having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us, and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Colossians 2:14 NASB It – What is “it”? What is nailed to the cross? According to the Greek text in this verse, it…
I gave them My statutes, and made my judgments known to them, by whose observance man shall live. Ezekiel 20:11 (Hebrew World) Man – Perhaps you find this statement in Ezekiel as startling as I do. God, speaking to disobedient Israel, has the perfect opportunity to clear up the issue of Torah application. He could…
One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger who sojourns with you, an ordinance forever in your generations; as you are, so shall the stranger be before the Lord. One Torah and one code shall be for you, and for the stranger who sojourns with you. Numbers 15:15-16 …
“Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations.” Isaiah 42:1 NASB Justice – I sincerely hope that you do not pray for this prophecy to come true. There is no doubt that one day…
I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, the house of bondage. Exodus 20:2 JPS I am – Before we can look into this verse and this word (anoki), we have to step backward, to the first verse in the twentieth chapter. Why? Because there is something unusual…
There is a time to act for God; set aside the Torah Psalm 119:126 (Heschel) To act for God – You won’t get this translation in the English Bibles. Most English Bibles, and a lot of translations of the Jewish Tanakh, read something like, “It is time for the Lord to act, for they have…
for there was joy in Israel 1 Chronicles 12:40 (Hebrew World) Joy – “Joy is not a theological category in the teachings of most religions and it is never discussed in handbooks of theology. Those who are overwhelmed by spiritual solemnity and are unable to forget that faith lives in a constant state of tension…
but Rachel was beautiful and well favored Genesis 29:17 NASB Rachel – We know God doesn’t always choose the first. Jacob, not Esau. Abel, not Cain. Joseph. David. God’s choosing often crosses the boundaries of human protocol and expectation. We hold up these men as examples of God’s selection. But maybe we should hold up…
And He said, “Who told you that you were naked?” Genesis 3:11 NASB Naked – Perhaps the real issue in life is not guilt but shame. It is possible to deal with guilt. Atonement sets aside guilt. If we are guilty, the law tells us what must be done to recompense and restore. Sometimes we…
And He said, “Who told you that you were naked?” Genesis 3:11 NASB Told – Who told you? Who told you that there was something flawed in your world? Who told you that something is interfering with your enjoyment of just being alive? Who told you that you had a problem with God? Adam’s unspoken…
