Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: thirstiness, dryness, parched, craving, strong desire, longing, yearning, avidity, hunger, voracity, keenness, eagerness, lust, appetite, passion, love, crave, want, covet, desire, hunger for/after, lust for/after, hanker for/after, have one's heart set on

Antonyms: aversion, distaste, apathy, dislike, hatred, antipathy, disgust, disregard, abhorrence, acrimony, wet, animosity, animus, antagonism, bad feeling, bitterness, be averse to, detestation

Showing 1976 to 2000 of 2415 results

1976. The Throne in Heaven

Revelation 4:1-11

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... . Jesus identifies them as rulers over an eschatological Israel, in contra-distinction to the leaders of “official Judaism” who have relinquished their right to rule by their rejection of him as Messiah. The significance of Jesus’ use of “throne” in the passion narrative, then, is twofold: first, it signifies that the eschatological Israel of God consists of only those who are faithful to God’s Christ (Luke 22:28; cf. Rev. 14:1–5); and, second, those who rule over eschatological Israel as ...

1977. The New Jerusalem

Revelation 21:1-27

Understanding Series

Robert W. Wall

... Johannine tradition; the essence and the aim of the Word’s messianic mission is his glory (John 1:14). Thus, in John’s narrative of Jesus’ public ministry, teaching interprets miracles as powerful “signs” that reveal the transforming nature of God’s glory within history, culminating in Jesus’ passion as the full revelation of God’s glory (cf. John 7:39; 8:54; 11:4; 12:16, 23, 28; 13:31, 32; 14:13; 15:8; 16:14; 17:1, 4, 5, 10). By locating God’s glory in Christ’s death rather than in his ...

1978. Punishments for Sin

Leviticus 20:1-27

Understanding Series

W. H. Bellinger, Jr.

... word in the verse is the one I have translated “disgrace”; the word is hesed. The usual meaning is something like “steadfast love.” The term is used in Proverbs 14:34 as “disgrace” or “reproach,” and the meaning here is probably something like “public disgrace.” Perhaps some underlying notion of passion or desire is behind such a use of the word.

1979. Samuel's Farewell Speech

1 Samuel 12:1-25

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... ’s final speech (Deut. 31; Josh. 23). This speech is included because it makes points of which the reader is expected to take note. Whether it records Samuel’s words or is a later composition does not affect that fact. However, its combination of passion and ambiguity fits with Samuel’s position. 12:1–2 Samuel realized that the appointment of Saul meant a fundamental change in his own position. He had been acting as the primary national leader, carrying out a mixture of priestly and prophetic duties ...

1980. David's Victories

2 Samuel 8:1-14

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... timing of these two incidents go both ways, and it does not affect the interpretation of either incident as to which came first. In spite of the awareness of human nature that is apparent in David’s poetry, and in spite of his passionate commitment to the matter occupying his mind, David is not renowned for thoughtfulness about other people’s feelings and concerns. The sudden recollection of a responsibility to Jonathan ties in with what we see elsewhere of David’s character. Baldwin argues that David ...

1981. Sheba Rebels Against David

2 Samuel 20:1-26

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... more a demonstration of Joab’s power and a deterrent to other rebel towns than a necessary way of dealing with this incident. However, a wise woman from the town intervened. She argued that destruction of a town was likely to inflame passions against David rather than demonstrate strength. She persuaded Joab and her fellow citizens to give up Sheba and save the rest, including seemingly any of the Berites who had accompanied Sheba. In spite of his violent nature, Joab recognized that the best military ...

1982. David Counts the Fighting Men

2 Samuel 24:1-17

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... nation die as a result. The writers clearly present the limitation of the effects of the plague and in particular the preservation of Jerusalem as an exercise of the mercy of God in which David had put his trust. In verse 17, David, with characteristic passion, wants to take on himself the blame for what has occurred. The writers make no further comment on this, but the implication that the people have shared his proud attitude remains. 24:18–25 Verse 25 could be seen as portraying the sacrifice, made at ...

1983. Job’s Reply to Zophar

Job 12:1--14:22

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... ; 13:22), the legal aspects recede in this passage where God will call seeking Job’s answer, but in a context of longing (you [God] will long). The verb “long” (Heb. ksp) has the sense of “yearn, long for; be hungry,” and indicates passionate concern and desire bordering on need. In 10:3, Job confronts God for “spurning” the work of his hand and oppressing Job. The change in divine attitude towards his creature described here makes all the difference, as the following verses reveal. 14:16–17 ...

1984. My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?

Psalm 22:1-31

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... the ends of the earth will . . . turn to the LORD” (v. 27), and it even appears that all the dead will worship (v. 29, see below). This psalm is particularly powerful for Christians, and it is virtually impossible to hear it without overtones of Christ’s passion and resurrection. Yet we would be the poorer if we did not also try to hear it within its earlier OT contexts. God’s word is often multidimensional and multilevel. Even if the final application of a scripture is as sublime as this one, it does ...

1985. Adultery

Matthew 5:27-30

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... Jesus is not teaching some masochistic doctrine of self-mutilation for spiritual ends, nor is he suggesting that the way to meet evil desire is to inflict radical physical surgery. The imagery emphasizes the crucial importance of taking whatever measures are necessary to control natural passions that tend to flare out of control. The right hand is mentioned because it corresponds to the place of honor (cf. 1 Kings 2:19; Ps. 110:1). For the same reason, it is the right eye that should be torn out and thrown ...

1986. Turn Your Gaze from Me before I Am No More

Psalm 39:1-13

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... tongue from sin. The form of sin is not spelled out—whether it reflects a temptation to join them (cf. 73:3), a denial of one’s faith and friends (cf. 73:13–15), or a lashing out with hostile words. Nevertheless, the speaker’s passion is aroused (My heart grew hot within me), and he breaks his vow but only to voice a prayer to God. He “keeps” his “tongue from sin” before “the wicked” by “speaking” with his tongue before God. Although not said explicitly to God, these opening verses ...

1987. Jesus Predicts His Death

Matthew 16:21-28

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... must be prepared to follow a Messiah who would go to Jerusalem and suffer at the hands of the orthodox religious establishment. There he would be put to death, but after three days he would rise again. In verse 21 we have the first definite prediction of the passion (cf. 17:22–23 and 20:18–19 for the two other predictions in Matthew). When Jesus says that he must go to Jerusalem, he is saying that this course of action is determined by God’s will expressed in Scripture. It is the divine intention that ...

1988. The Healing of a Boy With a Demon

Matthew 17:14-23

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... to death, but apparently they were incapable of grasping the promise of resurrection. Paradidōmi (v. 22) in this context probably means no more than “to be handed over,” although later it came to be part of the theological language of the Passion narrative. Additional Notes 17:21 This verse is omitted by a number of the best manuscripts (the original hand of Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, etc.) and was probably assimilated from the Markan parallel (9:29). If the passage was originally in Matthew, there is no ...

1989. Jesus Again Predicts His Death

Matthew 20:17-19

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... 20 also begins with the Greek conjunction gar, which emphasizes continuity. 20:17–19 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside to tell them what would happen to him there. This is now the third prediction of his passion. Once again he speaks only to the Twelve. Three important points are made. First, he will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. Paradidōmi (betrayed) was a technical term for “release into custody.” It refers primarily to the ...

1990. Jesus Anointed at Bethany

Matthew 26:6-13

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

The Final Evening: The Passion narrative is the account of the suffering and death of Jesus. It normally includes all the events beginning with the garden scene in Gethsemane and finishing with the burial. The centrality of the cross in early Christian preaching is reflected in the major emphasis given to it in each of ...

1991. Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

Matthew 26:14-16

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

1992. Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial

Matthew 26:31-35

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

1993. Gethsemane

Matthew 26:36-46

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

1994. Jesus Arrested

Matthew 26:47-56

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

1995. Before the Sanhedrin

Matthew 26:57-68

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

1996. Peter Disowns Jesus

Matthew 26:69-75

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

1997. Jesus Arrested

Mark 14:43-52

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... for the temple to the high priest. John 18:3 describes the arresting force as including “a detachment of soldiers,” suggesting that Pilate cooperated in the arrest. Chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders: These are the same figures mentioned in the passion prediction in 8:31 (cf. 10:33). 14:44 The one I kiss: A kiss was a normal greeting for disciples to give to their master in ancient Palestine (see references in Lane, p. 525; and “Kiss,” IDB, vol. 3, pp. 39–40). 14:47 ...

1998. The Death of Jesus

Mark 15:33-41

Understanding Series

Larry W. Hurtado

... many in the ancient world (and, unfortunately, still!) women were regarded as symbols of weakness. In other words, Mark inverts the stereotype of women, making these women the only ones courageous enough to follow Jesus to the cross and the only ones in the passion account who do not either deny Jesus or ridicule him. Second, the mention of these women here makes them the human links between Jesus’ crucifixion and his resurrection. In 15:47, two of them are mentioned as seeing where Jesus had been buried ...

1999. The Boy Jesus at the Temple

Luke 2:41-52

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... stage for the episode itself, but once again underscores the faithfulness and piety of Joseph and Mary. Seen against the Passover celebration, Jesus’ teaching in the temple may very well anticipate his final teaching in the temple at Passover time during Passion Week (see Luke 21:37). The whole incident raises a number of difficult questions if scrutinized primarily from a historical and psychological perspective. For example, how could the boy Jesus be overlooked for an entire day (v. 44); and where did ...

2000. More Than Conquerors

Romans 8:28-39

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... references to unjust human suffering. But nowhere except in Isaiah 53 are sins acquitted by the suffering of an innocent human (“by his wounds we are healed,” Isa. 53:5). This is why Isaiah 53 plays such a significant role in the accounts of Jesus’ passion, for only vicarious suffering discloses the meaning of the cross. The first part of verse 32 (He who did not spare his own Son) thus testifies to God’s love. But that alone is not an adequate testimony to the cross, for the crucifixion is more ...

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