Sermon and Worship Resources

Antonyms: keep, claim, continue, stick by, self-control, power through, achieve, defend, bear, hope, acquire, quick visit, adopt, continue along, adhere, remain, pursue, support, take up, keep up, reuse, advocate, stay, persevere, cherish, keep going, carry on

Showing 3401 to 3425 of 3926 results

3401. Jesus Heals a Paralytic

Mark 2:1-12

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... narrative, culminating in the sinister events mentioned in 3:6. We have, then, in 2:1–3:6, Mark’s description of the issues of conflict between Jesus and many of the religious leaders of his day. At the same time, because Mark clearly supports Jesus against his opponents, he portrays in these events the claims and powers of Jesus, telling us more of the nature of his ministry. In the first incident, Jesus is shown again at Capernaum, which probably functioned as the home base of his Galilean ministry ...

3402. Crowds Follow Jesus

Mark 3:7-12

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... is a plain on the western shore, varying in width, and sharp cliffs on the eastern side. On this plain in Jesus’ time were flourishing towns—Capernaum, Bethsaida, Tiberias—in some of which Jesus frequently ministered. The lake teemed with fish and supported a good export business. (See IDB, vol. 2, pp. 348–50.) Galilee: the northern district of ancient Palestine, in Jesus’ ministry governed by Herod Antipas, a descendant of Herod the Great. Galilee was and is a rich agricultural area. Judea: the ...

3403. Jesus and Beelzebub

Mark 3:20-30

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... ; 8:48, 52; 10:20. The idea appears also in the ancient Jewish tradition known as the Toledoth Jesu and was a widespread Jewish interpretation of Jesus until modern times. It should be mentioned that in the twentieth century, especially, there is a widely supported effort among Jewish scholars to present Jesus in a more favorable light. I can adduce here such examples as Martin Buber, Joseph Klausner, G. Vermes, and Samuel Sandmel, to name a few. 3:23 Parables: The word is derived from a Greek word (parabol ...

3404. Jesus Sends Out the Twelve

Mark 6:7-13

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... the ministry of the Twelve and Jesus is to involve conflict and ultimately the death of Jesus, prefigured in John’s death. Additional Notes 6:8 No bag: In ancient Palestine, beggars were a familiar sight and were quite vocal in their requests for support. The disciples are forbidden to carry a bag to solicit like beggars and must depend upon what is offered to them in connection with the acceptance of their message. 6:9 An extra tunic: Literally, the disciples are forbidden to wear “two garments.” In ...

3405. Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand

Mark 8:1-13

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... allow us to see the purpose for two feeding accounts in Mark: The feeding of the five thousand shows Jesus bringing salvation to Israel. The feeding of the four thousand anticipates that his salvation will reach others (Gentiles) as well. In further support of the idea that the distinguishing feature of the present feeding in Mark is that it anticipates more clearly the church and its worldwide mission, there is the previously noted detail of the wording used to describe Jesus’ ceremonial actions over the ...

3406. The Healing of a Blind Man at Bethsaida

Mark 8:22-26

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... their need for a fuller understanding of the meaning of Jesus’ mission. Additional Notes 8:22 Bethsaida: On the location of this town, see the note on 6:45. In a few ancient manuscripts we read “Bethany” instead, but this is to be disregarded in view of the strong support for the reading Bethsaida. Mark calls the place a village (vv. 23, 26), but we should think of a town of a few thousand people in the time of Jesus. 8:23 When he had spit on the man’s eyes: On the ancient significance of spittle in ...

3407. The Transfiguration

Mark 9:2-13

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... as a prophetic promise of Jesus (e.g., Acts 3:22–26; 7:35–37). Moses’ appearance in the vision of the disciples meant that he was endorsing Jesus as the one he had promised, the one who now bore all the authority of Moses in speaking for God. In support of this, there is the direct allusion to Deuteronomy 18:15 in 9:7, listen to him, a quote of the final part of Moses’ statement. As for the mention of Elijah (9:4), this too is an indication that the promised time of salvation has come. Mark’s ...

3408. Before the Sanhedrin

Mark 14:53-65

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... pp. 917–19). 14:56 Many testified falsely: literally, “many gave false witness,” alluding to Exod. 20:16, the commandment against bearing false witness. Here the witnesses are themselves shown to be breaking the OT law. Jewish practice required that any charge be supported by at least two witnesses, and that their testimony had to agree perfectly. This is what is alluded to in the comment that their statements did not agree. 14:58 This man-made temple … another, not made by man: The phrase man-made ...

3409. Jesus Before Pilate

Mark 15:1-15

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... regarded by some scholars as purely legendary invention. This, however, is an argument from silence. Since the custom is referred to in all four Gospels, it must have been a part of ancient and commonly shared Christian tradition. Such a well-supported tradition should not be lightly disregarded. Further, there is some hint of the practice of releasing a prisoner at Passover in the ancient Jewish codification of rabbinic teaching called the Mishnah. (See Lane, pp. 552–53, for discussion and references to ...

3410. The Resurrection

Mark 16:1-20

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... guards at the tomb (derived from Matt. 27:62–66; 28:4) are frightened by this, and while relating these events to their leader and to the Jewish elders (who are supposedly there also), they see three figures emerge from the tomb, two of them supporting the third and a cross following them. The two (angels) reach to the heavens in height, but the third (Jesus) is described as taller still, “overpassing the heavens.” As they emerge from the tomb, a voice from heaven mentions Jesus as having preached to ...

3411. Introduction

Luke 1:1-4

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... between the prefaces of Josephus and those of Luke are significant and instructive. Many of the words and phrases that are commented on in the notes parallel various items in Josephus. That Luke’s prefaces really do point to a single author of Luke–Acts receives support from the prefaces found in Against Apion. Luke states in v. 1 that many have undertaken to draw up an account. How many people Luke has in mind is uncertain. Probably he is referring to Mark and Q and perhaps to another source or two ...

3412. The Birth of Jesus

Luke 2:1-7

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... was ordered. Luke could have viewed the entire sequence as a single episode, or at least as culminating in the census that was ordered in the days when Quirinius was governor. Furthermore, Luke’s peculiar usage of the word “first” (prōtos) may support this line of reasoning. As is noted by most commentators, Luke’s use of the word “first” is grammatically awkward. Marshall has suggested (p. 104) that perhaps Luke means “before” (a legitimate meaning for prōtos) in the sense of “this was ...

3413. The Temptation of Jesus

Luke 4:1-13

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... in the wilderness for forty days, at the end of which time he received and proclaimed the word of God (see Exod. 34:28; Deut. 9:9–18; perhaps also Elijah, 1 Kings 19:8). That such an allusion was intentional receives additional support when it is noted that all of Jesus’ replies to the devil are quotations from Deuteronomy. Moreover, it has been shown that each of the three temptations reflects temptations to which the Israelites succumbed during their “desert” wanderings for “forty” years (see ...

3414. Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

Luke 4:14-30

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... that they more likely allude to Isa. 42:1. That passage, one of the Servant Songs of Isaiah, was often interpreted by early Christians (and some Jews) as messianic (best known is the Suffering Servant Song of 52:13–53:12). Marshall’s view receives support from the quotation of Isa. 61:1–2 in Luke 4:18–19. Elsewhere in Luke’s writings Jesus is actually called the Lord’s “Servant” (Acts 4:27). Moreover, Acts 10:38 declares that “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit” (RSV ...

3415. Peter's Confession of Christ

Luke 9:18-27

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... that a messianic interpretation of Isaiah 53 was known in the first century is more plausible than Fitzmyer has allowed. Moreover, Luke’s references to this Servant Song elsewhere in his writings (Luke 22:37; Acts 3:13; 8:32–33) add further support to the idea that he at least, if not the Gospel tradition before him, saw a connection between Jesus’ suffering and the suffering of the Lord’s Servant in Isaiah 53. Many interpreters believe that Jesus’ passion predictions derive not from Jesus but ...

3416. Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-two

Luke 10:1-24

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... ”). C. F. Evans (see abbreviations) observed that the teaching part of the Central Section (10:1–18:14), beginning with the sending of the Seventy-two (10:1–20), corresponds to the teaching section of Deuteronomy (chaps. 1–26). Several compelling reasons support this observation. (1) In Luke 9:52 and 10:1 Jesus sends messengers “before his face” (the Greek rendered literally) as he begins his journey to Jerusalem. Similarly, in Deut. 1:21 Moses tells the people that the Lord has set the promised ...

3417. Warnings and Encouragements

Luke 12:1-12

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... , 36; 3:17). The Holy Spirit is present in a mighty way (Acts 2:4–18), thus making rejection of Jesus this time inexcusable (see Acts 7:51, which says that the religious leaders “always resist the Holy Spirit”). This interpretation receives additional support when it is observed that vv. 11–12 also reflect the experience of the early church, as seen in the Book of Acts. The disciples are assured that when the day comes that they are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, the Holy Spirit ...

3418. Repent or Perish

Luke 13:1-9

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... certain, it is possible that the messengers thought the news worthy of Jesus’ attention because of his fame and following. Had many regarded him as a or the Messiah in the popular sense they might have hoped that Jesus’ movement would gain additional support by spreading the news of this fresh outrage. According to his contemporaries Philo (Embassy to Gaius 38) and Josephus (Antiquities 18.55–62; War 2.169–174), Pontius Pilate was a cruel and violent man. The Roman historian Tacitus (Annals 15.44 ...

3419. Jesus' Sorrow for Jerusalem

Luke 13:31-35

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... , either to incite Jesus into acting rashly or to scare him out of Galilee and toward Jerusalem where he might meet his end. There is, however, no hint of animosity in this passage. These particular Pharisees (some Pharisees) may very well have been supportive of Jesus’ ministry and wished to warn Jesus of a very real danger. This piece of synoptic tradition is probably very early and has not yet been filtered through the lens of anti-Pharisaic polemic that is otherwise pervasive in the Gospels (see ...

3420. The Parable of the Shrewd Manager

Luke 16:1-15

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... the heart of the matter in v. 11. If the followers of Jesus cannot properly handle worldly wealth, then they cannot expect to be trusted with true riches. That is, if Christians cannot manage their money, property, and other possessions properly (such as supporting the poor and the ministry), they cannot expect to be entrusted with the rewards and wealth that last forever (cf. Matt. 6:25–34). Implicitly, one’s stewardship in this life will form the basis for future reward and responsibility in heaven ...

3421. The Triumphal Entry

Luke 19:28-44

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... , is in control. At the very least it would suggest divine foreknowledge (so Fitzmyer, p. 1249). The disciples follow Jesus’ instructions and so bring the animal to Jesus. By placing their cloaks on the colt and on the road, his followers demonstrate their enthusiastic support for Jesus, whom they hail as their king. (Fitzmyer [p. 1250] notes that the spreading of the garments upon the ground may allude “to the homage paid to the newly anointed Jehu in 2 Kings 9:13.”) As Jesus approaches Jerusalem his ...

3422. The Crucifixion

Luke 23:26-43

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... place. There the offender was stripped and flogged. The prisoner’s arms were affixed to the crossbar with ropes or nails, and the crossbar was then raised and attached to the upright stake. A small wooden block attached to the stake beneath the buttocks supported the weight of the suspended body, which was bound to the stake with ropes. Often the feet were also affixed to the stake with ropes or nails. Because deterrence was a primary objective, the cross was always erected in a public place. Death came ...

3423. Jesus Appears to the Disciples

Luke 24:36-49

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... Christology JSNTSup 12 (Sheffield: JSOT, 1987). 24:46 Christ: See note on 2:11 above. 24:47 repentance and forgiveness of sins: The earliest manuscripts actually read “repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (cf. Luke 3:3, though the other reading is supported by Acts 5:31) and is to be preferred. Another aspect of apostolic preaching is faith in Jesus the Christ. The formula in Luke 24:47 says little about the christological content of this preaching. The phrase, in his name, provides the only ...

3424. God's Wrath Against Mankind

Romans 1:18-32

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... accomplice to a crime is less guilty than the perpetrator of a crime. But Paul might not agree. The consenting bystander is normally more premeditative than the impassioned aggressor, and worse yet, consent (or silence!) in the face of wrongdoing lends subtle support to make something fashionable which deserves to be condemned. Modern media and advertising barons have made this truth painfully clear. Bengel’s word is perhaps more appropriate today than it was when he wrote it two centuries ago: “He is a ...

3425. The Jews and the Law

Romans 2:17-29

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... always be blessed; at least, we did not mingle with the nations. For we are all a people of the Name; we, who received one Law from the One. And that Law which is among us will help us, and that excellent wisdom which is in us will support us (2 Apoc. Bar. 48:22–24). The NIV says you brag about your relationship to God (v. 17), but brag slurs a reputation of which Jews were justly proud. Better to translate kauchaomai in verse 17 positively, “to boast,” or “pride oneself in,” as echoed in Jeremiah ...

Showing results