Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: Levi, disciple, evangelist, tax collector, the 12, the twelve, apostle, sermon on the mount, jewish audience, beatitudes, lord's prayer, great commission, parables, olivet discourse, mount of olives, olivet, synoptic

Showing 3426 to 3450 of 4942 results

3426. Jacob Meets Esau

Genesis 33:1-20

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

The Reunion of Jacob and Esau: At last Jacob meets Esau face to face. The character of their meeting catches the audience off guard. 33:1–3 Finally Jacob saw his brother Esau coming with his four hundred men. Wounded from the wrestling bout, he was powerless before Esau’s entourage. To welcome Esau, Jacob had arranged his family, placing the mothers with their children and then ordering them according to their standing: first the maidservants and their children, next Leah and her children, and last Rachel ...

3427. Not Because of Israel's Righteousness

Deuteronomy 9:1-6

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

Not because of Israel’s Righteousness: The warnings against false assumptions continue. Moses has already demolished any idea of national chauvinism arising from Israel’s election (7:6–10) and also any economic arrogance arising from their future prosperity (8:17f.). In this chapter he targets what is perhaps the most pernicious and perennial distortion of all—moral self-righteousness in the interpretation of military conflict. Together, these three challenges penetrate deeply to the evergreen sources of ...

3428. Exclusion From the Assembly

Deuteronomy 23:1-8

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

Community Laws: Defining and Protecting the Community · These last chapters of the central law code have a “flavor” of concern for a compassionate and caring community that takes seriously the claims of kinship and the needs of the weak and vulnerable. That community itself, however, needs clear definition and measures to protect its religious distinctiveness and purity. This need explains the presence, alongside laws that immediately appeal to us by their charitable nature, of other laws that appear much ...

3429. David’s Charge to Solomon

1 Kings 2:1-12

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

David’s Charge to Solomon: Chapter 1 anticipated David’s death. Chapter 2 will describe it. First, however, David has a few things to say to Solomon about his conduct as king (2:1–4). Then there are certain “loose ends” to be tied up (2:5–9). Only after he has seen to the good of the kingdom in this way will he be able to die in peace (2:10–11). 2:1–4 Like God’s words to Joshua upon his “succession” to the leadership of Israel after Moses’ death (Josh. 1:6–9), David’s parting words to Solomon open with an ...

3430. Solomon's Officials and Governors

1 Kings 4:1-19

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

Solomon’s Rule over Israel: The NIV divides the text into sections in such a way that v. 20 is divorced from v. 19 and forms the introduction to the next section, which is headed Solomon’s Daily Provisions . It is the case, however, that the Hebrew text treats verses 1–20 as a single unit—as a single chapter in fact (Hb. ch. 4)—with our English 4:21–5:18 being treated as Hebrew chapter 5. Certainly it makes much better sense to take all of 4:1–20 together. First Kings 4:1 indicates that the following ...

3431. Solomon's Daily Provisions

1 Kings 4:20-28

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

Solomon and the Nations: The previous section, 4:1–20, was clearly defined by its beginning and ending (“all Israel . . . Judah and Israel”). It was a passage about Solomon’s rule over Israel. With 4:21 we begin a new section concerning Solomon’s rule over other kingdoms and his impact on the world more generally. It is revealed that Israel’s peace and prosperity are related to Solomon’s dominion over the surrounding kingdoms (they contribute to the prosperity and represent no threat to the peace, vv. 21– ...

3432. Solomon Builds the Temple

1 Kings 6:1-38

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

Solomon Builds the Temple: The preparations for building the temple are complete, and we now move on to a detailed description of the building itself. Much is obscure to us as readers who stand at such a distance from the authors of the text, and we shall not pause at any length to puzzle over the architectural detail or marvel at all the glitter and the gold. Little that is important for interpreting the book of Kings hangs on any such detail. 6:1–13 After a notice about the dates involved (v. 1), the ...

3433. Solomon’s Wives

1 Kings 11:1-13

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

Solomon’s Apostasy: While stopping short of questioning his basic commitment, and certainly allowing that he was blessed by God in a tremendous way, our authors have hinted throughout 1 Kings 1–10 that all is not well with Solomon’s heart (e.g., 3:1–3; 4:26, 28; 5:14; 6:38–7:1). The prayer of 8:22–53 and God’s response in 9:1–9 have, however, made clear both the importance of keeping the law and the consequences of disobedience; read in this context, 9:10–10:29 have sounded ominously like the climbing of ...

3434. Rehoboam King of Judah

1 Kings 14:21-31

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

The End of Rehoboam: Rehoboam’s story, begun in chapter 12, has been delayed until Jeroboam’s is over. We now return to find out what has happened in Judah in the meantime, and we shall, in fact, hear of three kings of Judah (1 Kgs. 14:21–15:24) before we are told again of Jeroboam’s son Nadab (1 Kgs. 15:25–32). The way in which their story is told before we read of his will make quite apparent the different ways the kings of Israel and Judah are being treated by God. 14:21–24 It is a feature of the regnal ...

3435. Naboth’s Vineyard

1 Kings 21:1-29

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

Naboth’s Vineyard: We have heard of Ahab’s death (20:41–42). We await still the announcement of judgment on his house, delayed since chapter 16 (cf. the commentary on 15:25–16:34). It is of such matters that we shall read in the current chapter, as a reinvigorated Elijah appears again in Jezreel to denounce a new and heinous crime and finally to foretell the destruction of Ahab’s family. 21:1–3 The occasion for Elijah’s reappearance is a battle over a vineyard. Ahab wants it (v. 2) but Naboth (the owner) ...

3436. The Lord's Judgement of Ahaziah

2 Kings 1:1-18

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

The Lord's Judgement of Ahaziah: 1:1–17 Like his father, Ahaziah meets Elijah. The occasion for their confrontation is an injury sustained by the king when falling out of the window (probably, although lattice is obscure) of his upper room (v. 2). His reaction is to send messengers (Hb. malʾaḵîm) to consult one of the many local manifestations of Baal (cf. 1 Kgs. 18:18) about his fate: Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron (a Philistine city about twenty-five miles west of Jerusalem). In response, the LORD also ...

3437. Hezekiah's Illness

2 Kings 20:1-11

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

Deliverance and Exile: It seems that the veiled threats in 2 Kings 16–17 with regard to Judah have come to nothing. Jerusalem has not suffered the same fate as Samaria. Yet the Davidic promise has been cited in 2 Kings 16–19, not in relation to a wicked king, but in relation to the most pious king Judah has had (19:34). This creates the impression that in these days of accumulated sin, even a good king requires God’s special grace if the kingdom is to survive. It brings into question, therefore, whether ...

3438. The Mountain of the Lord

Isaiah 2:1-5

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

The Last Days and the Day of Yahweh for Jerusalem: With two visions of Zion/Jerusalem’s restoration (1:1–2:1 and 5:1–30) bracketing substantial declarations of coming calamity for Zion/Jerusalem/Judah, chapters 1–5 as a whole have a trouble-promise-trouble-promise-trouble arrangement. Worrisomely, trouble enfolds the community even though blessing is its background destiny. Or, encouragingly, blessing does lie enfolded even if trouble dominates the community’s immediate prospects. We do not know the date ...

3439. Fear God

Isaiah 8:11-22

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

Isaiah’s Significance, and the Fall of Darkness: We come to the close of the material that focuses on the crisis presented by the pressure of the northern allies (6:1–9:7). Isaiah speaks further about his ministry and its significance for Judah (8:11–22) and Yahweh offers a vision of light dawning the other side of the coming darkness (9:1–7). 8:11–15 After the twin passages 7:1–25 and 8:1–10 comes a passage twinning with 6:1–13. Isaiah again tells us of Yahweh’s word to him personally and here describes ...

3440. Jerusalem to Be Inhabited

Isaiah 44:24--45:25

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

Cyrus, Yahweh’s Anointed Shepherd: We have noted that the two sections on the restoration of a blind and deaf servant (43:22–44:23 and 42:18–43:21) paralleled one another, but that the former lacked an equivalent to the last paragraph (43:14–21). This parallel ending now follows, in 44:24–45:8, with its lyrical postscript (45:8) marking it as an ending. Yet 43:22–44:23 did have a different sort of lyrical postscript (44:23). For 44:24–45:8 also marks a beginning. It makes an announcement whose significance ...

3441. Gods of Babylon

Isaiah 46:1-13

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

The Fall of the Gods and Their City: So Yahweh has declared Babylon’s destiny to fall to Cyrus. Now, before the prophet’s eyes, the Babylonian gods make the reverse of the journey that the vessels from the Jerusalem temple had made (ch. 46), and the prophet bids the city itself accept the humiliation of its defeat and the end of its exercise of power in the middle east (ch. 47). One might infer that the situation has moved on and that the city has now actually fallen, but as the chapters continue to unfold ...

3442. Israel's Sin and the Servant's Obedience

Isaiah 50:1-11

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

Four Wake-up Calls and a Departure Call: In 50:4 the subject suddenly changes again—in two senses. The grammatical subject is once again a human “I” rather than a divine “I,” and the thematic subject is the pressure upon this human “I.” In both respects the passage parallels 49:1–6, and it will emerge that 50:4–52:12 forms a sequence parallel to 49:1–50:4, analogous to double sequences we have noted earlier in chapters 40–55. The arrangement of sections is not as tightly parallel as in earlier instances, ...

3443. The Year of the Lord’s Favor

Isaiah 61:1-11

Understanding Series

John Goldingay

Five Responses to Yahweh’s Promises: Chapters 61 and 62 recapitulate much of chapter 60, but they do so in a new framework. They offer five responses to those promises. Whereas the prophet’s word was a brisk preliminary to Yahweh’s word in 59:21–60:22, in chapters 61–62 the prophet speaks a number of times in a way that has significance in its own right but also introduces recapitulations of the promises. Accounts of a prophet’s own experience or actions appear in the OT because the testimony is in some ...

3444. Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness

Matthew 4:1-11

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

Big Idea: Through the temptation narrative woven with Deuteronomy citations, Matthew compares Jesus’ faithful sonship to Israel’s lack of obedience in their wilderness time and highlights God’s protection of Jesus in the wilderness. Understanding the Text After narrating Jesus’ birth and baptism, Matthew concludes his introduction to Jesus’ identity (1:1–4:16) with wilderness temptations. The temptation story continues the comparison between Israel and Jesus, emphasizing how Jesus remains utterly loyal to ...

3445. Sermon on the Mount: Allegiance and Trust

Matthew 6:19-24, Matthew 6:25-34

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

Big Idea: Jesus calls his disciples to undivided and primary allegiance to God and the kingdom, which will lead to trust in God for their needs. Understanding the Text This section of the Sermon on the Mount focuses on human allegiances and trusting God for daily needs. The Lord’s Prayer in the previous section has already highlighted these themes: allegiance to God and God’s kingdom (6:9–10) and requests for daily needs (6:11). Matthew 6:16–24 then deals with issues of allegiance, followed by attention to ...

3446. Jesus’ Authority to Perform Miracles

Matthew 8:18-22, Matthew 8:23-27, Matthew 8:28-34, Matthew 9:1-8

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

Big Idea: Matthew encourages his readers to trust and follow Jesus wholeheartedly, as he shows Jesus’ power and authority to be greater than sin, the demonic, and even nature. Understanding the Text Matthew continues in this passage to emphasize themes of Jesus’ authority—here over sin (9:1–8), the demonic (8:28–34), and nature (8:23–27)—and faith as the appropriate discipleship response to Jesus (9:21–22; cf. 8:26). The call to follow Jesus wholeheartedly is issued in 8:18–22, picking up the call stories ...

3447. The Resurrected Jesus Is Vindicated by God and Given All Authority

Matthew 28:1-10, Matthew 28:11-15, Matthew 28:16-20

Teach the Text

Jeannine K. Brown

Big Idea: Matthew narrates Jesus’ resurrection, demonstrating God’s vindication and authorization of Jesus’ mission, and Jesus’ commission of his followers to disciple the nations through baptizing and teaching obedience to all that he has taught. Understanding the Text Chapter 28 narrates Jesus’ resurrection (28:1–15) and his commissioning of the disciples (28:16–20). The resurrection story picks up plot elements introduced at the end of chapter 27, including the presence of certain women at the cross and ...

3448. The Actions of the Triune Godhead Prove Jesus’s Divine Office

Mark 1:9-15

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

Big Idea: Jesus is anointed for his messianic office and confirmed as Son of God by his Father’s own announcement; then he proves his office by defeating Satan in the wilderness. Understanding the Text Jesus has been heralded as the Messiah by prophetic witness (1:2–3) and by the announcement of the wilderness prophet (1:4–8). Now authoritative proof is given with his messianic anointing via his baptism. In a trinitarian act the Spirit descends on him, and the Father announces him as the beloved Son (1:9– ...

3449. Jesus’s Ministry and Popularity Continue to Grow

Mark 1:40-45, Mark 1:35-39, Mark 1:29-34

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

Big Idea: Jesus’s ministry of power and authority is universal. He helps every person who comes, and his popularity with the crowds grows in phenomenal ways. However, his desire is not for the plaudits of the people but to proclaim the kingdom truths to everyone. Understanding the Text Mark 1:21–38 describes one twenty-four-hour period (from Sabbath morn to Sunday morn). All of this material (including through 1:45) traces Jesus’s ministry to the crowds, who are filled with wonder at each new illustration ...

3450. The Authority of Jesus over Sickness and Death

Mark 5:21-43

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

Big Idea: In these healing miracles two transformations take place: (1) Jesus’s compassion for the sick causes him to ignore the purity laws and bring purity/healing to suffering people; (2) he reverses the status rules of society by making the nameless, unclean woman the model of faith. Understanding the Text This is another of the sandwiching episodes like the one in 3:20–35, as the two stories interpret each other. In the context of this miracle section (4:35–5:43) these comprise the final two of the ...

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