Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: Levi, disciple, evangelist, tax collector, the 12, the twelve, apostle, sermon on the mount, jewish audience, beatitudes, lord's prayer, great commission, parables, olivet discourse, mount of olives, olivet, synoptic

Showing 2576 to 2600 of 4942 results

2576. The Withered Fig Tree

Mark 11:20-25 (26)

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

11:20–25 This passage completes the story of the barren fig tree begun in 11:12–14 and includes sayings on faith and prayer that appear at various points in the Synoptic Gospels but are grouped together here by Mark. In the Matthew 21:18–22 parallel to the fig tree story, the withering occurs at once, but Mark has spliced into the fig tree incident the condemnation of the temple in 11:15–19 to ensure that the two events should be considered together. In 11:12–14 the fig tree is “cursed” for its barren ...

2577. Mary's Song

Luke 1:46-56

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

The Births of John the Baptist and Jesus Foretold: One of the problems in comparing the Synoptic Gospels is accounting for the distinctive features of the birth narratives in Matthew and Luke. On the one hand, Matthew mentions an angelic announcement to Joseph (1:20), the Magi (2:1), a star (2:2), the flight to Egypt (2:13–14), and the slaughter of the infants (2:16). Luke’s account contains none of these items. Moreover, only Matthew cites Isa. 7:14 (see 1:23), Mic. 5:2 (see 2:6), Hos. 11:1 (see 2:15), ...

2578. Jesus Raises a Widow's Son

Luke 7:11-17

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

Jesus’ Answer to John: This section consists of three parts that are loosely related to Jesus’ answer to the messengers of the imprisoned John the Baptist. Another factor uniting these stories together are the parallels with the Elijah/Elisha stories in 1 and 2 Kings. The first of Luke’s episodes is about the healing of the officer’s servant (7:1–10); the second is about the raising of the widow’s son (7:11–17); and the third is John’s question and Jesus’ answer (7:18–35). 7:11–17 This story, found only in ...

2579. The Transfiguration

Luke 9:28-36

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

9:28–36 Several features of the transfiguration have led commentators to conclude that this passage has some sort of typological connection to Exodus 24 and 33–34, passages which describe Moses’ ascent up the mount where he meets God and then descends with a shining face. The following specific parallels between Mark’s account (9:2–8) and Exodus are evident: (1) the reference to “six days” (Mark 9:2; Exod. 24:16); (2) the cloud that covers the mountain (Mark 9:7; Exod. 24:16); (3) God’s voice from the ...

2580. The Cost of Following Jesus

Luke 9:57-62

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

9:57–62 The first two exchanges with would-be followers are also present in Matt. 8:19–22 and so are derived by Luke in all likelihood from the sayings source (“Q”). The third saying, appearing nowhere else in the Gospel tradition, may also have been part of the sayings source, but in view of its affinities with the Elijah/Elisha tradition, this third exchange may be unique to Luke. Fitzmyer (p. 833) suggests that all three exchanges likely derive from “independent contexts in the ministry of Jesus.” But ...

2581. Zacchaeus the Tax Collector

Luke 19:1-10

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

19:1–10 In the preceding episode we saw the healing touch of Jesus restoring the sight and faith of a religious outcast of Israel. In the episode at hand we have another example of the restoration of one who was an outcast, not because of physical problems thought to be caused by sin, but because of his occupation. While passing through Jericho, Jesus encounters a chief tax collector (see note below) named Zacchaeus, a man who was wealthy. His desire to see Jesus was such he climbed a nearby sycamore-fig ...

2582. Jesus At the Temple

Luke 19:45-48

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

19:45–46 Luke’s account of the cleansing of the temple is briefest of the Gospel accounts (see note below). Luke’s account is briefest because he has omitted the various details regarding those who were selling and changing money (see Matt. 21:12; Mark 11:15; John 2:14–16). Also omitted in Luke is the cursing of the fig tree (see Mark 11:12–14), as well as a few other less noteworthy details. The point of Jesus’ action is twofold: (1) Positively, Jesus purges the temple in order to prepare it as a place ...

2583. Hallelujah!

Revelation 19:1-10

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

19:1–3 Now that the third woe is completed, the reader is ready to hear God’s concluding word that speaks of salvation rather than of judgment. These doxologies describe the logical response of worship to the angel’s earlier demand for the heavenly community to “Rejoice … O heaven/Rejoice, saints and apostles and prophets!” (18:20). They also form part of the heavenly liturgy of joy that is marked by the repeated acclamations of Hallelujah! (19:1, 3, 4, 6)—found only here in the NT but often in the OT ...

2584. The River of Life

Revelation 22:1-6

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

22:1–5 The phrase, Then the angel showed me, seems to indicate John’s decision to add a separate “paradise tradition” into his vision of the new Jerusalem. The reasons for this are clearly theological: he thereby indicates that God’s redemption returns the new creation—the community of overcomers—to the Garden of Eden and to the creator’s intentions for humanity (Caird, Revelation, p. 280; Boring, Revelation, p. 218). These intentions, already indicated by the “new song” at the Lamb’s exaltation, are ...

2585. The Cloud Above the Tabernacle

Numbers 9:15-23

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

Passover and Divine Guidance: This chapter illustrates the difference between narrative time and real time. The opening chronological note reminds readers that the narrative flashbacks continue. The time is the dedication of the tabernacle in the first month of the second year (earlier than the events in the beginning of Numbers in the second month of the second year). Then on the fourteenth day of the first month the Israelites observe the Passover. A few days later they leave Sinai, and the last part of ...

2586. Joshua to Succeed Moses

Numbers 27:12-23

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

The New Generation: Inheritance and Leadership 27:1–7: The census in chapter 26 prepares for the distribution of the land. The custom in ancient Israel was that land stayed with the tribe and was passed from father to son. The question now arises as to what happens when there are no sons but only daughters. The daughters of Zelophehad . . . belonged to the clans of Manasseh. The five of them—Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah—approach the community’s judicial body in an effort to inherit their father’ ...

2587. The Priests' Share

Leviticus 7:28-38

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

7:28–36 The text now returns specifically to disposal of the fellowship offering that was treated in verses 11–21. The passage seeks to standardize practice about what parts of the animal are the priest’s portion. This teaching again addresses the Israelites. Part of the offering is burned on the altar. The worshiper takes clear responsibility for bringing this holy portion to God as a wave offering. The basic meaning of the word communicates a waving motion. The offering has a special status. Perhaps this ...

2588. The Year of Jubilee

Leviticus 25:8-55

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

The Sabbath and Jubilee: This chapter turns to the Sabbath principle as it applies to a variety of issues in ancient society like land, property, and slaves. The theological perspective operates out of a creation context, with ancient Israelites functioning as stewards of property and wealth, rather than as owners. God the creator holds that role. The chapter argues that viewing possessions as divine gifts to a community provides a better starting point than promoting the individual right to succeed. The ...

2589. Saul Rescues the City of Jabesh

1 Samuel 11:1-11

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

Saul's Demonstrates His Leadership: 11:1–11 The first opportunity for Saul to exercise his new calling and confirm his role as military leader was provided by the Ammonites, a tribal group who lived on the eastern side of the Jordan and who were involved in skirmishes with Israel over many years, particularly in the eastern section. These Ammonites were so confident of their ability to defeat the citizens of Jabesh Gilead that they placed unacceptable and cruel conditions even on a negotiated surrender. ...

2590. Saul Confirmed as King

1 Samuel 11:12-15

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

2591. David's Officials

2 Samuel 8:15-18

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

War and Peace – Enemies and Friends: 8:1–14 In contrast to the relaxed narrative style of the surrounding chapters, this is a terse summary of David’s military successes against the surrounding tribes. These verse fill in the background and explain how the LORD gave him rest from all his enemies (7:1). David’s victories eventually led to the stage where the Philistines no longer posed a serious threat. In a similar way, the other tribes surrounding Israel were subdued and often subjugated. Some, like ...

2592. The King Who Exalts Himself

Daniel 11:36-45

Understanding Series

William Nelson

The Final Revelation--The Body: We enter now into the body of the last main revelation of the book of Daniel. There has been some progression in the visions of the book from a more general scope, encompassing larger blocks of history, to a more narrow focus on shorter periods of time. So, for example, Daniel 2 spans four and a half centuries by outlining the four human empires of Babylonia, Media, Persia, and Greece, which are swept away by the fifth—the eternal kingdom of God. Aside from the fact that the ...

2593. Jesus the Lamb of God

John 1:29-34

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

1:29-34 The account of Day Two begins with John the Baptist’s explicit identification of the Coming One as Jesus (vv. 29–30), an identification only hinted at in the other Gospels (e.g., Matt. 11:3/Luke 7:20; Matt. 3:14). John here carries out the role assigned to him in the prologue. He speaks for the entire Christian community in confessing Jesus to be both Lamb of God (v. 29) and Son of God (v. 34). Only now does he answer the question, “Why do you baptize?” His baptism is for the sake of Jesus, “that ...

2594. Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

John 20:10-18

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

Mary’s story resumes after Peter and the beloved disciple went back to their respective lodgings in Jerusalem (cf. 16:32; 19:27). The narrative presupposes that she had followed them from where they had been staying to the tomb, and now she was alone again, outside the tomb crying (v. 11). Finally she looked into the tomb as the beloved disciple had done (cf. v. 5) and saw something that he, as far as we are told, did not see: two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the ...

2595. Jesus Appears to Thomas

John 20:24-31

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

20:24-29 In John, the unbelief of the disciples as a group is not mentioned explicitly, only their fear of the Jewish authorities. The unbelief is attributed instead to one disciple, Thomas, in particular (vv. 24–25). The appearance to him in verses 26–29 is really an extension of the appearance to the gathered disciples in verses 19–23, even though it takes place a week later. Verses 24–25 link the two incidents together, so that in effect what is said to the disciples in verses 19–23 is said to Thomas as ...

2596. Joseph in Charge of Egypt

Genesis 41:41-57

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

Joseph Interprets Pharaoh’s Dreams and Rises to Power: Clothing, a motif throughout the Joseph story, plays a particularly prominent role in this account; it marks Joseph’s transition from prison to the honor of standing before Pharaoh and then his investiture with authority. In this account we read about Pharaoh’s dreams (vv. 1–7), his need for an interpreter (vv. 8–16), Joseph’s interpretation of the dreams (vv. 17–32), his counsel to Pharaoh concerning the coming crisis (vv. 33–38), Joseph’s ...

2597. The Plague of Gnats

Exodus 8:16-19

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

8:16–19 The third plague was gnats, that came from the dust. “Gnats” is the traditional interpretation, but the word can mean “mosquitoes.” The word kinnam (translated “gnats”) is used only in reference to this plague. Other suggestions are “ticks” and “lice” or, generally, “vermin.” Both gnats and mosquitoes were indigenous to Egypt, but the latter were much more personally invasive. This third plague, like the sixth (boils), is in a short form concluding its cycle of three. Although the account is short ...

2598. Defeat of Og King of Bashan

Deuteronomy 3:1-11

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

Reminder of Past Victories: The first three chapters of Deuteronomy not only warn the people from past failures but also encourage them from past victories. The words to Joshua near the end of the section (3:21f.) give the point of the whole: God can do again what they had seen God do before, even for other nations. Their God did not lack experience! The structure of the section can be presented as follows: 2:1–8 – Encounter with Edom 2:9–18 – Encounter with Moab 2:19–23 – Encounter with Ammon 2:24–37 – ...

2599. Moses Forbidden to Cross the Jordan

Deuteronomy 3:21-29

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

3:21–22 To close his opening historical survey, Moses looks forward to the future as entrusted into the hands of his successor, Joshua. The lessons of the past were especially for him, and the most important lesson of all was that God’s victories were infinitely repeatable. If God could defeat two kings, God could defeat many more. Yahweh was a God who was not coincidentally lucky, but consistently victorious. These words, placed here, are picked up again in 31:1–8, when Moses actually commissions Joshua. ...

2600. The Golden Calf

Deuteronomy 9:7-29

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

Not because of Israel’s Righteousness: The warnings against false assumptions continue. Moses has already demolished any idea of national chauvinism arising from Israel’s election (7:6–10) and also any economic arrogance arising from their future prosperity (8:17f.). In this chapter he targets what is perhaps the most pernicious and perennial distortion of all—moral self-righteousness in the interpretation of military conflict. Together, these three challenges penetrate deeply to the evergreen sources of ...

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