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Showing 2476 to 2500 of 3926 results

2476. Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20

Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... human-directed commandments begins at home with the relationship between parent and child. Of course, in ancient Near Eastern culture the family or clan was the most basic fingerprint of one's identity. Physical and economic survival as well as emotional support and nurturance combined to make the clan-unit and the families within it the basis of each person's life. The wording of this fifth commandment in verse 12 intentionally makes an intimate connection between the parent-child and the human-divine ...

2477. Philippians 4:1-9

Philippians 4:1-9

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... visible, active leaders in the church. In Acts 16:14-15, we are told that a wealthy woman, Lydia, was Paul's first convert in Philippi. Her home became the meeting place for the first Christians in the city, and her leadership and support within this faith community remained constant. Now Paul identifies two other women, Euodia and Syntyche, as his "coworkers" in the Philippian church. Paul gently urges them to "be of the same mind" while he reminds these women how they worked "beside" Paul. The apostle ...

2478. Matthew 22:15-22

Matthew 22:15-22

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... scene. The temporary partnership between the Pharisees who combined a theological ideology of exceptional Torah obedience with a political ideology that might best be described as "going along to get along" and the Herodians a secular party dedicated to supporting Herod's continued reign in Palestine was an odd-couple arrangement, to say the least. Yet both parties apparently did have one common interest: keeping in check the growing popularity of Jesus and his message among the common people. Besides ...

2479. Matthew 25:1-13

Matthew 25:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... the same apparent faithfulness for the bridegroom's arrival. But after dozing off during the lengthy wait, the foolish virgins find their oil supply exhausted and turn for help to the farsighted "wise" virgins who have brought more oil with them. Instead of supporting these sisters, however, the "wise" virgins refuse to lend them any of their precious oil, keeping their refills to themselves. What is more, after the "foolish" maidens run out and obtain their own oil, they are still not let into the marriage ...

2480. Deuteronomy 26:1-11

Deuteronomy 26:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... of the priestly role was of great importance to the later Deuteronomic editors of the code. The handing of the offering over to the priest emphasized the special relationship of service in God's "dwelling place." It was the priest's right to be supported by these gifts offered to God. The "credo" gives a succinct summary of the Pentateuchal history _ but stresses above all else that the fathers and mothers of Israel were wanderers. The most telling feature of this highly condensed version of Hebrew history ...

2481. Luke 10:38-42

Luke 10:38-42

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... mix. Their worlds and their ways were quite different. Yet here sits Mary at Jesus' feet, assuming the role of a good student, a true disciple. When Martha attempts to restore the traditional layout of roles in her home and petitions Jesus for his support, she is gently reprimanded. Jesus refuses to send Mary "back to the kitchen." Instead, he welcomes her place at his feet and calls her choice "the better part." Martha is concerned with looking after guests and extending her hospitality, but the food and ...

2482. Luke 16:19-31

Luke 16:19-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... here has led a few scholars to make one other suggestion about this rich man's name: Herod Antipas. His royal appearance in "purple and fine linens," coupled with the fact that at this time, Herod did indeed have five brothers, at least lends some support to this interesting speculation, if not real evidence. Abraham's first reply is that of any good Jew - "They have Moses and the prophets." The sacred weight and power of the tradition should be enough to convince anyone and is readily available to all. But ...

2483. Luke 19:1-10

Luke 19:1-10

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... chosen to be the guest of "a sinner." Whether or not Luke's gospel considered tax collectors to be "sinners" is at issue here. It appears from the previous texts that Luke's attitude toward tax collectors is benign, if not down-right supportive. Jesus continually chooses to associate with them, and it is Jesus' greatest antagonists, the Pharisees, who insist upon labeling them as "sinners." Whether to conclude that Luke does or does not see tax collectors as sinners in need of repentance depends in large ...

2484. Mark 8:31-38

Mark 8:31-38

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... Christianity. Believers are not to be preoccupied with saving their own lives. Like Peter, true disciples are called to take up their cross and follow Christ. Relating the Texts Throughout the fourth chapter of Romans, Paul argues in support of the essential equality and unity among Christians, against the divisions between Jewish versus Gentile believers. All distinctions are artificial devices based on a faulty understanding of our relationship to God. The example of the covenant established between ...

2485. 2 Samuel 7:1-17

2 Samuel 7:1-17

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... tent. Though the question is only implied, David is obviously asking the prophet whether now is not the time to build a permanent dwelling place, a temple, as a fitting house for the Lord's presence among them. At first Nathan seems inclined to support David in his intention. But in this first of three appearances by this court prophet (Nathan surfaces again in Chapter 12 and in 1 Kings 1), the prophet demonstrates how closely he works with the spirit of the Lord. "That same night," verse 4 emphasizes ...

2486. 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... tradition of the early church, not one Paul had developed on his own. There are too many non-Pauline phrases, the style differs from his own, and the fact that the confession reaches beyond the scope of Paul's immediate discussion all support its previous institutional existence. The confession closes by proclaiming the risen Christ's appearance to "Cephas, then to the twelve." The separate appearance to Cephas (Simon Peter) suggested by this text, is not recorded in any of the gospels - although there is ...

2487. 2 Kings 5:1-15ab

2 Kings 5:1-15ab

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... that most defines him is straightforward and totally devastating. Naaman is a leper. In the light of that one fact, it seems not to matter that Naaman, whose very name means charm or pleasantness, is triumphing over Israel with the Lord's support. As the story unfolds, the first of a remarkable set of juxtapositions is revealed. In contrast to Naaman, the powerful, prestigious warrior, we are introduced to a character profoundly weak and pitifully alone. Whereas Naaman is the conqueror, the other is the ...

2488. 2 Timothy 1:1-14

2 Timothy 1:1-14

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... by reminding him of both his grandmother's and his mother's Jewish-Christian faith. Paul recognizes that our lives necessarily reflect the particularity of parentage as well as the larger kinship shared by a faith community. In Timothy's case this parentage is supportive and beneficial. While we know Timothy's father was a Greek (Acts 16:1), his grandfather's lineage is unclear. Since in Judaism any child who is born of a Jewish mother is considered Jewish, it makes sense for Paul to single out Timothy ...

2489. Mark 1:4-11

Mark 1:4-11

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... people in that "wilderness" setting: "a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins" (v.4). The interrelationship among these three actions repentance, baptism and forgiveness is firmly in divine hands. This theological construction, however, has few supporters. The more delicate relationship among these three activities places the impetus behind repentance, baptism and forgiveness firmly in divine hands. Repentance, like the forgiveness of sins, is a gracious divine gift. This is why John looks ...

2490. Mark 1:14-20

Mark 1:14-20

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... leave not only their daily work, but by leaving behind their nets, they completely abandon their established livelihoods. James and John not only leave the security of their vocation, but they walk away from the safety of their family ties and support structures. While the call or command to "follow" proceeds entirely from Jesus, the action it inspires is impressively dramatic. Jesus' call is so imperative that it demands no delays. The call Jesus extends first to Simon and Andrew is to become "fishers ...

2491. Mark 5:21-43

Mark 5:21-43

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... text there is no such freeze-framing. The woman's faith in Jesus' ability to heal her is so great that she is convinced she need only reach out and touch the hem of his garment in order to experience his healing power. The structure of Mark's text supports her conviction. In verse 27, this woman touches Jesus' garment, and in verse 29, "she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease." Jesus has not yet seen or spoken to this woman, who nonetheless feels she has already been healed by him. In verse ...

2492. Luke 3:1-6

Luke 3:1-6

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... figures and chronological sequencing in ways that move narratives out of the political-economic-sociological vacuum in which we are tempted to see them. Stylistically formal and rich in its detail, Luke's narrative focuses on the historical scaffolding that supports it. Why Luke goes into such detail, however, is more of a literary question than a historical inquiry. In traditional Greco-Roman literary style, it was usual for commentators to cite multiple datings to signal the beginning of the main ...

2493. John 20:19-31

John 20:19-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... the nails" (v. 25). John's reference to nails here is the only such reference in the New Testament; criminals were commonly lashed to a cross and if nails were used, they were placed through the wrists and not the hands. Recent archaeological evidence has supported early patristic references to a single spike through the feet which were crossed and rest upon a footrest. Perhaps, John is here harmonizing his account to the passage in the Psalms: "They have pierced my hands and my feet" (22:16 NIV; the NRSV ...

2494. Acts 9:1-6 (7-20)

Acts 9:1-6 (7-20)

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... . Bill was on a high he thought would last forever. But it didn't. His wife and daughter were killed in a car accident. He dropped out of church, bitterly deciding that Jesus had abandoned him. So as Jesus ministered to his grief through the love and support of a church family, he didn't know it. He had that blindfold thing going. What preconceived idea of Jesus is blocking you from recognizing Jesus in your life? Why not let Jesus be Jesus? He will reveal himself if you let him and sometimes, like Paul ...

2495. John 21:1-19

John 21:1-19

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go" (v.18). John provides the meaning of this unique statement. It is a reference, he says, to the "kind of death by which he would glorify God" (v.19). Tradition, supported by Eusebius, has long suggested that Peter not only died a martyr's death, but that it was by crucifixion (the only one of the apostles to die in this manner) and that the apostle specifically requested he be crucified in a downward position because he was ...

2496. Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31

Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... considerable ammunition against Athanasius in the heated discussions concerning the generation of the second person of the Trinity (see Robert C. Gregg and Dennis E. Groh, Early Arianism: A View of Salvation [Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1981]). Nevertheless, the context here supports the sense of "created" or "established." Wisdom "was set up" (v.23) and "was brought forth" (v.24,25); elsewhere in Proverbs, the word qanah appears 12 times with the sense of to gain or acquire. Clearly, wisdom is not ...

2497. A Burden or a Song

Matthew 5:43-48

Sermon

James McCormick

... load we are carrying. The emphasis is upon gifts -those gifts God gives us to exchange our burden for a song. This is not to say that there are no demands – there are. There is a cost to discipleship, and the cost is high. You will hear no support for cheap grace from me. The high demands of the gospel are there. But, in His love for us, God always give us enough grace to meet the demands. Sad to say, the first century religious leaders did not understand. Jesus’ disciples didn’t even understand at ...

2498. 1 Corinthians 1:10-18

1 Corinthians 1:10-18

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... such as Chloe's people would most likely be associated with some wealthy householder. Thus the slaves, servants, freedmen and all the other struggling workers who depended on the few wealthy households in Corinth would become a built-in circle of political supporters for those who were rich. This situation is what Paul finds so completely incompatible with the spirit of Christ - a church family split into feuding political factions, with poor members forced to side with the opinions held by their masters or ...

2499. Acts 19:1-7

Acts 19:1-7

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... forced to agree that Luke and Paul both apparently identify this band of men as "Christians" (v.1), Calvin disliked how the story was being used. The Reformer's problem was that the Anabaptists were having a field day with this text using it to support their call for the re-baptism by immersion of adults who had been baptized as infants. In his Commentary Upon the Acts of the Apostles, Calvin fudges his interpretation of 19:1 in a purposeful attempt to deny the Anabaptists any biblical basis for their ...

2500. Romans 4:13-25

Romans 4:13-25

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... tend to capture all our attention. But by chapter four, Paul reveals that there is more to the divine formula than "justification," "faith" and "grace." There is also "hope." Paul uses Abraham, the undisputed patriarch of all Judaism, as the prime example to support his arguments. The exalted position of this patriarch in Jewish tradition suggests that if anyone had a right to glory it was Abraham. But in this chapter, Paul argues that not even Abraham had a right to glorification leading to the conclusion ...

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