But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. 2 Peter 2:1 NASB False prophets – Do we have false prophets among us? Would you know one if…
“For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished.” Matthew 5:18 NASB All is accomplished – When do the words of Torah pass away? When are God’s instructions for living no longer applicable to you? According…
“But I say to you . . .” Matthew 5:22, 28, 34, 39, 44 NASB But I say to you – We can add a contemporary version of Yeshua’s famous introduction. “You have heard it said that Judaism is focused on works instead of the right heart attitude, but I say to you that the…
“If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:26 NASB Hate – What in the world can Yeshua possibly mean by this statement? Taken at face value, it has…
so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; Philippians 1:10 NASB In order to be – Read it slowly. Paul has just proclaimed that God and God alone will complete the good work in us (v. 6). God won’t stop the…
but they mingled with the nations and learned their practices, Psalm 106:35 NASB Learned – David described Israel in the 10th Century BC. He might as well have penned this line 3000 years later. Haven’t we mingled with the nations and learned their practices? Aren’t we in the same place as Israel before Babylon? What…
“See, I have set before you today life and good, and death and evil,” Debarim 30:15 (ISR) Set before you – The poets of Babylon understood what it was like to live in a world where the gods were silent. “Although I am constantly looking for help, no one takes me by the hand. When…
For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace. Ephesians 2:14-15 (almost)…
“Since the culture of ancient times tended to value a person in light of the role performance, personal values also follow that path. Van der Toorn finds a ‘priority of shame over guilt, of honour over self-esteem, and of success over integrity. Since misfortune of any sort was inferred to derive from having offended deity,…
You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? Galatians 3:1 NASB Bewitched – Have we been fooled? Would Paul say the same thing to us if he showed up at our doorsteps? “You undisciplined Christians, who has cast an evil eye upon you?” Perhaps that…
