COUNTRY WHERE YOU LIVE

Omniscient, omnipotent, and all-merciful God is in full control of the rise and fall of the nations and their final destinies—from the first and most glorious of the world empires, Nebuchadnezzar’s neo-Babylonia—to the final antitypical global spiritual “Babylon the great” described in Revelation chapters 13, 17, and 18! 

The only wise and safe way for any and all of fallen mankind, from the least of men to the mightiest of the “great men and kings of the earth,” is to simply exercise faith, trust and obey God’s plan, fulfill His revealed will and purposes and heed all His counsels as declared by His chosen prophets and messengers. He “is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

None need fear the forebodings future except he chooses sinful ignorance of God’s recorded dealings, or carelessly “forgets how He has led in the past,” that is, from Old Testament times! 

Thus, “It is written” in Jeremiah 29: 1, 5-7, KJV (all emphasis mine): 

    “Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue [remnant] of the elders which were carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people to whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive to Babylon.  . . . Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sins, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished. And SEEK THE PEACE OF THE CITY wither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and PRAY UNTO THE LORD FOR IT: FOR IN THE PEACE THEREOF SHALL YE HAVE PEACE.” (end quote from the KJV Bible. 

(Next week: God’s Word says it is lawful to “pay tribute to Caesar,” or pay taxes). 

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

February 11, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

GOD CALLS EVEN HEATHEN NATIONS ‘HIS SERVANTS’ TO DO HIS WILL BUT ALSO ARE PUNISHED FOR WICKEDNESS

     God Almighty is “no respecter of persons,” that is, “all nations are of one blood,” “whether Jew, Greek, or Gentile”, “all have sinned and come short of the glory [character] of God;” therefore, “all must stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”

     “God is love” and “His mercy endureth forever” but equally true is that “He will in no wise clear the guilty” for “He loveth righteousness but hateth iniquity.” God loves the sinner with perfect love and hates sin with perfect hatred. He died to “save” the sinner, yes, “His people from,” not in “their sins”-the meaning of His name, Jesus. (Matt. 1: 21). 

So, in the rise and fall of empires, kingdoms, and nations,  depicted in type and antitype of the shared and interlinked histories of the prophetically-relevant nations of the earth and God’s own spiritual kingdom,

the “weeping prophet” declared God’s edict, then verdict upon ancient Babylon—the type of the antitypical end-time spiritual Babylon of Daniel and the Revelation. 

Thus we read from JEREMIAH CHAPTER 25 KJV), written about  606 B. C. (all emphasis mine): 

     “The word came to Jeremiah concerning ALL THE PEOPLE

OF JUDAH in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, king of Judah, that was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.” verse 1. 

Then verses 9-11 says: 

     “Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the Lord, and Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, MY SERVANT, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against ALL THE NATIONS round about, and will UTTERLY DESTROY THEM, AND MAKE THEM AN ASTONISHMENT, and AN HISSING, and PERPETUAL DESOLATIONS. Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle. And the whole land will be a DESOLATION AND AN ASTONISHMENT; and these NATIONS shall serve the king of Babylon SEVENTY YEARS.” 9-11. 

Then follows what God declared and did to Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonian empire after the seventy years!:

    “And it shall come to pass, when the seventy years are accomplished, that I WILL PUNISH THE KING OF BABYLON and that nation, saith the Lord, FOR THEIR INIQUITY, and the land of the Chaldeans, and make it a PERPETUAL DESOLATIONS. And I will bring upon that land ALL MY WORDS WHICH I HAVE PRONOUNCED AGAINST IT, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah hath prophesied AGAINST ALL NATIONS [both backsliding, rebellious Judah and heathen Babylon!] verses 9-13. Read also chapter 50: 11-20. 

Remember these when we address the amazing 70-week (490 year) prophecy of Daniel 9: 24-27. Prophecy reveals how God is in full control of the affairs of the nations of the earth from the beginning to its rapidly-approaching stupendous climax! 

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

February 4, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

GOD IS IN CONTROL: HE USES ONE NATION TO PUNISH OTHER NATIONS 

Babylon punishes Egypt. Be sure to read first from your Bibles (KJV recommended) Ezekiel 29: 1-16. 

Now follows verses 17-20 (all emphasis mine):

    v 17 And it came to pass in the seven and twentieth year, in the first month, in the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 

    v 18 Son of man, NEBUCHADNEZZAR, KING OF BABYLON caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus: every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled: yet had he no wages, nor his army, for Tyrus, for the service that he had served against it. [see Jer. 27: 1-22]. 

    v 19 Therefore thus sainthood the Lord God; I WILL GIVE THE LAND OF EGYPT UNTO NEBUCHADNEZZAR KING OF BABYLON; and he shall take her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey; and it shall bethe wages of his army.

   v 20 I [God] have given him [Nebuchadnezzar] the land of Egypt for his labor wherewith he served against it, because THEY WROUGHT FOR ME, saith the Lord God.”

God calls even heathen and non-Christian nations as His “servants” to do His bidding and carry out His divine purposes! Read Jeremiah 25: 9-11; 50: 11-20.

The leaders of all the nations of the world, and those who voted them into their positions of power should ever remember these: 

     “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the PEOPLE whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance.” Ps. 33: 12. 

     “Righteousness EXALTETH a nation: but sin is a REPROACH TO ANY PEOPLE.” Prov. 14: 34. 

And what is sin? “The transgression of God’s law (1 John 3: 4). It is God’s covenant law of Ten Commandments (Deut. 4:13). To break or transgress any one of the Ten is to break all for it is a unit! “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10).

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.