Matthew 13:13-15. The tone of Jesus here seems to point to the fact that he does not want certain ones to believe. It’s a matter of perspective. His perspective, not ours. Recall that Nicodemus was received into Jesus’ confidence,...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Matthew 11:3. What important lesson do we learn from John’s doubt? Ever had a monumental experience with the Lord? A no-doubter? A moment of clarity so bright you just knew it would never “go away”. Then it “went...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Matthew 9:16-17. In the two parables here, what do the new patch and the new wine represent, and what is the lesson to be learned? The new patch and the new wine represent the new covenant, the new life in the Spirit, the new way of living and...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Luke 4:28. What was it that filled the Jews with such wrath? As Jesus said, the fact that a prophet is not accepted by his own people. Also, the fact that He had claimed to be the fulfillment of the day’s reading from Isaiah. Then as a...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
John 1:21. Elsewhere Jesus claimed that John the Baptist was the Elijah that was to come. Here, John denies being Elijah. Explain. John came in the spirit and power of Elijah. Jesus was not teaching reincarnation here, only that the man who...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Luke 1:1-4. Who was Theophilus? No one knows who he was, or even if this is a man’s name. The term means “lover of God” and may thus be addressed to all of us. Matthew 1:1-17, Luke 3:23-38. How do the two genealogies of...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Zechariah 13:3-5. Why such harsh punishments for simply “prophesying”? Israel had been filled with false prophets, prophets of Ba’al and so many other gods. The harshness here is directed to those still daring to lead...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Zechariah 5:1-4. A scroll that curses? What could this be? Short answer: The Word of God. Consider the scroll of Revelation 5 also, a history book written in advance. God’s Word and God’s plan are the standard lifted up before the...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Zechariah 1:8-11. The vision is explained, but what does it really mean to us? It tells us God is in control, directly and through His own agents watching the planet and His people. At this juncture there seems to be world peace under Emperor...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
Micah 7:5. How far should we take Micah’s word here? Sounds pretty tough. Micah, prophet of the Lord, has not misled us so far. He’s a friend, too, right? And he’d be the first to tell you, don’t trust even me! Trust only...[ abbreviated | read entire ]
