Synonyms: renounce, relinquish, dispense with, forswear, disclaim, disown, disavow, discard, wash one's hands of, give up, stop, cease, drop, forgo, desist from, have done with, abjure, abstain from, discontinue, break off, refrain from, set/lay aside, desert, leave, leave high and dry, turn one's back on, cast aside, break (up) with, vacate, quit, evacuate, withdraw from, surrender, cede, yield, indulge in, give way to, give oneself up to, yield to, lose oneself to/in, uninhibitedness, recklessness, lack of restraint, lack of inhibition, unruliness, wildness, impulsiveness, impetuosity, immoderation, wantonness
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 1176 to 1200 of 1409 results
1176. Egypt
Ezekiel 29:1-21, Ezekiel 30:1-26, Ezekiel 31:1-18, Ezekiel 32:1-32
Understanding Series
Steven Tuell
The last four chapters of Ezekiel’s oracles against the nations consist of a loose collection of seven prophecies, all concerned with Egypt: an allegorical oracle depicting Pharaoh as a dragon in the Nile (29:1–16); a late appendix to the book promising Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar (29:17–21); a lament over Egypt (30:1–19); a second oracle against the Pharaoh (30:20–26); an allegory depicting Egypt as the World Tree (31:1–18); a lament over Pharaoh, recapitulating the dragon allegory (32:1–16); and a funeral ...
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Jeannine K. Brown
Big Idea: Matthew shows Jesus to be worthy of trust as the Son of God, as he acts in compassion and authority to heal the sick, feed hungry crowds, and even walk on the sea. Understanding the Text Matthew narrates Jesus healing the sick, feeding the five thousand, and walking on the water to demonstrate Jesus’ authority over sickness and even the natural elements. Through these miracles Matthew reaffirms Jesus’ identity as the Messiah (“Son of God” [14:33]). The evangelist has already emphasized Jesus’ ...
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Jeannine K. Brown
Big Idea: Jesus predicts his return (parousia), which will usher in the end of the age and the final judgment, and warns that, because the time of his return is unexpected, his followers should be always ready for his return. Understanding the Text In the latter part of chapter 24 and the first parable in chapter 25, Jesus’ teachings turn from the signs portending the temple’s imminent destruction (24:4–35) to his reappearing (his parousia at the end of the age [see 24:3]), which will occur without warning ...
1179. Jesus Turns to His New Family
Mark 3:31-35, Mark 3:20-30
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Grant R. Osborne
Big Idea: Opposition to Jesus takes a new turn as his family thinks that he is insane and the religious leaders accuse him of being demon possessed. Jesus’s response is twofold: he cannot be under the control of Satan because he has already bound Satan, and his true family consists of those who have joined him in the household of God. Understanding the Text Jesus’s ministry to sinners and his call to several outcasts to be among the Twelve will now get him in trouble with the authorities. This is the first ...
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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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Grant R. Osborne
Big Idea: All followers of Jesus are called to mission. Yet when the kingdom news of the gospel is presented, there is both authority from God and inevitable opposition to it when people reject the good news, sometimes even costing the lives of those sent to speak for God. Understanding the Text This begins the fourth section of the Galilean ministry in Mark (after 1:16–3:6; 3:7–35; 4:1–6:30) and constitutes the third sandwiching episode thus far (after 3:20–35; 5:21–43). The sending of the Twelve (6:7–13 ...
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R.T. France
Big Idea: Being a disciple of Jesus means recognizing our own unworthiness before a sovereign God, having a willingness to leave all to follow him, and recruiting others for the task of discipleship (“fishing for people”). Understanding the Text Luke’s account has hitherto depicted Jesus acting alone, though the unexplained mention of Simon in 4:38 has hinted that others are already associated with him. Now Luke fills in the background to that mention by telling of the recruitment of the first and closest ...
1183. Jesus and Women
Luke 7:36--8:3
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R.T. France
Big Idea: Jesus’s work of salvation extends to people shunned or ignored by Jewish society; women play an unusually large part in his mission. Understanding the Text After the characterization of Jesus as a bon viveur and a friend of the disreputable (7:34), we now find him at a dinner party and befriending a disreputable woman. Two themes from earlier in the Gospel reemerge in this story: Jesus’s openness to and welcome by unrespectable members of society (5:27–32) and his claim to forgive sins (5:17–26 ...
1184. An Encounter across the Lake
Luke 8:26-39, Luke 8:22-25
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R.T. France
Big Idea: Jesus displays his unique power over both the natural elements and supernatural oppression. Understanding the Text Thus far, Jesus’s mission has been confined to the Jewish areas of Galilee, though we have heard of crowds from a wider area coming to hear him (6:17–18). The decision now to cross the lake takes him into Gentile territory on the eastern shore. It is only a brief visit, but it symbolizes the wider extension of the Jewish Messiah’s ministry to non-Jewish people, already signaled in 2: ...
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C. Marvin Pate
Big Idea: In chapter 6 Paul presents another blessing: new dominion. The first Adam forfeited his dominion over the earth. But Christ, the last Adam, inaugurated a new age and new covenant, restoring the lost dominion. Believers enter that new dominion by uniting with Christ’s death and resurrection: they become dead to sin and alive to God. Understanding the Text While Romans 3:21–5:21 developed the theme of justification, Romans 6:1–8:16 is devoted to the topic of sanctification.1On the one hand, ...
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Preben Vang
Big Idea: Paul introduces himself as a fellow Christ follower and reminds his Corinthian friends that calling Christ Lord should generate life patterns that reflect such a relationship to Christ. Understanding the Text If anything strikes someone who begins reading 1 Corinthians, it is how Paul packs content into every word from the outset. When we realize how well he knows the Corinthian congregation even on a personal level and recognize that this is at least his second letter to the church (5:9), it is ...
1187. Leadership and Servanthood
1 Corinthians 4:1-21, 1 Corinthians 3:1-23
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Preben Vang
Big Idea: Christian leaders must remember they are mere servants who are expected to be trustworthy and eager to enhance the mission and message of their master. Understanding the Text First Corinthians 3:16 and 17 function as a bridge connecting two sides of the same argument. Still addressing the secular nature of the church’s behavior, Paul concludes his exhortation to use superior building materials with a reminder that the Corinthians are building God’s holy temple. This reminder becomes the launching ...
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Preben Vang
Big Idea: When the Christian faith is reduced to a mere complement to cultural norms, churches come to affirm the very things they should despise and despise the very things they should affirm. Understanding the Text First Corinthians 4:6–13 ends Paul’s response to the deeper and broader issues in the report coming from Chloe’s household. Paul brings the tension between Corinthian ideals and true Christian ideals into their sharpest contrast yet by pointing to his own situation. Everything about Paul, both ...
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J. Scott Duvall
Big Idea: John is commissioned to write to the seven churches a vision given to him by the risen and glorified Christ, the one who has conquered death and now rules over and cares for his church. Understanding the Text Following a majestic description of the Triune God in the prologue (1:1–8), we transition to John’s real-time situation on the island of Patmos on the Lord’s Day. There is no passage in all the New Testament that exalts Jesus more than John’s vision of the risen and glorified Christ ...
1190. Message to Thyatira
Revelation 2:18-29
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J. Scott Duvall
Big Idea: Jesus commends his church for trusting and loving God, for serving people, and for persevering in faith, but he warns of judgment for those who go along with false teaching that promotes idolatry and immorality. Understanding the Text The message to the church in Thyatira is the fourth (and longest) in the series of messages to the seven churches in Revelation 2–3. The setting and themes here are very similar to those of Pergamum: Christ is portrayed as Judge, and the church is commended for ...
1191. God’s Judgment of Babylon Calls for Celebration
Revelation 19:1-10, Revelation 18:1-24
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J. Scott Duvall
Big Idea: God’s people are called to rejoice over his judgment of the evil city and his vindication of the saints. Understanding the Text We now enter the final stage of Babylon’s destruction (17:1–19:5). The laments of Babylon’s codependents in 18:9–19 are contrasted with the rejoicing of the righteous in 18:20–19:5. God’s people are urged to celebrate God’s judgment of the “great city” (18:20). This command is followed by the announcement of Babylon’s certain destruction (18:21), which focuses upon what ...
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Joe M. Sprinkle
Big Idea: God uses imperfect ministers to lead his people to see and joyfully worship him. Understanding the Text In this passage Aaron and his sons are directed by God through Moses to commence sacrificing. Leviticus 9 continues the account of the inauguration of worship under the Aaronic priesthood that began in Leviticus 8 and goes through Leviticus 10. In Leviticus 8 the ordination of priests involves a seven-day ceremony. On the eighth day following this (Lev. 9:1), Aaron and his sons begin to ...
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Joe M. Sprinkle
Big Idea: Ingratitude toward God can lead to forfeiture of blessings. Understanding the Text After nearly a year at Mount Sinai, Israel resumes its march toward the promised land (Num. 10:11; cf. Exod. 19:1–2). It is an auspicious start. Everyone lines up as God has commanded through Moses (Num. 10:13–28) and as directed by the blasts of silver trumpets (Num. 10:1–10). God himself guides the Israelites in the fire cloud and with the ark (Num. 10:34–36). But after three days’ journey from Sinai (Num. 10:33 ...
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Joe M. Sprinkle
Big Idea: God confirms his ministers and directs them to protect that which is sacred. Understanding the Text In Numbers 16 Korah challenges the exclusive privilege of priesthood by Aaron and his sons. But in the contest between Aaron and the followers of Korah, God shows Korah to be wrong by sending fire to consume the 250 non-Aaronites who have come to offer incense to God. A challenge also comes from Reubenites, who in sympathy with Korah claim that “the whole community is holy” (Num. 16:3b), not just ...
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Joe M. Sprinkle
Big Idea: Leaders’ plans fail and leaders die, but God’s work goes on. Understanding the Text Three things form obstacles to the goal of progress toward the promised land in Numbers 20: death, rebellion, and opposition. Numbers 20:1–13 shows that not only are there still voices of discontent and rebellion against Moses and Aaron, but also that Moses and Aaron themselves are not immune to falling into sin. As a result of their sin, they are told that neither of them will live to enter the land of promise. ...
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Joe M. Sprinkle
Big Idea: God helped Israel overcome obstacles and enemies to reach the brink of the promised land. Understanding the Text Rapid progress and victories follow the healing of sinful attitudes seen in preceding sections. Moses, Aaron, and the people had sinned, and Miriam and Aaron have died (Num. 20:1–13, 22–29; 21:1–9). Yet unlike the old generation, this one shows a willingness to quickly repent (Num. 21:7). Edom denies Israel easy and direct passage toward the promised land (Num. 20:14–21), but the ...
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Joe M. Sprinkle
Big Idea: God raises up new leaders for his people. Understanding the Text The decision allowing the daughters of Zelophehad to inherit land (Num. 27:1–10) is an appropriate occasion for God to remind Moses that he will not enter the promised land. Moses instead must appoint a successor in leadership. Moses is thus instructed about how he will soon die after viewing the land from atop the Abarim mountain range in Moab, though this foretelling is not immediately fulfilled. Moses still needs to convey the ...
1198. Cities of Refuge
Numbers 35:6-34, Numbers 35:1-5
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Joe M. Sprinkle
Big Idea: Bloodshed is an offense against humankind for which God requires expiation. Understanding the Text The last chapters of the book of Numbers are concerned with the division of the land. Numbers 32 describes how Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh will settle in the Transjordan, and Numbers 34 describes the borders of the land of Canaan that Israel is to conquer for the nine and a half tribes who will settle there. Numbers 36, on the daughters of Zelophehad (see Num. 27:1–11), is ...
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Robert B. Chisholm Jr.
Big Idea: Faith in the Lord’s power to save can be the catalyst for victory. Understanding the Text In the previous chapter, Samuel anointed David as the new king. Having departed from Saul, the Lord’s Spirit came upon David, and the Lord sent an “evil spirit” to torment Saul.1Through God’s providence, David has arrived in Saul’s royal court and relieved Saul’s fears with his music. Now the stage is set for David to replace Saul. In chapter 17 the narrator continues to demonstrate David’s superiority to ...
1200. Eliphaz
Job 4:1-5:27
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Daniel J. Estes
How Eliphaz Explains Job’s Adversity Big Idea: Eliphaz explains Job’s adversity as a standard case of God’s retribution for sin. Understanding the Text Job’s three friends, who arrived on the scene in 2:11–13, wait until after Job’s opening lament in chapter 3 before they speak. From chapter 4 through chapter 27, the friends and Job speak alternately, as they all try to explain Job’s adversity. Eliphaz is the lead speaker in each of the three cycles of speeches, and his words introduce the key points that ...
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