And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. Matthew 6:12 NIV Debts – The Greek term translated “debts” in Matthew’s version of the Lord’s Prayer is not a word that means “sins.” It’s opheílēmata, from the root opheílō. “Etymologically obscure, this word means ‘to owe someone something,’ e.g. loans, debts, sums,…
And He said to man, Look, fear the Master, that is wisdom, and the shunning of evil is insight. Job 28:28 Robert Alter Look – Don’t overlook “Look”! If you do, you’ll miss something quite unusual. The NASB translates this verse, “And to mankind He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And…
I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well). Philemon 1:19 NASB You owe to me – “I really don’t want to bring this up. It’s not something that needs to be mentioned among friends. But—just…
Yes, I know someone will say, “But this is a religious web site. You shouldn’t be talking about politics.” Maybe, but when I recently went to Zimbabwe and saw the portrait of “His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Robert Gabriel Mugabe,” while holding the money pictured below, it reminded me of President Obama’s…
He will send from heaven and save me; He reproaches him who tramples upon me. Selah. God will send forth His lovingkindness and His truth. Psalm 57:3 NASB Truth – “What is truth?” the man asked. Pilate’s question is still with us. He was a conventionalist. Truth is what he decided was truth. It was…
If you buy a Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve; and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing. Exodus 21:2 Hebrew World Six years – Apparently God is not interested in profit; at least not in the same way that we are. Imagine the ridiculous consequences of this Torah commandment. Someone…
Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes. Matthew 24:46 NASB So doing – While I was washing the car, I suddenly thought about asset management. I don’t know why, except that the Spirit was prompting me in moments of unaware routines. I thought about what really matters to God…
But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. Psalm 130:4 ESV May be feared – YHWH pardons! Rejoice! YHWH is salah. I can be straightened. But this is no surprise to the serpent, and he is prepared to manipulate YHWH’s pardon for his purposes. Never underestimate the craftiness of the yetzer ha’ra. …
Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those who are without strength and not just please ourselves. Romans 15:1 Ought – First in the verse. Yes, Sha’ul wants us to recognize the emphatic position of the word opheilo, so he puts it first. “Ought and we the strong the weaknesses of…
When you make a loan of any sort to your countryman, you must not enter his house to seize his pledge. You must remain outside, while the man to whom you made the loan brings the pledge out to you. Deuteronomy 24:10-11 Pledge – If you make a loan to a member of the community…
