But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. Matthew 13:16 NASB Because they see – On All Saints Day, November 1, 1755 at 9:40 in the morning the status of Portugal as a world power completely changed. Before 9:40 Lisbon was the center of worldwide exploration and economic prosperity. …
But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, even now I say again: if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! Galatians 1:8-9 NASB…
“Now then, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps His covenant and faithfulness, do not let all the hardship seem insignificant before You, which has happened to us, our kings, our leaders, our priests, our prophets, our fathers, and to all Your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria to this…
They who sow in tears in glad song will reap. Psalm 126:5 Robert Alter In tears – Don’t take this verse out of context. Read the whole psalm. David clearly writes about the historical circumstances of Israel. The nation has suffered. For centuries it has been afflicted by others. Now he summarizes Israel’s perspective. Suffering…
Three times a year all your males are to appear before the Lord God, the God of Israel. Exodus 34:23 NASB Are to appear – You probably know about this requirement. According to Jewish practice, three times a year all Israelite males had to appear before the Lord. In the days of the Temple, this…
Then God said, “Let Us make mankind in Our image, according to Our likeness; Genesis 1:26a Image – Biblical words about the creator of humanity have occupied theologians for centuries. Most of that time has been spent trying to determine what precisely is meant by the term “human.” Since the Bible uses both ṣelem (translated “image”) and dĕmût…
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 NASB The heavens and the earth – God is in Heaven, right? Well, not exactly. You see, if we believe that God is transcendent, that implies He is other than His creation, and that means Heaven, which is also part of creation, is not His…
Today we return to Parma after some time in Greece. Tomorrow is Rosanne’s birthday. Here is her favorite flower. We just need some time to catch up now. Enjoy.
He who gives vent to anger commits as grave a sin as though he worshipped strange gods. Tractate Shabbat 105b Anger – Referring to Job 18:4, Luzzatto follows the Sages by connecting anger with idolatry. We don’t usually think like this, but perhaps we should. Stone’s commentary on Luzzatto shows us why: “[Anger] is the…
