Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures Luke 24:45 NASB Understand – When we read this verse, we’re likely to imagine some kind of mental expansion miracle. As Western believers, we automatically assume that “understand” means cognitive comprehension. Our own educational experience leads us to interpret this text as if Yeshua were preparing…
because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?” (Thus He declared all foods clean.) Mark 7:19 NASB Thus He declared – Every author has blind spots. Yes, even me! So when we read commentary and exegesis and other spiritual material, we must always keep a sharp eye for incidental,…
The Lord by wisdom founded the earth, by understanding He established the heavens. By His knowledge the deeps were broken up and the skies drip with dew. Proverbs 3:19-20 NASB Wisdom/understanding/knowledge – Turn to a dictionary. Oh, not a dictionary like the TDNT or the TDOT, but a dictionary of contemporary English usage. Look up “wisdom,” “understanding,” and “knowledge.” You…
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 NASB Conformed – Paul’s term, syschematizesthe, is a word about shaping behavior. It’s not really about doctrines of dogma or…
But perceiving that one group were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, Paul began crying out in the Council, “Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!” Acts 23:6 NASB Resurrection – We probably think that Paul used the belief in the resurrection…
“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…
And Jesus said to them, “Nor will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” Luke 20:8 NASB Authority – We all want to know, don’t we? “Who says so?” The constant insistence on recognized authority. So if I come back with the answer, “Well, I heard it from YouTube,” my claim will…
As we come close to the end of 2016, I thought it useful to articulate as best I can how I approach the Scriptures. This is really a simplified version of what I think about the paradigms of the authors. I try my best to figure out what they thought and how they viewed the…
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” Deuteronomy 6:4 ESV Hear – It should come as no surprise that Hebrew thinking about Scripture is radically different from Greek thinking about Scripture. The difference is not in the language of Scripture itself. The Bible is written in Hebrew, Aramaic, a particular kind…
“and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day.” And they were deeply grieved. Matthew 17:23 NASB Deeply grieved – Yeshua foretells his crucifixion and resurrection. Yes, death is coming, but there is wonderful news. On the third day he will rise from the dead. You might think this would…
