At the entrance, sin lies in wait. Talmud, B. Sanhedrin 91b. In wait – Commenting on Genesis 4:7, the rabbis note that sin takes opportunity to entice us from the moment of entrance into the world. “To be born is to leave the simplicity, the ‘sincerity,’ of life-with-mother and to cross a threshold into a…
Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying ‘If a person sins unintentionally in any of the things which the LORD has commanded not to be done, and commits any of them, . . .” Leviticus 4:1-2 NASB Unintentionally – The book of Leviticus provides atonement for unintentional sins. …
Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin. James 4:17 NASB Right thing – Two factors are immediately apparent from James’ statement. First, sin attaches to what I know, not what I don’t know. And second, if I know what is the right…
But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him, and told Him the whole truth. Mark 5:33 NASB Fearing and trembling – What is the relationship between sin and healing? That question plays a significant role in the gospel accounts. The disciples voice their opinion…
Concerning Edom. Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Is wisdom no more in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom vanished?” Jeremiah 49:7 ESV Vanished – In Sanhedrin 38b the rabbis describe sin with the word sarah. The implication is insightful. Sarah is a word that describes putrification, corruption and decay. The…
sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it. Genesis 4:7 NASB Crouching – Genesis chapter 4 is the story of Cain and Abel. It is a story that we have probably known since childhood. It is the story of the results of allowing the yetzer ha’ra…
My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1 John 2:1 NASB May not sin – Either John was delusional or he was the greatest simpleton the world has ever known. How could…
Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 2 Thessalonians 2:3 NASB Lawlessness – Who is the man of lawlessness? You don’t have to look to much further in the text to realize that…
“Have I sinned? What have I done to You, O Watcher of men? Why have You set me as Your target, so that I am a burden to You? And why do You not pardon my transgression . . .?” Job 7:20-21 ISR What have I done – The tower fell. Eighteen died. Did they…
Be gracious to me, O God, according to your loving kindness; according to the multitude of your mercies blot out my transgressions. Psalm 51:3 Hebrew World Blot out – Technology has changed our conception of forgiveness. In a world where we can simply backspace or press the spell-check button, we don’t think of any word…
