Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 2751 to 2775 of 3160 results

Revelation 14:1-5

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... path to God’s shalom as firstfruits to God and the Lamb (cf. Jer. 2:3; Ladd, Revelation, p. 192). God’s salvation is the experience of a covenantal people, who live and worship in a relationship of shared responsibility. Faithful disciples of the sort who make up the 144,000 are untainted by the lies and fictions of secularism and materialism, and they are blameless and therefore acceptable to God. However, their eschatological fitness is not only the result of their faithful response to God and God’s ...

2752. The Three Angels

Revelation 14:6-13

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... “aside,” which asserts that the unbelievers’ torment will take place in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb, is not an element of John’s vindication motif. The torment of the people who followed the beast does not bring satisfaction or some sort of demented delight to the angels and the Lamb. Rather, the phrase seems to insist on the certainty of God’s punishment of evil because of the satisfactory completion of the Lamb’s ministry and because of the ongoing presence of the holy angels ...

2753. Various Laws

Leviticus 19:1-37

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

... part of the chapter: honoring parents, observing the Sabbath, prohibiting images, theft, false witness, honoring Yahweh’s name. These laws contain long-standing practices and beliefs, from before the time of the monarchy. They were probably preserved and collected in some sort of cultic setting, here by the Priestly tradents, and addressed to the whole people. Care for all of society and for justice are central to the chapter, as is concern with specific harmful practices. 19:1–4 The chapter opens with ...

2754. Rules for Priests

Leviticus 21:1--22:16

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

... as a priest, presumably temporarily. A member of the priestly family who is hunchbacked or dwarfed may not serve, although the translation of those two terms is problematic. The exact sense of eye defect is also unclear, though it is probably some sort of vision problem or confusion. Festering or running sores would also disqualify a priest from service. As with the serious skin diseases discussed in the Manual of Purity, these conditions would make one unclean and thus unable to offer sacrifice. Crushed or ...

2755. The Purity of the Camp

Numbers 5:1-4

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... of the ritual ordeal: If guilty, the woman will have bitter pain from the water, and her abdomen will swell and her thigh waste away. If not guilty, the woman will be cleared and able to have children. 5:29–31 These verses contain a sort of postscript, the law for a husband’s jealousy, which summarizes the section in characteristic Priestly style. The husband is declared innocent of any wrongdoing, but the woman will bear the consequences of her sin. Verses 11–31 will seem odd to modern readers for ...

2756. Fire from the Lord

Numbers 11:1-3

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... to life and is associated with the throat. The strength of life fails. 11:17 Spirit is ruakh, which means spirit or wind or breath. 11:20 Until it comes out of your nostrils apparently refers to severe nausea. 11:25 The prophesying was probably some sort of transient ecstatic state; see 1 Sam. 10:10–13; 19:20–24. 11:31 An alternate translation would suggest that quail were lying about three feet deep on the ground (NRSV). That would be a sizable catch. The NIV rendering relates more to the method ...

2757. Jonathan Eats Honey

1 Samuel 14:24-48

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... concerning Saul and Jonathan to illustrate their contrasting characters and behavior, and then verses 47–52 may correct any imbalance in the earlier stories. The rest of chapter 14 to verse 46 describes two only partially interrelated accounts, a reflection on the sort of demands God makes and how God’s actions should be understood. The reference to Ahijah as Eli’s descendant at the beginning of the chapter (v. 3) prefaces this discussion. 14:24–30 The first incident is Jonathan’s unwitting ...

2758. Job's First Test

Job 1:6-22

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... First Test: Loss and Destruction 1:13–19 The test commences with the rapid-fire destruction of all that Job has experienced as divine blessing up to this point. The destruction proceeds in reverse order to the introduction of Job’s possessions, in a sort of chiastic literary structure (in which elements are stated in one line and then reversed in the second). First the Sabeans, raiders from the southern reaches of the Arabian Peninsula, carry off oxen and donkeys and kill servants. The fire of God then ...

2759. Job's Second Reply to Eliphaz

Job 16:1-17:16

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... their hearts/minds from understanding—suggesting that understanding cannot find them in order to enlighten them regarding the truth! The reference to triumph is difficult, since the verb in question (Heb. teromem) literally means “you (God) will not exalt,” and some sort of an object would normally follow. Scholars have suggested a variety of emendations, and NIV has opted for one expressing Job’s hope that God will not exalt the enemies in their lack of insight. 17:5 Job concludes this section ...

2760. Zophar's Second Speech to Job

Job 20:1-29

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... way of wickedness. Additional Notes 20:28 A flood: the Heb. yebul is most often translated “produce; food,” and an emendation to nabal, “river; flood” is often suggested here. A simple transposition of characters in the consonantal text would produce yubal, which is translated “stream” in Jer. 17:8. Some sort of threatening water would seem required by the parallel niggarot, “gushing waters,” in the second half of the verse.

2761. Job's Second Reply to Zophar

Job 21:1-34

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... it is necessary, Job thinks, for the perpetrator to receive the punishment so that he will know it. When his own eyes see his destruction then the wicked will know that God is powerful, in control, and cares what the wicked (and the righteous) do. This sort of appropriate response, Job indicates, would give the lie to the arrogant assumptions of the wicked expressed in verses 14–15. To drink of the wrath of the Almighty (Heb. shadday) is to experience the anger of God poured out on sin. The idiom refers ...

2762. Eliphaz's Third Speech to Job

Job 22:1-30

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... or erroneously presumed. 22:6 You demanded security. Eliphaz draws his accusations from covenantal expectations—particularly those laws having to do with loans, interest, and pledges taken to secure them. Eliphaz accuses Job of demanding “security” for a loan—some sort of pledge the borrower would give to ensure future payment. Such a pledge was usually of value and could be used to personally identify the borrower, so that the lender would be assured of repayment. In Genesis 38, Judah gives ...

2763. Job's Final Concession

Job 42:1-6

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... relates back to the conversation between God and the Satan in the prose prologue. The fact that in this case there is no divine query inviting Job’s response (as there was in 40:1–2) is probably significant. On the one hand, Job supplies a sort of recollection of the earlier divine questions to which he now responds (verses 3a, 4). On the other, the absence of the divine interrogation at this point suggests that Job’s words in both chapters are actually part of a single, unified response to God’s ...

2764. Epilogue

Job 42:7-17

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... a sense, resets the clock back to the pre-test situation. Since God established his freedom in the theophany and Job confirmed it in his concession, the double portion can only be the consequence of God’s freedom and grace. God is not required by any sort of divine retributive mathematics to restore to Job the precise number of possessions he had at the beginning—such an act would have suggested that amount of possessions was Job’s due. So here God’s free grace allows him to bless Job with even more ...

2765. The Baptism of Jesus

Matthew 3:13-17

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... returned with his parents to Nazareth and “was obedient to them” and “grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:51–52). Such meager information did not satisfy the curiosity of later writers. They felt moved to invent all sorts of miraculous tales and assign them to the early years of Jesus’ life. For example, the Infancy Gospel of Thomas tells of Zeno (one of Jesus’ young friends), who fell from the upper story of a house and died. Zeno’s parents accused Jesus of ...

2766. Jesus Begins to Preach

Matthew 4:12-17

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... conquest. As its name suggests (Galilee means a “ring” or “circuit”), it was surrounded by Gentiles (Phoenicians to the west, Syrians on the north and east, and Samaritans to the south). Judea was mountainous and isolated, but Galilee lay open to all sorts of contacts with the wider world. It was there in northern Palestine that Jesus began his public ministry. Matthew says that Jesus did not stay in Nazareth (none of the synoptic writers record anything that Jesus did during that visit to his home ...

2767. How Long, O Lord?

Psalm 13:1-6

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... God should intervene on the worshiper’s behalf. The opening but connects it to the preceding motif by way of contrast. In other words, “unlike those who would rejoice over the downfall of one who trusts in your love, I am of the sort who would rejoice in your salvation.” This confession of trust thus also exemplifies the contrasting character of the worshiper. While the Hebrew text indicates the trust is a present reality (“I have trusted,” Hb. perfect), the rejoicing is probably future. Verse 5b ...

2768. Oaths

Matthew 5:33-37

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... . m. Shebuoth). Jesus intensifies the Old Testament teaching on oaths, saying, Do not swear at all (v. 34). The very existence of a vow introduces a double standard. It implies that a person’s word may not be reliable unless accompanied by some sort of verbal guarantee. Jewish tradition held that oaths using God’s name were binding, whereas those avoiding God’s name were not. Jesus now teaches that any such practice is misguided, because God is necessarily involved in all transactions—heaven is his ...

2769. A Tree and Its Fruit

Matthew 7:15-23

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... perfectly realized). Only those who do the will of my Father may enter. On that day (v. 22) refers to the day of judgment (cf. Mal. 3:17–18; the “day of the Lord,” Joel 2:1; Amos 5:18; etc.). At that time false prophets will make all sorts of claims regarding what they did on earth. Some will have invoked the name of Jesus to perform exorcisms. The seven sons of Sceva are an example of this (Acts 19:13–16). The use of a name in this connection implies full authority of the one named. Peter commanded ...

2770. Jesus Heals Many

Matthew 8:14-17

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... with malaria, which was common in that region. Jesus reached out and touched the woman’s hand; immediately she was restored to health. This is the only incident in Matthew in which Jesus takes the initiative in healing. Elsewhere there is a request of some sort. To touch a person with a fever was prohibited by Jewish law, but in Jesus the kingdom of God was actively invading the realm of Satan’s control. The woman rose and began ministering (diēkonei is an inceptive imperfect) to Jesus (and the others ...

2771. Jesus Calms the Storm

Matthew 8:23-27

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... this would scarcely be enough to frighten seasoned sailors (cf. v. 25). Gundry holds that the storm posed no threat to the disciples, but, in correspondence with Matthew 28:2, it was a sign of Jesus’ majesty (p. 155). Interpretations of this sort have made the prior decision that the evangelist is a literary artist rather than a reliable narrator. The imperfect ekatheuden (was sleeping) and the emphatic pronoun autos contrast Jesus with the terrified disciples. They wake him up with the cry, Lord, save ...

2772. The Calling of Matthew

Matthew 9:9-13

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

9:9 As Jesus leaves Capernaum (cf. Mark 2:1), he sees a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth alongside the road. In Jesus’ day heavy taxes were levied upon the people for all sorts of things. In addition to the three main taxes (ground tax, income tax, and poll tax), duty was imposed upon all imported goods. Every caravan that used the main roads and the ships that came into harbor were taxed. Matthew was one of a widely despised group who collected taxes ...

2773. Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

Matthew 14:13-21

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... into action, we see “the miracle of the birth of love in grudging hearts” (Barclay, vol. 2, p. 103). Beare rightly calls this particular approach (which was originally suggested by H. E. G. Paulus in 1828) “banal and inept” (p. 327). Others have taken it as a sort of midrash on the story of Elisha, who fed a hundred men with twenty loaves of barley bread and some heads of new grain (2 Kings 4:42–44). Albert Schweitzer sees the event as a token meal in which each person received a minute amount as ...

2774. Peters Confession to Christ

Matthew 16:13-20

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... have been simple to say, “And upon you I will build my church,” is highly persuasive. Some have taken the rock to be Peter’s faith. Stendahl, however, holds that any distinction between Peter and his faith “presupposes a sophistication of a sort not to be expected in our text” (p. 788). Others have interpreted the rock as the truth about the messiahship of Jesus that was revealed to Peter. Acknowledging that it is impossible to separate Peter from his confession, this interpretation best answers ...

2775. The Rich Young Man

Matthew 19:16-30

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... with another question: Why do you ask me (emphasized in Greek) about what is good? As an informed Jew you already have God’s revelation on the subject. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments. To the young man’s query, “What sort of commandments?” (Williams; Gk. poias), Jesus responds by listing five of the Ten Commandments (numbers five through nine, according to Exod. 20:12–16) and adding Leviticus 19:18. The young man responds that he has obeyed all the commandments listed by Jesus but ...

Showing results