Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1 NASB Of me – Of all the people who probably least deserved to hear this exhortation, the Corinthians top the list. Their lives are a mess. They are involved in idolatry, sexual immorality, petty rivalries, family squabbles, lack of compassion and…
While Israel stayed in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father’s concubine; and Israel heard. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve in number. Genesis 35:22 New JPS Now – Dr. Shani Tzoref’s article, “Did Rueben Lie with Bilhah?”[1] points out that in this verse there is an extra letter, a Pey,…
Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep…
“Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18 NASB Reason – “ . . . the prophet is not a philosopher of logic, but a philosopher of…
Then I accounted those who died long since more fortunate than those who are still living. Ecclesiastes 4:2 JPS Fortunate – Take a hard look at life! A very hard look. Without your continued hope in God, wouldn’t you have to agree with Solomon? Those who have already died are finished with all this…
I saw that there is nothing better for man than to enjoy his possessions, since that is his portion. For who can enable him to see what will happen afterward? Ecclesiastes 3:22 JPS Afterward – Qohelet is a rationalist. That means he chooses to see life only on the basis of what he can observe…
And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand all the parables? Mark 4:13 NASB How will you understand – What motivates people to become enthralled with mystical approaches to the Bible? What causes them to start reading the text as if it is code for some hidden secret?…
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3:2 NASB Is at hand – John the Baptist spoke words that his audience understood. The question is whether or not we understand them. Oh, we’re familiar with the words, of that there is no doubt. But for us they are a call to personal…
Then Solomon formed a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh’s daughter and brought her to the city of David until he had finished building his own house and the house of the Lord and the wall around Jerusalem. 1 Kings 3:1 NASB Marriage alliance – You can’t interpret the Bible without…
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, Isaiah 9:6-7a NASB…
