Tag Archives: Bible

Sep 10 2012

John 15 – I Am the True Vine

Green fields and vineyards grow in the area near Mamre, near Hebron, where Abraham once pitched his tent.

The vineyard references are deeply embedded in the Old Testament as a symbol for Israel, especially in two vineyard songs in Isaiah (Isaiah 5:1-7 and Isaiah 27:2-6).  But Israel failed in bearing fruit.  God as the vinedresser is taken from the first vineyard song.  In that passage, God is depicted tending His vineyard, but the vineyard produced wild grapes (unrighteousness).  Jesus is the true vine, and His disciples are the branches.   The fruit is the outward signs and effect on the world of the Christian life in those branches.  Those who do not bear fruit are not abiding in Jesus – not being true disciples, perhaps just going through some of the motions.  Verse 7 (“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you”) is another important point to remember about prayer – abiding in Him means that our prayers reflect His will.

As Jesus again commands them to love each other as He has loved them, He tells them they are His friends,not just servants; and because of that He has made known to them the things of the Father, and the Holy Spirit will come to guide them.  He also warns that just as He was persecuted they will also be persecuted.  The “word that is written in their Law” Jesus referred to being fulfilled in verse 25 comes from Psalm 69:4 and Isaiah 35:19.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Sep 9 2012

Jesus Farewell Discourse \ Week 35 summary posted

Jesus giving the Farewell discourse to his ele...

Jesus giving the Farewell discourse to his eleven remaining disciples, from the Maesta by Duccio, 1308-1311. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This week, we will read the last three chapters of John’s account of what is known as the Farewell Discourse (John 13-17) that we began last week.  Then, we will finish the week with the arrest and trial of Jesus.

Summing Up

Each weekend, I am now posting a small PDF of one week of chapter summaries (on the website’s “Summaries” page), current to the beginning of the previous week.  I have posted the summary for Week 35 (August Week 4) of the schedule I am following.  This short PDF document contains condensed comments about John 9, 11, Mark 10, 11, and Luke 20, with hyperlinks to the ESV version of each chapter for listening or reading, and joins the summaries for other weeks already posted there.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
image © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Sep 7 2012

John 14 – The Way, and the Truth, and the Life

Jesus continues His farewell discourse in this chapter by softening the blow a bit after having told His chosen ones that He is leaving them.  Verse 2 is translated in ways in some versions that confound the meaning.  The King James says it in such a way as to make people think they will have their own mansion in heaven.  The ESV (and NASB) simply says “In my Father’s house are many rooms (dwelling places),”  not intending to convey that space is small, but to drive home the point that we are going to live with God – not separated from Him.  Jesus is telling them that they will follow Him, and He will prepare a place for them.

Thomas points out that since they do not know where He is going, they do not know the way.  Jesus then said “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  In Acts 9:2, Christians are for the first time described as belonging to “The Way,” a term which is repeated in scripture as well as by secular historians (such as Josephus Flavius).  It is hard to imagine that the term did not come from these words of Jesus.

Six of Jesus’ disciples, later called apostles, or The Twelve

In verses 13-14, Jesus says “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”  We must remember first that other scriptures define prayer properly.  Secondly, in this age, a person’s name represented what that person was as a being – who they were, so to speak.  So praying in Jesus’ name means praying in a way consistent with His will and His character.

Jesus then offers more reassurance to His apostles in verses 15-28, as He confirms that He is one with the Father, and that He is going to Him.  But He will not leave them as “orphans.”  The promise of the Holy Spirit in these verses is for the apostles, not for us.  As those who He is sending, they will need the guidance of the “Helper” to speak His word and make the will of God known.  As His chosen ones, the Holy Spirit also help them remember all that He has told them.  But  Jesus says that He will no longer talk much with them.

The end is very near, but that end will be very much a new beginning.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Sep 6 2012

John 13 – Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet

Chapter 13 begins the second half of the Gospel of John, and the first chapter of what is known as Jesus’ farewell discourse.  As the Feast of the Passover approaches, Jesus knows that His time with the twelve is short.  This was a time and a land where people would walk very long distances on sandy, dusty, and often considerably unsanitary roads wearing sandals.  It was the custom then for people to arrange ahead of time to have water available for the washing of the feet of their guests.   Washing the feet of another person was the work of servants.  So when Jesus began washing their feet, Peter at first objected.  But Jesus told him “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”  They do understand His humbleness because He has been teaching them for a long time, but they will not fully understand this act until after His crucifixion.  But He does want them to think about it – so they will recall that it was important to Jesus.

In verse 12, when He had finished, He said ““Do you understand what I have done to you?”  There would be no point to that question unless there was a deeper meaning to what was done.  That meaning is in verse 16 (“a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.”).  He is their teacher and He is the one who is “sending” them into the world.  He did this to serve them.  They should serve each other according to their needs.  The words from verse 16 will be repeated to them in John 15:20, and they have already heard them in Matthew 10:24.  On both of those occasions, it was to tell them to expect to be treated as He was by others.  Here, it is to teach them to serve others.

Then Jesus told them that one of them would betray Him.  In verse 27, when He tells Judas to do it quickly, the others still do not realize what is taking place. He then gives them their “new commandment” in verses 34-35 to love each other as He has loved them, as He takes this opportunity to say goodbye for now.  Peter, still not understanding, declares that he will lay down his life for him.  But Jesus breaks the terrible news to him that he will deny Jesus three times.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Sep 5 2012

Matthew 25 – The Final Judgment

Chapter 25 continues the theme of being prepared that Jesus began in the latter part of chapter 24.  No matter how many times Jesus says in scripture that no one knows what day or hour He will come, still people try to predict it even to this day.   The first parable especially emphasizes the importance of always being prepared.

The parable of the talents, a story about faithful stewardship — Matthew 25: 14-30.

The parable of the talents stresses that we have the responsibility for our own spiritual  growth, and for sharing it with others.  The “talent” in New Testament times was a fairly large amount of money.  The parallel for us is not so much any “talent” we might have as it is just using our abilities productively.  The Lord does not want us to be idle in His Kingdom.  Verse 32 (“Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats”) continues the theme from Matthew 24:40-41.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Sep 4 2012

Matthew 24 – Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple

Chapters 24 and 25 are known as the Olivet discourse (Verse 3 – “As he sat on the Mount of Olives…”); and chapter 24 is the source of much discussion and confusion.  The disciples were impressed with the buildings of the temple, and pointed them out to Jesus.  But He tells them in verse 2 that “there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”  Now the total destruction of this temple was such a dramatic thing to envision, that the only thing they could think of to associate it with was the end of the world.  So their question to Jesus was when all of these things would happen.

Old city of Jerusalem, the Temple, and Dome of the Rock, as seen from the Mount of Olives.

The key to understanding this chapter (as is the case with all scripture) is to first examine the context, and then apply what follows using your God-given logic.  In chapter 23, Jesus had just delivered a very vocal rebuke of the scribes and Pharisees in the temple, calling them the “sons of those who murdered the prophets,” and saying “you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?”  He finishes up in verses 37-38 with His broken-hear-ted lament for the coming fate of Jerusalem:

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate.”

In verses 4-35 of chapter 24, Jesus tells them privately of the fate that awaits Jerusalem, as well as what will become of them (they will be persecuted and put to death).  he even tells them of things that will happen before that Roman army does its work in AD 70 – many examples of which Josephus and other historians confirm.  If these verses were speaking of the end of the world rather than the destruction of Jerusalem, it would not matter if it was in the winter (verse 20) – much less, what day it was!  In verse 34, He tells them that all of these things will happen during their generation.  It is not until verse 36 that Jesus begins speaking of  the final judgment – “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”  The apocalyptic language throughout the chapter is what makes it difficult to separate.  But such imagery when the scripture prophesies destruction is common (see Isaiah 13:10-13 and Ezekiel 32:7-8, for example).  It is helpful to relate the chapter to Luke’s account in chapter 21, particularly as Matthew 24:15-16 relate to Luke 21:20-21.

For an excellent in-depth analysis, please refer to the article in this link.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Sep 3 2012

John 12 – The Unbelief of the People

Spikenard

In John’s account of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem during the final days, we get some more details, including the account of Mary anointing Jesus (verse 3).  Some commentators get this confused with a similar event in Luke 7:35-39, but that is a different woman and occasion.  Verse 7 seems to mean that Mary had kept the ointment to use to prepare Jesus for burial – but this was the time to use it.   In verses 4-6, we learn from John that Judas had been stealing money from the money bag he was charged with carrying. 3oo denarii would be almost a year of a laborer’s wages.  The expensive nard (from spikenard) was imported from northern India.

In verses 9-11, Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead had achieved two very different results.  First, a large number of Jews had been attracted to come and see for themselves that he was now indeed alive.  But incredibly, the chief priests were plotting the death of Lazarus because it was causing many to believe in Jesus.  They simply did not want it to be so; and their frustration grows, as in verse 19 they say to one another “Look, the world has gone after him.”  This was at John’s account of the triumphal entry on Sunday of Jesus’ last week.

In verses 2-26, Gentiles come to worship and request to see Jesus; and Jesus acknowledges both that it is time for Him to be glorified, and removes all doubt that anyone – Jew or Gentile – that sacrifices himself to follow Jesus will be saved.    In verse 27, we again see that Jesus had come to earth as flesh and with human emotion, as he was troubled that the time of His death was approaching.  But he acknowledges that this was the reason He had come.  As God speaks to Him, some thought it was thunder, but Jesus made it clear that the voice had been intended for those who would believe (verse 30).  People do not understand why the Christ must be “lifted up,”  and was going to die.  Their understanding of the Christ remaining forever was one they had always related to an earthly reign.  They still did not understand His kingdom.

John quotes Isaiah 53:1 in verse 38, and Isaiah 6:10  in verse 40, as he notes the continued unbelief of many despite the signs Jesus had given them.  In verses 44-50, Jesus tells them that He has come to save the world – those who are not blinded by the hardness of their hearts.  Those who reject Him are rejecting God and the light that He has sent into the world.   Even miracles will not convince those who are bent on self-deception.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Sep 2 2012

A Busy Week For Jesus \ Week 34 summary posted

Sunset over Jerusalem from a distance

This week and for the next couple of weeks, we will continue to examine the last week of Jesus’ life on earth from the perspective of each of the gospels beginning with John, as we prepare for the greatest sacrifice of all time on a hill far away by Jerusalem.  Then, by month end, we will be in the book of Acts, as we continue in this year to get the big picture of the Bible from beginning to end.

Summing Up

Each weekend, I am now posting a small PDF of one week of chapter summaries (on the website’s “Summaries” page), current to the beginning of the previous week.  I have posted the summary for Week 34 (August Week 3) of the schedule I am following.  This short PDF document contains condensed comments about Mark 6, Matthew 16, Luke 9, 10, and 15, with hyperlinks to the ESV version of each chapter for listening or reading, and joins the summaries for other weeks already posted there.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
image © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Aug 31 2012

Luke 20 – The Wicked Tenants

In Jesus’ parable; wicked vineyard tenants murdered servants the owner had sent, and eventually murdered the owner’s son. This was an illustration of the wicked leaders who would murder God’s own Son, Jesus (Matthew 21:33-46).

In the parable of the wicked tenants in verses 9-16 , the word for owner in the “owner of the vineyard” is the same as “lord.”  The three servants he sent to the tenants represent the prophets.  The fruit of the vineyards they are seeking represents Israel’s obedience to God.  Then, sending his “beloved son” reminds us of what God said (“This is my beloved Son…”) at Jesus’ baptism in Matthew 3:17.  The tenants killing the owner’s son alludes to His coming death.  When Jesus says that the vineyard owner would come and destroy those tenants, it seems likely to be referring first to the destruction of Jerusalem that will come in A.D. 70. But in a larger sense, it speaks to the final judgment.  Those hearing the parable say “Surely not!” as they perceive that the parable applies to the people of Israel.  Would God take away the land and give it to other people?  But He looks directly at them and says ““What then is this that is written:
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone?”
This is from Psalm 118:22, referred to as well in Isaiah 28:16, and is quoted by Peter in Acts 4:11 and 1 Peter 2:7.

A denarius minted circa 18 BC. Obverse: CAESAR...

A denarius minted circa 18 BC. Obverse: CAESAR AVGVSTVS; reverse: DIVVSIVLIV(S) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In verse 19, the scribes and chief priests were predictably angry, as they knew the parable was directed at them.  So they sent people to try to trap him with sedition against the Roman government.  Jesus’ answer in verse 25 was “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” This can be read in different ways, given that He had asked whose image was on the denarius.  One interpretation is that we are made in God’s image, and thus we must render ourselves to God’s service.

The Sadducees do not believe in the resurrection, so they try to test him in verses 27-33 with a scenario revolving around the teaching of Moses.  But in verse 37 (and in Matthew 22:31-32) Jesus quotes Moses’ encounter with God at the burning bush in Exodus 3:6, explaining that God is the God of the living.

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.

Aug 30 2012

Mark 11 – The Triumphal Entry

As Jesus approached Jerusalem by way of Bethphage and Bethany, He sent two disciples to get a colt for Him to ride on – fulfilling Zechariah 9:9.  Jesus tells them where it will be and what to say when someone asks why they are untying it (including that it will be returned immediately).  On the way, He is hailed as the Messiah (verses 9-10).  “Hosanna” in verses 9 and 10 comes from an expression found in Psalm 118:25 (“Save us, we pray, O Lord”), which when translated into Greek becomes “Hosanna.”  In verse 11, He entered the Temple in Jerusalem, just to look around, then they left for the day.  When He returned the next day, He would again cleanse the Temple, driving out the money-changers and those who sold animals.  Verse 17 quotes both Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11.

The following day, He saw a fig tree in leaf, even though it was not the season for figs.  But the leaves were an outward sign that promised fruit.  Yet there was none.  The analogy of this to God’s people is hard to dispute.  So Jesus declared that no one would eat fruit from it again; and in verses 20-21, His disciples saw that it withered  to its roots.  Verses 23-25 do not mean that everything we want will be given to us if we pray with enough faith.  We must remember what the scripture says about motives in prayer (James 4:3), and about praying according to God’s will (1 John 5:14).

Bethphage area, on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, near Bethany. This was on the way from Jerusalem to Jericho.

The chief priests, scribes and the elders all come to challenge Jesus, demanding to know what gives him the authority to do the things he is doing.  He cleansed the Temple of what was going on right under their noses.  But more than that, the question also seems to be of a general nature, in order to strengthen their case against Him.  His refusal to answer unless they told Him by what authority John the Baptist had baptized was calculated, as He knew they would not answer (verses 29-33).  By saying that the baptism was of man, they would anger the crowds who believed John to be a prophet.  But if they said it was of God, they would be admitting that John spoke the truth when he said that he was the one preparing the way for the Messiah (John 1:23 and Mark 1:7-8).

Read or listen to audio of ESV version of this selection from this link.

/Bob’s boy
___________________
some images © V. Gilbert & Arlisle F. Beers

Please note: I did not design the reading plan that I am following in my blog.  All of my comments in this blog, however, are solely my responsibility.  When reading ANY commentary, you should ALWAYS refer first to the scripture, which is God’s unchanging and unfailing word. Reading schedules, as well as a link to the site where you can get the reading plan that I’m currently following for yourself can be found on the “Bible Reading Schedules” page of my website at http://graceofourlord.com.  For questions and help, please see the “FAQ” and “Summaries” pages there.