Sermon and Worship Resources

Luke 5:33-39

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

Jesus’ Fellowship with Tax Collectors: The unifying theme that runs throughout the story of Levi’s call (vv. 27–31) and the discussion about eating and fasting (vv. 32–39) concerns fellowship and lifestyle. In the minds of the Pharisees, Jesus’ chief critics thus far in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus has chosen to have fellowship with the wrong kind of people. Since they were the ...

277. The Transfiguration

Luke 9:28-36

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... dependent on Revelation 11.) According to one rabbinic midrash, God promises in the future to bring Moses with Elijah (Deuteronomy Rabbah 3.17). The rabbis compared Moses and Elijah at many points: “You find that two prophets rose up for Israel out of the tribe of Levi; one the first of all the prophets, and the other the last of all the prophets: Moses first and Elijah last, and both with a commission to redeem Israel.… You find that Moses and Elijah were alike in every respect.… Moses went up to God ...

278. Signs of the End of the Age

Luke 21:5-38

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... anti-Semitic interpretation of the Lucan oracle. 21:25–26 These signs reflect apocalyptic imagery from several passages: Deut. 28:28; Ps. 65:7 [LXX, 64:8]; Isa. 13:10; 17:12; 24:18–20; 34:4; Joel 2:10; 2 Esdras 5:4; 1 Enoch 80:4–7; T. Levi 4:1; T. Moses 10:5; 2 Pet. 3:12; Rev. 6:12–14; 2 Bar. 70:2. 21:27 the Son of Man: See note on 5:24 above. Coming in a cloud with power and great glory is an unmistakable allusion to Dan. 7:13. This apocalyptic image ...

279. The Seven Bowls of God's Wrath

Revelation 16:1-21

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... since man has been on earth. The earthquake carries symbolic significance as an eschatological clue: in OT and intertestamental writings, earthquakes signal the apocalypse of God’s final judgment (cf. Isa. 13:9–13; 24:17–20; Hag. 2:6–7; T. Levi 3:9). Further, this hailstorm suggests that God’s judgment concludes what the first great hailstorm helped to announce (Rev. 11:19): God has triumphed through the exalted lamb. In this case, God’s eschatological judgment is exacted especially on the great ...

280. Boasting

2 Corinthians 11:16-33, 2 Corinthians 1:1-11, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... heaven. Although Jewish and Christian apocalypses often presuppose a cosmology of seven heavens (cf. A. Y. Collins), some texts do speak of three heavens, the third of which is the highest, the dwelling place of God himself (cf. 1 En. 14:8–25; T. Levi 3:4). Since Paul goes on to characterize his revelatory experience as exceptional (v. 7), he probably has in mind an ascent to the highest of three heavens, for otherwise his opponents could claim to have penetrated a higher heaven. The preposition used here ...

281. Paul's Vision and His Thorn

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... heaven. Although Jewish and Christian apocalypses often presuppose a cosmology of seven heavens (cf. A. Y. Collins), some texts do speak of three heavens, the third of which is the highest, the dwelling place of God himself (cf. 1 En. 14:8–25; T. Levi 3:4). Since Paul goes on to characterize his revelatory experience as exceptional (v. 7), he probably has in mind an ascent to the highest of three heavens, for otherwise his opponents could claim to have penetrated a higher heaven. The preposition used here ...

282. Listening and Doing

James 1:19-27, James 1:1-18

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... Chron. 12:33). Jewish tradition was constantly calling people to a clear choice: It cannot be God and Baal or God and Egypt; it must be either one or the other. The sharp contrast continues in Sirach (e.g., 33:7–15) and later literature. Testament of Levi 13:1 calls, “Fear the Lord your God with your whole heart, and walk in simplicity according to all his Law.” One notices how simplicity (haplotēs from James 1:5) is important. Testament of Benjamin 6:5 adds, “The good mind hath not two tongues, of ...

283. Be Holy

1 Peter 1:13-2:3

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... the suggestions of some commentators. Malice (kakia, malignity) may be intended to head the list of specific examples (“such as deceit, hypocrisy”). This would bring the thought close to the charge of “hatred of the human race” which was regularly levied against Christians at the time of the Neronic persecutions (Tacitus, Annals 15.44). Peter’s letter was probably written about this date. Deceit (dolos): in thought, and then in word and action; guile, in order to gain advantage over another by ...

284. Judah - To Hezron's Sons

1 Chronicles 2:3-9

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... text should, however, not be seen as a coincidence. This is probably a good example of genealogical fluidity. Certain elements of one lineage can be taken up into another lineage in order to make some connection between the two. Ethan and Heman are prominent descendants of Levi (see 1 Chron. 6 as well as 15:19) who acted as temple musicians in the sanctuary in Jerusalem. According to 1 Chronicles 6:31–32 David appointed them for this duty. Whether the Ethan and Heman mentioned in 2:6 are the same persons ...

285. David Conquers Jerusalem

1 Chronicles 11:4-9

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... ), which indicates that Yahweh was responsible for turning over the kingdom from Saul to David. The names listed here represent more or less the same tribal communities listed in the genealogies of 1 Chronicles 2–9: men of Judah (12:24), men of Simeon (12:25), men of Levi (12:26–28), men of Benjamin (12:29), men of Ephraim (12:30), men of half the tribe of Manasseh (12:31), men of Issachar (12:32), men of Zebulun (12:33), men of Naphtali (12:34), men of Dan (12:35), men of Asher (12:36), and from ...

286. David's Mighty Men

1 Chronicles 11:10-47

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... ), which indicates that Yahweh was responsible for turning over the kingdom from Saul to David. The names listed here represent more or less the same tribal communities listed in the genealogies of 1 Chronicles 2–9: men of Judah (12:24), men of Simeon (12:25), men of Levi (12:26–28), men of Benjamin (12:29), men of Ephraim (12:30), men of half the tribe of Manasseh (12:31), men of Issachar (12:32), men of Zebulun (12:33), men of Naphtali (12:34), men of Dan (12:35), men of Asher (12:36), and from ...

287. Warriors Join David

1 Chronicles 12:1-22

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... ), which indicates that Yahweh was responsible for turning over the kingdom from Saul to David. The names listed here represent more or less the same tribal communities listed in the genealogies of 1 Chronicles 2–9: men of Judah (12:24), men of Simeon (12:25), men of Levi (12:26–28), men of Benjamin (12:29), men of Ephraim (12:30), men of half the tribe of Manasseh (12:31), men of Issachar (12:32), men of Zebulun (12:33), men of Naphtali (12:34), men of Dan (12:35), men of Asher (12:36), and from ...

288. Others Join David at Hebron

1 Chronicles 12:23-40

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... ), which indicates that Yahweh was responsible for turning over the kingdom from Saul to David. The names listed here represent more or less the same tribal communities listed in the genealogies of 1 Chronicles 2–9: men of Judah (12:24), men of Simeon (12:25), men of Levi (12:26–28), men of Benjamin (12:29), men of Ephraim (12:30), men of half the tribe of Manasseh (12:31), men of Issachar (12:32), men of Zebulun (12:33), men of Naphtali (12:34), men of Dan (12:35), men of Asher (12:36), and from ...

289. The Division of Priests

1 Chronicles 24:1-19

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... . This is probably a claim made from a later era when the priesthood was operative rather than a reflection of a system that might have been in operation during the monarchy. 24:20–31 In 24:20 we now come to the rest of the descendants of Levi. This subsection is taken by some commentators to be a later insertion into the Chronicler’s material. It is problematic in the sense that the descendants of Kohath and Merari are mentioned, but not of Gershom. In terms of the structure, I see this section as a ...

290. The Rest of the Levites

1 Chronicles 24:20-31

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... . This is probably a claim made from a later era when the priesthood was operative rather than a reflection of a system that might have been in operation during the monarchy. 24:20–31 In 24:20 we now come to the rest of the descendants of Levi. This subsection is taken by some commentators to be a later insertion into the Chronicler’s material. It is problematic in the sense that the descendants of Kohath and Merari are mentioned, but not of Gershom. In terms of the structure, I see this section as a ...

291. The Singers

1 Chronicles 25:1-31

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... three main figures associated with the musical ministry in the temple, namely, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun (see Additional Note). These three figures were already mentioned in the genealogy of 6:33–47, where they are traced back to the three sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. It is strange that the commanders of the army assisted David in dividing the musicians. However, the term used in Hebrew may also be understood as “the officials of the liturgical host” (Klein, 1 Chronicles, p. 479). The ...

292. Jehoiakim King of Judah

2 Chronicles 36:5-8

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... international politics of the time: the king of Egypt dethroned him in Jerusalem. Jehoahaz probably preferred his father’s anti-Egyptian policy, and that would explain why Neco removed him after only three months. The Egyptian removal of the Judahite king was accompanied by a levy of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold that was imposed on Judah, and thereby Judah became a vassal state of Egypt. We also hear in 36:4 that Neco took . . . Jehoahaz and carried him off to Egypt. The Kings version ...

293. Jehoiachin King of Judah

2 Chronicles 36:9-10

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... international politics of the time: the king of Egypt dethroned him in Jerusalem. Jehoahaz probably preferred his father’s anti-Egyptian policy, and that would explain why Neco removed him after only three months. The Egyptian removal of the Judahite king was accompanied by a levy of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold that was imposed on Judah, and thereby Judah became a vassal state of Egypt. We also hear in 36:4 that Neco took . . . Jehoahaz and carried him off to Egypt. The Kings version ...

294. Zedekiah King of Judah

2 Chronicles 36:11-14

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... international politics of the time: the king of Egypt dethroned him in Jerusalem. Jehoahaz probably preferred his father’s anti-Egyptian policy, and that would explain why Neco removed him after only three months. The Egyptian removal of the Judahite king was accompanied by a levy of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold that was imposed on Judah, and thereby Judah became a vassal state of Egypt. We also hear in 36:4 that Neco took . . . Jehoahaz and carried him off to Egypt. The Kings version ...

295. Completion and Dedication of the Temple

Ezra 6:13-18

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... 21–22. In verse 16, Israel stands for all the returned exiles in their religious and lay groupings. As in 2:1–2, continuity with preexilic Israel had taken an exilic detour. Historically the returnees comprised only three tribes—Judah, Benjamin, and Levi—but for the narrator they were the essential representatives of the traditional twelve tribes, as verse 17 maintains. Later the editor of Chronicles was to qualify this narrow definition, and verse 21 seems to make a move in that direction. The ...

296. The Passover

Ezra 6:19-22

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... 21–22. In verse 16, Israel stands for all the returned exiles in their religious and lay groupings. As in 2:1–2, continuity with preexilic Israel had taken an exilic detour. Historically the returnees comprised only three tribes—Judah, Benjamin, and Levi—but for the narrator they were the essential representatives of the traditional twelve tribes, as verse 17 maintains. Later the editor of Chronicles was to qualify this narrow definition, and verse 21 seems to make a move in that direction. The ...

297. Priests and Levites

Nehemiah 12:1-26

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... fit the reference to Jaddua according to Josephus’ dating. If Jaddua is a later addition to the list, as the form of the Heb. may suggest, the reference could be to Darius II (423–404). Then vv. 22–23 refer to the same closing period. 12:23 The descendants of Levi could refer to both priests and Levites, but here it seems to relate to Levites, as the same Heb. phrase does in Ezra 8:15. 12:24 Here and in vv. 8–9 singers are classified among Levites, as in 11:15–18, but not in the earlier 7:43 ...

298. A Cat In a Tree

Matthew 14:13-21

Sermon

King Duncan

... whether next door or around the world. I hope nobody ever tells God that we who live in this prosperous nation heard that 27,000 children are dying each day from hunger-related diseases and we did nothing to help. There is a story about Rabbi Joshua ben Levi, a scholar of the Talmud, who lived in the Land of Israel in the first half of the third century. Rabbi Joshua once made a journey to Rome where he was astonished at the magnificent buildings he saw. He was especially struck to see how the statues were ...

299. Jesus' No-Nonsense Guide to Being Rich

Mark 10:17-31

Sermon

April Yamasaki

... and John got to keep their boats and their nets. Jesus didn't tell any of them to sell what they had and give the money to the poor. Yet all who followed Jesus gave up something. James and John left their father Zebedee with the fishing business. Levi left his lucrative career in tax collecting. The rich women who supported Jesus and his followers out of their own funds no longer spent that money on luxuries for themselves. Even Mary and Martha didn't keep their home solely for their own use, for they very ...

300. In It for the Long Haul

John 6:60-69

Sermon

King Duncan

... years, and with a mother who was an alcoholic. I often went to bed hungry, not knowing if there’d be anything to eat the next day. We had so little money that I bought T-shirts for 25 cents at the thrift store and went to high school in Levi’s cords that were four inches too short for me. To support myself, I worked as a janitor at two banks in the middle of the night, and then caught a bus home and slept for roughly four to five hours before dragging myself back to school each morning. Today ...