Sermon and Worship Resources

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Showing 2351 to 2375 of 2664 results

2351. The Calling of the First Disciples

Luke 5:1-11

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... numerous healings and exorcisms (4:33–37, 40–41), and has healed Peter’s mother-in-law (4:38–39). The miraculous catch of fish provides a fitting climax, and it becomes easy for the reader to understand why Peter, James, and John would drop their nets and follow after Jesus (See Talbert, p. 59). Luke’s view of Peter calls for a brief discussion. In the Lucan Gospel, Peter (who is called “Simon” consistently until Jesus changes his name to “Peter” in 6:14) enjoys a position of prominence ...

2352. The Calling of Levi

Luke 5:27-32

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... note on 5:12 above) Jesus likens himself to a doctor. A doctor, of course, is needed not by those who are healthy (i.e., the righteous), but only by those who are sick (i.e., the unrighteous; v. 31). In the next verse Jesus drops the metaphorical language and declares that he has not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (v. 32). Luke adds “to repentance” (or “reform”), emphasizing Jesus’ summons to a change of life. By associating with the unrighteous, Jesus is not advocating a ...

2353. The Twelve Apostles

Luke 6:12-16

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... had been transformed into a donkey; his diapers purify a poisoned well; idols bow down before him; clay pigeons fashioned by the boy Jesus fly away at the clap of his hands; the hand of an angry rabbi withers when raised to strike Jesus; a classmate drops dead when he elbows Jesus during a race; the dead boy is raised after angry parents protest and beseech Jesus’ parents. In some ways no less bizarre is the gnostic Gospel of Thomas (NHC II, 2). Its prologue reads in part: “These are the secret sayings ...

2354. Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

Luke 9:10-17

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... that the people recline “in groups of hundreds and fifties” (Mark 6:39–40) may be an allusion to Moses’ similar division of the people, over which his appointed leaders would supervise (see Exod. 18:21). In the Lucan account most of these details drop out, but it is not because of the evangelist’s lack of interest in Moses, as can be seen in the place of prominence Moses receives in the transfiguration episode (Luke 9:30–31) and the correspondence between Luke 10:1–18:14 and Deuteronomy ...

2355. The Rich Man and Lazarus

Luke 16:19-31

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... dramatically. The beggar is carried by angels to Abraham’s side. When the rich man dies, however, there is no angelic escort. The rich man enters hell, the world of the dead (see note below). There he agonizes in pain and in desperation begs for a drop of moisture to cool his parched tongue. The agony that the rich man now experiences by far exceeds the misery that poor Lazarus had ever experienced in life, while the bliss Lazarus now enjoys far exceeds the pleasure that the rich man had ever experienced ...

2356. A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight

Luke 18:35-43

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... Gospels, one may wonder why the name was not added to the Matthean and Lucan versions as well. It is more likely that, not seeing any relevance in the man’s name, both Luke and Matthew (who mentions two blind men instead of one) elected to drop it. Later in Mark’s account of the crucifixion, the evangelist notes parenthetically that Simon of Cyrene was the “father of Alexander and Rufus” (15:21). Again, Luke and Matthew see no significance in these personal names and so choose to omit them (Luke 23 ...

2357. The Parable of the Ten Minas

Luke 19:11-27

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... . Gundry (pp. 502–3), however, reasons that Luke’s more complicated version is closer to the original. Since it is more likely that Luke would have added the part about the man going away to become king, rather than that Matthew would have dropped it (why should Matthew omit this component?), Fitzmyer’s reconstruction is to be preferred. The distinctive features found in the Lucan version fit the evangelist’s theology. The part about the man of noble birth who is to have himself appointed king but ...

2358. The Widow's Offering

Luke 21:1-4

Understanding Series

Craig A. Evans

... below) stands in contrast to the nature of the religious piety and practice of the teachers of the law described above in 20:46–47, who “devour widows’ houses.” While these very religious-appearing persons swindle the poor and defenseless, this particular widow drops into the treasury what little she has to live on. Although tiny in comparison to the much larger gifts of the rich, her gift, declares Jesus, is more than all the others. For while it was no inconvenience for the wealthy to give greater ...

2359. God's Sovereign Choice

Romans 9:1-29

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... O Lord, you have said it was for us (Jews) that you created the world. As for the other nations (Gentiles) which have descended from Adam, you have said that they are nothing, and that they are like spittle, and you have compared their abundance to a drop from a bucket” (4 Ezra 6:55; Charlesworth, OTP, vol. 1, p. 536). In applying the Hosea prophecy to the Gentiles, however, Paul affirms that they too are heirs of the promises to Israel. The two quotations in verses 27–29 come from Isaiah 10:22–23 ...

2360. Personal Greetings

Romans 16:1-27

Understanding Series

James R. Edwards

... ). The fact that Paul has majored on the problems of Jews and Gentiles may have detained him until now from addressing other problems that, though of less magnitude, were not unimportant. The familiarity of the preceding list of names may have induced him to drop his reserve and indulge in the pastoral urgency for which he was known. This compact admonition sums up not only the foregoing ethical injunctions (chs. 12–15), but the theme of the unity in faith of Jews and Gentiles that runs through the entire ...

2361. Wisdom from the Spirit

1 Corinthians 2:6-16

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... words from the original statement. The LXX of Isa. 40:13 literally reads, “Who knows the mind of the Lord, and who is his counselor, that he may instruct him.” Paul alters the form of the verb “to instruct” in a minor manner, but he completely drops the phrase that asks who might be the Lord’s counselor, apparently because it is superfluous to his concern at this point. Regarding the OT citations in this verse and in the rest of 1 Cor., R. L. Omanson (“Acknowledging Paul’s Quotations,” BT 43 ...

2362. Apostles of Christ

1 Corinthians 4:1-21

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... bad fate that can be endured; rather, Christian suffering plays a vital role in God’s work of reconciliation. Additional Notes 4:6 The meaning of the phrase not … beyond what is written troubles interpreters. To what does this refer? Some have suggested dropping the words from the translation, arguing they are either incomprehensible or a gloss or both. Others suggest that the words refer generally to Paul’s citations of Scripture(s) in his epistle. Still others take the phrase to designate the OT or ...

2363. Orderly Worship

1 Corinthians 14:26-40

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... should speak and the others should discern or weigh carefully. The identity of the others was discussed in the commentary above, but what should be seen in this compound command is that prophecy, a matter of supreme importance and divine inspiration, should not drop into the middle of the life of a congregation as an unquestioned word of God. Paul insists that those hearing the prophets listen and evaluate what they hear. This dynamic operation of prophecy in the life of the church precludes some special ...

2364. The Resurrection of the Dead

1 Corinthians 15:12-34

Understanding Series

Marion L. Soards

... point of view and the method of argument dramatically. In fact, verse 29 is almost free-standing, although it relates intimately to the current context of discussion. The opening word now (Gk. epei; lit. “otherwise”) signals a new level of reflection. Paul drops back and takes a look at the denial of the resurrection of the dead in relation to a new item of evidence. He uses two rhetorical questions to ask about an apparently real practice of the Corinthians that exposes the inconsistency between what ...

2365. Towns for the Levites

Numbers 35:1-5

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... . The same execution will await those who kill by shoving another or throwing something at him intentionally or if in hostility he hits him with his fist so that he dies. If, on the other hand, the shoving or throwing is unintentional or if the killer drops a stone on someone without seeing him, then a hearing is required. The assembly is apparently a judicial body that determines whether the killing is murder or unintentional. In the case of an unintentional killing, the accused is sent to a city of refuge ...

2366. David Again Spares Saul's Life

1 Samuel 26:1-25

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... his son before rather than after David has presented his defense. This is far easier to explain if the previous incident did take place as recorded and is brought back to Saul’s mind as he again hears David’s voice across the wilderness. Abner drops out of the picture, and David makes his final attempt to persuade Saul of the foolishness of his campaign against David. Unsurprisingly in the light of Saul’s record, there is less conviction of a hearing than we find in chapter 24. David reiterates the ...

2367. Amnon and Tamar

2 Samuel 13:1-22

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... with a carefully worked out plan, Jonadab demonstrates his shrewdness in his understanding of David’s nature. He assumes that David will visit his loved son when he is ill and also that his concern for Amnon’s health will allow normal convention to be dropped so that Tamar can visit. Tamar, when specifically requested by David, would have had no choice but to go. Her feelings are seen as irrelevant and therefore ignored by David and Amnon. It was a common custom to prepare a special meal for the sick ...

2368. Sheba Rebels Against David

2 Samuel 20:1-26

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... next again suggests an eyewitness report. Amasa approached Joab without fear, assuming himself to be in the presence of allies if not friends. Joab murdered him and headed off to complete the military objective. The strange reference to Joab’s dagger dropping out (v. 8) may imply that the dagger slipped into Joab’s hand by accident and the killing was thus unpremeditated opportunism. This possibly reflects the way the story was later told to David, but the writers convey explicitly the deliberate ...

2369. Job's Third Reply to Bildad

Job 26:1--31:40

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... of emphasizing the subject: “He, himself” or, as in NIV, “he alone.” Where humans fail, God is unhindered. God views . . . and sees: his vision is keener even that of the high-flying birds of prey who soar high above the earth and drop like stones to capture the smallest field mouse. His vision also extends to the ends of the earth and includes everything under the heavens. This merismus (“heavens . . . earth”) indicates complete vision and knowledge of everything that is. 28:25–27 God’s ...

2370. Elihu

Job 32:1--37:24

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... a garment (Ps. 102:25–28), but God is from everlasting to everlasting (Ps. 90:2–4). The term behind the expression is past finding out, kheqer, has the root meaning “searching by digging up” the earth. 36:27–28 He draws up the drops of water. The imagery shifts now to portray the approach of God as a thunderstorm. Just how much this description reflects an understanding of the science of evaporation and condensation associated with rainfall is not clear. It does seem that the ancients understood a ...

2371. My God as Refuge from Social Alienation

Psalm 31:1-24

Understanding Series

Craig C. Broyles

... in anticipation of Yahweh’s hearing the prayer and is stated as accomplished facts: for you saw . . . and knew . . . . You have. These motifs round off the prayer, and were it to conclude here, we would not suspect a portion of the psalm had dropped off. It does, however, lack any explicit lament (though not all prayer psalms have formal laments). Curiously, the first mention of the enemy comes in the concluding thanksgiving (v. 8). The Hebrew text of verse 4 reads, the trap that “they have set for ...

2372. Gethsemane

Matthew 26:36-46

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... Rieu). He then went a bit farther and fell prostrate in prayer. To “fall on one’s face” is a biblical expression indicating an earnest attitude of serious prayer (see Gen. 17:3; Num. 14:5). Luke adds that he was “in anguish” and that “his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground” (Luke 22:44). To God, his Father, he asks that if possible, the cup be taken from him. In the Old Testament the cup is a metaphor for punishment and suffering (Ps. 75:8; Isa. 51:17). The agony of Jesus in ...

2373. Jesus Before Pilate

Matthew 27:11-26

Understanding Series

Robert H. Mounce

... of Abba,” that is, “son of the father” or perhaps “son of the teacher” (bar-rabban). The balance of phrase in verse 17 (Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ) strongly favors inclusion. “Jesus” as the given name of Barabbas may have been dropped by an early copyist out of regard for Jesus Christ. Outside of the Gospels there is no strong evidence of releasing a prisoner during a religious festival. Josephus (Ant. 20.208–210), however, mentions the custom (see also m. Pesahim, 8.6). Pilate ...

2374. The Image of Gold and the Fiery Furnace

Daniel 3:1-30

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... who had brought the accusation, but it may be implied. Because the text says they fell into the blazing furnace (3:23), a number of commentators have suggested that it was a type of kiln with an opening in the top and a door down below. They were dropped in through the top, but they exited through the door, through which Nebuchadnezzar was able to see the four men (3:25). 3:24–30 Nebuchadnezzar’s wrath turns to amazement as he not only sees that the three Jews are unbound and unharmed but also sees a ...

2375. Daniel’s Dream of Four Beasts

Daniel 7:1-14

Understanding Series

William Nelson

... of his head upon his bed.” The LXX has only one term, horama—“dream” or “vision”—instead of two, “dream and visions,” as in the MT. Since the pair occurs several other times (2:28; 4:2 [4:5 Eng.]), it is more likely that one term dropped out of the Greek than that a second term was added to the Aramaic. Therefore, the MT is preferable. A more literal translation of he wrote down the substance of his dream (Aram. beʾdayin khelmaʾ ketab reʾsh millin ʾamar) is “then he wrote the dream ...

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