Banquet With The King: February 2026

Tuesday, February 3, 2026

What is a Winnowing Fork?

"I (John) baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I'm not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire." Matthew 3:11-12

Meditate on Jesus’ role in coming to earth.

What is a “winnowing fork,” and how is Jesus going to use it? A winnowing fork is an implement that farmers in ancient times used on the threshing floor to separate the chaff from the kernels of grain. Matthew records John’s words that the grain and chaff will be separated. The grain would be gathered and saved. The chaff would be burned up in an eternal fire.

Is the grain those who would believe in the Son of God, the Christians, and the chaff, the unbelievers, those who would be condemned to a final death in an eternal fire? I think that would be a logical, good guess. The winnowing fork was essential for separating the parts of the wheat—the grain kernels and the chaff. Spiritually, what could the winnowing fork be attributed to? Who…or what…separates the grain from the chaff? In this scripture passage, we are told that “someone” is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. That “someone” is Jesus. He is the one that John was referring to as not being worthy to be His slave and carry His sandals. Yes. Jesus is the one with the winnowing fork. We can be sure that He will one day be separating the grain and the chaff—those who believe and those who don’t. Where will you be? On the pile of chaff headed to the eternal fire or gathered with the kernels of grain?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, I believe in You as my Lord and Savior. I know that one day you will winnow the harvest of souls. The good ones in one pile…and the chaff to be discarded in the fire.

Verse of Salvation ~ Who among you fears the LORD and obeys his servant? If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the LORD and rely on your God. But watch out, you who live in your own light and warm yourselves by your own fires. This is the reward you will receive from me: You will soon fall down in great torment. Isaiah 50:10-11

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

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Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Monday, February 2, 2026

Who is Worthy to Carry His Sandals?

Carry my sandals and staff.

But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. "You brood of snakes!" he exclaimed. "Who warned you to flee God's coming wrath? Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don't just say to each other, 'We're safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.' That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. Even now, the ax of God's judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire. I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I'm not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." Matthew 3:7-11

Meditate. Read the scripture passage three times.

It was time for Jesus to begin His ministry. John the Baptist had been out at the Jordan River calling for people to “Repent” and change their ways. He was baptizing those who repented. It seems that the Pharisees and Sadducees thought they were holier than anyone else, but John the Baptist saw through them. Was he warning or accusing them of being bad fruit? Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire. Bad fruit—pride, haughtiness, unrighteousness. That was what John was seeing in the Pharisees and Sadducees. He was condemning them to Hell—thrown into the fire.

John the Baptist was foretelling of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. He already revered Jesus. He felt he was not worthy to even carry Jesus’ sandals. Who carries another person’s sandals…or even unties them, but a slave? Was John considering himself lower than a slave?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, like John, I am unworthy to untie or carry Your sandals—but by Your blood and sacrifice, You have saved me from the doom of Hell or of the rejection of the Father. Thank You. I look forward to serving You forever in Heaven one day. I would even be willing to carry Your sandals.

Verse of Salvation ~ Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it's all nonsense. But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God's weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength. 1 Corinthians 1:21-25

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories

Sunday, February 1, 2026

Can I Be a Priest?

The Sacrificial Lamb
Is it perfect?
The Lamb of God takes away the sins of the world.

Only Aaron and his descendants served as priests. They presented the offerings on the altar of burnt offering and the altar of incense, and they performed all the other duties related to the Most Holy Place. They made atonement for Israel by doing everything that Moses, the servant of God, had commanded them. 1 Chronicles 6:49

Meditate. Consider God’s message in scripture.

At the time of Passover, when I went to the Temple in Jerusalem, I observed the Priests. They were dressed in dramatic robes with headdresses. Can I be a priest? Did I want to be a priest? Nope. Only men in the Levite tribe, in Aaron’s line, could be priests.

Call for your brother, Aaron, and his sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. Set them apart from the rest of the people of Israel so they may minister to me and be my priests. Make sacred garments for Aaron that are glorious and beautiful. Exodus 28:1-2

The priests had specific duties, which included teaching the people.

And you must teach the Israelites all the decrees that the LORD has given them through Moses. Leviticus 10:11

The priests were to resolve conflicts.

Then the Levitical priests must step forward, for the LORD your God has chosen them to minister before him and to pronounce blessings in the LORD's name. They are to decide all legal and criminal cases. Deuteronomy 21:5

Of course, the priests offered sacrifices to atone for the Israelites' sins.

These are the sacrifices you are to offer regularly on the altar. Each day, offer two lambs that are a year old, one in the morning and the other in the evening. With one of them, offer two quarts of choice flour mixed with one quart of pure oil of pressed olives; also, offer one quart of wine as a liquid offering. Offer the other lamb in the evening, along with the same offerings of flour and wine as in the morning. It will be a pleasing aroma, a special gift presented to the LORD. "These burnt offerings are to be made each day from generation to generation. Offer them in the LORD's presence at the Tabernacle entrance; there I will meet with you and speak with you. Exodus 29:38-42

Blessing the people is another responsibility of the priests. This results in those people getting God’s blessing.

Then the LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing: 'May the LORD bless you and protect you. May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.' Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless them." Numbers 6:22-27

Only sons of the tribe of Levi get to be priests. I was born into the family of David in the line of Judah. True, Abraham was the father of all Israelites, but his grandson, Jacob, had twelve sons. One was Judah, and another was Levi. Levi’s family became priests, one of whom got to speak directly to God once each year at the Day of Atonement.

The Rabbis that I studied with at the Temple taught me the finer points of the Jewish priests—those gentlemen from the family of Aaron that still practiced the sacrifices according to God’s instructions through Moses. Here in the rebuilt Second Temple, since Solomon’s Temple was so damaged by the Babylonians, there is so much corruption. There are merchants selling lambs and doves to people who come bringing sacrifices that are declared inferior. Are they really blemished? It looks to me like someone is just trying to make some easy money. I’m not a priest, but I can see perfect sacrifices. Hearts that are repentant when they bring their sacrifices to the Temple. They heard God’s message. Repent. One day, that will be my message, too.

Prayer – Lord Jesus, You had such wisdom—even as a child. Repent was the beginning of Your ministry. Did you learn that in Jerusalem? With a repentant heart, daily I am seeking God’s purpose for my life—what would You have me to do, minute by minute?

Verse of Salvation ~ Now after John [the Baptist] was arrested and taken into custody, Jesus went to Galilee, preaching the good news of [the kingdom of] God, and saying, "The [appointed period of] time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God's purpose for your life] and believe [with a deep, abiding trust] in the good news [regarding salvation]." Mark 1:14-15 AMP

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMP),

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories