Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 2626 to 2650 of 2962 results

Mark 11:12-19

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... to such passages as Jeremiah 8:8–17 or Micah 7:1–6, which predict the destruction of Jerusalem and judgment upon Israel for the failure of her leaders to demonstrate faithfulness to God. Mark’s note that the disciples heard what Jesus said (v. 14) is designed to prepare for the discussion in 11:20–26 in which the sudden withering of the tree is noticed and forms the basis for Jesus’ exhortation about faith. 11:15–19 This is surely one of the most famous incidents from the ministry of Jesus and ...

2627. Marriage at the Resurrection

Mark 12:18-27

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... dead will be spirits without some sort of body, but that in their resurrected body they will not renew earthly relationships like marriage and begetting of children. Second, in likening the resurrected to the angels, Jesus may have deliberately chosen an analogy designed both to gall the Sadducees, who did not believe in angels (so Acts 23:8), and to point out to them that their inability to understand the resurrection was related to their unwillingness to accept such beliefs as the existence of angels ...

2628. The Death of Jesus

Mark 15:33-41

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... :54 and Luke 23:47 shows that, though Matthew has the soldier make the same statement, Luke phrases it somewhat differently (“Surely this was a righteous man!”), suggesting that the form of the saying in Mark is probably deliberate and designed to be noticed. This statement on the lips of the Roman soldier both shows the soldier ironically proclaiming Jesus’ true significance, in contrast to the misguided mockery of the other bystanders, and, probably, prefigures that the proclamation of the gospel to ...

2629. Zechariah's Song

Luke 1:67-80

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... Romans or any who oppose the Christian faith; see Leaney, pp. 89–90. to serve [or worship] him without fear: Josh. 24:14. 1:75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days: Isa. 38:20. 1:76 a prophet of the Most High: The expression parallels the designation of Jesus as “Son of the Most High” (see Luke 1:32 and note above for references). “Prophet” probably alludes to Mal. 4:5. you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him: Mal. 3:1; Isa. 40:3. 1:77 through the forgiveness of ...

2630. The Transfiguration

Luke 9:28-36

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... the transfiguration, modifications which only enhance and strengthen the connection between the transfiguration and Moses. (1) In v. 30 Luke reverses the order of the names of the two heavenly visitors by mentioning the name of Moses first. This reversal is likely designed to place more emphasis upon the Law-giver. (2) That Luke intends such emphasis is confirmed when it is noted that in v. 31 the two visitors speak with Jesus of “his departure.” The word “departure” translates the Greek word exodos ...

2631. Do Not Worry

Luke 12:22-34

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... the lilies of the fields. If God cares for such relatively insignificant things as birds and flowers, will he not feed and clothe his own beloved children? To worry about such things is fruitless according to v. 25. What did the Rich Fool gain by his extra labors designed to prolong his life of ease? All of the stored food in the world would not add an extra day to his life (see note below). Verses 29–31 summarize the teaching. In view of these truths, Jesus is saying there is no need to worry about what ...

2632. Jesus At the Temple

Luke 19:45-48

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... power in Jerusalem. Their power and influence vanished with the destruction of the temple in A.D. 70. See HBD, pp. 821–23. the teachers of the law: See note on 5:21 above. the leaders among the people: The reference to the leaders of the people is a general designation which would include the religious leaders already mentioned in v. 47, as well as non-clergy members of the Sanhedrin (22:66).

2633. The Resurrection and Marriage

Luke 20:27-40

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

20:27–40 The third question put to Jesus concerns the teaching of the resurrection. The Sadducees (see note below), who do not believe in the resurrection, ask Jesus a rather ridiculous question, one designed to show the incompatability of the law of Moses and belief in the resurrection. The Sadducees allude to Deut. 25:5 and Gen. 38:8, where the laws of what would eventually be called “levirate marriage” are laid down. If a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but ...

2634. Signs of the End of the Age

Luke 21:5-38

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... is some evidence that some Christians actually did flee the city when the Roman army approached; see Fitzmyer, p. 1345.) The reason that the danger is so great and that every step should be taken to avoid it is because this period of time is designated prophetically as the time of punishment (alluding to Hos. 9:7) in fulfillment of all that has been written. Because Jerusalem did not recognize the day of God’s visitation (see 19:44 and commentary), the days of punishment (lit. “vengeance”) are coming ...

2635. Jesus Before Pilate and Herod

Luke 22:66--23:25

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... Son of Man (see note on 5:24) he will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God (see note below). From this answer members of the Sanhedrin then ask Jesus whether he is the Son of God. Whether Jesus’ implicit claim of messiahship, his self-designation as Son of Man, or both prompt this question is uncertain. Since the latter title is related to Ps. 110:1, which was probably understood as a messianic Psalm (see note below), the title Son of Man would also have been understood in a messianic sense. From ...

2636. Paul's Plan to Visit Rome

Romans 15:23-33

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... scarcely have chosen Spain simply because of its roads. Perhaps the word “around” (Gk. kyklō, v. 19) provides a clue. If we draw an arc from Jerusalem to Illyricum and extend it westward, it reaches Spain. If such an arc represented Paul’s missionary design, it may suggest that he hoped to cover the northern hemisphere of the Mediterranean, trusting that others would cover the southern hemisphere, and thus complete a full circle. A passing reference in 1 Clement 5:6 that Paul “was a herald both in ...

2637. The Setting Apart of the Levites

Numbers 8:5-26

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... hammered gold. Oil lamps were then placed on the stand. The lamps provided light and were symbolic of the divine presence, as well as reminiscent of the beginning of creation (see the commentary on Lev. 24:1–4). The lampstand with its floral design and branches resembling a tree came to symbolize the life-giving power of the divine presence. 8:5–14 The remainder of the chapter considers the ritual of preparation of the Levites for their work with the tabernacle. The Levites have previously been counted ...

2638. Quail from the Lord

Numbers 11:4-35

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... God has conceived the people and needs to provide for them. Moses then pleads for his own death. The narrative in this dialogue takes an unexpected turn from the complaint about meat to Moses’ concerns about the burden of leadership. God’s response to Moses is to designate seventy elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people (v. 16). They are to gather at the Tent of Meeting, and God says, I will take of the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit on them. These elders will ...

2639. Cities of Refuge

Numbers 35:6-34

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... the tribes will give proportionately. Larger tribes will provide more towns. Six of these towns will be cities of refuge. The description of the pastureland is somewhat puzzling. According to verse 4, the land is to extend out fifteen hundred feet, while verse 5 designates that the area is to be a square three thousand feet on each side. These numbers seem to assume that the size of the town is but a single point, perhaps not an uncommon notion in Jewish tradition. Joshua 21 also recounts the assigning ...

2640. Unacceptable Sacrifices

Leviticus 22:17--23:2

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

... on the same day. Presumably this instruction is about fellowship offerings and is in line with the material in chapter 7. 22:31–33 These concluding verses exhort the people to keep and follow God’s commands. Commands is a general term to designate the instructions in the Holiness Code. These verses are typical of the style and theology of the Holiness Code. In the deliverance from oppression in Egypt, God created a people in relationship with this holy God. Israel’s holiness is to be a reflection ...

2641. Achish Sends David Back to Ziklag

1 Samuel 29:1-11

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... W. Brueggemann (“Narrative Intentionality in 1 Samuel 29,” JSOT 43 [1989], pp. 21–35) sees ch. 29, which also reflects on the innocence or otherwise of David, as significantly placed between the two. He suggests that “the narrative may be designed to exhibit David’s capacity for dishonesty, and his nervy effectiveness in conning the Philistines” (p. 28) but concludes that a more likely purpose is to show that although Achish’s thrice-repeated statement of David’s innocence was mistaken from ...

2642. Life Through the Son

John 5:16-30, John 5:1-15

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... pool … which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. The description is probably intended for readers unfamiliar with the city. The text has supplied the word Gate, because the Greek word probatikē is simply an adjective meaning “of sheep.” When the Gospel writer wants to designate a location as being called something, he normally uses either the actual word “place” (as in 19:13, 17) or a more specific word, such as “town” (4:5, 11:54). In this case he is describing a pool, and it is on the ...

2643. The Claims of Jesus About Himself

John 8:48-59, John 8:31-41, John 8:42-47

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... temple during the Feast of Tabernacles, and now he goes back in hiding again. Additional Notes 8:31 The Jews who had believed him. The grammatical construction is different from v. 30 (i.e., “believe” followed by a dative, rather than by a preposition designating Jesus as the object of their faith). But in context the two constructions are equivalents. In this Gospel, to believe in Jesus is to believe what he says, and believing his message means believing in him as God’s messenger. There is no way ...

2644. Jesus the Way to the Father

John 14:5-14

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... one on which the first two depend: Jesus’ own continuing presence with them (vv. 15–21). Additional Notes 14:6 I am the way and the truth and the life. The main thrust of the context is carried by Jesus’ claim that he is the way; the other two self-designations are corollaries of this (cf. NEB: “I am the way; I am the truth and I am life”; but Moffatt’s “I am the real and living way” goes too far in this direction). 14:7 If you really knew me you would know. The NIV makes the condition ...

2645. Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

John 14:15-31, John 14:1-4, John 14:5-14

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... place for believers was regarded as implicit in such passages as 6:39; 10:16; and 12:32. 14:6 I am the way and the truth and the life. The main thrust of the context is carried by Jesus’ claim that he is the way; the other two self-designations are corollaries of this (cf. NEB: “I am the way; I am the truth and I am life”; but Moffatt’s “I am the real and living way” goes too far in this direction). 14:7 If you really knew me you would know. The NIV makes the condition contrary ...

2646. The Death of Jesus

John 19:28-37, John 19:17-27, John 19:38-42

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... and well-known reverence for the written word with the terse reply: What I have written, I have written (v. 22). Jesus, “glorified” in the presentation as king at Gabbatha, the “Stone Pavement,” has now been “lifted up” as king—and so designated in writing—at the place of the Skull (… called Golgotha) (v. 17). The narrator’s careful concern about the time (v. 14) and the exact place (Gr.: topos, vv. 13, 17) of these great redemptive events may reflect the beginnings of Christian ...

2647. The Burial of Jesus

John 19:38-42, John 19:17-27, John 19:28-37

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

2648. Jesus Appears to Thomas

John 20:24-31

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... all too quickly into a less defined and less insistent past. Additional Notes 20:24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve: See note on 11:16. Thomas was actually introduced more abruptly in his first appearance in the Gospel than he is here. The designation of him as one of the Twelve is supplied here to emphasize the point that he normally would have been present for the incident recorded in vv. 19–23 but was not. The Twelve (though now only eleven because of Judas’ departure) are still being ...

2649. Forgiveness for the Sinner

2 Corinthians 2:5-11

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... of a person who has been a member for less than two years, the Rule grants readmission on certain rigorous conditions. Cf. James C. VanderKam, The Dead Sea Scrolls Today (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1994), pp. 164–65: “At Qumran the full membership is designated by the Hebrew word that lies behind Paul’s ‘the many/majority.’ The Manual of Discipline lays down rules regarding who may speak and when during general meetings of the entire group: ‘And in an Assembly of the Congregation [ha-rabbim = the ...

2650. Hearts / Repentance

2 Corinthians 7:2-16

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... positive developments in Paul’s relationship with the church, providing at least some basis for Paul’s optimism (cf. 1:13–14). Nevertheless, we cannot help thinking that Paul’s claim of “great confidence” in the Corinthians may have been designed more to engender loyalty than to compliment them for already having it. As V. Furnish observes, Paul’s expressions of confidence in his addressees are often implicitly hortatory. Ultimately, Paul hopes to be able to boast in the Corinthians in the ...

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