Biblical Literacy

Watchdog Alert: Pope Leo XIV Wrong Again

Rick TryonLeave a comment
Photo via Julius Silvers, pexels.com

In a recent post, I pointed out that the current Pope was wrong about God not answering prayers from those engaged in war. Today we have another example of the Pontiff making erroneous claims.

On April 16, 2026, during his peace meeting at Saint Joseph’s Cathedral in Bamenda, Cameroon, Pope Leo XIV said the following:

“Jesus told us, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, but woe to those who manipulate religion in the very name of God for their own military, economic, or political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.’”

Jesus didn’t say that.

The only part of what the Pope claimed — “Jesus told us…” — that Jesus actually told us is “Blessed are the peacemakers.” The other stuff about “political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth”, was not something Jesus said.

In other words, the Pope is either lying about what our Lord said, intentionally trying to deceive people in order to make a political point, or he simply doesn’t know what Jesus actually said according to the Bible.

It may be a combination of all three.

Watchdog Alert: Pope Leo XIV Is Wrong

Rick Tryon1 Comment

In his Palm Sunday homily, Pope Leo XIV explicitly that God “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war,” quoting Isaiah 1:15: “Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood.”

The Pope is counting on the biblical illiteracy of Christians when he isolates this verse from Isaiah without regard to its context and uses it as a universal proclamation against all war for all time.

Isaiah chapter one is specifically referring to the idolatrous and exceedingly sinful nation and people of Judah and Jerusalem.

Isaiah 1:4 (KJV) – Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.

Of course God heard and answered the prayers of His prophets, kings and others during their wars and delivered victory into their hands. Just read the Bible.

Moses & Joshua — Israel defeated Amalek when Moses interceded (Exodus 17).

Joshua at Jericho — Victory came and God commanded the battle (Joshua 6).

David — Before fighting the Philistines, David repeatedly asked, “Shall I go up?” and God answered (2 Samuel 5:19).

Jehoshaphat — God delivered Judah miraculously when they prayed and worshiped (2 Chronicles 20).

The Pope is wrong. The Bible is clear.

Myths Don’t Change Hearts And Lives

Rick TryonLeave a comment

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the focal point of history and the assurance that eternal life with God and God’s people in a restored creation is coming.

The Resurrection is a historical fact, not a myth. The resurrected Messiah was seen by hundreds of people, and the tiny group of followers who committed their lives to spreading the truth of that resurrection grew the faith into one that changed the world and is now the largest faith in the world.

God raised Jesus Christ from the dead—literally, not figuratively. Myths don’t have the kind of impact on empires, history, and individuals that the power of the resurrected Christ has had on the universe ever since the day “He is risen” was declared in triumph.

The Resurrection is the heart of my faith and the rock upon which I stand.

Here is the crux of the matter as I see it: Jesus Christ will return on a day certain, literally not figuratively, as King of kings and Lord of lords.

So, if you don’t know Yeshua the Messiah—you will.

They Said It: Four Quotes On The Book Of Ezra

Rick TryonLeave a comment

Four interesting quotes from about the Old Testament Book of Ezra:

Matthew Henry

“Ezra was a ready scribe in the law of God, and he used his knowledge not for himself, but for the reviving of true religion among the people.”

Charles Spurgeon

“Ezra was a man of the Book, and therefore a man of power. When God means to revive His people, He sets them first to the reading of His Word.”

F. F. Bruce

“Ezra stands as a model of faithful leadership, showing that true reform begins not with walls or institutions, but with the Word of God shaping the hearts of the people.”

Derek Kidner

“Ezra’s story reminds us that restoration is God’s work, yet He chooses to accomplish it through those who set their hearts to study, obey, and teach His Word.”

They Said It: Four Quotes On The Books Of Chronicles

Rick TryonLeave a comment

Four quotes from well-known religious figures about the Old Testament Books of I and II Chronicles:

Jerome (Early Church Father)

“Chronicles is not mere repetition, but a sacred reminder that God remembers His people even when they forget Him.”

Martin Luther

“The Chronicler teaches us that God preserves a remnant and keeps His promises, even through the failures of kings.”

Matthew Henry

“In Chronicles we see the mercy of God magnified, for the story is retold to comfort the returned exiles with the faithfulness of their covenant God.”

F. F. Bruce (Modern biblical scholar)

“Chronicles is theology in narrative form, showing that true kingship and true worship belong to God alone.”

They Said It: Four Quotes On The Book Of Numbers

Rick TryonLeave a comment

Here are some interesting and insightful quotes about the fourth book of the Bible, Numbers.

R. K. Harrison (Old Testament Scholar)

“Numbers reminds us that spiritual progress requires trust and obedience. Israel’s wanderings reveal that unbelief stalls the journey, but God’s patience endures even in the midst of human failure.”

Timothy Keller (Pastor & Author)

“In Numbers, we see a God who walks with His people even when they complain, rebel, and wander. Grace is not a New Testament invention—it’s woven throughout the wilderness story.”

Gordon Wenham (Biblical Scholar)

“Numbers is a book of transition—from promise to fulfillment. It shows that while God prepares His people for blessing, He also forms them through discipline, shaping them into a covenant community.”

John MacArthur (Pastor & Commentator)

“The Book of Numbers reveals the seriousness of sin and the faithfulness of God. The wilderness becomes a classroom where God teaches His people to trust His word above their fears.”