Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: touch, feel, sense of touch, tactile sense, tactility, contact, using one's hands, sensation, sense, suspicion, sneaking suspicion, notion, inkling, hunch, fancy, apprehension, presentiment, premonition, foreboding, love, care, affection, fondness, tenderness, warmth, warmness, emotion, sentiment, emotional state, compassion, sympathy, empathy, fellow feeling, understanding, concern, solicitude, solicitousness, tender-heartedness, brotherly love, sensibilities, sensitivities, self-esteem, ego, pride, opinion, belief, view, impression, intuition, instinct, estimation, guess, theory, hypothesis, thought, way of thinking, point of view, atmosphere, ambience, aura, air, mood, climate, character, overtone, undertone, tenor, spirit, quality, flavour, colour, aptitude, knack, flair, bent, talent, gift, skill, art, trick, faculty, ability, propensity, inclination, sensitive, warm, warm-hearted, tender, tender-hearted, caring, soft-hearted, sympathetic, compassionate, empathetic, responsive, receptive, intuitive, thoughtful

Antonyms: bad feeling, acrimony, animosity, animus, antagonism, antipathy, aversion, bitterness, detestation, disgust, dislike, disrelish, enmity, friction, grievances, grudges, hatred, hostility, loathing, malevolence, malice

Showing 2651 to 2675 of 5000 results

2651. Jesus Questioned About Fasting

Mark 2:18-22

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... the rest, as in the preceding passage (2:13–17). The imagery of 2:21–22 seems intended to show how inappropriate the beliefs and practices of the past are now when the kingdom of God is already approaching. The illustrations are relatively easy to understand. New (unshrunk) cloth when washed will shrink much more than previously washed cloth, and so it is not wise to try to patch the latter with the former. New wine is wine not fully fermented, and so putting it into previously used wineskins which have ...

2652. Jesus and Beelzebub

Mark 3:20-30

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... control of their minds. Seen in this light, the passage before us has a familiar human ring to it. The interruption of this story with the account of the accusation by some teachers of the law seems designed to show that the attitude of Jesus’ family, however understandable in one sense, is to be seen as a response like that of these critics. Although the charge He is out of his mind (3:21) is perhaps slightly less malevolent than He has an evil spirit (3:30), Mark presents them both as wrong responses to ...

2653. Clean and Unclean

Mark 7:1-23

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... what he has said (7:17; cf. 4:10, 34; 9:9, 28, 30–31; 10:10, 23–31; 13:3–4), providing the opportunity for the teaching in 7:18–23. In the process of this inquiry by the disciples, they are again rebuked for failing to understand Jesus. As before, Mark’s readers learn from the failure of the Twelve. The effect of Jesus’ teaching appears to be to set aside the whole idea of certain foods being “unclean.” The elaborate Jewish practices all are based on the OT law, with its distinction between ...

2654. Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand

Mark 8:1-13

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... account in Mark (cf. 6:30–44). The repetition of the same sort of miracle in so compressed a narrative as Mark and the similarities of the two accounts have provoked a great deal of scholarly study. Since our objective here is to try to understand what Mark intended by including these two accounts in his Gospel, we shall not discuss the various suggestions about the oral or written sources that Mark may have used for these stories. Mark 8:14–21 makes it evident that Mark saw both feeding miracles ...

2655. Jesus Before Pilate

Mark 15:1-15

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... Pilate, but this is unique to Luke. (Cf. “Pilate, Pontius,” IDB, vol. 3, pp. 811–13; and IDBSup, p. 668.) 15:5 Pilate was amazed: Here Pilate’s response to Jesus is similar to the response of others in Mark, but amazement is consistently contrasted with full understanding and faith (cf. 1:27; 5:20; 10:24, 32; 15:44). 15:6 At the Feast: The reference is to Passover and the seven days of Unleavened Bread. 15:7 Barabbas means “son of Abba [father]” and the name was borne by others, including rabbis ...

2656. The Resurrection

Mark 16:1-20

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... he desired them to respond to the command in some way. Did he want his readers to go to Galilee to wait for Jesus to appear in resurrection glory, as some suggest? Or did he use “Galilee” symbolically (as described earlier), intending his readers to understand that they were to follow Jesus and the Twelve in discipleship in their “Galilee,” believing that in due time Jesus would appear in glory? If Mark did end his Gospel here, it would be an unusually clever and subtle device, so clever and subtle ...

2657. Jesus Drives Out an Evil Spirit

Luke 4:31-37

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... the 5,000 (9:12–17). Although Luke’s omission of the feeding of the 4,000 (Matt. 15:32–38; Mark 8:1–9) is understandable in light of its redundancy, it is curious that he chose to omit the episode of Jesus walking on the sea (Matt. 14:25–33; Mark ... ). Whereas the Gospels record that the reaction to Jesus’ miracles was often one of amazement (see Luke 5:26), the NT primarily understands miracles as signs indicating that God is present and is at work (see especially the Gospel of John). In Luke 7:18 ...

2658. The Parable of the Shrewd Manager

Luke 16:1-15

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... at all been cheated by this final action of the fired manager. The master is still owed what is due him, while his former employee, by foregoing a few commissions, now has a brighter future. Having understood the parable thus, it is now much easier to understand why Jesus sees in the action of the dishonest manager a worthy example for his disciples. They, like the dishonest manager, should be able to recognize the advantage in giving up a little now so that some day in the future they may receive much more ...

2659. Sin, Faith, Duty

Luke 17:1-10

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... Jesus to increase is the kind of faith that will not waver in the face of opposition but is a faith that will expect great things from God (such examples can be seen in the Book of Acts). It may be that in light of the saying’s context, Luke understands this faith as the kind of faith that will not cause other disciples to falter (vv. 1–2), but it is a faith that will readily forgive those who sin and then repent (vv. 3b–4). What is curious is that Jesus does not actually grant (or at least obviously ...

2660. The Parable of the Persistent Widow

Luke 18:1-8

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... so make up a unit. The Parable of the Widow and the Judge, however, also relates closely to the preceding section (cf. 18:8b with 17:22, 26, 30), so much so that some commentators take 17:20–18:8 as a unified section. Nevertheless, it is probably best to understand the Parable of the Widow and the Judge as more closely related to the parable that follows (although it is quite possible that Luke has intended 18:1–8 to be a transition from one section to the next). 18:1–8 Verse 1 is not part of the ...

2661. God’s Faithfulness

Romans 3:1-8

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... a gift which entailed a responsibility. Calvin believed the Jews were first to be the depositories of Torah and then the dispensers of it (Romans, p. 114). But in this they failed. What if some did not have faith? asks Paul (v. 3). Does Paul understand their failure to be “disbelief” in Christ as Messiah, or “faithlessness” to the Mosaic covenant? The Greek word apistein can mean either. The former view is favored by the fact that six out of seven occurrences of apistein in the NT mean “disbelief ...

2662. Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ

Romans 6:1-14

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... the various mystery religions of his day. Whereas the mysteries stressed the initiates’ experience, Paul stresses God’s decisive act on behalf of believers that is both signified and assured by baptism. The word “forensic,” which we used earlier of Paul’s understanding of righteousness, also applies here, for Christ’s death and resurrection usher believers into a new condition. With God they stand on the ground of faith instead of wrath, and they are freed from the pull of sin and death. What ...

2663. Love

Romans 12:9-21

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... ., Mark 2:15–17; Luke 14:1–24). Regarding the unreliability of inns in the ancient world, Plato warns of the unseemliness of tavernkeepers and the dishonorableness of the trade (Laws, 11.918). 12:14–16 The starting point for the NT understanding of agapē is in the OT. Exodus 23:4ff. commanded Israelites to render assistance to their enemies (including non-Israelites) in various emergencies. The fruit of such charity would be peace and friendship among peoples, with the hope that one’s enemies might ...

2664. Paul the Minister to the Gentiles

Romans 15:14-22

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... Gentiles. Nevertheless, Paul must walk something of a tightrope at this point in the epistle. Considering that he has yet to set foot in Rome, has he been presumptuous in giving advice to the strong and weak in 14:1–15:13? Might his self-understanding as apostle to the Gentiles be viewed by the Romans as pretentious and ambitious? His upcoming trip to Rome—how should he explain it? If, as he states, he wanted “to preach the gospel where Christ was not known so that [he] would not be building ...

2665. One Body, Many Parts

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... uses of this metaphor in Rom. 12:3–8; Eph. 1:15–23; 2:15–16; 4:3–4, 11–12, 15–16, 25; 5:23, 29–30; Col. 1:18, 24; 2:9–10, 19; 3:15. The images are distinct in their various locations: 1 Cor. and Rom. understand that the church is the body of Christ, whereas Eph. and Col. present a development of that basic image so that Christ is the head of his body, which is the church. Distinctions exist and developments have occurred, so readers should perceive and take into account the nuances of the ...

2666. The Seals

Revelation 6:1-17

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... . In fact, the exaltation of the slain Lamb promises them that the last will indeed be first under God’s reign, and those who lose their life for the Lamb’s sake will be exalted with him. This point, so crucial in John’s own understanding of his vision, will be expanded in chapter seven’s scene of the eschatological remnant. That scene responds to the martyrs’ plea for vindication. The certainty of the future day of vindication is indicated by the white robe given each martyr. By this interim act ...

2667. 144,000 Sealed

Revelation 7:1-8

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... John’s purpose is not to present a retrospective of the previous seal judgments or to suggest that a remnant within the church will escape humanity’s suffering; rather, he intends that the interlude takes note of God’s terrifying wrath in order to understand its eschatological significance both for the Christian martyrs-to-be and for wretched humanity. In this light, the other angel comes from the east in expectation of the creator’s good portion (cf. Gen. 2:8) or in expression of God’s reigning ...

2668. The Angel and the Little Scroll

Revelation 10:1-11

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... is given by another mighty angel, an obvious allusion to the first “mighty angel” who had earlier searched the universe for someone worthy enough to open the seals of God’s scroll and inaugurate the new age of God’s salvation. If we are to understand the little scroll by the larger one that had “writing on both sides” (cf. 5:1), the adjective little might describe the brevity of its contents—its shorter length due perhaps to its more restricted focus on a single aspect of the larger scroll’s ...

2669. The Lamb and the 144,000

Revelation 14:1-5

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... ). The images of rushing waters and harpists playing the harps, which accompany the heavenly voices, suggest soothing and melodious words of divine praise. John identifies their lyrics as belonging to a new song that the redeemed chorus sings before the throne of God. If we understand that the words of this new song are in continuity with those of the earlier “new song” found in 5:9–10, as well as with the remnant’s subsequent songs of “Moses and the Lamb” found in 15:3–4, then this particular ...

2670. Seven Angels With Seven Plagues

Revelation 15:1-8

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... of the song in mind. Accordingly, the theology of this hymn is interpreted by Exodus 15: God is praised for the mighty act of Christ which once again has liberated the true Israel from their evil enemy. However appropriate this consensus is for understanding the passage, three critical elements echo the Deuteronomist’s song of Moses that may suggest John had the deuteronomistic version of the song in mind as well. First, the great and marvelous actions of God are called just and true—a phrase echoing ...

2671. Clean and Unclean Animals

Leviticus 11:1-47

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

... the distinction between the clean and the unclean in different circumstances. They do not, however, articulate the rationale for determining the distinction. Readers are left to infer this rationale, and a variety of suggestions have come forth. Some commentators understand the distinction to be quite arbitrary and thus a test of obedience. Whether ancient Israelites keep these instructions is simply a measure of their loyalty to God’s instructions, and there is no organizing principle regarding the clean ...

2672. Various Laws

Leviticus 19:1-37

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

... human just as you are. This last possibility might find some support in v. 34 where the alien is to be loved “like you.” 19:20 The translation for due punishment is debatable. The NRSV takes the term to indicate that an inquiry will be held. Wenham understands the term to refer to damages that are to be paid in compensation (Leviticus, pp. 270–71). 19:36 An ephah was a dry grain measure of about five gallons or twenty liters. A hin was a liquid measure of about three liters or six pints. The ephah ...

2673. Miriam and Aaron Oppose Moses

Numbers 12:1-16

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... family jealousy is the issue (Just a Sister Away: A Womanist Vision of Women’s Relationships in the Bible [San Diego: LuraMedia, 1988], pp. 72–74). 12:3 ’Anaw can indicate the poor or afflicted, but it can also refer to humility or meekness. Moses understands that his position is a gift from God. See George W. Coats, “Humility and Honor: A Moses Legend in Numbers 12,” in Art and Meaning: Rhetoric in Biblical Literature (ed. D. J. A. Clines, D. M. Gunn, A. J. Hauser; JSOTSup 19; Sheffield: JSOT ...

2674. Vengeance on the Midianites

Numbers 31:1-24

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... to be the “holy war” instructions in Deuteronomy 20 that call for the destruction of all adult males (see below). The army may take other spoils of war. In other cases, the ban or devotion to destruction of “holy war” is to be total. Moses, however, understands this battle to be such a one and is upset that the women of Midian have been spared. They are the ones who seduced Israel into idolatry at Peor. Moses blames Balaam here, who has been killed in the battle, for the apostasy at Peor. Numbers ...

2675. Samuel's Farewell Speech

1 Samuel 12:1-25

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... knowledge of this had a significant impact on the Philistines, and part of the self-awareness of the Israelites was that they were a people whose God was a redeemer, powerful across the territory of other peoples and gods. Samuel wants to make sure that they understand what this God is like, that they remember what he has done for them. Samuel wants to confront them with evidence before the LORD. They ignore the content of this speech at their peril. Verse 8 repeats the content of verse 6 and brings it up ...

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