Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Matthew 13:7 NIV Thorns – The parable of the sower (actually, the soils) is an allegory. How do we know it is an allegory? Because the author tells us it is! We do not have to guess at the meanings of the terms….
Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool, and so is wisdom to a man of understanding. Proverbs 10:23 NASB Sport – What makes you laugh? Seriously now (pun intended), what do you laugh about? According to Solomon, the fool laughs at doing wickedness. The NASB attempts to capture the idiom with the translation “sport,”…
Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at His word: “Your brothers who hate you, who exclude you for My name’s sake, . . . Isaiah 66:5 NASB Tremble – Not very often, but when it happens—watch out! That’s my advice about hareid, the Hebrew word translated “tremble.” It’s only used five times,…
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 Clean – If you invite the King of the Universe to take up residence with you, what condition would you like your house to look like? Dishes piled up from last night’s party? Grass not mowed? Closets with…
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Romans 8:1-2 NASB No condemnation – Paul is pretty intense. He opens the sentence with ouden. It means, “not…
Some time ago one of my graduate students wrote a paper on Paul’s idea of speaking in tongues. I thought you would find it interesting. The Gift of Tongues in the New Testament
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 NASB In – God’s gift of life is free but it comes packaged in a particular way. Since we are often so intent on getting the gift, we have a tendency to…
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 NASB Wages – opsonion. “What is appointed for purchase.” H. W. Heidland provides the following insight: “the use of the word brings out three important points: a. that sin is a deceiver,…
He restores my soul; he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:3 Hebrew World Restores – David was just out of touch. If he really wanted restoring, he would have grabbed a PowerAde or an energy bar. He might have taken extra multi-vitamins or gone to the doctor to…
