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Showing 1951 to 1975 of 4957 results

1951. God of Creation and Restorer of Jerusalem

Psalm 147:1-20

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... among humans. This is a skillfully woven poem that brings together the diverse threads of God’s ways in creation and with humans. 147:1–6 The Hebrew psalms have little to say about beauty and pleasure in their own right, but they do claim that praise is pleasant (or “lovely,” Hb. nāʿîm; cf. 81:2; 135:3) and fitting (or “beautiful,” Hb. nāʾwâ; cf. 33:1). Yahweh is presented through the metaphoric roles of “builder” of Jerusalem and “the healer” of the brokenhearted (cf. Isa. 30 ...

1952. Whoever Is Not Against Us Is For Us

Mark 9:38-41

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... Further, the issue is not the practice of exorcism but whether a person who is not identified with the Twelve can still be a true follower of Jesus with the right to minister in his name. The thrust of Jesus’ answer in verses 39–41 is that anyone who claims to be a follower of Jesus must be received unless he or she gives reason to think otherwise. Mark 9:40 in particular gives the benefit of the doubt to the unknown follower. It is interesting to note that this saying (v. 40) appears in the Luke 9:50 ...

1953. Jesus Heals a Paralytic

Luke 5:17-26

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... and Jerusalem. This notification only strengthens the first point that was made. The religious authorities who dispute Jesus’ teachings and claims are from Judea and even from Jerusalem, where the controversies would reach their climax in the crucifixion (see the commentary ... anything uttered about God that was demeaning or insulting (see Lev. 24:10–11, 14–16, 23). In this case Jesus’ claim to forgive sins provoked the charge of blasphemy, since it was thought to be something that only God could do. ...

1954. Signs of the End of the Age

Luke 21:5-38

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... . In Luke’s church these statements may very well have been applied to the messianic claimants who arose just prior to the war with Rome (e.g., Menachem) or to various frauds and false prophets who during the war with Rome promised miraculous deliverance and claimed that God’s kingdom was about to appear. Jesus further instructs his followers not to be frightened when they hear of wars and revolutions (which Luke’s church would surely have related to the Jewish war with Rome in A.D. 66–70). These ...

1955. Peter Disowns Jesus

Luke 22:47-53

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... ; (2) all four agree that Peter denied Jesus at the house of the high priest; and (3) all agree that the first to put the question to Peter was a female servant. Beyond these agreements the accounts vary widely: (1) Whereas in the second denial Mark claims that it was the same female servant who spoke to Peter, Matthew says that it was “another” (female servant), while Luke says that it was a man. John has the second question framed by a group. (2) Matthew’s account of the third denial follows Mark ...

1956. Paul's Plan to Visit Rome

Romans 15:23-33

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... 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 his missionary efforts, but it remained for others to drive home ...

1957. To the Church in Smyrna

Revelation 2:8-11

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... Not only have they already experienced afflictions; they are about to suffer; … the devil will put … you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. The agents of the Evil One in this case are Jews who lay claim to God’s Israel but who belong to a synagogue of Satan which actively opposes the church’s witness in Smyrna. Unlike the Nicolaitans, who endanger Christian faith from within, religious Jews, especially strong in Smyrna, were members of a distinct religious community ...

1958. Hallelujah!

Revelation 19:1-10

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... vision in 12:10a: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God.” The claim made by both doxologies puts a particular “spin” on the current period of salvation’s history, described especially in chapters 12 and 13 ... . Despite the pretensions of secular power and its claim to rule over the “real world,” the eschatological events which continue to unfold from Christ’s exaltation assert a ...

1959. Joshua to Succeed Moses

Numbers 27:12-23

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... Eleazar, and the other leaders that their father did not participate in Korah’s rebellion, which sin would have forfeited the right of land. He rather died for his own sin—that is, he died in the wilderness as did the rest of that generation. The daughters claim that they should inherit their father’s land and thus preserve his name there. They see no obvious reason why they should not inherit. Moses then takes the case to God, as he did the question about Passover (9:1–14), the wood gatherer on the ...

1960. War Between the Houses of David and Saul

2 Samuel 2:8-3:5

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... had taken action in the north. Ish-Bosheth was forty years old, but it seems that Abner was the driving force in the attempt to maintain power within the Saulide dynasty. Saul was dead, but this did not mean that support for his son’s claim to the throne disappeared. Whereas David was acknowledged by the men of Judah (v. 4), Ish-Bosheth was made . . . king by Abner, who apparently took Ish-Bosheth around the tribes, perhaps conducting ceremonies throughout the land in Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel as well as ...

1961. David's Officials

2 Samuel 8:15-18

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... of Saul’s household, acted as the estate manager for Saul’s property. This was an important position, and in the absence of the owners he had made substantial financial gain out of it. He may or may not have been pleased to acknowledge Mephibosheth’s claim to the estate or have Mephibosheth close at hand rather than safely ensconced in Lo Debar on the other side of the Jordan. He is well aware of Mephibosheth’s existence and condition, but that he does not give a name perhaps indicates his attitude ...

1962. David and Mephibosheth

2 Samuel 9:1-13

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

1963. Nathan Rebukes David

2 Samuel 12:1-31

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... for and the possibility of repentance and forgiveness. The heading of Ps. 51 states that it was written after Nathan’s visit and, although the headings of the psalms are not part of the original text, there is no reason to doubt the authenticity of their claims in this instance. 12:8 It was common practice for a new ruler to take over the wives of the previous ruler as a sign of supremacy and control. Although this was not permitted under the law of Moses, it happened in Israel as elsewhere. Thus Absalom ...

1964. “I Am from Him and He Sent Me”

John 7:25-44

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... world “hates me because I testify that what it does is evil” (7:7). Only when the Spirit comes will the outcome be different. The world’s representatives immediately challenge Jesus’ authority. The ensuing debate is a virtual re-enactment of 5:30–38. Jesus’ claim to be the light of the world is invalid because he is testifying on his own behalf (8:13). The Pharisees have in mind the principle of the oral law that witnesses were not to be believed when testifying on their own behalf (the Mishnah ...

1965. Jesus the Way to the Father

John 14:5-14

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... vv. 13–14). But the most important promise is the one on which the first two depend: Jesus’ own continuing presence with them (vv. 15–21). Additional Notes 14:6 I am the way and the truth and the life. The main thrust of the context is carried by Jesus’ claim that he is the way; the other two self-designations are corollaries of this (cf. NEB: “I am the way; I am the truth and I am life”; but Moffatt’s “I am the real and living way” goes too far in this direction). 14:7 If you really knew ...

1966. The Death of Jesus

John 19:28-37, John 19:17-27, John 19:38-42

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... has won the war of nerves. When urged to modify the inscription so as to state only that kingship was Jesus’ claim, Pilate mocks the Jews’ traditional and well-known reverence for the written word with the terse reply: What I have ... a dry and weary land, where there is no water. (Ps. 63:1) First of all, there is surely an irony in the fact that he who claimed to satisfy all thirst (4:13–14) himself became thirsty for the sake of those in need (cf. 4:6–7). Yet however great Jesus’ physical experience ...

1967. The Burial of Jesus

John 19:38-42, John 19:17-27, John 19:28-37

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

1968. Jesus Appears to Thomas

John 20:24-31

Understanding Series

J. Ramsey Michaels

... lips of Mary Magdalene in v. 13), and second, that he now understood his beloved teacher to be none other than God himself (cf. Jesus’ prophetic words in 8:28, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be”). Jesus’ response to this last great confession of John’s Gospel is much like his response to all the other confessions. He accepts it, but with no special words of commendation (cf., e.g., 1:50; 6:70; 16:31–32). Instead of pronouncing a beatitude ...

1969. Praise to God for a Living Hope

1 Peter 1:1-12

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... the time when they can see how it is all being realized. The OT prophets may indeed have searched intently and with the greatest care, but the apostles know from firsthand experience the magnificence of God’s salvation plan. The authority of Jesus himself is behind this bold claim, for Peter had heard Christ’s declaration: “Many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it” (Matt. 13:17; cf. John 8:56; Heb. 11:13). 1:11 The ...

1970. The Fall of Man

Genesis 3:1-24

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... is unclear whether the serpent was responding to God’s prohibition or to the woman’s reformulation of it. In the latter case the serpent would have been denying that touching the tree led to death. Then, if the woman ate of it, the serpent could claim that it had not really misled the woman about eating the fruit. By speaking so ambiguously, the serpent kept the woman off guard as it led her to doubt that eating this fruit would bring death. The serpent then asserted that God had given this restriction ...

1971. Jacob Wrestles with God

Genesis 32:1-32

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... :8, 10). Throughout this story “face” (panim) is a key term (32:19–20, 30; 33:10; also used in a preposition in 32:17; 33:3, 14). It conveys Jacob’s deep anxiety as he anticipates seeing Esau’s face. After the wrestling match Jacob claims to have seen God face to face; therefore he names that place Peniel (“face of God,” 32:30). Then, seeking to appease Esau (lit. “soothe his countenance” [face]), he gives him an enormous gift so that Esau might receive him honorably (lit. “lift his face ...

1972. Joseph in Charge of Egypt

Genesis 41:41-57

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... and changed his clothes. After proper introductions, Pharaoh informed Joseph that no one had been able to interpret his dreams. Joseph assured Pharaoh that though he could not interpret dreams in his own power, God would give Pharaoh the answer. In making this claim Joseph was speaking boldly, for in Egypt Pharaoh was a god. His confidence before Pharaoh testifies to his communion with God during his years in prison. He was ready to face the challenge before him, assured of God’s help. Since Joseph had ...

1973. Moses Returns to Egypt

Exodus 4:18-31

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... :22–23; 6:14; 11:5; 12:12, 29; 13:2, 12–15; 22:29; 34:19–20). Verse 23 is set apart and highlighted in the narrative by its verb change in the words, “I told you.” This introduction to the importance of the firstborn son makes several important claims. The text itself illustrate this by its structure: I told you, A “Israel is my firstborn son, B Let my son go, so he may worship me. B′ But you refused to let him go; A′ So I will kill your firstborn son.” The repetitions (in bold) form the ...

1974. The Plague of Blood

Exodus 7:14-24

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... of the firstborn. These events of natural history were present in the ancient world. Attempts to prove or explain the plagues only in this way, however, miss the point of the text. The narrative claims that the Lord was the initiator and power behind the plagues. The Lord did use “nature,” but the biblical claim is that God used it in a way that demonstrated a specific divine intervention (miraculous). The nature of these ancient historical events cannot be proven. They are, in the text, a matter to be ...

1975. The Plague of Darkness

Exodus 10:1-20

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... his hard heart remind us that Pharaoh himself was responsible for his hard heart (7:13–14, 22–23; 8:15, 19, 32; 9:7, 34–35). He enslaved and oppressed the people of his own volition long before the Lord began this hardening. God claimed to harden the pharaoh’s heart (thereby prolonging the slavery of the Israelites and the plagues) in order to “perform these miraculous signs of mine among them.” These signs further revealed to the Israelites who God is (“these signs of mine”). As we see in ...

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