“Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Matthew 25:34 NASB Blessed – If you turn to the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, you will find that each one begins with the Greek word makarioi. This word should not be translated “blessed are” since…
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. James 3:17 NASB Good fruits – What is “good fruit?” Don’t spiritualize. Don’t start telling me about love, joy and peace. Just tell me what you look for when you buy good fruit. You’re…
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. James 3:17 NASB Full of mercy – The Greek word mestos means “completely full, replete.” It is not a term that allows qualification. All or not all. Those are the choices. When James says…
For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. James 2:10 ESV Rodney Baker has contributed several TW’s on Religion while I am in South Africa. Whole – This is a favourite proof text for those who would claim that the Law is no longer applicable…
“But let the man who boasts, boast of this, that he understands and knows me. For I am Yahweh who acts in steadfast loyalty, justice, and righteousness upon the earth; for in these things I delight – Yahweh’s word.” Jeremiah 9:24 J. A. Thompson translation. Delight – How would you answer this question: What are…
Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “Blessed be he of the LORD, who has not failed in His kindness to the living or to the dead! For,” Naomi explained to her, “the man is related to us; he is one of our redeeming kinsmen.” Ruth 2:20 JPS Failed – “Hebrew words suggest each other,” says Eskenazi.[1] …
Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “Blessed be he of the LORD, who has not failed in His kindness to the living or to the dead!” Ruth 2:20 JPS Has not failed – What does Ruth have to do with Rebekah? If you read the two stories in Hebrew, you would be struck by the repeated…
They broke into weeping and said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” Ruth 1:9-10 JPS Return – Literally this verse reads, “No, it is with you that we return to your people.” Eskenazi points out that the focus of the women’s concern is Naomi, not their personal plight nor their…
But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Turn back, each of you to her mother’s house. May the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.” Ruth 1:8 JPS The dead – Why should God express hesed toward Ruth and Orpah? Naomi’s answer demonstrates that she isn’t an…
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 NASB Good Works – It seems reasonable to suggest that Yeshua anticipated the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple. It’s hard to read His teaching in Matthew 24 and…
