The woman said to the serpent, “Of the fruit of any tree of the garden we may eat.” Genesis 3:2 Stone Tanakh Woman said – When we read this verse, most of us concentrate on the fact that Havvah does not reiterate the command given to Adam exactly as it was given. She adds a…
You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? Galatians 3:1 NASB Bewitched – Have we been fooled? Would Paul say the same thing to us if he showed up at our doorsteps? “You undisciplined Christians, who has cast an evil eye upon you?” Perhaps that…
I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive her plagues; for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.” Revelation 18:4-5 NASB Participate – Leave Babylon behind. For that matter, leave Sodom…
and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. Ephesians 5:2 NASB Offering/ Sacrifice – Paul does tend to be verbose at times. His Greek is complicated and filled with allusions (typical of a rabbinic midrash). But…
When a person presents an offering of meal to the LORD, his offering shall be of choice flour; . . . Leviticus 2:1 JPS When – God never commanded sacrifices. Let’s say that again. God never commanded sacrifices. Even when Abraham was asked to take Isaac to the altar, it was not a command. The…
Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hands of the Egyptians . . . Exodus 14:30 NASB Saved – If you’ve never asked yourself why God chose Hebrew as the language of His personal revelation, this verse should raise the question. Oh, it seems so straightforward on the surface, but that’s because we…
It is a trustworthy statement; if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. 1 Timothy 3:1 NASB Overseer – If any man? But what about Carol or Ann or Linda or Jan? What if they desire to be “overseers”? Ah, if only Paul weren’t so…
Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God. 1 Corinthians 10:32 NASB No offense – Paul’s exhortation is frankly impossible. How can we not offend either Jew or Greek? We read this verse without allowing it to prick our consciences. If I claim that Yeshua is the Messiah,…
So, too, if, while in her husband’s household, she makes a vow or imposes an obligation on herself by oath, and her husband learns of it, yet offers no objection – thus failing to restrain her – all her vows shall stand and all her self-imposed obligations shall stand. But if her husband does annul…
“These men are throwing our city into confusion, being Jews, and are proclaiming customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans.” Acts 16:20-21 NASB Being Jews/ being Romans – This century is the second first century. It is exactly like the first century view of religious practice twenty…
