Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48 NASB Be perfect – What a terrible translation! No, it isn’t that the words aren’t correct. The Greek esesthe teleioi does mean, “you are to be perfect.” That’s not the problem. The problem is that no one can be perfect! As…
The wicked will see it and be vexed, he will gnash his teeth and melt away; the desire of the wicked will perish. Psalm 112:10 NASB See it – What’s “it”? What will the wicked see? Will they see the revenge of the man of God, as might be suggested by adding a few words to verse 8? Will…
He has given freely to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be exalted in honor. Psalm 112:9 NASB Horn – In Hebrew, the word qeren means both the literal horn like the horn of an animal and the figurative expression of power. The mistranslation of this word as literal horns resulted in Michelangelo’s representation…
His heart is upheld, he will not fear, until he looks with satisfaction on his adversaries. Psalm 112:8 NASB With satisfaction – When you read this verse, what do you think it means? Does it mean that the man of God will find recompense for the abuse he has suffered at the hands of the wicked? Does it mean that…
He will not fear evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Psalm 112:7 NASB Steadfast – Hebrew is about reality. Hebrew doesn’t encourage fiction. And what’s the difference between fiction and reality. Fiction has to make sense. Today we look at the Hebrew word kûn. There are basically two forms of this word. One is about…
For he will never be shaken; the righteous will be remembered forever. Psalm 112:6 NASB Righteous – What do you want on your tombstone? Born: xxxx. Died: xxxx. And then some words about who you were. Hopefully: ṣaddîq, the one word that will be the final marker of your life here. The one word that describes what…
It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; He will maintain his cause in judgment. Psalm 112:5 NASB Gracious – Exodus 34:6 and 7 are crucial verses. They communicate God’s own self-description. The words He uses as He passes by Moses reveal the character of the God we serve, worship, and love. If a…
Light arises in the darkness for the upright; He is gracious and compassionate and righteous. Psalm 112:4 NASB Compassionate – The consonant structure of raḥûm, the Hebrew word for “compassionate,” offers an interesting linguistic insight into its meaning and application. You see, raḥûm, can be slightly altered by changing the vowels. Then it becomes raḥam, the word…
Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. Psalm 112:3 NASB Righteousness – The blessed father is one whose children are aligned with God’s word (Psalm 112:2), but his influence doesn’t stop there. His righteousness endures. What does that mean? Does it mean that the father experiences eternal life? Does it…
His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Psalm 112:2 NASB Upright – What does it mean to be upright? In biblical terms, this is not an inherited condition. It’s not about having a conscience. It’s learned behavior. God grants man the ability to learn the Torah, but He does…
