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 3801 to 3825 of 4942 results

3801. Six Woes

Luke 11:37-54

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

11:37–54 This lengthy section begins by a Pharisee’s observation that Jesus did not first wash before the meal (see note below). The reference is to Pharisaic ritual, as expressed in their oral laws and traditions. In response to this, Jesus addressed the issue (ritualistic washing) in vv. 39–41, but then goes on to deliver a diatribe revolving around the theme of Pharisaic hypocrisy. The first example of hypocrisy that Jesus cites is a take-off on the Pharisaic concern with washing. In actual practice the ...

3802. Not Peace but Division

Luke 12:49-53

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

12:49–53 These related sayings suggest that Jesus is almost impatient for the crisis of division to come that his death and resurrection will instigate. Jesus understands his mission in terms of setting the earth on fire, which he wishes were already kindled. Ellis (p. 182) and other commentators think that the fire refers to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, as seen in Acts 2:3, where the Spirit manifests itself as “tongues of fire.” This may be, but it seems hardly suitable for the context here. The ...

3803. Additional Teachings

Luke 16:16-18

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

16:16–18 Contained in these three verses are three sayings, originally independent in all likelihood (as comparison with Matt. 11:12–13; 5:18, 32 would seem to indicate). What connection these sayings have with the surrounding context is not immediately clear. In view of Jesus’ teaching about proper standards for living in the new age, Luke possibly wished to clarify how the law, the rule and guide for the old era, should be understood. In the first saying (v. 16) Jesus declares that the Law and the ...

3804. Ten Healed of Leprosy

Luke 17:11-19

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

17:11–19 Another aspect of faith, or faithfulness, is thankfulness. This idea is seen clearly in the episode of the cleansing of the ten lepers. In v. 11 Luke notes that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, traveling along the border between Samaria and Galilee (see note below). This introduction not only reminds the reader of the journey to Jerusalem, originally announced in 9:51, but sets the stage for the appearance of the Samaritan leper. Jesus is met by ten men who had leprosy (see note on 5:12 above). ...

3805. The Rich Ruler

Luke 18:18-30

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

18:18–30 Following Mark, Luke narrates an account of Jesus’ encounter with a certain ruler (see note below) who inquires of Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. (For comments on the meaning of v. 19 see note below; according to Matt. 19:20, 22 this “ruler” is a young man.) Jesus reminds him of the commandments and cites five of the Ten Commandments concerning proper behavior toward fellow human beings. (The list comes from Deut. 5:16–20 [see also Exod. 20:12–16], but not in the Deuteronomistic ...

3806. Jesus Again Predicts His Death

Luke 18:31-34

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

18:31–34 The first two passion predictions were uttered in Luke 9 (vv. 21–22, 43b–45), the chapter in which the journey to Jerusalem began (v. 51). Now that the journey is almost completed, the third passion prediction is uttered (though there were other utterances of pending trouble in the journey itself, see 12:50; 13:32–33; 17:25). In the Lucan version there is found a significant addition: everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. This reference, taken together ...

3807. Paul's Plan to Visit Rome

Romans 15:23-33

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

15:23 For years Paul had desired to visit Rome, but had been hindered from coming because of his labors in the eastern Mediterranean. But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, says Paul, the way is clear for the long-awaited visit. On the face of it, that is an astounding claim. As we noted at verse 19, the claim that there is no more place for me to work is surely tempered by the prospect of the imminent return of Christ. The nail of Christianity had been set in the east due to ...

3808. Personal Requests

1 Corinthians 16:5-18

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

16:5 Paul sketches his future itinerary, indicating the intention to pass through Macedonia on the way to Corinth, which was in Achaia. This particular route meant that Paul did not plan to sail directly from Ephesus to Corinth, and from 2 Corinthians 8–9 one learns of the Macedonian Christians’ participation in the collection. 16:6 Paul’s reference to a possible stay in Corinth is simple. He intended to spend the winter, the season when travel was impossible, in Corinth; then, when spring came he could go ...

3809. One Like a Son of Man

Revelation 1:9-20

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

1:9 In the second half of his greetings (vv. 9–20), John expands his earlier prescript (v. 4a) by relating the remarkable christophany by which the Risen Christ commissions him to write Revelation. Such a commissioning vision is not unique to John; it is the normal vehicle by which God commissioned the OT prophets, and then Paul, who received his call through a christophany while traveling on the Damascus Road (cf. Acts 9:1–9). The function of such visions is twofold: the first and more explicit function ...

3810. To the Church in Sardis

Revelation 3:1-6

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

3:1 John’s Christ again seems mindful of the city’s reputation while addressing its church. Sardis, once the leading city of the important Lydian Valley, is now a city of departed glory by the time John writes Revelation at the end of the first century. Following an earthquake that leveled much of the city in A.D. 17, Sardis struggled to regain its past stature with economic assistance from Rome. Because the city was well located at the western depot of the “King’s Highway” that began at Susa on the ...

3811. The Gershonites

Numbers 4:21-28

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

The Service of the Levites: Chapter 4 builds on chapter 3 in detailing the duties of the three Levitical groups (Gershon, Kohath, and Merari), who care for the tabernacle under the priests’ supervision. 4:1–3 The chapter begins with a divine instruction to Moses and Aaron: Take a census of the Kohathite group. The census is of men between thirty and fifty years of age, the time of service in caring for the tabernacle. The purpose of all this numbering is again to organize the people, especially for the ...

3812. The Merarites

Numbers 4:29-33

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

3813. The Numbering of the Levite Clans

Numbers 4:34-49

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

3814. The Setting Apart of the Levites

Numbers 8:5-26

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

Lamps and Levites: Emphasis on the tabernacle continues in this narrative flashback section (7:1–10:10). The community prepares to depart in a kind of promise and fulfillment motif. The concluding note of chapter 7 on the Most Holy Place leads to a comment on the lamps in the sanctuary. 8:1–4 Further revelation comes through Moses to Aaron concerning the lamps and lampstand. These verses refer to the instructions in Exodus 25:31–40 and 37:17–24. The seven lamps are to be set up so they will light the area ...

3815. Quail from the Lord

Numbers 11:4-35

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

The Beginnings of Rebellion: The journey has begun after the long and careful preparations. Now suddenly the reader is thrown into the rebellions that punctuate this journey. We have seen that the first ten chapters of the book prefigure this turn of events, but the overall positive tone and constant obedience of the people in those chapters are shattered by a sudden dominance of disobedience beginning immediately with chapter 11. From the theme of the right ordering of life as God’s people, we move to ...

3816. The People Rebel

Numbers 14:1-45

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

Of Spies and Rebellions: Numbers 13–14 constitutes one of the central narratives in the book, a kind of watershed that determines the course of a generation in Israel. The narrative is complicated and carefully constructed, taking a variety of turns along the way. Since the census in Numbers 1, readers have been prepared for some military encounter. As chapter 13 begins, the people in the Desert of Paran appear on the verge of the land they have been promised and are preparing to take possession of it. 14: ...

3817. Offerings for Priests and Levites

Numbers 18:8-32

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

Duties and Rights of Priests and Levites: Chapter 18 responds to the panic of the people over the danger of holiness in the tabernacle at the center of the camp (17:12–13) and solidifies for the community the duties and rights of the sanctuary establishment. The events of the two preceding chapters have made clear to the people the necessity of the priests’ organization. Apparently the situation of the Priestly tradents also included the need to clarify the roles of priests and Levites. Because this ...

3818. Feast of Trumpets (II)

Numbers 29:1-6

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

Offerings and Festivals: The structure of daily and special worship becomes the subject for chapters 28–29. The book of Numbers began with the organization of life as God’s people, emphasizing the spatial dimension as they journeyed (the divine presence at the center, then priests and Levites, and then the people). Soon, when the people enter the land, this spatial organization will be less relevant. So in these chapters, the Priestly tradents are instructing the people to order life liturgically around ...

3819. Day of Atonement (III)

Numbers 29:7-11

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

3820. Feast of Tabernacles (II)

Numbers 29:12-40

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

3821. Dividing the Spoils

Numbers 31:25-54

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

War with the Midianites: 31:1–2 Chapter 31 alludes to the end of chapter 25 and some unfinished business for the people of Israel. There the Midianites were declared enemies for their part in leading Israel into idolatry and immorality at Peor. The current chapter begins with the divine command to Moses, Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites. This act is the last military exercise for Moses, who will soon die. So the new generation’s first military action is Moses’ last. The new generation ...

3822. Cities of Refuge

Numbers 35:6-34

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

Special Cities for the Levites and for Refuge 35:1–8 The issue of the distribution of the land to the tribes continues in the first part of chapter 35 with provision for the Levites. This pattern of attending to the tribes first and then the Levites is familiar from the census counts in Numbers. The instruction, which comes in a divine command on the plains of Moab, is to give the Levites towns to live in and pasturelands around the towns. They will need pasture because the Levites receive offerings of ...

3823. Hannah Dedicates Samuel

1 Samuel 1:21-28

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

1 & 2 Samuel - One Book: Biblical commentaries by their nature tend to concentrate on the meaning and significance of individual sections. However, it is important that we also see what are essentially close-up or limited-range pictures in their wider context. In order to understand and appreciate the details of the individual stories we need to know something of the nature and structure of the book as a whole as well as its place in the canon of Scripture. There is no doubt that 1 and 2 Samuel should be ...

3824. Death of Eli

1 Samuel 4:12-22

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

Eli's Death: 4:12–22 News of the defeat was brought to Shiloh. The reader is drawn into the situation and can see and feel the tension in Eli as he waits for news and the breathlessness of the messenger who announces himself to the sightless old priest. Eli’s fear for the ark of God maybe indicated that he did not share the Israelites’ misunderstanding and that he knew their attempt to manipulate God was a mistake. Nevertheless, the news of the loss of the ark was too much of a shock for Eli, who fell off ...

3825. Israel Without Weapons

1 Samuel 13:16-22

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

Saul’s Initial Problems: The relationship between chapters 10 and 11 and what is described in chapters 13 through 15 is obscure. First Samuel 13:8 appears to indicate that these events are related to Samuel’s call to Saul to meet him at Gilgal (10:8). But if this is seen as an imminent appointment, it is hard to connect it with the events in the second half of chapter 10, the battle and further ceremony described in chapter 11, or the military activity found in 13:1–7a. The problem is solved if there was a ...

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